So, Thursday I was done with everything except to finish a few tweaks on my documentation, print it and pack things up. Friday night I was tired. I took a very long shower and then snuggled up into bed with an actual book, not fanfic. I was asleep before 10pm. Mel was up playing video games. I had downloaded Tekkend Tournament 2 for FREE with my gold membership and XCOM so he was a happy camper. Got up about 7am or so on Saturday and had just a nice coffee and reading and then getting into clothes, jewelry and packing things for the event. The last 15 mins of packing was weird but we got everyones stuff ready to go. Ben was whiney that he wasn't going. I explained again that the even would be boring for him and that he'd have more fun with Maddie.

Got to the event and got things settled. The unfortunate thing is that since the format had radically changed a lot of people just assumed I know WTF was going on. I had to keep saying to have folks go see Viscountess Victoria since I was also part of this grand experiment in A&S competitions.

So, unlike previous years where you are judged by 3 judges whose scores are tabulated and the winner of the category is settled by who got the highest score; this year, everyone picked their favorite pieces in each category/sub category both for novice and non-novice. The laurels then also picked their favorite novice item and favorite non-novice item.

The expectation was that folks would go around, read the documentation, talk with the artisan and look at the objects. I think it was a good experiment but with more than the 28 entrants we had it will get to be a cumbersome logistics issue. I did like that you can sit and chat with folks about their things and there was a comment book for you to fill out for each artisan. So, in all I think it was a positive experience for all. Plus I noticed that even though the requirement was "minimum documentation" the quality of the items entered was way better than I've seen on things with really swell documentation.

No, my household peeps did well on their docs. We did end up winning by default the household championship but we made a very good show, we did not do it by just the 10 entries we needed...we had 10 folks enter items so that was 20 entries. I think. I'm very proud of the heraldic display entry Sigrid did.



Its the Hrafnheim Hedge. All done Roll of Arms and shows the date of the laureling. Its really cool and we didn't get to see any of it until it was done and in the competition. So neat.

We headed out just before closing court to get changed and ready for Brew at the Zoo. Willa picked us up with Erika and off we went all schnazzyed up. Now it may have not been a dressy affair but we looked awesome and had a really good time...omg was that a lot of beer. They give you 20 drink tickets which if it was 1 oz samples that is great....it was 3-4 oz samples and ooh boy. We got home pretty knockered but it was a good time. Got bridget and the kiddos packed up and headed to showers and bed shortly there after.

I woke up at 430am and was dry...hungover and headachey....so I had ice water, drugs and more water. Mel did not and woke up pretty fuzzy. We were enjoying our coffee at 830 and Ben was just getting up. Got things settled around the house, got dressed and headed to BJ's for Father's Day Brunch/lunch. Ben was not he usual awesome self at the restaurant. He was tired and squirely and just not beuno. Mel and I were also tired so home we went to nap. I read but laid down and mel slept. Ben read in his room and was happy to stay put. Mel went antiquing and then Ben decided to be bothersome when all I wanted to do was rest.

I'm sure it wasn't so bad but he wasn't listening and later when we went to the store to pick out his dad's bday cake he really wasn't listening. What I do not appreciate is workers in the store trying to placate him with cookies and stickers for his BAD BEHAVIOUR? Seriously? He was not listening and when we got home, he got sent to his room to pick it up.

I sat and had a beer and relaxed. Mel handled him for a while, we had a nummy dinner of smoked salmon, macaroni salad and carrots. Did I mention Sunday was 115F and so hot we were almost able to cook an egg on the sidewalk? Seriously, we did science....it almost worked. I think we were all tired and crabby about things and just needed to all nap. I'd been slightly queasy all day and that didn't help either.

I read in the evening, mel played games and I went to bed on time. Mel did not but all okay.

All in all a good weekend. I now have baby gifts to make, the retreat to pack for and D*C to start working on. The BFF and I are going to mind meld over 4th of july weekend and make things cool in my head. Lots of things to get handled on that front but hopefully trim options work tonight for my sari.

So, lots to make , lots to do and the clock is ticking.

Work, has been a lot of work. I have been so busy I'm almost drooling from brain drain by the end of each day. There is a lot of stress and I find I have to put my baroness hat on to deal with all of the political ish that is going on. Sighs.

We had a great time at Coronation in Payson. Did a bit of antiquing...attended the town's trunk r treat for Benton to trick r treat and in general had fun. Benton was not as patient as usual but he was tired the whole weekend.

This past weekend we went to Fiber Frivolity in Prescott with Will and Dom and caroused around Prescott while Ben was with Mary/Drew and Inara. It was a good time. Seriously good time.

We are now in the midst of Southern prep. I'm disappointed this year with the event in general. The communication has been shite unless you are on the book of faces which IMHO is not the proper place for information anyway, even if you use the platform. The website works, use that, broadcast across all social media platforms so all information is clear, concise and readable by all. Or be smart enough to realize the greater good is to not hold an event, save face and work on improving things for next year not pull something off that appears on the surface and under the skin as half-assed.

With that in mind though the household has made efforts to make the event "ours". We have a plan to deal with the no firepits and will be having our mead hall with food, games and drink. I plan on running the kitchen, doing some rapier, making sure Benton is occupied and relaxing. This is no stress. Just need to get to site and be there and then its no stress.

In the book front I did skip Calculated in Death and am now reading it. Been also reading Working for Bigfoot which you can get here at humble bundle. lots of fun. So, yeah. Good times. Pictures later when I get things uploaded at home from Prescott and Halloween.