Flurry of Activity

It is always so much fun to hang out with Paul and Gwen.  There is such a flurry of activity.  They are currently deeply involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism.  Although I had always associated that with battlefield reenactments (and Paul, with his sword and shield, is involved with that), it is so much more.  Gwen has created stunning costumes for both of them.  I still don't know why I did not take pictures, but here is one I stole from Gwen's facebook page.

Gwen at Fall Coronation, as stolen from Facebook

She showed us some of the intricacies of the various costumes, including how the hoop on her hoop skirt had to be modified so she could go through a standard size door.  She also explained how she designed and fitted Paul's garments he wears into battle.

Here is Paul outfitted for battle in a photo I stole from Facebook.  He did show us some of his sword (is it called a sword?) moves in the backyard.  I was impressed with the many planned moves.  It was not random slashing.

Paul (on right) preparing for battle...stolen from Facebook

Among the other activities related to SCA, Paul is also a bard (meaning lots of poetry) and a herald.  Gwen is heavily into various period crafts, including various types of weaving.  Some of the needlework is stunning.

They are also both into wine, mead, and beer making. These beverage preparations were the focus of much of the activity while we were there.  Unfortunately, I have only spotty photographic coverage of the whole process and I don't remember what was happening in each of the pictures. However, this gives a sense of the process.

Washing (sanitizing) a bottle that will serve as a fermentation vessel

Here is the premeasured grain (barley, malt, and oats) purchased online for "stubby oatmeal stout" homebrewed beer, the beer du jour.

Premeasured grain purchased online

And this is how it is done, although they removed the grain from the sock rather than merely dipping it into the water.

page 1 of instructions

10:09 am

11:44 am -- Cooling the wort

12:08 pm

Although I do not have pictures (what was I thinking?!), the beer went into a fermenter with a bubbler on top and was placed in the shower to allow the yeasts to do their thing.  That process is described in the instructions below.

page 2 of instructions

Beer making was not the only activity.  This was one of Gwen's creations (cranberry mead, I think) that had been fermenting for some time and was now ready to be transferred into bottles.

Siphoning from the fermenter into bottles

I am afraid we may have been a distraction, especially with all of our questions, but it was lots of fun seeing all of this in person.  Of course, all of this activity was in addition to the wonderful gourmet meals we had throughout our stay.