Reconnect & Explore: Welcome Back to An Itinerant Scribe!

Hey there, lovely readers of Itinerant Scribe! It feels incredible to be back and reconnect with all of you after what seems like an eternity. As we slowly emerge from the pandemic shadows, I can’t help but feel this is the perfect time to embark on a brand new chapter together. So, in this first post after our little break, I’m bursting with excitement and a renewed passion for all things creative, curious, and the wonderful world of the SCA. Oh, the past few years have been quite a ride, haven’t they? Our beloved SCA temporarily closing its doors to in-person activities was quite the twist. But you know what? It gave us a unique opportunity to take a step back, reflect, and either refresh our garb, armor, and artistic skills or take a breather. I’ve now had the chance to reconnect with my dear friends from Lonely Tower, engaging in delightful discussions about heraldry, weaving, and the intricacies of armor. And let me tell you, meeting fellow enthusiasts like you at Calontir events, and seeing your incredible creations, has been absolutely inspiring! Speaking of inspiration, it has reignited my passion for scribal arts as well. I’m diving back into the scribal world, finding new ways to adapt and grow in this creative journey. But you know what truly brings me joy? Reconnecting with all of you, my wonderful readers. I’ve missed you, and I can’t wait to share this […]

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Pandemic Silver Linings

I stopped blogging because I didn't see how telling you how I thought best to handle the SCA crafts and activities related to living your life during the Coronavirus pandemic. Now I hope we learn from it and
appreciate each other after long being deprived of personal interactions. Let's use this isolation's latent benefits and turn the pandemic into good.

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How To Be Happy With A Broken Ankle – Not

As you may know, I broke my ankle Christmas eve. It was a beautiful sunny day. I was walking my dog before running my last holiday errands. Then I fell on some black ice. So much for the errands. I’ve been on crutches for five weeks now. But I got some good news at the doctor this week. I can ditch the crutches. Annoyingly, I have to keep the walking boot for three more weeks. Process I’ve read a few other broken ankle blog posts and it seems the average no walking time is around 6-8 weeks. I’m lucky the break wasn’t bad and my no walking time has only been five weeks. It’s still a broken ankle and that takes time to heal. But it’s nice to see the healing progress. No matter the severity the healing process goes like this Phase 1: no walking Phase 2: walking with assistance (the stage I’m in now) Phase 3: walking without mobility aids Phase 4: back to “normal” The severity of your break and your healing progress determines how long each phase lasts. They also determine the procedures and aids you need. So the healing timeline is flexible, even if you weren’t. Blessings Walking in a boot without crutches is a blessing. I can now carry light things. I wouldn’t have to ask for help to carry my plate like I did at the A & S Revel. It’s blessing to […]

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Happy Thanksgiving

A little thought, and a little kindness are worth more than a great deal of money. — John Ruskin Things may have changed regarding what we know about the first US Thanksgiving. What I do know is it is important for us to be grateful, kind and appreciate what we have. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

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Changing Times

I've been in the Society for Creative Anachronism since the 1990s. And the world is a different place now. ced with recent serious issues people at the top are truly taking action. For its long-term viability this is a must. How do you feel about the SCA's Mission Statement change? Will it effect our SCA life?

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Old Age Difficulties

I have a birthday coming soon. 73. Not a decade or great milestone. I’ve simply lived thru another great year. When you’re 30 you think anyone my age would be sitting in their rocking chair with a lap-blanket warming their legs while watching soaps on TV. But my perception’s changed. In my mind I’m 53. But my body signals otherwise. Weird sleep patterns, achier hands and feet, thinning white hair, and less accommodating eye-sight. I’m fortunate people in my family live well into their 80’s. I hope to have a long journey yet to go. I do what I can to keep in shape. Tai Chi twice a week and walking miles at a nearby enclosed mall on the other days. I enjoy spirited visits with my extended family and friends. And have three crazy pets I love. I volunteer – sorta – keeping my mind active as Lonely Tower’s Social Media Officer and writing this blog. Occasionally I travel away from Lonely Tower and home. When I get a round “tuit” I have a project list to do. That’s all fun and good. Now I have an added annoyance. Clogged eye-lid ducts. My tears don’t have enough oil. It’s drying my eyes and fogging my vision. I can improve it with daily heat and eyelid washing using common baby shampoo. Thankfully it’s not a big deal. I’m up for the small challenge adjusting to my new eye-wash routine. I […]

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The Myopic Scribe

Illuminated manuscripts have the tiniest strokes details. They’re so intricate I don’t see how they were made without a visual aid. Unless….they were created by someone who could naturally see with precision. Even in the ancient world magnification was technically possible. Crystal or glass lenses were known. But no deliberately created lenses have been found from then. And Pliny didn’t […]

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Making Your SCA Life List

How many times have you sat with your SCA friends listening to stories about their experiences and creations? Did you wonder where they got the idea to do such a thing? How they even began to figure it all out?  One way to create distinctive life experiences – SCA or otherwise – is to have a Life List. I had never […]

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Judge This

Link Let’s pretend for a moment.  Pretend this is a lovingly-made very-first attempt of someone entering a Kingdom Arts and Sciences novice competition.  How would you judge it? What would you recommend the entrant do for their next creative steps? How would you inspire their creative passion and persistence? In Calontir the premier novice competition is Queen’s Prize Tournament, a non-competitive […]

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Why Is Art Important In The SCA?

Medieval art involved not creative freedom but subjection to rules. Some time after classical antiquity all period creations were done for God’s glory. If that’s the case how does art relate to you and me in the Society for Creative Anachronism? Especially since the organization is apolitical and nonreligious. Why is Art important in the SCA? First, what is art? […]

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"Uncopyright Notice" Notice

Historiated initial of a man citing a layman by touching him with a staff.  You may have noticed I now have a copywrite on my blog. Well, it’s actually an uncopywrite. I am releasing my rights to everything I personally create here and place them all into the public domain.  What does that include? That includes articles I’ve written or linked to my posts on this blog since I started it in December 2015. Unless I state otherwise that will apply to any future content I personally create and publish on createme365.com. What does this mean to you? As much as you want you can use my uncopyrighted work in various ways. You could:  Repost it on your own website  Translate it into other languages Transfer it to different media like your own articles and posts Make money from what you create from my work such as selling it in ebook form or linking it to Amazon and make money. Develop a scribal workshop or seminar based on my handouts You don’t need to directly ask my permission to do these or other things. You can just do it. If you’re not sure about something, consult your inner counsel and make whatever decision you believe is honorable. Don’t ask me about anything legal because it’s all Greek to me. Plus, I’ve already put this in the public domain. While I am giving away the copyrights, if you reuse my work, please give me […]

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