To the gentles of the Shire, greetings,

Now that some of us have recovered from Pennsic (and some of us have recovered from going to a wedding and coming back with an uninvited wedding guest, a watered-down version of our modern plague), we are once again holding Arts & Sciences gatherings:

Monday 09/08/2025 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at:

Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
231 Parish Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470

As always, a donation of $5.00 is requested so that we may do right by our hosts.

That day happens to be the 460th anniversary of the chronological first Thanksgiving service on these shores, which took place on the beaches near what is now St. Augustine, Florida. In commemoration of that, I will give a brief talk of that event, the circumstances that led to the service, the type of food that was served, and who partook in the gathering, both European and the native Seloy people who lived nearby.

I am not versed in the cooking of the period, but if I am able to procure it, I may bring some garbanzo bean salad laced with garlic. I apologize for the short notice, but, as mentioned, some of us were recovering from a touch of the modern plague.

Arts and Sciences Doings in the Area

I had mentioned Brennan and Caoilfionn’s Ducal Challenge the weekend of 09/20 – 09/21 in a prior post, and do so again. It may be too late to take part in the making of prizes for this challenge, but it is not too late to just attend to see what the good artists and artisans of the region are doing. It is in the Barony of Settmour Swamp just to the south of us, and I recommend the visit.

Members of the Shire are also free volunteer at the Sparta Renaissance Festival for the next two weekends 09/13 – 09/14 and 09/20 – 09/21 (the first will have mostly come and gone at this posting). This is not an event of the SCA, but our participation here makes it possible for us to have use of the site for our 100 Minutes War. Use this link here to find the form to volunteer if you are so inclined.

I also add, with apologies for not mentioning it sooner, that our good Chatelaine Arwen Elandris of Aegelwoode is taking part in the New York Renaissance Faire to our north in Tuxedo, as part of the Nyr Jorvik Viking Village. She runs the forge, and demonstrates metalworking from that time. The village itself has weaving, dyeing, woodworking, and storytelling demonstrations as well. The Faire will run through 10/05/2025.

At the service of your honors,

M. Ana de Guzman, OL
Minister of Arts & Sciences, Shire of Rusted Woodlands