This is the coat of arms for my late husband Herr Wilhelm Baumhecker (MKA Brian Keveney), to be used at the SCA 50th Anniversary Shield Wall.  The stump is blazoned or, but he preferred it proper.  I hope this suffices.


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Something I dug up from A Taste of Cuba, by Linette Creen.  This almond cake came to Cuba from Portugal, and may have gone back as far as the 15th century. Terciary source at best.  Some food historians think the recipe was first made in a convent and actually contained bacon.  Others think the name expresses the idea that in Heaven even a simple ( Read more... )

Written by Emperor Murakami (926-67; r. 946-67), translated by Steven D. Carter:

I vowed to myself
to think no more of the past--
and yet here I am
my eyes welling up
with unexpected tears.

My reply:

Unexpected tears
fall, scattered jewels from the
vault of memory.
It is hard to walk away
from a storehouse such as this.

Courtesy of two FB friends,  the following video has to be seen through to the end to get the full belly-laugh effect.


The Duel at Blood Creek - Short Film from Leo Burton on Vimeo.

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How strange to be here,
lifting a glass in tribute,
dining among friends.
Any moment I expect
to see you, but I will not.

The autumn night's chill
is held at bay by the fire
crackling in the hall.
Strings and woodwinds sing home the
pilgrim, and cast out sadness.