Coronation of Dag and AnneMarie

Coronation was cool!!
The morning court when the transition was made to Dag and AnneMarie was quite moving.

The feast was different than most events in that it was held at noon. It started on time (or pretty close) and has to be one of the best feasts I have attended in the 20 plus years I have been in the SCA. The token for having paid for feast was an embroidered napkin with the initials of Dag and AnnMarie. The entire feast was good but the most notable dishes (in my opinion) were the Song Birds Farced, Pan Fried Broadbeans and Lucanian Sausages.
The Song Birds Farced looked like Chicken Nuggets in various bird shapes. They were served on skewers that had been placed on a cabbage half. This gave them the appearance of flight. In addition other skewers had small banners displaying the coat of arms for the individuals seated at the table and the groups they came from. Before the event was over, everyone who had the appropriate head gear, was wearing their arms or that of their group. (I would like to find out what program they used for doing this as I see the possibility to do this for one of our events for those on the list field.)
The Pan Fried Broadbeans and Lucanian Sausages were so good that I will need to track down the recipe used so that I can make them for home or local revels. Balian and I had an impromptu contest to see who could eat the most sausages. While I was ahead early in the match he bested me by simply refusing to stop. Even so the food was so plentiful that we ended up sending four sausages back to the kitchen. I shed a small tear that I was not able to finish them off but it was not for lack of trying.

Combat operations took place in fencing and heavy weapons after the feast wrapped up. I had decided not to fight before attending as I was suffering from a sinus infection which made me slightly light headed but I do not believe I would have been able to fight after such a grand feast. I will have to make a note to work on my sin of gluttony.
The heavy weapons fighting was outstanding. A Bear Pit Tourney was weighted to authenticity and courtesy and earned the victors the honor of entry into the Coronation Tourney. A grand stand had been constructed for a helms show to display the helmet, banner and shield with coat of arms for those taking part in the Coronation Tourney. (This or something similar is needed locally. It is just too cool not to have.)
The fencing took part in two areas. If I understood correctly those gentles with a Bronze Ring took part in the tourney inside next to the heavy weapons fighters and those without that honor or those being newer to fencing took part in the tourney held outside. I believe the tourney outside was a Bear Pit as well.
Youth fighting took place similar to the fencing, both on a list inside and practice and authorizations outside.
We had two of our members become authorized and one additional member practice fencing. Drogo was authorized as a fencer and his son Ryan was authorized in youth boffer fighting. Robert ran out of time to try authorizing as he had to practice a couple times before he could make the attempt.

The second court was held a little after 5pm. While it was not as touching as the first it was full of pomp and ceremony. In addition Dag and AnneMarie pulled out a large hourglass and stated that it was their gift to us indicating that the court would not take more than one hour.
I ended up leaving after the second court so I missed the evening activities. I will have to try to stay longer at the next event so I can brush up on my dancing.

I think a total of 17 Stormvalers made an appearance at the Coronation of Dag and AnneMarie. In no particular order we had: Eron, Erevon, Gerard, Brianne, Katie, Balian, Melisande, Drogo, Kayla, Ryan, Dante, Desi, Thorgrim, Tharamore, his lady, Robert and myself. Eating feast was Balian, Melisande, Robert and myself. Fencing was Drogo with Robert getting in some practice. Boffer fighting was Ryan. I am not sure if any classes had been attended.