Well, we’ve safely made it in to a new year! And, already, it promises to be a busy one for Corvus. Typical, I know!

I try so hard to make it up to events in Sacred Stone that I have to laugh when I look over the pending calendar. In the two and a half years that I’ve lived in Charleston, I’ve managed most Sacred Stone events with only a few exceptions. That’s in addition to making every effort to attend the events here in my own barony. Yet, so far as I can tell, there’s a new programming strategy at work in my former barony. Every time there’s an event in Hidden Mountain, let’s do an event in Sacred Stone!

Obviously, this is mere coincidence, but it does seem to be happening again and again. Rest assured that I’m not cutting down on my trips to Sacred Stone (or anywhere else) intentionally. But, I feel that it is important that I be supporting the events here in Hidden Mountain as well. One of the main things that I find separates House Corvus from many households is our fierce dedication to our local branches. I encourage and applaud that. Sometimes, it just makes it so that I can’t make your local events as I’m supporting my own.

I know you all can empathize and I appreciate your understanding. Certainly, none of us get to travel and see our brothers and sisters as often as we’d like.

Of course, that one of the main reasons we’ll be having our House Corvus getaway in March. While the Winter may have been a bit lean for us all getting together, the Spring promises some joyous gatherings! Between Gulf Wars and the Corvus Weekend, I’m hoping to catch up with as many Corvites as possible.

While McKenzie arrived earlier than anyone expected, I strongly suspect that it was just so she could attend the Feast of Saint Andrew, which I autocratted in December. The event was a hoot and I had so much fun, I can’t tell you! I especially loved the bagpipers and the kid’s tin can band.

Of course, it was such a treat to have the Queen and good friend Aryanna come down for the event. More than though was the fact that Cassan was visiting for a few days and managed to make it to the event. What an incredible help he was and I’m so very grateful for his work in the kitchen all day. That is, when he wasn’t outside running some activity for me. What a Godsend, I must say! I don’t know what I would have done without him. Thanks again, Matt.

The highlight of Court simply had to be when Krystyne brought a two-week old McKenzie before the thrones when they called for everyone for whom this was their first event (a lingering tradition I started when still Baron of Sacred Stone, I’m happy to say!). I smiled for the next ten minutes. If only Aire Faucon’s Winter Solstice hadn’t been the same day. See what I mean? Ugh! --BRAN

At 3:18pm, on Saturday the 24th of November, Mckenzie Gaw Petersen decided she had waited long enough and decided to grace us with her presence.

She weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz and was 19 and 1/2 inches long. Both baby and mother are doing fine.

Christine went into labor late Friday night. She went to the hospital early Saturday morning for a labor check and was sent home until her water broke. At about 1:15 her water broke and she was 2cm dilated. Less than 2 hours later she was fully dilated (no time for pain medicine) and Mackenzie was born.

Thankfully, my boat was in port in Cape Canaveral Florida and my command let me come home. After a 7 hour drive, I got to the hospital at 8pm and surprised Christine by wheeling Mackenzie into the room from the nursery. The hospital kept Christine one more night and discharged her the next morning. Now the fun part begins, raising a daughter. --MICHAEL

I spent the day with Krystyne, McKenzie, and Michael O’ the other day and brought up a couple of people here in Hidden Mountain for consideration as potential members of House Corvus. While I feel that these two are some time away from induction, I wanted to bring them up so you’d have the opportunity to keep an eye on them over the coming months.

Candidate 1 - Comments omitted from online version.
Candidate 2 - Comments omitted from online version.

Plans are shaping up for the Corvus Weekend the last weekend in March (that’s Easter weekend). It’ll be somewhere in SC and I’m working to make it as inexpensive on everyone as possible. In fact, it’ll likely be like a small event with similar expenses. I had hoped to use Camp Juniper but it was already booked. I’m considering some other options. I’ll make sure it’s equally inconvenient to us all though!

Think of this as a mini-event (complete with garb) whereat we can focus on getting to know each other better and pursue specific interests. We can also work on mutual projects like the rose window, chapel, weaving, etc. I also plan on a fighter practice with special instructors. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Just what are your thoughts on the idea of including non-Corvus people? We had discussed this when we first brought up the idea of a weekend getaway. Thorgrimmr and Anne-Marie are invited. I’d also like to think about inviting some other FYC candidates. We’d always included guests like the Bellatrixes and I’d like to expand this into more of a Corvus and Friends gathering. Along those lines, think of people you think we should invite and let me know so we can do that in a timely fashion.

You’ll notice on the Corvus calendar that I’ve scheduled monthly visits to Trimaris. The last (or fourth) weekend of every month, I’ll be traveling to Orlando to train with Duke Baldar. This also affords me the opportunity to visit my grandmother each month.

Maintaining this schedule will require some understanding and support from everyone in the Household. Don’t be upset when I have to miss some event because it’s on a conflicting weekend. I’ve really wanted to do this for some time and 2002 is the year I’m finally getting off my ass and doing it.

Of course, anyone who wants to join me is welcome! I can put up people at grandmom’s house and we can also hook up with the Trimarian Corvites while we’re there. I know that I’m looking forward to learning some metal casting with Giuseppe when I’m there in February. It’s about a six and a half hour drive from Charleston and I’ll be leaving on Fridays around noon. Anyone who wants to come down on Thursday night or Friday morning and take off with me, just let me know and we’ll have a little road trip!

JANUARY 2002
5th - Atlantian Twelfth Night in Dun Carraig.
9th - Adeliza’a birthday.
12th - Holiday Revel in Nottinghill Coill.
12th - Winter Art/Sci in Trimaris.
19th - Manannan Mac Lir in Hidden Mountain.
19th - All for One in Sacred Stone.
26th - Fool’s 12th Night in Crois Brigte.
26th - Bran in Orlando.

FEBRUARY 2002
2nd - Atlantian University in Berley Cort.
9th - Tourney of Ymir in Windmaster’s Hill.
11th - Oshi’s birthday.
13th - Bran in London for ALFS.
16th - Trimarian Crown Tourney in Darkwater.
20th - Isolde’s birthday.
23rd - Bran in Orlando.
28th - George’s birthday.

Grand and glorious new morn,
Fiery tendrils ignite,
Soul, sky, and faded glory,
All renewed by daylight.

This luminous horizon,
Bright backdrop to working man,
Off to find daily bounty;
Oceanic artisan.

Setting sail to harvest souls,
Strange net to catch such treasure,
Words themselves may entangle,
Mix mundane with divine pleasure.

Devious men slip through,
See the world in selfish terms,
Sightless amongst miracles,
‘Til they too are food for worms.

But labor begets honor,
Sweat flowing like blood from thorns,
Mingling mortal sacrifice,
‘Til something holy adorns.

Heave hard, oh Fishers of Men!
Rage against the dwindling day,
Yield not to wearying limb,
Slack your grip and purpose betray.

Stay the course, noble brothers,
Draw the net ever nearer,
Though some seas be against us,
Our catch was never dearer.

Epilogue.

Gentle pages of my heart,
Bound up for posterity,
Record of my wandering,
Slowly gaining clarity.

This restless year spent searching,
Anxiously hoping to find,
Some bless’d communion of men;
Brothers and sisters in kind.

And through these many travels,
With eyes so ready to see,
I find myself with blinders,
And bookish hyperbole.

I sought the Hidden Mountain;
Mythic land of perfection,
Realm peopled with the divine,
Flawless Christian confection.

Instead, I saw the real world,
Tarnished, yet glorious still,
Filled with all manner of folk,
Though each reflecting Your Will.

This mountain I thought hidden,
Guarded by angels and men,
A place the holy could find,
Just beyond our human ken.

How wrong can a person be?
Grasp part but never the whole;
The Hidden Mountain resides,
In each and every soul.