Gliding on Ice

Monday was her Grace, the Duchess of Middlesea's rez day. In honour of this, his Grace, the Duke of Greystoke hosted a skating party for all to enjoy. I was delighted to hear that my beloved Edward was going to be providing the musical accompaniment, so nothing would interfere with us being able to attend.

While I do not know her Grace very well, what I have seen of her has been very telling of what sort of person she is. Always pleasant and kind, finding good to speak of everyone and of a quiet yet fun loving nature, Gloire (if I may be so bold as to address her by her first name) seems to be a lovely lady and very much deserving of a splendid party.


An overhead view of the skating area

Gnarli had gone to a good deal of effort preparing an area for skaters to test their mettle. For those who wanted to observe or rest, plenty of seating was available as well. While Edward set up his musical apparatus, I strapped on my skates and hoped for the best.


Guests preparing to skate or testing their balance

There was a good mix of people at the party, including some that I've never met before. One lady was dressed as a snow fairy, which I thought was rather enchanting and suitable. She was with another lady who was dressed in darker clothes, but they did skate together quite gracefully.


The Snow Fairy and friend, with Mrs. Peterman in the background


Gnarli and Glorie, ice dancing. They are rumoured to be courting and I wish them both every happiness

I believe his Grace must have had the ice enchanted, as I was able to skate far better than I had even dreamed possible. All sorts of fancy skating was seen, tricky steps that normally would fill my heart with dread. Edward and I coasted around the ice surface, as free as the wind and skating in perfect harmony. What a splendid time!




A tricky spin

Even my dear brother Lunar decided to drop in for some of the fun. He managed to get himself into a snowball fight with Miss Poppy (whom I think was winning and plastering his elven butt with snowballs as quick as you please). Sleigh rides for two were also free for the taking if one was not inclined to prepare for snowball battle (although, no promises you'd not get hit anyhow!)



Sadly, the night came to the end and my beloved and I had to depart. We had a splendid time though, and hope the Duchess of Middlesea has many more rezz days to come!

December Fun

Since I've been told that my journal is hopelessly out of date, I thought I'd do a quick post to bring it up to recent events. For those of you who didn't know, my motivating spirit was rather occupied with a guest from overseas. Everyone involved had a lovely time and my motivating spirit is now planning a return trip to see the enchanting British Isles.

But I digress. To bring everyone up to date, here is a list of the upcoming Steelhead functions for the month of December:


December 1: Steelhead Dance, SWAT theme. 7-9 pm SLT in the Saloon

December 7: Steelhead Dance, Steampunk theme. 7-9 pm SLT at the Steelhead Grande Hotel and Ballroom

December 14: Steelhead Dance, Around the World in 80 Days theme, 7-9 pm SLT Kokopelli Stage

December 21: Steelhead Formal. 7-9 pm SLT, Steelhead Grande Hotel and Ballroom

December 28: Steelhead Dance, Time Machine theme 7-9 pm SLT, Kokopelli Stage

As well, please do drop by the city and explore. You never know what gifts you may find. *winks knowingly*

Ok Fuzz.....are you happy now????? I did a new entry!

Steelhead Salutes the Troops!

On November 17, Steelhead is hosting a very special event, Salute the Troops. This event is to honour and recognize the military personnel who have fought in past wars. You will find notecard dispensers at most of the telehubs in Caledon as well as scattered about Steelhead itself. However, I will post the event schedule here as well for your convenience.

The event organizers are looking for military personnel. Registration forms can be found in the notecard dispensers. Below is the letter from the event's two main organizers.

Salute to the Troops Day, Saturday, Nov 17
To All Military Personnel in Second Life:
The town of Steelhead will be hosting a Salute to the Troops Day on Saturday, November 17.
This event will include parades, military reviews, military history presentations, remembrance ceremonies, and a military ball.
The schedule of events is enclosed as a separate notecard.
We are looking for infantry units and personnel and any other military personnel to participate in the traditional marching parade and review early in the afternoon.
We are also looking for cavalry, dragoons, hussars, and other mounted personnel to participate in a parade of equestrian units and review, later that afternoon.
In addition, we plan to host small military displays or campsites from all eras at various sites in the sim. Single soldiers or small groups of unit representatives will be welcome to showcase their affiliations all or part of the day.
To become part of this event, complete the separate Salute to the Troops Registration Form Notecard and drop it in Hawc Decosta’s inventory by Saturday, November 10, 2007.
Participation reservations and parade marching order will be handled on a first come, first served basis.
For questions, IM Hawc Decosta or Dominic Ruffo.
Hawc Decosta, Steelhead CitizenU.S. Cavalry Trooper, Dodge City
Dominic Ruffo, Steelhead CitizenOld Glory Sutlery

Now for the fun stuff, the event schedule:

Salute to the Troops DaySaturday, Nov 17
Veterans Appreciation Event*Honoring Gettysburg, WWI Armistice Day, and All Soldiers From All Eras!*
10:30AM - 6:30PM - Representative small military displays/campsites (various sites in the sim)
11AM - Armistice Day/Veterans Day Ceremony - Presentation.
1PM - Gettysburg Address Remembrance Day Ceremony - Presentation.
3PM - Infantry Parade and Review.
4:30PM - Cavalry Parade and Review.
6PM - Horse race around Steelhead Sim.
7PM - Military Ball.

New Goods at Rosehaven Recipes

Just to let everyone know, I've added a few items to the bakery. I've put together a complete tea table with sandwiches, scones and pot of tea, all boxed and ready to go. As well, the sandwiches can be bought seperatley if one so desires. Also added to the shelves are plates of springerle and pfeffernuesse, a poppy seed loaf and the marble cake (texture taken from a real cake my motivating sprit made....yummy!!!)

I will have to get busy with Christmas items soon. If anyone has anything they'd particularily like to see, please drop me a note and I'll see what I can do. I do want to try my hand at a Christmas pudding and I'm also considering making some of the things that my motivating spirit holds near and dear to her heart and include the recipes for them as well. The toffee is very good....I assure you! ;-)

Lest We Forget

November 11th is approaching, a time to reflect on past wars and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

My motivating spirit had 3 great-uncles who fought in WWII, all of whom were fortunate enough to return home to their friends and family. Last year, the last of the great-uncles passed away, one of whom had the most interesting story to tell about his experience in WWII.

Uncle Pat never did talk about what happened. My motiviating spirit knew he had been injured, receiving schrapnel in his leg, but other than that, he didn't talk about it and no one really pushed him into talking. So, it was not until his funeral, that all was revealed.

The day after Pat's birthday, he joined countless other young men in the Normandy invasion. He stormed the beaches with many of his friends and peers. He was injured when he was trying to get a friend of his to safety, unsuccessfully. After he was injured, he was shipped to a hospital in England in an unconcious state, but somehow he was not listed with the injured and was put on the MIA list instead. For months no one back home, nor his two brothers overseas with him knew where he was or what became of him. His eldest brother, Rex, risked life and limb himself, looking for him, avoiding capture by the German troops, missing landmines and he finally located him and sent word home.

Remembrance Day has always been an important day to my motivating spirit. It is not a day that should be taken lightly or brushed off. Real sacrifices were made, real lives lost. It is a day to reflect, remember and learn how perhaps we today can do things differently to avoid such costs. Having said that though, sometimes war is the only answer, after all other measures have failed.

For those of us in SL, I have taken the liberty of making a wearable poppy and a wreath (which is a tad primmy, I apologize). You can find them at Rosehaven Recipes. The poppy box is on the table inside the bakery and the wreath is in the window and they are both free. I believe my beloved will also be offering a lower prim wreath, for those who have tight prim budgets.


In Flanders Fields ~ by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Army (1872-1918)

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky,
A lark still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved
And now we lie in Flanders Fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe,
To you with failing hands we throw
The Torch, be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields