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loosecanon managed to drag me out of the house last week. No, I'm not particularly agoraphobic, though I am particularly lazy. Hence the tardiness of this post...
helwen and fitzw kindly opened up their futon to us, making the event possible for us. Well, for me, anyway. When it comes to many hours folded up in a car, I'm a wuss. ( Bergental Yule is where? Springfield? You're kidding... )
As SCA events go, it was a different experience for me, since I pretty much didn't know anyone. It goes without saying that loosecanon knows everyone. ;) Still, that's fun too. I talked to lots of folks I didn't know about everything from patchwork to hobnails. For almost everyone I talked to, loosecanon says, "oh you finally met X." No, I'm not kidding.
There was turkish coffee. I spent a ton of time bending the Muslim's ear on comparative religion. I think we both had fun. From experience, converts are usually far better informed than those simply born into something. No, I can't recall the guy's name. Nothing personal, it takes me a few goes to recall anyone's name.
Now, to the real action; the kitchen! Being a visitor, I had not expectations of doing anything beyond random prep work. Oh, and being the tall guy reaching into the salamander; I love my linen garb. When someone was needed to carve cooked waterfowl, I assumed I'd get to breakdown a couple before everyone else was done. ( loosecanon had completely smoked me on the stuffing, doing at least twice as much as me. )
A goose is not a duck, it's not a chicken or a turkey. Rather, it is some monstrous fusion of all those. I'd never butchered a goose before, though it looked and acted most like duck, a giant duck. It's sweet spots were just little bit off in every place. Also, taking apart cooked meat is much more challenging because you can't feel around the skeletal structure as freely.
Strangely, all hands were busy by the time the birds were cool enough to work on. I started in, sure others would show up soon. I was glad for no witnesses to my first bird. I botched a thigh. That particular joint just wouldn't come out of socket on any of them without help. Bird two flowed a little better. I looked up, knowing that I wouldn't be embarrassed doing bird three in front of anyone and expecting someone else would want to play by now. I was still on my own.
You have to understand, I can't think of any more entertaining job in the kitchen than butchering whole critters. It's challenging, rewarding, not overly stressful, and you get to play with sharp objects. I never dreamed I'd have the birds all to myself, but I did. Ten in all.
I was getting weary toward the end and that was good too. Hitting a wall on a repetitive task never fails to teach something. It's why martial art's teachers and drill instructors prefer their charges completely exhausted. Pretty much every bird I did seemed better than it's predecessors. The second to last breast come off with absolutely no flesh on the keel, it was pretty.
Doing all those geese wiped me out. I was pretty useless the rest of the evening; apologizes to the rest of the crew. I greatly appreciated the opportunity, though. It was great fun.
loosecanon managed to drag me out of the house last week. No, I'm not particularly agoraphobic, though I am particularly lazy. Hence the tardiness of this post...helwen and fitzw kindly opened up their futon to us, making the event possible for us. Well, for me, anyway. When it comes to many hours folded up in a car, I'm a wuss. ( Bergental Yule is where? Springfield? You're kidding... )As SCA events go, it was a different experience for me, since I pretty much didn't know anyone. It goes without saying that loosecanon knows everyone. ;) Still, that's fun too. I talked to lots of folks I didn't know about everything from patchwork to hobnails. For almost everyone I talked to, loosecanon says, "oh you finally met X." No, I'm not kidding.
There was turkish coffee. I spent a ton of time bending the Muslim's ear on comparative religion. I think we both had fun. From experience, converts are usually far better informed than those simply born into something. No, I can't recall the guy's name. Nothing personal, it takes me a few goes to recall anyone's name.
Now, to the real action; the kitchen! Being a visitor, I had not expectations of doing anything beyond random prep work. Oh, and being the tall guy reaching into the salamander; I love my linen garb. When someone was needed to carve cooked waterfowl, I assumed I'd get to breakdown a couple before everyone else was done. ( loosecanon had completely smoked me on the stuffing, doing at least twice as much as me. )
A goose is not a duck, it's not a chicken or a turkey. Rather, it is some monstrous fusion of all those. I'd never butchered a goose before, though it looked and acted most like duck, a giant duck. It's sweet spots were just little bit off in every place. Also, taking apart cooked meat is much more challenging because you can't feel around the skeletal structure as freely.
Strangely, all hands were busy by the time the birds were cool enough to work on. I started in, sure others would show up soon. I was glad for no witnesses to my first bird. I botched a thigh. That particular joint just wouldn't come out of socket on any of them without help. Bird two flowed a little better. I looked up, knowing that I wouldn't be embarrassed doing bird three in front of anyone and expecting someone else would want to play by now. I was still on my own.
You have to understand, I can't think of any more entertaining job in the kitchen than butchering whole critters. It's challenging, rewarding, not overly stressful, and you get to play with sharp objects. I never dreamed I'd have the birds all to myself, but I did. Ten in all.
I was getting weary toward the end and that was good too. Hitting a wall on a repetitive task never fails to teach something. It's why martial art's teachers and drill instructors prefer their charges completely exhausted. Pretty much every bird I did seemed better than it's predecessors. The second to last breast come off with absolutely no flesh on the keel, it was pretty.
Doing all those geese wiped me out. I was pretty useless the rest of the evening; apologizes to the rest of the crew. I greatly appreciated the opportunity, though. It was great fun.
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From:
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..dang, and I thought *chickens* were tough...geese I would think would be more difficult..so kudos on doing(from what I have read) a job well done!
...will I be seeing you at Bhakail Yule?
*hugs*
From:
no subject
We can't afford to miss this Bhakail Yule, it's Lorcan and Sherri's last big hurah! See you there.
From:
no subject
*hugs*
From:
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From:
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