Woad

Day 175: "Woad's the stuff to show men! / Woad to scare your foe-men! / Boil it to / A brilliant blue / and rub it on your legs and your ab-DO-men! / Ancient Britons / Never hit on / Anything as good as woad to fit on / Neck or knees or where you sit on! / Good for us today!" So go the words we used to sing around the campfire at Society for Creative Anachronism events. Although my SCA persona was not Scottish, I am fiercely proud of my wrong-side-of-the-blanket descendancy from the McLeods of Lewis (Skye) and break out the garish yellow tartan for days such as today, World Tartan Day. Alas, it is past the season for haggis, but lovely weather for gadding about in woad.

Sound & Fury Steampunk Morris

Day 283: Sound & Fury stepped outside tradition yesterday to dance at the Fairhaven Steampunk Festival (Bellingham), and it was one of the most delightful non-botanical experiences I've had in many years. It was Sound & Fury's second year performing at this event. We danced two sets as the temperature rose, breaking between them for cool beverages and lunch at the local pub. My new steampunk persona Finnie (Feannagh) MacLeod made her first public appearance and was honoured to be asked to pose for portraits by several bystanders. I found that dancing in a corset isn't quite as difficult as it sounds, and definitely improves the posture. We will be appearing again in regular kit at the Ballard Locks Monday evening, and at a selection of Woodinville cideries on July 29.