Yesterday, July 10, 2022, my husband Kit Heinrichs and I were invested as the 13th coronets of the Barony of Madrone (the local North King County branch of the SCA). This is a service role: stewarding, serving, encouraging, and leading the fabulous people of our branch.
First, we appreciate our excellent friends and predecessors Spike and Enzio, who led by example and grace, and encouraged us to consider serving as coronets at some point in the future. We also would like to thank Their Majesties Raoukinn and Sven who have entrusted Madrone to our care.
We are incredibly grateful to friends and barony for so much help with making our vision around investiture clothing come true. We had help with sewing, dressing, hair and hats, belts, jewelry, coronet-shining – we were truly dressed in the love and support of our friends and family.
When I realized I’d designed and started on a garb creation project too large to complete alone, I asked for help, and I was humbled and blessed with the number of folks who helped in large ways and small, and who checked in with me to see how things were coming along. Spike, Alessandra, Aryana, Nicolin, Rachel, Bianca, Katryne, Zahra, Adrianna, Alianora, Anissa, Rowena, Alicia, Evrard, and Giselle and more – you helped us shine. (Literally. Spike and Anissa encouraged liberal addition of gold trim.)
We are grateful for all the assistance with planning an investiture – we’d never done this before! Rapheal and Kerij-e, Spike and Enzio, Aryana, Simon and Giselle, Bergdis – you were tremendous.
We said we didn’t need retinue, that our volunteer crunch was such that we’d make things work. But – y’all helped us anyway. And we needed it! Jackie/Squeaky was our coronet-shiner extraordinaire, Basilius and Isentrude took over hospitality setup for me, Jojo made sure we drank, ate, and helped us with load-out. Patricia helped with my hair and getting dressed, and Ki made us both lacing for our garb. We appreciate your care and support.
Special thanks to Aurora, who made a mini-Faris to accompany us on our journey. There were tears and thanks and it was a profound gift.
Rapheal was a processional herald extraordinaire – he made us sound like minor deities. Simon jumped in with ceremonial advice and organization, and helped us fumble through our first, short court.
Fromage Fete played music for our processional and made our Queen want to dance! Crystal made us a fabulous trillium and trident. Nick and Temetgen carried our banners, and we had so many much-loved family and friends walk in with us! Your support means everything on this new adventure.
Finally, the culinary guild’s gift of celebratory cookies and tarts was a sweet and thoughtful ending to a wonderful day. Apricot things are always a hit with me! We are so grateful for all you do.
If we missed acknowledging your support and contributions, please send me a note and remind me because acknowledging the people in our world is is very important to us.
We’re very much looking forward to this adventure with the Barony of Madrone!
House Snark 