Estrella War Memories.

.....Talon is headed down to Estrella War in another week or so and I'm jealous as I love Estrella. Even the year of epic mud is still a bright spot in my mind. It was such an anomaly considering all the Estrella's I've attended. Although more of mine have been at Estrella Mountain Park than either Schremph Farm or Florence.

.....The first time I went I needed a little convincing. Inga Calle was merchanting that year and I'd been helping her at various events as her set-up, errand boy and assistant. It was actually quite fun as it made me do a lot more traveling outside Dragon's Laire. For the first time I was forced to realize that the Knowne Worlde was a little larger than Kitsap County and Dragon's Laire. :-)

.....Inga actually drove down with all her wares. She did the smart thing right off, she had a pavilion rented through a local outfit who set it up and took it down for her. They knew their stuff to as the pavilion was staked to the ground with twenty-four inch spikes. I especially liked the fact that we didn't have to worry about the set-up and tear down of it at all. It was there when Inga showed up on site early Wednesday.

.....I actually flew down as I couldn't get that many days off of work. I found a cheap ticket aboard Southwest. It was my very first experience with 'Festival Seating'. Oh! My! God! What a riot! I can laugh at it now, but it certainly wasn't funny then. I had no clue what the proper ettiquette was. There were no lines queued up. Everyone just gathered at the top of the gangway in anticipation. I should have had a clue when the attendant clearly made sure she had an exit path before dropping the lines. Before that velvet rope had fallen, the people waiting to board that flight were stampeding down the ramp very much like the proverbial herd of wild buffalo. I was not prepared, but was carried along in the current. Which proved a relatively good thing as I was able to find at least an aisle seat. If I'd actually waited, or had been more polite, things might have been bad.

.....The flight down was also epic in that we stopped at Spokane, Salt Lake City and Reno before touching down in Phoenix at 11PM that night. :-) I hadn't made reservations for a rental car and really hadn't even thought that far, so in a daze I decided to take a taxi. I lucked out in that I managed to hook up with a driver who knew where Estrella Mountain Park was. It was still a $75 trip. Definitely a lesson learned.

.....Made it out to site at about 12:30 AM or so and spent about an hour locating the Marketplace and then Inga. By then I was dead and fell asleep as soon as my sleeping bag was unrolled.

.....The next morning it was in the 80's by 0900. That surprised me for a February. I had come from a mild and rainy Seattle to the desert and had not packed accordingly. I spent the entire weekend in shorts and a loose and light-weight tunic. I'm sure that I looked like someone's creepy uncle. :-)

.....The Marketplace seemed to be crowded the entire time I was there. Customers were talking to Inga constantly. I didn't feel right leaving her there alone, although she probably wouldn't have cared one way or another. But I didn't really leave the pavilion Wednesday or Thursday. Part of that I'm sure was the enormity of the event. I was floored by the sheer numbers of people and the size of the Marketplace alone. It was HUGE. Considering that my primary experiences with large events at that time were all limited to June Faire, which was half the size it is now, Estrella made it look like someone's birthday party in comparison.

.....It was amazing to see the sheer numbers of circlets and crowns and coronets everywhere as well. You could spend the entire event bowing to every person you passed.

.....By Friday I finally managed to make it out to watch a battle on the Warfield. It immediately made me wish I'd made it out there the day before. According to one of the heralds standing near me, there were literally over 1,500 fighters on the field. 1,500 fighters! It was AMAZING! Watching them form up, listening to the increasing volume as the excitement built. Then the drums and challenges. Finally, the screaming and yelling as the two sides ran for each other. Then the CRASH of weapons and shields. It was the most amazing experience, like being on an actual war-field. The adrenaline rush was just unreal. And I wasn't even in armor.

.....Individual battles never seemed to last more than ten or fifteen minutes before a hold was called. But even for a novice like me I could after a while start seeing patterns in the way strategies were laid out and tactics enacted. It was fun to try and anticipate what method each side would use next. But that was certainly never a sure thing. Getting 700+ people on a side to all work to a strategy with minimal preparation time is a massive feat. This is where you can tell who the really brilliant war leaders were.

.....After that I made sure to get out to the war-field for at least one battle a day. :-)

.....That first year I managed to attend several classes in the collegium, get my picture drawn by William Blackfox :-) (which is hanging on the wall in my Computer Room), and prowl the Marketplace for all of those things we never see in An Tir. It was the first time I'd ever seen Duke Torgul actually sitting in a Merchant Booth with his wares (the coolest stuff I'd ever seen!).

.....It was also the first time I experience a 'Midnight Madness Sale'. :-) The Marketplace stayed open until midnight. I was surprised at the numbers of people haunting the Marketplace at 11PM looking for 'the deal'. :-) Although many were drawn by the number of Middle Eastern Dancers performing the Marketplace. I don't know who arranged that, but it sure worked out well. There must have been around a hundred dancers on at least two stages and wandering the Marketplace. People came to watch them in droves, and then 'bought stuff'. :-)

.....I think that first year I slept at the most maybe four hours that first night. If I managed two hours a night after that, I was lucky. Which turned out a good thing for the flight back as I slept most of the way.

.....Good memories. Estrella seems to have lost a little attendance since the early / mid 90's, but the excitement is still there. I plan on going back, that's for sure.

.....Aaron / Arontius.

Guacamole!

.....I've been having the most terrible cravings for Guacamole lately. Avocados are super cheap this weekend too! I may have to work on TBT to let me make some. :-)

.....Check out these recipes I found just in Comcast during idle searches...

Bacon Guacamole

Ingredients:
* 5 strip(s) medium-thick bacon (full-flavored smoky bacon is great here)
* 3 medium-large, ripe avocados (about 1 1/4 pounds)
* 1/2 medium-large white onion, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
* 2 canned chipotle chilies in adobo, up to 3 chilies, to taste, removed from the canning sauce, stemmed, slit open, seeds scraped out, and finely chopped
* 1 medium-large, round, ripe tomato, cored and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (see Tip)
* 1/4 cup(s) loosely packed, coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, thick bottom stems cut off
* Salt
* 1 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice, up to 2 tablespoons

Directions:
1. In a large, 10-inch skillet, cook bacon in a single layer over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp and browned, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then crumble into small pieces.
2. Cut around each avocado, from stem to blossom end and back again, then twist 2 halves apart. Scoop out pit and discard. Scoop flesh from skin into a large bowl. Using an old-fashioned potato masher or a large fork or spoon, mash avocados into a coarse puree.
3. Scoop onion into a small strainer and rinse under cold water. Shake off excess water and transfer to bowl, along with chipotle chilies, tomato, cilantro (save a little for garnish if you wish), and about 2/3 bacon. (If guacamole isn't being served right away, don't add bacon until just before serving, because it loses crispness as it sits in guacamole.) Gently stir to combine all ingredients. Taste and season with salt (usually about 1/2 teaspoon) and enough lime juice to add a little sparkle.
4. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of guacamole and refrigerate until ready to serve. Scoop guacamole into a serving dish, sprinkle with remaining bacon (and cilantro if you have it), and you're ready to serve.


Tomatillo Guacamole

Ingredients:
* 1 small onion, diced
* 6 serrano chiles (up to 8 chiles), stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
* 1 bunch(es) cilantro, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
* 12 medium tomatillos, husked, washed, and roasted (see Tips & Techniques)
* 4 large California avocados, preferably Hass (about 2 pounds), halved, seeded, and peeled

Directions:
1. Combine onion, chiles, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add tomatillos, a few at a time, mashing and grinding with a fork or pestle, to form a fine paste.
2. Add avocados and continue mashing and mixing until chunky. Serve immediately as a dip with tortilla chips or slices of ripe tomato.


Seafood Guacamole

Ingredients:
* 3 large ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
* 3 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice
* 1/3 cup(s) minced cilantro leaves
* 1 tablespoon(s) minced jalapeño
* 1 teaspoon(s) cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) minced garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1/4 tablespoon(s) cayenne
* 1/2 cup(s) minced red onions
* 1/2 cup(s) finely chopped seeded tomatoes
* 1/2 cup(s) finely chopped fresh jicama
* 2 teaspoon(s) extra virgin olive oil
* 1/2 pound(s) lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, place all but 1/4 cup of the avocado pieces. Add 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon of the jalapeño, 1/2 teaspoon of the cumin, 1/4 teaspoon of the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and a pinch of cayenne, and mash with the back of a fork until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the onions, 1/4 cup of the tomatoes, and 1/4 cup of the jicama to the avocado mixture, and stir well to combine.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients with the crabmeat and gently toss to combine. Fold the crabmeat mixture into the mashed avocado mixture, stirring to combine, but being careful not to break up the crabmeat. Season to taste. Divide among 4 chilled martini glasses and serve with tortilla chips.

.....Mmmmmm, guacamole... :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.