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<DIV>I would add to what has already been said.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Baron Brian's approach to the dropping of the Dreaming Tree gave the affair
the sense of dignity and reverence that it deserved. His spiritual
leadership made an unpleasant demise a endurable task. Well done your
Excellency.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Pease,</DIV>
<DIV>Vlod NotVlad</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=brian_the_french_norman@yahoo.com
href="mailto:brian_the_french_norman@yahoo.com">John Reuter</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org
href="mailto:ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org">Raven's Fort Barony of</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 23, 2009 5:16
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Ravensfort] The Dreaming tree
that was,may it's history live in our hearts.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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<DIV>To just tell you that the Dreaming Tree is no more due
to nature and the harsh conditions it creates during droughts,
lightning and storms would not be right. To tell you the story of how it
got its name, how we enjoyed it's shade the how it will be missed may
help to put in to focus what we have truly lost.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Shortly after we were made a Barony, the site owner
informed us that he wished to build a house on the location we
used to hold our events. This was our old site near
the road that leads to our current site. It was a shock to us to loose
the site but the site owner so liked the way it had been taken care of
that it was the perfect location for a ranch house for his
family. He in turn gave us a much larger location to have fun with on
the agreement that we take care of the land just as we
did the old location. With a new site needing work we commenced to
clearing brush, mowing and thinning those pesky pine
trees. Allot of work went in to cleaning the site up for our
first few event. People were allowed to pick out semi
permanent camp sites that they could use each time they attended an
event at the site. It was not too long after this
that Sir William the Bear came to our site for an
event. It was during his and Catherine Blackrose's first
<SPAN>reign</SPAN> as King and Queen of Ansteorra. He spoke
with Sir Kief the land agent and asked if he could camp near a
large oak tree that was near the list field. He camped
there with his family and during this event I believe he named
the oak tree the Dreaming Tree. There is more to that
story, so I will save that for another time. So Sir William the
bear had a sign made and painted the letters purple to match his
colors. He had a special bond with the tree and soon every body
knew that was Bear's tree. Many times did he camp under that
tree and it gave him shelter and shade. Many fighters have placed
their seats under the tree to watch the tourneys and lists that
played out over the years. For nineteen years this mighty oak did
serve our Kingdom and give its shelter and shade to any who
needed it. It was covered in spanish moss in its early years and
after a bad drought lost the moss and came back even stronger
and greener than before. It has seen the best of events and has
with stood the worst storms in its time that caused some of our events
to be postponed to later dates. It has always been there for us.
One year ago a Hurricane named Ike came through
the Coastal Region and it stretched its powerful winds deep in
to the lands of the Southern Region. It caused much damage to our site.
The mighty oak was pushed to its limits and was weakened Our Defender
event was canceled due to the damage the Hurricane caused many
good folk were cleaning up and recovering form it. we just could
not hold the event. A week later one of the three main
arms of the tree fell. We felt that it was weakened by the winds
and could not keep its limb any more, During the winter it was discussed
what to do. and the Barony planed to work on it after the
dear hunting season was over to prepare for the spring
event. Spring arrived and soon green buds started to grow and
leaves were growing and it looked healthy despite the lost
limb. It was trimmed up and cleaned and after our
spring event we removed it from the tree in hopes that it would heal.
The Dreaming tree Continued to grow. but a drought began
to cause the land to suffer the ground began to crack and grass was
turning tan and brown. after a few months the land was in
bad shape. The Dreaming tree was still green, But a small crack
began to develop between the two arms that were left. this
crack was unnoticed until the barony arrived in late may to prepare
for the fall event. While examining the tree the members
of the barony discussed what could be done. It was
in July that we had to make a choice and to mend it with
cables and braces or cut it down. While we discussed our options
and planed the tree suffered through a good sized storm and with
the driving rain that came the crack grew bugger and was all the
way to the truck. the tree was about to fall. It was strong enough
to stand with out a wind but the chance of it not falling during an
event was to great. After much discussion and counseling with the
members of the populace the decision to cut the Dreaming Tree
was made. August 22, 2009 after 20 years of service to
our barony the sad time came that the Dreaming tree was tired
and was unable to stand with out help. We did not want to loose
such a mighty oak and my heart grew heavy as I thought of what we
must do. We cut up a few pines that needed to go and decided to
work on the Dreaming Tree on the next day the 23. We sized up the
best spots to cut and planed the best route to lay
the tree down. It took allot of effort to will my hands to do
the first cut but deep in my heart I knew we had to do
it. first the notch, then the cut. I was being
watched by Lord Vlod not Vlod and he documented
the falling of the Dreaming Tree. As I cut the truck was solid
and I felt it creek and soon a solid CRACK.and I stopped. I backed away
and it cracked and popped slowly and with some small effort it very
slowly started it fall. As it swayed with the slight breeze It soon
bucked under its weight and fell, Thunder and dust surrounded us and
the ground shook like a heard of a thousand horsed
came stampeding in. Then it was silent. No none said a
word until some one sighed and remarked how it fell so hard. I then
focused on the second limb. The power of the first limb was so
fresh in my mind I summoned the will to cut the notch and worked my way
around the truck to the side. After much cutting and a crack and pop
here and there the second limb fell much like the first. and then
It was time to to to work limbing the fallen oak that once
was. I took no pride in cutting down the Dreaming tree and as I type
these words a deep sense of guilt wells up inside me every
time I think of what I did. I know the reasons were right and
the site owner sees just another old oak on his ranch but
I see much more than that. We all loved the Dreaming Tree and
when we miss the shade that it once gave us I hope we remember the
times we once shared under it. I asked Lady Runa to collect acorns
from the tree to give out as site tokens for Crown Tourney.
I thought that those who know our site and remember the Dreaming
Tree would want a part of it. I know its small but it felt like the
thing to do. I am sorry but the Dreaming Tree is
not with us any more.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Brian</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR> <BR></DIV>
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