Spencerian Saga

Saga 2011

2011-10-16T03:54:00.000-07:00

Engrossing Saga was held on October 9th – 15th at the Lakehouse Lodge on Geneva-on-the-Lake.

The Event Centre was completed in time for the Traditional Saga the week before. Beautiful weather greeted everyone for the first three days and Mother Nature gave an electrifying display for our departure on the final Saturday.

Some of us stayed at the Lakehouse Inn, and were greeted by Innkeeper Andrea.

The Lakehouse Inn Beach House and Winery.

Some of us stayed at the Geneva Lodge.

Both sites gave magnificent views of the beach and water.

This is a picture of the approaching storm, taken from the Lodge. It brought with it hail and 58 miles per hour winds. Some folks loved the massive waves and windstorm. Some wondered about the trip home as some planes were delayed.

Co-directors, Michael (on left) and Harvest (below).

Harvest will be carrying the Spencerian Saga torch and continuing the Saga journey. Congratulations, Harvest!

The new Events Centre! Opened on October 2, in time for Traditional Saga! What a neat place - converted from a derelict cottage purchased last year. We hope the new spa being build on the right side will offer massages! Mike, are you ready for more changes?

The porch gave ample space to enjoy the lovely weather the first 3 days...

Saga founder and Master Penman, Mike Sull, demonstrates how to draw an acanthus leaf - prevalent in currency and certificates.

Here is the result below.

Mike gives a demonstration.

Up close and personal...Voila!

Joe introduces himself - Master Penman in training, Junior Grade. His personalized nametag indicates his rank.

Tuesday's dinner at Mary's Diner.

Aline, blog master, is not in the individual pictures below but is in this photo, with Spencerian 'volunteer', husband Peter.

This space is for Wednesday's Dinner with pictures taken by Hank.

A new place called Mar 'G'

Engrossing samples...

Mike & Harvest

At this Saga, everyone got along.

Our participants:

June

Shirley

Terese

Deborah

Jody

Carole

Heather

Hank

Joseph - did you find your lost luggage?

Joseph washed laundry every night - and had his first foray into WalMart.

Pat

Ann

Maureen

Carole

Brenda

Dorothy (who won the raffle)

Dawn

Judy

Marie

Frances

Kim

Lisa

Joe and Yvonne, desk-mates.

Samples of watercolour washes by Mike...

Oil toning

French lining with a ruling pen.

Mike doing filigree

Adjusting pen holders

Signing his book of poems.

Joe is working on the engrossing for the certificates for Mike & Harvest. Every technique he learned this week enhanced his efforts... certificates will be further down...

Following the storm's approach on Friday evening...

the crashing of the waves added its haunting melody to the cacophony of the wind...

Aline was almost blown over but Pat takes delight in fighting the powerful gales... she manages to get her picture.

Lisa enjoys the weather...

Relaxing before the Friday evening farewell dinner... Hank and Ann.

Pre-dinner fireside chats...

Our main course...

Vintner Sam regales us with anecdotes of the wine industry and the family's foray into the sommelier business. He always has a new historical tidbit to share with us every year.

Our cake...

Marie has served us well ever since they took over the business. She is always upbeat and is a hard worker. The matriarch of the family, and the mother of Sam and Andrea's grandmother.

Shirley has worked at the Inn for 27 years and has been with Saga for 25 years.

She is always cheerful and greets us all with a smile. She has every t-shirt from Saga.

My slice of cake...

Marie sits for a minute and makes a toast to those of us at the table.

Cheryl, Marie & Shirley receive a token of appreciation from Mike.
Another t-shirt to add to their collection.

Visitors Bill and Kathy from the Spencer Committee, pay us a visit. Mike presents them with t-shirts and forgets their canvas bags. Thoughtful Pat runs over to the events centre and brings them their bags.

Mike & Harvest are called to receive their certificates of Appreciation.

Mike admires the engrossing on his certificate, made of the highest quality parchment with the finest of penmanship and art.

Harvest admires all the techniques Joe has employed in the 'magnificent' rendition of superb Spencerian and engrossing.

Dawn, from the Spencer Committee, acknowledges a donation of $1000 from the participants - it will go towards the new plaque in the new park in town, Veterans Park, to honour Spencer. Two truckloads of old bricks from the original school will be used.

Mike & Harvest admire their thank-you cards from Heather.

The outside of the cards.

Harvest's certificate...
Mike would not part with his for a photo op.

Heather's work

More of Heather's work.

Heather's work.

Mike's piece that was raffled with proceeds going to the kitchen staff. Dorothy won the prize!

Close up of the piece...

More pictures from Saga 2010

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Luisa Mexican Diner

From the Healey Collection

Mike at the new Spencer Platt Elementary School - scheduled to open on Sunday.

Saga 2010 and The Lakehouse Inn

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This year, classes took place in the cottage across the Lakehouse Inn. The cottage was purchased the month before so the building was not completely refurbished, except for the main room.

The Crosswinds Grille

The Lakehouse Inn with a view of Lake Erie

Dining out

2010-10-17T02:20:00.000-07:00


Mary's Diner, Monday evening.Most of us had perch and a choice of pies.

Luisa Mexican Diner, Thursday evening. The highlight of many was the $1.99 margaritas.


The Volkswagen served as the food prep area.

Mike's face says it all - he is not enamored of the meal...

Our meals, including Friday night 's banquet

2010-10-17T02:03:00.005-07:00

Our last dinner together, we had a wine tasting by Vince, the father of Innkeeper Andrea. He introduced three wines produced at the winery, a dry white, two reds and a sweet wine which is a mix of both red and white. He gave a brief history of the wine making in the area. Lance, Andrea's husband followed with two more bottles of red.

Mike regales us of epic tales of the penmen of days of yore and modern times. Young Mike and Carole listen with anticipation...


We have the customary Saga cake made especially for us by the owners of the Inn. Our main course was roast pork topped with a delicious spice mixture, roast potatoes and mixed vegetables.

Each morning, we had a full American breakfast, lunches were salads with a meat entrée: chicken salads, delicious ham & cheese sandwiches, paninis with mashed potatoes, french fries. Friday's lunch included Marie's special chicken noodle soup. Dinners were stuffed chicken and lasagna. Desserts were cheesecake, carrot cake, cookies, petit fours, brownies, gelato, and to the delight of our vegan and vegetarian participants, we even had chocolate vegan cupcakes.

Who's Who at the Saga 2010

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More pictures - Saga 2010 - by Monica

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Certificates

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Spencerian Saga 2010 and the Healey Collection

2010-10-17T01:21:00.000-07:00

The Healey Collection - Our Master Penman, Mike Sull, brought the entire Healey collection to the Spencerian Saga.

Photos by Heather

2009-11-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

Chris & Mike having a puff, for Spencer's sake Chris wonders why he came all the way to Geneva Lake to seek out Spencerian stones....

Mike looks at Spencer's plaque at a very

busy intersection, outside BB's Grocery. Spencer & Persis' memorial at the cemetery.

More by Norm Nichols

2009-11-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Spencer's house on its last legs. Mike and Joe admiring Spencer's house. The back of Peter's head.

Lake Erie from the Inn Kim hard at work in the classroom

Arlene & Charlotte contemplate on what to choose Charlotte and Mike prepare paper and wax...

The finished product. Spencer's Tombstone

Reading the gravestones on the ground

Spencer's original tombstone Close-up of Spencer's wife's tombstone.

Photos by Joe Carbone

2009-11-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

Mike cries over spilled ink. Joe and Mike relax at Grove Cemetery.

Mike makes it a Capital case

Mike makes an embellished card for Joe

Mike shows how to make a gravestone rubbing Wednesday's repas - Mary's Diner

Meatloaf Extraordinaire!

Joe's incredible heartburn deserves special mention and a bravery medal!

The beautiful gardens - herb and floral - at Lakehouse Inn

Photos by Norm Nichols

2009-10-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

Seagulls Cicada

Lady Bug Pat & Heather

Pat - Mike is at the blackboard Addressed envelope

Mike at work Lake Erie thru the classroom window

Frances & Kim Anne

Anne,Frances,Je,Mike David hard at work on his masterpiece

Kim works hard to finish her rubbing of Spencer's tombstone Michael at the blackboard that he calls a

'relic'

Heather receives the first Heritage Award

2009-10-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Group photo & dinner celebration

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It was all too soon when we got took group photos and had our 'banquet'.

One crazy Lars took his daily dip...

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We held bated breath when Lars informed us that he would take a swim in the frigid waters of Lake Erie at 7 a.m. the next morning! No one believed him - after all, the staff of the B&B informed us that it was about 50F.
And indeed, the next day, everyone was looking for a lifeless body washed up on shore when Lars failed to appear at breakfast. Lars said the water was warmer than his native Sweden. Brrr...Lars had to prove to the folks at home that he experienced the frigid shores of Lake Erie.

Mike and his Capital Stems

2009-10-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

Collecting 'stones' to improve our letters

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Along the shores of Lake Erie, on Geneva's State Park, lie a myriad of smooth oval stones that inspired Spencer to make his beautiful lettering form.

Naturally our Master Penman, Mike, took us there
so that we, too, could imitate the shape.

Aline finds the perfect stone while Chris and

Heather are still searching.

Evergreen Cemetery

2009-10-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Evergreen Cemetery is where Platt Rogers Spencer The gravestone of Spencer's wife, Persis Duty.
and several members of his family are buried.

We spent a day there doing gravestone rubbings.

Memorial to Platt Spencer and wife, Persis.

2009 Spencerian students

Closeup of Spencerian lettering on tombstone. Master Penman Michael Sull shows how to do a rubbing.

The proper way to relax - with a pipe! This picture of Spencer's house was located at

the corner of a busy intersection.

Spencer's old dilapidated homestead is still occupied but shows signs of disrepair.

Spencerian Saga 2009 - Lakehouse Inn & Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio

2009-10-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

View of Lake Erie which tickles our doorsteps.

Lakehouse Inn & Winery is an idyllic location to hold a conference.

On a blustery day, when winds were 80 miles per hour, the white caps pounded the shores of the lake.We heard the next day that several counties were without power and that some schools were closed.