Dear Lady Primevere, I need advice on how to keep my children from getting sick this winter. I, like many other people, have already lost a child to this cold weather and I need help to keep my children safe and warm for this upcoming winter. What is your advice to keep our young from getting sick and cold in this upcoming winter? - sincerely Cold and worried
Dear Cold and worried, I am sorry to hear of the loss of your child. You are correct as many children die in these upcoming cold months. It is often hard to find a way to keep our families warm. I suggest keeping them inside and away from the cold weather, especially outside the kingdom walls. I also suggest you buy some blankets directly from the royal merchants in the market rather than the lower class poor. The blankets from the kingdom are much higher quality. Also try to keep fires going and eat lots of soup. Remember the whole kingdom, even the royal family themselves are going to have a hard winter this calendar.
Sincerely, - Lady Primevere
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Dear Abby,
I have 11 children, and you can imagine how hectic it gets. Anyways, my husband never helps me around the house with cooking, cleaning, or helping out with the kids because he has to work and provide for our family. Everyday I must clean the house with whatever materials we have. We are poor and we do not have many things to clean ourselves, let alone the house. I also have to cook. We barely have any of that either. It’s really difficult to be creative with the foods that I feed my family and how to prepare it differently every day. My biggest issue is that there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. How do I do all of this on my own? Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep up with all the duties I am in charge of in my home?
From, Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
I understand your pain. Even though I do not have any children of my own quite yet, I understand what you’re going through, so I have thought of a few things you could do to relax and not feel so anxious all the time. The first thing I came up with was to ask your children to do “chores”, as I like to call them, around the house. All that this is, is just little tasks that children do to help out their parents a bit. Maybe each one of your kids can have one thing to do everyday such as, helping out with cooking, helping dad with work, cleaning the house (etc.). This will help you out greatly with all the things you have to do everyday. A few little helpers never hurt anyone. The last thing that I came up with was, every time you feel really overwhelmed, all you have to do is take a few breaths and tell yourself, “I can SO do this!” So simple, right! I promise, if you do these things, you will feel SO much better. Good luck, dear.
ENGLAND - Yesterday, King Arnold II’s favorite horse, Pumpkin, coliced in her pasture.
Luckily, the King’s servant, Merrill, noticed very quickly and called for help. The vet was very close by, and rushed over the moat to help.
The veterinarian, Ralph Pippery, reported Pumpkin’s condition to us. “Pumpkin was very miserable when I arrived. She was rolling a lot and did not cooperate. After a few peppermints, she calmed down enough for us to help her. She did not have any effects from the colic, but she did hurt her leg very badly.”
When we asked Pippery when Pumpkin would heal he responded: “Her leg has been treated and wrapped very well. Her cast should come of in 1-2 weeks, and she should be ridable in a few months.”
King Arnold is upset that his best horse is unrideable and is searching for a temporary replacement. Until she is better, Pumpkin is under Merril’s care.
Horse Groomer Available,
Come To The Market,
All Day Any Day!
Interview With Maddeson, Master Of The Horse
Maddeson with one of the King's horses
By: Lady Adela
Grooms and stable boys are often looked down on in our society. However, if they work for a king, they earn the title Master Of The Horse, and are highly respected. They are the only one who work with the king’s prized horses, and are involved in every aspect of their training and care.
Adam Maddeson has been working with horses for almost his entire life, and shares with us the secret of caring for and maintaining the king’s beautiful animals.
We caught up with Maddeson outside of Royal Stables, where he had just finished turning out King Fergus’ newest colt, Manor Man, and was grooming Kiwi, the king’s most prized horse and his only jousting mount.
Lady Adela: How long have you been working with horses, here and in general?
Maddeson: As a young boy in England, I lived on my family farm. We had many horses. I was on a horse by my first birthday, and I got my first gelding, Joey, when I was only three years old. I first became a stable boy when I was 13, and have gradually worked my way up. I have been working here for six years now.
LA: How did you get interested in horses? Was it just because you lived with them growing up?
M: I think part of loving horses was growing up around them. As long as I can remember, I was around horses, and always wanted to be near them. I also love their beauty, and I think I would love horses no matter what. However, I think living with and owning horses helped me advance in the horse world.
LA: What are your favorite things about horses?
M: I love so much about them. Their grace and beauty makes you immediately fall in love with them. They are also so responsive to you if you can interact with them correctly. I cannot describe it, they are just my life.
LA: What sort of work do you do here with the horses?
M: I am involved with every aspect of their life. Once they come here, whether they were purchased from another country or they were born right here in our stables, I work with them. Every morning I feed them and groom them. Next I turn them out while I clean their stalls. I then exercise the stallions and geldings, and the mares care for their foals. It is constant work with them.
LA: What horses do you work with?
M: I work with all of the royal horses. The King’s, Queen’s, and Princes’ horses are all in my care. I do not work with any of the knights’ horses, though, only the royal family’s.
LA: Does the King force you to treat the horses in a way you dislike?
M: Not usually, however, I do disagree with some things I must do. I do not like how little turn out time the stallions get. The stallions are also very overworked; almost everyday they get a brisk hand gallop. That is way too much to handle for a two year old.
LA: Have you ever discussed these topics with the King? What did he say?
M: I have, briefly. However, he is stuck to his ways, and I do not want to push him. He believes that he is doing what is best for his horses, and I do not want to argue with him.
LA: Why do you not want to do what is best for the horses?
M: I am worried that he will fire me, honestly. He can have a very short temper when it comes to him being right.
LA: Would you ever work for a different king?
M: No. I am very loyal to King Fergus. I see myself working in these stables for his family for the rest of my years as a horse keeper. He is a great king to work for; he treats me very well.
LA: Do you feel you deserve higher pay?
M: Yes. I do feel that I deserve more. I have been loyal to him for all six years I have been here. I have never been late, or harmed one of his horses. I am also very experienced, and professional horse keepers are hard to come by these days.
LA: Thank you for talking to us.
M: My pleasure.
Like-New Saddle
Almost brand new saddle for sale! Only used to deliver a few messages! Just needs a good cleaning! Asking 15 shillings OBO.
Daughter For Sale!
Arabella Wissant is a lovely 15 year old girl. She is an excellent cook and is very willing to clean. At only 40 shillings she is a bargain! Please send all marriage proposals via carrier pigeon to 324 Heartbreak Road.
Dear Abby
Dear Abby,
I have 5 children and my husband and I are having trouble feeding them. We really need food for our family and we just can’t afford it. What are we going to do? We need to feed our children. They are the most important and they come first when it comes to who gets to eat and who doesn’t. We don’t know what to do and we need help. We have turned to you when nothing else has worked. Please help us, Abby.
From, Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
I am genuinely sorry for the situation you have to be in. I thought long and hard about your situation and I came up with a few solutions, hopefully they work for you. If you really are having trouble feeding your family, dirt/soil is a great alternative to the normal and boring food that everyone else eats. It has so many nutrients and also has some little critters called worms in it. Pick out the little skinny ones and eat the big, fat, juicy worms, they have to most nutrients. If this doesn’t work for you, sell all of your belongings to get some money! Then you can spend it on food. Simple, right?! Good luck!