mouse!

We have wildlife! We decided that the theory that cold makes one stupid applies to animals as well as humans, which would explain why we had a mouse running around the block when it barely got above freezing all day.

I'm so confused...

Question for the SCA-types (Jillian and I were wondering this, after the spate of awards at 12th night)...

We know there are some SCA awards you get to find out about ahead of time (free scholar, where it's announced ahead of time so that part of the ceremony is fighting people... but apparently not provost, as there was one made w/o warning at 12th night, a non-fighting event?... and at least the latest knight-to-be gets a month of warning-- is that normal?) But the impression we have is that for the most part one doesn't find out ahead of time, particularly for high level stuff (Aedan's pelican comes to mind.) Why is this? And how is it determined what things you know in advance and what ones you don't?