Re-enactment Experiences Mark II

[midwestmutt]

Events across the US are cancelling as far ahead as the end of May. My own club's event which would have opened two weeks from today cancelled on March 22. My hopes are fading for this whole year since I can't risk exposure without a vaccine. I intend to set up my camp in the back yard when it warms up a bit more to check equipment and have a place to escape the house. I've been meaning to learn dutch oven cooking and now have no excuse to put it off any longer. At least I can get a literal taste of camping this way.

[midwestmutt]

Just as I had given up hope my wig arrived this morning. I have mixed feelings about the quality but I am no expert on these matters. I was worried because the maker was 3 months late, his website had vanished, and his FB page had not had a new post in months. There was also a complaint on his FB reviews that he had defrauded another customer and was no longer answering email after the complainant had returned a shoddy wig for replacement. I am keeping what I received and will see how it goes. It is brown when I asked for white but since ordering it I learned that darker colored wigs were the daily style while white wigs were for formal occasions. I can always use pomade and powder I suppose, though at this point I am not inclined to make a mess of the thing. I was afraid I was out $500.so I'm just glad I have something to show for it. I won't be doing more business with this sketchy character again.

[Róisín]

Glad you got something, and hope it works for you. Sounds a bit shonky! $500. is certainly a lot for a wig! Might be cheaper to actually go to a professional wigmaker in person.

[midwestmutt]

The only other 18th century wigmaker I could find wants $1,000.

[Róisín]

That sounds crazy! I wonder where theatre companies get theirs?

[midwestmutt]

Update: It's been over a year since I looked for wigmakers. I see now there are two modern wigmakers who have a sideline of 18th century style wigs but both use synthetic hair instead of human or horsehair. They sell for less, @ $300, which I could also have gotten from my dodgy maker. I may get one in white for formal settings but not at the moment. Let's see how the one I have works out if I even get a chance to use it this year. There are theatrical wigs available but at @$20.00-80.00 I doubt their quality. They might pass when you're up on a stage but not in a reenactment setting which is more person to person. In an amusing aside my search has led to a rash of female wigs and hair product ads on my computer. Lots of fashion magazines too.

[Yastreb]

There are theatrical wigs available but at @$20.00-80.00 I doubt their quality. They might pass when you're up on a stage but not in a reenactment setting which is more person to person.

I understand! You don't want to be seen as a farb.

[midwestmutt]

I made good on my plan to learn Dutch oven cooking in my camp which has been set up in my back yard since late May. I have always been a reluctant cook but cast iron is catching it seems. I'm now collecting quite a set of ovens, skillets,pie and bread pans, a pipkin, and assorted utensils. I do have a tendency to get "enthused" as my nearest and dearest put it.
My very first bake was cornbread, mandatory in the US for bakers.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/7fc11d7c49a5c29c62b5a7439b550b52/f7f8a3d75a4e6f21-d3/s2048x3072/19ab66cadff5158a9ace177853ce9af71049f8dd.jpg
My 2nd attempt was better.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/ed4ccf0711d56a6c86e4086c7613337a/e0339829e0a816e8-73/s2048x3072/854dd503968be7e90f47bef2a1868493a49c5878.jpg
My kitty likes to help me in my camp. She has always enjoyed it when I set up canvas in the yard for whatever reasons.
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A view of my camp with a bake in progress.
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My camp shortly after setting it up in May.
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[Róisín]

Nice little camp! What sort of fuel do you use for cooking? And the cornbread looks good! I love doing that sort of cooking on a wood fire!

[midwestmutt]

I use charcoal briquets for now for easier heat control while I'm still learning. My plan is to switch to lump charcoal for better historical appropriateness after I get more experience. I find tending a wood fire to be a tedious chore. Many events provide abysmal quality of wood, my own club included, while bringing in outside wood is banned to prevent insect infestation. The emerald ash borer and oak wilt is devastating parks in this country. Also fires are required to be attended at all times while I always want to roam at events. There is a further problem of fire bans due to drought conditions which are more frequent these days.

[wavewright62]

Those are very good reasons to consign history to history, methinks.

[midwestmutt]

On a happier note my group I camp with at our club's rendezvous, the Sugar River Fencibles, held our First Annual Fall Gathering and Black Powder Shoot at the club campground this weekend.
The upper field where the cabin is located. At Rendezvous it, and the lower field, is filled end to end with canvas lodges of all kinds.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/0adecee7d8b1deeb9e7a60ac0e18227b/ff52e5a3f1d6b44d-3a/s2048x3072/f7d29abf225de54e877c99915701e18c01383329.jpg
https://64.media.tumblr.com/40585a008993b65d6bb87c7b734d9184/ff52e5a3f1d6b44d-bf/s2048x3072/44b83503bfda3216e844239bcaee2c8ee33c3020.jpg
The cabin is 40 years old and required repairs to the foundation and walls this year. All that's left now is to rechink the walls.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/009d22deb9ced7cd3113e5c5e7995312/ff52e5a3f1d6b44d-50/s2048x3072/d8d693fddd19ac2976f6a6dbebac23ccafece3e7.jpg
Cap'n Fritz in center, the leader of our little F&I militia, usually wears a flashier uniform than bib overalls but period attire was not required at this event.
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Brats, veal sausage, and hot dogs were the entree. We're in Wisconsin after all.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/2840291ffa06008fd9ae22f46614dd9d/ff52e5a3f1d6b44d-8b/s2048x3072/8794a05a2b8bce640f27730eb75efd7eff2db1a4.jpg
Brats, cornbread and brownies are my 3 favorite food groups. I made the cornbread in my Dutch oven.
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[Róisín]

Damnit! 2021 looks like a bit of a bust, but at least something is happening! I have been holding off on posting events because everything was up in the air with Covid and other crises, but at last I know what is happening.

The Gumeracha Mediæval Fair is happening this weekend, May 8 and 9, but it is sadly reduced. 2020 didn’t happen because Covid and other disasters, one of which was the organiser who had run the event for over 20 years very nearly succumbing to congestive cardiac failure. Took her months to recover but she is now back on deck. However, she won’t be running it this year and the people who took it over are making a bit of a dogs breakfast of it. Most of the genuinely historical aspect has been stripped out - things like the tanner, falconer, fletcher, brewer, cooper, field kitchens, the better blacksmiths, musical instrument maker and builder of weaving looms have been abandoned for things the new management think will make more money. The tone is now more Disneyland or the nastier kind of American Ren Faire than anything historical or educational. All lycra fairy dresses and bouncy castles. Also you have to book online, no paying on the day, which will put off a lot of the local audience.  Ah well, better luck next year.

The Mylor English Ale is also happening but very scaled down. No torchlight procession, craft market, mummers’ plays, guisers, giants and probably not much of a bonfire. The concert is going ahead, as is the Peace ceremony, but most of the other events are either much reduced or not happening. No Damh the Bard because he hasn’t been able to travel this year. He is however doing a series of free At Home Concerts on the internet to keep people’s spirits up. Access those by looking up ‘Damh the Bard’ on you-tube. I am meant to be doing part of the public Peace Ceremony but getting me there isn’t sorted yet. We can only hope that next year is better, and we are all around to see it!

[Opaque]

For once in my life I would like to go to a medieval fair that is well put together. Not that the fair here isn't fun. I still look forward to it every year but sometimes I just want something a little more genuine. Probably not this year but maybe next I'll get myself a new cloak and belt.

[Róisín]

Yeah, real-history events are rare and precious. The Gumeracha fair used to be good, with a lot of demonstrations of crafts ranging from boat building to falconry to smithcraft among many others, and people would learn things as well as being amused. I am usually the storyteller, with a bit of music and singing, but often also have taught smithcraft, brewing, fabric dyeing, foraging and camp cooking, perfumery and the like, and I usually run the apothecary. I miss that.

 At least the Mylor English Ale will be back in full when covid is over. That one is run by the Pagan community here in South Australia, who are a consistent group: despite being spread across many different Pagan faiths, we cooperate to save everyone’s history and traditions, and we celebrate them all at the Ale. The Mylor English Ale is on the internet, if you look it up you will find lots of good pictures of past events. A pity about this year.