Day to Day: A Late Summer Update

It seems that even with my best of intentions, I don't seem to be able to post on a regular basis. So here's the latest news from my home front.
We've had a super busy year reenacting and keeping life in order. Robby is now starting year 13 of high school. He started a co-op last fall, which he dropped, and was left 2 credits short for graduation. Not a big deal as he was planning to do an extra year anyway. He just turned 18, and is still looking for what he wants to do when he finishes school this June. Katie finished at Fanshawe last December, and has been working at a local Subway. John is enjoying his time at St. John's, and his German is slowly improving. Many of the ladies are working with him, and there's a lot of laughing over the words. I haven't even tried, I'm doing good to speak English. I've been lucky with health issues - so that's a good thing. I did get my first job in 20+ years. I was hired by Molly Maid (a Canadian version of Merry Maid) and stayed with them for a month. The work wasn't hard, but there were a lot of management issues with a new owner who didn't have any business experience. I did however, land a part-time job at Tim Horton's near my house. It's a 3 min drive or a 15 min walk. I love the commute!

I spent most of the winter sewing garb for the upcoming reenacting season. Since this is the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the War of 1812, we're looking forward to some busy years. Our medieval/renaissance group, the SCA, holds event year round. Many of our events are indoors, and since they are not usually open to the public, the need for true accuracy is up to the individual. It also depends on the period and part of the world that each person has chosen and the amount of information that is available. For example - take our family. John has been a late 1500s celt, but is starting to research a 450s Roman infantryman. I've been taking the role of a 1509 Scottish lowland/border woman. I wear whatever was popular in England with some generic plaids for accent pieces (Tartan patterns didn't come in until the early 1700s) Katie is a 1550 Japanese girl who had been sold into slavery and was "bought" by Portuguese sailors and brought to the west. Robby is a Spanish sailor from about 1580. For us, research is relatively easy, as compared to some of our friends who portray early norse or saxons.
As part of activities, we try to learn about life in our chosen time period. For Katie, Robby, and I, we have been able to learn renaissance era fencing. Katie and Robby are quite good, and I'm just started the study last spring. We also do various sewing and types of arts.
We do have occasion to go into schools and give presentations. John and I joined some of our friends last June (Katie was working and Robby was getting ready for finals).
Here's a couple of pictures:

John had a display of swords of different sizes and time periods. Here he is demonstration how to swing a two-handed bastard swords. (We have a large selection of weapons, none of which are sharpened.)

We were waiting for an introduction. My dress is a 1500 coathardie (or kirtle), a ladies working dress. It has a 300 inch hem. The things hanging from my belt show membership in different groups, or awards.

This is Robby and Katie fencing at one of our camping events. And yes, I made everything we're wearing.

Our other major interest if the War of 1812. We do all of these events out of doors and in a public venue. For this reason, as well as the fact that there is a lot of information available, accuracy is first and foremost. I have made all of the clothing you see in the following pictures, except for Katie's, which she made. When we camp, it is in period tents. We cook in period styles, and try as close as possible to eat period food. Some of our events are overnight camping trips, when we take both of our tents. The day events are usually with just our wedge tent. You'll see from the pictures. Katie and I are often the unit cooks, so we get the big tent. I've never been so thankful for all of my Girl Scout years, the learning I did of outdoor cooking means that we eat good. FYI - during the summer, we spend 5 of every 6 weekends in 1812 garb. (all volunteer, by the way)
So here's some more pictures:
Our first event of the year was near home at Longwood Conservation area, about 20 min. from home. We day-tripped on Saturday, slept at home, and went back Sunday.

This is our day camp. The tent is a wedge with two doors, allowing us flexibility. The tables and stools are based on period furniture. The only change is the flooring. It had been raining and it kept our feet out of the water and mud.

Robby has spent the last two events as a native captive. We often hang out with these folks, and they like the way Robby plays captive. This year, Hunter and Checomick were discussing what do with their captive. Hunter wanted to turn the American over to the British, and Checomick wanted to keep him to do the heavy work for her family after her husband and son were killed.

John got to play Sargeant this year. Our friend, Mark, sargeant of the 21st U.S.Infantry, decided to stay in line and let John have some fun. We all portray Americans, since there are never enough people willing to take the American role at events. It means that we always get to go out and play!

Our next major event was in Stoney Creek, ON. Katie was invited to join the line, and was loaned a uniform by Paul and trained by Mark in the drill. It was fun to see the three of them in line. And no, I'm not interested in taking the field. I've fired John's musket a number of time just for the experience.
so pics:

From there we did our annual August run. John, Robby, and I took part in a one-day event at a historic church in St. Thomas. We set up a camp and talked to folks, especially the kids. Robby got to shoot his musket about once an hour or so for the crowd.

We did our annual Fort Erie this next weekend. We had been given a canvas wall tent, so we have a full kitchen area. Not only were the 4 of us (and Pooka) there, but we hosted most of the rest of the American forces over the weekend.

Katie, John, Robby and our friend Paul. Paul created the "sofa" from hay bales.

Here's our camp on Friday afternoon. The guys slept in our small wedge tent, and Katie, Pooka and I had the wall tent and our equipment.

The following weekend the local town of Port Stanley invited us to spend Friday and Saturday with a small camp. We set up our kitchen space, and our friends from the Royal Scots set up camp across the small square from us and served as an enemy. Robby got to fire his new musket for the first time.