Feast Friday: School Days

Feast Friday's School Days is in the books and what a day it was!

Although it started off COLD. The coldest it has been here since last Spring.

Luckily I have two cloaks of my own so I was able to loan one to Belle and we both stayed (relatively) warm.

The first person we saw as we rolled onto the grounds was Audrey. She was setting up the stage where she would be performing and had her husband and one of her sons with her. We chatted briefly and then Belle and I drove on to my site.

We hadn't been working too long when Audrey came over to my tent and asked if she could trade the blue cloak she'd bought yesterday for the green cloak I had hanging up in the tent.

Audrey, me, and Belle. (The small object you see peeking out from under Audrey's wig is her microphone.)

She explained that during rehearsal the previous evening, she'd realized that almost all her costumes were blue and she thought the green cloak would change that up.

No problem! We made the switch easy peasy.

Belle and I then got busy putting out the saddles, paintings, and artifacts that Tim had loaned us.

This year I am trying out a large two-sided chalkboard to advertise what I am selling, and I used it for School Days, too. (The orange ribbon is a signal that this is a site willing to demonstrate and teach kiddos.)

We set up two stations so that both of us could talk to groups of students. I think the shabraque (saddle blanket) made a great and unusual table covering plus it was part of what we shared.

We took some photos for me to use on my Jolis Chevaux Facebook page and to help me when I set up again next year - photos help me remember what worked and what did not.

Belle and I were both amazed at how many students thought the snaffle bit was a set of handcuffs. The three sizes of horseshoes garnered a lot of attention, too, as did the bearskin.

One of the best moments of the day was when these people came by. Totally by coincidence, they all arrived at my presentation at the same time! 

These folks are the 4th grade teachers and my former colleagues from Hershey Elementary (where I taught) and the 4th grade teachers from Lisa's school, Burnett Creek Elementary! (That's Lisa in the Purdue hat.)

Good people, all, and good friends, too.

I don't know how many people came by, but it was a lot and Belle and I both ended up a little hoarse from talking so much. (We both went home and took naps afterward.) She was such a help; I don't think I could do this without someone to help me because we were almost constantly busy. Having said that, I do plan to sign up again next year as a presenter.

It's Saturday now and in less than hour I need to put on today's clothing and head out to Ouiatenon. It's still cool this morning, but not cold like it was yesterday. I'm looking forward to being busy selling maple cakes, sleeve buttons, beeswax ornaments, and clothing as well as talking to friends and customers who have become friends. 

Oh, and I hope I can slip away and get a forfar bridie and some gingerbread for lunch. And some beignets! And some homemade root beer! And a croquignole or two! Apple blossoms! French onion soup! And...

This is the FEAST, after all!

Stay 'tooned!

Putting on the School Marm

I am a bit surprised at how excited I am to be participating in School Day this year. It's taking a lot of time to prepare, especially the documentation of items to be sure they were part of that time period, but that's also been part of the fun.

Currently my dining room is where I have the things I borrowed from Tim stashed. As I finish researching them, those going to the Feast will be packed up and those not will be returned.

Tim proved to be a wealth of information. I had no idea he had been interested in the time period and had things from it that I could borrow.

Like these two swords/rapiers.

They have dulled with time and have beautiful decorations.

He told me that these were actually more for military ceremonies than fighting, but when I researched them, the paintings I found had scenes of them being brandished during war.  I will continue to look for more information on them.

This cast iron tether weight was super cool! And heavy! (17.5 pounds on my scale.)

They were used to keep the horse from running off when there was nowhere to tie them. The rider would place it on the ground and the the reins would be tied to it. 

This part of a harness will be used to demonstrate what a harness looks like especially when compared to the saddles. It's not an 18th century harness piece, but it will still give the kids the general idea.

Bells!! That we now use for decor at Christmas and which I absolutely love.

In the 18th century, they were tied to animals to ensure that, if the animal was turned loose to graze, that it would be found again. (They were used on goats, cows, and sheep, too.)

These are one of my own sets of sleigh bells. Not 18th century but close enough to talk about how they were also put on harnesses to warn people of a coming carriage or wagon.

This woman uses them every year at the Feast but I've never met her - I'm too busy in my tent.

This next piece was something totally new to me - probably because my persona is more of a genteel seamstress and not one of the traders, trappers, or hunters.

This is called a "Possibles bag."

Carried by militia, frontiersmen, and hunters/trappers, possibles bags  held essential items for survival such as black powder, bullets, flint and steel, knives, jerky, and tobacco

Here is a smelting ladle used in making bullets and shot for muskets, fowling pieces, and pistols. It was used to pour the molten lead into bullet or shot molds.

Like this single ball mold.  Other molds could do multiple balls at one time.

A beautiful powder horn - a hollowed out cattle horn with a stopper on the end. Powder horns were used to hold gunpowder and keep it dry. Sometimes they were engraved with maps, names, dates, decorations, scenes, and more.

A large horseshoe with a clip and a nail still remaining.

A bearskin lap robe for riders and those in carts, wagons, and buggies. It was also used by the militias to cover up/keep dry gun powder while traveling. Farmers and indigenous people were known to sling one over a horse or mule's back and use it as a simple bareback pad.

Sadly, the hay bale hook is too modern (mid 19th century), but snaffle bits can be documented back to 1400 BC. It will be something I can let the kids touch and handle.

This smaller wheel (18 " in diameter or so) was used for goat carts and small wagons. A wagon wheel expert friend is checking to see if this one can be dated to the 18th century. If not, I'll return it to Tim. Fingers crossed.

The two sidesaddles are still in my car but I will bring them into the house this morning. I also have a dragoon blanket from my days as a rider in my high school dragoons.

You can see one in this painting of George Washington.

Belle (who will be helping me at School Day) is going to come over later today and try on riding habits and tricorns for her to wear. I've got an info sheet about all the items to give her as she will be answering questions at School Days, too.

Time is flying by!

Stay 'tooned!