A last! It's Feast week! I woke up this morning with my mind filled with the sights and sounds of an 18th century celebration.
I also found a text from Lisa who was crowing, "I just realized that tomorrow is the actual Hunters' Moon! Can't wait to share that with my class."
She is right - the Hunters' Moon is brightest today, October 6. I caught some snaps this morning while out with the dogs, and it was stunningly beautiful.
There is a difference between the Hunters' Moon and the Harvest Moon, but both are related to the Autumnal Equinox. Here is some more information.
Of course, with Feast week beginning, I have to play some fife and drum music. And my favorite is Hell on the Wabash.
This recording was taken from the Civil War film, Gettysburg. In actuality, the troops marched to The Campbells are Coming but the film's music director liked this song so much that he put it into the film instead of the historically correct song that the Iron Brigade really marched to.
Here's a rendition of The Campbells are Coming. Bagpipes are another instrument you will hear being played throughout the day at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon.
It's called the FEAST and there are tons of food booths, but there is just as much music being played as there is food being served. Dulcimers, fiddles, jaw harps... the list goes on.
To make things easier on me (I am parceling out my energy in order to save it), I have been bringing something with me that needs to go to the Feast every time I come downstairs. Our bedroom has become the repository of all those things. (Well, and the dining room which has the saddles.)
I have one more tub and two racks of clothing to go but I'm making progress.
Don't miss the Hunters' Moon! Go outside tonight if you can - it is a beautiful harbinger of Fall.
After closing down the sewing room, I headed downstairs for another project - that of cleaning my English saddle.
When Abby was alive, I used to clean it and my Western saddle periodically in order to keep them in good shape.
But my health started going downhill and then Abby died - it's been several years since I cleaned either of them.
Despite being stored in the tack room, the neglect showed.
My once supple and polished saddle needed cleaning badly.
It was going to be a big job.
I couldn't find my saddle soap in my tack trunk so I ordered more from Amazon.
What a familiar sight and aroma - I've used this brand of saddle soap since I got Amy, my first horse, in 1970.
I began with damp paper towels - removing lots of dust, dirt, and mold just with them. (You can see a difference already.) Then I went back over those areas with the saddle soap, and finally I polished the leather by rubbing it with a soft cloth.
It was a lot of work but gradually the beautiful saddle underneath emerged.
I gave it one last polishing with the soft cloth before setting it aside in the dining room. I'm happy with how much better my saddle looks, but I'd like to repeat the process again before School Days if I get the time.
Yesterday, I finished Belle's jarbot (stock) that she will wear for School Days while helping me. I am pleased with how it turned out.
That finished, I had one very last sewing project - doing something with the hooks and eyes on my Caraco jacket.
My Caraco is lightly boned which makes the front very stiff. And that means it is tricky to fasten all those hooks and eyes. I get partway through them and the first ones begin releasing and need redoing. There is very little give in the fabric due to the boning, and so any wrong twitch and the hooks and eyes begin to separate. (Once they are all fastened, the garment doesn't shift and remains closed.)
I had some fabric left over from when I made it and I had an idea for making a hidden backing piece that would support those hooks and eyes when I was connecting them.
I sat down at the machine and then had an idea - would my new chemise provide that stability? Would it be enough to keep them from popping open? (And save me several hours of sewing, too?)
I decided to check out my theory and see. I'm glad I did.
Success! The friction from having the chemise on kept the Caraco from moving and I was able to get all the hooks and eyes done without any help from anyone else.
I may still put that piece of fabric behind the hooks and eyes to cover the two small gaps where my chemise peeks through but that's no biggie. Or, if I choose to wear a fichu (a scarf, see picture above) that will cover that area, too.
Who hoo! Feast 2025 sewing is completed and in the books!
Yesterday I delivered a set of panniers to my friend, Audrey.
A professional singer, she performs at the Feast and other places around the country singing songs that tell the history of the our country. We met at the Feast a few years ago and have become good friends.
Panniers were worn under a woman's petticoats and were intended to make her look heavier than she was.
The reason? A well fed person had money for food, and there were many reasons women (who had little power over their own lives at the time) might have wanted to look heavier.
Finding a husband was one reason. Marrying for money was one way for both men and women to survive during those times. Hence trying to look heavier. (I am wearing panniers in this photo.)
I always let students try on a pair when I visit Lisa's school. This class had a lot of fun with them.
While I was at her home, Audrey pulled out a huge bag chock FULL of homegrown carrots and asked if I could use some.
She filled a Walmart bag for me - the horses are going to be so happy! (I may make soup this weekend with some of them, too.)
On the way home, I decided to drive past Fort Ouiatenon and see how set-up was going. It had started a week ago, and I was curious about the process. Plus, it was a pretty day and I felt like visiting the river.
That's the blockhouse in the back and the two smaller buildings are permanent restrooms. In the foreground, you can see that a natural pole structure has been started.
The Anishinaaba Kwe booth next to me is under construction, too.
My spot is by this pine tree. Since I have a tent, I don't need the Feast organizers to make me a shelter.
The Voyageur Camp will be here. The Wabash is just over the ridge in the background.
It's a very steep drop of about twenty feet down to the river. The boat ramp begins with a gentle slope (the Voyageur Camp is to the left)
but then suddenly drops off sharply down into the water (where it looks like the ramp ends is actually where the drop-off of the boat ramp begins.)
Partway down the steep part with my walker to give some perspective as to how high that ridge is.
The spine chilling part, though, is that it is very common for the water to rise all the way up that ridge and then flood the grounds of Fort Ouiatenon! It actually crests the top of that ridge.
I love that river deeply, but I am also very aware that it can be dangerous and to be cautious when it is flooding.
We are undergoing a drought right now, so the Wabash is very low. Normally the water comes at least up to that line of the green foliage on the right. (Looking downstream.)
These rocks are usually underwater, too. (Looking upstream.) I have my fingers crossed that the Voyageurs will still be able to paddle downriver, coming around that bend, and then make land at the boat ramp. It's a highlight of the Feast. (I hope the canoe races will be able to be held, too.)
Pere Marquette blessing the settlement as the voyageurs come down the river and in from the north. (That's Brooke on the front left and her husband Tom on the front right.)
Getting down the boat ramp had some challenges - it was tempting to hop onto my walker and just roll down! Instead, I was glad I had brakes and could keep it from tearing down that steep slope. Even harder, though, was the walk back up. Still, I am glad I walked down to see "my" river.
As I rolled back to my car, I took a last shot of the blockhouse. I was too tired to walk closer so I could get a clear shot.
And one last photo of one of the booths that will be finished in the next few days.
The park is still peaceful and quiet, but things are beginning to stir as we get ready for next weekend.
It's Friday, one week until School Days. I'm ready to go for that, outside of cleaning my English saddle. That's one of today's projects or possibly tomorrow's.
Next week is shaping up like this:
Monday: presentation at Lisa's school with Leslie, Rick, and Lisa about Fort Ouiatenon and 18th century area history. Each of us will take a group of students, present for 20 minutes, and then rotate in a new group of students. It's always been a fun day.
Tuesday: Last chance for any final sewing projects, checking tags, and ironing finished clothes on the rack, updating my inventory list, and begin packing car. Also, Tim is holding a barn party for our church with hot dogs and food, plus time with the horses. He has asked Belle and me to help. I sooooo want to go, but it will depend on how much energy I have.
Wednesday: Tent set up with Craig and Curt at Fort Ouiatenon. Bring tubs and clothing into tent and begin setting things up.
Thursday: Finish Feast set up, meet with Belle and set up/run through presentation for School Day.
Friday: School Day! Be at Ouiatenon early for any final prep before kiddos come. When School Day ends, take presentation items home and set the tent in order for the Feast. Go home and rest.
Saturday & Sunday: TheFeast!
Today I need to finish sewing Belle's stock (she's borrowing a riding habit for School Day) and then deliver some panniers to a customer.
I finished these pockets yesterday after realizing I hadn't replaced what was sold at Kalamazoo. There were a few moments of panic and a mad check through my fabric stash to see what I had to use, but I got them done.
In the 18th century, clothing did not have pockets; they were a separate item of clothing, tied around the waist and hidden underneath other clothing to reduce theft.
They were worn over a women's chemise/shift but under her petticoat. Petticoats had slits in their sides so the pocket could be accessed when needed.
No one ever sees them which works well for 21st century re-enactors who like to slip a Hershey Bar or Reeses into their pockets! (Guilty!)
When it turned out that Ian had outgrown boys' sized trade shirts and needed a men's size, he selected one off the rack, one that was headed to the Feast. I didn't mind (and I love that he asks me to make a shirt for him every year) but I wanted to make a replacement shirt to sell.
Look familiar? That's the third item I've made from that fabric. (Leslie's petticoat and a bed gown.)
I looked at the remnants from those two projects, did some finagling, and was able to cut a trade shirt from them!
Normally I sell my remnants at events, but this year I want to see if I can do the same with the ones that are already packed to go. I'll remove them from the sales items later today.
My tent is located in the same place as always. I like that as it makes it easier for my regular customers to find me quickly. And, it's close to the river and I like my neighbors - a father/son pair that demonstrate 18th century campfire cooking all day and are very good at sharing, and the Anishinaaba Kwe (the Gun Lake Pottawatomi from Michigan) who are super friendly and share fry bread with me.
Here's a video I filmed last year showing the grounds on Thursday morning of Feast week. Much more set-up will happen later that day and into Friday, but you can see it beginning to all come together.
Off to go play a little frisbee with Pepper and Tammo before heading into the sewing room. Have a good one!
My friend Belle has bought her first horse! And after a lot of looking, it turned out to be one that was very close to home.
Sultanna.
It made sense when I thought about it. Belle's kids had absolutely fallen in love with Sultanna and the feeling was very much returned. Sultanna was so gentle with them and enjoyed their company.
She is the perfect "first horse" for someone. And so Tim agreed to sell Sultanna to Belle.
He has been helping not only Belle but also the kids learn how to care for a horse and to ride. They have learned to longe her and to tack and untack her safely. The indoor arena is getting heavy daily use right now, something that I know makes Tim happy. (He has always loved it when people come out to the barn.)
Belle and her kids have even gone on some rides through the pastures with Tim on Eazy, Belle on Sultanna, and one of the kids riding Hokey. (Boy, were the kids excited to tell me about THAT!)
It's a win-win situation for everyone, and I am thrilled for Sultanna, for Belle and her family, and for Tim (and me) that Sultanna is still around and not going anywhere.
Was I surprised? I sure was. But in retrospect, it's perfect.
September Give Away winners, your prizes will go out today! And timarustarii, thank you for giving me back what you won. I appreciate the offers from some of you to pay for postage, but it's okay. It makes me happy to do these Give Aways and I am glad that so many of you enjoy them, too.
School Days Update
I've decided to leave the Civil War sidesaddle home from School Days - it's the wrong time period, even though it's really, really cool. Plus, adding in my English saddle made my allotted space too cramped for the presentation. One saddle needed to stay home and the Civil War sidesaddle was the logical choice.
Right now the sidesaddles are draped over the backs of my dining room chairs. Rural King has saddle racks on sale and I headed over yesterday to get a couple.
They only had one left not the two that I wanted, but one is better than none.
The saddle rack was light enough for me to carry, so I declined assistance from the checkout clerk, hoisted it over my shoulder with one arm through the bars, grabbed my walker with the other hand, and headed to the door.
And I literally stopped traffic in the parking lot when I rolled out that door.
I paused at the curb to check for traffic and noticed a truck had stopped some ways back from the crosswalk. The driver was gesturing for me to go ahead and there were several other cars behind him, also waiting.
I tried to move fast, but steering the walker with one hand slowed me down. But I finally made it across, waved to thank the drivers as best I could without dropping the saddle rack or crashing my walker into a parked car, and headed to my own vehicle.
Yet another (much needed) reminder of the kindness of people in this world.
Rural King is close to Tractor Supply, so I headed there next.
Yikes! I paid $29.99 for an almost identical one from Rual King! Granted, that was the sale price, but the Rural King regular price is $39.99, $70 cheaper than Tractor Supply's!
Of course, while at Tractor Supply, I checked out their display of Breyers.
Not a single TSC special run in stock. Not even shelf space that has been allotted for them. I checked online and they aren't available for order that way, at least not yet. We shall see if they ever become available.
My Deluxe Collectors Club bonus models have arrived.
They came in their own box along with a button or pin - I'm not sure which as it is tucked into its place so tightly, I'm afraid I will damage the box getting it out. Besides, I prefer to keep sets like this intact and together.
The Semi Rearing Mustang is my absolute favorite Breyer mold and biggest conga at 35 pieces.
To have it shrunk down into Stablemate size really makes me happy. I look forward to future releases on the mini mold.
Today's plan is to finish a trade shirt and to clean my English saddle. Nash and Mama are coming over, and so Craig and I will be doing shifts spending time downstairs with her - we really don't want her tackling the stairs right now. Cleaning my saddle is the perfect use of my downstairs time and allows me to continue prepping for The Feast of the Hunters' Moon.
