Friday, July 14, 2006

Home Again

I'm back early, and very tired. We arrived home Thursday. While I was gone someone here died, so I'm home to officiate a very sad and completely unexpected funeral. Just letting you all know I am home -- and thanks for the heartwarming comments to my last post. They blessed me and I am grateful for the prayers!

Here are a few pictures from last week's "pretending" at the Midwest Muzzleloaders Rendezvous.

My husband puts the finishing touch on our lodge after setting up. This is our mandella. It says, "Bearded Eagle and Singing Owl." The little things hanging from it are ribbons or tokens from past rendezvous.

Happy Otter, the mother-to-be, sits in front of our lodge doing some embroidery. Isn't she beautiful? I wish I could look like that with no makeup!

Bearded Eagle contemplates whether he wants to enter the archery competition in 90 degree heat. (He does.)

Two Foxes and Happy Otter in front of their lodge. She made her dress, her necklaces, her beautifully beaded bag, and his shirt. She made the blue dress, above, as well. Do I sound like a proud mama?

Bearded Eagle and Two Foxes set up their new business, ready to use the stones to make axes, knives, and tomahawks as sharp as new. It takes two to use the old wheel--one to turn the crank and the other to hold the blade to the stone, so it's an ideal re-enacting enterprise for a father and son in-law to do together.

It's hot and I need a shower. How about we all cool off with some juicy watermelon?

14 comments:

LoieJ said...

Were people in "those days" just so modest that they really suffered for it, or are the difference in clothing compared to today a true revelation of Global Warming?

Welcome back.

My sis is at mom's today, with her family, so we will get some assesment of how she is. She went to the ER yesterday with some chest tightness.

Questing Parson said...

Welcome Home! You were missed.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

They suffered. It was HOT in the summer, just like now. I looked out over the corn fields and thought of slaves toiling all day long in such heat and humidity. The dresses my daughter and I are wearing are Native American (plains indian)of about 1815 on--or in my case, since I'm wearing that big straw hat, my outfit would be metis or mixed blood, most likely French and Indian. They are cool compared to the stuff the European-born or influenced white women wore. In the fall or spring I change persona and I don a long chemise (like a nightgown), an overskirt, and a bodice (a short of laced vest) and a mob cap or hat. I refuse to do that in the summer time, but many of the women at the encampment did so. Whew! Thank God I don't ever toss my bra and put on a corset and bloomers! Those tight, hot corsets were why delicate ladies were lying on fainting couches being fanned all the time!

LoieJ said...

In the town by the lake where my mom is, (that I told you about before)it isn't hot unless there is a west wind on a hot day. Otherwise the breeze is off the big lake.

I've seen pictures of my ancestors there on a picnic with the guys in suits and the women in long sleeved white dresses. I guess grandma had a 19 inch waist.

Well, it is going to be in the high 90's where I am now, and also it is that hot where I'm from. Too expensive to run the air conditioning here and no airconditioning where I'm from.

This American weather must have been a trial to the European immigrants.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Yep, it was a scorching 97 degrees with who-knows-what humidity while we stood outside for the commital service. It's hot at your house, your mom's house and my house...a bit farther from the big lake. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Welcome back. I missed you.

Nightmare

Psalmist said...

So glad you're back, Singing Owl. I missed you bunches! Very sorry to hear about the reason you had to return early. So sad. I'm certain you helped that family immensely.

Your pics are beautiful! Your daughter is absolutely glowing! (Takes after mom.)

Many blessings to you, dear friend.

Unknown said...

Welcome home also. Thanks for the beautiful pictures of your family and you!

I too am sorry you had to come back for the reason you did. I hope all went well.

LoieJ said...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/07/17/valley.forge.ap/index.html

This is a link to a story about a history enactment at a National Park within walking distance from where I'm visiting. We aren't going there because of heat and baby nap time.

I fly home on Wed.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

What a wonderful idea. Too bad about the heat. I bet it will keep others away too. Have a safe trip home!

Theresa Coleman said...

You look great for someone who needs a shower ....
My Loving Husband does re-enactments, but for a much later date. He's building a WWI plane (N11) and does the WWI thing. I'm going to have to make a dress.....

Anonymous said...

Hi there :),

Lovely blog you have .. I was just wondering, you call yourself "singing owl" right ? You named yourself that or there was a reason and you were named by it? ..Anyways wish for you the best in everything :) .. Take care ..

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

My husband named me SingingOwl.

I love music and I love to sing, and when I'm happy I'm humming or singing. Almost everything in life reminds me of a song of some type.

My husband says I'm the wisest person he knows. (He doesn't get out much...lol.)

And we are reenactors, portraying life in the USA before it was the USA...1600s to 1840--particularly the fur trade era. The twice-a-year gatherings of the Yankee trappers, Native Americans, French. were called "rendezvous." So the reenactments are called that too. SingingOwl started out as my rendezvous name--especially when I am dressed as a Native American.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Owls = wise in American folklore.