Tinker Homestead Report

Well, since I have just returned from the Tinker Homestead re-enactment, I suppose I will give this report before the Mumford Report -- before I forget any of the details from this re-enactment or get the two mixed up.

We set up at Tinker on Friday morning. It was a very nice day; a little warm, but not too bad. The set-up went fairly smoothly, and we were very pleased with our arrangement of the tents and tent flies. Usually we use the larger tent fly for hairstyling (my little niche in the re-enacting world), but since I officially declared myself unavailable for styling this weekend, we used it to extend our working/living area. It was great! I know it's ridiculous to be so pleased about something that simple, but having more room at a re-enactment is wonderful.

Anyway! As we were setting up, I realised we were surrounded by...well, the only word for them is pests. There was a very talkative old lady across the walkway from us and a noisy abomination of a generator next to us. I was quickly becoming very frustrated.

"I hope the guy with the generator doesn't come back tomorrow," I kept saying, until people grew tired of my repeating myself (which didn't take very long).

It may not seem like much, but when you're supposed to be re-enacting the 19th century, a food vendor in a silver truck with a generator REALLY spoils the mood. Ah, well, he parked a bit farther away the next day.

Friday night I cooked dinner over the fire for everyone. That was fun, if a bit nerve-wracking. I wanted everything to turn out well, and it did. Everybody loved my spiced chicken, and the green beans and rice turned out well too. Mum cooked those before we left, so all I had to do was season them and warm them up on the fire. It was fun to chop wood and cook, then sit down and eat.

When we tried to go to sleep, the mosquitoes tormented us. Jessica got bit up especially badly; the mosquitoes bit her feet and ankles, her face, and her hands. Poor Jessie!!! I didn't sleep for much of the night because of the constant whine in my ears and the suffocated feeling I got whenever I tried to sleep with the sheet over my head. But it could have been worse, like at Hamlin Beach a few years ago! LOL!

Saturday dawned bright and clear, and the day went fairly well. I did some hair for a certain family of horseback riders that show up at most of our events. The oldest girl in the family had the most gorgeous long, thick hair I have ever handled, and that's saying a lot. It felt wonderful slipping through my fingers as I braided it and coiled it up on top of her head. She is a beautiful girl and she rides horses very well too!

A local ladies' tea society showed up and hosted a tea for the re-enactors or anyone who would care to partake. They had scones and cake and little tiny sandwiches, as well as, of course, TEA. Lady Grey, I believe. The highlight of that tea was, for me, when a lady sitting next to me noticed the way I was eating (Continental style) and asked if I was Canadian. I replied that I was not, and she nodded.

"Ah. But you're eating in the British fashion." (Actually CS is not exclusively British.)

"Yes," I admitted, "I'm trying."

I think eating in the Continental style is very elegant, and you know me...if I have the chance to be elegant, I'll probably take it. LOL! Inside I was tickled to death to think that finally someone had noticed -- all my hard work and practise was paying off!

What's that you're mumbling, sotto voce? You think I'm vain?

*grins widely*

Oh, yeah. So you've noticed. Tee hee! No, actually eating in the Continental style is practise for just in case I happen to fall into the vortex of time and get caught in Jack Aubrey's world. Wouldn't that be paradise! Wait...did they eat Continental style then? Hmmm. Perhaps I've been wasting my time. But it does make me eat more slowly! :)

Anyway! Enough nonsense. When the string band came up that night to play for the ball, someone spilled the beans and told them that I play fiddle. They very graciously invited me to join them if I felt so inclined...and I did feel so inclined, conquering my inherent nervousness to get up there and play. I played fiddle with them all night -- well, rather, as long as the ball lasted. They were so kind and patient -- and such professional musicians.

Phil and Gretchen, THANK YOU!! :) You made my weekend!

Anyone who wants to host a Civil War ball or contredance, please hire City Fiddle. They are awesome!

Sunday went well too -- here are the highlights. Mum didn't want to cook brekkie in the morning, so she went home, took a shower, and came back with takeaway. It was yummy. Then I had an allergy attack, was late for the church service (shame on me!), and did a not-so-bang-up job of presenting information about hats, bonnets, and hairstyles at the fashion show. Ah well. I was rather distracted at that point, having just been asked out on a date (before you ask, yes, I went, and yes, he was very nice. Now leave me be, can't you?! Bloody oath, everyone always wants to know the details when you go out on a date.). ;)

So all in all, it turned out to be a nice weekend. I had a great time with Jess -- as she posted in her blog, http://clairbannerman.blogspot.com, we're getting very good at reading each others' minds. She is such a sweet friend and I am so blessed to have her. JESS, YOU ROCK!!!! :)

That's all for now...I have to go work on doing the Mumford Report. No, I actually don't always do things in inverted order...it just happened that way this time. :-)~