Mud Muster
My weekend started on Thursday with a quick trip to Fort Frederick Market Fair. I just love this event. It’s a completely 18th century market fair, with loads of vendors selling fabrics, iron ware, copper ware, pottery and black powder things. It is a juried event for the vendors (I believe) Anyway, it’s where you can find better quality linens and wools. There are silks there as well, but you have to be careful with those as some designs are definitely 18th century. Carla and I scored some very nice linen for Jim for Pennsic, and some silk/wool blend for a special commission. I wish there was more of that one.
Then it was off to the Muster site to help set up on Friday. Friday was beautiful weather wise. All the tents were set up, the layout was just great. It’s a beautiful site and great potential. Bob and Harv had laid out the kitchen set up on the concrete pad so that Carla and I could get a feel for flow and arrangement. We came to the conclusion that the hearth/hob is too high, but boy was it ever nice to cook on without bending over. Greg brought a mucking huge iron pot that we used to heat water for washing up. That was a tremendous help.
Unfortunately the day of Muster dawned cloudy and overcast. A quick check of the weather had showers moving in much earlier than predicted, even predicted the day before. We soldiered on and started the event in the morning. There was pike drill, some skirmishing, and archery accomplished in the morning. Carla and I were able to get dinner on around 1:30 or so and afterwards, the rain compelled us all to stop the event. It was just too cold and wet to continue, especially since it’s supposed to be fun, not miserable.
We all retreated to Jen and Alan’s new place and eventually served the supper we were planning and sang some Elizabethan songs. It was fun! The new folks got to relax and there was socializing. Carla and I gave up around 8 or so (maybe later?) and retreated to where we were staying at Robert and Isobel’s place.
As we were just hanging out there talking with Robert, since he checked on the tents and all, the power went out. I can tell you, when the power goes out and its dark outside; it is pitch dark in the country. Robert knew where the flashlights were and we were set. No power meant going without any well pump or heat, but a bucket of water and some extra blankets for every solved those issues.
We cleaned up the site on Sunday, packing up the extras and bits we had brought down - pitchers, mugs, flags, benches and tables. It was rather a lot of stuff. Robert brings so much to this event; it was at least two pickup trucks full of stuff. The kitchen tent we used was a complete mud pit inside. Fortunately, that won’t be an issue once the real kitchen is finished. The tents used for the tavern had to wait a day or so to dry before they can be taken down, folded, and put away. Things were drying out well on Sunday, but the ground was too muddy to fold tents on.
It was a crazy few days, but rather fun as well. Now I really need to recover.
Then it was off to the Muster site to help set up on Friday. Friday was beautiful weather wise. All the tents were set up, the layout was just great. It’s a beautiful site and great potential. Bob and Harv had laid out the kitchen set up on the concrete pad so that Carla and I could get a feel for flow and arrangement. We came to the conclusion that the hearth/hob is too high, but boy was it ever nice to cook on without bending over. Greg brought a mucking huge iron pot that we used to heat water for washing up. That was a tremendous help.
Unfortunately the day of Muster dawned cloudy and overcast. A quick check of the weather had showers moving in much earlier than predicted, even predicted the day before. We soldiered on and started the event in the morning. There was pike drill, some skirmishing, and archery accomplished in the morning. Carla and I were able to get dinner on around 1:30 or so and afterwards, the rain compelled us all to stop the event. It was just too cold and wet to continue, especially since it’s supposed to be fun, not miserable.
We all retreated to Jen and Alan’s new place and eventually served the supper we were planning and sang some Elizabethan songs. It was fun! The new folks got to relax and there was socializing. Carla and I gave up around 8 or so (maybe later?) and retreated to where we were staying at Robert and Isobel’s place.
As we were just hanging out there talking with Robert, since he checked on the tents and all, the power went out. I can tell you, when the power goes out and its dark outside; it is pitch dark in the country. Robert knew where the flashlights were and we were set. No power meant going without any well pump or heat, but a bucket of water and some extra blankets for every solved those issues.
We cleaned up the site on Sunday, packing up the extras and bits we had brought down - pitchers, mugs, flags, benches and tables. It was rather a lot of stuff. Robert brings so much to this event; it was at least two pickup trucks full of stuff. The kitchen tent we used was a complete mud pit inside. Fortunately, that won’t be an issue once the real kitchen is finished. The tents used for the tavern had to wait a day or so to dry before they can be taken down, folded, and put away. Things were drying out well on Sunday, but the ground was too muddy to fold tents on.
It was a crazy few days, but rather fun as well. Now I really need to recover.