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Stitches in
History
When
Buck approached me about writing for Smoke Signals I was in truth
surprised, then he explained why and it made a bit more sense to me. I
really like the idea of having another view point of living history
told. What women see and how we experience things is vastly different
from how men see them, that’s just a fact not feminist rubbish. I have
a background in clothing construction but I also do period horse rides
and have period correct dogs. Many of the articles
I write will focus on, clothing, horses and dogs. I also will
have guest writers who will discuss their areas of knowledge. You never
know what your going to get so you will have to read each article. This
month I wanted to try and give a small in-site to what I go through to
get ready for a big event, again this is MY Point of view. So with out
further rambling on my part.....
What
does it take to have a successful camp at any event? Well I asked
several friends that I do events with some men and some women. Their
answers were from broad to specific. Some of the men said a good jug of
rum......shocker there!! Some of the women said a tent big enough for
all of our stuff. The list was long and varied and would take days to
type out so I wont, but you have the basic idea. I attend several events
a year some of them small and some of them big. I'm going to focus on
the biggest event tried and give you all an idea of just how much work
goes into having a successful camp.
We
(meaning my family of my 2 daughters, 4 dogs, 4
horses and oh yes the husband) have attended the
Fort Bridger Rendezvous for 15 years in the same
spot every year by the watering hole just east of
the museum. We love our site do our best to
represent our time period as accurate as possible
in this modern age. I start planning for Bridger
in July even though the event isn't until Labor
day in September, WHY do you ask.......who knows
some times I wonder that myself. Then when you
over hear others complementing your table or your
kitchen box you remember why. If my girls need new
gowns or Kevin needs new shirts or britches I make
sure I have all the clothing for family and
friends alike finished by mid August so I can
start on Food.
Food
is always a big deal at this event. In years past
we have feed what at times felt like the whole
fort. Ours is an open camp and for those of you
who have been by to say hi you know there is
always a cold drink of Shrub and something tasty
to eat. The pineapple carved into the table says
it all WELCOME. I and Larry Hall who is an amazing
cook (he specializes in period cooking, yes you
will be reading several articles written by him in
the future) start planning in August the meals and
I start cooking and doing prep work 3 weeks in
advance. We cook breakfast and dinner for any ware
from 7-15 people and there always seams to be
leftovers that then get shared around the various
camps. It is a lot of work but a lot of fun and we
thoroughly enjoy it.
Now
camping with 2 girls can be challenging we have to
make sure all the necessary clothing is in their
boxes and that we have plenty of socks....which
never get worn and gloves which are always
worn......where's the logic who knows OH and I
cant forget my youngest's rope collection!!! I
then make sure the husband has everything (he is
pretty self contained but he still needs a
reminder or two) and then there is me....I will
admit, I forget more than the rest of the family.
This year I forgot ALL my clothing except for what
was in my box. Thank heavens for my good friend
and trail companion for stopping by my house and
grabbing all my gowns so I didn’t have to look
like a vagabond all weekend.
I
have set the standard high for myself and for
other women as well. I am not a peasant or a
servant and there fore don't dress as one. I dress
as a lady should and I have made it my mission to
open the eyes of women to the same train of
thought......not much success there yet but that
is for another article. So to only have a set of
riding stays a skirt and a shirt for the entire
weekend would NEVER DUE!! I wear something
different every day and sometimes change twice in
one day.....why because I can and because you cant
slave over a fire making dinner with your gown on
you have to have camp chore clothes.
So
now we come to what happens once we arrive at the
event. This is where the men folk are needed. We
all unpack the trailer and truck. First to be
unloaded are the dogs and they are taken out to
potty and then placed on their tie outs and
watered. Next is the rest of camp and it is staged
into areas of use IE: kitchen stuff, tent stuff,
bedding, clothing, etc I do help set up the tent
but that’s all Kevin's area of expertise.
He knows that when its all up its all me
and he gets to go and have a soda or more likely
help some one else set up because he is that cool
of a guy.
Once
the tent is up I go to work, moving in all our
boxes in which has made things much easier.
We each have a large box for our clothing
and goods. They line the north wall of our tent
and then the bedding goes down.
Our
beds are made of sheep skin hides laid out to
cover the entire floor, it takes over 24 hides to
make enough softness for 4 of us to sleep. Then
there are the blankets and such, next is the stove
because cold girls make for grumpy mom, where as
warm ones make for a happy mom!! and everyone
knows the saying “if momma isn't happy NO one
is”.
Once
all the inside of the tent is set up I go to work
setting up our kitchen and then its time to get
all of our non period goods back in the trailer
and get the trucks moved off the site, then its
time to get dinner going. All in all it takes over
3 hours once at the event to be fully set up, and
months before that, its a ton of work but it is
totally worth it. I enjoy having all our family
and friends come into camp and know they are
always welcome and will be greeted with warm
smiles and cold drink.
So
to answer what it takes....yes you have it, it
takes a lot of planning and hard work from
everyone for our camp to be successful. And if you
asked Kevin he would probably say it takes Tracy's
touch to make it look as good as it does.
cheers
do anois mo chairde
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