Thought I might chat about loose ends, things I’ve finished, and what I was up to while submerged plus new skills I acquired. But first, brother Weed. Turns out he was offering variolation, popular among rich families and the educated classes. It was a chance for doctors to make money from preventative medicine for […]
Read more "Loose Ends, Obsessions"George Weed had a problem. In Woodbury, Connecticut in 1746 he handed off some bogus examples of the colony’s script to a known counterfeiter. George informed this fellow that his brother Samuel signed the notes and could imitate any man’s handwriting. The counterfeiter got arrested in Fairfield County in October. Weed passed some fake 20’s […]
Read more "Problems"I can explain: Well, not really. I got antsy about posting anything on the interwebs, then blogs went out of fashion. Also, I have not made anything in a long while. I would not wish anhedonia on anybody. Anyway, bizarre side effects of chronic pain meds fixed everything. My partner and I have a new gig at […]
Read more "Holy hell, where have I been?"“I am exceedingly obliged for your exertions in forwarding reinforcements to this army. I like your plan exceedingly of equipping the troops with Jackets, as I am persuaded these may be had, and coats cannot; and tho’ they are not quite as sightly, they will serve to render them comfortable.” –Gnl. Greene to Gnl. Steuben […]
Read more "Jackets and Adjustments"It’s been a fantastic couple of weeks. Fort Dobbs is finally open and spectacular. The Museum of the American Revolution reprised their Occupation of Philadelphia event, so Elizabeth Weed and Thomas Nevel returned to amuse the public. Both places were an excellent chance to refine lower class and middle class 18th century characters. The servant at Dobbs was a Virginia […]
Read more "First Person Redefined"These are trying times. The Deckard coat collar is too small and needs to come off. The prosthetic side burns failed miserably. There are two weeks left to finish some 1830’s trousers. Solution: road trip. Kitty and his Drunkenness spent the weekend in Richmond, with Saturday devoted to the fabulous exhibit at the VMFA. I can’t say enough […]
Read more "Napoleon: Power and Splendor"It’s been awhile. Kitty and I have been engaged in long discussions about time drag and what we want to do in the future. The amount of misogyny and prejudice in certain time periods is depressing. Guns are nice, but I’m having a hard time getting excited about recreating conflict and nothing else. Deckard’s rain coat is […]
Read more "High Life under the stairs"A quick Preenacting update. Detective Deckard’s coat is a strange one. Aside from the color choice, external pockets and cuffs, the outer sleeve is actually part of the back shoulder yoke. The shoulder pads improve the shape, but there is no seam there. The yoke is also padded, and there is only one button. The […]
Read more "Interlinked"A weary veteran of years of service, this knapsack is a nice copy of what the British Army used at the end of the 18th century. Sadly, the original dates to 1794. Interesting thinking by learned men (Mr. Rees, Mr. White, Mr. Kirk and Mr. Melius, for starters) has shined a light on this subject recently. This […]
Read more "Knapsack"Among the annoying traditions of some 18th-century British Army units (including the 7th Foot,) is buff leather belting dyed bright white for field use. Soldiering, even the pretend kind, is hazardous and unforgiving when it comes to fashion. Between the belts, the hat trim, and the small clothes, white seems a poor choice. The larval […]
Read more "the Curious White Ball"