Our Family - Behind the Scenes: 3 Days in the 1860's

Once again we were able to enjoy family, friends and food at our annual reenactment at Fort Stevens, Sept. 1-3, 2007. We had quite the weekend with an extra activity that made for a full weekend.

Friday, Aug. 1st - Like normal we packed the trailer and van early in the morning for our 3 1/2 hour drive to Warrenton, OR. Yes, the drive was long especially when one is anticipating the end of the trip to such an extreme. We did end up making it there after what seemed to be a5-6 hour drive since there was SO much traffic. We set up in the coolest temperature we have ever had for setting up and then sat down to rest and visit with friends. When dinner time rolled around we got a fire going and pulled out the hot dog fixings. Both the C's and us put our food together and we shared the meal. Then as the sun sank and the moon climbed the sky, we all gathered around the campfire with capes and coats to begin laughing and talking together.

Saturday - We were awoken at 6am by the fife and drum corp. It is truly lovely to hear that music floating through the camp heralding the morning and prompting the reenactors to get up and get the fires and coffee going. Earlier in the week our great- great Aunt Sissy died. We are so sad to have to say goodbye to her but we know now that she is no longer hurting and she is free to worship God in spirit and in truth forever and ever. The reason I am mentioning this is that Aunt Sissy's memorial service was scheduled for Saturday at 4 pm in Salem. So at 11:00 we headed back to the van and we all drove to dad's office to wash hair, faces and feet. We had taken our funeral clothes to his office a few days before so we changed in a storage room! I should have taken pictures of that since it was quite comical with 1860's clothing and modern dress clothing hanging around among dirty socks and sweaty hats! The room also began to smell like campfire smoke! oops..... Daddy sang at the funeral and did a lovely job. I'll post a clip I recorded soon. We were so proud of him! About 7 pm we headed back to the office to change and then back to Ft. Stevens. Whew! That was a full day. We arrived back at about 9:30 pm and were still able to enjoy the campfire with everyone.

Sunday - It was a normal Sunday at an event. Waking up, getting dressed, doing hair, preparing breakfast, and then heading to a church meeting under the trees. The guys fought two battles and us girls did a photo shoot. After dinner there was a little dancing and then another campfire.

Monday - Since this was the last day we try to pack a few things in the tents that we will not need, rolling up sleeping bags and such then the normal morning routine and a battle at noon. After the battle we packed up our camp sites and said many goodbyes to friends and then headed off with a few families to eat lunch/dinner at Taco Bell. The "grownups" talked for some time and the little children got tired of being good. So we took the kids to a near by church parking lot to play. Then the last of the goodbyes were said and we packed up the munchkins and headed home. Needless to say, we grabbed the necessaries, hurried some people through the showers and snuggled them in bed. Us older ones were soon to follow. Of course, then follows the unpacking of the trailer and washing everything getting it all ready for the winter.

Kami and Lydia on setup day.

Hot dog time!

Mom and Lydia with the morning sun shining on them.

Annie with her new cape.

Kami with her new cape.

David and Gabe around the morning fire.

Sarah

Dad with his "coffee cup". Yes he really did drink his coffee out of it!

Sunday morning camp fire.

Ben C and his drum.

Kami and Keslie

Keslie and I have too much fun together!

Keslie looking over the river.

This is me taken by Keslie.

Someone is sleepy!

Gracie

Lydia enjoying a snack.

Since they worked so hard to make that applesauce Benjamin couldn't waste one bite!

Heather

Mom reading an old document.

David running to get into battle formation.

There was hand to hand combat on the bridge. This was the aftermath.

These are the guys marching onto the field. Dad is the second from the left in the black hat. Our friend Mr. Fox is the one to dad's left. The next row ahead of dad is Taylor, David and then Mr. C who is in the straw hat. It was Mr. C and Mr. Fox's first battle to fight in and they loved it. It was fun to see all our guys fighting together.

Taylor is the one who has his gun leveled and is firing.

The Union Colonel standing over injured David

Ben

Dad took Lydia to get the van and trailer and while they were fixing a flat tire she fell asleep in her carseat. This picture was taken when she woke up after we had finished packing and were ready to head home. She looks like she needed more sleep.