*Note: some of the photos in this post were taken by complete strangers--when able, I linked to where I picked them up.

I put my feet on Michigan soil for the first time in my life this past weekend--the only farther North I have been is Wisconsin when we went to Uncle Al's wedding in February.

Anyway...on the way up, we swung by another small town and picked up our good friend Miss K. :) I'm so thrilled she got to come along.

We didn't get over many pictures, so you'll have to just trust me on some of this stuff (and then...if I get any more, I can add a slideshow on later, right?)

We arrived at "Heritage Park" and registered and got told where we could put up our modern tent. Other than us, there was one other modern camper--one of the sulters who camped in their motor home. More on them in a minute.

Anyway, we arrived and fiddled about setting up. Well and behold! The string in the tent poles was shot--except in maybe three of them! Someone ventured that ever so original and at times mocked (or praised) thing that people everywhere claim is "The Redneck Repair Favorite": Duct tape. We just so happened to have  two partial roles, so I leaped for the kitchen box, rummaged through until I came in contact with one of the roles, whipped out my knife and got to work. Miss K ended up doing most of the tape cutting while I did the wraping...while Katherine--took pictures! :)

Anyway, we got the tent up...and then...Seems I cannot remember exact order...I reckon we ate supper...at any rate, we ended up heading over to the K's house (they were the one's who told us about this particular reenactment and invited us to come up) to help Abigail (if'n you don't recall, she was Savannah's third bridesmaid ;] ) finish up the LAST bit of her dress--the bows down the front. I wish I had an "Abigail Picture" handy to show you the dress...it sure was pretty. It would find itself battle-scarred on Saturday--but we'll get there.

Friday was "Education Day" (or what in the Florida reenactments we called "School Day"). I didn't get around to seeing all of The Southern Heritage Presenter's (the K's--and Miss K!) presentations, but the ones I caught were pretty good. :) Ethan actually ran through his spiel Thursday night while the female fingers in the room were occupied by needles, thread, material and irons. It was late enough that I'm afraid I didn't digest it well enough to repeat even the gist of it here--but I thought it was interesting and informative. :D 

Grace (which young miss and I could probably get into serious trouble together if we were so minded) and Miss K did a presentation on Southern Women (essentially) which also threw into the mix a bit of "slave relations" as Miss K so gallantly undertook the role of Talitha, a slave. I watched that one from behind, as I had just plopped myself down in a seat in the tent behind the two other girls when a group of school kids showed up. At least one of the little girls was very intently listening.

I caught parts of the three youngest lads presentations over the course of the day...and must say that they were mighty fine looking and carried on even when they were getting tired. I had fun at some point drilling one of them (I forget which--either Obadiah or Isaac) on why the Third National has a red bar on the end. 

The only other presentation I saw part of was Andrew's. I'm not one hundred percent sure what the theme was (Soldier's Life??), but caught the bit about gangrene...

However, to back up in the day a bit. As we were getting set for the day, our neighbor walks over and asks if any of us young ladies would be willing to help his wife out in the sutlery as "Education Day" usually is the most stressful and he had found out that he had to work that day--and she has epilepsy and never knows when she's going to have an episode. After a little discussion, I said yes and so Katherine and I ended up spending time on and off in the sutlery. It wasn't nearly as heavy traffic as Jackie and Ron were expecting so she told us that we could mosey off and not to worry about it. We did, but we kept drifting back every now and again to check on her--particularly if we thought we saw a group of kids headed that way. Katherine really spent more time down there than I did, but I was not leaving it to just her intentionally. I was glad that I went back that last time because Jackie got covered up just right before closing time and I was able to be helpful--which really was the only time I might have really been needed. 

We did get a few photos from that morning. Katherine and I would wear the same outfit (with minor variations) over the next three days.

 We barely squeaked in for Pastor Weaver's address on Abraham Lincoln that night. Actually, it was scheduled for 5:30, but we were still eating supper, so we decided that we'd just skip it...only to find out that since no one had shown up they had pushed the time back. So we hurried behind Mrs. K and got in just a few minutes in. I was tired, but Miss K was more so--poor darlin' was trying not to nod off throughout. From there, we went back to the K's house, where after a little music, supper was announced. I had been shortly before "hauled" (not) out onto the porch by Obadiah who wanted to show me the steers. (Seriously? Cattle? Don't have to say "Come'on" twice...) Anyway, I not too bashfully joined in the eating aspect of things going on on the porch. :D If the K's don't know anything else about me after this weekend, they know this: I like food and I'm not shy about putting it away either. :D As such, being were I was, I was party to their evening family worship (not sure that would be the term they use, but it's the same thing). Each family does things differently, so it was definitely not like our family's version, but that's not a bad thing. :)

We girls headed back to camp shortly thereafter and dropped off after a bit of chatter. I guess I probably fell asleep first. I had gotten tired by that point.

The next morning we got up, dressed, and ate. I headed into camp, actually intending on getting tickets for the train ride at 9:30--only to get sidetracked at the K's. I helped move a fly from one end of a tent to another. While discussing things with Mrs. K, she told me that Abigail and Grace could take us three with them to the train depot and that we could get tickets there, so I left off any stress of having to get up to registration.

I was asked if I'd like to toss my guitar in and play with the girls once we got to the train depot--and I naturally said yes! When we got there, we were a bit late, so we only did three or four songs before boarding time. We took our instruments on board and ended up playing a bit and then singing a bit. 

I had a blast!!

Anyway...the scenario on the train was General Grant (or was he really a Confederate deserter? I never did get that entirely straight...) was attempting to allude capture by the Confederates. Here's one of 'em:

By the way, here's Grant, er, excuse me "Susie"... :P

Anyway, before the ride was over, the Confederate's had captured "Susie"s female helpers...one got away, only to be chased half the length of the train by a young soldier with a nice hat with two real nice pheasant feathers in it. Abigail assisted in the re-capture of the fleeing girl, seizing her arm and half wrestling with her until the male help arrived. As the Confederate soldier passed me as he escorted the girl back to the caboose end of the train, he made the following remark (more or less): "It pains me, as a Southern gentlemen to have to threaten you with the bayonet if you try to run again". I called after them as they passed into the next car, "Do it if she tries again!"  I confess it wasn't necessarily the nicest thing to say, but I DO know that some of the Southern women would have at least thought it.

Later, after having established with a gray bearded Captain that I was indeed a Southern girl ("Dixie" and "The Bonnie Blue Flag" came in handy ;D), I was able to hurry into the next car to inform him that "the general is coming!" before slipping back to my station on the covered platform and hanging out the window, trying to look like I was oblivious as "Susie" and his fellow sneakers passed from one car into the other. 

It was some place during this episode that I noticed that one of the train employee's kept looking at me. So I smiled and he smiled, shly. This went on for a while. He finally came over to my half of the train and we had a train-centric conversation the rest of the way back to the depot. He seemed nice, but also a little unsure and I had an amount of difficulty, that I tried not to let on, in hearing him what over the noise of the train, the wind rushing by, his soft voice, and lisp. However, I think I got MOST of what he said. I kept asking questions because it was less awkward than him just standing there, leaning on the wall, looking at me. :D Of course, I was thoroughly enjoying myself hanging out the window at various intervals, having to hang on to my borrowed bonnet (every time it flipped back, the straw ripped at my hair...OUCH!), and trying hard not to laugh. As flattering as it is to have someone notice you like that (it's the first time for me as far as I am aware), I don't know why I found it amusing. Perhaps it was the line out of "The Wreck of Old 97" that flashed through my mind at the sight of all the grease on said young man.

Anyway, I learned that the top speed of these old trains is about 100 mph. That particular train (110, I believe she was--and I say "she" because our young man did) was built in 1911 (so a little post-CW) and had been owned by his family since then. His "boss" (I guess that he's not the owner, but the family still owns her) fixed her up in the 1960's and she's been running since. They usually take her out twice a day on the weekends. 110 is not a narrow gauge train...and our friend here can't drive her--yet. Another year and then he gets to begin engineer's training--which I got the impression was much looked forward to. :) Sounds like there is another train further out west that is in the process of being restored. Anyway, that's some of what I remember of our conversation.

We reached the depot and unloaded. When Abigail and I headed to the vehicle to stow away the instruments, we rounded a corner--only to come face to face with a small group of Yankees!! Abigail wheeled, giving voice to the sentiment that "It's not safe here". I basically just veered off to the right a bit and kept marching with my chin defiantly in the air. Anyway, poor Abigail went (as Savannah would put it) "boom", scuffing up her new dress (and I imagine, her pride). Not a one of those Yankee's even moved a muscle to help her!  (Okay, I get it--they were waiting in ambush for the Confederates when the got off the train!)

We quickly loaded the instruments in and hurried back so we could see the "fight". I realized, as the Confederates dismounted the Iron Horse that we were going to be smack dab in the middle of a fire-fight, so I looked around at the other girls and said, "When the firing starts, I'm going to hit the dirt. It will make it more realistic." I don't think Grace was overly enthused about the idea (at least at first)--but when heads appeared out of the bush in front of us (entirely unexpected) and the shooting started I went down and the other girls (including the camera-woman [Abigail]) followed suit. 

Now because I like to see what is going on, I kept lifting my head ever so slightly, so I saw Andrew fall--roughly four to five feet right in front of us.

He had his nice shiny revolver in his hand as he fell (you can see him reaching for it in the above photo) and I gave serious thought to crawling forward, picking it up from his "dead" hand and shooting the Yankees in the back with it. What finally nixed that idea was as I was literally lifting myself to my knees, I tossed a quick glance off to my right and saw two Yankees. They would have shot me before I even had the gun cocked! (I assume...perhaps next time I'll try just to see what happens. I suppose I can play dead as well as the next guy.) Anyway, I decided not to...which probably allowed me to see something else that was amusing though it shouldn't have been.

One of the Yankees spotted Andrew (Abigail told me later they know this particular gent) and went down on one knee and got all dramatic over him, "My brother! etc." It was actually hilarious because the man was almost laughing himself....

Andrew laid still and didn't even smirk (good for you!) The only response that whole thing got was one eye opened partly when the man said, chipperly, "Can I have your gun?" and another man said, "It looks like Dad's..."

So that was the amusement in the middle of the skirmish.

Shortly after that, this tall young officer with waxed mustachios knelt down beside us and said, urgently, "I can get you ladies out of here to safe place." After determining that the coast was fairly clear, he said, "Follow me! Run!" and we ran at his heels into the the depot, which they were using as a hospital.

Things ended shortly thereafter. I didn't see either Luke or Ethan get hit though I assume they did. Pretty much all the Confederates got wiped out.

We girls made a detour on the way back to the park to buy drinking water and ice. Lunch was consumed and then we hurried off to watch the battle. The two youngest boys were powder monkeys for some Confederate cannon and Josiah got to be the colour-bearer. 

I overheard, from both sides, that the battle did not go exactly as scripted--most of the fighting was under the trees when it was supposed to be out on the open field. Anyway, there were a few grouses on that front, but I thought for a 25 minute battle (if I had been able to see more of it) it wasn't too bad. Not overly spectacular due probably mostly to the fact that there really only was a handful of reenactors. A fine bunch of cannon though... :)

Josiah was one of the few Confederates to take a hit...and did he ever take it with spirit and verve! He practically flipped backwards and...I really cannot describe it. I just wanted to hollar, "WELL DONE, JOSIAH!" but I didn't--though I did tell him later how well he "died". He even laid quite stiff for most of the rest of the battle--though he did end up moving his hat to cover his face once the battle had shifted locus again. Just suffice to say, these K brothers know how to "die" well. 

The Confederates won the battle (day one of two supposedly portraying the Battle of Rich Mountain) that day, though they would eventually lose on the following day.

After a slew of photos taken there at the base of the hill in the Confederate camp, Luke pulled out his revolver and remarked, "I have to clear my gun" or something to that effect; I was a little busy watching his hand as it seemed to be extending toward me. Looking up from his hand I asked with a hint of excited incredulity, "You'll let me..." He laughed and handed it over. (Alright, so it didn't take the K's more than 18 hours to figure Racheal out on the firearms front.)

If I had been feeling less selfish, or at least more thoughtful, I would have let Katherine have a go at at least one of the three remaining shots. She said she enjoyed watching me enjoy myself though (despite the fact that she would have liked to shoot it too) and so didn't mind too much that her sister was being a hog...

My ears were ringing like crazy, but it was a thrill. :) YES. 

I actually kind of forget what went on between then and time for the ball--eating and a bit of clothing changing and "alteration" and re-doing hair took place, but before that I think it was pretty much just people talking...oh, and a K family pictures or three...or half a dozen because Obadiah is too much like me and kept bursting into giggles. Or grinning when he should have been straight faced, etc. I was told by someone (Master Obadiah, I do believe) as I was behind the camera, not to bring my eyes above the camera right before it clicked because it cracked him up. Yes, dear. I'll try to remember that next time.

They then hauled us three girls in for a few more photos and I hope I didn't ruin them...I'm not exactly photogenic, you know.

I just remembered something else, Grace and I went off and sat on the bleachers for awhile and talked more soberly than probably either one of us did the entirety of the rest of the weekend. It was a good conversation and continued into supper--which Grace had to scarf because the K's were leaving to attend Pastor Weaver's lecture.

The girls and I got ready for the ball and were going to take pictures, but we plumb forgot after Miss K just up and had an entirely unexpected nose bleed! (Not that nose bleeds are usually very predictable.) It took a few minutes for it to stop. Katherine cleaned up the dress where blood had dripped. I think Miss K felt kind of bad about getting blood on things, but it really was not big deal for us. However, she made sure later to soak the white petticoat borrowed from the K's who had in turn, I hear, borrowed it from someone else! It did come nice and clean, but because it had to be hung in a tree to dry, it was something of a beacon blowing in the wind for all the spectators to see as they drove in and parked the next day. :D

Of the two dances I have been at in a Northern state, I must say that this one wins. Unlike the rowdy crowd at Hartford City last fall, the dancers here were for the most part respectful of the caller and not overly noisy. I saw persons whom I recognized from Hartford City and met new persons. There was really only one whom I'd rather not see again...kind of a middle aged man with red hair. Neither Katherine nor I liked him much as he seemed a bit too forward. I did help a tall, dimpled man who had never danced before and reminded me of Red Skelton to get his feet under him in a dance that I had never done before--however, it's like this: once you know the individual steps, it's downright easy to follow the caller...

There were very few Confederates at the dance, so I mainly trod the floor with gents in blue uniforms. One was particularly nice; I had been talking with him and some of the K's earlier in the day looking at his small display of merchandise. 

All in all, all three of us girls had a nice time at the dance...and Miss K seemed to have TWO admirers! One even asked for her social media information....We have no clue of his name, so we call him "The Sailor Boy". The other was "The Marshall". 

I was glad to go to bed that night. Despite feeling better, I still get tired after two hours of dancing. I slept a little longer than I had been as well. 

Sunday morning, we started our camp break down and then hurried into town for church. (In full CW regalia.) We were almost late...Anyway, Pastor Weaver spoke on Law and it's relation to Church and Government (essentially). It wasn't anything new to me, but it was quite interesting--it is still one of my favorite topics, you know. I was grateful to be sitting next to Grace, who kindly let me crane over her shoulder and read the Scripture passages as I had forgot my Bible at home! (Thursday morning/early afternoon was a little hectic.)

I thrilled to Pastor Weaver's manner of answering the questions asked of him. No doubt, he's a Southerner! He wove stories into his answers very much like I do! :)

After lunch, which was thoroughly enjoyed, the girls and I went back to the park to watch the battle and finish our breakdown and packing. Well, we pulled in only to spot a fire next to our neighbor's camper--but not where their fire ring had been. It is my opinion that some jerk probably set the fire a-purpose as there was no evidence that Ron's fire had gotten out of control and spread. (Indeed, he told us later that he had broken it up well before he left it.) Anyway, I set off in Annabelle to go 'round and get some water (as we were out) and I managed to spill Katherine's tea--and nearly all the rest of my plantain salve all over the place. Bummer.

Katherine and Miss K had it out by the time I got back, but they went ahead and soaked the area well. Then we scurried off and caught the battle. One final volley killed ALL of the Confederates. It was actually very dramatic despite the small number of reenactors.

We stopped on our way back from the battle and talked to Hawk and Jill for a bit (once we get a period set-up we have been invited to camp with them and their group--which I appreciate!) then went back to the tent, changed into "civies", took the tent down and finished loading. Glancing at my watch, I found that we had already missed the beginning of Pastor Weaver's final lecture for the day, so we hurried as quickly as was safe (and this time I didn't do a lot of dumb attempting to park stunts like I had in the morning) and slipped in. I would have liked to have laid down for while listening to that talk; not because it was boring--far from it! but because I was that kind of tired. 

After the talk, we ate again (hurrah for food!) and gabbed for quite a while. I so enjoyed all the talk and laughter there was with this group of folks. I ended up, right before we left, chasing Isaac 'round the parking lot. He's such a funny little feller....I am quite out of shape, but it was an absolute blast. Everyone else was laughing (as were we)...but we did finally have to actually leave in order to get Miss K home by the 8 o'clock time she had given her mama. 

At Miss K's place we sat about on the porch for a bit and told weekend stories. Then we left and drove the rest of the way home. Katherine isn't much of a hand at talking to keep the driver alert when she is tired...but we managed. I was really only starting to get grouchy by the time we got home. A warm shower and bed. That's all I wanted. I didn't even want anything more to eat.

That should be the end of this post, but I feel constrained to add a bit of a postscript. Ethan asked me Sunday afternoon what my plans were for this week and I laughed, saying that I would probably spent Monday crashed. The thing is-I DID NOT.

This is the first time since I have started reenacting that I have been a normal functioning person the day after I came home from a reenactment. IT IS WONDERFUL...

So, today, though rather tired when I got up, I mowed the entire yard (something I could not do last year) and got my first real sunburn of the year. I also checked my bees...but that story--and there is one--will have to wait for a Bee Project post....

Anyway, I am grateful to have been able to go...and grateful that my parents don't mind my reenacting drive...and that Miss K wants to go with us again...and that I got to know the K family better...and got introduced to a few other families and individuals...and got to be IN THE MIDDLE of part of it all as if it had been planned...and of course, that there was plenty to eat and safety in the trip.

I had SO MUCH FUN...and look forward to the next one (maybe also in Michigan next month)!!  I only wish I had a few more pictures to show y'all. :)

I have four friends with birthdays this week...somehow that amuses me. :) Three are, or are past, and one still to come. My brother-in-law's birthday is next week (if I'm right on the date), so it's a birthday-ish kind of month, it seems! Naturally, Katherine is our "Sunshine Lady" as Mom puts it, so any mailed out cards have passed through the adorable child's hands.

Speaking of adorable, here's her shop outfit for today. Ain't she just PURDY??

Back to this week so-far though. I can't exactly remember Monday...unless Monday was the day Katherine and I went to Jo-Ann's. If it wasn't Monday, it was Tuesday.

Well, anyway, we went to Jo-Ann's because I have a number of Civil War underpinnings to make for certain persons--preferably before next weekend which is our first reenactment of the season! I, being the entire doof that I am, misread the sale ad and thus was happily expecting the muslin to be 50% off. Oh. It doesn't start until THURSDAY, you say? Well...now that I feel stupid, I'll come back then and get my mass of yardage! (Which I did, this morning, in conjunction with a grocery run. I walked out with an entire bolt of muslin for just over $25.)

I was also pricing for possible other notions for an upcoming project, my "bother's" Confederate general's uniform! Tickles me pink, it does. :) I'm still not entirely settled on what I'm going to use for the "chicken guts" on the sleeves. I don't want anything that looks cheap and "costumy"; it would ruin the effect. But anyway--there will be more on that project in the future.

Yesterday, I cleaned the chicken coop before breakfast. (That 45 minute buffer on the "dirt" detoxer leaves me open time slots sometimes.) The morning was spent doing a little straightening up and the afternoon saw the staggering fact that we organized our yards and yards and yards of material!!!!

You are allowed to die with shock.

That concluded with 1 box (all units are rubbermaid, just so you know) of 1 yard pieces, 1 box of 2 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 3 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 4 yard pieces, and 1 box crammed full of 5, 6, and 7 yard pieces. Then, of course, is the scrappy stuff which is supposed to be made into quilts, Katherine's box of fabric, my comforter bag of fabric, two small rubbermaids of doll material, one BIG rubbermaid with the material still on bolts in it. So yeah. We still have some material all over the place to join the mess of unfinished projects, un-started projects, and clothing items to be re-purposed. Oh, and perhaps a mending job or two.

We like fabric. Just in case you didn't know.

I was completely wiped out by the end of the day, but surprisingly, don't seem to badly off today. Which brings me to my next subject: a Racheal Health Update.

The week after Savannah got married, the following Wednesday to be exact, I started my new killer/detox regimen. I won't give any dates for the following, because that would be too precise for my taste (or memory)...

Anyway, I have been having, get this, E-N-E-R-G-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brain may not still be working at capacity, but I have been able to move, energetically--all day long (or mostly all day long) in a way that I haven't for quite a long time. Gee. ONE DROP of that fungal killer is doing this to me?? (And I'm not kidding, most days it is only one drop, not two.) I had some headaches when I first went on it, but since leveling out on one drop, I haven't. I wonder how it'll do with two drops. Maybe I'll attempt two next week.....maybe. I like feeling good. :D

Evidence that my brain still isn't fully functioning...I forgot what else I was going to say. 

However, I probably should mosey off of here (coffee's gone) and get to my Thursday baking. I have to go get some rhubarb for pies...and I'll double check with Mom on what else she wants or does not want made. Either way, I'll try to get US some bread made. We have enough eggs now that it's not a strain on our breakfast to whip up some breads.

Nah. I'm not talking about that I'm the oldest youn'un at home now or anything like that. I'm talking about the new Farmer's Market season.

I haven't heard anything about our local one, so I'm not sure what's going on with that, but the other market we work in a town a couple miles north starts tomorrow.

We have very little by way of merchandise yet. I have however, prepped for in the inevitable sweet teeth at the market by baking a batch of rhubarb strawberry pies.

I decided that this year, I'm actually going to try and make the pies look pretty. Maybe they'll sell better--maybe not. Anyway, I didn't see any use in just shoving that little bit of scrap dough back in the freezer, so I went decoratorish. I'm tickled at how that big one came out. Hearts are easy enough, but the flower was a little trickier. 

As you can see, I bake pies on a cookie-sheet. We found that out fast the first year I started baking rhubarb-strawberry pies for the market. I don't know about you, but I'd rather scrape and scrub a cookie sheet than I would the oven itself. :D

In between checking on the pies, I got a couple "Wedding Music Videos" edited. My adopted brothers are rather talented, just so's you know. ;) I'll be putting them up on YouTube relatively soon...

Oh--and I also started back on more detoxers and a single killer today. We'll see if THAT kills any and all creativity I have in me.

Until next time, I remain none other than...

​Thursday: COOKING. 

On Thursday, Abigail and Grace K. came down--they spent the majority of the day over at the church helping with the decorations while I baked chicken and later potatoes and carrots. My knee was sooo sore from squatting down every fifteen minutes to turn and baste the chicken. So much so that I ended up wrapping it for the wedding. (I damaged that right knee several years ago.)
 
My Aunt Terry also flew in that night--but after I went to bed, so I didn't see her until the next morning.

Oh...and I nearly forgot! My bees arrived! So I got them installed into the hives before lunch.

Friday: SO MUCH STUFF

Finishing up cooking, decorating, etc. Katherine baked the wedding cake and afterwards I popped in carrots and potatoes. It took forever for the first batch of carrots and potatoes to cook because the oven does not like the temperature to be changed.....I burnt half of the second batch because I thought I turned both ovens off before I went to bed, but I only turned the top one off. *rolls eyes* Hey, give me a break--it was 1:30-2:00 am!!

Anyway, several persons of our "house party" spent most of the day over at the church again. Aunt Terry, who played the organ for the wedding went over to make sure she got some practice. 

Someplace during the afternoon, I was peeping out the window and noticed this green car slowing down and pulling in. I went out, not sure who it was--and then I yelped, "It's Erik!!!!" (And then I remembered that car from before. :D)

Just in case you don't know--Erik was Savannah's first suitor. It didn't "work", but ended with a lasting, family-wide friendship. Erik, indeed, is the first and eldest of our adopted brothers. The beautiful happy lady next to him is his wife of two years--Allie. She's also now officially family. What a gal! :) We'll visit with them a little more here in a paragraph or so....

Sometime in along in here, the R brothers' also arrived, but they went straight to the church, so I really have no idea when they showed up. 

The rehearsal was supposed to be at 5:30, but I think it came off a little later. :D I *think* it went off well, but I've never been to a wedding rehearsal before, so I don't know. I don't have any pictures of that--or after when we were at the rehearsal dinner--but that was fun. Within earshot and with whom conversation was engaged with was, clockwise: Erik, Allie, Grace, Me, Abigail, Aunt Terry, Dan, Andy, and Katherine. I'm not quite sure of the rest of the seating waay up the table...
 
The conversation ranged from firearms (I think that was Dan and I mostly :D), music, history, family stories, reenacting, to coffee vs. tea (or both!)...and whatever. After laughing ourselves silly, various persons drifted away to hotels and our house. The House Party was all of us, Aunt Terry, Abigail and Grace, Erik and Allie, and Dan and Andy. I actually rode home with Dan and Andy--thanks to them tossing Andy's guitar (!!) and the suitcase in the bed of the pick-up. I expected to ride in the back of the cab, but I got to ride shotgun instead. :) Night air, music blaring, and brothers. :) It was a good ride...even with the wet, cool air-induced coughing fit. :D 

Anyway, when the House Party arrived, I went pretty much straight into pin-curling my hair. I think I got it up in record time...

In the meantime, Andy pulled out his guitar and jammed away. In my own opinion, I think he kept us all going. :D Before I got back into the kitchen, the rest of the the party started shredding cabbage, making salads, slicing ham, washing dishes, etc. It was so...awesome. It's what family is supposed to be like. Music, laughter, singing, talking, cooking--all way into the night. Or rather, into Saturday morning.  We finally all either, left to go to a hotel or crawl into bed, at about 1:30. I think I only got about two hours of sleep, so I did pretty decently the day after.

Saturday: THE WEDDING

Well, before we got there, we ate breakfast, goofed a little bit, and then rolled into last minute "stuff". That 'goofed a little bit' included a minor jam session of two guitarist (Andy and I).

Abigail and Savannah  went over earlier than anyone else while the rest of us concentrated on having coffee, tea, and breakfast....

At some point, I had to jump into the car and run into town to to pick-up Grandpa's suit from the cleaners. I drove WAY faster than I usually do....the three cups of strong coffee  I had had didn't help that race any. 

When I got back I kept right on running. We finally got out at almost 1:15 (we were supposed to be at the church at 11:30!), I think, and I RAN some more, rushing stuff in from the car...

​I finally managed to get around to getting into my bridesmaid dress, hurrying my make-up job, and taking my hair out of the "dew-rag" and un-pinning it. I was responsible for Scott's ring, so I stuffed it onto my thumb. Hannah, our photographer (and friend!) was in and out taking pictures. I think we all looked nice--I might have even attained what I was aiming at when I told Hannah's mom the night before, "I will try to look beautiful..." and then nearly fell out of my chair as I spoke! :D (I was leaning off to the side, in that half-dumb fake-confidential style that I have fun with from time to time.) Believe me, people were laughing...........

No matter what, I felt like I looked pretty, even though I was HOT (I mean temperature-wise!!!) when I got changed. It took me a while to cool down after all that sprinting up and down stairs.

Now, I know you are DYING to see the bride's dress:

Anyway, the ceremony was not overly long--but it was nice. Musically, Andy sang "O God Beyond All Praising"...the S's sang Psalm 46 in harmony...and there was the congregational hymn "All Creatures of Our God and King". I faked most of it, but kept my lips moving so I looked like I knew all the words! :D

The Pastor's message was not long but it was good (though please don't ask me to repeat any of it--remember, I only had two hours of sleep Saturday morning)...I had my camera set up in the balcony, so I'll be able to hear it again. :) Vows and rings were exchanged...and IT WAS DONE. 

Sorry I haven't any more pictures at this point...but I hope to put some more up eventually when Hannah gets done processing them.

However, during the wedding, our friend Ruth had a seizure! I had no idea what was going on and I did not look. If I had, I probably would have dropped my armload of flowers and charged over just like Mom and Dad and Erik and Beth (my cousin who is a nurse). At any rate, later I was able to go to GeeGee (Ruth's mom) and hold on to her until Mrs. M took her to the hospital where Ruth was being taken. I couldn't do anything else. Poor GeeGee was fighting tears and I knew that I had better not start bawling or she really wouldn't be able to hold it together, so I just kept my arm around her shoulder and said whatever that fell out of my mouth. I feel, while sad that Ruth had to be ill, that I was yet honored to be the family representative there at that moment. I just love both of them...

I bounced between the upstairs and the downstairs talking until it was time for pictures.

After pictures, Dan on his fiddle and Andy on the bodhran led the wedding party down into the fellowship hall. I really should have been directly behind Savannah, but because I was filming it, I followed on the very end, behind the groomsmen. Whenever I get the videos off the camera, I may get around to getting them on here....(and for my filmmaking friends, I think that I probably got the smoothest walking shot I have ever managed! I wonder if wearing heels helped??)

I tell you...the guests were so good about helping clean up. Though really, I think Miss K (remember this sweetheart?) and Allie did more than their fair share of the dish-washing! 

Between us, Miss K, the R's, the K's, and Erik and Allie, the rest of the clean up was executed pretty snappily. I was really starting to droop, so I'm afraid I was not in an awful lot of help.

It was told us that the relatives were coming over and I warned the brothers--knowing it would be a long evening and that they would be getting a little wound up. :D

Anyway, I hope they didn't think us rude, but Katherine and I spent the majority of our time out in the back room playing music. Dan looked about dead, though he did perk up for a bit once he got his fiddle out--after "fiddling" around on my cello. By the way--I think I've found my new "jam with R's" instrument--the cello. I can just find the drone note.........

At about two o'clock, I decided that I had better go to bed, so I went around and told everyone "Good-night", took a shower, and slipped upstairs.

I woke up at about 7 and snuck around trying to let everyone sleep while I readied things to go to church. I think Mom got the fellas and Katherine up around 8:45--giving them 30 minutes to get up, dressed, fed, packed, and out the door. We all swung it more or less. 

I ended up crying on and off all through the first service; I was just exhausted and the whole everything just caught up with me. I considered getting up and going to the bathroom and actually bawling, but I kept my seat and tried to be quiet. As the final hymn was being sung, I leaned over to Katherine and whispered to her to please get me a cup of coffee as soon as the service ended--which being an absolute doll, she did. It helped and I was able to smile sheepishly and semi-engage in conversation while wondering how red and puffy my eyes looked...It's very odd, but crying in public is not nearly as humiliating as I once would have thought it. Or maybe it's just because the people I was crying around are trustworthy?

Oh well, enough waxing philosophical about tears.

Savannah and Scott didn't make it to the first service (naughty young un's ;D) but they showed for lunch and the second service--only they didn't eat lunch since they had just had "breakfast". I had remembered to bring the camera.....

The R brother's left after lunch so they could get home in time for Andy to tickle the keys for their church's evening service. Glad to say, they got home safely! 

Savannah and Scott hit the road after the second service:

Erik and Allie likewise left--but to come to our place to see Mama and Daddy a little more before they left. So...while we got pictures with them before they drove off--we got to see them again at home as they ate supper with us!

My cousin spent Sunday night with us and Daddy took her to the airport about mid-afternoon Monday so she could catch her 5:30 flight. It was good to see her, even if I didn't spend a huge amount of time with her.

Monday, Robert and Lessie came to spend the day. :) They brought Mama a present....

While we would go out for supper, we fed them lunch...

Like I said, we went out for supper. We went to Red Lobster and I ate and ate. Scallops. :) Anyway, I ended up dopey. Hardly surprising, really. 

They came over for breakfast this morning before hitting the road again.

And now we have clean-up, re-organization to do, and I need to get the wedding videos off my camera. At present, I think every female in the house is just vegging in front of a computer. Daddy just got back from taking Grandpa to a doctor's appointment. And I'm not sure that I don't have a little meningitis prodding me in the neck. Bah. 

It was just wonderful and awesome to see so many people... :) 

Have a great Tuesday, y'all! I'm just relaxin' today...