Maybe you'll find a few more tidbits over here tomorrow...but that's all for today! 

I think that I just must make this a series...  "Musket Echoes: Historical Teasers from the War Between the States". 

Anyway...the episode was actually compiled over two days. I am just doing "skimming" sort of research at the moment, so nothing overly spectacular is going to show here. I'm rather running down three main separate, but oh-so-interconnected things right now...I'm practically living and breathing Civil War/Confederate history when my brain is moving at all.

Or, random findings on the War Between the States that I find interesting. If you don't care for such random things, don't bother reading this! :)

• The Army of Tennessee, at the Battle of Atlanta. Hardee had one Corp, comprised of four divisions. Of those, one was commanded by Major General William B. Bate. Bate's Division comprised three Brigades--one of those was the Florida Brigade under Brigadier General Jesse J. Finley. The Florida Brigade had the following regiments: 1st-3rd Florida Infantry (Captain Matthew Strain), 1st Florida Cavalry (dismounted) and 4th Florida Infantry (Lt. Col. Edward Badger), 6th Florida Infantry (Lt. Col. Daniel L. Kenan), and 7th Florida Infantry (Lt. Col. Robert Bullock). 
  
  For explanation of why that interested me, note first the 4th Fl. Inf. Co. K of the 4th Florida was originally (if I recall correctly) the 20th Florida Militia--which was the unit that my g-g-great grandfather was commissioned Lt. Col. of in 186--2, I believe it was.
  
  Secondly, take a look at that last one, the 7th Fl. Inf. I had three great-uncles (at least) in that regiment. Two were the sons of my g-g-great grandmother from her first marriage, before she married the Colonel (see previous paragraph). Both were killed in Kentucky, and I think, quite likely, without going back to check, dead by the time of the Battle of Atlanta. The third, might not have been there either due to being detailed to collect cattle. He was one the Colonel's sons.
  
  Here's the line-up for the Battle of Nashville, Dec. 10, 1864: http://www.civilwarhome.com/confederateornashville.html 
  
  
• Did you know that General Bernard Bee had a brother? I didn't...his name was Hamilton Prioleau Bee.

Ah...thank-you for putting up with me. :) I got all the way through the "B's" in Generals in Gray today. I'm actually not really researching the generals so much as their wives--for my next film project. There is no way, of course, that I could cover them all, but I've found a few interesting ladies with enough information (probably) to work with, so I'll just keep plowing through here and then decide which of the general's ladies will make the final cut....

You may get a similar post at some other date in the future, so hang in there! ;)

Y'all probably thought that I had totally, completely, irrevocably forgotten about the Cow Cavalry, didn't you?

Think again: ​http://freedomslightfilms.weebly.com/news/an-update-at-long-last_

:) 

I wonder how much AfterEffects work I can knock out tomorrow.....

I have been rather neglecting my blog lately...for various reasons. I'm welcoming myself back with a post of potentially gargantuan proportions.

Some of you all may be some what surprised that I have yet to fling myself into the controversy surrounding the Confederate Battle Flag. I know that it's petered out to a great extent, but I have kept thinking on it on and off--as have many others by the various posts and comments I have seen on social media. And last evening, I watched a video (or half of one; I couldn't get through the second half) which set me off again.

The subject of the video: A black woman who proudly carries a Confederate Battle Flag. The commentary given after the interview with this lady was done by a black man who obviously disagrees with her. However, so you better understand, let me kind of give you a brief synopsis of what the lady said.

First off: she was originally from New York--Muslim it sounded like--and "people are so racist it's not even funny". She moved to Virginia and started thinking differently about white people when "people I had never seen before waved at me". I am going to assume, though she did not say so, that she started doing some research because she essentially said that she agrees with the Confederate position--and she did say she believes in very limited government. I suspect that she has Libertarian leanings from something else she said, but that doesn't matter here. But...what the talk host really took issue with was this: "I believe that slavery is a choice".

Whoa. I had never heard anybody say that before...and I had never considered it. But you know, I think that she is right to a degree. However, back to the very indignant black man. "Slavery is a choice". Well...I listened to him for a little bit until he started prating about how this woman could only say the things she did if she were "uneducated"...and then brought up the slave revolts (Nat Turner in particular) and runaways. 

For starters, if you just look at it like that, then his reasons really just gave her more credence. Now, I am unaware of how many slave revolts there actually were--other than Nat Turner's unsuccessful one. What really burned me though was his passing her off as 
"uneducated" simply because she disagreed with his point of view. He was angry, you could see that, even if he was keeping his voice nice and level.

Anyway, I wanted to talk...to get some of the stuff in my mind out...perhaps coherently, perhaps not. 

Then...I saw this this morning in another article that is connected to the murder of the valiant and unarmed service men at the Chattanooga recruiting station: “Don’t listen to the lies of the leaders of our country telling you that Islam is not evil and that it’s just another religion,” he said. “It’s not. Those same leaders who are trying to turn the North versus the South, and whites versus black, are dividing this country greater than we’ve ever seen. ”

The speaker nailed it on the head. I do believe that the government, by making a stink about the Confederate Battle Flag on a monument is doing exactly that. Trying to plunge us into another Civil War (bah!) Tell you what folks, we need to stand steady and not do anything foolish--but, at the same time, we can't just let our rights be torn down, spat upon, and destroyed. As my sister says, ever since Obama was elected the first time, it is as though the nation has just been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I believe the evil people in charge are trying to push us over the edge before they find themselves out of power--just as firmly as I believe that Obama's reelection was achieved only by fraud. 

However, to go back to the Flag...I initially got all fired up after reading Joel McDurmon's article (which I am not going to go take the time to dig up). If you read it, you may remember his three reasons by which he justified his call for South Carolinian to "Tear down that flag!" Slavery really was the primary one. He took the mainstream line on that one. It infuriated me. (Each of his three reasons, the first of which I'm having trouble recalling, could just as equally be applied to the US flag.) I stewed on it for days...I raved to available family members...I think I even cried a little bit in frustration. I was mad.

South Carolina buckled. I guess Savannah is right, it was the only thing they could do without starting another shooting war--which is probably why the media camped on it as they did. (If you have yet to grasp that the mainstream media is just a tool of the liberals [I don't care if either Democrat or Republican...or Libertarian...they all stink alike], it's about time to. Don't trust them--at all.)

Since it seems impossible to talk about the flag that so many godly men served and died under in defense of FREEDOM from governmental tyranny without bringing in the fact that some of the men who fought and died under that flag owned slaves; I want to address slavery as an institution. But real quick, just to put this into prospective, here are the numbers: of the white's in the antebellum South only 1% owned slaves. Amongst the freed blacks 10% owned slaves. Oh, and as someone mentioned someplace, not all slaves were black. Slaves in the South may have been primarily black, but it was not so much "ethnic" as perhaps we have been told--seriously...blacks sold blacks to whites (those slave ships never came into Southern ports by the way; the slave trade was carried out by Northern shipping companies). Whites bought them, tis true, but so did other blacks. 

(And no, I will not use the politically correct "African-American". I think it is insulting to a black person whose family has been here almost as long, if not as long, as my own blood line. If it's not, then I, a white woman, should be insulted because I'm not called a "Scots-Irish/English-American". Foolishness. They are just as much Americans as I, they just have a different pigment!)

Slavery then. As with anything and everything we should not try to justify it by circumstances et al. No, let's go to our Bibles. What does the Bible say about slavery? Does it ever condemn it as morally wrong? 

The first time I ever had that question scamper across my brain, I probably changed channels pretty quick. This is a subject that is vicious and vitriolic. "I won't think about that yet..."

Well, as I have become more and more confident in my Confederate-ness and more and more nailed to my gray heritage (to the extent that I barely ever introduce myself to anyone without pointing out the fact that I am a Southerner), I have naturally had to look at the subject. I have yet to sit down and do a comprehensive study on slavery, but I cannot say that I see, from Scripture, that slavery in and of itself is a moral wrong. I'm not trying to justify the fact that many of my Confederate heroes owned slaves--or even that my very own great-great-great grandfather owned eight. (Though, I confess, I have more moral issues with the fact that he fathered a child with one of them, Rachel Davis. However, even the outcome of that demonstrates that blacks and whites were "family" as H.K. Edgerton says--for, as far as we can determine, my great-great Uncle Lloyd was as much the son of John as his other, fully white, sons. I actually think Lloyd, being the youngest, was the one that took care of his aging father. That is speculation, but founded on actual reasons which I won't go into here.)

So, is slavery a moral wrong? I do not think so:

• God sets forth standard for slavery in the Law. Even what would be called "ethnic" slavery--those from other nations. A Hebrew had a seven year work cycle--after which they were either a) set at liberty or b) could become, of their own volition, permanent slaves. Slaves taken from other nations were permanent unless they a) were set free or b) bought their freedom. That part isn't mentioned in Scripture, but I imagine that it is a logical deduction.
• If slavery, as an institution, were morally wrong, God would have told us so. Take for instance: "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." (Eph. 6:5-9) 
  Notice that Paul does not tell the masters to free their slaves. And don't tell me that "bondservants" doesn't mean "slaves"--this was the Roman world. 
• Nowhere, at least that I have seen, does God condemn slavery in and of itself as a moral wrong. 

Now, I do not think that slavery is normative, nor do I want to appear to be advocating a return to enslaving other men in our nation--not the way one initially thinks when they hear "slavery". I believe that many, many persons, both black and white (and a variety of other "races") are already slaves in this country. Slaves to Big Government.  I feel myself to be so to a degree as well. (Seriously. Inheritance Tax? Land Tax? Income Tax? Those are morally wrong! The State declaring that it owns you.) So with that being said, let us take a quick look at antebellum Southern slavery.

Was there abuse? Absolutely YES.

Are pictures like this one "doctored"?

No. I don't think so. There was cruelty. However, I seriously doubt that most masters would have treated their slaves in such a fashion. Evil men are evil and will commit evil acts regardless of whether they are slave owners or not. 

This photo also brings up a question I hadn't considered before, until listening to H.K. Edgerton speaking. What did this man do that warranted that?

Mr. Edgerton points out that "we are told about these [punishments], but we aren't told that that black man had just burned down a barn with ten other black men inside it!"  (I will post the video this came out of down at the end.) [Not that I am claiming that to  be the case with the man in the photograph...I know nothing about him or his situtation.]

In general, punishments were a little more harsh back in previous centuries anyway--no matter what your colour. Just thought I would tack that on for consideration. Public whipping wasn't unheard of for a white man either.

Did slaves have to work long, hard hours out of doors in the sun? Yes. But no more (and perhaps less) than poor white farmers who could neither afford to buy slaves (who were quite expensive) or maybe even hire temporary help. 

Could slaves own anything of their own? Yes. In fact, I've seen where slaves had enough gold stored up to have purchased their freedom and THEY DID NOT. (So maybe that lady we started the post with has a valid point...)

Was their mutual respect between white and black? I believe, for the most part, there was. Take for instance, the following story which I read in JEB Stuart: The Last Cavalier (B. Davis): The Yankee's had come through and in their ransacking of a plantation, they stole the old house slave's gold watch. Well, some of Stuart's men came through and heard the story. They caught up with the thieves and apprehended them. Capt. Blackford (the man in charge) demanded the gold watch and returned it to it's rightful owner--a black man. A slave. 

Could a black man be educated? That one varied from state to state--and doubtless, some masters violated rules and taught their slaves to read and write and do arithmetic. One thing I do know is that a large portion of slave owners saw to the religious education of their slaves. Ever wondered why there are so many old black spirituals?

Was there justice for black men--free and slave? More or less. I confess I need to do a whole lot more study on this particular question, but I suspect that law and order applied to them in much the same way as it did to whites. (Going back to the video I mentioned at the beginning, one of the claims the host made was that the "police forces" were really more "slave control". I honestly doubt that. White people are just as prone to thieving and murdering and arson as persons of different colours.)

Was there discrimination? Yes. Of course. There was also discrimination against Indians, against white people of different nationalities...and it wasn't universal and it was as much in the North as it was in the South. Northern factory workers hated blacks because the blacks would work for less than the whites. There is STILL discrimination amongst whites against other whites and blacks against other groups of blacks and so forth. Discrimination is a sin problem, not a colour problem. 

So yes. There was slavery in the South. Slavery that probably, quite frequently, fell below the standards of biblical slavery. And no, I do not try to justify where it failed...but neither do I discredit the righteousness of the cause of liberty for which brave patriots--some of them black men who loved freedom from governmental tyranny and justice just as much as their white brothers-- fought and fell for beneath this flag.  

Give me my flag, Tyrants! (And that goes for you, you modern KKK scalawags who have used it for tyranny!!)

May God preserve the Memory of the Faithful Men who Fought for Liberty beneath the Cross of Saint Andrews--Black, White, and Indian. 

As promised, the inestimable H.K. Edgerton! I want to meet him...a lot.

Even though I was staving off the remnants of my cold (I was pretty miserable on Sunday), I thoroughly enjoyed the conference!

Our trip over on Sunday was uneventful...for which we were glad. 

(Click on the pictures to see them larger.)

                                                                              The Travelers

I had a fever by the time we got there (actually a 99.3--so a real fever), so I was allowed to be lazy about unloading Annabelle. I went to bed fairly early.

Monday morning...(excuse me while I refer to my blue spiral bound that effects to by my journal [yes, you may gasp with surprise, I actually do keep a journal now...even if it does end up with substantial holes in it, I haven't given up this time around])...ah yes...Monday morning, I went downstairs an whole hour early, due to a misprint on the email I had gotten concerning my impersonating. Anyway, I eventually ended up offering to help the lovely ladies setting up the registration table and while I felt more in the way than anything, they did accept the offer. Thus was the slightly awkward beginning to a fantastic three days.

When the time rolled around for myself to actually start my impersonating business, I took up my station (I *ahem* rather put my stakes in right there by that sign). I forget all the people I talked to over the course of next two days as they tried to guess who I was portraying (the impersonators where the clues in a treasure hunt): Mrs. General Stuart. I mean Flora Cooke Stuart, wife of James Ewell Brown Stuart. :) Since nobody knew who Flora was (she didn't do anything spectacular), the means of guessing my identity was really guessing JEB Stuart's identity. I got quite a lot of practice referring to "my husband"--rather an odd sensation to an unmarried woman. :D

Anyway, a few instances stand out to me: the tenacious determination of a blue-eyed boy of about 10 and his reticent little brother (about 6) who had no idea really even who JEB Stuart was (I was really impressed by this kid), the three little girls who would end up being my playmates for the latter half of Tuesday, the young man who won the 18+ age bracket of the treasure hunt, the pretty lady that reminded me of a lady at church, the sparkling blue eyes and dimples of a fellow impersonator (so I'm a sucker for dimples), the rapidity of the two brothers who tied for the win in their age bracket (they made me laugh), the family with all the pretty little girls in their matching dresses and their three brothers. The youngest was missing both his top front teeth and completely charmed me. :D

Well...that seems like more than a few, but you get the idea. I talked to a variety of people and enjoyed it all for the most part. I only fell out of character a couple of times, which I thought was pretty impressive since it was my first time impersonating like this. (Um...did that sound like a brag?) 

Between impersonating, I attended sessions like any other normal conference goer. Monday's sessions:
The Cause of the War Between the States (Dr. Morecraft): The long and short of this one was the theological background; the differences between North and South. Roughly, the South still maintained an orthodox Protestantism whereas the North had accepted "Enlightenment" theology and had become Unitarian. 

The Pirate Lafitte (Bill Potter): Lafitte was a pirate, despite his helping Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans. :D Anyway, Mr. Potter discussed pirates in general a bit and drew the distinction between an pirate and a privateer. Of course, he actually told Lafitte's history! (One of the Summer's sons was impersonating Lafitte...his costume was quite dapper...and he had a great pair of boots. So did his brother... :D [Boot-philia, I think we might call this].)

You Ain't Just Whistling Dixie (Mrs. Morecraft): I didn't take any notes...but I laughed all the way through it as Mrs. Morecraft drew Southern words and phrases out and laid them before her appreciative audience. Dr. Morecraft informed Daddy and myself later that he was watching me (I was in the very back of the room and he was sitting in his wheelchair near the doors) as much as he was watching Mrs. Morecraft. Apparently, I amused him. :D It's really quite a compliment. 

The Industrial Revolution and the Family (Wesley Strackbein): I must have been either hungry or not feeling well, because my notes (and memory) on this particular talk are rather sketchy. However, this (edited) little scribble probably sums things up fairly well: The industrial revolution destroyed the family economy unit; children were up until this point an asset, not a liability--this was switched with industrialization. Technology must be our tool rather than our master.

The Fascinating History of American Music (Geoff Botkin): I immediately thought of one of my brothers when Mr. Botkin began this one. :) Anyway, I did not take any notes for whatever reason...but did find the session interesting, despite my current inability to regurgitate any of it.

Tuesday's sessions:
The War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans (Bill Potter): I do so enjoy Mr. Potter's talks, even if I have a time of it taking notes from him. At any rate, he opened the issue with a discussion on whether or not the War of 1812 was even a just war. I confess I had never thought about the question before. The consensus was that it was a little iffy as to legitimacy; I would have to do a little more research on my own before I would state conclusively either way. (An interesting factoid here...during this war, New England threatened session...just thought you might like to be reminded of that fact. ;]) And...my notes are rather sparse...

Old Hickory (Wesley Stackbein): Of course, me, myself, and I had to go to the session on a fiery red-headed hero of mine! As Mr. Stackbein reiterated a couple of times, Andrew Jackson was by no means a perfect man, but he definitely had traits to emulate. I won't give you his history here though...

Economics, Law, and Liberty (Dr. Raymond): The more I listen to Dr. Raymond, the more I understand why Savannah has such respect for him. This was the first of several of his sessions that I attended. He is such a...vivacious...blunt speaker. Anyway, this talk was essentially on tithing...and the implications of it, etc.

The Social Engineers and What they Designed (Geoff Botkin): At this point I had "lost" my notebook (in the form of handing it to Katherine to take back to the room because I was unable to handle it and keep up with the little girls). Therefore, I obviously did not take notes. 

I missed a session on Tuesday because first I was talking to "Captain Jack" and tying knots...and then because I was talking to a 12-year-old laddie...and then because the little girls descended upon me. I am still not exactly why they took to me the way they did, but I guess my internal "kid-magnet" must have activated. I didn't mind it at all, that's for sure!

Wednesday's sessions: 
Robert Lewis Dabney, a Giant Among Men (Dr. Morecraft): A short history of Dabney.

Principles of Christ's Lordship in the Founding of America (Dr. Raymond): Oh, bother. I simply do not know how to condense this one! He covered too much history! (And ground.) Let's see if this passes: Dr. Raymond demonstrated that these United States were founded on Christian God's Law, not "natural law".

The Geo-Political Ramifications of the Incarnation (Dr. Raymond): My notes on this one were really, really sketchy. Hardly enough to jog my memory. Let's see...God's Kingship should be a fact to us...total comprehensive rule over all nations, laws, people, etc. 

Woodrow Wilson: A Sacred Fool? (Bill Potter): I chose this session over the other two because I really didn't know that much about Wilson, except that he was a progressive and was president during WWI...and that he was from Virginia. Now, I know a little more about him and more about his politics. He really was what we would call a "liberal" and became such by turning his back on the staunch southern Presbyterian upbringing he had had. I thought this little sidenote was interesting: the 19th Amendment granted women suffrage...and the majority of women were actually opposed to the idea. Oh...and the 16th Amendment (Income Tax); it never was ratified!

The Challenge of the Reformation in Modern America (Geoff Botkin): The final session of the conference, Mr. Botkin exhorted the attendees with a list of "mandates" (these may not be quite right, I didn't always get them written down fast enough): 1) Be prepared to walk alone for a season; 2) Providence leads us to hope; 3) Remember what is at stake; 4) Re-learn everything if you  must; 5) Defend, assert, and model what the church should  be; 6) Disciple Christ's men by inspiring them to courage; 7) Stand firm, but do not be formulatic and rigid; 8) Maintain a pioneer spirit; and 9) Be gentle and magnanimous.

However, to drop back in time a little...
We didn't get any pictures Monday...and Tuesday the photos Savannah took of me in my "day clothes" were so bad (somebody forgot to remind me to lift my chin! ;P) that I decided not to post any of them. I do have enough vanity you know. But there were some nice pictures of my sisters, so I'll let you look at those instead!

Tuesday evening was fun! There was the big "reveal" of who was who of impersonators, a costume contest (which I'll go ahead and tell you that I did not win ;]), dancing, and the announcement of the treasure hunt winners. 

There wasn't really much dancing, because all the other stuff took up time, but it was still fun. The last dance I did with a toddler on my back. :) I really do enjoy incorporating small children into the dances. The look of joy in their eyes far, far outweighs any "inconvenience" their ignorance causes. 

Anyway, I'm sure y'all want to see my awful hair-do. Mama saw the pictures and she gasped in horror. Literally. I'm not kidding you.

I was so impressed that I got "the look" that I left it up and wore it that way in public. The things we will do for our 'art form'.... What was really "funny" about it is that I am the one that cannot stand hair over my ears. I think the only reason I handled it was because the hair is actually poofed off over the ears and doesn't sit tight against them.

Anyway...here are the girls:

I had issues with my skirt...originally, the skirt opening was in the back, but when Savannah stitched the bodice to the skirt to keep them together and spare me the embarrassment of my corset strings doing a jig down the back of my gown, she had to turn it around (for obvious reasons). the pleating is heavier in the that portion of the skirt, so it hangs down differently and therefore I kept stepping on my skirt. Before I wear it again something has to be done. 

The next day, I returned to my preferred hair style. (And yes, I did wear my Secession Cockade all day long.)

I did my shopping that final day, purchasing several books, though certainly not as many as last year. 

Thursday morning, Daddy and I sat with Dr. Morecraft while he ate his breakfast, along with Mr. Botkin. It seems to me, on the one hand, rather odd and awesome to be sitting and talking to these well-known men...but then on the other, sitting and watching them eat breakfast reminds me that they, like myself, are just regular human-beings. Sure, they may be older and wiser than myself, but they are also just like me, persons created in the image of God, fallen in Adam and redeemed by Christ Jesus.

We pulled out and headed into southern Illinois to pick up our sink...

After collecting the sink, since we were going through the area, we contacted brother Andrew and met up for a coffee (his pretty sister was unavailable or she would have joined us to!) Unfortunately, we plumb forgot to get any pictures!! 

Thankfully, we got home with no issues...
~~~
I might as well briefly tell you that I mowed today...and that I managed to bend the blades even worse than ever by hitting a stump. However, in the process I learned that I can indeed take the blades off and straighten them--to a degree. If I had worked at it a little longer, the really badly bent blade could have gotten straightened out better. Oh well...

I ate enough dirt today, what with me mowing and the farmers plowing...and the wind blowing. :P 

A'right. Good-night, y'all!

I had one of "those" days yesterday. The kind that leave you feeling completely useless...or if someone even raised their voice a little bit at you you would dissolve into senseless tears. Stoned. Unable to stand up straight. Pain in the hip. Weak. Plain and simple--dumb. 

That being the case, you will find it hardly surprising that the task I set myself for the day did not get completed. For that matter, it didn't even get started. As a wise man once said (roughly), "One must learn to use the magic word, 'No'." 

Still for all that, I did manage to put some books that are going to Goodwill into boxes and put those two end-table thingys that came from Granddaddy's house together. Only to discover that, "Oh, I was going to paint those..." Oh. Anyway though, all in all, Mama didn't mind that I had put them together. This way they aren't floating around in pieces in various boxes...AND it got the table parts out of the chairs. :D 

I forced myself to wash the lunch dishes. It's pretty much true when I jokingly say, "I am able to wash dishes--even when I feel terrible!" Still, it took me repeating to myself, "I do have enough gumption to wash those dishes" a few times before I actually got it done.

After that...I can't really remember what I did....

S0, the long and short of it is that I did yesterday's task today...rearranging my bedroom bookshelves! My War Between the States library got moved from the side that my clothes rack shadows to make it more accessible. I also added some of the books I had in a box as well as my newly acquired ones. I found a few that I had been looking for in a drawer in my desk, so I put them there to. (Railroad War...there you are!! I didn't think it was in Florida...) Come to think of it, I have even more in another drawer. I use those though for research purposes frequently enough. 

I ended up bringing down a couple of stacks of books (sorry, Mama!!) that I took off my shelf. I of course left my Douglas Bond's up there--all seven of the ones I own--and my old Detective Book Club books. Then of course there are the short story books I still occasionally pull off and read when I don't feel good. Previous generations children's literature was at least half-way decent. They actually knew how to use words. But I digress. 

In the process of shifting books, I also ended up dusting three pieces of furniture (now why didn't I go ahead and do the rest??), hanging my Norman Rockwell pictures that I got for Christmas (thanks for your help, Savannah!!), going through my "reenacting box", and emptying and repacking the top drawer in my dresser. It's a whole lot more practical now. It is good when I clean up with the "get rid of--don't be sentimental" attitude. 

Oh, I just remembered something I did yesterday, but it's related, so bear with me. I used to keep my Third National folded up on the bookshelf, since I didn't have a place for it. Well, yesterday afternoon, I decided, since I haven't any curtains at this precise moment (I forget why exactly), that I would utilize the old curtain bar hooks up at the top to hang my flag. As it turns out, the hooks are set too wide to hang the flag vertically (which I didn't really  want to do for two reasons: 1] I'm up North and 2] my cats would put holes in it), so I managed to hang it horizontally, rather like a bunting. I would take a photograph and put it up, only I have yet to locate my mother's camera since she's been home. Not that I have looked overly hard, either.

As seems to be the case when I get to house cleaning, by the time I was done with my room, putting clean sheets on, cleaning the bathroom and the kitchen...my heels had begun to hurt. I guess it must be my flat footed-ness...though Grandpa might suggest heel-spurs. NOT something I really would like to seriously consider. But, now that I've sat here for a little while, I think I'll probably get by without a heel induced limp like I had a few days ago. :)

The chickens will need feeding in a few minutes, so I'll go ahead and sign off...

P.S. Before I got this posted, Daddy called for someone to come pump the brakes for him...and I ended up with a mini-lesson on disc brakes!

I cannot claim to have had an overly exciting-to-tell week this week...sure I've had enough excitement working on AfterEffect compositions, but that kind of work hardly makes for thrilling reading... ;D 

It took ALL DAY to render 33 compositions--which I did yesterday. In the meanwhile I ironed my stack of ironing and did sundry other piddly little jobs...none of which I seem to be capable of recalling at this moment. At any rate...I do remember thinking at some point yesterday that I was having a fairly productive day, so whatever it was that I did must have had some sort of significance. 

However, looking around, I can see the things that I did not get done this week...for instance, there is an unassembled skirt on the corner of the dining room table (yes, don't all sane persons keep sewing projects in their dining room!?). In the living room, there sit my bee hives--still unpainted. I was going to paint them this week, but the weather got too cold again...and quite honestly, I did have my nose glued to the computer screen for the majority of the week getting things done. There is always next week, right? ;) (I told my Mama I would seriously try to have the hives OUT of the living room before they get back...)

I received a book in the mail (don't worry, Daddy, I'm reimbursing you for my latest shopping spree... :D):

Handsome man, that...ahem....

Anyway, I haven't started reading it yet, but I have started reading Christ in the Camp while I wait for my coffee in the morning. You see, I really AM serious about reading more.

Speaking of WBtS's reading...I am quite aware that my day-by-day has fallen by the wayside again. I'll try to get it back up and running, but I'm not promising anything. Sometimes some stuff has to be let go of in order to get more important things done. And...if you haven't guess, I'm more or less CRAMMING to get The Cow Cavalry done. Me and it are ready to breath a sigh of relief... ;)

Don't worry, I have plans for the next thing I am going to tackle!! However, I'm keeping that mainly under my hat for now. I have definitely learned A LOT from The Cow Cavalry and one of the main things is "be more organized" and SET YOURSELF DEADLINES. (Literally, I see that in all caps in my head.) Also, I think that next time, I will be ready to start the editing before I start to cast voice overs and the like. (By the by, I'm sticking to documentaries for the present...) 

However, I think when The Cow Cav gets done, I will mainly focus on really nailing my impersonation for the upcoming conference. I confess myself slightly nervous (though giddily excited about it as well). I have moments where I give myself a mental shaking and demand, "Racheal, what have you gotten yourself into??" Then I shrug it off and grin like a goof-ball and murmur to myself, "It'll be okay...I just hope I don't come off like an idiot." Well...anyway. You get the idea. This is going to be fun!!

Ah...well. Now that I have relieved my 'writing itch', I'll go figure something else out to do. I really want a snack, but I can't eat anything yet since I just took my Bart killer... :P

Well! I must say it was a thrill to get cinched into my 1860's clothing and head out for a day of WBtS reenacting enjoyment again!! It has, I admit, revitalized a little swirl of thoughts I have been tossing around for a while, though, granted, they are hardly articulable (yes, I just coined that word), even to myself. 

Anyway, Mama and I headed across the prairie to spend the day south of Fort Pierce at the 14th Annual Raid on Fort Pierce reenactment. It was the only reenactment going on while I was here, so I really wanted to go...especially since a special SCV friend is one of the men who is behind it. Seeing as how things are, we only went over for the day, rather than doing the whole weekend deal (which is, you know, quite a blast). 

Grandpa Wess had informed me, via email, that when we got to the registration table, I was to tell them he was expecting me and he would get us in and introduce us around. Well, I did, but Mama and I walked on, rather than standing around, so it was probably a good hour or so later when I finally saw him, looking more than ever like Santa Claus (he could seriously pull a Santa Claus act off) in a bright red shirt. He, naturally, gave and received a big hug. :) We actually didn't talk overly much, but it was enjoyable and pleasant while we did....

Anyway, that happened after something else. More surprising, but probably even more joyful. Mama and I had passed sutler row and we were walking along with me rattling, when I glanced up and saw a wagon with a shade cloth off it and a nice little setup around it. Then I saw the banner...which said something about "ministries". At roughly the same time, I saw a tall, quite broad-shouldered man in a green-check shirt with a black vest and straw hat. I interrupted myself in the middle of a sentence (I may have exclaimed "oh!", but I'm not sure) and just dashed off, rudely leaving my mother in my dust. 

By the time I reached the wagon, I slowed myself to a little more lady-like pace. I stepped up behind the Reverend, who was still arranging things, and piped, "Good-morning!"

He turned, returning the greeting, and then stared at me in surprise for a second or two before breaking into a delighted grin and more warm welcome. Ah, yes...Mr. Brian is one member of our reenacting "family". He also so happens to be the bacon box bass player for 7lb.s of Bacon. :D

We also ran into a couple other acquaintances...I don't think I ever actually really had a conversation with Rebekah before yesterday, but she was a familiar face. We did stand and talk for a little while there. :)

This was the smallest event I have ever been too, so the battle wasn't supremely spectacular, but it wasn't bad either. Naturally, being Saturday, the Yankee's won (I must admit here, they were a pretty nice group of Yankee's...it was such a small event that the fraternization was a bit freer then usual. But, more on that later.) I guess I shall go ahead and put the pictures here, then I will continue the tale.

Well, to continue, after the battle, something happened that I had not seen before and it was really quite amusing. I am going to guess that the men of this particular company have pulled this stunt before. (8th Fl, Co C--I think.)

Anyway, there was some fracas about one of the guy's wives "turning traitor". She got 'arrested' by two of the men. The CO was talking very loudly, but her husband was really making a stew about his wife. Well, anyway, the CO made some remark about "Since you can't keep your wife under control". The guards "tied" the wife to a tree and her husband came up rather near her and started telling the other men to make sure their aim was sure. The CO gave the "ready, aim, fire!" routine and the firing squad fired--and the husband fell down 'dead'. The CO start raving about "what did you do?" and the men retorted with something about "her being a woman". 

Suffice to say, they had entirely too much fun with it. :)

Let's see...Mama and I went out to dinner (yes, with me decked out like a lower class woman from the 1860's, replete with secession cockade). We were going to go to a sea food place, but even at that early hour, it looked crowded, so we went in search of sustenance elsewhere. (The event sponsors were feeding the reenactors at 5:30, but chicken and dumplings are something I steer clear of, for obvious reasons.) We ended up at this Mexican restaurant with good food...and a man playing live mariachi music on his guitar. :)

We had already decided that I could stay for the dance. I really wanted to and Mama was game, even though it meant getting home later than perhaps is wise, so I decided I wanted to re-do my hair. While I could have done it without brushing my hair, Mama swung by a DollarTree and bought me a hairbrush and a nice hand mirror (that was really nice!) So, I sat there in the car (by the way, corsets and bucket seats are opposing forces), in the dim light (until I remembered that I could turn the overhead on) and did my hair in two braids over the top of my head.

We still had about an hour to kill before the dance began, so I spent a good portion of that standing up, leaned against the car, fingers busy with my knitting, looking at the stars. I went through my Confederate song repertoire (which is rather small if you count only what I know all the words to). Roughly fifteen til eight, we strolled back on down to where the dance was to be and shortly after that, the rest of the dancers arrived. 

I think we may have had a grand total of eight couples at the floor's fullest. It was the smallest and most haphazard dance I have ever been to, but I must admit that since it was so small, (er...intimate, to use a more period term), it was also quite fun. I danced the majority of it with a young Confederate private who goes by the handle of "Stumpy". Stumpy is a one-year reenacting veteran, plays the "hick" very well, but probably is a pretty smart guy. My guess is he's someplace between 18-21. Oh, and isn't stumpy at all. He's a good head taller than me (at least) and has very broad shoulders. We chattered away like old friends for a good part of the evening; he reminds me remarkably of my 'brother', Matt.... He taught me another version of the waltz and I introduced him to an idea that I think he had never considered before (from reading his expression): women shouldn't be on the battlefield. Granted, I did a pretty poor job of it, seeing as I was unprepared for the conversation and it was hugging 10 o'clock more or less by that time, but I think I was clear enough to paint a picture of why I, personally, will not "cross-dress" (his term) and go on the battlefield (even though, I must admit, I think it would be rather thrilling). 

Anyway, to describe the dancing a little more; the majority of the men there were Yankees...there were only three or four Confederate men. The music was blared from the speakers of someone's pick-up...and, it tickled me deeply, the majority of it was 7 lb.s of Bacon! :D I told Stumpy gaily that 7 lb.s of Bacon (whom he also thinks is the best!) is "my reenacting group"...and that the parson down yonder was the bacon box bass player! He didn't realize that.

We started with a Grand March. One just does, you know. It was the shortest length of people I have ever seen! Still, for all that, I was trying very hard not to trip on Pvt. Jimbo's heels...I cannot say that I exactly succeeded on that front.

I believe we went straight into a waltz after that...then a Virginia reel. I really like the Virginia Reel better when the sets are more than four people...but it seems like most callers set up groups of four couples, instead of six to ten. Anyway, not to complain... ;)

There was the Broom Dance...which is different than what we do at the Scottish Ball. It's more like musical chairs. Technically, one is never supposed to dance with the same partner twice in the Broom Dance, but with such an infinitesimal group of dancers, that rule kind of got ignored. 

And the Hat Dance! In the past I haven't enjoyed that one overly much, but I really got into it last night....it's quite hilarious. Three chairs get set at the head of the line: either a lady or a gent is seated in the center, holding the hat, with two gents or ladies (respectively) on either side. The two on either side are supposed to convince the person in the middle why he (or she) should pick them (the one not picked receives the hat). When I was the girl in the middle...oh dear me! I was shaking with laughter nearly the whole time! Pvt. Jimbo, an older gentleman with a bad leg, would always get down on one knee and address the ladies as "Madame". I went with him once...and then with one of the Yankee's the next time, simply because I had already danced down with him already. (Sorry, sir, it wasn't the fact that you have cable!) There was one man who had been rather "fresh" with the lady before me (I think these folks all already knew each other anyway), and she had picked the opposite man. Well, when I had to sit down next to him, I leaned away from him (playing the part, you know) and my antics of horror were adding to the merriment. Stumpy danced me down the one time I ended up lined up with him...my hat compliment was the key. ;D Another time, I was one of two ladies on either side of a Yankee (I believe it was the man throwing his General's pay around :D), and I sat up stiff as a poker and remarked 'fiercely', "I'm a Confederate, through and through!" I forget who was on the other side of him, but he picked me with a remark that went along these lines, "Well, I've never had a Rebel before, but if I must..." It was all good-natured fun...and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Let's see...we also did a truncated version of the Snowball Reel. (Done in full that one is really, really fun.) We did the Star Reel (which I messed up), another waltz...and I taught Stumpy how to polka! I do so enjoy the polka...it's fast and fun...and you'd better have a good grip on your partner or you might fly apart! :D

This particular ball was shorter than the norm, but it was still quite fun and I'm glad I got to stay for it. We left directly as it ended and headed home. I rolled into bed at roughly 12:30 and I guess I went to sleep faster than I expected I would...because I sure don't remember laying there trying to wind down (I ran my mouth the whole way home, which is actually a good thing for the driver). I also didn't get nearly as sunburned as I expected to, but I then remembered that I had slathered vinegar on my face before we left. I do believe truly that it helps prevent sunburn.

I had a grand time...and my brain is twitching with that partially formed notion I alluded to in the first paragraph...

Yes, one might be a historical costumer (or fast becoming one), if one switches on their computer an hour or so earlier than the usual time simply for the sake of getting inspiration for their hair-style.

I am serious. That is exactly what I did this morning. 

After the best attempt at a victory roll yet, I took it down (still wasn't going to work), and decided to go 1860's with the hair today instead of 1940's. After all, I already had a center part...and I should be focusing down the 1860's at present (I really, really need to get back to work on the Cow Cav), so I thought a little inspiration might help.

Anyway, after poking around on Google images for a few minutes, I took inspiration from at least two hair-styles and ended up with this:

I rather regret that I never did do anything that looked quite this nice for the reenactments. I guess if I had had a mirror it might have helped. :D 

But, while I was poking around looking at ladies hair-do's, what should I stumble onto but this--a photograph I have never seen before of none other than the bold and ever-dashing Nathan Bedford Forrest!!

What a general, what a soldier! Take a look at those piercing eyes of his! 

Well, alright...I'll stop gushing about one of my favorite Confederates. Forrest ranks right up there with Lee and Jackson in my book. It also reminds me to that I have a Forrest project in my line up...I REALLY should be reading my Civil War books instead of getting distracted by other things!

However, before I get to work on anything WBtS related, I have some sock math to work up. I have a commission thanks to one of my brothers! :) 

*whistles Dixie while gathering knitting supplies*