While I was washing the dishes after lunch, my 4 year old son was playing with play-dough. He looked up and asked
"Dad, are beans vegetables?"
"Yeah, they are, buddy."
Ten minutes go by.
"Dad, they make chocolate out of beans"
I looked at him, and he had a look on his face that said "your move, dad".
I'm in for a lot of headache in a few years.
Well, the encampment was awesome. We spent 36 hours pretending to be from the 18th century, and as such, I got very few pictures. None, in fact. I managed to avoid electronic devices for the entirety of my stay. I stole these pics from my lovely wife. We slept in a period tent, cooked period food, and did period crafts. I made some leather goods for some friends that I owed, and they were happy with what they got (one got a belt, and one a knife sheath... both were items they requested) and my wife sold some of her homemade lye soap. I also got a nice burn on my left pinkie while frying some eggs for breakfast.
We B.S.ed with all the other reenactors, and made some new friend, as well as reconnected with old ones.
It was a great way to spend the weekend... but getting a bath when we got home was pretty awesome, too!
I leave for the annual December Encampment this afternoon, and as I was gathering up my gear, the mail lady pulled into my drive. She had a Package-O-Happiness for me. Mike W. ( http://mrwill-dointhetimewarp.blogspot.com/ ...sorry, linkie no workie )Had sent me a grab-bag to make any reenactor jealous. In the photo, you see clockwise, from top left: a Case Sodbuster Jr, one of my favorite pocketknives. I posted about them a while back, and how Ihad one, and lost it. Mike remembered the post. A shellaced rawhide tobacco pouch, a pipe tamp, and a wrapped pipe. This is super awesome, as aside from being period correct, I'm a pipe smoker, so I'll USE this. That big packet of paper? 18th century cleaning methods for flintlocks. Cool, no? An envelope, to send some money for the knives. There's an old superstition about any knife given between friends cutting the friendship. I believe this superstition, so even if Mike didn't include an envelope, I woulda dropped a dime in the mail to him, anyway, so it worked out. Lastly, two belt knives. The one with the wrapped handle is for me, and the walnut handled one is for my wife. Mike left the sheath making to me, as I am a *hrm!* leatherworker, after all.
This was an amazing box to get, and I'm thrilled with all the goodies, and I can't wait to use' em this weekend.
But Mike wrote me a letter, too. One law enforcement professional to another, and there's a bit of sage advice in that letter, and an admonishment to stay safe.
I have to say, the letter is probably my favorite thing from the box.
Actually, it's been great, but I've been sewing a lot the last 3 days. I am getting ready for my next encampment, and I needed to make sure my boy had acceptable cold-weather clothing. I had an abandoned capote I was making for myself, but when I was halfway through, I realised that I didn't have a big enough blanket, so it got shoved to the back of the closet and forgotten. When trying to figure out what to do about my son's lack of cold-weather clothing, I stumbled upon it, and realised that I probably had enough to make a capote for him. I took his measurements, and got to work. In keeping with the french marines, the cloth is a heavy, cream-colored wool, and I used navy blue wool yarn to sew it. It took about 6 hours, but it turned out nice.
The next day, I was talking with my wife, and she informed me that she had not gotten around to sewing the neck line, cuffs, or gussets on her shift. Another 6 hours later, and I completed her shift. Will I ever win any sewing contests? No. But are we ready for the reenactment? You bet we are!
THIS is why you stop and check when a shot doesn't sound right. Yes, this was a reload, and yes, I trust the reloader, but every once in a while, weird things can happen.
BE AWARE OF YOUR GUN!
Yesterday was busy. My son had his tonsils taken out Friday, so we've been letting him laze about, watching movies and eating icecream. But in the morning, I went to my brother's house to beg him to help me pull an oil cooler hose off of our '90 model Isuzu Trooper. Being a mechanic, even though it was in the most inaccessable place ever, my brother managed to get it off in a reasonable amount of time, without having to disassemble the engine. It's a high-pressure hose, so I will have to go get one made... no quick trip to Napa on this one. When I got back home, we ate some lunch, then I was getting ready to bottle my 2 batches of beer, when my other brother called. Seems he was helping move his mom-in-law, and his help's back gave out. That's what family is for though, so I set aside my bottling equipment to go help him move his mom-in-law (who is a nice lady that I would not mind helping, anyway). I let him know that I was happy to help unload the moving truck, but that as soon as it was empty, I had to go, so I could bottle my beer. In about 2 hours, she was unloaded, and I bid my brother farewell, and headed back to my house to bottle. My wife pitched in, and I had finished cleaning the beer equipment and tidying the kitchen by 7pm. I made my wife and I some turkey sandwiches for dinner, because it was about all I felt like messing with. By the end of the day, I had a happy, tired son, a full belly, a clean(ish) kitchen, a truck that was one step closer to being fixed, and a thankful brother (who had a thankful mom-in-law).
Oh, yeah, and I had 99 bottles of beer conditioning in the corner.
Well, it's in the carboys. Now to put it somewhere dark and clean the kitchen.
(Sigh).
Brewing 2 batches at once! It's been pretty easy so far, but things might get a little dicey when it comes time to cool the wort and put it in fermenters. Sure smells awesome in the kitchen, though.
American wheat on the left, and nut brown ale on the right.
W00t!
Cut up a pack of bacon. Brown the bacon. Remove the bacon. Make a roux with the bacon grease. Add 6-8 medium potatoes, cubed up and peeled. Add bacon back. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until potatoes are tender. Serve over rice or white bread. Enjoy!
That's all it takes to make a mulligan stew. It's a campfire meal, but on cold days like this, it goes great in the home, too.
And, yeah, I voted today, and yeah it is more important than dinner, but given our options at the polls, this is WAY more satisfying.
Happy voting, everyone. No more campaign ads tomorrow.
The Boy-o and I went riding with my brother and a longtime friend of his, J.C.
We had a great time, and Boy-o got to ride on 2 different four-wheelers. I'm paying for it today, with a sore back and legs, but it sure was fun! In the picture, you see J.C. with 2 of the 3 atvs we brought. The local riding trail is 28 miles long, and has mud holes, rock climbing hills, banked turns, long straightaways and jumps galore. It took us the better part of 4 hours to finish. We were all dusty, exausted, and happy when done.
Can't wait till next time!
