Aren't You Hot in That?

Why yes, I am a bit snuggly and toasty today. It's over 92 degrees outside in the shade, it feels like a sauna, the heat index says not to leave the house, and somehow I get up to put on several layers of clothes that absolutely won't fit without a corset. I research far too many hours about historic clothing, daily life, and activities. I work really hard to make pioneer life look fun and interesting..... Just so you can ask me if I'm hot while you stand there sweating droplets on your shoes....  I really love that question...

Hoop Skirts Shaped the Civil War

I JUST had to have a hoop skirt for Civil War this year. I thought it would be such fun.  Yup. Fun. Getting stuck in doors. Walking in single file lines all day.  Needing help in the bathroom.  Hiding small children. 

My dress research started here: 

I decided to go with black and gray (I hadn't given thought to the colors of the union/ confederacy)....like this dress:

So I got my gray skirt and black ruffle going....then I found out that historically, women wore red or crimson petticoats (to save their whites for formal or social occasions), so I whipped up a red ruffle for my petticoat....

The tatting took me a couple hours a night for two weeks. I love how it looked so it was completely worth the time!  

I got my hat done at midnight the night before civil war day.... Turned out pretty well- I just need to change the ties under my chin to something cottony and softer. Grosgrain ribbon was certainly hot and itchy. 

I tried (unsuccessfully) to avoid cameras throughout the day....I love this next picture. I look like a ghost. Lol!  

Back to my tuffet to consider steampunk. Hmmm...

M

Goodbye Mountains.....Hello Boardwalk!

Well, well, well.... Here I find myself again after such a tempting period of silence. No really.  I've thought a lot about all those interesting moments at the museum history park.  I can honestly say I miss my schoolhouse and the beautiful mountain view while I worked in the cabin with the doors open.  I miss a few of my friends I left behind, and having keys. 

I've come "home" to my first museum- it's like looking back on an old flame.... So much has changed and then it hasn't. The history is the same and I still love the smell of fires at the blacksmith or the farmers wife cooking the noonday meal. Some of the buildings even have the same old feel, but the people are new. 

Last week, I helped for the Spring Break week.  I learned about the print shop, job press, and of course local history in the form of newspapers. I cleaned and tidied up a lot (while trying not to mess with other interpreters stuff...erggh). I learned that I actually miss coming to do groups or working on a project and being the go-to girl (with keys). I enjoy eating historic lunches between visits with guests. I miss saying "my schoolhouse"....I appreciate being able to arrive at the museum after a 6 minute drive, not after a 90 minute commute through Denver on major highways. I appreciate there are people that care about the history, the museum, and giving time. I look forward to all the things I'm going to learn.

I even had enough time to join in on the local St Patricks Day parade with my niece.  A local news station posted our picture, which was fun to see later. Once we reached our modern car, heading to lunch, I asked her what her favorite part of being in the parade was... Her answer (stunningly cute): "the waving and smiling!"  So we're beginning work immediately on Fourth of July dresses....

Glad to have unpacked my tuffet at last,

M