In which we go to Penn's Colony

[colliemommie]

Went to Penn's Colony yesterday with my Aunt Jan. It's a combination Craft fair and historical reenactment that takes place every September in Butler County. There are activities for the kids and historical talks and music and all sorts of neat things to see.

Last time I went was about 15 years ago, and Penn's Colony was notorious for having very high standards of historical accuracy. Even if you were renting a space as a crafter, you had to have your outfit approved as being accurate enough for the 1750s. Let's just say they've let that standard slip quite a bit. They also are not as strict as they used to be about the types of crafts and handiwork sold there being era-appropriate.

Katrina really enjoyed the pottery wheel demonstration, and the folks who played music on the water glasses. I remember that husband-and-wife team from last time I was there, the gentleman has a really neat motley suit and does a few stage shows. She also liked getting to put her paint handprint on the banner for the year. And there were pony rides, oh joy of joys.

Robs liked the music and the reenactors, who had an encampment and did drills on the parade ground. There was an English regiment, a French regiment, five Scotsmen and a few Native Americans (Iroquois and Algonquin mostly). The horse-drawn surrey rides also fascinated him.

I got the kids' sillouettes done for Christmas presents. The woman did an amazing job. She free-hand cuts, no drawing or using a light and screen or anything.

I wish I would have thought to pull Katrina's hair up in back first. :-/ But I think she did a good likeness, especially with her upper lip and forehead, which are not typical little kid features.

Baby Robs. I want to pinch his little chin!

Mine was a surprise. I hadn't planned on doing it, but figured what the hell. I know Dad will really like it, and hopefully Bruce will too.

When she showed me i must have looked sceptical, because she said "you really look like this, I promise!" And I suppose it's possible, it's not as though one ever sees one's own profile. But now I'm all chuffed...I've never thought of myself as looking like that. I know I have a good nose, but that profile is just so pretty. I like that she put in the curl I get at the nape of my neck when it's warm.

Comments

[noodledays.livejournal.com]

those did turn out really nicely! and it can be surprising to get the chance to see ourselves how others see us - bonus when it's so pleasant. :D

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to frame the kids' together in one frame facing each other. And I have a little antique gold oval frame that I'm putting mine in for Bruce. It was a mirror, but it was always too small to be useful, and then the glass broke when we moved.

[noodledays.livejournal.com]

those both sound like very lovely ideas. 8)

[pinkminx.livejournal.com]

That is indeed a lovely profile you have there. :-D

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have a feeling that this will become one of my morale boosters...that and the fact that I DID 3 X 12 ROMANIAN DEADLIFTS WITH 105 POUNDS TODAY!!!!!!

(Sorry, I don't have anyone else to share with who would get it, much less care.)

[northernwalker]

Wow!

You have a very elegant profile. :)

[hikerpoet.livejournal.com]

Elegant is definitely the word I thought of too. And super cute for the kids!

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

It's amazing how distinctive the kids' profiles are. I'd be able to pick Katrina's baby nose and adult forehead out from a group no problem. The detail and the economy of line together just amaze me. Plus it only took about three minutes per profile.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's definitely a confidence booster.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Those are lovely. Too bad the Penn's Colony event is so far away -- it sounds like fun.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

I would have liked to attend some of the history talks, but it didn't work out with the kids there. Western PA was so important during the French and Indian War, and local history is always extra interesting due to proximity if nothing else.

[hep.livejournal.com]

ooo so classy! i love them!

it's funny, a lot of ren faires have been getting way more lax with the costuming. i remember getting literally screamed at by the costume ladies because i had the wrong kind of ribbon for my class level on an area of my costume that did not even show (the ribbon gather on the circle skirt was satin, but my overskirt totally covered it so whatever right?). i think it's better, the strict costuming standards drove a lot of cool people away. it was like the geek cred version for LARPing hehehe.