Pics from the last civil war re-enactment

Pics from the last civil war re-enactment

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• 9.27.2010

We're back.  The last civil war re-enactment of the 2010 season for our Oregon group is over.  Saturday was beautiful and in the high 70's, Sunday it rained off and on all day and everyone had to take home wet canvas.  But, that's how it goes sometimes.
I've talked to you about my kind of weird hobby of civil war re-enacting, something that my mom and I have done since I was a kid through her business, Lavender's Green Historic Clothing.  Now, my cousin is very involved, too, and her darling 21-month-old has already been to 8 civil war events in her short life!
Some of you mentioned you'd like to see pics of this year's McIver Park event, and I'm happy to oblige!  Most of the pictures we took were of Brenna, the toddler, in her darling new big-kid dress (rather than the all-white baby clothes she wore last year).

We had another ladies' tea on Saturday:

Brenna got a tea cup, too!

And I delivered the fashion shows, as usual (both days, at 2:00).  Hard to get good pictures of these, since I make funny faces as I talk!  Other re-enactors come up to model, as I talk about fashion and culture for women, children, and civilian men.  I start with women's day dresses, then talk about teenagers' fashions, then children.  Then men's clothes, special exceptions like maternity and mourning, and then, of course, underwear!  Although no one models their period undergarments (we're all too wrapped up in the living history to strut around in our corsets, although we'd be covered up by modern standards).  Then I take questions.

I should clarify: Civil war reenactments are meant as educational events for the public. All day, folks in jeans and flip flops come check out the events and the re-enactors do demonstrations and shows for them just like at a house museum or historic site! Spectators aren’t supposed to come not in costume.

And, of course, we set up my mom's store where she takes custom orders and sells ready-made corsets and other things.

Brenna was good company there, too!

She also enjoyed playing with her antique stroller, particularly, putting pine cones and sticks in it.

The Oregon group, the Northwest Civil War Council, always re-enacts 1863, although not any famous battle in particular.  Of course there wasn't much going on in Oregon back then, but we pretend we're somewhere where there was!
It was a lovely weekend and now we have several months to improve our camp and wardrobes for next summer's four big battle encampments.  With my mom's business and special interest groups, however, we find many more occasions to wear historic clothing!  The winter is a nice break from camping with canvas, and it's always nice to wear awkward clothing indoors, with indoor plumbing and other modern conveniences.  I'll be sure to let you know when we make any beautiful historic garments over the next few months!