madPete

Perfect!

Excellent, we can use the help! Trying to keep breakfast and lunch as simple as possible. Dinners will be the main effort. Waiting to hear from William regarding the baking ovens, I'm told we can use them, but I know they do demonstrations too so we dont want to disrupt them

NOTE: I merged the "Meals In General" topic into this topic, since the meals are for Mercury Crew only This is a bit of a brain dump of thoughts on meals. Altho Iron Jon is coming to the event, he has had major surgery so I doubt he's up for cooking, and Mr Mallet isn't coming at all, the last I heard. So that leaves us needing new blood to plan and execute meals. I'm open to helping plan and execute meals, but I'm flying in, so short of running for groceries and helping cook, Im limited in what I can bring. We need some items for cooking implements. We do have some items being lent to us by Chris (who is local in Mississippi) but we may need a few additional items. see pic below for items already supplied. Not pictured is a large grill for the pots. To that end I'd be very pleased if Mercury members would chime in on questions below: 1) Volunteers willing to help on the cooking end? [Stynky, HalfPint, Tudor Smith, madPete, micahelsbagley, Fayma] 2) Can anyone bring cooking tools like spatulas, spoons, sharp knife for vegatables, beef etc? [Stynky] 3) Anyone have a Dutch Oven they can bring? (Nevermind, working around this) 4) Ideas for simple, but period meals? (some ideas proposed) 5) Does anyone driving in have some large tubs for dishwashing and rinsing ? [WIlliam? or Fayma) 6) There are a few tables in the barracks, but we are definitely needing tables [Chris, Fayma] We may be able to purchase fresh bread and butter at the fort. There is a group there that demonstrates this. We might even be able to use the ovens when they are fired up. [After contact with the person that does the cooking demonstrations, its too warm to fire up the ovens that time of year] KISS I'm hoping we can Keep It Simple Stupid for breakfast and lunch, but a bit more substantial on dinners. Also would like to keep costs as minimal as possible. Maybe something like $5 breakfast/lunches. i.e. bagels/oatmeal/fruit for breakfast, sandwiches or the like for lunches, and $10 for dinners (stews, period dishes, greens, etc) depending on numbers and final menu. We also need to keep in mind the vegi-saurus' in the menus

My son played Viola, trying to get him to learn a couple tunes and bring it to Dana Pt

If yer shirt is long enough, ye wont need a lining!

Forgot about coconuts! Casket Chris whittled one into a cup a few years back at Belmont Pirate Invasion. I have a large and small Onion bottle, but I wont fly with them. I fill the large one with Madeira and the small one with rum when I drive to events.

I found these heavy canvas duffels on ebay. Various sizes/colors are available. I bought the small size 36" long by 12-15 inch diameter. These were about $29 each and have a handle on each end, in the middle and have a double heavyduty zipper. Havent broke one yet. I made leather name tags and just used sharpy to write the name on them

These really are the bees knees for traveling. They are lightweight, absorbant and period! What are they? a lightweight linen towel in sizes from a handtowel up to a full beach towel size. Best in subdued colors or colors that are at least represented in the era Who wants a modern terrycloth towel hanging out to dry on their tent line after spending the effort on kit and so forth? https://www.chairish.com/product/2749420/turkish-oyster-linen-and-cotton-towel?clickId=4441956025 https://www.westelm.com/products/organic-turkish-tassel-towels-t5370/?catalogId=71&sku=1348722&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=MSN&cm_pla=Bath > Towels&adlclid=ee94fcb07155145974d0981f2e2bd9a5&adlclid=ADL-d8fabf98-02c3-40a7-b79d-8727bea8749c&cm_ite=1348722_458012940 William sent me a small beige one that is so perfect for traveling. I found the brighter colors at goodwill, but I'm sure they will fade a bit. oh, and some bio-degradable soap/shampoo that we used at Key West with the makeshift showers... https://www.rei.com/product/730925/dr-bronners-organic-liquid-soap-travel-size?CAWELAID=120217890000936060&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|21700000001700551_7309250020|92700061989944825|BA|71700000074512915&gclsrc=3p.ds&gclsrc=ds&gclsrc=ds

My singing voice has a very narrow range, so I never spent much time on music. Now I'm wishing I had learned an instrument...

We missed you Stynky. Next time we'll send some goons to kidnap ye!

keep the photos coming!

Nice and Stripey! Good Job!

Whoa - Major projects!

Once received, I will share these blocks from Michael, but I think the Mercury print should be exclusive to Mercury crew members. The rest sound like they are more generic. I would like to stamp some canvas possibly...

Here's a few pics,,,

Everyone needs kit for food and drink, below are a couple of examples that have worked well in the past. If you can find them at a thrift store, more power to you, otherwise I've tried to help with the links to some products: bowl or trencher: These are available new, but the hot score is a thrift store where they can be found for a couple bucks if you are lucky. You can find them at Js Townsend too at a bit steeper price. These bowls come in a few sizes and I've actually collected a couple larger ones for serving, again thrift stores. The one pictured below is a 9 inch round bowl which is a great size for whatever is served, whether its soup, stew or beef and a couple sides. Trenchers are also a good option, but less useful for soup https://www.townsends.us/collections/bowls-plates/products/wooden-bowl-wb898-p-118 SamsonHistorical has bowls also https://www.samsonhistorical.com/collections/table-settings/products/wooden-bowl A spoon: forks were not standard utensils at this time but a knife and spoon are. I found a pewter spoon molded from an original mold at Pumpkintown Primitives, made brand new. Pewter spoons are rather difficult to find at thrift shops, but a smaller wood or horn spoon could also suffice. https://pumpkintown-108720.square.site/product/table-spoon-finished-queen-anne-trifid-7-5-/88?cs=true&cst=custom a knife: sailors had their own knives for rigging etc. you can use that or bring a specific knife just for eating [Added pics: a common reproduction penny knife courtesy of William Brand] A place that supplies period knives: https://olddominionforge.com/knives.html https://www.etsy.com/listing/1503046618/18th-century-english-trade-knife-and?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=penny+knife+18th+century&ref=sr_gallery-1-28&cns=1&organic_search_click=1 mug or tankard of sorts: Theres a few options here depending what you prefer. There are lots of "pewter-like" mugs which are not what you should look for. They are defined by a metal that looks a lot like aluminum and has casting lines. These are pretty prevalent. A pewter mug will have very thin sides and smaller lip. There are also clay fired mugs which are perfectly period. I know everyone has their favorite mug. This is just education, not a "bring only" this directive. There are also wood mugs, I would stay away from copper mugs tho, they transfer heat quickly and coffee is easily spilt when suddenly the mug is too hot to hold, or burns your lips, or worse https://www.etsy.com/listing/1042542547/colonial-beer-tankard-mug-cup-17-oz?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=tankard+18th+century&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&plkey=7ad72d335b5a31fad93891328cc2f4e37eeec7d1%3A1042542547 Below is my eating kit with a birch bowl and pewter spoon and tankard (minus a knife). a clay tankard pewter tankard a wood trencher various knives of the period

Thank you ma'am for the excellent reference!

I'd love to get that wood-block Michael! Then I could enter!

AAGGGHHHH! I went to all that work and then left my wardrobe hanging on the closet door! The coats, waistcoats and new shirts all stayed at home. Next time it goes on the pyle so I dont miss it! Fortunately I had slops and socks and one old shirt thrown in by accident. Long Beach went well anyway! I guess I need to follow my own fly advice when I drive to an event too. Basic kit in a backpack on my back !!!

Yeah you have to consider whats on your plate already!

That works too! Mine are a bit tough on the feet, so I have to use the time to good use. I wear some leather camp shoes on the plane that also relieve my feet at night after hours... Shoes are so hard to find now too!

welcome!

I wanted to add, there are many rooms in the fort. If you show up with only a cot and blanket the options are many if you want a roof over your head.

Chris' lending the tent was also meant to be a place for the ladies to change. So if you are adventurous, you could always start with a fly/oar tent and air mattress and use the communal tent for changing.

Thanks! Hopefully it encourages others to try their hand. it takes a bit of practice (and I hate the instructions that come with most patterns). When I needed help I went to youtube for instructions, but most if it is old hat now.