William Brand

Eat up. We made a great deal of the stuff.

Well, I'm breathing...but I just got my buffalo sandals and they smell like they were cured in diesel fuel. Got 'em outside now, hoping it'll air off. Is this normal for these? I know the very smell that you are referring to. I've bought leather products overseas with that very same "petroleum bi-product" odor to them. I've always assumed that it's a cheaper tanning chemical or a leather adhesive holding the thin layers together. Probably both. The smell doesn't ever go away entirely, but it evolves slightly to something less appalling.

Welcome back, Syren. It's good to know that you're home, and though in pain, well beyond previous years.

Durand watched Dorian play out this scene, occasionally distracted by William's pacing. Durand looked weather worn from pursuing too many people to too many destinations and dead ends. Dorian thought that he might speak, more than once, before he realized that the Frenchman was not leaning to speak, but rather, drifting almost to sleep while standing. It was almost funny to witness, but no one smiled. Even worn the man was imposing, being taller than most of the men present. It didn't hurt that his false eye caught the lantern light in ways that were unsettling. Then one of Rousseau's men coughed. Just that. He coughed and William was off up the lane. William did this so abruptly, that everyone was caught off guard, Rousseau's men and everyone else equally. William was several strides down the lane when Dorian and Durand fell in behind him, almost together, Durand coming awake at once. Rousseau's men came after them quickly, openly flustered. They tried to call after William and the others, but in vain, for he would not turn back. They were further foiled in their attempts to halt him by the nature of the lane itself, for it was hedged in by landscaping and L'Ours and Lasseter filled the width of it shoulder to shoulder. Rousseau's hounds, alerted by the commotion, began raising themselves up from various places of repose on the wide steps at the front of the house. They were bristling by the time William reached the first step. Having never feared dogs, William shouted down the first hound which threatened him and this gave the others pause as he gained those first few steps. As the lane had widened before the house, Rousseau's men sprinted forward, taking the steps in pairs to reach the threshold ahead of William. With their jaws set and hands straying to blades, one of the plantation men put out a cautionary hand, though he it seemed more for himself than anyone else. William stopped, but only to stare the man evenly in the face. "I'll will have my man again." He did nothing else but stand, while Dorian and Durand flanked him left and right, one encircled in a heavy wreath of pipe smoke and the other a dark tower of mismatched windows. All of the dogs were barking as the music within the house died away.

Chicken...sans flora...and a brandy. Aye.

We'll be serving chicken soup all week.

I want to go to this one... http://steampunkconvention.com/node/4

With people leaning towards 3 & 6 I thought I would narrow the field and pursue a theme.

Astronomers have traditionally used this symbol for the planet Mercury, and it is the medieval alchemical sign for the element mercury (Hg) as well. It consists of the biological sign for female (the sign used for the planet Venus), but topped with “horns” or a crescent.

I wasn't offended in anyway. I was overly vague and you did clarify points that are important. Besides, these roughs are meant to get the discussion going and are not designed as the only possible marks for the Mercury. To answer one point, the religious implication of the four on a mark used by pirates can again be explained away as a ruse to make the bales appear legitimate. Pirates are not above a little blasphemy in commerce. Damn pirates.

You're a sailor. You start with a good sailor's knife. Small. Easier to afford. Necessary.

Almost two years back I began to tinker with bale marks for the Mercury. This project has always been pushed to the back of my list of projects and the back of my mind, but Mary Diamond's signature contains a bale mark and every time I see it I'm reminded that I need to get one made for the Mercury. Now, a bale mark is a tag, often made in lead, that was attached to large bales of goods to be identified in shipping. Bale marks appear on goods, coins and occasionally, personal items. They often feature a number four for luck and sometimes a heart. I've chosen the M for Mercury and thrown in a few designs featuring fours, the symbol for Mercury and the obvious wings. We have months to figure out a good one for props at PIP, but we should probably get started. Examples: Now, as the Mercury crew is a pirate crew, it could reasoned out that such a mark would not exist, but it could also be argued that the Mercury would remark stolen goods to give them a feel of legitimacy. Here are a few to start...

Traverse boards, Sir William? Does the encampment move about? Or will we witness the launchin' o' the Mercury, at PIP '09? Aye, pictures please. Wot marks will ye be silk screenin' on the bags an bales? Don't I wish. No launchings that I know of. Still, we need a trunk filled to brimming with nautical devices. I shall make one with appropriate Mercury imagery and perhaps we might persuade Keith to another backstaff.

Period for Japan... http://www.karankoron.com/waraji.html

I have nothing new to report on her condition, apart from her usual ability to take lemons and make lemonade to serve upwards of 30,000 people. The lass has spirit.

Don't mention it. If you'll continue to find good references, I'll do what I can to make them easier to access.

Photo essay to follow soon.

Thank you for the information. I retyped it for copy and paste purposes. A Worked or Thread Buttonhole A thread buttonhole is also called a worked buttonhole. In 18th Century sewing, a hand-worked buttonhole is a must: and when properly done, the buttonhole is a great source of satisfaction and will last longer than a machine buttonhole. 1. Mark each buttonhole with a pencil. OR CHALK 2. Using linen or silk thread, baste around each buttonhole, before you cut. 3. After you have marked the buttonhole, basted around the place to be cut, and made the cut, your next step is to overcast the cut edges so they will not ravel. Overcasting also provides "body" for your buttonhole stitch. NOTE: They turn out nicer if you cut them open after all stitching is done. 4. The needle is inserted under the edge of the buttonhole to whatever depth seems desirable and the thread brought under the point of the needle as shown. 5. Buttonhole stitches are taken close together, so that you cannot see the fabric showing between the stitches, but they do not overlap. The depth, or bit, of the stitches is determined by the size of the buttonhole and the type of fabric used. Naturally, a large buttonhole on a heavy fabric will have stitches which go deeper into the material than those in a tiny buttonhole on a lightweight fabric. 6. The end of the buttonhole which bears the greater strain should be finished with a group of stitches worked fan-shape. (This is the end which has the button puling against it.) Make a bar tack, as shown, at the opposite end. The effort put forth in the small amount of hand sewing done on the shirt makes a better appearing shirt. The attention to detail is important. Care should be taken when attaching the heart to the bottom of the throat opening that the stitches going through the top of the heart really catch into and bind the "v" section for a short distance. NOTE: Bar tack on both ends works just as well as the fan.

I've already benefited from a few other crew mates and their projects, having received an elegant candle box from Jim and a perfect little ditty bag from Lily. Keep up the good work. I'm attacking the traverse boards over the next few weeks.

Attend. Bring the family along. Fire my own musket. Have a longboat there for the period camps. Survive the week without a pronounced limp. Visit the Pirate Soul and Mel Fisher museums. Eat regular meals.

August 5, 1704 - The plantation of Monsieur Rousseau William noted the calm in Dorian's quiet preparation and was grateful to have him there, for the tension that greeted them was palpable. Rousseau's men were understandably for their plantation owner, being in his employ and under the shelter of his wealth. They wore their loyalty openly and their oft used hostility. They also wore something less pleasant for Durand, and William wondered if it stemmed from something much older than the night before them. William dropped wearily from an equally weary horse. He shouldered his musket as easily as one might don a hat, making no great show of it. He tried to present an air of casual business, hoping it would carry him across the many walls being built silently before him. With William dismounted, Dorian slipped from his mount, trying to ignore the look which came from one of Rousseau's company. The man, both large and imposing in his countenance, seemed to have chosen Dorian in that moment and Dorian knew that the man would make it his business to watch him and him alone until all of the affair was completed. 'So much the better, lad.' Dorian thought, for this made such a choice easier for him and he would know whom to be wary of if the evening proved unpleasant. He was certain that it would prove unpleasant. It was something about the smell of rain on the air, the cool of the evening and too many strangers met in confusion that reminded Dorian of something long ago. Maybe it was the wealth of the place and a mixed company of men great and small. It was the old country all over again, but removed to this younger place. Dorian watched William and Durand meet and Durand said simply, "Your man is alive within." William, too tired to stand on ceremony and too weary of the customs or mysteries of the moment to wait, made to walk up the lane. Durand, looking past William at Dorian, caught Captain Brand at the elbow as he passed and said, not looking at him, "He is much abused." William only just allowed Durand to keep hold of him, but his informal air dissolved. That face which he reserved for those far removed from his favor, replaced his casual one. He walked to Rousseau's nearest man with the bearing of one who would be heard and obeyed. "I will speak with Monsieur Rousseau." William explained, making no effort to translate this into French. "Monsieur, celui est impossible. Mon maître a des invités dans… et ne peut pas être dérangé." the man returned, treating William with equal disregard in language. "I will be brought to Monsieur Rouseau or I will bring this business to him and place it at his feet and do so in front of his guests." William explained further, speaking quietly all the while. Then he added, "That business which he conducted in the dark before will remain in the dark only if he meets with me this moment." Rousseau's man looked at Durand, who returned the look in kind, though what the man could read in Durand's impassive eye proved of little help. He also noted that with the arrival of Babineaux and the two captains, he was outnumbered in the lane. He looked back at William sternly. "He will..,refuse you, Monsieur." The man explained, defaulting to William's English to make the point more clear. "Remind him then, that he has kidnapped one of mine." William returned carefully. "An offense answerable to the law." Durand said nothing. That man who watched Dorian alone, said nothing. Babineaux said nothing. William and Rousseau's man said many things, though none of them aloud. They stood, too close together for strangers. They eyed one another until it was understood that they would pass the night in this stubborn fashion unless one or the other was moved to some other course. Finally, Rousseau's man said, "You will wait here, Monsieur." He tried to sound as commanding in his volume as William had been in his calm. "Aye." William agreed.

A toast! To our own Syren and to the sawbones who has helped her on her road to healing!

The horses did not last the distance. William's mount was almost lamed before reaching the outskirts of St. Pierre. They would have been forced to abandon it altogether, but for a modest plantation within walking distance of the inland road. Here they rested themselves as much as William would allow them and himself. He sat but once, and was on his feet again moments later, anxious to be riding again. He paced the damp lane before the main house and took only a little water when offered. Once fresh horses could be procured again, they were off again and the ride proved a quick one. Monsieur Rousseau's plantation soon loomed before them, as did their own anticipation. Durand and many men waited in the lane.

We attempted a call to the hospital, but we failed to reach anyone. I was very glad to here that the surgery went well.

Me and mine were very happy to read the news of your pending surgery. I'm so glad the opportunity has arrived after so long a wait. All our prayers for a speedy recovery.