Cap'n Pete Straw

snake

A pirate doesn't need to keep his sandwich cold, 'cuz he just sails over to the ARRRby's!

htfxg! Oh, excuse me! To keep a sandwich cold at sea... ... you make it with iceberg lettuce!

...And then I found this one, with a bunch of luzzus (I have better photos...). This was taken by a friend of mine who only after the trip noticed that I am in it (that guy in the lower right hand corner with the ubiquitous Guinness hat). This was in Portomasso, where there is continuous activity by the local fishermen. For the uninitiated... Maltese fishermen paint the "Eyes of Osiris" on the prows of their boats. Tradition says that this will help the boats find their way safely back into the harbor, even in bad weather.

No, you are thinking of the local fishing boats, called luzzus. And I have plenty of pictures of those. Here is the picture of the gullet I took (with tears of joy streaming down my face!) when I realized which boat we were going to be boarding: Rummy3, you are so predictable! Somehow, I knew if I renewed this thread, you would post something pretty soon. Woman, get thyself to Malta! You will not regret it! Solely for your viewing pleasure, over the next few days (weeks?) I will endeavor to post additional shots I took on the island within this thread. Sit back and enjoy.

Hah ha! Next time I shoot you, Merrydeath, I might not be using my camera... Blgemunkey, you are aware, I hope, that you now must take at least one photo of your foot... Regarding this summer's schedule, July 15 (Saturday) looks like it will be the best date for me to go to the Faire. Things may change, but this is the date that is marked on my calendar. This allows me to use the discount tickets (they expire July 23, and I have a Civil War Reenactment that weekend). I might be convinced in going a second time, should a large contingient of pirate be rumored to be descending upon the event...

Sorry ... misplaced punctuation. The Russian boots belonged within the parentheses identifying those Klingon items I did not make.

About that Happy Pirate grin -- I was deliberately mimicking the Captain Morgan pose (a bottle of Spiced Rum is sitting just off camera for reference). I made the hat, the coat, the waistcoat & the belt. The shirt is from International Male (Xmas present), and the trowsers and boots are Civil War gear. Probably this weekend I will get new pictures incorporating my new breeches (finished this morning during my commute) and buckle-shoes. The Klingon? I require two hours to do that make-up, which is why I charge extra to perform Klingon weddings. Made the entire outfit (except the pajama pants), and the Russian Air Force boots (but I affixed the metal spikes in the toes!). Civil War outfit: Did not make the pants nor Brogans (shoes), but I made everything else (hat, tunic, gloves, belt, haversack and unseen shirt and braces [suspenders]).

I had to add this photo (now that I have the capacity to do so)... While in Malta, I had the opportunity to take a cruise on the Mediterranean aboard a 100-foot wooden gullet. Here's one of the shots of me enjoying the living crap out of the experience:

Wiener

foot long

Now that I have wrapped my mind around the technology, I can finally share with all of you what I think has to be the best-ever pirate picture ... at least the best I have ever seen. Here are Bilgemunkey and Sjöröveren: Ya gotta admit, that is one awesome photo!

I, too, am working on some of my buddies... but I am afraid it will require me to make their outfits for them to accept my invitation -- and that, I fear, is too much for me to accomplish. Besides, I have too much gear to polish before June...

I now have the technology to actually post pictures in here. Took long enough. So, my own Queen Anne is in this montage of my flintlocks (it's the one in the upper right hand corner... the one that looks like a Queen Anne) In case you are wondering, only one of the two Sea Service pistols actually fire (something is wacky with the angle of the spring/cock/frizzen of the other). The heavily inlaid one on the left is totally non-fireable (really looks AWESOME, though!).

...So that was coat #2. Here, added again to this thread, is coat #1, worn by my son (for the record, this is the coat that is currently missing)

No more promises. Now it is time I deliver. Here is my coat. Below the waist I am wearing Civil War dropfall trowsers and CW cavalry boots, 'cuz I was not done with my breeches (finished them this afternoon) and have not put the buckles on my shoes yet. Yes, that's the "Puffy" shirt (International Male). Of course, I had to strike a Captain Morgan pose...

Well... let's see if I did this correctly... Here I am in all my piratical finery: Well, I'll be... It seems to have worked. Wanna see a Klingon? ... Or a Civil War guy? Okay, that's enough for now. I cannot believe it worked, after all this time.

Chevy Chase

Read about this not terribly long ago in some outdoorsy magazine in a barber shop or some other waiting room. Sound like fun... or a headache... but I am afraid of purchasing a GPS, for fear that I will become obsessed.

You absolutely have my permission to pass this recipe along to any (of legal drinking age!) whom you think might enjoy it. If the recipe is copied in print, I would appreciate credit for it... if it is modified, give me only whatever credit is possible under the circumstances ("after a recipe by... etc."). BUT - the real credit is due to Admiral Vernon... If you are modifying the recipe for your specific purposes, I would be amiss without repeating here the reference for the "original" recipe. Notice that my recipe calls for a martini shaker, as I do not have a "scuttled butt" among my kitchen wares. So, above everything else, Vernon should get credit. But -- have you tried mixing one up according to my recipe? Really, you must try one. And, this morning -- absolutely no ill effects whatsoever. Perhaps the good Admiral was wise beyond his years. * * * * * * * * * * The origin of Grog and Vernon's Orders Grog is essentially a diluted rum mixture, with two parts water and one part Rum. The word "grog" was derived from the nickname for Admiral Vernon who was nicknamed "Old Grogram" based on the waterproof grogram cloak he wore on ships. He first ordered this rum dilution process that yielded grog to be carried out in 1740. This command was called "Vernon's Orders" and it also encouraged the addition of sugar and limes to the grog mixture. Prior to 1740, rum was issued to the men neat or in "drams" - without water. Admiral Vernon (the hero of Portobello and the West Indies Commander-in-Chief) changed all this by his issuance of his infamous "Order to Captains No. 349" on 21 August 1740. His order refers to the "...unanimous opinion of both Captains and Surgeons that the pernicious custom of the seaman drinking their allowance of rum in drams, and often at once, is attended with many fatal effects to their morals as well as their health ... besides the ill consequences of stupifying their rational qualities ... You are hereby required and directed ... that the respective daily allowance ... be every day mixed with the proportion of a quart of water to a half pint of rum, to be mixed in a scuttled butt kept for that purpose, and to be done upon the deck, and in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Watch who is to take particular care to see that the men are not defrauded in having their full allowance of rum... and let those that are good husbanders receive extra lime juice and sugar that it be made more palatable to them." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Before you think I cannot hold my liquor... I wrote down the specific proportioned recipe according to what I was mixing, but my actual drinks were more than 1.75 times the quantity listed. So I have actually had about four of these suckers, not two. I think I caught my spelling errors, but I need to get off the computer now... whoah..

How to make an Admiral Vernon Grogtini. Here is my recipe for a Grog Martini, folks. I claim authorship of this modern martini drink recipe as of today, although it is a modified resurrected recipe of the original 1740 orders how to mix Grog -- thus the drink bears Admiral Vernon's name. I am drinking my second one now as I type this (I had to be sure I could replicate the recipe, and this time measure the ingredients accurately... getting really woozy... Holy Crap, these are potent). If someone else has created and published this exact same recipe previously(other than a reprint of Admiral Vernon's 1740 orders), please provide the specific print or internet reference so that I can credit them. If you like martinis, write this one down -- these suckers are damned smooth and Whoo Boy, the second one is starting to kick in. DISCLAIMER: If you are under legal drinking age (in your respective state) DO NOT MAKE ONE OF THESE. And please remember: do not drink and drive... nor drink and pilot a ship. Admiral Vernon Grogtini.: Into a martini shaker, put several cubes of ice (duh). Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Add 1 shot of rum (Cap'n Morgan's Original Spiced Rum), and 2 shots of water. Add 2 (or 3!) teaspoons of ReaLime Juice (if you have real limes, don't argue with me -- use them instead). Shake well. Strain into a martini glass with a twist of lime. Enjoy. Then thank me... Or toast me (and the late but very, very intelligent Admiral Vernon) in absentia. This is one quite refreshing martini, let me tell you. Pass this one on, or tell your bartender how to mix one for you, because I think the World should know.

My primary reason for adding this post is so I can easily find this thread again by simply reviewing my own list of posted messages. After reading the comments herein, I plan on picking up this pattern for my own coat #3 (or #4, or whatever). When I do, I will add my own review. This looks like an AWESOME pattern, perhaps better than the authentic military one I have and was thinking of converting.

On this I must agree with you. The first coat took forever. I kept having to rip out seams and reattach bits when I made mistakes. It turned out fine, but it was a royal pain. The second coat was much, much easier. I was far more confident, double-stitched most seams the first time through (for added stability -- this fabric was more prone to fraying), knew when to stop and hand-sew things for a few days before retuiring to the machine, etc., etc. Again, much-promised pictures to follow soon...

It was worth watching once. Started me day off with a grin, and that's good enough for me. I have Broadband Cable, so the video played just fine.