callenish gunner

Nicely crafted! I'd have to agree with Dread Surgeon; as they were seldom used by even land based surgeons who didn't understand the significance of any microbes to their patients health. They were more often used by those doing research into the world before unseen of tissues and cell structure and the structure of insects and such.

Hey lad, you might try these folks. I've bought some other kit from them years ago anf they were pretty good Sykes Sutlery They should be able to kit you out for Searle's Raid

I find it interesting that they aren't all dressed alike, they are dressed with lots of colours and different style hats etc. .

You had to be there!!!!

I'd say the back laced style looks the best (just my opinion) if you pre-lace your stays you can tighten them yourself if you learn a couple of "tricks" ...I have a couple pairs of Gingher Super Shears they even cut through harness leather like butter (aprox. $50 a pair)

I checked it out lad, Salty & I also have a nice shot or two in there, thanks for the work and addition to the site!

Sadly, I would love to try the Loyalist shoes but When I phoned and chatted with them and began discussing my needs with them; once I mentioned 14EEE they sort of scoffed and suggested I buy herring boxes and cover them in hides....

Aye Animal, I heard your mother tell you that you "were a good-for-nothing, a worthless cur, that was not fit to be in the company of normal civilized society" ....Glad to see you are living down to your potential!!! A pyrate ship can use a few of those sorts!!! :blink:

Renfaires and Hollywood unfortunately have distorted a lot of history into peoples stream of consciousness ....with the whole Swashbuckler concept of what was worn and the "wench" personae and the wearing of the rather disturbing SPLOOBAGE outfits (that usually are geometrically disproportionate to the shear mass of the "udders" displayed) ....Not that I mind or dislike the display of a woman's breasts in context. But I think you all have seen the outfits I'm referring to; the men who are shirtless with the fantasy doublet/jerkin/vest open to the waist or belt with the poly-velvet tights and stuffed cod-piece and with the rather rotund beer belly hanging out and his Conan the Barbarian sword/axe strapped to his back and enough "dingle-dangles" hanging off his belt that it is surprising that hip displacement isn't occurring on a daily basis at most faires. The waist cincher "corsets" on women with breasts the size of county fair winning watermelons that are only kept from public display by shear cotton gauze that defy the elastodynamics of psychological damage of impressionable adolescent boys, these outfits and the people who feel that what they are wearing is "period-correct" and tell John Q & Mary A Public that this is how men and women actually dressed in context of history is what bothers me the most. That they don't know or understand the difference between reality and fantasy and that they tell folks that their polyester elastic pants or skirts is what the common people wore in 1580 along with the skull and cross bone printed cotton bandannas and every conceivable bit of paraphernalia emblazoned with skulls and studded leather is pure BULL. These misrepresentations are where I feel the lines should be drawn. The dumbing down of history for kids and the "average Joe and Suzy" doesn't do them any favours. Folks have little problem with "wenches" displaying well beyond average breasts under the guise of portraying the past but they go "ape-shit" if a woman would produce her breast for the purpose that they have the organs; which is to suckle their offspring. There is a weird concept as to what is appropriate for public edification. This is just my humble opinion but I feel it is a slippery slope when fantasy is presented as fact just for entertainment's sake. Liam you can still produce and wear a period correct set of attire that cuts a dashing figure without having to resort to inaccurate stereotypical "Polly-wood" schlock. Good luck with it!!!

I've got some marvelous pics of some great bushy muffs here somewhere ...where did I hide those mmmmmmm? You never know when some good muff pictures can come in handy

A wee dram of a nice local Port wine ....with a small nub of smoked cheddar and a couple slivers of Virginia ham need to keep a wee bit of something on m' stomach

Jack, your warm furry muff project has made me think i should do something with the beaver I have locked up in the storage shed for the past few years ....before it dries up and is useless I may have a few foxes locked up there as well ....mmmm better a good muff than let them go to rot & ruin

That's right little ROBBIE ....some people's muffs should never be touched! You don't know when the last time they were cleaned And I'm sure ROBBIE you don't want the DREAD SURGEON MISSION coming after you with that "thing-a-ma-jig full of mercury to give you a course

Two words ROBBIE "The Pox"

B) Don't be ridiculous ...why would anyone want silk ribbon on their muff??? A face or some paws I could understand and definitely some tail... Very nice work Jack!!! The equine has been flogged post mortum

Obviously you've stuck your hand in a lovely muff at least once ....and everyone here has seen the pictures! And if your wife doesn't mind your hand in her muff who are any of us to complain???

I've just finished next years fruitcakes ...12 of them securely wrapped in cheesecloth and stacked tightly in a crock filled with Ginger Brandy and Black Rum ...will refill the crock come the first of July with Brandy and Rum not cakes. At least we will feast on fruitcake and Christmas Pudding( Salty and my kids and I love them) ...I'm on a personal quest to correct the narrow minds of those who would rather re-gift a fruitcake rather than to actually eat one!

Actually ROBBIE, there are a lot of muffs that have no hair on them... satiny smooth when you ease your hand into them and you can have a muff dyed to match every outfit you wear. I personally don't think they're quite as warm as one that is lovely and furry and more like the pelt as nature created ....nothing quite like a natural sable haired Russian muff ...some folks swear by French Fox muffs ...but for lots of folks they will always stick with a good ol' British woolie muff, but they have a tendency to stink like wet dog if they get dripping wet ..... ;) WHAT???? THEY DO!!! ;)

Nothing better on a chilly winters' night that a nice warm muff .... ;) ENJOY!!!!!

Mickey, if the temps go below 65 in most of Florida they swear the Ice Age has returned and that Global Warming is some techno-hoax .... ;)

Wish I could have attended such a ball ...but alas I was 500+ miles away and can't afford the trip right now ....So did you get pics of the event???

I only had about 5 wooden beads to try to make Passementerie buttons so I placed an order for a thousand beads ...the cheapest way I found to get what I need( a couple hundred between myself, Salty & Hamish) When they arrive I may have some to spare if folks would be interested...

Since most of the family is spread far and wide and unable to join us for Twelfth Night it's just the 3 of us and there is always too much food

As we prepare for Twelfth Night I'm teaching Gretchen about Scottish Black Bun. It's the cake that most Americans seem to not enjoy; it's a rich fruitcake inside a pastry crust, flavoured with spices and whiskee. Ever since I first came to the states 40 years ago I have yet to understand most Americans' reticence regarding fruitcake. not that in the end I mind it(since it has always lead to more for me ) Tuesday's Dinner will begin with: Roast Elk(since I can't get Red Stag) Mashed Buttered Turnips with chives Broccoli in Stilton cheese sauce SCOTTISH BLACK BUN This cake in a crust is the traditional New Year cake in Scotland. This one is from a family recipe book Preparation First make a 1lb weight of short crust pastry your usual method(double pie crust). Leave to chill. Take a springform (if possible) 6 in. tall cake tin, and line with baking parchment. Set aside. Mix together 1teaspoon each of cinnamon, ground ginger, 1/4 fresh grated nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper. Weigh into large bowl 10oz plain flour and 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda, mix well. Add 4oz Demerara sugar, then the spices, and weigh in 1lb currants, 1lb raisins, 4oz broken or flaked almonds, 4oz mixed candied peel. Mix altogether well. Add two beaten eggs, 5 tablespoons buttermilk (or milk will do) & two or three tablespoons whiskee. Mix to a stiff sticky dough. Roll out 2/3rds of the pastry and line the caketin with this. Press the fruit mixture into the pastry shell so that it is filled densely. Roll out the rest of the pastry to form a lid, and put on top in the usual way, moistening the edges with water to make them stick. Take a long skewer, and pierce several times, right through the cake till you feel the tip touch the tin bottom. Brush the lid with a mixture of egg and milk, and bake in a pre-heated oven at 325 Fahrenheit; 170 Centigrade for about three hours. Test with skewer, when it is done, the skewer will not have any cake mix sticking to it. Serve with coffee, or as we Scots do, with a wee dram of whiskee!

Welcome to port lass...