Bilgewater Browne

P.S. I am also a trained fencer.

I am a HS teacher and our parent-teacher organization is putting on a talent show. I have good baritone/bass voice and full kit. I am informed that talent agents will be attending the show. What song do you suggest I perform? I don't know if I'll have an accompanist or if I will be performing a cappella.

I just discovered this thread and am amazed that Lady Brower has not put her two cents in, considering that this is her raison d'etre. Here is her post from when we first began the Half Moon Maruaders: What is the minimum and how accurate are we going for. Fundamentally, I think a man's kit should include: 1. SHOES (preferably buckle or lace?) and stockings 2. PC linen shirt 3. Breeches or "slops" 4. Hat 5.neckerchief THEN: 5. Waistcoat 6. Short coat (or maybe a justaucorps) 8. weapon! Womens' (we're more difficult) 1. Shoes (buckle or ribbon tied... unless you are dressing up as a dude, there really isn't anyway bucket boots are PC, not to mention not fun to wear under skirts....) 2. Stays (the foundation garment, I think is VERY important) 3. Chemise 4. Petticoat (s) under and over 5. HAT (really should be non negotiable, we are respectable ladies, not whores) At the minimum this means a linen cap, which should be worn under the hat anyway. 6. Mantua or bodice jacket I'm sure I'm missing stuff.... Some good links: www.gentlemanoffortune.com ----GREAT resource for men www.reconstructing history.com ---Good patterns and ideas, but a bit pricey www.blockaderunner.com -----------Found a very nice blank for clint's hat for under 20 http://www.esotericcr... ---PC pattern for men's shirt http://slightly-obses... ---Good blog for 18th century stuff, that is directly to the women's kit www.fugawee.com ------ AMAZING SHOES! http://jas-townsend.c... --------- they have some good stuff, but some of it is out of our period so be aware... I wish I had had this list before I wasted many a dollar buying polyester crap on the internet. Now I almost meet Lady Brower's standards. I must confess, my cravat is not made of period material-- Flog me. BTW, we do not require members to be in kit for our monthly meetings. This way we give people the time they need to assemble PC clothing.

Thanks to the rainy summer, my peaches are just starting to turn yellow. And squirrels have begun raiding my tree. Does anyone have a recipe for Squirrel Stew?

I've posted this on Living HX, Here it is for the rest of ye: Here's my favorite. We call it Cherokee Chicken at my house. 2-3 lbs Chicken pieces (I prefer thighs. They're cheap and only have one bone) Salt and Pepper to taste 2-3 bunches of scallions, trimmed so that there is an inch or two of green on the top At least a dozen mushrooms 28 oz can of whole tomatoes A bunch of coarsely chopped dill 2 tbs butter Lightly salt and pepper the chicken pieces. Place half in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Arrange half the scallions and mushrooms on the chicken. Spoon half the tomatoes on top. Sprinkle half the dill over this. Dot with 1 tbs butter. Make a second layer with the remaining ingredients. Cover, squashing the tomatoes, and bake at low heat for 2 hours. Uncover and cook another 2 hours, stirring occasionally. I like to serve this over long grain and wild rice, spooning the juices over all. Corn bread goes great with this. This recipe works well in a casserole dish in a conventional oven, as well.

Gratz on your find. I was in Goodwill the other day and found a fencing mask without a bib for ten dollars. That same day, my fencing coach gave me a broken mask that someone was throwing away. All I need is one rivet to make one perfectly sound mask that I give to people for sparring.

Did you see the follow up episode? The kids were bored silly when they got back to modern life. One of them said of the experience, "We didn't have much, but everything we had was special."

Thanks all. And every recipe requires booze! Can't wait to try them.

From the looks of things, I will have a bumper crop of peaches in a few weeks. Does anyone know what I can do with them besides the usual cobblers and pies?