Feast 2026: Videos of Feast Saturday

Second Post of the Day

Having my tent prepared to just lift the flaps and open for business turned out to be a real time saver. Not only could I begin selling immediately, but if there were an emergency or problem, I would be able to deal with that and not be worried about getting my tent ready.

I put that practice into place again for Sunday morning on Saturday night, taking home a box of 21 empty clothes hangers along with some other things that were empty or no longer needed, leaving the tent prepped and ready for the next day of selling.

Since I had the time Saturday morning, I decided to make and send a video to my grands and let them know what their Grammy was doing that weekend. 

The clattering you hear is my chatelaine. The tools and ornaments on the end bump together when I move and so I jingle all day when I wear it.

Grammy's tent tour was a huge success and I intend to do it again next year. (My adult children liked watching it, too.)

Being ready to go also allowed me the time to watch the staging and warming up of the opening ceremonies parade. Staging and warming up happens on the two paths that intersect right by my tent. Lucky me! 

There are many bands and corps who play and march up to the field by the blockhouse where opening ceremonies are held. During that time a flag representing each of the 8 groups of people who were at Post Ouiatenon is raised, some history is read about them, and one of the bands plays a song in their honor.

Bagpipers heading to the staging area.

The actual parade has begun. Some parts are blurry - I was also open for business and had customers in my tent at the time so my hands were not always steady. But the music can be clearly heard!

Opening ceremonies take about half an hour and then the procession reverses and marches back towards me and the bands' camps. They will repeat this process at the end of the day for closing ceremonies when the flags are retired for the day.

Here is a good view of a returning band taken from the front of my tent instead of from the secret door at the back of the tent so loved by Curt, Ian, Mila, and Lukas. LOL

Bagpipers returning to their camp. You can hear them coming but they don't come into sight until 00:30. It's worth the 30 second wait to see who you have been hearing.

Next up? Friends, family, and customers.

Stay 'tooned!

Feast 2026: School Days

First Post of the Day

School Days is a soft opening of the Feast. Held on Friday, this was my second year of starting my Feast participation early.

To my delight, I could fit into my riding habit again! Perfect timing for School Days.

I was on my own for School Days this year, but it went well.

Thanks to some loans from Tim (a bearskin, an 18 lb ground weight for tethering, a powder horn, and a possibles bag among other things) and Leslie's 18th century side saddle, I was able to put together a nice display with some things that the kids could touch and handle as we talked. 

Because of Fort Ouiatenon's heavy historical influence on the area, there are a lot of living history groups located here. One of my favorites is the Voyageur Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, an under 18 fife and drum corps.

They are really good and play all over the country.

And lucky kiddos, they were invited to play with the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps during both of the Guard's performances at the Feast! What a wonderful opportunity for those kids!

During School Days, they popped up informally in various spots on the grounds. Look at the school kids run to them!

After School Days ended, I lingered and put the finishing touches on my own tent. I wanted to be able to arrive Saturday morning and to just open the flaps and begin.

I did get a chance to take some photos to share here on the blog.

Carol and her husband John put up a museum every year called Scoundrel's Alley. It's free and one of the things that should not be missed. It's not always the same museum, either. 

I did not get in to see it this year, but Carol had told me about the plans for it at Kalamazoo last March and I knew enough to be disappointed that I'd missed it!

I was thrilled to see that the beignet booth was across from me again.

And those beignet girls kept me well supplied this year again - I'll share about that in another post. Really, really nice young women.

Friends who were also volunteering for School Days dropped by. This is April, one of my earliest customers who has become a friend. I made his shirt and his stock (which is under his waistcoat.) 

A voyageur arriving with his canoe. It's on my bucket list to one day climb into one of those and paddle up and down the Wabash a little. I do know a voyageur who said they could make that happen, so...

It was a lovely day, the beginning of an immersion into the 18th century for a few days and in a location, Fort Ouiatenon, that has great meaning to me. Even more, that fort sits right on the Wabash, my river, and one I am deeply connected to.

As I prepared to leave for the day, I went across the grounds and up the ridge to Leslie's tent to say goodbye. She's a long way from the river and at a location that is much higher up than the rest of the grounds.

And yet, the sandy ground was evidence of the river's ebb and flow as time has passed. Even up on the ridge were exposed deposits like this one everywhere, soft and gentle on the feet or to touch. I looked at those sandy grounds and was moved deeply, knowing that that sand had been there long before the 18th century. 

A touch of history as a living history event readied itself to begin.

Stay 'tooned.

A Video Hello & Update

Second Post of the Day

Hello! Here's a quick video update while I work on a longer written blog post.

If nothing is posted by 11 AM Eastern, then nothing else will be posted today. 

Stay 'tooned!

 

I Was Right

First Post of the Day

Yep! Gone riding and dreaming of beignets and maple cakes!

Stay 'tooned!

Music from the US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps

Just dropping in and hijacking a pre-written post to say hello and let you know that Feast 2026 has been a tremendous success thus far. I brought home 21 empty clothes hangers last night - I am selling a lot of clothing and beeswax ornaments.

There was a hiccup, though. I hadn't thought through the implications of the very late October dates and what that would mean Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Brisk and chilly enough that I could see my breath as I hopped into my car yesterday morning, I enjoyed the stars and the beautiful Hunters' Moon as I drove out of town.

And then I realized that I was going to have a problem.

I'm much wiser this morning - I have a flashlight and I'm wearing my personal cloak so I don't freeze until well after the sun arises!

I thought you might like to hear a little of the music played by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps who has come out from Virginia to play at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon.

Yankee Doodle  (0:48)

The President's March - Rights of Man - The Death of General Wolfe - Righ (2:56)

Royal American Medley (5:23)

Tomorrow I may be late with posting as I know I will come home exhausted tonight, so if a "Gone Riding" post appears, you'll know I am still in the land of nod and dreaming of beignets and maple cakes! 

Stay 'tooned!

 

Two Sisters, Off to The Feast of the Hunters' Moon

 "We ride at dawn!"

Say these two sisters as The Feast of the Hunters' Moon opens at Post Ouiatenon!

Wish us luck and cross your fingers that we both stay out of trouble!

Stay 'tooned!

It's School Day!

It's time! Today is Friday, School Day, and as such, The 2026 Feast of the Hunters' Moon has begun. I'm heading out early to move my presentation tables and saddles out in front of my tent where I will be presenting.

Yesterday I spent the morning at home giving Pepper some special attention since I will be gone so much the next few days and that is hard for her. (I truly am her partner and she keeps a good eye on me!)

We took a longer walk than usual and in a part of the neighborhood where we hadn't walked for a while, just the two of us, and she was absolutely in heaven!

She'll be fine here at home with Craig and Tammo, but still I worry about her. She just turned 10 and after having had an unexpected Addison's crisis earlier this summer, I'll admit I am nervous about her. My absences are getting harder and harder on her.

After our walk, I headed back into the (can you guess?)... sewing room!

I know, I know. I said I was done, but Leslie had a trade shirt that needed buttonholes, and her buttonhole sewing foot was not working. Buttonholes have been the bane of my sewing existence most of my sewing life; they are not easy. But a year ago I got a new Janome and they are so much easier to put in with it. I no longer dread the buttonhole step when sewing! 

So I put sleeve buttonholes in for and took it back to the Feast to give back to her.

I also put pins and a needle into the wedding and Dino pin pillows and they are ready to be given to Lucia and Brooke.

Carol Jarbo, my dearest re-enacting friend, was setting up her 18th century museum, Scoundrels Alley, but she took a break and came over for a visit. I'm glad she did - we will both be too busy to get together and chat during the event so I'm glad I got to spend some time with her.

Three generations of Feasters = Happy Grammy time.

Van texted me and asked me to take photos of the first clothing rack he'd made me.

He's making another one for me for Kalamazoo in March and he wanted to jog his memory of what it looked like.

Out of all the furniture he has made, mine is the only clothing rack he's done.

I'm looking forward to having another - mine is light enough that I can carry it, and it is easy to set up.

That's it for today - I need to go change into my riding habit, load up the side saddle, and head out to Ouiatenon.

Taking a deep breath - it's time!

Stay 'tooned!