Sorry I've been away. The Hidden Prairie Club has upgraded the blog to a forum and I am a monitor there.
It takes most of my time, check it out here!
http://www.hidden-prairie.com/forum/index.php
Anybody can view, but you need to register to play along!
Hidden Prairie Rendezvous
First thing first, if you really want to know about a local group of family oriented historical reenactors then you need to check out this site,
http://www.hidden-prairie.com/
This the homepage of the club I am a proud member of. We meet twice a year for three days and portray people from the fur trade era of the early 1800's. Many groups follow a strict book of rules that take the fun out of the event. We don't have such a book. A very simple list of rules is all we have and a "period correct" item or piece of clothing is not nearly as important as a true attempt at fitting in. The public is welcome to enter the camp most daylight hours, but you must be in period dress to be involved after dark. This is the best part, food prepared over a camp fire, songs that you thought you had forgotten sung in the moonlight. The sharp burn of the firey liquid drank from a passed jug.
Here I am, carving on a rifle stock war club. I may finish it someday...
(it was finished for the Spring 2008 Event and given to the Prez)
There is great pride taken by members in their dress and abilities. Note the picture below. Many hours have gone into the creation of this costume.
Smurf Skinner in full fringe dress for a wedding
Another unique part of the tradition is assigning of names. This is normally done by the camp elder. Everyone starts with dreams of a proud name, but usually ends up with a bit of humble pie. Such was the case of of a man who joined up calling himself "Walking Eagle". He was apparently not gifted with the grace that his self appointed name implied and he was soon blessed with the handle "Tripping Turkey". Sadly, the name stuck.
Smurf Skinner (seen above) gained fame when he took first place in a contest where the contestants needed to collect as many fur bearing animals (stuffed toys) that had been placed about earlier, as they could. He returned to camp with many animals, bears, beaver, fox and...a smurf. It had been placed by the event organizer as a trick, because everyone knows that smurfs are not "fur bearing". This didn't stop Smurf Skinner though. He gutted that critter right then and there and stretched the hide out to dry.
http://www.hidden-prairie.com/
This the homepage of the club I am a proud member of. We meet twice a year for three days and portray people from the fur trade era of the early 1800's. Many groups follow a strict book of rules that take the fun out of the event. We don't have such a book. A very simple list of rules is all we have and a "period correct" item or piece of clothing is not nearly as important as a true attempt at fitting in. The public is welcome to enter the camp most daylight hours, but you must be in period dress to be involved after dark. This is the best part, food prepared over a camp fire, songs that you thought you had forgotten sung in the moonlight. The sharp burn of the firey liquid drank from a passed jug.
Here I am, carving on a rifle stock war club. I may finish it someday...
(it was finished for the Spring 2008 Event and given to the Prez)
There is great pride taken by members in their dress and abilities. Note the picture below. Many hours have gone into the creation of this costume.
Smurf Skinner in full fringe dress for a wedding
Another unique part of the tradition is assigning of names. This is normally done by the camp elder. Everyone starts with dreams of a proud name, but usually ends up with a bit of humble pie. Such was the case of of a man who joined up calling himself "Walking Eagle". He was apparently not gifted with the grace that his self appointed name implied and he was soon blessed with the handle "Tripping Turkey". Sadly, the name stuck.
Smurf Skinner (seen above) gained fame when he took first place in a contest where the contestants needed to collect as many fur bearing animals (stuffed toys) that had been placed about earlier, as they could. He returned to camp with many animals, bears, beaver, fox and...a smurf. It had been placed by the event organizer as a trick, because everyone knows that smurfs are not "fur bearing". This didn't stop Smurf Skinner though. He gutted that critter right then and there and stretched the hide out to dry.
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