This past Saturday found us at Calico Ghost Town for the 47th Annual Calico Days event. Kathy, Melody and I went to the Lane House & Museum and displayed family heirlooms – a 100+ year old infant gown worn my my Grandpa George in 1892, a tiny silk coat made for my father in 1932, and a tatted lace collar made by our Great Grand Uncle John Hart. Don’t worry, these items are all safely inside display cases! Kathy and I took turns with Melody, taking her through the town off to do really fun things like ride an historic stagecoach, ride the Calico train, play in a hay bale, share an ice cream and play with the hobby horse she got at the Mercantile. With that, she galloped around shouting “yee haw, ride ’em cowboy!” Folks thought it was hilarious. She is definitely not inhibited!

Every year at Calico Days there is a parade featuring all sorts of characters, drill teams, the stagecoach, mule teams, the like. Well, this year the parade was started by a corps of United States Veterans from the Veterans Home in Barstow. All these fellows were in motorized wheel chairs so they could make the long trek up hill and then back down! I had a perfect spot for watching the parade, right up at the front and by a lamp post that is somewhat out into the street. Another woman was there taking pictures like me. As those veterans came up to us, she said “I feel like someone should be singing.” 

Completely spontaneously, she and I both started singing God Bless America. Our voices were paired perfectly, we both were unafraid, our song carried over all the sounds of the crowd. A hush fell as those brave heros approached us, and the song ended right as the last of their group passed us. 

I am not the type to perform in front of a crowd, but the looks in their eyes as we serenaded them was truly a wonderful moment that I will cherish forever!

One of Melody’s latest favorites to read is the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. We read this most nights before bed, adding in the appropriate funny voices for either Sam or his erstwhile victim. Melody loves it and knows several bits and will “read” along with me. This book, for those who lived in a hole during their childhood, is the story of a fellow minding his business reading the newspaper who is suddenly accosted by Sam, a green eggs and ham promoter. Sam arrives in the unnamed victim’s life on the back of a dog, asking if his mark like’s green eggs and ham, then hounding him throughout the story, stalking him and brow beating him until the poor soul finally breaks down and eats green eggs and ham. GREEN EGGS AND HAM, people!

I can recall as a kid reading this book and really resenting Sam for his persistence in forcing this innocent guy to eat green eggs and ham. Not just green eggs, but green ham. Ick! My heart went out to the unnamed pawn in this green food conspiracy. Frankly, even in kindergarten I knew deep in my soul that meat products should not be green. Veggies, sure, even some fruits are green, but fowl and pork products? I think not. And on that deeper level I felt it was just wrong for Sam to continue with his ridiculous quest for green food domination when this poor martyr clearly stated on numerous occasions that he did not like green eggs and ham. I related to this sentiment, for I too despised many green foods and did not want to eat them, either.

Without completely spoiling the ending for those of you who haven’t read it, let me just say that should you be accosted by a furry fellow riding a dog and holding a sign that reads “I am Sam” in one hand and a plate of neon green fried eggs and a ham in the other, RUN!

After the thwarted attempt at Fort Knott’s a few weeks ago, my friends and I have really been eager to visit the past.  Auntie, Melody and I went to an event at Saint Catherine’s Military Academy in Anaheim just this past weekend.  It’s a small event and one of the few that is truly focused on education.  Being a military academy, the students participate in research of key events during the Civil War, they present large scale diagrams of military maneuvers, and march around in their uniforms.  The student body is provided with interactive questionaires that require them to speak (actually speak!) to the reenactors to learn about events and attitudes during the 1860s.  We went just to go and took Melody with us.  It was unusually hot that day and Saint Catherine’s has a very large open field and a very small tree-shaded green.  We opted to leave the viewing area and return to the tree-shaded green.  It was nice to visit with Mrs. Akerman of the Temperance Society and a war correspondent for the newspaper, acquaintences from previous events and new friends.  And, I was able to barter (remember that long unfashionable aspect of trade?) Melody’s old shoes for a new dress, paid a few more dollars and wound up with two new outfits for her for less than $20.  I could not make the clothes for $20 let alone buy the materials, and the lady is someone I remember from the German days out at Renaissance Faire, so it felt a bit like old home week.  :-) 

That brings us to the next visit to the past, this time with our full entourage and parlor!  We will be at the Prado Regional Park Civil War Reenactment on April 4-5.  Although this is technically in Los Angeles County, and right on the border between LA and OC, it is so accessible to Orange County folks, there really isn’t a good excuse to flake out miss it!  Prado Regional Park is located just off the 71 west of the 91 – you know, behind the 1776 dam.  It’s the first right after you exit the freeway and is a lush and beautiful park.  There is plenty of play equipment, grass and ponds, paved roads into the reenactment for easier walking, has a huge campground, and the battlefield designated is spacious, hilly and offers expansive views of the action.  In addition to that, last year there were a number of civilian camps offering an idea of what refugees, camp followers, and people like us – the ladies left at home – would experience, including a group that unofficially called themselves the Cranky Ladies, each using a vintage hand-cranked sewing machine to turn out dresses, shirts and other garments.  Hopefully they will be there again this year.  We will have our parlor set up with mending & sewing services for soldiers, games and other home activities.  Last year, we had a number of visitors stop to watch us mend a rug.  Seriously, mend a rug.  Seems that hand sewing really is becoming a thing of the past, as is repairing and reusing those resources around us. 

Anyway, please visit the SCCWA website for a video/slideshow, pricing and more information.  The event is an annual fundraiser for the Chino Boy Scouts Eagle Scout program.  Admission isn’t free, but it is a very busy event with lots of action.  Oh, and there will be an 1860’s rules base ball game on Saturday April 4.  This could be fun for the little ones who may not even realize base ball is that old.  It was frequently played by prisoners of war and between units as a way to pass the time.  Hope you will will put aside some time and come out to see us!