This post will probably be a bit boring, since I am absolutely exhausted from chasing a certain two-year-old around yesterday and more than anything I want to just lie upon the couch and feel the cool breeze coming in from the open door, smell the smell of flowery buds and blooms wafted upon said breeze, watch the young ones playing on the floor (or to be more accurate, the two Eldest fighting over the same box of raisens, although they both have their own individually, with Malachi wide-eyed and excited, his wee heart throbbing in his bosom at the sight and thought of Food, gaze fastened upon the exact same box of said Raisens with every muscle and fibre of his being straining to be able to reach them to insert them into his mouth) - since, in short, I wish to be Lazy.
It is work to take a two and a half year old, a one and a half year old, and a four and a half month old to a Civil War event and to decently watch them. It was so much easier last year when Judah was not yet walking. It was so much easier the year before that when David was our only baby and he was not yet walking, or crawling either. I look to the future of next year with a certain sense of dread as I know by then Malachi will also be walking. Three little boys to guide and train in obedience and who, for reasons known best to themselves, decide to defy us and test us while we are in public. Except for Malachi. He is almost always good and sweet and is content for the most part to be passed round or to lie upon his wee quilt and chew on his hands or his feet.
The First Thing That Tempted the Boys:
The Fence.
We arrived at the beautiful Old State Capitol yesterday morning. The event went from the 5th-7th, but David decided a day trip on Saturday would be the best thing for us and the boys. We had beautiful weather and went to the medical encampment upon our arrival. The grounds of the Old State Capitol are enclosed within a tall iron fence. This caused both David and Judah much interest and curiosity. 
Even Big David seemed interested in the fence. I wonder if little David will be as tall as his daddy someday?
Once the excitement of sticking ones head through the spaces in the fence wore off, Judah wandered about the medical encampment and was for the most part, for the time, good. Little David excellently presumed that since there was a fence, there must be a gate or an opening somewhere, and set off in earnest pursuit of it. For, of course, the outside of a fence must be very much more attractive than the inside. I pursued him as he ran . . .and ran. . .and ran. . . Reason #1 why I am tired today. I ran too. I think the mingling Public and other reenactors saw more than their share of my drawers and stockings. Oh horrors. 
The Second Thing That Tempted The Boys:
The steps of the Old State Capitol.
A very great set of steps led to the doors of the Old State Capitol. Once little David discovered these, I thought I could find relief from my perpetual motion. Alas, I was most wrongly mistaken. Up and down my Eldest Son climbed. But he was not content to stay in the same area and climb up and down while I sat on the steps and watched. He had a certain ability to blend in with the Public and tried to go into the capitol building when I was not looking. There was also a deep "ditch" around the capitol building that led into the lower story. This ditch began at each side of the steps and little David continually tried to lower himself into it. This caused great alarm on my part and contributed to the reason I am tired today.
Here you can just see the hem edge of David's tunic as he climbs on the steps, in front of the man in the blue sack coat.
A real-life photograph (I had no idea my husband, back in camp, was taking these pictures!) of a concerned Mama stooping to grasp her son before he ran in front of the photographer and caused a certain boy-shaped blur on the tintype that was being taken. 
A brief period of relative peace was enjoyed as we looked for a place to have lunch. We each received a $10 meal coupon so we walked around, trying to decide where we would like to eat. We walked quite a ways before settling on a little restaurant called Robbie's, just south of the Old State Capitol. Inside it was cool, and dark. The boys were very good and although they did not eat their lunch they enjoyed the cold lemonade they got and the crackers the waitress brought to them. It was a bit of a treat for us to have a meal "out", all together. We do not go out to eat very often and almost never with all of our children. This was the first time that all five of us went "out".
When we went back to camp in the afternoon Malachi was soundly asleep and the two older ones were very tired. I spread Malachi's little quilt on the grass and he woke up for a little while when I moved him to it.
Judah laid his weary little body down next to his "beebee".
Little David went back to the steps. So I did, too.
And David, testing out his new cigar. Cigars are reenacting-ish things for David. He only gets them when he goes to a reenactment since he does not have a period correct pipe anymore. (he lost the very nice one he had when little David was born, in the hospital). 
The boys roamed the ditch, discovered a dead pigeon, and stomped upon a grate that led into a three-story hole. 
We went inside a bit later. A BEAUTIFUL display of many original dresses, shoes, bonnets and accessories, courtesy of K. Krewer, was set up. I was absolutely enthralled. A costumers dream! I had Malachi over one arm and was holding Judah's hand with the other. . .and he kept pretending he could not walk and lifted his feet off the ground. When I would let go of his hand and try to get him to stand up, he'd dart beneath a rope into a sectioned off area. Big David took little David to see a display of original guns. I at last settled onto a bench and put Malachi next to me and held Judah. Judah was happy but Malachi was not. He did not like the fact that Judah was sitting in my lap while he was merely propped up against my side.
Back outside again the two littlest went to sleep. David was almost hysterical since he wanted to go back inside. At last he fell asleep while I held him and rocked him. He gets hysterical when he is very tired. During this time I got to meet a lovely lady from the Sewing Academy and later, when David had waken up again, I went back in with the Lady from the Sewing Academy to look more at the originals. That was the incredible highlight of my whole day. At this time, I got to see Mrs. K. Krewer and met some more ladies from the Sewing Academy. 
A bit later I even got to meet Carolann Schmitt from Genteel Arts Academy. I never dreamed I would meet her anytime soon and was so honored and so thrilled to meet her - and a bit nervous! She is such an expert in the clothing of the 1860's! And I was so terribly embarassed when Little David ran across the front of the room as she began her evening presentation!
It is work to take a two and a half year old, a one and a half year old, and a four and a half month old to a Civil War event and to decently watch them. It was so much easier last year when Judah was not yet walking. It was so much easier the year before that when David was our only baby and he was not yet walking, or crawling either. I look to the future of next year with a certain sense of dread as I know by then Malachi will also be walking. Three little boys to guide and train in obedience and who, for reasons known best to themselves, decide to defy us and test us while we are in public. Except for Malachi. He is almost always good and sweet and is content for the most part to be passed round or to lie upon his wee quilt and chew on his hands or his feet.
The First Thing That Tempted the Boys:
The Fence.
We arrived at the beautiful Old State Capitol yesterday morning. The event went from the 5th-7th, but David decided a day trip on Saturday would be the best thing for us and the boys. We had beautiful weather and went to the medical encampment upon our arrival. The grounds of the Old State Capitol are enclosed within a tall iron fence. This caused both David and Judah much interest and curiosity. Even Big David seemed interested in the fence. I wonder if little David will be as tall as his daddy someday?Once the excitement of sticking ones head through the spaces in the fence wore off, Judah wandered about the medical encampment and was for the most part, for the time, good. Little David excellently presumed that since there was a fence, there must be a gate or an opening somewhere, and set off in earnest pursuit of it. For, of course, the outside of a fence must be very much more attractive than the inside. I pursued him as he ran . . .and ran. . .and ran. . . Reason #1 why I am tired today. I ran too. I think the mingling Public and other reenactors saw more than their share of my drawers and stockings. Oh horrors. The Second Thing That Tempted The Boys:
The steps of the Old State Capitol.
A very great set of steps led to the doors of the Old State Capitol. Once little David discovered these, I thought I could find relief from my perpetual motion. Alas, I was most wrongly mistaken. Up and down my Eldest Son climbed. But he was not content to stay in the same area and climb up and down while I sat on the steps and watched. He had a certain ability to blend in with the Public and tried to go into the capitol building when I was not looking. There was also a deep "ditch" around the capitol building that led into the lower story. This ditch began at each side of the steps and little David continually tried to lower himself into it. This caused great alarm on my part and contributed to the reason I am tired today.
Here you can just see the hem edge of David's tunic as he climbs on the steps, in front of the man in the blue sack coat.
A real-life photograph (I had no idea my husband, back in camp, was taking these pictures!) of a concerned Mama stooping to grasp her son before he ran in front of the photographer and caused a certain boy-shaped blur on the tintype that was being taken. A brief period of relative peace was enjoyed as we looked for a place to have lunch. We each received a $10 meal coupon so we walked around, trying to decide where we would like to eat. We walked quite a ways before settling on a little restaurant called Robbie's, just south of the Old State Capitol. Inside it was cool, and dark. The boys were very good and although they did not eat their lunch they enjoyed the cold lemonade they got and the crackers the waitress brought to them. It was a bit of a treat for us to have a meal "out", all together. We do not go out to eat very often and almost never with all of our children. This was the first time that all five of us went "out".When we went back to camp in the afternoon Malachi was soundly asleep and the two older ones were very tired. I spread Malachi's little quilt on the grass and he woke up for a little while when I moved him to it.
Judah laid his weary little body down next to his "beebee".Little David went back to the steps. So I did, too.When the two littlest became active again we took all three of them down into the "ditch". We thought that since the ditch was U-shaped, ending in a dead-end at the front and back steps of the building, it would be a good place for the boys to run since there was only one set of steps leading down into it and we could sit upon those. It worked quite well, for a little while.
Here is Malachi and I in front of one of the doors, just at the bottom of the steps. I will need to do a post on my dress and corset here pretty soon. I finished my new corset enough so that it was wearable (still need to put on the binding) and after finding out that none of my old dresses would close at the bust line this dress was emergently produced on Friday and finished up very early Saturday morning so that I could be decently attired. 
I am pretty happy with how the corset and dress came out. I used 5 panels of 45" fabric in the skirt rather than the usual 4. I think the extra fabric helps my skirts look better. In this picture, my skirt almost appears too large, but I think it is because it is being pushed out by the wall I am leaning against. I had a black bow for it, but Malachi pulled it off. I had a black belt too but I decided to not wear it yesterday since I was afraid I'd look too "matchy".
I am pretty happy with how the corset and dress came out. I used 5 panels of 45" fabric in the skirt rather than the usual 4. I think the extra fabric helps my skirts look better. In this picture, my skirt almost appears too large, but I think it is because it is being pushed out by the wall I am leaning against. I had a black bow for it, but Malachi pulled it off. I had a black belt too but I decided to not wear it yesterday since I was afraid I'd look too "matchy". And David, testing out his new cigar. Cigars are reenacting-ish things for David. He only gets them when he goes to a reenactment since he does not have a period correct pipe anymore. (he lost the very nice one he had when little David was born, in the hospital). The boys roamed the ditch, discovered a dead pigeon, and stomped upon a grate that led into a three-story hole. We went inside a bit later. A BEAUTIFUL display of many original dresses, shoes, bonnets and accessories, courtesy of K. Krewer, was set up. I was absolutely enthralled. A costumers dream! I had Malachi over one arm and was holding Judah's hand with the other. . .and he kept pretending he could not walk and lifted his feet off the ground. When I would let go of his hand and try to get him to stand up, he'd dart beneath a rope into a sectioned off area. Big David took little David to see a display of original guns. I at last settled onto a bench and put Malachi next to me and held Judah. Judah was happy but Malachi was not. He did not like the fact that Judah was sitting in my lap while he was merely propped up against my side.We could not stay in the building very long due the boys desire to run off into the roped off areas.
Here is the one picture I took of the inside. The governors office. Who wouldn't love to go to work if it meant working in an office like this? Beautiful!
Back outside again the two littlest went to sleep. David was almost hysterical since he wanted to go back inside. At last he fell asleep while I held him and rocked him. He gets hysterical when he is very tired. During this time I got to meet a lovely lady from the Sewing Academy and later, when David had waken up again, I went back in with the Lady from the Sewing Academy to look more at the originals. That was the incredible highlight of my whole day. At this time, I got to see Mrs. K. Krewer and met some more ladies from the Sewing Academy. A bit later I even got to meet Carolann Schmitt from Genteel Arts Academy. I never dreamed I would meet her anytime soon and was so honored and so thrilled to meet her - and a bit nervous! She is such an expert in the clothing of the 1860's! And I was so terribly embarassed when Little David ran across the front of the room as she began her evening presentation!After the presentation we came home as the boys were just too tired and hungry and cranky to enjoy staying anymore. They slept until 9:00 this morning and took two hour naps this afternoon. I think at last they are starting to get back to "normal"! 
Hopefully our next event will go a bit better. We could always leave the boys with a sitter but that makes reenacting not worthwhile for me, since David and I desire this to be a family event and a time when we can bond with each other. Anyone with little ones in the hobby have any experienced advice to share? :) I think we will set up the tent and beds in the yard over the next week or so and get the boys used to sleeping in it. That will hopefully help next time we are out!
Hopefully our next event will go a bit better. We could always leave the boys with a sitter but that makes reenacting not worthwhile for me, since David and I desire this to be a family event and a time when we can bond with each other. Anyone with little ones in the hobby have any experienced advice to share? :) I think we will set up the tent and beds in the yard over the next week or so and get the boys used to sleeping in it. That will hopefully help next time we are out!Love,
(a very tired)
Sarah
The displays were in the basement portion of the GAR - a fine array of medical tools, engineering techniques, uniforms, flags and even a portion about women in the war, as soldiers, doctors, nurses and spies. 
Malachi soon grew weary of me holding him and desired to roll. Since he has learned to roll he rolls everywhere and that seems to be his favorite occupation, besides eating. I spread his little quilt on the floor and he was happy as could be, grabbing at his little stocking feet and rolling about. The other little children in our reenacting group seemed to like him and, of course, he just ate up the attention!
I love this picture of Miss K. holding little Malachi. She has been so good and so motherly and so sweet with all of the boys. I first met her when I was pregnant with little David and was absolutely taken by her sweet demeanor. 
Here is David outside the GAR hall. This is the only picture I have that makes my husband appear small. The building is huge!
And of course I took many pictures of him in his new uniform. He only likes a few of them, but here is a closer picture of him fully accessorized (except for his medical officers sword, but his sword belt is not in yet. It's due to be shipped in July). 
The wind was terribly strong. Note to self: Use pomade next time. Hair wispies just aren't the thing for a nice 1860's look. 
A little gated pathway going alongside the GAR hall provided some relief from the wind. Here is the front of David:
And the side back:
And me. I am so unhappy with how this dress fits now. I made it last year when I had just found out I was pregnant with Malachi. The bust is too tight now and the waist sits too high. I had just started work a new corset last year before I found out I was pregnant. The corset was put on hold and now I see that I still really, really need a new one. David said to go ahead to get what I need so today I need to make a mock up and fit it. I think I'll use the Laughing Moon Silverado pattern this time since I've heard gussetted styles give a better shape. I'm just tired of being smushed up top so I can't wait to have a better fitting style. It's time for a new corset anyway. I made my current one when I was pregnant with little David - 3 years ago!
We got our dinner at a little ice cream shack type place - tamales and strawberry milkshakes and cheese fries. Oh-so-not-period but oh-so-good. We ate at the botanical gardens although we could not go IN the garden since a wedding was going on. 
I was delighted to discover an old friend whom I had not seen for a few years. Here is Mr. Eric and Malachi. I met him when I was 15 and severely criticized him at the time for being a federal sympathizer. Ah. The follies of 15! Despite our rocky beginning, we have been good friends ever since. David even let me dance the Virginia Reel with him. I also danced the Virginia Reel with David and then did the last waltz with David and Malachi. Malachi seemed to enjoy that.
Here is the little sister of the aforementioned Miss K. - another Miss K., and isn't she adorable? This is the pink dress I made last fall for the elder Miss K but as it was a bit too small, it was passed down to her sister. I think she looks perfectly sweet!
Mrs. Lincoln, as portrayed by Donna Daniels, and a gentleman. Mrs. Lincoln had the loveliest, ladylike demeanor and sweetest disposition. 
A final (although blurry) picture of Malachi and I. And the only one we got of Malachi with either of us!
A lovely time, but now to focus my energies on getting this new corset done!
He is rather difficult to photograph since he either wishes to touch the lens of the camera with his finger or else he runs from me while I run after, attempting to catch him unawares if he might turn around. I finally got the front view of him while he stood upon the shoe wipe mat on the back porch steps. He has a current fascination with mats. He likes to pick them up and move them and then stand upon them. This one is always in a different place than where it was last seen as a result. 
Here he has moved the mat to the door on the side of the house. It leads into the boys room but we do not use it and a big shelf is set across the door where they keep their toys. 
In some ways it is sobering to be twenty-three already. It seems so terribly old. Yet, it is exciting to look towards the future and to wonder how God will work out the threads of my life. It will be bittersweet to watch my babies grow bigger and become more independent. It will be wonderful if God blesses our family with any new sweet bundles as the coming years go by. It is fun to ponder on the possibilities. Yet, for now, I am content to live in the moment and to reflect on the past twenty-three years of my life. I have been so incredibly blessed by wonderful parents, wonderful siblings, a wonderful husband and wonderful babies - and wonderful friends!
Here is little David in one of his new outfits. He originally was wearing some new black cotton twill trousers with his tunic, but he decided to have an accident in those just before we left so he was changed into these red and white twill ones from the tunic outfit I shared last week. His tunic is his last falls wool dress, shortened four inches. His coat is the Godey's cloak coat I made last fall and that he barely ever wore. It looks like he won't get much more wear out of it either! I'll have to save one of these coats for Malachi and find another little boy who can use the other one, since Judah has an indentical style coat that he is outgrowing as well. David's little cap is made of brown cotton twill and was a last minute addition since it was so cold and windy out. From reading 
Here is Judah in last fall's wool dress, with his own cloak coat and quilted hood. He kept the hood on the whole time we were away, which suprised me. Last year he wouldn't keep it on at all! His dress is getting pretty short and it's small in the bodice too. Another dress to save for Malachi. I think I'll need to make Mr. Judah a different wool dress for this coming autumn.
I made this tunic from some pretty green plaid cotton. It is the same style as the tunic I posted about last week except its a bit shorter. I forgot to add the extra 2" to the bottom of the pattern I made last week! Oh well! It's hip length. I don't have any extra fabric to add more length since I was trying to get Judah's dress and this tunic from 1 and 2/3 yd. of fabric. It was doable, but just barely! To decorate the front I added blue strips down each side of the overlapping side with some blue rick rack down the center. The belt is made of blue cotton closes with a shell button. To go with it, he has brown twill pants (same as the fabric for his cap) trimmed with the same blue rick rack.
This is from the same pattern as his pumpkin colored dress. I shaved 1/4" off each side edge of the bodice and that did the trick to get it to fit correctly. I pleated the skirt and the sleeves for a bit of difference from the pumpkin dress. It looks quite plain to me and I want to add trim to it but don't know exactly what I should do. I asked David and he told me to leave it plain, since it looks like a "boy's dress" without trim. I might. It will be covered by a pinafore most of the time anyway. I still have this intense desire to put black bows at the shoulders though!
My current favorite baby cap style. It is from the basic baby cap pattern but with the edges of the brim rounded and a ruffle added round the edges. Instead of a drawstring to tie it has self fabric sewn on ties and the back of the cap is gathered with a binding sewn on to hold it in place. I love how Malachi looks in this, with the petal-like ruffles falling around his sweet little face! Too bad the ruffles were plastered against his head in the wind we had today. No good pictures to be had. 
Perhaps tomorrow!
He discovered a mud puddle in a shallow dip and splashed through it and fell down. He thought that was delightful. He did it again. He also ran up a large hill, ran towards the cricket field and explored a vast area filled with dandilions.
And then he had to look inside the tents. He thinks every tent belongs to him. 
Judah was quieter and stayed close to the camp. 
Many people remarked about his beautiful blue eyes and he gave them a glare in return. He is at the "Don't look at me. I don't like to be noticed." stage when it comes to strangers. He saved his sweet smiles for me. It's a lovely thing to be a mother. :)
David's mom came out for a little while and explained to many people why little boys wore dresses during the 1860's and helped keep an eye on the big boys. She helped me take the boys to the petting zoo area and Judah was fascinated by the chickens.
After Malachi ran out of people to hold him, he laid on his quilt in the wagon, happy and snug. He was the only one who did not get very wet. 
As in years past, I was astonished by how many people were suprised to find out that Malachi was a real baby and not a doll! Why do people assume little babies in period dress aren't real?
I wore my infamous blue print dress. It was an .88 cent a yard print I got a few years ago. It has been patched and mended and repaired and remade several times. I think it has seen its better days but I still wear it quite often since it fits well and I like the sleeve style. You know that certain outfit you have that you just feel so natural in? This dress is like that for me. It reminds me of part of Johnny Cash's song "Ragged Old Flag": 
She's gettin threadbare, and she's wearin thin
It's also currently my only cotton dress since the other one I had became unwearable via an unhappy dyeing experience. :( I have some gorgeous pink and brown sheer plaid for another summer dress that I got from a lady on the Sewing Acadmey and I can't wait to make it. I have some other pieces for a few more plain cotton dresses too. . .it's only finding the time to make them.
I gave up trying to get all the outfits for the boys made by Friday and instead am trying to just get one outfit apiece done. To that end, I picked a tunic style that looked fast and easy and went with it. I am unsure about the correctness of the style, construction, etc. but will post a question about this on the Sewing Academy to see what more knowledgeable people have to say. I didn't have much time to research boys tunic styles and found very few images of little boys wearing this particular style and it was hard to judge exactly how to make it based on the few photos. I most definitely "winged it". 
I ended up using the basic jewel necked bodice pattern I used for his green wool dress last year. His wool dress still fit him so I didn't need to make changes as far as making it bigger. I lengthened it and made it an A-line shape from the armpit down. The back opening was changed to a front opening and I refined the armscye drop a little. The bias band at the bottom was a last minute necessary addition since the tunic turned out a bit too short. To carry on the bias-y theme I cut the belt on the bias as well. Taking inspiration from the tunics on Originals by Kay, I put self fabric belt loops at each side seam to help hold the belt in place. I think the belt is a bit too wide but I can easily fix that when I have a little spare time.
I dressed him this afternoon while his brothers napped (David seems to have grown out of naps, of late) and tried to take some pictures of him. He kept running away and was not interested in the camera whatsoever, but here are a few I did get!
The sleeve overlaps itself towards the top of the off-the-shoulder bodice, creating a petal effect. With the airy undersleeve below I think this will be quite feminine, indeed. 
Now I'm wanting a ball gown of my own! I keep telling myself to wait though. I hope to loose some more weight before investing time and money into a silk ball gown and I can't really nurse in a ballgown bodice this reenacting season, anyway. Malachi seems determined to nurse at every moment he can induce me to sit down. No three hour spans of time in the evening to steal away for dancing in a back opening dress!
I can still plan and sketch designs and research! Thankfully those occupations don't need time to slim down and no money for purchase! :)