Miss Molly’s Kettle Korn Schedule:
January 30/31 Mt Dora/Apopka/Townsend’s/Renninger’s (has lots of names due to its history). Civil War Reenactment
February 26/27/28 Ft. DeSoto Park, St Pete—Civil War Reenactment
March 3-7 Pioneer Days, Pioneer Park, Zolfo Springs—mixed event
Alafia River Rendezvous and The Brooksville Raid are now history. We did well, but are really pooped. So, today we took a R&R day and visited friends Cathy and Jim in the Villages. Their house is always full of people. Probably comes from the fact that Jim is the second child in a family of seven (the other six are females). Steve and Jim have known each other since their childhood. Both Dads were members in the same Lodge—Steve’s Dad a forty-eight year member before he passed and Jim’s Dad was a member well over fifty years. Jim and Steve went to a quaint elementary school called Cherry Brook—Jim a class ahead of Steve. They were never friends until adulthood, however. Jim remembers Steve’s Dad from his days of his first job. Steve’s Dad gave him a ride. Jim’s class will be celebrating its fiftieth class reunion this year.
My first recollection of meeting Jim was about a year after Steve and I got married. Steve and I were camping with another family at Lake George, New York. Soon after we arrived, we ran into Jim and his family. One night several people were sitting in our campsite. Steve likes to go to bed fairly early. I am not sure how this nighthawk ended up with the morning lark, but that seems to happen in many marriages. Anyway, I was ready to sit up half the night with the gang. Not so with Steve. Vacation or not…when it’s time to go to bed…it’s time!!! Around nine o’clock in the evening, Steve turned the lantern off and trotted off to his camper…leaving all the guests in the dark.
Well, Jim apparently has never forgiven him and reminds him of this act of the tactfulness of a freight train somewhat regularly.
It is always fun to be with Jim and his family. We have camped and visited with him for years. We lost track of him for a while as he moved to Rhode Island, and we moved to Florida. Steve was talking to one of his sisters in Connecticut several years ago. She gave us his cell phone number. It was the same area code as ours. We called it; reconnected and now see them regularly—at our house, at their house, on boat trips and so on. Sometimes, it is just with him and Cathy; sometimes, with various members of his large family. When we were in Connecticut last spring, one of the sisters invited us to a family get-together. We are always happy to be included in someone else’s family since ours is so tiny.
At their home today were one sister, her husband—camping a few miles away--and another couple who are staying at their home. Someone got a Wii for Christmas so the big boys had a great old time playing various games. They seemed to do the best at the bowling. The women worked on a puzzle. Jim is a tease. The house is never quiet. Fun noise abounds. It was a great way to relax after our long hours of work over the last couple of weeks. The hooked up to Sykpe (sp???), and we visited with two granddaughters…one with Nana’s red hair who is eight months old. Today’s technology is amazing.
It is always good to be with good friends.
ALAFIA RIVER RENDEZVOUS
1000 Old Fort Meade Road, Homeland, FL 33847
Steve and I are time travelers. We have chosen the historical niche to make and market our kettle korn. We have participated in French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War (War between the States or as they say in the South…War of Northern Aggression) and pre-1840 Rendezvous events. Most of our events have been American Civil War, but since I am a history buff, I can get into “First Person” into most time periods. When a person does “First Person” that simply means that one talks as much as possible as that earlier period. We do not acknowledge any invention beyond that date. For instance, people will tell me about microwave (NOT!!**) kettle korn, Cracker Jack, cameras, football, basketball, TVs, etc. If it has not yet been invented in 1840 or 1860 or whatever time period, I make people explain what it is. Some explanations are rather funny.
Annually, from sometime in mid January for twelve days, mountain men, Indians, traders, flintlock shooters, hawk and knife throwers and a plethora of old timey folks meet in Homeland, Florida. There are various other Rendezvous around the country at different times. It is a way of life for many.
The early Rendezvous were celebrated in the spring, usually near or on a major river. The mountain men would come down with their skins and meet at a given area with ships, their captains, and traders of various sorts. Towns often developed at these points, bringing women and families. The skins would be traded for needed supplies and money (gold). The furs/skins would go down river to a large port and be transported for trade with other countries. It is generally agreed that the decline of the Rendezvous came about around 1840. A good part of its decline came about due to the increase in industry (the industrial revolution) were ready made products replaced much of the early need for skins for clothes, etc.
Today’s rendezvous is a great family experience in PRIMITIVE camping and living…NO modern conveniences. We cook over campfires. Our lights are candles or lanterns. The bathroom facilities are the green buildings one would find at most events today (port-a-lettes) but they are behind high wooden stockades. There are church services on Sunday and a school with a certified teacher. The children most bring their own assignments from their real world school and are in class for regular school hours. Home schoolers may or may not choose to use these facilities.
Safety, however, is always foremost. Every tent should house a fire extinguisher (there has been plenty of reason for this…many fires…many near catastrophes…much lost property). For those shooting, or throwing there are many important rules, but we really do live in the twenty-first century and must try to keep everyone as safe as possible.
On the other hand, however, once most of us step out of our twenty-first century clothing into whatever time period we are portraying, a really weird thing happens. It is almost as though we are transformed into that period…it fells as though we aren’t just pretending.
There are only three days in which the “public” is invited… the last Friday and Saturday which is open to everyone. But my favorite day is Thursday. This is the day reserved for seniors and school children…1200 this year. Unfortunately, with budget cuts, we are getting fewer children from public schools, but we have several Christian and private schools and academies that have come out to see us for years. Also, the number of home schoolers and co-ops abound these days. I love these kids. They ask good questions, are usually polite and very attentive.
“Stations” have been set up and marked with a feathered pole. A guide meets most of the groups at the gate and brings them around to hear all kinds of lectures and demonstrations. My neighbor this year is a newbie. He talked about the history of coffee. He’s quit a story teller. My other neighbor talked about making sarsaparilla. Demonstrators such as flute makers and other old time crafts abound. Knife and Hawk throwing. Dulcimer players. Powder horn carvers…..
So, what does one do when one has left 2010 and stepped backwards in time. Well, with 200 or so “traders,” there is always shopping.
There is also dining. From gourmet to tasty snacks. Most of the food is period, but there are a few items that are modern with an old timey twists and names…smoked “prairie dogs,” for instance. At “Stew Pot’s Tavern” evening meals such as herb grilled game hen, roasted wild potato, beef burgundy stroganoff, roasted lamb (by reservation only) touch the palate. And “Three Wives Kitchen” offers a variety of soups, stews, home-baked breads, Amish butter. Other items from menus that may whet ones appetite include fry bread, home made root beer, kettle korn (of course).
Okay, so you don’t shop and you’ve already dined, what else is there to do? There are seminars for everything from making boiled puddings, making fires, colonial herbal health care, how to do’s (knit, Inkle weaving, and herbal salve making).
There are competitions and contests galore for both male and female and various age brackets.
Flintlock black powder shootin’, Knife and Hawk (tomahawk), Bow and Arrow, Wood Walk (a timed trial of walking and target shoot with any of the above.
Highland games and Ceiligh for those guys and gals in kilts and plaids/arisaides.
Frying pan throwing. Rolling Pin toss.
Dessert Cooking Contest (prepared to be baked in a Dutch oven).
Kids games…relay races…sack, three legged. Period kids' toys by Mr. Monty...graces, hoops for rolling, marbles, jacks.
Wonderful music. There are some really great musicians who play time period music…dulcimers, bag pipes, fiddles...a banjo here, an harmonica there. Walking around camp after dark are wonderful concerts coming from various groups. Some singing, some strumming.
And we can’t forget “Blind Justice.” An adult content outdoor courtroom. People are tried for various and sundry (silly) crimes which can be as simple as wearing ones hat backwards.
Various ceremonies, all very special—Opening Ceremony, the Order of the Beaver, Sunrise Memorial Service, a Native American Celebration and the Closing Ceremony.
And this year, we had three very special Ceremonies…three couples (1 set of twins) were joined in Holy Matrimony with special receptions presented by their friends. These were conducted by an ordained minister.
**In my opinion, there is no such thing as microwave kettle korn. Kettle korn is popped in a Kettle—plain and simple.
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