Quiet Valley Harvest Festival

One of the year’s biggest and best events is coming up....

Join the Guard Sunday at Trailside Nature Park in Mountainside

Easton Heritage Day 2017

Each year, Easton, PA celebrates its heritage on the day the Declaration of Independence was first read aloud - or on the weekend closest to it.  The Frontier Guard has been attending the event for several years, and each year we have watched it grow and get bigger and better.  This year was no exception.  There were military and civilian reenactors from every era, a parade, and even the Budweiser horses at the end of the day.

Ron and I went, and while our display was perhaps a bit smaller and different from Capt. Pitchell's beautiful collection, the huge crowds seemed to enjoy it.  Ron brought his diorama, which I featured in an earlier post, and the public loved the attention to detail of it.  They also responded well to the items I brought along, and was an enjoyable and successful day.

Even General of the Armies "Black Jack" Pershing was on hand, adding personality to the military timeline.

  

4th of July in Blairstown

Each year Capt. Pitchell sets up in Footbridge Park of Blairstown for the Blairstown 4th of July festival.  This year I was able to join him for a short time and snap a photo or two.  As usual, the display looked great.

Ron's Diorama

Ron, whose cabin I featured in a previous post, is a man of many talents.  One of those is constructing beautifully detailed dioramas, like the one below:

Gradually Restoring Photos

When Photobucket unexpectedly changed its terms of service, prohibiting what it called "3rd Party Hosting" retroactively unless users were willing to pay $399 per year for the privilege of doing what had heretofore been free, as long as users put up with Photobucket's endless stream of advertisements,  most of the photos that I had placed on this blog were replaced with Photobucket's placeholders.

I have, however, begun to replace some of the more recent posts and pages with photos hosted on Google Photos.  This will be a gradual process, but I hope eventually to restore all photos.  Please bear with me, as this will take a bit of time.  I welcome any and all suggestions, comments, and support as I do this.  Thanks!

A (very temporary) switch in Allegiance!

At the end of June, my children and I returned to Southeastern Pennsylvania for the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation's annual French & Indian War skirmish.  This is always a fun event, with two skirmishes around the historic farmhouse for the enjoyment of public and participants alike.

This year, however, was a bit different; the Indians did not attack!  Due to a combination of a big Revolutionary War event and family obligations, none of the interpreters who have portrayed the Lenape in the past were able to make it.  This means that the conflict devolved to the French Regiment de la Reine against British colonial Rangers and militia.

Unfortunately, the French numbers were low, with only three regulars and one Québécois militiaman to fight a force of about ten British Provincials.  I was wearing my blue suit - an outfit that could be mistaken for a French Companie de la Marine soldier if you squint - I became a "frog" for the public that day. My children occupied the plantation farmhouse, and screamed or fled at the appropriate moments. All in all, despite the lack of Lenape attacks, the public enjoyed the skirmishes, and so did we.  

Photobucket trying to gouge its users

I apologize for the current look of the website.  It appears that Photobucket has abruptly changed its terms of service, and is now restricting photos stored on its servers - no longer permitting what they call 3rd party hosting, unless users upgrade to an account that costs just under $400/year.  I will gradually attempt to replace the photos, but it will take some time to download and replace them.  Please bear with me.
Thanks.

STATE HISTORY FAIR CANCELLED!

Although the organizers originally said "Rain or shine," the weather forecast is simply awful. Conditions might be dangerous with high winds in a heavily-wooded state park.  Almost surely, the organizers believed, the public would be sparse.

Accordingly, they have cancelled the event.  While I am disappointed, I must admit I did not look forward to standing outside the whole day in torrential rain.  We'll simply have to hope that next year's weather is more favorable. 

Open House 2017 at Hoff-Vannatta

Just throwing up a few pictures from last weekend.  Please check back as I get a few minutes to add text.

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

A bit of beadwork...

From time to time, I make a bit of beadwork to go along with my impression, to show off as examples of trade beads to the public, or just to throw out on the trade blanket.  Here are two pieces I made last summer for fun, just to show them off...

I flatter myself that they came out decently...

Hoff-Vannatta House Added to Calendar April 29th

For years now, the Frontier Guard has supported the Hoff-Vannatta House by appearing at its spring and fall open house events.  Truth be told, the biggest reason we keep attending is that it's a lot of fun - a nice setting, an interesting historic structure, and great people.  April 29th will be the spring open house; come see the progress the historical society has made since last fall, and stop by and see us!

Join us at the State History Fair May 13th!

The Frontier Guard will be one of the exhibiting groups at this year's Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair on May 13th.  As in the past two years, the Fair will be held at Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  There will be, as usual, a large number of demonstrations and historic preservation associations.  Check out the Fair's website here: 2017 Spirit of the Jerseys Fair