The Next Six Weeks

I sure am glad that I had this weekend free because the next six weeks are going to be very busy, indeed. There's a lot going on in eastern North Carolina as the holidays approach and I have plenty to keep me busy, holiday related or not. Here's a rundown of the next six weekends.

November 13 - I will be headed to Fort Fisher for their Friends group's annual meeting. We'll be showing off the new uniforms my friend Wade Rogers made this summer for their artillery crew and will be firing the 12-pounder for the Friends luncheon. After that's over I will scurry back up the coast to attend an evening lantern tour of Fort Macon. This is a new program that is being offered and it gives visitors a chance to interact with living history interpreters portraying characters from the fort's long history. For more info on this program click the link above. It should be interesting.

November 20-21 - This is the weekend of the annual Confederate Navy living history program at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site in Kinston, NC. This is always a maximum effort event for our living history group and it serves as a time for us to conduct our annual business meeting. The annual meeting is important because we elect officers for the following year, vote on our schedule of events for the following year, and conduct any other necessary unit business such as accepting new members, voting on bylaws changes, etc. This year we will also be putting a navy crew on the 3-inch ordnance rifle from Bentonville Battlefield, which will add something to our normal interpretation. Should be lots of fun as always.

Thanksgiving weekend - My family from Pennsylvania (aunt, uncle, and grandparents on mom's side) will be in town for the holiday as is the usual custom. We used to go up to PA for Thanksgiving and sometimes I miss going up for it, but the weather is always tricky up there and it's just easier for them to come down here.

December 4-5 - The first weekend of December I'll be teaching an 18th century small arms certification class for volunteers at Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site. They have formed a site-based militia company, Captain William Dry's Company, and many of the members would like to receive volunteer certification, so I'll be headed to Brunswick Town to get them all certified.

December 6-9 - Immediately following the Brunswick Town class, I will be involved in the week long Southeastern State Parks Programs Seminar being held in Atlantic Beach, NC. Though I am presenting a session on Tuesday morning, I will be attending the rest of the conference as well, including a number of really cool field trips. I am really looking forward to the field trip on Wednesday the 8th which will take use to the NC Estuarium and Goose Creek State Park in Washington, NC.

December 11 - Our living history group will be converging on Historic Halifax, NC to do a 1776 living history in conjunction with their annual Christmas program. This is always a fun and laid back way to end our year. We get to set up in a period tavern called the Tap Room. All the furnishings are reproductions so we get to have the run of the place and use it as it was intended, all the while interpreting to visitors.

Once we are through with Halifax, I think I will finally get another break. Starting December 13, it should be clear sailing on into the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Until then, it should be interesting.