So what exiting stuff has happened in the last year. Well in April I went to a Steampunk Convention in Oklahoma. While I had fun, my booth sales didn't cover my expenses - one lives and learns. (photo right - booth @ OSPE)
With the continuing pain, I found that after April I couldn't wear a corset for very long so I spent the year going Private for my Civil War Reenacting Group, Company C, 1st United States Sharpshooters (Berdan's). I managed a corset only once for the Historical Timekeeper's fashion show in June @ the VA center in Milwaukee. (photo left - Carol and Dave Martin and myself in morning @ the Historical Timekeepers Fashion Show - photo by Jenna Theissen)
June was also a month of extremes. On the one had my husband and I got to participate in a filming for Field
s of Valor, which played on the 3D Network recently. The other extreme was my father suffering from 3 strokes over a two week period at the end of the month. The third stroke was witnessed by my mother and I, and thinking back on it still upsets me. He is getting along very well, but is sure rough going there for a while. Between his and my illnesses, it's left little time for blogging. (picture right - left night shoot for CW3D)The Berdan's fell in with the Battalion for the Lake County Civil War Days and it was good to get a refresher course on battalion drill, but we did a lot of running that weekend. We also met back up with friends we made at the filming. It's good to have others outside your camp to seek out and talk to.
July also the month of Breyerfest, and for the first time I headed down to Kentucky by myself. My dad was adamant that I go, but while I was away my Uncle Bob passed away and I missed his funeral. Breyer raffles off a horse each year to benefit several charities, and for 20 years I missed out on getting one every year, until 2011. While the Breyer name for him is Muse, my name for him will always be Uncle Bob. (photo right - Muse)
August was time for Muskets and Memories (Boscobel). I was honored to be asked to play Albert Cashier (74th IL) for after the Vicksburg "Battle" on Saturday, and
ran around in green on Sunday. The trip is a little long but the scenery and friends are outstanding. (photo left - Saturday morning fog @ Boscobel)Then there was Cyphan. While I helped with getting the games organized for the event, I did get some time to dress up. I placed in the Cyphan Costume Contest, and the winning bought our dinner on the way home that night (Claimjumpers on Route 59) (Photo - right - My facepainting experience - photo by Brandon Richard Barta)
On the
cosplay side I did finally make it to Wizard World and spent much of my time chatting with people or making jewelry at the Gotham's Finest Table. I have to admit at WW I tried the corset on the outside for the first time....not sure if I liked it. (photo left - Gotham's Finest Booth - Wizard World)Sadly the last Lake Villa Civil War Event was held in 2011
. It was a great event and will be missed. (Right Battle at Lake Villa)October is always busy between getting ready for Rock-Con and the season ending reenactments.
The Battle of Morseville (Stockton, Il) is always a great event to get pictures at and we saw not only friends in the Civil War Hobby but some of our SCA friends as well. Th
e Ladies of the Berdan's Aid Society really stepped up and help sell event fundraising tickets just before and during the battle. (photo left - cannon firing on Sunday, Jim Planting)
October is also crazy due to the Rock-Con Preparations. Rock-Con went well this past year with a great variety of games, dealers and tournaments and it looks like 2012 will even be better. (photo right -games in session, 2011 - Jill Cohen)
Sliding toward the holidays the year wound down and finally we got a chance to take a break from the crazy schedule.
