The Ridgefield Historical Society, in collaboration with the State Historic Preservation Office, seeks to contract with a professional cultural resource management firm to carry out the objectives of an American Battlefield Protection Program Grant, administered by the National Park Service. The tasks associated with the scope of services are intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of The Battle of Ridgefield and to promote future preservation and stewardship activities. The currently requested services consist of conducting additional research, archaeological excavations, and preparing a final report of the investigation.
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I never make a secret of the fact that I hate to write because everything I say sounds so trite to me!
After enrolling in a class from an LA group, I realized that I had chosen well. The lady mentioned previously was not a good match with me after all.... So what to do  if I can't/won't write new?

Just take all the dialogue out of the book and use it! Craig Fernandez, our fearsome leader seconded the idea, so it can't be too bad.

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Vows  to travel more came to fruition and this  week I'll sail over the seas to England and Scotland, the latter being the home of the Hamiltons. Alas, they came so early to America that no information on their lives before arriving from Lanark exists now other than several birth/death records.

My focus instead will be on my Trowbridge family and visiting the home/business place of this fine wool mercer whose grandson came to New Haven CT in 1636, only to return a few years later to Taunton, Somersetshire.

Having searched  for actual site information there, I found absolute blanks as far as anyplace except the local churches where I could "visit family." One church was said to have a partially worn-away in-floor stone -- as stated in 1860. Want to bet that it's completely worn away by now? My spirits sank.

BUT THEN! One day last month, I hit the jackpot!  My 10th great-grandfather's house has its own Wikipedia page! Check out  15 Fore Street, Taunton, UK. (Dbl-cl for link)

​The house held two businesses and was in sad repair before having a costly renovation in 2003. Probably every century had seen a new and costly remodel!

My connection to the Trowbridge family is this: my paternal great-grandmother was born Minerva Trowbridge. (See my complete genealogy in the back of my book.)

Think I'll just drop by for coffee on Saturday, April 6 with my new friends from the Historical Society. 
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OK, so IO sold my period tentage. And bought new costume parts. And hate bad weather. Where to go?

Prime requisite: indoors. Other prime: clientele must be interested in history of a violent type.
Answer: Gun Shows

I attended several Showmasters shows in the past and enjoyed them. I also attended a relic and antique arms show in Fredericksburg, but Civil War interest often trumps the Revolutionary War. 
PA demographics show up well for my book and so I have several shows planned in York and Gettysburg. So we shall see! (Does anyone else ever use the word 'shall' anymore?)

A few fall plans went by the wayside, but can't say I'm sorry.

I managed Chadd's Ford PA for a lovely Friday/Saturday. Then the smart money smelled rain, so the vendors in my environs decamped for home. I will say that the event was so enjoyable in many different ways, both for us and for the non-costumed folk.

But somewhere in there a seed was sewn... as I contemplated loading up the car.

And I walked over to the nearest large military unit and asked them if they wanted my tentage.

They did.

Then I went home and bought a new costume riding jacket.

So I am not out of the game, but will blanket-trade from baskets in the future. Truth of it is that I seem to gather bad weather the way a dog gathers fleas - unintentionally but steadily.

I also need to finish my next book and do all the things that years of devotion to "1777" have blocked me from doing. (Now ... if I could only afford those things!)

August 1 and the Battle Flags begin to fly for reenactors.

Or do they?

Suddenly a sharp retraction of approval for a certain fall event.
Then, after several weeks, a new type of civilian event is discussed.

How do I feel about the traditional battle array shifting gears?

I feel good, but maybe not for the reason you think.
I am a gun owner, so it's not that.

History as we know it is too impersonal to mean anything to people today. Watching from a distance while men we don't even know pretend to fight a battle does not draw us closer to our ancestors or our country's history.

People do want to be closer to history, as indicated by the popularity of shows  set in our past. Many books open our understanding of the military difficulties faced. My book tries to present common family issues and how they affect individuals caught in family disagreements and driven into financial corners. It shows real people.

The latest reenactor "new thing" is not so new after all, since the expression "living history" denotes costumed individuals chatting with their visitors about their daily lives. So I applaud the Brigade of the American Revolution for considering non-military presentations at events that may have been mainly military in the past.

How many times have I seen three or four officers stalking along, chatting to each other and only each other. They might seem more approachable sitting at ease under tree, listening to a fiddler. They might invite a few kids to draw near and sit with them. The mounted soldier could let his young admirers lead his horse a few feet, perhaps hoist one aboard the saddle. Explain a little more about horses. No hurry ....

Sutlers and demonstrators, usually abandoned during battles, would have all day to entertain their own admirers.

Maybe we'd have more music and relaxation instead of see-the-battle-and-run visitors.