11th PA

Many of you may know that Laurie and I belong to a Rev-War re-enacting group (www.11thpa.org).   We've been members of the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation in Ridley Creek for over 15 years.  Laurie does hearth cooking there - usually about once a month.  I can always find more important things to do around our own house rather than go play "farmer" at the plantation.  I grew up on a farm and I've spent enough time playing that part. 

But being part of the 11th allows me to play war.  Not quite as exciting as, say paintball, but it smells a lot more realistic with all the burnt blackpowder in the air and the task of powder in my mouth from tearing the tops off of cartridges.  And when you can feel the impact deep in your chest of a cannon being shot (better than any sub-woofer could ever produce) you heart starts to really pound with adrenaline.

Since the fire we have not been able to join the unit for any of the scheduled events.  We'll typically try to get out to 4 or 5 each year. Some even include camping overnight in a 1751 "bell" tent complete with wool blankets (no historical evidence has been found of them using mummy sleeping bags with Thinsulate).   We haven't been to any events since June because our clothes have been at the cleaners along with all our other clothes that got smoke damaged in the fire.  The ironic thing is that our colonial clothes ALWAYS smell of smoke because of the camp fires we cook over.

This weekend we had our first trip back into the 1700's with the 11th at Hope Lodge in Ambler, PA.  I don't believe there was actually a battle at this location, but it's a popular event.  The last two years have been frigid and clear.   We had two battles on Saturday and there were about 100 men at arms involved.  We lost the first to the British and they won the second (by design).

Here we are at Hope Lodge on 11/6.

We are members of the 11th for a couple of reasons.  First is Laurie's love for history - especially the colonial period - which has drawn the family into it as well.  We love being with the folks who share our interest in history and they're some of the dearest folks we know.  Secondly,  it provides us a great context to relate to folks outside of our church family where we can, hopefully, share the love of Christ.