Manitoba Living History Society

This is a reminder to attend the Fort Gibraltar event this Thursday – again it’s from 5:45 to 7:30 for a large group from Dunn & Bradstreet. We had lots of MLHS people out last Thursday – but some of us will be at Fort Union this time, so please get out with your demonstrations – chat with the folks – add color – be ambience.

Also this weekend – there is a Highland Gathering event on Saturday at Selkirk Park. There is a small group who will attend, and if you can be there, contact Louis. (Email Kirby or use “Contact Us” for contact info) You will need to arrange for a pass to get in.

Also, three of our loveliest ladies will be at a garden party at Twin Oaks this weekend for a fund-raiser for the Wpg. Chamber Orchestra.

A busy time for MLHS – events that showcase us in our finest – in our tartan – in our 1840s – and in our Selkirk Settler/fur trade attire. Way to go, people……

On another note, we have placed the order for the MLHS marquee, which will be ready about mid-July. We will have to get poles made for it, and I expect we will have it up for the Fall Gathering this year!

We had 18 members (IIRC) show up for a training session at Ed & Carol’s. I would like to have seen more of the young people out, as they, too, need to learn how to work on a fire and bake without burning, and chop wood properly. Those of us who were there – did learn.

Some helped Erle put up his tepee.

Some worked on the fire.

Some learned how to properly use an axe to chop wood – including your intrepid leader who has never mastered that art before, but now I feel closer to being able to hit the wood in the right place….thanks Ed.

Some brought sewing and worked on projects.

Some (okay one) worked on painting.

Some practiced their conversational skills while puffing on a cigar.

Debbie and Zaley learned how to use a cast iron dutch oven pot to bake (NOT TO BURN) rhubarb crumble. That was baptism by fire, and not only did they not burn the sugary dessert, but they didn’t crack my pottery container. Well done ladies!!

All of us enjoyed a sunny, warm, bug-free day out in the country. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Ed & Carol have a wonderful home out Dugald Road – dogs, cats, a pretty old horse (pretty refers to old, not to horse) – and two sheep. One of the sheep – Salt by name – is, by my understanding, extinct. She’s called “self-shearing”, which in olden days was referred to as sheep that you pluck. Carol had plucked all but the hind end of this one – which wasn’t quite ready to be plucked yet. The stuff plucked is half wool and half hair, and felt quite coarse. I can’t wait to try spinning this stuff!

Thanks Ed & Carol for allowing us to come and have a great day!!

Greetings,

A few members have shown interest in making themselves some summer moccasins.

I will be offering the session either the 27th or 28th of June depending on demand and availability.
If you are interested please email me with a date preference.

A deposit of $20.00 is required to be prepaid in order to keep your place for the workshop. Depending on size of the moccasin and ankle wrap the cost may vary between $35 and $45, the remainder to be paid at the end of the workshop.

Tools and notions will be discussed with attendees.

The workshop maximum is 4 people. If more individuals are interested another date can be set up over the summer months.

Looking forward to treading softly,
Jo-Anne Desanges

Note: If you are interested, you can contact Jo-Anne directly, or you can use the “Contact Us” page and your message will be forwarded.

The two-day Levee at Government House is over. It was splendid in all aspects. The weather was picture perfect. The guests enjoyed all our demonstrations, games and just strolling. We had 32 people out on Saturday and 26 on Sunday. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a partial rundown of what was happening, as I recall it:

• Bill with his complete carpentry display;
• Erle catching the rays in front of his tepee, working on a tan (?) on his newly shaved pate;
• All the women under one fly spinning, card weaving, carding, knitting and other ladylike needle arts;
• The young families under the other fly discussing children and projects;
• Olivia and Hannah and Margaret (and others) operating the quern;
• Little Rachel carving soap;
• Kirby engaging the public with his jaw harp (and all his other kids’ toys);
• All the children serving cookies – I think Timothy thought it was a contest to see who could dispense the most;
• Barry, Judy, Chris, Frederick, Louis, strutting and mincing;
• Nothing was so lovely as children one day, and young ladies the next playing Graces on the beautifully groomed grass just past the tulips.
• Craig getting out his guitar for some wandering songs.

Then there was the presence of other groups: - La Compagnie on Saturday – a Métis fiddle band – and D’Arcy Stearns’ group on both days, providing lovely background music. And it was a sight on Saturday to see His Honor dancing with a friend to the music, grinning from ear to ear.

Just before we took down today at 4:00, we requested the citizens who were still lined up for tours of Government House, to stand away from the entry stairs while we posed for a class picture. They’re in the slideshow above. If anyone would like a full-size version, use the “Contact Us” page.

On behalf of His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, Phyllis Fraser, his private Secretary, passed on her great pleasure at the ambience we contributed to an extremely successful weekend.

Thanks to all for making take down a quick and easy job.

DATES FOR THE 2009 SEASON (SO FAR)….. mark your calendars and watch for details. Looks like a busy season and there are a few more that will happen as well.

SUNDAY APRIL 25 – FORT WHYTE

SATURDAY, MAY 9TH – Tea and Fashion Show – BIRD’S HILL – small event

SATURDAY, MAY 23RD AND SUNDAY MAY 24TH - DOORS OPEN WINNIPEG AND LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR’S LEVEE

TUESDAY MAY 26 AND WEDNESDAY MAY 27 - VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE OF RED RIVER

SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH – BAGGAGE - BEST LEARNING DAY OF THE SEASON!!

JUNE 18 – 22 – FORT UNION, N.D. – RENDEZVOUS

SUNDAY AUGUST 2, FASHION SHOW at ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH.

SEPTEMBER 11 TO 13 – MLHS FALL GATHERING

OCTOBER 2 – 4 – MISSISSINIWA, INDIANA

Notice to all members:

We are in the process of choosing dates for the Fall Gathering 2009. A vote will be taken at the AGM. If you know that you will not be attending the AGM please vote using e-mail. Please indicate your choice of one of the options. Thank you.

· I/we prefer August 26-30, 2009 Yes ______

· I/we prefer September 4-6, 2009 Yes ______

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

DATE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2009
TIME: 2:00 P.M.
PLACE: ST. BONIFACE MUSEUM

2:00 p.m. - SIGN IN – PAY MEMBERSHIP – COLLECT HONORARIA
2:30 p.m. – CALL MEETING TO ORDER
3:15 p.m. - RAG & BONES SALE – Bring anything historic you wish to sell or trade; bring money if you are looking to purchase.
3:30 p.m. – door prize draw

Coffee (BYOmug) – soft drinks - donuts

If you can’t see a slideshow below, you need to upgrade your install of Flash Player.

The Winter Gathering at Fort Whyte was a great success. Popular activities included sledding, skating, walking, dancing and, of course, eating.

NOVEMBER BAGGAGE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22,2008

All day - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come for a while – come for the day
Bring a lunch – there will be soft drinks and coffee and if I’m ambitious – a dessert.
If you want to work on capote or cloak patterns – come in the morning and Barry will work with you at the cutting table.
After lunch, we will discuss future plans and give you all an up-date on the progress of our two grants.

WINTER OUTING
JANUARY SOMETIME

A small committee is exploring the possibility of a winter outing in January. A couple of sites are being considered, one is a community center, and one is Fort Whyte, the latter of which offers us the exclusive run of the place from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. including the use of their skates, snowshoes, and kitchen. The advantage of a site like Fort Whyte is that if the weather is horrid, we could have alternate indoor activities – a small workshop – practice a couple of our dances. Would you support and attend this function? LET JUDY KNOW ASAP!

NEWS YEAR LEVEE CANCELED
SPRING LEVEE IN MAY

Also for your information, there will be no New Year’s Levee this coming January 1st at the Legislative Building, but the Spring Levee will be held again at Government House on the same weekend as Doors Open Winnipeg – May 23rd and 24th. There are quite a few pictures of MLHS folks on the Lt. Governor’s website – have a look.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
JANUARY

The Board of MLHS is anticipating the completion of the MLHS/SHVM Inc. constitution by mid-December and having it circulated prior to our AGM in January