Elderberry Cordial

  While at Grand Portage this year, Rob Stone treated me to a glass of his homemade Blackberry Cordial.  It was delightful!  When inquired, he stated that the recipe came from an 1840 French-Canadian cookbook titled, La Cuisinière Canadienne.  His daughter, Elizabeth, had recently translated the entire book and this particular cordial came from it.  He shared the recipe, and I stored it in my memory (mostly, I had to...

Grand Portage 2016

  It has pretty much gotten to the point where Grand Portage is the only historical reenactment I make it to in the year.  Being my old “home” as well as my daughters’ favorite place and event of the year, we pretty much have to go.  Anyway, I will let  the photos speak for themselves, but some of the highlights include: -A friend of the girls’ and our family coming along for her first...

18th century trews

    For a long time, I have admired the appearance of trews (triubhas in Scottish Gaelic/Gàidhlig) being worn in images of Scottish Highlanders at the turn of the century (18th to 19th).  Finally, I got to making a pair, knowing that we will be celebrating the wedding of my good friend and piper, Jeremy Kingsbury at Grand Portage National Monument this year for their historic event. I had no real pattern, but...