Monday, October 04, 2010

Feast of the Hunter's Moon


The alarm clock went off way to early Saturday morning, it felt as if I had just fallen asleep.  Just for a moment I wondered if it was worth getting out in the cold and rain... but only a brief moment.  For we were traveling to The Feast.

My picture album is full of family pictures from previous Feast of the Hunter Moon weekends, when we were a family of four and once even five (the year our future son-in-law was there)... I think that was the same year our best friends from Iowa came to attend the Feast with us.

The Feast of the Hunter's Moon is one of the largest reenactment celebrations in the nation, taking us back to the 1700s when the French traders, various native American tribes, British, and homesteaders all shared the land around the fort beside the Wabash river.  The last numbers I was able to find said the average is 60,000 people who attend and 8,000 participants (over two days).

The rain was just subsiding as we pulled into the parking lot to catch one of the dozen or so shuttle buses... the conditions exactly what our family calls Feast Weather... a cool fall day with a little drizzle.  All around us in the bus, people were chatting as we headed through forests of trees just changing color, toward the river... and then... a collective gasp from those who had never seen the Feast before.  I smiled, for it always that way, always that reaction... shear magic... Narnia magic.  :)

My husband and I stepped off the bus and immediately were enveloped in the aroma of hundreds of wood smoke fires as well as the food being cooked in dutch ovens and other cast iron cookware over acres of land.  

I teared up a bit, really, really missing the rest of the family right then... wishing they were there to share the experience but soon we were enjoying all the sights to see... food to taste... fife and drum corps... fiddlers... dulcimers... and numerous reenactments going on in the midst of thousands of others.

A lovely day on the banks of the Wabash, more memories to add to the collection... budgeting of money and time... walking until we were both worn out... but well worth it.

I wish I could share the scents and the tastes and songs and other feelings but at least I can give you some pictures...











Just a wee bit of all there was to see this year.  Just for a few hours, I truly felt I was in another time and another place.

While I am very thankful for our modern conveniences, it is good to remember a time when we all lived closer to the land and the great rivers of America were our highways.

10 comments:

Vee said...

Yesterday's post was a delight...loved how you set and intention and carefully planned to return to this event and God honored it.

Loved all the sights and your descriptions almost make up for the lack of "scratch and sniff." I can imagine the smell of the fires and food (do those two work well in the same sentence?) carried on the breeze.

Funny how we associate certain weather with events. We, too, have "an event" scheduled and the week and weather are shaping up to draw us in.

Anita said...

It's so good that you and your husband took the time to go to this reenactment. I would have loved it too. Your pictures are so good and made me wish I could have been there.

Donnie said...

Our son used to participate in the Civil War reenactments here in NC. It really was a step back in time and feelings and makes us so grateful for what our forefathers and mothers dealt with everyday. Loved your post.

Jeanne said...

Sounds like an event that I would love to see.
I just found your blog recently and have really enjoyed reading.
Hope you have a great week.
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

A step back in time...I really enjoyed the photos and the story.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the Feast...looks very fun!! We do need to remember from whence we came...and what a fun way to do so!!
Blessings,
Elizabeth

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Wonderful!

I feel this way about going to Williamsburg...

Your photos make me feel like I am at the Feast with you. What a neat tradition!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

A trip to the past.... often an enjoyable event... especially when we know we can come back to what we know best!

Enjoyed the pics you shared.

Vicki in UT said...

That looks like so much fun! Glad you could go.

Christy said...

Wow! That looks like so much fun. Glad you had a great time and that you could share it with us. :)