We have returned from another incredible time in Colonial Williamsburg.
Since I had another sewing class with the Costume Design Center early Saturday morning, we arrived Friday to secure my tickets for the class.
That gave us a great excuse to enjoy the historic area where my kids gleefully styled their new attire.
Meanwhile I conquered the historically accurate breeches, and I added trim to my daughter’s newest gown.
Still not totally period accurate, but my sewing is a journey in bits and bobs while homeschooling.
Shopping for stockings and garters
Now that my son has breeches that fit, I conceded his need for proper historical stockings which he has been hitting me up for since last summer.
He told me to go to the Prentiss Store (which the Felecity books patterned her father’s store after) to get the stockings.
I told the lady my son was my height (can you believe it?) and had huge feet (I can’t believe those preemie feet finally grew!)
Thus she decided he needed a man’s size!
Since they don’t carry garters, the search is on for those.
The next day, after my four-hour sewing class at the Costume Design Center, I walked to the historic area to meet up with my family.
Not recognizing my kids in the historic area
We had agreed upon meeting at the Palace Green, but I could not find them anywhere.
How difficult could it be to find a junior Lafayette and girl in a pink gown? They were nowhere.
Later I saw a colonial lady walking on the other side of the green carrying something.
Taking notice of her gown, I noticed a junior Lafayette walking in front of her.
He was my son, and she was my daughter!
That was hilarious, I didn’t even recognize them!
After meeting Patrick Henry at the Hennage auditorium, they walked to the Palace Green to meet me.
After lunch we walked around the spring gardens throughout the historic area, ending the day at the Palace Garden.
Then home Saturday evening, to return on Monday for a most exciting opportunity!
Visiting the tailor
Arriving Monday afternoon, we visited the tailor shop, we visited the tailor, who showed off his latest project, a summer suit.
As always, this tailor encouraged my son that I could whip one of these up for him this summer!
Acting in The Bill of Rights Electronic Field Trip
The next morning we awoke early to head to Bruton Heights to attend a shooting of an Electronic Field Trip!
It was a lot of fun. We did get to act, but it’s not what you think.
They needed a lot of people for a crowd scene and about 100 showed up in proper attire: contemporary clothing, in dull colors.
It was a lot of fun. Did I say that already?
We walked up and immediately recognized one of the producers who contacted me in October when the kids were Skypers.
She remembered us and a few others remembered the kids too.
Many of these EFTs have won an Emmy, which I’ve seen, myself.
It was fascinating to see first-hand how they set up lighting, move the cameras around, and stage everything.
Since we were a crowd of regular people who don’t normally act, the director gave us lots of direction on what to expect, why it would take so long, and why we’d have to do so many takes.
She made it easy to understand how to act for the scenes. She needed very few takes.
When we finished the shoot 2.5 hours later, the director asked for 10 volunteers for an extra scene after lunch.
When my son whispered he wanted to do this, with my daughter nodding, my hand shot up high into the air with my kids. We were picked!
Here we got to see a bit more of the inner workings of her directing the real actors. It was a great experience!
Chatting with George Washington
After our EFT shoot, we walked into the historic area to watch the street theater.
Enjoying the lovely day, we sat down on the edge of the Palmer property, waiting with the crowds as historical people mingled about, warming us up for the street theater soon to begin.
Some guests sitting next to us were chatting with us, when George Washington saw me and my kids.
Coming over to greet us, he commented that they were not wearing their proper attire, so we told him we had just finished filming with the EFT crew, and that we were extras in a crowd scene.
Eventually the guests, overhearing our conversation, asked the gent who he was.
He simply replied that he was a burgess…of Fairfax County.
Puzzling over that, the guest just cocked his head a bit, so I whispered, George Washington.
The realization on his face was fun!
Visiting the milliner
For more photos check my Flickr set.
Epilogue 2011:
The Bill of Rights EFT premiered on PBS a few months later.
What if America never had a Bill of Rights?
Wearing bland contemporary attire, our acting role was to be expressionless because we were part of a controlled society that had no Bill of Rights.
The implications were a powerful lesson for us as we acted out the scenes.
