Our magical tags of Williamsburg are here. We visited places we couldn't see yesterday.
In the blacksmith shop we saw them warming up while making nails for the building of the New Market House to be finished by 2015. Our guide is a blacksmith. She has apprenticed and is a full-fledged blacksmith. She decided she wanted to do this when she was in high school. There was a historical center nearby and so she could receive the training she needed. The blacksmiths are responsible to make all of the materials made from iron and steel thoughout all of Colonial Williamsburg.
As we watched the printer clamp down the paper onto the inked letters, we realized why it is called the press. "Watching your ps and ques" have to do with typesetting. He told us the "demons" were b, p, q and d. We saw the little metal piece with a tiny o on it. There were over 1800 letters on the page he was printing with the most used letter being e. The letters are kept in cases. The most used letters have larger compartments and are on the lowest level. The upper cases have the capital letters.
Next, we went to the person who makes barrels, mugs, buckets and other rounded wood products. His profession is called Cooper. There were several buckets made of different woods. Some were heavier than others. Thinking of carrying them full of water. I think plastic is my preference, because of the weight.
He had tools that were very sharp and as he used them, it looked easy. It probably wasn't. Professionals make things look easy until you try to do it.
Here I am in the Governor's backyard. It was big and full of well-trimmed greenery. My favorite is the arbor. There is one on each side of the garden. A little further away is a formal maze made of trimmed hedges. Chase and I cheated in getting through the maze. We were not the only ones, since the hedges had been broken by others before our visit.
Decorating with weapons shows a sign of power and strength. The English Governor is trying to show this by putting the display in the entry hall of the home. There were huge numbers of weapons, swords, muskets, rifles, pistols and any other weapon one can think of that was invented in the 1700s.
The Bookbinder's shop was interesting. We were told of the fact that the red color comes from crushing certain beetles. You can see the book cover is being made by painting the color on the paper and using a comb-like tool to make the waves on the paper. Afterward the paper is hung to dry.
Where the trimmed pieces of paper are kept in a basket, a squirrel has made a nest and been given a name. The name has fled from my memory. ;)
The Old Coffee House is the next stop. We had a tour and mostly an explanation about the fact that women and children did not go there. The men would have added to their coffee alcoholic beverages. They would play games with gambling. We were given a sample of coffee, tea or chocolate. This chocolate was not at all sweet. I added lots of sugar. Cream was another option to add, but I didn't add it.
Our last stop was at the Wig-maker's shop. Wigs are made of human hair, goat, yak, and horsehair. Price is determined by how much hair will be used. The making of the wig starts by shaving the head of the person buying the wig. A form of wood is made to the shape of the person's head. I call it a block head!
About three hairs are tied to the main string which is attached to a net-type covering. Then the hair is styled in the selected fashion. The wigs were washed by the wig-maker when needed and re-styled. The wealthy folk were the only ones who could afford to have wigs.
2nd to last day!
-Kate
Tomorrow's edition:
Yorktown!
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Kate, you are a great writer! And from what I hear, you are a FABULOUS friend and traveling companion for Chase as well as a great, patient traveler. Pop and Nana have really enjoyed having you two to be with because you are so well behaved and have such great attitudes. Good for you! We are so lucky to have you in our family. Thanks for taking good care of everyone. I love you!
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