Another great year for the American Heritage Festival down in Queen Creek Arizona. I have gone three years now and it was a success as usual, but with one major person in my life missing…my Dad.
It was so wonderful to have my best friend Rachel come down and participate/experience it with me alongside with our other Utah reenactors, but this was one time a year that I couldn’t wait for nor imagine my Dad not being their and me along by his side. I look forward to it months before hand. Dad and I share so much in common, one being the love for our countries history (strong emphases on the Civil War;) and the other to be music. It was heart breaking after driving 14 hours that day and only 20 mins before we arrived that night I got the call that he wasn’t going to make it this year. I wanted to hang up and cry, my heart ached. I just couldn’t imagine this event without him. He had very good reasons though and I admire him for taking care of his responsibilities that called for him at home. I guess it was just the selfish side in me that was so sad and heart broken. He was VERY missed this year, not only by his daughter but everyone who knows him. I was asked everywhere I turned, “Where’s the Doc.?” He makes such an impact on people not only with his tender heart, but his great personality, humor, and his amazing bulk of knowledge. Everyday I was reminded that he wasn’t their as an empty space with an orange stick and a number on it was waiting for him across the way from our tent for him to set up, just in case he came. Also, I have never gone out on the battle field to portray his nurse with out him. I had to do it alone and I missed him, a lot. It was on day two that a dear friend (who fly’s out from Virginia to portray Gen. Robert E. Lee every year, my Dad’s hero) asked me late one afternoon where my Dad was and how my Mom was doing. I don’t know if it was his sweet demeanor, the fact that he was portraying Gen. Lee, or the look in his eyes…but as I continued to answer him I became very emotional. My parents health isn’t the best and I don’t talk about it too much and when I do I am so good to hold it together, but for some reason that afternoon at sunset Gen. Lee caught me off guard and reality truly set in. How many more “Queen Creeks” will I have with my Dad? How I wished he was their every minute of the day that weekend. I had to go back to my tent and compose myself for a few minutes, Bowman girls don’t cry. I love you Dad. We’ll have to make it up next year!
Rachel and I have for sometime now sign our messages, "Your sister in Christ". I think it has a little ring to it. It's grown on me. Oh how I love my best friend Rachel! Everyone needs a Rachel. She made this reenactment special for me, especially without my Dad not being able to make it. I have never laughed so hard, nor done so many crazy immature things at my age than I have with her and for that we will both never forget. She truly means so much to me. I am horrible at expressing my feelings for friends, but I think she knows that I can’t imagine her not in my life (and no Mark, she is not slowly replacing you;) There is a special bond/understanding that we have that anyone would be lucky to have even experience once in a lifetime.
Here is Col. Scott and his beautiful family. They are responsible for making this annual event happen. Amazing family they are! Their three daughters are so respectful, kind, and such good examples to all the other youth. If my little miss Lydia could be half of what their daughters have become I would be so very pleased. This family is the family that had me very intrigued and interested in homeschool, and are the ones who inspired me to make the decision. I owe it to them for this amazing adventure I have begun with my children. His lovely wife guided me through it in the beginning when I was overwhelmed and questioning myself.
Basically my weekend consisted of music and playing music. I had last minute put together a music group which consisted to three violins, two guitars, a mandolin, and a cello. A sweet addition this year was little Maria who is 8 years old. She played the violin and I honestly can say that I have never heard such a talented girl in my entire life. She is in the pink next to me with a little bonnet on. SO adorable!
My niece Heather (in blue) came out for the day. It was so great having her join us. I don't get to see her very much and I sure hope she comes back again.
BTW, this is my new dress that I made and finished just hours before we left. It is one of my favorites, mainly because it is light weight and cooler.
This is Darci and she rocked! She taught us how to shoot the arrows. If I couldn't find Rachel, she was with Darci. We like her and her mothers cooking:)
Yes, Rachel scored!
The couple on the left are part of our group in Utah and they came all the way down to Arizona and joined in for a day. It was great to have them their and their support.
Rachel and I played nurses for a battle or two. The lady in the black portrayed a religious person, blessing the dead with her massive Bible in arm. She was a doll! She ran and kept up with us throughout the entire battle.
Posing for pictures
War is over, Union won...again.
Posing for pictures again after the battle. This time the Confederates won!
How sweet is this? Rachel took a picture of these little boys playing war. My kids would have been all over this!
Some of the young girls that came by and hung out for tea and biscuits
My niece Heather and I
Heather
We had six of our Utah Civil War boys come down and participate. They did Revolutionary War. They made us proud and looked very put together.
Here are a few of them preparing for battle
This was taken on the last day and it was beyond windy! We were so tired.
Rachel is finishing quilting a cot quilt she made before the event. It is a replica of a soldier cot quilt that the woman made out of what ever scraps they had for the soldiers. She used period correct material and also measurements. And that is Austin. He is another Utah boy that came with us. He is 20 and had an eye on my niece Heather. He was with the Confederate artillery.
Once a day we were on the program to perform for 20 mins at 1pm. This was the highlight of my time their that week. We drew quite the crowd. We had my dulcimer, two guitars, three violins, a mandolin, and a cello (which I absolutely feel in love with).
First of all, before I would play Austin would come and straighten out my strings and make them even. I can't tell you how many times he did this all day long. It must have been an OCD thing with him. Either way, it helped me out a lot. I have to do that every time I play. Thanks to Rachel and her head lamp. It was a life saver. I don't think I could have played with out it.
After the Dance on Saturday night, Col. Scott and all the officers of all the eras came by our dance. We stopped and they gave words of encouragement and gratitude for every ones participation. It is a tradition that we sing a few Christmas carols because this event it just days before Thanksgiving. Everyone makes a huge circle and holds hands while singing. We had well over 100 people their that night. This event just gets better and better each year. 
Their was a large bomb fire that everyone hung out afterwards. So great! What's special about this event is that it is a strong family Christian based event/organization. I like the feeling of it. It's one you can't describe usless you are their.
Aiming for one of them Union soldiers. Check out those sweet pleats on my dress. They gave me so much trouble.
Rachel and I literally spent an afternoon getting our picture taken by an original camera from the era. After three tries, we were pleased with the tin types. I'll have to scan them and post them. They made us look so old and angry. Not flattering at all! This was taken while we waited.
I was waiting for my personal photo to process, I am slouching. I wanted one with my dulcimer. I saw a girl with a picture taken like this. I feel in love with it. I always play my dulcimer standing up and I wanted one sitting, embracing it. It turned out beautiful!
Now, here is a taste of reality of my relationship with my hammer dulcimer. After long events or when I have been playing a full day I have (many times) wanted to take my hammer dulcimer and throw it out the window of a fast moving car or even the horrible thought of chopping it into fire wood and enjoying the warm burning glow. Now, keep I mind those thoughts only stay for a few second and then I quickly knock them out, but I guess what I am trying to get across is that I have a love/hate relationship with it. It takes so much concentration to play and memory (no sheet music used) that my head and eyes hurt after playing it. I love it dearly, but we usually need some space after playing.
Right now we are on a break till next week and then he (my dulcimer) and I will be in the recording studio getting ready to record for a film “Blood Fare” this coming fall. I have to play five songs. Very nervous. Their will be a fiddle, guitar, and a banjo with me and my dulcimer. After we get the final record made it will then be turned into the Grammy nominations for 2012 in the category for “Bluegrass”. So excited. I’ll keep ya’ll posted:)
