The Ballot Forever

This weekend I had a crazy adventure drinking tea and discussing women's suffrage at the America's Hometown Thanksgiving celebration in Plymouth. Part of the event is a "portal to the past" living history village, where visitors can explore what (mostly military) life was like from the 17th century to the 20th.

We were going to be an all-female group (our dudes are members of the Salem Trayned Band, so they were busy in the 1630s), so we decided to spend the weekend in the 20th century as 1914 suffragettes. We had tea, sang suffrage songs, and handed out yellow "votes for women" ribbons. It was so much fun (but a little chilly)!

our set-up in the living history village

I wore the jacket and "hobble skirt" I made last week, which turned out to be pretty cozy (yay wool!), a fur wrap I also made last week, and my Tavistock button boots from America Duchess. I bought them this summer, but hadn't had a chance to wear them, so I was super excited! I think the final silhouette was pretty authentic, and it was really different from what I normally wear. I need to finish the jacket, and maybe add a belt (I don't really like wearing the tube look), but in general this worked well and was quick to throw together.

I was also really excited to tromp out my Tavistocks, and Quinn and I took the opportunity to take some shoe pictures. I'm glad, because now the next time I have to psych myself up for the 10 minutes it will take to button all the buttons, I can look at this picture and remind myself how fabulous they are.

buttons!

The one downside of the hobbled look is that it actually well...hobbles you. I had to take very small strides and couldn't actually move very fast or far without a lot of effort.  It meant that I ended up looking awfully dumb as I bopped along trying to keep up with everyone, and it was extra exhausting. I also ended up getting a couple of rides from the golf carts that were shuttling people to and from the event, and they were the best. Thank you, golf cart men.

technically this is the goofing off in between actual pictures, but we're all smiling! yay!

Actually, one of my favorite interactions of the day involved the golf cart man who drove our chairs, tables, tea equipment, and me to the site. When we were driving over this exchanged occurred:
GCM: Do you know where your spot is?
Me: no...we're somewhere in the 20th century, but that's all I know
GCM: drives into the park and stops in front of the map Find the 20th century!
Me: spots the 20th century area, and our spot I found it! The 20th century is over that little bridge, and then the suffragettes are the the left.
GCM: well, then off to the 20th century!

So with that, off to the 20th century we go!

1941 paratroopers across from us (in the 20th c)

this little footbridge in the park was totally darling, and connected the 20th c to the earlier periods

visitors learning about 1630s weaponry with the Salem Trayned Band

members of the New Plimmoth Guard

visitors learning about 17th c pike with the New Plimmoth Guard