MtMan-List: Mtn-Man: Introduction and request for help

["S. Gilbert" <sgilbert@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>]

Hello the camp.

	I have been lurking for a bit now and tried once earlier to make
my presence known, without much success(posting problems). 
	My name is Susan Gilbert, aka She Has Old Hands.  I've been
interested in and researching women in colonial and frontier America for
about 8 years.  I do presentations for the local schools on the daily
lives of 2 of my ancestors, Annie Night-born, a Cherokee mid-wife and yarb
woman and Matilda McFarland Clayton, wife of a trapper and cartographer
named John Wesley Clayton.  My presentations are done in character as
either one of these women and I have learned many of the "goodwife" skills
necessary to run a house and feed and cloth a family in the period they
lived. I never thought of my presentations as "Living History" until
someone who saw me used the term to describe what I do. 
	2 years ago I stumbled across a Voo at Ushers Ferry, in Iowa, and
was completely captivated.  I would love to get involved but I have an
unusual problem. 
	I'm a married woman who's husband is only mildly interested in
this area.  Brian is very supportive of my interest and has allowed me to
drag him all over our area in search of gear and people to interview, but
feels there is no place for him. He is not interested in firearms,
trapping, or any of the other things that occupy you menfolk, other than
as a spectator.  He is a videographer, photographer, astronomer and Alpha
computer geek.
	So how does a woman involve an only marginally interested husband
in the lifestyle?  You who had to coax a hesitant wife might be able to
give me some hints, I hope.
	I have enjoyed this group very much and hope to be much more
involved now that I mustered my courage and finally said hello.

Thank you for your attention and any help you can offer.

Your humble servant,
She Has Old Hands

Susan Gilbert
sgilbert@Blue.weeg.uiowa.edu