Another Paleoplanet Meeting Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our monthly archery meeting. I always look forward to gathering under the old trees and working on crafts related to archery all day.  They vary from making bows out of wood boards or staves or branches, to learning to make arrowheads out of stone (knapping) or making beadwork for quivers, or things like drinking vessels out of gourds. Many skills are required.  Everyone is at different skill levels so we all help each other.
Some of them love to make atlatls and darts (a primitive spear chucker). We all started out knowing very little but some of the guys now make bows and atlatls and arrows for a living. You get out of it what you put into it.
I've picked up some of these skills at the gatherings including spoon carving, bamboo straightening, fire starting, knapping, basketry, and gourd art. The best part is it's free and we all share our materials and supplies.

It's in Pasadena CA by the casting pond.

Fire starting demo

Longbow practice

Darts for the Atlatl by Chris Henry of  Paleoarts.

About Dance, Juggling, Atlatls, Knitting and Hooping

My newest project is taking a photo of myself dancing every day. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I think most of the photos are just going to be me in my backyard, because it's been years since I danced in public anymore, mostly because it's just not that fun to dance when I'm overweight and self-concious.

I'm getting ready for 2 events this weekend. The first is at El Dorado Regional Park. It's a combination of World Juggling Day and World Knit in Public Day. It's at an archery range so I'll take my bow too. If we have to pay $8.00 to park inside the park, I want to get my money's worth.

Then on Sunday is our monthly Paleoplanet bowmaker's gathering. And it's an atlatl competition as well, so I'm going to take my archery stuff, my crating gear and my newly finished darts. I haven't made an atlatl yet but I'm pretty sure someone there will let me borrow one. I just hope I have enough energy to make it through the weekend. I was so tired today I had to lay down and take a nap, and I hate napping because it makes me feel like a little old lady.

I guess we are going to try to be there at 9 AM tomorrow, even though it starts at 10. But we have heavy gear and need a good parking space. We are taking watermelon and snacks too. And my hula hoops. One way or another I'm getting some exercise tomorrow.