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This year's show had a wonderful turn out. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making things happen, and to everyone who came out to enjoy it! There were about 2 dozen collections displayed across over 60 tables! It was a magnificent sight to behold. One could touch a tool that was crated some 18,000 years ago, could learn the ages and types of artifacts along the timeline all the way up to colonial contact and beyond. One could even see things being made this very day!

Hundreds of the people stopped in today. Many of them brought their own finds to seek explanation of what, or how old, they might be. A Special Thanks to Terry Crannell for being the go-to guy for most of these inquiries!

The photographs in the above gallery are not intended as documentation, but instead are meant to convey the journey of an interested visitor enjoying the experience. Some of these photos were taken at very odd angles to reduce glare & reflections

If you would like a full size, or Photoshop enhanced, copy of any photo in this album, or if you would like to schedule a private photo shoot, contact lifeontheshore@gmail.com

Click to see the pics!

A bright, hot sun shone down on us as we enjoyed the smiles and murmurs of people gazing upon the art that lined both sides of the street. For several blocks there were booths lined up displaying skilled craftsman and their works. Some were selling their wares, others were showing their skills, and others yet were simply displaying things of beauty.

We got an ice cream, listened to a marching band, fingered through old books, and became completely enthralled by a talented young guitarist. A little girl squirmed restlessly as a paint brush transformed her into a kitty. Laughter caught our attention from a few tables down as a few ladies showed off their weaving and gossiped gleefully.

The arts are alive in Dorchester, there is no doubt about it.

The day was grayish and slightly chilly with a spot of warm sun here and there; quite an improvement over the previous week of rain and drizzle. We took the back way, turning off at Brookview and heading down Indian Town road. The boys enjoyed seeing the cows and pigs and other various critters while I enjoyed watching the breeze-blown wheat flowing in swirls across the fields. Local farms were in full swing and doing what they do in spring, and it was beautiful.

When Handsell has an event, you know I will be there. There is so much history embedded in our area, to see it come alive and to participate in the experimental archaeology is a truly wonderful experience. Experimental archaeology is putting theory and passed-down knowledge of the old ways to use. When you actually physically DO the things, you can learn so much more about how they were actually done than you might get from just reading about it.

My oldest son, 11, spent most of our time there enthralled by Daniel "Firehawk" Abbott and his presentation. The history and culture from thousands of years past up to colonial introduction seems to come alive in the way Daniel explains things and lets you use hand made examples of working period tools and housing all made with the techniques and materials that would have been used in their time.

My youngest, 7, was all over the place, as most 7 year olds would be. Playing the various games and talking to the people, and then he found something that really seemed to engage him. Mr. Norris Howard Jr. of the Pocomoke Indian Nation was using water and sand to shape soapstone into decorative pieces, the resulting byproduct being, basically, mud! Well this was just too good to be true for a 7yo boy. Not only did he get to help shape stone into something beautiful, but was encouraged to make mud in the process!

As usual, I took a few shots to remember the experience better, to enlighten the community and to pass on to my children a little more documentation of how they grew up. I hope everyone enjoys them.

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to see the pics!

The show this year was a huge success! Many eager patrons stopped in to see, hear, touch and experience the culture and artifacts of an older time. Many even brought their own stuff in to show off or ask questions about.

From kid's crafts to 20,000 year old stone tools.. Brass keys to woven grass.. local authors.. fresh oysters.. flint knapping.. conversations with many happy, smiling people over thousands of years of history.

Thank you all for coming, and I hope we'll see you again next year :)

P.S. Video might take a while, lots of editing to do and not much time to do it lol.

View Pics Here!