Kurt Johnson

Ekis,

With regards to the timber work in your construction, I had always considered the Half timbering as the “Tudor” or “Elizabethan” style of construction because that’s the way the real estate industry marketed it for decades in the US. It may be the same for Canada too, I’m not sure. I’ve always considered Canadians to be exactly the same as Americans ( albeit a softer version). At least based on many personal interactions. The colorful money was the  only real noticeable difference to me.

  Never having been to Europe (yet) I never gave it a second thought. It just shows how misconceptions get perpetuated.  The half timbering ( not considering its actual structural purpose or how it evolved to be) remains one of my favorite styles or “looks”.

 Sorry for the ramble. Oh, they’re just coming now to administer my medications.  
 

Kurt

I think we’re going to end up in a deep pile of manure if we wander too far from the village walls. Ekis, who I have a sneaking suspicion is some how related to the lord of the manor, will close and lock the gates on us. I’ve heard the wolves that roam the area are particularly vicious. There have also been stories of malicious spirits known to prey on anyone foolish enough to cross their path. 
 

Kurt

They make great Christmas presents, since few people have coal these days. Especially for bosses, bad neighbors and some very “special” relatives.  

Aren’t meadow muffins and road apples supposed to bring good luck, along with fewer intimate encounters?

That’s a relief, from what I’ve heard “it's a good thing cows don’t fly, ‘cause the world is full of so much bull, it’s a good thing cows don’t fly!”

Sorry, just couldn’t resist that, it took me back to 3rd grade.🤣

Just remember, we’re all supposed to meet at the tavern ( including those rafter hangers ) to celebrate some guy named Ekis and his accomplishments. I hope with all the straw on the floor a fire doesn’t “accidentally” get started. Hopefully no one would be hurt. It could however mean the entire village would have to be rebuilt. 
 

Look at what happened to Chicago in America. I wonder if they would allow a cow into the celebration, they’re letting rafter hangers and I’ve never heard of cows voluntarily hang from rafters.

Kurt

For those unfamiliar with the story in 1871 Chicago had a terrible fire, destroying most of the city, killing thousands, leaving thousands homeless. Legend has it a Mrs O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern which began the fire. So maybe there should be security at the door checking for cows.

Ekis, I would love to see the mill as a larger, maybe 1:50 scale, stand alone model, with all the stops pulled out. Of course with the lord’s permission when he deems the village is completed to his exacting standards. Maybe he has some connections with the current government to find sufficient monies to fund such a project. He could be a powerful patron. It’s your civic duty to the greater glory of France.  I he won’t help, I’ll have a word with them.

Back to reality. Which part gives you more pleasure, the stone work or the carpentry? Or is it just what you happen to be doing at the moment? For me it would be how I would approach the next issue while trying to go to sleep the night before.

Regards,

Kurt

Ekis, I was waiting for this one and it was well worth the wait.

To totally misquote Winston Churchill, this is not the end, It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning. As far as we’re concerned you have a lot more building to do. So you best get busy! You have no one to blame but yourself.  Like in Little Shop of Horrors “ Feed me!” 
( I’m not sure at all if that translates transatlantically.) If that made no sense PM me and I’ll try and explain.

At any rate keep up the wonderful work.

Kurt

Ekis,  It’s beautiful. How many villagers are required to drag that gigantic coin to all the current work sites? I like the trestle tables, they are very delicate looking.

Kurt

Ekis,

Are you building one structure at a time and see where that leads to next.? Or is there a more formalized plan? Or I’m guessing a mixture of both. Have you had any surprises at the direction things have proceeded that you had never envisioned? Too many questions, I’m sure a historical village was haphazard to a point.

One final question (at the moment) does the lord have to approve building ALL of the structures in the village or just the more substantial ones. Again I’m guessing it depended upon the opportunity of financial gain.

Kurt

It”s interesting OC mentions smell. Yesterday I was listening to the BBC program on public radio. There was an interview with a British scientist who is trying to recreate odors that existed in prior times. This would add to the visual and sound experiences for a fuller   

understanding of history. He didn’t explain the recreation process though.

Kurt

It always amazes me how some things take off and others die immediately in any forum. I would never bet on which do or don’t. I would like to thank Ekis for patience with us. We do have to fill in the time before his next update though. I kinda hope he goes a little around the bend with this project and just keeps going and going. I’m sure he does not feel that way, though. Maybe we  can start a new forum, MMVW (Model Medieval Village World).

Kurt

We can keep up the gastronomic discussion in this forum if we talk in code or French or something.

My stepbrother lives way upstate New York near the Canadian border. He does pig roasts in a pit, roasts it about 10 hours. Fantastic,

Do you think they have a proper barbecue sauce for the ‘pulled boar’? If they do, that’s what I’m having too! 

Hey,

Why don’t we all meet at the Inn to get pissed before Ekis takes us on tour of the village? He must include those hanging upside down in the rafters or we will be done with him. There are other villages out there, or so I think. They might not be anywheres near so splendid, but he can’t take us for granted,

People have told me that this Ekis is a very very fine fellow. He is definitely an architect of extraordinary talents. However, if he excludes our rafter hangers this should not be tolerated no matter how splendid this village maybe. This is my opinion alone and should not reflect MSW in any way.

Kurt

Actually in an effort to be fair, I am of those who think Ekis is an exceedingly fine fellow with extraordinary talents. Therefore, I really doubt there will be any problems. So you should probably disregard the entire response. 
 

Lets meet at the Inn anyway. The rabbit stew has to be the experienced ( something to do with local spices) I have been informed from reliable sources. 
 

Kurt

Ekis,

A windmill would be so cool. You can always build it as a stand alone and in a larger scale too. Please don’t look to any of us to help curb your addiction. We’re only going to feed it.😁

Maybe you can keep going and compete with Denmark’s Legoland as a tourist attraction. If I ever get to France, I’d definitely come to see it!

Kurt

Ekis,

Truly amazing. You keep out doing yourself every single time! How many years would you guess it would have taken for the village to get to stage it is presently at? 

Also will any of the village extend outside of the wall?

Kurt

Wonderful!!

Kurt

Ekis,  The lord only has a two car garage?

Really nice.

Kurt

Ekis,

Thanks for the website. There’s so much interesting stuff out there that you can just stumble on.

Kurt

Ekis,

That was worth a couple of days of waiting. I don’t remember if I had asked you before, are going to have lighting in any of the buildings? I always look forward to your updates.

Kurt

That’s interesting. Thanks, I learned something.  I have never seen roof like that before ( which isn’t saying much at all). I am definitely of the newer isn’t necessarily better crowd. I’m a back to basics person, if anything. There was always a good reason why things were done the way they were done at the time. We are definitely not any smarter today. Irregardless I still like the look.

Kurt

Ekis,

I really don’t understand the roof on side building. Is it supposed to be a roof in the process of collapsing? Like I had said it does look cool, though.

Kurt

Ekis,

That looks so cool! That roof looks like the workmen had too much of that AK Still Water to drink! I hope you wear a mask when you’re making dust. The dust from the stones could play havoc with your lungs.  Looking forward to your next update.

Kurt