This is our family, many years ago, but not in the pre-1800's, which is the period for the Rendezvous clothing we are wearing. We spent several summers camping at pre-1800 Rendezvous, during this time. We slept and lived in a Marquee tent. We cooked over an open fire and dressed in period clothing. I exhibited paintings at these events and fell in love with the lifestyle. I do not enjoy cooking in a kitchen, in the oven, but I love cooking out-of-doors and over an open fire. I love sleeping and living outside.

For Moon Tree Brothers, I chose this time as perhaps the last era when life, in America, was lived in a simple style. The Moon Tree world lives in a similar manner. The world around them is full of iPods, television and cellular phones, while they live without electricity. They still have to cloth many children and try to provide those children with the opportunity for a bit of individuality.

The standard Moon Tree uniform, for boys, is: homespun linen hunting shirts, long drop front pants in either a canvas material for durability or in buckskin, and leather moccasins or boots. The males in this photo are dressed in typical pre-1840 clothing.

Drop front pants are just what their name says. They have a square flap in the front that buttons at the top two corners with bone buttons. The back is rather loose and laces up, which allows room for growth and eliminates the need for new pants as often.

The girls generally wore skirts and a peasant style blouse. The students in the Moon Tree are very active. The girls have the choice of wearing skirts or the same type of pants that the males wear, as well as the same style shirts. Individuality is achieved with accessories, necklaces and plant dyes on their clothing. Emily, Alrick's friend, wears knitted socks that go up above her knees. She has a special reason for wearing them, as you will find out when you read the book. Euclid has a friend who dyes a pink streak in her hair.

There are students who choose to wear clothing they have brought to the Moon Tree. Those in charge do not encourage this practice as these styles may be difficult for them to replenish as the clothing wears out and/or the child grows, and it often means that the student will have a problem fitting in with the other students.

Their winter coat is a wool capote. This is basically a wool blanket, that has been cut and sewn so that it has a hood and long loose sleeves. It belts in the middle. They also carry an assortment of bags. During the early 1800's, the boy's bags were called Haversacks. The two older boys, in the photo above, are wearing Haversacks and you can see the straps across their chest. In Moon Tree Brothers, Alrick complains about all the things he has to carry in his bag.

To see more about how people dressed in the early 1800's, visit:

Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous for children

Click on the Coloring Sheet Man and you will see why Alrick complains about all the things he has to carry.

Another site to check out for a complete description of what you might see when visiting a Rendezvous, is Rockome Gardens Rendezvous