Professor Asperity had me get up early on a cold December day to set up his traveling gypsy tent for the McHenry Mansion Dickens Christmas Faire. He spares me a few farthings as his roustabout hammering in the tent spikes.

Twas a jolly good time though explaining the alchemy of creating handmade oak gall ink, and I think I’m getting better at my “snake oil salesman’s smirk.”  Once the children saw the calligraphy lettering they could do using oak gall ink and feather quill pens, they got excited and I was really blessed.

Photos by Samantha Bryson