Market Day in Village!

Maja and Hadley's Convenience Store Offerings

Last week in Village was our first market day and it was busy one!

Homesteaders spent the morning making all sorts of Peep items, both necessary and frivolous. The Trading Post did a brisk business in preparation for the mass shopping spree, selling everything from beads, baubles and feathers to clay, sticks and string. The clerks and managers were kept hopping until lunch time.

Once purchases were made Homesteaders went to work creating. There were rugs to  weave, dish sets to create, furniture to build, and perhaps most amazing of all, there were apple trees grown from seed to fruit bearing in only moments! Amazing, simply amazing.

With so many goods being created the Patent Officer was kept on his toes registering new inventions and making sure that people were getting their "cut".

The Bank too, was kept quite busy as Homesteaders withdrew money and exchanged large bills for small in anticipation of their many purchases. But it was not all wanton spending - Oh no siree. I met one cautious Homesteader at the Bank withdrawing only $11 - her expense budget for the day. Others arrived with only their goods to sell and no extra spending money at all, the plan being to make money before spending it.

Once preparations were complete and everyone got a good lunch under their belts the market stalls were set up and shopping began. For almost two hours Homesteaders of all ages shopped, bartered, bought and sold. Orders were taken, partnerships formed and new businesses launched. In addition to Peep goods  there were services and concessions. There were Peep snacks to partake of (made of Fimo, unfortunately) and even a face painter - Yes! Which was so fortunate as one Peep, I kid you not, was roaming the market with absolutely no face at all. Not in the front, the back or either of her sides, it was most distracting. Needless to say she left with a new face and a much improved outlook on life.

In all, Market day was a huge success and I think I can safely say that we all look forward to another one soon!

Yours in Village,

Dee, Carey, Julie and Cheryl

A Fresh-Faced Peep

Magnus' Tell- All and Get-Rich Schemes Hit the Marketplace!

If you're interested in purchasing one of Magnus' book on how to Get Rich, it is for sale now.

His Tell-All which aims to magnify "the corruption in the Bank of Kemet Ptolemy" will be forthcoming.  Perhaps, he is just upset that his million-dollar bill was not honored anywhere in the Village.  Amidst allegations of counterfeiting, Magnus is indignant while Villagers wonder if perhaps a set of laws might be in order.  Villagers are pondering what type of government structure might suit their needs.  It seems it might take a while.

In the meantime, Peeps and Peep activists alike are busy introducing themselves to their fellow Villagers.

Occupy Kemet Ptolemy!

Last Week in Village: Week 9

The Trading Post is Open for Business!

In recent weeks the Village Post Office has been sending letters back and forth between the Villagers and Cleopatra, traversing time, distance and imagination.

Cleopatra, our Benevolent, Gracious Sovereign, sent a letter granting us land and requesting that it be named after her magnificent Self as a sign of our appreciation. The Villagers, eager to oblige, decided on one name, thought better of it  and decided on another, all of which took some time. Her Majesty, tired of waiting for a letter with news of the Village and it's name, sent another letter with a slightly impatient tone, "requesting" news (imagine elegantly bejeweled fingers drumming on some fine, ebony table...). At last the Villagers decided on a fitting name (Kemet Ptolemy - which means "fertile Nile soil of the Ptolemy's") and composed a suitable letter for Her Majesty, which, in due courses, was mailed. Last week we received a Royal reply accepting our name choice and, as a sign of her pleasure, a grant of $25,000 in gold to back our bank, develop the Village, pay various employees, loan money to the Villagers for the developing of Homesteads and agriculture.

Hallelujah!

With gold to back our local bank the Villagers lined up to apply for loans. With money in hand people were anxious to spend, which created a strong demand for the Trading Post to open, and open it did.

In between all of this fiscal activity, people worked on their land, wrote biographies, made house plans, estimated home costs and so much more.

What will happen next?

Stay tuned to find out!

Yours in Village,

Cheryl, Carey, Dee, Paul

Village Week 8

Ciana's Temporary Structure- From Materials Found in Kemet Ptolemy.

Another busy week fror the newly re-named village of Kemet Ptolemy.  Queen Cleopatra awaits notification from our Village letting her know we have moved forward on the projects she has requested: planting crops tro feed Rome, naming the village to reflect her glory and to set aside a piece of property for the town center that will be suitably posh when she comes to visit.  Mr. Paul was on site to help the letter writing committee (Holland and ?) complete our missive.  Hopefully, Cleopatra will respond quickly by funding our Village and helping us get our economy up and money flowing.

Cartographers Juju and AJ completed a map of the entrire of the Village, which shows the physical features (including the Nile) as well as where the Homesteaders live in relation to the town center and to one another.

 Homesteaders were busy finishing projects that will allow them to apply for their bank loan.  Villagers were hard at work finishing their house plans and estimated house costs, their biographies (again, thank you Mr. Paul!) and beautifying their cardboard models experimenting with decorative painting, some in very Egyptian style.

We listened to some new cultural reports, including a detail from Phil on the type of roofing on homes in Ancient Egypt.  We await the last few reports from some members of the Dirt Devil class, which we will get to next week.

Week 8- Maybe Not Juliet: The Village

The Post Office is open!

This week's Village began the same as recent weeks'. Villagers were hard at work, house modeling, number crunching, and biography-writing. There was talk of inventing new building materials from our very own Nile River Valley's resources and there was interest in merely being on the land. A few Villagers are finished with all of the tasks required to apply for their bank loans (when the bank opens), and I saw the first of those applications being filled out already!

Then, the mail came at lunchtime, bringing announcements:

We have some new Village employees, once Queen Cleopatra is apprised of the Village name and elects to send along funding. Collecting regular paychecks for the first part of the remaining school year: Phil and Cat (co-Bank Managers), Holland and Lilah (co-Village Accountants) and Suida and Adelina (co-Trading Post Managers). Erin continues as the Village Crier, quite effectively, and Ciana is our new Village Secretary!

The Post Office, under the supervision of Sarah, hired some employees this week and will endeavor to operate independent of Royal funding, subsisting on sales of stamps and other items to make its payroll. The Queen's Land Commisioner (Midas the Mediocre) also sent word that the Queen wishes to commission Cartographers Grace and Juju to make a map of our Village, so that she might know where each of her subjects live. I wonder why....

As our Village began to close in its usual manner, with a Village meeting, it became clear that many Villagers saw the name Juliet: The Village to be inequitable. Villager Juliet, who did not pursue to have our Village named for her, agreed. A new can of Village naming worms was opened, but it seems that Villagers are becoming more and more accustomed to our meeting process, which has yielded a few consensus decisions in recent weeks.

So, we are back to being an unnamed Village, but a Royal Reminder of the promise of a $25,000 investment from Her Majesty Queen Cleopatra Ptolemy VII did indeed inspire many to hasten the process, which promises to deliver a new Village name next week. (Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

A Village Meeting

Village Week 7- Juliet: The Village

Our Moderator and Future Moderator(s)

This week our Village bustled with promise in the form of cardboard model homes, housing estimates, and job interviews. Biographers are hard at work, telling the stories of our Peeps' lives. (I hope to post some soon, as one even brought me to tears, it was so moving.)

Our Moderator led the way for us to name our new Village. Juliet: The Village, Farmville, Philville, and Kemet Ptolemy were the top choices. When Juliet: The Village prevailed, some Villagers were distraught over what Queen Cleopatra will have to say about this! She did insist we name the Village after her in order to garner her financial backing.. Some suggested we could persuade her to see it as being named after her BFF, Julius Ceasar, but others are skeptical she will buy it.

This week we heard more cultural reports and welcomed another new Villager to town. Welcome, AJ. We're glad to have you! (Ms. Carey)

Village Week 6- Such is the Life of a Homesteader

Village last week began with an all school trip to the land. In the time since we had last visited, there have been some serious rains; fences were down, temporary shelters were in an absolute shambles and many a Peep lay in a bedraggled heap, hair all askew and intertwined with leaves, twigs and other detritus of the land...homesteading can sure be hard on one's coiffure! But the weather was fine and in no time at all the most serious of damages were repaired and many features, personal and otherwise, were even improved upon.

Homesteaders continue to work on plans for nurturing and developing their land, determining the best place for gardens, barns, wells and the like. The work of designing Peep houses is well under way - some Homesteaders have moved from the artists sketch to the blueprint and cost estimate stage, which generally leads directly to reworking ones original design, (houses are just so expensive!) while others are making cardboard models of their Dream Homes.

Homesteaders who had undertaken research missions last week returned to share with us the results of their findings. We heard reports on Ancient Egyptian culture, cuisine, customs, resources, weather, living conditions and the like, all of which assists us in establishing our own authentic Village.

In the midst of it all is the clamoring for jobs, "When will the Bank/ Trading Post Managers be

hired ?"...And what about the Town Crier? The Secretary? The Accountant? When will I get my  bank loan???"

The answer, as always, is, "when you have completed your paperwork!"

"UGH", they say, applying themselves, once again, to resume's, Peep biographies and house plans.

Such is the life of a Homesteader. (Ms. Cheryl)

This week in Village it was mandated that those pesky orange flags must come down in favor of a more natural way to designate our property boundaries.  Villagers were seen conscientiously pillaging the land for materials that might alert passersby that the land they had seized in the gentle land rush was indeed taken.  Well, that’s what the red flags said.  Braided straw, green sand mixtures, sticks and stones were placed to say something different altogether.  Welcome!

In the absence of our fearless moderator no formal meetings took place; still the Village did not crumble into chaos.  The Village saw some housing estimates come to completion, interviews for Village Accountant commence, and the position of Town Crier was posted.

A number of students presented their reports on the critical information of our time in Egypt . When does the Nile flood? (October) What medical treatments were available in ancient Egypt ?  (Brain surgery and herbs, apparently.)  What gods and holidays might we be observing?  And, what up with the Sphinx? 

This week we wished one of our mistresses of the Post Office a fond farewell, and welcomed new Villager Grace to the fold.  (Ms. Carey)

Village Week 5- Peep Biographies and Journals



An Accidental Optical Illusion- created by Suida during Village

 Village got off to a solid start with a meeting led by our new Moderator, Phil. A question and answer period seemed to really put the Villagers at ease as the bank loan requirements were clearly expressed; you must have a Peep, a biography, a house plan and estimate, and a property plan in order to be approved for a bank loan of $500.

Many jobs are still available and interviews are under way. Community College Courses were on people’s minds, as well. All around the Village folks worked lovingly and diligently on the tasks at hand—journal-making, biography-writing, and house-drawing.

In our closing meeting Phil listed the proposed Village names: Kemet Ptolemy, Magnus Ptolemy, Philville, Cleopatra Rocks, Impergo, and Babu Benn. A box will be put out so that Villagers can make more suggestions for the name of our up and coming Village! (Ms. Carey)

Village Week 4- Property Plans

Amber and Liana's Property Plans

Village is rolling merrily along and, as always, there is more going on than can ever be documented.

As each Village Day speeds by the miniature characters develop more and more personality and can often be found visiting amongst their small selves. Some are planing great adventures ( I saw two exploring the world globe last Thursday, talking about where they were form and where they would love to go), some talking about house design and others exchanging recipes, really!

In addition to responding to job postings and general land work, Villagers have begun exploring possibilities for home building. Pictures of homes and families from times gone by were passed around, fresh sheets of large paper rolled out and myriad drawing supplies employed and, amidst the excited chatter of young people, Dream Home designs have commenced. (From Ms. Cheryl)

This week in (our still as of yet unnamed) Village excitement was in the air as Villagers dreamt of the houses they would build, the animals they would tend, and the gardens they would build… if only they had their bank loans.

Villagers were very busy throughout the land using their peep rulers to measure out the amount of space needed to house their intended families and pets—cheetahs in some cases!  Each Villager began the process of laying out his or her land design, some considering accessibility of water, others the quality of soil.  This layout, then more firm house plans, are what will enable Villagers to garner bank credit.  The corner formerly known as the food dump of the Giants underwent major improvements and the peep of Suida is poised to inhabit the most fertile soil of the entire Nile river valley.

Interviews were held for the position of Moderator, and, in the end, three people were hired for said position:  Phil, first 6-weeks; Ciana, second 6-weeks; and Holland , third 6-weeks.  All other positions are still open.  This makes Phil the first Villager to be hired for a paid position.  Congratulations Phil, Ciana, and Holland! Our Moderator still needs a Secretary (or Scribe, as we are in Ancient Egypt): in hopes some Homesteader steps forward to take on this very important position and records all important decisions made by our new Village.

Excitement builds around the next round of jobs that must be interviewed for: Trading Post Manager, Bank Manager and Village Accountant.  In addition, a need for a Village Crier has become apparent! Who will fill these jobs?  Interviews and checking of references will begin at lunch later this week.

Each Homesteader in the Middle and Upper groups has a question about Egypt they have been assigned to answer:  They may research the answer at home or at school~ we will be sharing this important information with the group in a few weeks.  (Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Erin's Property Plans

Village Week 3- Jobs Posted

The new Village economy was all abuzz with the promise of jobs and a monetary loan from Queen Cleopatra this week. We who will be producing food for the Queen are as of yet undecided as to our new Village’s name. Teetering between resentment at our impending servitude (to be farmers for the Queen) and the harsh realities of living off the land, there was even talk in the Village of poisoning Her Majesty to gain independence. The Roman Magnus’s loyalty to the Queen was made apparent as was Nubian Baket’s fear as she warned of the dangers of defying the Queen’s wishes. While mutiny is in the air, its likelihood has subsided for now.

The politics of the matter were not the most prevailing concern, however, as Villagers prepared resumes and completed job applications for the roles they might inhabit in our, as of yet, unformed economy. A postal business was established by Villagers Sunnie and Sarah; and talks were held to decide upon the matters of naming the Village and choosing a Secretary and Moderator. Such decisions are sure to be addressed in the coming weeks. The jobs of Trading Post Manager, Bank Manager and Village Accountant, all very important, are also needing to be filled.

Fortunately, Mr. Paul joined Village this week and gave guidance in writing the necessary resumes and filling out the job applications. (From Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Village Week 2- The Land

This week in Village, after receiving a letter on high from Queen Cleopatra herself, peeps from all over the region participated in the gentle rush for land in our newly established Village bound on the north by the River Nile.

Each peep, confined by a 288 peep foot perimeter (which is 12 giant’s feet), staked out his or her property and fashioned temporary housing for him or herself or a surrogate. As was mandated by Queen Cleopatra—no property shall remain unoccupied! (Apparently, the predator squirrels do not fully respect Queen Cleopatra’s authority or the boundaries of a string property line.) These temporary shelters are limited to what is natural and can be found on the land within the bounds of the EcoSchool fence. A great variety of sturctures appeared, and Homesteaders are already discussing plans for their properties.

Progress on the land in this week was great and all are optimistic that our as of yet unnamed new Village will thrive on the west bank of the River Nile.

We have begun creating journals in which to record our precious information on the adventures we may have in this Village. The journals should make for convenient storage during the coming year, as well as a marvelous keepsake for afterward. (From Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Village Week 1- Meet the Peeps

We determine the ethnic make-up of our Village, and discover (not surprisingly) that most of us are Egyptians, but a few of us are from the other cultures found in the Mediterranean basin and beyond: a few Romans, some Greeks, a Parthian and a Nubian. We spent some time creating the background of our Peeps, and in coming weeks their stories will be ready for presentation in a formal introduction to the whole Village.

In an official letter, we are commanded by our queen, Cleopatra, to found a Village to provide food for both ourselves and Egypt, but also for the Romans, led by none other than Julius Caesar himself. (Ms. Dee)

I feel honored to have been at the birth of this year's Peeps at Village this past Thursday. Dee set the stage; we are Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Parthians, and Nubians living in Egypt, 48 BC. As the die was cast (literally— and with a little trading), I witnessed the birth of my own Peep, Baket Iset, the only Nubian I know of in our Village. Though all Peeps begin on equal footing in a sense, penniliess and shoeless, there was much ado about Peep castes. Apparently, we are each Upper, Middle, or Lower class. I wonder what bearing that will have....

I saw that from all of the same raw materials, each Peep is born unique. From the color of the Fimo and pipe cleaners to the shape of the affixed heads, I saw each person lovingly sculpt his or her new Village persona, experienced and unexperienced alike. I fall in the middle as I have subbed and attended Village a time or two, but it was wholly different to really be a part of it from the beginning. I saw some fabulous hair, amazing feet and shoes. There were dresses, cloaks, shawls, and head covers galore. I can't wait to play again.

It seems Peep rulers will be needed in Village. If you don't know about Peep rulers, a "real" half-inch is equivalent to one Peep foot. Turns out, Baket is eight Peep feet tall, and an aspiring healer. I heard others murmuring their Peep's hopes and dreams, and can only imagine what this Peep lifetime will bring! (From Ms. Carey)