Wish I could wiggle my nose like Samantha (old TV show) and be with you in SD Barbie! I so loved going to places out there, it is always too hot here to enjoy summer festivals. Sorry your roommates are having so many visitors, seems really unfair especially since they didn't ask or tell you ahead of time.
More on the cast iron collection, I still have my Granny's big outdoor cast iron kettle and her dutch oven. Also skillets that belonged to an old BF's father. All these pieces are well over a 100 years old. My Granny grew up cooking with cast iron in a fireplace & later on a wood cook stove. I don't use the dutch oven any longer as it is just too heavy. My favorite piece is a small skillet that has a lid and it fits in my toaster oven. It is just right for cooking small meals and corn bread.
When we were little my grandparents would take us to a cave that was partially open at the top, at Giant City Park. She would cook fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy over a fire from wood we gathered yummm!!! PaPa would hear a bird and would imitate its call so perfectly the bird would come closer. I so wanted to learn to whistle the way he did and practiced for weeks unsuccessfully.