Almanzo cut ice from the Trout River.
They used crosscut saws to cut the ice out of the river.
Ice tongs such as these would have been used to carry the ice to the sled and to fill the ice house.
Almanzo said his very favorite thing to eat was fried apples n’ onions.
But he did not say “no” to a big helping of bird’s nest pudding!
Chapter 5 “Birthday”
One of the gifts Almanzo got for this birthday was a yoke to help break in his team of oxen.
Almanzo’s mother was weaving fabric that day.
Here is a video to illustrate the process:
Each cow went up to its own stanchion to be milked.
And for no other reason than it makes me happy, the infamous getting-your-tongue-stuck-on-a-flagpole scene from “A Christmas Story” 🙂
Almanzo probably used a McGuffey Reader to learn in school. Though it is possible that he used a New England Primer.
Check out an expert literally cracking a whip – a black snake whip!
Almanzo rubbed tallow on his moccasins to keep them soft and waterproof. Below is a recipe for making your own beef tallow.
https://heygrillhey.com/beef-tallow/
Here is a discussion of popcorn and everything you wanted to know about it!
https://www.popcorn.org/All-About-Popcorn/From-Seed-to-Snack
A fanning machine separates the grain from the chaff. This example is from 1912 but still bears a resemblance to what James Wilder would have used.
Alice made an air castle to decorate the dining room. They can be very simple or elaborate.
(Photo credit: durangomom.blogspot.com)
Here is the Wilder family we will meet in “Farmer Boy”. Standing: Almanzo, Eliza Jane, Laura (Wilder). Seated: Royal, James, Perley, Angelina, Alice Wilder.
(Photo credit: FindAGrave.com)
Let’s bid the old year and “Little House in the Big Woods” good-bye with “Auld Lang Syne” by Dougie Maclean:
Laura noted the (hopefully not poison!) sumac growing in the Big Woods.
Here is an easy and delicious recipe for baking hubbard squash. This may have been similar to how Ma prepared it.
Hulled corn looks absolutely delicious. Here is how it is prepared:
From Laura’s description, here is a similar threshing machine to what Pa would have used.
Here is a video showing how Pa and Uncle Henry would have harvested oats by hand.
Ma used a Godey Lady’s Book to learn more about the fashion and culture that was popular on the East Coast.
In case you ever wondered how to make cheese – you can even do it at home, if you have rennet.
Here is the text for the poem “Old Grimes”.
Better yet, here is a bluegrass arrangement of the song. I especially love the mandolin!
Finally, here is a video discussing a grub hoe and how to use it.