Little House books & Peg Dolls

"Little House on the Prairie" began airing the month before I was born.  I grew up watching it and LOVED it! My Mom likes to tell the story of me watching the episode where Jack, (Laura's beloved dog) dies and sitting there at 2 years old crying my eyes out.  She said it was one of those times where you realize just how much your little one is grasping and it surprises you.  Recently, we read the chapter where Jack dies in the books and I could barely get through it! Michael and I were both crying.  The love of Little House continues. 

Michael and I began reading the Little House Series in September and we're now on the 5th book, "By the Shores of Silver lake". It's been such a wonderful journey for us.  The "Little House" books take you back in time learning history, geography, farming, cooking, food preservation, crafting and so much more.  It's actually my first time reading the series.  We've had so many snugly times reading in our cozy, warm bed in freezing cold NY and traveling back in time with little Laura.

We have been borrowing most of the books from the library.  So I was so excited when I found these 2 little gems at the used book store.  I bought both on trade credit.  I love trade credit!

I'm super excited to read "Laura Ingall's Wilder, A Family Collection".   The Little House books end with Laura at only 22 years old.  This book is a collection of newspaper articles she wrote well after that time when she was in her forties and well before she ever dreamed of writing the "Little House" series.  The articles are categorized as, "Life on the farm and in the country, Making a Home, The Ways of the World and A Woman's Role".  I expect it will be a fascinating read. 

So far Michael and I have made doughnuts as described in "Farmer Boy", a book about Laura's husband Almanzo's childhood.  Making doughnuts was not a process I enjoyed sadly.  To me it was frustrating keeping the oil hot enough to fry and not too hot to burn.  Not to mention getting them cooked through and not raw.  The way in which it's described in the book, Almanzo seemed to have doughnuts every day!  They were his go-to snack.  Suffice it to say I will not be making doughnuts again and I now have so much admiration for Almanzo's dear mother.

Recently we made sourdough bread from a starter that took about a week's process.  A much more fun process in my opinion.  I thought it would be interesting for us to experience how bread was made before yeast was available in a packet at the store.  It came out really tasty though a little crunchy.  I'll have to perfect my process.

We've also made pancake men as described in "Little House in the Big Woods".  Michael and Owen LOVE them!  And Michael requests them often. 

I was looking for another "Little House" project when I saw Chasing Cheerios, blog post about their adorable Ingalls family peg dolls.  We just had to make some of our own.

I thought Michael would want to use paint but he said "Mom, I want them to look like your dolls.  And with no face." So,  I got out the fabric, roving & yarn scraps and here is the Ingall's family from left to right, Carrie, Laura, Mary, Ma and Pa.  I think he did such a good job! He loves them!  So our Little House fun will continue.  I'll keep you posted on what we do next. 

Until next time...