Oct. 9, 2009 - Island Festival Field Trip!

Well, today was our first field trip of the year!  We went to a nearby town that was having a fall festival, it was semi-arranged through our homeschool group-because then we all get in really really cheap!  They have people re-inacting times from the 1600's-1800's which was awesome and they had some 4 H stuff there as well. So, despite the chilly temps (47 degrees F), which made the air so fresh and crisp,  and rain (which never stopped) we actually had a great time.   Here are some pics:

This dear lady was talking to the kids about cooking back in the Civil War times. Yes, she was standing in the rain.

This couple were traders waiting for the Indians to come trade.  This guy was totally into his part and asked my kids what they had to trade today...they were like uh...what?? It was great!  This booth was really cool.....

He had antlers and things made out of antlers, French playing cards, pieces of flint too.  See that small gray rectangle there..that is a small block of lead that they would put into that spoon you see in the picture by the antlers, they would melt the lead in that spoon over a hot fire and poor it into the molder-thingy (for lack of a better term), then it would mold into those little balls..aka: bullets!  He also discussed animal pelts and trapping which was fascinating (but I love History!!)

This guy was a blacksmith and he was forging steel.  He had a really hot fire and he kept putting air into the fire with that contraption that looks like a fishing reel.  At this time he was going to fashion a fire stick and needed to put a curve into the end of the steel so it could hang on a hook till needed.....

He would then take the steel out of the fire and set it on the anvil and pound it till the red-hot section became gray.  He then would put it back into the fire and then pound it some more till he got it too look like......

this!

We also got to see how sauerkraut was made back in the "old days."  It was their way of preserving cabbage-we all got to help "pound" the sauerkraut and taste it...well, I am the only one who tasted it, the kids were like "NO WAY!"  It was delicious though!

The kids helped in a science experiment that 4 H put on to make ethane gas-that was very cool!

And of course there were all sorts of animals to love.

This lady was showing us this "toy" that little girls would play with to prepare them for sewing.

Ty didn't care if it was a girl toy-he thought it was fun too!

There was this beautiful paddle boat doing color tours, it was too pricey for my budget though.  We did enjoy watching it and listening to that olde tyme music it was playing.

The scenery was just gorgeous!

After 2 fun filled hours the Terrifc Trio and mom were ready to leave.  There were a few exhibits we did not get to participate in such as rope-making and cider making, since the people at those booths were not there at the time, but it was fun none-the-less. 

I love Fall in Michigan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Lori

Oct. 10, 2009 - Fall Fun!!

Oct. 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Oct. 16, 2009 - Love the Field Trip pictures...

Oct. 18, 2009 - Untitled Comment