Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
As I have mentioned previously, we have been reading the Little House series. Autumn is a great time for a reread of this classic series because there are typically pioneer activities at fall festivals. Even if you don't have a pioneer-friendly festival nearby, there are so many activities that can easily be done at home.
Many years ago I bought the Little House on the Prairie Cookbook. I bought this cookbook long before I had children. I had fond memories of checking it out of the library as a child and trying to make mashed potatoes the same way Laura would have made mashed potatoes. I hoped that one day I would be able to share this experience with my own daughters. Happily, I have indeed had that experience.
One afternoon after we finished our school work, we decided to make butter. I put heavy whipping cream in tightly sealed containers and gave each girl their own container. They quickly learned that it is far from easy to shake cream into butter. We happened to have the bouncy house up, so Meg and Anne decided they would try bouncing their cream in the bouncy house. Once they made butter, Meg added some herbs to add some elegance. We bought French bread for dinner and served it with our butter.
As I have mentioned previously, we have been reading the Little House series. Autumn is a great time for a reread of this classic series because there are typically pioneer activities at fall festivals. Even if you don't have a pioneer-friendly festival nearby, there are so many activities that can easily be done at home.
Many years ago I bought the Little House on the Prairie Cookbook. I bought this cookbook long before I had children. I had fond memories of checking it out of the library as a child and trying to make mashed potatoes the same way Laura would have made mashed potatoes. I hoped that one day I would be able to share this experience with my own daughters. Happily, I have indeed had that experience.
One afternoon after we finished our school work, we decided to make butter. I put heavy whipping cream in tightly sealed containers and gave each girl their own container. They quickly learned that it is far from easy to shake cream into butter. We happened to have the bouncy house up, so Meg and Anne decided they would try bouncing their cream in the bouncy house. Once they made butter, Meg added some herbs to add some elegance. We bought French bread for dinner and served it with our butter.
Shortly after this butter-making experience, we went to the Fall Heritage Festival at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia. To our delight, they offered two additional ways to make butter that the girls were able to try. They had a hand butter churner that attaches to a jar. They also had a ceramic churn. While challenging, the girls quickly decided these options were superior to shaking a jar.
Making butter was not the only way the girls were able to relate to the Little House books. The festival offered dress up opportunities, a tour of a log cabin and pioneer-type games. The girls enjoyed making candles as well as corn husk dolls. We also had the chance to make a scarecrow. I can't remember a specific scarecrow reference in the Little House books, but it did seem very pioneer-like.
I have a few more Little House crafts I hope to do with the girls and I will try to share them with you as they happen. In the meantime, I encourage you to pick up your favorite Little House book.
RSS Feed
