Old World Wisconsin

We visited Old World Wisconsin on Sunday as they were having their Little House Days...activities that Laura Ingalls Wilder would have done in her time period.  My brother-in-law's (David) sister, Beth and her daughter, Maggie (who is 3) went with us, too.  Beth and I made dresses for our girls so they could get a more authentic experience.  Or, who are we kidding, so we could take cute pictures and pretend we lived in that time period for a few hours.  We had lots of fun!

They had a covered wagon on display out front that you could climb into. This is my favorite picture from the day.

Playing some old fashioned games with hoops...

and a large hoop, seeing how far you could roll it without it falling over.

Looking at the Morgan horses, Bess and Beauty...named after Laura's horses she had growing up.

Listening to the Wheelwright interpreter talk about how wagon wheels were made and how long it took them to be made...for a large wagon, it took almost a week, just to make one wheel!

Using a wooden mallet to pound a square peg through a round hole to make the dowels of the wheel.  A young apprentice might have had this job.

The small dowel that came out the bottom side.  So neat!

Clara takes a turn at using the wooden mallet.

Standing in the "summer home".

Petting Sam the horse.

This pretty dragonfly was flying all around us and landed on this tree branch.

Helping to roll the lemons to make lemonade at the 4 Mile House.

Maggie and Clara play with the checkers set.

Heading back to eat some lunch.

Sitting under the grape arbor.

Pretending to churn milk in order to make butter.

Coming back from seeing the pigs.

Watching the sheep graze.

Heading to the chicken coop to get some eggs.

Checking out the cows.

In the Raspberry School one-room schoolhouse.

One of the interpreters going to feed Sam and his sheep friend in the pouring down rain.  We had a couple showers and a little thunder come through...a nice break from the heat.

Waiting out the rain in the blacksmith's shop.

Learning from the interpreter in the Irish house how they would mend and iron clothes.

This was a bicycle for a mom and child. It had adjustable seats and a handle to steer the front wheel. I wish they still made these! I'd buy one! Certainly an easier way for a lady to ride in a dress.

We got ice cream before we left, trying out the Honey Bear-y flavor. This was a flavor inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder and can only be purchased at Old World. It is a vanilla ice cream with honey, blackberries, and strawberries. It was delicious!!

Hailey got just a plain vanilla and Clara also got the Honey Bear-y.

She didn't like it at all.

One last photo in front of the Clausing Barn.