Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes

"...Almonzo loved light, fluffy, buckwheat pancakes with plenty of molasses...The three pancakes on the griddle were holding their bubbles in tiny holes near their crisping edges.  He flipped them over neatly and watched their brown-patterned sides rise in the middle.  The good smell of them mixed with the good smells of fried salt pork and boiling coffee..."  (The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, ISBN # 0590488198)

Just like Almonzo Wilder, homemade pancakes are one of my favorite comfort foods.  I grew up thinking you had to buy store-brand mixes to make pancakes.  For years I tried to make good pancakes without success.  Then I grew brave enough to try pancake recipes in my cookbooks.  Making pancakes from scratch was sooo much better than store bought mixes, even if it took just a little more trouble.

The key to making pancakes is to have a consistency of a cake batter when you're ready to pour out the mixture.  They can't be too thin or too thick--it should pour easily but not too fast.  As the tops get plenty of bubbles and the edges firm up a bit, you can turn the pancakes over.

My husband is a better fry cook than I am and flips pancakes perfectly.  I have forced myself to practice until my pancakes turned out just as good.  So practice does make perfect.

Also, it really helps to invest in a nice, long electric griddle because the pancakes turn out better (cooks more evenly) and you can make a bunch at once and get done faster.  (I would even consider bringing one to camp outs!)

This recipe comes from my Southern Living Cookbook (ISBN # 084871816X).  It mentions you can keep the batter in the fridge for up to a week.  It also includes a homemade syrup recipe.  The recipe calls for buttermilk but I mix up powdered buttermilk instead because it's easier for me to keep on hand than buttermilk.  You can add 1cup of blueberries (like the pancakes shown above) or chopped pecans to the batter.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Homemade Maple Syrup 
Print Recipe
2 cups all purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 to 2 cups buttermilk (2 cups is always too much for my batter; start with 1-1/2 cups and add more 1 T. at a time if needed)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Homemade Maple Syrup
Combine first 5 ingredients; stir well (be careful not to stir too much or the pancakes will not be fluffy).  Combine eggs, buttermilk, and oil in a bowl; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.  For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot, lightly greased griddle.  Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked; turn and cook other side.  (Store unused batter in a tightly covered container in refrigerator up to 1 week.  If refrigerated batter is too thick, add milk or water to reach desired consistency.)  Serve pancakes warm with Homemade Maple Syrup.  Yield:  18 (4-inch pancakes).

Homemade Maple Syrup Print Recipe
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan; add sugar and flavoring.  Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly; remove from heat.  Serve warm, chilled, or at room temperature.  (Store leftover syrup in a tightly covered container in refrigerator.)  Yield:  about 2 cups.  (Per 3 pancakes and 1/3 cup syrup:  Calories 566; Fat 11.9g; Cholesterol 77mg; Sodium 612mg)

Blog Book Index

To the past, the present, and the future, I dedicate this book.  To the past because I came out of it, to the present because I live in it, to the future because my children shall inherit it. ~Ruth May Fox

Create
Sewing
Homemaker's Must-Have Apron
Learn Something New This Summer:  Cross-Stitch in 5 Minutes
Easy Hats to Sew Gift (beginners)
Fruit Basket Liners
Kitty Cross-Stitch Sampler (show and tell)
Retro Yo-Yo Quilts
T-Shirt Quilt Tutorials

Pioneer Crafts
Pioneer Day Posts
Clove-Studded Fruit
Old-Timey Button String and Bracelet
Star-Spangled Shelf Paper
Pioneer Rag Dolls
Corn Husk Dolls
Yarn Dolls
Pioneer Handkerchief Dolls
Pioneer Chick Lit
Children's Pioneer Recipes
Flip Over Old Fashioned Games
Children's Pioneer Day Event
A New Twist on Pioneer Hay Sticks
Achievement Days Book Review: Sarah, Plain and Tall
Achievement Days Country Fair
Pioneer Children
CopyCat Magazine Little House Unit
Pioneer Day Toy
Native American Culture Activities for Kids

Camping Crafts
Swaps:  Some Favorite Campy Things, camping part 2
Fabric Scrap Flip Flops (YW colors):  camping part 1
YW Theme Shelf Sitter:  camping part 1
YW Value (water-proof) Matches:  camping part 1
Young Women's Camp

Seasonal
Winter
Christmas
  Snowman Soup Gift:  Christmas traditions, part 4
  Pinecone Fire Starters Gift: Christmas traditions, part 3
  Wrapping Gifts and Making Bows
  Paper Snowflakes Decorations: Christmas traditions, part 3
  Wooly Sheep Ornament: Christmas traditions, part 3
  Santa's List Ornament: Christmas traditions, part 3
  Rudolph the Paper Reindeer Decoration: Christmas traditions, part 3
  Countdown to Christmas Craft
  Applesauce Cinnamon Cutout Ornaments
  Christmas Pageant
  Cookie Tea (Exchange)
  Red-Hots Crock Pot Cider
  SpaRific Bath Mixes to Give
  Candy Cane Reindeer Ornaments
  Retro Christmas Stockings
  Fragrant Vintage Ornaments
  Festive Fruit Basket Liners
  Natural Angel Ornaments
  Christmas Coffee Cake
  Snow-Couple Bell Ornament
  Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
  Quick and Easy Piping Bag for Gingerbread Cookies (White Frosting)
St. Patrick's Day
  St. Patty's Day Family Night

Spring
Easter
  Bird's Nests and Jelly Bean Poem
  Boo Boo Easter Bunnies
  Easter Games
  Resurrection Eggs
Senior Tea
Mother's Day
  Bath Potpourri "Tea" Bags
  Mom Mix

Summer
Relaxation
  Active Meditation for Serious Relaxation
  Spirit Soothers
  Scents that Soothe
  Aromatherapy Bath Potpourri "Tea" Bags
  Meditation Made Easy
Big Fish Book Review (commemorate Dad by
reading the book or watching the movie on Father's Day)
Favorite Fourth of July Traditions
Origami Earrings
Chick Lit for July
Crystal Garden
Old Fashioned Travel Games
Jello Popsicles and Kool-Aid Playdough

Autumn
Trick or Treat Family Night Idea
October Traditions: Fun with Cookies
October Traditions: Chicklit, Songs, Activities
October Traditions: Autumn Days
Boys Like to Dress Up Too!
Better Than Potpourri Brew
November Traditions
Simple Oktoberfest Family Meal (foil cooking)
Fall Fun
When There's Nothing Else to Eat (leftover turkey salad)

Pioneer Day Posts

I think the study of American Pioneers (Mormon or otherwise) can help children become interested in their own family heritage.  Here is a quick reference for all the posts I did in July along the Pioneer Day Theme.  

Pioneer Day Toy

CopyCat Magazine Little House Unit

Pioneer Children

Achievement Days Country Fair

Achievement Days Book Review:  Sarah, Plain and Tall

A New Twist on Pioneer Hay Sticks
Pioneer Day Event

Pioneer Games (Button, Button--pics)

Children's Pioneer Recipes

Pioneer Chick Lit Book List

Handkerchief Dolls and Poem

Yarn Dolls

Corn Husk Dolls

Pioneer Rag Dolls

Star Spangled Shelf Paper

Button String

Clove Studded Fruit

Clove-Studded Fruit

"Aunt Eliza had brought Ma a large red apple stuck full of cloves.  How good it smelled!  And it would not spoil, for so many cloves would keep it sound and sweet."  Little House In The Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House In The Big Woods is my most favorite of the Little House books.  I love the descriptions given of daily pioneer life.  Clove apples are a very simple craft to make with children.  They don't have to make a pattern at all, but some will want to and they smell wonderful!  They also taste very good too (after cloves have been removed).  I found a small bottle of cloves for little more than a dollar at the local store, though they can be quite costly--I had to shop around.  The number of cloves per child can be limited if necessary.  Handi-wipes would be good to have on hand since the fruit is very juicy.

Press the sharp point of each clove into the apple.  Push it in until only the head of the clove shows.  you may need a toothpick to help you get started.  Continue until the whole apple is covered with cloves, (you can limit the amount of cloves if necessary).  To display your apple, place it on a dish or in a bowl out of direct sunlight.  You can also make clove oranges and clove lemons the same way you make clove apples.  These taste great in hot cider!  (instructions from My Little House Party Crafts Book, ISBN 0439060052)

Our family hosted a Library Story Time and we did this fun craft.  To see the lesson plan go to my Christmas Traditions, part 3 post.

Old-Timey Button String and Bracelet

I remember my mom having a button necklace.  I'll have to ask her if she still has one because I was always pretty fascinated by it.  Laura and Mary in By The Banks of Plum Creek make a button string for their little sister, Carrie.  Buttons were precious back then and were saved from one's childhood and even a mother's childhood as well.  Some buttons came from shops or peddlers, some were carved by hand, some were made of glass, wood, bone, shell, silver, and brass.  (During the Civil War in Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell, buttons were made by covering acorns with fabric!)  Old-fashioned buttons came in shapes of blackberries and a dog's head, or had tiny raised castles and bridges and trees on them.  I found instructions for making a button bracelet that was very similar to my mom's necklace.  My mom also had tons of buttons.  She eventually gave them to me and being an A-Type Personality, I made it my mission in life to find a use for each and every one of them.  I don't even remember what I used them for!  It would have been nice to make a button string of the more unusual ones as a memento.

This is an appropriate activity for five yr. olds and up.  As with all small objects, keep buttons and button strings away from small children.
I was given a trunk of beautiful mementos left by a neighbor of my mother's who really had no one left to leave it to.  In the trunk was an old-fashioned wicker sewing box and in that was a small collection of buttons (pictured).
Take your collection of buttons and using heavy thread (like quilting thread), 10 inches to 12 inches long--or longer if you wish, and double knot a small button to one end of the thread to keep the other buttons from sliding off.  Slide buttons onto the thread which can be stiffened with a few drops of glue (Laura and Mary would have used melted candle wax), or an embroidery needle can be used.  When satisfied with the button string, make a double knot after the last button on the string with the end of the thread.  Clip the loose end of the thread.  ("Baby Carrie's Button String," My Little House Crafts Book ISBN 0439059585)

For a button bracelet, thread needle with about 40 inches of thread and knot ends together.  Insert the needle from the back to the front of a white pearl shirt button, leaving a short tail of thread on the back.  Then insert the needle from front to back through the hole opposite the first hole as shown in Fig. 1. Knot the thread on back of button to secure.
Insert needle through first hole of same button again, add a gold bead and insert needle through second hole as before.
Insert needle from back to front of brown shirt button (or whatever colors you prefer--just have to be shirt buttons).  Add a gold 3mm x 6mm gold oval bead and insert needle through second hole of brown button as shown in Fig. 1.  (You can skip the gold beads if preferred.  My mom's necklace was made with only white pearl buttons).  Slide second button up tight to back of first button as shown in Fig. 2.
Continue to add buttons and beads in this way, alternating white and brown buttons so all white buttons are on one side and all brown buttons are on the other side and the right side of each button is topped with a gold bead.  Keep thread taut and buttons close together as you work.  When bracelet is large enough to fit over your hand, join the ends together and fasten off thread.  (I think this came from Reminisce magazine).  

Star Spangled Shelf Paper

We used the "Star Spangled Shelf Paper" to edge the table.

I was always impressed with Laura Ingalls Wilder's mama.  No matter how many places that husband of hers drug her out to, she would try to dress it up a little--even a sod house which was normally considered very temporary housing.  In one book, Laura describes her mom making her own shelf edging to make the shelves a little more attractive.  I thought this would make a nice decoration for our dessert table at our Achievement Days Country Fair.  Here's how to do it:
I used packaging paper and taped pieces of paper together as I needed to.  Then you fold the strip of paper into 1/2-inch accordion pleats.  Cut out half a star.  A star cookie cutter or printing off a star from the computer and using it as a pattern by folding it in half would work.  I also gave the according fold a scalloped look so it looked lacy.  Carefully unfold the paper and smooth it out.  Fold the edge with the stars down so that the stars hang down over the edge of the shelf.  Secure the paper on the shelf with pieces of tape if you want to.

Pioneer Rag Dolls

Christen and Elise's Rag Dolls

"But Laura was the happiest of all.  Laura had a rag doll.  She was a beautiful doll.  She had a face of white cloth with black button eyes.  A black pencil had made her eyebrows, and her cheeks and her mouth were red with the ink made from pokeberries.  Her hair was black yarn that had been knit and raveled, so that it was curly.  She had little red flannel stockings and little black cloth gaiters for shoes, and her dress was pretty pink and blue calico."

When we were studying about pioneers in our homeschool, we checked out so many books from the various local libraries.  I found one book (unfortunately I didn't keep the source), that had crafts for kids.  I remember the cover of the book had the cutest plates made from woven bread dough clay colorfully painted with flowers also made from the bread dough clay.  Inside were the instructions to make these dolls.  The girls were able to make the bowls and they did a great job, but I had to help them make the dolls.

I was in the process of taking pictures of their dolls for this post when Elise fondly reminisced how I had let the girls design their own dolls.  They chose the hair color and eye color.  Christen added a shawl from the scrap bag and fastened it with a pin from her Grandma Rosie.  I designed the little dresses myself keeping them very simple with tiny pin tucks at the neck.

My 15 yr. old son saw these dolls yesterday and rudely proclaimed them ugly :(  I said they were of a "primitive design" and were supposed to look like this!  In fact I followed the picture in the book freehand exactly as shown.  I've always thought they were very sweet and similar to Laura's doll, Charlotte, as described in Little House in the Big Woods, Chapter 4.  (I just remembered that my mom made a bunch of these simple rag dolls for a Relief Society fund raiser when I was a little girl)!

Basically, draw a doll figure on packaging paper or freezer paper, then cut out fabric.  (The pattern includes the head and the body, separately).  You stuff the head through the neck opening of the head, and the body through the neck opening of the body.  Once stuffed, sew head and neck together with a whip stitch.  (I used a 1/2 inch seam).  A knitting needle helped to push the stuffing into the arms and legs, etc. (Becoming Martha has a great rag doll tutorial that would work just as well probably!)

I used yarn in the desired color looping it around about a foot-wide piece of cardboard until it was enough to make a wig.  I carefully slipped the yarn off of the cardboard and used the sewing machine to make a seam down the middle of the yarn.  Fabric glue is applied to the head to keep the hair onto the doll's head. I used fabric paints to carefully paint a face (lightly sketch it out in pencil first).

I made the dress slightly bigger than the doll's pattern and sewed it together basically the same as the doll's but leaving the bottom of the dress and sleeves open and hemming neck, arms, and sleeves.  Even for a novice sewer like me, it was fairly quick and easy and the girls and I were happy with the results since they looked very much like the picture in the book.

Cornhusk Dolls

Landmark Park, Dothan, AL  2002

Members of our Junior Troop included my 9 yr. old daughter, Elise and 11 yr. old daughter Christen and a homeschool friend of Christen's.  Sidekick Bryce is working on his own cornhusk doll while the three girls demonstrate to other visitors of Landmark Park at a special event (probably Heritage or Harvest Days).  Between our homeschool group and Girl Scouts, we visited Landmark Park a lot!--usually free since we were doing some sort of service while there.  The following instructions Cornhusk Dolls can be found at Pioneer Days, by David C. King (ISBN 0439259398).

Cornhusks have a smooth side and a rough side.  Always keep the smooth side facing out.

1. If the cornhusks are green, dry them until they are straw-colored.  Place between sheets of newspaper.  Store in a warm, dry place for 5 or 6 days, or until color turns.  (Can be found in produce section of grocery store or in craft stores).
2. Cover work area with more newspapers (we used a plastic table cloth).  Soak dried husks in water for about 5 minutes before working with them.  This will make them softer and easier to shape.
3. Remove all the husks from the water and shake the water out of them.  Cover the ones you are not working with, with a damp towel.
4. Cut off the pointed tips of all the husks with craft scissors to make the shapes more alike.
5. Form the doll's head by taking a large piece of husk and folding it in half.  Stuff 3 or 4 cotton balls under the fold.  Tie a piece of heavy thread (candle wicking is good) around the husk 1 to 2 inches from the fold to create a head shape (we actually used thin pieces of cornhusks to do this).  The ends of the husks will extend several inches below the neck.
6. For the arms, cut a thin piece of husk about 7 inches long and wrap it around the 6-inch piece of wire or pipe cleaner.  Fold back the tips of the husk at each end of the wire.  Tie them with the thread at the wrists to form hands.  (You can omit the pipe cleaner/wire--they can be made without this).
7. Slide the husk-covered wire between the two halves of the husk below the figure's head to form the arms, one on each side of the body.  Carefully bend the arms into any position you wish.
8. Tie a piece of thread around the doll's waist.  Stuff 2 or 3 cotton balls between the husks to fill out the torso.
9. For a full skirt, place 3 or 4 husks around the doll's waist, but point the husks up, so that they extend above the figure's head.  Tie the husks around the waist with thread, then fold them down over the tied thread to created the skin.
10. If you would like, glue a little corn silk to the head for hair and use felt-tip pens to add facial features--eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.  (I prefer not to do step 10 and leave them more natural).

making the skirt

how I like to leave the dolls

Here is the simplest version for making Cornhusk Dolls found in the Nov/Dec '98 CopyCat Magazine, p. 11.  See my post for homeschoolers or teachers of K-3rd graders: http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/native-american-culture-activities-for-kids/indian0018/

Yarn Dolls

The first time I ever saw a yarn doll was when I was in the first grade and my mom and sister and I went to a friend of my mom's for a Christmas get-together.  She had made these little dolls as Christmas tree ornaments in Christmas colors and crocheted little matching skirts for them.  She gave my sister and I a little doll and these adorned our tree for many years.  My mom probably still has these ornaments.

Directions:
Light-weight yarn, any color
4 x 4 inch piece of cardboard
Scissors 
Wind the yarn around the cardboard 12 to 20 times, depending on how thick you want your tassel to be.
Cut the yarn, and slip the end under the loops on the card.
Cut at 12 inch piece of yarn, and slip it between the loops and the card.  Tie the yarn in a tight knot to pull and hold the loops together.
Slide the loops off the card.
Tightly wind another 12 inch piece of yarn several times around the tassel, about one third of the way down from the top where your first piece of yarn is tied.  Tie in a firm knot.  This is the yarn doll's head.
Cut the loops of yarn at the bottom of the bundle, and trim the ends evenly.
Shake the yarn to fluff it.
Separate a few strands from each side of the doll to make arms by tying each arm with yarn about half-way down (wrap yarn around several times).  Trim each arm below where they are tied off.

Pioneer Chick Lit

Here are my favorite pioneer books:

Little House Series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder ISBN 0590488146
My Little House Crafts Book, ISBN 0439059585
Kirsten, An American Girl: 1854, ISBN 0937295760
Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan ISBN 0618062416
Pioneer Days, by David C. King ISBN 0439259398

This one isn't exactly about pioneers, but describes in an entertaining way what life at the turn-of-the-century was like and has become a favorite of mine.  I especially like the recipes at the end of the book.
Memory of a Large Christmas, Lillian Smith ISBN 0393000389

Flip Over Old Fashioned Games

The instructions for two games we played in my Children's Pioneer Day Event post are given below.  I also included more old-fashioned games and their instructions.  Of course these are games the neighborhood friends and I played as kids and I am not that old--so they have really stood the test of time.  I remember teaching them to my children and anyone else's kids that just happened to be around.

Duck, Duck, Goose Everyone sits in a big circle, with one person standing on the outside of the circle.  That person (the standing person) on the outside walks around the circle touching each person on the head, saying "Duck, duck, duck, etc."
When they decide to, the standing person touches someone's head and says "GOOSE!"  Then the person who has been "goosed" (the sitting person) jumps up and chases the other person around the circle before they get back to the "goosed" position and sits down in the circle.
If the sitting person catches the standing person, the standing person has to go again.  But if the standing person reaches the empty spot in the circle, the sitting person becomes the standing person.
This goes until everyone is tired of playing.

Button-Button, Who's Got the Button? Everyone sits in a circle, with one person standing.  That person puts a button between his/her hands (like they were praying) and you are basically trying to pass the button from the

Children's Pioneer Day Event

Because I didn't Journal!!!  I don't remember why we did this activity indoors.  

I am not exactly sure where I got this wonderful idea.  On my Button Exchange Page, there are a few Mormon sites that this could have come from.  If there's time, it would be nice to use Activity Days (or Cub Scouts and Achievement Day Girls--whatever they call it now--the 8-11 yr-olds) for making invitations, homemade butter, posters for each camp, and learn the games ahead of time.  Then the older children can lead the younger ones in the games that are played at the Fort Laramie Camp.  We had a small group of children in our branch so I mostly used the help of parents.  I typed this program and left a space for names of folks who were helping (I asked ahead of time). It was no problem getting the children to dress up "old timey."  Putting a bonnet on a sister instantly turned her into a "pioneer woman."  A bandanna around the neck did the same for a brother helping with our program.  I always put down the time frame for each part of the activity to keep things moving so we don't go over time by much.  I included my materials list.  I like to keep a list hand so that I don't forget anything.  Butter recipes are included in an upcoming post:  Pioneer Children Recipes.

Nauvoo 10:00-10:05 am
The children are gathered together to begin.
"Brigham Young" (__________) tells about Joseph Smith and the mobs then a 'Missouian' comes and tells the Saints (the children) to leave.
"Brigham blesses (opening prayer) the "Locust Fork Company" and we begin our trek.

Sugar Creek Camp 10:05-10:15 am
The children gather round a "campfire."
They are offered a piece of Brigham Young's favorite candy -- horehound candy.
A pioneer sister (__________) tells about traveling on the plains:  "We traveled all day on the plains and if we could not get water, we traveled all night.  When we would camp, we gathered buffalo chips and wood where we could, and built our fire and cooked a little bacon.  Then the boys would get their fiddles and we would clear off the brush and dance and sing songs.  Then we would sing hymns and have prayers and go to bed.  We had to make our beds right on the ground, and if in the morning when we woke up there was a snake in bed with us, we'd just kick it out."

Winter Quarters Camp 10:15-10:25 am
Another pioneer sister (__________) offers the children a taste of horseradish.  They learn that it was used to cure scurvy, a sickness from not getting enough vitamin C.
The children taste homemade butter and bread.
She tells about pioneer cooking:
"Bread was mixed in a home-made wooden bread tray in the morning and placed in the wagon to rise during the day as they traveled along.  When camp was reached in the evening, it was baked in one of the rock ovens built by the previous pioneers.  Cows made the entire journey and furnished milk and butter for the family with some to spare for others.  The milk and cream not used immediately were put in a tightly covered wooden churn and fastened firmly inside the wagon; the butter was already churned when they reached the evening camp."

Chimney Rock Camp 10:25-10:40 am
The wagon master (__________) tells about pioneers eating dried prickly pear cactus and gives a taste of dried apples.
He tells about the Goodridge family:
"In Captain Hardy's camp there was a family by the name of Goodridge, father, mother, several young girls and an 11-year-old boy.  They were a musical family, full of fun and made the best of most every situation.  The girls sang and danced; they gathered berries on the way; they laughed.  But they also counted the graves and wondered about the sadness and hardships of the travelers and wept for those who had died along the way.  They helped nurse the sick, washed and mended, cooked and carried water; they knew how to work.  When necessary, they would wade streams without complaining, shake the dust out of their clothing without resentment and gather buffalo chips without disgust.  They could fall on their knees night and morning and thank their Heavenly Father for their health and strength, their safety, their food and clothing, and the boundless sea of grass that paved their way to freedom..."
Brigham Young tells the "pioneers" they are too discouraged and cannot leave until they sing a song to lift their spirits.  So as they leave (walk around the property) towards the  next camp, they sing pioneer songs (i.e. Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked, The Handcart Song, and Come, Come Ye Saints).

Fort Laramie Camp 10:40-11:10 am
The school-teacher (__________) tells about the work the children did:  "boys helped the family to find food, and sometimes using the slingshot or a gun, brought home a rabbit or squirrel for dinner.  They would tend the animals and drive the wagons or pull the handcarts.  Girls helped gather wood and buffalo chips for the fire, they would help make food and tend to the younger children.  The pioneers walked 1,297 miles!  Sometimes they carried a brother or sister because they were too tired to walk and there was no room in the handcart."  (Have a child try to carry a sibling about 20 feet).  But pioneer children also found time to play some old-fashioned games."
(Lead the children in games such as, Button-Button, Duck, Duck Goose, Spin-the-Bottle, Mother, May I?  and Pioneer Laundry Race.  These games and more are found in the next post Pioneer Games.)
The children taste jerky and drink lemonade.

Salt Lake Valley Camp 11:10-11:25 am
A pioneer sister (__________) tells about the seagulls and the crickets:  "It was June and the Saints were struggling to plant crops in the Salt Lake Valley...they planted rows and rows of corn and vegetables.  The crickets covered all the crops and were eating everything green.  First they tried to drown crickets with water, but it didn't work.  So then they got sticks and clubs and tried to kill the crickets.  As soon as the sun came out the next day, the crickets came out again in more numbers than before.  When almost all hope was lost the seagulls came from out of the sky, swooped up the crickets and took them away."
The children plant crops (seeds in egg cartons--cut each opening so that it makes a little bio-degradable container that can be planted directly into the ground).
"Brigham Young" arrives and declares this is the right place, blesses the "crops" and offers a closing prayer.
As the children leave, we give them an old-fashioned peanut butter cookie.

Materials List:
Invitations
Homemade butter
6 camp posters
Horehound candy
Wheat bread
Peanut butter cookies (I used Archway Molasses Cookies)
Button
Bottle
Egg cartons (biodegradable)
Potting soil
Bean seeds
Plastic spoons (to fill cartons with soil)
Horseradish
Dried apples
Jerky
Lemonade
4 buckets
Two boards
Campfire wood
Photographer __________

A New Twist On Pioneer Hay Sticks

None of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books were more frightening to me than The Long Winter.  (Though the plague of grasshoppers On the Banks of Plum Creek was pretty terrifying!)  I could not imagine being cut off from civilization for so long that people became seriously malnourished!  Laura's future husband, Almonzo, and his brother fared a little better due to the fact that they had stored a large amount of wheat to plant in the spring.  Soon it became apparent that they would have to share with the other townspeople--a perfect example of the necessity of food storage.

In The Long Winter, the coal soon ran out since no train was able to get through the blizzard and Pa ingeniously began to use the hay as fuel that they had stored for their animal's food to last throughout the winter.  "Here is your breakfast fuel, Caroline," Pa said, laying his armful down by the stove.  "Good hard sticks of hay.  I guess they will burn all right."

Laura was a big help making the hay sticks with her father who was soon becoming seriously discouraged about their predicament.  My Little House Crafts Book 0439059585 is a fun little book of crafts that Laura describes in her Little House series.  The book shares how the hay sticks were made.  However, I chose to share a similar craft that we can more easily make and use today.

I found this idea in an issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine.  Simply reuse newspapers to make firestarters.  "Tightly roll a sheet of newspaper, bend it in half, twist the ends together, and fasten with twine.  Keep a basketful by the hearth and you'll always be ready to heat things up."  These are very similar to the hay sticks that Laura and her pa made.

Book Review: Sarah, Plain and Tall

ISBN 0618062416

At the height of homeschooling where all three were being taught in our home by me, I became very passionate that all of my associations with children, whether homeschool, Girl Scouts or children's church activities be given my best efforts.  In this environment, it was really easy to take each activity and plan it as carefully as I would a homeschool lesson. 

Many would probably feel that doing a book review with 16, 8-11 year old girls as a weekly church activity would be going above and beyond.  However, I was familiar with a really good resource (listed below) that I was using with my older children to study Newbery Award winning books (I'm picky about these because some are just down-right depressing!)  This made planning a series of book-review activities relatively painless.  Not all the girls were on board, however, since reading was involved.  This book could be read in one sitting by an 11 yr. old.  The younger girls and their moms were more receptive!  

We actually did the above pictured chapter review and I think we watched the movie.  The book was covered over 3-4 weeks.  You may not be able to do all the activities in a weekly environment--I chose the ones that would fit our group of girls the best.  But homeschoolers and teachers of this age-group might want to try all of the activities.  I also highly recommend the Kirsten series and teacher's guide.  My younger daughter and I really enjoyed doing these activities together.

Kirsten 1854 Teacher's Guide to Six Books About Pioneer America, Peg Hall 1562472364

Teaching With Favorite Newbery Books, Lori Licciardo-Musso ISBN 0590019759

Achievement Days Country Fair

Blogging has helped me find spelling errors on my scrapbook pages!

This was probably the best event I've ever help to put on.  I found the idea on one of my favorite Mormon websites (don't recall which one).  We used it as a Recognition Night, just as Loralee Kurzius of Goldsboro, NC shared on whatever website this was found.  Everyone was to dress "old-fashioned countryish."  We too had the girls bring a dessert for judging.  They also brought anything they had done or made in Achievement Days so far that year.  We had sixteen girls and two Achievement Day leaders, so we did A LOT!

Loralee said that when the girls arrived, "they were free to wander, play and visit the first 30 minutes or so while

Pioneer Children

by Sandy Halvorson

Sometimes when I must walk to school, it seems a long, long way.

I get to feeling tired and would like to stop and play.

But then I think of pioneers who walked by sun and star;

And suddenly my little walk doesn’t seem so far.

Sometimes on cold, dark winter nights I crawl beneath the sheet

And wish I had a cozy place to warm my chilly feet.

But then I think of pioneers who camped outside all night

And only had a fire’s glow to give them warmth and light.

Sometimes when I am hungry and want something good to eat,

My mother gives me carrots when I’d rather have a sweet.

But then I think of pioneers who thanked God and were glad

For anything at all to eat—my carrots aren’t so bad.

Sometimes when I have chores to do and I would rather play,

I think of pioneers and know they worked most all the day.

And so I guess I can’t complain about things that I must do,

For when I think of pioneers, I’m very blessed—aren’t you?

http://lds.org/friend/1983/07/i-think-of-pioneers?lang=eng

Here is a real story of just one of the thousands of pioneer children who migrated west in the late 1840s and early 1850s.  This is a good one to tell children at a Primary pioneer activity, or a pioneer-themed family home evening.  It would be fun if a dad or granddad could dress up for the part and tell the story as if  he were Albert reminiscing when he was one of the pioneer children.

"Children Pioneers," by Fay McCracken, Friend, July 1995

CopyCat Magazine Little House Unit

Little House Dioramas made from grocery paper sacks.

This was probably the most enjoyable and  memorable unit of study my children and I did while homeschooling.  History is probably my favorite subject, especially American History.  I was overjoyed when I found this Jan/Feb 96 CopyCat Magazine unit on the Little House series because I loved to watch the show in the 1970s as a little girl and read the books that my grandmother would buy me each birthday.  I couldn't wait to share these books with my children and read them all over again together.  In celebration of Pioneer Day this month (July 24th), I'm sharing this CopyCat unit here and at my regular blog for CopyCat fans (http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/copycat-little-house-adventure/)!

Sod house replica made a few yrs. later.