For all other posts related to our Little House on the Prairie Summer see here
A lot of T11’s work this summer will be building up his wood working skills, working on our very own little house. Whilst I know T11 will enjoy the Little House books and the woodworking with his daddy, I also felt he would need something else to get his teeth into. He’s a highly self motivated boy, who likes to be busy. It would have been essential for the settlers on the prairie to have well-developed survival skills and, as our resident Mr Ingalls, we thought T11 should brush up on his. A survival course would be spot on!
Obviously, as we are watching our pennies at the moment an outside course is not possible, so we thought we would make up our own using the books above. To be honest the boy’s book of survival was a bit of fun. The handbook will be the primary book used for this summer. T11 has looked through it and picked a few activities and skills he would like to learn. Some of these we will replicate to the best of our ability, some he will do absolutely according to the book, others he will simply read about. This won’t be the perfect SAS course but it will be something for T11 to learn and grow from. And you never know, we might meet someone in the next few weeks who is skilled in this area who would be willing to teach him. We shall see. It’s amazing how often that happens in our school!
Some of the skills he has chosen will be ones he can teach himself and practice by himself, others will require help. I am so grateful for my husband, who is the children’s staunchest supporter and willing to do anything required of him to help out. He will be working alongside T11, aiding him when necessary, standing back when not required.
T11 has chosen some great projects for his first few weeks which include: making leather twine and twisting it into a rope; making a ladder from wood bits and his homemade rope; learning to start a fire without a match and cooking something simple on his fire. Being an animal lover I think I can safely say he won’t be killing or gutting anything but we have had an offer from the butcher to help out if he does. I shall leave the decision to T11.
I’m hoping amongst all the fun he can learn some real and transferable skills this summer.
Between his herbal medicines and survival and building skills over the summer, T11 will be primed to live off the land 🙂 Hope we get to see his leather rope, and ladder!
I smiled when I read this! He’s loving all the hands on learning at the moment. It definitely suits his learning style!
Maybe that tent in our garden is still a possibility. Looking forward to seeing you all. xxxxxxx
We’ll get T11 to make one out of cloth and home made leather twine!! (I’ll not be sleeping in it, mind you!)
Sounds like really good fun for a boy! It’s so good that your husband is so willing to help out.
Gary is fantastic, and the children are really blessed to have him. Even if he doesn’t want to do something, he will if it helps in any way. He is very willing!
I”m impressed your butcher will let you do that. That’s one we don’t get to see much of, butchers and such things here.
Our butcher is a particularly good one. He is trying to get hold of a pigs bladder for us to play ball with!
So fun to check in on you all. Sounds like a lot of fun work is waiting for you this summer.
I hope so. The children are really looking forward to it!
I love it! Your T11 will be a really useful Man’s man to have around one day! When I look around me, I fear there aren’t too many of them left… and although I am a staunch supporter of all your Little House plans… I would definitely be busy painting my nails, or cleaning toilets or folding something somewhere when you haul out a pig’s bladder… nooooo. At least I get to look on from the relative safety of my computer screen… I am a bit queasy like that. Not quite sure how I loved Nursing… ;-D
No need to worry about the bladder. We just heard today that he can’t get hold of one. Legislation has changed or something. Gary is a little relieved (I’d probably find an excuse..)
Oh my… If that isn’t a sign of excess ‘Red Tape’… Legislation and Pig’s Bladders…? I must admit I totally understand your husband’s relief… I think you are an amazing teacher! Well… How about sewing one together from leather scraps?
I’m blessed with a very willing husband, but there are occasions when he is not terribly enthusiastic about my ‘great’ ideas! This was one of those times!!