Back in the Day

….it is easy to think that life was easier or more peaceful than it is now. In many ways it was more peaceful, but certainly not easier. Today, we took a field trip back 132 years or so in time. Back to the days of General Palmer.

The day was extremely hot, but it did not prevent our group from enjoying this trip back in time. Everyone was cooperative, curious and well behaved during our visit to Rock Ledge Ranch. We were greeted with warmth from the staff at the ranch, they were all so friendly and very knowledgeable. So many stories about that period of time, about the buildings on this land and how the people of this time period lived. There was something that interested each child (and mom). At one point, Gillian’s little friend was talking and Gillian politely asked her friend “please be quiet, S, so I can hear what this lady is saying”.

We got to tour several homesteads on the property, one of my personal favorites was the 100 year old Orchard House.  We were taken into the family quarters and the servants quarters, each room was unique, the architecture was beautiful.  It would be fun to own a home like this.

We also got to see an 1860′s Homestead.  Each of the kids were given a chance to play with Milking Bear. Apparently a child’s first toy back in the day, usually given to them at age three. When they are able to get the  bear to the top with steady and gentle tugs, they were ready to milk a cow.  It appears we have several kids ready to milk a cow!  We also got to see how much work it was to live on the homestead; the women gathered wood, cooked, tended the animals and other chores. We saw how the men spent their time on the land diverting water (irrigation) and tending the produce.  Hayden disagreed with the rest of us about how hard the men’s job really was. After all, he spends much time in our back yard digging and making trenches and diverting water.  “It isn’t too hard, it is actually fun”. he he!  The young man offered him his shovel but H passed.

The children also got to help with the laundry, using a wash tub, they scrubbed, wringed and rinsed.  What an experience. The authentic clothing was as intriguing to G as it was to me when I was her age.  I loved to dress with long dresses and bonnets and pretend I lived on the prairie.

We were not able to see all there was to see, so we will definitely be going back.