A World Where There are Octobers

So, this is doing things a little backwards, but the day before we left for our beautiful weekend in Kentucky, we (Jared, Kenan, Lily and Mom) went on a very fun field trip. We've already posted more than once about the beautiful fall memories we've been making. This was another gorgeous day and we got to spend most of it outside- with friends!- which is much better than being in the basement.  I love the way fall air makes me feel.

We met up with our homeschool group and drove a ways to Naper Settlement. I got to ride with my two good friends, Lexie and Layne, which was very special because I don't get to see them very much.

Naper Settlement is a historic village in downtown Naperville. They have brought in many different old buildings so it looks like it was when the first settlers arrived to begin living in this area.

The first thing we did was eat lunch! This made Kenan happy.

The blacksmith shop was my favorite place. Boys that wanted to become blacksmiths left their families and began as apprentices at the age of 10 and they weren't done until they were 20!

We got to have a school lesson in the one-room school house. We first lined up in two lines, one for boys and one for girls, to start our day. We had to curtsy to the teacher. 

They had to sit in very tiny desks and share them too. And read the rules they followed! Mom thought those were very good- good enough to keep!

 Kenan tried out writing on his slate- can you read it?

Then we toured a one-room cabin. We learned they didn't waste anything. They soaked a ox's horn in water until became soft and bendable. Then they shaped it into a bowl that wouldn't break or absorb water after it dried. It was really nice. 

This is a printshop. It was amazing how tiny the letters were and you had to put them in the trays backwards so it printed out right!

 We also saw a mansion and a farmstead, a fire station and a church.  

At the end of the day, we got to play in a fun play area with a covered wagon. It was so much smaller than I thought. I don' t know how in the world they put all their stuff in there plus themselves!

It was the first we had seen of the trees changing into their fall colors. So I am like Anne of Green Gables because I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers, too. (and computers, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to read about this great day!)

It was so, so, so, so, so much fun!!!! -Lily