Too disgusted to be a Colonial kid
GB has decided that he would have been too disgusted to have been a Colonial kid. Today we finished our wattle and daub house. This project was in Kris’s book, Great Colonial American Projects You Can Build Yourself. It took a couple of days to complete, but was SO fun. Even though GB thought the daub was truly disgusting, we really had a great time.
First thing we did was prepare a 16″ X 16″ plot of land. The support sticks would have to go about 5 inches into the ground.
Then the ground needed to be pressed all around those sticks so they were firmly in place. Crocs shoes work well for stepping between sticks and putting LOTS of weight into the pressing.
Poor Mom…. this was the only bodily damage done during the project.
Here is the wattle part of our little house. Looks pretty good so far. 
Here is the ‘disgusting’ part…. We prepare the dirt and water, in other words, MUD.
Then we add straw or sticks. Once again, I have no straw. But Teddy is such a nice hamster, he very graciously donated his alfalfa for our project. The mud and straw consistancy needed to be of a squishiness comparable to shaving creme…. LOL…. That’s about the last way I would describe the consistancy….. I could think of another way, but I’m not even gonna say it. 
Here is our finished wattle and daub house. After applying the daub, we created a roof with sticks going from one side of the top to the other. And, we finally got to make use of the trees that Hurricane Isabelle scattered all over the woods in our back yard. We took the bark off the dead trees and lay it across the top of our little house, kind of like roofing shingles.
Btw, GB is also disgusted by the idea that Colonial kids would have gone hunting with their dads to bring meat to the table. The butchering appalls him, too. I’m not sure if they had vegetarians back then, but if he lived in Colonial days, he may have tried to set a trend.
We did a few other activities today. But I’ll post them later. Because honestly folks…. I’m pooped! Woops! I wasn’t gonna say that….LOL!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for posting pictures. It’s so neat to see a reader take an idea from start to finish and enjoy it - and have it turn out so well! Or cause such disgust.
Comment by
paradisefound — January 11, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
LOL! First sewing, then mud houses and hunting for meat!What torture is up your sleeve next for the poor boy?LOL!
Comment by
lapazfarm — January 11, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
That looks very cool. You’ve set up a great place for some small woodland creature to live like a colonial!
He’s certainly getting a better idea of what life was really like.
Comment by
learningumbrella — January 11, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Awesome! I’m sure my kids will want to build one. Cool!
Comment by Jennifer — January 12, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Wow! What a great job on that house! I’m sure if we make one, it’ll be much smaller.
We’re planning on starting the book after finishing our History Pockets book - hopefully before the week is over!
Thanks again for sharing your photos. You two are amazing!
Comment by Dana — January 14, 2008 @ 11:27 pm