Old World Wisconsin

Last week we went on a field trip to Old World Wisconsin. It is a fascinating place where they have taken real ethnic farms from the 1800s that were once located all over Wisconsin and put them all in one location. They are working farms that the public can tour to see how life was during that time period. They have livestock, (we learned the definition of an ox vs. a bull - now that was an education!), and crops as they would have had them back then. They turn on the stoves, make homemade soap and run the looms. Did I mention it was fascinating?

Here are some things we saw:

Interesting facts:

1. These oxen need the horns only to keep the yoke on.
2. An ox is simply a bull that has been neutered and taught to work.
3. These oxen weigh a lot - I forgot how much. See I didn't learn everything!
   

Brice is giggling - because the ox is peeing.

Interesting fact: The ox peed a trickle - and I swear it took him close to 5 minutes to pee. The guide swears the ox has a 30 gallon holding tank.

The ox is still peeing.
Who knew that such a simple fact of life could be so amusing?!

Brice helping to make linen from flax.

It went from here through 2 more steps then inside where it was spun and woven into fabric for clothing.

Learning about the German farm.
The family that owned this house had 11 children!

Quick! Look! - he's washing dishes!

(With homemade soap made from lard and ashes

- it has to be stirred for 4 hours by hand!)

The group
(No, that isn't Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Brice you make me so proud!

Making shingles!

Interesting facts:

1. If they wanted a shingled house, they generally had to make them by hand - each one cut from the wood. (The alternative was thatching)
   
2. The average building would have 2,000 - 5,000 shingles PER side.

Mikayla is wedging the shingle. Step 2 after cutting the strips.
You pulled the knife toward you - definitely a refined art. One slip and it wouldn't be pretty!

Brice and Nathaniel playing the games designed for the proper girls.
(the key is to not let your ankles show - that is VERY immodest!)
I never did get the hang of it.
Don't they look sweet?

Playing with hoops

It is harder than it looks!

It was a very fun day. We only got to visit 1 farm (German) and there are many others still to see. We are planning to go back.

Tip for locals: Check the website. In spring and fall they have 1/2 price admission seasons.