We would have died

My eldest lamblet has always been interested in history. Since both Grizzled and I are as well, we've always been happy to help her explore the past. A number of years ago she was really curious about pioneers. I had a couple of good books, with lots of photos that showed the bizarre meshing of lifestyles that was part of the pioneer life. It was not uncommon to see men and women in full dress standing next to their sod house which may or may not have had something grazing on it.

My eldest lamblet was having a hard time grasping the concept of the sod house. Yes, she saw pictures, yes we explained, but it was apparent she was going to need more. It was just the beginning of the gardening season and we were enlarging a couple of beds so we figured we'd build a sod house replica! How hard could it be???

Oh. My. God.

Our little sod house (as you can see in progress) was only about 36 inches wide and 22 inches deep. I think it only reached a height of about 18-20 inches. The digging up and cutting of the sod, the hauling and arranging of the *bricks* was brutal and it wasn't like Grizzled or I were wimps.

And... this wasn't even virgin, prairie sod. When I had mentioned in passing to my father that we were going to build a mini-sod house, he went off on the lack of integrity of our root structure... blah, blah, blah. Yes, Dad, I know, but like I said, it's a MINI-sod house. Geeze!

We were lucky it wasn't virgin, prairie sod. We were lucky it wasn't a full-size house. It became glaringly apparent to Grizzled and me (eldest lamblet quit early in the day, I can't blame her) that had we had to build a true sod house, we would have died. Either the building of it would have killed us or the elements, whichever got to us first.

I have to say though, I loved that little sod house.We tossed a makeshift roof on it and it stayed with us through the season. I had had intentions of putting some oiled newsprint on the window frame that Grizzled and the eldest lamblet made and whitewashing the inside, but decided it was fabulous just the say it was. Besides, I was exhausted and didn't feel up to a lesson in crushing down lime...

All summer long, that house looked like it was waiting for someone. My eldest lamblet thought maybe some prairie fairies would show up. I kind of expected to see a little horse and wagon rig going across the backyard, but I never did. If I had, I don't think I would have owned up to it anyhow. Our neighbors were curious enough as to why we were wasting precious time making a sod house. It was fun, but I'm glad we didn't have to make a real one.

We would have died.

Comments

[Claire]

That's hilarious. Did you ever watch Frontier House (or the like) on PBS? The reality show where people live in olden times? I totally would have died, too, if I was transported back to then.

[Jennifer]

Claire! I LOVED Frontier House! I've watched all of those "House" thingies on PBS and would do one in a second. I either had kids who were too young or I missed the application deadline.

Grizzled and I soothed ourselves with the notion that if we had been pioneers, we would have been used to a different level of grunt work. One can only hope.

[Idyllopus]

I love the Barbie sod house. You should have lined up some Barbies and Kens and kiddos in front of it and done up a sepia-toned photo.

"Frontier House" irritated the hell out of me. Most of these people moved out West with several families of relatives and/or other people from their area. Not saying it didn't happen but I believe it would've been the exception that they didn't move with a decent support network. Plus they already were farmers, mostly, used to grunt work as you note, and psychologically they were readier for the situation. Plus there was the psychological advantage of knowing you had to make it.

I watched "Frontier House" for the sole purpose of hissing at it and jumping up and down every so often ranting about how stupid it was. In that respect it was at most a good substitute for baseball.

As for me, yeah, one winter on the Prairie and I'd probably have been dead.

[Jennifer]

Idyllopus- I thought the CA family was the most interesting. The man, a self-acknowledge history buff, really had no working knowledge of history.

I am also surprised by women who don't understand why they can't play their 21st century roles in late 1800's. There were many women on Ranch House who just didn't get that they were trying to recreate a woman's life from the late 1800's.

The instance that was amusing on Colonial House was when people were offended that they were expected to go to church. In that time, it was done and they were going back to try to recreate that time.

I still like the shows, for all of their lacking. And yes, they are good to yell at!

As for using Barbies, I had thought of that (not the sepia tone, that would have been wonderful!), but Babs is such a hard one to make look wizened and she's always smiling. Most of the people in photos of that time are never smiling.

[Claire]

I actually don't know if I saw Frontier House one, but it's the only name that popped in my head. I *hated* the Texas Ranch House one. My favorite was the one where they lived like early settlers on the East coast. Colonial House?

And I loved the Regency House Party, but that's just because I have a weakness for English accents and Jane Austen.

[Jennifer]

Claire- the east coast one does sound like Colonial House.

The main woman on Ranch House was JUST a piece of work. That whole family was a piece of work.

I don't know if I saw Regency House Party. I saw Manor House and 1900 House, both British productions. I'll have to look into the House Party.

[Chuckles]

Manor House was interesting. I watched that with my parents, as I had just moved back in with them for the third or fourth time. I was not surprised that the coach boy and scullery maid hooked up. She was hot.

[Jennifer]

Chuckles, you horn dog. Hey, do you have utilities again or are you still giving yourself sponge baths?

[Snag]

I've always had this vision of a pioneer wife looking at her husband during that first winter on the northern plains and asking, "What the HELL were you thinking?"

[Jennifer]

On Frontier House, they had a couple that was having marital issues and the stress of pioneer life was not helping. The historical experts said it was not unusual for spring to come around and a spouse had just *disappeared*.

Did you ever read "Giants in the Earth"? If I recall, Beret was indeed wondering WTF!??!

[Snag]

My Lovely Bride often wonders WTF!??!

[Chuckles]

I have both internet and electricity. YAY ME!

[Claire]

Chuckles, I hear you on the maid and the coachman. They were both cute.

Check out Regency House Party, they are all cute and there's a resident hermit, who's hot in his own right and one of the girls falls for him.

[Kathleen]

what an awesome story.