What to wear in the winter.

A friend sent me a message earlier this week saying that she was going to an event in February and needed to know exactly what to wear. I thought rather than reply to one person, I could make a post out of it because I’m sorely lacking in “look what I made” posts. This isn't the finished article, but I thought I would post it while the ideas are percolating in my mind and add to it or edit it later.

My first thoughts are that what your clothing needs are in the winter and summer really aren’t that different. In the winter you just need more!

I’m assuming she’s going to an event that is dated somewhere during the Civil War and it’s not a pre-war event. Working on that assumption here is the list I would prepare for myself before I went. I love lists!!!

Sturdy leather boots

Stockings – preferably wool

One pair of drawers for every day

One chemise for every day

A shortened petticoat to wear next to the drawers

Skirt support *

Three to five petticoats depending on the circumstances of the event

One sturdy dress – preferably wool

This list is the typical list I would recommend for anyone going to an average weekend event. The only differences I would have would be the textiles recommended and those would change with the weather.

Additionally I would plan on bringing a few things because this event is * I think* is taking place during winter in the Midwest.

One hood

Outerwear, either a coat or multiple shawls if you don’t have a coat.

Rubber over-boots to protect your leather ones

Mittens

Scarf

*It is my belief that most women attending Civil War reenactments would be portraying someone existing in the middle class of society. From the research I have done, and the tons of research belonging to other individuals that I have read, or discussed I believe that the vast majority of women would be wearing skirt support on a daily basis. Either a cage crinoline or a covered hoop, but something would have been worn. There are plenty of working circumstances that would limit the size of the support, but not necessarily negate the use of said support.

just a lil post

to say that I haven't done anything blog worthy in awhile...but I hope to soon! I'm getting the itch to sew again, mainly because I have a looming deadline. I figure that most of what needs to be finished for the summer needs to be finished before spring if it's going to be finished at all! This means 3 things.
1. I need to finish clearing off my interim sewing desk.
2. I need to finish my mending pile before I start a new project.
3. I need to go into my unheated sewing room to find fabric...and it's a scary mess up there!

I feel like I've been constantly getting yelled at to slow down and stop doing physical things lately (luckily none of this has come from my midwives) so today I'm taking it fairly easy. Hopefully I'll finish at least #1, maybe even #2 on my list tonight. That is after I do barn chores and make supper.

P.S. there has been talk of picking up our sew alongs where we left off last summer!

The vaccination debate

Since we're having a baby, I've been doing lots of research on alternatives to lots of things. Everything from homebirths to co-sleeping. Tonight I'm starting the long trek down the vaccination road. There is so much contradicting information out there!
My family has allergic reactions to some vaccines so I definitely am wary about them! I know that I've read some blogs where people have discussed their views. If anyone has any info out there on the truth behind vaccines I'd truly appreciate it getting passed on. Most of my research has come up with government websites, and honestly after reading the CDC's views on homebirths I'm not too keen on what they have to say.
Thanks,
Jenny

Christmas Decorations are coming

I have photos...somewhere, of our Christmas decorations. I have two left to finish, hopefully tonight since the hubby is gone, and then I'll try to post all the pics. For now I've got to try to unfreeze our barn pipes. Hauling water from the house, by myself, while six months pregnant is not something I'm enjoying! Off to the barn, and hopefully back inside before I too freeze!
Love,
Jenny

my reason for a lack of motivation

Here it is, my reason for why I have barely posted in the last few months...I'll be 6 months along next Monday. It seems like time is flying so quickly, I just can't keep up with everything that is going on! Were not finding out the gender, and we're planning a home birth, so it's going to be quite an experience for us!

On other notes, I've been working on finishing up some Christmas decorations, and have a few gifts to get made up so hopefully more posts soon!
Love,
Jenny

a couple things

Although most of my time has been spent working on house projects, I have worked on a couple things.

A scarf I started this time last year, but it got lost amongst the moving boxes for months, and another one that will hopefully be a Christmas gift;


an Alice in Wonderland costume, that I didn't get photos of; this one was for a pony club Halloween costume contest. Very little sewing, but a lot of imagination with two wonderful little girls;Most recently I've been working on my homemaking skills. They definitely need work. I'm trying to come to grips with not contributing 50% of the income. This is something that both my husband and I had talked about, and I thought I was going to like being a stay at home wife, at least part time. I'm having trouble feeling like I contribute enough. Mainly because when I go to work a couple hours at the farm in the morning, my husband cleans. He cleans much better than I do, and I feel quite guilty about not holding my own. I do the majority of the household shopping, and all the cooking and mending. I just really need to get on top of the cleaning aspect of it.
Baking isn't quite my thing yet. I can make cookies like no one's business, did a halfway decent cake for Peter's birthday back in may, and have okay pies...but bread scares me. I've never made an edible pizza crust, and my first pumpkin bread just plain didn't turn out. This is a crafty project I dreamed up, eventually it will be an advent calendar. I'll try to do a separate post on how to make the pieces. It's really turning out to be easy as pie

Best Wishes,
Jenny

updates to come

Hey all, working on the house and just being outside in this beautiful fall weather has kept me from blogging. Now that the weather is turning chilly I'm going to try to keep my blogs updated, starting tonight! After chores that is...anyway, keep your eyes peeled for some new topics!