Category: Kids

Letter to our Private

We were asked to write a letter to our soldier stationed at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island. Instructions stated to write it in the tone of the times, 1864. It took me over half an hour to carefully hand write the following, making sure that every cursive letter was drawn correctly. If you’ve ever seen my writing, you’d know that this was an artistic feat, not just a letter. My sissies would be so proud of me!

My private said to me, “But I can’t read cursive!” So I had to read it to him, by oil lamp. HA! What is this world coming to?

1863

Dearest Johnny Lee,

It has been a great while since you endeavored to enlist to defend our Country’s cause in this great and terrible war. Yet word has reached us that the rigors of your training and your duty at Camp Reynolds do scarcely compare to the comforts you left behind. Your patriotism and commitment to service for our great Country are a source of pride yet the accounts of the difficulties of a soldier’s life are no comfort to us.

Little Joe is sprouting up taller than the weeds and I fear you will not recognize him upon your return. He is most anxious to be regaled by a detailed account of each and every one of your adventures. He misses you terribly and often asks for us to provide him with another sibling to keep him company while you are away.

Please do write at your earliest convenience, we are eager to hear that you remain in vigorous spirits and long see you safely returned.

As always we remain yours lovingly,

Mother, Father and Little Joe

His next writing assessment test will be to write a letter using colonial period language. I am quite sure he won’t do it in cursive!

We’re in the Army now!

Craig and I got to chaperon a 5th grade overnight field trip to Angel Island for a living history reenactment with John. Boy did we have fun!

Pvt Johnny LeeDSC_0524DSC_0697

We spent a day in the life of a civil war soldier stationed at Camp Reynolds in 1864. Kids made their own vittles (and cleaned all the dishes), learned how to navigate by compass and how to send and read Morse code signals. Did I mention we slept in bed rolls on a wooden pallet and had to wake up during the night for 90 minute watch duty? That too.

It was my first time to Angel Island. I found a lotta love there.

DSC_0544  DSC_0552Tree Love 1

Looking forward to going next year with Joe!

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping…

Busy week. Double boy baseball started and it rained so we’re still trying to figure out practice schedules and fields, lot’s of big homework assignments due, I’ve only got until the 16th to finish with the next book’s beta reading which can only read that on my laptop and that’s not very portable, and I’d like to paint a small painting by Saturday.

Should we go to the roller rink for a skate and donate for school?

I need more time!

Tonight’s Unexpected Project

After a fruitless search for an orange pillow for #1 son to bring to class, my good friend Katharine said, “You should just make him one.” So I thought to myself, well I do have the stuff…

Thanks also to my small sister for providing the copious yards of fur that I had no immediate use for but excitedly accepted when offered!

After seeing what #1’s pillow looked like, and helping me sew and stuff it, #2 said he needed one. So of course, now #1 needs one for home too. Told them both the ones for home weren’t going to be anywhere near as big as the school one. Two was all I could handle tonight though, this was a LOT of hand sewing. #1 will just have to make do with his school pillow for now…

Pillows

While no animals were harmed during the making of these pillows, it looks like I plucked a bunny in my room!