Ready to Time Travel?

Saturday was a beautiful November day, so I convinced my husband to take a trip to visit Old Sturbridge Village. I thought it would be fun to transport myself in time to the late 1700's-early 1800's . . . (I had a vision of turning into Clare from the Outlander series!).

 As soon as we walked in we, were greeted by the cutest little sheep . . . well okay, they weren't really little . . . I looked at them and wondered how much they weighed!!


While some people were looking at them and probably thinking of lamb chops for the village, I thought . . . 'oh, fleece'!




When we came across the building labeled, Carding Shed, I couldn't wait to go in. (For some reason my husband was not as enthusiastic). Gone were the days of carding by hand . . . dominating the building were two carding machines that would have been powered by water.

I could just picture myself walking around the village in my bonnet wearing a dress made of a pretty blue calico print and carrying a basket . . . to put my fleece in, of course.







I envisioned myself purchasing my fleece (probably using vegetables from my garden or eggs from my chickens, since not many people had money), and then probably going home and sitting down and setting to the task of spinning my yarn . . . hey, just like the spinners that come to Knitting Night on Mondays!










But then as I walked around more . . . 
 and noticed more of the cute little woolie lambs . . . it hit me. They weren't knitting cowls from sock weight yarn or scarves from the latest novelty yarn . . . and their sweaters were not knit from kid silk mohair or cashmere.

They were using homespun wool . . .  literally . . . and knitting for warmth.

I also took a closer look at the cute little woolies . . . and then I also took a closer look at their fleece . . . and I saw how DIRTY it is!! (Leaves, mud, sticks and other 'items' I would not want to touch.)



Then I found out that women could drink alcohol and carry a gun . . . but couldn't vote. (My husband thought alcohol and firearms could be a dangerous combination in women and perhaps they should have allowed voting instead.)

Hmm . . . what do you think? Would you want to live in that era? Take a trip and visit Old Sturbridge Village and decide for yourself. The library even has a pass so that you can get a discounted admission.

I decided the 18th century was not for me. I'll stay in 2015 and visit my local yarn shop and purchase a hand painted skein of yarn to knit something frivolous.





Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.