Pioneer Project #2: Corn Husk Dolls

We followed this simple little tutorial and made corn husk dolls a couple days ago. Bubs was more into the process of making the dolls, while Welly-Bells couldn't wait to be done and play with them.The project was inspired by our reading of Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is the first book in the Little House series, and it is highly recommended!

Little Laura is a great protagonist. She wishes she could be good like her big sister, Mary, but finds herself hopelessly flawed. She treasures her corn cob doll, and when she is finally given a 'real' doll, she makes sure her corn cob doll still feels loved, too.

I loved reading Little House in the Big Woods aloud to my kids for two reasons. First, it is an excellent intro into pioneer life. We glimpse the roles of Ma and Pa, the work that must be done with each new season, and the simple life they lead...which brings me to #2...

It shows how much we have and helps prompt a feeling of gratitude. Laura talks about how she savored her treats because she only had them twice a year.

This book made me long for a simpler life, where the family is truly the central unit of society.