Welcome To Pilgrims and Pioneers!

After many years of researching my family geneaology I have been lucky enough to discover actual information about my relatives that lived in the Pilgrim Era and the Pioneer Era- while many people also have realtives from those eras- many do not know their names or where they lived- actually seeing the proof in print makes you much more aware of who they really were.
After discovering these relatives it of course made me curious to learn more about the eras that they lived in and what their lives were like as, the history I learned in grade school had long since been forgotten.
I decided to start this blog for others who are also interested in these eras.
Some of the information here will be actual facts about my realtives and some will be information about the eras in general that I have found on the web.
I hope you will enjoy traveling back in time with me!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Oh So Pretty!


Isn't this beautiful perfime bottle womderful!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Wonderful Vintage Creation!!

The other night I was surfing the web and came across several of these type of jars. I saw so many I don't remember where this image came from bit I love it. Going to try this some day soon!!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

My Daffodils Finally Bloomed!




Here in the Midwset things have been slow to bloom- at least my flowers !


I am so happy my daffodils finally bloomed- a little sunshine on this rainy cold day!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter


A Happy and Blessed Easter to all!
What is on your menu today?
We are having :
Ham
Potato Salad
Scalloped Corn
Green Bean Casserole
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Rolls
Strawberry Cheesecake
Peach Cobbler

Thursday, April 1, 2010

What a nice Surprise!!





Back in the Spring of 2008 a big portion of this tree came down but was hung up by a wide strip of bark.
My husband is not in good enough health to take the limb( that is double and the size of a full tree) down and we coukd not afford to have it done by a tree sevice. So it has been inthis state for the past two years.
Today a truck drove into our yard and ny husband and I were shocked at first. Them my son and two of his friends got out with a chain saw and started sawing on the limb/tree. It has now been dropped from the main trunk and most of the debris has been cleaned up!
I am so thankful to my son and his friends!!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Free Graphics!!


I just love this bunny! He is free! and there are more free gtreat graphics at http://bannerhaus.blogspot.com
While you are there follow the link to her Etsy shop she has great Vintage earrings!!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Rush Lights


In the 1800's many people could not afford candles so burned what was known as rush lights- here is an article I found that tells more about them.

In small cottages there were people who could not afford any kind of candle. For them a cheap alternative was a rushlight made from a rush dipped in grease, or a burning splinter of wood. These were held pinched in a nip, also called nippers or a pair of nips, like pliers or tongs on a stand. (See photograph of a modern re-creation left. Older rushlights might be thinner.) Nips could be combined with a candle-holder for people who used both kinds of light, depending on their needs and budget at different times.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

My G G Grandparents Wedding Picture ca. 1856

Benjamin Franklin Dow and Sarah Ellen Jones were married 11/25/1856.
I am thrilled to have this photo! ( click on the picture to enlarge it)

Saturday, March 13, 2010

I Found another Relative of my 6th Great Grandmother

and I am doing the happy dance! I am waiting for him to send info on his line of the Robert Adams/ Mourning Lewis family. It is amazing to me that someone born so very long ago in the 1600's has so many descendents and I am so greatful for the ability to find them through the internet! If you have not done any geanealogy research you really should- it is wonderful to know who you really are!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Connecting with my Ancestral Gandmothers!!


As many of you know I have done a lot of family history research. I have been lucky enough to find ancestors back to the early 1600's.

My grandmother's had to do many tasks necessary for survival- such as amking soap and making tallow candles. I have always wanted to try doing both but really was not excited about working with tallow so a few days ago I decided to make dipped candles using conventional wax.

They turned out just the way I wanted them to irregular and somewhat lumpy just like my realtives long ago would have used.

In fact I dipped al ot of them- you can purcahse them on my other blog

Wednesday, March 3, 2010


These vintage blue/green quart size mason jars with black prim lids are the perfect storage solution for your primitive or country home.


They can be used to store pasta, cereal, sugar, flour, or other food items.


They can be filled with cotton balls, qtips, soap balls, melting tarts or rosehips. The possibilites are endless!
10.00 set of three plus traveling fee
Order by email prairieprim@comcast.net

Monday, March 1, 2010

My Ancestors ca. 1888


I had to post the bottom picture again because my Aunt sent them to me as a set. The top photo was taken in 1888 ( click on the photo to enlarge)- 7 years after they emmigrated from Sweden. The young boy on the right is the man I knew as my grandfather- he was actually my great uncle- his brother( my real grandfather) passed away at the age of 32- 4 years later my grandmother married his brother- the young boy in the right of the photo. William is on the left on my great grandfather's lap- note the shoes he has on! Wish I had them today!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

I Won This Basket! Come Look!!


A few weeks ago I entered a drawing at The Prmitive Peddler. To my delight I won! I won the great basket pictured above. It is from www.basketsbyrose.com
Pay her visit and see her other great baskets!!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

THe call of the Wild!!

I was watching the Olympics when I heard a screeching noise- a noise I had heard before. Thinking it was some of the stray cats that hang around I lifted up the blinds to tap on the window and there stood a fox- I wrtapped some more and it ran off. I went outside and I could hear it screeching about a half a block to the East. I have 2 stray cats I have been feeding- hopefully they will be waiting for me in the morning!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

White Wednesday

I am so proud of myself! I got something done for White Wednesday!
It is different than I usually do but, I like it!
I traced around a widemouth jar lid for the round base and used a heart cookie cutter for the heart shape. The base is muslin and the heart a cream star print. After I added the lace I gave the entire pinkeep a coffee bath and then it was baked. Pioneer women did have some treasured fancy things!!

Prairie Wild Morning Glory

Prairie  Wild Morning Glory

Prairie Phlox

Prairie Phlox

Prairie Sundrops

Prairie Sundrops

The Famous Rock!

The Famous Rock!
Plymouth Rock dated 1620

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation
The Village

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation
A Keeping Room