Throwback to Last Summer - Photo-Shoot

As you can imagine the topic of playing “Cowboys and Indians” comes up on a fairly regular basis with a houseful of boys. While all participate to one degree or another, there is one who has taken it to a whole new level. PW has been interested in all things American Indian for quite awhile now.

The experience of making moccasins winter-before-last spurred his creativity, and he set about making all his own Indian accouterments with varying degrees of success!

He made requests for a deer hide for months, with which to produce his attire, but the price for a deer hide seemed a little steep for just a “cut up and sew” practice session. His shortage of raw materials forced him to take his creativity and imagination a step further. We had leather scraps laying around he was allowed to have, and friends also gave him leather scraps.

Last summer he begged me to take pictures of his creations while fully dressed in his regalia. So, with Kit home and able to watch baby VAR, we dressed PW up like an Indian, added the embellishment of a “mohawk,” and had a photo shoot.

We started the shoot at the boys' fort which they constructed entirely by themselves.

PW has cut out and hand-sewn his “Indian Outfit” entirely by himself. He came up with his own patterns after looking over various books we have on hand.

Next, we went squirrel hunting. His outfit includes a bow, quiver, arrows, leggings, moccasins, and his prize possession - a breech cloth!

Here he nocks the arrow (correct terminology for loading it) . .

"Draw" and "Shoot!"

He missed the squirrel, so it was off to see what else he could scare up.

The bow and arrow he also made entirely by himself, as we know nothing about making such things. Fortunately, we added a new customer to our dairy business, who, much to my son's delight is something of a historian and craftsmen in Indian lore. He taught him how to make arrows, and supplied him with the obsidian and showed him how to make his own arrowheads. His brothers complained of all the little glass rock chippings he left on the bedroom floor that they stepped on. Arrowhead making finally got banned to outdoors. That stuff is surprisingly sharp!

And what "Indian" boy doesn't like to test his athletic ability? Even I was impressed!

Of course it was a running jump, but still! PW constructed his leggings from a friend's leather couch they disposed of.

All that running and jumping just naturally makes you hot and thirsty!

And what self respecting "Indian" doesn't practice his stalking ability?

Shooting from a kneeling position should also be practiced.

A close up of the leather couch leggings.

His trail worn moccasins.

His quiver full of arrows.

Obsidian arrowheads handcrafted solely by 9-year-old hands. PW attached them to wild rosewood our friend harvested especially for him. PW then had to follow instructions on how to peel and hang the sticks so they would dry straight.

Turkey feathers from the local, wild, populace, decorate the other end of the shaft.

He crafted the bow from a local yew tree that he cut a piece off from and dried behind the stove all winter and then slowly whittled down.

I am thinking these pictures might have to come out again about graduation time or even during the wedding reception! It would be surprisingly insightful for the new bride!

Boys Build a Cabin

It is always interesting to see what children pick up, learn, utilize and hopefully put into practice from opportunities provided for them throughout their lives. As parents, we seem to have a list of things we want our children to learn from the experience or opportunity provided. Some seem to pick it up right away, don't seem to get it at the time, but then the knowledge comes out later.

We recently built our own hand-hewn log dairy barn, with help from Granddaddy and Uncle Peter. Some of the boys were able to help more than others. This past summer, while CW was working in the woods with daddy, the next oldest two were left to their own creative devices.

Here's what they came up with. A log cabin, with the corners notched!

CW helped the younger boys get it a few logs higher on the weekends.

And then slowly the rafters were added and scrap OSB and plywood were scavenged to put the roof on.

Considering the principal builders were only 8½, 10, and 11, with slave labor from 6 and 4½-year-olds; not a bad job!

I am thinking a picture of this saved to reprint on their "Professional Log Home" builders business cards would be great!

Here the roof is nailed on, although this house won't lack ventilation!

And what Fort would be complete without your own cannon out front for defense!