Getting our fiber


Today we went to Historic Brattonsville, which is a working Revolutionary War era plantation. They were having a special day celebrating everything fiber arts related. They have Gulf Coast sheep on the farm that they use to make wool, and they grow cotton. The interpreters all wear clothing made using period techniques.

When we arrived, the person behind the counter recognized us and knew our names! We are members of the museum group that Brattonsville belongs to and have been to many events. And we are a little bit memorable, what with a power chair and a tiny service dog!

We started out by heading to our favorite spinster, but her building is not wheelchair accessible. We were hoping to catch her at an off time, where there weren’t others around, and we could have her come out of the building and talk with us. But both times we walked by her building, she was busy unfortunately. The good thing is that we had plenty of other things to do to tire us out on a hot day!

Nearby is the schoolhouse, which always reminds me of this summer camp I used to go to as a kid. The summer camp was in a one room schoolhouse, and everything was period. It was great! Anyway, we got some pics, and then went into another room where there was a tailor. We talked with him for a long time about fabrics, clothing, and all sorts of history. He was great! We got to touch and even try on some clothing! One thing he told us, which I had no idea of, was that in that era, you would buy linen pants for the summer and they would last 100 days on average. That is wearing them every day, though. I was surprised to hear that the workmanship on the clothing was very good, and that really fancy fabrics were being used on the clothing (compared to today’s fast fashion).

Next we headed out to the cotton gin, but got distracted by a new enclosure for the pigs. Hestia was VERY interested in the pigs. Most of the pigs went away when they saw her standing at the fence, but this one pig got really close! She was eating and it was so loud! Hestia was enthralled! Then she got a little too interested and barked. She barked a total of three barks. I was very embarrassed and picked her up and walked away from the pigs. I guess I didn’t go hog-wild with her early public access training.

But we didn’t go far! One of the interpreters in a blue bonnet with fake flowers on it came over and talked with us, and we migrated to the cotton gin shed. She was interested in service dogs, and we had lots of questions about what it was like to work at Historic Brattonsville. I know we’ll be happy to see her when we come back in the future!

The cotton gin demonstration was delayed due to some hornets in the area, so the flower-bonneted lady led us to a woman working at a loom. We couldn’t go in the house because it had steps and no ramp, but that didn’t stop Brad from asking a million questions of the weaver! She explained how the loom worked, and Brad wanted to know how weaving was similar to knitting. It was very interesting talking with her.

Next we went to a breezeway where a woman was working on making tape. Not adhesive tape, but fabric that was used for ties on aprons and anything else that needed a strong long piece of fabric. We didn’t stay long, though, because the cotton gin was ready to work!

The cotton gin separates the seeds from the cotton fibers. The cotton gin that they had on site was from the 1920s, so it did require electricity. But it was still a good demonstration of how it worked. The seeds fell right out, and the fluffy cotton that was left felt like Ollie did as a puppy!

After all that, I was wiped out, but we decided to head to Sam’s because I really wanted to pick up some fruit and salsa—and a fruity salsa (with mango in it). Hestia was really tired, and kept dragging. Then we finally got home.

Brad did lots of cool things with the pictures. Here is a link to the google photos album with all of his 27 pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7ZbPHduzXmLGhBmz5

And here are my favorites! In all the pictures, I am wearing a yellow ruffled dress, and Hestia has a yellow service dog bandana on. I have long brown curly hair, and Hestia is black and white with a smushed face.

On the floor in the tailor's room, Hestia licks her nose and looks hot and tired already!
On the floor in the tailor’s room, Hestia licks her nose and looks hot and tired already!
On a brown worn wooden floor, Hestia relaxes and watches the tailor talk.
On a brown worn wooden floor, Hestia relaxes and watches the tailor talk.
Veronica is carrying Hestia, and they pose next to a fence with one of the slave cabins in the background.
Veronica is carrying Hestia, and they pose next to a fence with one of the slave cabins in the background.
Veronica stands next to a newly constructed fence.  Hestia is in motion next to Veronica, with her hair caught flowing in the wind.
Veronica stands next to a newly constructed fence. Hestia is in motion next to Veronica, with her hair caught flowing in the wind.
You can see the back of Hestia's head, with her service dog bandana, as she looks through the fence at a pig!
You can see the back of Hestia’s head, with her service dog bandana, as she looks through the fence at a pig!
Veronica holds Hestia as they talk with the woman with the flowered bonnet.
Veronica holds Hestia as they talk with the woman with the flowered bonnet.
Veronica carrying Hestia and the woman with the flowered bonnet stand outside of one of the houses.  Inside you can see a woman working at a loom.
Veronica carrying Hestia and the woman with the flowered bonnet stand outside of one of the houses. Inside you can see a woman working at a loom.
Veronica holding Hestia in the old schoolhouse.  The desks and benches are an old green color.  This was Veronica's favorite room for this visit to Brattonsville.
Veronica holding Hestia in the old schoolhouse. The desks and benches are an old green color. This was Veronica’s favorite room for this visit to Brattonsville.

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