Cabin Fever

In November 2012, Providence Prairie was blessed with the gift of an authentic 1800's cabin from the Olney area. For our family, the definition of "Cabin Fever" has taken on a whole new meaning.

Over Thanksgiving, we labored hard removing the roof and clapboard siding which covered the primitive structure.

One by one, the logs of the 16x24 foot structure were removed, labeled, and stacked for delivery to our pioneer homestead. 

Hewn foundation rocks were procured from Ryan's grandpa near the Olney area, as our “cabin fever” grew.

 

With the logs and rocks safely delivered, the reconstruction process was ready to begin. After the hewn rocks were put in position, it was time to replace the bottom course of logs that had deteriorated over time. 

Wanting to keep with the spirit of a pioneer, armed with two-man crosscut saws, axes, broad axes and hatchets, the men set to work. At length, mighty trees fell and were drug to the homestead. 

  

The axe was then utilized to make notches to the desired depth about every foot down the length of the log. Then, turning the log on its side the axe chopped out the pieces. The broad axe and hatchet finished the log to the characteristic square shape. Hands sore and bodies tired, after several Saturdays of sawing and hewing, the process was complete.

We have now beguin placing the old 1800's logs atop our newly hewn ones and then the roof, porch and hearth can come next. By summer’s end our “cabin fever” should be cured . . . or will it just be beginning? 

About to Hit the Press!!

The most recent issue of the Prairie Proclamation is about to hit the presses!  If you haven't joined our family of readers, you can do that here.  Don't miss this issue entitled "Wild Edibles."

Providence Prairie's Summer Recital 2013

  Sunday afternoon arrived and we were ready for the big event!  With sound system in place and fresh baked refreshments, we were set up and ready in the First Christian church in McLeansboro.  They graciously allowed us to once again hold our music recital in their facility. 

Grace

 

 

 Cady

Isabella

 

 

Nathan

 



Isabella

 

Katie

 

 

Zander

 

 

Silas

 

 

Ron

 

 

Hannah

 

 

Jack

 

 

Fallon

 

 

Rebecca

 

 

Maddi

 

 

Breanna

 

 

Katie

 

 

Adrianna

 

 

Kaylene

 

 

Several door prizes were awarded after the performances. Thank you to McDaniel Piano Service, Fresh From the Kitchen, Harvest to Home Citrus, and Providence Prairie for donations.

We had several students absent from the recital this season~ Macie, Sarah, Luke, Carrie, Leah, Braxton, Tillie, Amanda, Remington, Emma, Austin, Jordan, Shawn, and Garrett.   Their performances were missed. 

Nevertheless, we had a great turn-out of support for our music students.  Everyone enjoyed listening to the fruit of their labor.  Keep up the great work, one and all!

Providence Prairie Vocal Students Shine!

Practice and more practice! Three of Providence Prairie’s music students recently participated in the Illinois Grade School Association’s competition among elementary, middle, and junior high school bands, orchestras, choruses, soloists, and ensembles in the Districts of the Southern Division.

Katie, Maddi, and Kaylene all received a first place rating after performing their vocal solo selections in front of judges who critiqued over 200 member schools from 52 counties in the southern half of the state. Congratulations girls!  

The association conducts a final or State Contest, bringing together the qualifying participants of the districts.  Katie went on to participate in that competition at Unity Point School in Carbondale. She received a first superior rating!  Way to go!

Providence Prairie is proud of each of its music students!  You can hear these ladies’ song selections at our upcoming Summer Recital as well as other musical solos and performances on a variety of instruments ranging from violin, mandolin, guitar to piano.  

Come Join Us!

Saturday, June 2, 2013

2 p.m.

First Christian church, McLeansboro

 

The Drought is Over

My, how the time has flown. . .

Life on Providence Prairie has been so busy- in a very good way- for the past 17 months.  We have stepped back from so many activities to spend our time nurturing and investing in little lives for the glory of God.  He has placed enormous things in our path and we have tried to be faithful to His calling.  And while life continues, many things have taken place in those months.  We praise the Lord for . . . Music recitals, singing engagements, adoptions, the birth of a new granddaughter, birthday celebrations, the Prairie Peddler opening, vacations, fostering, not running for re-election to County Board, starting a fledgling New Testament church, building a horse barn, raised bed gardening, Prairie-fest, . . . and the list goes on. 

Yes, indeed, we have been busy.  Thus the drought in blog entries. . .

And as 2013 has arrived, we find ourselves with a little more normalcy and thus, a tiny sliver of breathing room.   And with that sliver, it is our aspiration to re-unite with the blogosphere and offer our tidbit of encouragement and inspiration to our followers. 

May God bless us all. . .