March - Winter into Spring 1776 at the Colonial Cabin

It's March 1776 - what would we be doing since we have no cell phone, TV,  computers,  radio,  cars,  DVDs,  streaming,  or anything else of the sort?
Check HERE

When we head out to the cabin we are living a life in time.

We are living by the seasons.

"If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten."

And we have stories to tell - - - - 

I nick'd this next quote from a video:
"People born in the 1700s all took their first breathe in a world of candle light,  horse-drawn wagons,  and the silence of the pre-industrial age.  The only sounds these men and women would hear are of nature and the rhythmic clatter of the loom or the hum of a spinning wheel.  They were born into a life that hadn't changed in over a thousand years..."

The following in italics comes from the book The Time-Traveler's Guide To Medieval England by Ian Mortimer --- I changed the text to fit more with Colonial America.

The very idea of traveling to Colonial America allows us to consider the past in greater breadth---to discover more about the problems which the colonists have had to face,  the delights they found in life,  and what they themselves were like.  

For us to partake in these colonial cabin excursions allows us to become inhabitants in a synpathetic way:  not as a series of graphs showing fluctuations in grain yields or household income but as investigation into the sensations of being alive in a different time.  You can start to gain an inkling as to why people did this or that,  and even why they believed things which we find indredible.  We can gain this insight because we know that these people - these 18th century colonials - are human,  like you,  and that some of these reactions are simply natural.  The idea of traveling to Colonial America allows us to understand these people in not only terms of evidence but also in terms of their humanity,  their hopes and fears,  the drama of their lives.

This was our 35th colonial day visit to the Cabin to bring the 18th century past to life.  We have been doing this all four seasons of the year through all kinds of weather and temperatures.  Each one has been an amazing experience in of itself.

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Wintertime has struck once again.  Kinda.

And,  once again,  for our sixth consecutive year,  a few of us experienced this season,  at least for a day,  in the colonial cabin.

Was it cold?
Well...not on this day.  Being that it was March 7 - technically still winter - it was a much warmer than usual day with highs in the 60s.  But we have truly had a heck of a winter with bitter cold temps and more snow than usual  (though not like what New England received - whew!).  In the few days leading up to our cabin day our temps had been gradually warming,  though there was still quite a bit of fluctuating occuring.  Then add a lot of rain.  Even some flurries here and there.  So with mostly warmer temps,  there was lots of mud.

Living in the past,  one day at a time.  They suffered in the same manner 250 years ago.

But that's why I titled this post  "March 1776 - Winter into Spring at the Colonial Cabin,"  for astronomically we are still in winter until March 20 this year,  but meteorologically spring began March 1st  (THIS post explains the difference between the two).

Anyhow,  on an average,  we visit the cabin while in our colonial clothing to immerse ourselves into 18th century daily living about a half dozen times a year - maybe even a few times more than that,  depending.  This means we experience the 18th century through all four seasons,  including winter.

Some think we're crazy.

Totally bonkers.

But then,  all the best people are.

This is our dedication to living history.

I was standing across the road where the original farm outbuildings once stood:  the barn,  the cider press building,  the carriage house...and then I caught Jackie and Charlotte standing outside the cabin door.
Yes,  that's a modern street running through - not much we can do about that.
If you look close you can see smoke coming from the cabin chimney.

We're very good - perhaps even best - friends,  me and Larissa and Charlotte and Norm and Jackie.

And when Patty comes along,  well...she and I are married,  so we're a bit more  than friends lol.

I do consider all of us  (even my wife!)  in the best friend category  (you can have more than one best friend,  you know).  But while we're at the cabin,  we're more like family.

Our original plan for this day was to do as we normally do - spend a winter colonial day in January or early February,  celebrating Candlemas.  Unfortunately,  due to sickness for the majority in our group,  it would have ended up just being Larissa & I,  which to folks outside our group it might have looked rather awkward for just the two of us being there.  So,  even though we knew we'd be fine,  we both agreed that it would be best to set a new date to where more from our group could come.

So that's what we did.

March 7th - as I mentioned,  still technically winter~

Sadly,  Larissa had to back out due to her work schedule.  And Norm also could not come due to health concerns.  And Patty had other plans.  So it was just myself,  Charlotte,  and Jackie.

By the way,  during the month of February,  the cabin got a new roof.

No,  I didn't do it - professional roofers did.

Jackie on the porch of the cabin.
The new roof really stands out beneath the skies of March.

Alrighty then,  let's get into it:

It's March - time to start anew~~~The season of renewal is at hand.

And then there were three...
Just for this visit.

Waterloo Farm Museum president Chad,  and former president  (and a constant Waterloo volunteer and good friend to us and them)  Brian took me on a tour of the land across the street from the cabin and farm to show me where the original barn,  cider mill,  and carriage house once stood before they were destroyed by the DNR.  It was a fun and interesting and learning adventure.

I like this pic of me with the cabin  (and Charlotte)  in the background.

Charlotte captured an image of me across the road where the outbuildings originally stood.

She called the photos she snapped:  "Sam Daggett surveying his fields" - lol

After the last of the original farm owners passed away in 1960,  the state of Michigan,  which owned the land at that point,  started their process of demolishing the buildings.  Starting with the barns and the outbuildings.  Either they knocked them down and then set them on fire or they just let them burn in place.  The Barns and outbuildings were destroyed first,  and the house and its outbuildings nearby were to be next,  but were delayed several different times,  which gave a chance to start the Historical Society and save the house and some of the outbuildings that surrounded it.  In this,  they were,  thankfully,  successful,  for now it's been beautifully restored.

So just what the heck is going on here?
Well,  we in the colonial cabin crew have no problem getting dirty,  whether it's our shoes,  our clothing,  or,  of course,  ourselves.  We try to experience 18th century life as best and as real as we can.  But unfortunately,  I found all of these nasty sticky little  "stick tights"  upon me as I was going back to the cabin. 
They were like velcro.

"Walking through woods and fields this time of year,  one may encounter several types of persistent stick tights.  Sticktights refer to plant seeds that come in many shapes and sizes,  comprise numerous plant families and stick tenaciously to clothing,  shoes,  and animal fur."

They got all over my coat,  my breeches,  my stockings,  and even in my shoes---hundreds of  'em,  so I picked them off,  one by one...

It only took me about an hour or so  (lol)  but luckily the weather was on the warm side.

Meanwhile,  inside the cabin.

Jackie prepared a George Washington carrot tea cake

Charlotte:  keeping the fire going...

Charlotte - relaxing with the door open in early March!

Charlotte mixing the pancake mix

Since we did not celebrate Candlemas back as we've normally done in past years  (and as tradition directs)  in late January or early February,  we did have the traditional Candlemas meal of pancakes.  Cooked over the hearth.

SO good!

Why pancakes?

Candlemas was also a day to eat pancakes,  due to the round shape of the pancake,  as well as its golden color,  for pancakes are a representation of the sun and the return to light,  and were considered to be a sort of inauguration of spring.  A tribute to the days that are getting longer and lighter,  to the cycle of the seasons,  and the announcement of spring itself. 

Here are a few hand-dipped candles we made there a few years back.

Candles?
Well,  Jesus is the Light of the World.

Candles give us light.

I hoped to have them blessed.

Perhaps next year.

A busy cabin - - idle hands are the devil's workshop.

I cannot begin to express the 18th century wonderfulness we experience while at the cabin!

Jackie tried out her new walking stick.
AND moccasins.

This was a more relaxed day than we normally have.  It was one of those nice-day-to-get-away kinda days.  And anytime any of us can get into our colonial clothing and get out to the cabin is a good day by me!

This year of 2026 is 1776 for us at the cabin.  There's talk of Independence but it takes a while for such news to make it out here on the frontier.  We know there have been battles going on,  so we are glad to be far from that excitement.  Well,  we'll see what this year has in store for us.  In the meantime,  we are planning for planting season come May.  I hope you'll visit us then and read about our next cabin adventure.

Thanks to the photographers Charlotte Bauer and Brian Dewey who,  other than myself,  took plenty of pictures.

I mentioned that we were all in the best friend category.  However,  I think while at the cabin I consider these people family.

Until next time,  see you in time.

The following are links to our other cabin excursions.

~To read about our 2020  autumn harvest excursion - our first time at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 wintertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 springtime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summer harvesting of the flax at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 autumn excursion - click HERE

~To read about our 2022 winter excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 summer excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 autumn excursion at the cabin  (Pioneer Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 winter excursion at the cabin  (Candlemas) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 spring excursion at the cabin  (Rogation Sunday) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 late spring at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about the 2023 early summer - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 autumn Pioneer Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 Thanksgiving harvest celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Winter experience at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 late spring with just Patty & I - click HERE 

~To read about our 2024 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-and-late-summer - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-September - click HERE

~To read about our 2024 autumn Pioneer Day Celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Thanksgiving Harvest - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Christmas at the Farm Cabin presentation - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 winter & Candlemas Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 spring/early May Rogation Sunday excursion - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Memorial Day/Late May visit,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 (Lammas Day)  Celebration,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 September visit with my grandson experiencing living history,  click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Pioneer Day event,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration  (including my grandson!),  click HERE  ~To read about our 2025 Colonial Christmas Celebration/Christmas at the Farm  click HERE

So...adding this current visit,  that makes 35 days spent in the 18th century at this cabin.

And,  God willing,  these adventures will continue for a long time to come.

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