Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Getting Settled in the Soddy



In my last post, I left you looking at a barely-begun roof (and a finally-finished floor) because I had realized that I needed to finish the interior before the roof was put in place. There wouldn't have been much working space with the roof blocking my movements and my visibility. There were, as it turned out, quite a few interior tasks that I could have completed with the roof on, but I was on a roll, and it seemed too complicated to have to separate the before-roof tasks from the after-roof ones. So I did the whole thing. 

There were a lot of things to finish and a lot of photographs to take - way too many for a single post - so I've decided to divide the completed interior into two or three separate parts. This post will include some basic necessities for making a home as comfortable as possible in spite of many inconveniences. I hope you'll sympathize with my young homesteaders as they settle into their (roofless) sod home.



PART ONE
Basic Necessities for the Soddy

Will and Ruby Dawson came to Nebraska's treeless plains from Indiana, where they were married less than a year ago. Will had always worked on his father's farm, along with his three brothers, but Ruby and Will decided after their marriage that they wanted to make a fresh and independent start in a new territory. They packed their meager belongings, mostly cast-offs and hand-me-downs from family members, into a wagon covered with canvas and pulled by oxen and began their new adventure. They arrived in Custer County, Nebraska, in late spring, 1886, just in time to build their one-room sod house before Will began the spring plowing of his new land. While Will worked long hours on the land, Ruby's days were occupied with the task of creating a homey, comfortable ambience within the soddie's confining walls. 



Ruby considers her stove the most important item among her household goods. When she and Will camped in their wagon while the soddy was being built, the stove was moved off the wagon so that she could prepare meals; that was so much easier than cooking over a campfire!



When Ruby began to unpack some of the wooden crates that contained their hand-me-down accumulation of kitchen goods, she realized that she had nowhere to store any of these things. (The cornbread and the eggs weren't in the packing crate - they're fresh!)



Will found time to take apart one of their large wooden packing crates, carefully straightening the nails so that he could use them again in the construction of a crude shelf unit. 





The shelves provided space for all the items, and Ruby could see all her kitchen equipment at a glance. Wooden packing crates served a major role in equipping a sod house for daily life. They were used for many housekeeping items: stools, cupboards, storage bins, tables, benches, and shelves, to name a few uses.



The next consideration was a comfortable bed for a good night's rest. Will and Ruby had spent their first nights in the soddy on a feather mattress laid over a sheet of canvas on the soddy's dirt floor. They both woke every morning feeling much older than their years. They had heard that many new homesteaders built their bed frame in a corner of their soddy so that two walls could support two sides of the bed, saving both materials and labor. But Ruby begged for a "real" bed, free-standing away from the wall, and Will was happy to oblige. He had set aside a willow pole that wasn't needed for the soddy's construction; he thought the pole would be adequate to build a simple bed.





A length of rope from their supplies was used to weave a sturdy base for the feather mattress that had made the journey with them.




Ruby and Will feel fortunate to have a feather mattress; many settlers had to make do with a mattress ticking stuffed with corn husks or prairie grass.



Before leaving Indiana, Ruby had spent many hours piecing together a quilt top to use in her new home on the prairie. She wanted the brightest colors that she could find for the top and used a cheery red for the backing. She knew, from the many "homesteading" stories that she had heard, that her new home would be small and dark and colorless. She was determined to remedy that sad fact.   


I had to help Ruby a little with the quilt; I added a sheet of foil between the quilt top and the red backing, just to add shape and flexibility. Ruby was surprised by this unusual technique, but she allowed me to have my way.


To save time, because there was so much to be done to prepare for the long trip, Ruby decided to "tie" the quilt rather than take the time necessary for the usual quilting stitches.



Ruby and Will are happy with their colorful quilt and comfortable bed - and very thankful to no longer wake up with aching backs.



Ruby's mother had insisted that room be found on the wagon for a "civilized" dining set. Although the table and chairs were old, Ruby was happy to have them. Personally, I thought that all the pieces would benefit from a slight "makeover," and I took it upon myself to put a darker stain on the chairs and to sand and re-stain the table top. I thought it a great improvement. Ruby hasn't expressed an opinion.


The makeover is underway on one of the chairs. After the first coat of stain, I could see a big difference, so I proceeded with impunity.



This piece was in my stash, and I thought it could provide useful storage space and also a work surface for Ruby, but the two different levels on top seemed to present a problem.


I built up a uniform top and cut the legs down to make the work surface a more comfortable height.


I added some color, but after being well used for many years and stored in an attic for many more, this cabinet is showing its age. Ruby was thrilled to have the cabinet added to their few pieces of furniture, and Will obligingly made room for it as they packed their wagon.



Ruby and Will possess only a few items of clothing. but they needed a safe place to store them in their new home, away from moths and mice, spiders and snakes, and water from a leaky roof. Robert volunteered to put together a trunk that I wanted to give to Will and Ruby. The trunk was in kit form, and Robert knows how I feel about trying to make anything from a kit. (I feel like I'm working a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle wearing a blindfold.)



Robert wasn't entirely happy with the final results, but I had told him that I wanted the trunk to look well traveled and well worn, so he worked toward that end, and I was pleased with his efforts.



The trunk was ready in time to be packed and loaded onto the wagon.



The wagon was becoming crowded; Will's farming implements took up much of the space. But he knew how important Ruby's sewing machine was to her and how useful it would be as she worked to create a cheerful home in Nebraska.



This piece was almost left behind for lack of space, and Ruby was bravely accepting the loss. But by transferring some of the pieces that could safely be  tied to the sides of the wagon, Will managed to fit it in, to Ruby's great joy. She knew that her new home would be short on comfort, and the rocking chair represented not only comfort, but even a touch of luxury in her simple sod house.


Ruby and Will now have the basic necessities for their home, but there are many smaller, useful items still to be unloaded, unpacked, and arranged in the small room. I'll leave Will to take care of the unloading while Ruby takes care of unpacking and arranging. But I'll return soon to follow their progress. There is much work ahead of them, because making a house into a home requires time and effort - even if it is only a simple sod home.







































































































20 comments:

  1. How perfectly Wonderful the various pieces are and how Excited Will and Ruby must be to finally able to put them to good use inside their new home! I Love the colourful quilt on the log framed bed and the cleverness of the shelf unit for the various kitchen supplies. Kudo's to Will for taking the time to straighten out the nails so that he could reuse them. He and Robert have some made carpentry skills because I Love the trunk he made too! :D
    In fact, I am already imagining the placements of each of item within the soddy, with the rocking chair close to the stove- can't wait to see it all in situ!!!

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Elizabeth - I appreciate your enthusiasm as Will and Ruby settle into the soddy. It's helpful that Will is a good handyman as well as a good farmer. He has to be creative, since there's such a shortage of many things that he needs, including nails. Robert is pleased that you like the trunk he put together; he's NOT a "natural" handyman, which is why I'm so appreciative of his willingness to help out when he can. Ruby (and I) have had such fun getting the soddy in order and finding ways to make do with the things on hand. I hope you'll enjoy the next post as the soddy's interior continues to take shape.
      Marjorie

      Delete
  2. Que maravillosas piezas para el nuevo hogar! todo lo imprescindible está listo para ocupar su nueva ubicación y a mi,me encantará verlo colocado!!!!
    Besos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Pilar - Although Will and Ruby don't have many possessions, their sod house is very small, so it's filling up quickly! Ruby may have a hard time finding a place for all the smaller things things that they need to set up their new home. I'm so glad that you stopped by; thank you for your nice comments!
      Marjorie

      Delete
  3. I love your story, and I can't wait to see how Ruby arranges all of her cherished items.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Carrie - Thanks for visiting the sod house; even though Ruby and Will aren't yet completely settled in, they're thrilled to have company and a chance to sit down and chat for a while. I hope you'll stop by again to watch the soddy become a home!
      Marjorie

      Delete
  4. What a sweet beginning for Will and Ruby! I can feel their excitement as they begin a new and independent adventure together building a home and a life on the prairie!
    You've gotten so much of the furnishings done for the inside and I am anxious to see how you'll lay it all out. The quilt is just so wonderful, as is the willow pole bed! I also love that they are using the crates to make storage for all of the perfect kitchen implements, and now I am craving warm cornbread!
    I can't wait for the next posts because the vision of how the soddy's interior looks all furnished and homey is exciting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Jodi - It has been an exciting time working with Ruby and Will to get their soddy to feel like a real home - although without many of the conveniences they're accustomed to having. There are many challenges, including the lack of space, but they're meeting and overcoming those challenges together. I should tell you that Ruby bakes a pan of cornbread almost daily and loves to share, so you have a standing invitation to visit the soddy at any time - you'll be very welcome!
      Marjorie

      Delete
  5. Wow! Marjorie, you have been busy!!! Will and Ruby are fortunate to have your assistance in this moving project!!! The quilt is lovely and Perfect for the times! The rope bed is awesome! The shelves made from packing crates look so familiar... did I have shelves like those when I was younger? (We had old furniture that was rather beat up!) :) This house is going to be amazing... and built with the love and optimism of a young couple just starting their life together! I love it that your projects have a complete story to them!!! I can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Betsy - I'm so glad that you're liking the beginnings of the sod house interior. I actually did have shelves like those back in the day - made from very rustic wood that was probably similar to packing crate wood. It was fun to make something close to those shelves of memory! I'm having such a good time working with Ruby and Will to get their soddy completed and comfortable. We're all busy with the second stage of the moving-in process, and I should have more to share soon.
      Marjorie

      Delete
  6. They are so lucky to have had so many belongings from family! And none of it had to be sacrificed along the way! Love the quilt - glad they will have some splash of color in the house! And the shelving looks so perfect with all their kitchen items on it.
    Lori K.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Lori - Yes, Ruby and Will were lucky to have a large family back in Indiana who were willing (even eager!) to give away some of their cast-offs. I'm especially glad that Will managed to find room for the rocking chair! They're working now to get the "small stuff" in order, so that will keep them (and me) busy for a while. Thanks for your positive input!
      Marjorie

      Delete
  7. Oh Marjorie, I love Will and Ruby's story! How exciting for them (and you) to be getting to the fun part. I love the shelves Will lovingly built from crates for Ruby and they are perfectly stocked. I love her splatter ware. And wow, she even has some real glassware. Such a luxury. :D The bed Will built is brilliant. Simple and sturdy and just the thing to get them off the cold hard floor. Ruby's addition of her wonderful quilt is just the thing to brighten the space and keep them warm and cosy. It's red theme will go well with the Soddy's curtains too. Ruby is really going to appreciate the sewing machine made the trip in the years ahead. :) And can I just say what a fine job Robert did on the chest. I have a bit of a thing for mini chests and this one is beautiful. I love the worn and aged red paint on the ends and the wonderful patina achieved on the wood. The detail is amazing right down to the papered interior. Is the exterior pattern decoupaged? It looks incredible. Bravo to Robert!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sam - What lovely comments! Thank you. I'm so glad that you like the chest kit that Robert put together. I had brave intentions of taking care of the assembly myself, but I skimmed over the instructions briefly and practically had a panic attack! I'm scared silly of things like that. I had looked for a trunk for quite some time but couldn't find one that had a flat top and was the right size. So when I found the kit for this one on Etsy, from SinnysMiniArt, I was thrilled. I agree with you that it's beautiful! The exterior pattern is printed on paper, then glued onto the wood frame. Robert made some changes as he worked on the trunk, but I'm so happy with it. It's definitely a treasure, and Ruby and Will agree. Thanks for your interest.
      Marjorie

      Delete
  8. ¡Que bien pensada tienes la historia!me encanta tu relato y vivo la emoción de como colocas esos fantásticos detalles , será una casa muy acogedora.Buen día ,besos:-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Rosa Maria - Thank you for your encouraging comments. The soddy's interior has been such a pleasure to work on - and I've enjoyed getting well acquainted with Ruby and Will. I hope that you'll continue to follow their adventures as they complete their home.
      Marjorie

      Delete
  9. Your "soddy" is coming along so nicely! I really enjoy the story that you are creating with the characters and giving them personality by the items that they were able to take along for the new chapter in their life. The bed and quilt are really great. (I will have to try the foil technique) Your period furniture choices are all spot on too and I like your helper Robert is very talented! I enjoy reading your posts -its going to be a great project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Troy - I'm so glad that you've enjoyed reading about Ruby and Will. I'm beginning to know them well, and I appreciate all their hard work in turning that dark little soddy into a real home! I had fun making the bed and the quilt. I had expected the bed to be hard to make, but I was surprised that it was very easy - even weaving the rope was fast and problem free! The foil technique worked very well for the quilt - it's so easy to shape fabric into natural folds with the flexible foil. I appreciate your comments, as always - thanks for stopping by!
      Marjorie

      Delete
  10. I love your story and can just see Ruby and Will making their house a home. I love the quilt the colours are beautiful.I am enjoying all this information very much thank you :)
    Hugs Maria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Maria - Thanks for taking time to stop by the soddy and meet Will and Ruby. I think they're going to appreciate having some color in their sod house, especially on dark days when the sun doesn't shine. They'll need to make their own sunshine!
      Marjorie

      Delete

I'd love to hear your comments!