Winter in Old Sturbridge Village - cooper shop

Merrik (3) wood working.

This device helps hold the wood in place so it can be smoothed to make the side of a barrell.
Jonah (5) working his piece of wood.

Merrik was invited to warm his cold toes by the cooper's fire!!

That was so sweet - the boys were sledding just outside of the cooper shop & when then were done (& too cold to stay out) we went to visit the cooper to warm up. He heard M say something about his cold feet so he pulled a barrell up next to the fire & invited M to have a seat!

We were at OSV just last week & went into the Cooper Shop & Merrik said, "Mommy, my feet are cold again." So cute! He wanted to move a barrell next to the fireplace (which wasn't burning that day) and sit back there again. Little kids never forget! :)

Here's the cooper showing the boys how the wood has to be carved just right

so it fits snuggly inside the metal hoop nice and tight.

We visit OSV a LOT so the nice people who work there recognize us and they are very good with letting the boys help out and do cool stuff that probably not ever visitor there gets to do. I'm sure it helps that we're often there during "slow" days/times of year and so we miss the crowds.

WE LOVE OSV! If you're ever in Massachusetts, come out to Sturbridge!! You won't be sorry!

(and for those of you who live in Mass. -- come visit us!) :)