Youth Outdoor Fest & Hixon House

What kid doesn't like shooting, learning about fish, and starting a fire by spinning a stick?  Needless to say the Youth Outdoor Fest was a hit with the boys today.  We were happy that we got through most of the stations before it started to sprinkle.

Ezra enjoyed sling shot and archery practice.  He was thrilled that one of the targets was a T-rex.

Thankfully, Asher is used to his cast now and was able to earn his bb gun and archery belt loops at Boy Scout day camp last summer, so he didn't feel like he was missing out too much.  He was excited about other activities like learning how to start a fire.

I was less than excited about but the kids were quite interested in the fish anatomy.  Asher also really enjoyed learning about indigenous mussels, their parasitic (not symbiotic) relationship with local fish, and the problems they are having from environmental change and the invasive zebra mussels.

Later today we visited the historic Hixon house.  The kids enjoyed the old-time attire, music, and activities.  Of course, there was also ice cream involved.

The gardens were beautiful.  I tried to snap a few pictures of the boys.  I really think Ezra is taller lately and looks much older with his new haircut.  Asher has grown too.  Love seeing them playing together and laughing!

Al and Ezra went off to the library (to escape the rain) while Asher and I enjoyed a guided tour of the beautiful Italianate structure.  The house was originally built in 1858 by lumber baron Gideon Hixon and expanded over the decades as his family grew.

Front Parlor Room (left: looking West; right: looking back East)

The craftsmanship was gorgeous, especially the wood floors and trim and the details on the fireplaces and furniture. It really was amazing to see how much of the original furniture and personal items remained in the home.  The room (see top right) is almost identical today to how it was when Gideon & Ellen Hixon lived there (see below).

Photograph of Mrs. Hixon relaxing on a Morris recliner in the parlor in 1907.
Source: La Crosse County Historical Society.

I'll spare you all the pictures, in case you (like my husband) are not enthralled by the authentic portrayal of late Victorian life.  But, I feel compelled to share Asher's favorite room.

Turkish Room

Ellen Hixon added this room after her travels to the Near East.  It seems Oriental furnishing were very popular in the turn-of-the-century.  We learned that this is one of only two Turkish rooms now remaining in the state of Wisconsin.  I thought the beautiful banquette and pillows covered with Turkish woven fabrics and needlework were very interesting.  Asher, of course, liked the Saracen armor. 

It was awesome to see Asher's interest in how things used to be socially, architecturally, and with the lumber business.  We both enjoyed hearing about how they updated when new technology developed.  In the early 1900s they updated to gas, then electric, had a phone, and even had a central vacuum.  Mostly though, I enjoyed seeing Asher learning and was amazed at the knowledge he already had and at all the connections he was making.