Alrighty then .... here is a new game. This is a little different than most of our games.

We are colonists in the the year 1733 1765. It has been a hot, dry summer and the harvest is not as bountiful as usual. Plus we are in the midst of American Revolution and a Revolutionary War is pending, lots of skirmishes and small battles going on.

Beginning with the letter A, what are you going to do to be frugal for the coming times OR help the new country become independent?

Since I usually start the games with the first idea, I will ask one of you to start the game. Go for it!

Awww! come on, Beetle, you got only a few minutes afore you take off for the day.

<1733? Revolution??>

A
Apple Harvest - for fruits & cider

Sorry, Beetle .... 1765. I will go back and change that little error. Can't get anything past you, I tell ya what.

B
Beaver Pelts to sell or trade

C
Corn - from the 'pre-victory' garden; the hybrid variety we learned to grow from the original settlers from the New World Natives

D
Darn our socks.

E
Early to bed; & rise with the sun - to save on burning candles

F
Frolic not -- but, work at necessary tasks all day

G
Gunpowder Hoarding - stock up for 'big one' that will come after those guys in Philadelphia finish arguing over what's to be said in that declaration

H
Hold a liberty rally.

I
Instigate verbal altercations with the Brits while at the liberty rally

J
Jam making w/ the in-season berries.

K
Knitting Scarfs, Mittens, and Caps for the winter season using scrap links of left over yarns from other projects.

L
Livestock tending--to make sure the animals stay healthy

M
Mending Clothes

N
Net Repair to be more efficient in fishing

O
Oyster Fry - mmmm - mmmmm - Mmm - good in garlic butter

P
Possum Stew?

Possum stew is good. No possums round here though.

Q
Quick Game of pick up sticks to ease the tension and forget about the revolution for a little.

R
Reading the literature that's handed out at the market...

S
Saving all scraps of fabric for quilts

T
Tavern scraps for the composting pit
<<p.s. nice place to toss a drunk that keeps voicing allegiance to the King >>

U
Using plants and roots to make brooms and brushes.

V
Violin Construction from Local Lumber - need a fiddle at the barn raising clebration

W
Wood Carving to decorate the barn doors

X
<for Granpappy>

XXX Stillin'

Yes, of course .... for Granpappy.

Y
Yarrow - gathering yarrow for herbal usage

Z
zzzz-zzzz (sleep helps everything)

A
Arrowhead knapping - use for hunting instead of gunpowder

B
Berry Picking - to make jams for the winter

C
Canoe making

D
Dig irrigation canals for diverting water to the crops

E
Evening Watch Hill - to warn the Evening Watch group on the next hill if the enemy is approaching.

F
Fort construction with lumber cleared from the crop fields

G
Getting the fire pits and kettles ready for making Apple Butter

H
Hollow out large tree trunk to make canoe

I
Intrument tuning so the fifes will be ready

J
Johnnycakes - a staple food made with cornmeal & served with maple syrup or honey

K
Keg Making - to store rain water

L
Latrine Relocation - "'bout time," Granpappy sez.

M
Mud Brick Making - to build a little garden wall

N
Needle saving--needles are quite expensive

O
Organize all the women folk to have a plan of support and secret signals for help when needed.

P
Pork Curing in the Smokehouse

Q
Quill Collecting for a winter project

R
Reap the wheat, barley & rye for the next beer brewing

S
Sampling the Brew

T
Tailoring old blankets into uniforms - gotta know who's on what team when the time comes

U
Underwear Mending - gonna to be a cold winter, gotta get those long-johns in shape

V
Violin Tune Up - for the town dance

W
Wash up all the pots & pans

X
X-mark for signature - ne'er learned to read or write

Z
Zany stories to keep the kids entertained

Y
Yankee Doodle singing as a patriotic tune

now onto 'A'

Sorry 'bout that little slip there.

A
Applique a quilt

B
Brain tan the deer hides - in the Native American traditional way

C
Corn Grinding for meal or brew

D
Distribute flyers to neighbors offering yard/landscape/harvest services in exchange for ???

E
Evening Meals - for work done

F
Fiddle Lessons to the youngsters & have competitions at the Town Dances

G
Gathering the harvest before the first frost

H
Honing the Cutting Tools to make the harvest go smoothly, have a ready defensive weapon, & ready the turkey for the harvest feast.

I
Intending to get up earlier than usual to prepare for cooking the feast

J
Jerky Making in the Smoker

Keeping the fire tended.

L
Lantern Signal Practice - want to make sure Paul Revere gets it right!

M
Message Codes Along the Way for Paul Revere to Pass on to Others

Nut gathering

Opening the house up and airing it out.

Q
Quickly shutting the doors & windows when the dog agitated a skunk out front

Rowing across the lake to find acorns.

S
Slingshot target practice with the acorns for harassing 'Redcoats' or chasing skunks away

Turning the fields over for Fall.

U
Undercut the British merchants on pricing items *procured* from their poorly guarded vessels in the dockyards

V
Vandalizing the British vessels in the bay.

W
Whiskey Barrels converted into Rain Barrels

X
Xtra Efforts to gather what is left of berries, nuts, herbs, roots to dry for winter use

Y
Yawning at Town Meetings headed by the King's Representatives