When I was 15 my family was driving back from a vacation in the Ozarks and passed through Mansfield Missouri, the town of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home. As stated in other posts, I was a huge Little House fan and with a little convincing got my dad to stop. It was wonderful, and for a Little House fan a dream come true. Although, I think my two favorite things about the trip was seeing her writing desk and Pa’s fiddle. Unfortunately, the apple orchard of Rocky Ridge Farm was gone and in the process of regrowing at the time I was there. Also, before going into the Wilder home visitors watched a short movie on the author’s life. Both Laura’s husband Almanzo and there daughter Rose were featured as well, in Rose’s segment it was mentioned that she rode a donkey to school, for whatever reason this struck my father as humorous and had to leave the room from laughter. That is what my parents remember about the trip, but for me it is a happy memory rich with knowledge of one of my favorite childhood authors.
I should mention that this walk down memory lane was inspired by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Reading Challenge hosted by Stray Thoughts which runs through out the month of February. For this challenge, I plan on reading all nine Little House Books.
Little House in the Big Woods
Little House on the Prairie
Farmer Boy
On the Banks of Plum Creek
By the Shores of Silver Lake
The Long Winter
Little Town on the Prairie
These Happy Golden Years
The First Four Years
I love that house! The fireplace always struck me as awesome with the brick coloring! It just looked old and sturdy.
How lovely to visit her home.
Ann
Oh, I would love to visit her house!
I was just reading about the setting up of her house as a museum after she died. How fun it would be to actually visit! I'm so glad to have you join us for the challenge!