[Due to Internet and time problems, I was unable to publish the final blog posts. I apologize. This was Tuesday's post. This is the final Little House trip blog post.]
Awake at 7:30 and enjoyed a delicious, perfect, farm-fresh breakfast -- pancake men (like Ma made in Little House in the Big Woods), sausage, eggs and hash browns, watermelon, and milk. It was all so tasty! Then the bed-and-breakfast owner showed us the other sleeping place (the guest barn) and their big barn, which they hope to use for wedding and other similar venues. She is such a nice, considerate, polite, and hospitable lady and we felt very welcome. I loved the farm setting and the animals -- cows, kittens and cats, and their friendly dog Rover.
Although we enjoyed that morning, it did delay us from leaving for awhile, but it worked out fine. We jigged and jogged through the Iowa countryside on lots of roads (ask my brother...he navigated, I drove) and eventually were on Highway 61 and heading back to our lovely home in Missouri. We had a gas/bathroom/lunch stop in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. It was very quick; we ate on the road -- a salad, cheese stick, zucchini bread, water. Making good time, we finally pulled into our driveway just before 5:00 p.m. Back to work -- regular life, unpacking, laundry, organization of items we collected, and eventually real work, like school.
You know that bittersweet feeling? It's the feeling of being sad that the trip is over (who wants to go back to work?), happy with all the memories, and happy to be back on home soil. It's hard to explain. I'm so glad I got to experience Laura Ingalls Wilder's home sites. I learned so much, met so many people, and gained invaluable experiences and memories that I will forever cherish. I shared all of these with my mom, my brother Matthew, and my godmother Val. They're special people and I am just amazed at the blessings in my life. I am blessed beyond knowledge. I can't thank Jesus, my family, and all of my great blog readers enough -- thank you for your support, words, thoughts, and prayers! I'm so glad to have been able to share this special journey with you and I hope you enjoyed reading. Until next time, God bless!
~Anna
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Little House Trip Day #6
[Due to Internet and time problems, I was unable to publish the final blog posts. I apologize. This was Monday's post.]
Woke up at 7:45 and my mom and I went out for a lovely cool morning walk throughout Pepin. Came back, had breakfast (banana oatmeal, blueberry muffin, orange juice, cocoa), and drove to the Little House Wayside. This is a three-acre piece of land originally owned by Charles Ingalls. There is a replica log cabin on the property. Although it isn't exactly where the real Little House in the Big Woods sat or where Laura was born, it's pretty close, so we enjoyed being in Laura's territory. The cabin was actually quite large and had some wall-mounted displays about Laura's time in Pepin.
Then we drove to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin. Housed in two adjoining buildings, this nice little museum has information and artifacts about Laura, the Quiner and Ingalls families, Pepin's history, and pioneer-related items. There was a replica front of a steamboat, which was quite fun to crawl up in (duck or you'll hit your head), and a dress worn by Anna Barry. She was quite a small woman! We enjoyed lunch (tuna-cheese wrap, cracker, clementine, zucchini bread, juice) in Laura's namesake park. Then we headed on down to Burr Oak, Iowa...another spot on the map not written about in Laura's books. The Ingalls family lived here from 1876-1877 and Charles managed the Masters Hotel, which has been restored and is the only place they lived in which is still in its original location. While Charles ran it, Caroline and the girls did the cooking and cleaning. It was an unpleasant, crude, rowdy, and downright dangerous experience, but nevertheless part of Laura's childhood. Tours are given of the Masters Hotel and you can see each room and hear stories of events which occurred there. To have the full Laura experience, we also went to the Burr Oak Cemetery, where Laura and her friend Alice often played.
We drove down to Decorah, Iowa, to have supper at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant. The Burrito Mexicano was very tasty and filling. Then a little bit more driving to the southeast (near Postville) before arriving at the best lodging spot of the trip, the Little House on the Farm. It's an adorable little spot in a very peaceful, serene country setting. There were red gingham curtains in the windows, a "pump" sink, a loft, and so much more. Everything is so cleverly and creatively planned, right down to the smallest detail. We were in bed at 11:30.
Woke up at 7:45 and my mom and I went out for a lovely cool morning walk throughout Pepin. Came back, had breakfast (banana oatmeal, blueberry muffin, orange juice, cocoa), and drove to the Little House Wayside. This is a three-acre piece of land originally owned by Charles Ingalls. There is a replica log cabin on the property. Although it isn't exactly where the real Little House in the Big Woods sat or where Laura was born, it's pretty close, so we enjoyed being in Laura's territory. The cabin was actually quite large and had some wall-mounted displays about Laura's time in Pepin.
Then we drove to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin. Housed in two adjoining buildings, this nice little museum has information and artifacts about Laura, the Quiner and Ingalls families, Pepin's history, and pioneer-related items. There was a replica front of a steamboat, which was quite fun to crawl up in (duck or you'll hit your head), and a dress worn by Anna Barry. She was quite a small woman! We enjoyed lunch (tuna-cheese wrap, cracker, clementine, zucchini bread, juice) in Laura's namesake park. Then we headed on down to Burr Oak, Iowa...another spot on the map not written about in Laura's books. The Ingalls family lived here from 1876-1877 and Charles managed the Masters Hotel, which has been restored and is the only place they lived in which is still in its original location. While Charles ran it, Caroline and the girls did the cooking and cleaning. It was an unpleasant, crude, rowdy, and downright dangerous experience, but nevertheless part of Laura's childhood. Tours are given of the Masters Hotel and you can see each room and hear stories of events which occurred there. To have the full Laura experience, we also went to the Burr Oak Cemetery, where Laura and her friend Alice often played.
We drove down to Decorah, Iowa, to have supper at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant. The Burrito Mexicano was very tasty and filling. Then a little bit more driving to the southeast (near Postville) before arriving at the best lodging spot of the trip, the Little House on the Farm. It's an adorable little spot in a very peaceful, serene country setting. There were red gingham curtains in the windows, a "pump" sink, a loft, and so much more. Everything is so cleverly and creatively planned, right down to the smallest detail. We were in bed at 11:30.
The replica Little House in the Big Woods cabin in Pepin, Wisconsin
Masters Hotel in Burr Oak, Iowa
Burr Oak Cemetery
~Anna
Little House Trip Day #5
[Due to Internet and time problems, I was unable to publish the final blog posts. I apologize. This was Sunday's post.]
We slept in until 8:30 today and had breakfast (bagel with cream cheese, orange juice), then headed for Spring Valley, Minnesota. This may be a site you hadn't heard of related to Laura. She never wrote a book about it. Her husband Almanzo's family (the Wilders) moved here from Malone, New York, in the 1870's. Laura, Almanzo, and Rose lived with the Wilders in 1890, after the events portrayed in The First Four Years. After a quick lunch at a park near the museum (chicken-bean-cheese wraps, cracker, clementine, trail mix, juice), we toured the Methodist Church Museum, the Washburn/Zittleman House, and the Agriculture Building. The museum is housed in a beautiful church built from 1876-1878, featuring Italian stained glass windows believed to be about 300 years old. There are a lot of artifacts from area churches and some portable display boards on Laura and the Wilders in Spring Valley. The Washburn/Zittleman House is a home from about the time the Wilders lived in Spring Valley and is furnished appropriately. It was donated by a Spring Valley doctor and his family. The agriculture building houses a large quantity of farm implements, tools, and a Ford Model A. It's quite an interesting museum with such an eclectic collection. To round out Spring Valley activities, we went to the Spring Valley Cemetery (Royal Wilder and his two young daughters are buried there...Royal was Almanzo's brother) and took pictures from the road of the Wilder barn. It is privately owned.
We headed for Pepin, Wisconsin, next -- Laura's birthplace! Since it was fairly late in the afternoon, we just did a couple of non-admission activities. We went to Oakwood Cemetery, final resting place of the Carpenter family (Martha Quiner Carpenter was Laura's aunt) and Anna Barry (Laura and Mary's first teacher). We also went to Lake Pepin, the widest naturally-occurring part of the Mississippi River. It is such a beautiful place, with cool breezes blowing, the waves lapping at the shore, and the sun gleaming off the water. We waded in it and picked up pebbles, just like in Little House in the Big Woods. But we weren't greedy like Laura -- we didn't take so many as to make our pockets rip! Supper was at the Pickle Factory, a historic former pickle factory, where we had salads, fried cheese curds, Hawaiian pizza, water, and cheesecake drizzled with raspberry sauce. My godmother Val and I trotted and cantered like horses out on a rock dike into Lake Pepin. Before galloping back in, we stood and gazed at the sky ablaze with gorgeous sunset colors. It doesn't matter how many sunsets I've seen, they're all so beautiful. I could never tire of them.
We stayed at the Pepin Motel (nice big rooms, clean, comfortable) and were in bed at 11:00 p.m.
We slept in until 8:30 today and had breakfast (bagel with cream cheese, orange juice), then headed for Spring Valley, Minnesota. This may be a site you hadn't heard of related to Laura. She never wrote a book about it. Her husband Almanzo's family (the Wilders) moved here from Malone, New York, in the 1870's. Laura, Almanzo, and Rose lived with the Wilders in 1890, after the events portrayed in The First Four Years. After a quick lunch at a park near the museum (chicken-bean-cheese wraps, cracker, clementine, trail mix, juice), we toured the Methodist Church Museum, the Washburn/Zittleman House, and the Agriculture Building. The museum is housed in a beautiful church built from 1876-1878, featuring Italian stained glass windows believed to be about 300 years old. There are a lot of artifacts from area churches and some portable display boards on Laura and the Wilders in Spring Valley. The Washburn/Zittleman House is a home from about the time the Wilders lived in Spring Valley and is furnished appropriately. It was donated by a Spring Valley doctor and his family. The agriculture building houses a large quantity of farm implements, tools, and a Ford Model A. It's quite an interesting museum with such an eclectic collection. To round out Spring Valley activities, we went to the Spring Valley Cemetery (Royal Wilder and his two young daughters are buried there...Royal was Almanzo's brother) and took pictures from the road of the Wilder barn. It is privately owned.
We headed for Pepin, Wisconsin, next -- Laura's birthplace! Since it was fairly late in the afternoon, we just did a couple of non-admission activities. We went to Oakwood Cemetery, final resting place of the Carpenter family (Martha Quiner Carpenter was Laura's aunt) and Anna Barry (Laura and Mary's first teacher). We also went to Lake Pepin, the widest naturally-occurring part of the Mississippi River. It is such a beautiful place, with cool breezes blowing, the waves lapping at the shore, and the sun gleaming off the water. We waded in it and picked up pebbles, just like in Little House in the Big Woods. But we weren't greedy like Laura -- we didn't take so many as to make our pockets rip! Supper was at the Pickle Factory, a historic former pickle factory, where we had salads, fried cheese curds, Hawaiian pizza, water, and cheesecake drizzled with raspberry sauce. My godmother Val and I trotted and cantered like horses out on a rock dike into Lake Pepin. Before galloping back in, we stood and gazed at the sky ablaze with gorgeous sunset colors. It doesn't matter how many sunsets I've seen, they're all so beautiful. I could never tire of them.
We stayed at the Pepin Motel (nice big rooms, clean, comfortable) and were in bed at 11:00 p.m.
Spring Valley (Minnesota) Methodist Church Museum
Wilder barn in Spring Valley, Minnesota
Oakwood Cemetery in Pepin, Wisconsin
Lake Pepin
~Anna
Little House Trip Day #4
[Due to Internet and time problems, I was unable to publish the final blog posts. I apologize. This was Saturday's post.]
Today we woke up at 6:30, had breakfast (cereal, fruit, orange juice), loaded the car, and headed for Walnut Grove, Minnesota, at 7:45. It was a pretty drive through prairies and slight hills. Once in Walnut Grove, we took pictures of "Pa's bell" at the English Lutheran Church. This is the original bell that Charles Ingalls ("Pa") donated his last dollars to instead of getting new boots for his walk to find work after the grasshoppers destroyed their crop. Read On the Banks of Plum Creek for more; it was pretty amazing to see that exact bell all these years later!
The reason I planned my Little House trip for July was because the pageant season was happening and the Little House on the Prairie TV show cast reunion was occurring (just this weekend!). The reunion involved autograph sessions throughout the day and the actual reunion in the evening, before the pageant, so I really wanted to do this...and we did! There were three different tents set up for the autograph sessions (three per day) and a total of 11 stars were set up throughout the tents. With only three tents, that means long lines...really long lines. To add to the fun, we picked the slowest-moving line to stand in first...in pouring, soaking, cold rain...for two-and-a-half hours. In case you're wondering, yes, we did stick it out and made it up to get the desired autographs. Fortunately, the rain cleared out and sunshine broke through so we could go stand in the second line (shorter and much faster moving). Our "lunch", eaten in the second line, consisted of Pop Tarts, crackers, and juice. And to entertain us while standing in the second line? We were standing in the Walnut Grove park, which was home to Family Days, a huge event with many vendors. So we could watch demonstrations and listen to music, and Victor French's (Isaiah Edwards on the show) kids were presenting a program on his life and career while we were waiting, too. The second line was bearable, definitely! After that success, we headed into the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, a mix-match of buildings housing Walnut Grove-area artifacts, items related to the real Laura, and TV show memorabilia. Once we came out of the final building, we noticed the third tent for the final autograph session. I wasn't necessarily planning on getting the final three autographs, but it really worked out perfectly. That line, although the shortest, did take awhile to move and we were in the hot sunshine. But it was worth it to get all 11 autographs...and the final three stars signing there were super nice; they actually wanted us to take pictures and talk with them awhile! Once we had our papers signed, my mom and I raced into the store to get our bonnet/apron sets. Then we headed out of town to the dugout site, which is just a big dent in the ground now -- the real dugout was washed away by a flood years ago. We read the sign, my mom and I ran around a big field on a walking path (I also ran down a hill of wildflowers, reminiscent of the show's opening credits), and we waded in Plum Creek, just like Laura. We then ran back to our car and hurried to the pageant grounds, the site of the TV show reunion (and the pageant, after the reunion). At 7:30, the 11 stars filed onto the stage area and began their reminiscing. The stars present were Radames Pera (John Sanderson Edwards, Jr.), Lucy Lee Flippin (Eliza Jane Wilder), Sidney and Lindsey Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey), Charlotte Stewart (Miss Eva Beadle), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder), Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh (Grace Ingalls), and Dan McBride (Henry Riley). They were all very gracious, kind, genuine, unique, interesting, and downright funny at times, evidenced by Alison Arngrim and Dan McBride replaying their humorous "Where's my coffee?" scene and Alison immediately making the "Nasty Nellie" face when asked by an audience member. The question-and-answer time was handled very professionally, with each star answering their respective questions with humility, even when they were quite odd. Overall, it was just incredible to see everyone together again after 40 years. I will never forget this night.
After the reunion presentation (as if that wasn't enough!), the pageant, Fragments of a Dream, took place. This two-hour-long play chronicles the Ingalls' Walnut Grove story and is so, so, so well done. From the scene changes (the sets actually fold up and roll back behind curtains) to the live animals (I paid more attention to the horses than the dialogue sometimes, haha) to the professional-level acting (they're all locals, though), it was perfect. There were good dancing scenes, singing, live fiddle music, amazing special effects, and great lighting. Everyone works so hard to pull this thing off and I give them 10 out of 10 stars! We bought our supper from the Walnut Grove Fire Department (hamburgers, Sun Chips, water) -- that's about all we could get at the pageant grounds -- and enjoyed an ice cream cookie sandwich for dessert in between the reunion and the pageant. When the pageant ended, we raced back to our car to beat the traffic (there were bad reports from previous nights) and drove through the star-lit evening to the Guardian Inn in Windom, Minnesota. Everyone hurried through showers and nightly routines to snuggle in bed at 1:35. Yes, it was a very long and hectic day. Yes, we got soaked, cold, hot, and generally uncomfortable. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. It may have been one of the busiest days of my life but overall, we succeeded in all we did and actually got more done than I imagined at the beginning of the day. Couldn't have done it without God, most importantly, and my wonderful and understanding family. Thanks!
Today we woke up at 6:30, had breakfast (cereal, fruit, orange juice), loaded the car, and headed for Walnut Grove, Minnesota, at 7:45. It was a pretty drive through prairies and slight hills. Once in Walnut Grove, we took pictures of "Pa's bell" at the English Lutheran Church. This is the original bell that Charles Ingalls ("Pa") donated his last dollars to instead of getting new boots for his walk to find work after the grasshoppers destroyed their crop. Read On the Banks of Plum Creek for more; it was pretty amazing to see that exact bell all these years later!
The reason I planned my Little House trip for July was because the pageant season was happening and the Little House on the Prairie TV show cast reunion was occurring (just this weekend!). The reunion involved autograph sessions throughout the day and the actual reunion in the evening, before the pageant, so I really wanted to do this...and we did! There were three different tents set up for the autograph sessions (three per day) and a total of 11 stars were set up throughout the tents. With only three tents, that means long lines...really long lines. To add to the fun, we picked the slowest-moving line to stand in first...in pouring, soaking, cold rain...for two-and-a-half hours. In case you're wondering, yes, we did stick it out and made it up to get the desired autographs. Fortunately, the rain cleared out and sunshine broke through so we could go stand in the second line (shorter and much faster moving). Our "lunch", eaten in the second line, consisted of Pop Tarts, crackers, and juice. And to entertain us while standing in the second line? We were standing in the Walnut Grove park, which was home to Family Days, a huge event with many vendors. So we could watch demonstrations and listen to music, and Victor French's (Isaiah Edwards on the show) kids were presenting a program on his life and career while we were waiting, too. The second line was bearable, definitely! After that success, we headed into the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, a mix-match of buildings housing Walnut Grove-area artifacts, items related to the real Laura, and TV show memorabilia. Once we came out of the final building, we noticed the third tent for the final autograph session. I wasn't necessarily planning on getting the final three autographs, but it really worked out perfectly. That line, although the shortest, did take awhile to move and we were in the hot sunshine. But it was worth it to get all 11 autographs...and the final three stars signing there were super nice; they actually wanted us to take pictures and talk with them awhile! Once we had our papers signed, my mom and I raced into the store to get our bonnet/apron sets. Then we headed out of town to the dugout site, which is just a big dent in the ground now -- the real dugout was washed away by a flood years ago. We read the sign, my mom and I ran around a big field on a walking path (I also ran down a hill of wildflowers, reminiscent of the show's opening credits), and we waded in Plum Creek, just like Laura. We then ran back to our car and hurried to the pageant grounds, the site of the TV show reunion (and the pageant, after the reunion). At 7:30, the 11 stars filed onto the stage area and began their reminiscing. The stars present were Radames Pera (John Sanderson Edwards, Jr.), Lucy Lee Flippin (Eliza Jane Wilder), Sidney and Lindsey Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey), Charlotte Stewart (Miss Eva Beadle), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder), Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh (Grace Ingalls), and Dan McBride (Henry Riley). They were all very gracious, kind, genuine, unique, interesting, and downright funny at times, evidenced by Alison Arngrim and Dan McBride replaying their humorous "Where's my coffee?" scene and Alison immediately making the "Nasty Nellie" face when asked by an audience member. The question-and-answer time was handled very professionally, with each star answering their respective questions with humility, even when they were quite odd. Overall, it was just incredible to see everyone together again after 40 years. I will never forget this night.
After the reunion presentation (as if that wasn't enough!), the pageant, Fragments of a Dream, took place. This two-hour-long play chronicles the Ingalls' Walnut Grove story and is so, so, so well done. From the scene changes (the sets actually fold up and roll back behind curtains) to the live animals (I paid more attention to the horses than the dialogue sometimes, haha) to the professional-level acting (they're all locals, though), it was perfect. There were good dancing scenes, singing, live fiddle music, amazing special effects, and great lighting. Everyone works so hard to pull this thing off and I give them 10 out of 10 stars! We bought our supper from the Walnut Grove Fire Department (hamburgers, Sun Chips, water) -- that's about all we could get at the pageant grounds -- and enjoyed an ice cream cookie sandwich for dessert in between the reunion and the pageant. When the pageant ended, we raced back to our car to beat the traffic (there were bad reports from previous nights) and drove through the star-lit evening to the Guardian Inn in Windom, Minnesota. Everyone hurried through showers and nightly routines to snuggle in bed at 1:35. Yes, it was a very long and hectic day. Yes, we got soaked, cold, hot, and generally uncomfortable. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. It may have been one of the busiest days of my life but overall, we succeeded in all we did and actually got more done than I imagined at the beginning of the day. Couldn't have done it without God, most importantly, and my wonderful and understanding family. Thanks!
Pa's bell at the English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, Minnesota
Near the Ingalls dugout site
Wading in Plum Creek (L-R: Me, my mom, my godmother Val)
~Anna
Friday, July 25, 2014
Little House Trip Day #3
This morning we slept in until 7:30, then enjoyed a nice breakfast of French toast, sausages, fruit salad, and juice. We headed out to to the Wilder Homestead & Birthplace of Rose Wilder Lane. It really is just a little marker off the side of the road. You can look and see the hillside where their claim shanty was but it is now private land so you can't actually go up there. If you drive on up South Dakota Highway 25, you'll also see the trees from their tree claim. Again, it's a private residence, but you can still gaze upon it and imagine Laura and Almanzo there many years ago.
Next, we headed for the De Smet Cemetery. This lovely, secluded, peaceful, well-kept place is the final resting place of Pa and Ma Ingalls, Carrie Ingalls, Grace Ingalls Dow and her husband Nate Dow, Laura and Almanzo's baby son, and many of the Ingalls' friends.
Next we headed for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes Tour (in town). This excellent guided tour (we spent at least two hours) starts in the visitor center, where you can see the "Laura's Legacy" display. It features artifacts relating to each individual story and all of the books in numerous languages. We got to see one of Laura's nightgowns, Carrie's summer dress and jewelry, a quilt made by Rose, and lots more. Next, you head for the Surveyor's House, the actual home in By the Shores of Silver Lake. It was moved to its current location in 1885. You'll also see the first school of De Smet, built in 1880 and restored in 1999; a replica of the Brewer School, where Laura had her first teaching assignment (it's tiny); and the Ingalls home on Third Street, which Pa built and Pa and Ma died at. All of the places feature accurate furnishings and accessories. I liked the pump organ and fiddle in the home on Third Street -- you can actually try them!
We had some lunch (tuna-cheese wrap, trail mix, clementine, juice, water) and then checked out the Discovery Center, which features tons of hands-on kid-themed activities. You can play school and kitchen, dress up, learn Braille, weave, try a sewing machine (the old kind, with a foot pedal), and lots more. It's a nice opportunity for children to try out those things they just read about.
We finished with the De Smet Depot Museum & Harvey Dunn School, a free and cute little spot. It is quite an eclectic mix of anything and everything, ranging from women's dresses to South Dakota animals (taxidermy) to a Model T. It's all honoring the history of De Smet, housed in three separate buildings. The Harvey Dunn School is a one-room schoolhouse attended by artist Harvey Dunn for nine years and features many of his famous paintings of the prairie and some lesser-known World War I drawings. We even saw the original fire bell.
After that nice day, we headed for historic Loftus Store (it's in Laura's books) to look around and get a few things, then to supper at Wards Store & Bakery. Very fast, friendly service; I enjoyed lasagna, green beans, garlic toast, pecan pie, and water, yummy!
To round out our second day in De Smet, we headed to "These Happy Golden Years Pageant". The gates opened at 6 p.m. and there were free wagon rides (a real wagon today, pulled by Percherons or mules), photo opportunities, and a nice little newspaper/program to read. At 8 p.m., the show started with introductions by state, then the pageant. It's entirely put on by local people and so well done. It was a very accurate representation of the book, too. We really enjoyed our two days in De Smet. If you ever come here, it's best to spend two days...there's so much great stuff to do! We'll be in Walnut Grove (Minnesota) tomorrow, which is our longest and craziest day, so we'll see about blogging. I'll be back for sure on Sunday night.
Next, we headed for the De Smet Cemetery. This lovely, secluded, peaceful, well-kept place is the final resting place of Pa and Ma Ingalls, Carrie Ingalls, Grace Ingalls Dow and her husband Nate Dow, Laura and Almanzo's baby son, and many of the Ingalls' friends.
Next we headed for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes Tour (in town). This excellent guided tour (we spent at least two hours) starts in the visitor center, where you can see the "Laura's Legacy" display. It features artifacts relating to each individual story and all of the books in numerous languages. We got to see one of Laura's nightgowns, Carrie's summer dress and jewelry, a quilt made by Rose, and lots more. Next, you head for the Surveyor's House, the actual home in By the Shores of Silver Lake. It was moved to its current location in 1885. You'll also see the first school of De Smet, built in 1880 and restored in 1999; a replica of the Brewer School, where Laura had her first teaching assignment (it's tiny); and the Ingalls home on Third Street, which Pa built and Pa and Ma died at. All of the places feature accurate furnishings and accessories. I liked the pump organ and fiddle in the home on Third Street -- you can actually try them!
We had some lunch (tuna-cheese wrap, trail mix, clementine, juice, water) and then checked out the Discovery Center, which features tons of hands-on kid-themed activities. You can play school and kitchen, dress up, learn Braille, weave, try a sewing machine (the old kind, with a foot pedal), and lots more. It's a nice opportunity for children to try out those things they just read about.
We finished with the De Smet Depot Museum & Harvey Dunn School, a free and cute little spot. It is quite an eclectic mix of anything and everything, ranging from women's dresses to South Dakota animals (taxidermy) to a Model T. It's all honoring the history of De Smet, housed in three separate buildings. The Harvey Dunn School is a one-room schoolhouse attended by artist Harvey Dunn for nine years and features many of his famous paintings of the prairie and some lesser-known World War I drawings. We even saw the original fire bell.
After that nice day, we headed for historic Loftus Store (it's in Laura's books) to look around and get a few things, then to supper at Wards Store & Bakery. Very fast, friendly service; I enjoyed lasagna, green beans, garlic toast, pecan pie, and water, yummy!
To round out our second day in De Smet, we headed to "These Happy Golden Years Pageant". The gates opened at 6 p.m. and there were free wagon rides (a real wagon today, pulled by Percherons or mules), photo opportunities, and a nice little newspaper/program to read. At 8 p.m., the show started with introductions by state, then the pageant. It's entirely put on by local people and so well done. It was a very accurate representation of the book, too. We really enjoyed our two days in De Smet. If you ever come here, it's best to spend two days...there's so much great stuff to do! We'll be in Walnut Grove (Minnesota) tomorrow, which is our longest and craziest day, so we'll see about blogging. I'll be back for sure on Sunday night.
The site of Laura and Almanzo's claim shanty
(left to right) Carrie, Mary, Laura and Almanzo's baby boy, Ma, and Pa buried at De Smet Cemetery
Attempting to play the fiddle in the Ingalls House on Third Street
The Ingalls house on Third Street which Pa built
Inside the Harvey Dunn School
~Anna
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Little House Trip Day #2
Today we woke up at 6:45, had breakfast (whole wheat toast with strawberry jam, cinnamon roll, apple juice), and headed about 50 miles west of Brookings to Manchester, South Dakota. Manchester was the longtime home of Grace Ingalls Dow, Laura's youngest sister, and Harvey Dunn, a famous prairie artist. Manchester had a terrible EF4 tornado in June 2003 which destroyed any remnants of the historically significant town, but through kind donations, there are several plaques and a little memorial. Especially cool was the town pump and the "Manchester" sign, weathered and twisted from the tornado but still up. Somehow, it signaled a great deal more than just the name of a now-ghost town.
Next, we headed about nine miles back east to DeSmet, where we enjoyed some dramatic viewing of the Big Slough and Silver Lake (both mentioned several times in Laura's books). Large, rolling black clouds were coming in from the north but glimmers of the sun still were on the horizon, so the mixing colors were creating such incredible lighting...perfect for photos! There was lightning and thunder and a little rain, but then it was mostly cloudy or clear for the rest of the day, with a very strong wind blowing and temperatures around 70 degrees. We headed for the Ingalls Homestead Site, 160 acres of hands-on perfection. Their three "rules"? Children should touch, feel, and climb; pictures may be taken anywhere; and visit and explore at your own pace. That was all I needed to feel welcome, haha! Admission is $10 and quite a bargain for the many, many activities to do and things to see. We started by watching a brief video about Laura and the homestead, then moved outdoors to experience each of nearly 20 different "exhibits" scattered on the property. A quick rundown on each follows; it's the order which we did things in today.
Laura's Travels Exhibit -- Housed in a little white building, small nooks feature quotes from the respective books on Laura's life from Pepin to DeSmet. Each book is in a small holder at each "station" for your reading pleasure. There's also a magnet game to follow Laura's journey and a covered wagon to climb on.
Wagon Ride/Prairie School -- In a covered wagon (with rubber tires, not wooden wheels) pulled by horses or mules, enjoy a ride out to the prairie school. Housed in Johnson School #20, a 125-year-old schoolhouse which was moved to its current location, you'll be engaged in an educational overview of schools and curriculum back in Laura's time. Did you know they only attended school for three months of the year? The rest of the year was spent working hard on their farms or claims. There were even a few desks from the 1800s!
Livestock Barn -- Housing farm implements and tools, the wagon horses/mules, Shetland ponies and miniature horses (two babies...one was running and jumping; the other was a day old and mostly slept), a little stagecoach used in parades (yes, you can sit in it and on the driver's seat and hold real reins), and Indian lifestyles, this was one of my favorite spots!
Flindt's Garage -- Make hay twists (like Pa and Laura in The Long Winter), a corncob doll, and rope...you can even grind wheat in the coffee grinder.
Fields -- The amber waves of grain (really) and corn are small fields but they do represent pioneer lives.
Lunch -- Well, this wasn't an exhibit, but you know I have to comment on food! We enjoyed chicken-bean-cheese wraps, crackers, peaches, zucchini bread, and juice.
Dugout & Burvee Shanty -- Which would you choose? The replica dugout was smaller than you could ever imagine, but it was cozy. The shanty, covered in tar paper on the outside and newspaper on the inside, was a bit bigger but didn't provide as much protection. Fully furnished and outfitted, trust me, there's no extra space.
Hay Roof Barn & Water Pump -- In this replica of a typical barn of Laura's time, there was a Holstein calf named Bright, orphaned kittens (they're grown up some, but still small...I fell in love with a Siamese), and chickens and roosters. At the water pump, try your hand at pumping.
Ma's Little House -- An accurate replica of the Ingalls' claim shanty, you can explore the inside (the bedrooms are so small!), then go check out the hand-washing outside. Scrub your muslin sheet on the washboard, send it through the wringer, and hang it on the clothesline to dry. No problem drying in today's wind!
Bethany Lutheran Church -- Nearly 110 years old, this was moved to its current location in 2009. It's such a humble yet gorgeous chapel. There's even a working pump organ and piano which you can try out.
Lookout Tower -- Typically, you should start your tour with this, but it was stormy when we got here so we waited until the afternoon. It was worth it since it had cleared up. It certainly gives you a bird's-eye view and puts things into perspective.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Site -- In the small northwestern corner of the claim, you'll find a monument to Laura and pinpointing the exact location of their shanty. You'll also see the original five cottonwood trees Pa planted...yes, they are the real ones. Such feelings to run down the hill where Laura really would have walked and run dozens of times.
We also checked out Thompson Lake, which Laura and Almanzo would have driven to while they were courting. It's huge, like a mini ocean! There were also very large waves (you could surf them, literally), due to the wind. We had supper at the Oxbow Restaurant (I had the Farmer Boy Burger, with coleslaw and fries and water). It was very, very slow even though there weren't very many people. There was only one waitress. I do not recommend it, but we eventually got our food and it was pretty good. We're staying at the Heritage House Bed & Breakfast, a lovely brick building. It was built in 1888 and was formerly a bank (and a couple of other things too). Such a lovely place.
Next, we headed about nine miles back east to DeSmet, where we enjoyed some dramatic viewing of the Big Slough and Silver Lake (both mentioned several times in Laura's books). Large, rolling black clouds were coming in from the north but glimmers of the sun still were on the horizon, so the mixing colors were creating such incredible lighting...perfect for photos! There was lightning and thunder and a little rain, but then it was mostly cloudy or clear for the rest of the day, with a very strong wind blowing and temperatures around 70 degrees. We headed for the Ingalls Homestead Site, 160 acres of hands-on perfection. Their three "rules"? Children should touch, feel, and climb; pictures may be taken anywhere; and visit and explore at your own pace. That was all I needed to feel welcome, haha! Admission is $10 and quite a bargain for the many, many activities to do and things to see. We started by watching a brief video about Laura and the homestead, then moved outdoors to experience each of nearly 20 different "exhibits" scattered on the property. A quick rundown on each follows; it's the order which we did things in today.
Laura's Travels Exhibit -- Housed in a little white building, small nooks feature quotes from the respective books on Laura's life from Pepin to DeSmet. Each book is in a small holder at each "station" for your reading pleasure. There's also a magnet game to follow Laura's journey and a covered wagon to climb on.
Wagon Ride/Prairie School -- In a covered wagon (with rubber tires, not wooden wheels) pulled by horses or mules, enjoy a ride out to the prairie school. Housed in Johnson School #20, a 125-year-old schoolhouse which was moved to its current location, you'll be engaged in an educational overview of schools and curriculum back in Laura's time. Did you know they only attended school for three months of the year? The rest of the year was spent working hard on their farms or claims. There were even a few desks from the 1800s!
Livestock Barn -- Housing farm implements and tools, the wagon horses/mules, Shetland ponies and miniature horses (two babies...one was running and jumping; the other was a day old and mostly slept), a little stagecoach used in parades (yes, you can sit in it and on the driver's seat and hold real reins), and Indian lifestyles, this was one of my favorite spots!
Flindt's Garage -- Make hay twists (like Pa and Laura in The Long Winter), a corncob doll, and rope...you can even grind wheat in the coffee grinder.
Fields -- The amber waves of grain (really) and corn are small fields but they do represent pioneer lives.
Lunch -- Well, this wasn't an exhibit, but you know I have to comment on food! We enjoyed chicken-bean-cheese wraps, crackers, peaches, zucchini bread, and juice.
Dugout & Burvee Shanty -- Which would you choose? The replica dugout was smaller than you could ever imagine, but it was cozy. The shanty, covered in tar paper on the outside and newspaper on the inside, was a bit bigger but didn't provide as much protection. Fully furnished and outfitted, trust me, there's no extra space.
Hay Roof Barn & Water Pump -- In this replica of a typical barn of Laura's time, there was a Holstein calf named Bright, orphaned kittens (they're grown up some, but still small...I fell in love with a Siamese), and chickens and roosters. At the water pump, try your hand at pumping.
Ma's Little House -- An accurate replica of the Ingalls' claim shanty, you can explore the inside (the bedrooms are so small!), then go check out the hand-washing outside. Scrub your muslin sheet on the washboard, send it through the wringer, and hang it on the clothesline to dry. No problem drying in today's wind!
Bethany Lutheran Church -- Nearly 110 years old, this was moved to its current location in 2009. It's such a humble yet gorgeous chapel. There's even a working pump organ and piano which you can try out.
Lookout Tower -- Typically, you should start your tour with this, but it was stormy when we got here so we waited until the afternoon. It was worth it since it had cleared up. It certainly gives you a bird's-eye view and puts things into perspective.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Site -- In the small northwestern corner of the claim, you'll find a monument to Laura and pinpointing the exact location of their shanty. You'll also see the original five cottonwood trees Pa planted...yes, they are the real ones. Such feelings to run down the hill where Laura really would have walked and run dozens of times.
We also checked out Thompson Lake, which Laura and Almanzo would have driven to while they were courting. It's huge, like a mini ocean! There were also very large waves (you could surf them, literally), due to the wind. We had supper at the Oxbow Restaurant (I had the Farmer Boy Burger, with coleslaw and fries and water). It was very, very slow even though there weren't very many people. There was only one waitress. I do not recommend it, but we eventually got our food and it was pretty good. We're staying at the Heritage House Bed & Breakfast, a lovely brick building. It was built in 1888 and was formerly a bank (and a couple of other things too). Such a lovely place.
Manchester, South Dakota, sign -- damaged from 2003 tornado
Manchester monument
Near the Big Slough/Silver Lake area
Prairie school
Amber waves of waving grain
I made a Siamese kitten friend!
Bethany Lutheran Church
Original cottonwood trees planted by Pa Ingalls
Lake Thompson
~Anna
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Little House Trip Day #1
Hi, everyone! I'm back and blogging from South Dakota, on day #1 of the exciting "Little House" trip. I will hopefully be blogging every night from tonight (Wednesday) through Tuesday night. Hope you enjoy reading!
We woke up at 5:45, had breakfast (granola and milk), did the final packing, I took care of my neighbor's horses, said goodbye to my dad, and headed out at 8:30. I drove until our stop in St. Joseph to get gas and fix our lunch for the road. On a side note, when we came up this way for our 2013 Big Sky ski trip, we stopped at the exact same gas station (even the same pump)! We are creatures of habit. Back on I-29, we had a yummy lunch (tuna-cheese wraps, crackers, peaches, leftover Girl Scout cookies, and water), then enjoyed the lovely farm countryside of Iowa. I love this drive. Our first planned "activity" of the trip was the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor & Museum in Le Mars, Iowa (also known as the "Ice Cream Capital of the World"). It's a great little off-the-interstate jaunt, with the second floor devoted to telling the history of the Blue Bunny ice cream (it started in 1913). On the first floor, you'll find the gift store and the ice cream parlor. We all enjoyed two tasty scoops. I had huckleberry and banana split, both highly recommended by yours truly.
After that stop, we headed on non-stop to Brookings, South Dakota, arriving at 7:45. After supper at Mixed (super organic, I had the cranberry-almond wrap, a breadstick, and a strawberry-banana smoothie...so healthy), we checked into the Super 8. It's a nice, clean, big room. I'm headed off for a shower and then bed; can't wait for tomorrow's activities and adventures!
~Anna
We woke up at 5:45, had breakfast (granola and milk), did the final packing, I took care of my neighbor's horses, said goodbye to my dad, and headed out at 8:30. I drove until our stop in St. Joseph to get gas and fix our lunch for the road. On a side note, when we came up this way for our 2013 Big Sky ski trip, we stopped at the exact same gas station (even the same pump)! We are creatures of habit. Back on I-29, we had a yummy lunch (tuna-cheese wraps, crackers, peaches, leftover Girl Scout cookies, and water), then enjoyed the lovely farm countryside of Iowa. I love this drive. Our first planned "activity" of the trip was the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor & Museum in Le Mars, Iowa (also known as the "Ice Cream Capital of the World"). It's a great little off-the-interstate jaunt, with the second floor devoted to telling the history of the Blue Bunny ice cream (it started in 1913). On the first floor, you'll find the gift store and the ice cream parlor. We all enjoyed two tasty scoops. I had huckleberry and banana split, both highly recommended by yours truly.
After that stop, we headed on non-stop to Brookings, South Dakota, arriving at 7:45. After supper at Mixed (super organic, I had the cranberry-almond wrap, a breadstick, and a strawberry-banana smoothie...so healthy), we checked into the Super 8. It's a nice, clean, big room. I'm headed off for a shower and then bed; can't wait for tomorrow's activities and adventures!
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor & Museum in Le Mars, Iowa
~Anna
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