Friday, September 19, 2014 -- After an incredibly busy day, we headed west on I-44 for my aunt and uncle's lovely home and farm near Seymour. On the way, we stopped for supper at a Dairy Queen (grilled chicken sandwich, fudge-cookie dough shake) before arriving around 9 p.m. It's always nice to see them and we visited for awhile, showered, and got all ready for bedtime around midnight.
Saturday, September 20, 2014 -- Before we knew it, it was 6:20 and time to get up for the start to an excellent day. After a blueberry muffin (yum) and orange juice, we headed for Mansfield's Community Center. We all ran in the Wilder 5K that morning! It was just perfect in every way -- a beautiful setting, lovely weather (light fog, mid-60s), and not too many people. We started by running right through the cemetery, where Laura, Almanzo, and Rose are buried. That was really a special way to start the day...especially since I set a personal best time of 23 minutes and 51 seconds. I was second in my age group and third in overall female. It was a great course and I loved every second of it (really!). Afterwards, we all had water and bananas and waited around for the awards ceremony (they only gave out first-place medals so none of us got anything) and door prizes (we did all get something then). Next up on the agenda was the Mansfield Cemetery, the final resting place of the heart and soul of my trips, books, project, everything -- Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband Almanzo, and her daughter Rose. It's a beautiful little area with some bushes, pretty granite headstones, and just an overall fitting tribute to such simple yet amazing people. After the cemetery, we headed for the Laura's Memories pageant, put on by the Ozark Mountain Players. If you ever have the opportunity, I strongly recommend you attend! They use such a large number of actors and actresses, all from the community, and of such different personalities and ages. It was so professionally done, too, with everything from the props to costumes to live music. The play (about 1 hour, 45 minutes) takes viewers through Laura's entire life, from her early childhood in Pepin to her final home in Mansfield. Complete with lots of singing and live instruments, it's a can't-miss opportunity. Please support them if you can -- tickets are cheap and the money goes toward their scholarship fund, given to deserving Mansfield high school students. After the pageant, we headed for Rocky Ridge Farm (Laura and Almanzo's historic home site) to hear Pa's fiddle -- the real one -- be played. It still sounds amazing for being 160+ years old and it's the only time of the year they play it, so that was a special experience. Afterwards, we had lunch (beef brisket sandwiches and water), then headed through the museum on site. It houses many pictures of, information about, and artifacts made or used by Caroline (Ma), Mary, Carrie, Grace, Laura, Almanzo, Rose, and other relatives. It's a relatively compact space with more information than you'd think. There's quite a nice sampling of not just Laura's life, but her relatives, too. We then toured the old white farmhouse built by Almanzo. As I walked through the rooms, I imagined Laura carrying out her everyday duties in the exact same spots 75 years ago. Living history -- my favorite! Another thing that is just open on this one day of the year is the upstairs of the home. We were allowed to walk up the staircase into the hallway and look into the guest bedroom. We also saw Rose's door but it was closed so we couldn't see her bedroom. Still, it was a chance not often gotten and I'm grateful for what we could do. We also saw the Rock House, which Rose had built for Laura and Almanzo and they lived in for awhile (but they didn't like it much so they moved back). It is much smaller but still adorable...and quite elegant, almost castle-like, with the stone on all sides. Finally, we went in the gift store and when we came out, William Anderson (a Laura enthusiast and author of many Laura-related books) and Lucy Lee Flippin (Eliza Jane Wilder on the TV show) were outside, so we got their autographs. Yet another memory to an already memorable day! We stopped for a cool ice cream treat on the way back to my grandma's farm and home in Ozark, then on back for supper (pizza, watermelon, grapes, water, cherry pie), showers, and bed at 10:15.
Sunday, September 21, 2014 -- We slept in until 8 a.m. -- it felt great -- and had breakfast (cereal, coffee cake, milk) before heading for Independence, Kansas. It's a pretty drive through some slight rolling hills full of horses and cattle. We arrived at the Little House on the Prairie site just as they were opening, had a picnic lunch (sandwich, pretzels, apple slice, juice), and began our self-guided tour. The layout includes the historic one-room Sunny Side School (used from 1871 to 1948), the Wayside Post Office, a replica of the Little House on the Prairie cabin (so tiny!), the site of Pa's hand-dug well, a gift store housed inside an old farmhouse, and the farmyard (home to burros, a donkey, and a horse). It's an excellent spot for all ages, tucked away on a quiet county road, but well worth visiting. Having driven over to Independence, we made a day of it by also visiting Mt. Hope Cemetery and the Ralph Mitchell Zoo. Mt. Hope Cemetery is 86 acres (yeah...quite large) and the final resting place for Dr. George A. Tann, who cared for the Ingalls family when they contracted fever n ague (malaria). His grave site is decorated with flags and has a nice little sign recognizing him. The Ralph Mitchell Zoo is free and part of Riverside Park (as well as the cemetery). It's home to all the typical zoo animals -- monkeys, lots of birds, a bear, a cougar, elk, bison, raccoon, llamas, camels, and many more. It spans a huge swath of land and is great for walking and enjoying the scenery and animals. Who would have guessed there's a large, professional-type, free zoo in Independence, Kansas? Following our day in Independence, we headed back toward Ozark, stopping in Joplin for supper at Steak n Shake (patty melt, fries, apple-caramel shake, water). Once back, we had showers and were in bed at 10:35.
Monday, September 22, 2014 -- This morning, we woke up at 6:40, had breakfast (cereal and milk), and drove back home to drop my friend Allison off at her school, then begin unpacking and getting back to "everyday life". Yes, the Little House trips are over. Yes, I'm sad. But it has been an incredible, life-changing, incomparable part of my life and schooling. I'm forever indebted and grateful to my mom, who supported (and encouraged) my love of Laura, which developed into the study and trips. Thanks so much for being patient, understanding, and eager to share adventures with me. Thanks to my brother Matthew for sharing expert navigational skills and enjoying the (part 1) trip along with us (and to my godmother Val, too). Thanks to my uncle and aunt who graciously opened their home for the first night of our part 2 trip, my grandma for the other two nights on part 2, and my friend Allison and Grandma for joining my mom and me as we finished the sites tour. It's a huge accomplishment and I'm so blessed to have been able to do it. Most importantly (this shouldn't be way down here), I point to Jesus for protecting us on the hundreds of miles we covered, keeping us safe as we toured each site, and for blessing us with the ability to take off and do this. He's the most important part of each trip I take...and furthermore, each day I wake up and each night I go to sleep. In other words, He is the biggest part of everything I do, and I hope He is the same for you. May God bless you in your endeavors and trips and everyday life, and thanks for "joining" me for part 2. Until next time...
~Anna
The grave site of Laura, Almanzo, and Rose at the Mansfield Cemetery
Pa's fiddle ready to be played at Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield
Rocky Ridge Farmhouse in Mansfield
Rock House in Mansfield
Little House on the Prairie cabin replica in Independence
Burros at the Little House on the Prairie site in Independence
Dr. George Tann's grave site at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence
Ducks and a swan at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence
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