Laura Ingalls Wilder Homes

The Laura Ingalls Wilder books and TV series are two of my all-time favorites. I started reading Little House in the Big Woods when I was six-years-old after my eccentric tooth fairies Misty and Toothie brought me the book instead of money. I remember following my mom all over the house asking her what each unfamiliar word meant. I love the series as much now as I did when I was a child, and I've always looked forward to reading the books to my own daughter. Laura's Rocky Ridge Farm where she wrote the series wasn't far from Branson, so Ted and I decided to take the children for a day trip. I started reading the first book to the children in Branson and was delighted to see that they too enjoyed the series. Caleb snuck off with the book and finished it on his own before I was able to read chapter three out loud. Seeing Pa's fiddle, Mary's braille books and correspondence, and the handmade quilts and clothing really interested the children, although they were very sad to find out that Mary eventually lost her sight. I couldn't believe all the pieces of her past Laura had saved--her first stitching sampler, school essays, calling cards of friends, letters, and her writing slate. Many objects had quotes beside them from the books where they were mentioned. Even Ted is becoming a fan--he's almost finished with the first book!

Raising the next generation of Little House fans

Standing in front of the home Almanzo built for Laura

Laura's daughter Rose had this home built for her parents after Rose became the second highest paid writer in the US. It's a lovely home with all the modern conveniences of the time, but Laura and Almanzo missed their first home and eventually moved back.

Pa's famous fiddle