Welcome to Litsy!

The eldest Indian in central South Dakota tells how every 7th winter is long and hard; but the 7th of 7 hard winters is the longest and bleakest…6-8 months of very low temps and constant blizzards. Families are starving bc the trains can‘t get through the high snow drifts. What they lived through was unimaginable 🥶❄️
#InvolvesExtremeWeather
#NewYearNewBooks
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#wintergames #photochallenge #snowflakesquad #family #christmastree #bluecover #angel #wildlife (Stephen King calls his dog Molly the thing of evil 🤣) @PuddleJumper

There‘s a group in Litsy reading the whole set of these books, and it got me thinking about this one. It‘s one of my favorites, and I wanted something wintery, and it did not disappoint. I hadn‘t read it in years and years and I enjoyed myself immensely!

I listened to the audiobook of this book, I also own the physical copy of the book. This series was a big part of my childhood. This is one of my favorite books. I rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Catching up on belated reviews—I finished this a couple weeks ago. I‘m so enjoying reading the #LittleHouse books for the first time. There are those frustrating moments of casual racism sprinkled here & there, but properly contextualized, these books are a treasure of historical information. And the way Wilder is able to make what is basically an account of lots of blizzards into an interesting story is just wonderful. #SeriesLove2023

Im loving this read along! Wish I had jumped in at book one. I‘ve never read these before and the adversity in this one astounded me! Catching up on the new read tonight!

This fictional account of the Ingalls family living through a snowbound winter in the Dakota Territory was fascinating but also terrifying. As with most of the Little House books, I wish I had read this one as a child, when I would have seen this as a wonderful, wintery adventure. As an adult, all I can see are the perils on every page!
Thanks @megnews , for another great #LittleHouse Buddy Read!

I remember this one being my favorite growing up. I have vivid memories of winter storms rolling through as a child and imagining myself as Laura and then always feeling lucky to be cozy and warm. Images from this book stayed with me. I loved revisiting this and this time reading from an adult perspective, imagining trying to keep my family safe and fed. #littlehouse @megnews

#Serieslove2023 #littlehouse

Another great read in the Little House Series. The Long Winter was fascinating as the Ingalls family handled a cruel winter without many supplies. It‘s a wonder how they survived without modern technologies like heat and weather forecasts. Loved having the Wilder brothers in this one too.

I do not necessarily have wrap up questions but wondering your general observations of the book. I find it amazing Ingalls could bring out the interesting parts of what must have been a very long, boring winter to make the book stay interesting. Do you think the book is still good for middle grade to read today? I think it‘s a good example of Westward expansion motives and experiences with underlying political beliefs of the time. When taught 👇🏻

What better way to end a long winter than Christmas in May when the harsh weather finally breaks? Ingalls has a true knack with these Christmas chapters. Watch for some wrap up questions tomorrow and then Sunday we begin Little Town in the Prairie.

There is so much I didn‘t remember since I read this 100 times as a kid. 😂
Enjoyed this reread and the discussion with the #LittleHouse readalong group.

The second train gets through and the Ingalls‘ Christmas barrel arrives. I‘m curious about the origin of the Christmas barrel. Is it something family members put together and send you? Or is it mail order that Pa or Ma placed? Is it a Christian mission type of thing? I haven‘t had a chance to look into it.

Catch up post: Almanzo and Cap had a long, dangerous journey thru the snow but finally made it back. Mr Loftus showed himself not to be very neighborly with the price he wanted to charge. Laura wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of melting snow (finally!). The train makes it thru only to find there are no groceries. The town has had enough and raids a car to take what they can get. What thoughts have you had over the last chapters?

Great discussion on the last chapter. To carry it on, have the Wilder brothers redeemed themselves at all by offering to go get the wheat out on the homestead? I can‘t recall but think Royal is about ten years older so he has no excuse. But I was giving Almanzo a break being only 19 and probably a bit oblivious. On a lighter note, I think we confirmed our suspicions that Pa doesn‘t like to play checkers if he can‘t win.

The Wilder Brothers seem to live on nothing but pancakes and they don‘t seem to be as worried about food running out as everyone else. Mighty bold of Pa to take their wheat like that.

In case anyone missed @julieclair comment and link about the button lamp, it also included this photo taken in 1881 around the same time as the Long Winter. Even as an Ohioan dealing with lake effect snow my whole life I can‘t imagine this staggering amount of snow.

I was so mad at Foster in this chapter. What a terrible impact on the whole community.

I think we all knew this awful moment was coming. It‘s awful to hear. And now even scarier because now there‘s truly nothing left.
I‘ve been curious the last few chapters and keep forgetting to ask. Why twist the hay into sticks? Does it burn better than just throwing the hay in? I‘m guessing it must?

The frozen laundry above is just wild to me. The Ingalls have another sweet Christmas together and then “While they were eating, the lamp began to flicker. With all its might the flame pulled itself up, drawing the last drop of kerosene up the wick. Then it fainted down and desperately tried again. Ma leaned over and blew it out. The dark came in, loud with the roar and the shrieking of the storm.”
Observations from this chapter?

The mood continues to be ominous. Interesting conversation between Almanzo and Royal about the mentality of a shopkeeper. Everything‘s for sale. I listened to this chapter and the narrator pronounced Almanzo Al man zo. Man as in a grown boy. I have been pronouncing it mon. What have the rest of you been doing? I thought I recalled it as mon from the show.

They get a reprieve but then the snow just keeps coming. The story about the horse going chin deep in the Slough was interesting and I was surprised they could get out. I hope the mail makes it and they‘re able to keep clearing the train tracks.

30 feet of snow needs to be removed from the tracks! No kerosene, coal, food? This is getting so scary. #LittleHouse

Sorry #LittleHouse readalong. I‘ve been offline traveling for my daughter‘s graduation from UNC Pembroke.
What were your thoughts on the last couple of chapters?

I held my breath awaiting Pa‘s return. This chapter reminded me of the great plows that were eventually made to clear the tracks. I‘ve seen them at the Henry Ford Museum.

Great glimpse into the Wilder brothers and a bit more info on homesteading. Good thing Almanzo went with Royal or Royal might have starved to death. 😂

Today‘s photo does not do this chapter justice. This was scarey in so many ways. And I thought Cap was lost for sure. So glad they all made it home ok. I can‘t imagine snow making my eyelids bleed. How awful!

“…even if she could get over being afraid, she could not like strange people. She knew how animals would act, she understood what animals thought, but you could never be sure about people.”

#LittleHouse

The Ingalls set up house yet again. Laura and Mary get to go to school. Laura is lucky to have a little sister to be brave for. Pa is talking about Oregon. And Ma puts her foot down. Pa is going to run out of room to move West soon.

Late post
Ugh. I‘m just about sick of Ma‘s attitude toward Native Americans. This man could have let them all freeze to death but since he‘s watching out for his fellow man (who doesn‘t bother to watch out for him) he warns the townspeople of the coming harsh winter. And Ma‘s thanks is her racist attitude. Fear is one thing. That attitude toward someone who helped you is past my ability give her a break because it was how it was then.

Those poor cows in yesterday‘s chapter! I couldn‘t post their picture. I‘m glad that little bird made it but we are still building up with the ominous feeling of things to come. #LittleHouse

Well that went downhill quick. Once again we find ourselves thinking what the heck was Pa thinking? While the family takes things in stride as well as they can. I cannot stand being cold and I could not take things in stride like Ma. Do you prefer the heat or cold?

They‘re finishing the harvest and canning and preserving for the winter. It feels ominous. Will they have enough to get them through?

What‘s your favorite pie? I‘ve never like pumpkin but I love the smell. I‘m not really a pie person. I loved how excited the girls all were to present Pa with theirs though. #LittleHouse

Laura and Carrie go to town and get lost on the way back, running into Almanzo for the second time. Have you ever been lost?

As we begin The Long Winter, Laura is almost 14 and quite capable around the homestead. Pa never has to regret not having a son to help out with Laura around. We already have hints of the long winter ahead with the muskrat house. First impressions?

The adventure continues …

#LittleHouse

Thanks for the tag @MoonWitch94 ! 😀

1. The tagged book was the first that came to mind.
2. I‘m just trying to keep my sanity till retirement...11 years to go.
3. I‘m grateful for the sunshine after a week of rain.

#WondrousWednesday

It‘s been a while since I read any “little house” books, so I picked this up for #wintergames2021
Interesting to read as an adult! I marveled at the depiction of life in the old west in the winter, though all the blizzards made me feel even colder than ever 🥶 (I‘m not ready)
Plus, my hubby and I completed our annual gingerbread house competition, so here‘s our holiday baking AND our holiday crafting for the competition! #mistletoemaniacs

#GratefulHarvest

Today‘s #scarf prompt makes me think of the Laura Ingalls Wider books (especially the tagged book & These Happy Golden Years). All the scarves & bundling up for the long cold prairie winters. I loved the scene in The Long Winter with Ma bringing in the frozen laundry. 😆

For the first time since the earliest days of my podcast, the show returns to Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s Little House on the Prairie series, this time for a chat about The Long Winter. We open the episode with a frank conversation about the racist underpinnings of this series and similar books. From there we dive into The Long Winter, more specifically. And I can‘t overstate how lovely my guest — author Lauren Tarshis — is! ❄️ Link to listen in bio.

My January #doublespin was a comfort listen. I have fond memories of my dad reading this series to me as a young girl. There are certainly some similarities between the Covid pandemic and the many months of blizzards the Ingalls survived, but this story made me very thankful for our modern conveniences. A lovely, cozy read.

4.5⭐️ There were things, like Laura‘s complaining, that really bothered me more this read, as a lot her own experience of the winter of 1880-81 is so similar to the pandemic we‘ve been going through. While the book has fictional elements, it‘s actually quite accurate. #2020 #fiction #littlehouseseries #bookreview #basedonatruestory #childrenslit #bookstagram #historicalfiction #wintergames2020 #readnosedreindeer +36pts

Even Ma Ingalls did sourdough starters...

The context is that Laura is discouraged that school has canceled again due to a blizzard and therefore won‘t be able to make enough money to send Mary to the college for the blind. I think it‘s admirable that Ma realizes that her children‘s education doesn‘t have to stop because of a massive blizzard.

Can I count this as a holiday read for #wintergames2020?

My cousin Elaine in Norfolk. It‘s been so long since we‘ve seen each other.

That I‘m mostly retired and happy in a lovely place, with a husband who‘s company I greatly enjoy.

Thanks for the tag, @RamsFan1963 !

Heat! Many of us take it for granted, both the ease and the existence. Having just read the Long Winter, it was on my mind this morning. Also, it‘s back to normal November weather in Michigan, so it‘s hovering around freezing right now. Ergo, heat.

Once again, I loved The Long Winter. In fact, it had been just long enough since I last read it that I didn‘t remember everything, and I loved it even more. #Doublespin done!
#kindnessandpositivityweek

And this is my #Doublespin! I normally read Long Winter every, well, winter, but in recent years I‘ve been remiss! My husband bought me a beautiful edition of all of Laura‘s books a few years ago, so I‘m digging in.

Since I never finished out the series I thought I‘d do it now. I believe I stopped before Laura married Almanzo. When I read the description of The Long Winter I couldn‘t remember it, even though I‘m sure I read it.

I started the Little House books in 3rd grade and a kid that young didn‘t really grasp what a tenuous position people were in during that outrageous winter in South Dakota. This time I‘m in awe at how everyone survived.

Have been rereading these during the pandemic and find them very comforting both because it takes me back to my childhood and because they make do and entertain themselves with what they have on hand. In this one the Ingalls survive a winter full of blizzards and little food.