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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

And just like that Laura‘s job has ended. The rush for shirts is over after 6 weeks and Laura has only made $9. About $267 today. Laura feels she hasn‘t contributed enough for Mary to go to college but Ma reassures her. Sounds like Mary could be going any day.

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sblbooks Sure sounds like it won't be long. I'd forgotten it was a full 7 years that she went to school. Will Mary and Laura ever see each other again, once she leaves? 7h

mrp27 Laura‘s selflessness is admirable. Not a penny to herself! 3h

julieclair $267 in today‘s dollars does not sound like much money for six weeks of full time work. What a different world. 2h

Bookwormjillk It was so bittersweet when Laura realized Mary would be going away. 2h

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The Swimmers | Julie Otsuka

pick

Read for a library book discussion. My mom didn‘t care for it but I do. Though it took some time to get the writing style, it is a poignant look into dementia for the afflicted and their family.

KathyWheeler I liked it too, but most people I know didn‘t. 16h

jlhammar Such a good book! Love Julie Otsuka. 7h

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ma is really unhappy about the rough circumstances Laura is exposed to in town. Can you imagine how she‘d feel if they were dropped into today?

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Bookwormjillk Ma would not be pleased today 😳 17h

TheAromaofBooks I had completely forgotten this episode! I can understand Ma's horror... but also definitely understand Laura's inclination to find it hilarious. 😂 10h

mrp27 I‘m surprised Ma said yes to the job but I wonder if she knew the true situation if she would allow it. 3h

julieclair The idea of Ma being suddenly dropped into life today is hard to even imagine. That would make a very funny tv show! 2h

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Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals | Caitlin Doughty

so-so

Borrowed from a friend. So-so. But I highly recommend her From Here to Eternity.

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura finally starts her job in town. Sewing! And finds that all families aren‘t quite like hers.

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Bookwormjillk Poor Laura. I kind of laughed at the description though. Maybe they were hangry? 2d

BarbaraJean I felt bad for Laura—she was so anxious all day trying to sew well and quickly, and then to sit through all of that at lunch!! Then her description of the day to Pa: “Mrs. White spoke well of my buttonholes.” So much left unsaid!!! 😂😂 2d

sblbooks @BarbaraJean I felt bad for Laura too. She knows she has to work in order to send Mary to college. I guess that's why she didn't say anything. 2d

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bnp Maybe a long the lines if "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything." ? 2d

mrp27 Knowing how much Laura hates sewing I was disappointed to find out that was the job. 2d

BethM @mrp27 me too! 2d

TheAromaofBooks I did admire Laura's attitude - she hated making buttonholes so much that she learned how to do them efficiently! I need to carry that method over into some areas of my life! 1d

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Poverty, by America | Matthew Desmond

so-so

Read for library book discussion. I don‘t know how to rate this book. Maybe because I‘ve read a lot on the topic. Maybe because I‘m in a funk. If you read a lot on social policy, there‘s not a lot new here. I do think the title is polarizing in and of itself. If you‘re trying to get anyone on the opposite aisle to read it, choosing a title that would cause a book ban for lack of patriotism isn‘t a good choice. 🤷‍♀️

RebL I found Evicted more compelling. I did like this book, but between the first book & his contribution to 1619, maybe I just expected even bigger ideas. 3d

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pa helps the town the continue to grow. The kitten catches its first mouse. Laura reminisces about life in the big woods. And Pa asks Laura about working in town again. The tension about this job continues to build. Hopefully we find out tomorrow!

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julieclair We all suspected that Pa wouldn‘t give up on the job idea so easily! 😉 This was a fascinating chapter. I had no idea that Pa had been such a town leader, serving on the County Council and helping to start the church. And the information about the chicks was so interesting. I know nothing about chickens. I never dreamed it would take several years to establish a flock. And the kitten in a fight with a mouse! I was so proud of her! 3d

BarbaraJean This was a great chapter—so much going on. It‘s nice to see Pa able to earn some money, and I love that the Boasts are able to give back to the Ingalls for their hospitality the year before. And then the kitten scene—good job, kitty! I had to read ahead to find out about the job for Laura. 😂 (Also, I‘ve been wondering why Carrie and Laura aren‘t going to school again, now that spring is here.) 3d

mrp27 @BarbaraJean That‘s a good point, what about school? It‘s still spring so shouldn‘t they be attending? I read ahead too, so curious about the job. 3d

Ann_Reads I felt sorry for the little kitten getting bites from the mouse. 2d

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Untitled | Unknown

I can‘t believe I only finished 4 books this month yet here we are.

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Ingalls discover they have a mouse problem on their homestead and get a 🐈‍⬛. Still no word on Laura‘s job. Did Ma‘s no just shut that down? That‘s unlike pa.

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julieclair The kitten seems so sweet! And oh my goodness, the mouse nibbling at Pa's hair while he slept! 😳 And as for Laura's job, I agree... it's unlike Pa to just give up on it. I'm betting we'll hear more about it at some point. 4d

Ann_Reads I was really creeped out by the wild mice. Hoping the kitten grows up to be a healthy kitty and good mouser, mainly for health reasons, of course. 4d

BarbaraJean @julieclair @Ann_Reads - Same here!! The mouse nibbling a bare patch on Pa's head was SO disturbing! I also thought it was weird there was no further mention of the job thing. I was wondering if it would be a random mention with no follow-up, like the ball lightning 😂 4d

sblbooks That Mouse description gross me out, I'm so glad they're getting the kitten though. 3d

mrp27 This chapter creeped me out as well! Eww…. Mice eating Pa‘s hair. 3d

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

Chapter 2. Pa is expanding the shanty. Ma combines spring cleaning with the move. Laura is feeding her beloved animals. Curtains are hung. The whatnot is set up and the shepherdess put in her place of honor. We still don‘t know Pa‘s plan for Laura but she and Mary had quite a heartlfelt talk. We get more insight into Mary. What did you all think?

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BarbaraJean I loved the discussion between Laura and Mary about how Laura always wanted to slap her for being so good! And Mary's admission that she was showing off about how good she was and deserved to be slapped-- 😂 I did get annoyed at Mary, though, when Laura said that sheep's sorrel tasted “like springtime“ and Mary “corrected“ her. 🙄 5d

Ann_Reads I liked this chapter too, especially the conversation between Mary and Laura. It was nice they were able to be comfortable enough with each other to speak that way and clear the air. Plus the China Doll makes another appearance. Let's hope it stays on the mantel for a while. 🤞 5d

Bookwormjillk Weird that working in town wasn‘t mentioned again. I‘m glad Laura and Mary had that talk though. 5d

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julieclair I liked that Mary and Laura had that heart to heart talk. I think it shows that they are growing up, and relating more to each other as adults, rather than as children. 5d

mrp27 Like everyone else the discussion between Laura and Mary was really insightful and I appreciate Mary more. Loved the honesty between sisters. 4d

TheAromaofBooks I loved reading about her feeding the calf. I worked on a dairy farm for several years and was in charge of the calves, and not much has changed in how you teach them to drink from a bucket! 😂 When a calf is nursing, butting their head against the cow's udder makes the milk let down faster, so they tend to bang their heads against whatever they can when they're hungry!! 4d

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The Masterpiece: A Novel | Fiona Davis

pick

Ready to discuss! I love a novel set in NYC and dual timelines too. #LiteraryCrew

Librarybelle

Librarybelle So glad you liked this! Are you able to join us for next month‘s book

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

megnews @Librarybelle unfortunately I‘ve already bit off more than I can chew next month. Thanks though! 3d

Librarybelle @megnews Of course! 3d

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Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

The first chapter in the next book in the #LittleHouse series is quite short but surprises us with a bit of a cliffhanger. The family is back to the homestead but what job in town is Pa thinking of for Laura?

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sblbooks I can't remember... was it tutoring someone? 6d

mrp27 That was a surprise! I don‘t remember but probably has something to do with preparing her for teaching. 6d

BarbaraJean It was SO short!! I immediately thought of a job in the hotel because of their experience before with all the people taking over their house! But Ma shot that down super quickly. @mrp27 Something to do with teaching makes a lot of sense. 6d

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julieclair Isn‘t it amazing that the only two jobs available to her would have been working at a hotel and teaching? And Ma seemed to think the idea of working at a hotel was shocking. But hadn‘t they owned a hotel at some point? 6d

megnews @julieclair it is amazing! I work in a hotel. How scandalous! 😃 6d

megnews @julieclair I think they just became the town inn out of necessity and no real choice of theirs. 6d

julieclair I asked Uncle Google about the Ingalls family and a hotel, and found some interesting info: http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/11669 and https://authoradventures.org/trails/by-state/iowa/wilder-laura-ingalls/ . These shed some light on why Ma says “no hotel work” for Laura. Sounds like their experience was not a good one. 5d

Bookwormjillk The first chapter was very abrupt. I thought my book might be missing pages! 5d

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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 👇🏻

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megnews In concert and context with other viewpoints, I think it‘s still a good resource for American history. What are your insights as you finish up this one? We‘ll talk again tomorrow as we continue our journey with

Little Town on the Prairie

julieclair I think this book was fascinating and terrifying. I simply cannot imagine facing a winter like that, including the very real possibility of starvation. As a first-hand account, even though fictionalized, I think this book is still valuable for today's middle schoolers. The prejudices shown, although abhorrent to us today, were very real at the time. 1w

Bookwormjillk Oh yes, there is a lot to learn about in this one! Agree with @julieclair 1w

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melissajayne This book is largely accurate. If you read the chapter on the long winter in Pioneer Girl, the chapter very much describes The Long Winter. 1w

Vansa This has been my favourite book of the series so far.Devastating, gritty, real and still readable for children -this is just excellent storytelling.I absolutely loved how there were so many signs from nature telling them something terrible was going to happen-this is how people live off the land! Great book. Still readable 1w

TheAromaofBooks I really enjoyed this one, and would be so interested to have more details about what parts are more fictionalized than others. For instance, I know that Almanzo is 10 years older than Laura, so their ages are off here - was she younger or was he older during this winter? Things like that. 1w

BarbaraJean I agree - I'm amazed at how fascinating she made this account of, basically, lots of blizzards. I definitely think it's still a great book for middle grade - SO much historical value. I've learned so much from reading this series! But as you said, the book needs to be contextualized. There are some books that for young readers, they HAVE have to be read with guidance. I'd put most of the books in the Little House series in that category. 1w

BarbaraJean I'm with @TheAromaofBooks, I would love to read something that matches up the Little House books with the biographical facts. Kind of a “what really happened“ - as far as we can know, anyway. It would be so interesting to find out what she fictionalized and why, whether for drama/storytelling purposes, or for more personal reasons (i.e. in the previous book, why she skipped over the scarlet fever that caused Mary's blindness). 1w

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I read a really good book about LIW a few years back, but I can‘t for the life of me remember what it was. I‘ll try to figure it out. 1w

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I think it was

Prairie Fires: The Life and Times of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks a fun one was

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie

mrp27 This is my least favorite in the series so far. It has booted Farmer Boy to a higher position. But saying that doesn‘t mean I didn‘t enjoy it. I was just too stressed out with everything on the brink of disaster! 😂 1w

BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk Ooh, thank you!! I'll have to check those out! 1w

megnews @mrp27 that‘s funny. Farmer Boy remains my lowest just due to the king descriptions of things being done/made. 4d

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Untitled | Untitled

Saw this on Instagram and ❤️

bnp This is a great quote, and a good way to reply to anyone who thinks you have too many books. 1w

Birdsong28 Yes 🙋 Totally believe this!! 1w

mrp27 Agreed! 1w

ravenlee There‘s a great bit in The Haunted Bookshop about books as medicine and the bookseller as prescriber, matching the book/remedy to the symptoms in the reader/patient. I love these ways of thinking.

Haunted Bookshop (Dodo Press)

megnews @ravenlee I love that. 4d

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The Swimmers | Julie Otsuka

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk Yup, Little House Christmas is always the best no matter when it happens 1w

julieclair These lovely Christmas chapters are such a wonderful reminder that a simple holiday celebration can be very meaningful and joyful. 1w

Ann_Reads Great comments already. I agree the Christmas chapters allow the stories to conclude on a joyful and hopeful note. 1w

mrp27 Always great Christmas chapters and those are the chapters that have been the most memorable. I didn‘t remember much of The Long Winter but I remembered the Christmas barrel. 1w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

pick

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.

sblbooks Thanks so much for heading this up! I have enjoyed rereading these. 1w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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sblbooks If I remember right it is a Christian Mission. Churches in the east sent donations out west. 1w

Bookwormjillk Christian mission I think 1w

BarbaraJean Yeah, I thought it was a Christian mission thing as well. Didn‘t the Reverend Alden send this one? 1w

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megnews @sblbooks @Bookwormjillk @BarbaraJean I did my research after I posted and it was, indeed, a Christian mission. 1w

Bookwormjillk @megnews and once again I think it‘s weird that Pa has a depend on no one mentality but he‘s taking everyone‘s wheat and has no issues with a Christmas barrel. Different times I guess. 1w

Vansa @Bookwormjillk I find that fascinating,because you can trace a direct link from there to the way Silicon Valley CEOs think- hugely dependant on the state for many things,but espouse an extreme form of free market libertarianism.You could see it actually play out in the case of Silicon Valley Bank,where multiple tech Bros wanted the Fed to step in and protect depositors.This is what Didion means by the stories we tell ourselves to live! 1w

Bookwormjillk @Vansa oh wow. You are so right. 1w

mrp27 Ye, the reverend put this barrel together for them. I assumed it was made up of donations. @Vansa interesting indeed. 1w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

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Bookwormjillk They were all so lucky just to survive. 1w

BarbaraJean Once Almanzo and Cap set out, I couldn‘t stop reading—had to find out what happened! I was so mad at Loftus! Such a greedy jerk, especially when Almanzo and Cap didn‘t even ask for payment. I loved how they stood up to him, as well as Pa‘s suggestion of rationing it out based on what people needed. I was curious about the car they broke into—does anyone know what the emigrant car was? 1w

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean - This article had some explanation - http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/4917 - but it kind of sounds like they just stole someone's food! I had such mixed feelings about everything that happened during these chapters, but in the end I think people do what they have to do to survive, and it's easy for me to judge there methods from my place of plenty - but if I'm honest, I would probably make different choices if I was starving. 1w

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TheAromaofBooks I really want to learn more about this winter, but I've seen mixed reviews about The Beautiful Snow. Any other options out there, or is anyone else interested in reading this next month?

The Beautiful Snow: The Ingalls Family, the Railroads, and the Hard Winter of 1880-81

Ann_Reads I also thought Loftus was such a jerk. I kept hoping his store would eventually go out of business because of his greedy attitude. 1w

Vansa Reading this as an adult brings it to you very forcefully that while Pa and Almanzo advocate for a very laissez faire attitude towards government, when it comes to dividing the food, it's a very socialist approach they take! 1w

Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks thanks for that link. Yup definitely sounds like they stole someone‘s food! @Vansa yes, for sure 1w

mrp27 I agree I too felt a little uncomfortable with them taking from the train. Very stressed but very grateful Almanzo and Cap got some wheat and so glad Almanzo didn‘t have to sacrifice his seed. 1w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Thank you for that link! It sounds worse than I was thinking 😒 I thought maybe it was a car full of supplies intended for a group of people, but it sounds like they stole stuff from a specific person, which seems worse!! Maybe in that scenario it would be easier to replace the goods or compensate the person, though. I agree with your point that people will do what they have to in order to survive. 1w

BarbaraJean @Vansa Yeah, the convenient change of mindset made me laugh! It‘s great to have a high value on independence and taking care of yourself when you can afford to be “self-sufficient” 1w

BethM I can‘t believe peiple haven‘t died 1w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk Lol Pa and checkers. I forgot about that. 2w

julieclair Great point about Pa and the checkers! 😉 And yes, I do think Alamanzo redeemed himself. Without the extra wheat, it truly seemed that many people would have starved. So scary and hard to imagine. 2w

mrp27 Wilder boys definitely proved their courage willingness to be helpful to their community. 2w

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Ann_Reads @Megnews Are you doing okay? I'm not worried about the book discussion but was concerned about you. 2w

megnews @Ann_Reads thanks for checking. My depression and fibromyalgia flared up and all I had mental or physical energy for was work. I appreciate you checking on me. 1w

Ann_Reads @megnews I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well. I do hope your flare passes soon and hopefully your mood will lift too. {{{ Gentle Hugs }}} 1w

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Solito: A Memoir | Javier Zamora

pick

Read with my mom for library book discussion. I started this on audio during my drive to NC. I really appreciate the story but I found the author‘s reading a bit dry.

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Solito: A Memoir | Javier Zamora

1 Mexico via El Salvador - Solito
England - The Love Sing of Queenie Hennessy
South Dakota - The Long Winter
2 NYC
3 Narnia
#WondrousWednesday

Eggs

Eggs Well done 👍🏼👏🏻🙌🏻 2w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk This chapter never sat well with me. Pa acts like he has a right to that wheat. I get his kids are starving but with all his talk of self reliance he just isn‘t really. 3w

BarbaraJean I thought this was an odd chapter. It‘s not like Pa to ask for help, so his method of getting the wheat seemed pretty much in character to me! But the Wilder boys sitting there in comfort eating pancakes and ham, calculating out how long the town‘s provisions are going to last—and planning to ride off and find the rumored stash of wheat—it felt weird and privileged to me. Why don‘t you send some ham home for the kids, Wilder boys! Come on! 3w

mrp27 This chapter didn‘t sit well with me either. I didn‘t like that Pa just took what he wanted and I felt awkward that the Wilder boys had so much and didn‘t offer up any to the Ingalls family. It‘s rightfully theirs and they are not beholden to anyone, it just didn‘t make me feel good. 3w

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sblbooks I wonder why Pa never asked to buy bacon, pancakes or other supplies from the Wilder's? They might have been willing to part with that. I agree, the Wilder should have offered before now. They had to know how desperate their neighbors were getting for food. 3w

BethM Where are they storing all this food? Doesn‘t make sense. 3w

Vansa I think I've read ahead and posted comments on a previous post! Why on earth does Pa eat Al that bacon himself,and not take some home for his hungry family?!!!Pa gets worse and worse 2w

julieclair I agree with all the comments above. This chapter didn't sit right with me.... it left me disappointed in Pa and the Wilder boys. 2w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk Wow 3w

BethM Tonight‘s chapter is equally insane. I legit don‘t know how they survived . 3w

E.Bolhafner mmm I haven't read these in so long. Nostalgia. And of course one sees things differently as an adult than they did as children. My kids actually were not into the series and I only got through the first book with them so it has been decades. 3w

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mrp27 That‘s a whole lot of snow. So hard to imagine. 3w

TheAromaofBooks Also can't imagine how terrifying it is to have the storms come up so fast! Now we get days and days of “get ready! It's coming!“ - vs not even knowing if you have half a day to get out to the homestead and back! 3w

megnews @TheAromaofBooks so true! 3w

julieclair Living in the South, where even an inch or two of snow shuts the world down, I can't even comprehend this amount of snow. 2w

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Untitled | Unknown

Look at these cute bookmarks my daughter got me for Mother‘s Day.

Tamra Adorable! 3w

paper.reveries Omg SO cute! 😍 3w

AmyG I got those in a swap. They are adorable! 3w

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The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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

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mrp27 Agreed! Talk about jumping the gun. I felt bad for Almanzo too. 3w

TheAromaofBooks I have to think that everyone in town is secretly mad at Foster - what a fool! I was so relieved that Lady made it back okay, though. 3w

BarbaraJean Infuriating! I was so mad at Foster but also wondered why in the world Almanzo let him ride Lady (especially knowing how careful his father had been about their horses). And I was a little taken aback by the abundance of food the Wilders had—pancakes and bacon to share! I realize they were more well-off to start with, and were able to bring in more supplies, but what a contrast. 3w

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sblbooks Foster should have stayed home. If he couldn't ride a horse and didn't know any better than to try to shoot from that far away.😒 3w

BethM Saw that coming. I‘m glad Lady is ok! 3w

Ann_Reads Wasn't Foster the one who nearly led the school kids off beyond the boundaries of town in a prior chapter, too? Maybe I'm remembering wrong. He really is lacking some necessary skills and common sense for survival in that environment. (edited) 3w

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There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent | Glenn Boozan

pick

Do another mom a favor and buy her this gem. An essential for every new mom‘s starter pack.

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Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy | Rachel Joyce

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

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Bookwormjillk I was thinking it would burn slower. More like a small log than a handful of hay. This chapter was hard to take, but it‘s impressive what they can do with so little. 3w

TheAromaofBooks I was really struck by how they talked about how “modern conveniences“ made them unprepared to do without said conveniences. We had a mini version of that during the gov't lockdowns of 2020, when some things were hard to come by, that did inspire to try to find small ways of being more self-sufficient. Still haven't figured out how to make a button lamp, though!! 😂 3w

TheAromaofBooks I'm with @Bookwormjillk - I think twisting the hay makes it more dense so that it burns more slowly than it would if they were just dropping it onto the fire loose. 3w

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megnews @TheAromaofBooks yes and in 1999 when we were planning and preparing for computers to mot work. 3w

mrp27 Agreed about the hay, slower to burn because it‘s more dense. I had a chuckle when Pa made the comment about modern advancements, so true and more so today. 3w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @mrp27 Yes, I thought thosecomments about relying on modern conveniences were interesting, too. It‘s amazing how well Pa and Ma are able to improvise solutions, though, from the hay sticks to the coffee grinder and the button lamp! 3w

BarbaraJean Also, the sack with the last of the Wilder boys‘ wheat made me wonder about Almanzo‘s seed wheat, whether Royal has busted open the fake wall yet 🤔 (edited) 3w

sblbooks @BarbaraJean I wondered that too! I wonder what Pa would think about all the modern conveniences today? 3w

Vansa I wasn't too happy about Pa helping himself to Almanzo's wheat.I wonder how Almanzo felt about it,though it fits in with his libertarian views or you should take what you get!Also, Pa goes and eats bacon and so on with the Wilder brothers? Maybe he could take some home to his family?!! 3w

julieclair @TheAromaofBooks I was curious about the button lamp, so I checked with Uncle Google. Here‘s how to make one: https://www.littlehouseliving.com/simple-button-lamp.html 3w

TheAromaofBooks @julieclair - What a fun link!!! Thank you for sharing. I genuinely may try this as it looks rather fun!! 3w

mrp27 Ahhh… now I get it! Great link to the button lamp. Thanks @julieclair ! 3w

39 likes12 comments

megnews

Little Town on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder

Reminder: our next #LittleHouse readalong chapter a day book starts in a couple weeks.

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Bookwormjillk I know I‘ve read this one but I don‘t remember it. Looking forward to it. 3w

Ann_Reads I'm looking forward to this one as well. It's a reread but the plot details are fuzzy. Thanks again to @megnews for all the wonderful posts. Lately, the daily discussions have been a welcome short mental reprieve from some other stressors. (edited) 3w

BarbaraJean Thanks for the reminder to put the next book on hold at the library! 😁And thank you for continuing to lead this buddy read and the daily discussions. I‘m really enjoying reading along with everyone! 3w

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mrp27 Yay! 3w

megnews @Ann_Reads glad we‘re giving you a little getaway. 3w

melissajayne Count me in 2w

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

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Bookwormjillk Christmas sounded lovely, the laundry was fascinating, but the ending was ominous. 3w

keys_on_fire The thing that got my attention was ma instructing Grace to wait to open gifts until her turn. We used to take turns opening gifts when I was a kid so that everyone could see. It took patience, but I really miss that compared to what happens on Christmas with my nephews now. I don‘t get to see the reactions to my gifts because it‘s a free for all. This will probably be an unpopular opinion, but that‘s ok 😂 3w

megnews @keys_on_fire we did exactly the same thing and try to maintain it now. I agree as the gift giver the pleasure comes in seeing you‘ve chosen exactly the right thing to bring delight. I don‘t know why pa always has to go first though expect when Christmas is for kids. 3w

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Ann_Reads Freeze dried clothes, lol. Couldn't imagine! It might be an interesting experiment next Winter, for those of you who live in super cold areas. 3w

Ann_Reads @keys_on_fire We used to do the same. Maybe instant gratification is the norm now, which is sad. 3w

BarbaraJean The Christmas chapters are so wonderful! I was fascinated by the frozen laundry, too—I don‘t understand how it works! Wouldn‘t the water freeze into the clothes? Maybe it works if the wind is strong enough? @keys_on_fire Not an unpopular opinion! I think taking turns keeps the emphasis on giving and gratitude rather than getting. I don‘t remember how we did it when I was little, but with my nieces/nephews we always took turns. At first, anyway—😂 3w

mrp27 I‘ve seeing frozen laundry and I‘ve seeing frozen hair braids. I was on a skiing trip and the hotel room blow dryer was broken so I had to ski that day with wet hair, my braids froze and it felt as if I could snap them and break my hair off. Crazy. Anyway, another lovely Ingalls Christmas. Always catches me by surprise how quick and fierce these blizzards come. 3w

TheAromaofBooks I was intrigued by the hair receiver! I looked them up - little dishes literally to put hair into so you could use the hair for other things. Truly crazy how nothing was thrown away! 3w

BethM I loved how they made the best out of Xmas. I‘ve seen/had frozen laundry lol 3w

36 likes9 comments

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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julieclair I, too, have been pronouncing it mon (rhymes with on). And I do hope that Almanzo is rewarded for carefully guarding his seeds. I hope it turns out to be the right decision, and he has a bumper wheat crop. 3w

Bookwormjillk In my head I just say ‘A‘ because I‘m never sure 3w

BarbaraJean I knew we were going to hear about that seed wheat again! This probably isn‘t its last appearance, either. Like @julieclair I hope the next time we see it he gets to plant it and gets a big return for his foresight! I‘ve been pronouncing Almanzo like you have, because that‘s how they said it on the show. The other way sounds weird to me! 3w

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Ann_Reads I've mentally been pronouncing Almanzo's name incorrectly. (Guess the Little House show didn't do their homework on some things.) The seed wheat has already been brought up several times, so I suspect it is significant to the story somehow??? 3w

megnews @BarbaraJean it sounds weird to me as well. Doesn‘t roll off the tongue naturally. 3w

mrp27 The show pronounced it as “mon” and I do too. I have a feeling poor Almanzo is going to sacrifice his seed for the sake of the town. It‘s gotta be hard for Laura to try and maintain a positive out look when she clearly sees and understands how little supplies they have. 3w

megnews @mrp27 I‘m afraid his seed is going to be lost too. 3w

BethM Mon. He seems pretty intent on keeping it, his idea isn‘t a bad one. 3w

keys_on_fire I‘ve been pronouncing it Mahn, but now that you mention it, Laura‘s nickname for him was Manly. Maybe it IS supposed to be pronounced like man! 🤔 3w

megnews @keys_on_fire I had completely forgotten about that! 3w

sblbooks I've been pronouncing it like they did on the show. Mon. 3w

31 likes11 comments

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk The horses sinking in the snow sounds maddening. 4w

Ann_Reads As I read my thoughts are, how are they going to get through this without freezing. Gathering hay between storms is so risky but I guess they have little choice now. 4w

BarbaraJean The constant optimism is wearing on me! This time, with Ma saying they‘ve had so many storms now that surely the good weather will last. 🙄 4w

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julieclair I keep worrying about the coal, the kerosene, the meat, the hay for the horses… and it‘s only December! It looks to be a long winter indeed. 4w

mrp27 I‘m stressed for the mail carrier! 4w

sblbooks @BarbaraJean I know...I guess Ma didn't believe the Indian when he said it was going to be a long, bad winter. 4w

BethM They‘ve got a rough road ahead! 4w

megnews @Ann_Reads I agree. They are putting a lot of trust in the wind not breaking that rope loose. 3w

megnews @BarbaraJean as a glass half empty person the constant optimism is wearing on me too. It‘s ok to face reality sometimes! 3w

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megnews

The Ways We Hide: A Novel | Kristina Mcmorris

so-so

Read for a library book discussion I‘m attending with my mom. We finished it on audio on our road trip. Maybe I‘m burnt out on WWII books for now. This felt like many others with its own little twist. It could have ended about 15 chapters sooner than it did.

42 likes

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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

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Bookwormjillk It really is. I‘m always so surprised when Pa is so comfortable about relying on the train. It just seems like everything he‘d be against. 4w

sblbooks It's getting scary, but I'm not surprised. Pa has never been a planner. He has always taken unnecessary risk. This is no different. 4w

Vansa What I can't understand is how Almanzo and his brother seem to have so much more food. I get that they're fewer people, but they're also much younger-was Pa short-sighted enough to not have even stocked up supplies? 4w

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Bookwormjillk @Vansa good question. I wonder if they started with more savings. 4w

these_dreams I reread all these last year and I‘m so glad I did. 4w

these_dreams @Vansa In reality Pa was an alcoholic. Reading it as a child, just makes Almanzo out to be a great future provider for Laura. Reading it as an adult, as I did last year…there were plot holes. And that‘s because Pa liked to drink and actually kind of sucked IRL. Unfortunately. (edited) 4w

Vansa @Bookwormjillk oh, I'm so stupid, of course it's probably that, the Wilders did seem a lot more prosperous than the Ingallses did! 4w

Vansa @these_dreams oooh this puts a lot of things in perspective!Thank you for sharing that!So I should also read a biography along with these books then, anything you could recommend? 4w

Bookwormjillk @Vansa no, it‘s a good question. Why wasn‘t he better supplied? 4w

Bookwormjillk @these_dreams interesting. That puts a whole new spin on all of his trips to the hardware store. 4w

megnews @these_dreams not doubting you, but can you point me to a source? Googling it, I find Michael Landon who played Pa was an alcoholic but I can‘t find anything about Charles Ingalls. 4w

keys_on_fire This is an interesting article that, for me, helps me to understand why Laura has said several times in these books that she doesn‘t like being in town near the people: https://pointshistory.com/2013/03/14/the-little-saloon-on-the-prairie/amp/ 4w

keys_on_fire I plan on reading Pioneer Girl (Laura‘s autobiography that was written before the Little House series but not published until recently) and the Caroline book after we are done with this readalong! (edited) 4w

mrp27 Oh now I‘m curious about Pa. Would explain some things. But in this instance of the long winter everyone else was in pretty much the same boat as the Ingalls. I‘d go nuts staying stuck indoors with out adequate heat and light. 4w

megnews @mrp27 I agree only so much planning can be done with so few resources and reliance on those outside resources like the train. I think the difference too is Almanzo came from money and is a farmer. Pa did not and is more of a hunter. 3w

33 likes15 comments

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

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CBee Your daughter is just lovely ❤️ 4w

marleed Oh congrats! 4w

Bookwormjillk Congratulations 🎉 Still mad at Pa and feeling guilty about being annoyed by Mary. 4w

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sblbooks Wow! Those four years went by fast.Congratulations to your daughter. 4w

Soubhiville Congratulations! 4w

RebL 🙌🏼🎓 4w

MallenNC Congratulations! That‘s a great picture. 4w

BethM Absolutely gorgeous! 4w

BethM @Bookwormjillk I don‘t find mary overly likable either. Also having experienced -40 wind chill I can not imagine living through that without modern heat and insulation. 4w

Hooked_on_books That‘s a great reason to be off Litsy! Good for her! 🥳🎓 4w

mrp27 Great picture and congratulations! 4w

batsy Beautiful! 4w

Roary47 Yay congratulations! I‘m so behind on reading since I‘m just audiobooking so I will get back to you when my senior students graduate. Please feel free to continue to tag me. 💛 4w

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk I love the Henry Ford Museum. Nice to see Mr Edwards again. 1mo

CrowCAH @megnews and @Bookwormjillk are you both in Michigan? I‘m a #MittenLitten ✋🏻 1mo

megnews @CrowCAH outside Cleveland Ohio. I‘ve taken many trips to the Detroit area to take the kids to the museum and village. 1mo

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sblbooks @megnews that's interesting about the plow, I've never seen that before. I'm so glad they got to see Mr Edwards again 1mo

Bookwormjillk @CrowCAH no, but family in Cleveland has us traveling to Michigan a lot. We love the lakes! 1mo

CrowCAH @megnews awesome, glad you‘ve been able to get to The Henry Ford!!! 1mo

CrowCAH @Bookwormjillk Michigan is a great state, we have a lot of attractions! 1mo

Bookwormjillk @CrowCAH yes, we love it 1mo

TheBookHippie I love that museum and greenfield village. 1mo

BarbaraJean It was so great to see Mr. Edwards again! His comments on taxes and politicians were interesting, too—I read an article a while back that said your politics/view of government largely depended on whether you had lived mostly in rural or urban areas. I can see how true that is in a chapter like this—government doesn‘t seem so useful when there‘s little to no infrastructure and you have to clear the train tracks of snow yourself! 1mo

mrp27 Interesting! Agreed, so happy to have a visit with Mr. Edwards. 1mo

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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. 😂

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Ann_Reads I don't know that I'd want to cook for these two. That's a whole lot of pancakes! It made me think of when I was younger and could eat a huge breakfast without even giving a second thought as to how many calories I was eating. 1mo

mrp27 Agreed, I thought the info on homesteads was interesting but I felt a bit of foreshadowing with Almonzos seed wheat. Wonder if he‘ll still have it after the long winter. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I loved Royal‘s logic: if you keep eating you don‘t have to do the dishes. 1mo

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sblbooks @Ann_Reads I wouldn't want to have to cook for them either. They're used to those big home cooked meals from Farmer Boy.☺ 1mo

BethM I didn‘t realize he was that much older than Laura. 1mo

Vansa @BethM only 4 years, no? 1mo

BethM @Vansa 5 I think? Isn‘t she 14 and he‘s 19? 1mo

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megnews

Untitled | Unknown

10 books read this month. Dear Committee Members was by far my favorite.

LeafingThroughLife Just finished Dear Committee Members on audio and it was fantastic. It‘s rare that a book makes me laugh out loud as much as it did! 1mo

megnews @LeafingThroughLife that‘s exactly how I felt! 1mo

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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!

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sblbooks Oh, me too! When he got separated from the group I thought that was it. 1mo

Bookwormjillk This was a scary chapter 1mo

BethM Yeah. Even as a midwesterner this scared me. 1mo

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keys_on_fire Can you imagine how the teacher must have felt? Trying to decide between staying and going must‘ve been horrible! 1mo

BarbaraJean Such a lighthearted illustration to start off such a terrifying chapter! @keys_on_fire I really felt for the teacher as well. And I loved the detail of Laura sitting there wondering if she should say something, knowing that she had weathered blizzards like this and the others hadn‘t. 1mo

mrp27 It‘s so hard for me to imagine this kind of extreme weather and no forewarning. Thank goodness for daily weather forecasts! 1mo

37 likes6 comments

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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Bookwormjillk Ma and Pa never used to annoy me this much. They just seem so careless with their kids. I was confused on this chapter. Did they move into the store on into a house behind the store? 1mo

mrp27 Pa will never change. He will always want to move and I‘m not overly bothered by it. More bothered with Ma‘s prejudices. But I agree it‘s a little unclear exactly where they are living. In a back room of the store? That‘s what I‘m thinking but not entirely sure. 1mo

megnews @Bookwormjillk @mrp27 I pictured it as a loft above the store in the back maybe? 1mo

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.

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sblbooks Same here, there's just no reason for it. 1mo

Vansa Ma is extremely irritating,and I'm glad her comments are included in the books-its important to remember attitudes that once prevailed so we don't repeat those mistakes. I found this scene very powerful and moving,that he comes to warn the settler-colonialists,and that Pa has the sense to trust his experience and act on it to protect his family 1mo

Bookwormjillk Agree 1mo

mrp27 Yeah I was not a happy camper reading this part. She needs to show a little gratitude. (edited) 1mo

keys_on_fire It just goes to show how our experiences with things are not necessarily how other people experience the same situation. Sticking stubbornly to our perceptions can be dangerous. Also, it would be interesting to consider if Pa‘s reaction would‘ve been different if he hadn‘t seen the muskrat house… 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🤔 1mo

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megnews

The Lost Manuscript: A Novel | Cathy Bonidan

pick

Mystery and romance unfold when a lost manuscript is found in a hotel room drawer. The journeys it took to get there and to find its way back to its owner are revealed through a series of letters in this #epistolarynovel that celebrates the impact books have on our lives.

Read for library book discussion

tpixie I enjoyed this. I hope you have a great discussion! 1mo

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megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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

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sblbooks That scene reminded me of The Children's Blizzard. I'm glad they survived. 1mo

mrp27 Ugh, the cows broke my heart! 1mo

Bookwormjillk The poor cows, and Mary, ugh. She was so mean to Laura. 1mo

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BarbaraJean I was afraid all the cows had frozen to death! It was a relief when Pa was able to help them and they went running off. All the talk of the strangeness to the weather is making me nervous. As well as the fact that Pa STILL hasn't weatherproofed the shanty better! @Bookwormjillk I was mad at both Ma & Mary! They completely dismissed Laura, then when they find she was right, there's no acknowledgement whatsoever that they'd been rude to her. Grrr. 1mo

TheAromaofBooks I was glad it warmed up enough to let the little bird continue flying south. But the cow story was kind of terrifying!! I can't imagine it being cold enough for their breath to freeze! 1mo

BethM I was worried for them! 1mo

42 likes6 comments

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

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sblbooks It sure did. I'm not surprised. I prefer '70s but if I had to choose cold is better because you can at least put on warm clothes and stay under the covers. 1mo

Bookwormjillk Yup, that about sums it up 😂 I used to hate the heat, but as I‘ve gotten older I have less and less cold tolerance. 1mo

TEArificbooks I hate the heat, you can‘t shed your own skin. Love the cold, you can always add more layers and blankets. 1mo

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mrp27 As a kid I didn‘t mind the heat and I loved summer but now as a woman of a certain age with hot flashes I can not stand the heat. I‘ve also experienced true winters with cold and snow and I must say I prefer the cold. 1mo

mrp27 I think someone mentioned it before but I didn‘t understand why Pa didn‘t seem concerned about fortifying the shanty. 1mo

BarbaraJean I prefer the cold—like so many have said, you can at least put on more layers! But I don‘t like snow and ice inside the house! 🥶 @mrp27 Same here, I don‘t understand why Pa didn‘t build a more weather-proof house in the first place, or insulate the shanty better. I get that he was in a hurry to move the family to their claim, and this is an early storm, but still. Pa should know better by now! 1mo

Ann_Reads I prefer the cooler temps but not the kind of cold the Ingalls family experienced here. It sounds like they could get frostbite indoors, even with the woodstove burning. I'm imagining a shed-like structure here, with gaping cracks in the walls and no insulation. 1mo

BethM As a Wisconsinite I definitely prefer the cold. North of 78 and it‘s too hot for me😂 I‘m not surprised Pa didn‘t fortify the shanty but I do want to kick him for it. 1mo

Vansa This chapter illustrated how important privilege is,to survive extreme weather!Pa continues to make one bad decision after another- it's a part of the world known for low temperatures!I find this an incredibly important chronicle of just how women survived the bad decisions the mengolf took 1mo

Vansa *Menfolk! 1mo

keys_on_fire It‘s all been said, but I have always preferred cold because I can always add more layers. Only so much you can take off before people start screaming! 1mo

megnews @keys_on_fire 😂 1mo

megnews @Vansa very true 1mo

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megnews

Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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

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sblbooks My favorite pie is pecan. You can see the handwriting on the wall, for sure. It's going to be a hard winter. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I love pumpkin pie. This chapter made me hungry. I was just upstairs making bread dough to rise during my next meeting. 1mo

Ann_Reads I do like pumpkin, but also love cherry and apple. Then there are all the variations of chocolate cream pies.

It is amazing how Ma can take nearly any type of food and turn it into something palatable to eat for the family. (I'm not sure if it would taste good to me though.)

It seems Pa is reading the signs from nature correctly but he didn't have time (or chose not to spend his time) making the shanty more weatherproof. Yikes! 1mo

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megnews @Ann_Reads chocolate pies are the only kind of pie I like. 1mo

mrp27 I looove pumpkin pie and most pies in general. I‘ll take pie over cake anyday. Things certainly feel ominous with their small harvest and no game around to hunt. 1mo

melissajayne I love pumpkin pie and most pies in general. Unlike @mrp27, it would depend on the cake available, especially if it was Tirumasu cake. 1mo

melissajayne @Ann_Reads when I hear chocolate cream pie all I can think of is

The Help

1mo

melissajayne @megnews chocolate pies make me think of

The Help

1mo

TheAromaofBooks This lady was intrigued by the concept of using green pumpkins to make a mock-apple pie - this article has her thoughts and a recipe - https://foragerchef.com/green-pumpkin-pie/ - so interesting that the unripe pumpkin tasted like apple, not pumpkin! 1mo

megnews @TheAromaofBooks that was interesting. I wasn‘t sure that was going to work well. 1mo

Ann_Reads @melissajayne 😂 We just watched the movie version again about 6 weeks ago. I would not want to eat that particular recipe. 1mo

BethM I‘ve grown to like apple and pumpkin, but my favorite is anything with chocolate and whipped cream😂 1mo

BarbaraJean This reminded me of Big Woods, wondering if they'd have enough supplies to last the winter. It makes me worried there'll be nothing to hunt! @Ann_Reads I agree about the shanty! 😬 @mrp27 I'll always choose pie over cake, too--I had pie for my wedding! My mom used to make boysenberry pie with fresh berries from the garden, and it was amazing. Fresh berries piled into a flaky crust, with glaze poured over the top. Served with whipped cream. 😋 1mo

melissajayne @Ann_Reads Neither do I, but she ate the whole damn thing 1mo

mrp27 @BarbaraJean Oh my that pie sounds amazing! 1mo

Vansa This sounds like another poorly considered decision by Pa in the making! 1mo

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megnews

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom | Don Miguel Ruiz

bailed

Recommended by a counselor. DNF. Either this is ancient wisdom never shared and the author has chosen to cash in on it OR it‘s his own wisdom and he‘s using that as a hook. I don‘t believe the ancestors gave him permission to share said wisdom after thousands of years. But who am I? 🤷‍♀️ There may be good principles in this book but that turned me off from the start and I couldn‘t carry on. Felt too gimmicky.

Ann_Reads @megnews, I had a similar reaction to this one. At one point I had a co-worker who raved about this book and even had a copy of the “four agreements“ on her desk. Somehow I was put off by some of the author's claims and therefore never fully embraced his message. (You are right that some of it comes off as a gimmick.) I'm surprised this book has continued to be so popular. Maybe there is something to it after all. 1mo

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megnews

Emily's House | Amy Belding Brown

pick

I started this once before and it didn‘t pull me in. This time around it still started out slow but in the end I enjoyed this story about Emily Dickinson as seen through the eyes of a servant. #literarycrew

Librarybelle

Librarybelle I‘m so glad you were able to join us this month! Are you able to join us for

The Masterpiece: A Novel

1mo

megnews @librarybelle Yes I plan too. Life‘s been busy lately and I just realized a few days ago I never rsvp‘d for this one. I‘ve been doing mostly audio lately. Can‘t seem to concentrate on reading. (edited) 1mo

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megnews

Untitled | Unknown

1 I started meditating about 6 weeks ago and it is doing me a world of good.
2 snacking
3 Historical fiction has always been most impact to me. I learn so much.

#WondrousWednesday

Eggs

Eggs Thanks for joining in 🥰 1mo

31 likes1 comment

megnews

The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder

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?

melissajayne, BarbaraJean, BethM, Vansa, mrp27, Bookwormjillk, TEArificbooks, staci.reads, keys_on_fire, sblbooks, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair, Ann_Reads

sblbooks The GPS got us lost on vacation in Charleston one time. At least I wasn't by myself. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I got lost once riding my bike on Cape Cod. I was staying with my mom and went for a ride, but had no idea how to get back or the name of the place she was staying. This was before cell phones, so it took me forever to find it again. When I got back I adamantly denied I was lost and insisted I had wanted to take a five hour bike ride 😂

Laura was such a good sister in this chapter. (So much better than Mary was to her as mean as that is to say.) 1mo

TheAromaofBooks One time I was staying with a group in a cabin, got up early and took a walk, foolishly headed up over a hill and got lost, but it was Ohio so I had to come out SOMEWHERE - about four miles away from where we were staying by the road. Walked all the way around and everyone was eating breakfast and thought I was still asleep 😂 1mo

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mrp27 Ugh, after moving to NY from Cali I spent my first couple of years there getting lost on the subways, on the parkways, going over the wrong bridges. It was scary and frustrating. These were pre cell phone days and GPS. Eventually I got the hang of it. I agree that Laura was a good sister to Carrie in this chapter. 1mo

BethM I get lost easily so I have far too many examples 😂 1mo

megnews @BethM lol 1mo

megnews @sblbooks the gps cannot always be trusted. Once I wanted to go to a shoneys in WV and it took me to a winding dirt road where I could look down in the shoneys. 😂 1mo

megnews @Bookwormjillk I love that you denied it. That‘s great! 1mo

megnews @TheAromaofBooks that‘s too funny. 1mo

megnews @mrp27 I usually do good on subways but can never figure the buses out. I once got on the wrong bus with my girls and ended up way in the outskirts of London and had to ask the driver to let us stay on at the last stop so we could get back. I had to act like I wasn‘t worried since I had my girls. When we got back my mom was in a panic wondering what was taking us so long. (edited) 1mo

mrp27 @megnews Oh my! Sometimes getting lost can be fun but always less fun when you have others with you. 1mo

megnews @Bookwormjillk I totally agree about Laura. She is such a good big sister. She really brought the feeling of being lost out in this chapter. 1mo

BarbaraJean Like @BethM I have too many examples!! The one that stands out is the evening after I finished my 5-hour comprehensive exam for my M.A. I was heading home and because there was so much traffic, I decided to pull off the freeway and take surface streets. I was so exhausted that I turned the wrong way and didn't notice it until I got to the beach--20 minutes in the wrong direction and 45 minutes from home. 😂 1mo

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