She was born on February 7, 1867, and the early part of her life progressed much as she described in her books.
Little House on the Prairie inspired me as a child and it has continued to do so throughout my adult life. I think it's one of those shows, book series that are timeless. No matter how many times I read the books, or watch the reruns on TV, I just never get sick of them, I love them just as much today as I did the first time I became enamored with them.
Laura and Almonzo
I've since then researched all I could get my hands on about who Laura Ingalls Wilder really was, her parents, her family, her husband etc. There are so many wonderful resources out there filled with interesting information and photographs.
Pioneering Journeys of the Ingalls Family - including a timeline of her life and areas she lived in
Laura's Little Houses - The places she lived and what they looked like
I have to be honest, I haven't read all of the books she wrote, I mainly focused on the original series, but since then I've picked up the rest, those available from my local library, to read.
The Original Series
Little House in the Big Woods (1932)
Farmer Boy (1933)
Little House on the Prairie (1935)
On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937)
By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939)
The Long Winter (1940)
Little Town on the Prairie (1941)
These Happy Golden Years (1943)
The First Four Years (1971)
On the Way Home (1962)
West From Home (1974)
Farmer Boy (1933)
Little House on the Prairie (1935)
On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937)
By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939)
The Long Winter (1940)
Little Town on the Prairie (1941)
These Happy Golden Years (1943)
The First Four Years (1971)
On the Way Home (1962)
West From Home (1974)
"Lost Little House Years"
Old Town in the Green Groves by Cynthia Rylant
Old Town in the Green Groves by Cynthia Rylant
The Martha Years - Laura's great grandmother
Little House on the Highlands
The Far Side of the Loch
Down to the Bonny Glen
Beyond the Heather Hills
Little House on the Highlands
The Far Side of the Loch
Down to the Bonny Glen
Beyond the Heather Hills
The Charlotte Years - Laura's grandmother
Little House by Boston Bay
On Tide Mill Lane
The Road from Roxbury
Little House by Boston Bay
On Tide Mill Lane
The Road from Roxbury
The Caroline Years - Laura's mother
Little House in Brookfield
Little Town at the Crossroads
Little Clearing in the Woods
On Top of Concord Hill
Across the Rolling River
Little City by the Lake
Little House in Brookfield
Little Town at the Crossroads
Little Clearing in the Woods
On Top of Concord Hill
Across the Rolling River
Little City by the Lake
A Little House of Their Own
The Rose Years - Laura's daughter
Little House on Rocky Ridge
Little Farm In The Ozarks
In The Land Of The Big Red Apple
On The Other Side Of the Hill
Little Town In The Ozarks
New Dawn on Rocky Ridge
On the Banks of the Bayou
Bachelor Girl
Little House on Rocky Ridge
Little Farm In The Ozarks
In The Land Of The Big Red Apple
On The Other Side Of the Hill
Little Town In The Ozarks
New Dawn on Rocky Ridge
On the Banks of the Bayou
Bachelor Girl
Replica of Laura's birthplace Source: katboro on Flickr
My children love Little House on the Prairie too, and today as well as our normal homeschooling, we'll be focusing on some pioneer times, and more specifically Laura Ingalls Wilder and her books, crafts, recipes etc.
I'm going to share some links with you all, for all the other fans out there :)
Little House on the Prairie Recipes
Little House Crafts and Activities
Will also be using this lesson plan which I think the kids will enjoy. And this one looks really good too, I think I'll probably use it, not today but for another day.
From left to right: Carrie, Mary and Laura
Pa and Ma Ingalls - Charles and Caroline
She would have been 147 years old today. I'm sure never once in her life, did she imagine she would become so famous and so loved by so many, to the point where almost 150 years later, she is still looked up to and loved by so many.
I'll leave you with some of her quotes :)
"Home is the nicest word there is."
"Every job is good if you do your best and work hard. A man who works hard stinks only to the ones that have nothing to do but smell."
"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies."
"If enough people think of a thing and work hard enough at it, I guess it's pretty nearly bound to happen, wind and weather permitting."
"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
"Once you begin being naughty, it is easier to go and on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens."
"Suffering passes, while love is eternal."
"You should never be ashamed of work you have done only work that you haven't."
Laura Ingalls Wilder, age 70
