Which Areas of the World Read Laura's Little Houses

 

Occasionally, I check to see where this blog's traffic is coming from. Most recent stats show that the most readers of Laura's Little Houses originate from the United States! That's a real change. Usually, it is outside of this country. Other readers who visit this blog hail from Singapore, the United Kingdom, China, and Brazil. These are the five highest ranking based upon the number of readers in order of highest to lowest. 

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read Laura's Little Houses!

Top Five Favorite Episodes from Little House on the Prairie - Season 6

We are already on Season 6 in my list of favorite episodes from Little House on the Prairie. Seasons 6 - 8 had some wonderful episodes. Here are my favorites from Season 6.

"Back to School"

Walnut Grove welcomes new teacher, Eliza Jane Wilder, along with her younger brother, Almanzo. From the moment he pulls up in front of the restaurant, Laura Ingalls is smitten. However, Mrs. Oleson sees Almanzo as the perfect suitor for her daughter, Nellie. Jealous, Laura plays a prank on her archenemy, which backfires, and when Nellie exacts her revenge, Almanzo pays the price. 

Why I like it:

The introduction of Dean Butler's Almanzo marks a definite shift in Laura's character. Viewers witness as she hovers in the uncomfortable place between childhood and adulthood. Change comes for Nellie Oleson as well, with her parents gifting her a hotel and restaurant, which she is totally uninterested in running. This will lead to the introduction of one of my favorite characters later in the season. We see Caroline stepping in to provide for the family when Charles is injured and unable to work. Oh, and that mud fight is epic!

"Annabelle"

The circus comes to Walnut Grove, and one of the performers is a person from Nels' past. Laura struggles to ask Almanzo to the circus, and when she finds out he is taking snippy Christie Norton, she devises a plan that reveals she is still a kid at heart.

Why I like it: Exploring a character's backstory is often an interesting concept. Here, the viewer discovers that Nels has a relative he's kept a secret for less-than-noble reasons. There is this random girl who lives in town, who just happens to be courting Almanzo, but Laura puts her in her place. The circus scenes are fun.

"Preacher Takes a Wife"

Reverend Alden and the widowed Anna Craig begin courting. Their relationship is threatened by Mrs. Oleson's interference and an unexpected visit from the reverend's superior. 

Why I like it: This one comes down to two things: romance and backstory. It seems some of the men in Walnut Grove were destined to be alone: Lars Hanson, Isaiah Edwards, and Doc Baker. But in this episode, Reverend Alden has his chance at love. When Mrs. Oleson writes to his superiors, Harriet is surprised to see that a man from her past is the one sent by the church to investigate her outlandish claims. This was such a great backstory for her. 

"Wilder and Wilder"

The youngest member of the Wilder family, Perley Day, shows up in town. Unbeknownst to all, he is a liar and a thief, but Charles thinks the adventurous young man might be just the thing to get Laura's mind off the older Almanzo. After Perley Day nearly cripples Almanzo's horse, he is sent packing, and the Ingalls family helps tend to Barnum until his leg is better. 

Why I like it: So many great things happen in this episode. Perley Day sees that Laura is older than Almanzo realizes, and by the end of the episode, Manly's opinion of her begins to shift. Laura teaches the spirited Barnum how to accept the bit, much to Manly's amazement. Laura chooses a better man than her pa, which Caroline gently teases him about. How Almanzo forfeits the arm wrestling match to save his horse. The embrace between Almanzo and Laura once they knew Barnum would be okay. 

"Sweet Sixteen"

Laura earns her teaching certificate before her sixteenth birthday, so that she can teach in Curry while the regular teacher recovers. Almanzo helps Charles out by bringing her to Curry and picking her up a week later, which is enough time apart for Almanzo to realize she is no longer a little girl. Once home, Laura confides in Ma that she thinks what she has been dreaming of is finally happening between Almanzo and her, but his jealousy threatens their budding romance. 

Why I like it: Another episode with tons of wonderful moments. Laura finally becomes a teacher. Almanzo's odd reaction when he picks her up in Curry a week after dropping her off, which she credits to the high-heeled boots she bought. Eliza Jane and Almanzo's heart-to-heart talk. Laura tells Manly she has to "think" about going to the social with him. Charles and Almanzo's heart-to-heart, where he admits his feelings for Laura have changed. The touching, yet awkward, first kiss. 

Repost: A Christmas Eve Prairie Visit by Cheryl Malandrinos

Photo scene from A Christmas They Never Forgot

This is a poem I wrote more than a decade ago. I decided to share it again. Enjoy!

A Christmas Eve Prairie Visit by Cheryl Malandrinos

'Twas the night before Christmas,

and out on the prairie,

Not a creature was stirring,

not even young Carrie;

The stockings were hung on the mantle with care,

In hopes that Santa Claus would leave his fair share;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of heart-shaped cookies sprinkled with sugar danced in their heads;

And Pa in his nightshirt and Ma in her gown,

Had finished their popcorn and turned the bed down.

When out by the barn there arose such a clatter,

Pa sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the kitchen he flew like a flash,

Looked out the window and then heard a crash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Caused Pa to blink twice at the broken fence down below,

When into his wondering eyes came the view,

Of a miniature sleigh,

and a tiny herd of pack mules,

With a little old driver,

so lively and quick,

Pa knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Slower than molasses his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

Move Clementine! Step it up Abner!

Get along Myron and Rupert!

Pick it up Gracie! Pick it up Millie!

Faster now Willie and Albert!

Past the rain barrel!

And past the lean-to!

Now make it around to the side of the house all of you!

As slow as a cow chewing its cud,

When asked to come home and they plop with a thud,

So around the house his coursers they sauntered,

With the sleigh full of toys,

and an old man who wandered.

And soon Pa heard on the side of the house,

The scratching and clawing of old man Claus.

As Pa hid behind the tree and was turning around,

Down the chimney Santa came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his toe,

And his clothes were in desperate need of a sew.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like Mr. Edwards just opening his pack.

His eyes were like Mary's!

His dimples like Carrie's!

His cheeks were like Grace's,

his nose like a cherry.

His droll little mouth was drawn up in a pout.

The beard on his chin covered most of his face, just about;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And Pa thought the tobacco smelled mightly sweet;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed,

Like Ma's bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump,

A right jolly old elf,

And Pa laughed when he saw him,

In spite of himself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon let Pa know

he had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word,

But went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings;

then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh,

to his pack gave a wail,

And away they all meandered like a broken-winged quail.

But Pa heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!

Who is Attending the Little House on the Prairie Christmas Reunion This Weekend?

Of all the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunions I would have loved to have attended, the Christmas Reunion taking place this coming weekend at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley, California, tops my list. Not only am I a huge lover of the show, but I am also an even bigger fanatic when it comes to Christmas. 

When I visited the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunions website today, it was so exciting to see how many cast members would be there. I've met some of them. I hope to meet more of them. It also sounds like an amazing venue. 

Is anyone who reads this blog attending? Tell us more!

Little House on the Prairie Christmas Episodes

I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie. Some of my favorite episodes were the Christmas ones, and there weren't many of them. "The Pilot" movie had Christmas scenes, and there were four other episodes set during Christmas: "Christmas at Plum Creek" (Season 1), "Blizzard" (Season 3), "A Christmas They Never Forgot" (Season 8), and "Bless All the Dear Children" (TV Movie). 

In "The Pilot," the Ingalls family has moved to Kansas and befriended a bachelor named Mr. Edwards. Caroline isn't a fan because he likes to frequent saloons and teaches Laura how to spit. However, at Christmastime, Mr. Edwards goes all the way to Independence and crosses an overflowing body of water to deliver presents for the three Ingalls girls and to bring a special treat for Christmas dinner, which softens Ma's attitude toward the rough and tumble bachelor. 

The episode "Christmas at Plum Creek" is the only time I recall the Oleson's Mercantile being decorated for the holidays. It is a Christmas of secrets, as the Ingalls family hides what they are working on for each other despite not having a lot of money for gifts. Though there are a couple of sad moments in this episode, it ends on a happy note with Carrie saying a happy birthday to Baby Jesus.

"Blizzard" is not exactly a Christmas episode. It happens to be set on Christmas Eve, but it is all about survival on the harsh, open prairie. When it begins snowing, Miss Beadle releases the children early. However, the flurries quickly turn into a full-blown blizzard, with many of the children struggling to get back home. The school is turned into a hospital, and the women help Doc Baker as the men search for the missing children. Charles reads the Christmas story on Christmas morning after the blizzard is over. Michael Landon was thought to have used "The Children's Blizzard" as inspiration for this episode. 

Viewers didn't get another Christmas episode until Season 8, and Landon went all out, with another blizzard trapping the Ingalls family, the Wilders, the Kendalls, and Hester Sue at the little house on Plum Creek on Christmas Eve. As they wait out the storm, they share stories of Christmases past. Laura talks about Mr. Edwards bringing presents to them in Kansas. Caroline shares the story of how she came to love her stepfather, Papa Holbrook. Almanzo gives them a glimpse into his childhood and the year he almost stopped believing in Santa Claus, and Hester Sue shares a special Christmas growing up during the Civil War. 

After the series ended, there were three made-for-TV movies. One of them was "Bless All the Dear Children." While shopping in Mankato, Rose Wilder goes missing, so Almamzo, Laura, and Mr. Edwards search for her. Back in Walnut Grove, Mr. Montague refuses to celebrate the commercialization of Christmas, and John Carter--who gave Almanzo money to buy gifts--worries the Wilders won't be home in time. 

I used to run an annual poll to gauge everyone's favorite Little House on the Prairie Christmas episode. It would change year to year, but it was either "Christmas at Plum Creek" or "A Christmas They Never Forgot."

Have you seen these episodes? Do you have a favorite?