Updated "Times Are Changing" Season 9 Rewrite

 

Years ago, fans of my stories requested that I create a series of fanfiction stories that would rewrite Season 9 of Little House on the Prairie: A New Beginning. As we had previously discussed here, Season 9 seemed to find the writers of Little House on the Prairie having exhausted the source material. With the Ingalls family now living in Burr Oak, Iowa, the Carters had moved into the little house on Plum Creek. Royal, father to two pesky boys--Myron and Rupert--in Season 7, suddenly had a young daughter named Jenny and no wife. 

No one can deny Michael Landon's ability to write stories that tugged at the heartstrings. If he and his team weren't so talented, we wouldn't be talking about the show more than 50 years after it originally aired. As we can now stream and binge-watch Little House on the Prairie, however, those kinds of details become more noticeable. 

Needing some stress relief, I revisited the first four chapters of that rewrite of the episode "Times Are Changing" that I had begun earlier. If you're curious about it, you will find the updated chapters here. I've changed some points of view and corrected grammar. Maybe I will keep going with it. Not sure how much time in the schedule there will be, but now I want to get back to it. Hope you enjoy the first four chapters. 

Life Transitions and Simplicity

 

Photo credit: Freepik.com

It's that time of year again when I decide I'm tired of winter and yearn for the warmer, sunnier days of spring. That usually coincides with some type of weather event. LOL! The third storm in the last two weeks arrived today. It will gradually turn to rain on Sunday. 

The more time I spend at Modern Prairie, the more I begin to appreciate the simple things in life. Throughout the last year, I found myself buying fewer pre-made or pre-packed items. Breads, sauces, seasoning mixes, and more are often made in my kitchen. I can't remember the last time I bought a frozen dinner. I've been meal planning for months, which allows me to buy what we need for the week and only restock staple items. 

Impatiently waiting for spring, I ordered my plants and seeds from Burpee. I even bought a seed starter kit and good soil to start early. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, potato, onion, celery, and strawberry plants/seeds will arrive at the appropriate times. I will wait for later in the year to plant herbs. No one will ever call me a homesteader, but I enjoy spending time outdoors. 

Photo credit: April Cornell

I'm buying clothes made with more comfortable fabrics and in styles that I can work in. Weekends off--not that there are many--are spent organizing the house to make life easier and tending to self-care. I won't channel my inner Caroline Ingalls in an attempt to make clothes--that would go poorly--but I do love me a simple camisole under a sweater. 

Part of this is possible because of the stage of life I am in. We might be empty nesters this summer. I'm not emotionally prepared for that transition, but a lot of what I am doing now should help ease some of the pain. I'm thinking of taking up drawing or some other creative outlet in addition to my writing. I've been able to log on to some of the Modern Prairie weekend events, which is great for social interaction, so maybe I won't feel too lonely once the girls don't live here full time. 

I've been putting into place a plan for retirement. Though it is several years in the future, I really feel like we need a solid plan to get it all to come together in the timing that works best for me. 

How have you handled life transitions? What did you find the most challenging and the most rewarding?

Anne with an E Inspired Fan Fiction Story: A Scandal in Avonlea

 

Thought I would continue Miss Stacy and Sebastian "Bash" Lacroix's storyline that was left out to dry when Anne with an E was cancelled unexpectedly. In "A Scandal in Avonlea," some of the residents are upset when they see Miss Stacy and Bash riding in a wagon together as they head to the Cuthberts' for supper. You can read the story here.

As you might recall, I compared Lucy Maud Montgomery and her character to Laura Ingalls Wilder back in 2021. You can read my thoughts here if you curious.