My Prairie Home Companion

Whew! We made it to De Smet, SD and back! It was a great trip. We saw so many Laura Ingalls Wilder sites and artifacts. We walked through the surveyor's house that she lives in in "By the Shores of Silver Lake", we went to the homestead that Pa claimed. We saw the trees that he planted by the shanty for each of his girls. We went to the Loftus Store from "The Long Winter" and then visited the Ingalls' graves. It was so fascinating and fun. I love a good prairie! -RL

Every road trip should have a stop at a small town cafe. This one did not disappoint. It was tiny, folksy with lots of regulars that all knew each other. I think they were wondering about the strangers in town.

We had a couple of hours to swim in the pool. The Es had lots of fun and Ethan loved
swimming around with Elliot.

This is Ethan at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pagaent. It was an outdoor play of "The Long Winter". It started after the sun went down, so it was cold on the prairie.

This is the site of the Ingalls' original claim shanty. Pa planted a tree for each girl and they are still standing.

I love these pictures of them in the prairie grass. Can't you picture Elliot falling down like Carrie on the TV show?

This is a replica of the dugout they lived in on Plum Creek. Cost of this house, you ask? $2.78.

Ethan loved washing clothes on the washboard and then putting them through this old timey rinser. He did it like 4 times while we tried to wait patiently.

Elliot roped a steer from his stroller! That's gotta be some kind of toddler roping record.

On the wagon ride! When asked where we were from, Ethan said "Minnesota!" Then the tour guide said, "I hope you're not a Vikings fan." Ethan then replied, "No, I like the Packers!" And the wagon cheered and laughed. Boppa Dale should be proud.
It was hilarious.

We rode the wagon to an old school. There was a teacher there and Ethan answered several questions correctly....much to my surprise. I thought he was shy--where did that trait go?

Then Ethan rode a horse a bit. He was so excited about the horses and wagon rides.

Then this happened. Both Es totally exhausted from the day. Mission accomplished.