Wilder on the Prairie

Latest Episodes:

Episode 181 - LTOP - Nine Dollars Apr 13, 2026

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Episode 181

Ch. 7 of Little Town on the Prairie, "Nine Dollars."

Join us this week as we discuss how much $9 is, what fryers are, a reminder of what laths are, bran mash well peppered, was the Ingalls stable made of sod or wood?, to contrive, college and manual training.

Episode 180 - LTOP - The Month of Roses Apr 06, 2026

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Episode 180

Ch. 6 in Little Town on the Prairie, "The Month of Roses."

Join us this week as we discuss Laura's wages, saloons, Laura's gratitude, Charles H. Tinkham, who Brown was who owned the saloon, "Pull for the Shore", Thomas Power, and Bill O'Dowd/William O'Connell.

Episode 179 - LTOP - Working in Town Mar 30, 2026

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Episode 179

Little Town on the Prairie ch. 5 "Working in Town". Join us this week as we discuss Mr. Clancy/Clayson, definition of "dry goods", the history of sewing machines, Mrs. White, 25 cents a day, thunderpumpers, going "Indian file", basting, bias facings, and a "shanty Irishman".

Episode 178 - LTOP - The Happy Days Mar 23, 2026

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Episode 178

Little Town on the Prairie, ch. 4 "The Happy Days"

Join us as we discuss organizing the Congregational Church, why Laura wasn't a charter member of founding the church, skim-milk cottage cheese, setting a hen, what a pullet is, what a cockerel is, and when it is too old to be laying eggs.

Episode 177 - LTOP - The Necessary Cat Mar 16, 2026

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Episode 177

Ch. 3 of Little Town on the Prairie, "The Necessary Cat"

Join us this week as we discuss Dakota Territory, the use of italicized words in the chapter, Pa losing his hair, Kingsbury County, what counties do, Amos Whiting, when cats' eyes open, and the cost of a cat.

Episode 176 - LTOP - Springtime on the Claim Mar 09, 2026

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Episode 176

Little Town on the Prairie ch. 2 "Springtime on the Claim"

Join us this week as we discuss who is the calf's father? How to skim milk. What a poll is. Laura wearing her hair up or down? What is a rolling coulter or mold board? Mary quoting Jeremiah and Job and Psalm 23. Pa mellows the dirt. What are angleworms? The blackbird nursery rhyme, and the bean plants popping out of the ground.

Episode 175 - LTOP - Surprise Mar 02, 2026

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Episode 175

Ch. 1 of Little Town on the Prairie, "Surprise".

Join us this week as we discuss Laura working in a hotel, a little of the Ingalls' time in Burr Oak, 1941 in the context of Newbery Honor books and famous people born in 1941.

Episode 174 - LW - Christmas in May Nov 17, 2025

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Episode 174

Ch. 33 of The Long Winter, "Christmas in May".

Join us this week as we discuss the tablecloth sitch, yeast cakes/sponge/light bread, seedless raisins, cream of tartar, how far the Boasts' claim was from town, a dripping pan, ways to mash potatoes, the Boasts' winter on their claim, "Where There's a Will There's a Way".

Episode 173 - LW - The Christmas Barrel Nov 10, 2025

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Episode 173

Ch. 32 of The Long Winter, "The Christmas Barrel".

Join us this week as we discuss whaleboned basques, fascinators, what "dove colored" is, Laura's jealousy about the Christmas barrel, talking turkey, and the presence of Mr. Boast.

Episode 172 - LW - Waiting for the Train Nov 03, 2025

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Episode 172

Ch. 31 of The Long Winter "Waiting for the Train"

Join us this week as we discuss King Nebuchadnezzar, "The May Queen", positive stereotypes of people of Scottish descent, why the Ingalls air the bedding, what an emigrant car is, and Pa not caring about taking items from the railroad company.

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