Wilder on the Prairie

Latest Episodes:

Episode 151 - LW - Three Days' Blizzard Jun 09, 2025

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Episode 151

The Long Winter ch. 10 "Three Days' Blizzard." Join us this week as we discuss Charles Barker, Almanzo's true age, working for 50 cents a day, buckwheat pancakes, ironstone, seed wheat, and a peck of wheat.

Episode 150 - LW - Cap Garland Jun 02, 2025

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Episode 150

The Long Winter, chapter 9, "Cap Garland"

Join us this week as we discuss shoes of the 1880s, George Bradley, Mary Power, Minnie Johnson, Cap Garland, "patent" desks, Florence Garland, Ben Woodworth, Arthur Johnson, the date of the blizzard, Mr. Foster/Silas Holmes, the Beardsley girls, the Wilmarth boys, Mead's Hotel, and Couse's Hardware.

Episode 149 - LW - Settled in Town May 26, 2025

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Episode 149

Chapter 8 of the Long Winter, "Settled in Town".

Join us this week as we discuss the Long Winter being translated for the Japanese market after World War II, how long it takes for wood to weather grey, who was Ellen's calf's father?, John Carroll, roll-top desks, Thomas Power, Daniel Loftus, the difference of straw vs. hay, the definition of "all hollow", the Sherwood family, the Garland family, the Owens family, "to bach", and Mr. Foster.

Episode 148 - LW - Indian Warning May 19, 2025

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Episode 148

The Long Winter ch. 7, "Indian Warning"

Join us this week as we discuss the third person omniscient narrator, where Royal and Almanzo homesteaded, which tribe the Native American may have been from, outdated depictions of Native Americans vis a vis language used, origin of the word "geezer", Ellie vs. Nell Boast, "to ceil", Laura not being allowed to stack hay in town, and Psalm 55:6.

Episode 147 - LW - Indian Summer May 12, 2025

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Episode 147

Ch. 6 of the Long Winter, "Indian Summer".

Join us this week as we discuss the origins of the phrase "Indian summer" and dovkies.

Episode 146 - LW - After the Storm May 05, 2025

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Episode 146

Ch. 4 of The Long Winter, "After the Storm".

Join us this week as we discuss tar paper nailed to the roof, what an "Indian summer" is, why Laura wore a shawl instead of a coat, "to scud", Mary not believing Laura's "queer notions", great auks, and why snow melts in the south.

Episode 145 - LW - October Blizzard Apr 28, 2025

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Episode 145

Ch. 6 of The Long Winter, "October Blizzard".

Join us this week as we discuss Pa's sunflower song, baking soda in the bean broth, changing the bean water, cambric tea, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", "All the Bluebonnets Are Over the Border"/"The Blue Bonnets".

Episode 144 - LW - Fall of the Year Apr 21, 2025

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Episode 144

The Long Winter ch. 3 "Fall of the Year"

Join us this week as we discuss equinoctial storms, battens, how big is a bushel?, sweet preserves, winnowing beans, shocking sod corn, pinning muslin to your knee while sewing a sheet, and Ma's green pumpkin pie.

Episode 143 - LW - An Errand to Town Apr 13, 2025

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Episode 143

Ch. 2 of The Long Winter "An Errand to Town".

Join us this week as we discuss when the first frost is in DeSmet, cutter bar teeth, 5 cents for the cutter bar tooth, Charleton and Gerald Fuller, what a "pocketbook" is, the definition of "primly" and "rivet".

Episodes 142 - LW - Make Hay While the Sun Shines Apr 06, 2025

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Episode 142

Long Winter ch. 1 "Make Hay While the Sun Shines"

Join us this week as we discuss 1941 Newbery winners, celebrities born in 1940, what happened between "Silver Lake" and "Long Winter", when you make hay, big bluestem grass, the definition of "to grub", garter snakes, definition of "haycock" and "whiffletree", a recipe for ginger water, and muskrat lodges.

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