home again, home again
I was going to title this entry, "There's no place like home," except that as far as I'm concerned, there's no place like any "Little House" site; just pick one. I only saw two of them this trip: Walnut Grove and the Ingalls Homestead. Both were fantastic; both visits were too short.

I drove thirteen plus hours to meet The Man of The Place in Sioux Falls on Sunday. I am once again very thankful for Harry Potter books on cd. No, I do not yet have any LH books on cd. I've heard a good bit of On the Banks of Plum Creek, though, and for some reason Cherry Jones's voice reminds me a bit of Karen Lynn Gorney's voice in "Saturday Night Fever" - and it somehow grates on my listening nerve. I can't imagine not owning the LH books on cd, so I'll simply have to get over it.

I remember one LH trip, I listened to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire all the way from South Dakota to my house. I arrived home about the time Voldemort was rising from his cauldron and even though I had been on the road over fifteen hours at that point, I seriously considered sitting in the driveway until I finished listening to the book. Then I came to my senses and realized I could simply go inside and finish listening, which I did. Yes, I have a bit of a Harry Potter obsession going on as well.

This trip I listened to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the way to South Dakota. I only got as far as ten cds in, and I was a little perturbed with myself that I hadn't remembered to bring the book so I could continue reading once I checked into the hotel. I did laugh out loud at one point while listening after thinking that there are a few "Little House" research questions I have and that I'd like to "put Mr. Tibbles on the case."

I also realized why I don't invite my husband to go on more LH trips. It's really hard to buy everything you need at a LH bookstore (and, believe me, you need everything) while your husband is sitting there waiting patiently. I managed to make a few hurried purchases in Walnut Grove when John stepped outside, but I made a longer list of items I'll be buying when I return in July. There's a new "bobble head" Laura (why?????) and a mug I won't be living without, a charm bracelet of little LH houses, some cute dolls, and a wagonload of other stuff.

The Ingalls Homestead has boxed sets of LH books in homemade crates, which is a really clever idea and really, really cute. They also had a week-old colt (not for sale, just new, and really, really cute) with three white stockings and one white foot. Its name is Anklet. The new displays at the Homestead are fantastic; if you visit, be sure to go upstairs in the barn and see what's up there. It has to do with horses and it's fun.

Of course, when I mentioned that I could have stayed at least a week longer, John said he would have flown home and left me there. MEN. Tell me that sooner next time, not after I've already driven eight hundred miles.
- posted by pioneergirl at 12:45 AM