Fun at Wilder Days

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we took a road trip to the Ozarks, to see the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Mansfield, MO.

On the way, we stopped at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where the remains of a mansion that burned down are the main feature.

Someone is not sure he likes the picture informing him that scorpions and tarantulas can be found in the park!

It started sprinkling while we were at the park, but we didn't let it dampen our spirits (although it did put a damper on the swimming and campfire we had planned for later!).

Such an eerily beautiful site~

We had hoped to see Pa's fiddle being played at Laura and Almanzo's house on Saturday, but we arrived too late, so we headed to the park for the fun they were having there. 

The turtle race was fun, although we felt a trifle sorry for the turtles!

Here we are posing by a bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which is surrounded by a circle of bricks listing the books she wrote, as well as the year they were published.

We loved the small town feel of Mansfield, as well as the other little towns where we stopped to fuel up along the way. We felt as if we had come home.

This is the pulpit from the church that the Wilder family attended in Mansfield. The historical society has a nice little museum across from the park, with lovely examples of clothing and crafts, plus military uniforms worn by Mansfield residents.

Before leaving Mansfield, we went to the cemetery where the Wilders are buried. There were many small rocks placed on the headstones as a tribute to Laura's family.

I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on our trip!

Love,

Marqueta

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"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder