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These Happy Golden Years
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
69 posts | 142 read | 11 to read
Fifteen-year-old Laura learns that living away from home and teaching school can be a bit frightening when most of the students are taller than she is, but every week Almonzo Wilder arrives to take her to her family for the weekend.
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LeahBergen
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I‘m nearing the end of my reread of the Little House series.

Much of my enjoyment has been discovering that I somehow seem to empathize with the adults now (and that I can‘t stop questioning the lifestyle choices they were happy to live with). 😆

Itchyfeetreader I am not sure I read all of these in the end but love the revisiting. 2mo
Ruthiella I‘ve only re-read Little House in the Big Woods as an adult, but I definitely noticed and empathize with different things as a grown up! 2mo
Tamra Brings a smile to my face. ☺️ Such comforting memories. 2mo
See All 15 Comments
Aimeesue I did a complete re-read a couple years ago. Farmer Boy is now my favorite, because yeah, there were some shady goings-on, there Pa. I also read a bio at the same time 2mo
AlaMich I had that same edition box set. 2mo
Suet624 Being a grownup on the prairie was not easy! 😂😂 2mo
LeahBergen @Itchyfeetreader I thoroughly enjoyed it! 2mo
LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s been eye-opening to say the least. 😆 2mo
LeahBergen @Tamra And now you have your own set again! 👏 2mo
LeahBergen @Aimeesue I loved Farmer Boy this time around! My favourite when I was really young was On the Banks of Plum Creek, most likely because it was the first one I read and I was the same age as Laura in the book. I‘m going to read that bio soon, too. 2mo
LeahBergen @AlaMich Lucky you! I got them all individually for birthdays and Christmas. 😆 2mo
LeahBergen @Suet624 Yeah, I definitely wouldn‘t make it as a pioneer girl. 😆 2mo
kspenmoll What fun to reread this series. I adored these books & wrote stories modeled on the family‘s adventures. 2mo
LeahBergen @kspenmoll Did you really?? Early “fan fiction”! 🥰 2mo
Cathythoughts ❤️ 2mo
64 likes1 stack add15 comments
review
CrystalE02
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

Love this book!!! It is one of my favorites. I rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

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mrp27
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July #serieslove2023 wrap up. Finished my reread of the Little House Series.

TheSpineView Great job!💙📖📚 1y
Andrew65 Fantastic, well done 👏👏👏 1y
13 likes2 comments
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BethM
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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July was a slow and relatively uninspiring reading month. But look at how pretty I managed to get this months entry! It‘s never going to happen again 🙃 #readingbracket2023

LeeRHarry Love your style 😊 1y
31 likes1 comment
review
BethM
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

I‘ve really enjoyed reading these. The tone is a bit lighter but I‘d say overall more bittersweet. Despite being children‘s lit, I now understand why I didn‘t connect with them as a kid❤️

review
BarbaraJean
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

This was another delightful book in the #LittleHouse series. I loved seeing Laura grow up through her experiences as a teacher, and her growing romance with Almanzo. The highlight of the book for me may have been her conversation with Almanzo about not using the word “obey” in their wedding vows! 🙌🏼

(Although I still can‘t get over the cover, where it looks like Almanzo had a bad experience with a tanning bed. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

LeslieO I loved these so much when I was 10 that I‘m afraid to reread them! 1y
BarbaraJean @LeslieO This is the first time I‘ve read them! I do think I would have loved them as a kid, but I‘m also loving them now! 1y
Cathythoughts Sweet cover 💕 1y
44 likes3 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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What are everyone‘s final thoughts on this installment of the #LittleHouse series?

Bookwormjillk This book has always been bittersweet to me. It‘s great the girls found their way, but kind of sad the family isn‘t together any more. 1y
BethM I agree with @Bookwormjillk very bittersweet 1y
BarbaraJean There is definitely a bittersweetness to the ending! But I did love seeing Laura‘s growth here, through her experiences as a teacher and through her relationship with Almanzo. 1y
mrp27 Agreed, bittersweet but I did miss Mary. 1y
julieclair Bittersweet. And I was struck by the differences between Laura‘s wedding (her family didn‘t even attend the ceremony!) and weddings today. And I‘m not convinced she was totally in love with Alamanzo. 1y
36 likes5 comments
review
mrp27
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Pickpick

#LittleHouse #SeriesLove2023

Another wonderful installment in the Little House series. I enjoyed the slow unfolding of Laura‘s relationship with Almanzo but I missed Mary being away at college for the blind.

Andrew65 Excellent, a classic series 👏👏👏 1y
TheSpineView Fantastic! A great series! 1y
32 likes2 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura and Almanzo marry in a quiet ceremony at Pastor Brown‘s with Laura‘s friend Ida as a witness. They have a little celebratory dinner at the Ingalls‘. Then Almanzo shows Laura around their new home where she is most impressed with the pantry. It seems Almanzo thought of everything. 😊

Bookwormjillk I would love a pantry like that 1y
Vansa In a black dress, and Laura firmly saying she will not say "obey" in her vows . Quite the iconoclast. Also does she Rev.Brown is related to John Brown, the abolitionist? I wish we knew more of him then! 1y
mrp27 I agree, I would love a pantry like that! As usual Almanzo was very thoughtful in the building of their home. 1y
BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk @mrp27 I was jealous of the pantry, too! I was impressed by how thoughtfully Almanzo set up the house. 1y
34 likes4 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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This was the sweetest, most sentimental chapter. I felt like I was right there in the house with the Ingalls family the night Pa played the fiddle before Laura left.

AnnR Music was one of the best going away presents Pa could have given Laura. I did feel sad that Laura felt she only had 2 choices though; marriage or continue teaching and she was tired of the latter choice by this point. She probably could have very happily stayed home a few more years. 1y
julieclair This was indeed such a sweet scene! I loved how the different songs reminded Laura of all the different places they had lived. 1y
Vansa This was a lovely chapter.And it felt like her going through all the books, through those songs! 1y
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Bookwormjillk Very sweet! I loved that they were all together one last time 1y
mrp27 Another sweet and sentimental chapter. 1y
BethM I was so sad and teary thinking about her leaving. 1y
sblbooks This chapter made me tear up.😢 1y
BarbaraJean @julieclair @Vansa Agreed - it was such a nice way for me as a reader to look back on the books as Laura is remembering her childhood! 1y
40 likes8 comments
review
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

Had to finish! This is one of my favorite books because the family seems to be settled and less tragedy. I don‘t regret my decision to reread this beloved childhood series.

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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura and Ma begin her wedding dress but Almanzo comes by with a question. It‘s just like Eliza to try to take over the wedding. It‘s so sweet how Almanzo and Laura are on the same page about having a smaller wedding. Their conversation about the vow to “obey” is great. Glad Laura spoke up and Almanzo is in agreement.

julieclair I was amazed to learn that the “obey” question was something that was discussed in that time period! I truly thought it was started sometime in the 1960‘s. It was also fascinating to hear that Laura doesn‘t want to obey, but also doesn‘t want to vote! 1y
sblbooks @julieclair that surprised me too. 1y
BethM All I thought was ugh Eliza. Also we had the same obey convo- I specifically said it would not be in our vows😂 1y
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megnews @julieclair I was surprised too and especially that the preacher didn‘t like that part. 1y
julieclair @megnews Yes, he must have been a very progressive preacher! 1y
mrp27 Great chapter. Loved the convo about the word obey. Surprised there was never any follow up to Laura and Eliza‘s past troubles at the school lots of fashion/dress talk in This book. 1y
BarbaraJean I also loved how Laura and Almanzo are so like-minded here, both about the wedding and the “obey“ question! His response was great, too, saying that he always thought that was just something women said for the vows but no decent man would ever hold them to it. 😂 That made me like him even more! And I would NEVER have anticipated that the preacher would be against using the word, too! 1y
31 likes7 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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A chapter to remind you Laura is still a kid at heart but also on the cusp of adulthood. Mary chastises her behavior in church and then tries to talk her into a prolonged engagement. Laura assures Mary she will come to visit. I agree with previous comments about Laura and homemaking. She prefers the outdoors but has always done her share of chores and hard work.
(Photo from Cleveland Botanical Garden yesterday)

sblbooks Lovely photograph! It's bad to get tickled at church, and then once you start, you can't stop laughing. I'm glad the kitten got away, unscathed. 1y
Bookwormjillk Who wouldn‘t fidget if a cat crawled up your dress at church? 1y
Vansa I was a bit annoyed with Mary in this chapter!! 1y
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AnnR This was a cute chapter. I guess Mary didn't loosen up any during college, as she still was miss prim and proper. 1y
BethM It was funny 1y
mrp27 Sweet and funny and same old Mary! 1y
BarbaraJean @sblbooks I had that kind of experience SO many times at church growing up! Never with a kitten climbing inside hoop skirts, though. 😂 Very different dynamic between Mary and Laura than with my sister, though - we couldn't sit next to each other in church because we would make quiet sarcastic remarks and set each other off! 1y
39 likes7 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams

The storm in today‘s chapter was terrifying. It‘s so hard to imagine living in a world with no weather forecast, where a storm can come upon you unawares. Nothing like our hourly forecast now.

AnnR Traveling any distance sounded risky because a storm could suddenly come up. Based on the book series descriptions, Almanzo sometimes ignored using common sense during inclement weather and instead tried to rely on his horse driving and navigation skills. Was he overly confident? At least this time he had turned back when he saw the storm brewing. 1y
julieclair I have often thought that as we have been reading this series. Our weather forecasters today truly are lifesavers. 1y
28 likes3 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura passes the teacher exams and gets a school making even more money. She and Almanzo continue to grow closer and she and Mary have a sweet conversation about that. I‘m a little miffed with Ma. Mary can go off to college but she continues to treat her like a child due to her blindness. I feel bad Mary still has to miss out on things and wish she‘d speak up for herself.

julieclair Mary has always been so compliant, but now that she has grown so self-sufficient thanks to her schooling, I do wish she would kindly challenge Ma a bit. 1y
Vansa I like how slowly and sweetly the romance between Laura and Almanzo is drawn out.You really do feel that she likes him for more than his horses!I'm slightly surprised by how keen she is to keep house,though,she hasn't shown any interest in it till now! 1y
sblbooks @Vansa I agree, slow burn romances are the best. I don't know if she really likes to keep house, or she's just excited about not having to teach School. 1y
AnnR I think Laura likes the idea of keeping house. Giving up her outdoorsy pursuits doesn't sound like something she'd enjoy for long. 1y
TheAromaofBooks Laura is a worker, and I think she's excited about her work going towards building her own family and future, much as she loves the household where she's grown up. 1y
39 likes5 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Another cozy #LittleHouse Christmas and a surprise. Almanzo came back for Christmas!

julieclair Alamanzo is such an all-round good guy. 💙 1y
Bookwormjillk Loved that part ❤️ 1y
mrp27 Such a good surprise! 1y
AnnR Always find the Christmas chapters enjoyable. Sometimes they are my favorite part of a book. 1y
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura shares her news with Ida who has similar news of her own. Almanzo leaves early for Minnesota for the winter, leaving Laura with Lady and the buggy.

Bookwormjillk Why did Almanzo have to go back to Minnesota? I missed that part. 1y
mrp27 Laura‘s love of horses and the outdoors makes her a good match for Almanzo. They both love the land. 1y
megnews @Bookwormjillk his brother needed (wanted?) to go home. Not sure why though or why Almanzo chose to go along. It didn‘t really say 1y
34 likes3 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Oh my gosh! He popped the question. And a first kiss. All in one chapter. Can‘t wait to hear everyone‘s thoughts.

BarbaraJean This was all so sweet. The way he kind of pre-asks her, then her answer about the house: “I like little houses.” ☺️ And Ma‘s comment about the horses! 😂 It‘s interesting that Laura chooses to tell such a personal story (both here and throughout the books) with so few comments on her thoughts and feelings. So the comment at the end of the chapter—that she thought Pa and Ma understood what she was too shy to say—communicates so much. 1y
Bookwormjillk Sweet but sudden. How old is she now? I‘ve lost track. 1y
sblbooks Aww... I wanted more details. 1y
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BethM I agree with @BarbaraJean ! @Bookwormjillk like 16? Google says they got married when she turned 18. 1y
megnews @BarbaraJean agreed. She does keep her feelings close to her chest 1y
AnnR Ma made a good observation; I was thinking the same up to this chapter. 1y
34 likes7 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura goes to the new two room schoolhouse. It seems so strange that she is still going to school and also teaching school. Nellie‘s gone back to NY! Yay! Almanzo in invites her to singing school and she continues to help him break Barnum in. She‘s definitely getting more come with Almanzo, singing as they ride.

Bookwormjillk Goodbye Nellie! It is strange that she‘s a teacher and a student. 1y
BarbaraJean I loved the singing school! So many of these town activities are just delightful. 1y
mrp27 I agree I find it strange for Laura to be teaching and going to school at the same time although I don‘t know why because teachers today still go to school for additional training and I don‘t find that strange! 1y
megnews @mrp27 I agree. I think it‘s just because it‘s regular school and not college. 1y
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blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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After spending all of Laura‘s money on an organ, the family receives a letter that Mary will not be home that year. Hopefully someone else learns to play….
Meanwhile, sneaky Nellie Olesen invites herself along on Almanzo and Laura‘s buggy rides. But Laura has gotten as good as Ma at putting her foot down and nips that in the bud.

Bookwormjillk I was proud of the way Laura handled that! 1y
TheAromaofBooks Almanzo, proving men have always been a bit dense about women 😂 1y
mrp27 Sad about Mary not coming home. Glad Laura stood her ground with Almanzo and Nellie. I was happy to get a Nellie chapter because I just live to hate on her. 😆 1y
sblbooks It's good to see Mary making friends at school and being able to travel a little bit. I know the rest of the family will miss her. Like others have said. I'm glad Laura put a stop to Nellie tagging along. 1y
BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk Me too! She was straightforward with Almanzo but not mean about it. Well, except for her scheme of taking that different road back… and spooking the colts a little to scare Nellie… 😆 I loved Almanzo‘s annoyed comment that Nellie was scared of horses 😂 1y
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blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Ma just can‘t let a compliment slide. The claim shanty is now a proper house. Laura gets a new dress. Laura sits patiently through the Sunday sermon but kings to be outdoors. Almanzo takes her on a buggy ride and tries to “get fresh” as my gran would have said, prompting Laura to send the new colts flying.

BarbaraJean I love how Laura is with Almanzo! She's been so quiet and shy, but now that she's a little more comfortable, she's showing her independent spirit, as Almanzo calls it. I love that she's being more of herself with him. 1y
BethM I didn‘t love the organ purchase, but Alamanzo being fresh made me laugh 😂 1y
mrp27 I too like seeing Laura get more comfortable with Almanzo. 1y
julieclair I agree with @BethM about the organ. $100 seems like so much money for a family that is always struggling. And I chuckled at Alamanzo making his big move… his arm on the back of the bench… scandalous! 😂 1y
37 likes4 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura tests for her second grade certificate and gets a school closer to home making even more money! Enough to buy an organ!

Bookwormjillk Sorry but doesn‘t Pa ever save any money ever?? 1y
mrp27 Does it feel like Laura is turning a corner and is actually starting to enjoy teaching? Or is that just me? 1y
Vansa @Bookwormjillk 😂no,I don't think he ever does!! 1y
Vansa I was quite annoyed by this, really, why do they need an organ?!! Laura works so hard and then her money seems to get used towards...fairly useless ends! 1y
36 likes4 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Another October on the prairie. The schoolhouse is busting at its seams and the townsfolk decide they need a bigger one. I forgot to mention in the previous chapter when pa had a yearning to move on west and Ma put her foot down hard. Family comes to visit and Laura reminisces about bygone Christmases. She helps Almanzo break new colts and a mysterious gift is left for her. Pa thinks it‘s from Almanzo.

sblbooks I think Pa is right. I'm sure the Christmas gift is from Almanzo; again Laura is totally surprised. 😄It was nice to see another family member visit. 1y
julieclair I love how Laura understands Pa‘s yearning to be on the move again. But I‘m also glad Ma put her foot down! 😉 Especially since they now have family living in the area. 1y
mrp27 It‘s hard to tamp down that wander lust for Pa and Laura! Such a beautiful gift from Almanzo. 1y
Vansa I find Laura's wanderlust poignant to read about-given that the books were written by a woman in her 60s looking back at her life,it's interesting she mentions her desire to travel so often,did she get to do it?I think she had a pretty hard life for the most part, really. 1y
33 likes4 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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It seems we‘ve finally reached the happy golden years! And Laura‘s offered another job, sewing.

Bookwormjillk Yup, happy and golden! 1y
mrp27 It does really seem like an idyllic time for Laura and her family. 1y
julieclair I am so glad that things finally seem to be going well for all of them. 1y
32 likes3 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Mary has come all the way home on the train by herself and bearing gifts. She has learned so much and seems so much happier, almost like a new person. I‘m so glad for her! 😊

BethM This was such a joyful chapter! 1y
TheAromaofBooks It's really hard to imagine going completely blind as a teen, especially in this era. Mary was already determined to make the best of things and still be useful, but it's so wonderful to see how her education has given her tools and confidence to move through life! 1y
mrp27 I too loved seeing Mary so happy joyful and capable. I love that Mary and Laura have their walks. 1y
44 likes3 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura leaves to help Mrs McKee hold down her claim. Mrs McKee has a talk with her about Almanzo. This shows how oblivious Laura is but gets her thinking a bit. Then news: Mary‘s home! Looking forward to the reunion in the next chapter.

BethM This whole chapter was odd to me. Needing someone who‘s still a. Kid to stay with you. 1y
sblbooks Well, at least it wasn't Mrs Brewster she had to stay with. 1y
mrp27 Me too, really looking forward to Mary‘s visit! 1y
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BarbaraJean It cracked me up that Mrs. McKee called Almanzo “an old bachelor”—isn‘t he like 21 or 22? 😂 1y
Vansa The rules for a green card for America, and for permanent residency in Canada are still the same-once you have it, you have to mandatorily spend 6 months of the year there!A lot of Indians take these not necessarily because they want to migrate but to help with their grandchildren and so on.I found it interesting that the history clearly dates back to this! 1y
julieclair @Vansa Interesting info about the green cards. Thanks for sharing! 1y
34 likes6 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura is back home with all the comforts it brings. Springtime arrives and Uncle Tom shows up, sharing stories of squatting in the Black Hills in search of gold, his run in with Natives, and subsequent rescue by the army. Almanzo and Laura go in a double “date” with Cap and Mary and Almanzo shows a little jealous streak.

Bookwormjillk I‘m so happy for Laura that she‘s home. Remember how much she didn‘t like town before? 1y
BarbaraJean I'm not sure if Uncle Tom thought of that as a rescue! 😉 I was a little taken aback by the harsh penalties for squatting: burning all their homes & goods and taking them prisoner. Yikes. The lightness of the buggy ride and Mary Power teasing Almanzo about his jealousy was fun, though! 1y
BethM Im@with you @BarbaraJean 1y
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mrp27 I too thought the penalties for squatting were harsh but when I think of the Black Hills being taken from the Indians I didn‘t feel so bad anymore. 😕 1y
Vansa @mrp27 my feelings exactly! Also,this isn't nonfiction,it's filtered through the memories of a child, I'm not sure to what extent this is true. 1y
julieclair I agree that the penalties were harsh. But I was pleasantly surprised to see the government defending the Native Americans‘ land rights. 1y
mrp27 @Vansa Very true. My history is not the sharpest so I don‘t know the timeline when the Black Hills were given to the Indians and then the broken treaty. I just know in the end the land was taken back by the government. 1y
megnews @Bookwormjillk I know. She‘s changed so much! 1y
megnews @BarbaraJean I agree he didn‘t think it was a rescue but rescue it was. They would have starved or been killed. @mrp27 @julieclair @Vansa I don‘t think this has anything at all with the govt defending Natives‘ rights. I think everything they did with Natives was strategic. They weren‘t ready to break that treaty and fight on that front and weren‘t going to let Joe Citizen pressure then into it til they wanted the land. Imho 1y
BarbaraJean @megnews Oh, I‘m sure it was a rescue, but definitely a harsh one! And I agree, the politics here were complicated but the government certainly wasn‘t protecting the land for the interests of the Native Americans. 1y
Vansa @megnews very true.Most of the time the land was being taken to construct railroads! 1y
TheAromaofBooks I thought the story of getting the wagons through the Badlands was so interesting. I was honestly mindblown by the landscape there when we went through. Can't imagine trying to navigate it in a wagon!! 1y
julieclair @megnews @Vansa I imagine y‘all are right about the government. I should have known it was too good to be true to think they were actually defending the Native Americans‘ rights. 😕 1y
31 likes1 stack add13 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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It‘s hard to believe but Laura‘s first teaching job is done. She‘s definitely matured as a result of the experience. As much as her students end up appreciating her, I hope she never has to come back to the Brewsters. I‘m waiting on the happy golden years to start. So far this book is anything but.

Bookwormjillk You‘re so right. Not happy or golden at all! 1y
BarbaraJean I loved the way all her students brought her gifts and said how much they appreciated her. And she finally has an actual conversation with Almanzo during one of their drives! 1y
mrp27 With this chapter it feels like we are in the brink of those happy years. As a kid I never realized how bleak and awful these beginning chapters are. 1y
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sblbooks I'm sure Laura was glad that's over. It was really sweet of her students to give her gifts on the last day. 1y
BethM Agreed! I‘m glad the kids were appreciative in the end 1y
AnnR What a long two months for Laura. I am always amazed how stoic Laura (and others in the family were) even during very difficult circumstances. Let's see how persistent Almanzo will be. Surely Laura will catch on to his intentions at some point soon. “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?“ 1y
30 likes6 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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I‘m thinking Mrs Brewster had a breakdown. How terrifying for Laura to be awoken to that! Thank heavens nothing more came of it! Laura goes to school the next time as if nothing happened, followed by a ride home in🥶 cold weather. When Laura returns again, the superintendent makes a brief visit but I‘m left wondering what that was about.

Bookwormjillk I think so too, but yikes. Poor Laura and that poor baby. 1y
BarbaraJean I can't even imagine--poor Laura. The boarding situation is so awful. I wish she'd say something to someone!! I guess there's nowhere else for her to stay, but still. And then the cold inside the school building is ridiculous. It cracked me up that the only thing the superintendent had to say was to keep their feet warm. 1y
BarbaraJean @megnews Side note: I just noticed that this post and several of the others this week have been tagged for Little Town on the Prairie instead of Happy Golden Years. 1y
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mrp27 I do do not remember the knife chapter, so terrifying! The coldest weather I have experienced was -12 degrees Fahrenheit and that was brutal. I can‘t begin to imagine -40 degrees. 1y
megnews @BarbaraJean I don‘t know how I did that! Good catch. Thanks for letting me know! 1y
sblbooks How terrifying for Laura. Living in the South, it's hard for me to imagine that kind of cold. When it reached 20 below zero Pa said the cold snaps over. Wow! 1y
megnews @sblbooks auch an interesting observation. In Ohio, when we have a really cold snap, then get back above zero, everyone is talking about it and posting it on social media like it‘s a heat wave! Lol. 1y
35 likes7 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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With Ma and Pa‘s advice, Laura is managing the classroom with much more success. Meanwhile Almanzo probably thinks he‘s courting Laura and Laura still considers him a stranger. 😂
Confession: I would have loved to be a teacher at her age.

Bookwormjillk I felt like there were so many management lessons in today's chapter. And Lol about Almanzo. 1y
mrp27 These chapters of Laura teaching and Almanzo driving Laura home are some of the most memorable for me from my childhood reading. 1y
BarbaraJean I loved seeing Laura‘s success with her students! And the whole Almanzo thing is just cracking me up. He is SO clearly courting her, and even though others keep making comments, she‘s definitely the last one to get the memo. Or maybe the last one to read the memo 😂 1y
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sblbooks Laura is doing a great job teaching. I'm impressed she's able to do so well at a young age. It's funny that Laura still thinks of Almanzo as a stranger.😄 1y
TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @mrp27 @BarbaraJean @sblbooks - It might help if Almanzo SAID anything about his intentions 😂 Although seeing her home from the literary meetings seems pretty obvious. Maybe Laura is just in denial LOL 1y
BethM Me too! 1y
34 likes6 comments
blurb
megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura‘s pupils have really begun testing her. Almanzo shows up to pick her up again and, to Laura‘s horror, is announced as her beau. Cool as a cucumber, Almanzo takes it in stride.

Bookwormjillk Almanzo was probably thinking finally someone noticed 1y
TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk - For real though 😂 1y
mrp27 We all knew the testing of the new teacher was coming, and it came. I admire Almanzo‘s quiet dedication to courting Laura. 1y
BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk 😂 Yes!! All Laura sees is his horses 😆 Poor Laura, though. She‘s got other worries on her mind! I can‘t imagine being younger than your three oldest students… in a class of five kids. 1y
34 likes5 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura enjoys the ride home with Almanzo. She goes to church, visits friends. They wonder about Almanzo‘s feelings toward her. Everyone wants to know how she‘s getting along. She doesn‘t complain but Pa figures out the Brewsters place is ick. She even gets to enjoy Pas fiddle music before Almanzo shows up to take her back. Laura is resolved to be a good teacher.

Bookwormjillk Poor Laura I hope the time goes quickly 1y
mrp27 Wilder writes that “There‘s no place like home” feeling so well. (edited) 1y
TheAromaofBooks Growing up in a warm, close family, I also remember the shock of realizing that not everyone has a home life that makes home a safe space. And like Laura, it made me really appreciate my parents so much more, and all the work that they put in to making a good life for my siblings and me, in a way that looked effortless to us kids. 1y
julieclair The Brewster family makes me so sad. Such misery. I feel so sorry for their little boy. 1y
julieclair I think it's so cute that everyone but Laura can recognize that Almanzo is sweet on her! 1y
38 likes5 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Mrs Brewster continues to be awful. Laura dreams she‘s home and hopes Pa can come pick her up for the long weekend. But a snow storm hits and she knows he can‘t make it. But as the school day closes, sleigh bells appear and Almanzo has come to pick her up!

mrp27 What a relief for Laura! I was relieved too. Not fair of Mrs.Brewster to make Laura feel miserable just because she is miserable. 1y
sblbooks Almanzo saves the Day! I'm so glad Laura will get to go home for the weekend. 1y
Bookwormjillk Yay for Almanzo!! 1y
Vansa Almanzo is a lovely guy,but Laura clearly still thinks like a child,and I find his wanting to court her a bit odd.Theyve barely spoken!!I find it striking that the author chooses to mention how desperately she's hoping for her father to come,but it's Almanzo who turns up instead,and she seems more pleased to see him as a means of transport than as a person! 1y
julieclair I just love Almanzo. He‘s so solid and good. I‘m interested to see what makes Laura change her mind about him, since we know she does eventually marry him. 1y
34 likes5 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Three of Laura‘s five pupils are older and taller than her. She struggles with wanting to play but knowing she can‘t. So far she‘s gaining respect but the older boys may give her a run for her money. The evenings are long at the Brewstera house.

Bookwormjillk Laura held her own. Good for her. 1y
TheAromaofBooks Can't even imagine how scary this would be!! 1y
mrp27 Laura definitely knows how to be a teacher. May not always be easy to execute but she knows the right things to do. 1y
sblbooks Yes, I agree! Laura did very well for her first week in teaching. 1y
36 likes4 comments
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pa took Laura the 12 miles to the Brewsters so Laura can begin her teaching career. Unfortunately Mrs Brewster seems very unsatisfied with life and Laura, unable to break through to her, seems to be lonely. Can‘t wait to see how her class is!

Bookwormjillk These are the happy years? 😬 Mrs Brewster didn‘t get the memo I guess. 1y
TheAromaofBooks This picture did a great job giving the impression of the cold!!!! 1y
AnnR This whole chapter sounds depressing with the freezing cold, the bleak house and poor Laura (deep down) not really wanting to teach. 1y
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BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk I had the same thought!! Nothing happy or golden here in the first chapter! I'm hoping Laura finds some connection with the kids she'll be teaching. 1y
sblbooks It's going to be a long 2 months! I hope things improve for Laura. 1y
BethM This woman‘s behavior was awful 1y
mrp27 Ugh, Mrs.Brewster seems like such an awful person. The cold, the bleak house the long lonely evenings, all of it awful. 1y
41 likes7 comments
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LitsyEvents
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repost for @megnews:

Next up in the #LittleHouse chapter a day readalong: These Happy Golden Years starts 6/23

#BuddyRead

original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2596436

34 likes1 comment
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megnews
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Next up in the #LittleHouse chapter a day readalong: These Happy Golden Years starts 6/23

Vansa Funnily enough, when I was around 12, this was the first Laura Ingalls Wilder book I read, and then went back and read the first 3. Can't wait to revisit. 1y
BarbaraJean I‘m in—looking forward to it! 1y
julieclair Looking forward to it! 1y
See All 6 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 1y
willaful My favorite of the books. Even at that age I loved romance. 😁 1y
melissajayne Looking forward to it. 1y
37 likes6 comments
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Andrea313
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Will I ever not feel sadness upon finishing this book? Decades of reading it and the answer is a firm NO. First off, my BFF Laura growing up will always feel like a betrayal to my little kid heart, and second, it feels so wrong to leave her in a strange new environment after all previous books end with familial hearthside singing. I love this book, but it'll always be a bittersweet ending to me. (Yes, ending. The First Four Years? Don't know her.)

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LibraryCin
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Pickpick


I really enjoyed this one, as well. It feels like not as much happened in this one as in some of the others, but we followed the seasons through a few more years as Laura (and Mary) grow up and are branching out on their own. I found it interesting that she could go back and forth between teaching and being a student. Obviously she didn‘t need to finish school to become a teacher. I really do love the descriptions of the prairie and the weather.

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MaggieCarr
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

Reading this series through with my family, early on my 7 (now 8) year old daughter figured out the Laura & Almanzo storyline due to the Ingalls Wilder name on the cover. Since then she has eagerly anticipated each moment they share between the pages and I'm elated yo share in her first light romance storyline. Almanzo will never ask Laura to obey or fail to appreciate her hard work, family love, or expect her enjoyment of horses to dull.

Freespirit That is a gorgeous picture❤️ 4y
JennyM Echoing @Freespirit - it‘s a beautiful picture of you all ❤️ 4y
DAB 😍 4y
37 likes3 comments
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Andrea313
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I know that this book (and the whole series) is #evocative in so many ways for so many people. For me, this specific book never fails to bring back the strong feelings I had when I first read it. That is, feelings of betrayal, sadness, and horror. You mean...my imaginary best friend Laura grows up?! And *gets married*?! To this day, I can't read it without at least a little melancholy on behalf of 8 year-old me. 😂 #BeautifulWords #littlehouse

27 likes3 comments
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mrp27
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#magnificentmarch #happyinthetitle

Was harder than I thought it would be to find a book with happy in the title. One thing for sure, the Little House series made me happy when I was young. I haven't reread any of the books since then and I wish I had the time to do so.

umbrellagirl I loved this series! I think mine had the same illustrations. This cover looks familiar. 5y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚😊 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It was hard!! 5y
mrp27 @umbrellagirl Me too! It's not the same copy I had as a kid but very similar. It's part of the box set I bought through Scholastic years ago. 5y
36 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Alisnazzy
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‪Ok. So the craziest thing happened. Back in the day, I had the entire Little House series of books. But we donated them yearssss ago. So I got the series again off of ThriftBooks recently & HFS this was my original copy from when I was a kid. It came back to me 😱😱😱‬

Lcsmcat Wow! 5y
ljuliel Do you believe that ! 5y
Jerdencon Wow!!! 5y
See All 27 Comments
Kimberlone Amazing!! 5y
Librarybelle That is amazing! 😁 5y
zezeki That's fantastic! 5y
Butterfinger That is so awesome!!! 5y
BookNAround That is phenomenal! You were meant to have it. 5y
Bookwormjillk 😳😳😳wow 5y
TheKidUpstairs That is too cool! 5y
xicanti That‘s amazing! 5y
diovival Wow! That's pretty cool. 5y
llwheeler Wow, what are the odds! That's awesome. 5y
Susanita Excellent! Also, love your nails. 5y
DrexEdit WOW!! 😱😱😱👍🏻 5y
Jas16 That is incredible 5y
slategreyskies Wow!! That‘s so cool!! ✨😎 5y
MaureenMc 😍 5y
Crazeedi What goes around comes around! Literally! 5y
Daisey So cool and amazing! 🤩 5y
kspenmoll Wow! Love this story!!!! Kismet! (edited) 5y
LeahBergen Noooooo! Are you kidding me?? 😮😮😮 5y
Clare-Dragonfly WOW!!! It was meant to be! 5y
Ruth1916 Wow!!! Amazing! 5y
DrJAdMerricksson It missed you 💖 5y
Suet624 Wow! That‘s amazing. 5y
Curiouser_and_curiouser Amazing! So happy for you x 4y
92 likes27 comments
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Booksnob
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Reading the Little House books. Then I‘m reading Prairie Fires

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Laura is now working as a teacher and making money for her family. It‘s been such a joy to watch her grow up and it‘s hard to believe she‘s a woman now. Almanzo courts her with buggy rides and I loved watching her show her strength and fearless nature as she becomes more comfortable around him. Definitely one of my favorites in the series!
“The last time always seems sad, but it isn‘t really. The end of one thing is only the beginning of another.”

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DebinHawaii
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#RedRoseSeptember
I really think this was my favorite Little House Book growing up. I think I was 9 or 10 when I first read it & I thought Laura was so grown up at 15. 😉 I don‘t remember if I thought that #EverybodysHappyNowadays by the end of the book but Almanzo & Laura certainly were. 💕💖💕

Cinfhen I was never into these books, I feel like I missed out 😔 5y
DebinHawaii @Cinfhen They were my mom‘s favorites so they were a big part of my childhood. 🤗 5y
LeahBergen Oh, how I loved this series. I think my fave will always be 5y
See All 7 Comments
Texreader These books (and tv show) were a huge part of my childhood too. And in my 20s Rose Wilder Lane became my huge huge role model/heroine. She still is. (edited) 5y
arlenefinnigan Aw that looks really sweet 5y
batsy Thanks to my older sisters, these were a big part of my childhood too 💜 5y
BookwormDownUnder Just reread this again this year. I love the series and esp this one. Read it every summer as a child. 5y
76 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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Eggs
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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EmmaMae
Pickpick

Another delightful read. This book is filled with so many elements of Laura's growing up. It brings you into her world as she grows and matures.

2 likes1 stack add
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batsy
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Almanzo Wilder takes Laura on sleigh rides—first as a means of getting her back home on the weekends from her teaching job, then just for fun—as their romance slowly blossoms 💘

#sleighride #WinterWonderland @TrishB @Cinfhen

rockpools Aww! 💕 6y
TrishB Cool pick 👍🏻❤️ 6y
Tanisha_A Great love! ♥️ 6y
See All 16 Comments
Cinfhen Romance 🥰 6y
Cathythoughts They are looking cosy in that sleigh ♥️ 6y
LauraBeth The title of this one was lost on me as a child when I read it but now I completely understand what it means. ❤️ 6y
batsy @RachelO @TrishB @Tanisha_A @Cinfhen Such a feel-good read 🤗 6y
batsy @Cathythoughts Aren't they just 💕 6y
batsy @LauraBeth Exactly! And now that I'm older I understand how appealing Almanzo was as a suitor in contrast to all of the brooding curmudgeons of Victorian lit 😂 6y
Ruthiella I was looking for a Laura Ingalls Wilder illustration for this prompt (I knew there was one somewhere) but I only own the first five books! Glad you used it!😍 6y
LeahBergen Ohhh, good one! 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
batsy @Ruthiella ❤️ I know, right... I recalled sleigh rides but couldn't remember which book. Queen Google to the rescue 😅 6y
batsy @LeahBergen Thank you 😊 6y
Ruthiella @batsy Ah Google!!!! *forehead slap* I was thumbing through the books old school!😬 6y
batsy @Ruthiella Ah, old school! That yields its own delights :) My strongest relationship is with Google 😂😂 6y
Ruthiella @batsy I know! I very nearly sat down and re-read Farmer Boy!🤣🤣 6y
98 likes1 stack add16 comments
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JillR
These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

It has taken Bella and me a year to work our way through this series and we‘ve loved every page. I now know my daughter to be a true romantic; as we finished the last book she squealed and then cried as Almanzo says “...I was wondering if you would like an engagement ring...” Meanwhile I cried at “...she realised that she was going away from home, that never would she come back to this home to stay...” #raisingreaders

LeahBergen 😭😭 6y
Cathythoughts Beautiful ♥️💕💕 6y
Reviewsbylola These are gorgeous editions. 6y
rubyslippersreads I‘ve never seen these lovely editions. 😍 6y
47 likes4 comments