By Clarissa Faustin
In Little House Life Hacks, authors Angie Bailey, a humor writer, and Susie Shubert, a life coach, have gathered sage wisdom from the cherished book series and TV show Little House on the Prairie. Whether you want to harken back to the enduring tales of pioneers from the 1880s or live out the modern cottage-core fantasy of your dreams, there’s something in these pages for you.
To set the stage before you read the book, we’ve gathered a few fun tidbits about the land the Ingalls lived and loved in, interesting prairie customs, and quotes from Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. So sit down, strap in, and let’s get this buggy on the (dirt) road!
PIONEER POINTER: Quilting bees began in the nineteenth century and were a way for women to gather and share news, gossip, and friendship while they worked. A bee is another word for a party or social function, so a quilting bee is another way of saying “quilting party,” although the vibe was, of course, totally different from a barn dance social.
In the modern world, a quilting bee doesn’t necessarily have to happen in a physical space. You can connect with others through social media or video sharing platforms. Parallel play is pioneer approved! That being said, you can also plant the seeds for a solid social life by attending local groups or creating community with the people around you. Everyone benefits from good gossip, so
if you have a compliment for someone close to you, don’t be afraid to share it!
PIONEER POINTER: Ruts made over two hundred years ago from the wagons of the Oregon Trail can still be seen today in Guernsey, Wyoming!
On the prairie, family celebrations were only as elaborate as their meager finances would allow, but that didn’t mean they were any less special. If you’re stuck in a rut, celebrate your special events in ways that you haven’t before. You can even try your hand at reinventing the wheel by creating new
celebrations. Who knows? They might be the next thing to stick around for two hundred years!
PIONEER POINTER: The mercantile, or general store, was often a hub of social interaction. In the 1800s, you would not only find staples like eggs, soaps, and clothing in one of these stores, but also be offered strange elixirs that were mostly alcohol and claimed to cure such ailments as stomach, lung, or blood diseases.
Not such a strange elixir, Pa’s Slow Cooker Wild Turkey Apple Butter can be made with ingredients that you’d be able to find in the mercantiles of old. Try your hand at the recipe and enjoy a deliciously resourceful taste of pioneer life. While it won’t cure stomach, lung, or blood diseases, an
apple a day has been known to keep the doctor away, and this recipe calls for six whole pounds of them!
Wanna find out more about the Ingalls and prairie life? Become a modern pioneer with the help of Little House Life Hacks.
© 2023 Hachette Book Group
Little House Life Hacks
Authors Angie Bailey
and Susie Shubert
illustrated by
Lauren Mortimer
ISBN-13:
978-0762481996
Order it from your local bookstore!
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