Welcome to the history tricks, where any resemblance to a boring old history lesson is purely coincidental.

Hello, and welcome back to the show. This is part two of our completely refreshed coverage of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

In part one, we covered Laura's real life, as it actually happened during the time span that she will write

her books about. We talked about the places that the family lived, which are numerous. We talked

about all of her family and her husband Almanzo, but we left in the gritty details that Laura omitted.

So we went through the backstory of the tales you thought you already knew and how character Laura differed from the real person.

So we left Laura and her new husband Del Manzo at a high point.

Honestly, the newlyweds had just taken up residence in a beautiful new house,

ready to begin their new life. It's 1885. Laura is 18 years old, and oh my goodness,

she has so much living ahead of her. Omanzo starts farming, wheat and oats, and Laura is able to put

in just a few winter plants in the garden. I don't know what those are, as I am a novice gardener at best.

Cabbages, I'm guessing.

What?

While El Manzo was doing all the, air quote, business stuff of starting up their farm,

Laura was doing all the housewifey things.

No, Ma has certainly trained her daughter's well,

and Laura absolutely has experience in cooking,

but never by herself, never without a village,

never without assistance,

and never as the one in charge, which is a lot different.

She's burning pies.

You know, it's almost like a stereotypical new wife situation.

...