From Plum Creek With Love: A Little House on the Prairie Podcast

It's as if you opened your eyes and it's the next day.   Season 5 Begins/continues right where season 4 left off, with the end of Walnut Grove.  The Ingalls are stopping in town to say good bye one last time to whomever is still around before leaving.  With one last visit to the outhouse, the Ingallls are off on a stock footage wagon trip to Winoka in Dakota territory. And while Mary gets situated at the school for the blind,  Dreamy Adam Kendall gives Charles and Caroline a job lead and recommendation. During this interview process, Carrie is denied bathroom privileges while Laura investigates the anomaly that is Young Charles' arrival in the prairieverse. However, knowing his presence could cause destruction, Young Charles calls himself Albert and begins to fabricate his background.  While gainful employed, The Ingalls are slowly discovering the drawbacks of their new living situation. And just like dominos, following the arrival of the Ingalls, we get the Garvey's and the Oleson's.  It's a Small Town reunion in the Dakota Territory. Laura just got a massive big sister upgrade, how do you think she'll do? What other slang will Laura, Carrie and Andy Garvey pick up while at the Hotel Dakota? With everyone arriving in Winoka following the Ingalls, does that make them trendy?         

Spotify Playlist Episode Tracks: ------------------------------------------ 

Just as Long as We're Together - Prince 

West Side Story: Act 1: Prologue - Leonard Berstein 

A Wink and a Smile - Harry Connick, Jr. 

Oh Caroline - The 1975's 

Ride - BT 

Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day 

It's Not up to You - Bjork 

 Fire Water Burn  - Bloodhound Gang  

It's the first day of school, once again, for Mary as she begins the Burton School for the Blind in Iowa. And while Charles is dragged into the office of an unknown man to sign paperwork, Mary is introduced to her teacher: Adam Kendall. He very quickly serves to Mary some TLA (Tough Lovin' Adam) as he works on breaking her out of her self-pity shell and tries to get her acclimated to her new world. Mary, being the top student that she is, quickly excels at all the new/old  lessons she is given.  Until finally she gets her hands...fingers on what she's really been yearning for, learning how to Read.  Meanwhile, our glimpses back at Walnut Grove show a more dire situation than before.   The effects of the Railroad on the Grange members has escalated so much the population of Walnut Grove is dwindling and fast.  When the news of Mary's return is announced it seems as though she might not have a place to return to.  However, part of her doesn't want to return home but to follow Adam into Dakota Territory to set up a school for the blind.  Mary's dream of become a teacher are no longer foolery but one hundred percent plausible...as well as a new bubbling romance with her teacher.   And to ensure his family sticks together, Charles with Caroline in on the discussion and decision making this time, decide to follow Mary and start anew in the Dakota territory (once again).  Is it appropriate for Mary to date her teacher...who also seems to have a noticeable age difference? With Mary moving on with her life, will the show now put its attention more on Laura?  Who are the recipients of this seasons's end of season awards?          

The population of Walnut Grove is about to increase with the arrival of Eva Simms' first baby! However, she's not the only one who will be increasing the population. The Ingalls house is also about to expand when it's announced that instead of going through "The Change" Caroline is actually pregnant.   While things might be going smoothly for the two pregnancies, an off hand remark made by Charles starts Caroline to revisit a dark moment in the family's past: the unexpected death of their son Charles Fredrick Ingalls.  Now Caroline is working herself up with the promise that the new baby will be a son.  Caroline even has a brief encounter with a cheiromantist that reinforces this belief as well.  However, this repeated talk of a guaranteed Son doesn't sit well with Charles who is really only looking to having a healthy baby.  In the meantime, Mary is  set to take over the teaching responsibilities for Mrs. Simms once her child is born and Carrie is trying to be a mommy all her own.  Will Lucas Simms help with changing diapers of his new sibling? How much time does Eva Simms get off from work after having her child? Will Carrie ever get a tablet of her own?  

Attorney at Law Rodger Whitehead arrives on behalf of the estate of Charles' late Uncle, Edward Warren Ingalls, founder of the Ingalls Carriage company.  News spreads quickly of the new fortune and the first to arrive to congratulate them is Harriet Olseon who proceeds to call the Ingalls her new Best Friends.  And very quickly the new financial gains are starting to pull the Ingalls in every direction even before seeing a penny of the inheritance. Charles finally gets his hands on what remains of his inheritance (after legal fees, court fees, debts paid...etc) and to satisfy the debt, an auction is set up with the only people in attendance being some of the closest friends to the Ingalls family.  When things seem at their worst that's when things shine the best for the Ingalls.   Did we just have another "Harvest of Friends" episode? What was the total line of credit that Harriet had extended to the Ingalls? Anyone else a little surprised on how quickly Charles accepted his credit line increase without even thinking about the events of "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove"?     

With a paper banner outside the house, a nice table setting (minus the flowers and water that were accidentally spilled on it) the mood at Plum Creek is one for celebration:  the wedding anniversary of Charles and Caroline Ingalls.  The only thing missing is the groom.  To pass the time Caroline relays the story of how her and Charles first meet.  And in a first time in the prairieverse we get an entire episode told in flashbacks.  Charles with his family relocate to Wisconsin and their neighbors are the Holbrooks which happen to include a young girl named Caroline.  Slowly, we see a shy Charles emerge from his shell and open up to Caroline.  Especially when he witnesses her being pestered by Harold Watson, the son of local school master Mr. Watson. And Mr.Watson seems to be into Pestering/punishing Charles as much as his son likes to pester Caroline. Between house construction, berrying picking, dance lessons, and flogging we get a simple love story of how boy meets girl on the prairie....the woods of Wisconsin.  How does one thread a seed to make a necklace? Is telling someone their parent is full of applesauce really an insult? Will there be another flashback episode that dives into the history of Charles and Caroline?