Beyond Little House » Sarah Uthoff

Full Conference Registration Closing Down

Sarah Uthoff — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

LauraPalooza, the conference of the National Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association, will close full conference registration May 31st, 2012. After that time people may still purchase individual days on the day of the conference, if any room is available. That is also the cut off date for getting a refund, although a registration can be transferred into someone else’s name.

We are very excited about this year’s conference with speakers ranging from William T. Anderson to Little House Cookbook author Barbara Walker to Little House on the Prairie actress Alison Arngrim, in addition to host of interesting submitted papers (I’m looking forward to the one about Laura Ingalls Wilder dolls). What everyone seems to remember most though is the people who attend. To experience that you have to attend. So please, if you’re still debating about whether to come to LauraPalooza or not time to climb down off the fence and climb into the Ingalls Family wagon and register.

We’re also asking that anyone who reads this share it with at least one person, by e-mail, on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn or whatever. We really want to make sure that everyone who’d like to come has a chance too.

Our Favorite Things – Part 1

Sarah Uthoff — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:13:10 +0000

Dean Butler With Fans at LauraPalooza Ice Cream Social

As part of the build up to LauraPalooza we’re going to be presenting our favorite things about the conference or what we’re looking forward to most.

Although there wasn’t enough time to just visit, which has been corrected in this year’s schedule, my favorite thing about LauraPalooza was just talking with other fans. It was great to see old Laura friends, to finally put faces with the names of others, and to meet brand new Laura friends. It’s so wonderful to talk with people who get “it” and don’t think you’re strange for trying to track down the oddest things or exact facts about Laura’s life. Before LauraPalooza started it was only at odd and unexpected times I ran into Laura friends. Events like the Wilder Conference at the Hoover Presidential Library and the big De Smet event sponsored by South Dakota Humanities a few years ago are few and far between. To have a regular meeting place is a great boon to the Laura community. For example, the Pa’s Fiddle program that we’ve been talking about started as a conversation at LauraPalooza between Dean Butler and Dale Cockrell. Great things can happen when Laura friends come together and after all “We’re all good friends together.”

As a slight adjustment of the future conference schedule has been made to more closely align with major anniversary dates coming up, there won’t be another LauraPalooza conference until 2015. I hope as many as possible of you will attend this time. See you there. Remember, registration is now open!

Sarah S. Uthoff blogs at TrundleBed Tales; look for her on Twitter and YouTube and Blog Talk Radio
Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association, Vice-President and Membership Chair

Registration 2012 Opened to All

Sarah Uthoff — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:34:26 +0000

LauraPalooza, the conference of the national Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association, is now open to everybody. Registration for the full conference will be open until May. Most of the information that you need is available on the registration page and form. You can pay the registration by check or through PayPal. Check out past posts for information about FAQs, Major Speakers, Preliminary Schedule, Lodging, and our new kids’ program, Camp Laura. Plus learn more by listening to a podcast previewing LauraPalooza. And here’s a post from the last conference regarding what clothes you’ll want to bring.

UPDATE: I just realized, thanks to Wayne’s comments, that I wrongly assumed anyone who saw this would already be up on the when and where or would quickly find it on the registration form. However, if one person is actually brave enough to ask a question, other people always have it, too. So to rectify my oversight, LauraPalooza will be held at the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus, in Mankato, Minnesota, from July 12-14, 2012. The last day will also include an optional field trip to the Laura sites around Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

LauraPalooza Preview Podcast

Sarah Uthoff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:20:22 +0000

Join host Sarah Uthoff as she interviews Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association President Amy Lauters about the upcoming LauraPalooza conference in July. If you can tune in tonight, you ask questions by calling in or on the chatroom or just stream it and listen. If you miss it live, it will be available both for streaming at the same link or by downloading it for free from iTunes under their podcast section.

You can listen by either calling in live to just listen through your phone or to ask questions at (714) 242-5253 or toll free 1-877-633-9389 [numbers only work during live broadcast]
Or Chat while you Stream Live Episodes

Thurs., February 23, 2012 10 pm ET, 9 pm CT, 8 pm MT, 7 pm PT

Wendy McClure The Wilder Life

Sarah Uthoff — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:45:55 +0000

I’ve gotten to go to two of Wendy’s book events now because she came to both Iowa City and West Branch, Iowa near my house. When she spoke at Prairie Lights bookstore, I made a video of my experience. I think it captures the feeling of what it’s like to attend one of her book readings.
Wendy McClure at Prairie Lights

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library has included her entire speech from her visit complete with lots of photos.
Wendy McClure at Hoover Presidential Library

And while you are on the Hoover YouTube page, check out their Laura exhibit from the 1990s.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Exhibit

Laura’s Birthday 2012

Sarah Uthoff — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:47:54 +0000

Last year I celebrated Laura’s birthday on my podcast by discussing how birthdays were celebrated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This year I’m planning on doing a podcast on her birthday again, but this time I’d like people to share their best or most special Laura memories. You can post them as comments here, e-mail them me at info@trundlebedtales.com or I hope call in live and share them.

And I hope everybody will tune in Feb. 7, 2012 at 9:30 pm ET, 8:30 pm CT, 7:30 pm MT, 6:30 pm PT

Stream it online or call in to either just listen or talk at

Call in (714) 242-5253 or toll free 1-877-633-9389

Last Call for Membership Renewal

Sarah Uthoff — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:44:48 +0000

Laurapalooza Conference Registration will soon be open for members. To take advantage of the member only early bird registration and the member registration discount you must be a current member for the 2011-2012 year. All charter memberships expired July 1, 2011 and must be renewed to take advantage of these member benefits. I’ve extended the renewal time cut off for 2 weeks because I still have to finish off sending the last of the reminder e-mails. I apologize for the delay, but you don’t have to wait, whether you are renewing or joining for the first time.

Click here to join now.

Laura Ingalls Wilder FAQ Video

Sarah Uthoff — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:51:32 +0000

Frequent contributor Sarah S. Uthoff has just added a new video on her YouTube site. Uthoff answers some of the most frequently asked questions she gets about Laura Ingalls Wilder at her programs. Eight Emeralds helped with the production of this video.

Laura Ingalls Wilder FAQs

Sarah S. Uthoff blogs at TrundleBed Tales; look for her on Twitter and YouTube.

Christmas with Laura

Sarah Uthoff — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:35:11 +0000

Merry Christmas to All our fellow Lauratti from Everyone here at Beyond Little House.

If you have some time spend it with Laura Ingalls Wilder:

A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas

Christmas Shopping at the Homesites

Sarah Uthoff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:06:19 +0000

Last year I posted a list of suggestions for Christmas gifts for the Laura Ingalls fan just beginning their Laura collection. I think they are still excellent suggestions if your Laura fan still needs any of them, but we’re looking at some more unique things this year. Here at Beyond Little House we believe in shopping from the homesites. If you want them to stay open, show your support by shopping there. Below are their cut off dates for ordering for Christmas. These museums are dedicated to Laura get no regular backing from her estate and rely on admissions, donations, and gift shop sales to stay open for us to visit and preserve Laura’s legacy.

Probably the most unusual thing new this year is the replica of Laura Ingalls Wilder engagement ring from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. (scroll down linked page) I think it is probably out of better material than Laura’s original that was ordered out of the Montgomery Ward catalog. On that same page find plenty of Laura jewelery and, if you have your own Jack, I highly recommend Jack’s Puppy Treats (my dog Blue pops them like candy). I also saw a couple of ornaments I want for my Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas Tree. They’ve even put out a special online newsletter about what they are selling this year. They are also proud of their cloth dolls and flannel child sized PJs which are locally made.

Although the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Spring Valley, Minnesota is a smaller site they always have interesting and unusual pieces. This year they’ve introduced a glass ornament of their site. They sell one of my favorite Laura dolls, a cloth Almanzo doll. They also have 3 specially designed Playing Laura dresses for 18 inch fashion dolls.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa is also a smaller site with unique items. For stocking stuffers, they have laminated wooden bookmarks featuring a Burr Oak tree (I love mine) and slates and slate pencils.

The Ingalls Homestead of De Smet, South Dakota is offering free standard shipping on purchases over $50. They were surprised by how well Basic Country Skills, a new book they’ve stocked, is selling. It’s a how-to of pioneer skills. Another big seller is the hardcover set of Laura’s books in a wooden crate. They’ve introduced high quality tin cups produced by Jacob Bromwell which has been making tin cups since the 1830s, still handmade in the United States. Also, along with several of the other sites they are selling the Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura DVD which is a great companion for both a trip to Malone and the book Farmer Boy. It is of course also available from Malone.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum of Mansfield, Missouri has put together a special page of Christmas related items in their giftshop, including their awesome laser-cut ornaments of the Sewell cover illustrations, plus Rocky Ridge. They also are still promoting their DVD Laura Ingalls Wilder: Stories of Pioneer Girl. It won’t let me link to sections within the giftshop. The DVD is under Collectibles and Gifts and the Christmas stuff is under Christmas.

The following Laura Ingalls Wilder sites are still open and allowing you to order for Christmas. I’m listing the cut off date for Christmas orders to reach you before Christmas as given to me by the homesites. The Walnut Grove museum is especially counting on mail orders this year because they normally get walk in traffic at the gift shop all winter, but they have construction going on right now so they are mail-order only this year.

Walnut Grove MN

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Phone 1-800-528-7280

Last Day for Priority Mail – December 16th

De Smet SD

Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Click on Gift Shop

Phone 1-800-880-3383

Last Day for Priority Mail – December 16th

Ingalls Homestead

Phone: 1-800-776-3594

Last Day for Priority Mail – December 21st (16th for regular mail), call if questions

Mansfield MO