Beyond Little House » Sarah Uthoff

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

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

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

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum

Phone 1-877-924-7126 (Toll free)

Last Day for Priority Mail – Sometime between December 12th and the 16th

Malone NY

Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Farm

Phone (518) 483-1207

Last Day for Priority Mail – December 1^4th

Malone also says for their set up, online ordering has a quicker response.

Spring Valley MN

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum (Store not online)

Phone (507) 346-7659

Last Day for Priority – December 10th

Burr Oak IA

Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum

Phone (563) 735-5916

Last Day for Priority – Not giving a last day, it’s up to the customer

And Don’t forget you can also get your Laura fan memories of Laurapalooza 2010 and gift memberships.

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

Christmas Event at Rocky Ridge

Sarah Uthoff — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:12:12 +0000

Earlier when I did a post about the closing dates of all the homesites, I asked a follow up question about whether they’d be having a Christmas event. Mansfield thought they might have one, but weren’t sure yet at that time, but it looks like things have firmed up the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce reports:
“Christmas Events will be December 3. Events will include Breakfast with Santa from 8 am to 10 am at Mansfield Community Center. Christmas Open House at Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Other events will be going on that day as well.The grand finale will be the parade at 5:30 pm. Watch the Mansfield Mirror and [their Facebook] page for more information.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum adds on their Facebook page:
“We are planning on a “Christmas Open House” in the near future. Refreshments and pictures inside Laura’s home next to the Christmas Tree will be events that will be taking place. Keep on checking for updates on the upcoming Open House with dates and times. We hope to see you all there!!!!!!”

I really wish I could go. A photo of me in front of the Christmas Tree at Rocky Ridge, WOW! However, after getting caught in a blizzard last December on a Laura trip, and considering the way the birds have been tanking up on birdfeed, I’m not even going to try this time. If anybody else does, please report back.

Membership Reminder

Sarah Uthoff — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:40:55 +0000

Last week I mailed out 25 more new memberships and renewals, including one each to Denmark, Sweden and Italy. So, now that I’m caught up, I’m going to start e-mailing out direct reminders to those of you who haven’t renewed yet. You definitely WILL want to before the registration opens for Laurapalooza for early member registration in January 2012.

All charter memberships expired on July 1, 2011 and have to be renewed. You can do that here.

Season Ends

Sarah Uthoff — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:51:58 +0000

October usually is about the end of the main Laura Ingalls Wilder season for the year. If you plan a Laura trip after that, make sure you call ahead. They may or may not be able to accommodate you by opening the museum, etc. or giving lists of what there is to see. On the plus side you get autumn foliage and then snow photos. I called around to find out when the Laura museums were officially closing for the year.

Pepin, WI – Closed October 30, 2011

Independence, KS – Closed October 31, 2011 – Daily, Weekends in November, call before you go

Walnut Grove, MN - Closed October 31, 2011, Mail Order shopping still available

Burr Oak, IA – Closed October 31, 2011

De Smet, SD -
Memorial Society open all year with slightly reduced hours

Ingalls Homestead – Closed October 31, 2011, Office remains open for making reservations, etc.

Mansfield, MO - Closes November 15, 2011, Possibly will do a Christmas event, not decided yet

Malone, NY - Closed September 30, 2011, Re-opens for December 3rd for Christmas With Almanzo event (1 Day)

Spring Valley, MN - Closed October 31, 2011

Keystone, SD – Closed September 15, 2011

Lauralloween

Sarah Uthoff — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:06:29 +0000

It might be too late for this year, but I wanted to share this great pattern for making a pumpkin with a Laura theme. Find this one and more on Midwest Living. You will need to create a sign in to get to the other patterns.

CabinPumpkinStencil