Beyond Little House » Walnut Grove

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.

Spotlight on Nellie’s Cafe

Beyond Little House — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:18:26 +0000

When you’ve traveled to Walnut Grove, have you eaten at Nellie’s Cafe?

What did you think?

(Story linked above comes from AgriNews.)

That Engagement Ring, part 2

Jonni Craven — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:13:08 +0000

Some of you might have read a post of mine from a couple of years ago where I mentioned a very slight obsession I have with Laura’s engagement ring. For years I thought I was the only one but something tells me there are others out there harboring a secret desire for a garnet and pearl ring of your very own. You’re in luck! The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove has heard your pleas and commissioned a reproduction garnet and pearl ring based on a 1884 design and Laura’s own description in These Happy Golden Years. I’ve always wondered why none of the homesites have done this before so it’s great to see Walnut Grove taking the initiative.

Of course I wanted this ring the minute I saw it advertised so I called Walnut Grove to get more information. The ring is based on a drawing from a 1884 Montgomery Ward’s catalog that resembles Laura’s written descriptions. 1884 is the year Laura and Almanzo got engaged. Now we don’t know whether Manly got Laura’s ring from a catalog, he could have gone to one of the local jewelry stores in De Smet, but we do know they ordered other things from the Ward’s catalog (such as their first Christmas gift to each other, the glassware set that included the famous oval bread plate) so it’s not a stretch to assume he ordered Laura’s ring from Montgomery Wards as well, especially if he didn’t want gossip spreading all over town that he was buying a ring.

The museum is taking orders for the initial batch of rings for just a few more days, the order will be sent to the jeweler on October 3. Since the rings take 4 weeks to make, this is probably your only chance to get the ring in time for Christmas. The museum will continue taking orders after October 3 but the jeweler needs a minimum of six orders for each production run. The initial prices ($299/10k gold, $199/sterling silver) are good through December 31, 2011.

The museum will be taking prepaid orders at Laurapalooza next year but wouldn’t you rather have your ring by then? I know I would. Luckily I have a birthday coming up in November so the timing couldn’t be better. What’s your excuse reason?

Here’s the ordering information for you one more time – go make that phone call so that you can show me your ring at Laurapalooza 2012!

Own an Engagement Ring Like Laura’s

Sandra Hume — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:22:35 +0000

Back in 2009, Jonni wrote a post about her search for Laura’s engagement ring. Well, those who still want that ring can now order one. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove’s Nicole Elzenga has been in contact with a jewelrymaker, and as long as he has enough requests, he can make rings to order. Here’s the ad:

Rings available in both gold ($299.00) and silver ($199.00). Watch this space for more from Nicole on the details on the ring and how and when to order.

Looking Ahead to LauraPalooza 2012: What Would Laura Do?

Amy Lauters — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:32:23 +0000

I hope you’ve been enjoying the recap and review of last summer’s first-ever research conference devoted to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the legacies of both women. As I followed along with Sarah Sue’s video posts, I was reminded of the thrill I felt when I first stepped up to the podium on day one to see an audience packed with men and women who shared my own obsession with the Little House world. I choked up then; I remember well, as a child, wondering if anyone else shared my interests.

Of course, you all do. And that’s what makes this conference special. We all have an opportunity to interact with others who share that very same obsession in different kinds of ways.

Next summer, we’ll meet again, July 12-14, 2012, in Mankato, Minn., on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. We’re keeping on the schedule some of our favorite things–the ice cream social, the author’s reception, the spelling bee–and adding some things that you requested, such as breaks and break-out sessions for discussion. We’ve also been discussing a variation on our theme for next summer: What would Laura do?

That means we’re going to try to put in a few more sessions that are hands-on workshops devoted to playing Laura. I’m working with other departments at MSU to see if we can use the kitchens in the Family and Consumer Science area, the recreation center, and other spaces to give us all a chance to play Laura.

We’re also looking forward to a fresh batch of speakers, researchers, and workshop presenters. Our call for papers will go out in August, and we’re looking for researchers who want to present their work about Laura’s life and legacy or an aspect of it, as well as panel proposals from folks who have ideas for discussions, and workshop proposals from educators or others who have something Laura-related they’d like to share. We’re hoping for a variety as fun as we had last summer, but our programming depends on what you want to share with us!

Finally, we’ve heard from you that the Walnut Grove field trip is a MUST. I will never forget watching all the women on my bus running forward to Plum Creek, squealing as we raced to take off our shoes and put our toes in the water. It’s these kinds of experiences that we can’t replace, and we’re not going to try. But we will book a bus to help our dorm-dwellers get back from Walnut Grove to Mankato without falling asleep on the long, dusty road of Hwy. 14.

So, ask yourself, as you think about how you might contribute to next summer’s gathering: What would Laura do?

Last Day of Laurapalooza 2010

Sarah Uthoff — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:15:38 +0000

The Laurapalooza conference was officially over. Dean Butler stayed around and did additional signing and spoke with visitors. Some conference attendees headed further west to De Smet, South Dakota and attended the pageant that night. I however had to head home, but that didn’t mean I didn’t take a LITTLE more time to look around Walnut Grove and get some more footage before I left. OK, OK so I spent the whole morning on one last good Laura binge and left after 12 pm.

Last Day Part 1

Still in Walnut Grove before heading home. We look around Walnut Grove. Walnut Grove Museum, Dugout Site Memorial and Dugout Site.

Last Day Part 2

The drive home. Thanks for watching!

Drive home, includes a couple of things from And One More on the Way List.

Thank you for joining us on this review/preview of Laurapalooza. We still have a few more special posts to go and we hope that we’ll all see you in Mankato July 2012.

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

Day Five of Laurapalooza 2010

Sarah Uthoff — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:11:37 +0000

Today the actual conference sessions were only in the morning followed up a spelling bee at lunch time and then everyone headed out. Some people headed home, others went to see the Betsy-Tacy houses which featured special events for the day, but I followed another part of the group and headed to Walnut Grove, Minnesota for a tour and then to the pageant for the night.

Laurapalooza Day 5 Part 1

Laura Ingalls Wilder Documentary, Wendy Corsi Staub, Barbara Mays Boustead, John Fry, Ann Dahl, Gayle Keresey, and Loving Laura panel.

Laurapalooza Day 5 Part 2

Judy Green, Tin Pail Luncheon/Spelling Bee, and Farewell Mankato.

Laurapalooza Trip – Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Well known to TV fans. Sleepy Eye is right on Highway 14 – The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway between Mankato and Walnut Grove. The video should also prove of interest to people who collect Sleepy Eye pottery and Peanuts fans. I took a quick look around Sleepy Eye on my way to Walnut Grove.

Laurapalooza Trip – Walnut Grove, Minnesota Part 1

Laurapalooza Trip – Walnut Grove, Minnesota Part 2

What was going on in Walnut Grove after we got their complete with guided tour.

July 2011 Update

Sarah Uthoff — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:33:42 +0000

Ma's House on Ingalls Homestead

July tends to be a busy month for Laura fandom. Get caught up with the July Update on Trundlebed Tales Radio. Check back for a new update each month during Laura season.

Before heading out, also catch up on the radio shows from Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and the 40th Anniversary of the De Smet Pageant.

Melissa Gilbert Looks for Questions

Sarah Uthoff — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:39:05 +0000

Those of us who follow Melissa Gilbert on Twitter (find her under MelissaEGilbert )recently learned that Gilbert, who wrote Prairie Tale: A Memoir in 2009, has started a new book. Gilbert tweeted “The book will be out next spring. Tentative title; Melissa Gilbert’s Prairie Memories.” Among the chapters will be one listing her Top 10 episode list which has inspired a marathon of the TV show at her house and also her to tweet some photos of her mementos from the show.

Gilbert is also asking fans for questions for a chapter on FAQs. She doesn’t say, but I think it is reasonable to assume she’s primarily looking for questions about the show (both on screen and behind the scenes) and ones that she can answer. I’ve heard her say in interviews she doesn’t remember the early years as clearly because she was so young. She tweeted “Okay bonnetheads, I’m including a Chapter called FAQs. If u have one email it to FAQ4halfpint@aol.com. Include ur name and city/state.”

I’m thinking of a question to send, so should you.

Here are links to the photos she tweeted:

For the rest of us, if you want to see memorabilia from the show in person, your best bet is the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, that features an entire room to the NBC series which includes fan made remembrances, things from the actors, and actual pieces that were used on the show including the fireplace mantle off the set (the one carved CI at each corner). Gilbert herself visited the room during the run of Little House on the Prairie: The Musical.

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

Kansas Forever Stamp

Sarah Uthoff — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:44:04 +0000

I just wanted to share with you the great stamp design that I got to mail out the membership renewals. This stamp is in honor of the state of Kansas and has both a traditional water pumping windmill used by many farmers all over the frontier and some of the giant windmills or wind turbines that you will see driving to most Laura homesites. (There is an especially thick grouping of them near Lake Benton, Minnesota off of Highway 14 between Walnut Grove and De Smet.)

And while we’re on the subject of LIWLRA membership renewals, I wanted to make sure that everybody saw that we got the password cleared off the membership form, so you can renew now at any time. Just in case you missed them, you can find a list of the membership benefits here. Again all Charter Memberships expire July 1, 2011.