July Dates for Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

Looking for something fun to do this summer? How about traveling to De Smet, SD to take in the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant!

According to the pageant's website, over a hundred volunteers work together each year to present a family-friendly drama based on the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This year will be The Long Winter (my favorite of all the Little House books).

The 2009 dates are as follows:

July 10, 11, 12
July 17, 18, 19
July 24, 25, 26

There are also pre-show activities. The website also includes a page on the history of the pageant and a photo gallery.

Step back in time to when the West was being settled by pioneering men and women like the Ingalls family.

For more information about experiencing De Smet, South Dakota, visit www.desmetsd.com.

Harvey Dunn Memorial Event Planned

The Brookings Register has reported that the first Harvey Dunn Memorial Plein Air event takes place Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16 at the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota.

For more information about this event visit www.discoverlaura.org or call the South Dakota Art Museum toll free at 866-805-7590. Most of Dunn's best known work is housed in the museum.

Dunn is best remembered for a series of South Dakota paintings known as his "prairie paintings". The above photo is Dunn's "The Prairie is My Garden". Dunn is one of South Dakota's most famous artists because his "prairie paintings" have come to symbolize the state's early history. The Dunn family was acquainted with the Ingalls family, and Laura Ingalls Wilder biographer, John E. Miller wrote a book titled Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little Town: Where History and Literature Meet, which discusses how Wilder captured prairie life with her words and Dunn with his art.

Survey results

Last month's survey results didn't surprise me at all. Over 50% of our readers said they would be purchasing Melissa Gilbert's autobiography, Prairie Tale. Gilbert has been making the rounds of TV and radio interviews to promote the book. It is getting great reviews and is currently #1 on Amazon.com in three subcategories of Biographies and Memoirs.

Dean Butler came out and endorsed the book at his blog this week. I haven't bought it yet and I'm not sure if I am going to. While I never expected that Melissa Gilbert is any more perfect than the rest of us, there are just some things I would rather not know about a girl who I grew up watching on TV, whose TV family I wanted to be a part of. I'm not sure I want to let go of that fantasy yet.

You can find some reviews of Melissa's book at:

Entertainment Weekly

Amazon

Goodreads

Thanks for participating in our survey. Look for a new survey soon!

Dean Butler to Appear in Sioux Falls, SD

Argus Leader Media has reported that Little House on the Prairie's Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) will be on hand at The Washington Pavillion of Arts and Science on June 27, 2009 to kick off sales for Little House on the Prairie: The Musical, which will be playing at the Great Hall in June 2010.

As most people know, Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie has been cast in the role of Caroline (Ma) Ingalls in the musical.

Gilbert also released her autobiography this month. Prairie Tale is available at Amazon.com.

Butler will also sign autographs and discuss his time on the show. Additional activities include: rope making, prairie hairstyles, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Performers. Please visit www.washingtonpavilion.org for more information.

Patrick Labyorteaux on iCarly

Twitter is a wonderful thing! It allows you to follow what is going on in the lives of your friends, colleagues, and business associates. It's also a neat place to read about your favorite celebrities' current projects. Of course there is that whole ghost tweeter controversy, but it's still a fun place to be.

I follow some of the Little House on the Prairie actors who are there, and Patrick Labyorteaux, who played Andrew Garvey, has been sharing about his upcoming appearance on iCarly.

iCarly is a show on Nickelodeon starring Miranda Cosgrove and Jerry Trainor, both of Drake & Josh fame. Cosgrove plays Carly Shay, the minor sister of Spencer (Trainor), who runs a webshow with her two best friends, Freddie and Sam, played by Nathan Kress and Jennette McCurdy. Spencer is an artist who makes the most offbeat sculptures and also Carly's legal guardian. They live in an apartment building in Washington state. Freddie and his overly paranoid mother, Mrs. Bentson live next door to Carly. Not quite sure where Sam lives, but she has a deadbeat mother who is often referred to in the show, but is never seen.

Not quite Little House on the Prairie, but it's a funny show that my girls enjoy.

It's great to hear that Patrick is going to be on such a popular show. No word on the airdate yet, but hopefully we'll see Patrick on iCarly soon.