Mildred Wirt Benson is an Iowa girl who wrote 23 of the first 30 Nancy Drew books for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. She wrote these titles. If you want to know more about Benson check out this episode of my podcast.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
I hope you will come along for the ride and that you will enjoy the next 1,800 posts.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
I had one major media mention this month. I did an interview with John Small on the local morning radio talk show. Check it out below. I had a few mentions in lists of what’s going on in Sioux Falls that week. The Sioux Falls program was underwritten by the South Dakota Humanities Council. Thank you for our support.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
During the mid-20th century America had a bit of a boom in giant cement statues where they suddenly appeared over the country. My personal favorite is Albert the Bull in Audubon, Iowa. There are many others though including Chief Black Hawk in Oregon, Illinois, Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota. Sadly with the focus on speeding down the Interstate, America no longer creates such fun stops.
Australia seems to have gotten the bug a bit later. Their BIG phase seems to have been in the 1980s, but many are currently being refurbished including things like the Big Banana and the Big Prawn.
What really caught my attention though was that they have a BIG MERINO! (Start halfway through the video)
A REALLY BIG MERINO!
Merinos, of course, is the breed of sheep that Father Wilder raised in Farmer Boy. Merinos produce very high quality of wool. If fact if you see a breed of sheep attached to the description of any wool finished goods it’s pretty much guaranteed for it to be Merino. It’s a breed with a lot of positive characteristics. They are considered the best all around breed. (Sheep breeds have normally been bred to a purpose – wool, meat, milk, etc. An all around breed can do well in every category. )
Merino
The Big Merino was built in 1985 and it was moved and had a gift shop/exhibit space added under it in 2007. So now you have a Laura Ingalls Wilder reason to visit Australia!
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
Happy Star Wars Day! This short from How It Should Have Ended is quite possibly THE best Star Wars thing produced since Return of the Jedi! Enjoy!
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
Here are the blog posts and pages that have had the most views last month. I did skip a couple in the rankings that were about events that took place in April since they’re already over. Take a look maybe there is something there that will interest you too.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
My What Would Nancy Drew Do? T-Shirt 
Looking for a place to camp? Walnut Grove now has an online system to 
