Here is undeniable proof from the 3rd grade, that, indeed, I've always been like this. It's poster sized. I think the hand drawn USA stamp is a nice touch.
Dear Laura,
I understand you have been very busy for the past 18 years since I first wrote. I was really sad I never heard back from you, but I've gotten over it. Just wanted to let you know what a big impact your books had on me as a child. I remember lying in bed and just reveling in the knowledge that a salted ham wouldn't rot. I also hoarded half and half's from 7-11, shaking them all the way to school and wondering why they never turned to butter.
Thanks for that.
Love,
Amy
I understand you have been very busy for the past 18 years since I first wrote. I was really sad I never heard back from you, but I've gotten over it. Just wanted to let you know what a big impact your books had on me as a child. I remember lying in bed and just reveling in the knowledge that a salted ham wouldn't rot. I also hoarded half and half's from 7-11, shaking them all the way to school and wondering why they never turned to butter.
Thanks for that.
Love,
Amy
As a kid, I loved hand-drawing stamps and reading under the covers at night with a flashlight. I distinctly remember reading the part about salted ham.
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me to reread all the Little House books.
Laura inspired me as a writer. I think she is the reason I wrote stories as a child. I still read my set of Little House Books and visit her adult home in Mansfield every summer.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
The Little House books were the first "real" books I ever read. I devoured them at the tender age of 6.
ReplyDeleteI recognized the hardship and responsibility that pioneer life required, but I also loved reveling in the simplicity, love, and security that the Ingalls family enjoyed. Now I can go to bed happy--thanks!
i loved reading her books when i was little too. i remember i had a nightgown that was red plaid and every time i wore it i felt like i should live in a little house on a prairie with my ma and pa. :)
ReplyDeleteLittle House in the Woods is one of the first chapter books I remember reading and loving. Your penmanship is impeccable for a third grader...another lost art.
ReplyDeleteI Loooooooove the "Little House" books. I wanted to be just like Laura when I was a kid! I even tried making my own patchwork blankets and rag dolls... Of course, having no instruction or experience, those turned out wonderfully. =P
ReplyDeleteAh, I want to dig out my books and read them again!
Holy Cow! We two should have been friends in the third grade (though I think I have a good 7 years on you) I was unhealthily obsessed with Little House.. oh my... the obsession. I read the books and watched the show everyday after school. I remember being SO depressed after some episode with a fire where Mary's baby dies..I was totally traumatized as an 8 year old.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I found Laura Ingalls on Twitter and had a good laught:) http://twitter.com/halfPintIngalls
I remember feeling as fervently as Laura did that I needed "calling cards" and convincing my mum to let me eat salada crackers for dinner so I could pretened I was travelling across the prairie in a covered wagon and all we had to eat was hardtack.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to read this after the kind of day I had!
ReplyDeleteJust last week the subject of Wilder's books came up and I was laughed at (all in fun:) when I communicated the love I had for her series as a child. I was up late so, so many nights with my mom and I on the couch reading aloud the wonderful tales on the prairie. I went to bed with the thoughts of dress making and yes, the "salted ham", saying goodbye to the world and greeting my dreams.
I absolutely love the pictures of the post card! The highlight of this day for sure! ;)
stop it! so dear! the books really are wonderful. ed much prefers when i read this series versus "the happiness project" kind of books. i just could never get into the television series for some reason.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Could you be any cuter?!
ReplyDeleteI recently thrifted a boxed set of all the Little House books for two bucks, TWO BUCKS. When I randomly opened one of the books to flip through to see the pictures, there was a two dollar bill pressed between the pages! Making the set free.
I can't wait until Clover is old enough to start reading them to. I never read them as a child and I'm so looking forward to experiencing them for the first time with her. Sorry, I just realized this is probably not helping with the whole mommy-fever thing ;)
One thing that struck me as I read Little House with my then 9 yr old son was Laura pretending a corn cob was her "baby". (A corn cob!) In sharp contrast to his electronic Gameboy, it drove home the idea of making do with less (who knew?) and the power of imaginative play.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this posting. I loved reading it and all the comments that followed. So you!
Oh that is too cute! I loved drawing stamps on my letters and designing my own postcards as a kid too, but yours takes it up another level!
ReplyDeleteyou had a soul sister in connecticut the whole time. just thought you should know.
ReplyDeleteyou are awesome. just wanted to let you know. i loved those books as a child. for about a year straight when i was about 6 or so my mother read all of them to my sister and i.
ReplyDeletep.s. i won the cursive award in third grade. i thought you might appreciate that.
I have such vivid memories of my mother reading the Little House books to me day after day as a young child - I loved the stories as Laura got older falling in love and the warm tingle she felt the first time Almanzo held her hand. Such sweet nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested in checking out this internet site (http://www.littlehouseontheprairie.com/) for the historical Little House site in Kansas. It's located not far from where I live.
ReplyDeleteThis is so adorable! I must say, you had awesome cursive for a third grader. I love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot! That is just so cute. You were an inventive third grader!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteahhhh! you have reignited my love for little house! i'm going to have to re-read for sure! i received many a "book-it" personal pan pizza hut pizza from reading these books!
ReplyDeletelove your blog!!
i loved all the laura ingalls wilder books. when i was in third grade i felt superior because the whole class was reading farmer's boy, which i had already read two years prior. ha!
ReplyDeletei remember being SO ANGRY upon learning that the little house series was fiction. i seriously just could not believe it!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go out on a limb and say it was Micheal Landon. He was a gross Pa Ingalls.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rebecca- take heart. The series is based very heavily on Ingalls' family.
hello there grom Greece. Nice blog. Please visit mine too: http://cyglobe.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of this post is the part where you got 1/2 and 1/2's and tried turning them into butter. Definitely put a big smile on my face!!
ReplyDeletei totally did the exact same thing with half and half. unsuccessfully.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure there's anything that's really dairy in 7-11 half and half... shake it too hard it might make spreadable plastic or explode or something...
ReplyDeleteby the way, the USPS just delivered a letter here, addressed to AEM... the return address has initials LIW and a midwestern ZIP code... will forward to NY
you mean to tell me you didnt relize she was dead when you were that age? man kids are something
ReplyDeleteYour handwriting is super impressive!!
ReplyDeleteIt was while reading Laura Ingalls Wilder that I realized that Santa isn't real....
Your writing was neat for a third grader :)
ReplyDeletehahahah this made me laugh out loud in a "not-so-much laughable office." Thanks for that amy:-) Youre still the top 3 things i check when i first log onto my computer!
ReplyDeleteLove from cherre' in san diego, california! <3
that's how i felt about Anne of Green Gables. I told someone recently I wanted to make raspberry cordial like Marilla's and they thought I was crazy. Books are the loveliest things.
ReplyDeleteI loved those books!
ReplyDeleteIn elementary school we had "Colonial Day" where we dressed up like settlers and did various activities including making butter from scratch. Best day of my childhood life.
Anne of Green Gables was one of my favs too!
sweetest post....EVER.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago in the 60s her granddaughter led my girl scout group in South Dakota. She said that her Grandma was a "stern women". It was the first time that I realise that Laura was real.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you with the butter making! I even bought an antique butter churn for my recent birthday. Something I'd ached for since savoring Laura Ingels Wilder books, a mere 50 years ago! Some things are timeless treasures.
ReplyDeleteYour post made me smile. Except now I'm itching for a trip to the historic Little House in Kansas. Want to go with me?!
Has anyone done the pilgrimage to all the Anne of Green Gables sites on Prince Edward Island? It was my favorite family trip EVER!
I wonder if Laura Ingalls Wilder is still alive? Wouldn't it be sweet to send this letter to her or her family?
Ahhh these "Happy Golden Years"
Lovely :)
ReplyDeleteI'll do ya one better - I used to wear gingham dresses and put my hair in braids until I was... well, let's just say too old for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was sure I would marry Michael Landon when I grew up. Have you EVER seen such a handsome man?
My mother just sent me another book by L.I.W., little notes of wisdom from her journals. She led a REALLY hard life. Her husband was nearly crippled for most of their marriage, and they had no money. Struggled the entire time. I have learned a lot from that lady throughout my whole life.
amazing
ReplyDeleteoh! your post was priceless and everyone's comments are so great~
ReplyDeleteHalf and half doesn't work. Full whipping cream does! Put it in a mason jar first, and shake like crazy. For a long time. LOVE LH books. I remember reading them after watching the television series with my grandmother every Monday night. Then reading them again. And again. And your postcard? Adorable!
ReplyDeleteYou're handwriting looked just like mine used to. Ah, cursive.
ReplyDeleteI'm super impressed by your grade three handwriting skills.
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious! I never read the books, but this cracked me up!
ReplyDeletehahahaha, i will one of these days scan and send you my own extensive laura ingalls wilder fantasy-letter etc collection from, yes, the same grade, 3rd.
ReplyDeletehahaha!
love you girls!
'heidi
This is pretty awesome. I hope you still write to authors with the same...verve.
ReplyDeleteDearest Amy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely letter and apologies for it taking so long to return correspondence. I remember being little like you and writing letters to my favorite authors! Keep reading and stay in school.
Love always,
Laura
I am reading them to my son before bedtime right now! They are so good. I can't wait to find out what happens next...even though I already know : )
ReplyDeleteaww so cute! :)
ReplyDeleteDearest Laura (AKA Daniel- Halifax)
ReplyDeleteThat was an incredibly charming response to Amy's letter! I like the way you think!
me too! where were you all those years i was sitting alone on the playground reading those books over and over....
ReplyDeleteGenius. Makes me want to run out and buy the whole set of Little House books for my imaginary children.
ReplyDeleteDear Amy, When I was in third grade I wrote a similar letter to Fred Savage. In response I received an autographed picture.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, Kit
This is better than sending a letter to Santa. My young kids watch Little House on the Prarie on cable TV and love it. Good wholesome adventure. Thanks for bringing back memories as I watched this show when I was a kid. Had a crush on Laura myself.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
i always loved the bit where they went to the sugaring party and made maple sugar candy by pouring toffee-boiled syrup on snow....
ReplyDeletei just wanted to say that i have seen every episode at least 4 times some of them more. i time my exercise on the treadmill when little house will be on. i still cry at certain episodes even though i have seen them so many times and i own the pilot movie. its not christmas unless i see chirstmas at plum creek:) some of the episodes i don't like at all and i am not too fond of little house when michael landon left, but i have said too much already. i'm a geek! Your Postcard is ADORABLE!
ReplyDelete"Little House" books will always be in our lives, for years to come...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your blog...
http://thewondersofdoing.blogspot.com/2010/01/ways-to-show-your-love.html
Oh, that is hilarious and so sweet! I was IN LOVE with Laura. I had the series of books and I watched the tv show and I wrote to Melissa Gilbert and received an envelope in the mail with a letter and some pictures of scenes on the set of Little House--that was almost the best day of my life!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and bringing back these wonderful memories.
*Sherri*
性感內衣,情人趣味愛蜜莉,
ReplyDelete跳蛋影片,自慰,
跳蛋情人趣味,情人趣味用品,
情人節禮物,情人趣味愛戀,
跳蛋,情趣用,
按摩棒,按摩棒,
飛機杯loveoyea,吊帶襪,
自慰器,自慰杯,
情人趣味用品液,影音情人趣味,
情趣用品,情趣,
情人趣味千奈,情人趣味用品店,
情趣味用品,
情趣,情趣用品,
Come 'round to my blog today, I need some advice.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
M
i don't have time (or inclination) to read through all of the comments above, but i DO love your blog so much. i'm not sure if someone already mentioned it, but remember in the book when they are crossing the river in the wagon and jack (the dog) gets washed away? argggg! it was AWFUL! then pa almost shoots him around the campfire many nights later, thinking he's a wolf? so dramatic! tore me up! i've been taking a healthy break from the computer lately but i had to let you know that i check out your blog in my short visits on-line...thanks!
ReplyDeleteGa! Where have you been my short blogging life?
ReplyDeleteThe underlined titles slay me. So earnest, so polite. Such well-practiced script. We would have been best pals, and I would have brought you on the trip upstate to Malone, NY, when my mummy drove me and my three younger sisters (don't even get me started on Little Women) to see Almanzo Wilder's boyhood home. We sat in the apple orchard and read from Farmer Boy, wondering at the heritage pigs whot snuffled for windfalls.
PRETTY AWESOME STUFF.
Pleased as punch to find my way over here via brilliant zany Beth at Six Orange Carrots.
Wow. I just found your blog. This letter could definitely have been written by me! I share your love of those books. I can still remember the feel of reading them - imagining the frost on the walls of their houses while they burned sticks of hay to keep warm. How horrible I felt when Mary went blind.
ReplyDeleteI think other posters have said this, but wow, is your grade three handwriting amazing!
Laura
Hi Amy!
ReplyDeleteI finally made my way over here via design*sponge and was thrilled to read this post. I must have read each of the "Little House" books 100 times. I actually still read them now, normally when I am home sick. I was especially fascinated by all the foods....the popovers, tomato pie, maple candy, etc etc. A commenter above mentioned Anne of Green Gables and the raspberry cordial-I want to make it too! I love when food and stories intersect in such lovely ways. happy to be a new reader
Do you know I still read the Ingall's books on rainy days when I want to revert to being a young girl with nothing more pressing to do than read a good book and enjoy a cup of tea. Needless to say, those days are few and far between, but precious nonetheless...
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
JuliaChristie
I just ran across this blog post... what a gem!!! Growing up in Tucson, AZ I recall being very bummed that I was never going to have the opportunity to pour boiled syrup onto snow to make candy... eventually my mom gave in and let me pour some over ice cube trays, but it wasn't the same! Oh, and I really REALLY wanted to build a smoker in a hollow tree... not many hollow trees or green hickory chips in Tucson either!!! Thanks for bringing back some good memories!
ReplyDeleteWas just talking to my mom about these... so much practical knowledge was gleaned from the 30+ Little House books still stashed in my childhood bedroom. That toys can be made from pig innards, how to not die in a blizzard, a healthy fear of leeches... thank you, Laura Ingalls!
ReplyDeleteI just read your article on yahoo. finance and so I took a look at your blog as well, its a really lovely blog. I enjoyed the article having moved into my current studio in San Francisco with the idea of I'll use most of my income to live alone...it works if you are wise in how you utilize your resources, as well as how you fix it up.
ReplyDeleteI randomly chose to start looking at your blog here, your letter reminds me how wonderful it is to go back to the past and hear our voices then or read what we shared long ago especially as children. I recently started translating a diary from 1925 that belonged to a relative and that is an adventure too, voices from the past letting us in, giving us snapshots of something more and their hours.
Sorry to ramble, keep sharing your moments on this blog, glad i read the article. It also reminded me how I loved the books by Louisa May Alcott, I know not Little House but your blogs reminded me of their beauty.
Eduardo, SF CA
(my dj name is heaven in SF and on gmail)