Our recent weather put me in mind of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book, “The Long Winter.”

A passage from page 146: “The blizzard winds did not stop roaring and shrieking, the swishing snow did not stop swishing, the noise and the cold and the dark would not end.” It turns out the celebrated author was born and died in the chilly month of February.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born near the village of Pepin, Wis. on Feb. 7, 1867. She died 54 years ago (Feb. 10, 1957), three days after her 90th birthday.

The Ingalls family lived in Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. They settled in Walnut Grove, Minn. from 1873 to 1876. After infant Charles Frederick Ingalls died in Burr Oak, Iowa, the family returned to Walnut Grove from 1877 to 1879.

Walnut Grove now hosts many Laura Ingalls Wilder events, including a pageant celebrating the stories of Wilder’s books. There is also a museum and the site of the Ingalls family homestead on Plum Creek to visit.

This week at the HHH

Thursday: Spruce Up Austin, 7:30 a.m.

Friday: RSVP Deadline for Social Concerns, Reservation Deadline for Sweetheart Dinner

Saturday: Sweetheart Dinner, reservations from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Price is $20 per person by reservation only. Included in ticket: Antipasto Buffet, Fresh Green Salad, Breadsticks, Sausage Lasagna, Five Cheese Ravioli with Shrimp Sauce, Cherry Cheesecake, Grandma’s Chocolate Cake, Punch, Coffee, Water. Cash bar will be available. Call 507-433-4243 or email to hormelhh@smig.net to reserve your tickets today.

Coming Soon to the HHH

Tuesday, Feb. 15: Social Concerns: Yes, that Really Happened: Humorous Stories from Mower County History by Dustin Heckman of the Mower County Historical Society at 11 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP to 433-4243 or hormelhh@smig.net by Friday, February 11 to attend.