I just read this last year. Amazing. I was particularly interested in the weather and if the LONG WINTER was related to any volcanic eruptions OR if any Climate Scientist/Meteorologist (not Global Warming) had taken a guess as to the weather pattern for that year.
http://boingboing.net/2012/12/11/the-meteorology-of-little-hous.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/105341672/Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-06-The-Long-Winter
According to the Indian that warned them, it was cyclic - every 17 years or something like that.