Hi everyone,

Another week of 2001 has passed...not sure where this year has gone though. It sure is flying. It's still quite wintry here and we've even had some much needed rain. This week is the final week of term 2 at school, so James and I will have a bit of a break for 2 weeks from next week. Semester one has already finished for him, so all his Unit 3 marks have gone into the state curriculum people who run the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) which he will be awarded at the end of the year. He is now into the work for Unit 4, and no doubt his holidays will be sent doing loads of work that the teachers seem to set in Year 12.

We went to a charity dinner at the school on Friday evening, which was organized by James and two of his friends. He is in an RE class called the Catholic Action Group. It was one of the RE options offered to the Year 12's. Anyway the students need to be involved in some sort of charity, or community work in order to pass. Some of the students have started up an Amnesty group in the school, others organized a "Kid's Day Out" for some of the kids in the area who don't get out much, and the Charity Dinner was a part of that. It was a terrific night. About 100 guests had dinner in one of the rooms at the College, with many of the students from the music program providing the entertainment, and then there was an after dinner speaker who talked about her time in Kenya. The money raised from the night is going to the Reuban Project, which is a schooling/community project is Kenya. She talked about the number of children who were orphans due to AIDS that the project is helping and how the money helps the community so much.

Saturday night saw us off to another musical concert night. This time it was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Not too many memorable songs in this one but a great show nonetheless. We're seeing a couple of plays during the holidays too, so next weekend proves to be just as busy.

I received a note about a new Waltons forum which has been set up. I'm told that it's a little quiet, but nice and friendly all the same. It's run by Lisa, who has recently joined us here at the Waltons Digest. Please try to visit this week. The forum is at The Waltons Forum.

Don't forget to send in your favorite Elizabeth moment. That's it from me this week. Have a great week everyone.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hi Karen I recently saw an episode of The Waltons when Mary-Ellen and Erin move out to share an apartment, the lady who shows them around the apartment looked like the same lady who later on in the series moves into The Waltons home with her 2 grand children,am I correct? Good night Lisa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes indeed Lisa. Peggy Rae started on The Waltons during this episode as the landlady of Erin and Mary Ellen, and later turned up at Cousin Rose during seasons 8 and 9.

I just wanted to let everyone know of the Walton sighting I had.

This made me think to mention the "Walton Sighting" that I had on another show. A friend got me to watch "Gilmore Girls" on the WB. The main character decided near the end of the last season to open a Bed & Breakfast. She was showing her daughter the old, broken down house that she was going to buy and transform. There were trees down, the porch swing was half broken, and the place looked soooooo run down - but it was unmistakable! It was the Walton House!!!

The windows were all in the same place, as was the swing. The screen door was the same! Since Warner Brothers now owns the rights to the Walton episodes, do they own the old set? In case I might be imagining it, I asked my husband to come in (as I rolled back the tape). He gaped, as my 8 year old daughter came in and said, "What is the Walton house doing on that show, and why does it look so bad?" I wasn't reaching! My husband then agreed that it was the Walton house facade.

I wonder if they do go through with that plot line next year what they will do, and if the inside will have the same floorplan? We will see.

Agnes

KAREN'S COMMENT: I keep forgetting where the Waltons house is now but I'm sure one of our members will know. I believe that it is on one of the studio lots. I doubt that the floorplan would be the same, as they would have been sets in the studio I think. I haven't heard of the Gilmore Girls. What episode was it?

As for what eps are airing, well todays first ep (2 aired today) Jason tried to help Boone stay out of the bootlegging business and two nuns and a young girl visited the Baldwin Sisters, and Daisy (John-Boy's girlfriend from NY, who he met at that dance marathon, visited Mary Ellen. It was on twice today, 1-2 and 2-3 pm East Coast time. I missed the 2-3 pm ep.

Beth

KAREN'S COMMENT: Lucky you having it twice a day. I couldn't watch it then though because of work. I love The Calling, which is the episode about the nuns.

Do you really think Jonsey would have been better for Erin or Elizabeth than for Mary Ellen???

Tomorrow is The Obsession where Olivia reads Mary Ellen the story of Florence Nightingale that contains an error. Florence Nightingale wasn't born in England as the story says but she was born of English parents in Florence Italy and she was named for her birthplace.

This Obession episode is followed by The Changeling which deals with Poltergeists.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think here's another talking point for everyone. Was Jonesy better for Mary Ellen or would he have been better for Erin or Elizabeth? I can't see Jonesy with Elizabeth at all and I always liked Chad for Erin, although Paul was very much a favourite during the series. I didn't like that they wrote that he had divorced Erin by the time the 1990's telemovies were made. I guess that what I liked about Jonesy was his total acceptance of Mary Ellen's situation and her plans. He understood her need to study to be a doctor and encouraged it, and accepted John Curtis as his own son. Why do you feel that he would have been better for Erin or Elizabeth? Now I come to think of it though, his driving around the US I would have thought would have attracted Erin's spirit of adventure. :-)

I was just wondering who on Karen's digest was going to the October Walton Reunion? My family-4 kids, hubby, me, my mother, and my brother will be staying at the hotel and attending the banquet. Can't wait to see everyone.

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Is anyone going? It sounds like it would be a fantastic weekend. I believe that you can go to the banquet even if you aren't a member of the Waltons International Fan Club, but those members would get priority. I think I'm correct in saying that. However to keep up with all the details of the weekend, it would certainly be well worth paying the small annual membership just to get all the latest information about this weekend, and other special Walton events which are held during each year.

Karen--Just a note to let you know the Waltons is still airing at 1 p.m. (in Indiana) on TNN. Today was the "Mary Francis and the nuns" episode (I forget the real name) where Jim Bob falls in love with the Catholic girl and Cora Beth gets all bent out of shape about the "dreaded Catholics" invading the mountain with their "mystic ways." I love hearing about your weather there. Here in Indiana it has been in the low 90s (about 10 to 15 degrees above normal) the last few days and we have lots of thunderstorms. It is difficult for me to imagine winter at this point! Thanks for the continued newsletter efforts.

Nanette

KAREN'S COMMENT: Now who would have been a good match for Jim Bob? I thought that he was really taken with Mary Francis, but I would have thought that the difference of religion would have been an issue anyway. However Toni and Jason seemed to overcome it. :-)

My brother-in-law bought a box of comics he had in his garage, over a week back and asked my hubby to go through them to see which comics were his. I picked up one from the top and started flicking through it and noticing it was a MAD magazine I was telling them that there was a send-up of the Waltons in MAD magazine and amazingly I turned over the page and there it was...!!!!!!

Its pretty funny, esp when then call Johnboy, Johnmop. The article is called "The Dulltons". I asked him if he would "miss" this comic. Being the nice guy he is he said it was mine now!

Goodnight

from Kaz in Oz

KAREN'S COMMENT: Oh lucky you. Can you tell us what issue it was please and the year?

Hi Karen and All, Yes, Karen, I got my digest before leaving, we leave in the morning, so I can send this digest note out.

Kristin, Have you tried Ebay for your Waltons Easter? I have seen several there.

Robin, My husband and I are trekkies too. We have a small Christmas tree every year with just Star Trek ornaments.

My favorite Elizabeth moment is in The Pearls. She runs away to see her parents, it shows that she is still a little girl and needs her parents. She also teaches the others to not forget that she still needs them.

But, I also love her in The Foundling when she looks back at her father and asks him where he found her, and he says that he found her behind one of her mama's smiles.

There really are just to many Elizabeth moments to really pick the best.

I will be looking forward to my digests after vacation, I'll email then and let you know how my visit to Waltons Mountain went.

Good Night All, -----Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hopefully next week we'll have a whole heap of Elizabeth moments. Hope your holiday was just wonderful.

Good morning Karen,

The Waltons airs 3 times a day during the week on TNN in my neck of the woods (Pacific time zone) 6 am, 10 am, and 2 pm. It used to air at 6 pm, during the dinner hour, a great time for family gathered around the dinner table.

My favorite Jim-Bob episode is where he is told he was a twin who died shortly after birth, and his twin was named after Grandpa, do you remember that one??

Speaking of Grandma, my favorite episode aired here the other day. Jason was teaching her how to play the piano, after her stroke, such a sweet moment between her and Jason, he had such patience.

I have an on-line friend who lives in Virginia, I must ask her to send me pictures of the museum.

Still job hunting here, and nothing definite yet, but still waiting.

Hope all is well down-under!

Goodnight everybody!!

~Nicole, Victoria, B.C., Canada

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, that moment with Grandma and Jason is just lovely. She always loved playing her hymns on the piano, and she must have missed it very much after her stroke.

Good Morning Everyone,

I am out here in CA for the Walton reunion.

We had a great time. Went to see the house on the set on Friday morning and then we had the banquet on Friday night. We also went to Will Geer's place yesterday. I also had the opportunity to visit Miss Mamie yesterday and took her some flowers. It was a real nice visit.

I'll list the cast members that were at the reunion by their name as they appeared on the show. It was a real treat to see all of them. I hope I don't leave anyone out. Here we go: Elizabeth, Erin, Ben and Cindy, Ike and Cora Beth and Aimee, Yancy and Sissy, Rose, Serena and her brother on the show, can't think of his stage name but his real name is Keith, Boone, and Miss Beadle--from Little House, that played in the 1st episode of the show. I think that is everyone.

The dinner was great and we all enjoyed finding out what the stars are now doing in their lives.

Well, I'm off to San Fransico and will be back in VA on Saturday.

everyone take care and have a nice weekend.

Cynthia

KAREN'S COMMENT: Gosh there certainly was a lineup of actors there. What a fantastic effort. Serena's little brother was Jeffrey.

Hi Karen and Everyone!

I hope everyone had a good week! I had a day of school today due to a power outage. Luckily the power was back on by 1:00, so I managed to watch half of the Waltons before I had to baby-sit! I saw The Portrait. I've seen it a few times, more that most episodes, but some parts still startle me, even now. I really like the ones with Ashley Longworth Jr. I wonder sometimes, though, why later in the program, Miss Emily still says "I wonder what ever became of Ashley Longworth." even though Ashley Jr. told her. I hope that when I get off school this week I'll have more time to watch The Waltons. I don't watch TV on weekdays during the school year and it's not on on the weekends. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of The Homecoming? I have the book, but I'd like the movie. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

Goodnight Everybody,

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENT: I thought the movie was fairly readily available through Amazon. I had no trouble getting my copy there.

Hello Karen and all,

My favorite Elizabeth moment in the later episodes is when she is lying in hospital with broken legs and Ben feels uncomfortable to visit her because he feels guilty for the accident with the trees (trunks or logs) and Elizabeth is sad about his reaction. He sends money but Elizabeth wants to see him and talk to her brother and doesn't want his unsuitable gifts.

Silke

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes that's another nice Elizabeth one, but a bit frightening at times. It's a nice Aimee one actually too.

Hi Karen on The Waltons this week I thought it was interesting on the episode where they find out Kurt is killed, that Ben goes out with a girl called Cindy and she has a red flashy car. Later on he marries a Cindy with a red flashy car the lady who played the part was not the same girl.

Also this week there was an episode where John Boy's friend who is in a wheel chair goes to work at Pickett Plant. He is the same guy who when John Boy first went to college made a big fuss about him crossing the bridge as he was at college longer.

Also when Olivia found out she had TB was that written in so she could leave the series or did that happen to the real Mom. Hope all is well.

Night Lisa

KAREN'S COMMENT: I always thought it was nice when characters were reintroduced into the show. Pity they weren't played by the same actors though. I don't know if Earl Hamner's mother had TB as well or not. I suspect that it was just written in so that Michael Learned could be released from the show.