Hi everyone,

I can't believe that July has nearly gone already. Goodness the year is going quickly. Not much news this week from the Kearney household. We've all been very busy, with Tim particularly so. It seems that he just hands in one assignment and then he has to start work on another one. I don't think I've seen him work so hard on his schoolwork as he has this year. It will be all over by the time October has finished, then the first couple of weeks in November he has exams, THEN a nice long break until March next year. He's really looking forward to that.

Here on the Waltons front, we are about to head into season 3 on Foxtel. It still seems as though we will not get any further episodes over here, so I think I will be eternally waiting for seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9. I have the odd episodes from these seasons, but would love to see them again. Oh well, never mind. At least I do have the first five seasons which is great.

I did receive two episodes from season 9 recently though and have enjoyed watching them. They were The Carousel, which Donald mentions this week, and also The Beginning. Very interesting episodes. I did particularly enjoy Cindy's search for her birthmother in The Carousel. A very touching episode.

I remember some time ago there was mention of the Waltons reaction in The Beginning to the news that Toni was Jewish. Their silence and Ben's lack of understanding towards the couple did strike me as being odd, but the Baldwin sisters were just delightful with their response to Corabeth's comments. All they said was something like: Yes we know. We've had some wonderful discussions with her!

Well continue enjoying the Waltons this week. Talk to you all again soon.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

When my grandparents and great-grandparents spoke of branch water, it meant the stream that comes forth from a spring. Many people in the country had spring water. Often a "spring house" was built over the spring where you could put your perishables (butter, milk, etc) to keep cool. I hope this answers the question.

Debbie

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for this Debbie. That's probably where the Judge went to get his water for the recipe. I think John Boy said it was quite a way from the house.

I certainly understand how Donna feels. OCS (only child syndrome) is very real This afternoon I listened to the Carousel tape once again . When Ben and Cindy visit Cindy's father's attorney to inquire about Cindy's adoption they are told that adoption records were sealed since 1957. I wanted to listen closely to that passage to make sure he said 1957 and not 1857 which would have been much more plausible. But he said, although he ran his words together 1957. NO WAY! This episode took place in March or April of 1946.So I had no choice but to post it as a blooper on Alex and Marca's Dutch Fans Webpage.

Will be talking to you soon about it (since you said you have the tape and it is now early Thursday morning in Australia) or else visit with you this weekend when you post for the Walton digest. Today we saw the Collision. Friday will be the Vigil which is very good especially since Doc Vance will be on

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: As I mentioned, I also viewed a tape of this last weekend. Definitely it was hard to pick up the year mentioned and yes, it did sound like 1957, however, upon listening again I did wonder whether it was 1937. Would anyone else have anything to add about it? Maybe someone even has a script for that one? Any ideas?

<< Karen, I found out some information regarding Robert Donner. He will be performing Robert Donner's Hollywood Cracker Barrel at Spring Farm Cares on August 6 and 7, 1999 at 7pm. Tickets are $27.50 includes a buffet dinner. If there are 3 or more people in your party tickets are only $15.50. The play is a about stories of backstage Hollywood, supposed to be very funny.>>

Oops! forgot to tell you where it is!!! It in Clinton, New York outside of Utica. Sorry about that.

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Are you going Cindy?

Hi everyone,

My name is Erin and I have been receiving the digests for a while now and I noticed all the mail that was being received in regards to Kurt's age. I am 17 years old and I am happy to say that although it is a hidden secret from some of my friends I too have been raised on the Walton's and my mom even got my name from the show. I also have an 11 year old sister who watches it quite regularly. I love reading your digests because I am very much interested in their family history and you seem to talk about that a lot. I have also enjoyed going and looking at the sites that you have on the digest and seeing what is in them. I think you are all doing a wonderful job and I look forward to receiving my future digests.

Erin

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think it's great that a whole new generation have become addicted to The Waltons. Glad to have you on board Erin. I wonder how many other children were named after the show? When we were choosing baby names for our boys, if they were a girl they were going to be called Erin Elizabeth. Erin wasn't all that common over here then, although it is now. One of my friends called her daughter Erin after the show too. We nearly called James, James Robert, and joked that he could be Jim Bob, but he ended up being James Cameron, which is a family name.

Good Morning from Edmonton and i would like to make a comment to Laura from Seattle about how the kids from today would benefit from watching the Waltons. When TNN started to show the Waltons my kids would say WHAT A DUMB SHOW!!! But after a while guess who is there everyday at 5 to watch it my kids. They're are 18,16, and 10 so Laura I think you are right…they do benefit from watching and learning from this great show!!!!!

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's interesting...my husband keeps commenting on its sweetness to a point of nausea, but I notice that he does come in and watch it and comments quite favorably on the writing at times. So much for not liking it!

Hello Waltons Fans!!!

In reply to Karen's Question my family does take a night here or there and we all watch...the Waltons! Its fun! As you said in your last letter...it is good to know that there are young people (including me) that do enjoy the "good old shows". The Waltons is great because it lacks the filth that every other shows has now!!! I do like 7th Heaven and Touched by An Angel and so on, but they do not compare to the time honored values of the Waltons. The sad thing is in this time these values are no longer valued too highly. Thank You Karen for your hard work!!!!

Dan

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're enjoying both The Waltons, and the digests Dan. I do enjoy 7th Heaven though at the moment. Just about 7th Heaven though, I think I spotted Harry Harris directing during season 1. I'll have to have another look but I'm sure I thought it at the time.

Hi everyone,

Thanks to the members who mentioned about the episode "The Quilting" on Friday. I bought a new tape and sat down on Friday, all excited that I was going to finally tape my favorite episode, and TNN had put on "Monster Madness" Car racing and jumping. I was so disappointed and almost cried.

I waited so long to get that episode. So I am asking all you faithful Walton Fans, if you see the episode approaching again, or if you ever see that episode offered for sale., let me know. I am also excited because I am going to be in Virginia in August and I am trying to make a trip to the Walton's museum. Someone wrote that Earl hammer will be there in August, do you know the dates??? I hope I can do it, it will be a three hour ride from where I am, but it's the closest I will get for a long time., Thanks for all the great Waltons' info, Kathy in CT

KAREN'S COMMENT: I did receive another note from Kathy saying that she watched again on Monday and it wasn't The Quilting either. How disappointing and frustrating when you'd waited all that time for it. Any ideas what went wrong anyone?

Hi,

I enjoyed everyone's comments in the last digest. I got a chance to see some of the past digests that are on the Internet and had fun reading them and catching up on things. I was hoping I could go to the Waltons Reunion that was here in LA this past weekend but I couldn't. Hopefully I'll be able to catch another one sometime.

Daniel, Thanks for answering my question about the pilot in the Wingwalker episode. I thought maybe him and Curt were played by the same actor but I wasn't quite sure.

It's good to know there are other teenagers out there who watch the Waltons and aren't afraid to admit it.

I'm looking forward to the next digests.

Bye for now,

from Kurt.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hopefully you'll get to another reunion some time. Maybe even next year.

Hi Karen, what a lovely article you reprinted. I love the portrait of Ellen Corby the words painted in my head. You can just feel all the love and fun she had with the kids.

That's great.

Larissa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, I could just see her jumping up and down on her chair with the kids, enjoying the concert, and thinking it was wonderful 'cos she couldn't hear all of the noise. Imagine how frustrating it must have been for such a vibrant and active woman as she was, to be as incapacitated as she eventually became. By the way, I've got a later article that I'll start sometime soon, depending on space. This one's about the 1993 reunion.

Hi Karen!

I've been enjoying the digest for just over a month now and thought I'd write and introduce myself. My name is Julie and I live in Stockport in the North West of England. Like a lot of others, I watched the Waltons as a child and teenager and am enjoying watching the repeats on Channel 4 at the moment. My favorite character is Jim Bob, as I've always been a bit of a dreamer myself - and I've always thought he is the cutest! At 35, I think I am a year older than Kami Cotler is now, which is why I always felt that my place in the Walton family would have been with Jim Bob and Elizabeth! (Had I been born a Walton!) I spent a lot of time on my own as a child and, like Kurt said a couple of digests ago, I think it would have been fun to grow up in a family with lots of brothers and sisters.

I am enjoying visiting the sites on the Waltons web ring too. I particularly enjoyed Jessica's new site! (Sorry, I haven't signed your guestbook though - I promise to revisit and do so!) Just one thing though - someone has a site with a poll on it where you can vote for your favorite Walton place. But the front porch isn't an option! That's my very favorite place! Probably not as a child, but definitely now. I can just see myself sitting on the swing seat in an evening with a glass of wine (or maybe a glass of the recipe!)

Until the recent repeats, I hadn't seen The Waltons for years and I don't think I've ever seen all the later episodes - I hope Channel 4 runs them until the end. Have all the specials been shown in the UK does anyone know?

I think I have only seen the two earlier ones! Also, I have a tape of 'Spencer's Mountain' and I remember reading somewhere about the little girl who played Pattie-Cake and who also stars in 'The Sound of Music'. I thought I recognized another of the younger children too - the girl who plays Becky - doesn't she play another of the children in 'The Sound of Music' too?

Just wanted to say that I enjoy the Australian aspect to the digest too! I spent a couple of weeks in Sydney in ' 95 and I love to hear about all things Aussie! I've been to the Blue Mountains of NSW - next stop the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (one day hopefully !!!) Well, that's all for now. Sorry this is a bit long - please feel free to edit!

Julie K

KAREN'S COMMENT: I have to check on the cast for Spencer's Mountain again, but I can recall that little Kim Karath did indeed play Patty Cake. Not sure about the other. The Blue Mountains are just one of our favorite spots in Australia...spectacular. That's why I'm sure we would love the Blue Ridge Mountains. Like the Waltons and the Hamners, we Kearneys are definitely mountain people (even though we live in Melbourne!) What I mean is that if we could choose anywhere to live, it would be the mountains, but unfortunately for jobs, Rod is tied to the city.

Hi Karen,

I am interested in some information on Grandma Esther Walton(Ellen Corby). What did she die of? How long was she in the hospital? Did Walton cast members or others associated with the Waltons visit her there? Did they attend her funeral? Does she have family?

Did she ever regain much ability to speak after her stroke in the mid 70's? Was she ok other than her speech ability from her stroke?

I always felt toward Miss Corby as if she were my real grandmother! She was special and it was apparent to me from what I have read that she loved the "Walton kids" like they were her own.

I will appreciate any help with the above questions or other info on Ellen Corby from you or other Waltons list folks.

Thanks so much!

John

KAREN'S COMMENT: Ellen Corby probably would have thought it wonderful to be surrogate grandmother to all Waltons fans. She was a special lady and she made Esther "Grandma" Walton a very special character. I really don't know how to answer all of your questions. There was a nice memorial service type of thing done for her at the Waltons Museum after her death. I read some of the transcripts. I don't know what she died of but she has seemed frail during the past recent years and she was 88. I believe she regained some speech but she always walked with a limp due to paralysis on one side I think.

Greetings to all from the east coast of Florida. Karen right now on TNN the episodes of the Waltons are where John-Boy is publishing his own news paper. They show him using a cane to walk . Was this just part of the story line or did Richard Thomas really have some sort of injury that could be written into some of these shows while he was recovering from it?

Bob

KAREN'S COMMENT: Richard Thomas had injured his foot during the making of a film and it had to be written in explaining his walking with a cane. I think you'll find though that the way the episodes are aired, it is a bit strange. I think one episode has him on the cane, the next not but the one after is. Something like that but I haven't seen them for a while so I might be wrong.