Hi everyone,

Goodness what a busy week its been here. In fact a busy month altogether, and August and September promise to be just as busy for us. I can't believe that we here in Australia, are actually into August already. Many of you will return to school at the end of the month too won't you? We have had the most beautiful weather during July. They've told us that it has been the second warmest July on record with no day going below a maximum of 13 degrees Celsius. We still haven't had a lot of rain either which is still causing some problems in the country areas.

Waltons wise there's not a lot to report here. We've gone into season 3 now, just started. The reunions are getting closer and many of you will be making plans to attend those. The cruise is well booked now and some of you may have bookings for that as well. Lots of things to look forward to.

Just before I do go though, I urge you to consider Dot P.'s letter near the end of this digest. She asks that you consider writing hand written letters to CBS asking that they go ahead with the new, planned Waltons reunion. We really have waited a long time for them to go ahead with it and maybe it is time to take the action she suggests. Perhaps they haven't looked at the Internet for some time and seen just how popular this show is. They were pleased with the ratings of the last one, so maybe they need this now to urge them into action. As Dot says, a hand written letter is worth far more than many emails. Her suggestion has been posted on the forum and with Waltons fans everywhere involved, maybe CBS will get deluged with letters and get themselves into action.

Talk to you all again next week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hi Everybody,

I enjoyed reading about kids being named after the Waltons Family. My little sister was named Rebekah Corine after Corine on the Waltons. Also, we have an Isaac (Mr. Godsey). We have 7 children in our family...it seems like the Waltons! I feel as though I am one :-)

Have A Great Week Everybody,

Dan

KAREN'S COMMENT: First time I've heard of someone being named after old Martha Corine, but it is a pretty name.

Dear Karen,

Howdy to everybody!! It's been a while since I've written to the digest and a lot has happened since I've written....My wife, Dianne, and I have moved to Kentucky and are really enjoying being here....We watch the Waltons daily and enjoy them so much.....and can't wait each weekend to get the digest....we enjoy it s much!!!! Keep up the good work.... In response to Kathy in CT's question as to what happened on Friday's Waltons...The reason she didn't get the Waltons was because on Fridays, TNN moves it to 4 p.m. rather than 6 p.m. CST....and shows Motor Madness each week at this time slot.....Hope this helps.....

Night everybody!!!

Larry

KAREN'S COMMENT: What a shame to miss out on a Waltons episode just because of the car racing. Hope Kathy can pick it up next time around.

Karen-

I have been enjoying our digest for a few months now....I am so happy that young people and old alike respect and enjoy the show... In response to one of the writers…the Quilting was on TNN on Friday...It was on at 12 PM central time and also on at 4PM...When TNN has rodeo, car races, something "country" they put the Waltons on a couple of hours early, but they are on!!!!

One more thing...Why is it that it took John-Boy and Jason a long time to finish college? I know RN training did not take four years, but it seems like Mary Ellen was out of school, married and a mother, and neither of her brothers had even graduated!!!!!

One more thing, I really enjoy hearing about Australia....Please keep writing "travel-log" STUFF...IT IS REALLY INTERESTING!!!!

KATHY

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think it's wonderful to have a whole new generation of Waltons fans too. As for the nursing training question. I don't know. I can only assume that she did a lot of her training on the job. Glad you enjoy hearing about Australia. Hope you were interested in Melbourne's July weather report too. :-))

Just an update on the Waltons webring. Two sites have been added this week, bringing the total to 22 websites in the ring. One new addition is "The Waltons Mountain Community Center" by Bill Atkins. Bill's page can be found at:

http://www.galesburg.net/~atkins/waltons.html.

I think Bill is the one who, along with Arthur Dungate, has provided us with those wonderful synopses of The Waltons episodes.

The other site is "ChildStarlets.com" at:

http://www.childstarlets.com/lobby/waltons/index2.html.

This site has many wonderful images of Kami Cotler.

Kathy in CT asked about Earl Hamner at the musuem in August. It is my understanding that he will be there on August 14 for the dedication of the Waltons radio. I hope so, because I plan to be there myself.

Brenda

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thankyou for the update Brenda. I've visited the Child Starlets page and it really does have some lovely photos of Kami as Elizabeth. While you're all visiting with Earl Hamner, think of us all here, because on that day we will be celebrating Tim, our eldest son, turning 18. He is so looking forward to being 18 and finally being able to get his driver's license.

Kathy in CT

Although I was 2 hours away from Schuyler when I went to Virginia I am very glad I made the trip. I am sorry I do not know the dates Earl Hamner Jr. will be there, but here are two phone numbers for the museum. They will be able to tell you. 804-831-2000 or 888-266-1981. Let us know if you go and whether or not you meet him. August 9-15 they are having a sculpture exhibit featuring local artists at the museum. That may be fun. Also here is the number for the Nelson County Department of tourism, they will send you information on the area. 1-800-282-8223. Hope you enjoy your trip. Hello to all the Walton's fans.

Julie

KAREN'S COMMENT: The phone numbers will be useful for anyone planning further trips down to Schuyler. Thanks for including them Julie.

Hi Karen,

I just had to write and tell you how wonderful your Waltons Digest is. My sons best friend Kurt (who looks just like a little Jim-Bob) has subscribed to it and even written to you a couple of times. Since he doesn't have a computer and e-mail address of his own, we let him use ours and I had a chance to check out the digests he's received.

I grew up watching the show myself, and think it's great to have two 14 year old boys raid the kitchen for what ever food they can get their hands on and then race into the family room to watch The Waltons. So many of the TV shows today seem quite inappropriate for younger teenagers. The Waltons, with their old fashioned values and lack of sex and violence, are welcome in our home anytime. The other day, the boys had been on the Internet for quite a while so I decided to investigate to see what they were up to. Much to my delight (and relief) they were looking at some of The Waltons websites that are out there.

Thanks Karen, for putting together this digest. Now I'm looking forward to it's arrival each week too.

Karey.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for your letter Karey. It's always nice to receive a pat on the back, and I've been very fortunate to receive many over the past years. I keep saying though, that it's really you members who put this digest together each week, because without your letters (and there have been some weeks when the mail has been a bit sparse!) there really wouldn't be a digest, so a huge thank you to every one of you who contributes and keeps the digest afloat.

Hi Karen,

I seem to remember in a recent digest, someone mentioning seeing Michael Learned doing a commercial for Caltrate (I think it was Caltrate), and you asked what Caltrate was. I didn't see an answer about it and wasn't sure if someone had sent one or not. Anyway, Caltrate is a calcium dietary supplement sold here in the US. I tasted one once and it's a dreadful chalky thing.

Take care,

Maggy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks Maggy. Someone did let me know, but they didn't add that it tasted awful. :-) I hope she did a good job with the ad...it sounds like she would have needed to.

Greetings Karen,

As always, I so enjoy reading the newsletters! So many questions get answered! We are into the 4th episode of Season Five here in Oregon (USA).

I had never seen "The Collision" and was surprised last week to see the same actor who played "Uncle Cody Nelson" in "The Courtship" in Season One, playing "Col. Linville" in "The Collision"... anyone else notice that? LOL!

I'm also curious to see the episode where Grandma needs to buy some 'silk thread' and goes to Ike's store for it and when he hands it to her he says "that'll be $10.00"!!!! Now I know there is NO WAY that The Waltons would spend a weeks wages to buy silk thread so I figure that Ike meant to say "one dollar" and not ten... I just can't remember what the episode was called, I know I have it on tape. Can you or anyone help? THANKS! Take care.

Friends With You,

Eve

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think that she buys the silk thread in The Wedding, but I'm not sure. Ten dollars surely does sound a lot in Waltons terms and I wonder if Grandma would have balked at the cost.

Dear Karen and Walton Fans:

It is a long time since I have written you all but I seem to keep so busy with all of the Walton going ons, chat room and my falls. It just seem hard to keep up with it all. Little did I know, when I got my computer, ( two years and five months ago) and found you Karen and the Walton web sites, that it would change my live so completely. LOL.

I decided tonight to catch up on your newsletters as we have been away to Hollywood Ca. for the Reunion. It was a great, marvelous exceptional reunion and I am working on Word to send you all an synopsis of what we did while there. I will send it later, but I discovered tonight that I do not have two digest numbered 24 and 25. I have number 26. Could you please send me copies of those two? Thanks.

My other reason for writing is what I have just posted on the forum and I have copied and will paste here. It is self explanatory.

My post tonight on the Forum

Hi Everyone:

Further to my post of July 23 I finally got the address for you all. For those who may have missed it. I have copied and pasted it. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REQUEST IF FOR HAND WRITTEN PERSONAL LETTERS.

Lets tell them what this series means to all of us. WISH US GOOD LUCK

MR. LES MOONVES, PRESIDENT CBS, 7800 BEVERLEY BLVD., LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA, 90036

I just got back from Hollywood from the reunion. I got to talk to a man from Warner Bros. I noticed that the back of the house had been enclosed. When we were there two years ago for the 25th Anniversary it was all open. He said that it was to preserve it, as they plan on making more specials. He also mentioned that to get a new special made we (Fans of the Waltons) must write to CBS and let them know we want new specials. He said that a *HAND WRITTEN LETTER* to CBS is worth as much as 5,000 emails and phone calls. They value the fact that we take the time to do a personal letter. So it is time to get a writing campaign going. Earl Hamner did talk about the special that has been written and approved. Lets get busy and remind everyone to do this. I have to look up the address and will post it as soon as I find it.

Sincerely Dot P

SO PLEASE GET EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO LES MOONVES. THE POWER OF THE PEN WORKS.

SO GO FANS GO LETS GET THE JOB DONE. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WRITERS CRAMP LOL.

Sincerely Dot P.

Thanks for listening.

KAREN'S COMMENT: The two digests you're missing are now on their way to you. I've had several be returned over the past few weeks, but yours weren't among them so I guess they've gone to Cyber-Heaven. :-)) I read your post on the Forum and heartily agree. I think going to the trouble of writing a letter and having to post it is much more powerful than sending emails. Let's hope this gets the results we would all love to see.

Hi Karen...

I just had a chance to catch up on the last three installments of your digest, so this comment might be old...but I just loved the interview with Earl Hamner (Growing Pains on Waltons Mountain) and the description of the kids as they grew up on the show. It was interesting to note how the real life actors lives paralleled the characters in the show to some respect. Thank goodness, Kami, at the tender age of 11 had the foresight to ask for more grown up things to do on the show. I think the character of Elizabeth, once she was allowed to blossom, turned out to be a very refined and sensitive young lady...no doubt a reflection of Kami as well.

Thank you for such a great piece!

Gina

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you enjoyed it Gina. I'm finding reading past articles very interesting indeed. I often wonder what the actors would think if they were to read them again now. It seems to me that writers do often like to keep the younger children on television shows young and "cutesy". They seem to think that with younger children being involved they will attract younger viewers to the show. I often wonder if that's why they added Serena and Jeffrey to the show. Elizabeth was growing up and they needed extra characters to catch younger viewers with. Did Serena and Jeffrey add much to the show? What do you think? I'm glad Kami voiced her feelings at such a young age, and I'm also glad that the writers did allow her the opportunity to grow up and develop the way she did.

Dear Karen,

I wanted to announce to everybody an addition to my "The Walton's Mountain Community Center" web site at www.galesburg.net/~atkins/waltons.html. I have added "The Walton's Mountain Historical Society" that includes historical information about The Waltons. My first table is entitled THE WALTON'S MOUNTAIN ANIMALS, with name of animal, description, episode of first appearance, and number of season/episode. I would appreciate if everybody would take a look at this table. Please email me if you would like to add to the table, or find mistakes in it. I'm hoping to be able to include all the animals that appeared on the Mountain. I will be adding other informational tables as time permits.

Thanks,

Bill

KAREN'S COMMENT: Sounds like a fun addition Bill. I'll have a look as soon as I can.