Hi everyone,

What a busy week its been here this week. As you all know :-)) it's been final exam week for Tim, so we've had to put up with a fair amount of stress! He had English last Friday then this week has been Specialist Maths (Monday), Specialist Maths again (Wednesday), Maths Methods (Thursday) and Physics today (Friday). He's come home from each of them pretty happy so I guess we'll just have to wait and see how he goes, and how he compares with all of those in the state who sit the same exams. Next Monday he has Maths Methods again and then his last one is Information Systems on Thursday, so the next time I talk to you, our house should be a stress free zone. He'll be able to relax until he goes to Uni somewhere in March.

That's really about all my news. I think this exam thing is a family effort. We don't coach him, but I have to keep the meals coming and have plenty of eats there for those snack breaks! LOTS to organise. :-)

Anyway, back to The Waltons. Don't forget that over the next couple of weeks we'll be having letters on favourite Baldwin episodes, so think about the episodes that they featured in and decide which is your favourite and why. There's quite a few in the early seasons. The Typewriter comes to mind, and of course The Star where Cousin Polonius comes to try and steal their secret recipe from them.

My favourite would have to be The Thanksgiving Story where Jason goes to work for the sisters and they have him making the recipe just like Papa. They think that he is so like Papa that they approach John and Olivia with a proposal that they adopt Jason. After all, the Waltons have so many other children! The look on Olivia's face when she hears this, and that Jason has been making the recipe, is just priceless. Being the Christian woman she is though, Olivia swallows her anger and invites them to share Thanksgiving dinner with her and her family. It provides such light relief to a fairly traumatic and dramatic episode and the ladies are so innocent and sincere about their suggestion. Absolutely fantastic.

Now what's yours? Share some of your Baldwin memories with us.

Talk to you all next week. Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

One of my favorites BALDWIN sisters show was when they discover a recipe room in their mansion which they didn't know they had. Are the actors that played the sisters still alive?? I just watched the show where IKE has an heart attack and he tells JOHN WALTON what a good friend he is and how much he loves him!! A very good show!!!!

Keith

KAREN'S COMMENT: Keith I don't think I know this episode. Any idea which one it is?

Hello Karen and everyone,

On the subject of episodes featuring the Baldwin sisters I particularly like the episode "The Legacy" from season 7. Ashley Longworth Jr. arrives at the Baldwins residence unexpectedly. When Miss Emily sees him she faints. He is the image of his father. Miss Emily treats Ashley as if he is her long lost suitor. Ashley and Erin realise they are attracted to each other, and when Miss Emily sees them kissing she is distraught. Later, Miss Emily tells Ashley that she knew he had come to tell her that his father was dead. He has brought a letter from him to give to her. Miss Emily reads it in private and does not reveal the contents to anyone else. She realises that she must leave her daydreams behind, and life moves on I like the element of mystery here, we are not permitted to know what the letter contains.

I love the Baldwin sisters old fashioned elegance, and the endearing way they call each other sister all the time. Anyway, that's one of my favourite episodes featuring them.

Regards,

Sue, UK.

KAREN'S COMMENT: A beautiful episode with Ashley Longworth's and Miss Emily's romance sort of coming to a head isn't it?

Karen,

Hi hope all is well with you. I have a question, does any one know if there going to show The Waltons all day on Thanksgiving, like there did last year? I hope they do. I really enjoyed it last year.

Has anyone heard if there any new Walton movies coming on TV.

One more thing, the Christmas CD that's coming out…will that be available in the stores or just through the fan club?

Thanks, GOOD NIGHT

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Anyone know of TNN's plans? I've got so many new tapes of shows I haven't seen for a long time that I can provide my own marathon now. :-)

One way to get the CD is to go to the Waltons Forum and click on the link at the top. That will take you directly to Amazon.com where you can order the CD. It may take a little while but you can get it that way and help the statistics in sales of the CD. Right now it appears that a lot of people have been ordering it.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: So you can buy it through Amazon now? Terrific! I've bought from them before and found them to be pretty good.

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to pass along the info on the "quilt" that I had written about in the digest 2 weeks ago. I first saw that it was available when I received my latest "Blue Ridge Chronicles". You can purchase it through the museum. I was very glad that they had some in stock when we were there (I hate backorders, I'm too impatient!!). It's not actually what some would call a "quilt", it is like a large throw that you would place over the back of your couch or can be hung on the wall (that's where mine is, hanging in my bedroom). You can choose from green, blue, or I believe maroon (I got the green, reminded me of the mountains!!) The purchase price was I believe $89.99 but I got 10% off for being a member of the museum. They are loomed somewhere in the south (can't quite remember, I believe one of the Carolina's). The picture is of Schuyler, looking up the road towards the museum (for those who have been to Schuyler, imagine standing in the road with the Baptist Church on your left and looking up towards the museum. It shows the church, Hamner house, and museum.) This would make a perfect Christmas gift for all Walton fans to buy for themselves (go ahead and splurge, who deserves it better that a Walton Fan!!). Anyway, I hope this answers some questions.

Speaking of fans, aside from possibly Star Trek, can anyone think of a show from the past that has such a huge following after all of these years like "The Waltons"? I am amazed at the number of people I have met on the Internet (from all around the world!!) who are dedicated fans to this day!!

A quick note about the first Christmas album (one of the first items I won on e-bay), everyone is on the cover of the album with the exception of David Harper (Jim-Bob), a small note on the back of the album states that he was fishing the day the picture was taken. I thought that was funny that they put that comment there!!

I was going to order the new C.D. but I think my husband already ordered it for me for Christmas (he seems to forget that since I take care of the checkbook, I know every check that he writes, but I won't spoil his surprise by reminding him!!) Come to think of it, since I've managed to turn him into a Waltons fan, maybe he's ordering it not for me but for himself !!! (LOL) :)

Goodnight Everyone!!!

Sharon

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for sharing your quilt with us Sharon. I think I spotted advertised too, but called an "Afghan". Now over here an Afghan refers to a dog not a quilt, but I have heard it used before as a blanket type of thing over in America. Not sure where the word originates and how it fits in with blankets. Maybe someone knows?

As for shows...what about The Brady Bunch? Fans everywhere and it has lasted just as long. Mind you, I'd rather sit and watch an hour of The Waltons. Far more substance for my taste. Not that I dislike the Brady Bunch though.

I hope you'll act nice and surprised when hubby presents you with your Waltons CD! It does seem a funny comment to put on the cover about David Harper, but maybe it's an in joke or something. Actually it seems like a Jim Bob thing to do...head in the clouds, go off to fish when you were supposed to be at a photo shoot. :-))

I am really looking forward to getting the Waltons Christmas CD, but having read your digest lately, it looks like it's only available at the Museum. Is this true? If anyone knows where I can purchase one I would be grateful. I live in Canada if this makes any difference.

Thanks.

Janet

KAREN'S COMMENT: I will be buying mine either from the museum or over the Internet Janet, but if someone knows where they are available instore so you could go and have a look I'm sure we'll hear soon.

I just returned from a visit to Waltons Mountain where we first learned about the Waltons on the Internet. I found you through the web and find your site especially attractive and interesting.

I was particularly drawn to your site because I visited Australia in January of '97 -- fulfilling a longtime dream to see your country. Only spent a short time in Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania -- it was a cruise that included New Zealand -- but am hoping to return in 2001 and see even more.

We live just a couple of hours from Waltons Mountain and have been there several times. This time we met "Elizabeth," "Erin," and "Yancey" and they look just the same, even now, as they did on the series. Yancey is especially delightful -- his characterization obviously grew from within his own persona.

Your tribute to "grandma" was very touching and memorable. I'm looking forward to your newsletter.

Jo

KAREN'S COMMENT: Welcome Jo. It's nice to hear from someone who's visited Australia. We've been to New Zealand too, and absolutely loved it. Very like Tasmania we thought. I hope you'll be able to come back to explore some more.

Lucky you to have met those actors. Yancey started as a fairly minor role it seemed but certainly grew as time went on.