Hi everyone,

Well first of all the news from here is that Tim has finished his year 12 (final year) exams. He is now able to relax a bit and enjoy himself before he starts University in March next year. Lovely long break for him.

The second piece of news though is that he was put into hospital for tests yesterday and has been found to have Crohn's disease! It's not exactly how he imagined he would celebrate his final exams finishing. Anyway we're back to the specialist again on Tuesday and he is hopeful that medication can be worked out that will help control Tim's symptoms from now on. He has been having stomach pains and has been very tired for this past term, but put it down to stress and working too hard, and hadn't told us. Anyway we went to see the local doctor on Wednesday and she sent us straight off to the specialist, concerned that it might be his appendix. By the way, for those of you who don't know what it is, it's a chronic inflammation of the bowel. Internal bleeding can cause anaemia, which is what's happened to Tim.

Fortunately his symptoms seem to be fairly mild at this stage. They don't seem to know what causes it and there's no cure as such, but there are things that can help with the symptoms and it can go into remission.

Given that I haven't had much time to think about things and catch up with email, please forgive me if I haven't published a letter that you might have sent me this week, and please resend it if it is missing, but I think I've got most of them.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Karen

Hi! I haven't posted on here for quite some time, but have enjoyed reading every installment of the digest I have received, thanks for all your hard work putting it together. Anyway, the topic of the moment is the Baldwin ladies, I would have to say either the episode where they want to adopt Jason or even their part in the Burn Out (this one perhaps because I just watched my tape of that episode so it is fresh in my mind) I love these ladies they are so sweet and naive. One of my favorite Baldwin related moments would have to be when Curt first arrives and scandalizes poor Miss Emily. Mary Ellen's explanation is priceless "These two ladies are from another century, here let me show you, and she proceeds to show the hot headed young doctor how to handle Miss Emily" Anyway, thanks again for the great digest.

Good night everyone

Rae

KAREN'S COMMENT: Rae I love that moment you mention too. The looks on the faces on the Baldwin ladies when Curt asks Miss Emily to unbutton her blouse are just so funny. They were such sweet characters. I've just finished watching The Starlet when they have been planning to help the war effort by entertaining young soldiers for Sunday dinner. I would have thought that once word of the recipe got around the army camps that they would have been extremely popular Sunday hostesses. :-)

I loved reading the stories from people who met cast members recently. I had the opportunity to meet Robert Donner, who played Yancey Tucker, at a celebrity tennis tournament years ago. He was just as everyone describes - a very nice, sweet and funny man, and he posed for a picture with me, which made my day! Just a great person!

I also met Mayf Nutter at that same celebrity tennis tournament; he was the one who played Bobby Bigelow of Bobby Bigelow and the Haystack Gang, the band that Jason was with for awhile on the show. He was also a very nice man and was tickled that I remembered him from "The Waltons!" I wonder where he is now? He was a country singer in real life as well, not just on the show.

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: It would seem that many of the actors from The Waltons were genuinely lovely people and very charming and patient with fans. It's fabulous to hear that.

Hi everyone,

I saw a commercial the other day saying that TNN will be showing the Waltons all day on Thanksgiving. I think they said it will be hosted by Michael Learned.

I'm not sure which episode this was but one of my favorite scenes with the Baldwin sisters was when they were at a dance to raise money for a new doctors office. They were serving punch and said they were going to put some of the recipe in it but Grandpa Walton didn't want them to ruin it. Ruin the recipe that is.

Kurt

KAREN'S COMMENT: You've picked The Wedding too Kurt, the same as Rae. Nice to hear that you'll have The Waltons all day again.

Hello Karen,

There are some questions in the latest Digest that I know the answers to, so I thought I'd give it a go.

First of all, Keith tells of his favorite Baldwin episode and wonders if the ladies that portrayed Mamie and Emily are still alive. The answer is yes. Miss Mamie is 92 and Miss Emily is in her late 80's. Keith also goes on to say how much he enjoyed the show where Ike tells John how much he loves him. You commented that you didn't know this episode and since I'm not sure which of these episodes you meant, I'll tell you the Baldwin episode he mentions is from the 9th season and is called "The Hot Rod" and the episode where Ike has the heart attack is from the 7th season and is called "The Attack".

Secondly, TNN is going to have another Thanksgiving Day Marathon and this year the hostess will be Miss Michael Learned! I'm very excited about this because I really enjoyed last year's marathon with Jon and Mary and their comments about the episodes shown and it will be great to hear Michael's comments!

I just read on the Forum this morning that there has been a delay in the release of the Christmas CD until November 12th or 16th or something like that. It was posted by someone who had ordered it through Amazon which is the same way I ordered it. I haven't received it yet nor has it been charged to my credit card yet. Maybe ordering through the museum would be faster.

I really like the Baldwin sisters and it is tough to pick just one episode. I love their humor. I think my favorite is in "The Calling" when they are entertaining a nun in their home and when they call each other "sister" as is their habit (no pun intended) it gets quite confusing! LOL

Thanks again Karen for all your work on the Digest. I appreciate it so much!

Pat

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for your email and clearing up some of the episodes Pat. It's good to know which episodes these moments come from so that we can watch out for them. I love their humour too. They get the funniest lines and deliver them so innocently.

Glad you're still enjoying the Digest. I'm pleased to say that there are still a lot of "originals" and very early members who have suffered through 2 1/2 years of Kearney news, and a huge amount of Waltons news too!

Hi Everyone,

To Nancy:

I do believe The Waltons will be on all day during Thanksgiving starting at 9:00 AM and is hosted by Miss Micheal Learned. I was up late one night and that was advertised on TNN. It didn't give any other details as to which episodes will be aired other than "The Thanksgiving Story".

Hope I'm able to catch a few shows before or after our Thanksgiving meal and Christmas ornament making. I started a tradition many years ago for the females in my family. All the men would go watch foot-ball after the meal and the ladies would clean up the dishes. Then we didn't have much to do, so now we all sit down and make new Christmas ornaments for the coming holiday. I buy any materials needed before the big day and we all have a great time. We all look forward to making our new ornaments.

I think traditions are important and is one of the things that keep a family feeling close to one another. Also, any non-family guest at our celebration gets to take home a new ornament to hang on their Christmas tree. I'd like to hear about anyone else's Thanksgiving traditions.

JF

KAREN'S COMMENT: What a lovely way to spend your holiday afternoon. Much better than watching the football! Well that's my opinion anyway, I'm sure many of you wouldn't agree. You're a bit like Elizabeth in wanting to keep the family traditions alive.

Hello Karen,

I had contacted you before about the Walton show and how much I love it! I didn't realize how many people actually look it up on the web!!! The studio execs should be made aware of this interest as I am sure they would look into making a new TV series to continue the saga. I was lucky to go to Virginia and visit the Waltons museum and take pictures of the Rockfish river. I cannot wait to go back!! I didn't realize until now that there really is a place called Rockfish and there is a real Dew Drop Inn. It would be so helpful if someone could post a site with all the places and directions. Some people only get to make the trip once and they would certainly want to see everything while they are there. Also we noticed there are two identical houses of the Waltons across from the school. Does anyone know why? Did the real grandparents live in the other one? Also they should have the church open, I would have loved to go in and sit and pray there! Well I look forward to be on your mailing list. Goodnight Karen,

From Rita in Canada!

KAREN'S COMMENT: Does anyone have any information about the two houses Rita mentions? Please let us know. Perhaps someone could do a "Waltons Tour" site. Great idea.

I remember the episode Keith is talking about... one of the sisters accidentally got locked in there when she leans on the wall, and very old bottles of the recipe are in there...LOL... I do not remember the title.

Jude

KAREN'S COMMENT: As Pat mentioned it's called The Hot Rod. What a blessing that she found the room. LOL

Hi Karen. In response to your question on TNN plans for thanksgiving there are showing THE WALTONS all day!!! Now can any of the Americans tell this Canadian when your thanksgiving is???

Keith

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hopefully next week we'll have the date confirmed for you but my calendar says Thursday 25th November.

Hello, my name is Sheila and I have loved watching the Waltons for as long as I can remember. I have heard that a special is planned but have not heard anything else but that it was tentative. I have looked on the webpage but nothing new. What can we do to get them to film and show the special? Is anybody going on the cruise in December with the Waltons cast members? If so, can you ask them that question about the special. I would love to see Elizabeth and Drew get married before anything happens to the cast. Has anybody gone to the reunions that they have in October and how is it? I would love to go next year and hope that they have it again. Sorry, for the long post.

Sheila

KAREN'S COMMENT: Lots of people have been writing to Les Moonves (not sure of the spelling) but you should find more information on the forum. I don't have the address on hand.

Hi Karen.

I would like to thank Donald for e-mailing me and letting me know about the upcoming Waltons that are going to be on.

I was watching saved by bell the other day and Yancy Tucker was on there he took the part of teacher, and today Corabeth was on MURDER SHE WROTE. She played a killer. If I knew that in the beginning I never would of watch it. The show that Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner) was on, he played a really good part. I don't usually watch that show.

Good night, Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad to know Donald was able to help you. He's very good that way and seems to always know what's on when. :-) I actually saw The Pearls the other day (for the first time ever I think) and really enjoyed Ronnie Claire Edwards portrayal of her twin sister. I need to check back to the episode, but does Corabeth say when she first arrives at the Walton home in "The Matchmakers" that she is all alone in the world now that her mother has died? Since then I've discovered that she has a brother who is "of the cloth" and a sister. Do we know of any other siblings?

WEDDING VOWS:

Dear Karen

Found your site via Alta Vista - Thanks a lot. I'm not a Waltons fan but my fiancée is. She keeps reminiscing about her favorite episodes and soon we are getting married.

She keeps talking about Mary Ellen's wedding vows which she says were very personal and romantic. Do you happen to know what they were as we may use some or all of them in our vows?

Any help you can give would be really great.

Many thanks

Keith