Hi everyone,

First off...a reminder to watch Richard Thomas in The Christmas Secret on Sunday, 9pm (CBS). Please watch it and let me know what it was like. I'm sure it will be wonderful and I can't wait until it is on out here. Maybe in time for next Christmas. We don't seem to be having a whole lot of Christmas movies on yet. Just the odd ones, but maybe this week we'll see more.

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/movies_specials/spe_holiday_christmas_secret.shtml

James received his one result in the mail on Tuesday and did very well with International Studies. It will add bonus points to his University entry score next year which will be great. His final program for next year is still undecided because he keeps changing his mind, but he will certainly study English, English Literature and Theatre Studies. He is then tossing up between Music, History and Maths Methods, and will choose two of these. Big decisions!

Now someone wrote and asked me about a video of the making of the Waltons Christmas Album. The one made last year. I seem to recall there were a few specials about last year. Was this one of them? Can somebody help with a title or more information please?

I've just had a peek at the TNN Christmas Day lineup. You lucky things...you get The Best Christmas, Day of Infamy, The Spirit AND The Children's Carol. I definitely don't have The Spirit, and I don't think I've got Day of Infamy either, otherwise I could have had my own little Waltons Marathon here. :-) Except that we'll be out during Christmas Day. I've just had a look at the Upcoming eps though, and they don't list The Children's Carol for 1p.m., but The Legend, however I think I'd probably suggest they changed to the Children's Carol for Christmas. Sounds great.

Have a great week everyone. I'm sure it will be a busy one. School finishes on Tuesday so I'll have a little time to catch up with things then. Talk to you next week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hi Karen, and all Waltons fans,

Karen reminds us all to watch the Richard Thomas movie coming up on Dec. 17. I'd like to suggest that you get the movie "The Christmas Box" which stars Richard Thomas, and watch this one too. It's on video. I bought it and it is wonderful! Even my hubby cried at the end.

Have a great Christmas season!

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: That one's a beautiful Christmas film. :-) Is it showing again?

Hi all,

My favorite Walton's Christmas moment....let's see....I love the Homecoming and watch it often, but my favorite one is in "The Best Christmas". It's when Olivia and Grandma are baking cookies in the kitchen. The windows are frosted over, and it's just beginning to snow. I love that.....the feelings of warmth and family closeness just can't be beat!

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder if they were filming that during the heat of summer? :-))

Hello everyone,

It's been awhile but I just had to write. Am I the only one who watches the Brady Bunch? LOL. I happened to see Joe Conley play a postman or delivery man or something. It was the episode where Peter saves a little girls life and the mother buys him toys etc. I'm sure someone has written this before. I still have some tons of Christmas shopping to do, but since I have no money until my birthday on the 14th (Yay! 15 finally!) I am broke. LOL.

I can't think of a Waltons moment that is my favorite, but I am enjoying the first season.

Goodnight all Hayley

KAREN'S COMMENT: Happy birthday Hayley. Hope it was a great one. As for the BB. I like it too, corny though it is. You're right about Joe Conley. He played a delivery man in the first season "The Hero" which aired in February 1970, so not too long before he got a more permanent gig on The Waltons.

During this past week The Revel ended the old series (1981) on Monday and so we went back to 1972 with the first season . We have seen a few early episodes especially The Foundling.

Yesterday was the 24th anniversary of The Best Christmas my favorite Walton Christmas episode---

The Pearl Harbor episode was Day of Infamy. It was initially shown on December 7,1978.

Donald

Hi Karen,

Could you please post again the address of the web site where I might find the recipe for Olivia's applesauce cake? Would like to try it for the holidays. Also, must weigh in on my favorite Christmas episodes: definitely, The Best Christmas and Day of Infamy. The latter is the episode in which Mary Ellen learns of Curt's "death" at Pearl Harbor. I love the final scene as Grandma delivers to Mary Ellen the letter Curt left for John Curtis and John reads it to the family. Curt tells John Curtis all about his extended Walton family and what kind of people they are. It is so touching. The family surrounding Mary Ellen with their love at that time in her life is what Christmas is really about. Merry Christmas to Walton friends everywhere!

Tammy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Tammy, I know it's on the new Homecoming website. Try http://www.angelfire.com/tv/homecoming/ . Oh they did write great episodes didn't they?

Hi Karen and other Walton fans,

I am new to this digest and I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying this digest so far. I am trying to catch up with former digest and so far I am up to 1999 digest 15.(still have a lot of reading to do). But I must say I am enjoying the read.

As for the Waltons my favorite are John-Boy (as played by Richard Thomas),Grandpa, and Elizabeth. My favorite episode is the Burnout.

Now for a bit about myself. I live in Newfoundland, Canada. I am married but have no children. I have a dog who thinks she is a child so maybe that counts. She is just like a baby.(lol).

That's it for now. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Good-night, Tish

KAREN'S COMMENT: Unusual for you to mention The Burnout as a favorite episode, but it is a great one. I like it too. Glad you're enjoying the digest.

Hello Karen and all Digest Members-

My address had been lost in Karen's computer crash and I had just gotten a new and rather overwhelming job so I hadn't realized that I was missing our Walton's Community... I'm so glad to be back and hearing your own and your Walton's memories!

My favorite Walton's Christmas movie is "The Homecoming" I especially love the part when John-Boy is at the Baldwin Sisters to borrow some gas and they sing "Throw out the Lifeline." My kids and I, even though we have never seen the actual words or music for the song, sing it by memory quite frequently.

At our home the Christmas Eve tradition I grew up with is still intact. We have a Christmas Eve supper which usually features roast duck with all the trappings and due to my husband's family tradition we also have oyster stew. Then we go for a drive around town to look at all the Christmas lights (the sun is usually down by 5 p.m. at this time of year here.) We go slowly and ooh and aah at all of the beautiful decorations. When we come home Santa has magically been there and has filled our stockings and left our presents and ate his cookies! We then open presents and the 3 kids get to play with their new toys. The new addition to the tradition is the Walton's cd which I got last year. My parents now come to our home for Christmas Eve and my Dad says "it just doesn't even feel like Christmas until I get to Mary's." Then on Christmas Day we go to my sister's in the Twin Cities. It truly is a joy sharing the Christmas traditions with my own family and I am always grateful for all we have.

Last night is was 20 BELOW zero here so I'm especially grateful for the furnance! and I hope all of you are staying warm and happy as well.

Good night everyone,

Mary

KAREN'S COMMENT: My family would just about die if I gave them roast duck and oyster stew on Christmas Eve! Can we visit too!!!!! Out here it gets hot so we usually go for fairly light meals during summer, except on Christmas Day where we all swelter while our turkey cooks in the oven. Actually mine will probably be done on the weekend this year, because I'm taking it to Rod's house. We're eating our lunch at a restaurant, then heading off to his mum for a cold meat and salad tea. We can't take her with us this year because she is still recovering from a series of strokes she had in September. Our own Christmas Eve tradition is to get everything ready for the next day, then to watch all the Christamassy things on TV, including the Carols By Candlelight, which we've been to before. It's a lot of fun. We had a look at some of the Christmas lights and decorations a few weeks ago, and sang carols in the car. At least James and I did. Rod just bah-humbugged and couldn't wait to get home!!! I can't even imagine 20 below 0...I don't think it even gets that cold in the snowy parts of Australia. :-))

Great newsletter as usual. Just wanted to wish all Walton fans a wonderful Christmas, looks like it might be a wet one here in the UK. Take care one and all.

Love Sue Steel

KAREN'S COMMENT: No snow? Have a lovely one anyway.

Hello Karen and All,

I wanted to let you all know that I finally received Earl Hamner's new book Murder in Tinseltown. It was a good book, but I could tell it was a cowritten book (Don Sipes Co-wrote), because it didn't flow like his others did. But, the back cover of the book mentioned that he is writing another book on his own. I find that very exciting since I like his writing.

I have been enjoying the Christmas memories of the Waltons. I was thinking about another that was a favorite. It is the one with Jeffrey and the escaped German prisoner of war. It was really neat to see Christmas celebrated by others differently, but yet very similar to how I have always celebrated. I was wondering if anybody has a special tradition in there family? We have one where on Christmas eve we get to open one gift. When I was a child, I always received new pajamas, I never realized there was a reason until I became a parent. My mom gave them, so that we would all look good for Christmas morning and pictures. Now, I do the same thing. I can't wait to hear of some other traditions all of your families have.

Good Night and may you all have a wonderful and joyous holiday season,

---Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: You'll be able to see your favorite Christmas one during Christmas day then Jennifer. It's The Spirit. Enjoy. Keep your Christmas memories coming, and you could add your own traditions too. One more week to go.

Hello Karen and everyone!

Yes, it is feeling like Christmas here in sunny California. The weather has cooled down a lot, but still averages days in the 60s. Two years ago, we had a little snow flurry, and I'd love to see that again!

How I long for a white Christmas! For all of you that are snowed in, I am so envious! We have decorated for Christmas but our two kittens are driving us crazy by climbing the Christmas tree and pulling off all the ornaments! :0)

Here's just a couple of answers to Ruth's trivia questions. Please correct me if I don't have all my facts straight!

* Seth (played by Ron Howard) was given a recorder made by Jason. (Or was it the other way around?) The fiddle was given to Jason by Cousin Zadok. (I'm not sure if I spelled that right.) The piano accordion was given to Jim Bob by (I can't remember this one) on which he played "Beautiful Dreamer" for Olivia.

* When Olivia, Elizabeth, and Jim Bob were lost in the woods, Jim Bob kept them from taking shelter beneath an old tree, which was then struck by lightening. This is one of my all-time favorite episodes!

* A meteorite or "falling star" as Grandpa called it, fell smack dab in the middle of the Baldwin sisters' "Recipe Room."

* Matthew Fordwick was played by John Ritter. I can't recall who played the others, but they were all ministers.

* I'm stumped on Grandpa's favorite hymn. I can recall him singing several with gusto! These include "When the Role is Called Up Yonder" and "Faith of Our Fathers."

* I can recall him quoting the poem as they lowered the statue into the pond, but I just can't recall the title and author. But it was about a woman.... Grandpa always had an eye for the ladies, but was always faithful to Grandma, the love of his life. I love to watch them argue, knowing how deeply in love they are.

Thank you, Cally, for writing in about Kami Cotler's real life brother being in "The Children's Carol." I didn't know that! Interesting!

Thank you for the TNN website address, Karen. I'll e-mail them today!

Valerie

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think most of your answers were right. The poem was something about the Great Annabel Lee or some such thing. As for Grandpa's favourite hymn...I'm not sure either. Perhaps Ruth will let us know.