Walnut GroveCast

Shawn joins the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it!    “When their grain doesn’t sell for enough to see their families through the winter, Charles and Isaiah hire on with the railroad to haul a wagon-load of highly explosive nitroglycerin over a treacherous mountain road and, as their journey progresses, find themselves dealing with situations almost as volatile as the freight they so carefully carry.”   The Long Road Home originally aired on March 3, 1976 *From time to time I will release a video companion to each episode….go check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqcdJf0uP7I     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting The Long Road Home first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Aimee returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it!    “Pregnancy symptoms hit both Laura and her mother Caroline. Caroline, after bearing four daughters, really wants a son. But when it turns out Caroline is not pregnant at all, but is beginning menopause, she sinks into a deep depression. Her husband and daughters desperately try to convince her that they love her for the person she is, not for the person she wanted to be. Finally, Charles proposes that he and Caroline renew their wedding vows.”   I Do, Again originally aired on March 2, 1981     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting I Do, Again first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Fellow Long Islander and Little House fanatic, Tina O’Keefe joins the podcast and helps Mark discuss and break down this unforgettable and sometimes creepy episode. I Hope you enjoy it!    “On Halloween eve Mary and Laura hear a loud argument and on inspection they witness, what they believe, to be the murder of Mrs Oleson.”   The Monster of Walnut Grove originally aired on November 1, 1976   Check out Tina’s website where she can change your life by helping you organize it!  https://www.stowandbehold.com     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting The Monster of Walnut Grove first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Karyne returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it!    “Poor financial conditions influence the Ingalls family to move to Winoka when Mary goes there to teach at the Blind School. They meet Albert, an orphan who Charles forms an attachment to, even though Laura catches him stealing from the hotel that Charles was managing and Caroline was running the kitchen/dining room for.   While Mary is going to teach at the Blind School in Winoka, and since financially they can’t make a living in Walnut Grove the rest of the Ingalls family goes to Winoka, too. Charles gets a job managing a hotel and Caroline runs the Kitchen/Dining room. They make the acquaintance of an orphan, Albert who befriends the Ingalls.”   As Long as We’re Together originally aired on September 18, 1978     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting As Long as We’re Together first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Christina returns to the podcast to discuss this sometimes hilarious episode! Title: Fred Writer: Don Balluck Director: Michael Landon Air Date: November 29, 1976 In “Fred,” Laura Ingalls trades 40 cents for a troublesome billy goat named Fred to save him from Mr. Parsons’ shotgun. The goat’s antics wreak havoc in Walnut Grove, from eating Charles’ rushes to headbutting Mrs. Oleson and getting drunk on Mr. Edwards’ moonshine. Charles, frustrated after a grueling job, demands Fred go, but Laura’s persistent optimism leads her to seek homes with Carl’s pa and Reverend Alden, all ending in comedic disaster. When Fred eats Phineas Jenks’ rushes, it forces Jenks to pay Charles $12, earning Fred a reprieve. Ultimately, Laura finds Fred with a herd of nanny goats, choosing to let him stay with his new family. This lighthearted episode, directed by Michael Landon, blends slapstick humor with lessons on responsibility and letting go, showcasing Laura’s growth and the Ingalls’ resilience amidst chaos. 10 Heartfelt Quotes: “He’s the last of his kind.” “He kind of looks like a Fred.” “I saved his life.” “I think we ought to just leave him.”     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Fred first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Kelly Mielke from The Dr. QuinnCast Podcast returns to help me dive into this hilarious episode! Title: Wave of the Future Season/Episode: Season 8, Episode 10 Air Date: December 7, 1981 Director: Maury Dexter Writer: Don Balluck In “Wave of the Future,” Harriet Oleson, lured by Major Guffey’s promise of riches, transforms Caroline’s restaurant into a franchised “Mrs. Sullivan’s Kitchen,” complete with a rigid menu of pan-fried steak, beef stew, or roast chicken. The military-style efficiency backfires, overworking Caroline, Hester-Sue, and Harriet while alienating customers craving variety. Nels, skeptical from the start, teams up with Charles to open a rival restaurant, exploiting a contract loophole to sabotage the franchise. The plan works, and Guffey, revealing “Mrs. Sullivan” as a paid actress, terminates Harriet’s contract. Harriet, humbled, returns to running a family restaurant. The episode, a satirical jab at corporate greed, ends with a humorous nod to history as Harriet dismisses a pitch for a fried-chicken-only restaurant, unaware it foreshadows KFC. It’s a heartwarming reminder that community and authenticity trump soulless progress. 10 Heartfelt Quotes I chose: “It’s nights like this I wish I was somewhere else. Anywhere else.” “I know what you mean.” “The job, I can’t handle it. I’m here all day, I stay late.” “I’m worn out when I get home in the evening, I never even see my family.” “I don’t want to put you in a tight spot, but I have to give my notice.”     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting Wave of the Future first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Sarah Waggle joins the podcast to discuss this amazing episode Check out Sarah’s Youtube channel and learn about astrology! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-IJdQHc37FkCOXL7_JHkZA Episode: “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away” (Season 4, Episodes 21-22) Air Date: March 6, 1978 (Part 1), March 13, 1978 (Part 2) Director: William F. Claxton Writers: Arthur Heinemann (Part 1), Carole and Michael Raschella (Part 2) In Little House on the Prairie’s “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away,” Mary Ingalls faces a life-altering diagnosis: scarlet fever’s lingering effects are stealing her sight. As Walnut Grove grapples with a measles outbreak and economic collapse driven by a railroad cartel, Mary’s world darkens—literally and emotionally. Her initial denial and bitterness give way to despair when she wakes up blind. Sent to a blind school in Iowa, Mary resists help until meeting Adam Kendall, a blind teacher whose tough love sparks her resilience. Through Braille and determination, Mary finds purpose, aspiring to teach at Adam’s new school in Winoka. Meanwhile, the Ingalls family confronts financial ruin and decides to relocate, bidding a tearful farewell to Walnut Grove. This Emmy-nominated two-parter, blending heartbreak with hope, showcases Mary’s transformation and the family’s unyielding spirit, proving that even in darkness, light can be found. Some Quotes I Chose “Why can’t I just sit here?” – Mary “Pitying yourself won’t help.” – Adam “I wonder how much of our lives are spent worrying about things that just don’t mean anything.” – Charles “God must have chosen Mary for some very special purpose.” – Reverend Alden “It’s a huge, dark place filled with hidden obstacles.” – Mary     The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.