Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[Blergh]

35 minutes ago, debraran said:

Swollen leg aside, Ma did have pretty hair. I liked seeing it down and during "Handyman"

So grateful for the things we have for healthcare today. So many died without penicillin or other topical antibiotics.

The only time a burglar is mentioned so she'd lock the door. I would think that wouldn't matter but a plot device. I also never understood why Caroline wanted a lock for her door because she was afraid of wolves etc. They open doors?This was when they moved into the house from the sod house. That had a door too. In books, they had a quilt once I think and that I could see being afraid of .

 

 

 

Oh, 'The Handyman'!

 

I thought it was a bit much (and would have likely shot TRL Ma's eyebrows to the sky) when 'Chris' insisted that the girls address him as such first thing instead of 'Mr.____" first thing  . It was still  super-casual (even in California) for an adult man to do that for minor females in the 1970's and so to it would have been virtually unthinkable for the Midwest in the 1870's!

Although, I did like Caroline's scathing self-defense when Mary all-but-called her a Jezebel re how she had conducted herself with Chris, I wish she hadn't let Mary off the hook when Mary blubbered 'Please LOVE me again!". Instead, I think Caroline should have hugged Mary tight and said 'Oh, Mary! You're my daughter and no matter what, I'll always love you! But right now, I don't like you and it's going to take a LOT of effort on your part for me to do so after the way you just talked to me! ' - then let Mary stew in her own on that! 

However, you are right about how vulnerable folks without modern medicine (although herbal folk remedies often were rather useful to people- and many of them became bases to the pharmaceutical ones used today). 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Blergh

[jason88cubs]

I know Doc Baker was gonna take  a look at Ma's leg but then someone came up and said their was a emergency but you think Doc Baker coudl have taken 5 seconds to just look. Not blaming him at all but I have a feeling in real life, he wasn't leaving till that leg got looked at

[BigBingerBro]

11 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

did they  ever say what type of pies she was making?

 

Whatever they were, they survived the storm much better than Caroline.  The pies were sitting on a ledge right outside the front door covered with a cloth.  There was a roof overhang, but the way that rain was coming down in buckets and the wind was blowing, those pies would have been a soggy mess in reality.

[debraran]

3 hours ago, Blergh said:

Oh, 'The Handyman'!

 

I thought it was a bit much (and would have likely shot TRL Ma's eyebrows to the sky) when 'Chris' insisted that the girls address him as such first thing instead of 'Mr.____" first thing  . It was still  super-casual (even in California) for an adult man to do that for minor females in the 1970's and so to it would have been virtually unthinkable for the Midwest in the 1870's!

Although, I did like Caroline's scathing self-defense when Mary all-but-called her a Jezebel re how she had conducted herself with Chris, I wish she hadn't let Mary off the hook when Mary blubbered 'Please LOVE me again!". Instead, I think Caroline should have hugged Mary tight and said 'Oh, Mary! You're my daughter and no matter what, I'll always love you! But right now, I don't like you and it's going to take a LOT of effort on your part for me to do so after the way you just talked to me! ' - then let Mary stew in her own on that! 

However, you are right about how vulnerable folks without modern medicine (although herbal folk remedies often were rather useful to people- and many of them became bases to the pharmaceutical ones used today). 

I know if she dared to do that with Widow Thurman (she just embarrassed herself) Pa would have said more than Ma for sure! (unless it was Laura) ; )

Yes herbs can do a lot but infections need more care. You have to be on it pretty quickly even now. My friend had a cat scratch her and in a few hours had a red line going up her arm from the scratch even though cleaned. She needed IV therapy.

I don't think the writers researched the 'uncle" part well but thought we needed to know he was like family to them. and couldn't figure that out ourselves.  I really loved how he was kind to Carrie and she laughed and had more lines I think and time on screen than ever. He actually seemed kinder to her than the family usually was.

Edited May 15, 2021 by debraran

[Pirpana]

4 hours ago, Blergh said:

Although, I did like Caroline's scathing self-defense when Mary all-but-called her a Jezebel re how she had conducted herself with Chris, I wish she hadn't let Mary off the hook when Mary blubbered 'Please LOVE me again!". Instead, I think Caroline should have hugged Mary tight and said 'Oh, Mary! You're my daughter and no matter what, I'll always love you! But right now, I don't like you and it's going to take a LOT of effort on your part for me to do so after the way you just talked to me! ' - then let Mary stew in her own on that! 

Like? No, no one ever just likes on Little House, they only love everybody. Just like new kids we saw on one episode and never heard about again. They weren't ever just Laura's friends, they were always her best friends.

[Egg McMuffin]

Lucy Lee Flippin may have been a plain jane by TV standards, but she was an excellent performer. I think back to the episode where she just found out that Harv was marrying someone else. Zaldamo was complaining to him about Laura and wanted EJ to mend his shirt. She lowered her voice an octave, told him off, and pretty much just blew him off the screen. It was one of the rare times LLF had decent material to work with. EJ could have been a great character, but most of the time came across as a cartoon.

[Blergh]

1 minute ago, Kyle said:

Lucy Lee Flippin may have been a plain jane by TV standards, but she was an excellent performer. I think back to the episode where she just found out that Harv was marrying someone else. Zaldamo was complaining to him about Laura and wanted EJ to mend his shirt. She lowered her voice an octave, told him off, and pretty much just blew him off the screen. It was one of the rare times LLF had decent material to work with. EJ could have been a great character, but most of the time came across as a cartoon.

I agree! Miss Flippen played Flo Castleberry's younger and overwhelmed  spinster sister Fran in Flo (1980-81) who was mainly a comic foil for the wilder title character and the stooge for their bitter, overwhelming mother but every so often, she'd chomp at the bit and, though this never got explored to any length in the shortlived sitcom, this viewer got the idea that Fran was gaining more self-confidence with Flo's presence and one might imagine that she'd one day be capable of finally overcoming their mother's guilt trips to live her own life (though she'd never be anything like Flo). 

[VCRTracking]

5 hours ago, debraran said:

Swollen leg aside, Ma did have pretty hair. I liked seeing it down and during "Handyman"

It shouldn't be a surprise the actresses would look different outside the show but still, wow.

[Blergh]

10 minutes ago, VCRTracking said:

It shouldn't be a surprise the actresses would look different outside the show but still, wow.

You realize that Miss Grassle wearing an ERA t-shirt would have been the equivalent of Ma wearing Bloomers in her day but Miss Grassle was by NO means unattractive- to say nothing of being less attractive than Mr. Landon (as he claimed was said by critics). 

[Blergh]

50 minutes ago, Pirpana said:

Like? No, no one ever just likes on Little House, they only love everybody. Just like new kids we saw on one episode and never heard about again. They weren't ever just Laura's friends, they were always her best friends.

And, no one is allowed to admit they hate anyone else (at least not around Ma)! In that Christmas rehash episode Albert had the temerity to ask the nearly-grown Laura when she started hating Nellie- and Ma sharply scolded him by saying 'We don't hate anyone!' 

Albert awkwardly rephrased the question (which led to Laura's recounting the whole Bunny and Nellie fake paralysis saga)  but I wish Laura had said ,"Speak for yourself, Ma! I hated Nellie and it was mutual until very recently and I don't care who knows it- including you!" 

[Zella]

The way they handled social situations with Nellie was really dumb to me. And this extends to Harriet too. Why keep inviting them to things? Why keep accepting their invitations? They really enabled both of their worst behavior. And every time they were awful yet again, it was met with surprise. Where have you dumb Ingalls been? Have you never met Harriet and Nellie? Do you not remember the dozens of other times they've been awful?  

I finally got to where I actually liked the Olesons and rooted for them over the Ingalls. 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Zella

[Blergh]

17 hours ago, debraran said:

I know if she dared to do that with Widow Thurman (she just embarrassed herself) Pa would have said more than Ma for sure! (unless it was Laura) ; )

Yes herbs can do a lot but infections need more care. You have to be on it pretty quickly even now. My friend had a cat scratch her and in a few hours had a red line going up her arm from the scratch even though cleaned. She needed IV therapy.

I don't think the writers researched the 'uncle" part well but thought we needed to know he was like family to them. and couldn't figure that out ourselves.  I really loved how he was kind to Carrie and she laughed and had more lines I think and time on screen than ever. He actually seemed kinder to her than the family usually was.

You're right! It seemed especially after the first year that virtually all the Ingallses considered her to be an annoyance to endure caring for rather than someone whose company they enjoyed. The Handyman was more attentive to her than Charles or Caroline wound up being- and it seemed only Mr. Oleson ,Mr. Edwards, Doc Baker and Reveradn Alden liked her rather than just  tolerated her like the others. I can't recall Grace Snyder Edwards or any of the Garveys or Wilders having much if anything to do with her. 

Strangely enough when Harriet took over Laura's classroom and Albert attempted a coup by having all the students behave like wild banshees, Carrie alone just sullenly (and silently ) sat in her pew and interacted with none of them. One wonders if whichever Greenbush twin may have been in that scene might have wished to join the other performers' anarchy (which seemed to be more fun than just sullenly sitting) . Of course, neither Harriet nor Laura gave her ANY credit for actually being the one student to refuse to participate in this action. 

[debraran]

1 hour ago, Blergh said:

You're right! It seemed especially after the first year that virtually all the Ingallses considered her to be an annoyance to endure caring for rather than someone whose company they enjoyed. The Handyman was more attentive to her than Charles or Caroline wound up being- and it seemed only Mr. Oleson ,Mr. Edwards, Doc Baker and Reveradn Alden liked her rather than just  tolerated her like the others. I can't recall Grace Snyder Edwards or any of the Garveys or Wilders having much if anything to do with her. 

Strangely enough when Harriet took over Laura's classroom and Albert attempted a coup by having all the students behave like wild banshees, Carrie alone just sullenly (and silently ) sat in her pew and interacted with none of them. One wonders if whichever Greenbush twin may have been in that scene might have wished to join the other performers' anarchy (which seemed to be more fun than just sullenly sitting) . Of course, neither Harriet nor Laura gave her ANY credit for actually being the one student to refuse to participate in this action. 

I forgot about that! That's because she didn't exist unless she fell into a well. (just a vehicle for others though) Still out of site.

Chris also made her a toy which you could see her playing with at the table as they dance, a wooden guy who moves when you pull the string.  What toy did she ever have that Pa made?

[Egg McMuffin]

Have either of the Greenbush twins spoken about the size of Carrie’s role in the later years? It would have been natural to shift some stories to Carrie as Laura got older, rather than bringing in Cassandra. I always assumed that Michael Landon didn’t think they were up to a bigger part, but maybe there was something else going on.

[Blergh]

19 hours ago, Kyle said:

Have either of the Greenbush twins spoken about the size of Carrie’s role in the later years? It would have been natural to shift some stories to Carrie as Laura got older, rather than bringing in Cassandra. I always assumed that Michael Landon didn’t think they were up to a bigger part, but maybe there was something else going on.

I listened to an interview Rachel Lindsay Greenbush and while she said that both Miss Arngrim and Miss Gilbert were happy to play with  the twins and Mr. Landon was perfectly professional to all the cast, Miss Greenbush oddly didn't mention that she had any kind of problem with them reducing Carrie's role - and she actually is quite articulate these days! 

What's odd is that after Mary went blind and Laura got to be an adult, in the books, LIW seemed to actually enjoy her younger sister's company more and considered her someone whose POV she valued (and TRL Carrie Ingalls Swanzey became a typesetter for   local newspapers , self-supporting and even filed a homestead claim before her marriage at age 41 [!] to a widower with two children). Sadly, as the show progressed, its   Carrie gave fewer and fewer indications of having any kind of spunk or determination whatsoever. 

https://www.walnutgrovecast.com/podcast/walnut-grovecast-an-interview-with-rachel-lindsay-greenbush/

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Blergh said:

I listened to an interview Rachel Lindsay Greenbush and while she said that both Miss Arngrim and Miss Gilbert were happy to play with  the twins and Mr. Landon was perfectly professional to all the cast, Miss Greenbush oddly didn't mention that she had any kind of problem with them reducing Carrie's role - and she actually is quite articulate these days! 

What's odd is that after Mary went blind and Laura got to be an adult, in the books, LIW seemed to actually enjoy her younger sister's company more and considered her someone whose POV she valued (and TRL Carrie Ingalls Swanzey became a typesetter for   local newspapers , self-supporting and even filed a homestead claim before her marriage at age 41 [!] to a widower with two children). Sadly, as the show progressed, its   Carrie gave fewer and fewer indications of having any kind of spunk or determination whatsoever. 

https://www.walnutgrovecast.com/podcast/walnut-grovecast-an-interview-with-rachel-lindsay-greenbush/

This gives another view:

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/little-house-on-the-prairie-michael-landon-never-made-it-fun-for-us-carrie-actor-lindsay-greenbush-said.html/

One quote from an interview:

Interestingly enough, she said the most difficult part of filming is that producers didn't really want Carrie to grow up. They wanted to keep her as young as possible on the NBC show."They wanted her to stay a little girl so they would write things for Carrie that would have been for a much younger child," Sidney explained.

I also read, but might be a rumor, that their mom wanted them to have more air time. The Godsister which was way too long at 90 min might have been a way to appease that and show limitations. It also wouldn't be in the normal reruns being longer.  I personally think there is a big difference between 90 min and 5 minutes. Having Carrie answer a question at school, say she's going to play with a friend, something other than just be there, would have been fine. She had nice moments with Mr Edwards and Chris the handyman.

Dan Bullock wrote the script so blame him for all the "Allysa's" : ) Mike directed.

 

 

Edited May 17, 2021 by debraran

[jason88cubs]

I feel like the Ingalls should have been more worried about all the tools in the barn that could have been stolen not the stuff in the house

[Mr. Sparkle]

4 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

I feel like the Ingalls should have been more worried about all the tools in the barn that could have been stolen not the stuff in the house

And the cows & chickens. I guess they took the horses. 

[Egg McMuffin]

Seriously - what was in the house that someone would want? The clothes? The dishes? Certainly not the orphans who the Ingalls couldn’t give away even if they wanted to.

[jason88cubs]

Myabe I missed it but before this episode did they even have a lock on their door?

 

I cant recall a episode befopre where they mentioned a lock

[CountryGirl]

On 5/15/2021 at 7:09 AM, Superclam said:

I was surprised when I read the part with Eliza Jane in the book. I guess the real Almanzo knew EJ was really like that? 

That was such a missed opportunity, not showing the contentious relationship between EJ and Laura (especially the "I'll rock that seat, Miss Wilder!" showdown in LTOTP).

But EJ had her moments. Like when she patched up the wallpaper after Almanzo threw the stove blacking brush at her when she was feeling her being left in charge bossiness to the full extent and he had HAD it. 

IIRC, Rose stayed with her later on, so the relationship couldn't have been all bad.

 

[CountryGirl]

Speaking of clothes, I seem to recall that they still had much of the LHOTP wardrobe available at the time Dr Quinn Medicine Woman was starting and asked if they wanted to use the clothing.

You'll be shocked to hear they hastily declined.

[debraran]

5 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Myabe I missed it but before this episode did they even have a lock on their door?

 

I cant recall a episode befopre where they mentioned a lock

When they moved in the house, Charles gave her the key when the girls went to make their beds. She said she was afraid of the wolves but now she wouldn't be (?) Charles said he didn't know she ever was, she hid it well.

[Katy M]

2 hours ago, debraran said:

When they moved in the house, Charles gave her the key when the girls went to make their beds. She said she was afraid of the wolves but now she wouldn't be (?) Charles said he didn't know she ever was, she hid it well.

Because of a lock?  Wolves don't usually open unlocked doors, either.  Now, coyotes on the other hand, a lock won't stop them.  Most of them have lock picking kits from Acme.

[Blergh]

10 hours ago, CountryGirl said:

Speaking of clothes, I seem to recall that they still had much of the LHOTP wardrobe available at the time Dr Quinn Medicine Woman was starting and asked if they wanted to use the clothing.

You'll be shocked to hear they hastily declined.

Not entirely! 

Miss Arngrim recounted how she and Miss Gilbert would gross each other out by how rank their respective woolen pioneer clothes would get as the seasons wore on despite the fact that these 20th century performers bathed daily but the wardrobes couldn't get washed as frequently. Of course, it was eye-opening to them to realize that if the clothes they only wore x number of hours during the X number of days weekly shooting schedule could so easily get smelly  even with access to soap and water, they realized how even MORE rank authentic pioneers who wore these clothes constantly for sometimes months or even years on end and rarely bathed! 

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Katy M said:

Because of a lock?  Wolves don't usually open unlocked doors, either.  Now, coyotes on the other hand, a lock won't stop them.  Most of them have lock picking kits from Acme.

Very odd, I always noted it. This video is bad but early on, 4:18, Charles gives her the key. Right before they catch Carrie going up ladder.

Yes, re the clothes, not romantic at all, seeing how sweaty and dirty Charles and others got, even the kids running around and they would hang their clothes up dirty (barn please!!) and put them back on in the morning. Washing wasn't at will and drying took a while. Seeing Mr Edwards had one shirt, maybe that was why : )

Edited May 18, 2021 by debraran

[CountryGirl]

Mr. Edwards' shirt had to be one of the nastiest things ever.

Followed only by his hat. 

[jason88cubs]

12 hours ago, debraran said:

When they moved in the house, Charles gave her the key when the girls went to make their beds. She said she was afraid of the wolves but now she wouldn't be (?) Charles said he didn't know she ever was, she hid it well.

ahh ok thanks!

 

even though they had a lock, I doubt they used it very much

[BigBingerBro]

In the books, there was nearly a chapter about how Pa fashioned a lock for one of their homes, if I remember correctly.  As good as Ms Wilder's writing was, I remember having a hard time understanding the mechanics of said lock.  I should re-read it now as an adult to see if it makes sense now.  Anyone recall what I am referring to and which book it's in?

[Zella]

I remember what you're talking about, but I also had a hard time figuring out what the hell she was talking about. I have a hard time understanding anything mechanical, though. 

I think it's in the book Little House on the Prairie, when they are out in Kansas. Actually looks like that is talking about how they locked the stable. 

Edited May 18, 2021 by Zella

[Mr. Sparkle]

20 minutes ago, BigBingerBro said:

In the books, there was nearly a chapter about how Pa fashioned a lock for one of their homes, if I remember correctly.  As good as Ms Wilder's writing was, I remember having a hard time understanding the mechanics of said lock.  I should re-read it now as an adult to see if it makes sense now.  Anyone recall what I am referring to and which book it's in?

In Little House on the Prairie, he makes a latch on the inside that has a long strap. If the strap is put outside through a hole in the door, one could pull it and open the door. If the strap is brought in, you can't open the door. 

Is that what you meant? Feel free to correct me if I got some details wrong. 

On a similar note, LIW could really go into explicit detail about something! I just finished These Happy Golden Years and she goes ON about the dresses she and Ma made. 

[BigBingerBro]

32 minutes ago, Superclam said:

Is that what you meant?

Yes, thank you!

[CountryGirl]

I loved all the details about the dresses. 

I was less thrilled hearing about the corsets and how Ma and Mary slept in theirs.

 

[jason88cubs]

I bet they really enjoyed spring and summer back then, later sunset, could be out doing picnics, playing games

[Blergh]

6 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

I bet they really enjoyed spring and summer back then, later sunset, could be out doing picnics, playing games

Yeah, but IRL they very rarely got to do any of that. I recall one time Ma (in the books) hoped her daughters would get to enjoy themselves the ONE free day they'd have before months of nonstop hard farm work. 

[debraran]

4 hours ago, Blergh said:

Yeah, but IRL they very rarely got to do any of that. I recall one time Ma (in the books) hoped her daughters would get to enjoy themselves the ONE free day they'd have before months of nonstop hard farm work. 

True. LHOP romantizes the time. Michael and Karen knew it but Mike wanted it to be watcher friendly. Caroline did a lot on her own we didn't see and the girls had light chores in the morning because the shows had to follow them around while they explored or got into trouble. ; )  Much more viewer friendly for sure.

Really free time would be fishing for dinner or collecting berries for pies and things like that. I never saw any toys either although you could make blocks etc. I know the house was small but a book or two or blocks. Pioneer kids did games I liked as a kid, I SPY, marbles, jacks, checkers. Checkers was something I thought they'd teach the girls, but it was mainly a guy thing with Doc and Hansen. ; ) I am just glad I didn't have to fill a huge bucket with water and use harsh soap to clean my husbands clothes caked with dirt and grime and try not to destroy more delicate items. Panties weren't a big thing then, they just had tights or petticoats from what I read. I mean why have another thing to wash? And don't google how they handled periods, I'll stay in 2021 thank you.  Women suffered in so many ways.

 

Edited May 23, 2021 by debraran

[Katy M]

3 minutes ago, debraran said:

I never saw any toys either although you could make blocks etc. I know the house was small but a book or two or blocks.

I remember in one of the books, probably LH in the Big Woods, Laura had a rag doll.  Her mother gave it away to a relative, Laura got upset and then in the spring they found it because the other little girl had thrown it out in the snow.

[debraran]

10 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I remember in one of the books, probably LH in the Big Woods, Laura had a rag doll.  Her mother gave it away to a relative, Laura got upset and then in the spring they found it because the other little girl had thrown it out in the snow.

Yes, and in the show, Laura had one break. But as handy as Ma was with needle and thread I thought they'd have a doll or Pa would get them a ball to play with. In some ways even the Oleson's weren't realistic, they had lots of toys and things but how did their chores get done being in store all day?  They still had a home to clean and store and clothes to wash and dinner to get ready. Not by their kids! Someone had to kill the animal to get the roast and peel the potatoes and pick the vegetables.  Laura did visit old men a lot. lol   I don't think Ma counted on her too much to help out. Setting the table was shown often but not cleaning up.

I don't mind the lack of realism but when someone says they want to live that way, I don't think they understand how it really was. Even our off grid housing today is better than that.

Edited May 23, 2021 by debraran

[jird]

3 hours ago, Katy M said:

I remember in one of the books, probably LH in the Big Woods, Laura had a rag doll.  Her mother gave it away to a relative, Laura got upset and then in the spring they found it because the other little girl had thrown it out in the snow.

I was about to say that I was outraged by that as a kid, but just thinking about it makes me mad now, too! 😅

[Snow Apple]

I remember in the books that Pa taught Laura how to play checkers but the others weren't interested. Grace got a wooden toy for Christmas during the Long Winter. Mrs. Boast gave them stacks of publications and Laura read out loud the stories while Ma and Carrie took care of dinner. The girls get to play with the pig bladder balloon once a year, LOL.

But I agree play time have to be between the many chores. There was a nice sunny day between blizzards and Ma did all the chores so the girls can enjoy that one day. 

[CountryGirl]

6 hours ago, Katy M said:

I remember in one of the books, probably LH in the Big Woods, Laura had a rag doll.  Her mother gave it away to a relative, Laura got upset and then in the spring they found it because the other little girl had thrown it out in the snow.

Charlotte the rag doll. 

Ma gave her away to a bratty little girl in On The Banks of Plum Creek (she was given to her to play with on a visit to the Ingalls’ because she was ripping up their paper dolls and refused to give her back when her mother decided it was time to go home).

One of a few times when I said, “Bite me, Ma!”

[jason88cubs]

7 hours ago, debraran said:

Yes, and in the show, Laura had one break. But as handy as Ma was with needle and thread I thought they'd have a doll or Pa would get them a ball to play with. In some ways even the Oleson's weren't realistic, they had lots of toys and things but how did their chores get done being in store all day?  They still had a home to clean and store and clothes to wash and dinner to get ready. Not by their kids! Someone had to kill the animal to get the roast and peel the potatoes and pick the vegetables.  Laura did visit old men a lot. lol   I don't think Ma counted on her too much to help out. Setting the table was shown often but not cleaning up.

I don't mind the lack of realism but when someone says they want to live that way, I don't think they understand how it really was. Even our off grid housing today is better than that.

I think the Oleson's paid or gave credit to people who brought in meat, thats what I imagine

[BigBingerBro]

1 hour ago, Snow Apple said:

The girls get to play with the pig bladder balloon once a year, LOL.

Melissa Gilbert said in an interview, that the pig bladder scene was the only one she had hoped they would do on the show.  She was disappointed they didn't do it.

[Blergh]

21 hours ago, BigBingerBro said:

Melissa Gilbert said in an interview, that the pig bladder scene was the only one she had hoped they would do on the show.  She was disappointed they didn't do it.

Maybe ML didn't think it would be Kosher for either of them to be seen swatting around a pig bladder. 

[bunnyblue]

On 5/23/2021 at 3:37 AM, debraran said:

Someone had to kill the animal to get the roast and peel the potatoes and pick the vegetables. 

 

On 5/23/2021 at 10:41 AM, jason88cubs said:

I think the Oleson's paid or gave credit to people who brought in meat, thats what I imagine

Yeah, somewhere along the way, I decided that the Oleson's paid some farmer for fresh cut meat. And then that farmer in turn spent that money at the Mercantile. Win-win all around. As for vegetables, I could see the Oleson's tending a garden, but if not then they probably bought their veggies from a local farmer as well. 

[debraran]

20 minutes ago, bunnyblue said:

 

Yeah, somewhere along the way, I decided that the Oleson's paid some farmer for fresh cut meat. And then that farmer in turn spent that money at the Mercantile. Win-win all around. As for vegetables, I could see the Oleson's tending a garden, but if not then they probably bought their veggies from a local farmer as well. 

I think they might have showed a garden once. It might have been flowers though. I saw her once doing laundry, just once, but seriously those chores were very time consuming. Her kids weren't shown doing chores and they both seemed to be in the store a lot. Not very accurate but watching Harriet dust was the most we got to see.

[Katy M]

13 minutes ago, debraran said:

I think they might have showed a garden once. It might have been flowers though. I saw her once doing laundry, just once, but seriously those chores were very time consuming. Her kids weren't shown doing chores and they both seemed to be in the store a lot. Not very accurate but watching Harriet dust was the most we got to see.

theoretically, Nellie helped out in the store because Nels had to hire Mary when Nellie was studying for that test.  If she genuinely wasn't any help, he wouldn't have had to bother.   But, that's just the nature of TV.  Even when you watch a workplace comedy, you rarely see any actual work being done.  Everybody on TV has a spotless home (unless it's a plot point that they are a complete slob) and you rarely see anyone clean (unless it's a plot point that they're a neat freak.  I'm looking at you Danny Tanner and Monica.)

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, bunnyblue said:

 

Yeah, somewhere along the way, I decided that the Oleson's paid some farmer for fresh cut meat. And then that farmer in turn spent that money at the Mercantile. Win-win all around. As for vegetables, I could see the Oleson's tending a garden, but if not then they probably bought their veggies from a local farmer as well. 

We never saw Mrs. Oleson anywhere close to a henhouse but somehow she had  white-shelled eggs to sell at the Mercantile beside's Ma's brown ones so it's likely some other farmers or even  'farmeresses' (as unmarried or widowed women farmers were called back them) may have sold/bartered them to Harriet. 

[Blergh]

When Nellie graduated, she made a speech mentioning 'friends and others' but, even though she always had folks attending her fancy parties, I can't recall her actually having a single, actual friend (and it seemed most if not all the attendees were there for the free, swanky food and a chance to see what her abode looked like- rather than wanting to be with her). 

[Snow Apple]

What was the graduation episode called? I don't remember it.