Small Things - First Saturday in September 2025

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six things that inspired me this week.

1. A Visit to Brambly Hedge

As soon as I saw there was a new Brambly Hedge book in the works, I pre-ordered my copy immediately! This is a lovely companion to the series, and a must if you love these books as much as a I do!

"A behind-the-scenes look at the miniature world of the hedgerow – with never-seen-before stories, sketches and archive content, perfect for fans young and old!

Immerse yourself in the world of the hedgerow in this collection of unpublished artwork, photos and never-see-before content from the creator of the beloved Brambly Hedge stories.

Spanning the seasons and all of Jill Barklem's hedgerow stories, discover all the research and intricate detail which underpinned her creative process, learn how these mice live and work in harmony with their environment, and watch the world of the hedgerow take shape through behind-the-scenes drawings from Jill’s own sketchbooks."

2. Brambly Hedge - Autumn Story

And speaking of Brambly Hedge, I've shared these links before because they are so lovely and so much fun for children (and adults, too!) that I always find them worth sharing again and again.

There was a Brambly Hedge TV series on BBC some years ago, and you can find the episodes now on You Tube. I've linked the Autumn Story episode above, but you can easily find others as well.

If you've never read the book and don't want to purchase it, there are several read-aloud's on You Tube, as well, I particularly liked this one from the The Cozy Bookish Cottage!

3. Cozy Cottage Life In Autumn

The same vlogger, Indoora World, has also created a two hour compilation of cozy autumn baking and  crafting! A feast for the eyes and the imagination!

4. My Favorite Seasonal Movies - With Honors

We kicked off Seasonal Movie Sundays in our house this past weekend. The selections for September share a bit of an academic theme, and with began with one of my favorites, With Honors, and you can watch it for free on Tubi!

With Honors is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Alek Keshishian. It stars Brendan Fraser as a Harvard University student who finds himself at the mercy of the demands of a homeless man (Joe Pesci) when he holds his senior thesis paper hostage. Moira Kelly, Patrick Dempsey, Josh Hamilton, and Gore Vidal also star. You can learn more about the movie, here.  This movie is rated PG-13, but you may feel that even 13 is a bit too young for some of the subject content.  Here's a breakdown of what you can expect to guide you from Kids In Mind. We didn't watch this with our girls until they were older.

5. Vanilla Spiced Pear Butter

I'm slowly building our winter pantry, and on the list this week is Vanilla Spiced Pear Butter, one of my favorites! This recipe is simply the best.

6. Fall Is Here! Nostalgic 1940's Vintage Autumn Music

I just love these vintage autumn playlists! If music from the 40's isn't your vibe, a quick search on You Tube or Spotify should provide you something more to your liking.

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Small Things - Last Saturday of August 2025The days are getting shorter!

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six things that inspired me this week.

1. Discipling the Home

I just discovered Kate's lovely Instagram account this week. Such a soothing place to stop and reflect.

2. 7 Simple and Natural Ways To Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

I'm always inspired by Katie at Heart's Content Farmhouse, and since I've been decorating for autumn this week (sounds so much prettier than fall!), I enjoyed this post.

3. Vanilla Hot Cocoa Mix

I don't usually sip hot cocoa until it gets colder, not sure why, it's just always been more of a December, winter beverage for me. But when I came across this recipe for vanilla hot cocoa this week, I was intrigued. I've got the ingredients on my grocery list. I'll let you know what I think when I make it!

4. Fire Roasted Chocolate Chipotle Chili

Thinking of adding this to my autumn menu.  Cincinnati chili has chocolate in it and I love it!

5. September Garden Tasks

 I love these monthly garden tasks I found on Pinterest. I saved all twelve months to my Garden board.

6. 19 Autumn Carols to Keep You Cozy This Season

What a lovely post, and an even lovelier site! Going to spend more time here in the very near future!

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Small Things - Fourth Saturday of August 2025

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

 In no particular order, here are six things that inspired me this week.

1. Marinated Flank Steak Tacos

Loving the look of these tacos. Might be a nice meal to finish out the summer, which in our house, is Labor Day. :)

2. The Cozy Burrow

I always enjoy the time I spend with Katie at The Cozy Burrow. I love that her life's ambition is to become Mrs. Weasley or Beatrix Potter. Same!

3. Crocheted Rustic Pumpkin Garland

I made about a dozen of these up a few seasons ago. They are quick and easy and turn out so cute! If you crochet and are looking to add some sweet simple touches to your decor, you should try this pattern!

4. Kitchen Essentials Checklist

I'm putting together a little recipe binder for my newlywed daughter to take her when she moves in September (only three hours away!). I think I'll include this checklist, although, if you know me, I'll probably re-do it to suit!

5. How To Host A Soup Swap

With Autumn on the horizon, I love the idea of hosting a Soup Swap!

6. The Ultimate Sunday Driving Playlist

We've been taking a lot of Sunday drives over the summer, and I hope to carry it into Autumn. Looking forward to trying out this playlist.

Small Things Second Saturday of August 2025

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that inspired me this week;

1. Forever Young: A Memoir by Hayley Mills

Not sure how I managed to miss this one, it was published in 2021. I discovered this week as I was blog hopping, and immediately checked to see if it was available on Hoopla. Sadly, it isn't, but our library system does have a physical copy, so I placed it on hold.  Can't wait to dive in! I love a good memoir, and I love Hayley Mills!

2. Easy Black Bean Soup

The 'ber months are quickly approaching, and with that changes to my menu.  I'm actually working on a seasonal meal rotation plan that I hope to finalize this coming week. I'll be sharing it here, so if you like that sort of thing be sure to watch for it. I thought I had all the soups / stews I want to try, and then this one came across my screen. But honestly, once the temps drop, can you really have too much soup?

3. 15 "Feel Better" Home Remedies

With the arrival of the 'ber months,  my seasonal allergies typically follow, which often leads to other illnesses. I do take allergy medicine this time of year, but I've leaned toward more holistic methods for awhile now. I'd love to find a combination of things that would help me elimintae the OTC solution altogether. I briefly skimmed some of her suggestions and plan to research them more. 

4. Give Me A Cozy Sunday Diffuser Blend

I love everything about this, the scents, and especially the name!

- 3 drops cinnamon

- 2 drops clove

- 2 drops vanilla 

5. The Charm of Home

I bookmarked Sherry's blog at some point, and came across it again this week as I was filtering through the endless links I have saved! I'm trying to get better at not only bookmarking things, but putting the information to use or organizing it into a more manageable system (whatever that is!). Anyhoo, I definitely got a little side-tracked when I clicked on the link to take me to her blog and spent a good amount of time there. The pictures of her garden are just lovely and are inspiring me to add some new plants to the landscape next Spring!

6. 70 Movies Based On True Stories

Just as I love a good memoir, some of my favorite movies are based on true stories. In fact my hands-down, all-time-favorite movie is October Sky, if you've never seen it, you need to! So when I found this list I was instantly intrigued, and discovered some I've never seen and added them to the list, including, 

One Life, The Keeper and The Highway Men.

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Small Things First Saturday of August 2025

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that inspired me this week;

1. Our Kin Home

This week I discovered Mary's lovely home on the web. Such a sight for the eyes! So often when I happen across these lovely sites I get the itch to revamp my own, but . . . . I'm cheap, and so long as Blogger remains free, I'm happy with what I've created here. I'm getting off track here, but if you have the time you really should visit Mary! I was especially intrigued by some of her recipes, in particular her Orange Cardamom Latte, and Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup. I've been menu planning and preparing for Autumn this week, thus the reason for my absence here, and these both sound delicious!

2. 15 Cozy Life Tips That Will Make You Feel Like A Cute Character

I just like the sound of this one when it came across my feed. I'm all about living a cozy life, and that cute character bit, I'd be ok with being known as a "cute character". :)

3. Tiny Happy Things

This cute little diddy caught my eye on Pinterest this week, "that first sip of coffee", "new pens", "starting a book and realizing you love it". Yes to all of these!  

4. The Word "Diddy"

I used the word diddy and then wondered 1.) if it really was a word, and 2.) If I was using it correctly, and this is what I discoverd when I looked it up.

d i d d y - as a small thing

In a less formal context, "little diddy" can be used to describe something small and inconsequential, sometimes with a touch of affection or humor.

So me!

5. The Trolley Car Family

I've set a rather ambitious goal to read a vintage children's book once a week in August. I LOVE to read, but sadly find hat so often other things take precidence over it.  Things will be gearing up quickly come September, so August is the perfect month to try to get a few in, and I'm beginning with The Trolley Car Family. Care to join me? It's available at the archives!

6. Sunflower blooms,

thunderstorms roll in, 

lazy afternoons on repeat, 

what day is it again?

air conditioned naps, 

crips, cool bed linens,

homemade ice cream,

berries galore,

a hint of fading sunlight,

summer, please don't end!

@unhurriedfarmhouse

Autumn is my favorite season, but I have to say, other than the extreme heat we've been experiencing lately, since we moved to Virginia 25 years ago, I've learned to love summer, especially the endless sunlit days! 

Photo Credit: Joy Solomon

Joy and her husband Manny are missionaries with the Every Heart Movement. They've been married a little over a year, and are traveling the globe spreading the good news of Jesus Christ! If you're looking for a ministry to support, please consider helping to fund them as they continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

❊

 

Small Things - Last Saturday In July 2025

Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that inspired me this week.

1. Cottagecore Coloring Book For Women

I've loved coloring since my childhood, and even now I often find it to be a relaxing pastime. So when I came across this beauty, I was immediatel intrigued! There are a couple of examples on some of the pictures in another image, and they just look lovely.

I've had a few others on my wish list for awhile now;

- Brambley Hedge Nature Coloring Book

- Restful Retreats: A Beatrix Potter Inspired Coloring Book

Of Cozy Animal Naps

There are so many varieties of coloring books for adults, I was actually a little surprised! A quick search in Google or on Amazon will provide you with a plethora of choices.

2. Vanilla Bean Pear Butter

I have been making a lovely Vanilla Pear Jam for a couple of years now and absolutely love it! But this recipe caught my eye this week, and I think I might give it a try.  I'm looking forward to the outdoor tasks that summer inevitably brings to wind down, and to spending more time indoors and in the kitchen. 

3. Ideas For Christmas Crafting

Is it too early to begin thinking about Christmas gifts and crafting? My eyes were feasting on a number of images on Pinterest this week. There's just no other time of year like it!

4. Our Little House In The Country

Clara's site is new to me, and I've really enjoyed perusing her offerings. In particular, Slowing Down In August, can you believe it will be upon us by the end of this coming week? I also liked the sound of Our Little Friday Letter, which is a weekly offering, much like Small Things, I suppose?

5. I Miss My Library

I don't recall exactly what put me on to this site, and to be honest, I'm not even sure it's something I would utilize. But the objective is to provide the user with a virtual space designed to evoke the feeling of a library, and also provides a customizable to-do list to enhance productivity and focus. And if libraries aren't your thing, try I Miss My Cafe.

6. 30 Best End Of Summer Quotes

Though technically summer is still with us until near the end of September, in our home it ends on August 31. That means there are roughly five weeks of summer tasks to complete, and while there will still be outdoor/garden tasks through September, that is when I begin to pull back a bit and begin focusing more on our home and beginning early prepartions for the upcoming holiday season. I was particularly moved by this quote.

"Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well."

- GEORGE R. R. MARTIN

I read an article recently that said we get only 18 summers with our children, and expressing the importance of cherishing those days. I don't know about how many summers we get, not only with our children, but with our parents, our spouse? I think the important thing is to do our best to cherish every moment of life, because things can and often do change so quickly.

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Wayback Wednesday - The Summer Movie Edition

This summer my husband and I have been working our way through my boxed set of beach movies. Every Monday night is "Old Movie Monday" at our house, and even though we had watched a few of these before, we decided this summer to watch them all, and in the order they were released. So far we've watched

- Beach Party (1963)

- Muscle Beach Party (1964)

- Bikini Beach (1964)

and 

- Ski Party (1965) which is technically not a beach movie, but it is included in the box set, and is actually one of my favorites.

These movies are campy, but I love them! I actually have very fond memories of watching them with my mom. Her favorite was How To Stuff A Wild Bikini and Pajama Party, which, sadly, is not included in the box set.

If you've never seen them, or you just want to take a little trip down memory lane, you can watch them online, most of them for free!

- Beach Party

- Muscle Beach Party

- Bikini Beach

- Pajama Party (only available on Prime)

- Beach Blanket Bingo - one of my personal favorites!

- Ski Party - another favorite!

- How To Stuff A Wild Bikini - and yet another favorite!

There are also two movies in the boxed set that I couldn't find free online, Thunder Alley and Fireball 500, both of which are about racing, which makes them less desireable to watch, at least for me.

Another movie with a beach theme that I love is Summer of 42, which is the story of a young boy who develops an innocent love for a young woman whose husband is in the military. It stars a young Jennifer O'Neill, who has always been one of my favorites. I especially remember the Theme From Summer of '42, which was sung by my mother's favorite crooner, Andy Williams, and I absoutely love this instrumental version. 

There are a number of movies with a summer theme or setting, such as;

- American Graffitti (Netflix)

- The Parent Trap (1961) - (Disney)

- Rear Window  - my all time favorite Alfred Hitchcock! (Netflix)

- To Catch a Thief - summer on the French Riviera! (Pluto)

- A Summer Place - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Daily Motion)

And then there's always my favorite summer movie, Gidget, which I wrote about, here.

Hopefully I've listed at a least a few that may be new to you that you can enjoy as hot days of summer amp up. What about you? Do you have any favorite movies you watch in this season? I'm always looking for new recommendations!

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The Homekeeper's Commonplace: An Old World Creed

AN OLD WORLD CREED

I believe in all things beautiful,

The beauty of simple things.

I believe in music,

Where melody is quickly found;

And in poems, that sound like song.

I believe in books

That hold lovely thoughts.

In pictures, that rest the eye 

and soothe the senses.

In plays that keep the heart young.

Little things delight me,

A sunbeam on a blade of grass,

A dewdrop in the heart of a flower,

A daisy with a rosy frill.

I believe in joy,

and quick laughter;

In sentiments, in love,

in reverance.

I believe in all things beautiful.

I believe in God.

- MINNIE AUMONIER

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Small Things - Third Saturday in July 2025

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that inspired me this week.

1. Seven Old Fashioned Summer Activities

My parent's had a croquet set when I was little, what a fun game! Also, check out their publication Parcel & Post Summer Edition. Available for purchse or free to members on the app.

2. The Lost Art of Inviting People Over

Stress free tips to make people feel welcome. I really enjoyed this articles, it reminded me that it really is so simple, all you need is a plate, a cup, a napkin, a snack a flower, and of course, a friend.

3.The Dandelion Vase

The perfect baby shower gift for new moms! I see these little vases at thrift shops all the time and pass them over, but I absolutely love this idea! I would make the card a little prettier, but what a perfectly sweet idea!

4. Gladys Taber - July

Passages from the writings of Gladys Taber on July.

5. Coke Bottle Flower Vases

I came across this image on Pinterest this week and found it so cute and practical! Coke bottles, flowers, and flags make a cute patriotic decoration. I have a small collection of vintage coke botttles that I think I'd like even better! 

6. Signs You Are A Homebody

- Love when plans get canceled.

- Weekend - blanket + no plans.

- Favorite mug you use daily.

- "Going out" = a trip to the mailbox

- Same shows on repeat.

- Rainy days feels magical.

- Fresh sheets are the best feeling!

I am definitely a homebody, how about you?

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Small Things - Second Saturday of July 2025

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

1. Sit Spot - A Sacred Place To Observe The Rhythms Of Nature

I remember sit spots from my years as a Camp Fire Girl. Maybe I'll give it a try!

2. Potting Sheds

, and especially this one (pictured). I just love the

framed ads! 

3. 4 Habits That Kept Homes Peaceful For Centuries

I love this post from @themillionairehomemaker

". . . our grandmothers knew something we’ve forgotten: Peaceful, productive homes weren’t built on hustle.They were built on rhythm, on routine, on reverence for the little things."

4. The Spiritual Habits

From Reclaim Today. This autumn I'm going to do a year long series of posts of my spiritual journey and Rule of Life. If that's something that interests you, I hope you'll join me!

5. No Churn Chili Chocolate Ice Cream

Chili and Chocolate are two of my all time favorite combinations, and this no church recipe, sounds like a winner!

6. Cottagecore Brunch Recipes

I love these sweet images which are all over social media right now. I couldn't trace where this on orginated, but I ideas for brunch! I've been craving cottage cheese lately, and yet for some reason I still manage to forget to pick up a carton when I'm at the store! I love the idea of eating it with fruit and drizzled with honey! Sounds like a simple, delicious meal for summer! You can find the recipes in The Cottagecore Cookbook, available from Amazon (Affiliate Link), or

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the blue sky, is by no means waste of time. 

- JOHN LUBBOCK

Recreation: The Use of Life, 1894

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Retro Rewind - .02

 It's time for another edition of Retro Rewind and a look back on memories from my childhood, growing up in the 60's and 70's.

FAVORITE FOODS

Growing up I was literally addicted to Dr. Pepper! And while these days I prefer Coke, in junior high and high school I drank Dr. Pepper like water. while it's still a popular choice today, a lot has changed over the years, and it's fun to see how it has evolved. 

Did you know that Dr. Pepper is the oldest major soft drink made in America? The recipe was created in Waco, Texas by pharmacist Charles Alderton in 1885 and was first nationally marketed at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. Today there is an entire museum dedicated to its history. 

The branding has changed a bit over the years, and they've had some unique marketing campaigns as well, like this commercial from 1979, do you remember Be A Pepper? I even had an I'm A Pepper t-shirt. I think I could probably sing the entire song from memory, as well as Hilltop, which was a popular song written for a Coca Cola marketing campaign.Do you remember that one? What was your favorite soft drink from back in the day?

FAVORITE STORES

TG&Y

In my previous Retro Rewind, I shared about going to my favorite store, Kresge, but another favorite we often frequented was TG&Y. The store we shopped at was located in the Haltom Plaza shopping center, which still exists today, though TG&Yclosed many years ago. The shopping center opened in 1959, and the original neon sign is still operational. TG&Y was a 5-10 cent store, and I spent a hefty chunk of my allowance there every week. I also recall my mom often shopped there for Christmas presents. They had a wonderful toy department. We spent a lot of time at other stores in Haltom Plaza, too, shopping for food at Wyatt's Supermarket, eating lunch every Sunday after church at Wyatt's cafeteria, and then going for ice cream at Ashburn's. So many great memories! I also remember getting the absolute best brownies from the bakery at Buddie's Supermarket, which was at another location. We also had a Safeway and Piggy Wiggly nearby, though I don't recall shopping at them as much. In one of the stores, maybe Safeway, there was an area where children could sit and watch cartoons while their mother's shopped. I don't recall my mom every letting me do that, but I always thought it looked like fun. What grocery stores can you recall from your childhood? 

FAVORITE TV SHOWS -  TV GUIDE AND THE BEST FRIDAY NIGHT LINE UP

There as a period of time in the 1970's when the line up of sitcoms on Friday night kept me entertained for hours. The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family (I had a HUGE crush on David Cassiday), Room 222, The Odd Couple and Love American Style, which, looking back, I can't believe my mother let me watch. It was my favorite night of the week to watch television, and even more fun if I was having a friend over to spend the night, which I often did. Later in the evening we would watch The Midnight Special and listen to our favorite bands. The 50's, 60's and 70's were the golden age of hollywood and television. Even today I rarely find anything that compares with the quality and wholesome goodness of that era. Most of these old sitcoms are still available to stream today, and I enjoy watching an episode or two from time to time.

- The Brady Bunch  - you can watch the first three seasons for free on Pluto, and Paramount has all five seasons, but requires a subscription.

- The Partridge Family - you can watch all four seasons on Tubi.

- Room 222 - I haven't been able to find a streaming service that carries this show, but you can find a few episode on You Tube.

- The Odd Couple - you can watch all five seasons on Pluto for free.

- Love American Style - not available from a streaming service, that I can find anyway, but you can find some episodes on You Tube.

- The Midnight Special - and it's the same for The Midnight Special. This link will take you to an episode, hosted by Helen Reddy, which I don't recall, I always thought it was hosted by Wolfman Jack? 

Back then I kept up with all my favorite shows by checking the schedule in TV Guide. Although our guide came in the Sunday paper, my maternal grandmother subscribed to the actual guide for years and she saved all her old copies for me to peruse. I loved reading the articles and learning about my favorite shows and stars. I wish I'd held on to more than a few of them now, as many of them have become collectors items, and here's a guy who has them all! There is also apparently a book, TV Guide: The First 25 Years that chronicles the history of the publication and highlights some of the bigger issues and articles. I'm not sure I'd want to read it cover to cover, but it might be fun to peruse.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane, and that it's evoked a few of your own nostalgic memories. Did you have a favorite tv show, or Hollywood crush growing up? Let's chat in the comments!

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Series Sundays - Christy (1994-1995)

Around our house we are big on themes, and we like to make ordinary days fun, which is why we observe things like Old Movie Mondays (old movies from the 50's, 60's and 70's), Time Warp Tuesdays (videos on You Tube that focus on life in the 50's, 60's and 70'), and Throwback Thursday (1 1/2 to 2 hours of vintage 60's/70's sitcoms). Friday is Family Game Night (newly reinstituted) and we leave a few days open for other selections. We also often don't observe each of these themes every week, but they do sort of serve as a guideline to aide us in the often asked question, "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WATCH?".

In addition to these, Sundays are reserved for seasonal movies, especially at Christmas. But with the other season's, we often find that there aren't enough movies to fill the entirity of the season, which is why we decided upon Series Sundays, to help fill the gaps. Recently we watched House of David (we actually watched it twice), but last night we began re-watching a series we'd forgotten about until we came across it on DVD at a yard sale, Christy.

Christy is based on the 1967 novel Christy, written by Catherine Marshall, the widow of Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall (who was immortalized by Richard Todd in the 1955 feature film, A Man Called Peter). The novel, inspired by Marshall’s mother’s adventures in the mountains of Tennessee, tells the story of Christy Huddleston, a young woman who goes to Tennessee to help teach the impoverished children of the highlanders. In the television series, which  takes place in 1912 Tennessee, Christy (portrayed by Kellie Martin), is inspired by a visit from Miss Alice Henderson (portrayed byTyne Daly), and against her family's objections, packs up and goes to Miss Alice’s Quaker missionary located in the fictional village of Cutter Gap. There, the naive but strong-willed Christy witnesses first hand the poverty, relative ignorance and superstition of the farmers and miners who work there, but she also falls in love with the beauty of the Smokey

Last night we watched what was the two-hour pilot episode when Christy firsts arrives to teach school at the mission and is immediately faced with obstacles. The church building where school is held during the week isn't completed. There are very few books and they are in bad repair, and she is shocked to find that none of the children are own a pair of shoes. There are ongoing fueds between families which results in bullying, and Christy is shocked at the conditions she finds her students living in when she visits their houses. It's quite the culture shock, and for a brief moment, she almost decides to leave. But then on the very morning when she's about to give up and quietly slip away, one of her young students, Mountie O'Teale, who up to that point had not spoken a word, finds her sewing buttons on her coat and says, "buttons". That is the moment that changes everything for Christy and she realizes that in spite of the hardships, she really is reaching the children and making a difference in their lives. Mountie is probably my favorite of the stidents, but I'm also very fond of two of the little boys, Little Burl Allen, who 'came to exchange howdies with you", and Sam Houston Holcombe, who teaches Christy that in the highlands of the Smokey Mountians, houses don't have addresses, at least, not in 1912.

Another actor I was happy to discover was in the series is Emily Schulman who portrays Ruby Mae Morris. She was in another movie, Caddie Woodlawn as well as Troop Beverly Hills. I've now added both of these movies to my summer movie watchlist.

In the series Ruby Mae is an orphan who lives and works in the kitckitchen at the mission. and Christy's influence transforms Ruby into a lovely and capable young woman.

There are also a couple of love interests, Rev. David Grantland, who is  based on Catherine Marshall's husband, Peter, and Dr. Neil MacNeill, who has lived with this community almost all of his life with the exception of a brief period when he went to school to get his degree. Christy is non-committal in the series, likely because it unfortunately didn't last long, but there were three additional movies made after the series ended (Christy is portrayed by Lauren Lee Smith), and in one of them she marries Neil. I've never seen those movies. I was disappointed that Kellie Martin didn't reprise her role, but many of the other cast members did, so perhaps it's worth giving them a try.

If you are interested in the series or the other movies, you can find them linked below.

Christy - pilot episide and complete series, albeit a bit chopped up on You Tube.

Christy - complete series on DVD (Affliate Link)

NOTE: Kellie Martin does not portray Christy in the next three movies. 

Christy - Return to Cutter Gap - on DVD (Affliate Link)

Christy - A Change of Seasons - on DVD (Affliate Link)

Christy - A New Beginning - on DVD (Affliate Link)

Have you ever watched Christy? If not, I highly recommend it. It's appropriate for all ages, we first watched it in 2008 when our daughter was 7 and she loved it. Maybe try the rather cut-up version on You Tube, and if you like it well enough you might consider adding it to your collection. The Amazon prices are a little pricey. We got our copy at a yard sale, but you can also check out the third party sellers on Amazon to get a better price. If you do watch it, let me know what you think, I'd love to hear!

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