Seattle Press on Line - Time Traveling The Roosevelt District With Betty Macdonald

Time Traveling The Roosevelt District With Betty Macdonald

The comments associated with this article have been suspended in favor of a topic in the Forums located here. The original comments appear below the article here. This article sparked more comments than any other in the six years prior to the change. Thank you.

By Paula Becker

Hollywood Theatre, circa 1938, part of the King County Land Use Survey. This collection is housed at Puget Sound Regional Archives.

Feb 14, 2002 -- Betty MacDonald is perhaps best known as the author of The Egg And I. First published in 1945, the book hilariously describes Betty's life as a young wife on a chicken ranch on the Olympic peninsula. The Egg And I sold more than a million copies its first year in print and was made into a film starring Claudette Colbert as Betty. Its success catapulted Betty MacDonald into worldwide fame. What many fans of the book don't know is that Betty, who lived most of her life in King County, published three other autobiographical books, Anybody Can Do Anything, The Plague And I, and Onions In The Stew. The Plague And I manages to find Betty's own humor even in the grave face of her confinement to Firland Sanatorium with tuberculosis in the days before antibiotics. Onions In The Stew recounts the years Betty and her second husband, Donald C. MacDonald, spent living on Vashon Island. Both these books paint a fascinating picture of life in the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s and '40s, but it is in Anybody Can Do Anything that Betty MacDonald most lovingly and lyrically recalls her life in the Roosevelt/University District of Seattle during the darkest days of the Great Depression.

Elsie (Sydney) Bard, Betty's mother, was widowed when Betty was twelve years old. Left with five children, Sydney lived on in the big house in Laurelhurst she and her husband had purchased in 1919. By 1924, reduced funds and the desire to be closer to the new Roosevelt High School, which opened its doors in 1922, brought the Bard family to 15th Avenue NE. Sydney and various of her children lived in the house, number 6317, for almost twenty years. Both the house and many of the places they frequented as they went about their daily lives still remain, sometimes worse for wear but often clearly visible under a thin veneer of modernity. Join me for a tour of Betty's everyday spots, circa 1933.

6317 15th Avenue NE, circa 1938, part of the King County Land Use Survey. This collection is housed at Puget Sound Regional Archives.

Note: your tour of this house should stop at the street, to avoid disturbing the current residents.
6317 15th Avenue NE: "...that shabby house with its broad welcoming porch, dark woodwork, cluttered dining room plate rail, large fragrant kitchen, easy book-filled firelit living room, four elastic bedrooms--one of them always ice-cold--roomy old-fashioned bathrooms and huge cluttered basement, represents the ultimate in charm, warmth and luxury." This house, now asbestos-sided and obscured by trees, stands behind the bus stop sign on 15th Avenue NE just south of 65th Street. Blanche Caffiere, Betty's good friend from high school, describes the house as being so full of family and friends that painting the kitchen floor took three tries--the enamel paint never had a chance to dry before someone needed to get into the room. Betty's older sister Mary, whose confident motto that anybody could do anything gave title to the book, worked in advertising and maintained friendships with Florence and Burton James, founders of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse. The house was often the site of cast parties for that company. Sydney's cooking and the constantly refilled coffee pot made everyone feel welcome, so much so that some friends stayed for weeks or months, grateful for the welcome haven during Depression joblessness. Sydney herself used the built-in kitchen table to write a radio soap opera, "Schuyler Square," which was broadcast locally. Usually immersed in a book, she was always ready to visit with anyone who dropped in, be it neighbor, bill-collector or Blanche, out on a stroll from her house on 82nd Street with her baby in a big buggy. This is also the site of Betty's bedtime stories for her two young daughters Anne and Joan, stories which would later become Nancy and Plum.

Roosevelt High School: Betty, brother Cleve, and sisters DeDe and Alison all graduated from Roosevelt. While Mary and Betty were at work, Alison and her friends would sometimes borrow their clothes for an afternoon of classes, stealthily replacing them just before the streetcar rattled back with the rightful owners.

Cowen Park Streetcar Station, corner of 15th Avenue NE and Cowen Place NE: The Cowen Park line was a quick walk over the 15th Avenue Bridge from Betty's house. She took this line downtown to the various jobs her sister Mary tenaciously conjured for her during the early '30s, then to her job for the National Recovery Administration, and later at the National Youth Administration.

Cowen Park: This park today appears substantially different from the way it did in Betty's time, due to the fact that it was filled with freeway excavation dirt during the early '60s. Prior to that time it was a deep, secluded wooded ravine, much more like Ravenna Park. Betty's family used the Park for picnics and walks, and even to gather downed firewood when they had no money for coal, an idea of Mary's and one in which park personnel assisted.

Readers' Comments - Feb 2002 - Dec 2003


Maria Knight	Oct 20, 2002	R
(id:484)


Siannon Birch	Feb 22, 2003	Seattle	retired
I have wondered all my reading life whatever happened to everybody, so thank you very much for this information. I feel like they were family I read of them so much and with such delight (id:814)


Jacquie	Mar 21, 2003	Canada	teacher assistant
30 years ago, I read "best friends" by mary bard...it was the best book I've ever read. I'm sure I read it 50 times and wish I could find a copy now to share with my 8 & 10 year old daughters!! This article was wonderful and it was nice to get to know the author and her family in such depth. (id:921)


Linde	Apr 06, 2003
thank you so much for this wonderful article. There is a Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Society and they published the most interesting biographical stories and tapes. (id:997)


John Hughes	Apr 11, 2003	Norwich, UK	Graphic Designer
Thanks for filling-in some blank spaces. I'm putting together an account of my mother's life. She died exactly a year ago, and although she had no connection with Betty MacDonald she was of the same generation and felt an affinity. Betty MacDonald's stories where at the top of our familily's reading list thanks to mom, and I'm only now realising why she considered these books to be not only very funny, but beautifully written. I'll be passing them on to mine which is what my mother would have expected. (id:1019)


carol	Apr 22, 2003	annandale, virginia	housewife/mother
I read a Readers Digest version of Onions In The Stew when I was 12 (I'm 48) & never forgot it. I've now read all but Nancy & Plum; I love Betty & feel like I know her family - this article was such a treat! Now I'm itching to read "Best Friends" by Mary...Betty MacDonald is such a gem!! (id:1057)


carol	Apr 22, 2003	annandale, virginia	housewife/mother
I read a Readers Digest version of Onions In The Stew when I was 12 (I'm 48) & never forgot it. I've now read all but Nancy & Plum; I love Betty & feel like I know her family - this article was such a treat! Now I'm itching to read "Best Friends" by Mary...Betty MacDonald is such a gem!! (id:1058)


kay	May 23, 2003	gold country, northern ca	garage sale-er
Does anyone know what happened to Betty's daughters, Joan and Anne? How did they turn out and are they still living? Any leads welcome. Thanks! (id:1202)


Kathy	Jun 30, 2003	London, UK	journalist
I'm a huge Betty MacDonald Fan. Thank you so much for this very interesting article. Did you read the bios THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG & THE EGG AND BETTY - the first two parts of Betty's bio? Very interesting stories published by Betty MacDonald Society. For more info macdonaldsociety@aol.com. I' d die to visit Seattle and Vashon Island. (id:1338)


Martine	Jul 02, 2003	Paris, France	author
Great article! Thanks a lot for this! I'm delighted to receive more info on my beloved writer. Are there any people in Seattle or in the region who knew Betty MacDonald and her family? I would be happy to meet them. Write a mail to: pigglewigglefans@aol.com please. I adore the stories and tapes of Betty's life published by Betty MacDonald Society. Betty is a brilliant writer and I wished I could write as well. She was unique! (id:1347)


MIkki	Jul 14, 2003	Port Orchard, WA	artist
My Mom introduced me to "The Egg and I" many years ago. I fell in love with Betty's writing then. I've read most of her books and lived on Vashon Island and have been to Chimacum. I live a ferry ride from vashon now. So, glad to have found this site. And, to be able to share the enjoyment of Betty's stories. There is nothing like them. Bless her heart. (id:1381)


gisela gala	Aug 29, 2003	port angeles,wa	mother
i received her book,nancy and plum as a young girl.now i live in her great nortwest-a far stretch from germany. i have actually met some people here who are related to her and the Kettle family. i am quite awed to be where they have been and get goosebumps of joy to now be at least close to their past.i love them both. thankyou (id:1545)


Martine	Sep 23, 2003	Paris, France	author
hi dear gisela gala, i just read you know betty's family and the kettles. i'd die to know more. could you send me a mail to pigglewigglefans@aol.com please. betty was a gifted writer. i adore her books and the very interesting biographies and tapes. she had a wonderful laugh. (id:1622)


Gisela	Sep 25, 2003	Hamburg/GERMANY	teacher
Hi Gisela from Port Angeles, I'm Gisela from Hamburg. Did you meet the real Kettles and the Bards? Es w?re nett von Ihnen zu h?ren! Betty's Fan Club is great and so are the items! (id:1629)


vera smith	Dec 04, 2003	houston, texas	computer tech
Great site with plenty of information. I have been a fan for a long time, thought I was the only one. I have the four books, bought them from the library because I liked them so much. I think Betty could have a lot of new fans if her books could be sold in major book stores again. She wrote with such joy and ou could just really get into her life. I found the the The Plague and I interesting in the treatment of tuberculosis back then. The Egg and I was so funny, the Kettle family so down the earth. I enjoyed her stories of the Grandmother, such a character, and her childhood. I read the books every year and they are so enjoyable each and everytime. I see some of the books are out in paperback this is good. Maybe a new generation of readers will discover Betty and her family. Remember the funny old store Betty and her sister discovered one night with people's clothes that seemed to have been just lived in. Also that creepy coworker Marilee? I just found the four books so enjoyable and I keep them on my bookcase in a place of honor along with a few other of my favorite books. (id:1918)


Lorinda	Dec 19, 2003	Seattle
To Kay from Gold Country, Northern CA....Betty's daughters Joan and Anne are both getting up in years. Joan has Alzheimers and lives in an assisted living center in a suburb of Seattle. The other daughter Anne has been an artist for many years and lives in Northern California, although I'm not sure where. Joan's daughter Heidi attends the same church I do. The family values their privacy and I don't think either of the daughters uses the Internet. Thank you for this website with the photos and information. It is fascinating to look up the places in Betty's stories. I had found some of these photos (and others) on various searches in the King County archives and I've visited many of the places including the Egg & I Road and the former Firland Sanitorium (now a private college). The only place I haven't been to is the site of Fred Hildebrandt's Shoe Repair. I was interested to hear about Mary Bard's books and where to find them. I just noticed that the Vashon Island General Store will be offering a new reprint of "The Doctor Wears Three Faces" in January (their website is http://www.countrystoreandgardens.com/BettyMacDonald/threefaces.html). Thank you. (id:1971)


Peter	Dec 26, 2003	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
Very interesting detail information. I'm looking for radio and tv appearances of Betty MacDonald. Thanks for your advice! (id:1987)


Emilie Garcia	Dec 28, 2003	Port Orchard, WA	Retired
I recently read an article in the local newspaper about Betty MacDonald Farm on Vashon Island. As a child I had heard about The Egg and I, but never saw the movie. I did see movies about Ma and Pa Kettle. I wonder what the Kettles thought about what she wrote about them. I wonder what the Native Americans think of what she wrtoe about them. As a Native myself, I feel hurt about how she viewed her Indian neighbors, but despair and alcoholism is a sad fact of life for some of us. We had no alcohol for thousands of years until...... I moved with my husband from California when we retired in 1997 to the Kitsap Peninsula, and only recently discovered that the author of The Egg and I was writing about this area that I have come to love. I can relate very well to her tales of fighting the native vegetation and marauding critters, and am glad I live in an era where I can enjoy the beauty of this wilderness, but with all the modern conveniences. I am anxious to read all of her books. She was a great descriptive and insightful writer. (id:1991)


Peter	Dec 28, 2003	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
To Emilie Garcia from Port Orchard, You should read the MacDonald Society stories Regarding the Native Americans I can understand your feelings very well but you should know the reason why she described them this way. I was kind of horrified to learn reality. Did anyone ever see Betty MacDonald on televison? Any advice? (id:1994)

Readers' Comments - Jan 2004 - July 2004


Deborah Long	Feb 29, 2004	Encinitas Calif	Caregiver
As a caregiver I was saddened to learn that Joan has Alzheimer's. Is Kimi living? Any of Mary's children or Cleve's? Is the public market still there? (id:2297)


Susanne	Mar 03, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
To Deborah from California: Kimi was Betty MacDonald's best friend and she is living. I've read some Betty MacDonald Society items and Kimi wrote the most wonderful stories. Her comments are excellent. It's true the way Betty described her in THE PlAGUE. She is such an intelligent, warmhearted and charming lady with a very good sense for humor. (id:2309)


Deborah	Mar 05, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Susanne, Thank you for your response. I wonder if anyone has met,in person, any of Betty's family? What happened to the first husband, Bob Heskett? (id:2321)


Deborah	Mar 05, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Susanne, I apologize for my preceeding typos - I was typing in a rush as always! I am very curious about the death of Betty MacDonald's first husband. Do you or anyone else have that information? I wonder if any of Betty's family sees our messages? Has anyone met any family members? (id:2323)


Susanne	Mar 08, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Deborah, There is a story published by Betty MacDonald Society entitled The tragic end of Betty's first husband. It's a rather sad and depressing story but very well researched with all the details. There are audio interviews with Betty and her sister Alison. Both are very funny. I can highly recommend them. I listened to them a million times. My husband gets crazy but they are wonderful. Real treasures. I love the net. It's so wonderful to be so close with all the Betty Fans. (id:2331)


Jane	Mar 16, 2004	Canada
I suggest going to the "A Common Reader" website. You will be able to read an interesting 1998 interview with Anne Canham and Joan MacDonald Keil. Search for Betty's book THE EGG & I, and once there you will find (and be able to click on)"An interview with Betty MacDonald's daughters" on the top right side of the screen. I also recommend Monica Sone's book, NISEI DAUGHTER. I purchased it after reading somewhere that Monica Sone was the "Kimi" Betty wrote about in THE PLAQUE & I. She writes about her time as a patient at "North Pines" sanitarium and of her fascinating friend "Chris." (id:2356)


Deborah	Mar 17, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, thanks so much for your tip about the Common Reader website !! Why is the death of Betty's first husband such a secret? I wish someone would be kind enough to tell me. (id:2365)


Jane	Mar 17, 2004	Canada
You're welcome, Deborah. With regard to the secret of Bob's death: Perhaps to wet our appetites? The people who know the story of Bob would have purchased Betty's bio from the Betty MacDonald Society and probably don't feel that they are at liberty to share the information. I have always hoped to support the Society, myself, but the costs have been a factor. Hence, for now I do my own research. (id:2367)


Deborah	Mar 18, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, I enjoyed your response. Have you looked at the website " HistoryLink Database Output, A Magic Lantern Tour..." There is a great website ! And pictures !! (id:2375)


Deborah	Mar 21, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, my mistake - the website with several photos is called History Link Galleries. It is listed just below the Database Output. Or have you already seen it? (id:2387)


Jane	Mar 22, 2004	Canada
Thanks Deborah. I was familiar with the article ("Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard: A Guide to their King County Homes.") It's a wonderful find, isn't it? A great big thank-you to Paula Becker and Pricilla Long! After reading it once again, I see that this must be where I first heard about Monica Sone and her book. (id:2390)


Deborah	Mar 26, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, Have you tried the website "HistoryLink Database Output" ? Then go Biographies, then scroll down to MacDonald. A great website, best pictures !! (id:2416)


Sylvia	Apr 15, 2004	Oregon	none if I can help it
Does anyone know how to access Betty MacDonald's radio drama scripts and/or audio archives of those broadcasts? I think they were mentioned in Anybody Can Do Anything, though it may have been in Mary Bard's book. Thanks for any information you may have. (id:2501)


Susanne	Apr 18, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Hi Sylvia, Betty MacDonald Society offers several tapes with Betty and her family. The tapes are really very interesting and funny. (id:2509)


Lorinda	Jul 08, 2004	Seattle
To Deborah in California, Yes, the "Market" that Betty describes in her books is still very much in business here in Seattle. It's called the Pike Place Market. It's a well-known tourist spot in the city. I work downtown and walk there often. I love it. Fortunately, the city leaders made the effort to save it from demolition some 20 years ago and today it is thriving. It is a wonderful place to find every type of foodstuff - everything from fresh flowers and seafood to gorgeous produce and gourmet items. There are jewelry, craft, and clothing vendors and several restaurants with panoramic views of Puget Sound and its islands. You'll also find antique vendors, an herbal apothecary and palm reader, bakeries, newsagents, honey, etc. You name it and it will probably be there. In fact, I may even go for a walk there today on my lunch hour! (id:2751)


Sue	Jul 09, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Deborah, my understanding is that Bob Heskett was murdered in Oakland, California, while trying to protect a woman from an abusive husband/boyfriend. I've also read that he suffered from terrible night terrors as a result of his war experiences, and that this made life with him very difficult for Betty. I don't believe he had any contact with Betty, Anne,or Joan after the divorce. I don't think what happened to him is a secret, but the family probably doesn't want to dwell on it. Several postings in this forum (generally the European ones) are from individuals who have done some research into Betty's history and have it available for sale. That's why they haven't answered your question and have directed you to the Betty MacDonald Fan Club website. And, although their postings in this respect are a little misleading, they do have Betty MacDonald information for sale and you might be interested in contacting them. Just be aware that they sometimes post on MacDonald forums as being strictly fans when they do have a monetary interest. In the meantime, read all of Betty's books. She was a fine writer and her early death was a loss not only to her family and friends, but to the book world as well. (id:2754)


Sarah	Jul 10, 2004	California
I wonder if anyone has met,in person, any of Betty's family? (id:2755)


Susanne	Jul 10, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
I'm only an usual Betty Fan and don't have a monetary interest although I'm from Europe. I believe Betty was an unique writer. Therefore I was so glad to find out more about our beloved writer and was delighted to read the very interesting and detailed Fan Club Stuff. I was so amazed and surprised after finding out that there is a lot of very interesting and important stuff you won't find in Betty's books. Having the opportunity to hear Betty's wonderful voice and laugh makes me happy indeed. To me it's another dimension to know the way she spoke and acted. I only wished I could see her on television. Is there anything like this? One of my favorites is Betty's sister Alison. Boy how much I would have loved to meet Betty and the whole Bard family in person. That's the way many of her fans think I guess. I'm an elder lady now ( 67 ) but my sisters, children, many grandchildren ( I have 5 daughters ) love Betty as much as I do. I know several fans especially in the Czech Republic where Betty is a houshold name in these days. Betty will live on and on in her witty and wise classics and will continue to delight further generations all over the world. She was a big sharer said her sister Alison an (id:2756)


Susanne	Jul 10, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
I'm only an usual Betty Fan and don't have a monetary interest although I'm from Europe. I believe Betty was an unique writer. Therefore I was so glad to find out more about our beloved writer and was delighted to read the very interesting and detailed Fan Club Stuff. I was so amazed and surprised after finding out that there is a lot of very interesting and important stuff you won't find in Betty's books. Having the opportunity to hear Betty's wonderful voice and laugh makes me happy indeed. To me it's another dimension to know the way she spoke and acted. I only wished I could see her on television. Is there anything like this? One of my favorites is Betty's sister Alison. Boy how much I would have loved to meet Betty and the whole Bard family in person. That's the way many of her fans think I guess. I'm an elder lady now ( 67 ) but my sisters, children, many grandchildren ( I have 5 daughters ) love Betty as much as I do. I know several fans especially in the Czech Republic where Betty is a houshold name in these days. Betty will live on and on in her witty and wise classics and will continue to delight further generations all over the world. She was a big sharer said her sister Alison and Betty still is. With her work Betty makes the world a bit better because she brings golden laughter and wisdom to her readers. However it's no stuff for saddos! I hope that many so called adults and children have the opportunity to read her magical books and learn more about her background. To me reading her books and knowing more about her background is one of the most fascinating experiences in my life. No exaggeration! Lorinda, for those you live so far away perhaps you could tell us more about the country Betty lived and Betty's daughters and relatives. One of my dreams is visiting your beautiful State of Washington but I'm very afraid of flying. Therefore I'm not shure this ever will come true. Thank you! (id:2757)


Lorinda	Jul 19, 2004	Seattle
Susanne, I would be happy to give you a little description of the area near the egg farm. My own family (grandmother, mother, aunts and uncles) lived in the area about the same time that Betty and Bob did. I visited there last spring and for years listened to my relatives tell stories about ìwhen we lived at the Blackmanís Lake placeî. The Egg & I Road is not really near any large town. It's on the left "arm" of Washington State, in Jefferson County, not far from the Olympic National Forest. It's really almost the foothills of the Olympics. The nearest villages are Port Ludlow and Chimacum, and both are very small. It is a beautiful area with rolling hills, tall evergreen trees, clean blue water, quiet coves and beaches rich with clams, geoduck, shrimp, and other fish. Itís a beautiful place to visit but there is very little employment nearby, so itís sparsely populated by retirees, few farmers, and locals who commute to Port Townsend, Port Angeles, or maybe Everett or Seattle. It is not the easiest place to get to from Seattle - it takes both a ferryboat ride and a car drive, unless you want to drive north over Deception Pass or south via the Kitsap Peninsula. The "Egg & I" Road (it's for real) is very quiet and upon entering it from Beaver Valley Road, you cross a wide valley where contented cows graze. The road climbs a hill and near the top is a large thick forest of evergreen trees. If you stop the car and get out, the smell of pine is intense and the woods are filled with birdsong. It's very quiet and peaceful. Nearby are some of the Kettle descendents' farms. The houses are a mixture of old-fashioned farmhouses and prefab mobile homes. It would be an inspiring place to be a writer if you liked spending lots of time alone. But it would be too lonely and quiet for a lot of people. The Olympic Mountains are quite close and they cause their own weather systems. That is why Betty spoke of the terrible nearness of the mountains. Wintertime storms can come up suddenly and blanket the area in clouds and fog for days at a time. When the weather is good, the place is absolutely stunning. Mule deer come up and eat out of your hands at Olympic National Park. The Egg & I Road is quite long and the spot where Bettyís farm used to be is not marked, so we had to guess. Some houses are still standing that were undoubtedly there when Betty lived there. About midway through the The Egg & I Road, you cross another highway and Chimacum Creek. The houses are set far apart and some are at the end of long, hidden driveways. Most are on acreage and have some animals. These are people who value their privacy. We followed one side road that went straight up the side of a hill. One area at the top of a hill is recovering from a forest fire that looked like it had happened within the last 5 years. Some of those hills look like they would be easy targets for lightening strikes. The volunteer fire chief lived conveniently at the bottom of the hill. I think the area is beautiful but could be extremely isolated and chilly (damp) during the winters. There really isnít much to do up there when the weather is bad. No city life, movie theaters, or even supermarkets close by. Summertime is the best time to visit. (id:2782)


Susanne	Jul 25, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Lorinda, are you a professional writer? How we ( my family and I ) enjoyed your description of Egg and I Road! Really lovely! Congratulations! Do you know the house Betty lived with her mother and sisters in the University District? I could read it's still there. Betty's wonderful sister Alison tells a lot about this. It must have been a magical place for the Bards and their many friends during the Depression. Do you know the tape where Alison tells the stories about Sydney and their many guests? Again - my compliments for your outstanding writing - (id:2797)


Peter	Jul 27, 2004	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
Lorinda, Thanks a lot for your very well written report of Egg and I Road. After reading THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG I have a question: Are there people like the Kettle Family in your state? Still today? (id:2801)


Lorinda	Jul 29, 2004	Seattle
Thanks for the compliments - I'm a banker during the day but my college degree is journalism and I have written a few things, mostly for my own enjoyment. To answer Susanne: I have seen the house in the University District where Betty and her family lived during the Depression - along with several other houses they lived in. That little house is now nearly hidden behind trees. The street is on has been widened and is quite busy; in fact, there is a bus stop right in front of the house. The front porch is still there but it's hard to see much because the trees have grown so large. To answer Peter, yes, there are still "modern day" Kettles in Washington. But there are a lot of other people, too. All sorts, in fact. (id:2807)

Readers' Comments - Aug 2004


Sara	Aug 06, 2004	Prague/Czech Republic
Hi, i¥m 18 years old student from Czech Republic. I red my first Betty's book in 13. Betty's books are really great, i red it million times. I'm very interested in Betty's life, family, daughters etc. This is good site with good informations. Thanks :) (id:2819)


Peter	Aug 07, 2004	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
Hi Sara, Welcome here. So nice to meet you. Is Betty very popular in your country and did you ever hear from Betty's Fan Club? Another Betty fan told me that they had several czech members. How came that you are a Betty Fan? (id:2822)


Sara	Aug 09, 2004	Prague/Czech Republic
When i was 13 my mother gave me Anybody can do anything and then the others books. In our country is a lot of women readin' Betty. She is really very popular, but just a few of them searchin' on sites like this to know more informations... If there are some mens readin' Betty, don't know, i know just two - my father and my geography teacher. Girls in my age don't read Betty so much, so the Betty fans are mainly women in age 30 - 70. I just heard about Betty's Fan Club, just a few things, so i don't know a lot of about it... (id:2823)


Yolonda	Aug 09, 2004	Chimacum, WA	Medical Assistant
I just finished The Egg and I. What a wonderful book! I heard about it through my husband who's family has run a Dairy Farm that borders The Egg and I road since 1871. After I finished the book I had him show me where all the old farms were. We drove by the old "Kettle" Farm and a large White Farmhouse is still occupied there. We also drove by Bettys farm although you cannot see it from the road. I must admit I am fascinated with the book and her life. I just moved to Chimacum 2 weeks ago with my husband, and although I have electricity and running water, I feel I have a few things in common with Betty. Life out here is definatley something to get used to. Its a town where everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone!! I think our house is about 3 miles from the farm of Betty & Bobs. My husbands grandfather remembers the cougar that Bob shot, he hauled down to their farm by truck to "show it off" I found it amusing when asking my husbands family about the book that they said whatever you do don't mention the book to your neighbors. The "Kettle" ancestors are still in the area and apparently after over half a century they are still pretty sore about how their family was depicted.I can't wait to ask my in-laws more!!! (id:2825)


Susanne	Aug 10, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Lorinda, I've read your story so many times. You did a great job! Did you visit the coffee store Betty mentions in Anybody can do anything? Sara, Thank you so much for the info. If you are interested in learning more about the background especially I suggest you to read the Betty Fan Club stories. Very interesting. And I adore the tapes with Betty and darling sister Alison. Yolanda, it's fascinating that you live so close by Betty and the Kettles. I'm so interested in receiving more info after reading the Fan Club story The Kettles' Million Dollar Egg. Did you read this story? (id:2829)


Peter	Aug 11, 2004	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
To Sara: I'd like to write a newspaper report about Betty's fans especially from your country. What's the reason why Betty is so popular? Do you have any idea how I might get in contact with some fans from your country. To Yolanda: I'm so curious to learn more about Chimacum. How many inhabitants and how many farms are there? Has it changed a lot since Betty lived there? Do you have the feeling that some families hate Betty because she described them in THE EGG. Did you ever hear which family the Hicks were and the crazy lady ( I can't remember her name right now ) with the drunken indian husband and her five idiotic children. TO Lorinda: Do you know Chimacum and the other places where Betty lived? (id:2834)


Deborah	Aug 11, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Dear Lorinda and S. Thompson, I haven't been to this site in awhile and so I haven't seen your messages/responses until now. Thank you both so much for the information ! S. Thompson, I'm curious - what woman, and what was the circumstance in which Bob would have been trying to prevent domestic violence? (id:2836)


Sue	Aug 13, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Deborah, I don't know the exact circumstances, or who the woman was. I know he died on July 22, 1951. He was stabbed to death by a man named Blake. He's buried in Golden Gate National Cemetary, plot M 937. His niece has posted obituary requests on line and has given that much info. She is looking for more information, a newspaper clipping, etc. I was glad to read Lorinda's postings, as I didn't know what had become of Anne and Joan. I'm sorry to hear that Joan is not well. When I was teaching elementary school, I read Nancy and Plum to every class I had over a 22 year period, and it was always a hit. One class wrote to Joan to tell her how much they enjoyed the book. Joan's husband was kind enough to respond to them and thank them. I think he has since passed away. I kept the letter and have it tucked away in my old copy of Nancy and Plum. It's a link to Betty and I treasure it. (id:2838)


Deborah	Aug 13, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Dear S. Thompson, Thanks for the information. What a terrible story ! I should have said that I read all of Betty's books and Mary Bard's as well, in the 1970's. I also owned them all, but lost them during a move. I loved "Onions" best. Any way of contacting Kimi of the "Plague" book? Her name is Monica Somes, I think, and she is still living according to what I have read. (id:2840)


Jane	Aug 13, 2004	Canada
Hi Deborah! I'm also back and have enjoyed all of the new postings. Monica Sone was born in 1919, and she would be close to 85 years old by now. According to my copy of NISEI DAUGHTER (Twelfth printing, 2002), Monica Sone lived in Canton, Ohio, where she was a clinical psychologist. (id:2841)


Kim	Aug 15, 2004	Sacramento California
Hello, all. I'm just back from a few days on the Olympic Peninsula where I drove Egg and I Road and tried to envision where Betty lived. Wish I had discovered this site first! So much information and SO NICE to think that people still seek out and read Betty's books--and, especially to think that she's world-known. I visited her farm on Vashon Island last summer. The barn and acres have been converted to a bed and breakfast--it's really beautiful, peaceful and charming. My regret was that we couldn't visit her house. You can glimpse it (adjoining property) but it's a privately owned home. (id:2842)


Deborah	Aug 16, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Hi Jane, Nice to see you again. :) I wonder still why Bob would have been involved in a physical dispute? I'm wondering if he was a boyfriend or a concerned neighbor, or what? Probably old newpaper articles would provide more details. I wish Bob's niece, metioned here by S. Thompson, would also post. Also, Mr. Thompson, how great to have a letter from Joan's husband ! What fun ! (id:2845)


Deborah	Aug 16, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, I forgot to thank you for the info on Kimi ! Thanks ! Just read my own post and darn it, there's a typo ! I meant to say "mentioned" here. I'm mixed up on the time frame. Would Kimi/Monica have been in the war camp before or after the "plague"? (id:2846)


Martine	Aug 17, 2004	Paris - France	author
Kim, Betty's house was a magical place. One of my relatives was Betty's agent here and had lots of stories to tell and I saw several pictures. By the way Betty's Fan Club offers a story entitled Bob's tragic end. You can find all the info even letters where Betty described her feelings toward Bob. Good stuff! (id:2847)


Jane	Aug 17, 2004	Canada
Deborah, Monica Sone was a patient at the sanitarium before living in a relocation camp. Later, she married Geary Sone and became a mother to four children: Philip Geary, Susan Mari, Peter Seiji, and John Kenzo. I recommend her book, NISEI DAUGHTER, which is both humorous and touching. It was eye-opening to learn what it was like to be a Japanese-American growing up on Seattle's waterfront in the 1920s & 30s, then being subjected to relocation during WWII. However, I really keyed in on the comments she made about her friend "Chris" who was obviously Betty MacDonald. Also on the cover of my paperback there is a photo of Monica and her younger sister taken in 1932! (id:2848)


Deborah	Aug 17, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, thanks for the info. Do you remember that you told me about the interviews with Anne and Joan found in the Common Reader website? The Common Reader is still there but the interviews are not, or am I not in the right one? I remember that I did go to it before, and saw the interviews. I wanted to go back and make a file of them. Any suggestions? (id:2853)


Jane	Aug 18, 2004	Canada
Deborah, I just checked, and it is still there. This is what I did: I went to www.commonreader.com, then I searched for Betty MacDonald under "search go." I clicked on THE EGG & I. Then on the top righthand side, second from the top, clicked on "An interview with Betty MacDonald's daughters." This will take you to the 1998 interview with Anne Canham and Joan MacDonald Keil. (id:2854)


Deborah	Aug 18, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, thank you ! I went right to it and have made a file. The way I found the interview before was by going to one of the Common Reader sites, it worked then but not now, maybe someone there has revised their website. At any rate, thanks ! I e-mailed the staff at Common Reader to ask who did the interview and if it is possible to get a letter or an e-mail to Anne or Joan. (id:2855)


Cheryll	Aug 19, 2004	Maryland	artist
What a joy to discover all of you! I had never heard of Betty MacDonal until two weeks ago when I bought 'The Egg and I' at a flea market for no reason other than I liked the author's picture on the cover! I have never bought a book for such a superficial reason in my life but the photo which seemed to beckon me--such a smile! I read the book with increasing wonder at it's excellence, which I know you are all aware of. And then I could not stop wondering about Betty MacDonald and I positively ached to know more. As some have pointed out, the 'Fan Club' web site is not very user-friendly; I guessed that money was the motive behind the elusiveness of the site, and I was suspicious of the integrity, but now that some of you have confirmed the Fan Club's basic decency, I will break down and stick my toes in a bit deeper. I wish to thank all of you for sharing your love for Betty MacDonald, and your knowledge of her life! I immediately developed a bond with Ms. MacDonald, and I now feel a warm and delightful connection to all of you--indeed, you all seem to be part of an incredible family, the extended MacDonald family. I am deeply grateful to touch base with you, each and every one! Now I must dash, I am searching out a copy of 'Anyone Can Do Anything', which I must find before I will have peace of mind. . . I know you understand. . . til later, best regards always! (id:2857)


Susanne	Aug 19, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Cheryll, I hope you are successful in ordering Betty's book. If this is not the case let me know please. You should read all of Betty's books. You'll love them as much as we do! (id:2859)


Susanne	Aug 20, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Cheryll, I forgot to tell you a funny story. My poor hubby is not happy I ordered the tapes with Betty and Alison because I'm addicted and can listen to them a million times. I enjoy their very funny memories told with wonderful voices and laughs so many times that he's getting mad because of this. My children are so happy as I am because they are huge Betty admirers but poor old hubby isn't. That's life. I can't tell you how much I would love to see Sydney's house in the University District. It must have been a heaven during the Depression and Alison is such a great story teller. She should have been a writer too. What a family with so many talents. I wonder if Alison is still with us. Does anybody know this? (id:2860)


Kim	Aug 20, 2004	Sacramento California
Hi again. Thanks for the comments on Betty's house. I forgot to add that when we visited her farm, the owner of the B'n'B had a wonderful collection of clippings, photos, letters Betty had written, etc. It was wonderful to sit for a couple of hours and just pour through stuff! I really like a letter she sent to a woman who had written her in response to reading Egg & I. The woman lived on an egg ranch in the midwest, I think, and was sharing her thoughts and woes on the life. Betty's response was warm, funny and very personal--much as you might have expected. She named Port Townsend as the "town" she always refered to in the book and shared anecdotes about the ranch. It was a delight to read and confirmed that she was genuinely personable and funny--just like her books. Can you imagine writing her and getting a personal response? And, such a long, friendly one? (id:2861)


Lorinda	Aug 20, 2004	Seattle
It's so interesting to read the discussions. I am so amazed that so many Europeans are very interested in Betty's books. What is it about her stories and/or style that you like best? Is it her way of finding humor in adversity? Betty is known by librarians and a few people interested in history around here, but I think she is definitely more popular in Europe. Tell me what it is that draws you to her books. I am a suburban person who works in the city, although I grew up in the country in Oregon. I visited Chimicum just last summer and we had lunch at the little Chimicum Cafe. The area is beautiful, but I would not choose to move there because small-town life would be too confining for me. When you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you need the diversions a city can offer, such as an airport to get away to someplace sunny! (id:2863)


Sally	Aug 20, 2004	Greensboro, NC	law office administrator
I was sorry to learn that Betty died so young. According to what I've read, she and Don had moved to Carmel, California but after she developed cancer she returned to Seattle so that Mary's husband could oversee her treatment. Does anyone have other details? Why did they decide to leave Vashon for Carmel? What type of cancer was it, and how long did she live after the diagnosis? (id:2864)


Deborah	Aug 20, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Cheryll, we're all glad to have you ! Come on in ! :) I hope you'll read Onions in the Stew, it's my favorite ! I practically have it memorized ! You seem very astute to me, I had some doubts about the fan club/society too, and the woman who runs the B & B told me that their information is not accurate and that she would not recommend paying for their info. Keep collecting Betty !! (id:2865)


Deborah	Aug 20, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
I'm curious about Betty's recorded voice being on the fan club/society's tapes. In the Common Reader interview that Jane so kindly led me to, Betty's daughter says that the only recording of Betty's voice is when Betty accepted an award in 1947. Is this the recording the society offers for sale? (id:2866)


Sue	Aug 21, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Some of you may be interested in the article I found about Betty's support for maintaining cemeteries for WWII American soldiers who were buried in Holland. She donated the proceeds of the Dutch sale of The Egg and I for this purpose. You can Google it by typing Opijnen + Betty MacDonald into the search bar. I think this gesture may be one reason she is popular in The Netherlands. As far as the Betty MacDonald Fan Club goes, I'm with Deborah and Cheryll. I see the same few names on this site as I've seen on others, and I suspect there's one person posing as several "fans" in order to promote the sale of the Club's materials. This person usually posts using two or three different names, but the grammar, syntax, and content of the various messages are a tip-off that it's one individual. As far as the recordings go, they may have the single Betty recording, but I think Betty's sister Allison may have done a recorded interview later in her life, because you'll note the constant references to that one. And Deborah, I'm Mrs. Thompson, not Mr. Thompson, but I know you couldn't tell that from the little bit of info I gave you, so it's o.k.! And I love Onions in the Stew as well----I can never decide which of Betty's books I like the best, although Onions and Anybody Can Do Anything are real favorites. When I was a little girl, the librarians made me quit taking Nancy and Plum out of the children's library for a month so somebody else would have a chance to read it, so to calm me down, my mom let me go with her to the adult section to check out The Egg and I, and that started me on all of Betty's books for adults. Jane, I have tried for ages to get a copy of Monica Sone's book. I found a hardback copy several years ago, with a foreward by Betty MacDonald, but it was far too expensive. I just found a used paperback copy this week in a bookstore in Portland. I'm so looking forward to getting into this book! Also, and I admit I'm bragging here, a year ago I found a copy of The Egg and I with a handwritten full-page dedication by Betty to the friend she'd been staying with, and on the next page, another handwritten, full-page dedication to the same friend by Mary Bard Jensen, Betty's sister. Apparently they spent several days with this lady and thanked her in this way. If my house ever catches fire and I have time to save something, my Betty books are going out the door first! My husband says he recognizes this fact and will attempt to save himself. If people who see this website will continue to share information that they may come across, we'll all get our questions answered, so thanks to those who have contributed. (id:2867)


Deborah	Aug 21, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Dear Mrs. Thompson, I'm so sorry! Another one of my infamous typos! I am really enjoying your latest post! I too thought that something seemed "suspicious" about some of the posts here. That some of the posts seem to have the same "feel". They read very much like the e-mail I used to receive form the society/fan club. I suspected then that although "two" women were writing, that they were possibly only one. I blocked the mail, and they/she merely used another address to get through. This does not sound like a fan to me, but a salesperson. In my opinion, it qualified as spam more than anything else. You do realize you'll have us all drooling with envy over the two books you mention! I don't think you're bragging at all. You're sharing the joy of discovery with us! What a wonderful find! (id:2868)


Deborah	Aug 21, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Sally, I always wondered if Don and Betty left Vashon for Carmel because perhaps it was getting increasingly difficult to maintain privacy, as so many fans were coming to Vashon. Or maybe for a change in the weather? Either way, Betty and the family would have been too kind to say so. Mrs. Thompson, what wonderful finds, would you be willing to type out what Betty and Mary wrote in the dedication pages? Or would that be too much to ask of you? (id:2870)


Susanne	Aug 21, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
When I purchased the Betty MacDonald Collection a copy of Seattle P.I article was included. This paper reports about the fan club activities and interviews with Betty's family and friends. A very interesting article with photos. Perhaps somebody here is familiar about this. I'll have a look for it - can't find it right now. Yes you are right - too much things stored as my hubby is complaing all the time. Poor man! As I already told you I'm only a Fan and I have no monetary interest. I'm what I am - old Betty admirer Susanne from Vienna til the rest of my life. It's so nice to meet all of you. Hope you can forgive my mistakes in your language. It's interesting what the owner of B & B farm said about the fan club material. I don't agree at all. I tremendously enjoy the stories and Betty's and Alison's audio interviews. Not to forget Kimi's very shap comments. Her contributions are so important and funny especially in the story Betty's most wonderful man. I wonder if I am the only one here who has read the stories and listened the tapes? I can't imagine. It'll be interesting to hear some opinions from fans who are really familiar with them. I don't want to make this lady down. I don't know her but a Chech Fan told me she heard that Betty's family and friends especially Betty's friend Blanche whom she personally met are not crazy about this lady. Not at all! Lorinda, you asked the reason why so many european readers love Betty's stories. I only can speak for myself but my daughters and friends say the same: Betty was a word painter. Reading her stories you can smell the sea, the nature, the garden - everything. You have the feeling she shares everything with you even her illness. I can read her books again and again and it's such an amazing feeling to find something new in every rereading. I only have this feeling with Betty and I was reading many books. Another very important aspect: Betty never gave up. It's so important to be an optimist but also a realist. Betty was. Lorinda how can I thank you for sharing your info. How do you Americans say: You made my day. I would say: You made my life. My daughter Doris told me I should offer you to order the Betty and Alison Tape for you because my whole family likes your info. We printed it out for our family and many friends. It's true - you are famous now. We had the feeling we visited your beautiful State of Washington and very charming egg and i road. My daughters says we all should do this next year but i'm so afraid of flying. Are you interested? We'd be very happy to order them as a gift from all of us. Love from Vienna Susanne (id:2871)


Peter	Aug 21, 2004	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
To S. Thompson: S. sounds so mysterious! I have a kind advice - no offence: Instead of comparing our syntax ( perhaps it's similiar because we are Europeans ) you should look for the books at the right place. I had no hard time to find them. It was very easy. I'm a 30 year old swiss guy who plans a vacation in the Northwest next summer. What about a meeting? Susanne: Don't be afraid of using an airplane. Nothing will happen. We should meet each other next summer. excuse me i misplaced the p.i. copy but it's true what you wrote. Alison is even funnier than her famous sister. The Betty Fam owner has obviously no idea what she is talking about. Funny: I heard the same rumours that she wasn't the most loved person. Lorinda: It's simple. Betty is the funniest writer ever. Her best book is not The egg. It's only the best story. Betty's masterpiece is The plague. Writing such a warmhearted, witty, very funny book about such circumstances no other writer could do this - only Betty. Somebody wrote Betty was a stone age Erma. I don't think so. Your thoughts? (id:2872)


Deborah	Aug 21, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
I feel that, if anything, Mrs. S. Thompson has told us all more about herself than the rest of us. She is to be applauded, in my opinion. I have read all of the posts more carefully, and I see that the Piggle Wiggle Fan e-mail address posted by a "Martine" is the second address sending me constant offers after I blocked the primary address! (id:2873)


Jane	Aug 21, 2004	Canada
Dear S. Thompson, I'm so glad that you found a copy of NISEI DAUGHTER and hope that you will enjoy the book. I always have a long "wish list" of books I'd like to buy, so understand how important timing and affordable pricing can be. (id:2874)


Martine	Aug 21, 2004	Paris	writer
Deborah, If you are not interested in receiving mails you only have to say this and you won't receive any. By the way I didn't write you and I won't ever do this. I promise. Tell them not to write you and they won't. The Piggle-Fanclub address is a contact address for Fans and you can send a mail to them mentioning a fan's name and they'll forward it. Therefore I mentioned this address in one of my postings. I feel you belong to these people who want everything for free You can find these people around the world. As I already told one of my relatives was Betty's agent. I was so interested in receiving more info. That's why I purchased a lot of things even letters and other documents from collectors around the world and had to pay a lot of money. (id:2875)


Deborah	Aug 21, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
I checked my list of blocked senders before I made my post. I have indeed received numerous unwanted mailings from the fan club AND from the Piggle Wiggle address even after asking to be removed from the mailing lists. This is a forum, not a war. Your insults are unfounded as well as asinine. (id:2876)


Sally	Aug 22, 2004	Greensboro, NC	law office administrator
I wonder if Kimi/Monica Sone's book is available at libraries? I would like to read it, if only for the part where she had TB and met Betty. I understand that there is a book called "Much Laughter, A Few Tears" by Blanche Caffiere, who I believe went to high school with Betty, that offers us some more glimpses into her life, and I will be looking for that one as well as Mary's three. If I have any luck and read anything especially interesting and wonderful I will share it with the group! I agree with all of you who have mentioned the special connection they feel to Betty. (id:2878)


Sue	Aug 22, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Hi All, Just a note to say that I am on vacation, but when I return I'll post the inscriptions Betty and her sister Mary wrote in the copy of The Egg and I. Also, there's a good article on a website called Suite101.com. Just type Betty MacDonald into the "Search Within Suite101" search bar once you get to the website. Be sure to read all the discussion comments, starting with the first one, because Bob Heskett's niece posted a comment, and there are also some references to some of the issues we've discussed in this forum, regarding suspicious postings. Deborah, thanks for your restraint. I think we should all just ignore the nasty folks and continue to share info on Betty. Anybody wanting to make a buck off sharing info won't have anything interesting to say anyway. Sally, Blanche Caffiere's book is available from a store on Vashon Island. I think it's called the Vashon Country Store, but I'm not positive. A friend bought me a copy there. You can Google it and contact them. I did buy a paperback copy of Nancy and Plum from them once and they were completely trustworthy and shipped quickly. I've also heard really nice things about the lady who runs the Betty MacDonald B&B out of Betty's old property on Vashon. Everybody I've spoken to who has been there has commented on how gracious she is and how willing she is to share pictures, photos, etc. I'd like to take a trip there one day. (id:2880)


Deborah	Aug 22, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Bravo, Mrs. Thompson! Have a safe and happy vacation and we look forward to your sharing the inscriptions with us! And many thanks for providing the forum with another website! (id:2881)


Sally	Aug 22, 2004	Greensboro, NC	law office administrator
I just went to the website Mrs. Thompson told us about and read some of the comments --- particularly the thread started by Bob's niece. In my opinion, Betty was careful in "The Egg and I" not to write anything that would be overly defamatory to Bob. For example, she points out from the beginning that she had been raised to embrace whatever her husband chose to do with his life. Although Bob was an insurance salesman when they met, when he shared his dream of the chicken ranch, she gave him her support. However, you can certainly read between the lines as the marriage deteriorated --- such as the time he kissed her and she was as surprised as if an old boss had rewarded her that way for a good typing job, and the time she mentioned that by then she knew she and Bob were miles apart as far as some things were concerned. She was only 18 when they married and he was much older. It took a lot of courage back then for a woman with two small children and no money of her own to walk out on a marriage. It sounds as though she tried to make it work as long as she could, and I imagine he thought he had tried too. Does anyone know how she and Don met? (id:2882)


Jane	Aug 22, 2004	Canada
Sally, If the public library in your city does not have the books you are interested in, you can request an interlibrary loan. This is how I was able to find Mary Bard's books. I purchased MUCH LAUGHTER, A FEW TEARS by Blanche Caffiere, used, some years ago through Amazon.com. In the book, Blanche Caffiere mentions an article that Betty wrote for the July 1949 issue of the READER'S DIGEST called "The Most Unforgettable Character I've Met." This was the story of a rather eccentric boyfriend Betty dated after she returned home from the sanitarium. I wonder whether anyone has read that article? At any rate, Blanche Caffiere devotes a short chapter to "Mike - A Swell Guy." (id:2883)


Deborah	Aug 22, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Jane, you beat me to it! I was going to suggest that Sally try an inter-library loan as well ! Two great minds thinking alike ... Good to see you here again ! Isn't the site Mrs.Thompson shared with us great? How's your research coming along? (id:2884)


Sue	Aug 22, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
I guess I'd better say here and now that S. stands for Sue, because being called Mrs. Thompson all the time makes me feel like I still have chalk dust in my hair and a red pen stuck behind my ear. Jane, thanks for the reminder about the Reader's Digest article. I'm going to try and track that one down. (id:2885)


Deborah	Aug 22, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
LOL, Sue ! That red pen did bring back some very unpleasant memories... (id:2886)


Peter	Aug 23, 2004	Bern, Switzerland	Teacher
To Fans who have some special information: I'm interested in Betty MacDonald's tv appearances because I'm working on a documentary for schools. My goal is to introduce Betty's outstanding work to our pupils and students. For this we will visit the Betty MacDonald Foundation in the Netherlands. If anybody can support me in finding this I will share the collection of my own incl. Betty's beautiful Xmas Cards which she mentioned in her books, the real story of mysterious Dorita Hess from Anybody can do anything. I would order all the Fan Club items for you including the interviews with Betty and her sister Alison. Not to forget a very interesting interview with sister Mary. (id:2889)


Patti	Aug 23, 2004	USA	avid reader
I've been a Betty MacDonald fan for a really long time. I was delighted to discover this site because I haven't had much luck finding freely available information on the 'net about Ms. MacDonald and her books. I thought it might be nice to have a central location for Betty's fans to share thoughts and facts about her life and works so I've started a message board with that in mind. I hope you all will visit and participate there. The board is brand new and I'm still putting the finishing touches in place. You'll need to register with EZboard to post, but that's free and simple. No advertising will be allowed there and accounts will be limited to one per person. I hope the board will be a fun place for the free exchange of thoughts and information. Please come help me get the new board off to a good start! You can find the Betty MacDonald Fan Farm board at this address: http://p214.ezboard.com/bbettymacdonaldfanfarm . See you there! :-) (id:2890)


Lorinda	Aug 24, 2004	Seattle
I like the cultural exchange that comes with being interested in Betty MacDonald and her books. So to Susanne: it's very kind of you to offer to buy me the Betty tape, but my thanks is the very fact that I was able to share a little more about the area where Betty lived. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. That is thanks enough. From time to time, I go dig something out of the library or take photos of things for the MacDonald Society -- their thank you to me is sharing a lot of their information. So I've actually got a copy of Betty's tape. She has a lovely voice and just listening to her makes me know I would've loved to meet her. Her granddaughter who I know a little from church is a high school art teacher and possesses a gentle, nurturing personality much like I think her grandmother would have had. Her photo, by the way, is in the back of some editions of "Nancy and Plum". Betty's daughter and her husband were members at the church for years, and he passed away rather suddenly a few years ago. Many people have very positive memories of him. Betty's daughter Joan lives in an assisted living center in the area (she has Alzheimers). I believe a new historical museum is being planned for Vashon Island and many of Joan's papers, letters, and photos may end up there. Joan's daughter told me earlier that they cleaned out her mother's attic and put that stuff in storage when Joan went to the assisted living facility. It would be so exciting to have these things available for people to see. (id:2898)


Jane	Aug 25, 2004	Canada
Hi back, Deborah! At present, I seem to be finding much of interest right at this site. Lorinda, it is always lovely to read your contributions. Thank you for sharing about Joan and her family. How sad that Joan's disease progressed so quickly - at least it feels like it did when I refer back to her 1998 interview with A Common Reader and notice how bright she still seemed. How fitting it would be for her papers and photos to be displayed in a Washington museum. Let's hope that this comes to be! (id:2900)


Susanne	Aug 28, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
Lorinda, You can understand me why I love the tape with Betty and Alison so much. What a lovely surprise that Betty's Society has such a great friend in Seattle. My family can't thank you enough for sharing all this with us. You are such a very kind and lovely person. We are so sad to hear that Joan suffers from Alzheimers. Lorinda, did you see Joan? My family knows very well what this dignose means to a family. My father had Alzheimer for years and it was so tragic and sad that he had no memory at all. Did I tell you that I wrote to Betty's publisher in the nineties and they forwarded my letter to Joan. Her husband wrote such a very, very kind letter. I was looking for a copy of Betty's Nancy and Plum and he was so nice to send me a copy as a gift with a dedication from Joan and him. He wrote that Joan has the same talent as writer as Betty and she is in the process of writing sequels of Nancy and Plum. Do you know did this ever happened? Joan's husband was such a very friendly and giving personality and he wrote that his wife and he had been married nearly 50 years and they had a great life and were still in love. They obviously had a great marriage and he wrote that Betty was the most wonderful lady in the whole world - always funny and generous and loved her family so much. He was so proud of his children and mentioned Joan's daughter who is a art teacher. He included some photos and to all of us this very special copy of Nancy and Plum and these photos of Joan, him and the family mean so much to us. It's very sad he passed away because it's very hard to lose a partner after a marriage of over fifty years. Poor Joan but it's good to know she has her children and grandchildren around. Lorinda if you see Joan or her daughter the next time please send her our greetings from all of us and that we won't ever forget their generous gift. We all are delighted until today! We only wished we could do something for you. Thank you again for sharing this with us. You make us so happy! (id:2907)


Sue	Aug 31, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Hi All. I promised I'd tell you about the inscription on the copy of The Egg and I which Betty and Mary both signed. Betty's inscription is as follows: "For Kay, Who is cute and sweet and didn't complain when Mary and I held her down and told her the story of our lives for hours and hours and hours. Love, Betty MacDonald." Mary's inscription reads: "To Kay, who wanted to hear the story of MY life, too. At least, she acted like it! Love, Mary." Aren't those great inscriptions? On another note, we drove to Port Townsend on our vacation and drove through the Chimacum Valley. My husband spotted The Egg and I Road, and we drove part of the way up it. I wanted to explore it more thoroughly, but we had an appointment and couldn't take all the time we needed. Still, using Betty's descriptions as well as Lorinda's and Yolonda's, we found what I think was the Bishop farm. Yolonda, we may have driven right past your house! I thought about you while we were driving around up there. Next time we go back, we'll spend more time and see the whole road. From the main highway The Egg and I Road winds gently up into the trees and I thought about all the trips Betty and Bob made down that road when it wasn't paved and was hemmed in by the woods and mountains, and how many times she must have stayed by herself on the farm while Bob drove into Port Townsend for supplies. It was a longer trip then and their old truck wasn't the most comfortable form of transportation, I'm sure, but I'll bet she grabbed any opportunity to get off that farm and down into the life of "Town". As we drove through Port Townsend I wondered which of those beautiful old buildings housed the candy shop where she bought the sticky caramels, and the lending library with the pitiful book selection. Most of the buildings date from the late 1800's, and have been very well maintained, as have the old Victorian houses. The whole Chimacum Valley looked idyllic, although I'm sure Yolonda and Lorinda can attest to the fact that, like anyplace else, it's got its good and bad points. At any rate, it was a great little jaunt and one we'll repeat soon. (id:2911)

Readers' Comments - Sep - Oct 2004


Sue	Sep 01, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
As promised, I posted a message giving the inscriptions Betty and Mary wrote in my copy of The Egg and I, but somehow it ended up stuck in the middle of the 2003 postings instead of in chronological order at the end, so if you all want to read those inscriptions, you'll have to scroll most of the way back up the page and look for the Aug. 31, 2004 date. The joys of technology................... (id:2913)


Deborah	Sep 04, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Sue, that's so sweet of you to share the inscriptions ! It sounds like you had a great trip and thanks for sharing that as well. :) (id:2918)


Kim	Sep 14, 2004	Virginia	mom
Thank you so much for sharing the info on Betty. I feel like she's an old friend. We "met" about 14 years ago when my family was taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest and I picked up "The Egg and I" on a book table of local authors. I was captivated and read all her others. I hope to get to know you all more as time allows. In the meantime, thanks for the "warning" about the Betty MacDonald Fan Club. I had suspected as much when I was bombarded with emails requesting me to purchase tapes, etc. upon my inquiries. Kim in VA (id:2940)


gitte	Sep 20, 2004	denmark	mother
Hi all, recently saw a television about betty. i learned that betty had many japanese fans. i was very surprised to hear this. great to meet you all. i love the betty & alison fan club audios as much as lorinda, peter and susanne. cause i'm a mummy of 4 kids i asked them not to send any offers for a while and they did. really appreciate their work so much. lorinda if i can save some money in the future i'd visit betty's land. wished i could write as well as you can. you have the pure gift for writing. (id:2948)


gitte	Sep 20, 2004	Denmark	mother
i'm stupid. forgot to tell you i know a relative of mary's husband. he came from denmark. love her books too. (id:2949)

Allie

Sep 20, 2004

Washington state

teacher

Sad news: According to the Vashon Beachcomber newspaper:

[Post excerpted by editor.]

JOAN MACDONALD KEIL July 14, 1929 - July 18, 2004 Joan Macdonald Keil was born on July 14, 1929 in Port Townsend, Washington and passed away July 18, 2004 at the age of 75, in Bellevue, WA at the Gardens at Town Square. Joan graduated from Garfield High School and worked at Littlers in Seattle. Joan married Girard (Jerry) Keil on Jan. 21, 1949 in Seattle. Joan was the daughter of Betty MacDonald, who wrote The Egg and I, Onions in the Stew and the Miss Piggle Wiggle stories. Joan and Jerry lived in Enatai and Medina with their four children, Heidi, Rebecca, Timothy, and Toby. Joan sang in variety shows to help raise money for Overlake Hospital. Joan was very creative; she loved to paint, garden, cook and create drive flower arrangements. Joanís sense of humor always made people laugh. Joan is survived by her daughter, Heidi Keil Richards and husband Kim Richards, and their daughters, Heather and Devin; son, Tim Keil and his wife Mary Jo, and their daughters Kallyn, Jerrica, Angie, and son Michael; and her son, Toby Keil and his wife Sally, and children Rachel and Griffin. Memorial services will be Saturday, July 31 at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church in Bellevue.

I met Joan at a booksigning about 16 years ago. She was a lovely woman. Allie (id:2951)


Kim	Sep 20, 2004	Virginia	mom
Allie, Thanks for sharing the obit on Joan. I haven't gone back to reread the earlier posts. Was Joan the one suffering from Alzheimer's? I hope her passing was gentle. Thanks, Kim ><> (id:2953)


Susanne	Sep 20, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
I had to cry when I was reading of Joan's passing. It's too sad. She was really very creative and a great artist. Her husband has send us some copies of her artwork. Masterpieces. I framed them and everybody who visits us asks me who this outstanding artist is. Joan had Betty's talent to make people laugh and she did a lot of good things. I have a photo of Joan and Jerry in their garden. it looks like a wonderful park with all the beautiful flowers. Jerry told us Joan could write the same way Betty did. I hope her writings will be published to delight us. And she was so beautiful. I guess when her husband died it broke her heart. (id:2954)


Sally	Sep 21, 2004	Greensboro, NC	law office administrator
I noticed that Joan's obituary mentioned she had a fourth child, Rebecca. She must have preceded Joan in death. I am sorry to hear of this... It would be wonderful to see the photo of Joan and her husband in their garden. (id:2955)


Sue	Sep 21, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Allie, thanks so much for posting Joan's obit. I wasn't aware that she'd passed away. In Onions in the Stew, Betty wrote about the photographer and writer from Life magazine who visited her family on Vashon Island, and did a feature story on them. I have a copy of that magazine, and Joan looks so young, healthy, and pretty. I'll always think of her that way. My heart goes out to her family. (id:2957)


Susanne	Sep 22, 2004	Vienna, Austria	retired
It's so sad and my daughters and I feel very depressed. Rebecca was a very talented artist. It was so tragic when she died in the nineties. It was such a loss. Jerry wrote this in his letter. Sally, I'd like to share the photos with all fans. So beautiful photos with Joan and Jerry and the whole family. Joan was a great writer, artist and a master gardener. I'll ask my family how to share it. Perhaps they can create a website to share the photos. You all should see them. (id:2959)


gitte	Sep 22, 2004	denmark	mother
it's so sad. what a loss! thanks for sharing this. i'll tell it mary's relatives. i'd like to see joans's photos. thank you susanne! (id:2960)


john sankey	Sep 22, 2004	manchester uk.	retired accountant
reading this article has brought back all the memories of all these books and how I loved them.Travelling to work on the bus in winter in rain and gloom,on the upper deck,cloaked in cigarette smoke,like a cosy unhealthy bar, I read "anybody can do anything "with extreme pleasure.remember the bit where the woman got on the bus wearing a fur collar like a "wet collie.? My surprise was enormous when I reached Seattle and the library had none of her books.Lovely woman,God bless her.!and God bless Seattle................ (id:2964)


Cathy	Sep 24, 2004	Crown Point, Indiana	Sales manager
I found your web sight while doing some research on the book "Best Friends" By Betty Bard. I have just listed one on Ebay for sale. I have heard this is a very rare book. It is the first edition from 1955. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! (id:2976)


Sue	Sep 25, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Cathy, Betty MacDonald's sister Mary Bard Jensen wrote the Best Friends series. Betty wrote books for children as well, but the Best Friends series was Mary's work. The two I'm familiar with are Best Friends and Best Friends in Summer, but there may have been a third one as well. They are fairly hard to come by unless you happen across them at garage sales or library sales. You'll probably do pretty well on the one you've listed on eBay. Good luck! (id:2978)


Cathy	Sep 25, 2004	Crown Point, Indiana	Sales Manager
Hello Sue, I listed our book last night and already have a few people bidding on it. I also saw Best Friends In Summer on another used bookstores web sight and they want over $200.00, and it was not a first edition. Thank you so much for the information! (id:2979)


Suzanne Stapleton	Sep 25, 2004	Michigan	Mother
I was so very saddened to read of Joan's passing. I've been a fan of Betty's for many years. I loved Blanche's book and wish that someone would publish Betty's biography. I'm so glad there is a place that those of us who love her books can talk! (id:2980)


Deborah	Sep 27, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
I loved the book, Best Friends, so much that in the 1970's I xeroxed the entire book from a library copy ! I first wrote the publisher requesting permission to copy. I'm sure they thought I was crazy ! (id:2984)


Jane	Sep 29, 2004	Canada
Deborah, could you describe the book? (id:2990)


Deborah	Sep 29, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
Sure, Jane, the book was about two girls whose parents marry in the end of the story. A little French girl moves next door to one child, the new neighbor's long vacant house is refurbished, the girls become best friends. I remember mostly bits and pieces of the book now, I xeroxed it in its entirety more than 30 years ago ! I seem to recall that a swimming pool was reopened, and something about the girls drying their freshly washed hair in the sunshine. I don't remember the characters' names, was one of them Suzi? (id:2991)


Sue	Sep 30, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
Deborah, you remember well! The American girl was Suzie and the little French girl who moved into the house next door was CoCo. Best Friends is one of those books I loved as a little girl, because the ending was not only happy, it was over-the-top happy. Even then I knew it was not in the realm of possibility that ALL those fantastic things would really happen to two little girls, but it was generous of Mary Bard to write it that way, anyway. I've read all of Mary's books for adults as well, but I think that, of the two sisters, Betty had far more skill as a writer. Mary's talents lay more in the realm of civic leadership. I found a first edition copy of Best Friends at a garage sale and paid fifty cents for it, then went to the car and did the joy-joy dance for a couple of minutes. It's fun to have, and I wouldn't sell it, but I am going to check eBay and see how Cathy did with hers. I'm also trying to find out what happened to Betty's brother Cleve. I've run across some hints that he had a sad end to his life. If I get any more info, I'll post it here. (id:2996)


Deborah	Oct 01, 2004	Southern California	Caregiver
LOL,Sue,I can just see your dance of joy! I agree that Betty was the better writer, although I did like Mary's books as well. I too have been curious about Cleve. I'd appreciate whatever information you may uncover being posted here. (id:2999)


Sue	Oct 02, 2004	Pacific Northwest	retired
I found that Cleve's burial site is in the Vashon Island Cemetery. The burial records state that his birthdate was Nov. 29,1908, and his date of death was Nov. 21, 1980. However, Betty was born in 1908 and Cleve (Sydney Cleveland Bard) was the third child, so I think the 1908 birthdate for him must be an error. I wonder why he was buried on Vashon, if he lived there before Betty and Don moved away, and if he continued to live there for twenty-two years after her death, or just what the situation was. That's all I've discovered so far, but will post more if I come across anything interesting. (id:3004)


Sally	Oct 02, 2004	Greensboro, NC	law office administrator
I seem to remember that in "Onions in the Stew" Betty wrote that when the family came to visit th

Time Traveling The Roosevelt District With Betty Macdonald

By Paula Becker

Betty MacDonald Forum

Betty MacDonald Site

Continuity

An Invitation

Readers' Comments - Feb 2002 - Dec 2003

Readers' Comments - Jan 2004 - July 2004

Readers' Comments - Aug 2004

Readers' Comments - Sep - Oct 2004