Mark:

These chapters are wonderful work.  Really quite good. I thought the second one was just a bit better than the first because the mood was so sustained and focused.  The first one dragged a bit for the first 4 pages (forgive my bluntness--I'm rapidly turning into a crotchety old New England curmudgeon).  Great writing for Julia, btw, and that's not a compliment I pass out readily.

Too bad the series was canceled.  You've really got me wondering just where this story would have led.  Haven't a clue at the moment! Thanks for sharing the bit that did get written.  That's such a generous gesture on your part.  I figure since you are putting these up on the Net, it means it's highly unlikely you will ever write anymore.

I hope you and your wife enjoy your cruise.  It sounds very romantic.

Best wishes,

Steve

Although I have nothing new to contribute to this discussion, I must say I find all of this fascinating.  I hope you will all continue to share information here in this public forum.  It makes for sad but instructive reading.  

Darren, have you tried getting any Catholic friends of yours to say a prayer to St. Anthony of Padua for the hoDS footage?  I've heard that if it is anywhere, St. Anthony will find it!  

Best wishes,

Steve

Hi R. P.,

Herbs only pop up every so often on DS.  I remember Aunt Hannah and Angelique using mandrake to enchant Quentin during the Parallel Time storyline.  In 1795 it seems as if they started out trying to depict Angelique's powers a little more authentically in terms of island cunning woman type lore and practice.

Another great herbal reference is Julianka and her gathering the "blood" of the orris root--which actually IS a powerful binding agent used to give many spells an extra "kick."  I'm pretty sure Violet Welles was responsible for that--she seems to have been more enthusiastic about research than the others.

I helped a friend plant his herbal seedlings the weekend before last.  He had a couple of good books, one of them by an old-school hard-line gardener who made very strict recommendations about the distance between plants for the herbs.  Many of them do better planted in pairs, and she also mentioned about that.  I can't recall this particular author's name--the book was of the "Herb Gardening Made Easy" type, and the original publication date was ca. 1976.

What I do remember is that taller plants like fennel and rosemary should ideally have 2 feet of room between them.  You may not need to worry about this, though, since the plants will not survive the winter.  Unless you save the pots and transplant them out of the garden and bring them indoors in Sept.  I guess there's a chance you could keep them going if you did that.

Good luck!  Isn't gardening the best?

Gothick

Sheenasma, I am sorry to read about your loss.  Sheena was a beauty and I know she will shine in your heart always.  Thank Heaven you now have Sami to keep you smiling through your day.

I love cats, but neither of my parents like animals, and we were never allowed to have any pets.  In fact my Mom is allergic to cats, besides absolutely loathing the sight of any member of the species.  Well, nobody's perfect, right?  I have been blessed for several years now to share my home with other folks and their cats, though.  The house since 1998 has been ruled by our sovereign lady Thumbelina, an absolutely gorgeous brown-and-black tabby with the cutest marking on her right paw.  She isn't really a DS fan, but will occasionally deign to settle on her favorite cushion (which I always plump up in readiness for her) when I'm watching.

Interesting to see how many other cat fans there are into the show ...

Gothick

Has anyone seen or written a detailed review of this set, one that compares the actual quality of the allegedly remastered episodes with the ones released on video?  I'd really like to read something along those lines.

I've been going through my videos and making notes of tapes I need to replace.  Sorry, guys, but that takes precedence for me over getting the DVDs.

I did hear from a friend that Walmart is selling some make of DVD player for 68 bucks. I hope the players don't all self destruct over the 4th of July weekend.

Gothick

Watching my copy of this episode this a.m. (my tape of it is in wretched shape and needs replacing), I was also struck at how incredibly good Clarice was here.  It reminded me of how wonderful she was in the 1966 shows when the character had more dimensionality.  I still scream every time I think of the scene where she hands Maggie Evans a dime!

I thought Grayson played Julia's discomfort and guilt very well, too, in these scenes with Clarice.  I love watching those 2 ladies work together.  Clarice and Grayson had a similar career pattern Off Broadway in the Fifties.  I've read that they were friends and wondered whether they kept in touch after DS went off.  I know that Clarice began writing for other soaps, and if they were on ABC, presumably she and Grayson would have seen one another at the soap opera staff holiday parties.

Gothick

Well, I'm a guy, but I'd love to have Cassandra's hair.

Instead of wearing it, though, I'd keep it on a stand and use it to frighten religious canvasers and others attempting to make a nuisance of themselves around the house.

I wonder whether that hair can shoot quills, like a greasy, shiny black porcupine?

Cackling maniacally,

Gothick