The Savage

Well, I decided it was time for another Bonanza post! Haven't had one of those in a while and I know that some of you out there also remember watching this show, back in the day. The other night I was sitting on the couch all by my lonesome self (kids in bed, Neil sick and in bed too) and since we STILL don't have a TV I wanted to enjoy my campari and grapefruit juice while being entertained by the four Cartwrights. I settled on an episode called "The Savage", one of the really early ones (filmed in 1960). The episode summary reads like this:

 

"Adam rides up on some Indians wanting to harm a white woman they believed was a mountain spirit. He kills them but not before they wound him. The woman nurses him back to health but the rest of the tribe is still out there looking for her."

 

All right then, bring it on.

Sadly, this episode turned out to be one of those that is funny for all the wrong reasons. And while usually it is at least Pernell Robert's acting that saves the day, in my humble opinion this wasn't one of his most stellar performances either. That ridicilous headband he was sentenced to wear was probably too tight. Or he found Heidi's (more on Heidi later) accent annoying. Or, well into the second season of Bonanza, he got an inkling that the scripts just wouldn't get any better and he'd be stuck with them for another 4 years. We'll just never know.

 

Anyway, if you want to watch it, several folks uploaded the complete episode to youtube. If you don't want to watch, I have a summary for you that I came across. I about busted a gut when I saw this; it's a wonder I didn't wake any of my sleeping beauties upstairs.

 

 

 

 

The episode begins with these two geniuses wondering why there are two spears with red fabric on them stuck in the ground. Maybe it's a sign post. Maybe it's to mark buried treasure. Maybe, just maybe, it's a warning. Nah! 

 

 

Looks like it was a warning. If they'd only read the fluttering fabric they would have seen the message.

Warning! Restricted Area next 50 miles! Spirit Woman somewhere!

 

 

A Shoshone shaman (say that 5 times fast!) named Chato tells his boys to forget the dead white dudes. Instead they need to go find the mysterious Spirit Woman and not to come home without her. Gee - I hope they packed some sandwiches! Chato also tells them not to worry - the Mardi Gras beads will keep them safe.

 

 

After that riveting opening, the scene changes to the Ponderosa. Hoss hears bellowing coming from the house and is surprised to see that Joe's out on the porch. That's odd - Joe's usually in the same room when Pa's bellowing. When Hoss asks what's going on, Joe says Adam's getting chewed out for wanting to go back to school to get his Master's degree.

 

 

Since Ben must have turned the volume down a notch on his bellowing, Hoss and Joe decide to listen through the open window.

 

 

Adam insists that checking out Ira Fairbanks' windmill is part of his thesis research on the Architectural Integrity of Alternative Energy Sources so he's really not planning this trip for fun. Ben tells his eldest that he must be bonkers to want to look at a stupid old windmill. Besides, there's cattle to be rounded up and none of the ranch hands seem to be around.

 

 

Adam gets a migraine and then throws a temper tantrum. Ben swears Adam gets that temper from his mother's side of the family.

 

 

Ben finally decides that Adam can go on his stupid windmill hunt. After all, one ranch hand might show up for work. Adam decides to hit the road before Pa changes his mind and begins bellowing again.

 

 

Joe and Hoss ask Adam where he's going. Weren't they just listening at the window?? Adam tells them he's going to Home Depot. They ask if they can come too. He says he's actually going to the library and they're more than welcome to come along. Both of them say no thanks - it's about time for SpongeBob to come on.

 

Adam's riding along, thinking about windmills and how to tip them over, when he sees the mysterious marker. Hmm...Does it mean windmills ahead? Could it be a warning? Nah.

 

 

Being the smart guy that he is, Adam notices a man lying on the ground. He asks, "You okay? Hey, I'm talking to you!" Adam decides the guy is sleeping.

 

 

While he's trying to wake the dead guy up, he hears someone yelling for a spirit woman. Sounds like someone forgot their cell phone. Adam decides to go check it out.

 

 

Adam left his binoculars on his horse, so all he can see is some guy on a horse and someone dressed in yellow. The guy on the horse keeps yelling Spirit Woman. The lady has struck a pose. Wonder if she's a model?

 

 

How'd Heidi K(lum) get in this episode? Is she the new spokesmodel for Spirit Woman perfume? Or is it a clothing line?

 

 

The Indian with the groovy magic beads insists she has to come back to his village because a lot of people have swine flu and she's a healer. Heidi K says she's not going to any willage. The Indian guy says he doesn't want her to come to his willage, he wants her to come to his village. Heidi says she told him she's not going to any willage. The Indian guy decides to drag her off to his wil...I mean Village, whether she wants to go or not. Turns out she's got to get prepped for a fashion show and can't go anywhere.

 

 

Adam yells down for the Indian guy to leave the girl alone. Wonder if that's gonna work?

 

 

While Adam is focused on the Indian and the gal in the yellow sweater, the other Indian gets out his trusty bow and arrow. Wonder how good his aim is.

 

 

The guy with Heidi hears Adam yelling and threatens to toss his tomahawk. He's been practicing his tomahawk toss while watching Atlanta Braves games. Someday, he hopes to be their mascot. Let's see if he's got a good throwing arm.

 

BLAM! Turns out it doesn't matter if he has a good throwing arm or not.

 

 

Since Adam doesn't see the guy with the bow and arrow, he decides it's safe to climb down from the rocks. Oopsie! Either the guy's aim isn't that good or the wind knocked the arrow off course. Either way - owie, that poor knee!

 

 

Adam manages to shoot bow and arrow guy and then falls gracefully to the earth. Ker-splat! I wonder how he trains for something like this? By jumping off the barn into piles of hay? By jumping off the roof onto mattresses? By watching Joe? I wonder how the judges will score his landing?

 

 

U.S. judge: He managed to fall with a minimum of arm flailing--8. Russian judge: He could've been more graceful--5. Chinese judge: He should've included a somersault and a twist--2. Adam fan club: He fell with so much grace! And he's got lots of boo-boos to fix. I wanna make him better. No, I wanna make him better. Hey-let's all make him better!! We give him a 15!

 

 

Heidi carefully approaches and asks Adam who his coach is. She's thinking she could score more contracts if she could add some moves like this in super-high heels. Silly Heidi runs off when Adam asks for help, though. Hope she's off to call 9-1-1.

 

 

After Heidi leaves, Adam drags himself over to a rock and passes out. He wakes up to see Heidi has returned. She tells him her name is White Buffalo Woman and that she's in the witness protection program. Shhhh!!

 

 

 

Then she does surgery.

 

 

Adam moans, groans, and suffers. Sigh. U.S. judge: He should've moaned more--7. Russian judge: He should've groaned more--5. Chinese judge: You call that suffering? 1. Adam fan club: Did you see those beads of sweat? How about the way his neck muscles stand out? The moans and groans! We give him 15!!

 

 

After finishing surgery, White Buffalo Woman (aka Heidi K), loads Adam onto her trailer. Wonder where she's gonna take him?


... to be continued ...

 

Stay tuned.

Ranch Pictures

I realized I never posted pictures from one of our favourite parts of our stay in Canada - the days we spent with the Kapeller family on their ranch in northeastern Saskatchewan. I took tons of pictures, so it was hard to choose. So, here we go, and in no particular order:

 

We stayed in the same awesome cabin as the last time. If you want to take a look inside, click here. (It's much more tidy in those pictures than when we lived in it.)

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In case Neil ever goes bald, he already found a toupet he likes.

 

 

Always fun to watch others ...

 

 

... work.

 

 

Riding around in the truck, checking on the cattle and the fences.

 

 

Happy little Canadians.

 

 

Campfire fun with Randie (Lily declared her her new "big sister") and Marshall Kapeller

 

 

Magic moments at sunset

 

 

Waiting for Corinna's good country cookin'

 

 

Hitching a ride for the last leg of our hike across the ranch land

 

 

Lovin' on Beauty, their favourite pony

 

 

Trying out the horses

 

 

 

 

Making our own belts with Bill (http://www.wilmsaddlery.com/). Thank you, Corrina, for the cool buckles!

 

 

Learning how to hold a chick without choking him. This here is named "Sunday dinner". ☺

 

 

 

FINN the COWBOY

 

Playing with (bubble) guns.

 

 

Riding range the new way

 

 

And the better way

 

 

 

 

Run, coyote, run - here comes dinner Finn.

 

 

Checking on the girls.

 

 

Finding out how much fun it is to stampede a herd of cows. Don't tell Larry.

 

 

Wide open spaces, the wind in your face, a friend, a dog, and a pick-up truck - little boy heaven.

 

 

And COWGIRL LILY

 

I call this picture:

"Courage, Determination, Pride"

 

 

Ride like the wind (or at least as fast as Papa can run).

 

 

 

She's fearless. No horse too big (and who needs a bridle or halter anyway?)

 

 

no calf too stubborn

 

 

And here is Finn going home to our cabin after a successful water gun fight with Marshall. I snapped the picture just at the right time, with a strategically placed fence post. ☺

 

 

Until next time!

 

 

Promise me

 

"Promise me you'll always remember:

You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

 

Christopher Robin to Winnie-the-Pooh    

 

 

Here is my Finn, looking a little worried on his first day of school, right before the parents left the classroom. Now, a good two weeks later, Finn is doing well. It's a big, sometimes scary change from Kindergarten, but he is learning lots of new things, and most days he loves going to school.

 

Here's a little song about sounds and learning to read:

 

 

More pictures of his first day of school to follow soon! Just don't want anyone to think I abandoned this blog. ☺

 

 

Finn

is seven.

Seven fantastic years with our sunshine.

It seems like I've known him forever and at the same time like he was born just yesterday. I can remember that day so well. What a whirlwind of a birth! If the hospital had been 45 minutes away instead of 30 he would have been born in the car.

And suddenly he is old enough to start first grade, the official start of "school" for German kids. The big day is just a week away.

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We celebrated his birthday in style. Neil took a day off work, Finn got presents and even more hugs and kisses than he usually gets in the morning, we went to the pool and out for food. And a couple days later he invited a very special little girl over for birthday cupcakes.

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Happy 7th Birthday, big brother!

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Lego Dino from Oma, Opa and Omi Lotti!

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More legos from us. And Neil also got him a bow and arrows and a target. A big hit with both kids!

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Birthday breakfast

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And off to the pool with friends!

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The birthday jump from the 5m diving platform. Brave boy!

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video:

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Lily jumped off the 3m board

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And of course, the new legos were played with that same day

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Here is the special guest family :)

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Well, hello there, cutie pie!

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She still remembers us and our house; it is amazing to witness this.

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She clearly enjoys seeing Finn and Lily.

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And we still love her so much, too! She is happy as ever and clearly thriving with her permanent foster parents. What a blessing those two are for this little one.

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So - we all had a great time, not just the birthday boy. Family, friends, good food, lots of fun and spending time together - it doesn't get any better than that.

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Are you really going to eat ANOTHER cupcake, Lily? How about something with a little less sugar? :)

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Finn will have a party with his friends after school starts. One of the disadvantages of having a summer birthday - everyone is on vacation! But on the other hand, that way it is spread out more and he can enjoy the birthday fun a bit longer.

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