Any one going to watch COLONIAL HOUSE tonight?

Saw Oprah's thing. Saw the PBS thing.

Just like last time, I wish they would:

A) Spend more time on showing people being happy. I can't help but think there are some happy stuff just isn't considered worth the air time. Whining, complaining and misery seems to get unlimited air time.

B) More time on issues back-to-the-land basics that these folks had to deal with. Or a seperate series. i.e. where did they get all that nice wood for the siding on these homes? Or the furniture?

Why are they planting their corn in mounds? That seems like a lot of extra work.

Are they going to water the corn to get it started? (I suppose in maine it might rain enough that they don't need to worry about irrigation)

What are the other projects they are working on?

I watched both shows last night and found them to be most interesting!

I really could connect with the Texas family, as they seemed a lot like my own family. The California couple - BLECH! They were clueless and their arrogance sickened me.

Aside from the different group personalities, I noticed that the group spent a lot of "down" time while out in the corn field. If you're going to be a successful homesteader, especially in a hostile climate, then there's no time to be wasted with "idleness".

A few questions though:

1. Why did they bother taking out the old dead roots out of the hills, that would have made excellent composting material?

2. Also, why didn't the girls take one goat out at a time and milk them OUTSIDE the goat pen. They could have used a rock or the slope of a hill as a milking bench to keep the nanny's quiet while milking.

3. Instead of using fishing line, the freemen should have been using casting nets to catch fish, or else build a fishing weir?, both of which are more efficient in catching fish in large enough quantities to feed their group. The fishing line is not accurate for that time period and is usually used for "recreational" fishing, not food gathering.

4. Didn't the group try to bank their coals to keep the fire alive (smouldering) overnight?

Hills were used by N.A.'s and the example followed by colonists because soil is usually shallow in depth there and they had only hoes to work with. There is a poem that goes with the planting too that I can't remember.

Thought the same thing with the goats - Milk one at a time. At least they had some cloth over the bucket.

Could you imagine listening to the professor(lay pastor) for 3 hours every Sunday? I'd be napping. Much preferred the expounding on scripture by Bethany.

I bet the boys had to run for a lot of water knowing how much we all use today, and how steep they learning curve is.

I liked the fact that they didn't tell the group that the N.A.'s were coimg for a visit. Fear and excitement - what a great capture of the emotional history.

I'd be swimming everyday right after a quick lunch. I wouldn't let those dogs in my bed. There will be enough ticks and lice as it is.

Too much time on feelings and such. Not enough skills and craft and methods.

I watched it, and found it very interesting. It posed many questions. What about hygiene? did they have soap? did they have anything to brush their teeth with? i cant imagine going 3 months without brushing my teeth, having soap or deoderant! talk about stinky people..

I think it did have it's lack of reality, such as them not hunting or gathering wildfoods. As much as i would not want to see the hunting (being i'm a vegetarian), it would have been reality in that age.

As far as the people there, i think the laypreacher guy would have driving me nuts. I feel bad for his 'servant'. Listening to him for 3 hours a week and i would have shot myself. As for the 'govenor' and his family, i found them a little annoying too, they were very self-righteous. Like they are so perfect because they are southern baptists who found jesus. So far i liked the family from MA, with the kid with the odd name, the british 'servant', the single woman who shared the house with the MA family, and the freemen seemed cool. I couldnt stand listening to the two girls who whined, the one who whined about missing her boyfriend, and the other who was crying over goat milking.. ugh..

I look forward to tonights episode, with the religious law breaking going on, and 'scarlet letters'.. should be interesting..

Once again they seem to have missed the boat. This is the 4th series of this sort and you would assume the people who apply would have some clue and study up on techniques. But its just like Survivor, they never seem to learn how to start a fire or do basic chores. Yes way tooooo much Whining and Drama for the first episode although the California couple didnt bother me too much. He may be an old bore but I rather like her. Theres a bit of Chaucers the Wife of Bath about her and she does seem to have a bit of sense. And they are clueless, not banking the fire or doing chores sensibly and even I know that you should put the goat in a stanchion and feed it while you milk. And they certainly were a colorful bunch on Sunday and all that dancing and carrying on was a bit too like a bad painting by Brueghel....all those happy peasants. I like the English guy though. And why do these people always complain about being dirty. The got a whole ocean to bathe in everyday. If they are dirty, its there own fault. I cant wait to see the fur fly when the Governor decides its time they got into character and starts handing out the scarlet As. :yeeha: