Patrick is on his way at this very moment, to pick up Wrenn from a week at the grandparent's house. I know she had a wonderful time, playing with cousins and getting royally spoiled... but I'll be glad to have her home again. It's just TOO quiet without her here. Besides, our regular "Simpsons" vege-out time just isn't the same without her.
However, while she was away, we did indulge ourselves in movies, books, and other toddler-free activities. Patrick sent me to the movie rental store on Friday and his last words were: "Get us a horror movie". Ugh. Horror is pretty low on my list.
Well, I guess being a holiday, there just wasn't much of a selection, and to be honest, I didn't look REAL hard for a horror movie. What did catch my eye though, was the "New Swiss Family Robinson". It looked so tempting, with a picture of the Tree House on the cover...
I can't imagine a more exciting adventure. There is something about the man vs. nature theme that captivates us. Especially if the characters have to learn survival skills, mastering their environment, getting down and dirty with mother nature, baking biscuits from scratch... This is why I also loved "Frontier House" on PBS. They threw four families out into the wilderness with all the equiptment and skills of the average 1883 pioneer. It was miles above the present day reality shows we are all so addicted to!
I was thrilled to learn that PBS has a new similar show, called "The Pioneer Quest: A Year in the Old West". It comes on Tuesdays 8/9 central. It only has two families, and they spend an entire year on this project. It's a little different than Frontier House, but the premise is the same.
The next one is Colonial House, which follows the same format as Frontier House. They are currently interviewing families who want to do this, so if you are interested in seeing if you're up to the challenge, check out the website. If our situation were a little different, I'd jump at the chance. It sounds like an incredible experience.
Well, suffice it to say, I brought back "Swiss Family Robinson". Patrick said that was the last time he sent me to the movie store by myself. He doesn't know that he's just lucky I didn't sign us up on the wagon train!
Shannon,
There really is something enchanting about those shows- especially ones that give you a blast from the past. I think wondering "if we could do it" is something that in a way, plagues all of us. I loved movies like "Swiss Family Robinson", "Cast Away" and others like it. Have you seen the movie "Somewhere in Time"? It is a little older- it has Jane Seymore and Christopher Reeves in it. I think you might enjoy.
ooh, no i haven't seen that one. i'll look for it though. the swiss family robinson version we rented was actually called "stranded" and it was put out by hallmark. it was a lot more realistic than disney's version. it was great!
Posted by: Shannon at July 6, 2003 07:22 PMYou brought home Swiss Family Robinson? You must have broken under the pressure of trying to find a good horror movie. By the way, was this the one with Jane Seymore?
Posted by: Amy at July 7, 2003 11:16 AMI don't know, I thought Swiss Family Robinson was kind of scary.
Posted by: Ashley at July 7, 2003 01:01 PMno, not jane seymour... this was older i think, nobody i recognized.
Posted by: Shannon at July 7, 2003 01:43 PMI think BBC started it all with "Victorian House"...a fam had to live in London in a house exactly as it would have been in Victorian England. I think they still had their normal jobs and such, but they came home to history.
Posted by: Jeannette at July 7, 2003 05:16 PMShannon... I went to Disney World once... oh... a century or so ago... (okay, it was only a quarter century ago...) and my favorite part was the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house... I always loved the idea of living in a treehouse, too... but the one I wanted was the one Tarzan and Jane had... just look at some of those old Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movies... if Patrick lets you go pick out a movie again, you can always claim the crocodiles eating the bad guys qualifies it as a horror movie... (I know, I know... it's a real stretch... )
love,
Aunt Vickie
I remember hearing something about Victorian House... I had forgotten about that one!
Posted by: Shannon at July 7, 2003 06:17 PMI just saw a commercial for a T.V. series or mini-series called the New Swiss Family Robinson or something like that. I don't remember which channel I saw it on. It looked very exciting.
Posted by: svenska at July 8, 2003 06:34 PMSo did anyone watch Pioneer Quest last night?
Posted by: Shannon at July 9, 2003 01:18 PM