Was Olivia Dale handy? Had to be.

I get lots of e-mail from Avonlea enthusiasts.  I thought I'd answer some of their letters, just to add a little drama.  Be warned, I will work in as many references to home maintenance as possible.

Dear Mag Ruffman,

My name is Abi, and I just want to say thank you so much for playing Oliva Dale on TOad to Avonlea.

Hi Abi.  Toad to Avonlea was a very important era in the annals of toad history.  I fondly remember the great, winsome eyes of the enigmatic Toad.  We all strove to reach high levels of toadliness.  Only Aunt Hetty succeeded.

I really liked your Character. I noticed you and Sarah Stanley were very close on the show. And Sarah looked up to you so much. I heard earlier that you have chatted with your fans on the Avonlea Message Board,  but I want to ask some questions too. I missed the opportunity to chat with you on the Avonlea message Board.

Cool.  Let her rip. 

1)  We all know everyone has a pet peeve. What are your pet peeves?

New plumbing fixtures that come in a box that appears to be sealed and yet there is a single part missing.  That drives Jasper crazy too.

2) What are some of your Avonlea treasured moments on the show?

It was fun having a baby without knowing how to have one.  I rented a video on childbirth which unfortunately had no sound.  I couldn't properly imagine the sounds the lady appeared to be making, and that is why Olivia had a very quiet delivery.  Except for the panting. 

And speaking of panting, Digger the dog once hurled in the middle of a scene.  Oh, don't get me all sentimental!

3) Do you have any embarrassing moments?

I have many.  In fact I've had several today so far.  Oh, you mean during Road to Avonlea?  Well, when you're wearing a corset, burps are explosive.  It's like releasing the valve on a 5.5 horsepower air compressor. 

4) Do you still have any contact with the Avonlea Cast like Sarah and Gema?

I see everybody once in a while at events.   I talk to Jackie Burroughs a couple of times a year.  We discuss drywalling and how to select a good air compressor (since we no longer wear corsets).   I phone Cedric (Uncle Alec) periodically but he is mostly incommunicado.   Whenever any of us do get together it's impossible to feel that any time has gone by, even though it has (10 years).

5) What are your Favorite Episodes of Avonlea?

I loved the episode where Davy was trying to put Rachel's corset on the pig.  I loved all the episodes where Jasper invented something brilliant like a vacuum cleaner that shot mud all over Hetty and me.  I loved the episode in the caves where we had to 'act' scared with bats flying at our heads.  And I loved the one where we all put on a play and Mrs. Tweed did an egregious audition and thought it had gone quite well.

6) What if they did another Road to Avonlea reunion - would you consider coming back to work with the Cast again?

Well sure, as long as there was some important emotional theme such as caulking.

7) I noticed in Avonlea there were some bloopers in the show, what do you think of it?

I think it's a lot like life.  The bloopers are there and if you focus on them, you're afraid to do anything.

8) What do you enjoy doing?

I like thinking and I like making loud noises with very large power tools.   I try not to do both at the same time.

9)What instrument do you play?

Tuba and gut-bucket, plus I like playing conga rhythms on an empty, overturned 5-gallon water bottle.

12)  Mag I'm really glad that you have a sense of humor, what are some of things that you do to make people crack up?

I spill things and I bump into things.  Not on purpose.

Dear Mag thanks for taking the time to answer all these questions.  God bless you!

You too, Abi.

Comments

[cubbie]

these were great-- the questions and the answers. yeah, hetty was the most toadly.

what's funny is that... i saw the episode where olivia gives birth a few times when i was about 14 or so, and so weirdly, it's one of the most vivid childbirth scenes in my head. and now you tell me that it is all wrong! psh!

great fact to know about corsets. i've worn a few, but they didn't have boning (or stripping... wait, that's a different entry) so i didn't notice that, but one of my corseted cohorts used the phrase "out of bodice experience"-- and it's a pretty amazing one. post-corest breathing is AMAZING!

[Mag]

Sorry to have warped your ideas about childbirth! I'm told there's usually a lot of yelling and possibly swearing. THAT would have been an interesting Avonlea episode if they'd had to beep out Olivia every third word.
Mag

[Abi]

Dear Mag,
Its me Abi again. wow Thanks so much for replying. I did not realize that I spelled Road wrong. When I saw toad, I was like oops my bad. I started crackin up so hard. Im still laughing at that, and im so glad that you caught on that. I just got done with a choir performance today and it was wonderful, the audience really enjoyed it. The songs we sang "The Water is Wide" I can Wade Grief " Never mine to keep, I sing within the shadow, and still I rise. The Last closing song we do with the other choir performances is Music is in the Presence. I had so much fun today. And And we get to do it again tomorrow. by the way this is college choir. its gonna be a busy week i tell ya! Iam a singer, I recently cut a cd earlier this year and I so much fun doing that. Mag I have one more question, Have you seen the Movie High School Musical and High school Musical 2? if so what did you think of the movie. Well I gotta get going, I think tonght before I go to bed I will watch an episode of Avonlea. I have the show on tape. The Show Aired on Disney Channel and I remember watching it when i was little. I still watch it. Its been since I watch it. Hey Mag you can watch some epsidoe on Youtube. Just type in Avonlea and you're good to go.

I loved the episode where Davy was trying to put Rachel's corset on the pig. I loved all the episodes where Jasper invented something brilliant like a vacuum cleaner that shot mud all over Hetty and me. I loved the episode in the caves where we had to 'act' scared with bats flying at our heads. And I loved the one where we all put on a play and Mrs. Tweed did an egregious audition and thought it had gone quite well.

Mag I remember that one. I have seen the first one, but I dont have it on tape. I do have the other on tape.

well talk to you later.
with love Abi

p.s Mag this so cool that we could write to each other like this. Im so excited about today. First we have our performance tonight, and after I will be leaving with college Invaristy Christian fellowhip to a conference I soo cannot wait to. I just started packing today. well hope to hear from ya soon!

[Mag]

Hi Abi,
Nope, haven't seen HS Musicals yet. Hope you have a great time at your performances and conference.

[Unedited Meat]

I've been laughing for 10 minutes outloud..... I'll never forget your answer to Toad to Avonlea...

[Abi]

In my defense i was typing way too fast.. happens alot.. haha.. gotta love mags sense of humor... its wonderful!

[clare]

That was absolutely delightful.