Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald and bad eyesight

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

we have a new Betty MacDonald fan club contest.

Do you wear glasses? 

It isn't a problem at all in our time because we have very stylish glasses but it was a huge problem 70 years ago.

What was the reason why?

Because the glasses looked rather ugly.

Tell us please two members of the Bard family who were shortsighted.

Good luck. 

You can win very interesting new Betty MacDonald fan club items.

Deadline:  November 30, 2015

Good luck!

Have a nice Sunday, 

Simon

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I now have superpowers

Posted: October 27, 2013 | Author: G Green | Filed under: Politics | Tags: glasses, new, new glasses, short-sighted |Comments Off on I now have superpowers
 

Correction, I have glasses. I never realised I needed glasses until this Monday, and now I have spent a week occasionally wearing my glasses. Here is a picture Hélène took of me whilst I was wearing my glasses:

Looking back, it kind of makes sense – not being able to see the whiteboard unless I were at the front of the lecture hall, wondering why signs were so small, and if I were missing something when standing at a high point. Of course, I was born like this, so my eyesight was normal, and it was never bad enough to stop me from doing anything I tried. I had tried on other people’s glasses, but it never made things clearer so I just assumed that it wasn’t for me. So I went through my whole life being shortsighted, and with nothing to help me see better.

However, I’m not bitter about it. I adjusted to my short sightedness, and now that I can see better, it feels like a bonus. I have better hand-eye coordination, have no difficulty reading things from a distance, and most importantly I can really see.

I remember walking out of the opticians, seeing bricks not buildings, and it was a bit overwhelming. Trees became leaves, and the amount of detail felt life-altering. I’m sure this is something a lot of people go through, I just wanted to get my own thoughts down before I lose this high.

Darsie Beck and his very witty sister

  Betty MacDonald's niece Alison Beck 

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

it's so very sad that Alison Bard Burnett's daughter and Betty MacDonald's niece Alison Beck passed away a year ago at the age of only 65.

Alison Beck is the sister of Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Darsie Beck. 

Many Betty MacDonald fan club fans from all over the world know very witty and intelligent Alison Beck because she shared her fascinating memories and thoughts on Alison Bard Burnett CD/DVD. 

We can't wait to see the new Alison Bard Burnett CD/DVD.

New  Betty MacDonald documentary will be very interesting with many new interviews.

Alison Beck,  Darsie Beck, Alison Bard Burnett, Letizia Mancino and other Betty MacDonald fan club honor members will be included in Wolfgang Hampel's new project Vita Magica.
 
Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli is so very busy solving all the problems.

You'll enjoy new breakfast with Brad and Nick very much.

Mount Rainier National Park is really a great place.
 
Wishing you a very nice Saturday,

Marco


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Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD
  
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Alison Beck Obituary

Alison Beck, 65, passed away on July 19, 2014 of natural causes at her home in Tucson, Arizona. She is survived by her son Oliver Saul of Tucson, Arizona, brothers Darsie Beck and Bard Beck of Vashon Island, and her nieces, nephews and second cousins. 

Alison was born in Seattle July 26, 1948 to Alison Bard  and Bernard Beck. She grew up on Vashon Island and Mercer Island. Graduating from Helen Bush School in 1966, she attended Mackinac College, and obtained a BA in English from the University of Washington in 1992 where she worked as Editor of the Newsletter for Institute on Aging. After several years in Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico, Alison bought a home in Tucson in 2004. She worked at St. Ambrose School and Temple Emanuel, and volunteered at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
Her passions and delights were: her writing as published in Sun Magazine, brightly colored quilt making, remodeling her home and garden, her son, family and friends, and her devoted dogs.
Those who knew Alison remember her ability to see the humor in things and her memorable laughter. Inquisitive, she enjoyed having long conversations. Her artistic talents were expressed in her writing, quilt making, creating a home filled with color, and cooking and hosting for others.

Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald and her very funny sisters

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

i can't wait to see the new Alison Bard Burnett CD/DVD.

Alison Bard Burnett born June 25, 1920 at the family home in Laurelhurst, Washington and passed away December 23rd 2009 at Vashon Community Care Center where she had resided for the past four years.

Alison loved to entertain, was a passionate gardener, fabulous cook, talented decorator, and a gifted writer. She loved music, especially jazz, and was a wonderful dancer. She loved dogs and was a fierce champion of fairness. She will be best remembered for her warmth, generosity and infectious laughter.

We can read this in Alison Bard Burnett's obituary.
 
Alison Bard Burnett was a gifted writer and storyteller.
Alison Bard Burnett wanted to write her autobiography. It's not easy at all to do this if you have two worldfamous sisters, authors Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard.
We all know Alison Bard Burnett never wrote her book but something happend.

Wolfgang Hampel, author of the Betty MacDonald Biography and winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award, interviewed Alison Bard Burnett several times in Seattle in 1996. 

Years later Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund and other Betty MacDonald Fans heard of Wolfgang Hampel's interviews and eventually these Betty MacDonald treasure items had been published on CD and DVD. 

More Wolfgang Hampel interviews will follow. 

Thanks a Million dear Linde Lund and your Betty MacDonald Fan Club Team for doing this!

We guess Alison Bard Burnett would be very surprised about this but you are delighted if you listen to her golden Bard Memories about her father Darsie Bard, who died 6 months before she was born. Alison Bard Burnett's magical stories about her mother Sydney Bard, grandmother Gammy, sister Betty MacDonald, Betty's husbands Robert Eugene Heskett and Donald MacDonald, Betty's daughters Anne and Joan, sister Mary Bard and her husband Dr. Clyde Jensen,. brother Cleve Bard, adopted sister Madge Baldwin, Betty MacDonald's friend Monica Sone, the 'Kettle' family, Nancy and Plum and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle are unique.

The favourite Alison Bard Burnett memories are about her sister Dede whose real name was Dorothea Goldsmith and her very good friend Mike Gordon who felt in love with Betty. 
Especially touching are Alison Bard Burnett's memories of family life in Laurelhurst, Chimacum, the University District in Seattle, on Vashon Island and in Carmel Valley. 

It is moving to see Betty MacDonald's sister Alison Bard Burnett visiting the houses in the University District and Laurelhurst, where she was born. Alison visited it with Wolfgang Hampel. She saw it again for the first time after the Bard family left it. A very special moment!

As other Betty MacDonald and Alison Bard Burnett fans mentioned: 

Betty MacDonald wasn't crazy about Sport. 

Betty MacDonald's very witty sister Alison Bard Burnett was the opposite. She loved it. 

I have to laugh tears about Betty MacDonald's very witty sister Alison Bard Burnett describing the behaviour of men in her interviews with Wolfgang Hampel. This is so real and funny.

Wolfgang Hampel, author of the Betty MacDonald Biography and winner of the first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award founded Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Society in 1983. 

That's what Wolfgang Hampel wrote about his experiences with unique Alison Bard Burnett.

Alison Bard Burnett (June 25, 1920 - December 23, 2009)

I met Alison Bard Burnett in Seattle and we had such a great time. She told the most interesting and very funny treasure stories about her family especially her famous sisters Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard.

We visited all the places, the house in the University District, Roosevelt High School and the house in Laurelhurst where Alison was born 6 months after her father Darsie Bard died.

I won't ever forget it because it was such a wonderful experience to meet this great lady! How we drove with Alison's VW through Seattle. She was full of life and so very, very witty!

Thanks A Million dear Alison! You are always in my heart!!

All my love to you and your wonderful family!

Wolfgang Hampel

As Wolfgang Hampel wrote, Alison Bard Burnett was full of life and so very, very witty. 

Although Alison Bard Burnett never wrote a book of her own she is as popular now as her sisters Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard. 

Alison Bard Burnett's gift as a storyteller delights her fans in 40 countries. 

Alison Bard Burnett is word famous and in our hearts forever! 

CD and DVD interviews are different ones.

New  Betty MacDonald documentary will be very interesting with many new interviews.

Alison Bard Burnett and other Betty MacDonald fan club honor members will be included in Wolfgang Hampel's new project Vita Magica.
 
Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli is so very busy now because of his private and many complicated political affairs

Mr. Tigerli is a winner and we know the winner takes it all. 

Don't miss new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.

Mount Rainier National Park is a magical place.
 
Yours,

Vera 


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Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD
  
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Darsie Beck and Betty MacDonald's paradise in University District

Author Betty MacDonald resided here at 6317 15th Ave NE

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,


November is my less favourite month.

What can I do to change my mood?

I’m reading Betty MacDonald’s or Wolfgang Hampel’s books or like now I’m listening to Betty MacDonald’s sister Alison Bard Burnett. 

Alison Bard Burnett shares very funny and witty stories with us that I have to laugh all the time.

She is terribly witty. 

You can feel that Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel had lots of fun.

I can imagine sitting in Sydney’s house in the University District drinking lots of coffee and listening to these wonderful storytellers.

We hope to hear from  Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli  very soon. 

Don't miss new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.

I adore this outstanding video of Mount Rainier National Park.

Thanks a million for sharing this.

Yours,

Daniela

Betty MacDonald fan Club honor member, artist and writer Letizia Mancino shares her delightful story THE SECOND PARADISE. 

Enjoy the brilliant translation by Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mary Holmes, please.

Thanks a million dearest Mary Holmes!

I'm one of Letizia's and Mary's many devoted fans.

Letizia Mancino sent this connecting piece to " The Second Paradise".

DEFIANT AS A COCK

Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino
translated by Mary Holmes 

All rights reserved

That was how my friend Hilde Domin was, dear Betty! You would have liked her so much. She had also been in America. At that time you were a famous author but she was still unknown.

-Did she love cats like you do?

-Yes Betty, she sure did!! Otherwise how do you think she could have been a friend of mine?

-Oh Letizia, don’t boast! Hilde was famous!

-It’s all the same to me, Betty, whether a person is famous or not but that person must love animals

-Why was she as defiant as a cock?

-Well Betty, she was simply so!

-Like a pregnant woman in my “Egg and I”?

-No not so! Betty, Hilde was a whole farm!

- A farm, how was that?

- No Betty, Hilde was more! Almost a zoo! Even more. She was all the animals in the world!

-You loved her very much.

-As I love all animals. 

You Betty, if I had known you, I would have loved you exactly so because you loved animals.

-But as defiant as a cock from my Bob-farm!

-Yes and no! (Hilde really loved this double form of answer). Listen Betty , I’ll tell you a story about how Hilde was. You would certainly have loved her.
I’ll call my story “The Second Paradise”.

THE SECOND PARADISE

Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino
translated by Mary Holmes
 
All rights reserved


The Lord God, one day, met Adam in Paradise and saw him lying under a palm.

And God spoke to him: Adam, my son, are you happy, are you content with Paradise ?

Adam answered: Oh Lord, it is wonderful!

And God said: But I will create a second Paradise and give you a wife.

Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful!

And God said: I will create the wife according to your wishes.

And Adam stood under the palm and thought hard.

And God said: Adam, are you ready?

Adam answered: My wife should be as lively as a bird but she should not fly. She should swim like a goldfish but not be a fish….. She should be as playful as a cat but not catch mice….. She should be as busy as an ant but not so small.

And God said: So shall she be: Like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant…

Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful, but she should be as faithful as a dog.

And God asked: Adam, have you finished?

Oh Lord, cried Adam. She should also be as delightful and gentle as a lamb and as defiant as a cock!

….She should be as curious as a monkey and as pampered as a lapdog.

And God said: So shall she be.

And Adam said: My wife should be as courageous as a lion and as headstrong as a goat…

And God said: So, like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant, a dog, a lamb, a cock, a monkey, a lapdog, a lion, a goat… and slowly and surely he wished to begin creating…

But Adam stretched himself under the palm and called:

Lord, Lord, she should be as adaptable as a chameleon but not creep on four feet.

She should have sparkling eyes like, like… real diamonds. She should be as fiery as a volcano

But … she should have crystal-clear thoughts like a mountain spring.

God, the Almighty, was speechless…

And Adam spoke: Also she should be as quick as lightening…

And God said: Man, have you finished????

No, said Adam! She should be as strong as a horse, as long living as an elephant but as light as a butterfly!

God found Adam’s thoughts were good and said: So, bird, goldfish, cat, ant, dog, lamb, cock, monkey, lapdog, lion, goat, chameleon, genuine diamonds, volcano, mountain spring, lightening, horse, elephant…. butterfly…

God wished at last to begin creating her…

Lord, called Adam… she should be as stable as steel, but as sweet as three graceful women in one…

And God asked: Should she also be a poet?

Yes, called Adam from under the palm…

And God said: Adam have you finished?

Lord, I wish that, in the second Paradise I shall be one and doubled:

So God according to Adams last words created:

HILDE PALM DOMIN
 

Very best wishes


Letizia Mancino



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Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald and a very dark time

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

Betty MacDonald describes November as a very grey and depressive month in her book The egg and I.

Our November weather today is just the opposite.

The sun is shining and the birds are singing.

It was a bit misty in the morning  but my family and I enjoy a wonderful day.

As a special Betty MacDonald fan club surprise Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter November includes a very exciting Betty MacDonald fan club story by Anita and Eartha Kitt II. 

The two ladies are currently working on the biography of Betty MacDonald's best friend Stove.

There will be an interview with Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel.

We hope to hear from Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund, Betty MacDonald fan club research team and  Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli very soon.

Don't miss new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.

Good luck for your Betty MacDonald fan club projects and outstanding activities!

Dear Betty MacDonald fan club fans, enjoy a very colourful November without any grey and boring days.

We'll have lots of fun because as Betty MacDonald said: We don't like Saddos!!!

Mount Rainier National Park is a magical place. 

Warm regards,

Julia

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Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

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Betty MacDonald loved in Germany

Axel Schappei The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber June 16, 1983

Go into any ordinary German bookstore and ask for former Islander, Betty MacDonald's paperbacks and you'll be handed - at least - three books: Die Insel und ich ( Onions in the Stew ), Das Ei und ich ( The egg and I ) Betty kann alles (Anybody can do anything).

Scholars in the Pegasus German courses on the Island may notice that the German titles of Betty MacDonald's famous autobiographical novels have been translated appropriatley.
Betty would like them. Betty MacDonald, who lived on Vashon Island, is tremendously popular in Germany. She once was one of the most well known and widely read novelists in the United States. But would you guess that more than two million paperbacks and hard-cover books of Betty MacDonald have been published and sold in Germany during the last 30 years? 

Her bestseller The Egg and I reached about half a million in July 1981. From March 1964 until October 1980, 107000 copies of Anybody can do anything were sold in 12 editions. Onions in the Stew - her novel about living on the Rock - sold 103000 copies from May 1964 until September 1980, also in 12 editions. "She is incredibly successful, really, not only her novels. Her books for children like Nancy and Plum or the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle-Stories still belong to the most successful childrens' books after all those years," says Wolfgang Hampel, who is so convinced about Betty MacDonald. 

He simply loves Betty MacDonald and her books: "She's so homorous, her stories about everyday-life's and awkward situations are just incomparable. It's like a good friend taking you be the hand and leading through her life." 

That's why Wolfgang Hampel and four other German Betty Fans plan to launch an extensive exhibition about Betty MacDonald, her life and her work.

Originally they wanted to open the exhibit on February 7, 1983, 25th anniversary of Betty MacDonald's death. But the five friends didn't manage to get enough exhibits together. "We're still looking for pictures, photographs, letters - in short all sorts of personal mementoes about Betty. Our exhibition has been planned for the last few years and we have written zillions of letters and bought hundreds of books, here in Germany, Europe and from the States," explains Wolfgang Hampel.They tried to get further information about their preferred author from American publishing companies. "Some didn't answer and others know less than we did already! It was like finding the different pieces of a jigsaw-puzzle without knowing what it will look like in the end." 

Why all this activity?"We think that Betty MacDonald is such a fascinating person that many people here should know more about her . Apart from our endeavors to our exhibition together we've also been in contact with publishers to convince them that a new edition of Nancy and Plum would find its readers still today.

Betty MacDonald's readers come from all ages and social groups," says Wolfgang Hampel. Of course he and his friends know that Vashon is the Onions in the Stew Island and they also know that Vashon is part of the Pacific Northwest and - more specifically - of Puget Sound. So imagine their amusement when some publishing firms told them that Vashon is somewhere up to Alaska. 

Actually, Wolfgang Hampel knows quiete a lot about the Rock, though he's never been here. All his information comes from Betty MacDonald's Onions in the Stew. So he's got the idea of the terrific view of Mount Rainier, and he also knows about her coyness.

Wolfgang Hampel has a pretty good impression about the house where Betty lived with her folks. "What we dearly need for our exhibition are pictures of the Island, books all sort of visuals to show people here in what a beautiful scenery Betty lived. So people can understand that she simply had to write books like that in such a fascinating rural enviroment.

Wolfgang would be grateful for any help he could get from the Island. "Really, the most substantial help came from Vashon so far. We got some great personal impressions about Betty from Islanders who knew her."Wolfgang is amazed about the friendliness and amount of help and encouragement that reached him from the Rock. Still it's a long way until the exhibition is ready. 

Anyone with anything they'd like to send for the planned exhibition can write to Wolfgang Hampel. 

 

Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald and her favourite month

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans, 

childhood is so exciting because we are sailing away every day to find new treasures.

Sounds a bit like Mr. Piggle-Wiggle the pirate husband of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

We should ask Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle if she has a cure against very grey, old, cold and rainy November.

In fact we don't have to ask Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle because for Betty MacDonald fan club fans November isn't boring at all.
There are so many reasons to laugh and to be happy every day even in November.

You only have to try.

I was in a bad mood today but after reading some of Wolfgang Hampel's unique satirical firework I can't stop laughing.

The same miracle always happens while listening to Wolfgang Hampel and Betty MacDonald's beloved sister Alison Bard Burnett. 

Both are too funny and you'll forget very grey November in a minute.

It's like golden sunshine even on a very grey, old, cold and rainy November day.

Don't miss new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.

It made my day. 

Wishing you a very cozy home instead of staying on a chicken ranch in the mountains,

Antoni

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Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

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Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I 

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Betty MacDonald Fan Club proudly presents:

The amazing, very witty, charming, intelligent story written by our brilliant Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honor Member - artist and writer Letizia Mancino.

WHEN YOU DREAM, DREAM BIG

Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino
All rights reserved
Translated by D. Tsiaprakas

Betty, I love you! Your books „Anybody can do anything“ and „Onions in the Stew“ are really outstanding! I take them into my hand, and at a stone's throw I am right away in America ! Columbus and the egg: The great discovery!

Your bestseller „The Egg and I“ the greatest discovery. And you and I! I know America: It's true what you are writing: That's America: Absolutely right! No, even to the least detail! The landscape and the passion: Do you know the country where pistols blossom? Brava, Betty, you are describing the Americans vividly, genuinely, insufferably, brushed upon paper. If I like to read your works? To read doesn't even express it! I can even hear and see everything: Nature, culture, subculture.

America has almost remained unchanged! O those cool Americans! Calculating, stockmarket, Wall Street, the financial crisis (even back in 1930), the gamblers, the bankruptcy of companies! The swarming of dodgers and cheaters. People left without money. Dispair und hunger! A terrible „Worst Case“ (when I knew but little English I thought it is sausage with cheese).

Still how impressive is the ability to adaptone self of the Americans: They know how to enjoy life, acrobats of survival! In the twinkle of an eye they achieved to adapt themselves and effect the work of pioneers: In the morning you are a cleaningwoman, in the evening a brothel woman! No problem!

„The insufficient, here it's becoming an event; The indescribable, here it's done;“ Mary Bard Jensen, your sister, was the treasure trove of procuring work: My word, what a power woman with unlimited imagination! She has recommended you everywhere: Betty can do everything, also write novels! Go ahead, sister, hurry up! The editor wants to see your manuscripts! Up to that point you had not written a single line! Wow! And if still everything goes wrong? No problem: When you dream, dream big!

Just look, you have become famous.The Egg and I You know that, Betty? I'll slip into „The Egg and I“ and come and be your guest! I want to get to know your chickens. I hate chickens! I'm a chickens slave from North America! O Betty, without these damned animals, no chance of you becoming famous! „The Egg and I“ you would never have written! How many readers you have made happy!

Your book is so amusing! Your witty fine (almost nasty) remarks about your family members and roundabout neighbours made me laugh so much! You have been born into a special family: Comfort was not desired: I can't but be amazed: What did your father say to your mother? After tomorrow I am going to work elsewhere: Thousands of miles away...He sent her a telegram: LEAVING FOR TWO YEARS ON THURSDAY FOR MEXICO CITY STOP GET READY IF YOU WANT TO COME ALONG – That was on Monday. Mother wired back: SHALL BE READY, and so she was.That's America! Improvisation, change, adventure. You show no weakness: Let's go! Your descriptions, Betty, about the tremendous happenings in nature have deeply frightened me.

Continent America, I'm terrified by you! I feel so small and threatened like a tiny fly before an enormous flyswatter! Your novel is very many-sided! The reader may use it even as a cook book! „The Egg and I“ starts straight away with a recipe: „Next to the wisdom that lamb meat doesn't taste good unless it has been roasted with garlic“. Do you enjoy the American food?

O Betty, it's too fatty for me and I hate garlic! (Betty is presently cooking lunch for Bob. She's continually talking to „STOVE“: STOVE is Bob's rival; in the beginning I thought it was being himself). She turns round and says: Well, so no garlic for you. No lamb either, Betty. I don't eat any meat! I'd actually prefer only fried eggs. Betty, let me make them myself. Then you try it!

Blow! „STOVE“ out of order! I don't succeed in turning it on! Damned! It's got more of a mind of its own than „STOVE“ of my friend, Hilde Domin! Bob's coming! He must eat directly! „Men eat anything, the swines! Says your grandmother Gammy“. Is it true? Do you like my chickens? Bob asked me without introducing himself. Yes, Bob (rude) I love them! I'm vegetarian. Do you want to clean the henhouse with me tomorrow? A, you're always getting up so early at four o'clock! Bob, that's not a job for me! He looked at me disdainfully! A Roman cissy! You need a reeducation at once! Help, Bob's attacking me! I rather change the novel immediately and move to the „Island“! 

 

Darsie Beck and Betty MacDonald fan club letter collection

 

Darsie Beck - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

what about a project Betty MacDonald's and Mary Bard Jensen's life in letters?

Betty MacDonald Fan Club Collection is really amazing.

You can find all the details in these letters even who is who in Betty MacDonald's and Mary Bard Jensen's books.

Who do you think is the best writer in the family?

Betty wrote it was her mother Sydney.

I'll share a letter written by Mary Bard Jensen. I adore her intelligent and very funny letters. 

( Betty MacDonald Fan Club Newsletter November Page 2 )

Thank you so much for your contributions.

I know new breakfast with Brad and Nick is as brilliant as ever.

Wishing you a nice November, Betty MacDonald's 'favourite' month.

Berni

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Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French )

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund 


Betty MacDonald loved in Germany

Axel Schappei The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber June 16, 1983

Go into any ordinary German bookstore and ask for former Islander, Betty MacDonald's paperbacks and you'll be handed - at least - three books: Die Insel und ich ( Onions in the Stew ), Das Ei und ich ( The egg and I ) Betty kann alles (Anybody can do anything).

Scholars in the Pegasus German courses on the Island may notice that the German titles of Betty MacDonald's famous autobiographical novels have been translated appropriatley.
Betty would like them. Betty MacDonald, who lived on Vashon Island, is tremendously popular in Germany. She once was one of the most well known and widely read novelists in the United States. But would you guess that more than two million paperbacks and hard-cover books of Betty MacDonald have been published and sold in Germany during the last 30 years? 

Her bestseller The Egg and I reached about half a million in July 1981. From March 1964 until October 1980, 107000 copies of Anybody can do anything were sold in 12 editions. Onions in the Stew - her novel about living on the Rock - sold 103000 copies from May 1964 until September 1980, also in 12 editions. "She is incredibly successful, really, not only her novels. Her books for children like Nancy and Plum or the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle-Stories still belong to the most successful childrens' books after all those years," says Wolfgang Hampel, who is so convinced about Betty MacDonald. 

He simply loves Betty MacDonald and her books: "She's so homorous, her stories about everyday-life's and awkward situations are just incomparable. It's like a good friend taking you be the hand and leading through her life." 

That's why Wolfgang Hampel and four other German Betty Fans plan to launch an extensive exhibition about Betty MacDonald, her life and her work.

Originally they wanted to open the exhibit on February 7, 1983, 25th anniversary of Betty MacDonald's death. But the five friends didn't manage to get enough exhibits together. "We're still looking for pictures, photographs, letters - in short all sorts of personal mementoes about Betty. Our exhibition has been planned for the last few years and we have written zillions of letters and bought hundreds of books, here in Germany, Europe and from the States," explains Wolfgang Hampel.They tried to get further information about their preferred author from American publishing companies. "Some didn't answer and others know less than we did already! It was like finding the different pieces of a jigsaw-puzzle without knowing what it will look like in the end." 

Why all this activity?"We think that Betty MacDonald is such a fascinating person that many people here should know more about her . Apart from our endeavors to our exhibition together we've also been in contact with publishers to convince them that a new edition of Nancy and Plum would find its readers still today.

Betty MacDonald's readers come from all ages and social groups," says Wolfgang Hampel. Of course he and his friends know that Vashon is the Onions in the Stew Island and they also know that Vashon is part of the Pacific Northwest and - more specifically - of Puget Sound. So imagine their amusement when some publishing firms told them that Vashon is somewhere up to Alaska. 

Actually, Wolfgang Hampel knows quiete a lot about the Rock, though he's never been here. All his information comes from Betty MacDonald's Onions in the Stew. So he's got the idea of the terrific view of Mount Rainier, and he also knows about her coyness.

Wolfgang Hampel has a pretty good impression about the house where Betty lived with her folks. "What we dearly need for our exhibition are pictures of the Island, books all sort of visuals to show people here in what a beautiful scenery Betty lived. So people can understand that she simply had to write books like that in such a fascinating rural enviroment.

Wolfgang would be grateful for any help he could get from the Island. "Really, the most substantial help came from Vashon so far. We got some great personal impressions about Betty from Islanders who knew her."Wolfgang is amazed about the friendliness and amount of help and encouragement that reached him from the Rock. Still it's a long way until the exhibition is ready. 

Anyone with anything they'd like to send for the planned exhibition can write to Wolfgang Hampel.