Thanks to Victoria
By Rae KrugerWALNUT GROVE - A curious 10-year-old girl helped to fill the park at Walnut Grove on Saturday to hear twin sisters Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush talk about their days as the Carrie character on the TV series "Little House on the Prairie."
The Greenbushes appeared as part of the annual Fragments of a Dream celebration, which includes a pageant and activities based on the series of "Little House" books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Victoria Bayer, 10, of Westbrook had invited the Greenbushes to Walnut Grove. Once the sisters learned more, they agreed to make an appearance at the annual event based on the books, including the book based in Walnut Grove.
"It was really exciting," Bayer said of getting up on stage Saturday afternoon with the sisters. "They are really, really nice."
Bayer got up on stage to ask a question about the backstage activity on the TV set.
Bayer had played Carrie last year in the annual event's pageant based on the "Little House" books. She wanted to learn more about what the Greenbush sisters did on the set.
Bayer was one of dozens of fans of the TV series and books in the park Saturday.
Lisa Wangberg and her daughter MacKenzie of Wasilla, Alaska, came Saturday as part of a family vacation for the 50th anniversary celebration of Lisa Wangberg's in-laws in Clarkfield.
"My daughter has read all the books," Lisa Wangberg said.
MacKenzie's favorite? "On the Banks of Plum Creek," she said of the book set in Walnut Grove.
The books have been read by at least three generations of families, and through re-runs and DVDs, grandparents now watch the TV series with grandchildren.
Grandma Elaine Luett, daughter Brenda Mosher and granddaughters Lauren and Leah Mosher of Iowa were all in Walnut Grove on Saturday.
"We're having fun," Luett said.
"When grandma comes to visit...we sit around and watch "Little House on the Prairie" and laugh."
Especially at Leah's favorite episode "Ma's Holiday." Ma Ingalls goes on a short vacation and Mr. Edwards stays with the Ingalls children. Carrie misbehaves.
"Mr. Edwards ties (Carrie) to the pole and he nails her to the roof," Leah Mosher said.
The Greenbushes talked about the episode Saturday afternoon in a question and answer session with fans.
"I remember being up on the roof," Lindsay Greenbush said Saturday. "I just remember it was so much fun."
Lindsay Greenbush said she was hooked in a harness on the roof and it was made to appear she was nailed to the roof.
Sidney was the sister tied to the laundry line.
Fans like the Wangbergs, Bayer and the Moshers got other questions answered as the Greenbushes shared some of the fun they had on the set, and how they still had to attend school and do homework on the set.
As twins, they split the role of Carrie. Sometimes they shoot the same scene or different parts of the scene.
In an episode where Carrie falls in a well, "Lindsay goes in the well and I come out," Sidney Greenbush said.
Fans laughed at the stories. Later, they waited in line for autographed photos of the Greenbushes.
Bayer got her autograph. She also got a hug before she trotted off to the family van.
Bayer wasn't playing Carrie in the pageant, but she did have a role in her fourth year of performing.
