I’m not sure what all I can say here that the title of this book
doesn’t already achieve. Read the title once, then twice, and your
puzzled expression will inevitably bloom into a curly smirk.
Come again? His Muskrat Lady Housekeeper? Uncle What?
I
can’t say how this floats my boat. Really. And I’m not sure it would
be wise to try. Let’s just say that a quick glance at this book has
diffused many stressful moments for me. I can’t help smiling. So, there it sits, on the shelf above my ribbons, ready to cheer me up on demand. It just wouldn’t be right to
keep such a thing to myself.
Of course, muskrat anything takes me back about six years to the night Isaac came home from work, spun me around in the kitchen and proceeded to sing, "Muskrat Suzy and Muskrat Sam do the jitterbug out in Muskrat Land…"
with all the passion he could muster. Oh to have a record of the look
on my face! It was a classic expression of "You have got to be kidding
me, right? You’re joking, right?" He just kept on singing. Me, "Oh
my gosh! Is this a real song? No, you’re making this up. What are
the real words? What is going on?"
Isaac, of course, knew all of the words. He spent a good five or ten minutes trying to convince me that yes, there was indeed a very
popular song in the 70s called Muskrat Love (it hit #4 in ’76), before digging up the CD
and proving it. Poor guy, I totally spoiled his muskrat mood. But,
what the? I can’t be the only one to not feel the romance of Muskrat
Love, can I? "Honey, are you sure it was a popular song? I was only a baby, you know."
That was a funny, funny night. Big, healthy laughs.
I still don’t get it. Though I do wonder… That picnic Uncle
Wiggily’s skipping to looks awfully romantic to me. What is it with
muskrats?
(And, no, Isaac wasn’t serious.)
The song he’s referring to was by Captain and Tenille, I do believe–which of course dates me quite clearly.
I love the old children’s books, they aren’t PC but they certainly invoke some fond memories.
The band America also recorded a version of Muskrat Love–but I think the C&T version is better. 🙂
I love the dancing ladybug duo in the corner. They make me smile, so thanks Heather!
Joan
so i just checked eBay (of course), and Uncle Wiggily must have been quite the charmer!! there is a nice little handful of games about him from Milton Bradley, as well as a….wait for ittt….Ovaltine mug! hehe.
I hate to admit I know a great deal of the words to that song, too. And at 5 years old I was kind of a baby, right? I guess I just spent way too many hours in the back seat of the Ford Torino road tripping to 97.1 WYNY…
Uncle Wiggily – I remember him! My grandmother has a pile of those books in her spare bedroom. When we used to sleep over once in a while as kids, she always read to us from Uncle Wiggily. Kind of makes me mist up to think about it, actually. Granny is still with us, but she hasn’t read me a bedtime story in 23 years or so 😉
you sooooo need the game! one of those that is in desperate need of a frame…i love old gameboards! i play it with my students (it was one of the games that was handed down to me from the other therapists before…) there’s dr. possum, the wibblewobble duck pond, skillerly scallery alligator, the cluck cluck chicken house and uncle wiggilys bungalow. and the cards say things such as, “hurry! hurry! don’t be late! move uncle wiggily ahead by eight.” and “uncle wiggily moves ahead by one. he takes a walk and has some fun.” too cute.
Never mind the song… I am envying the Lady Housekeeper. Our home needs a happy, skipping Lady Housekeeper, even if she’s a muskrat!
I was going to comment about America and Captain & Tenille, but it looks like that’s already been covered. I was a kid in the ’70’s, too, but the America greatest hits CD brought it back.
I also had an Uncle Wiggly book back then as well, but it had too many words for a little kid and I only looked at the pictures. I love the picture from your book. I want to know the story behind the hobo cat and why the mouse is looking so disparagingly at him…
My grandparents had an Uncle Wiggily board game, and that’s what I always wanted to play at their house. I’d totally forgotten about that! Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
Muskrat Love….WOW! That song is a blast from the past for some of us who weren’t babies in the 70’s. I was in my early teens and still remember every word to that song. The Captain and Tenille were my favorite duo. I love the simplicity of the music back then….Muskrat Love – it’s total inuendo but so cute! Thanks for sharing – can’t wait to share your post with my hubby over coffee tonight. Today is our “Unofficial Anniversary.” We met 29 years ago today – October 11th, 1978…we call it our “Unofficial Anniversary. We were 15 and somehow knew we would be together forever and ever and e-v-e-r!! (P.S. I also admit that at 15 he was the first and only boy I have ever kissed.)
Uncle Wiggily! I had that game. It was so much fun…thanks for reviving a great childhood memory! Melinda
Well, of course this would make you smile because of the reflection of your own hubby passionately singing tales of muskrats to you! :o) Cute stuff
I not only had the game, but a little collection of several of the charming books as a child I don’t know what Mom did with them, but they were great. My favorite had a story of a Halloween party with games like bobbing for apples and stuff like that. There was a character called Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy and a couple of villians I think one was called the Harem Scarem Bear….
That book is hilarious! There is something incredibly unromantic about muskrats though…picnic or no picnic!
Cathy X
Muskrat love is a timeless classic. The captain and Tenille rocked and there is no getting around that. Here is my equivalent to your “Uncle Wiggily” http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2579/1133/1600/P1060542.jpg
everytime I look at it I laugh. I love the belt- chickens don’t have waists, they don’t need belts!
In the film “My Fellow Americans,” the idiotic vice president of the United States quotes the lyrics “Muskrat Love” at the funeral of the president, saying it was the president’s favorite song.
It’s one of my favorite moments on film.
For a while, one of the Chicago DJs used to read song lyrics as poetry.
“Mr. Bojangles” was a big favorite of his. Probably did “Muskrat Love” at some point.
Wow, that does bring back memories…I was in eighth grade and my hair was cut like Tennille’s. Brother.
I was just thinking about how great it is that Toni and Darryl (Captain and Tenille)are still together! I LOVED that album!!!! I could sing every word right now!!!!
Intresting book…what is it with Muskrats!?
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned that the C & T had a variety show. It was like Tony Orlando and Dawn (don’t tell me if you don’t know who that is) or the Sonny and Cher show (if you don’t know about that I don’t think we are allowed to be in the same company). Ahhhhh…good times. The Captain allows wore that goofy outfit and you always thought, “How did he get such a hot wife?”
I was born in ’70 so I was quite young at the time, but I think I was a true member of the tv generation. When we moved to a new house when I was 4 and we had moved everything into the new house (beds included) except the tv, I cried because we were not spending the night back in the old house on the floor because that was where my beloved tv was!!
Don’t you just love those illustrations–so nostalgic:-) Thanks for sharing ! And my my that song was by the Captain & Tenille–am I that old…LOL!
I now feel a complete neaderthaler: I come from a country where the thing with muskusrats is that you kill them. The more the better and they pay you for it too. To be fair the are not native here and they destabilise the dykes and that is something we dutch feel qyuite strongly about being under sealevel and all..
I must say I am not going to look at that book agian the muskutrat house keeper looks qutie cute..
I remember that song. Thanks for sparking a fond 70’s memory! Loved the youtube version. What a crack-up.
I am very disturbed on so many levels right now.
You’re so right. There is just no way to improve upon that title! Awesome.
I loved the “America” version, but either way…a cheerful song and a cheerful book!
Eiw eiw eiw that is soooo creepy!!! I had never actually HEARD the song until now, I just had to go find it and hear it. For some reason I always thought it was along the same style as Mustang Sally. Boy was I WRONG!!! Creepiest song ever….and creepiest book ever!!! LOL
I was showing my husband the book cover, for a good laugh, and he said they had a few Uncle Wiggily books and the BOARD GAME!
Oh my!!
And it’s a children’s book! Merciful heavens. 😉
Actually Uncle Wiggly was one of my favorite games growing up. It was left over from my dad’s childhood and was drug out on special occasions. Ah, the memories that old codger brings up…
Love the artwork in this book. There is nothing better than the graphics from those vintage children books! Unfortunately I really didn’t take much to that 70’s hit. I was in 8th grade when that little muskrat love song came out. Sad, but I know all the words to it!
Teresa
Didn’t ‘America’ sing a song Muscrat love? I love the housekkeper muscrat. I’ll just have a housekeeper period! LOL
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2333177
They still sell the Uncle Wiggly game (ToysRUs link above). My 20yo had it when she was little. I guess I’ll have to get it for my 2yo in the next year or so. I have a few old Uncle Wiggly paper books that are falling apart.
I was 10 in ’76 and was so totally in love with the capt. and tenille!I played that record a million times I know!! I wanted to be tenille so badly, had the haircut. Which was just a longer version of the dorothy hamill. man that is really dating me! I could probably give Issac a run for his money with the lyrics!! Sing it loud and proud!!! My grandma bought the uncle wiggly books for my oldest son (he is 16 now) when he was small. He liked them. Thanks for bringing back two great memories for me!!!
I remember Muskrat Love (I’m *only 37 lol)!
And I had an Uncle Wiggily board game when I was a kid. Loved that thing. It was one of my favorite games.
I love all these vintage items you get your hands on. Lucky you.
Are you kidding?!! Muskrat Love rules! The Captain and Tenille rule! In 6th grade they were the $#@&! I would melt if my husband sang Muskrat Love to me. Anyway. . .thanks for sharing, you young thing you!
I can’t help but comment. I was 5 years old when that song came out. Loved it!!! And no, I didn’t get the innuendo till my 20s. Didn’t your parents ever play an oldies/classic station while you were growing up? How old are you? I thought you & Anna Maria were the same age. Sorry, rude of me, I know. Never ask a woman her age. But you can tell us, we’ve seen you dressed as an elf. 😉
My Grandmother read Uncle Wiggly stories to us every night at bedtime! Uncle Wiggly was always getting caught by the bad wolf and the evil snake (can’t remember their names). Each time he would get out of the situation by outsmarting them, usually something very simple. Great stuff! I vaguely remember a muskrat lady, but it was a long time ago… I need to find that book!!!
Yes, I remember that song! Believe it or not I heard it on the car radio not too long ago. Did you know that in between those genious lyrics are little squeaky muskrat noises?
That book brings back memories. My Uncle used to read it to me.
Jill 00
that is so funny. especially since we are building a home right across the street from “the captain and tenille”. my husband and i get a kick out of that song.
Oh my goodness, you have such eye cadny here!
Not sure how I found your blog but I just had to share that in a pile of old books I got at the flea a few weeks ago were 3 Uncle Wiggly books! (I thought he looked familiar!)
1) Uncle Wiggly and the Peppermint
2) Uncle Wiggly and the Sleds
3) Uncle Wiggly Learns to Dance (oh, the cover on this one!)
That Uncle Wiggly sure gets around! 😉
Joy
I had that board game…it was my absolute favorite as a little girl. You know, THE one that you pester everyone to death to play 😉
Wow-I knew his daughter Mabel Garis-she was probably in her 70’s or something when I was in high school, and she was a kind and wonderful person. She was a writer, and I think your posting will make me read her book about a woman in the Baha’i community, Martha Root, Lioness at the Threshold. We used to hear that her father did the Uncle Wiggly series, but I wasn’t familiar with them until now. After seeing the cover, I can see that I missed out!
Cpn and Tenille sang Muskrat love to the Queen of England at a command performance. The Brits were outraged that C and T would sing such a scandalous song to the Queen.
Great blog, thanks!
We love Uncle Wiggly! My children have all of the books, the game and other random stuff. I’ve been collecting it since the 1970’s. Glad you like him too!!!