Intergenerational Friendship: Ruthy forms one with Jason Carter while he's working for her. She teaches him how to fish with her special bait and gives him a special brooch so he can gift his mother. Their closeness brings his mother's jealousy as she starts feeling threatened by Ruthy's presence in Jason.
Old Retainer: Dewey is an old employee of Ruthy's, and him getting too old to fix her old house on his own is what motivates Ruthy to seek a younger helper to assist him.
Remember the New Guy?: Ruthy is introduced as an old acquaintance of Laura's, having known her and her family when she lived in Walnut Grove six years ago (by which time she was a teenager) and her helper Dewey used to have long conversations with Charles. She and Dewey were never mentioned prior to this episode.
Secretly Dying: Ruthy is revealed as having a terminal disease, which she hides as she seeks to enjoy her final weeks in Walnut Grove.
Title Drop: When Ruthy reveals that she's terminally ill and this is her "last summer".
