I'm an Olympic Winner!

Look what I won at Sherry and John's blog, This Young House!

I thought I was only getting a gallon of stain, but when I got to Lowe's, I found a bag full of goodies!

Thanks to Sherry and John, Olympic, and Lowe's!

Looking Out

Back in 1991 my friend was house-sitting here. I tagged along one day to keep her company.

Man, the hardships we endure for our friends.

D.I.M. (Do-It-MYself)

I made this "Cook Wanted" sign from the left over wood of an old attic ladder and it's been hanging over my stove for years. Well, last week it occurred to me that I should make a pot rack out of it. Three nails and some pots [or pans]. What could be easier?

Hoppy Easter

Things Found In The Dirt

Three headed Daffodils found in the parents' yard.

Vintage Pepsi bottles found in the parents' yard.

When the bottles are clean, we'll put some daffodils in them. How fitting.

Last Puzzle Piece

When I received this wedding invitation from friends it inspired me to make them something special for their gift.

Inside: "Please join JR & Kim as they fit the last piece in place..."

That was over two years ago, and I finally got it done, printed, matted, framed and sent to them for Christmas this year. (Don't worry, I did give them another gift back then, too.)

click picture to enlarge

Some of these pictures are significant moments together on their road to matrimony. I think it went over well when JR said Kim just kept staring at it.

Sometimes it's better when I procrastinate.

Update: I failed to take a picture of it all framed up, but I found a tiny pic of the antiqued distressed frame online and so here's a tiny inkling of what it looks like.

See This Film. At Least 'Once'

Netflix. My new BFF.

I never know what is in store for me when that little red envelope arrives in the mail. My queue is so full of movies that I don't bother keeping up with it’s contents anymore. Most of the time it contains something pretty good. Sometimes it’s a real stinker, and "once" in a long, long while it contains a gem that is destined to become part of my permanent collection. Last night, 'once' made it's way into the latter category.

When I first opened my netflix last night, I had no idea how, why or when this movie made it into my queue, but I'm so very glad that it did. Luckily for me, the only thing I knew about it was the little blurb written on the DVD sleeve stating something to the effect of, 'Once' is a "charming musical" about a Dublin busker who meets a girl, and their budding romance is developed through song. I didn't know who Glen Hansard was or the band he was in, The Frames, or that he was in the movie, 'The Commitments. I didn't know anything about Marketa Irglova or the fact that she and Hansard had already won an Oscar last year for their song, "Falling Slowly", from 'Once', or that they have been touring the world together as The Swell Season. I didn’t know anything. But, if I had known, would that have made any difference? Would my expectations be higher or lower for this "little film that could"? Would I have loved it as much as I do? I can’t answer that question. But I can say that this movie will stay with me forever and I feel like a better person for having seen it, experienced it. These artists and the amazingly aching and beautiful music that brought their characters and their stories to life have raised my expectations a little bit higher for all future films I watch. They’ve raised my expectations for myself, too.

Maybe I am a little late to the party in celebration of this movie, it's music and musicians, but at least I finally found it, and in one of my favorite ways...by surprise. Something that doesn't happen very often anymore in this over-saturated media world where we know the beginning, middle and end of a movie before it's even hit theaters.

This is just a simple little story about a guy and a girl, the music between them, and where that music takes them. It illustrates the fact that, for some, it takes that one person in their life to give them the push they need to move forward. I don’t want to give the whole story away, because maybe there is someone else out there who appreciates the wonder of a gently unfolding story. Someone else who will take this movie, it’s music and it’s characters with them, and they, too, will add it to their permanent collection.

Sunday Night Masterpiece

There's no better way to end the weekend than snuggling up on Sunday night with the "new" Masterpiece Classics on PBS. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a sucker for period dramas. Yes, I even read the books. What can I say? I'm just a girl, after all.

Somehow I missed part two of 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' last Sunday, so I'm going to have to see if they replay it or catch it somewhere [cough] online. I'll definitely have to read the book, too.

UPDATE: Watched the rest of 'Tess'. Good stuff.

'Wuthering Heights' started last night.

I read 'Wuthering Heights' for the first time last year after wondering what all the fuss was about. Though, I did enjoy it, I couldn't help but think that it would be what we now call a "romance" novel. So, does that mean that today's books boasting paintings of a torn-shirted Fabio on the cover will one day be considered classics, too? Naw, I doubt it. I suppose 'Wuthering Heights' was really "out there" for it's contemporary readers but today, books of it's type are a dime a dozen.

I also just wanted to do a girly thing here and point out that Tom Hardy as Heathcliff, is, um, well...yummy.

Okay, I know there are others like me who love these classics. What say you?

And allow me to leave you with this most wonderful homage to the book, the amazing Kate Bush song "Wuthering Heights":

I'll see you next Sunday, Cathy and Heathcliff.

xoxo

Doodle 1: Let's Eat

My Skull In Lights!

My Skully Christmas Lights have been posted over at Skulladay.com!

Privileged To Vote. Use It Or Lose It.

One of the doctors [in my office] and I have been talking politics since last September when he saw a Ron Paul sticker on my desk.

Yesterday, this doc stopped me in the hall just to tell me he got to vote early. [I guess it's a doctor's privilege to do so because of their crazy hours.] He was very excited about voting and I asked him why he wasn't wearing his "I Voted" sticker. What he told me next just warmed my heart.

He said he put his sticker on an index card, documented the date, signed it, and gave it to his daughters. This was his first time voting in America! I had no idea! You see, he's an ESL (English as Second Language) doc from another country. I was so happy to see his genuine excitement for this special event in his life; something a lot of us take for granted.

I told him he should have kept his sticker long enough to wear to work the next day [today] and he said, "I know! Why don't you get me one tomorrow morning when you go vote."

Let me tell you. I was never so excited to get up early to go vote as I was this morning. I got up extra early (which I HATE to do), placed my vote and got a sticker for myself, the doc and another one for his wife. I placed the two extras on his desk before he came in. Less than 1/2 hour later he showed up in my office doorway with a big smile on his face and thanked me for the stickers. He seems to be walking a little taller now when I see him in the hall.

GO VOTE!!