Tim Hawkins is sooo funny!

Watch this and his other videos HERE

Waterpik...

I'm an anti-gadget person.. because it just gets to be too much, but I have to admit... these are cool. They seem more effective than floss to me.

Inherit the Wind...

I don't believe in Darwin's theory, but I still love this film. As a Christian and a person of faith.. I can't take the side of religious fanatics or the atheistic character of Hornbeck the reporter.

Members of the L.D.S. Church live by the articles of faith. Number 11 states: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."

And, if people want to believe they are descended from monkeys, that's OK too. But, I claim the right to believe that my ancestors are better looking than theirs.

The point is that we have the right to believe what we believe in this country and that is something that even after The Constitution and The Bill of Rights were drafted and signed we still struggle with.

Thankfully not as much as when intolerance, bigotry and ignorance caused so much violence and misery for so many different groups of people in this country including my Mormon ancestors who were forced from their homes and communities several times before coming to Utah.

Even when we don't believe the same way, we may be able to look and learn from someone whose background is very different from our own.

A Korean family moved into our neighborhood several years ago. They are the most delightful people. Their sons are gifted, gracious, thoughtful, polite and always cheerful. They are doing something wonderful with their children. I am grateful they moved here.

Tolerance is as important as fighting for what we believe in. You can do both and and do them at the same time. You can fight hard and be respectful of others at the same time.

I think these words are really the crux of the film:

"Can't you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools? And tomorrow you may make it a crime to read about it. And soon you may ban books and newspapers. And then you may turn Catholic against Protestant, and Protestant against Protestant, and try to foist your own religion upon the mind of man. If you can do one, you can do the other. Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we'll be marching backward, BACKWARD, through the glorious ages of that Sixteenth Century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind!"

Anyway, I like this film quite a lot. It's well done.

Recent Love Boxes added to the SHoP...

SHoP

The Greatest Game Every Played...

Darling film.. We all loved it. The caddy is great!

Dido & Aeneas...

... was fabulous! Thanks Jackie!

Hallway is sooo close...

About 2 months ago, the city informed us that we had a small water leak... almost imperceptible.
We looked everywhere, but couldn't find it... until one day I was in the hallway and looked up.

.. the ceiling had sunk. Ooops. The swamp cooler hose had sprung a leak.

Bummer, but when life hands you lemons.. do the best you can to make lemonade... so we painted the hallway bright yellow!

It's still not quite finished, but sooo close.

We are really enjoying another bright, happy color.

The Shadow of the Thin Man...

This, so far has been my favorite of The Thin Man series. Loved it. Myrna Loy is fabulous and lovely! We watched this last night with popcorn and had a great time.

Back to School House...

In the ShOP...

Stand and Deliver...

"There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *Math* is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is *ganas.* *Desire.* ...
...If you don't have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I'm an expert. "

In that last line, is the secret to great leadership... to give another person the desire to better themselves... to expect great things from them.. to give them dignity and skill.. to show them who they really are and what they can really do.
Stand and Deliver is one of my very favorite of all time films. If you haven't seen it in awhile... check it out... It's a beautiful thing.

It may seem like a bad time but...

It may seem like a bad time to promote items, businesses and services on this blog. We are in a depression and no one I know is feeling materialistic. Save, save, save is the mantra of the day. We are in a depression. All of us have friends, family, neighbors that are out of work so it hardly seems like the time to buy a new house, handbag, fancy dinner, but sometimes it is the counter-intuitive thing that is the right thing to do.
I am not telling anyone to be irresponsible, or to purchase something they can't afford, or to go into debt. I'm not. Really, I'm not. That would NOT be good. I try to be good.
I believe strongly in paying 10 percent to the Lord and then paying yourself by saving 10 percent.
But, if you've done that and were planning to have the hallway painted, splash out on lovely red shoes or get a new hairdo. Do.
If we don't, more and more of our friends and neighbors will be out of work.
When you buy something that you can afford and have cash to pay for, you are helping to support some one's family. You are keeping the car repairman, beautician, salesperson or cruise director employed. Employed is so much more than money and security. Employed is self-determination and dignity. Employed is a spiritual principle that is a blessing of peace and a blessing of confidence and more.
So, that is my reason for promoting business (lovely items) on my blog. Business is one of my causes and I want the places I patronize, those who are talented, creative, innovative and hardworking to survive this thing. It's almost impossible in the good times.
So, if you have occasion to feel patriotic... Go shopping! .. even if it's just for a small treat..
Today, I did my patriotic duty. I bought a double blueberry donut from Tasty Donuts!!!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Doing the right thing sure tastes good!

Cutie Skirt...

We bought this skirt and it's so cute on. Really darling. It's now on sale 1/2 price with a few sizes still available. It's quite long.. hard to find right now.
Boden

Happily Ever After...

Melissa & James had a beautiful wedding...

=

May Pole...

Candy Shop... Free candy!

Dancing into the night...

... on the terrace overlooking the river...

... leaving by way of an honor guard of bubblegum pixies with sparkler swords and daisy toes...

.. for time and all eternity.

Mints...

Little c and I recently collaborated on this

love box featuring

"Mints" the very cute Springer Spaniel...