Free knocks on the head...

When I was first married, I worked at a local retailer where I became more acquainted with quality items. I learned that it's OK to purchase lesser quality when buying something that will be a short lived trend.. Your leg warmers and parachute pants don't require the attention to detail and grade of excellence that your navy blazer with brass buttons does.
In visiting with a co-worker with many years of retail experience, I was taught about the points of excellence. He showed me the details that made a piece of clothing beautiful and classic. He would rather have worn the same suit every day as long as that suit was a fine piece of tailoring. He often regretted aloud that my generation seemed more interested in what was cheap and free than in what was excellent and lasting. He never purchased any parachute pants.
I started to take more notice of this trend toward getting something for nothing. I remember one morning at 5AM getting ready for work as I listened to talk radio banter.. with over-caffeinated morning enthusiasm DJs repeatedly announced that there would be free mammograms at a gas station far on the west side of town.. the first 50 women there would "win".
Several thoughts went through my mind.. Surely they are not giving mammograms AT the gas station.. right?!? Surely they are giving out some kind of pass to a medical clinic of some kind. The details were never mentioned.
I have kept these things in mind as I paint. It takes time to make something that is both lovely and lasting. I take care in the materials I select; brushes, paints, glitter, finishes, wax and wood all must have certain qualities in order to make something that will last.
On the other hand, my children love to choose a toy from the dollar store. Easily procured, easily broken. I am often concerned about the materials.. Does the paint on this car have lead in it? We don't know. These toys are made so far away. They are made as quickly as possible with as little cost as possible. There is no attention to detail and the product is not made to last. It is often broken and ruined that very day.
I'm afraid that this trend has run into government. The people scream that something must be done and that "change" must happen. Our health care system, which is the envy of the world (when you look beyond fallacious/misleading WHO statistics) is about to be completely tossed out. Not tweaked, not reformed... junked. The word is that the House of Representatives vote is Saturday.
There are so many problems with this bill, I don't know where to begin. But, it has the worst qualities of government programs and managed care on steroids. No one really knows what it will cost but, it's government and so we know it will cost more and net less. It will hurt the very people it claims to help. It will stifle and strangle innovation and advances in medicine. It will discourage the best and the brightest from entering medical practice. It will cause shortages of doctors and hospitals and then procedures and medicines.
In an age when Americans, who love to be different and individual, can make so many different choices in phone and computer plans and in options and applications, clothing, work, transportation and almost everything you can think of.. in this kind of age... we are being shoved and forced into a highly ruled and overly regulated one-size-fits-all model full of "no" and "don't".
My husband has often said there are some people who would stand in line for free knocks on the head. With health care, this is exactly what we are doing.
This bill is now over 2,000 pages. It is doubtful that all those who will be expected to vote on Saturday have even had a chance to read the entire thing let alone study it. It is supposed to provide something "free", but we know that nothing in life worth having is really free. It always costs and this time, the cost is not just money.. it is something more valuable... This bill is going to cost a great deal in liberty.
This is so important. It is 1/6 of our nation's economy and yet it has been boiled down to nightly news sound bites and Daily Show sarcasm. But, this issue is worth doing some digging. This is worth some study from a reputable source. THIS is a good place to begin.
Please contact your congressman and ask them to vote "NO!" on Saturday.

Saboteur...

This was an interesting film. Made in 1942, the middle of World War 11.. it was full of war propaganda.. sometimes not well placed as far as plot and dialogue are concerned. Overall an interesting story line and worth seeing as a peek back in history. I could imagine myself in a 1940's theater, with most of the men I knew away at war being quite alarmed by this film, but it does seem very dated now.

Who Wants to be a Poodle... I don't

My mom gave c this wonderful book today. I love the writing and the illustrations.. Lauren Child is a favorite around here. Never has a book quite captured the spirit of my c better than this... darling.

The Book Thief...

“He was the crazy one who had painted himself black and defeated the world.
She was the book thief without the words.
Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain.”
from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I feel a reverence for this beautiful little book that carefully and tenderly helps its reader to glimpse the experience of a child in war time. The world had gone mad for many of the adults in the story, but for the children to whom the world is such a small place; a playground, a school, a grocer, a neighbor, a stream. To a child who does not see Germans and Jews, Nazis and Allies, it's difficult to understand the desperate struggle of war.
What they do know, is that their families are held together with tissue paper. They learn too early and too much about cruelty, separation and death. And, they learn too early what we all need to know... that happiness and peace whenever and wherever they exist are great blessings that should be held up to the light and marveled over and then tucked carefully away in a memory to hold up as a treasure on any day it rains.

The House of Elliott...

The House of Elliott is a television miniseries produced by the BBC in the 1990's. It's not brilliant.. unless you are talking about the glamor and the costumes.. if you're in to pretty costume dramas.. then don't miss this one. I thought it was so much fun!

Irving Berlin... You'd Be Surprised!

So funny! ;)

Johnny was bashful and shy
Nobody understood why Mary loved him
All the other girls passed him by
Ev'ryone wanted to know
How she could pick such a beau
With a twinkle in her eye
She made this reply

He's not so good in a crowd
but when you get him alone
You'd be surprised
He isn't much at a dance
but then when he takes you home
You'd be surprised
He doesn't look like much of a lover
But don't judge a book by it's cover
He's got the face of an Angel
But there's a Devil in his eye
He's such a delicate thing
but when he starts in to squeeze
You'd be surprised
He doesn't look very strong
but when you sit on his knee
You'd be surprised
At a party or at a ball
I've got to admit that he's nothing at all
But in a morris chair
You'd be surprised

Mary continued to praise
Johnny's remarkable ways
To the ladies
And you know advertising pays
Now Johnny's never alone
He has the busiest phone
Almost ev'ry other day
A new girl will say
He's not so good in the house
but on a bench in the park
You'd be surprised
He isn't much in the light
but when he gets in the dark
You'd be surprised
I know he looks as slow as the Erie
But you don't know the half of it, dearie
He looks as cold as an Eskimo
But there's fire in his eyes
He doesn't say very much
but when he starts in to speak
You'd be surprised
He's not so good at the start
but at the end of the week
You'd be surprised
On a streetcar or in a train
You'd think he was born without any brain
But in a taxicab...........
You'd be surprised!!!

See the fabulous Madeline Kahn sing... HERE..

Call Northside 777...

I am a huge, HUGE fan of Jimmy Stewart... but I had never seen this gem of a film. I don't want to say much.. because I don't want to give any of it away. It's sort of a mystery. James Stewart plays a reporter who is assigned to write a story on a convicted cop killer. Stewart is a great writer and the public is quickly enthralled in the story. Is the man innocent or guilty? Really well written until the very end.. but that doesn't spoil a fabulous mystery. I really thought it was riveting.
It's the perfect family film for the over 10-12 crowd. It's a G, but the plot is a bit complex for the really young.

New In Town...

Really cute.

Christopher Columbus...

“From my first youth onward, I was a seaman and have so continued until this day. ... Wherever on the earth a ship has been, I have been. I have spoken and treated with learned men, priests, and laymen, Latins and Greeks, Jews and Moors, and with many men of other faiths. The Lord was well disposed to my desire, and He bestowed upon me courage and understanding; knowledge of seafaring He gave me in abundance, of astrology as much as was needed, and of geometry and astronomy likewise. Further, He gave me joy and cunning in drawing maps and thereon cities, mountains, rivers, islands, and harbours, each one in its place. I have seen and truly I have studied all books—cosmographies, histories, chronicles, and philosophies, and other arts, for which our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?"

Christopher Columbus

"Here on a gleaming beach of white coral occurred the . . . first
landing . . . [Columbus] went ashore in the flagship’s longboat . . .
accompanied by [his] captains . . . flying the banner of the expedition—
a green crowned cross on a white field. ‘And . . . having rendered thanks
to our Lord, kneeling on the ground, embracing it with tears of joy for the
immeasurable mercy of having reached it, the Admiral rose and gave this
island the name San Salvador—Holy Savior."

Samuel Eliot Morison, “From Palos to San Salvador,” The Southern Voyages, pp. 60-63, italics
in the original; bracketed notations added.

Sunflower Farmers Market...

During a recent visit to the south valley.. I visited this fabulous little market. It was such a fun place.

1375 South State Street, Orem Utah

There are also locations in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico & Texas...

Read about them HERE...

BYU MOA...

Painting from the Reign of Victoria

The Royal Holloway Collection London
runs through Oct. 24, 2009

BYU MOA

Don't miss this exibit, or the

American Dreams:

Selected Works from the Museum's Permanent Collection of American Art

exhibit.. which is just wonderful.

TrinketsNH...

More cute items from...

TrinketsNH

Ally's Eat My Art Store...

My friend Ally is painting all this lovely food. This pink cupcake is my very favorite! Check out her fun paintings at

EatMyArtStore.com

Despo's...

One of my favorite places to eat ever.. is in Ketchum ID.. stop by if you happen to be in town.

Really great Mex!

Baby l's new shoes...

These are so soft and cute and cheap from Target.. I love Target.

The Great Debaters...

I loved this movie. It was truly inspiring in many ways. My favorite story line in the film is the evolving relationship of trust between the preacher and scholar James L. Farmer (played by Forest Whitaker) and his son James L. Farmer Jr. (played by the adorable Denzel Whitaker).

My criticism of the film is this. They downplayed the violence, the terror and the devastation in the film seemingly to make the film more appropriate for a younger audience. But then, they toss in a love story that is inappropriate for the same audience, is distracting to the film, seems really implausible for the character of Samantha Booke and actually feeds into a racial stereotype that I find particularly offensive.

I still think the film is very worth while and the acting is superb.. by some of America's finest.. but sadly, it's not a film that I would recommend for kids under high school age, which is tragic.

Cutsie Cakes...

Hello Cupcake! Welcome to Cutsie Cakes!

The address is 354 North Main Suite #1 in Layton...

I mention the address right up front because when you realize that you can practically purchase the perfect childhood, the cure for the blues and a very happy day for just $2.50.. I know you'll be running right over.

They have candy.. coming ...

... and going... the old fashioned kind that makes you remember when you hauled around a red Radio Flyer and begged nickels from your grandfather to spend at the drug store.. They even have those fabulous candy lipsticks... I purchased 2.
And, then ... what is it about cupcakes that makes them 10 times better than cake? It's the cuteness and it's the swirly, twirly frosting. If you are a frosting lover, these cupcakes are for you. There is no better frosting. Yum!
I love the mint chocolate and the peanut butter and they have wonderful pumpkin spice cookies (WITH FROSTING) that you must try. Heaven!

.. The chocolate with a cherry on top!

There are also so many really fun gifts and other Cutsie cute things to see. Did I mention that the ceiling is pink?!?

This Halloween cupcake is huge. You can share it with your 7 favorite friends (maybe four friends if you like cake as much as I do and 8 if you happen to possess tons of self control around Chocolate CAKE!!!) Anywho, you can order these ginormous cupcakes and they will sport the appropriate design... birthday, Christmas.. I bet they will make you a ginormous cupcake for Groundhog day if you ask nicely.

After visiting so many bakeries and cupcakeries in NYC.. I am very pleased to see that we can do just as well right here in Davis County! Have fun! You can thank me later. :)

Common Miracles...

sweet...
beauty...

strength...

passion...

sustenance...

Poppy Seed Chicken...

Jenni's recipes are simply the best and hopefully one day she will publish a cookbook so that you can all have access. One year she gave each of us a small black cookbook with her collected family recipes and we have all converted to them. My sister Christine recently made this Poppy Seed Chicken for the family and I thought she had slaved all day.. it tasted so delish, but it was one of Jenni's stunning recipes.. so no slaving required.

Jenni's Poppy Seed Chicken

Enough chicken for your family
(chicken breasts work great)
1 cup chicken broth
1 can Cream of Chicken soup.. (use low fat)
1 cup fat free sour cream
1 T poppy seeds
1 package Ritz crackers (not the whole box)
4 T butter

Simmer chicken in broth until cooked. Salt & Pepper to taste. While cooking mix soup, sour cream & poppy seeds. Add cut up chicken to sauce. Crumble crackers & mix with butter & pour over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Christine served this with a rice pilaf and sweet baby peas, good French baguette and some delish French garlic cheese spread and chocolate pie. Heaven.

Thomas Hardy in Film...

My sisters and I had a Thomas Hardy marathon several days ago. Fabulous! Ciaran Hinds, who I loved in Persuasion
is also amazing as The Mayor of Casterbridge, a man who cannot decide whether or not to be good and often makes the wrong pick.

Justine Waddall, who is sooo pretty, and perfectly played the lovely Molly Gibson in Wives and Daughters, is also the quintessential Tess.

Thomas Hardy is not light viewing, but his themes create great discussion and certainly make you think. Also, if you happen to enjoy a good costume drama partially for the costumes.. don't miss Tess.. Justine wears some of the most beautiful things.