Kaffe Fassett...

As is so often the case, today there was the most beautiful post on All Things Bright & Beautiful. I fell immediately and madly in love with these paintings by Kaffe Fassett.

Happy Birthday!

It's my sister's birthday this week! Happy Birthday Boo!
And, it's C's birthday this week... and you know what... I bought him this really fun present and I hid it really well... and now I can't find it anywhere. We've turned the house upside-down, little c and I, and it's just nowhere to be found. Dang. So, I guess we'll present it when we find it.
But, I know he'll like this PB Heart!

Happy Birthday C! You are my handsome prince more than ever! We love you!

Whitethorn Woods...

Ireland has a similar culture to Mexico in that their pagan history and their Catholic religion can get all mixed up together. In the Whitethorn woods is a well that is held sacred by many of the towns people. They walk there to pray and to leave small petitions on paper for St. Anne so that she will grant their wishes.

The book is a collection of short stories, many of them about the people who come to pray at the well, but some just about the people who live in the town.

My favorite is about a girl who plans an office weekend getaway, but then is not included in the group. She is terribly hurt, but she learns a lot about who she is and how she appears to others and how to reach outside herself and make those around her happy.

This book is available on tape at the library, but the readers are only so-so... so you can just read this one if you like. :)

Valentine Dinner...

Our neighborhood has a progressive dinner every year at this time. I always like to volunteer to host because I can do pink and red. It's been so fun putting this table together this morning. I wish the food was going to be something French and spectacular with cream sauce, but with all this frilly foofy stuff.. I'm making Taco Soup.. it's my never (almost never fail) go to recipe. I wish I had 10 of them, but I don't. Someday though, I'm going to set this table and make something fabulously French with cream sauce. :)

I love this Tutu swimsuit!

See it here...

Daffodil Box...

This box sold yesterday, but there are more in the works.
I will hopefully have one available in the shop this afternoon.
The quote reads: The Infinite has written its name on the heavens in shining stars, and on the earth in tender flowers... Jean Paul Richter

ThE LOve BoXeS SHop

7 things I love & a visit from my Dinosaur...

Natasha has tagged me to list 7 things I love... I can't break all the many things I love down to 7 things, so I will tell you seven things I loved about yesterday.
1. shades of green & thinking of daffodils

2. the bright and sparkling day that always comes after a storm has blown through

3. the piles of snow that look like a million bazillion diamonds

4. a good story with a happy ending

5. hugs and kisses

6. making a new friend

7. a nice visit from our dinosaur friend

I tag (only if you want to)... Shelese, Amy, Allison, Liz and anyone else who wants to play! :)

The Redneck Cookbook...

I was going to write this post and propose the idea of my one day composing a Redneck Cookbook, but what do you know ... it's been done!
The Redneck Cookbook: 165 Mighty Fine Fixin's and Other Things to Get Down Your Gullet..
has already been published. Oh well. You still get my recipe for tuna fish. I love a good tuna sandwich. I'm sorry these pictures look like the nasty food in Napolean Dynamite... I only had flouresant lighting in the kitchen by the dinner hour yesterday.. although we are happily gaining daylight every day.

So, I start with 2 cans of good albacore tuna, good mayo (I like Helleman's), two stalks of celery finely chopped, 1 stalk of green onion, very heaping tablespoons of sweet and dill relish.. or more, some tomatoe slices and a dash of pepper and sea salt.

What is your favorite ingredient? Or do you loathe tuna? Or do you love it on rye... yum!

New Year's Resolutions...

I'm still working on them. I haven't given up yet. I like this salad mix, by the way, it's delish. It doesn't have that wierd flavor that bagged salad often has. I don't know what that is, whether it's the platic they package it in, or a soap they wash the salad in... don't know, but this tastes just delish! Have you ever noticed how serving sizes for salad and peas are really big (you have to eat half of this bag for one serving.. a serving of peas is 2/3 cup). And yet, a serving of ice cream is only half of a cup.. bummmer.

I wanted to loose a little weight for my sister's wedding. I want to have a family photo taken and I don't want to look like a marshmallow in the pictures.

I reported that I read this book called, "This Year I Will" about achieving your goals (I have about 5 things I'd really like to accomplish this year). One of the many helpful suggestions in the book is the make a daily plan of how to achieve these goals. Part of my daily plan is to eat 5 servings of fresh fruit/or veggies per day. I thought this would be easier than exercising everyday for sure. After all, I love fruits and veggies!

But, after I looked into it a bit more. The tomato slice on your turkey sandwich is a nice and colorful touch, but it doesn't really count. During this year to this point, I've only made it to 4. That was yesterday. 5 a day, everyday, is more difficult than 30 mins. of exercise for me anyway.

Today I'm going to eat a banana and an orange for breakfast and see if I can't make it to 5 easier like that. Does anyone remember the name of that book about those 2 sisters who lived to be 100? One was named Sadie I think... anyway, they ate 9 servings of fruit and veggies per day! I can't even imagine it!

So Pretty...

You must see this amazing post. It's one of the prettiest homes I've ever seen.

Beeeeeeeeauteeeeeeful...

The Wasatch Mountains today...

New Earrings...

In

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for Valentines...

Happy Groundhog Day!

We'll be watching this movie tonight with our popcorn and having a great time!

Carolyne Roehm...

Mom was right. Carolyne Roehm has some beautiful blue and white packaging and some other pretty things here as well.

Sleuthing...

Little c is addicted. She loves Nancy Drew. She goes through one every 2-3 days, which is mostly really great except at bedtime... it's never really a good time to put down a mystery. And, parenting is so confusing. I wonder if I should just be grateful she's reading, or should I encourage her to banch out a bit... we tend to OCD a bit around here? You know there are 175 Nancy Drews the last I checked. But mostly it's great, because Nancy is a good example of someone who is gracious and polite, kind and generous, confident and appropriate. We could use more of that in every kind of children's entertainment.

Lovely Dishes...

One of my sisters is getting married in April. She has been looking at china patterns and this is one of the patterns she likes. I think they're gorgeous! And, they are really quite practical too. See them here.

Scarlet Feather...

I recommended this book in a previous post and so I thought I'd better read it again, it's been awhile. Maeve Binchy is at the top of her game here, I think this is her best book, that I've read anyway. I love the funny twins Simon and Maude who take everything anyone says literally. But, listen to it and you'll enjoy it so much more Barbara Caruso will have you speaking with an Irish Brogue in no time.

The Tiger & The Snow...

This is the most darling film. My sister brought it right over the other day and told me to watch it. She knew I'd love it and I truly did. I'm not going to tell you a thing.. just watch. It will make you smile and cry.

Blue Renaissance...

Little c and I went out and around in the shops last Saturday...
and we noticed lots of blue here & there.
I love every rainbow bright color and blue is a favorite. (Those are my Hello Kitties by the way. There was a little misunderstanding when we moved a few years back and c had her own room. I had to explain that c had her own Hello Kitties, but these blue and red ones were mine and right in their proper spot. It was all cleared up right after it was explained with a big smile because C is the greatest husband in the world).
My mom brought me two of these little lovelies.. the tiny painted vase with pansies and the tiniest example of my best china.. the other things are from dear friends.
.. and this remarkably comfy chair is from my sister-in-law, who knew I'd love it. It seems that I haven't really decorated my own place now that I think about it, but I am ready for the Blue Renaissance that's coming.. (I'm keeping all my bright yellow from last year though.. love it!)

President & Sister Hinckley...

It took me awhile to find this photo. It's one of my favorites. It was taken by Gerry Avant of the Deseret Morning News and is a photo of President and Sister Hinckley as they are greeted in China.

What an amazing legacy they have left for the world. They will be dearly missed.

I wanted to share something he said, "Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity. Believe that you can do it-- whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent." ~President Gordon B. Hinckley

Find out more about President Hinckley and the Mormon Faith here.

Kimmie Meissner & Nessun Dorma...

I love figure skating. I love to watch people who can even stay on their feet circle the ice. But, last night on TV I saw the most graceful and beautiful performance ever when Kimmie Meissner skated to Nessun Dorma. Grace and choreography combined like never before to create a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Sadly the media line this morning is that this girl fell from grace. Apparently, she was last year's champ and she only finished 7th this year. She fell 4 times during the program that I'm speaking of, but for me it has never been about the jumping even though I know it's just an incredible athletic feat to be able to make. It's just that I'm always so much more impressed by movement and grace and by the ability to tell a story and in all those things Kimmie was perfect. I had tears in my eyes when she finished, not because she fell, but because her performance was so beautiful. She's a small person, but her expression and movement took up the whole stadium. She was simply marvelous. I'm sure that when she fell it must have taken all her determination to make the performance as beautiful as it was and in that way she was truly a champion last night.

You know, my favorite line from Nessun Dorma is this... "stars that tremble with love and with hope" May those stars watch over all our dreams.
(photo from the Baltimore Sun collection)

Quentins...

Maeve Binchy may or may not know it, but her books are a cautionary tale that instruct people in the most careful way that they should definitely keep all 10 of the commandments.

Adultery is a subject that makes me quite uncomfortable. Once you are old enough to have really seen the aftermath, there is nothing romantic or cute or lovely about it, just a kind of emotional violence and ugliness. So, when this book begins with an adulterous affair, I didn't know if I'd read on. But, there were no gross physical details, so I did. And, really the book spends more time on the consequences than anything. And, the consequences were what they always are, devastating.

This is not what I would consider literature, it's more of a beach read and Binchy's books are really fun on tape if you love to hear an Irish accent as I do. In fact, if you don't choose to listen rather that read, I don't know that I would much recommend them because you will miss so much by reading, unless you happen to be Irish yourself. Terry Donnelly reads Quentins and does a great job although not as great and the amazing Barbara Caruso (one of the greatest readers of all time) who reads Scarlet Feather, my favorite of Binchy's books. (Barbara Caruso also reads A Wrinkle in Time.. don't miss her performance on that one.)

I loved that so many of my favorite characters, especially the hilarious twins Simon & Maude, have minor roles in this book. I love how Binchy makes Dublin have a really small town feeling and how the characters come together to help someone who has made a mess of everything. I think that forgiveness and kindness are central themes. I had a harder time forgiving the central character myself and didn't much care for her in the end, but enjoyed so many of the other stories that are told in between using the play within a play device.

On of my favorite parts is about a guy who thinks that he will steal a found wallet, but has a change of heart, the romance of Brenda & Patrick Brennan and of course the antics of Simon & Maude, who are just the funniest. Listen to it.. I think you'll enjoy it.. just for fun, but maybe listen to Scarlet Feather first (These books on tape should be available through your public library).

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

If you happen to live with a super hero (as I do). Supers really enjoy studying the work of other supers. So, you need to rent them this film and you can sit through it as well because it's not as bad as you think it's going to be.

Last night we had a little family party for our super who came home with a great report card. We went to the store and she picked out the things we would make for dinner. She must be realizing that supers need to eat vitamins because she chose leafy greens, mushrooms, tomato, avocado and so we had a delish salad with some barbecue chicken and yummy popcorn with our show for dessert. It was a fun night!

A New Little Valentine...

I was pretty happy with how this turned out, which is good because it took me the better part of yesterday to figure it out. By lunch, I had nearly gone mad. But, now things are good and happy again and this little box is in

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7 Things About Me...

Miss Felicity @ All Things Bright & Beautiful (and if you haven't been over to visit her gorgeous blog, you are missing out. Don't miss it!)
...anyway, Felicity has tagged me but I don't know if I can think up anything that most of you don't know already.

1. I adore flowers so much that they are part of the budget and I always have a few around.

2. I love living in Utah & I love snowy winters like this one has been. C snapped this photo right out the window the other day. When the sun comes out, it looks like a bazillion sparkly diamonds.

3. I sometimes eat paint, not on purpose. Tip: if you are going to hold a paint brush in your teeth.. make sure it doesn't have paint all over it first. (Paint does not taste good).

4. After all the years we've been married, I'm still madly in love with C... more than ever actually... even though it makes me feel shy to say it.

5. Little c is my very favorite artist & best girlfriend.

6. I like to go on vacation to big cities. NYC, San Francisco and Vancouver Canada are my favorites so far.

7. I love to read. I decorate in books. I read a book on tape while I work during the day and I have a couple by my bedside that I read at night. It's fun to have 2-3 going at the same time.


I don't know who has played already, so if you want to play.. consider yourself tagged and let me know, because I want to visit you and read your 7 things. Have a Happy Day!

This Year I Will...

I wrote awhile back that I intended to read this book about how to change and make it stick. It's an easy read initially and I finished it quickly. But, it gave me so much to think about that it's a book I intend to keep in my library (those of you who know that I decorate in early, late and modern books.. even to the point of stacking them on the floor may not realize how selective I'm being). I have referred to several chapters again already and intend to re-read more carefully and take notes so I can remember a few of the bits better.

I have begun to hate, loathe and dread the word change because of it's over and insincere use in recent political discussion, so for the point of this post let's just say improve. I would like to improve in many ways that I find quite difficult. I find it so difficult to improve in certain ways that I ask for books like this for Christmas and actually read them.

I was discouraged to find that I can't improve in too many ways at once. You really must choose the thing that bugs the most according to this book or the two things, but not 7 things. Then you make a plan and begin. Suggestions for plan making are quite helpful. Beginning is more difficult. However, "Every successful person I have heard of has done the best he could with the conditions as he found them, and not waited until next year to be better." That is a quote by E. W. Howe that is found in the book and is quite inspiring I think. It would be helpful to me if I remembered all the helpful advice in this book, but I don't have good reader retention (something that bugs, but is way down on the list).

There are even helpful suggestions on follow-though and success and there are cautionary tales of failure.. all helpful. There is the tiniest part about "talking up", something that Alexandra mentions in her new book as well. People want to hear the positive. It's tiring to listen to people complain and groan and say negative things about people and situations. I find it exhausting lately even if I'm the guilty speaker. However, seeing the postive and having a good attitude (even a calm attitude) are not the natural place for me to go. Happily, Ms. Ryan explains that people really can improve. They can improve to the point that they create new and different pathways in their brains, according to this book. We can become our better selves from the inside out.

Anyway, reading this book isn't and doesn't claim to fix whatever it is that needs fixing, but it does act like a hand to hold and a counselor that's seen a pathetic cause succeed. So, that's good. I guess I'll know better how some of it turns out later. But, I think the book is a keeper, it has me thinking. And while some of the advice is common sense, I needed to hear it and will likely need to hear it again.

Your beliefs become you thoughts. Your thoughts become you words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your destiny. ~Mahatma Gandhi

Shoes...

We really needed a brown pair of shoes, but we didn't find one. We found these! We just went to Target and we found them to be between seasons. The red ones were on sale for $3.24. I think little c looks darling in these ballet flats. She says there are pretty comfortable, in fact the black ones feel like house slippers. She had a white shirt and these drapey black pants on and I think she pulled off the Audrey look pretty well.

The Count of Monte Cristo...

This time around, I watched the film first and read the book second. I just finished the book and it is quite an adventure. I was a bit sad that I could not read it in the original French because I have the feeling it's much better that way.
After reading the book, I was so impressed with the film makers. Just to think they could make this book into a film was quite ambitious and they did a marvelous job. In fact, I kind of liked it better. The film has a much happier ending. There is much more forgiveness and less revenge. The book is quite a lot about The Count taking revenge on everyone who has wronged him, not that you can blame him for it, but in the wake of his revenge he hurts a few innocent people and is responsible for a small child being poisoned and yet he still sails off into the sunset with a young princess. That part left a bad taste in my mouth. The revenge buisiness is just no good, but Dumas doesn't make that point as well as he should have because he was just having so much fun writing this fantastic story.
In the film they cut out most of the revenge bit, although the worst of the lot still gets it in the end. The Count learns to let go of the hate and true love conquers all.. in the film anyway and I like that better. Still, the book is a great adventure and I wouldn't miss it. If I were to read it again, I would get a character list from some web site because there are so many characters and they are introduced right off. It's nice to have their names and a small detail in front of you so that you know who is responsible for what (a good idea when you're reading Dickens and a few other authors as well). This is a great piece of French Literature and I am supposed to have read it long ago for a university course, but I skimmed and didn't remember a thing. Truly a great book and truly a great film, although they are almost not the same story.

Spitfire Grill...

How did I miss this little masterpiece when it first came out in 1996. Written and directed by Lee David Zlotoff, who was also the creator of the TV series MacGyver and screenwriter for the series Hill Street Blues, the script is a masterpiece and does not follow the common way. It is it's own unique piece throughout. Alison Elliot, Ellen Burstyn & Marcia Gay Harden are all brilliant.

Alison Elliot plays a young woman who has just finished serving her term in prison for manslaughter. She is a poetic and intelligent girl whose never been given a chance. She dreams of going to a small town and getting a fresh start. Gilead is a town with troubles and they don't like having a stranger among them.

Audiences raved about this movie at the Sundance Film Festival and then critics and general audiences didn't give it such glowing reviews. But, I think it's a gem. Have you seen it? What did you think?

Michelle's Valentine Dolls...

Michelle has some more cute Valentine dolls going in her shop today. Don't miss them.. they are sooo cute.