The new Harry Potter is great!

This had better win an academy award.  The make up and acting by Raphe Fines, Lord Voldermort, was really good.  Snape was also great.

Go see it!

The Town...a Great Movie

Who new that Ben Affleck would be such a good director/actor, but, he is both!

I've never been to Boston, but I imagine the characters in this movie to be picked right out of the white pages of the phone book for the area.

Go see it!  You'll have to wear your best green outfit and maybe drink some green beer to understand the heavy irish/Boston accents, but, it's so cool to hear what's left of a sound that is local to a weary city.  Missing "r's" never sounded so good...smile.

Project Runway Withdrawals?

For those of you that have been watching Project Runway and you know Seth won, you might be interested in how the old world of the Haute Couture houses work. Complete with seamstresses in white coats, like doctors, the hand sewn gowns designed by Valentino are beautiful. If you have Netflix, you can watch it instantly on your computer.

The movie is Valentino, the Last Emperor.

One of the best Happy/Sad movies you'll ever watch

Dear Zachary is one of the best happy/sad movies you'll ever watch.

It's a documentary that is fabulous.

Inglorious Bastards-movie review

It's Tarantino so you know what you are getting, as Brad Pitt said. Yes, if you have the stomach, it's pretty violent, but, it's still pretty good. Think Lee Marvin and the Dirty Dozen on violence steroids and you pretty much have the idea. Brad Pitt sounds like Jackie Gleason, as the, "I'm a gonna get that Sombitch," southern accented sheriff, Bufford T. Justice, in Smokey and the Bandit.

But, as good and funny as Brad Pitt is in the movie, it's the "Jew Hunter" villain that will win the academy award.

If you like Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin, not to mention Jackie Gleason-and you have the guts, go see Inglorious Bastards.

Adventure Land-Movie Review

Adventure Land and acid wash jeans.  What a charming movie.  If you are in the mood, it's a great flick.  Being in the mood is everything.  The cinematography is outstanding.  I suppose, it's already loaded for a great experience for that with the colors and lights.  The creators capture misdirected youth and the walls that are created for themselves, beautifully.  

Superb Acting in new James Bond

C rating for the new 007 flick, Quantum of Solace.  

The classic beginning credits was really sad.  Done by Jack White, who I really like and Alicia Keys.  What was the thinking on that?  It seemed they were battling for more air time singing their own style...yuk.  Poor editing for stunts, jerky camera, cheap editing during some stunts.  Every time the actors were speaking their lines, it was really good.  Great evil guy-eating an apple before the climax, awesome.  

Watch Casino Royal for a refresher before you go.  I was a bit lost on some things because I hand not seen it in 2 years.  Daniel Craig is a great actor, and the Dame, Judi Dench, always holds her own, even the bond girl was firing, no pun intended, on all cylinders.  Gottta Go!

Do a Little James Bond this weekend

Quantum of Solace

Quilting and Movies...In Bruges

Seldom do I write 2 posts, if ever, in one day.  Today it's rainy and lovely because Kentucky needs rain so much.  Last vestiges of summer attempt to locate the sun.  Tree bark stands contrastingly beautiful to the fall color surroundings.  

It's a perfect day to watch a movie and make a quilt.  

The quilt part you already know-hey it's a king size, 1 inch hex's-so you know what I'm doing for a while.  And the movie is In Bruges.  If an Oscar could be given for male buddy roles, this one would have to win.  Colin Farrell is at his peak as the melancholy hit man, who accidently kills a child and is dealing with his demons.  Brendon Gleason, the brilliant actor who is always so rock solid as the rational sidekick, trying to "make things right".  This movie is not for the faint of heart, as it is a hit man buddy movie, so be prepared.  It is predictable, somewhat, it's still good.  The sound track is wonderful and perfect for this movie, it totally drew me in.  It reminded me of getting chips before you order at a good Mexican restaurant, if the chips are good, you know the food will be great.  

Cancer and Stay for the Credits on Walle

Bald is Beautiful-the upside of cancer

Jennifer has finished the radiation (30 days) and only has 6 chemo treatments to go. We spent most of the month of the June in the hospital because of pain and infections. Instead of finishing in August, it looks like now it may be September/October. My daughter is holding up nicely and if it's possible to settle into the situation, I think we have-such is life and the cards we've been dealt...yada yada yada.

On those few days when she feels well enough to participate in normality, we grab it with all the gusto of a PMS insomnia induced night at the sewing machine-you quilters and sewers know what I'm talking about.

Such was yesterday and we went to see a movie-Walle. Jennifer liked it and I did too. Pixar is a master at saying a lot without saying anything.

Warning:::We left before the credits finished and now I'm hearing, you need to stay and watch the credits. Apparently this is a trend in movies-not just funny outtakes, but, essential to the plot. Soooo if you go, wait till the very end and tell me what we missed!

Shhhhh.....I'm working on a baby quilt and I think she's watching, so I'm going to show it when it's finished.

Movie, Book and DVD rental reviews...

Besides making my Grandmother's flower garden/Tillie's Mosaic quilt, which is the best hand sewing project I can recommend for waiting on Doctors, and at bedsides in hospitals, I've been enjoying other sensory perceptions.

The new Indiana Jones movie was like being on a ride at an amusement park. I never really engaged with the movie-action or script. But, you got to see it, because it's picks up somewhat from the original movie and I guess it's okay. If nothing else, they brought back Karen Allen who, a while back was a really great actress that seemed to drop off the planet for a while, but, now we can see her again. She's knitting, I understand, so she must be a great person, maybe could have been a little better if she's a quilter, but, knitting is good...smile.

A better afternoon spent is watching a French film with subtitles, the Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It's about the editor of Elle Magazine who has a stroke at the age of 42 and how he writes a book just by blinking it out to a nurse. The French really are cutting edge movie makers and some of the scenes in this movie are impossible-I won't give away anything. This is an interesting movie and the soundtrack is awesome-I recommend buying that, the variety is wonderful, U2 to Tom Waits, luscious.

The book I was given as some fluff reading is Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper. It's a nice page turner with detective/psychic/serial killer finder/person...you know what I mean. The book is a romantic thriller and I usually shy away from this type of thing, but, I started reading it and couldn't stop.

So, there you have, may while away the time while I while away the time ideas for you.

Ain't Life grand...smile

So much news to report, I think it'll be in 3 stages...

Another Christmas holiday come and gone like the water that rises and lowers in the creek banks behind our house. I've got so much to write about, I'm going not bore the reader with a too long installment and will write 3 stages.

The three stages of blogs will be 1) movie reviews-as I was able to catch 2 really good movies while in Oklahoma with my family. 2) meet my family. 3) quilting of course.

Go see Atonement!! It's so gorgeous and good. It's one of those period shows that turns in and around itself. You know what I mean, it starts at the end and then goes back to the beginning at different stages of the movie. Warning-do not go to the bathroom you'll miss a lot.

The other great movie, but, not for the faint of heart, Sweeney Todd, staring Johnnie Depp. It's a musical with some rather shocking sights. There is a lot of blood, plain and simple. Johnnie Depp holds his own, with his singing voice, but, it's the director's wife, Helena Bonham Carter that will probably get an academy award or at least be nominated.

So ends the first of a short and sweet, three stage blog report.

Book Review; Dvd rental review...

The Painted Veil book and movie review.
As is often the case, the book is better than the movie. I read the book first and found it to be an easy read. It's about a woman in the the 1920's that finds herself 25 years old and feeling like she needs to marry the first thing that comes along as her chances of getting married are dwindling. It is so nice that women today have choices, instead of being forced into a bad situation. But, in the end the bad turns good and you must read it to find out.

The movie fills the very few wholes that the book leaves and I believe the movie is set in China and the scenery is spectacular. I recommend reading the book then watching the movie. Especially if you are a hopeless romantic that likes period pieces like I do.

Finished quilting Mary's quilt...

Well I finished quilting a king size quilt for my friend. Mary's Bloomin' Rose quilt from our signature block group exchange. I hope she likes it.

Movie review: The Bourne Ultimatum is pretty good. Lot's of action and government conspiracy type things going on, which my husband likes and oh you know that's probably real...smile...the editing will probably be up for an academy award.

Book review: Middlesex-it's an Oprah book club selection...enough said. Or at least it is to me, good but, something of a downer-but good.

Quilting notion/tool review: The Alto's Quilt Cut-if you love piecing, and you have room for it to stay out all the time, it's a great gadget to have. It cuts multiple layers of fabric easily and efficiently. Check out their website for a demo.

Quilting Zones

"You've taken over the whole house!" This is what my husband told me and so here's how I've taken over the whole house with my wonderful obsession, quilting.

This is my hand work zone, in front of the TV in the basement.

This is my machine quilting zone, in my dining room on the first floor.



This is my sewing/piecing zone upstairs, I've taken over 2 of the three bedrooms.

Next week we leave for NYC to pick up my DD Chelsea. She's been away for 2 1/2 months now and I'm sure she's grown up in so many ways Kentucky could never begin to educate her about. Life moves at such a fast pace there and keeping track of everything in the big city is a growing experience, to say the least.


Quick movie review: Miss Potter-sweet biography of Beatrix Potter, with Renee Zellwiger in the lead. Nice, if you like a period piece.

Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead. It's a lot of violence and so hard to believe the tale is based on true life in Africa. It is a good movie, in my personal opinion.

I finished the last Harry Potter book-great. No book has done more for establishing the habit of reading for children and adults than this series of books. Have the tissues handy. It probably wouldn't hurt to reread the Order of the Phoenix before you start this one. I didn't and I wish I had.

New music I'm listening to: The Avett Bros-wonderful banjo, stand up bass, and guitar along with a cello-Emotionalism is their new CD.

Will Mason is a young singer songwriter with an old voice in a young man's body. Beautiful lyrics in his new CD The Ocean Gets Rough.

a good book and 2 movies

The wonderful world of blog has all kinds of information and opinions. Some you like, some sound vaguely interesting and some are filled with kindred spirit information that connects to us and compels us to put ourselves out there, for the world to see...literally.

On one such blog, and I wish I'd copied it, there was mention of a book called Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

The person writing said she tried to check it out at the library and it had 23 holds on it already, so she purchased it and liked it. I read it and it's a good read. It's about growing old and life on a traveling circus.

The next item I found on a blog, Inside the Black Apple, was a movie called Grey Gardens.
This is a fascinating look at Jackie Kennedy's Aunt on the Bouvier side. It's a documentary about Jackie's cousin and Aunt that live together. These destitute women and their codependency on each other is what the movie is about. Great, Great, Great.

Last, but maybe least, depending if we are kindred or not, is my recommendation for something odd and good, that being a movie called Brideshead Revisited. It's about life in England at Oxford and stars a young Jeremy Irons, John Gielgud and Sir Lawerence Olivier. This was a PBS television series that aired in the '80s, I think. It is based on a book written by Evelyn Waugh. Great, Great, Great, Great, Great. It is a 4 disc set.