No time like the present...

I've always enjoyed watching movies. I've always wanted to watch all the Academy Award Nomination films before the annual award ceremony. I never have. I still aspire to that. I had a friend who did that this year and she is currently my hero. To branch off of that hope, I decided that I would start at the first Academy Award Best Picture Winner and work my way through the LIST! I rented the first winner, Wings, on my way home from church today. And so it begins--I am all settled with the VHS (yes, VHS) in the tape player and am ready to dive into the 1927 world of black and white, epic war film and love story and the beginning of many great movies to come. Thank you Movie Madness for aiding in this indulgence!

Cheers! :)

*post-film viewing critic from a very unqualified movie critic: I thought that the film was well done, especially for the time it was made. There are some pretty impressive aerial shots. I do remember now that silent films are hard for me, as I love to multi-task and needing to pay close attention to a movie, whether silent or foreign and subtitled, is a bit more challenging to me.

Poem of the Month

Unofficial Taps Lyrics
attributed to Robert Ellicombe

Day is done,
gone the sun,
from the lakes
from the hills from the sky,
all is well,
safely, rest,
God is near.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing, near,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This, we, know,
God is near.

Baptism and Llamas

You may ask...really?! What do Llamas have to do with Baptism?! Don't worry, I asked the same thing.

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

Crazy that I would even think to ask...duh, Stephanie!

I've met these Llamas...pretty reputable fellows if I do say so.

Crazy days call for Crazy Hair

We do crazy things at work. We even do crazy hair! :)

Me and my co-worker Donna. Watch out...I did that to her and could do it to you if necessary.

Come join us sometime!

2 down, 11 to go

When I was in college I learned how to crochet. It was always something that facinated me. My Aunt Jonna taught me. I was home in Casper on Christmas break. We were sitting on the floor of her living room with the sun graciously streaming in, all while it was brisk and cold outside. I challenged myself to make a scarf. Fairly simple. I did complete it. I still wear it. You can definitely tell it is beginner though. My stitches were inconsistent, waxing and waining, tight then loose and back to tight.

In the years that passed I always kept yarn on hand and would pick up the crochet hook and yarn every now and then-just to make sure I didn't forget to fingering for crochet. So my hands would remember. They always did.

Then a couple weeks ago when I was at Stasia's she was showing me her upcoming project. I found an afghan in her book that I loved. I couldn't get it out of my mind so I decided I would attempt to make it. NOTE: It's been probably six or seven years since I learned this craft and only ever completed one project. Makes this daughting. Also a good challenge.

So, without further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to my next crafting challenge....(minus the baby)...It is called "Twisted Pinwheel" and will most likely accompany me on any journeys for the next 12-24 months.

This is the completion of 2 of the "motifs" out of 52 that the pattern calls for and the 72 that I actually hope to complete. I'd like it to be a bit larger than planned via pattern.

This is the yarn. I'm really disappointed that the picture doesn't do the color justice at all. It is a deep, beautiful purple and has quickly become a color I love.

It's been fun to remember crochet, reminisce about my Aunt teaching me and other family crocheting in my presence and I even learned that my dad was taught to crochet and enjoyed it in his younger days. Stay tuned for project updates...who knows, maybe I'll surprise us all and have it done sooner than later!

January Poem of the Month

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!



by William Arthur Ward

A Minute to Win it?

I am lucky to have friends that make me laugh so hard. Add into that playing a crazy game and then there are even more laughs to be had. I was feeling pretty miserable with a cold, but had a great time with this great group playing our version of "Minute To Win It." I had never watched the show, but had fun playing the versions of the tasks that Rose, Rachel and Jamie came up with.

Some of the "events" included: balancing three golf balls on top of each other.

I failed. Jamie did great!

Fishing pennies out of panty hose without touching your hands together in less than one minute.

We all had good form. I dominated this event!

Then came balancing marbles on chopsticks and moving them across the room.

Woohoo Jamie!

Rachel and Rose strapped a pedometer to their heads and bounced enough to get a certain amount of "steps" registered onthe pedometer. I passed on this one, or I may have passed out.

Crazy girls!

We balanced dominoes on tongue depressors. Lots of crossed eye goodness going on.

There was a popcan balancing act. Rachel measures up the task at hand.

Such a lovely group!

Here Comes the Bride...

One of my dear friends, Danielle and her fiance Garret are getting married in October. I am in the wedding, and have yet to contribute anything of use to them and the wedding plans, with the exception of accompanying Danielle to the January Portland Bridal Show. Danielle had tickets for Sunday morning. Fewer people, ideally. Not so much. When we arrived we started following the line to the end. And I swear, it was a mile long. Probably not really, but it sure felt that way to us at the time. In the picture below you can see the line in front of us AND the line the next level down. Going to a bridal show you definetly see all kinds of brides, mother and soon-to-be-mother-in-laws. Even a few grooms. Very few.

Welcome to the Portland Bridal Show
Danielle and me after the 5 hour adventure. Lots of good ideas and cake tasting and fashion show watching later...do we look tired?!

Look for actual wedding photos and details in the fall!

Strolling through a garden on a cold winter day

Even though this post is dated in accordance to when the event actually occurred, I beckon from months later to capture the moments...

Every January the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland hosts a free day. January in Portland usually herolds rain and cold, and rain. This beautiful January day, however, didn't bring the rain, only the cold. But cold is managable if you aren't wet at the same time. I joined Megan and Corina for a jaunt downtown to lay eyes on the the one city block, 'most authentic Chinese garden outside of China,' which was primarily constructed by Chinese workers that came from Portland's sister city, Suzhou.

Even though it was January, there is a growing season year round at the garden and these are some of the beautiful sites we saw...

Above: Lake Zither

Loved the rock walkways.

And the tiled roofs.

I really love the above picture. Shows how in the midst of the city the garden really is.

Megan captured this shot of me at one of the circular walk throughs of the garden.

It as a beautiful day for a stroll in the garden, and I vow to return in warmer weather to experience it at that time also.

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina

Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine

Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

~James Taylor

So, here I am. A whole month (and then some more days) after spending Christmas and New Year's Eve on the opposite coast from where I currently find myself. Yes, the date on the blog post is for earlier in the year than it really is. The glory of being able to change post dates. In all truth it is almost Valentine's Day when I write this...where has the time gone? So, in my mind (and in pictures) I'm goin' to Carolina (the North one) and then to DC too. I will also take you!

Christmas morning Josh and I got up and ready to hit the road. Our destination was Wilmington NC. Home of my uncle. Home to the place we would celebrate Christmas with my Mom and Uncle.

Pretty poor picture, but it is indeed the state line as we were leaving Virginia and entering North Carolina. Not too much longer to go...

As we arrived in Wilmington...

6 hours and 20 degrees later we pulled up to my Uncle's house. We'd left Maryland at about 9:45am in 30 degree weather and snow falling and pulled up to my Uncle's at 4pm, overcast, and 50 degrees. Welcome to the end of the drive. Thank goodness. Though, we had a great time on the drive talking and discovered a radio show that we thoroughly enjoyed called This American Life. It was the Christmas Spectacular and entertained us for a time, especially the Animal Farm Christmas story about 40 minutes in to the episode.

We're here!

My Uncle lives in a house in the historic area of Wilmington. It is one of those houses that has a plaque on it describing the historical significance. Pretty cool place if I do say so! Dinner was almost done and so while we were waiting Josh and I unloaded the car and then went for a walk down to the River...Cape Fear. It was nice to be in warmer weather.

Palms on Christmas Day...not the norm for me.

We had our Merry Christmas Eve picture in front of Christmas Trees in MD, so we took a Merry Christmas Day picture in front of the palms!

Checking out the river.

On the river with the USS North Carolina across the river.

Very cool sculpture on the river front.

My Uncle's home. It is a duplex, but not the typical side-by-side style we see today, rather the top and bottom style. Almost 100 years old.

The door you can see with the wreath on it below is his. And so is the balcony!

Looking down the hallway! My Uncle has a pretty cool collection of photos, etc down the hall.

More cool stuff!

Not so comfortable square toilet. There's a story about that seat, too.

View from the hallway towards the door out onto the balcony. Awesome hardwood floors.

Portion of Living room.

Christmas!

Christmas Cat Buki!

Josh wrapped his gifts in Birthday paper. To celebrate Jesus' birth!

On speaker phone with fam from WY.

We laughed a lot this day. At dinner. Opening gifts. I cried a few times because I was laughing so hard.

After opening gifts we walked down to the river. Took a few pictures.

L to R: Me, Mom, Brother, Uncle, Dog at feet.

~ Brother and Sister

Sister and Brother~

Josh tutoring Mom on how to check her email on his smart phone.

We went to the Serpentarium while we were visiting. Saw some snakes. And some other reptiles. I was sort of fascinated.Huge "Giant Anaconda"

Josh "petting" a croc.

snake

snake

lizard

Iguana and tongue!

There were parrots in the lobby. The guys had fun talking to them.

We also went to your the USS North Carolina. It COLD, but good! This is the view from the ship deck towards the downtown area. My Uncle's place is near the church steeple. Wilmington in a Coast Guard City and you can see one of the ships across the river from the deck of the USS NC

Above picture is the "church" quarters that collapsed down for meal times.

In the galley~ Lots o' steps.

Master electric switch. One huge light switch~ Smile, Mom!

:)

The wishing well~

The Gyrocompass. Center of the ship.

Ammo...and lots of it.

Gun powder. And brother.

Gear. Heavy gear.

Dental area.

Dr's office

Operating room above.

View out the porthole.

On deck. It was cold and windy, but oh-so-gloriously-sunny! Huge chain links for the anchor.

Go Josh, go!

Loved this sign~

Big ship parts~

Basking in the sun on the porch! In December! Glorious!

Headed to the ocean. The building on the left is the resturant we ate lunch. Center of photo...ocean!

View from our table~

Walking on the beach.

There were lots of shells we were picking up. Also, lots of dolphins swimming out in the water.

Basking in the sun~with a winter coat on.

Beauty.

Shadows~

Love this pier!

I could handle this view daily.

Mom and Josh.

Eating ice cream. Outside. In December. Crazy family. 'Nough said.

USS NC at sunset.

Me and big Buki~

Smiling in the sun with my Mom.

On the road back to DC...some more snow on the sides of the road.

Snippets from DC area...

Walking the cat in the hall.

DC and surrounding areas host a delicious cupcake/cake place called CakeLove. Pretty much amazing, especially since they have gluten-free cupcakes. Megan, my friend who told me about them was pretty much right on when she said it is the frosting that is so good. Yummm...

At the National Archives building. Pretty cool to see the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Look at that beautiful blue sky!

White House backyard. I was able to get so much closer than when I was there in the spring.

I was sort of in a bum mood, for no apparent reason...until I saw this...then I cheered up immensely.

White House Christmas Tree on the Ellipse with the Washington Monument in the background.

Surrounding the tree on the Ellipse were 57 smaller trees--one for each state and territory.

Little villages and lots of trains surrounding the base of the tree.

Christmas lights make me happy.

New Year's Eve

Glimpses of Butters...

We spent some time in downtown Bethesda and went to another cake place that had amazingly wonderful decorated cakes...

LOVED the tree cake~ In the words of my brother after eating these cupcakes; "If I wasn't diabetic before that, I am now." Too sweet in our opinions.

Snow angel in remaining ice in one of the reflecting pools. US Capitol Building Christmas Tree (from the great state of Wyoming)! Way to represent WY!

Two Womingites standing in front of a tree from Wyoming that is gracing the lawn of the US Capitol Building...makes me happy.

We ended our New Year's Eve by attending this movie...

Well done, but intense. Then home we went so I could catch a plane back to Oregon on the first day of 2011!