movies — Page 31

A Foggy Haze on Wednesday Morning

September 7, 2016 at 9:59 am by Claudia

My husband made me coffee this morning after a rather tough night for yours truly – an allergy attack that had me coughing for quite a long time. We mowed yesterday and there’s a lot of pollen floating around out there, not to mention the ragweed I found right at the end of our driveway! Do I leave it or do I pull it? Pulling it might do as much damage as leaving it, don’t you think?

This morning, in my foggy haze, this is what I saw outside the kitchen window. Keep in mind that it was shot through the window and then through the chicken wire fence:

9-7 bunnyandgoldfinch

A bunny and a goldfinch. Both were happily eating, seemingly unaware of each other. A hearty yay for two reasons: this particular bunny that I inadvertently frightened off one day is back, and I saw a goldfinch – a bird! – when all my birdie friends seem to be flying south. I also saw a bluejay this morning. That makes me happy.

I forgot to add this photo to yesterday’s recap:

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Husband playing guitar on porch.

9-7 vines

Waiting for morning glory blooms. And, maybe, just maybe, moonflower blooms. I’m doubtful about the moonflowers, but never say never. Come on guys! What if we get an early frost? I need to see some blooms!

Hanging in there and still going for the time being:

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9-7 whitephlox

Thank goodness for phlox, which really lasts a long time!

I’m reading a bit of nonfiction at the moment, before I start a novel I have to review next Monday. After reading something as powerful and exquisitely written as A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, I find I have to take a break for a few days. I do this partly because I want to linger on the story and world in which I was so deeply immersed. But I also do it because heading right into another novel that I have to review would be unfair. I’d be unconsciously comparing it to the Penny. I need to ‘clean the slate.’ I think I’ll be ready to start the novel tomorrow. Maybe today.

In the meantime, I’m finishing up Barbara Cook’s autobiography. She may very well be my favorite singer.

Have you seen Philomena with Judi Dench and Steve Coogan? We watched it the other night on Netflix and it was simply wonderful! Best movie we’ve seen in a long time. Beautifully acted by both Dench and Coogan.

Happy Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, Down By The Road

September 2, 2016 at 8:57 am by Claudia

9-2 goldenrod

9-2 cornflowerroad

9-2 loosestrife2

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This time of year, the little strip of our property that borders the culvert and the road is full of wildflowers. And it’s not just on our property, but everywhere in these parts. I really love seeing the purple, lavender, and bright yellow flowers. It’s like having another garden bed without all the work.

Am I crazy or is there a subtle change in the light already? I thought so yesterday and then I said to myself, “Claudia, you’re imagining this because it’s September 1st.”

I noticed it on our trail walk yesterday. And I see it again today.

Speaking of light, I grabbed my phone and captured this little bit of morning light:

9-2 morninglight

A little Preston Sturges is always good for the soul and we watched one of his best, The Lady Eve, last night on TCM. Just what the doctor ordered. I would have watched Sullivan’s Travels as well, but I was too tired. I love, love Barbara Stanwyck, especially in screwball comedies where she’s smart and sassy and sexy.

I turned to Don in the middle of the movie and said “Barbara Stanwyck is so sexy.”

His response: “Oh, yeah.”

Next up in our Inspector Morse viewing – the final episode, which I’m dreading. That means we’re done, for one, but I’m also well aware that it’s going to be very, very sad.

What else? Shanna has finished the portrait of our first dog, Winston, and it’s on the way here. Here’s hoping it arrives at our post office box today.

I’m reading A Great Reckoning and taking my time with it because I know I’ll have to wait another year for a new Louise Penny. I’ve also got to fit in a book slated for review on September 12th. And a few more to be reviewed in October. Along with everything else in my TBR pile!

Nothing all that exciting, my friends, but we’re content.

Happy Friday.

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Sadness, Lists, Flowers and Rain

July 9, 2016 at 9:54 am by Claudia

What a terrible week it has been. Last night, watching the news, I saw the photos of the policemen who were murdered in Dallas, each of them there to protect those who were peacefully protesting. And now they’re gone. I can’t wrap my mind around all of it. Innocent men all – and that includes the two men who were murdered by officers in Minnesota and Louisiana. All of it such a waste of life. I’m reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me. If you want to get a sense of what it’s like to grow up as a black male in our country, I’d urge you to read it. It’s beautifully and poetically written; it’s also raw and unsparing. The winner of The National Book Award, it is sometimes difficult and uncomfortable for me to read because that world is so different than the world I grew up in as a white girl living in suburbia. Oh, but let me tell you, that reaction tells me I need to read it.

There is much that needs to be done to bridge the divide.

7-9 anotherdaylily

It’s been so unbelievably humid here that it feels like walking around in a thick soup. And each day there are thunderstorms and torrential rains that smash down my hollyhocks and hydrangeas. More today and then, fingers crossed, we’ll get a break.

Don and I went out and tied up the hollyhocks for some support while we’re in the midst of these storms.

This daylily is in the flower bed that is right next to the porch.

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I remember that it was just a week or so ago when I was complaining about the lack of rain.

The joke’s on me!

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The night before last, All the President’s Men was on TCM. Don and I love that movie. In fact, it’s one of those movies that, should we happen upon it, everything else is immediately dropped. Whether it’s mid-story or almost over – no matter. We watch it.

There are others (this is my list):

Any Fred Astaire movie
Any Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers Movie
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Big Country
The Music Man
On the Waterfront
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Hannah and Her Sisters
The Awful Truth
Dinner at Eight
Most any Screwball Comedy
Most any Frank Capra movie
Stagecoach
Red River
Alien and Aliens
Charade
You’ve Got Mail
Any Hitchcock movie

I’m sure there are more, but this list is what immediately comes to mind. (You know me, I’ll probably be editing and adding to it as the day goes on!)

Do you have a list like that? I bet you do.

7-9 eggcuproses2

I got so mad at those dreaded Japanese Beetles that I ran in the house, grabbed my clippers, and snipped off all the buds that that were in danger of being eaten. Take that, Japanese Beetles!

I suppose more reading is on the docket for today. I miss working in the garden and, gosh darn it, I’d love to mow the lawn.

I’ll stop complaining. Our rivers are getting higher and our well is getting fuller. All good.

Happy Saturday.

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A Foggy Haze on Wednesday Morning

Meanwhile, Down By The Road

Sadness, Lists, Flowers and Rain

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