In 20 more days, we will have reached the one year mark in this strange pandemic-land. It’s hard to believe, but then again, it’s not.
Puzzle Central. I worked on the puzzle yesterday, but only a little. Sometimes I need to rest my back and yesterday was one of them. I’ll do a bit more today.
It’s sunny and cold, but the sun should shine all day today, unlike yesterday. I’m grateful.
Thanks for all the positive comments on Don’s latest song. He’s so talented, that guy. I was happy to assist with some background vocals in which I used the higher part of my range and sang with a light touch, because it was not about me. It was about enhancing the story and Don’s voice. I’m actually an alto/mezzo soprano and I’ve got a big voice. I started out in musicals, so I’m perfectly capable of belting out a song, sans microphone. This kind of thing, doing a light background vocal, is something new to me and it was fun.
Speaking of voices, there is no voice that makes me happier than my husband’s. I love hearing him speak first thing in the morning and I love hearing him sing. His voice is deep and resonant and soothing. Since my career is all about the voice, that’s high praise indeed. I’m a lucky girl.
We watched Nomadland the other night, the new Frances McDormand movie. It’s excellent. It’s in theaters and on Hulu. We don’t subscribe to Hulu, but we did a free trial just so we could see it. It’s a bit annoying, this trial, because it pauses for what would be commercials (the least expensive version of Hulu.) Rather than wait out that break, I hit “back” and and resume the video. But it was free, so I’m not complaining. The movie is based on a book of the same name, which I now want to read, and the cast consists of actors and non-actors and it’s fascinating. My love for McDormand’s work just gets stronger. She is fearless. She doesn’t have to fill every moment with ‘something.’ She can just be. And she has stayed true to who she is – no plastic surgery, no fillers. She embraces her age. We’re going to watch it again this week.
Last night we watched The King’s Speech again. We’ve seen it several times and we love it. We were both feeling a bit tired and under the weather, and for us, it’s a comfort movie.
Back to Mrs. Tim Carries On, which is delightful. I’m now a D.E. Stevenson fan and plan to read more of this series, as well as her other books.
A bit more snow tomorrow then, fingers crossed, warmer weather. And by warmer, I mean in the 40s, which is positively balmy compared to the deep freeze of the past few weeks.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
I also watched Nomadland last night. I thought it was excellent! Frances McDormand is one of my favorite actors. She is fantastic in everything she does. Your picture this morning is very pretty. Happy Sunday!
I agree. She’s wonderful.
Stay safe April!
I am now reading Nomadland. . It is so sad that people work their whole lives and life takes turns through no fault of their own and this is what happens. I am so grateful that when my husband retires this year we will have a pension and our home will be paid for. I have known people that in the last downturn lost so much money in their 401 accounts. You have to be extremely rich to have enough in this to last you . All in all I am just so thankful for all that God has provided for me.
Yes, it is a truly eye-opening book. Equality of opportunity seems very far away. (Although the topic is hard, the book is far from hard to read, she has a very co conversational writing style.)
We have a pension, but our home isn’t paid for. But we know that we can always pay the mortgage and that’s a huge relief after years of worrying about it. Don is going to order Nomadland and I’m sure we’ll both read it.
Stay safe, Linda.
look at that pretty view full of stella, colors, contentment and that lovely light! :) nice way to start your days.
you and don have such wonderful voices … thanks for sharing them through the dollhouse tours and song links!
agree about frances mcdormand’s acting and i love/appreciate her choice to age naturally. also, “the king’s speech” was so good! my sister and i gave each other dvds of it for our birthday one year. unfortunately, i can’t watch dvds where i live now as the tv signals are weak, go in and out often and i don’t get the channel needed to be able to watch a dvd. :(
i have some fabric on the way. even if it had arrived, i couldn’t use it yet (i always wash fabric before cutting/sewing it), but i look forward to getting it … and hope i like it in person as much as i did online! it’s to be used for either pillowcases or one side of a whole-cloth quilt.
it’s a bit warmer here, but still cold enough for snow (which we are getting right now). pretty, but i am over it. thankfully the first day of spring is only one month from today! ee will get there!
hope you have a good day, however you spend it (i’m going to paint some more). and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
we … not ee!
xo
Yes, we’re getting that snow tomorrow, but then we’ll warm up, so I can accept a bit more.
Enjoy your painting and stay safe, Kathy.
We watched Nomadland last night too and enjoyed it as well. Frances McDormand was spectacular, as usual. Beautiful scenery and intriguing characters. Highly recommend. I get what you mean about the husband and music. I could listen to mine playing his guitar(s) all day. And sometimes I do. 🙂 Sun is shining here too in Southern CT. 3 weeks till daylight savings time. Have a happy Sunday.
Only 3 weeks? Yippee!
Stay safe, Jayne.
I love Francis McDormand so will be watching this movie tonight. The Kings Speech is one of favs and I agree a comfort movie for sure. I’m just tired and feeling like this pandemic will never end. Most days I roll with it, but it does catch up to me and I have very down times. At least getting the vaccine is a step forward to me. I worry so much about my Mom who is 90 and while getting the vaccine isn’t a guarantee we won’t get covid it just means we might survive it. We will continue to be extra vigilant and use all precautions but maybe some of the paralyzing fear my Mom feels with lessen. Well enough of my whining. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.
I feel the same way. We’ve been pretty down about the pandemic and sometimes get tired of being good soldiers. Plus, we have no vaccination in sight, so there’s that. But I’ll keep trying to get appointments for us!
Your poor mom! To have to wait this long for her vaccination must have been very worrying.
You aren’t whining. You’re just being honest, my friend.
Stay safe!
I’m a big D. E. Stevenson fan and have, over the years, collected all of her books through various used book sources. It’s great that many of her works are now being re-published, including the Mrs. Tim series. If you haven’t read the others in this series, you’re in for a treat. I just re-read Celia’s House which is another favorite. Also – Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher! You have been reading some of my favorite authors during these cold winter days!
Yes, this Mr. Tim is one of the republished editions. It’s quite lovely. I’ll be reading the rest of the series, for sure!
Stay safe, Carol!
The Kings Speech is one of my all-time favorites. Yes, comfort movie. I like that!
I finally listened to the song and yes — it’s all everyone said it was. I loved hearing your mix of voices. There is something that makes bloggers so real when we hear their voice — whether in song or speech.
I had a brain blip when I looked at your opening photo. For a minute I thought, “I didn’t know they had a beautiful home like that right across the street!” looking out the window. Oh, wait! It was a beautiful house INSIDE the window!
Aha! Fooled you! Actually, I wish I could see the real house this one was modeled after. But I have no idea who made it or where the house was.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I have not listened to Don’s new song yet, but I will today. Interesting that you were singing in it, too! Can’t wait to hear it.
We had Hulu at one time, rarely watched anything so unsubscribed, now recently subscribed to the basic version. (Are on the trial month right now, like you.) Hadn’t heard of Nomadland (as you know, I’m not a big TV watcher) so will put that on my watch list.
More snow for us today, coming this afternoon. Should get about 3″. I am so over all this snow and cold. No temps in the 40’s for us this week. 30’s is the highest I see in the extended forecast. Oh well, better than what we’d been having, which was below zero – single digits! Even these past few days in the 20’s have seemed like a relief.
Nomadland is a first run movie. I learned about it on Instagram. But, as with the case with a lot of movies these days, it’s being released simultaneously on a streaming network, in this case, Hulu.
I am really tired of snow. This is the most snow we’ve had on the ground at one time in several years.
Stay safe, Melanie!
My daughter and I love Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. And I saw McDormand live as Lady Macbeth at the Berkeley Rep. She is wonderful.
Hope you back feels better, Claudia.
She is. Very down to earth!
Stay safe, Wendy.
I am very eager to see Nomadland. Big fan of McDormand too. A few days ago I rented Supenova–one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. The performances are so quiet and nuanced. Can’t imagine one or both of them would not be contenders for an Ocscar. It’s an intimate love story, beautifully filmed. We are expecting some snow melt in the next few days if the temps stay up and we get some rain. It’s been very pretty but a real pain in the patootie, too. I wish I could make my computer work so that I could hear Don. Technology is a blessing and a curse. Glad you are staying safe and healthy.
That’s on our list for this week. Two fine actors.
Stay safe, Nora.
Claudia, I had to tell you, about the little pitcher sitting on top of your stove. I have fond memories of getting a cold glass of water out of the little cream pitcher with the cap and cat tails plant on it from my Grandmother’s fridge when I was little. I am now 69, so it is indeed old like me. It’s nice that you cherish such treasures. I do too. In fact, I came to the realization I had too much and I had to cut back on my china and glass collecting to just what I use. It’s nice to see that you use what you collect too. Awesome treasures!
Love that story, Martha! Thank you for sharing it.
Stay safe!