Monday Movies: In Memoriam

In Memory of my Father

who served in the

Korean War

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.

 It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,

but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

~Arthur Ashe

Today's Monday Movie Meme is all about Soldiers

My Husband took me to see and has watched many times over the years "Patton"

I myself think "Saving Private Ryan" was a good movie about Soldiers

But our favorite movie about a soldier was "Taking Chance" starring Kevin Bacon

monday movies hosted by Molly at The Bumbles

There and Back Again, A Years Pictorial Journey: Week 22

Week 22

The Finale of Lost

Yeah that's what I did for 6 hours  on Sunday

(May 23)

I started watching this series about October 2008

so I've been watching it for about 1.5 years.

I don't know what season it was, but fairly early on,

I mentioned to my kids that I thought they had all died in the plane crash

and the Island experience was purgatory . . .

Turns out I was right, I think.  They never really say.

but that's what I got out of it.

I've been tending the girlie's three this week

(May 24)

they love strawberries

(May 25)

and cream

The tree outside my family room window has leafed out

I love the color of the leaves

(May 26)

What color would you say that is?

It's so bright it's almost neon.

The warblers are busy in it's branches

eating seeds and aphids.

It's more entertaining than the television.

I have some yarrow growing at the corner of my house

(May 27)

every time I walk past it I bruise the leaves--it gives off the most heavenly aroma.

I love it.

We wanted to go camping for memorial weekend

but the weather has been so cold and windy we just knew it wouldn't be fun.

instead my daughter and her husband came over

set the tent up in the back yard

and slept outside with the girlie's three

(May 28)

Sweet or Foolish?--I can't decide

but the girls are sure happy about it.

(May 29)

Have a nice Memorial Day weekend

~I currently have a brother-in-law serving in Afghanistan~

I am grateful for the willingness of those who serve in the armed forces in defense of our country

But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, . . . there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.

Alma 53: 16 and18

Book of Mormon

LDS Web Edition

see more of my project 365 here

Hosted by Chris

Book Review: The Ordinary Princess

The Ordinary Princess


written and illustrated

by


M. M. Kaye

published: March 18th 2002 by Puffin (first published 1980)
details: Paperback, 128 pages
isbn: 0142300853 (isbn 13: 9780142300855)


About the Book
(Good Reads)

Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries . . . or become a Queen. When her royal parents try to marry her off, Amy runs away and, because she's so ordinary, easily becomes the fourteenth assistant kitchen maid at a neighboring palace. And there . . . much to every one's surprise . . . she meets a prince just as ordinary (and special) as she is!

About the Author
(Good Reads)

M. M. Kaye was born in India and spent her early childhood and much of her early-married life there. Her family ties with the country are strong: her grandfather, father, brother and husband all served the British Raj. After India's independence, her husband, Major-General Goff Hamilton of Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides (the famous Indian Army regiment featured in The Far Pavilions), joined the British Army and for the next nineteen years M. M. Kaye followed the drum to Kenya, Zanzibar, Egypt, Cyprus and Germany.
M. M. Kaye won worldwide fame for The Far Pavilions, which became a worldwide best-seller on publication in 1978. This was followed by Shadow of the Moon and Trade Wind. She also wrote and illustrated The Ordinary Princess, a children's book and authored a dozen detective novels, including Death in Kashmir and Death in Zanzibar. Her autobiography has been published in three volumes, collectively entitled Share of Summer: The Sun in the Morning, Golden Afternoon, and Enchanted Evening. In March 2003, M. M. Kaye was awarded the Colonel James Tod International Award by the Maharana Mewar Foundation of Udaipur, Rajasthan, for her "contribution of permanent value reflecting the spirit and values of Mewar".

My thoughts:

I discovered The Ordinary Princess quite by accident.  Challenge #1 in Jenners "Take Another Chance Challenge" challenges us to find a book written by an author with the same name.  I typed "Kaye" into the kindle book search bar and after looking through the books I selected The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye.  I was glad I did.  After reading the forward by the author I was completely captivated.

"This story was written many moons ago under an apple tree in an orchard in Kent,  which is one of England's prettiest counties . . . I had read at least twenty of the [fairy tales] when I noticed something that had never struck me before--I suppose because I had always taken it for granted.  All the princesses, apart from such rare exceptions as Snow White, were blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful, with lovely figures and complexions and extravagantly long hair.  This struck me as most unfair, and suddenly I began to wonder just how many handsome young princes would have asked a king for the hand of his daughter if that daughter had happened to be gawky, snub-nosed, and freckled, with shortish mouse-colored hair?  None, I suspected.  They would all have been of chasing after some lissome Royal Highness with large blue eyes and yards of golden hair and probably nothing whatever between her ears!  It was in that moment that a story about a princess who turned out to be ordinary jumped into my mind, and the very next morning I took my pencil box and a large rough-notebook down to the orchard and, having settled myself under an apple tree in full bloom, began to write . . . the day was warm and windless and without a cloud in the sky.  A perfect day and a perfect place to write a fairy story."

This story is based somewhat loosely on Sleeping Beauty (she was princess Amy's great grandmother after all).  Princess Amy is the 7th daughter of King Huldebrand and Queen Rhodemsia.  And in typical fairy tale fashion the fairies are invited to the princesses christening.  The Sea Fairy Crustacea who was late, feeling grumpy tired and rather dried out from getting stuck in a traffic jam, bestowed upon the princess the gift of being "ordinary".  And thus the story begins.

When Princess Amy was young her nurse would sing her a lullaby:

Lavender's blue,
Rosemary's green,
When you are King
I shall be Queen

The book is divided into four parts, each bearing as title one line from the rhyme in consecutive order.  I thought this was very creative and the rhyme followed Amy through her ordinary adventures all the way through the book.  It was a delightful fairy tale that should be read to all girls over and over to remind them that even ordinary girls are very special.

Challenge #1, Read you doppleganger

Book #1

Book #15

Book Review: Dragon Slippers

Dragon Slippers


by


Jessica Day George

published: March 20th 2007 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
details: Hardcover, 321 pages
literary awards: Whitney Award for Best Novel by New Author (2007), Whiting Writers Award
isbn: 1599900572 (isbn13: 9781599900575)

About the Book
(Good Reads)

Creel, the heroine of Dragon Slippers is hardly a damsel-in-distress. After her aunt totes her out to the local dragon in desperation (with the hope that the local prince will rescue her from certain death and marry her), Creel refuses the haughty prince and finds friendship with the dragons, who set her on a journey to the center of the kingdom with a pretty pair of what only seem to be ordinary slippers. Along the way we discover Creel's enormous talent at embroidery, and you can't help but linger over the rich descriptions of her lovely tapestry-like gowns, which quickly make her the most sought-after dressmaker in the kingdom. But soon enough those mysterious slippers begin to wreak havoc, and it's up to Creel to save the kingdom from disaster and defend the dragons from certain doom. Creel's feisty spirit breathes fiery new life into this epic world at every turn, making this one of the most memorable and fun fantasy debuts to hit shelves.

About the Author
(Good Reads)

Jessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she has a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.

My thoughts:

My daughter read this fun little story to her girls and recommended it to me.  Dragon Slippers is a delightful fantasy tale that paints dragons as friendly and amiable beings.  Each Dragon that the protagonist Creel meets as she journey's from her home in the country to the kings seat has a unique talent and personality.  I enjoyed the images created by the author of these magnificent, sentient beings as Creel becomes acquainted with each of them.  The end of the book was especially endearing as Creel calls upon the friendships she has made with each of her dragon acquaintances.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever dreamed of speaking to a dragon--I have been in love with the thought of having a dragon of my own ever since I first read Anne McAffery's Dragon Singer. 

Challenge #5  asks us to go to random.org, using 1 as the minimum and 5 as the maximum generate a number (I got a 2) and then read a book with that many words in the title.

Book #7

Wednesday Wanderings: Shopping Day

“My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait it out

until all the groceries are unloaded from the car.”

~Erma Bombeck.

*sigh* I guess I have to break down and go shopping!

It'll be a big one--hope someone will be around to help me carry it in.

photo by

using picnik photo editing I changed the original photo using "cross process"

I then converted to sepia selecting a more yellow hue

and faded the color to 50%

sepia scenes hosted by Mary

Tuesday Teaser: The Kings of Clonmel

The Kings of Clonmel
Book #8 in the Ranger's Apprentice Series

by

John Flannagan




"Beside it, massive and ugly, was Killeen's mace and chain.  A thick oak handle some half a meter long, bound every ten centimeters with iron strips to reinforce it.  Then the long iron chain, heavy and thick, attached to the fearsome spiked ball at its end."

pg. 315

hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

Book Review: The Kings of Clonmel

The Kings of Clonmel
Book #8 in the Ranger's Apprentice Series

by

John Flannagan

published: May 18th 2010 by Philomel (first published November 3rd 2008)
details: Hardcover, 400 pages
isbn0399252061 (isbn13: 9780399252068)

About the Book
(Good Reads)

Will is at the annual Ranger Gathering but Halt is investigating mysterious happenings in the west. When he does finally return, it's with bad news. Hibernia is in turmoil. A religious cult calling themselves the Outsiders are sowing confusion and sedition, and five of the six Hibernian kingdoms have been undermined. Now the sixth, Clonmel, is in danger. Halt, Will and Horace set out to restore order. Can the secrets of Halt's past help them in their mission?

About the Author
(Good Reads)

John Flanagan is an Australian author. His best known work is the Ranger's Apprentice (series). Prior to becoming a novelist, John Flanagan spent his career writing for advertising and television. He co-created the television series Hey Dad..!.

My thoughts:

I am a huge fan of John Flanagan and this well written series. The stories in the Ranger's Apprentice series follow the adventures of Will Treaty from the time he is a young boy, through his adventures as a Ranger's apprentice, and as a fully fledged Ranger with a fief of his own to protect. The Kings of Clonmell is the 8th book in the series. Will is given a new assignment along with his mentor Halt and best friend Horace to represent the kingdom of Araluen abroad. As with all the other volumes the three comrades are soon involved in adventure that takes them across the sea to Halts home country of Clonmel. The action as always was fast paced and entertaining, right up to the conclusion. This book leaves us hanging a bit as we wait for the 9th volume in the Ranger's Apprentice Series.

Book #6

Book #6

Book #3

Monday Movies: Brotherly Love

hosted by Molly at the Bumbles


This weeks topic is . . . all about Brothers


The first movie that came to mind about brothers was The Man in the Iron Mask (1988) starring Leonardo Dicaprio.  It's the story of King Louis the XIV who is not a great leader . . . but hidden deep in the prisons of Paris waits his twin brother, the man in the iron mask.

I've mentioned The Last of the Mohican's (1992) starring Daniel Day Lewis as Hawkeye several times on my blog. This is one of my favorite movies.  Hawkeye is aided by his Indian brother to rescue a British colonel's daughters during the French Indian Wars.

I am a fan of John Wayne--I'll mention one of my favorite movies today, The Son's of Katie Elder (1965) starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Micheal Anderson and Earl Holliman.  These four brothers set out to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother.

Another western film that I enjoyed was Wyatt Earp (1994) starring Kevin Costner in the lead role with David Andrews and Linden Ashby playing the Earp Brothers.

I have a soft spot for a musical about brothers--Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)  They just don't make them like that anymore, all that singing and dancing.  It was a fun movie.

Rain Man (1988) starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise was also a memorable film

and the last one I want to mention is a film I saw last year called The Prestige (2006) starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.  The film was about magicians and involved identical twin brothers.  I thought the film was intriguing.


Over the weekend . . . I watched the finale of Lost.  I'm still confused! I'm going to watch it again.  At this point I couldn't even begin to tell you what I thought of it.  I'm just glad I watch all six seasons in one year!  I think I would have given up if I'd had to watch it over 6 years :)

There and Back Again, a Years Pictorial Journey: Week 21

I had a hard time getting pictures this week--I was so busy that I hardly remembered to take a picture. So looking through this weeks shots left me scrambling a bit for photo fodder

This week we've had actual rain

living in the desert it's always a such a treat to watch the rain fall

(May 16)

little bear watches the "fundering"

Monday night the girlies three had a dance recital

(May 17)

sweetings sits on my lap waiting for the show to begin

the little dancers performed "Peter and the Wolf" as well as doing a tap number a piece

Last week I had a picture of my indoor basketball court

(May 18)

this week I've got an indoor bowling alley

Honey's hair grows like her mothers and her aunts

LONG and THICK

(May 19)

Wednesday after school she donated to Locks of Love (12 full inches)

read more here

I've been taking the kids to school in the morning since about February--I thought I'd mention as a note to myself that this was also the last day of that duty for me.  School got out for Summer break on Thursday.

Thursday was a fun day, I got to watch my youngest pose for her bridals

(May 20)

is there anything lovelier than that?

Friday was the first day of summer break for me

I could have slept in--but for some reason my eyes popped open at 7:30 a.m.

I hope I get over that :)

(May 21)

I started a new book

in between laundry batches

*sigh* summer break has come

for me it's a bit of a lonesome time

my little ones will be at home with their mom.

I am someone who has always enjoyed the feet of little ones dogging her own,

little one's bright cheery voices, 

and even the screams of a voice raised in temper,

the clutter,

the confusion,

the needs to be meet . . . constantly.

these things give me joy and contentment.

summer is hard for me . . .

This pile sits beside my computer--some things to do this summer while little ones are less likely to interrupt

(May 22)

1.  Wedding invitation list

2. scrapbooking for my youngest

3. genealogy

4. writing my history

5. a book to read that my daughter recommended

6.  I'm thinking of putting on a quilt

8.  and little bear wants grandma to learn to play Nintendo so I can play with him!

Where should I start?

and what plans do you have for your summer?

photo's by

see more of my project 365 here

Hosted by Chris

Book Review: Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell

Poems


by


Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell
(pen names for Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte)





About the Book
(wikipedia)

Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell was a volume of poetry published jointly by the three Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne in 1846 (see 1846 in poetry), and their first work to ever go in print. To evade contemporary prejudice against female writers, the Brontë sisters adopted androgynous first names. All three retained the first letter of their first names: Charlotte became Currer Bell, Anne became Acton Bell, and Emily became Ellis Bell. The book was printed by Aylott and Jones, from London. The first edition failed to attract interest, with only two copies being sold. However, the sisters decided to continue writing for publication and began work on their first novels, which became commercial successes. Following the success of Charlotte's Jane Eyre in 1848, and after the deaths of Emily and Anne, the second edition of this book (printed in 1850 by Smith & Elder) fared much better, with Charlotte's additions of previously unpublished poetry by her two late sisters. It is believed that there are fewer than ten copies in existence with the Aylott and Jones title-page.

My thoughts:

This is my first experience reading poetry.  I enjoy the Bronte Sisters style of writing and thought this might be a nice beginning point for me.  I found that I had to read the poems occasionally and individually.  At first I found my self reading the poem out loud so I could find it's cadence.  Once I caught the rhythm I would begin again this time listening to the words.

I was divided in my reactions.  Some I loved, some I liked, and some I simply scanned.  There were several of Charlotte's that touched me deeply.  I felt she was the better composer of the three.  But I did enjoy Anne's simple and direct approach.  Charlotte's poems contained a great story.  Anne seemed to select her subject quickly, bring it to light and quickly draw the conclusion.  Her meter was simple as well.  Anne's poetry was by far the easiest to read, which might account for why I liked it.  I found Emily's poetry to be somewhat "wild" in nature similar in style to Wuthering Heights.

I have learned that reading poetry is like reading scriptures.  You can't read it like a novel and get much out of it.  You have to read it bit by bit, reflecting and pondering and calling the image created to mind.  The reader in order to appreciate the poems would have to visit the pages often, committing favorite passages to memory in order to completely enjoy the work.

This is a selection Charlotte's poem "Home" that I particularly enjoyed:

How brightly glistening in the sun
The woodland ivy plays!
While yonder beeches from their barks
Reflect his silver rays.


That sun surveys a lovely scene
From softly smiling skies;
And wildly through unnumbered trees
The wind of winter sighs:


Now loud, it thunders o'er my head,
And now in distance dies.
But give me back my barren hills
Where colder breezes rise;

I love the images created in my mind of sun on ivy and white bark, I can hear the wind sighing as it weaves in and out of the trees--I can almost imagine the wild moors of her English home as she longs for sight of them as well as feeling the briskness of the Moorish wind that exists in her memory.  I love Charlotte's use of words!  It was a literary treat to read this collection of poems.

All About the Bronte's--Book #3

Challenge #11--All in the Family (Bronte)
as a second book in this challenge I read Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Book #14

Photo Story Friday: Acts of Kindness

Yesterday my youngest daughter posed for her bridal portrait.  We traveled 2 hours north of our little town and met up with the photographer at a little place called "Wheeler Farm".  He sent us in to ready the bride.  Halfway to the main building the three of us (the bride, my other daughter Heidi, and myself) stopped and stared at each other in shocked silence--we had left the bridal veil home!  We momentarily panicked--and then mentally shrugged our shoulders and said it is what it is.  We couldn't do anything about it so we headed into the building to dress the bride.  When we emerged from the bathroom a little girl about 7 years old and her mother were standing in the foyer.  The little girl was tightly gripping a cellophane wrapped bundle of pink carnations.  She timidly approached with her mother's hand on her shoulder.  Too shy to speak her mother became spokes person for her.  "My daughter heard you say you need some flowers for the bride, she was wondering if you would like hers."  What a sweet act of kindness from such a small child.  We thanked her profusely, snipped off two little heads, picked some bridal wreath from the bushes and bobby pinned the little clump of flowers into the very place the ribbon rose on the veil would have sat.  Now every time we look at my daughters bridal portrait we will think of a little girl who stepped up to save the day out of the kindness of her little heart.  My only regret---we were so flustered about forgetting the veil, we didn't ask her name or get a picture of her.  I hope she can guess a little bit about how very grateful we are, and how very touched we were by her thoughtfulness.

can you remember a time when you were on the receiving end of an unexpected kindness?

photo by


Hosted by Cecily