"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." -Jane Austin
"Home – the abiding place of affections." – who said this?
"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name…" -lyrics to the Cheers theme song
"For me, home is the coming together of my past memories and experiences, of my love for my children, husband and friends; my optimism tangibly expressed in life-enhancing ways – room by room – and of the tender appreciation that no matter how much of myself I put into this home, I, like everyone on earth, am a temporary guest." – Alexandra Stoddard
This almost makes me reconsider the major paint job on which I am about to embark…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: Keep cultivating home-happiness.
pictured: the whole fam in front of our house last April (Gemma and Averi are missing – time for a new picture!)
Best song at the Oscars this year was, surprisingly and mercifully, a GREAT song ("Falling Slowly") from the movie "Once." My daughters, Stephanie and Stormie introduced me to the movie a while back and it is a great flick! For the first 20 minutes, I was enjoying it so much I was dreading when the "real story" would start and interrupt the music, then Stormie informed me, it was, after all, a musical. It is gentle and pure and soft and well-told and you must see it! You must sing along with it!
Former buskers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are thrilled with their Oscar win for Best Original Song."When we were kids, we used to watch the Oscars every year and talked about what people were wearing," Glen said following the win. "It's amazing to be here tonight."
Marketa and Glen won the gong for their song "Falling Slowly" from hit indie movie Once which they performed at the Academy ceremony.
"There's things you have to do," said Glen, referring to the performance. "You have to keep going. If you think about the size of it and if you get swept up in it, you're gone."
Glen and Marketa beat off three separate challenges from the movie Enchanted to win the statuette."My mother was sitting beside me and she was just so nervous – she's been so nervous since we were nominated," said Glen. "I was just welling up."
"These days films are being made for different reasons like money, and art is being compromised," added Marketa. "I think people feel this film was done from a very pure point and an artistic one. I also think it's a story of love and we can all connect with that."
See Once…more than once!…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: "sing your melody, I'll sing along…"
When you have a spare minute or two, try this little bit of fun, which I heard about from another blogger (Stephanie???):
Google in "[your name] needs" and the first 6 or 7 things that come up will tell you what it is you're really needing in life!
Mine was like this: Jeanie needs…
…more support to accomplish day to day tasks
…more constant attention, at least for now
…Microsoft Framework 1.1 or higher – one year free.
…a shooter, written by Bruce Springsteen
…a doctor
…the money, and frankly, the career boost
…needs some cash
I really could use the support and, true, constant attention would be nice. Anything I can get free from Microsoft would be a blessing. The doctor is a necessity and he should bring his prescription pad! But I can wholehearteddly concur with the final ascertation: cash would be fun!
My take on one of those things people send to each other on the internet. Whoever wrote it used one-word descriptions. Naturally, I must add more:
The LORD is my shepherd – I am my Beloved's and He is mine/relationship!
I shall not want – He faithfully supplies for all my needs
He makes me lie down in green pastures – Rest, Sabbath rest – in a life-giving place
He leads me beside still waters – Refreshment, washing with the water of the Word
He restores my soul – He renews, reinvigorates and restores the anxieties and anxiousness my soul endures daily/healing
He leads me in paths of righteousness – The LORD is my guide, directing my steps
for His Name's sake – His Name, His fame, His acclaim are the purpose of my life
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – Crap happens, testing comes, it rains on the just and the unjust
I will fear no evil – I am surrounded b y the ultimate Protector
For You are with me – I couldn't get away from Him if I wanted to, He is faithful, so faithful
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me – The discipline of the LORD tells me He has not given up on me, I am still in training, it isn't over.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies – Even in my most unworthy condition, You strengthen me and feed me with the finest food
You anoint my head with oil – You welcome me into your Presence so graciously, You consecrate and set me apart
My cup runs over – More than full, You have poured out every good blessing/abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life – I am blessed with a steadfast covenant of the love of the LORD, like a shadow, blessing is always right there behind me…
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD – His house is my house. Oh LORD, You have been our dwelling place forever/security
Forever – Eternity is written on my heart, happily ever after
Lack of energy=heaviness – or is it that heaviness causes the lack of energy?
Lack of money=heaviness
So, then, how does lack, [being without or low on; having a deficiency or absence of something that is needed; to be entirely without and in need of], lead to feeling such heaviness?
And how can plenty [a full or completely adequate amount or supply; as much as one could want; ample quantity; abundance] make you feel so light?
I LOVE the internet. When, all of a sudden, a song from your way past (think 1970's and the early artists in contemporary Christian music-the ones who took the flack for what we freely enjoy today) comes to mind – you can google it and voila!
Today I am singing my head off to Janny Grein's "Covenant Woman!" And even though I haven't heard it in almost 30 years – I still remember all the words!
My Valentine from Stormie was a mounted 8 x 10 she put together of the grandbabies. The other night at a family dinner, she and the kiddies disappeared for about 15 minutes (where I am told they were swathed in white fabric and photographed) and this is how the whole thing re-appeared. Stormie loves having fun with Photoshop: changing colors, cropping, cutting and pasting. Do you see the word "love" 5 times in it?
They were supposed to be cupids, but kind of look like little forest faeries. Nonetheless – this is my Garden of Love!
Thanks, Stormkins, for always surprising us and cracking us up!…Mom
NOTE TO SELF: Find the perfect frame…
pictured top: Hunter, Guini, Gavin; bottom: Averi (only 8 days old when taken) and Gemma (8 months)
I really like the American Idol contestant, Brooke White. She is adorably wholesome and cute and talented and sings and plays keys just like my friend Amy Jo! I don't have a pic with Amy Jo's full glory (her hair) tumbling around her shoulders, but if I did, you'd be shocked!
Brooke is very engaging (age 24) and even though I doubt she'll actually become the next American Idol, I am so glad she made the top 24 and I can see a future for her in the industry. She is a very young, fresh Carole-King-type.
Amy Jo (age 30…am I suppose to reveal that?) and I love to sit at the piano and wail out the old hymns.
Apparently I was the first to notice the similiarity between Amy Jo and Brooke, but other people had noticed Amy Jo looking quite a bit like Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike. See for yourself:
Amy Jo-you're a star!
pictured top row: Both Brooke White from American Idol; middle row: both Amy Jo; Bottom row: Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike (whoever the heck she is???)
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth…for your love is better than wine." Song of Songs 1.2
XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOO
I first became fascinated with kissing as something other than sweet parental affection at about the age of four while watching an old Western with my mom. It was 1964 and there was some scene between a cowboy and a saloon girl (they all seemed good and wholesome back then) and it just clicked – wow, this kissing thing is going to be fun.
I kissed Jimmy Green behind the church after a Sunday night service when I was 13 (my first and his, too) and I don't really think he knew what hit him. But I knew I liked kissing alot!
Lucky for me, I married a really, amazingly good kisser so – life is good!
With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought I'd list some of my favorite movie kisses. Some are well-known for the kissing scenes and others are not – just small ones you may have missed. I left out many "obvious" choices, ones that might make an "awards" list, but these are the ones that immediately come to my mind, in no particular order:
The Quiet Man A quintessential St. Pat's Day movie experience: Sean Thornton (played by John Wayne) is in a perpetual tussle with the blazing-red-headed Mary Kate Donaher (Maureen O'Hara) when he arrives in Ireland from America. Their first, and perhaps most picturesque kiss, he drags her back into the cottage from roaring winds and kisses her solidly, their clothes and hair blowing, a gentle moment and then a good slap to his face.
One of my favorite quotes and kisses, though, is on their wedding night when she accuses him of being a coward for not fighting her brother for her dowry and she locks him out of the bedroom. He, manly man that he is, kicks the door in, kisses her and throws her onto the bed (which breaks) saying, "There'll no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate – exept those in your own mercenary little heart." He walks out slamming the door, she cries – wanting more kissing, I'm thinking.
The next morning, the matchmaker, seeing the broken bed shakes his head, "Impetuous!"
pictured above: a kissing scene from The Quiet Man I didn't even mention, but suffice it to say: John Wayne was looking good!
Baby Boom From the 80s, it has one of my favorite kissing scenes. Diane Keaton is playing a driven career woman who tried to move to the country with her "newly acquired" baby, but found that she was miserable and lonely. She accidentally confided to the handsome town Veterinarian, thinking he was a "real doctor," and then spent lots of time avoiding him and snubbing him as she notices all the other females around swoon in his presence. One night he pulls in behind her on the side of the road where she is struggling to change a flat tire in winter snow and ice. As he is trying to be kind and she is rebuffing him, refusing his help, he grabs her, smashes her against her car and kisses her, where you see her body go limp. Then he gets in his car and drives away – leaving her weak and disoriented. Classic Diane Keaton.
Witness Mid-1980's, I have got to watch again! The handsome Harrison Ford as the lawman recovering from a gunshot wound among the Amish and the beautiful Kelly McGillis as an Amish widow. They meet in a field at twilight the evening before he will be leaving. They grab and claw and kiss, but then pull back laughing, their foreheads pressed together. Sweet.
That Thing You Do Guy and Faye (played by the beautiful Liv Tyler, of such kissable-lip-fame). Guy: When was the last time you were decently kissed? I mean really, honestly good and kissed?Faye: Dave Gamelgard, New Year's Eve, 1962. Guy (determinedly nodding his head): Okay.
One Fine Day Imagine that gravely-voiced George Clooney saying to Michelle Pfeiffer: You're just reeling me in, aren't you? Mmm,mm, good!
It's A Wonderful Life This sweet, old-time movie has one of the hottest scenes ever as George and Mary (Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed) are squeezed together sharing the same phone in a conversation with the irritating Sam "HeeHaw" Wainright, the guy Mary's mother hopes she'll end up with. The romantic tension builds as you actually see George's torment emerge. He knows if he kisses her, he'll be giving up everything for her, especially his chance to "shake the dust of this crummy little town off my shoes and see the world!" Finally, both weak and desperate, they give in to a kiss that is equally raw with desire and passion, and angry at the same time. Pretty steamy for the era!
Room with a View Miss Lucy Honeychurch got an unexpected and impetuous kiss in a wheatfield by the intense and free-spirited, George Emerson. How good was it? Well, it led to the break-up of her engagement to the prissy Cecil.
The Village Lucius and Ivy on the front porch – deep, but reverent passion between childlike hearts.
While You Were Sleeping The actual kiss doesn't come until the end, with an engagement ring, but the lead up where it almost happens, when Jack (Bill Pullman) is asking Lucy (Sandra Bullock) about Joe Fusco Jr. and explaining "leaning" to her…nice!
The Notebook "It wasn't over…it still isn't over!" This movie is kind of packed with kissing, covering more than one generation, but the rain-soaked kiss after the idyllic afternoon row-boating through a spectacular duck-filled pond is THE one! Allie (Rachel McAdams) learns as they are coming ashore that Noah (Ryan Gosling) had not forgotten her, but had in fact written 365 love letters-one for each of day of the year-which her domineering mother had intercepted. When they both realize "it still isn't over!", so much for her engagement to the "acceptable fiancee" as the kissing ensues. Hot. Hot. Hot! A little embarrassing, really.
Love Actually The final-scene montage of a zillion happy endings is filled with kiss after kiss at London's Heathrow Airport. There are kisses between parents and children and between friends and lovers – all on a split screen to the song, "God Only Knows," by the Beach Boys. Joyous!
I recommend doing a lot of kissing!…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: Dave's kiss is "on my list as one of the best things in life." More kissing!
