Wrapping up the Week

GR&DF it is a chilly San Francisco Morning here - not like some snowy places where its down right frozen, but for us it is pretty cold. Last night when I was shutting up for the evening I decided I was having a big won-ton soup for lunch today. I usually have soup of some sort at lunch as I really enjoy it, but today it is an absolute must. How's that for another weird tid bit about me!!

I have finally caught up with a majority of the Blog Postings I missed while away - I am thinking I should invest in a laptop apparatus so that when I travel or am away I can check in with everyone. As I read through the posts I just kept feeling I had missed so much of the wonderful Holiday goings on!!

I wanted to mention two more new Blog Buddies out there - Ariadne over in Greece has jumped in with us and has started a lovely Blog - "Ariadne from Greece" - and Jenny from Kentucky also began a great blog - "One Stitch Closer to Nirvana" - stop by and say Hi!!

The comments also held a bit of news for me - I took part in the HOE Ornament Exchange back in November and my partner Lynn B let me know that the piece I sent has never arrived. I sent that sucker out on November 29th...... even with the slow holiday mail and all the weather both here and in the UK I would think it would have gotten there by now. I am thinking it is lost at this point - I need to get my needle a'stitchin quick like a bunny!! Dear Lynn - so sorry for the delay - another one will be out and on the way soon.....

Also in the comments Maggie o mentioned working for the first time on linen - I remember my first experience with linen - I jumped from Aida cloth to a stamped linen kit to a small 25 ct piece of linen project and have never looked back. I love the feel and look of linen, just keep plugging away and it will get easier as time goes on. Kim V asked about the Alpha Birds piece - the designer is Sheepish Designs and is actually three charts stitched as one. The three OOP charts from top to bottom are - Alpha Birds, Alpha Menagerie and Alpha Sheep - the little narrow connecting bands I charted as they do not exist in the charts. Susan asked about the Mary Beale "Sampler Wreath" - yes, I am still sort of stitching on it. I put it aside to stitch up Christmas Rules by Lizzie Kate - at this point the plan is... I will finish up square 4 on "Shores" and then turn my attention to the wreath and get her finished up. I am loving that piece lots and am contemplating how it should finish up.... I love the idea of a stitched wreath like is shown in the picture of the completed work.... but how about a lovely frame????? What to do, what to do....???

I wanted to leave everyone with a snap from SF - yesterday we stopped off in the Mission for some veggies and a sweet treat - (we all need treats!!!!). We parked on a side street next to this wonderfully colourful mural....

I have no idea for what or why this was painted here - but it is big, bold and beautiful. Always something new to see in the city!!

There you go sports fans. Thanks for stopping by, do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

Wrapping up the Week with some Flicks and a New Blog

GR&DF another week closer to Fall - and here in the city the temps are hovering around 50 degrees - yesterday the high was a boiling 52 degrees. Now don't get me wrong - I love the cool, cold weather but with no warm days in sight how are we going to have a "Doggie Day Spa" day? - (which translates to doggie baths for the who-hounds!) I certainly don't want it cold out and them running around shaking a quaking - we get enough of that already without them being damp - so I guess it will be put off another week. I am just feeling like it is going to be a stay inside and keep warm weekend - of course we will have to go out to breakfast somewhere - but the rest of the time I am thinking will be spent watching movies and stitching. The laundry is all done, got that finished off last night. I should probably run the vacuum and of course I will bake something up on Sunday. Oh well, moving on.....

Here are three flicks I caught this week - lets start off with the oldest of the three - "Poor Little Rich Girl" - 1936 - starring Shirley Temple, Alice Faye, Gloria Stewart and Jack Haley. This typical Temple film was a real joy to watch - some great songs and some interesting dance numbers - the story revolves around a rich little girl going on "Vacation" when in reality she is actually lost in the big city. She is befriended by an Italian family and then sort of adopted by a song and dance team trying to break into radio - while lurking in the background is a bad guy trying to snatch her from her new friends. If you sit back and just watch this little dynamo work you can see why she was the biggest money maker 20th Century had and the biggest star for three years running - 1936, 37, 38. I have a bunch of her films scattered about my Netflix queue over the next year or so - should be some interesting viewing.

I am often accused of watching nothing new - and granted I do enjoy films from the past - so I a watched a couple of interesting modern films from this century - amazing!!! The next two films where recommended by Netflix as titles I might be interested in - I put them in the queue and gave them a try.....
First up is an adult film that I really enjoyed - "Irina Palm" - 2007 - starring Marianne Faithful and Miki Manolovic. The story revolves around a widowed grandmother who has a very sick grandson. The family is basically spent from taking care of this ill child. They are offered a spot for treatment, but they have to get to New Zealand - and for that they will need a large chunk of cash. So, Maggie, played by Faithful try's legitimate ways of getting some funds but is shot down at every turn and eventually ends up getting a job at Sexy World and becomes Irina Palm, the best right hand in London. Here is the Trailer -



I think that about says it all. What I like the most about this film is the determination of Maggie to do what has to be done to help her family.

The last film is a claymation piece called "Mary and Max" - 2009 - starring the voices of Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Humphries. This is a wonderful film and I was very surprised at how much I liked watching it. Here is the trailer -



If you rent the DVD check out the special features section. There is another claymation film from this director - called "Harvie Krumpet" - 2003 - this film won the Best Animation Oscar in 2004 and is another fun claymation film.

I wanted to mention a new Blog Started by Ann called Beadlework - she is a really sweet person and does some great things!! Go check it out and say Hello!!


There you go sports fans - have a great weekend!!

Take care,
edgar