I Remember Mama

What a sweet, lovely movie. I will have to Google this, as I bet is is autobiographcial of the daugther who narrated and said in the movie she wanted to be a writer. Reminds me of Jo in Little Women.

The movie was made in 1948 but is period set in San Francisco in the 1910-1920 period (I think). There are horses but a few cars. :-)

It is the story of Norweigan immigrants. Wonderful family. Hard working and NOT perfect. I loved the Uncle Chris character.

Oh, and Barbara Bel Geddes played the narrating dd Catherine... I kept seeing shades of the later Miss Ellie of Dallas fame!

Hope you enjoy!I Remember Mama

I'll Be Seeing You

Good Old Fashioned WWII GI meets girl movie.
Shirley Temple has a role as a sidekick teenager and is delightful! The film stars Ginger Rogers and Joesph Cotten.. lot of fun and rated G!

Food Meme

Donna tagged me and I tag everyone who reads this!

Food Meme Instructions:

Take the name of your blog and associate a food you love with each letter. My blog has a longish name, so I will use my name:

CINDY

C- Coffee (of course)

I- Ice (really- I love crushed ice and don't often get it with my drinks so it is a real treat)

N- Natural food- I love veggies, fruit, herbs, home-grown tomatos and plain, fresh food.

D- Dairy- Nuthin' like a good cold vanilla yougurt after a workout (with another cup of coffee)

Y- Yellow Corn. All I could think of besides yogurt, but I do love it! Fresh off the grill and on the cob!

Can't wait to see your food lists!

Life Lessons.... ;)

Old Man and the Sea

Lovely rendition of a classic, read by Donald Sutherland. I just finished and am passing it on to my boys. I also see (great timing) that Bravewriter is having a short dicussion class on it. Nice seqway into literary analysis, something my boys are not that big on, but great seed-sowing for the future. I could see either or both of them in some kind of English-related major in college one day and you just know they will run into Hemmigway.

You know English majors, the ones who end up driving cabs? lol

I really loved it, well except when he was gutting the fishes. But, it is simply written, but the images are just sticking with me. And the humility of the old man, not caring what others think about him but how much thought he does put into to nature, his place, others and his strong morals, though he is not a 'religious' man. Very beautiful. And not depressing, which sometimes American classics can be.



Anyway, this is very nice CD. Hope you can enjoy it, too.

The Old Man and the Sea

Here is the review from Amazon:

The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal -- a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novella confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for literature.

Bark Park Distractions

I have recently begun playing tennis with my friend and neighbor.

The nice thing is we are about the same level so we are progressing together and have had some great games.

But...
our neighborhood association recently put in a Bark Park.

This is place where dogs can run free and people can, too, and play and romp.

Right next to our tennis courts.

So, as I throw my neon green tennis ball into the sky blue to serve, and turn my head slightly to my right, antipating my racquet's immement forceful downthrust... I see..

Terriers-- dachshunds-- retreivers--- running, jumping, wrestling.. -----

chasing ball
tails upright
wagging wagging wagging

They are so cute! I have Puppy Mania.. I wish I was with them, could go to the fence to talk to them, to smell their dog breath, rub a belly and throw a ball..

.. and then I fault my serve.

I Find Myself Talking Myself Into NANOWRIMO...

... as tell others about it.

Here is an email I wrote to a friend when she asked for more info..



Picture it.

You have one month to write a novel.

The novel you have always dreamed you would write.

Who you?! You don't have time! You have kids! You have a job! (homeschooling- and maybe more... )

You have a family!

But.. who is writing novels during the month of November at NANOWIMO?
All sorts of people.. moms, students, full time employeres and homeschool moms!['

What do they do?

They write 50, 000 words in one month. You start on Nov 1. You end precisely on Nov 30. Unless you finish early. No extensions because of Thanksgiving, you have to factor that in. Tough, yes.

Hey, you probaly say 50,000 words in one day!

You can plan your plot, characters, backdrop, history etc, before. But you cant' write a word of Chapter One until November 1, 2007.

50,000 words is about the length of The Great Gatsy. But it doesn't have to be the quality. :) Well in my case it was.. picture Jay Gatsby in Stillwater, Oklahoma.. just kidding.. :)

Ok, here is my experience:

I wrote a 'novel'. gosh, it is a mess, but it all came out. Kind of like a hummm... a birth of all the things I had inside? I just started, with little planning, knowing no one would read it. When I knew that, it came out on paper. and it was so fun, and also hard, just a wondeful experience. I had my daily quota of words and had to work hard to keep it up, ran the story lines by my boys, asked about characters.... it really is true that characters take on a life of their own, but so many came from my past. My muse was loud C&W music, Joe Ely specifically. I also had lots of spirtuality in my novel and many who converted... (maybe I should try and get it published?)

And Thanksgiving.. that is right near the NANOWRIMO deadline... that was hard. We went to my parents, and I knew I should be home writing.. so I bumped up my quota before I left.. and I made it!

To actually do this, w at you do is log in to the site and you upload your word files and they have a word count that tells you if you made the word quota.

Many nanowrimo actually publish books, most don't. The whole point is to release the inner author and support each other in the journey...
Here is one NANOWRIMO friend (homeschool mom) I met who published her novel:
http://www.amazon.com/Eldala-Michelle-Gregory/dp/0615148182/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4221941-1610802?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190388869&sr=1-1
let me know if I can help more-- I think I will try it this year!
click here for the site

Journalling

This has been an interesting week as I have been immersed in writing up credits for the first two years of Stephen's high school.

I am so glad I wrote down what I did.

I wish I could have captured more. Not for credit sake, but just for the memories.

It was been so neat to think back on the livng we have done, and the thinking the boys have done. Many converstations I had forgotton that really have shaped who they are. Sometimes they will come up with some thought or knowledge or skill and I will wonder (as I am sure all moms have)--- Where did they learn this?

It is fun to see at least part of whence it came. (Oh... Victorian English, can you tell I have been reading Sherlock Holmes?)

Then, to develop a 'credit' in the stilted fashion the world, or part of it likes to see, is really facinating.

I am thinking about beginning a Beautiful Journal. Some lovely sketchbook or something where I can write down life, that will become credits, too-- but also have life. And beauty. I have taken to coloring my Franklin Covey planner with my watercolor pencils. I love it. So relaxing, so creative, so life-full. The computer is so-- well-- digital. lol

But, it is fast. I know I would never have gotton down so much if not for the speed typing I do. Also it was so nice to cut and paste to arrange things.

Something to think about. But, I had a friend who once said she would never journal, it seemed a waste of time. I am not consistant at it, but it is not by many means a waste of time. For me, it cements life, gives it depth and lets me see my past, that so often has a tendency to flit away in the current busy moment.

I Am David

A beautifully filmed powerful movie- loved it.

I Am David website

Oh, and one of my favorite actors played a central role.. Jim Cavezal!

Car Talk Fun

This is a fun cd..... you have to listen to understand why they are funny!
Some have had some problem themes in the past, but this one is G.. (well a couple of d or h words, so I guess PG)

Lots of fun!

Car Talk- Four Perfectly Good Hours

Are Video Games One of the Bad Guys?

Here is my son's essay for the Bravewriter Essay course, with his take on the question... :)


The Game Guide/Essay

New Puppy Adventures

Anyone who ever had a new puppy can relate....

Pokey

Meet Pokey.. my first attempt at felting. More on Pokey at:
my artsy site...

I finished Pokey and Bryan says.. "So, is that going on your blog?" He knows me well... lol

Update on recipe in previous post....

Ok, I thought it looked healthy b/c of the oatmeal... YIKES, not! Look at all the sugar!
So VERY unhealthy, but good!

Bryan said it is like the unhealthy version of a favorite of ours, South Beach Diet Chocolate Crisp Bars... he is right!

I'll stick to the SBD bars... :-)

Trying this new recipe today..

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
3 cups dry oatmeal (I have used both quick-cooking or old-fashioned)
Cream the shortening, butter and sugars. Stir in the eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter. Stir in remaining ingredients. Put in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Frost with chocolate frosting.
Chocolate Frosting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 2/3 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons milk
2/3 cup chocolate chips
Boil the sugar, butter and milk for 30 seconds. Stir in the chocolate chips until smooth. Pour the frosting over the oatmeal bars and allow to cool before cutting.

Will report the outcome later!

You Know What this Reminds me of?

I still have my headphones on full blast.

ATM, Randy Travis is singing about his love. Deeper than the Hollar. Stronger the River. Ah.

This reminds me of my young days.

When I used to sit with friends. And maybe have a beer or three. And listen to music. And relax.

I realized we never do that anymore. I never just 'listen' to music. Remember albums?

Wow.. if you want to write a lot of posts- jsut say you won't!

All my men are still asleep. I guess I need IM.. I am social tongiht.

Bills are still here.

Under my keyboard.

Checking statment.

Amex bill

Go away!

lol!

Ok, there is just *something* about Glen Campbell.

I May be gone for a while..

I am thinking I have to cut back somewhere, and it may be blogging and online for a bit.
I find that right now I have a lot going on and a lot of it is taking me to the computer... so I need to trim a bit, so I think it will be blogging and some lists.

So if you don't see me, that is where I am. I am still checking personal email.

Or who knows I may just try and get up earlier so I can keep up! :)

But, we are good busy--- doing the editing of the October newsletter and we have some ideas for articles (like how to hurricane proof your house if you live in a pine forest..), and security issues (bad guys are stealing mail out of our residential mailboxes..) So I hope to research some info on this and get with my Junior Editors to see if we can get some articles written.

Also, lots of dogsitting, computer work because we keep up a detailed blog for the owners of the Cocker Spaniels, which they enjoy as do we.

Also have bill paying to do, and my fitness correspondence with my long distance friend. I am on my second month of our fitness program which takes me to the gym most every day. So THAT is where my time is going!

Plus Lighthouse just got a new order entry system.. us reps are cheering really loud! And need to follow up on my customers after the slow summer months.
Want to be a Lighthouse Catholic Media rep? We have a cool order entry system now! We had our weekly conference call and we pray at the beginning and end. I asked my salesman husband if he EVER had a sales call where they pray to St. Joseph? lol- nope. Lighthouse is awesome!

And we are having a lot of contractors' quotes and work done and also maybe taking a vacation (first in 4 years...) so *someone* has to research that. Oh, yes.. that is me. :-)

Ok, so that is it from here. As far as homeschooling/unschooling, I am feeling pretty happy and content, so will let go of that support community (you all!) for a while.. but I will be back!

Oh, and I am supposed to be writing those pesky high school credits I talked about on UC. I am only a year and a half behind.. lol! Maybe I will blow it off!

Love to all--

Doggie Times

Ok, what to post about? This has been such doggie times for us I have to put up a few pictures. We are watching these two lovely Cocker Spaniels for 10 days. Abbey a 6 year old sweetie and Jordan who is 14 and so sweet. I told my family I want to be like Jordan when I am old. He can barely see and hear but is so sweet and kind and patient. That is a good goal!

Ok, following are some things overheard in the Kelly house the past week and then some random pictures. If you don't care much about dogs, you can skip this! But this is our house as of late.

All I need now are pictures of all the contractors giving quotes, doing work etc. lol

Do you think the Eastwoods would mind if we kept Abbey and Jordan?

Jordan, you are such a good boy.

Boomer, you are such a pig!

We need to get Jordan to teach Ralphie some manners.

Abbey is the most agreeable dog I have ever known.

Want to go Potty? Potty??

Come on, Jordan! Over here, Jordan! Come on Jordan!

(while waving arm in a semi circle to direct)

Come on doggies! Follow me!

(A trail fof 4 dogs ensues...)

Are you hungry? Come on, you can eat! Are you hungry?

(to Abbey and Jordan)

You are such pigs!

(to Boomer and Ralph)

Abbey, get the squirrel!!

Where is Jordan's bed?

(we move it to the room he wants to be in)

What is Abbey chewing? Oh Abbey!

Yes, there is enough room for Abbey on the couch.. come on up!

Abbey! Time for bed!

Who wants some puppy love?

(while sitting on the floor and soon am enveloped with 4 sweet canines)

Ralph!! Quit barking!!!

Where's Jordan? Oh in here. He is looking for us. We should train
Ralhpie to be his seeing and hearing eye-dog!

Prayer for Beginngers- Peter Kreeft

This is a simply beautiful book , but as usual Dr. Kreeft gets right to the center of the heart of things, in a wonderful poignant way. It reminds me of all the things I already knew but never remember to do, and gave me some new insights. What I took away--? Prayer: Just do it! And then of course the beauty of being in God's presence.

Highly recommended as one of my all time favorite books.

The Wright Stuff

We all loved this American Experience documentary about the Wright Brothers.
For my son who is not into dusty history or long intricate books, we are finding well done biographies fit the bill perfectly.

From the Netflix site:

This compelling documentary chronicles how the eccentric Wright brothers -- two seemingly ordinary young men who ran a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio -- became self-taught aeronautical engineers and overcame the skepticism of the world to build the first successful flying machine. Garrison Keillor narrates and David McCullough hosts this program that originally aired as an episode of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series "The American Experience.