For those wondering, the newest Duggar baby is reportedly doing well. Josie Brooklyn, born more than three months premature and weighing less than two pounds, is now seven weeks old.
Tomorrow, January 31, at 8pm Eastern Time, a "Special Duggar Delivery" will air on TLC. Here's a sneak peek, courtesy of TLC:
Also, if you use Tivo or a DVR, you will need to update the name of the show, which will now be called "19 Kids and Counting".
Did you view Masterpiece Theater's "Emma" on PBS last Sunday night? When it was shown last year in England, it garnered less than stellar ratings - leading many to announce that the Age of Jane Austen Movie Adaptations was now over. However, after watching Part 1, I completely disagree with the naysayers. I thought the miniseries was wonderful. Though some may dislike an adaptation which strays a bit from its literary birth, I have yet to discover any part of this newest Emma which would make her creator fume. Any writer who begins a story with "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." is one who keeps her tongue firmly in her cheek. A reason why Jane Austen has never gone out of style is that she was an acerbic wit and much of her novels must be read with a twinkle in one's eye.
Speaking of style, did you experience quite a bit of deja vu viewing while watching "Emma"? I did and the trivia page at IMDB reveals why: I've seen many of the costumes in other favorite movies. One most particular is the lovely gown worn by Emma at the Weston wedding. Formally, it was donned by Edmond's love, Mercedes, near the beginning of "The Count of Monte Cristo". Reusing costumes is, of course, a common practice for period films, but it is still great fun to play the "Where have I seen that dress/coat/bonnet before?" game.
Part 2 of "Emma" (60 minutes) will air this Sunday night and Part 3 (60 minutes) will air on Sunday, February 7. Any missed part can be viewed online until March 9, 2010. Also, a second Twitter Party is on for this Sunday night. Details at PBS.
The PBS website also offers many sweet treats, such as behind-the-scenes videos, an article from the Chawton House Library, a screenwriter Q & A, and much more.
I found a great site yesterday for those of us who need or want new furniture. Knock-off Wood shows, step-by-step and for free, how to build mimics of pieces found in magazines or fancy-shmancy catalogs. Naturally, I have already found at least three plans I'd like to try...or, rather, I'd like my wonderful husband to try.
I think Ana, the woman behind Knock-off Wood, is great for showing the rest of us how to save hundreds or thousands of dollars by building our own furniture, as my husband and I found out when we built our bookcase, craft cubbies, and large window seat. And, of course, another great thing about building your own furniture is that you can build to your own dimensions. This is important when you have limited or odd-sized space.
I hope Knock-off Wood continues; it looks like a very helpful website.
A little thrifting fest this weekend brought this glass bluebird to live on my desktop. It's not actually thrifted; I found it at Big Lots. It's turquoise, though I don't think you can tell in this photo. I'm a bit color blind and most "turquoise" items just look light blue to me. Does anyone else have this problem?
Did you know that Turquoise is the hot color for 2010? I picked up several turquoise pretties at Big Lots, in addition to the bluebird. I decorate with a lot of sunflower yellow, dark blue, and apple green, but I think turquoise will liven things up around here. I don't want to get bored and adding splashes of a new color is cheaper than redecorating.
By the way, in many myths and fairy tales, the bluebird symbolizes happiness. It must be true because I'm very happy with my little bluebird.
Movie buffs might recall that the Bluebird of Happiness was the focus of Shirley Temple's first childhood box office flop. Ironically, the movie also received two Academy Award nominations.
Monday, February 1 - Brigid of Kildare (patron saint of Ireland)
Tuesday, February 2 - Groundhog Day (American folk holiday) & Candlemas (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord)
Wednesday, February 3 - St. Blaise (Armenian bishop & martyr)
Friday, Frebruary 5 - Agatha of Sicily (3rd Century martyr)
Saturday, February 6 - Nagasaki Martyrs (Japanese martyrs)
Monday, February 8 - Josephine Bakhita (African nun)
Wednesday, February 10 - St. Scholastica (twin sister of St. Benedict)
Sunday, February 14 - Valentine's Day
Monday, February 15 - Presidents Day (US holiday for Lincoln & Washington)
Tuesday, February 16 - Fat Tuesday (day before Ash Wednesday)
Wednesday, February 17 - Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent)
Sunday, February 21 - First Sunday of Lent
Tuesday, February 23 - Polycarp of Smyrna (disciple of John the Evangelist)
Sunday, February 28 - Second Sunday of Lent
Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it, and pluck blackberries...
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh - Book VII
I can't say that Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a hero of mine, but long before my own body fell to ruin I admired her ability to learn, live, and grow despite illness and pain. The quotation above, taken from her nine book blank verse novel, is certainly a gem of truth.
Even a common blackberry bush is as full of God as Moses' burning bush. Some recognize this and honor the Lord; others can see nothing beyond a bush of blackberries.
I find it difficult to understand atheists. How can anyone observe the natural world and not acknowledge the Creator? Every living thing around us is born from the breath of God and possesses a touch of His majesty.
The whole world is afire with God. Let us behold His works and stand on holy ground.
H discovered this tree frog on a window in the house yesterday. There was much debate on what to do with the wee jumper. No one had the heart to throw him outside. There are iguanas dropping from trees in our state, you know. S put him on this pineapple plant we had moved inside to avoid the frost. I suspect this guy, or gal, came in when we brought the pineapple plant or the orchid inside.
By the way, we're growing this pineapple plant from the leftover top of a whole pineapple we bought at the grocery store. H's great-aunt & uncle have a pineapple plant grown this way and it's bearing fruit. I think the process is very cool, but it looks weird to see a pineapple when it is growing.
After this photo, our guest burrowed into the leaves and soil. I hope he survives his visit in our house. I always hate to find a dead lizard who snuck inside, became trapped, and died.
As for the humans of the house, we're crossing our frosty fingers that the expected fair weather forcasted starting this Thursday lasts awhile.
The memorial service for H's grandmother was yesterday and I needed some mourning clothes for D, who had nothing appropriate. Thankfully, I managed to pull together a few thrifty pieces we had:
D is probably the only fourteen-year-old who goes to a memorial service and gets a million compliments from the fellow mourners. Those who know her best were completely amazed to spy her in earrings AND a necklace.
In other news, the memorial service was short, respectful, and a good opportunity for those who loved H's grandmother to celebrate her life. All things considered, I think it went as well as possible.
For days...and days...and days, H has had a glass of water outside at night in a desperate quest to see it solidify. Yes, Floridians are silly and a bit odd.
After repeat failure, I told H to move the glass away from the heat of the house and last night he finally obtained his goal.
Naturally, we were all very excited this morning. I mean, really, how often does one see a glass of ice?
And to all Floridians who got sleet, flurries, or snow yesterday: I only hate you a little bit and am sure my envy will fade. Eventually.
7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Enjoy what you have, live well, love your spouse, work hard. Advice so simple, yet so difficult to follow.
After H got home from work yesterday, we went to visit his great-aunt, Titi Pepita. The photo above is from four years ago, when she flew here from Texas. Back then, she was still able to play basketball with my kids. You might remember my mentioning her before. She's 104 this month and as fit as a fiddle, save for her hearing aid. There was a big scare a while back when she caught pneumonia and was very near death. At that time, I asked for your prayers. Y'all must have caught God's ear because she recovered and is as chipper as before. She is always happy and high-spirited. Even yesterday she was jolly, though H's grandmother who recently passed was Titi Pepita's best friend since childhood. Her vitality amazes us all.
Well, Titi Pepita is flying back to Texas tomorrow to see her sickly daughter and I'm sure she'll be detained by some ignorant TSA agent. If Joan Rivers is a danger to security, what will they think of a short, old lady from Puerto Rico who can't speak much English and can't hear? I just hope they don't confiscate her hearing aid as an incendiary device.
Titi Pepita says she'll return later this year and we look forward to seeing her again.
After visiting with Titi Pepita, we happened to drive by a hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint we have passed for ages. It always smells delicious from the road and we say each time we pass that one day we'll have to stop there. Well, yesterday we made a u-turn and seized the day. Let me tell you, the BBQ was as delicious as it smelled. The people inside were so pleasant, too. They even gave the kids free drinks while we waited for our to-go order. It turns out that the place is run by an ex-football player from the Buccaneers (Go, Bucs!). We tried a combo of pork, beef, sausage, BBQ beans, potato salad, fries, and their special sauce. All was so, so good - much better than the chain BBQ place, Sonny's. I was rather sad to let go of the leftovers so that H could take them to work today for lunch. If you find yourself near the Tampa International Airport, stop by Jazzy's BBQ. You will not be sorry.
And that is my "Carpe Diem" story for the week.
I know the rest of the country is colder than we are, but Floridians are just not used to Jack Frost nipping at our toes.
This is my backyard this morning. That's ice you're seeing. My poor son thought it might be snow. We're just not too familiar with the actual season of Winter.
Our many wildflowers (or weeds, as H calls them) are covered in ice crystals and many are dead.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's. We managed to have a good holiday (as you can see from the children's glee shown above) despite illnesses and a death in the family.
If you follow my Twitter, you already know that my husband's last grandparent passed away right before Christmas. This is the same grandmother who gave me so many craft materials over the years, including the plastic canvas S used recently. After her death, all of her crochet yarn and metal hooks were brought to me, as she had requested. I also have many other items she had given to me over the years. I feel honored to have so many of her treasured things about me and I'm happy that she is once again at the side of her beloved husband who passed nine years ago.
Between her death and my brain surgery, I seem to have been slapped with the truth that we are all here for but a moment. It's not that I didn't take death seriously already, it's just that death is brushing too closely by me lately.
The night she passed away, H and I were sorrowful. We had not visited her as much as we should have. But while it's true that we should have made more time for her, I knew that we had always brought her a lot of joy and had worked hard to give her a close relationship with two of her eleven great-grandchildren.
Sometimes your best is not all it should be, just all it could be.
A post like this usually ends with a plea to spend more time with those you love, but I won't tell you that. Until Death comes riding down your street, such platitudes are empty. I will tell you, though, that regrets are many and days are few. Too many die with "I wish.." on their lips, but Carmen died with joy. I hope when my time comes that I do too.
This page is an archive of entries from January 2010 listed from newest to oldest.
December 2009 is the previous archive.
February 2010 is the next archive.
Recent Comments