Lights, Camera - Pass the PopCorn!

A simple movie review: Away We Go
Buoyed by the news that they are expecting their first baby, Burt (John Krasinski - using all his wonderful facial expressions from the "Office") and Verona (Maya Rudolph of SNL fame) embark on a journey to locate the perfect place on the planet to raise their child. But, their quest inevitably yields many unexpected surprises. Sam Mendes directs this quirky comedy while Allison Janney, Catherin O'Hara, Josh Hamilton, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jeff Daniels co-star. So says the synopsis on the Netflix envelope.

The trailer didn't really look that great or interesting, but heck, I figure it was worth a spot on my Netflix list to view on a rainy Saturday night at the movies. It was a very good movie, reminded me of Little Miss Sunshine -- the way it moved through the story, giving you the view of what Burt and Verona are seeing, feeling and dealing with to find home. So, pass the popcorn, and place it on your Netflix list --- A good, basic movie that won't disappoint you!

For You, I Wish Your Freedom

For You, I Wish Your Freedom

by: Tricia LaVoice

Outside your window a river flows freely home, a butterfly waltzes with the breeze.
Blind to this beauty you are frozen tight in a cocoon of indignity unable to see anything but the past.
I walked your halls and felt the words of those who have hurt you. I searched your face for your smile and saw you believing in them. I walked your halls and felt you yelling out for help.
I listened for your laughter and heard your silence.
Outside your window a river is flowing home and a butterfly is waltzing with the breeze.
The water was once frozen, the butterfly once held in a cocoon.
What if the snow cap refused the sun’s love never allowing itself to be set free? What if the caterpillar did not trust to see herself as anything but a caterpillar never allowing herself to become the butterfly she was meant to be?
I know you cannot forget your past but can you see your beauty?
Allow the love to melt away your hurt and set you free?
Allow the trust to release you from your cocoon so you can be who you were always meant to be?
For you, I wish your freedom.

Where Did The Time Go?

They say that the average human being has 10-20 memorable events that take place a day. Combine that over an extended period of time and that is a lot of events!

It's been a fun month with lots of changes (read: Bruce's surgeries, Andrea's surgery and 2 week stay in Bellingham, and Scott's visit - and that's only this month) and memorable events (like backing into Andrea's car jockeying around our tiny parking pad at the top of the driveway from he_ _ , a major printer melt-down and goats that think the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence). But, I'm back from playing Doctor Mom and exploring the mountains with Scooter.

I've filled my wee hours of the morning with creating my journals, cards and tiny photo albums for the upcoming Allied Arts Juried Faire that runs for 30 days. I'm not sure just how many of these crafty treasures I need to create (hoping our Canadian neighbors shop til they drop) --- so I'll just keep cutting and pasting until I run out of supplies. If you could see my studio you'd know that is just crazy talk - I've got tons of supplies just waiting to go somewhere. I've come up with some cool new designs and may have to post a few of my new journals in my Etsy shop. Have I mentioned that a couple of my journals now reside in Ireland? Guess now I can say that I'm an international journal creator. LOL
To be continued.............

So you think you can dance?

How fun is that?
(thanks, Scooter for sharing!)

Amazing!

Now I need to listen to my Yo-Yo MA collection..........

Today

So.......I make journals, I make journals to sell (see Etsy shop below), I've kept journals on road trips and love the written word. I would love to write - small problem - I'm not THAT creative. If I could write the Greatest American Mystery Novel, I'd be a happy, happy person. But, I don't think that's going to happen.

A good friend of mine talked me into taking a Journaling Class with 5 other woman lead by an instructor who knows what she's doing --- helping us start and keep a journal. Just for us, to find ourselves through writing, to explore our thoughts, dreams and ambitions through journaling. What a concept! I love this blog! To be able to write a few snippets here and there, letting my fingers whip around the keyboard, being clever with the words in my vocabulary - but to actually pick up a pen and write in my own handwriting - YIkEs! But, I'm adventurous and willing to dip my pen into journaling - after all I make journals for other people, I should at least journal for myself. At least..........

During our first class I had an epiphany "journals aren't JUST for documenting events and places I've been to or listing things to do --- they can be our alter self or our true self, one that will listen, not judge, be kind and keep me real with a little humor along the journey of writing (hey, journey=journal, I like that). What a concept! And if I don't get it right the first time, I've got hundreds of journals sitting around to grab and give it a go again and again and again.

I'll share a few of the multiple techniques we learn along the way - so maybe you too, will want to talk to yourself and discover (or rediscover) yourself through your own written word. A scary thought, but all it takes is picking up a pen (or pencil if you so choose) and just start.

Stay Tuned!

Life has gotten in the way of my Amusing World --- but, stay tuned, I'll be back!

Seattle Time

We spent the last few days in Seattle. Not for fun - but for a hospital visit for a few days. I could rant and rave about the hospital (they need some organizational skills put in place) but I won't.

Our hotel was only a couple of blocks from the institution with Freeway Park across the street and a wonderful way to walk up the hill to the hospital. The grounds are very well maintained and safe, the daily worker bees sweep the walkways and racked the grass. The landscaping features a variety of towering trees, even a few redwoods here and there. The walkways were designed to wander pass large garden structures, waterfalls and greenery. The peacefulness of the park was just what I needed and amazed me knowing that just under me was a roaring freeway traveling through the Big City of Seattle. Thanks Seattle, I needed that. However, it was heaven arriving home - no traffic jams, less people rushing around, and an oasis just north of this busy, busy city.

Just Trippin'

Playing with boxes, colors and the photos that are in my tiny stash.

Ah - Semi-ah-moo!

What more could I ask for: a perfectly sunny day, a light breeze coming off Boundary Bay at Semi-ah-moo for lunch. The Canadian mountains & the Peach Arch as our backdrop for a walk on the beach. P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

Along the Way

I had fun with these photos for a challenge on the J.S. site.
Love the colors, Love the photos, Loved the day!

Rock Hound

He's just Stone Crazy!

A Walk in the Park

A walk in the park for me, A run in the park for Andrea.

The Fair

Iowa State Fair it's not --- but a fair non the less. This small NW fair had a little bit of everything and we roamed the barns petting the animals, road a few rides and ate your typical fair food. A good day to go to the fair.