I have been creating tags and cards...promise, but I have been up and down on the roller coaster pain o' rama so it has been difficult to be up and doing things and then try to sit at the main computer for an hour or more to download the cards and tags. Sounds silly but it takes time and it hurts. Today I am off ...due to pain but I can sit for this hour to put some tags up that I created. I have been inspired by the Funkie Junkie who creates a tag each week and you can either create a tag, card, gift bag or anything using her tag as inspiration. She is quite the artist so I'm glad I found her and am hoping to have 12 tags completed. She also has a store called the Funkie Junkie boutique if you wish to peruse.
I have had some of these done for a while now but here we go.
Week 4
If you head on over the Funkie Junkie for week 4 you will see her tag which I ripped off..er....paid homage to, by having the focus on poinsettias and the colour red. I stamped a basic flower in silver and used white sparkly embossing powder for the background. I took 2 pieces of red and green ribbon and a paper snippet for the bottom and another snippet, I stamped the saying in red and adhered it to the tag. I used my punch for the leaves and I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the poinsettias and placed them on top with pop up dots.
Week 5
I enjoyed creating this card but I realized I don't have any fancy small holly leaves. If you head over to The Funkie Junkie for her original take, please do. I coloured the tag in silver and gold metallic paint. I stamped, embossed and fussy cut the holly leaves as well as the Noel ornament. I literally just ripped a piece of paper and used distress ink pads for an old world colour (like that instead of saying mud) and stamped the sentiment. I glued it all together and added sparkle pearl drops that look more like gobs than drops....oh well.
Week 6
Now, The Funkie Junkie's tag is so pretty and I love her Scandinavian background and total feel of her card. My tag...have pity on me for it looks like I just came from some mental ward. The blue, in the background, I tried using some pearl paint on a metal stencil but it didn't turn out all that well so I did my best to cover it. I added the red ribbon and the leafy punch. I stamped the trees and cut them so it would look like a forest with added silver sparkle that didn't photograph well(That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). I stamped the sentiment and added that final part to the card. Let's move on shall we:)
Week 7
This is 2 weeks ago but I am getting there:) It was a week of blue so I took my blue tag and stamped the deer in white snow glitter and did this same around the tag to make it look like one was looking through a window pane. I added the snowflakes, wrote, in my sad handwriting, "Let it Snow" and finished it with my sad little bow. Head on over to the Funkie Junkie to see her original and beautiful tag.
I am working on last week's tag but not sure when I will finish it. I hope to very soon. I still have to make my advent wreath and am late since first of Advent was yesterday. I do make it from scratch and it hangs from the ceiling with 4 candles on it...very German. I have no children and this tradition, along with the way I decorate the tree, will probably go the way of Jack Frost. My niece is not interested and I would not want to push something on her just for the sake of tradition. Geez, I just went morbid. Anyhoo, have a great week and I am going back to the couch.
I am excited because, way, way back, at the beginning of the year, Wandering Through The Shelves asked for some of us to fill in a few dates with a theme. I suggested Westerns because I love westerns and Voila! My mind has been all in a dither because I could choose some classics like Shane or High Noon. I could go to the man with no name in the Spaghetti Westerns which I love. I could even pick much newer films like the remake of the remake, Magnificent 7. I decided to go with one of my favourite actors ...John Wayne whom I love! There is some negativity & bashing now about this dignified man because of his politics and not going to war in WW2 but let's just set things straight...I do disagree with his stance on HUAC and his conservative leanings but I so respect his unshakable belief in his patriotism. He believed the States were in a crisis in the early 50's and he was not the total A-hole made out in the film "Trumbo". He had an ongoing injury from his football days plus he had the head of the studio stopping him from getting into the action during the war ( without Wayne knowing). Wayne tried more than once to get in but was denied. This man is not a coward. Anyhoo, I went all John Wayne this week and am proud of it. I think because, Wayne reminds me of my Dad and I think my dad and Wayne looked similar (when they were older)
1. RED RIVER-1948
This film, I believe, started to really capture John Wayne as a great actor. He plays a man who, with the help of his sidekick pal and an orphan, build up his land and his cattle. They start out on an epic cattle drive but as time passes, Wayne's character becomes more obsessive and tyrannical to the point where the orphan, now a grown man, mutinies with the other men and leave Wayne behind. Sounds like a dry land Mutiny on the Bounty with Wayne not happy and set for revenge. This is a classic film in so many ways from the hee-hawing at the start of the cattle drive to even the contrived ending... this film is stellar!
2. THE SEARCHERS-1956
I may have spoken about this film before but I don't care because it is so good. Wayne plays Ethan, a veteran from the civil war who reunites with his brother and the brother's family. You can instantly see that Ethan and the brother's wife have an unspoken love which is dealt with great respect. Soon, unfortunately, Ethan's brother and his family are ambushed and killed by Indian warriors except for the little girl and the adopted son who is part Indian. So begins an epic 5 year search for Ethan and the adopted son in tow, for the little girl taken by the tribe ruled by Scar. You get to see how prejudiced Ethan is, making you wonder whether he means to save the girl or kill her. It is John Ford all the way from his stock actors he always used (Ward Bond etc..), the music to the great Monument Valley. This is another true classic.
3. THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE-1962
OK This film stars John Wayne and my favourite actor, James Stewart (who also played in a number of Westerns) as uneasy "friends" in a town who are very fearful of this gang led by a deliciously evil Lee Marvin. Wayne plays the old west where the law meant the gun. James Stewart's character is a lawyer who represents a newer west who wishes to bring peace and order to the town. Vera Miles is the gal both leads are sweet on and she ends up choosing Stewart but you know it was not the right choice (strangely enough). This is one western where I cry when Wayne, realizing he lost the girl, destroys his home. It is actually quite a moving, but sad commentary on the life of the old west. This is why it is best to print the legend.
OK, OK...2 more.... I can't stop!
4. MCLINTOCK-1963
This is a fun, comedic western starring John Wayne and his best partner, the beautiful Maureen O'Hara as once married, now separated, couple. She was living out east with a lot of airs where he stayed out west where he was comfortable. She is one feisty lady who can look beautiful in a feathered hat but can get down and dirty with the men and be their equal. This is a little bit of the Taming of the Shrew and I love how he tames her at the end because it is all sexual chemistry between those 2. Yvonne DeCarlo (Munsters) was down on her luck at this time and Wayne asked her to act in this film and he helped her out and she never forgot.
5. TRUE GRIT-1969
This is the film that I prefer...WAAAY over the remake with Jeff Bridges. I like this actor a lot but disliked his portrayal...felt he was trying too hard. Anyway, This is the film that won Wayne his Oscar...finally (He should have won it for The Searchers). He plays a grizzled, drunken SOB called Rooster Cogburn who is hired by the spunky Mattie to bring her father's killer to justice. Along comes Glen Campbell who also wants Chaney brought to justice but for another crime. The 3 of them start riding out on the trail and come across the Ned Pepper gang. "Fill your hands, you Son of a Bitch". I love that line!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American blogger friends and stay away from the malls on Friday:)
Sorry for not being around, my dear friend from Vancouver came for the weekend and we had a great time together even if it was short. He is now venturing off to Northern Ontario and Montreal to visit family. This weekend my cousin and his wife are coming for a visit so busy, busy! This week are all about the movies that originally came from TV shows (more and more films seem to be based on TV shows since Hollywood has no brain). I could have picked so many but if you want to see more, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves, the brain child of this weekly series, to see what the others have chosen. My 3 are...
1. MUNSTERS, GO HOME-1966
I love The Munsters more than The Addams Family with their zany antics but very loving demeanour. The patriarch, played by the great Fred Gwynne, is Herman who is quite tall with bolts in his neck. The beautiful Yvonne De Carlo plays his vampish wife and, grandpa, son Eddie and their "normal" niece, Marilyn, all live in a great mansion and ride in one cool car! This film follows them to England where Herman has inherited a mansion. Their relatives do not want them anywhere near the castle and try various methods to get rid of them. I love this movie, it's silly but fun and harmless.
2. STAR TREK-1979 TO PRESENT
If someone does not know about this great series and all the movies, then you have been living under a rock:). I mean, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Chekhov and all the sad security men in red shirts are world famous by now. You also have Picard, Data, Riker, Troi, Crusher and her annoying kid plus there is Deep Shit, I mean, Space Nine and Voyager etc... Initially it was a 5 year mission to go where no man has gone before. The original series ended after 3 years but after an animated series in the 70's, the film franchise was born in 1979, directed by Sound of Music director, Robert Wise. The first film is all science fiction with V'Ger, a bald gal and venturing into unknown territory. The 2nd film, a favourite of mine, involves revenge, a great acting tour de force by Ricardo Montalban and Spock's death while the 3rd is about Spock's resurrection(sort of speak) and bad Klingons. The 4th involves time travel and whales whereas the 5th, I think the worst, is about Spock's half brother looking for God. The 6th involves Kirk getting it on with a freaky Iman in a prison, Christopher Plummer as a nutbar, Shakespeare talking Klingon and a peace treaty. After that, Picard and his crew took over before the new actors playing the original characters took over. Which one is your favourite?-Kahn (2nd film) and Picard and the Borg are mine.
3. NAKED GUN-1988
I love Leslie Nielsen and am so happy he is a Canuck who has a Brother in politics and their dad was a Mountie(although he was nasty). Who else could play dead pan Lieut. Frank Devon who bumbles his way from the TV show Police Squad( a great, short-lived show) onto the film screen and never look back. A cop, played by OJ.(yup that OJ), is in the hospital and Frank is going to try to clear that cops name plus save the Queen who is coming for a state visit. Poor Ricardo Montalban plays the bad guy again and Priscilla Presley plays the love interest. The sight gags, the one liners, the dead pan delivery is so funny that I consider this one of the best comedies! I love the 2 sequels as well. It's just so, so funny!
What movies do you think of that came from TV Shows??
I'm Baaack! At first, I was at a mental mind-block with this week's theme, not very hard for me to be in these days, but once I started thinking, which means googled, I realized how many films I actually have seen. Hell, I could have picked 3 films just starring Susan Hayward but I didn't choose any of hers this week. Head on over to Wandering Through the Shelves, to see what the other film goers have chosen. Here are my 3...
1. BIGGER THAN LIFE-1956
I saw this film only 5 years ago and thought it was brilliant! It was written, co-produced and stars James Mason (one of my favourite actors) as a teacher with a debilitating, painful disease affecting the arteries. His loving wife and son only want their husband /dad to be well. The doctor puts him on the new wonder drug, cortisone. At first, he feels a million times better and is happy but then he becomes more in need of this drug and slowly descends into addiction resulting in a psychotic meltdown. It is a brilliant small film that was panned upon its initial release but since then, has received much acclaim. A more true story about the typical American family of the 1950's than many.
2. DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES-1962
This is one of the first films to show the dramatic acting chops of Jack Lemmon who was normally in more comedic roles. he plays a young P.R. exec who marries a beautiful woman and starts life in the big city. He was always a social drinker and introduces his wife to the scene. As we watch his life become better and they have a child, you also see his descent into alcoholism with his wife right behind him. It is a searing look into the descent of this disease and how one finds the way out of it while another doesn't.
3. FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS-1998
Oh this is one f-ed up drug trip to end all drug trips. It has to be seen to be believed and it is directed by that mad cap Monty Pythoner, Terry Gilliam whom I love. It stars Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro as 2 drug addled nuts who drink, snort, shoot up, swallow anything illegal they can get their hands on. When I saw it on the big screen with my ex and a dear friend of mine, the carousel scene made both of them nauseous and they had to close their eyes because they felt drugged-hahahaaa. Johnny Depp's Duke character sees all sorts of nutty things from bats, moray eels to lizards. I consider it an acting tour de force from Depp. This film may not be for everyone but I enjoyed it. By the way, he is playing a character based on the real life Hunter S Thompson who actually lived to be 68! Despite all the drugs and mayhem, it wasn't the drugs that killed him-he took his own life and had his ashes shot out of a cannon.
What films come to you? Have you ever been "naughty"...I hope so:) I have a year I can't quite remember-one of the best years of my life:)...No worries as that was my fun 20's and one hopes to grow out of that stage....
I have to say, I am a dog person even though we have 5 cats and I love them so very much. Actually, I am an animal person but, even when I was a little kid, I loved the wolves and I would go up to any dog without fear. Back in 2009, my hubby and I went to PetSmart to buy some cat food and there was an adoptathon going on for dogs rescued from Louisiana. They were not Katrina dogs but just poor dogs that were ready to be euthanized since there are many kill shelters in the States. We were not expecting to get a dog, famous last words, but then my eyes met Wallace. All the other dogs were barking, wagging their tail and being, well, dogs. Wallace was in his crate way in the back as far as he could get, terrified beyond reason. We were there for 2 hours because I knew this dog was a special case...a nut case to be exact but he came part of our family. I named him Wallace, not after Wallace and Gromit (I love them) but after William Wallace who was a brave Scotsman.
Wallace is not brave, in fact, he is a bona fide chicken shit! He was so scared of people, the outside, everything that he would not eat for the first few days. I actually believe he had never been on a leash and ran wild around Louisiana. He spent months in his crate,security blankie, as we slowly trained him to not do his business in the house, get used to his surroundings and get used to us. My beautiful Katie, My black lab who is in heaven with my dad, really helped Wallace. We tried everything from Rescue Remedy to even an anti anxiety med but to no avail-our Wallace has anxiety issues up the wazoo. We brought him to 3 different behaviourists and tried all they told us....yup, he is still a chicken shit but he is our chicken shit.
I am happy to say that we no longer need him in the crate-that went after a year, he is all happy and goofy in our home and he comes up to most people, although he still is wary of my brother. He still shakes and quakes the moment he realizes he is going for a walk and will try to hide in a corner but that is just him-he is agoraphobic. I can't walk him because of my joint problems since he has literally taken my shoulder out of its joint 3 times, thankfully I can just slip it back in but then I can't do much for a long, long time. When my hubby walks him, he can let him off his leash and, like a bullet, he runs straight home never veering off the sidewalk. I believe he was shot at in his young days because he can't go out when someone is using the roofing gun and I have to mute the TV when there is shooting going on in the program. I just love it when he barks and comes to me when I come home giving me lots of kisses on my chin.
Name-Wallace Age-7 years Nickname-Mein Schatz, Hoover, Ya nut! Loves-Cat food-wouldn't eat his dog food unless we mixed it with some cat food(now he is aok with just dog food), loves apples, nuts, broccoli, yup he is our freak. Jade Toys-His kong-demands it around 9pm every night so gets a treat with some peanut butter. Cat toy, kleenix (disgusting). Can't give him any stuffed toys-eats them
I know...Shocker! The reason there is no Thursday Movie Picks is the topic-Middle Eastern language films. I have seen none..Nadda, nuttin honey, so there is nothing but crickets here. Now enough about my brain since I will still talk about movies, movies I have seen this past week which will explain why my ass is getting larger by the minute so ..on with the show. Oh, and if you want to read what films people have chosen head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see their picks this week.
1. CHINA SEAS-1935
My hubby and I both enjoyed this frolic with Clark Gable as a captain who loves the drink, the seas and women especially Jean Harlow in all her platinum best. I love the beginning since it shows how it looked 80 years ago in China. You have some first class passengers enjoying their trip with one classy dame falling for the Captain and his lover getting jealous. The ship and crew have to deal with a fierce storm, pirates and one shady SOB.
2. THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE-1962
Oh yes..., it's bad, very bad but so bad it's good. My hubby wouldn't watch it as he doesn't understand how I can find schlock fun but I do. Evil scientist races with his fiancee to his cottage and wrecks the car and decapitates his girlfriend by mistake. What's a mad scientist to do but take her severed head back to his lab and keep it alive until he can find a suitable body. What more can I say...
3. CHOCOLAT-2000
I love chocolate and when I see her pouring the hot cocoa I just want to go through the screen and take it away from Judi Dench. Love this movie about a mysterious woman, with her daughter, arriving in a small French town at lent and opening up a Chocolate shop. She helps the town out of their doldrums but not before incurring the wrath of the mayor and some townsfolk as well as bringing passion back...Ooh La La.
4. HIDE AND SEEK-2005
You think I could find a trailer for this flick? So this is all of 3 seconds worth but still something. I caught this on TV and it will be worth a closer look on DVD. Yes, I still rent DVD's and am proud of it:) This stars Robert De Niro as a widower with his wacko freak daughter played by Dakota Fanning who move to the country so he can help her get through the trauma of her mom's suicide. You never are quite sure if you are watching a ghost story or not. I am not bawled over by it but I did like it and found the leads watchable. I won't say more because it is not your average ghost story..if I can say that.
5. GODZILLA-2014
OK, OK I watched this one and the next movie while making some cards but I am still underwhelmed by this flick because most of the time it was so dark I couldn't make out what the hell was going on. I am surprised how many big stars on in this film although 2 biggies die near the beginning and frankly, who cares. Godzilla is running amok but so are 2 freaky looking insects that look mechanical-a male and female and one of them has wings. Those 2 are really mean and Godzilla hates their guts. The army, scientists and everyone else are scrambling to save the planet while these 3 destroy most of the U.S. but don't worry, everyone seems happy that Godzilla lives. Ughhh
6. PRACTICAL MAGIC-1998
This is fun and does not need the brain to work much which is great. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play sisters who are witches but Sandra tries to not believe in this bunk. When her sister is in trouble, she comes to her aid and that's when all hell and toads break loose. It is actually a fun comedy with some bewitching going on and great music.
7. THE SHINING-1980
The scene above is the usual moment when I changed the channel since those girls really freaked me out. On Monday night, I couldn't turn the channel since I saw this film and Freaks at the performance Art Centre on the big screen and it was a treat. This is a classic horror film about an alcoholic, who has not touched a drop for 5 months who takes his family up to this lodge to take care of it during the winter months. While they are there, he wants to write his great novel but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so what's a man to do but slowly go nuts and want to kill his family. he is egged on by the ghosts who rule the place. His young son can see what is going on since he has the shining while his mom has no clue. So much has been written about this film from the sexual innuendos to the comedic elements. A great ghost film
8. FREAKS-1932
I spoke about this film before and it is one of my favourites because, even though it is a horror film, it really shows the "freaks" in a warm light and that they are people. It stars Harry Earles, who was in quite a few films even though he was a little person, as a member of the circus falling for the beautiful trapeze artist, Cleopatra. His Fiancee (played by his real life sister, Daisy) is very sad since she can see the Cleo is just making fun of him. Once Cleo and her dumb ass lover find out the little guy is rich, they decide to do get rid of him but they underestimate the bond of the freaks. We get to meet the other members of this circus and share in some of their lives from the bearded lady giving birth to the Siamese twins's relationships with men. This was done before the hays Code was enforced so living in sin was aok and sexual innuendo was big ("You should have seen me before my operation"). The director, Todd browning, treated these "freaks" with respect and it shows. You meet Prince Randian who, without arms or legs, takes a match out of the box and lights his cigarette and Johnny Eck who has no body after his diaphragm but can walk easily on his hands and must have been incredibly strong.
OK this is very lengthy and I doubt most of you have the chance to view the film promos but I put them in anyway. Next week I will showcase films I have actually seen that correspond to the theme from Thursday Movie Picks:)
The last pussy cat is our newest and youngest...Kaspar...German from Kaspar Hauser. We were in our local Petsmart buying food and my hubby said he was going to look at the cats. Before I could say, "Noooooooo", he was off and the cloud of dust was all that was left. After paying for the food, I went to see what my hubby was up to which was no good. He wanted to get a pussy cat and my head hung low because I knew there was no dissuading him. I saw this quiet tuxedo cat sleeping and not doing much else and showed him to my hubby. He wanted this pussy cat so we paid for this bundle of joy. When we got back, I was not convinced to add yet another to our brood and next morning, my hubby said we would not get him. That morning, at work, all I could see in my mind was that pussy cat with one tear dropping from his cute face so I called my hubby and gave the ok.
We picked up Kaspar who was one sick kitty and we were not happy! We called Petsmart, who are connected to the Humane Society in the Niagara Region, and they told us the pussy cat came from the Fort Erie SPCA. My hubby contacted the Fort Erie SPCA, who found the little dickens on a golf course, telling them the pussy cat had a bad cold and his ears were infected with ear mites! The person he spoke with told us they have students who were to care for the animals but this was unacceptable (No kidding! They should check on the student's work). They gave us funds for the vet and we had to quarantine Kaspar until he was aok which took 3 weeks.
Now, this pussy cat turned out to not be the quiet type by any means, meowing for his pappa, his toys and, if he can get into mischief, he will. He already helped take the wallpaper down in the bedroom which made us revamp the bedroom. He likes to remodel our wood around the doors and if he tries this on the old wood, he will become a violin:) He has fallen in love with my hubby and vice versa so he gets away with murder! The water bottle does come in handy every night since he demands to be played with...often! He can run up and down the halls like Speedy Gonzalez on cocaine and then he konks out for a much needed nap...usually next to hubby. He loves receiving licks from Jade but not the paw bash right after. As my hubby says.."Kaspar, my little disaster. I'm going to send you to Jasper!" He is full of beans (both Jaspar and my hubby) and we love him...our little entertainer.
Name: Kaspar(after Kaspar Hauser) Age: 2 years...the nutty years Nickname: Kaspar the disaster, Cutie Patootie, Snookums, Snidely Whiplash, Hitler (My dear friend nicknamed him this). Loves-birds outside (not allowed to be near them, just watch), be played with, belly rubs, being held (most of the time), redecorating Toys-the string with the feathers at the end-he will jump high up to grab it. Laser, my feet under the blanket, balls of paper-he goes nuts!
