Tall Tales from Kansas

if you are a James Corden fan

If you have been taking yourself a bit too seriously lately, may I suggest a dose of Peter Rabbit?

Yes, I know it's been out awhile, but we just got around to watching it the other night on demand.  We found it to be pure entertainment.  For entertainments sake. 

We saw the preview for this when we went to see Coco at the theatre.  I have been bugging Chris about it ever since.  He finally gave in.  I can be like a dog with a bone when I get an idea in my head. 

P.S.  If you are a James Corden fan, you will love it.  Don't even get me started on Carpool Karaoke. 

not your traditional Christmas movie but oh it’s good

Overnight a dusting of snow.  Perfect for a Christmas Eve early morning walk.

Then it was home to make a deep dish pumpkin pie with fresh ginger, yams, and heavy cream.

This is my “go to” pumpkin pie recipe.

 Deeply rich and flavorful without being overly spicy.  It also has a smooth creamy texture.  

The crust is not a thing of beauty but it contains the filling perfectly and is not soggy.

I will be ready for a piece while we are watching Seven Brides For Seven Brother’s tonight.  It’s not your traditional Christmas movie but oh it’s good.  

I hope you are cozy and warm tonight.  Wherever you are.  Whomever you are with.  Whatever you are doing.   

afterwards we would have gone out for tamales

If you have one drop of Mexican blood in your body (and even if you don't), run to the theatre to see Coco.  Chris and I went this weekend.  Completely magical.  The storyline revolves around the Mexican tradition “Dia de los Muertos”, and is a great portrayal of how death is a natural part of life.  

It would have been so good to take Angie and all her sisters to see it.  Afterwards we would have gone out for tamales, "Spanish rice", and refried beans.  Watching it made me want to make an alter every year with photos of all my loved ones on it, so they can follow the marigold carpet and cross the border between worlds to visit. 

if you like oddball comedy

On Small Business Saturday, I went to the Lawrence Bizarre Bazaar.  Always a treat.  Wandering through the booths.  Soaking up all the creative vibes.  

Then I came home and had some leftovers.   Ann brought pimento cheese spread for snacking on before the turkey dinner.  In these super cute orange ramekins that sit on that striped little tray.  @#&$@ How cute is that?

Since she left it, I am forced to eat it.  In the special containers.  Such a hardship.  It’s perfect with those black grapes.  Note that my pumpkins remain out.  We are not going to be ready for red and green until next weekend.  

Red hearts surrounding Harvey are allowed though.  I swear there were hearts floating all around him when we were working in the yard today.  He is coming back tomorrow.  I am making spots for him to roll on his back  

Chris and I watched  Mixed Nuts tonight with Steve Martin.  Our first holiday movie of the season.  If you like oddball comedy you will enjoy it.  Liev Schreiber is HILARIOUS and so good in it.  

even though I lived through this and know how it comes out

Sunday I filled a vase with zinnias, some basil, lemon balm, and a marigold. 

Made perhaps the last kale salad of the season.  I used barley as my grain.  Very tasty. 

And started pumpkin number 3.  I know.  Stop the presses.  It was so exciting.  

Then because it was raining, and we were forced to put off any yard work, we went to the movies.  If you haven't seen Sully yet, you might want to go.  Strange how on the edge of my seat I was for the whole movie even though I lived through this and know how it comes out.   I guess that's what good acting and directing will get you.  Chris says "it's big screen worthy for the spectacle, the sound, and larger-than-life experience". 

Lastly, I just ran across this blog that I am adding to my "read regularly" short list.  Thoughtful.  Relevant.  Well written.  Who couldn't use a little more of all those things these days?   

the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad

In the event that this is the last appearance of Daniel Craig as 007, as it is rumored, do yourself the favor of going to see Spectre.  On the BIG screen.  It's a spectacle.  As all James Bond films really should be. 

The good guys are good.  The bad guys are bad.  The supporting cast is perfect.  While I missed Judi Dench, Ralph Fienes makes M his own character and Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are perfect as the modern day Q and Moneypenny.  The chase scenes kept me on the edge of my seat and the soundtrack is spectacular.  I smiled, clapped, and covered my eyes at various times during the film.  What else do you need to know?  Get thee to the theatre and prepare to be entertained.  

conrad and the suzuki strings concert

The Maple Leaf festival in Baldwin City last weekend was everything you might expect from a fall arts and crafts show.  Banners, music, rides, hooked rugs, turkey legs, cotton candy, quilts on display, a beer garden, and beautiful maple trees. 

What I did not expect to see however was this little miss. 

She was part of the Suzuki Strings concert.  Who knew there was such a thing?  Not me.

They alone are a reason to return next year.  That and the pretty trees. And Conrad.

Conrad, the shuttle driver.  Who was probably 80 and seemed to know every single person in town, including a couple of real cute giggly 10 year old girls who made it a point to come over and wave and say "Hi Conrad!" And now I can not for the life of my stop singing "we love you conrad oh yes we do, we don't love anyone as much as you, when you're not with us, we're blue, oh conrad we love you".   If this reference is not familiar to you I recommend highly that you watch Bye Bye Birdie this weekend. 

I still can't stop thinking about it

We selected Foxcatcher as our first movie to see in 2015.    This is the sort of movie that you are glad you saw because it is so well done, but on the other hand is so hard to watch at times that you just want it to hurry up and be over.  The kind of movie that makes you look up stuff when you get home because you can't believe you don't recall when it was happening in real life.  And you have questions.  Questions that need answers. 

I am not going to dig into all the underlying themes.  I am not one for over analysis.  As a whole, let me just say that it's a stunner.  As in, it left me feeling stunned.   Incredible performances by Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo.  As much as I wanted to shake it out of my head as we were leaving the theatre, I still can't stop thinking about it.  Anybody else out there see it?  

a collective 4 thumbs up

With 4 days left in 2014 Chris and I went to see movie # 11 for the year.  If you like Meryl Streep,  fairy tales, and musicals, you are going to love this.

I thought it was clever and entertaining with excellent performances and a fine bit of casting.  I especially liked little red reding hood (Lilla Crawford) and it was an unexpected treat to see Christine Baranski and Tracy Ullman.  

Two thumbs up from both Chris and I.  That's a collective 4 thumbs up.  

St. Vincent

Thank you Loretta!  For telling me to go see St. Vincent.  You were right.  I laughed.  I cried.  I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of watching Bill Murray bring Vincent to life.  Highly recommended.  Very highly. 

Did I mention that Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd and Jaeden Lieberher were all excellent as well?   Nice movie for the holiday season.  Enough said.  

a card carrying member of the frequent movie-goer club

I think calling it "Brilliant" might be a bit of a stretch, but I did enjoy my 8th film of 2014 today.  The Trip to Italy has lovely scenery, an excellent soundtrack, and the food preparation and serving scenes were some of my favorites.  As they drove along the Amalfi Coast I had lots of memories of the trip Mary Ann and I made there in 2008.   I had some of the most enjoyable meals of my life on that trip.  

Several weeks ago I saw my 7th film of 2014.  My Old Lady had lovely scenes of Paris and while I wished the chemistry between Kevin Cline and Kristin Scott Thomas had been better I still liked it.   It's hard not to like a movie with Maggie Smith in it. 

This means I have 4 movies left to see in 2014 to meet my goal of 12 for the year which will be A LOT of movies for me.  I feel like a card carrying member of the frequent movie-goer club.   I already have slotted Pride for movie #9 and Tracks for movie #10.  If you have seen something recently I must get to, do tell.  I will add it to my list. 

six more movies to go

We went to see "The Hundred Foot Journey" last weekend.  On the opening weekend no less!  That might be a first for us.  If you like France, and you like food, and you like Helen Mirren... go and see it.

We spent 2 perfectly lovely hours being entertained while we watched.   It's a "nice" movie (as Angie would say) even if it is predictable.    Sometimes predictable, and sweet, and enjoyable is just the kind of 2 hour escape I need. 

Six more movies to go to make my "one a month for 2014" resolution come to pass.  I think I can, I think I can....

I was completely engrossed in the whole mad cap adventure

If you are ready for 100 minutes of pure enchantment, go see this.

It's a delightful escape from the everyday with rich evocative imagery and clever dialogue.   From the moment we sat down I was completely engrossed in the whole mad cap adventure.   No detail was overlooked in this wonderfully casted Wes Anderson film.  

I will never look at a concierge again without wondering if they are a member of the secret society of crossed keys.

my speed out of the gate thus far has been nothing short of amazing

Just to be sure that I did in fact get to more movies this year than last year... I went ahead and took myself to a show this week.  Alone.  On a weekday.  Don't tell anyone, but I even sneaked a gingerbread latte into the theatre.  Inside my purse.  Without spilling a drop. 

Judi Dench gave a stellar peformance.  But don't take my word for it.  Go see for yourself.  It's the perfect little movie to see at 2 o'clock on a weekday.   

My speed out of the gate thus far in the "2014 Lets Go to the Movies Race" has been nothing short of amazing.  If I do say so myself.  And clearly I just did.  

we gotta get out more

Every single year I tell Chris "we need to go and see more movies in the theatre".
Every year we see maybe 2 movies at the theatre.
We gotta get out more. 

We took steps in the right direction on Sunday when we went to see Saving Mr. Banks.  Neither of us are movie critics but we each gave this picture our enthusiastic two thumbs up rating.  We have been singing "Lets Go Fly a Kite" since we got home.   How can Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson together be anything but brilliant?   Throw Paul Giamatti in there as well and I am a goner. 

Get thee to the theatre.