Wrapping up the Week

GR&DF - TGiF (Remember that Movie??) I just can not wait for this week to end and have a couple of me days! Most weeks just run on into the next and the seasons turn.... but..... I was and am ready for this weekend to start.

Don't forget that today is the last day to throw in for the JCS Drawing/Giveaway. I will toss all the names into the "Bowl of Destiny"... have the Chihuahua's dance around a bit and then have Rico draw the winning name - you know the usual shtick - then on Monday announce the winner. The post to comment on is HERE. This issue has this sampler chart in it....

This is my version/conversion on meadowlark by BOAF - I really enjoyed stitching this piece.


Last night the flickers were two of the "Histo-tainment" variety. First up would be "Warrior Queen" - 2003 - starring Alex Kingston, Emily Blunt and Gary Lewis. This version of the Boudica story was entertaining first and foremost - and historically correct secondly - as a TV movie should be. They got the basic story right and then embroidered upon that. In a nutshell - Boudica was the Heroic Celtic Queen of the Iceni and fought against Roman occupation of her lands in east Anglia. The second film was "Follow the River" - 1995 - starring Sheryl Lee, Ellen Burstyn and Eric Schweig. I enjoyed this film also but have come to find that the story is from a book and that this movie version is not very accurate. I have not read the book, but will find a copy and read it for myself. Until then I thought the movie was really pretty good. The story is set in 1750 in a small settlement in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The settlement is raided by the Shawnee settlers are killed and captives taken. They are then marched for many days back to lower Ohio as slaves/captives. FtR is the story of one of these captives and her determination not to give up and to get back home. Both of these movies are short at about 90 mins each so everything moves along quite briskly without much to bog them down.

Here are some final Mural shots from Clarion Alley -



There you go sports fans - Thanks for stopping by and for your very kind comments!!

Take care,
edgar

Mid-Week Marketing, Murals and some Movies

GR&DF yesterday was the Wednesday Farmers Market in the United Nations Plaza and I was there. Although it is winter and produce is low there were still quite a few people out. I of course had my camera and took a few snaps.

There were these lovely celadon green cabbages....


and this display of lettuce/greens....


and I do not think I have ever shown this 1984 gift from the people of Venezuela - a statue of Simon Bolivar. A hero in Latin America.

Nanknit asked for a translation on the French sampler. My French is so very poor I ended up throwing it through the translator - BabelFish - "Each Tree has its way to Accommodate Spring." Probably not the best translation.
The murals are all done by local artists - it is "The Clarion Alley Mural Project" or CAMP as it is known is an ongoing artist endeavour. Here is an older article about CAMP. It would seem that today CAMP is a loose knit group, here is another voice about CAMP.
A couple more snaps.....



Last night the flickers were the first part of the month long series on TCM called - Shadows of Russia - showing how the vision of Russia changed from the 1930's through the 1950's. Last night the first two flicks were dealing with Russian History..... "The Scarlet Empress" - 1934 - starring Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge and Sam Jaffe. The film is over the top visually and has very little to do with actual Russian History - the exceptions where.... there was a Princess Sophia from a provincial German court - she did marry Empress Eliazabeth Patrovna's Nephew Grand Duke Paul and she did lead a coup and become Empress Catherine II, The Great. From those bare bones of historical fact the fantastical movie sprang - it is fun to watch but not believe!! The second film "Rasputin and the Empress" - 1932 - starring the three Barrymore's, Lionel, Ethel and John. Once again Hollywood takes some historical facts and makes a not very accurate movie - but seeing the Barrymore's interact on screen was wonderful. The films a fun to watch not for the historical value but for the visual impact in the first and the acting in the second.

Don't forget to sign up for the JCS Drawing - comment on this POST. It will close tomorrow afternoon - with the winner being announced on Monday 1/11.

There you go sports fans. Thanks for stopping by and for the great comments!!

Take care,
edgar

Commenting on Comments and Mural Snaps

GR&DF thank you once again for your very kind encouragement and well wishes!!!

Last night was a bust for stitching and flickers as I wasn't up for either and just passed into coma land with a hound in the stitching chair - not a pretty sight!!! After I snored myself awake at about 9:45pm I clicked off the the downstairs and shuffled on off to bed. I hope I am not getting sick or something.

I wanted to respond to some comments and answer some questions.......

Beth asked about my opening - GR&DF - for me it stands for - Gentle Readers and Dear Friends - I just like that way that sounds and the feeling of camaraderie I have for you my group of stitching buds.

Berit asked about SABLE - Stash Above and Beyond Life Expectancy - I reached that a good long while ago - so I figure why should I hang on to charts that I have finished that I will not use again - I should just pass them on...... keep watching for more things.

Colleen asked about my having a Give Away so soon - just passing along and sharing with others - there will be more.....

Sherry aka Celtic Dreamweaver mentioned a sampler I did about a year ago. The chart comes from an OOP French Magazine I had no way of getting and Julianne very generously loaned me her copy. Here is a snap of my finished piece - I remember I did change up the floss - it was charted for DMC and I changed it to GAST and WDW over dyed.


Patti mentioned wishing she had joined in on the Quaker AEoL RR. I do love doing RR's and group stitching projects. They are easy to organize and there will be others as this RR winds up at the beginning of June.

Maggie finished seeing the Thin Man Series - they are super movies - I really enjoy the teaming of William Powell and Myrna Loy - they play so well together!!! I highly recommend themas a group or individually.

Another film mentioned was "Pacific Heights" - 1990 - by Glenna - I have never seen this movie but will throw it on my queue to watch.

Here are a couple more mural shots....

How cool are those trees...




Don't forget about the drawing for the JCS Magazine. Leave a comment on this post and remember to let me know that the comment is an entry - thanks!

There you go sports fans. Thank you for stopping by and for your great comments!!

Take care,
edgar

A Little Stitching, a Couple of Flicks more Murals and a Drawing

GR&DF what nice comments about everything!!! Yes, the home is pretty incredible - and the history that surrounds it..... first built as a single family home, in the 30's it was broken into a warren of apartments and stayed that way for decades - then brought back to a single home - while always retaining many of the original bits. Nanaknit asked if it was one of the famous Painted Ladies that are on Alamo Square - it is not one of them, but sits a block or so down from them and predates them by about 10 years.

I have been stitching along on AlphaBlocks and AEoL RR - up first would be my finished section on the RR -


This is Margaret's and it is really coming along beautifully - The floss that she chose is a gorgeous red over dyed by Threadworx. Ready for the mail next week.

Here is a snap of the small progress on the Alphblocks -

As you can see I have finished most of the rose bud things and most of the black blocks on the fourth line - not too exciting, but necessary. Even though I am still really liking this piece I am looking ahead to the Sheepish Designs sampler start........ How crazy is that!! I need to get a grip - as I still have to do the fill on the open blocks here. I guess that's what keeps us stitching away - the next project!

There have been many flicks over the Holidays - I did want to mention a few. First up would have to be "Evelyn Prentice" - 1934 - starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. A top rate film with the stars not play Nic and Nora Charles. The plot revolves around neglected rich wife and a murder. Everything about the film is good, costumes, photography, acting, dialogue. If you like William and Myrna (and who doesn't) then this is a film you should enjoy. Second up would be "Love Nest" - 1951 - starring June Haver, William Lundigan and a small part played by Marilyn Monroe. A cute if predictable film - returning Army Vet finds his wife has bought a dilapidated Apartment Building - and then an old Army buddy - Marilyn Monroe - moves in. The third film is "Strangers When we Meet" - 1960 - starring Kirk Douglas, Kim Novak, Ernie Kovacs, Barbara Rush and Walter Matthau. Infidelity in the suburbs - or sacrificing everything for love. An interesting film with some pretty good acting. I think one of the best things about this film are the cars that are shown - not as any plot vehicle but just in the outside scenes - really spectacular!! A little sappy a times but I kind of enjoyed this film.

Here are a couple more Clarion Street mural shots -



I was thinking over the Holiday that I have way too many things to stitch - in fact I probably have double SABLE - and why am I hanging on to charts and things I have already stitched???? With that in mind I also thought there may be some out there that missed the JCS Issue with the TiTD Sampler Chart. I thought it might be nice to have a small drawing for the JCS Magazine. -

This is a snap of my finished sampler in its old frame and the JCS Issue - so if you would like this copy of JCS to make your own TiTD Sampler - just leave a comment on this post before this Friday 1/8. I will have Rico draw a name over the weekend and announce the winner on Monday. Be sure to say in your comment you want to be entered in the drawing so I know not to leave you out. Good Luck!!

There you go sports fans! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments!!!

Take Care,
edgar

The Kindness of Strangers and a Couple of Christmas Snaperoos

GR&DF you stitching folks out there are just beyond generous!!! I was overwhelmed by the kind emails and comments about my psycho obsession about the "Alpha" charts. I went from having nada to many offers of loans and gifts. You're the best and you know it!!!!!! I think I have worked it all out now and so very soon you will see me stitching that sucker up!

I was going to do a giveaway today but it will have to wait until tomorrow as I couldn't find what I was looking for - oh well - my dis-organization in action again!!

Over the long weekend - and no computer - we did some fun things. Don't get me wrong the computer was working it is just that I sit in front of one all week and so I tend to avoid them like the plague on my days off.

New Years Eve was a very low key - got to bed by 10:30 pm then get rocked out of a dead sleep by the huge firework explosions at midnight. Oh well - I am just getting to old to get out in all that mess. I heard there was a 1/4 million folks in the city that night so it was just as well that I stayed in - crowds like that and me are a no go!! On Friday we attended an annual New Years Day afternoon get together. Friends of ours bought a "new" home this year and it was so nice to see not only their "new" house but the Christmas stuff left up. Here is how the front looks as you walk up....

The house is just off of Alamo square ( a huge tourist destination in SF) so there are lots of people from out of town and locals walking about. I was amazed at how many stopped and gave the tree and house a look. Talk about living in a fish bowl. Here is a snap of the tree from the inside....


Even though the tree is a bit dry after being up for so long it was till beautiful - at about 12 1/2 feet it really filled out the window bay quite well.

Saturday there were no Estate or Garage sales - so we hit a bunch of the thrift and second hand stores. I picked up a few books but nothing exciting. We did stop down at Community Thrift on Valencia. Near the shop there is a street called Clarion that is known for the some really outrageous and beautiful murals that are painted on every wall up and down the street. Of course I took some snaps and thought I would share them with you this week.
Here are a couple for today -


and here is one on the end by the street sign -

There are many murals all over the city and you can even take a Mural tour - but I think that Clarion Street is one of the few completely covered streets.

That about wraps it up for today. Thank you for stopping by do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

Last Post of the Year

GR&DF here we are at the end of the year with 2010 looming blank before us......

I got a chuckle out of the comments yesterday... the controversy that is Krispy Kreme (loverley pillows of heavenly deliciousness) or Dunkin Donuts (not as loverley or delicious) - IMO - I have only have DD a couple of times and they were sadly wanting and the coffee was less than spectacular - were as KK Koffee - pure nectar - well maybe not nectar - Stumptown Coffee wins that award - shear black velvet liquid loveliness!!!! I guess it is what you are raised with and what you know and like - each to his or her own!! :) I do love me a good donut - but I much prefer a good bialy or onion bagel and schemer any day over a donut. In fact as I sit here and type away my little thoughts I am crunching away on an everything bagel with cream cheese and a'washing it down with a cup of not so great coffee.

Oh well - I should probably wrap up my Christmas posts......

I will end it with some of the presents I received ....... I usually don't buy any cd's for myself as I have wide and varied tastes that would keep me broke - and this stitching thing does that fast enough - Rico got me a couple of super cd's - Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas Album" which is just wonderful!!! He also got me the "I Dreamed a Dream" album form Susan Boyle - such a personal album and such great songs she chose. We can only hope for a Christmas album next year!! Here is a snap of some of my other gifts...

For me the movie fan - my mom got me the 70th anniversary GWTW set - woo hoo!!! From a dear friend the Claudette Colbert Collection. Rico also got me the newest Harry Potter - yes, I am a nut about those silly books!! - and I really enjoy the flicks made from them. From Dale came the ECU sweat shirt and t-shirt and the cool Jack Skelington bobble head - I also got some major bucks for stitching stash - which I was spending in my head as I was fondling the bills - now how sick is that!!!! I will leave off the Christmas snaps with one last snap taken Sunday evening - after we watched "The Wizard of Oz" - 1939 - and before I sent her to bed I got a nice picture of Katie in her new monkey PJ's...


Now for some stitching - For a Christmas present I made a sampler for my DS and BIL - and here is a snap....

The design is from Primitive Needle - I think I used the recommended colours mostly but the linen I do not remember - the frame came from an estate sale - I sanded it down a bit and then sealed it with a clear shiny finish. I changed up the letters a bit by picking out the first letter of each family member. This is a great stitch and I can totally see my self making another one. I also worked a bit on my CHS Alphablocks - here it is as of last night....

As you can see I am still wussing out about the fill - I know I will fill the boxes as it looks a bit undone to my eye. I personalized the J block - it represents the three of us - Me - the oldest as the big boy, my brother the middle and my sister jumping. I got the idea from the change that Terri made on hers.

Here is a request........ I have become obsessed with finding an OOP chart or I should say charts - they are by Sheepish Designs - the three Alpha charts - Alpha Birds, Alpha Menagerie and Alpha Sheep. I saw a finished sampler with all three together a few months back and have been on a search since then...... no luck - they never seem to come up on eBay as a group or in any stash sale. I found one part recently but it is really pricey for a single piece. If anyone knows where I could pick these up, trade for them something I might have or if there is a set that is not being used that I could borrow..... I would be forever grateful - and I would be super careful - just email me - thanks. It is odd that I will obsess on something, I usually don't, but for some reason I have lost it over this darn set and it is driving me crazy that I can't find these anywhere.

I think that's about all for today - Thanks for stopping by!! I will be out tomorrow but back up posting next Monday - January 4th, 2010 - and I think I need to start of the year with a give away........ Until then dear ones - have a great New Year!!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Christmas Traditions.....

GR&DF thank you so much for the warm welcome back to the fold!! I so enjoyed all your comments! Ariadne asked about some snaps of the booths - I didn't get any snaps of them as most of them had signs that asked no Photo's be taken - I would guess the reason being infringement on their art products and copying. I always try and follow requests so I skipped taking any closeup shots - and - Barb mentioned how early darkness falls up in the NW. Living here in the Bay area it gets pitch dark at about 5:30pm, in Vancouver that is pushed back about a 1/2 hour. My Mom was totally freezing and was put off by the early darkness - being from Florida, the weather is much less severe and it stays light, even in the winter, much later than the NW.

Now back to the Christmas snaps/report.....

My family has certain things we do and have done for my whole life and even back into the past. Traditions that were a part of my parents and grandparents lives live on today in our Christmas Celebrations, and I think that's what makes the Holidays for us all so much nicer. Even if it is only once a year we do something traditional and familial - we repeat and remember the past.

One of the things that is a newer tradition is Uncle edgar bakes with Niece Katie and Nephew Mat. This has become an annual thing that I look forward to and I think that they both enjoy the kitchen time as usually my sister and I are shooing them out of the way to get on with the heavy duty cooking that this family HHD (High Holy Day) requires. How it works is they each get to pick a cookie recipe to make and we make a batch - not too hard. For the last couple of years they have both picked the same recipes - Katie picks gingerbread cutout cookies (we use her Paternal Grandmothers recipe which is excellent!!) and Mat picks a variation of a Buckeye Cookie.

Here is Katie cutting out the cookies - she picked a snowman, star, bear and gingerbread man cutouts to use. I forgot to get a snap of the finished cookies, trust me they were totally cute and went pretty fast!! I think she enjoys the decorating of the cookies best!

For Mat there has to be chocolate and here is a close up of the dipping of the cookies into chocolate - these are pretty tasty and also went fast. I made a batch of chocolate covered cherries at the request of my BIL so there was something for everyone in the treat department. Another thing we always make is Sausage Pinwheel so I made up a couple......


Biscuit rolled out ready for the sausage.....


Sausage applied ready for rolling......



Rolled up and ready for the fridge and a good rest before slicing and baking!

We also had our traditional Oyster Stew Christmas Eve. If you remember from last year we always make a Birthday Cake for Baby Jesus. We have done this as long as I can remember and have continued it into this next generation. I enjoy this doing the Cake and since it is the birth of Jesus we are celebrating after all and not the maxing out of credit cards a Birthday cake does seem appropriate!! So this year DS requested "the family" Pound cake - the family pound cake is our G-G-Grandmother Lollies Pound Cake.......


I have made so many of the wonderful cakes and every time I start to mix one up I think about how this cake connects me, us and my family back 100+ years to the Georgia countryside and a farm near Decatur, Georgia.

Since this has turned into a food post ..... one day we stopped at -

and got a couple of boxes of these......


Delicious!!!!!!

I think I will leave off with that today.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again!

Take care,
edgar