Because I Said So!

Photos from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490084/



I saw the movie Because I Said So and fell for the stars in it. Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls)
and Mandy Moore star in this comedy with Diane Keaton and in a nutshell Diane Keaton puts an ad out to meet suitors for her daughter. It sounds like it could be good but it wasn't at all. The movie has a very simple plot and Diane Keaton is like a hysterical maniac the whole movie (it really grated on my nerves and I was feeling stressed watching it). The guy in it who is one of Mandy's suitor's (photo above) is a cutie but his kid is a menace. So I would not recommend this movie to anyone. It's a waste of time and Lauren Graham plays a psychiatrist and has a small role. So I give it 1 out of 3 stars.

Toodles,

S.

The New Room in all it's glory!

This is what you see when you walk in the room, the right is the seating area and you can see the elliptical machine. Plus that little table on wheels in very handy. I plan to paint that later on a nice white.
This is the office, desk area and I'm not sure the piano will stay here but we had to clear out another room for our market setup. Anywho shelving will go probably on the back wall or right wall when all the crack is filled. We also flip the computer around to watch DVD's on as well and turn our chairs to face it.
This is the entertainment area and this cabinet was an ugly brown colour and I painted it white which was a bigger job than I realized but I like the result.

Our market season is starting the 5th of May so life is very crazy right now as we have so much to get ready for our first week. I could go on an on with the list a mile long but won't bore you with the details. Anywho that is why I haven't been posting a lot lately here or on the Gossip blog.

Well for those who have been following along (aka The Big Water Leak of 2007) we have recovered from the water leak back on January 1st and finished painting the room about 6 weeks ago or so. I was looking for a small area rug for the room and finally found one. The room isn't completely done as we would like to put up shelving near the computer/office area but have to wait until they dig up the walkway in front of the house so they can fill in the crack where the water leaked in.

It was hard to figure out how to organize the room because we wanted it to be an office, entertainment room and exercise room but we managed to get it all in.

Later folks,

:) S. out

Virginia Tech Massacre!

Wearing the colors of Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University students, from left: Katie Lane, Sarah Moody, Casey McHenry, Julia Silva, Courtney Thompson, and Alexandra Bozoghlian, attend a vigil for the Virginia Tech shooting victims Tuesday, April 17, 2007, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, P. Kevin Morley)

Students mourn inside the Virginia Tech football stadium during a memorial service a day after the worst shooting in U.S. history on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. President George W. Bush (2nd L) and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (L) stand with their wives at a memorial in honor of the 32 people killed on Monday by a gunman at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, April 17, 2007. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

My heart is saddened by the news of Cho Seung Hui (a 23 year old senior majoring in English) who shot 33 people execution style at Virginia Tech. I can't imagine what the school, parents, and those nearby must be feeling at this moment.

Today C. talked to a friend who works at a university and he said the mood was somber there as well. You realize how fragile life is and how fast people can go. On the news I saw that one of the professors that was shot had survived the Holocaust. Can you imagine surviving that and then just being killed for no reason by a student. If you are on Yahoo today they keep showing the killer's picture and it makes me sad to even look at it. I keep saying a prayer for the families grieving everytime I see it. Imagine being the parents of this poor boy who killed them all.

I will be curious to see if they can find a motive. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.

Blessings,

S.

Baby Chicks and Accidents Happen!

Chicks in the incubation stage.
Happy chicks having a wee snack.
Several chicks keeping warm.
Chicks looking outside their home for visitors.

I had a lovely Easter week-end and got a chance to see some furry feathered friends along the way. These little creatures were at our local rec center on Saturday and I didn't have long to snap pictues as kids hands were pawing the glass and they were jumping around excitedly. The chicks were keeping warm under the lamps and weren't very old at all. As you can see from the photos they came in a variety of colours too. They were so cute and one chick was sleeping on another's neck even.
So on Monday the big accident happened. Now I should say we had a large Garry Oak tree cut down awhile back (photo of all the wood above). We were on all doing yard work and clearing up stuff. On Tuesday we had someone coming back to take all our stuff to the dump so we had to tidy up and get ready for that. Plus we have relatives coming tomorrow so we wanted our house and the outside of it to look spiffy.
So I get this bright idea to take a picture of our rosemary bush. So I take one shot and think I want to get a wider shot so I step back thinking I have a lot of room. All of the sudden my right leg gets caught on this log
and my left leg goes forward and I sprawl backwards on the log (see above photo) like a jellyfish. The digital camera goes flying out of my hand. I lay there stunned and sore and slowly get up and feel sore all over but I bend over like a rag doll to stretch making sure I can move. C. was under the deck cleaning so didn't know what had happened but wondered what had taken so long. C. is shocked I'm okay and says I could have been paralyzed and then tells me to go sit down and put ice on my back and neck etc. The Lord's angels were working overtime to keep me safe. After a trip to physio I feel much better.
The sad news is our digital camera (HP Photosmart R507) is toast as the lens cracked and won't close. All the chick photos were shot with that one. The rosemary I shot before the fall is gone as I couldn't recover it from the camera.
So we went and bought a Sony DSC-S650 (all the other photos except the chicks were shot with this camera even the Rosemary bush I had to re-shoot). We are trying out the camera to see if we really like it.

I'm out,

S.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Since Easter is just around the corner I thought this was a great video to post. While you are watching this video there might be moments when you wonder about the end result. It really is brilliant and this artist is talented.


To everyone in blogger land, have a blessed Easter with your friends, family or just yourself.

:) S.

Cute Veggie Fruit Art!

Hello All,

The pictures speak for themselves and are clever.















Toodles,

S.

Switchfoot, The Band!

I've always loved this band and have seen them in concert many times at this huge festival called Creationfest that is during the summer. So the other day I was watching this show and they mentioned they were airing Switchfoot's new video so my ears perked up. Honestly I had no idea they had a new album and enjoyed their interview and video. The picture above is taken from their tour WEBSITE and if you want to learn more about the band, check out this LINK.
All their albums are good but I also like and have "Beautiful Letdown." After seeing the new video I really like it, so here it is for your viewing:

Chow for now,

S.

Lovely Lunches & Seeing Nelly Furtado!

Okay so it's been a bit since I posted but life gets a little busy sometimes.




The last two weeks I've had delightful treats. Last week I went to see one of my friends who I sell at the market with. C. and I went up and visited their beautiful home they had built from scratch. It was like so picturesque with nature all around us and we had a scrumptious lunch (okay I didn't take these photos, but you get the idea).



Then I visited with another friend of mine who lives in a Barbie Doll house by the ocean. It was great to chat and have delicious food. Her place was quaint and cozy nestled into green foliage and blooming buds outside her window.

So I got to see Nelly Furtado in person on one of her world tour stops and hear her screaming fans. It was fun but I wished I had my taken my camera with me. I thought about going up to one of the younger girls and asking for their video footage but I refrained. You can read about her hometown stop (where they dedicated a day especially for her) HERE that started off the tour.

Au Revoir mes amis,

(Picture taken by my friend Linda)

:) S.

God's Garden!

Hello,

This story was passed on to me and I thought it was beautiful.

God's Garden:

Why do I always have to be the one that starts to do laundry and there's no detergent? I guess it was time for me to do my "Dollar Store" run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. So off I go.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here." It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"
"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.
"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Hal."
"Hal like Halloween?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny? "
"How old am I now Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.
"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a "Blue Rose" and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God. She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?" Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a "daffodil or maybe even a dandelion," but I sure love living in God's garden.

Pastor Hal Steenson
This real life story took place July 12, 2006.

I wish I could think of something that amazing to say to someone. The impact of Pastor Hal's words really spoke to me and I think in some ways we are all Blue Roses.

S. says Blessings to all :)

You've Got To See This Movie!!!

Photos taken from www.amazinggracemovie.com

Yesterday I saw the movie "Amazing Grace" at a private viewing and it was amazing. It will change your life after watching it and really strengthen your beliefs (whatever they may be). You will be moved, strengthened, renewed, and stretched. I cried at one point and so did the two people with me. The movie is all about William Wilberforce who helped abolish the slave trade that ended in 1883. If you enjoy history at all you will get a lot out of this movie. It will air in theatres on March 23rd and has already aired in the States.

The reason I'm talking about it here is that I want as many people as possible to support this movie and it's message. The acting is superb and I have to say it is the best movie I've seen to date. To see the main trailer as well as many more clips from the movie go to this site: www.amazinggracemovie.com

To learn more about Willam Wilberforce read below (taken from www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wilberforce_william.shtml:

William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833) William Wilberforce © Wilberforce was a deeply religious English member of parliament and social reformer who was very influential in the abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the British empire. William Wilberforce was born on 24 August 1759 in Hull, the son of a wealthy merchant. He studied at Cambridge University where he began a lasting friendship with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. In 1780, Wilberforce became member of parliament for Hull, later representing Yorkshire. His dissolute lifestyle changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian, and in 1784 joined a leading group known as the Clapham Sect. His Christian faith prompted him to become interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain. The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson had an enormous influence on Wilberforce. He and others were campaigning for an end to the trade in which British ships were carrying black slaves from Africa, in terrible conditions, to the West Indies as goods to be bought and sold. Wilberforce was persuaded to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in parliament. The campaign was supported by many members of the Clapham Sect and other abolitionists who raised public awareness of their cause with pamphlets, books, rallies and petitions. In 1807, the slave trade was finally abolished, but this did not free those who were already slaves. It was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British empire. Wilberforce's other efforts to 'renew society' included the organisation of the Society for the Suppression of Vice in 1802. He worked with the reformer, Hannah More, in the Association for the Better Observance of Sunday. Its goal was to provide all children with regular education in reading, personal hygiene and religion. He was closely involved with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also instrumental in encouraging Christian missionaries to go to India. Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on 29 July 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British empire passed through the House of Commons. He was buried near his friend Pitt in Westminster Abbey. Until next time, S.