Epiphany

Epiphany has several meanings. It can mean this day, January 6, when tradition says that the Wise Men found the Christ Child. It can also mean a revelation or the light turning on. I love talking about epiphany and have done so many times before: 2017, 2014, and 2011. (My favorite might be the 2011 one.) 

 In the days leading up to Christmas 2019, I sat in my chair reminding myself that it would all be over soon. And it was. For some of us this is welcome and for others (including me ツ), it always comes as a disappointment. It was a wonderful Christmas. I hope that yours was as well, though I have already read of challenges over the holidays for some dear blogging friends.

My daughter came last Saturday and packed up the ornaments and hauled them all back upstairs. This was a great blessing. She suggested taking down the tree, but I keep the tree up through Epiphany. Now that it has already become a winter tree, I may keep it up for the remainder of the week. I'll pick on the other child for taking it down and packing it up next weekend. He will be happy about that. Sure he will.

Winter Tree

When it was a Christmas Tree

Judy's Nativity


Judy is John's sister. She is in nursing home care. I decorated her room for Christmas. She always most especially wants a Nativity, but she also had a small tree, a wreath, and a gingerbread house. When I went to visit and gather the Christmas things the day after New Year's, I found them covered with Judy's folded clothing. Apparently, the laundry lady felt it was time for Christmas to be over. 

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I have watched the 1994 version of Little Women a number of times this season. It's a wonderful movie for Christmas time. I also went with Laurel to see the 2019 version and liked it; my daughter loved it. I prefer the 1994 version. There is even an Amazon Prime Little Women series and I have been enjoying that as well.

Apparently, every generation has its own Little Women focusing on the agendas of the times. There were two things that particularly annoyed me about the 2019 version, but I'll spare you. My favorite thing about the current version is the 2019 Laurie. But then what's not to like about the 1994 Laurie?  I still prefer Winona Ryder as Jo and Susan Sarandon as Marmee. And I far prefer Mary Wickes as Aunt March. Beth's death scene is far better in the 1994 version. Of course, it was created out of whole cloth, but this story lends itself to changes and/or "improvements." 

I actually reread Little Women as I wondered how many liberties were taken. You can find that here if you'd like. I found some things that surprised me on both counts...things created by the movie directors and producers and things followed very closely by them as well.


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It's time to move into 2020. The good news is that some things never change. There'll be no reworking of the age old truths. Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He'll be the same in 2020 as He was in 2019 and 1920. Very comforting thought...

True Grit

Ever watch it them? I'm not much of a Westerns kind of gal nor a reader of Westerns. Once read a Louis L'Amour book and truly enjoyed it and it scared me so much for having liked it that I never read another. Go ahead, call me a hoity-toity snob. ☺

Over the past two days, John and I watched first the 1969 version with John Wayne, Glen Campbell, and Kim Darby followed by the 2010 version with Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld.

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn

Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn

It has been very interesting to compare and contrast the versions. And to further compare and contrast, one should probably read the book True Grit by Charles Portis. I've read that the second version of the movie is a truer representation of the book, though since I have never read the novel, I couldn't say.

Do you ever get the sense that a movie can tell the story even better than the book? I got that distinct sense from the endings of both movies that veer away from the novel's ending.

Okay, enough of that, I won't spoil it for any who'd like to watch, read, and analyze for themselves.

Just suggesting that if the man of the house is weary of Downton Abbey and girly flicks, he might be open to watching this one or two and you'll have plenty to ponder yourself.

As one who is going to need some true grit this week herself, I'll catch you later.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

~Jean Hersholt and Shirley Temple in Heidi 1937~

Then he went up to the hearth, pushed the big kettle aside, and drew forward the little one that was hanging on the chain, and seating himself on the round-topped, three-legged stool before the fire, blew it up into a clear bright flame. The kettle soon began to boil, and meanwhile the old man held a large piece of cheese on a long iron fork over the fire, turning it round and round till it was toasted a nice golden yellow color on each side. Heidi watched all that was going on with eager curiosity. Suddenly some new idea seemed to come into her head, for she turned and ran to the cupboard, and then began going busily backwards and forwards. Presently the grandfather got up and came to the table with a jug and the cheese, and there he saw it already tidily laid with the round loaf and two plates and two knives each in its right place; for Heidi had taken exact note that morning of all that there was in the cupboard, and she knew which things would be wanted for their meal.

"Ah, that's right," said the grandfather, "I am glad to see that you have some ideas of your own," and as he spoke he laid the toasted cheese on a layer of bread, "but there is still something missing."

Heidi looked at the jug that was steaming away invitingly, and ran quickly back to the cupboard. At first she could only see a small bowl left on the shelf, but she was not long in perplexity, for a moment later she caught sight of two glasses further back, and without an instant's loss of time she returned with these and the bowl and put them down on the table.

"Good, I see you know how to set about things; but what will you do for a seat?" The grandfather himself was sitting on the only chair in the room. Heidi flew to the hearth, and dragging the three-legged stool up to the table, sat herself down upon it.

"Well, you have managed to find a seat for yourself, I see, only rather a low one I am afraid," said the grandfather, "but you would not be tall enough to reach the table even if you sat in my chair; the first thing now, however, is to have something to eat, so come along."

With that he stood up, filled the bowl with milk, and placing it on the chair, pushed it in front of Heidi on her little three- legged stool, so that she now had a table to herself. Then he brought her a large slice of bread and a piece of the golden cheese, and told her to eat. After which he went and sat down on the corner of the table and began his own meal. Heidi lifted the bowl with both hands and drank without pause till it was empty, for the thirst of all her long hot journey had returned upon her. Then she drew a deep breath--in the eagerness of her thirst she had not stopped to breathe--and put down the bowl.

"Was the milk nice?" asked her grandfather.

"I never drank any so good before," answered Heidi.

"Then you must have some more," and the old man filled her bowl again to the brim and set it before the child, who was now hungrily beginning her bread having first spread it with the cheese, which after being toasted was soft as butter; the two together tasted deliciously, and the child looked the picture of content as she sat eating, and at intervals taking further draughts of milk.

~excerpt from Chapter 2 "At Home with Grandfather" Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Some passages of books stay with me. Not verbatim, but the essence of the scene does. I always think of this one when I'm making grilled cheese sandwiches and I wonder how cheese would taste toasted over the fire. It all sounds so very cozy.

Now John and I seldom have differences of opinion or points of contention; however, one of them concerns the making of grilled cheese sandwiches. Seems that I have not been doing it quite up to his standards. Seems he grills all sides of the bread.  I decided to try it his way for my lunch yesterday.

My well seasoned griddle works great for grilling. Yes, the clock says three...a rather late lunch. I thought I could get away with a little bowl of tomato soup at noon, but by afternoon I was famished.

You can't tell from this photo, but both sides of the bread are buttered and the future inside is being grilled while the outside waits.

Oh, I forgot this other difference of opinion: I like American cheese and John prefers sharp, seriously sharp, cheddar.

I was being a good girl by having only half a sandwich, though I didn't skimp on the sharp, seriously sharp, cheddar.

Finished...it only took twice as long...

Hmmmm...he may have a point. The cheddar was delicious and the bread was so nicely grilled on all four sides. Well shoot! I hate learning new things. ☺

Do you like grilled cheese sandwiches? Do they have to be made a special way? What's your favorite cheese?

Sounds as if it would be a good day for grilled cheese in many parts of the country. Stay safe and warm and cozy.

Old Names~Old PBS Shows

My choice for names? Jerusha. I know it's not on the list. I can break the rules, too! Did you ever see Julie Andrews play the part of Jerusha in the movie Hawaii? That's where I first heard the name. I thought the first part of that movie was so romantic.

~Julie Andrews in Hawaii~

Okay, just to be fair, I rather think I'll go with Lovicy Marantha. At first, I thought Marantha was Maranatha and I liked that a lot, too. Course this is from the gal who named her own daughter Mountain so you can see that I have no right to be choosing names.

Of the choices from the old list, Emeline is winning by a mile. Oh, and thank you to those who shared that you knew someone by one of these names. That was very interesting.

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Speaking of old...

Wednesday evening, I spent an hour and a half at Vicki's Turkey Feathers.

She featured three videos from a 1980s PBS show called The Victorian Kitchen. Somehow I had missed that one. I'm telling you that it was a fascinating hour and a half. If you're interested in Downtown Abbey, you may well be interested in this. If you're interested in cooking and gardening, you may well be interested. I lovicy-ed  it! (Last night, I watched another three of the shows found on You Tube.)

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Tomorrow is the Ice Cream Social...I hope that the sun shines today so I can get some good photos.

Edited to Add: EVERYONE is invited to the Ice Cream Social! I'm talking about the event right here in Blogdom. The information is to the right in my sidebar. You can participate as well as visit. 

Have a great day now...

I Went Alone

Yup. I was sitting right here at the keyboard, after rescheduling the cable guys because John wasn't quite ready for them today, when I read Ellen's comment on yesterday's post that she leaves when projects are ongoing and returns once they are done. Aha! Exactly what I should do I thought.

So I said, "Fare-thee-well, dear husband. I am leaving for the rest of the day. Do not expect me back before six tonight."

He said, "Fine." I'm sure that he was in his own particular hell pulling himself around and through the crawl space repeatedly for two days and so wouldn't miss me.

I was driving down the road wondering where in the world I was going to go when I realized that I could kill some time at the theater watching W*r H*rse. I'm disguising that title there in that inane clever way because, after I review this movie, I don't want Spi*lberg to find me.

No, I am not going to tell you the details. I'm just going to say that those negative reviews you may have read may have some basis in reality. It is a heavily machinated, war-is-hell movie. My one tear was shed at the very end. I was happy when it was over and wished that it hadn't lasted so long (2 hours and a half, more or less). I only cared about a few of the characters and I didn't always care about the horse, though he's a magnificent horse all right. He's no Seabiscuit so John would have hated it.

Except for the stunning scenery, you could happily wait for the video. In fact, you could skip the video. Just sayin'... Perhaps I'd prefer reading the book upon which the movie is based. It is actually a children's novel written by Mi*hael M*rpurgo in 1982. And so that might explain the simpleness childlike quality of the storyline as I understand the director followed the book closely.

I did learn in previews that Titanic is going to be re-released on April 6. Now that I might like to see on the big screen again. Who am I kidding? I'd love to see Gone With the Wind on the big screen again and The Sound of Music and Forrest Gump and The Notebook and... Any oldies that you'd like to see on the big screen again?

Debbie at Bungalow tells me that not too many have found her giveaway and since it's for Shaklee products and since I love Shaklee products, I thought I'd point you in that direction. You can find it right *here.* While you're there you might want to check on the progress that Debra is making painting a chair. The upholstery of the chair. Who knew that you can do that?!

Despite the complaining about not being able to comment at many blogs, I am taking the plunge and trying the new interface. I hope that I can go back if necessary. Let's see how this goes. My instant review of the new comment system is in. It's a mixed review. I like being able to comment directly and easily to my friends. I do not like that my comments are tallied as part of the total so I will be using the ability rarely. Some folks get their knickers in a knot over comments. They even say, "My! You have so many comments." So I've never thought it a good thing for a mediocre nothing blog such as mine to have too many comments, especially if I am "padding" them myself. ;>

A happy Friday to you and a happy weekend!

Hump Day, Hump Jumper, Etc.

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. I am going to take you up on a few, but will wait to tell you all about it until the cable guys have arrived and the deed is done. By Friday, it should all be accomplished.

Hump jumper: Ever heard of it? Me neither until my daughter, a brand new sewer, suggested that I could use one. She's right! I want *this* very much. My daughter described finding a sweet little old lady in her 50s on You Tube who taught her all about it. See who she thinks is "a little old lady." Now I find this video fascinating. My favorite info about the hump jumper starts at 3:46.

Edited to Add: April 2, 2012
The gal, Sandy is her name, who invented the hump-jumper recently left a comment for me and I wanted to link to her site where she shares her unique and wonderful sewing notions inventions: The Sewing Notions that Solve Such Frustrating Problems. I do not actually own a "hump-jumper." I have a "jean-a-majig." Two different tools that do the same thing. 

Onward...

Here's that finished purse of many colors. I'm actually using it and I can show you why...

That's my former purse behind...large and heavy and it's literally giving me a pain in the neck. The confetti job there is much smaller and lighter. Though I did not use *this pattern,* it is the one that got me started on crocheting a purse of my own.  Believe me, if I had the talent to figure out that pattern, it's done in UK terms, I would have it instead.

And a fantastic leap to last night's supper just because I want to show the picture, which makes me hungry for some reason.

If you've never tried *Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast recipe,* may I suggest that you do and soon?! Why do I do this to myself? Her photos are incredible!

Should I get my way around here today, I'll be off to see War Horse. Have you seen it? Speaking of which, what was the last movie you went to see? We went to see The King's Speech way last January. (I am not counting Winnie the Pooh of last summer. Ha!)

There! We've certainly jumped a lot of humps today. A great Wednesday to you!