Friday, March 02, 2007

February Wrap-up


Saw a few good movies in February. Can you stand one more review? Friday night. Technically not in February, but my brain was still stalled there. Me and one very subdued cat watched Ladies in Lavender, with Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. A movie I've eyed longingly in the past, but known the menfolk would cast me out into the wilderness had I brought it home. But just for me? You betcha! And as I expected, I loved it. I've been a Maggie Smith fan since I first saw her in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, many years ago. And Judi Dench? Classy dame, literally. Heaven would be looking that good when I'm that old.

So, two awesome actresses, a handsome young fellow whom they find washed up, unconscious, on the beautiful Cornish coast, crashing waves and screeching gulls, a crackpot housekeeper, scores of quaint villagers, a mysterious visitor, and violin music. Add it all up and what do you get? Two hours of BLISS. Five mollystars. Check it out.

Totally bummed on my February read, By the Lake, by John McGahern. One hundred and twenty nine pages of yawning before I decided life is too short, so..... chucked it. On to an old Anne Tyler one, Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant.

Finally opened the cans of paint I bought last August, and painted the laundry room. Yellow. Very yellow. Not the shy and delicate yellow conjured up by the name, Pale Cowslip. Which I probably picked as much for the memories as for its pastel charm! Memories of riding bikes out one country road to a particular field ,with the ruins of an old castle in the middle, and a sea of pale, delicate cowslips, begging to be picked..... But its growing on me, and it is clean, and , most importantly, not white!

Biggest February accomplishment, second only to not losing my mind? No, sad to say, I did not finish my Opus Magnus, the Star of Bethlehem quilt for my little grandson. Thought about it a lot, and while thinking, was mindlessly making blocks from four and a half inch squares and two inch strips. Which, as often happens, acquired a life of their own, and which, I brilliantly decided, will become an interim quilt for same little grandson, while his deadbeat granny gets her head around finally finishing the other.

Dug deep into my stash and found the perfect border! Voila! There it is at the top. Couldn't turn it the right way, my skills being non-existant in this department. Beggars can't be choosers---I'm just glad I got it on here at all!Turn your head---the checkerboard should be at the bottom. What do you think? Will he like it?---he'll be three this summer.....

I realise the world has gone ahead and started March without me, but now I'm ready to start running to catch up.

19 comments:

Zanna said...

Hi, thanks for the movie review - don't watch many - always mean to but time somehow disappears (probably spend too much time on the old PC). Anyway Bloss is away next week to Darwin for 2 weeks doing the boy thing with a mate so I'll have the place to myself and Ladies in Lavender sounds just the thing for me and the dog. The quilt is gorgeous - am so in awe of that kind of talent.... and note you're a granny too - there's not too many of us around these days. Over here we've been superceded by Grandmas and Nannies!!
Cheers
Z

Lily said...

Save some good movie picks for when I'm down there! We never watch movies up here. The quilt looks great -- I'll have nothing to teach you blog-wise.

meggie said...

Oh Molly, that quilt is just gorgeous!! Your Grandson couldnt help but love it. I just love those bright colours, & I am sure he will too.
Well done!
And thanks for the movie review, it is a must see now.

Diana said...

Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors. I hope you enjoyed Homesick Restaurant.

Who wouldn't love this quilt? Bright colors, interesting borders--it's all beautiful. Perfect for any three year old!

Pam said...

Oh well done, Molly - a picture! Not to say a quilt! It's lovely.

I loved "Ladies in Lavender" too - I hardly watch any films but I've watched it twice. After all, it's every middle-aged lady's fantasy to find a handsome young man washed up on one's private beach... And the music is lovely too. Will Zanna's dog like it, though? I wonder.

And I really really like Anne Tyler too.

Ali Honey said...

I must watch for that Movie....love those 2 ladies too.
Your quilt is bright and beautiful. With all the kids prints I've got the only one I have in common with you is the humming birds. So I still have some to collect. LOL.

Joyce said...

He'll love the quilt. It's bright and colorful. What more could a little guy ask for?

riseoutofme said...

Oh golly Miss Molly! Beeuutifull! I presume MINE is next on the list???

Aunty Evil said...

Molly, that quilt is just lovely.

I feel sorry for riseoutofme though, so deluded.

Mine is next - isn't it!?

Tanya Brown said...

I love the quilt top. Very cheerful; perfect for stretching over chairs and making caves, draping over shoulders for an impromptu cape, and snuggling the rest of the time.

Is Pale Cowslip looking a bit more pale now that it's on your walls and dry? Hmph. I'll bet the people who named it have never even seen a cowslip.

nutmeg said...

I love Judi Dench. I have watched the As Time Goes By series time and time again. I saw her recently in Notes on a Scandal - a very different role than I had seen her for a while. She was still magnificent. The movie was disturbing but involving - but ultimately the plot was a little far-fetched/unconvincing.

And thanks for your comment on my latest post - I believe you know exactly where I am coming from :-)

Stomper Girl said...

That quilt is faaaaaabulous, five mollystars for you! Thanks for the movie review too, I was eyeing that one off at the video shop the other day and opted instead for Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.

riseoutofme said...

Aunty Evil is UNKIND .. my delusions are what keep the light shining .. WHEN I am vindicated and the Mollymaire confirms my priority position on the Masterpieces Collection ... I will be mellow and forgiving..but until then ... I will just have to pull rank ... Molly I await confirmation...

Lily said...

Aunty -- I think riseoutofme is one of my siblings, the ranting gave it away -- Molly, it seems, still owes a few quilts to the fam.

molly said...

Basking in all your lovely comments! It really is a red letter day around here when I get a quilt to this stage, but, no resting on the laurels just yet....

Z---they call me grandma or ginny[same G sound] since i'm way too young to be called Granny!. That's a little old lady with sweet apple cheeks and a bun, wearing a black dress with a tiny floral pattern....

Sorry Aunty, there are, as you can see, a few ahead of you in line!

TB---still very yellow, but bright and cheerful and better than boring white!

Nutmeg---never heard of the TGB series---what wonderfulness am I missing?

SG---thanks for the idea---P&P it is for the w.e.

Aha Liz! I thought I smelt a scallywag! which one, do you think? I'm leaning towards our bonnie boy over the ocean...

Hey Bonnie Boy! Glad I cracked the code, however inadvertantly, on drawing a comment from you. Who knew you wanted a quilt so badly.... Now I'll expect regular commentage!

My float said...

The quilt is absolutely gorgeous - perfect for a three year old boy. I wish I was talented in this department. I have a quilt my mother made me of fabrics from my childhood, including school uniforms. Now my son has it but I suspect I'l be stealing it back when (if!) we ever move to a house!

Ladies in Lavender sounds great. I bought it as a Christmas gift for a relative and she just loved it. Sounds like a perfect chick flick!

meggie said...

Oh what a shame you dont get As Time Goes By! It is just so good, & so funny. I too am a great fan of Judi Dench.I tried to get Ladies in Lavender yesterday, but their 3 copies were all out.

nutmeg said...

Never. Watched. As. Time. Goes. By! OMG Molly - this is up in my top 5 all time TV series! It's about a man and a woman who met just before the man goes off to the Korean War. They lose touch and go on to marry other people (this is back story and not shown on the series) but have a chance meeting much later on (when single again) and go on to.... I can't give too much away but the man is Geoffrey Palmer and I love him - the grumpy old man that he is! It has 9 full seasons - the BBC has put it out on DVD. It's British quirky and/but I LOVE it. That is all :-)

Jess said...

I LOVE As Times Go By!

Have to watch for it, though, the PBS channel around here puts it on at odd times.

I have By The Lake in my to-read bag, Molly, guess I can leave that one 'till last...

Which Garrison Keillor book are you reading?