Anna Maria Horner

When I first started quilting or even thinking about fabric for my home, I was bored to tears with the choices. The quilt sections are full of little stars or stripes or rosebud prints. Navy blue with yellow daises wasn't cutting it for me. In the home decor stores all I saw was Waverly and when I went into friends' homes I would see the same print or pattern or floral over and over and over again. Not that there is anything wrong with that! But I kept thinking, might there be some other choices? And then one fine day...the heavens opened up. The blinds were lifted, the birdies sang and I had found my place in the sun.

Truthfully, I can't quite remember now how I came upon the website of Anna Maria Horner. But once I did I was enraptured. And I don't mean that in an artificial way. She is a mom and a fabric designer and author with such a modern design sense, but has a strong belief in family life, the simple things and how something handmade can not only become a family heirloom but can also brighten the world around you.

I follow her blog daily and if this appeals to you, I encourage you to do the same!
www.annamariahorner.com

She...unbeknownst to her...has perhaps had the greatest influence on me this year. I have tried new things with fabric, I have dared to combine many colors, I value the little things more. Mostly I realize that even though it's a crazy amount of work and juggling, be the person you are meant to be. Create or sew or write or paint or get your jigsaw out! Even with kids and schedules. Don't forget about you.

These are a bundle of her "Folksy Flannels"...the softest! I might make something or I might just leave them on my bedside table so I can see them every morning when I wake up. That's how happy they make me.

Today, a gift for Martha in the mail. Go order something you love.

and a couple more

Dan In Real Life with Steve Carrell playing an advice columnist who is a widower with three cute girls under 17 years old. He is wry, witty and funny and a little sad. He goes on vacation to his parents HUGE lakehouse in Rhode Island where about 50 members of his immediate family gather for food, games and water sports. The house is loud, chaotic and full of fun. At times I kept thinking how many people (like me) would be overwhelmed by such gatherings, but you can also see that these are the same people who kept him tethered to a home base while he mourns his wife.

Enter Juliette Binoche who is the girl that both Steve and very funny brother Dane Cook fall for and the rest of the story plays out with Juliette and Steve's characters trying to figure out what to do about their unavoidable feelings for each other.
Funniest scene; Dane Cook is a personal trainer and leads his family in a morning exercise class on the lawn. Hysterical. Steve Carrell was charming as the every man, sort of cute, goofy, funny, warm and stoic dad. B

My Life In Ruins with Nia Vardolos. Umm, you know I just love her for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and so since then she can do no wrong with me. This story about Nia as an unhappy tour guide in Greece who finds her "keffi" or "mojo" with the uber-hunky bus driver is kinda boring. The tourists are kinda funny - sometimes. Who cares if there's really no plotline. The scenery is fabulous. So if it's a frosty night and you are under the down blanket, the blue skies and sunshine of Greece will warm you right up. Story C Scenery A

A couple of movie reviews

Love this time of year because I watch a thousand movies. Sometimes I put one on at 4pm if everyone else is busy with things and then maybe even another one at 8 pm. Sometimes I watch one from 9-11 a.m. if no one is looking. That's right, you heard me. It's a testament to the wonder of being able to watch a movie from your house with the click of a button. Knowing this technology has been around for many years doesn't make me love it any less. When I was 10 years old it would have nothing but a dream of science fiction.

"It's Complicated", with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. What's to love about this movie? A lot. The amazing California country home of Ms. Meryl who plays a Barefood Contessa type who opens her own gourmet bakery and sandwich shop. She has the most beautiful garden. A few shots show her with her straw basket and big hat picking fresh goodies from the garden...but oddly a lack of gardeners. Knowing how much work it took us to get a little something out of our little tiny vegetable garden this year, I would have liked a little more reality there. My own little issue.

But ex-husband Alec Baldwin, plays such a cad and so irresistible, he steals the movie. He and Meryl and architect/new romantic interest Steve Martin just made me laugh from beginning to end with a lot of very poignant moments thrown in, especially for those sharing in the aging process. Kim Basinger's panties must really be in a twist now because this movie proves that Alec is great actor, he's loved anyway, looks like he made up with his kid, and he comes out of his -screaming at his daughter on the phone issue - pretty much unscathed. Because if the audience thought he was a kid-hater in real life, we would never pay to see him in the movies.
Best to go with the girls. B+

"Sunshine Cleaning" with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. This is a great little movie. These adult girls lost their mom many years ago and are trying to make a life for themselves. They are struggling. One is a single mom who cleans houses and the other is a waitress. Alan Arkin plays their dad, a nice enough guy always looking for some crazy way to make money. (i.e. buying fresh shrimp off the back of a truck and then trying to sell it to restaurants) They stumble on an opportunity to do crime scene clean up, a nasty job with a big paycheck. It's a growing up story for all of the characters.

One thing that struck me is how quickly both actresses can really look like everyday gals. Especially Amy. She looked like she really could be a cute girl working for a cleaning company. Sometimes these actresses "playing poor" still have their roots done and eyebrows waxed, i.e. Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain. Emily Blunt was really naturally pretty in this movie. She just didn't look tired enough for the role she was playing. But I dare you not to grab a Kleenex in her scene watching her mom in an old "Movie of the Week." Gulp. Without saying a word you see her acting chops. B+

Mom and Dad at the Lizard Lounge

 

 

Okay, so off we went Saturday night to see this GREAT BAND, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles. I have had a clipping of their various appearances for the past 18 months on my bulletin board. Country, rockabilly, fresh, fun, right up my alley. Not knowing much about them but their great newspaper reviews, we got a couple of tickets. They were recording a live CD over 2 nights at the Lizard Lounge on Mass. Ave in Cambridge.

So not letting the threat of a foot of snow stand in our way, off the parents went at 8:30 at night (whoo hoo) to see the show. The Lizard Lounge is underneath the Cambridge Common restaurant and it is the size of my kitchen. Well, my re-done kitchen so not so small, but then you gotta picture 100 people in it. It was charming in the old-school sense. Very dark, lit only by strings of Christmas lights and some (battery operated) candles on the wall. The drinks were great, the music was awesome. The only thing that reminded me of my age was that I kept thinking..."ok now where are the exits to this cavern just in case disaster strikes" and "that lead singer, Sarah, does not have a wrinkle on her face" - two things that would never have occurred to me 20 years ago.

But the band was so so so good. Go buy the CD you will love it. If you see that they are playing at Johnny D's or one of their other regular spots, go see them. You won't regret it. Even in a snowstorm.

Snowy Sunday

 

Snowy lazy Sunday
After a 30 day run of crazy
All day in pajamas
Did not give a hoot
Hey, I did laundry
Lots of laundry
And made everyone else
go out in the snow
And play with Ronan
So this for breakfast
Rich made chicken and dumplings
for dinner - oh. my. goodness.

Tomorrow Kashi Go Lean.

New Year's Eve 2009

1:30 pm - Lunch in a snowstorm with good friends. 3 boys, 3 girls, mirror images.

6:30 pm - just put finishing touches on two special cakes for New Year's Eve celebrations.

9:30 pm - a warm and festive dining room, getting ready for dinner with friends. Makes me rethink never letting the kids take charge of the decorating. This rainbow paper celebration was handmade, happy and cheerful.

10:30 pm - 8 year old who vowed to stay up until midnight, but fell asleep at party. The babysitting dog was not ours, but we were happy to have him watch over the boy, who is ours.

11:45 pm - the second warm and festive dining room of the night. Champagne chilling in the most fabulous vintage punch bowl.

Period pieces, both homes. Am I attracted to friends with old houses? Hmmm.

Midnight - the birthday girl helps us usher in 2010.

and finally....my little imaginary village

I have no idea how I found the time or how I got my sons to find the time to help me...but this year I cleaned off my big french country linen bureau (a beauty for $200 at Todd Farm) with the white marble top ($1,000 when husband was traveling..I "needed" it - all before the financial crash let's just say that right up front) and set up my "A Christmas Story" village.

I added bits and pieces this year and even found a Lands' End house at Sears which cracked me up. So I bought that one, too. But most importantly, I found a use for the Thomas trains. I am not a hoarder, often have a little clutter issue, but as I've said before, I will not throw away the Thomas trains. They represent the boys, each one attached to one train or the other. Here Sir Handel follows his friend under the bridge.

But look how cute! See. Arthur giving Duncan a little push.

Over the river and through the woods...Bulgy the Bus and his angry face trying to make it up the steep bridge. I can relate.

Hey, let me in! I want a Red Ryder BB Gun and I've gotta tell Santa! 'K, that's the end of the Christmas cuteness. My Christmas was filled with as much chaos, exhaustion and stress as anyone else's, believe me. I guess I just took pics of the good stuff ; )