Thursday Thirteen 229: Haven't We Seen This Before?

Apparently, they really can't come up with anything NEW in Hollyweird. While recently browsing upcoming releases, I noted that there are A LOT of remakes or sequels coming our way. Here is a list of some of those that will soon be hitting theaters, or are already there.

Avatar 2 (2014)
Terminator Retribution
Matrix Reborn (#4)
Jurassic Park 4
Resident Evil 5
Ghost Rider 2
Iron Man 3
Conan the Barbarian (remake)
Happy Feet 2 (out now)
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Amityville (remake)
The Lorax (remake)
American Pie: Reunion


Personally? I cannot say that any of these interest me. What do you think of movie remakes and endless sequels?

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Wordless Wednesday 27: November Sunset

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Teaser Tuesday 108: The Christmas Clock

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin is the next book on my TBR pile. I picked up this short holiday novel last December, but never got round to reading it before the end of the year. I look forward to diving into it!

There are years in our lives that change us, mold us forever in some way. I was eight years old that Christmas, too young to really understand all the undercurrents swirling around me.

(Opening paragraph of the prologue)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
From New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin comes an inspiring holiday story of vows broken and love redeemed, of courage and strength, all wrapped in a memorable tale that will resonate long after the book is over.

Teddy Winters was eight years old that Christmas, too young to understand all the undercurrents swirling around him in the tiny Michigan town of Dreyerville.

He wasn't able to value that Christmas for the miracle it truly was.

Teddy only knew he wanted to buy the beautiful Victorian clock in the window of Tremont's Antiques as a gift for his grandmother, Lottie Sparks, a woman desperate to find him a home before her rapidly progressing Alzheimer's left him an orphan.

Teddy didn't know that in trying to buy the clock he would meet Sylvia Winters and Joe Dixon, a couple, once in love, desperate to overcome the past. He didn't know he would form a friendship with his neighbors, Floyd and Doris Culver, two people struggling to revive their long-dead marriage.

He didn't know that these people would fill his Christmas with magic and hope; that the love of his friends would change his world, and that he would forever change theirs.

Yukon * Wildlife

Two wildlife cards to share today...






STAMPS: Ram (Wildlife Reserve, Stampin' Up), Bear (Yukon, Stampin' Up)
PAPER: White (Wausau Paper), Solids (DCWV), Patterned (Top card: DCWV; Bottom: top layer-SU, bottom layer-DCWV)
INK: Basic Black
ACCESSORIES: Computer generated greeting, Word Window Punch (SU)

Christmas Cards 2: SC343

All three cards below use sketch SC343, with the first one being turned sideways. This sketch is great for using up strips of decorative paper. All three of these are 'scrap cards,' meaning they use up bits of paper and stamped images leftover from older projects.












STAMPS: Dove (Holiday Minis, SU); Holly (Winter is Calling, SU); Snowflakes (Lace Snowflakes, SU)
PAPER: Paper Co, Wausau Paper, DCWV
INK: Basic Black, Night of Navy, Light Blue (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Circle and oval punches (Marvy), Markers, Brads

Random Photo: Fallen

UW Arboretum * Oct 9, 2011

Christmas Cards 1: SC356

A couple of Christmas cards to share today. I've been trying to use up leftover images from previous years, as well as some of my paper scraps. Both of these cards follow sketch SC356.

STAMPS: Holly (Winter is Calling, SU); Snowflakes (Lace Snowflakes, SU)
PAPER: 'Baby Boy' pack (The Paper Co), White (Wausau Paper), Decorative (DCWV)
INK: Basic Black, Blue (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Circle Punches (Marvy), Scallop Square Punch (Marvy), Sticker (?), Computer Generated Greeting, Markers

Thankful

Although this is from his holiday album, I feel this song appropriate for today. May you have much for which you are thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!






Thankful
Written by David Foster, Richard Page, Carole Bayer Sager
Sung by Josh Groban

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

(Read the rest of the lyrics)

Wordless Wednesday 26: Gray Dogwood Berries

UW Arboretum * Oct 9, 2011 * Madison, WI

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Teaser Tuesday 107: One For the Money

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


I have just pulled this one off Mount TBR, where it has been languishing some years. It was sent to me by a friend, so my finally getting round to reading it should make her and another friend who keeps harassing me about it happy. Since I am just starting it, and the first paragraph is exactly two lines, we'll just go with that for this week.

There are some men who enter a woman’s life and screw it up forever. Joseph Morelli did this to me—not forever, but periodically.

(pg 1)

For those who are really into this series, the movie opens July 27, 2012. Click here to view the trailer starring Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara and Daniel Sunjata.


ABOUT THE BOOK:
One For the Money
By: Janet Evanovich

Trenton native Stephanie Plum is out of work, out of money, and her car’s in repo-hell. So who does a hardly working girl turn to when the going gets tough? Meet cousin Vinnie, bail bondsman. Stephanie figures it’s nice work if you can get it—shagging bail jumpers for $10,000 a pop. So she joins up.

Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. There’s also a cranky ex-prize fighter dogging her and a nasty habit she has of leaping first and looking later. If Stephanie doesn’t wise up fast, the first dead body in her future could be her own.

Inchies Trio

This set of cards uses one-inch images, what are refered to in the cardmaking world as "inchies." Inkadinkado has numerous clear stamp sets for all seasons and occasions just for this type of card. The top two follow sketch SC356.

STAMPS: Dogs (Dog's Life, Inkadinkado); Swan ( Butterflies & Birds, Inkadinkado)
PAPER: White (Wausau Paper), Solid colors (DCWV), Patterned (top two cards-DCWV; bottom-SU)
INK: Basic Brown, Going Gray, Elegant Eggplant (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Brads, Computer generated greetings, Word Window Punch (SU)

Pheasant Birthday

Here's a fall-themed birthdya card using left-over components of the Thanksgiving cards posted Friday.





STAMPS: Autumn Days (SU), Fall Studio (Leaf—Clear and Simple Stamps)
PAPER: "Cypress" color pack (The Paper Company), White (Wausau Paper)
INK: Basic Brown, More Mustard
ACCESSORIES: Leaves & Acorns (Sizzlits from Sizzix), Sizzix Sidekick, Top Note Die (SU), Word Window Punch (SU)

Random Photo: Prairie Grasses

Prairie grasses in early October
UW Arboretum * Madison

Thanksgiving Cards 2011

This year's Thanksgiving cards involved more work than those I usually do. When I saw this card, I knew I had to copy it as best I could, given the supplies on hand as I have no budget to go craft shopping. I worked on these in the evening every night for a week while watching TV.

First, I stamped and cut out all the pheasants. I did about thirty, just in case I accidentally amputated a tail feather or a foot or two. Any extras can always be used for fall or masculine birthday cards.



Next came all the punching. I used my Sizzix Sidekick (mine is red BTW, not pink) for all the leaves and acorns, and the Sizzix Bigshot (again, mine is red and white) for the Top Note die (the large fancy brown pieces). A scalloped punch was used for the small white squares, with brown pieces cut to mat. I also had to stamp and cut out the larger, patterned leaves (left, on top of brown Top Note).




After cutting grey grosgrain ribbon the width of the card (4.25 inches), I then cut out the middle portion of the Top Note die, going lengthwise. These were adhered about an inch away from the righthand side of the card. The ribbon was glued on top of that, to cover the seam.

Next came the matted squares. The pheasant was adhered to center of square, with large stamped leaf tucked behind the top left corner. Other leaves and acorns were then adhered randomly, and a greeting tucked under the right side of the small square. Greetings are computer generated—I had to create my own, as I had nothing small enough to fit in my stamp cabinets.



Cute, yes? Now to finish all those Christmas cards. I'll be sharing plenty of those in weeks to come, as well as some "scrap" cards I've been working on.

STAMPS: Autumn Days (Stampin' Up), Fall Studio (Leaf—Clear and Simple Stamps)
PAPER: "Cypress" color pack (The Paper Company), White (Wausau Paper)
INK: Basic Brown, More Mustard (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Extra Jumbo Scalloped Square Punch (1" punch, Marvy), Word Window Punch (SU), Top Note die (SU), Leaves and Acorns die (Sizzix), Sizzix Sidekick, Sizzix Bigshot

Thursday Thirteen 228: On My Mind

Stuff on my mind this week…

1. First: THE PACKERS ARE 9 AND 0, BABY! They have actually won their last fifteen games, including that really big one last February… you know, THE SUPER BOWL.

2. Thanksgiving is still a week away and I am already tired of the Christmas commercials, especially the ones for TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods. Can you say “annoying”?

3. Speaking of stores, does anyone else think it ridiculous how some stores are opening late Thanksgiving night for Black Friday sales? I mean, isn’t opening at 4 or 5 am crazy enough??

4. One of our local stations switched to their all-Christmas music format on Monday. I really wish they would wait until the week of Thanksgiving rather than the week before.

5. Of course, that also means it is time for the annual Holiday Fantasy in Lights display. I thought they usually lit up the display the Monday before Thanksgiving, but checking their website just now, I see it has been open since last Friday. Sheesh…talk about getting an early start!

6. We had two water main breaks on my street this past weekend. I had water at 10 o’clock Friday night, then nothing at midnight. It was still off when I woke up around 3am, but back on at 7. The relief was short-lived. Just before 9am there was a second break, this time right outside my building’s main entrance. Two in under ten hours…that has to be a new record for this place. Last year there were breaks on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

7. Ironically, they have been replacing the water mains (and, apparently, fire hydrants) on my street since November 1st. They were originally only going to do the first block this year, but according to the letter left under my door today they are now going to do my block as well. I want to know whose bright idea it was to wait until November to undertake such a project? Our street already looks like a minefield and is only going to get worse as we transition into winter.

8. I really need a humidifier (maybe even two: one for living room, one for bedroom) for my apartment. It is so dry in here, it is killing my sinuses—and it’s only mid-November. I was over to a friend’s this past weekend (she had running water and no backhoe) who just got one, and I noticed a difference within hours. Amazing!

9. I appreciate people who offer contests, but I am really starting to resent those who require people to “friend” or “follow” them in order to enter the drawing. And this isn’t solely about book blogs. I received a newsletter from a local arts venue this week about a contest to win the new CD by a group I like—but only if you friended the venue on Facebook. Thanks, but no thanks.

10. NEWSFLASH: Everyone in the world is NOT on Facebook or Twitter. Those who are not have their reasons for not joining, be it time, privacy or — you know, having a life. (Not to mention all those third-world nations out there that have little to no electricity.)

11. And speaking of blogs, what’s with truncated posts (which do NOT show up in Google Reader or other alert services), and people who participate in blog memes, but do not allow comments? For the latter, isn’t the point to comment on each other’s posts? For the former, I keep up with favorite blogs through Google Reader, and usually prefer to read new posts there as it loads faster without all the other stuff bogging down people’s blogs. If I can’t tell what a post is about, odds are I’m skipping it, not clicking over to read it. I’ve even been known to delete people out of my queue who switched to a permanent truncated format. Sad, but true.

12. I don’t like the direction NCIS:LA is taking Sam’s character. Sam is supposed to be one of the good guys, a Navy SEAL and government agent. He’s supposed to be honest and solid, not unscrupulous and duplicitous.

13. On the other hand, I love the whole family dynamic they have going on NCIS this season, and liked that new peek into Gibbs’ history we got the last two episodes.


So, those are a few of the things on my mind this week. What’s on yours?



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Wordless Wednesday 25: Lines

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Teaser Tuesday 106: Whisper Falls

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


Whisper Falls is the third book in Toni Blake's "Destiny" series. I've just started this one, so am not too far along in it yet. Here's a little teaser peeking a little ahead of where I am.

"Well, if you're so sure you want him," Rachel said, looking as if she couldn't quite believe she was actually suggesting this, "why aren't you making a move?"

"Because he didn't," Tessa explained. "That's kind of like getting turned down—without having to get turned down. Saves the embarrassment."

(pg 100)

Hate to say it, but I think she has a point.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Welcome to Destiny, Ohio - where coming home means finding your true heart and maybe even your true love

Tessa Sheridan came crawling back to her quaint hometown of Destiny after her big-city interior design career crumbled. Now not only must she struggle to make ends meet, but she has to contend with a biker next door and the roar of Harleys shattering the serenity of her cabin in the woods by Whisper Falls. Worse still, her sexy, bad boy neighbor makes her feel breathless and weak—and shy, petite Tessa knows what a major mistake it would be to get involved with someone so...dangerous.

They say that former teen rebel Lucky Romo has a dark, secret past—that he's trouble with a capital "T." Still, Tessa feels all tingly when she sees how well he fills out a pair of tight jeans. And when Lucky invites her into his world, she knows the intense heat sparking between them could lead her somewhere wild and wonderful...and, yes, dangerous!

Random Photo: Paths

(UW Arboretum, Nov 2011)

Travelers, there is no path.
Paths are made by walking.
~ Antonio Machado

Thursday Thirteen 227: Recently Read

October was brimming with paranormal reads—as well as a bit of murder and mayhem. And yes, every one of the following was read during the month of October. As always, click on any cover to read a description of the book.













* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is one of the November group reads (I got an early start) for TNBBC at GoodReads. This was a reread for me, and it's nice to know I still remember some of the poetry.

* The Last Battle by CS Lewis rounded out my (re)read of The Chronicles of Narnia, which I have been working through this year. Some I remembered reading as a kid, some I didn't.

* Don of the Dead and The Chick and the Dead are the first two books in the "Pepper Martin" series by Casey Daniels. Will definitely be reading more of these!

* Leann Sweeney was the October featured author for the GoodReads Cozy Mysteries group. This was a really cute series—definitely one that appeals to crafters and cat-lovers alike.

* The Triplet Witch series by Annette Blair was a sexy and funny paranormal romance trilogy. Skirting the Grave was book four in her Vintage Magic (para-cozy mystery) series.

* Wicked by Gregory Maguire is one of the books mentioned a while back that was on loan from my sister. One down, many more to go.



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Teaser Tuesday 105: Silent in the Grave

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


I've seen Deanna Raybourn's books recommended numerous times on friend Shelley's blog, so was pleased to happen across the first two books in the series at a Library Used Book Sale back in September. I eagerly dove into book one over the weekend, and was drawn in by the opening paragraph below. I am now 3/4 of the way through, and can't wait to finish!

To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.
(pg 13)

~*~*~*~*~*~

And then there is this passage from farther on in the book...


Before I could even put my weight upon the foot, he was up and across the room, moving with a speed and ferocity I would never have imagined.

I gasped when his hand closed hard on my wrist. He jerked, pulling me into the room. With his free hand he slammed the door in Monk’s face and twisted the key in the lock.
(pg 213)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Silent in the Grave
By Deanna Raybourn

"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

Sympathy

Sadly, I recently had need for a trio quad of sympathy cards (two were of the same design). These are all simple designs on white cardstock, photographed against a gray background so they would stand out.


MATERIALS:
Stamps: Boots (Scene in a Garden, Stampin' Up); With Caring Thoughts (single stamp, company unknown); Flowers (Pocket Silhouettes, Stampin' Up); Bird (Wildlife Reserve, Stampin' Up)
Ink: Basic Black, Ruby Red, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up)
Paper: White (Wausau Papers), Solid (Recollections), Patterned (DCWV)
Accessories: Word Window Punch (Stampin' Up), Circle punches (Marvy), Printed greeting (computer), Grograin ribbon (JoAnn's), colored pencils, hole piercer (Stampin' Up)

If I Could Turn Back Time

I'm sure there are many times we wish we could turn back time. Tonight, you can--by one hour, anyway. That's right, we get an extra hour of sleep Sunday. Don't forget to set those clocks back an hour before going to bed!

Random Photo: Little Reed

The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright
again when the storm had passed over.
-Aesop

Thursday Thirteen 226: New Music

Some new music for your listening pleasure—click on any link to hear the song.

01. Foster the People — Pumped Up Kicks

02. Mat Kearney — Hey Mama

03. Fitz and the Tantrums — Don’t Gotta Work It Out

04. Red Hot Chili Peppers — Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

05. Adele — Someone Like You

06. The Bodeans— Blowin’ My Mind

07. Coldplay— Paradise

08. Bon Iver— Calgary

09. Death Cab For Cutie— Stay Young, Go Dancing

10. The Decemberists— Calamity Song

11. NeedtoBreathe— Drive All Night

12. Florence and the Machine— Shake it Out

13. Ryan Adams— Lucky Now





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Wordless Wednesday 24: Patch of Blue

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