Another Emma

In early 2010 Masterpiece Theatre Classic will be airing the new adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma here in the USA. Here is a press release about the new movie from the BBC site:

Emma is a fresh and witty serial adaptation of Jane Austen's comic masterpiece by award-winning writer Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre, North And South, Our Mutual Friend).

Romola Garai (Atonement, Vanity Fair), plays the "handsome, clever and rich" Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who dominates her small provincial world of Highbury. Misguidedly believing that she is a skilled matchmaker, Emma repeatedly attempts to pair up her friends and acquaintances, often with regrettable consequences.

The cast includes Jonny Lee Miller (Endgame, Melinda And Melinda), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter, Cranford), Tamsin Greig (The Diary Of Anne Frank, Green Wing), Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet) and Jodhi May (Einstein And Eddington, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard).

A Bafta-winning writer, Sandy Welch unfolds Austen's compassionate and humorous story of self-deceit and self-discovery in four hour-long episodes, providing a rich insight into one of the author's most complex characters.

Here is a YouTube Video that is somewhat of a trailer. So far it is all I can find.

Back To School

Once again it is time for school. The guys are somewhat happy with returning, but me... I'm ecstatic! Well, that is rather exaggerated, though I do enjoy the one-on-one time with Otter! I was very pleased when Butch came home this week and told me he had made it into advanced math! They gave a test and based off their scores placed the kids in the appropriate math class. I was hoping that he would get in since it will help lead into advanced math in middle school as well. He was very proud, too! It was great to see him so excited and working hard. Bubba is also in advanced math (now that we have his schedule fixed). Band has started for him, too. Once again the clarinet will be heard in our neighborhood! I am just praying that we are all up to the challenges ahead this year.

Rocky Start

Well, I sit here on the balcony looking out at the ocean and enjoying the nice weather here in the shade. I can look over and see the ocean, watch the waves crash, and be thankful that I have not had to drive anywhere today. That is where our vacation troubles have been!

On Saturday we had planned to leave by 9:30ish. Well, nothing was going as planned (should have known that!), but we finally left around 10:30ish. Our first destination was my family reunion in Marion, SC. We get there, all be it at least 30 minutes late. I am thinking at least I will still be able to visit a little after the meal. Nope. People start leaving before I finish my dinner. A redeeming point was when we were able to go to aunt Dora's house to visit with some of her family after the reunion. We leave there and arrive at the beach after 11pm. Then my little girl decided that she did not want to go to sleep until at least 1:30am! Ugghhh!

Next morning we finally get up and moving by 10am. We head down to the van so we can get breakfast only to find a flat tire. UUGGGHHHH! So we get the spare out (by we I mean Joe and Butch). Only after then do we find out that our spare is not a correct size spare for our van. It doesn't work on the front due to brake stuff, so Joe puts the flat back on the front and goes to take the back tire off to use on the front, while placing the spare on the back. While taking the luge nuts off the back tire one of the stems for the luges breaks due to someone putting a incorrect luge on previously, but that is another bowl of chowder for another time! Now poor Joe is getting really frustrated. "We will laugh at this one day" he tells me. "Not today, and probably not next month, but one day. Maybe." We take the van and drop it off to be fixed. There was a Cracker Barrel right beside it and we were able to eat while it was fixed. After a good meal we find the van taken care of with only a loose valve on the tire, whew! Praise the Lord! Go back to the condo for naps and a restart later in the evening.

Monday we head to the beach after breakfast and have an enjoyable time. Joe and I get burnt, but it is all good, right? After lunch and getting Otter and Joe down for a nap I prepare to go the the grocery store to get our food for the week. Huh...now what could possibly happen you might ask? I check the tires...all good! I get in the van and...click, click, click...click, click, click...the van won't start! UGGHHHH! Back upstairs to wait for my poor husband to awaken from his slumber to fix another problem! After the nice man from the office gives us a jump we head to find the Advance Auto. Directions from the locals over the phone have not been extremely good either day, but we find it faster than we did the Sears the previous day. The guy there checks and the diagnosis is a dead battery. Praise the Lord again! Even the $90 for that is better than a bad alternator, etc., right? Finally get to the grocery store to get our food. Come back to have grilled hamburgers, fries, and baked beans for dinner. The boys swim in the pool while Daddy cooks the burgers. It was a good evening.

Today...well, we went to the beach again this morning. The boys got an inflatable boat that they played with. Otter let me sit in the water (only on the edge) without crying (Grandmomma, she liked it until she got into the water yesterday. She doesn't like the waves and the current as the water goes out back out). Luckily there was an area that was almost like a baby pool with hardly any waves and I was able to sit with her in my lap. She was holding onto me and laid her head on my shoulder, but it was an improvement. By the time that the tide started moving in and the waves were a little more on us, she was doing much better. A little while later we were told by the "boss" that she was ready to go back. She was so wore out that she only ate half a banana before she climbed in my lap to fall asleep. So far we have had a good day! Of course we have not gone to the van yet ;), and every time the boys pray it includes "please don't let any thing else bad happen to the van." Oh the stories we will have after this vacation! Hopefully the rest is utterly uneventful!

Interesting Wedding March

A friend of mine posted this and I wanted to share it here. It was such a cute video. I thought having Star Wars music as we marched out of my best friend's wedding was unique, but this takes the cake!

The Yorktown

We boarded the Yorktown and I learned that I was going to be staying in the "Officer's Quarters." It was SO sweet! The room I was initially taken to had four beds. I learned that another member of our group was in a room by herself. She offered to share her room with me. We went and looked and it had only two beds! I like the top bunk best, which was good since she had the lower one. The first evening was rather relaxed. I once again skipped the movie Tora, Tora, Tora! A group of us adults just sat out on the side landing and talked.


The next morning we took a boat ride over to Fort Sumter. This being my fourth trip I did not do much touring around. Butch was part of the flag raising ceremony, though instead of helping raise the flags he was chosen to lead the pledge afterwards.


Later in the afternoon we had free time to tour the ships. Since the Destroyer and Coast Guard Cutter were closed I did not plan to do much touring on the sub and the Yorktown. The boys each caught me and took me on tours on the Yorktown, though. In the evening there was a big celebration at Patriot's Point. There was live music, lots of tents set up with food, and inflatables for the kiddos. After dark we were treated to a wonderful display of fireworks off the deck of the Yorktown. I decided to try out the fireworks setting on my camera. It would have helped if I had my tripod, but I did the best I could. Here is a couple of my favorite shots.

Charleston

On Friday of last week we spent the day in Charleston, SC. We woke early and drove over to E. Bay Street and parked the van. Then we walked all over Charleston! We hit the open market first. Bubba found an alligator head he just had to have! The guys also decided I needed a floppy brimmed hat to wear around, so they found a great hat for me and some sunglasses to match. We're walking...we're walking...then lunchtime at Bubba Gump. We're walking...we're walking...see some churches, stores, and other cool sights. Then we headed to our main destination. Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown! I will talk about that tomorrow. Until then enjoy some of our pics!

Rainbow Row (on E. Bay Street)

Butch and me at the cemetery at
the Circular Congregational Church

Lunch at Bubba Gump.
Joe, Butch & Bubba with the Shrimp

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

More Garden News

Our garden continues to do well. Our broccoli was very good! The lettuces are giving us plenty to eat. Both Romaine and Buttercrunch are growing splendidly. We also harvested our cabbage this past week. It was also very good! I cooked the first cabbage head for Joe and Bubba. I, personally, hate cooked cabbage unless it is in an egg roll. Today I planted more things. Watermelon, okra, black beans, and more peanut beans. I am hoping to see all of these doing as well as the others.

Our Garden

I went and got more stuff to plant in our garden today. I got eggplant, zucchini, crookneck squash, tomatoes, green peppers, turkey beans, and cucumbers. I got most of it planted right before a huge downpour hit the area. So I was soaked before I could get under cover, but I did not have to water the plants. God did it for me!

We ate some of the broccoli and lettuce that we had planted a few months ago. It was really good! I am so glad we tried the broccoli!

Happy Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day I hope we all remember those who have fought for the wonderful freedoms we experience everyday.

My Plants

Last night I was working outside and thought I would try to propagate some of the plants I have in the back yard. Here are a couple that I am trying currently:

Common Names: Japanese Rose or Kerria Rose
Latin Name: Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'

Common Name: Aucuba 'Gold Dust'
Latin name: Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'

Prayer Request

As many of you know I lost an uncle in January. Yesterday I learned that I lost another uncle. This was the husband of my mom's sister, Fannie. Grant has been in declining health for some time and it has been very difficult. Please pray for his family during this time. Thank you!

My Dream Refrigerator/ Freezer

For many years I have known exactly what I would love to have in my dream kitchen as my refrigerator/freezer. I saw it in a store once, but after that it was never out for my viewing pleasure at most appliance stores. Today I found them online and also in a local store. Here it is...Frigidaire makes a full size refrigerator and freezer that are meant to be side by side. Aaahhhh! How wonderful! This is my dream (minus the stainless steel look, it is not for me!). Of course, in my current kitchen it would possibly be overkill!

Llama Llama Red Pajama

I went with my friend, Em, to see Llama Llama Red Pajama put on by the Penguin Players at the Fountain City Library. Of course it was for our daughters to be able to see it, but I admit it was really cute. They are making a circuit around the Knox County Libraries, so if you want to see it look at the events calender at the library web site (link). Both of the girls seemed to enjoy it. Otter watched the whole time!

Griffin Is Here!

Since BJ and M did not get many pics today, I thought I would add a picture of the new little one.

The whole family together

Weird Crafts

Today I was looking for some images to create my own background for my crochet blog when I found this...A knitted dissected frog! It is mounted on a frame to make it look like it is pinned to a tray, just like in Biology class. This is really weird! Just had to share it so you could get a laugh, too!

Oh, by the way...the artist selling these art pieces on Etsy has a category called Knitted Dissections. They have three different animals for your choosing pleasure! And Joe...the artist is in Burlington, VT! To visit the site of The Crafty Hedgehog here is a link: CraftyHedgehog

Diaper Cake

If you have never seen a diaper cake it is a very interesting concept. It is a way to give an expectant mother diapers in a more creative way than in the original packaging. I just finished one that went to M and her little GJ.

My Endangered Plants

It seems that when you get men together to mow a yard there is always the inevitable killing of plants. I thought that my yard was safe, until within the last few days. Today I was outside, in the cold I might add, to look over the plants that are coming up right before our current cold spell takes effect. I had watched as my son trampled upon my lilies as he was turning the mower around on Saturday, but what I did not see was the most horrifying, atrocious act. I have always loved lilac bushes. Preferably the old fashioned lilac, but I enjoy others as well. I had last year purchased a Josee Lilac which is a beautiful pink and a rebloomer. I was so excited to see that it had grown from last year. How sad I was when I was out today and found it chopped down to a couple of inches and the copper marker in front of it was obliterated! I guess I must make sure to make a larger barrier around my plants until they are large enough to be noticed!Now I am left to hope that it is not killed by this act, but will grow back with no visible damage as quickly as possible.

Duck Duck Goose

This week is the Duck Duck Goose consignment sale. If you have never been it is a huge sale of children's clothing and related items. The sale is Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. Next Monday is the half price sale. Here is a link for more information and for location/ time details. Duck Duck Goose

Almost A Ride

Today Joe, Otter and I packed up our bicycles and heading to Oak Ridge for a ride. The Melton Lake Greenway stretches over a four mile trail paralleling Melton Hill Lake. We have driven by before, but this was our first time to ride there. Sadly enough we did not make the full trip. We biked for almost two miles before having to turn back. Otter was fussing most of the way down so we decided to turn back. It ended up that she was so tired that she was asleep before we were three miles down the road. Evidently her fun day with Daddy yesterday wore her out! Oh well, maybe next time!

Scout Banquet

Tonight we had our annual Blue and Gold Banquet. It was a Patriotic theme this year. Once again we did a Father-Son cake bake. Might I just say that when I informed Joe of this several weeks ago his response was "Ugghhh! Who do I have to thank for this, again!";) Well, I must say that he and Butch did a wonderful job when all was said and done. They decided to do an Uncle Sam cake. For having only made two cakes (which includes this one) in his life, Joe does much better than you would think. The cake turned out very good looking and tasted great, too! Here is a picture of their beautiful, manly cake!