Friday, December 30, 2016

Friday, December 30, 2016

Friday, December 30, 2016

What the Beck???


Look at these innocent faces!




Now, look at this mess!!


 Toys, Toys, Toys

 Everywhere!

These two girls can make a real mess.
Sage is really good at bringing her frisbee
into the house after playing with it, but
I guess I need to teach both of them to pick up 
their toys at the end of the day!



Today's Quilt

The colors are soft



I liked the way the quilt turned out. 
I am glad I bordered it with gray fabric.


This photo is a little blurry, but I
used a decorative stitch to put the
hippos in the corners.
I discovered that I was never taught 
how to applique, so that is the next 
class that I need to take at the sewing store.
I am happy with this as first attempt, however.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

What the Beck???



Photos of my Sweet Girls

These are the tall grasses in the middle of the back yard in the summer.
Oh my - I miss Willow.

 The winter winds and heavy snow have made the 
grasses bow over to the ground.
It reminds me of making a bun of hair on your head.

 Sabrina and Sage have made a fort out of it. 
They chase each other around the yard, and enter 
their "fort" from the back, and zoom out of this hole in the front. 

 The girls are resting after a run

Sabrina takes a lot of cues from Sage 


 Sabrina is such a beauty.
She is beginning to come to me for petting 


After a run around the yard, Sage needs a drink of water
and an hour in her bed. She is definitely
showing her eight years compared to two year old Sabrina.

Goodnight sweet Sage

Monday, December 26, 2016

Monday, December 26, 2016

Monday, December 26, 2016

What the Beck???


Happy Day after Christmas!! 

May it be restful!!


Bucket List Update
Academy Award Nominated Movies


2011     Moneyball
starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright,                  Chris Pratt
plot –    Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane who is the general manager of the                 Oakland A’s baseball team. Billy and Peter Brand begin                   trading and obtaining different players until he has                     created a new winning team.
This was a very good movie. I am not a big baseball fan, like my Mom – the ultimate Cubs fan, but I liked this movie. Pitt is relentless in creating and getting the team he wants. If you like baseball, this is a movie for you.


2011     War Horse
starring:  Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup,                     David Thewlis
plot –    This is a WWI movie that was filmed in England and various                   places in Europe. A boy raises and trains a beautiful                     horse. The horse is sold to the boy’s dismay. This film                   follows the journey of “Joey” the horse who is now used                 during the war effort. Joey changes hands from the              English to Germans to French and finally back to                         England.
This was a FABULOUS movie. I am a huge horse lover and I cried on and off through the entire movie. Joey is breathtakingly beautiful. This is a MUST SEE movie for any animal lover out there.


2011     Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
starring:  Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Caldwell,                     Dennis Hearn
plot –    This is the heart wrenching story of a boy named Oskar, who                 lost his father on 9/11. Oskar finds a key and proceeds                 to search the city for the lock. He and his Mom are not                   communicating well. The search and actually                             discovering the key’s rightful owner change Oskar’s                     world.
I LOVED every minute of this film. Thomas Horn is fabulous as Oskar as is Sandra Bullock as his Mom. I loved the relationship between Oskar and his Dad (Tom Hanks). This is a must see movie.


2012     Lincoln
starring:  DanielDay-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, James Spader,                 Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones
plot –     This movie shares the battle Lincoln faced trying to abolish                   slavery by passing the 13th Amendment to the                           Constitution.
This was a well done movie. Many of the other movies about Lincoln focused on the battles, while this film focuses on the politics of passing legislation that would change the country. I enjoyed this movie.


2012     Les Miserables
starring:  Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda                     Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter
plot –     This movie takes place in France is the 1800s. Jean Valiean is                 pursued by Javert, a cop after he breaks his parole.
This is the second time this movie has been on this list. The initial nomination was in 1935. I definitely liked this version better, probably because the filming is better. It will never be a big favorite of mine, however.


2012     Life of Pi
starring:  Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Tandom, Goutam Belur,                     Adil Hussain
plot –     A family is moving their zoo to Canada when their ship                       capsizes. One of the sons and some animals survive.                     This is the story of Pi and his journey to survive being                   lost at sea.
This was an excellent movie. This movie followed Pi as he was stuck on a raft in the ocean. I had a lot of emotions as he was stuck with several wild animals. I cringed, but as the movie progressed, rooted for Pi to be successful.


2012     Silver Linings Playbook
starring:  Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jackie                     Weaver, Chris Tucker
plot –     Bradley Cooper plays Pat Solatano who is freed from a                       mental institution by his mother. He lives at home and                   has a long way to go before he is back with his wife.                     Jennifer Lawrence is his savior as she distracts him and                 helps him learn to dance.
This was a really good movie. Cooper was surprisingly good in the role of a neurotic man. Jennifer Lawrence is also great as an equally obsessed woman. This was fun to watch.


2012     Django Unchained
starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry                      Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
plot –    A freed slave is separated from his wife and returns to                       Mississippi to locate and free her. He is helped by a                     German bounty hunter.
This was a great movie. Jamie Foxx is amazing as Django, the D is silent. The story was extremely well done. I did have to look away from the screen when there was violence involving the punishment of the slaves, but it fit the movie. The ending was extremely violent and really bothered me.


2010     True Grit
starring:  Jeff Bridges, Hallee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry                 Pepper, Dakin Matthews
plot –     A remake of the original story of True Grit with John Wayne.                 The story of Mattie Ross hiring Rooster Cogburn to hunt                 down Tom Chaney, her father’s killer.
I was a huge fan of the John Wayne version. Jeff Bridges is very good in the role of Rooster, but he is no John Wayne. The story was well done, but I prefer the original version.



Saturday, December 24, 2016

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Saturday, December 24, 2016

What the Beck???

Have a Wonderful Christmas Eve


Happy Birthday tomorrow, Kathy!!!
This is my best friend, Kathy, 
and her husband, Turk!
She was born on Christmas Day.


Secret Santa 

December 23rd clue:   The bag had no clue. It might have fallen off                              outside and I lost it.
                         




The Best Christmas Present!!  Part #2


My wonderful nieces and nephews created this beautiful 
photo quilt. This came at the perfect time, as I won't see 
the kids as often once I move to Kentucky.


 QUILT  CLOSE-UPS!!

 Grace


 Colton

 Waylon


 Carden

 Lincoln


 Hudson



 Wyatt


Nick




Secret Santa 23rd 


December 23rd gift: Adorable Santa Chef ornament



I still don't know who you are??????
This has been so much fun, and I am
so grateful for your generosity!
Thank you so much!!!


Thursday, December 22, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

What the Beck???


Secret Santa Gifts
Who are you?

December 21st clue: Have a cup after taking the dogs out


December 22nd clue:  Have Fun!!



Christmas Presents!!  Part #1


I received a wonderful book from my nieces and nephew.







 Excuse the coaster holding down the page.
It was hard to hold the book open
while photographing each page.




























Dad Wesley, modeled, too.
He has my Dad's humor!!





















 This touched my heart!!  
I love you all so much!!!



Secret Santa Gifts
Who are you???

 December 21st gift: Honey Vanilla Chamomile herbal tea


December 22nd gift: Thinking problem solving games