Since You Went Away

I just like to share my love of film and there is just something so perfect about gathering the family, cuddling under a cozy quilt, sharing a bowl of popcorn and viewing a sweet, uplifting film!

This is another another classic film that could be considered a Christmas time treat.

"Since You Went Away" stars Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple., Joseph Cotton, Monty Wooley, Hattie Mc

Daniel, Robert Walker and Agnes Moorehead. 

It is truly a sentimental portrait of the World War II home front with its trials, fears, heartbreaks, and its tribute to 1940's American family values...a simple message of pulling together in times of need for the better good of all. Something that all of us in 2012 could pay heed to!

My Mother loves this film and we watched it together many times. If you watch it for nothing else, look at the lovely house decor that these films always had! So it seems a little overly dramatic by today's standards, it is still retains a certain charm and innocence that is so refreshing. I have a great love and fascination of the 1940's and so films of this nature call to me.

The richness of the black-and-white film, the basic camera work, the perfect sets. It's why I love these old films so very much.

This sweet, tear-jerking film begins with a written introduction: "This is the story of that unconquerable fortress - the American home, 1943."

Here is a brief synopsis...

While husband Tim is away during World War II, Anne Hilton copes with problems on the home front. Taking in a lodger, Colonel Smollett, to help make ends meet and dealing with shortages and rationing are minor inconveniences compared to the love affair daughter Jane and the Colonel's grandson conduct.

I hope you will give it a try and see if it just might become one of your favorite Christmas time films!

Warmly,

Susie Q

Hey Hey What D'Ya Say...

...We're the Elks and we came to play!

Yup. The kid is now a cheerleader. Pom Poms, a 5 inch thick rules & regulations manual to learn and a zillion dollars worth of outfits and equipment later and it is official! But doesn't she look adorable in the camp outfit? Camp begins the first week of August and she is so excited!

On the 4th of July she and the other girls walked in the Americana Parade here and what fun she had! The expected rain held off until the parade ended so it was

a huge success!

Me? Not so much! *sniff* Mom here was home, in bed, with a virus. Uh huh. All our 4th plans went up in a cloud of fire crackers.

But I am not whining...really! My Mom and Bill enjoyed the parade and Bill taped the entire thing for me so we all watched together. The cookout I planned was postponed but heck. Burgers and hot dogs taste good any time right?

The rest of the family watched fireworks at the high school but Kip, Lucy and Henry and I cuddled under a quilt and watched them on TV. The Fur Three are always good at cheering me up!

I am still not 100% better but well enough to have worked in the yard today! Grace and I spent 3 hours weeding the beds and trimming. This kid loves to pitch in with yard work! I never even have to ask! Me? I have to BEG myself to do it! Truly! Sad isn't it? Puuuuullllleeeezzzeeee Sue? I will let you watch a Brian Dennehy movie if you go out and weed for 1 hour! And so I go, grumbling at myself but I go. *grin*

We are getting ready to head off on vacation this coming weekend...I hope to have oodles of photos to share with you all upon our return. Going to Orange Beach, Gulf Shores Alabama for the week. Poor Dan has to work so he is tending to the house, yard watering and caring for the Fur Three. They are just grateful NOT to be in a kennel! Whoo Hoo!

We are meeting a few of the families that were in China with us. We love these people so much and are so grateful that all of us have stayed close and meet once a year for a reunion. We all can't be at each one but as many come as is possible and those that are not with us are there in spirit and in our hearts. We do share photos and call with one another but seeing the children in person is always such a joy. Grace, the honorary big sis of the group, delights in the little ones, all of which turn 6 this year! That does not seem possible! It was 5 years ago September that found all of us in China...

I hope your week is going well and that your 4th holiday was a sweet one!

Yesterday was Ritter's Dog night and Kip is hard at work on his post to share!

I have promised him to add it to the blog before we head South...

Stay cool, smile a lot and enjoy each day! They are such precious gifts!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Whew!

Whew! It was a busy week and I am just now catching my breath!

Birthday week has come and gone once again. I will just share a few pictures with you so you don't get TOO bored! Grace had a great breakfast and opened two gifts in the morning..."Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and a Vera Bradley (In *Cupcakes Pink* of course!)wallet...with squeals of delight!

She took decorated sugar cookies to school to share with the class and came home happy and ready to "party"! She had asked that we go, as a family, to her favorite restaurant, "The Chop House". Of course, *family* also means her BFF, the beautiful Miss K!

The Birthday Diva and Miss K

Brady always travels with lots of fun things! Hey Boo! Grace took this picture of Uncle Jim and Grandma...smile pretty for the camera!

Whatcha gonna have Gracie? It all looks good!

What are YOU havin' K? You will notice that I am not showing any pictures of Dan or Bill from dinner. Aha! Good reason! They were late arriving and I had stored the camera by then. Dan drove himself and on the way, well, he was involved in a fender bender. Bill left to make sure all was well so they were not in any of the restaurant shots! No worries...no one injured and the cars are only scraped really. The other driver was so dear and easy to work with that Dan sent her flowers the next day. Yes, my son IS a gentleman! No one was cited and the insurance companies are taking care of everything so...whew! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then it was back to Rabbit Run for presents, cake and silliness.

What! No presents for the Kipster?

The HSM 3 Game from Miss K! Yoo Hoo!

Just what she wanted!! Mario Kart from Grandma!

More Wii games = A Happy Grace

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hurry Daddy! The ice cream is melting!

We had an ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery and oh my. It was soooo good.

Happy Birthday to you...happy birthday to you...happy birthday dear Grace...happy

birthday to you!

Make that wish and git 'er done kid!

Then it was off to have a balloon war..Miss K and the Diva against the big brother Dan.

Aw gee...penning him into the laundry room seems a bit unfair doesn't it?

Attack! Attack!

Bye bye Boo...see you tomorrow!

Miss K says good bye to Grandma...

...as does the birthday girl. Bye Gram and thank you so much! The next morning we are off to Chuckie Cheese for Boo's special day!

Oh did he love this game/ride. A fun cartoon flight simulator and it was, well,

lets just, say *I* wanted to go ride too!

You could watch his reactions via the screen at the top...

See Gracie? This is how you do it!

Uh huh Uncle Bill! It is almost as cool as flying in YOUR plane in the Navy huh?

Whew! All that playin' makes a guy thirsty Mommy!

Grace is a Skeeball Queen!

O...H...I...O...O...H...I...O

Aw gee...now there is a line for my favorite ride! Okay Daddy...let's

wait...dum de dum...

What's this? A Kentucky Deby riding game!! Well, Boo likes horses so... Okay Daddy...wait for the signal...

See Uncle Bill...see Mommy? This is how it is done!

And in lane 4, the winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Brady Boo riding Star Struck!

Bye bye Gram...I had lots of fun. Thank you for everything...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We also attended a wonderful art exhibit that featured the best of the best works from local children K-8th grade. Grace had 4 pieces of her work on display so I will show you that tomorrow!

Now I am off to shower and change. Bill and I have a big date tonight! Dinner and a concert...Elton John and Billy Joel in Cincinnati! Jim and Lisa gave us the certificate to a fun restaurant in Cincy and the tickets to the concert as a Christmas gift. I am so excited! I have seen Elton twice but have never seen Billy. This should be a great night of music!

Till next time....

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Holiday This And That...

It has been a busy week of seasonal joys...Grace's school chorus performed their Christmas concert at both the school and in Downtown Dayton. Is there anything sweeter than children's voices gathered together in song? Grace loves performing with the group and we so enjoy hearing them.

Saturday we spent the afternoon with Grace's best friend's extended family at their annual Christmas Party. Great food and conversation and wonderful people.

Sunday we attended the 11 am service at our church so we could be there for the children's Christmas pageant. That is always such a sweet event!

In the afternoon we took Grace and her BFF bowling then out for an nice Italian dinner...their choice! Oh my but the restaurant had added a delicious risotto dish to the menu! I love risotto!

All in all not a bad weekend...the weather is turning iffy tonight, wind, freezing rain and snow. We are headed out to see Santa so the snow will just add to that delicious feeling of Christmas joy! You know the one I mean...right? Sparkly, bright, happy and filled with joy!

It looks like I am becoming a holiday movie reviewer these days! I just like to share my love of film and there is just something so perfect about gathering the family, cuddling under a cozy quilt, sharing a bowl of popcorn and viewing a sweet, uplifting film!

Our dear blog friend Sue at Rue Mouffetard and I seem to share a respect for character actor Monty Wooley. She

reminded me of another classic film that could be considered a Christmas time treat.

"Since You Went Away" stars Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple., Joseph Cotton, Monty Wooley, Hattie McDaniel, Robert Walker and Agnes Moorehead. It is truly a

sentimental portrait of the World War II home front with its trials, fears, heartbreaks, and its tribute to 1940's American family values...a simple message of pulling together in times of need for the better good of all. Something that all of us in 2008 could pay heed to!

My Mother loves this film and we watched it together many times. If you watch it for nothing else, look at the lovely house decor that these films always had! So it seems a little overly dramatic by today's standards, it is still retains a certain charm and innocence that is so refreshing. I have a great love and fascination of the 1940's and so films of this nature call to me.

The richness of the black-and-white film, the basic camera work, the perfect sets. It's why I love these old films so very much.

This sweet, tear-jerking film begins with a written introduction: "This is the story of that unconquerable fortress - the American home, 1943."

Here is a brief synopsis...

While husband Tim is away during World War II, Anne Hilton copes with problems on the home front. Taking in a lodger, Colonel Smollett, to help make ends meet and dealing with shortages and rationing are minor inconveniences compared to the love affair daughter Jane and the Colonel's grandson conduct.

Thank you for stopping by to see me and please excuse me when I can not always visit you, or leave a comment on your blog. I think of you all so often and love you all. I know you understand how busy this time of year can be so blog time is compromised greatly!

Phooey!

I appreciate each one of you, treasure you and send each one of you many hugs and all my love!

Susie Q