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

A Christmas Story

During this time of year I love getting out our favorite holiday films to watch and enjoy. This year I need a little extra help getting into the spirit so we are trying to watch as many as we can this week. Last night we pulled out A Christmas Story!
Made in 1983, this movie is based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories. It was directed by the late Bob Clark. Not a critical hit when it was released, the film has since taken on a life of it's own & become a holiday classic. It is shown numerous times on television during the Christmas season, and even in a 24 hour marathon on TBS each Christmas Eve/Christmas Day!
Set during a snowy Christmas season in 1940′s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie longs for the ideal Christmas gift, a 200-Shot, Range-Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.” But when his gruff dad and doting mom, and even a stressed-out Santa, quote the usual BB gun warning, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie mounts a full-scale, hint dropping campaign that is a sly combination of innocence and calculation. The movie is not only about Christmas and BB guns, but also about childhood & real family life.

Click here for a post I did about our 2010 visit to the film house and museum of movie memorabilia! http://rabbitruncottage.blogspot.com/2010/03/youll-shoot-your-eye-out.html

If you have yet to see this sweet, oh so fun movie, give it a try! I bet you smile...betcha!

What A Wonderful World...

...what a wonderful weekend! And now I am officially exhausted! Whew.

I hope all of you are beginning your week with smiles and feeling good...Spring was definitely out in force last weekend. Today? Not so much! It is rainy and cold. But I can just look back and feel warm...so. Just what were we up to? Let's take a peek...

...and as always, most pictures may be clicked on for a larger view.

We took a drive through the St. Anne's Hill and the Oregon District neighborhoods of Dayton. We always love the old houses, the cottages being a huge favorite.

Don't you love the front door here? This pretty place in just across the street from a great seafood spot, Jay's. We love this house, especially the front stoop. Here is a closeup of it...the purple door and the stainless steel accessories! LOVE that. LOVE this red house...

...and this side garden.

This is our favorite place...a sweet cottage that I would

LOVE to see inside. Maybe someday...

Here is the cottage's side courtyard.

I love this house and look at their wonderful front yard and porch.

Still all decked out for Easter.

Then we drove past a few of downtown Dayton's churches...

this one, Holy Trinity, was built in 1860 and has always been one of my favorites.

Friday night found us out with several of my high school friends. We met at a local spot to hear

The Stumps. The Stumps are something of a legend in the Dayton area and have been together since the 1960s. What great music! They play mostly songs from the 60s and 70s and what's not to love about that? The drummer is their newest member and just happens to be a friend from our high school days! We all wanted to be there to support him, the band and have a good time listening to classic rock and roll.

Saturday was busy...at 10 am, a group of us from church met to

clean up the city bike and hike trail. It was a delight to see how well it had been cared for and how little trash was there. Good work Dayton! Then it was time for a treat...Kipper decided that it had been too long since we had taken him to Ritter's, sooooo....

Okay Dudes. Here is where *I* take over the story. What the old lady t'ain't tellin' you is this. They said it was too cold to go to the last Dog Night at Ritter's. Come on dudes. It was ONLY 20 degrees and a little icy. Gee whiz. So I figured they owed me ya know?

Whoo Hoo! Here we are!!

T'ain't it beautiful dudes? It just glows in the sun. *sigh*

There were only a few peeps there but this little dudette really had it bad for the Kipster.

So's I gave her a tumble and smooched her nose...

Dad had to hold my cuppa so's it didn't get away...I have one mean slurp ya know!

Oh wait dudes!! A little help here...hello? STOP laughin'!

Whoa...help a little dude out?

If they would stop laughin' for one second and help me I could get this off my face...my mom better NOT be takin' my picture...

Aw gee dudes...the 'scream is all gone and so's my story is ended.

Don't I look sad? *sniff* Till next time!

After Ritter's we headed over to Woodland Cemetery. It is truly one of Dayton's gems and such a lovely, historic and peaceful place. The geese and ducks were all enjoying a warm Spring day...

This is the gravesite for the Wright family...

You might recognize two of these names...

Then we drove around some of our favorite parks to take in more Spring beauty...

Late afternoon arrived and so did softball practice.

Grace seems ready to catch those grounders...

Grace at bat...

Grace and her BFF, Miss K. You should see Miss K pitch! This girl has quite the arm!

Then it was dinner out for our little athlete. She chose her favorite

Chinese restaurant and her favorite dish. We met our good buddy, T, and had a lovely time. As we headed home, this was the sunset that greeted us.

Talk about a perfect ending to a sweet day!

Sunday was a little rainy but we still enjoyed our day. After church, Mom, Bill, Grace and I headed to a favorite spot for brunch. Afternoon was spent at the movies with Grace and our friend, Z. Z and Grace wanted to see 17 Again.

Is that Zac Efron downright adorable or what? And no. I am NOT robbin' any cradles here. I would still prefer my beloved Brian Dennehy but I am just sayin'...

That evening we met our dear friends T and C at a benefit dinner. The Robyn's Nest is an animal rescue organization that does some awesome things. We had spaghetti, salad, bread and dessert and enjoyed seeing all the fur babies up for adoption.

This was Charlie Brown...such a sweet boy...

And this is Hannah. She was rescued just a few weeks ago and is looking for a new home.

Okay. Truth time. I fell in love with her and oh how I want to bring her home with us. I have yet to convince Bill that we need another pet but oh how I love her. She is such a small girl...won't get any bigger...and a sweetie. Even if it isn't here, I pray she will find a new home soon.

I send each one of you lots of love and many hugs. Enjoy your week and savor each day.

Life is SO good...

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q