Cabin Fever Anyone?

We may not be on stuck on a ship at sea, but this could very well happen right here in snowbound Idaho...

 

 

Alex and I are watching Muppet Treasure Island right now, and I just had to share this with y'all;)

{Belated} Wallpaper Wednesday - Casablanca

For today's wallpaper, I'm featuring one of my absolute favorite movies, with two of my absolute favorite actors and actresses, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

 

Can you guess what film I speak of?

 

It's...Casablanca!

 

{full size image located on the Graphic Design page}

 

This, ladies and gentlemen (if there be any reading), is one of the best movies ever.  Period. 

Suspense.  Danger.  Romance.  Patriotism.  Cute vintage outfits.  What more could you possibly want?

 

I want the hat Ingrid Bergman is wearing.  I. Love. It.

 

And I named one of my sheep Ingrid...

The black sheep of the family, you might say, although her wool has lightened to a beautiful chocolate-y brown now.   I suppose I'll have to name one of my lambs Humphrey this year...but Aragorn has first dibs;)

 

All of my lambs have to have dignified names - no Curly or Fluffy for me.

 

So far I have Lady Jane Grey, Queen Esther, Ingrid and Calvin...we also have a Sweet Pea, but she belongs to my brother and came with the name.

 

Ok, sorry for rabbit trailing;)  I do love my sheepies:)

 

Happy Trails:)

Keeping it Classy {Day 7}

 

I'm so glad I participated in Keeping it Classy {Modest Fashion Week} at Bramblewood Fashion!  It's been such fun!:)

 

 

Today, Bonnie joined me for the photoshoot:)  Normally she'd be running around off-leash, but I'm keeping her on leash because of her knee problem.  She was certainly happy to be outside!

 

 

Today was a stay at home day, so I didn't get dressed up at all...

 

~My Outfit~

Hat - denim - sewn by me and pattern designed by me.  I'm experimenting with designing a pattern for a newsboy style cap, and this was my first attempt.  Kind of a cross between a tam and a cap;)  Cute, but not quite what I want...back to the ol' drawing board!  I'll probably post pictures of the finished project at some point, so stay tuned:)

Sweater - purple/pink with green, blue and white design - Goodwill (Tiara brand)

Jumper - same denim jumper I wore on Day 3

Blouse - white peter pan collar - Walmart

Boots - umm, I don't remember what brand or where I got them...=)

Jacket (pictured below) - no idea where it came from, and it's actually my mom's.  We "steal" clothes from each other a lot;)

 

 

 

Happy Trails!

Keeping it Classy {Day 5}

 

Hello, people! :)

 

Well, today was a very fun day full of good friends, a good movie (the original The Day the Earth Stood Still;), a walk in the snow, a short snow skirmish, and singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat in rounds in harmony.

 

Yup, lots of fun:)

 

Anyway, since we're both participating in Bramblewood Fashion's Keeping it Classy Modest Fashion Week, Kellie and I decided that we should take today's picture together...

 

Ellen (Kellie's sister), me, and Kellie - and Ellen finally passed me up:'(  Oh well, I knew it wouldn't be long...

 

Without meaning to (except for Ellen and Kellie, of course;), we all wore Fair Isle type sweaters and vests.  If you know Kellie and I, then you know that we pretty much share a brain, and often end up wearing similar outfits, or even the same outfits, on the same day.  We're used to it now:)

 

~My Outfit~

 

Shoes, or in this case, Socks - pink/green/cream - a present from my beloved cousin.  She bought them at...Beeelllk (Belk).  Sorry, inside joke;) 

Skirt - denim half circle skirt - made by me.

Petticoat/Slip - flannel half circle skirt with hand crocheted trim - made by me - adds some extra warmth to any skirt!

Shirt - teal v-neck - Goodwill

Vest - teal, pink and brown fair isle scoop neck - Maurice's...I think.

 

Happy Trails!

 

Erik vs. Raoul

Earlier today, Kellie and I were briefly discussing the book The Phantom of the Opera (POTO), and I was inspired to make...

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  First, a little background...

POTO is really quite a strange tale, the main characters being Christine, a budding opera singer; Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, patron of the opera, and Christine's childhood sweetheart; and Erik, the phantom, the "angel of music", a deformed genius gone mad who lives in the sewers and basements under the opera house.

I'm not writing a book review, so I won't tell you any more of the plot - you'll just have to read the book for yourselves, and I do recommend it.

However, after doing a little digging around on the internet, it seems that there are two opinions as to who Christine should have ended up with.  Erik, or Raoul? Or, as I've seen it put, Team Phantom, or Team Raoul?

At first I really couldn't decide between them.  On the one hand, there's poor Erik, born with a disfigured face, an outcast since birth, forced to hide himself away in the sewers with no one to love him and no one to love.   But, as pitiable and fascinatingly mysterious as he is, he's also a murderer.  I couldn't justify that, as much as I pitied him and lamented the circumstances which had driven him to such a state and given him such a low value for human life.  I mean, let's face it!  He's not a very stable person, now is he? 

That leaves us with...Raoul.  :)   Young, wealthy, in complete possession of his wits, he seems perfect. (that is once you get used to or manage to ignore his rather long hair in the 2004 version;)

So, the issue decided, there was only one thing more to do.

*flash back to the beginning of this post*

Ahem...I was inspired to make these...

Yup, blog buttons.  Hey, it's me - what else could you expect? ;)

POTO fans, grab one of the buttons (also located on the Graphic Design page) and support your team with pride!

{If you do use one of the buttons, I would appreciate a link back to this post.  Thanks!}

Happy Trails!

P.S. Although it was a pretty amazing movie and I loved the music, I do NOT recommend the 2004 film of POTO - there were some serious modesty issues.  Just wanted to make that clear:)

P.S.S. And, no, I'm not becoming obsessed with POTO - I just like to make blog buttons:)

Keeping it Classy {Day 3}

 

"I don't suppose you'd like to go for a walk, would you?"

 

My brother looked at me.

 

He looked out the window at the rain.

 

He looked at me again.

 

"Yeah, alright."  (said with a British accent like Nick in Chicken Run - "Yeah, awright";)

 

I've got a pretty awesome brother:)

 

 

 

~My Outfit~

Hair flower - present from Grandma - it's actually a pin, but I closed the clasp (!) and used a bobby pin:)

Vest - hand crocheted by me

Shirt - Chadwicks

Jumper - sewn by me - I combined my favorite half circle skirt pattern with the bodice from a dress pattern to make a jumper pattern.

Shoes - my beloved pink and brown cowgirl boots

 

And may I say that it is no joke walking uphill on slippery, slushy snow, in cowgirl boots?  Very difficult, indeed!  But, I made it without mishap:)

 

Is it just me, or do I look like a giant in this picture?  Something about the trees in the background...

 

Also, my collar is supposed to be turned up like that - gives the whole outfit a casual, devil-may-care look, don't you think?  Just kidding!  I had no idea it was turned up like that, and Alex didn't think to tell me.  That is so like a man;)

 

Happy Trails!

The Literary Heroine Blog Party - The Questions

~The Questions~

• What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A true heroine puts the needs of others ahead of her own.  She is gentle and kind, always up for adventure, and always a lady no matter what the circumstances.
• Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

-Jo March-

I'm not a tomboy, but we have the same quick temper and a knack for getting ourselves in trouble with our hasty words.

I treasure Marmee's advice to you, Jo.

Please note that I do not admire Jo's temper, I simply relate to it;)

  -Elizabeth Bennet-

I love your quick wit.

 

-Kate from Stepping Heavenward-

Same as for Jo.

My mom gave me this book just when I needed it most.

 

-Millie Keith-

Millie, I admire your faith, your strong convictions, and your willingness to share the gospel.

• Five of your favorite historical novels? The Scarlet Pimpernel (the whole series, really), The Scottish Chiefs, Captain Blood, Pearl Maiden, The Last of the Mohicans, and Little Women.
• Out of those five books who is your favorite character and why?  The Scarlet Pimpernel, aka Sir Percy Blakeney wins hands down, although Peter Blood runs a very close second because of his delightful Irish accent)  Sir Percy is the perfect gentleman, he loves is wife, and he's willing to lay down his life to save others.  I've heard, though haven't been able to verify this as a fact, that Sir Percy really did exist.  Wouldn't that be awesome?!

• If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?  Scotland and Austria - I want to do and see everything in Scotland, including a horseback ride cross country over the highlands and on the beach (you really can do that!), and, while I was across the pond, I'd visit my relatives in Austria:)
• What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?  The early American frontier - everything was so new and exciting!
• You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert.  Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?  Probably Kellie and I singing...possibly including a yodeling monkey and a chicken on a bicycle!
• If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?  Well, as I've already attended such a party as Marguerite Blakeney, I think I would go as either Arabella Bishop (from Captain Blood) or Jo March.
• What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?  Chocolate is...creamy, delicious, goodness.  The only thing better than plain chocolate is chocolate paired with mint=)

• Favorite author(s)?  Baroness Orczy, G.A. Henty, Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, James Fenimore Cooper, Rafael Sabatini, Lousia May Alcott, L.M. Montgomery...shall I continue?
• As a small, imaginative, red-haired damsel might query; would you rather be divinely beautiful, dazzlingly clever, or angelically good?  Why?  Oh, dear me!  I think I shall have to agree with Matthew here and say "I don't know."  However, if pressed, I'd rather be either dazzlingly clever or angelically good, because I'd enjoy being clever and I'd love to be really good:)

• In which century were most of the books you read written?  19th century
• In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…  Sir Percy Blakeney, of course!
• Describe your ideal dwelling place.   A country victorian style house in the country, surrounded by trees, with a pond and a stream gurgling nearby.  The house will be white with lilac shutters and trim, with a wrap around porch that goes all the way around the house, a bay window with a window seat, a window seat at the end of the upstairs hallway concealed from view by curtains with a "shh, I'm reading" sign, a library with shelves from floor to ceiling with those neat little rolling ladders to reach the topmost books, a kitchen with a cooking island and a big sink, an attic crammed full of old furniture and trunks full of delightful things from days gone by, lace curtains on all the windows, a laundry chute, a music room with a baby grand piano, wood flooring throughout the whole house, and a room set aside as the school room.  Also, no ideal dwelling place of mine would be complete without a barn, so a large barn with plenty of room for my horses, sheep and other livestock, a cozy place for me to sleep during lambing season, and a covered walkway from the barn to the house so I don't have to shovel a path through the snow.  And this ideal dwelling place will be located in the ideal, beautiful state of Idaho!  There - you asked for it;)

• Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?  Well, I can't think of any at the moment... 
•  In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...  Oh dear, this is a hard question - and I came up with it!  What was I thinking?;)  Okay, Lady Mar from The Scottish Chiefs - a completely odious, traitorous woman, to be sure!  I also have to say Mr. Wickham from Pride & Prejudice or Mr. Willoughby from Sense & Sensibility, because they're so deceptively pleasant at first glance.
• Three favorite Non-fiction books?  God's Word, Back to Basics, and Adam's Synchronological Chart of History.
• Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?  Sitting in the pasture while my sheep graze, reading a new book, with my dog leaning against me, and a kitty or lamb in my lap.
• Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.  Either a sweet, little, creamy wool 1940s hat that perches on the back of my head, with ribbons and lace, or a big, wide brim hat, with ostrich plumes, yards of lace, and a small spray of flowers nestled in the lace.  I don't know that those portray my true character, but those are the hats I would most like;)
• Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.  Well, definitely my mom being so sick and finally discovering that she has Lyme disease.  Also, my cousin's wedding, serving on a jury (that was fun!!), and the Epic Pilgrimage.
• Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.  Hebrews 12:28&29 - Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
  For our God is a consuming fire. 
• And lastly, as I am a rather businesslike hostess, may I ask you your views regarding those adorable little items - namely pin back and mirror back buttons?  1). Where would you choose to display a button badge to best showcase your unique style?  2). What image and/or sentiment would most make you smile were it inscribed on your very own compact mirror? 1) I should add it to the collection already displayed on my laptop case, and 2) I'd like the picture of Audrey Hepburn on the bike with the text "Smile":)

Keeping it Classy {Day 2}

 

I'm not planning on linking up every day of the event, but I will when I can, because it's fun:)

 

{Day 2}

 

 

It felt like Spring today, so I pulled my green linen skirt out to celebrate!:)

 

 

 

~My Outfit~

Shoes - Goodwill=)

Skirt - sewn by me - I traced the pattern from a denim skirt I have and added a ruffle

Shirt - Costco - pink and cream with French text, roses, and sparkly stuff=)

Jacket - brown corduroy - My Grandma Barb gave it to me for a birthday present

Hair Clip/Barrette - Fred Meyer

 

Happy Trails!

Wallpaper Wednesday - Olivia de Havilland

A very happy Wednesday to you all!

 

I hope y'all aren't tired of Olivia de Havilland yet, because today I have 2 wallpapers featuring her=)

 

First, Olivia in Captain Blood as...Arabella Bishop!

 

{full size image located on the graphic design page}

 

I LOVE this movie.  How could I not when it stars Errol Flynn as the dashing Captain Blood, and Olivia as Arabella?  I also love the book by Rafael Sabatini which the movie is based on.   This was the first of 8 films which Errol and Olivia made together, and the movie which boosted them both to stardom.

 

.....

 

{full size image located on the graphic design page}

 

What can I say?  I love Olivia.  And the color purple:) 

 

I just saw her in Princess O'Rourke yesterday, an absolutely hilarious romantic comedy.  I laughed so hard - it's a good thing the rest of my family had gone to town, because I probably would have scared them with all of my laughing and talking! 

 

Me - "Oh, no!  If he's going to do, what I think he's going to do...*insert wild cackling*...he did!! *insert more wild cackling punctuated by an occasional snort*  Yes, I do talk to myself sometimes, and yes, I do snort when I laugh really hard.  I've learned to live with both. 

 

If you do see it, you might recognize Jean - she's played by Jane Wyman, who also played Pollyanna's Aunt Polly. 

 

(Note: the picture of Olivia in the above wallpaper was found on ebay - yes, I snatch pictures sometimes...but not to sell;)

 

.....

 

Happy trails y'all!

Open Arms Benefit Concert

Friday night's Open Arms Benefit Concert was phenomenal.   Period.

 

All of the bands sounded absolutely fantastic, and I felt so incredibly blessed to be there, to be just a small part of it all, and so proud (in a good way:) of Alex and my other "brothers". 

 

And, I didn't get a headache!  Woohoo!!!!! Listening to loud music for several hours without a break usually gives me a headache, so I was really happy about that!=D

 

Furthermore, to crown it all, I got to hold an absolutely beautiful baby girl!

 

I have to tell you all, that it was an answered prayer.  I knew that Molly (one of the Panhandle Polecats) had had a new baby, and I wanted to hold her so bad.  I love babies, but rarely get an opportunity to hold one.  So, I prayed that I would get to hold her. 

 

Darling, almost 2 months old, baby Ruth:)

 

My family and I were sitting and watching the Polecats getting ready for their sound check before the performance.  Molly was late, and when she got there, the rest of her siblings (the Polecats) told her to "hand the baby to someone!"  Well, I happened to be that someone:) 

 

No, it wasn't chance - it was providence.  You see, normally Molly's parents would have held the baby for her, but they weren't there yet.  It was a special gift from the Lord for me, and the best part of the evening.  I just had to share that story with y'all:)

 

Okay, on to the music...

 

Hat Band sound check

The North Idaho Hat Band goes "cool", as they whip out their ultra cool sunglasses for Minor Swing;)

 

The Panhandle Polecats - btw, I am excessively sorry that all of these pictures are so blurry.  It was a combination of my unsteady hand and the lighting.  My apologies...

 

The Riders of the Rockin' B Ranch - Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee brought their whole cowboy supper show (minus the supper;) and put on an outstanding performance!

 

Their rousing rendition of The William Tell Overture, aka the Lone Ranger theme song, complete with pistol shot!  That got quite a reaction, let me tell you=)  No worries - it was a blank, or so we assume as no ceiling plaster fell down;D

 

And that's all folks!

 

Happy trails!

Wallpaper Wednesday - Randolph Scott

I was so excited - the other day I finally found some reasonably sized pictures of...Randolph Scott!

 

{full size image located on the graphic design page}

 

Now, since the pictures were only reasonably sized, I had to make this wallpaper smaller.  Instead of being 1600x1200, it is 800x600.  But, it still looks close to awesome, in my humble opinion, and so does Randolph Scott, also in my humble opinion;)

 

I love him in The Fighting Westerner, The Last of the Mohicans, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (with Shirley Temple), and Captain Kidd.  I also love him in Follow the Fleet (with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers), even though I don't really like the character he plays.

 

In short, I just love him:)  You'll probably be seeing more of him on future Wallpaper Wednesdays...

 

.....

 

I haven't asked for requests in a while, so I shall do so now - if you're simply longing for me to design a wallpaper featuring your favorite silver screen star or classic movie, please don't hesitate to tell me!  Also, if I haven't made one that you requested in the past, please remind me.

 

Happy Trails!

Miami Piano

Hello, people:)

So, how many of you have heard about the Miami Piano?

Let's see a show of hands...

Anyone?

Hmm...well, it's a grand piano that mysteriously appeared on a sandbar in Biscayne Bay in Miami (and has since been removed, I believe...)

Anyway, my amazingly creative and talented brother wrote and recorded a wee ballad about ye old piano in Miami.

Prepare yourselves...and enjoy:)