The Flame Trees of Thika on Acorn TV

My current obsession. The Flame Trees of Thika miniseries on Acorn TV is absolutely wonderful. It was filmed on location in 1981 in untamed Africa. If you liked "Out of Africa" you will love it. The movie is based on a Memoir by Elsbeth Huxley so it's also a true story. Enjoy the YouTube preview and be convinced.

A Winter Garden in Sweden

Winters are long in Sweden so why not design your garden to be beautiful in the snow?

Read the article about how Maria Dremo Sundström achieved this look with hers.

I wonder if she was inspired by Dutch Landscape Designer. Piet Oudolf? See a video about his Dutch gardens and a film documentary below:

SWEET LAND movie recommendation

I watched the BEST movie last night on Pluto TV  This is an on-demand movie under the Romance category. There are commercials but they don't detract too much from this utterly charming film produced by Alan Cumming. Elizabeth Reaser is beyond fabulous as young Inge. It is also available on Amazon Prime. It is the sweetest movie and I know you will love it!!!! It is very heartwarming and wholesome too.

SWEET LAND

In the aftermath of World War I, Inge Altenberg (Elizabeth Reaser), an orphan from Snåsa, Norway, arrives in America to a very cold reception. The parents of immigrant farmer Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee) remain in Norway, where they met her. Dialogue reveals that the four of them have worked out an agreement that allowed her to emigrate to America for the purpose of marrying Olaf. The Minnesota farming village of Audubon, in which her intended husband lives, is horrified to learn that she is a German immigrant with no papers. To make matters worse, she has accidentally obtained membership papers for the American Socialist Party. Scandalized, both the town's Lutheran minister and the county clerk refuse to marry them.

When events lead them to openly cohabit with each other, they find themselves ostracized by the entire town. They are then forced to harvest their crop completely by hand and alone. This particular harvest season brings not only work, but love as well.

Oscar Winning Documentary on NatGeo Tonight

I watched the Oscars this year all the way to the finish and saw this film win Best Documentary Feature. The preview intrigued me as I am fearful of heights. I can't even climb a ladder to clean my first floor gutters much less scale a vertical rock with no rope. That's what Free Soloing is -- rock climbing without a rope. I don't expect many of you will be interested in this film but maybe you can share with someone who might enjoy a free showing. This documentary appeared in theaters in 2018. The photo above is a screen shot from my phone via my Verizon FiOS app. Your channel number for the National Geographic channel will probably be different. 

{ click photo to enlarge }

IMPORTANT: Set your DVR tonight for this -- the final episode of VICTORIA, Season 3 on PBS. I'm looking forward to seeing Albert's project: The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for the Grand International Exhibition of 1851. I will be so sad to see this series go. This is the last season Albert was in every episode. Sniff. Sniff.

Wonderful Award-Winning Short Film

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If you cannot see the video above, click here. Enjoy.

A Close Call.

This old house nearby lost its front porch during Hurricane Sandy but I think it was lucky.

It could have been much worse. The poor houe is deteriorating fast and I fear it will probably be torn down. 

We are having a very gray morning here at my cottage as we await the coming snow. The snow map the weather people are showing puts us right on the line for light snow and heavy snow. I hope it's the former. I'll be watching the Oscars tonight, will you? I haven't seen one single movie on the list but I enjoy the awards, and the Red Carpet beforehand.

Wonderful Oscar-Nominated Animated Romantic Video

This is the most charming thing I've seen in ages.

PAPERMAN is a full length short film from Disney Studios. I promise you will love it. Chick here if you can't see it on my blog. This will be the best six minutes of your day. Read more about this Oscar Nominated film here.

Drive-in Movie

Do you miss drive-in movies as much as I do? I love all of the cars in this lot too. Where are the speaker stands? Were these people watching a silent film? via

Moonrise Kingdom Movie Interior Scene

If you like anything at all about this photo, you will love the movie. Moonrise Kingdom was great. This is one of the few scenes where the boys were dressed. They were usually in pajamas all day long or their underwear. The girl was always perfectly groomed. I loved the record they played continuously too. I would love to own it. Hmmmm...I wonder if there is a soundtrack?

Moonrise Kingdom (Soundtrack)

The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34 (Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell):

Theme F: (Full Orchestra) Composed by Leonard Bernstein, Performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

YouTube

M. Night Shyamalan's Philadelphia Home

The filmmaker enlivens a storied 1930s Georgian Revival home near Philadelphia with a romantic array of English architectural styles. The new gatehouse frames a view of the original 1937 Georgian Revival residence on 125 acres. View the 18-photo Architectural Digest slideshow here. Read the article too.

Moonrise Kingdom | The Movie

I saw this movie about 10 days ago on the first day it opened at my neighborhood theatre and enjoyed it very much. From the photo you would assume it is a film for children but my friend and I decided it was an adult film for children at heart. I found a good review here.

photo via

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Complete Movie)

Click here if you are unable to see the video. Watch it when you have time. It won an Oscar for 'Best Animated Short Film' at the Academy Awards this year. You'll see why when you watch it. Please share with all of your book-loving friends.

Maggie Smith Rumors at Downton Abbey

Say it isn't so. There are whisperings that Maggie Smith has not renewed her contract beyond Season 3's Christmas Special. Hopefully she will reconsider and stay on once she realizes that the series cannot possibly go on without her. via

Top 10 Maggie Moments from Season One


Top Maggie Moments from Season Two

Alfred Hitchcock and His Curious Dog

I don't have to worry about Webster doing this. I don't get the paper and he can't read. via I do love Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock, Sir Alfred (Joseph) (1899–1980), English movie director. Acclaimed in Britain for movies such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), he moved to Hollywood in 1939. Among his later works, notable for their suspense and their technical ingenuity, are the thrillers Strangers on a Train (1951), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963).

Elephants Reunited After 22 Years Apart

Watch the short film here.

This wonderful film was created by world-renowned filmmaker Allison Argo from ArgoFilms. Read more of this story on PBS. I want to know everything there is to know about Shirley and Jenny...free at last to live out their years together. This footage proves that elephants never forget.

Shirley and Jenny, two crippled elephants were reunited at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee after a 22-year separation. The bonding was immediate, intense and unforgettable between the two former circus elephants. But long after the cameras were turned off, the wondrous moments would continue. Snif, snif.
Visit the website of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

Dumbo ~ 'Baby of Mine' Lullaby [video]

This never fails to make me cry. It speaks volumes about motherly love. Sniff, sniff.

Handmade iPad - A Wonderful Claymation Video

I loved this wonderful stop-motion video by a student from the British Higher School of Art and Design.

Countdown to Oscar

This is the site for Everything Oscar. I'll be watching, will you? Are you having an Oscar party or just eating popcorn in front of the TV? I'll be using my top of the stove vintage Felknor's Theater Popcorn Popper and doing the latter.

I had a hard time finding an original classic Felknor which for some reason is no longer made but I finally got one a couple of years ago and love it. I use olive oil for regular popcorn and sometimes I make kettle corn which is also delicious. I'm told the Whirley Pop is almost as good even though it doesn't have the tapered sides. You'll never eat microwave corn again once you go back in time and make popcorn on your stovetop. If mine ever breaks, I might buy one of these from Lehman's.

Buy Good Goods

I love this quote by Ray Eames and I 'm crazy about this little plywood elephant too.

The Eames Plywood Elephant was designed in 1945. Conceived both as a children's toy and as a decorative interior object, this newly reproduced Plywood Elephant catches the eye with its cheerful curves and flowing shapes.

This post gets longer and longer as the day progresses. I found this great animated film about these toy elephants called A GATHERING OF ELEPHANTS. It's wonderful!

DOT the movie

Click here to watch the movie DOT
starring the world's smallest character.

Shot with a Nokia N8 cell phone. This smartphone has a 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss lenses. I think this is going to be my next phone.

I wasn't able to embed the movie in my blog. When you click on the link there are several fascinating short films to watch and be amazed. Anyone who sews or knits will be especially entertained.

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