Notes in the Key of Life: 05/01/2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Thursday 13: Great Movie Quotes

A fun one from the archives of Notes in the Key of Life. What are your favorite movie quotes?

--"What we do in life echoes in eternity." Gladiator, 2000.

-- "You're gonna need a bigger boat." Jaws, 1975.

-- "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." The Godfather Part II, 1974.

Al Pacino in The Godfather

-- "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac ... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" Caddyshack, 1980.

--"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." Dead Poets Society, 1989.

--"Every man dies, not every man really lives." Braveheart, 1995.

--"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." The Princess Bride, 1987

--"I'm your huckleberry." Tombstone, 1993.

Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer in Tombstone

--"Round up the usual suspects."--and--

-- "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Casablanca, 1942

--"Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 1986

-- "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Chariots of Fire, 1981

--"Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior." Amazing Grace, 2006

What are your favorites?

Participate in the Thursday 13

Monday, May 28, 2012

What I Wore: Sunday, May 27, 2012

I'm always a bit envious when I look at the blogs of women who thrift so awesomely. They get steals for a few bucks, and look like a million.

Well, I'm blessed to have a wonderful sister who often gives me clothes. She says that sometimes she just realizes they weren't right for her, or that the colors would be better suited to me. I'm more than happy to take them off her hands!

This is the latest outfit she gave me, and I love it!

Jacket: Steinmart

Sheath: Dillards

Both passed along to me by my sister!

Okay, yes, I took these pictures in the bathroom. Don't you know a toilet in the background is a mark of great photography? :)

A closer-up view of the jacket. I'm visiting my family in Texas right now, but I just happened to bring that turquoise necklace with me. Interestingly enough, my sister gave that to me last year! The earrings and bracelet are my own.

I got the bracelet at Cato. The ring was my grandmother's. Took this one in the car...see my seatbelt? :)

I also brought with me these turquoise shoes I bought last summer for $14.99 at Shoe Carnival. They're pretty and comfortable too.

But the very best accessory is a cute little grandson! This is me and Payton (5) at Sunday lunch at Bill Miller's BBQ.

And this is me and Josiah (2). I'm loving getting to spend time with my adorable grandsons in the Great State of Texas! I always look happiest in pictures with my grandsons.

Memorial Day: Requiem for a Soldier

One of the most moving series I've ever watched is "Band of Brothers." On this Memorial Day, I can think of few more fitting tributes than this video.

Sung by Katherine Jenkins, the lyrics may be a bit difficult to understand, so I've included the lyrics below the video.

Take a few minutes today to watch this, and silently thank those who gave all for freedom.

You never lived to see

What you gave to me

One shining dream of hope and love

Life and liberty

With a host of brave unknown soldiers

For your company, you will live forever

Here in our memory

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/amici+forever/requiem+for+a+soldier_20521282.html ]

In fields of sacrifice

Heroes paid the price

Young men who died for old men's wars

Gone to paradise

We are all one great band of brothers

And one day you'll see we can live together

When all the world is free

I wish you'd lived to see

All you gave to me

Your shining dream of hope and love

Life and liberty

We are all one great band of brothers

And one day you'll see - we can live together

When all the world is free

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Grandchildren are so precious

Since coming down to Texas for the funeral of our friend Ray, I've been able to spend some much-needed time with my family members who live here. Especially my precious little grandsons, Payton and Josiah.

Since I live in Illinois, this is truly a cherished time.

Here are just a few of the many pictures I've taken so far.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Ray Boehm 1956-2012 : The passing of a dear friend

Our dear friend Ray Boehm (second from left), with his wife Teri, me and my husband Doug

It was not what we planned to be

We all would change the ending

If the choice was ours to make

For you left us so suddenly

But it's only the beginning

For eternity awaits

And I'll never forget you my friend

For the brotherhood between us has no end...

--"Love Finds You," 4 Him

Our dear friend Ray Boehm died last Thursday of complications after a bone marrow transplant.

We knew the transplant's aftermath would be tough, but unforeseen complications made it worse

and resulted in his death.

Ray has been my husband's best friend since they were in junior high. I personally have known Ray since the mid 70s, and his wife Teri since 1988. Our families are more like family than friends.

Ray was a unique individual--blessed with loads of personality and humor. In fact, he was one of the funniest people I've ever known.

He was fun-loving, generous to a fault, the most loyal of friends, and he possessed a deep faith that informed his entire life.

We love you and will miss you terribly, Ray...but as our friend Tasha says of her late daughter

Sydney, not rest in peace, but live in peace...

Until the day we see you again.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Baby Names: Sophia takes the crown from Isabella

Sophia Loren

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Ran across this news item yesterday:

Sophia is replacing Isabella as the most popular baby name for a girl in the U.S. The Social Security Administration's list of baby names chosen most often in 2011 has Jacob in first place on the boys' side for a 13th straight year. Some other popular names for girls include Emma, Olivia, Ava and Emily. Parents of baby boys are most often picking names like Mason, William, Jayden, Noah and Michael.

(Michael's still there! After being number one for ages, it's far down the list now, but still hanging on. Michael endures!)

Just for fun, I rounded up some photos of famous people or fictional characters bearing some of the favorite names. Enjoy...

Isabella Rossellini

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Prince William of England

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Ava Gardner

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Ryan Gosling as "Noah Calhoun" in "The Notebook"

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan in "Once Upon a Time"

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Christian singer Jadon Lavik

Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham on "Fringe"

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Tell me about the people/babies/your own children/yourself who have one of these names!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Visible Monday: The top I won in a blog give-away!

I used to NEVER win anything. So it's been such a delight to have been the winner of a few blog give-aways in the past year or two.

The top I'm wearing above is from a company called Soft Surroundings. I won it from a give-away on one of my very favorite blogs, the lovely Pam's Over50Feeling40.

It's very sheer and lightweight, so a shell or a tank underneath is a must. I think the top looks nice either buttoned up (above) or left open with the tank showing (below.)

This top is wonderfully colorful, so I'll probably pair it with black on the bottom. It feels like anything else would just be too crazy. This top deserves the spotlight!

Gotta admit, though....it does make me want to wear a flower in my hair. :)

A bonus? Thanks to my interaction with the company, I'll be hosting a Soft Surroundings give-away on this blog shortly!

Oh, and if you've ever been hesitant about entering a give-away, don't be! If someone like me can win, so can you!

A little late in the day, but I'm linking up with Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Me and my wonderful mom, Cynthia Garrett

Thoughts on Motherhood

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is." ~Keith L. Brooks

via

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb

It is not until you become a mother than your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding. ~ Erma Bombeck

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. ~ Agatha Christie

via

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. ~ George Washington

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. ~William Ross Wallace

via

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful, wonderful, precious mother! I love you more than I could ever express!

Monday, May 07, 2012

Payton Explains a Video Game

It's Monday, and I'm off and running on another busy week. Not much time for blogging today, so I thought (as a proud Nana) I'd share a short video of my grandsons.

The older one, Payton (5) is explaining to my son Justin how to play a certain video game.

The younger one, Josiah (2) is just having random fun.

Watch it for a grin. :)

Friday, May 04, 2012

So is anyone else obsessed with Instagram?

Well, I finally got a smart phone. It's not an iPhone, but it is at least capable of being connected to the Internet, and more importantly...Instagram!

I do radio commercials for a beautiful shop called Crimson Ridge, and they gave me a bunch of tulips today!

Here's what Instagram is all about (from their website):

It’s a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your photos with friends and family.
Snap a picture, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram. Share to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr too – it's as easy as pie. It's photo sharing, reinvented.
Oh yeah, did we mention it’s free?

I've been going a little nutso experimenting with Instagram. But here's an apology upfront: I'm sorry a lot of these pictures are of me. I'm really not that vain. It's just that I've pretty much been all alone for most of this week and I'm, like, the only subject around.

I do plan to remedy that, and take cool pictures that other people might actually enjoy seeing.

So here we go:

Here's one I snapped of hubby so his picture would show up when he calls me.

Here's one I snapped of me, so my picture will show up when I call him.

Sorry if this one's kinda lame. I had literally just installed Instagram, and was looking around for anything to take a picture of. This happens to be a bookcase in my home.

This is what my hair looks like basically in its natural state, albeit helped along with some product. If you'd like to know what I do when I wear my hair curly (which is about 25 to 30 per cent of the time), and what products I use, go here.

Here's another idea. I don't have a scanner, but I decided to take a picture of a picture that's never been put on line. These are my boys, Jonathan and Justin, at the ages of about 5 and 2. (They are now 32 and 29. WHERE did that time go?!?)

Another pic with the flowers--this one taken with a cool, glowy, filtered light effect. By the way, women of a certain age like myself? Instagram effects can be quite kind to us.

Now I'm even more excited about Instagram, because I found out how to put my Instagram photos directly into an album on Facebook. It's called instafb. Cool!

OK, now some questions for YOU:

Do you have Instagram?

Do you use it a lot?

Anything you particularly like about it?

Any suggestions or tips for me?

PLEASE let me know in my comments section!

A Spring Make-over

Notice the new look?

Yep, the make-over is for my blog...and it was necessary. That's because my previous background was from Shabby Blogs, and Shabby Blogs was apparently hacked. When I tried to access my blog last night, I got a Google Chrome message advising me of malware.

So I had to "change my skin."

This background is from Hot Bliggity Blog. I'm not sure if this change will be permanent, but for now I like its light, airy look.

Were you affected by the Shabby Blog debacle? Let me know!