a little new year's list.

2011 will be brighter than 2010. at least i think it will be. but i say that every year. this time i really and truly believe it, which is the important thing anyway. i've been thinking lately about resolutions, and that i never see much point in them as i forget them after two and a half weeks, on average. but this year will be different. right? right. i decided not to get too lofty and limit the list to two. so here it is:
1. start taking tap lessons again. easy enough. (or easier said than done? i'm not sure yet.) my inspiration:
                                                          Gene Kelly. who else?
                    



2. the most important and most often overlooked--do more. for people i know and people i don't know.

bright star

Bright Star is my second installment of movies that should have won an oscar in march. this one is about  the poet John Keats, whose house I recently visited (but didn't get to go inside) in London. the movie itself is a poem, and is so beautiful I could die. Really, I think I could. It is the most literary-based movie i've ever seen: Keats' poetry is integrated perfectly into the script.

It balances simplicity and drama in such a perfect way.

John Keats: I had such a dream last night. I was floating above the trees with my lips connected to those of a beautiful figure, for what seemed like an age. Flowery treetops sprung up beneath us and we rested on them with the lightness of a cloud. 

Fanny Brawne: Who was the figure? 

John Keats:  I must have had my eyes closed because I can't remember. 

Fanny Brawne:  And yet you remember the treetops. 

John Keats:  Not so well as I remember the lips. 

Fanny Brawne:  Whose lips? Were they my lips?

Fanny Brawne: I still don't know how to work out a poem. 

John Keats: A poem needs understanding through the senses. The point of diving into a lake is not immediately to swim to the shore but to be in the lake, to luxuriate in the sensation of water. You do not work the lake out, it is a experience beyond thought. Poetry soothes and emboldens the soul to accept the mystery. 

Fanny Brawne: I love mystery.

You don't have to work through a poem, systematically, to know that or how it affects you. I did get a bit emotional when i heard Ben Whishaw's reading of Ode to a Nightingale. I'm not necessarily proud of that fact, but there it is just the same. And here it is, if you'd like to listen. See if it doesn't strike a certain cord. I bet it will.

life in progress.

My life (and this little blog) have both been my works in progress lately. I think I'm finally done tinkering with blog design, but as for my life--that's another story entirely. Hopefully with this move in January, everything will start to fall back in place. hopefully. With Jack the horse nearby again, I think I'll be just fine. and happy. Not the Starbucks made my mocha right today or gosh the weather is so nice kind of happy--the other kind. For me it's always been horses, and living in a place that I truly care about. Oh, and this little (little?) dog here, too. I just had to post these photos from her bath tonight. Cute doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this face. I'm a little obsessed.

christmas gift ideas

(or things i'd just like to keep for myself)

i've been so inspired by the etsy art i've been finding recently, including

these prints by Danna Ray:

photos by irenesuchocki:

jewelry by dinosaur toes (always...i'm obsessed):

a tiny little video

from a tiny trip to England.


music: Down River by the Temper Trap

the young victoria

The Young Victoria is, as the title states, a movie about Queen Victoria immediately before and after her rise to the throne. More than that, though, it is a movie about love. It's so rare to be able to watch a historical (i use that term loosely) movie about royalty that is also a happy love story. So that fact is a luxury in itself, not to mention the beautiful soundtrack, exquisite costumes, and to-die-for sets. It is a stunning and immense piece of artistic work.

Prince Albert: I just got your note. I was riding. 

Queen Victoria: Sit, please. 

Prince Albert: The park is marvelous. 

Queen Victoria: Im so pleased you like it. I do want you to feel quite at home... I'm sure you're aware why I wished you to come here. Because it would make me happier than anything, too happy really, if you would agree to what I wish. 

Prince Albert: And stay with you? 

Queen Victoria: And stay with me. 

Prince Albert: And marry you? 

Queen Victoria: And marry me! 

Rupert Friend's portrayal of Lord Albert is so heartbreakingly sweet and perfect that it makes you want to hope that men like that still exist. He is so thoughtful and genuine that you can't help but fall in love with him immediately. 

He spends hours learning to waltz so that he might make Victoria happy, and with his first letter sends sheet music of a Schubert song that reminds him of her. 

here is the clip:

and, not to forget Emily Blunt--her role as Victoria is astounding. Her strength and gracefulness underlined by a youthful innocence is nothing short of inspiring, not to mention her utter and absolute beauty.

Sir John Conroy:  You're too young! you've no experience. you're like a china doll, walking over a precipice... 

Princess Victoria: Well then I must smash! for it's too late to mend my ways now. 

I happen to have a list of movies that were nominated for Oscars this year but didn't win and should have. That may just be my opinion, but I tend to get pretty riled up when I watch the Oscars nowadays. Credit rarely goes where it's due. Anyway, this movie happens to be on that list. It was nominated for art direction, costume design and makeup. It won costume design and makeup, but that was it. I'm not saying it didn't deserve those two--it absolutely did. But it also deserved to win for best actress (hands down, Emily Blunt could act circles around Sandra Bullock…if that's possible), and maybe even best movie. that's a tough one, but yes, I do believe so. Admittedly I'm quite the sucker for period films, but nevertheless.

oh, and i'll be back next sunday with my opinion of what Bright Star should have won.

love

courtesy of b.stetson

"love is like a little old woman

and a little old man who are still friends

even after they know each other so well."

--tommy, age 6

[quote via naturally nina]

rainy day and poundcake.

Since it was my sister's last night home before she went back to the big apple, I decided it would be a good night to make my grandmother's poundcake. Turns out Ali hates poundcake. But at least it gives me something to eat for breakfast in the mornings. And it's the only recipe I have of my grandmother's, who was famous in little old Reidsville, NC for her home cooking. It's nice having my little sister home, because she's the quick-witted comic of the family, so she reminds us all to laugh a little more and not take everything quite so seriously. I miss her so very much when she's gone.