Sunday, December 29, 2013
and on we go....
Wishing
You
All
A
Very
Healthy
And
Happy
New
Year,
Filled
With
Joy
And
Love
And
Delicious
Cookies!
More To Come......
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 6:07:00 PM
Sunday, December 22, 2013
happy holiday cheer
This is my 9th Christmas/Holiday post.
My first one, was here, written on December 20th, 2005.....and it was a lot of fun, as you will see if you go take a look and read all the comments.....And, by the way, you may recognize a few of the commenter's names---And I must say, looking back, it is truly lovely to know that some of us have been blogesphere friends for such a very long time.....
This post back in December, 2005, was a wonderful idea that I got from another blogger and I tell you, the
"stories" in the comments will lift your spirits and give you some hearty laughs.
Check It Out!
This post back in December, 2005, was a wonderful idea that I got from another blogger and I tell you, the
"stories" in the comments will lift your spirits and give you some hearty laughs.
Check It Out!
This year, I decided to devote my Holiday post to pictures of Old Fashioned Cards that featured my favorite four footed friends,
Cats.
Cats.
Here we go!
I loved this card---such a sweet sweet face on that darling kitty. And it is my way of sending you all a Christmas Card this year. I just haven't been up to doing much of anything about Christmas.....so forgive me and know that I do wish all of you the Happiest of Holidays----I truly do!
And this felt like the perfect way to send those heartfelt wishes to each and everyone of you.
Another adorable face, above.
There is something about cats that warms the heart and makes one smile, from the inside out.....
And look at these two darling little kittens, above. You just want to hug them and then, hug them some more....
And below, another pair of darlings----more huggables,
for sure!
And below, another pair of darlings----more huggables,
for sure!
Huggable and Kissable, too.
And such pretty pretty faces!
And below, another scrumptious kissable.....
And then we have the big guy himself,
And such pretty pretty faces!
And below, another scrumptious kissable.....
dear Santa, with a very comfy-cozy relaxed beauty and you can see he is one very loved feline.....
You can just feel that wonderful soft fur.....
And last, but not least, the dearest of the dear.....
My darling and the-most-beautiful-cat-I-ever-saw.....
The Late Great "Sweetie".......
He crossed over The Rainbow Bridge on
January 2nd, 2012.
I miss him every day and am so very grateful
for the 12 years we spent together, being 'best buds'.
Those blue eyes just knocked me out.
What a truly handsome dude he was.....And as Sweet as his name.
Those blue eyes just knocked me out.
What a truly handsome dude he was.....And as Sweet as his name.
These dear dear special animals crawl into your heart and stay there forever.
Wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays, my dears.
More To Come......
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 10:10:00 AM
Monday, December 16, 2013
peter o'toole 1932 - 2013;
One of the Giants of our business.
How gorgeous was he in "Lawrence Of Arabia"?
How gorgeous in every way.
In Daily Variety, they said:
"He racked up eight Oscar-nominated performances — including the beloved schoolmaster in “Goodbye Mr. Chips” (1969); two portrayals of King Henry II (“Becket,” 1964, “The Lion in Winter,” 1968); an insane aristocrat who thinks he’s Jesus Christ in “The Ruling Class” (1972); the larger-than-life film director in “The Stunt Man” (1980); and the swashbuckling actor in “My Favorite Year” — but his “Lawrence” always loomed largest."
His last Oscar nomination was for "Venus" in 2007.
A beautiful performance. And I remember I hoped he would win because one wondered, would there be another performance at his age.
(Well there was.....but that's another story....)
A beautiful performance. And I remember I hoped he would win because one wondered, would there be another performance at his age.
(Well there was.....but that's another story....)
He holds the record for the most nominated actor in a leading role, never to win an Oscar.
In 2003, The Academy awarded him an Honorary Oscar.....
"....whose remarkable talents have provided cinema history with some of his most memorable characters....."
Back on March 15th, 2012, I wrote about a little film I happened to stumble upon....
"Dean Spanley" in which Mr. O'Toole gave a stunning performance. He was irascible; he was funny and ultimately, he was so very very touching.
I said at the time, I didn't understand how this little gem of a film was overlooked by the Oscars.
(If you click on the above you can read my post and review of "Dean Spanley". a film very much worth seeing.)
And it was not just overlooked by the Academy, but it was overlooked by everybody!
This was and is beyond my understanding.
Everything that was wonderful and special and unique about Peter O'Toole is on view in "Dean Spanley"
A beautiful film, not to be missed, especially because it is from his later years.
When Peter O'Toole announced his 'retirement' last year, I wondered if illness was the reason.
This was a man who loved what he did and continued doing it for a very long time, on stage and screen.
He made close to 100 films and appeared in way over 100 plays.
I think he felt he was on borrowed time for many many years.....He had a number of incredibly life threatening illnesses in the 1970's and '80's, and miraculously survived them all.......
and then, I guess he just wasn't able to survive any longer---the body just gave out.
He left a magnificent body of work that will last forever. by the grace of all our technical advances........
Who would have ever thought back in 1962 when he made "Lawrence Of Arabia" that one day we would be able to watch that Star-Making performance, and all of the other magnificent films Peter O'Toole made, while sitting in our homes, on any number of amazing devices of all sizes, from any number of venues---
Netflix, Amazon Streaming, iTunes, On Demand, etc., etc., Anytime we want.
What a great gift!
Rest in Peace dear dear Peter O'Toole.
You touched our lives over and over with your always full-out
dedicated performances.
Thank you so much for all these very moving and special memories.
And look for "Dean Spanley".
You won't be sorry.
More To Come........
I said at the time, I didn't understand how this little gem of a film was overlooked by the Oscars.
(If you click on the above you can read my post and review of "Dean Spanley". a film very much worth seeing.)
And it was not just overlooked by the Academy, but it was overlooked by everybody!
This was and is beyond my understanding.
A beautiful film, not to be missed, especially because it is from his later years.
When Peter O'Toole announced his 'retirement' last year, I wondered if illness was the reason.
This was a man who loved what he did and continued doing it for a very long time, on stage and screen.
I think he felt he was on borrowed time for many many years.....He had a number of incredibly life threatening illnesses in the 1970's and '80's, and miraculously survived them all.......
and then, I guess he just wasn't able to survive any longer---the body just gave out.
Netflix, Amazon Streaming, iTunes, On Demand, etc., etc., Anytime we want.
What a great gift!
Rest in Peace dear dear Peter O'Toole.
You touched our lives over and over with your always full-out
dedicated performances.
Thank you so much for all these very moving and special memories.
And look for "Dean Spanley".
You won't be sorry.
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 1:34:00 AM
Sunday, December 08, 2013
philomena
"Philomena" is a lovely touching film with the always superb Dame Judy Dench.
It is based on a true story and the screenplay was written by Jeff Pipe and Steve Coogan, who also stars in the film along with Ms. Dench, and it is based on the book written by Martin Sixsmith, who Coogan portrays in the film.
This film was beautifully directed by the incredibly talented Stephen Frears, probably best known in recent years for his film "The Queen", for which Helen Mirren won the Academy Award.
It is about a woman named Philomena Lee and her search for her son, whom she was forced to give up many many years before.
Martin Sixsmith is a journalist who got involved in Philomena's search and this is what the film is about.
It is a very serious film with a lot of comic overtones, but....make no mistake, it is a film that will move you to tears and may even haunt you, forevermore.....
It is not just one woman's story.....but many many women's story.
I won't say anymore about the film itself, except to say.....
I urge you with all my heart, to go see this picture.
There is so much to savor in it....Not the least of which is the incredibly sensitive and very feeling yet understated performance by that great great treasure of an actress.....
Judi Dench.
This is a small film---not a "Blockbuster", no----
But, a small film with a big heart.
And Thank God the 'powers that be' put their money where their mouth is,
and fought to make this memorable picture!
More To Come.......
It is based on a true story and the screenplay was written by Jeff Pipe and Steve Coogan, who also stars in the film along with Ms. Dench, and it is based on the book written by Martin Sixsmith, who Coogan portrays in the film.
It is about a woman named Philomena Lee and her search for her son, whom she was forced to give up many many years before.
Martin Sixsmith is a journalist who got involved in Philomena's search and this is what the film is about.
It is not just one woman's story.....but many many women's story.
I urge you with all my heart, to go see this picture.
There is so much to savor in it....Not the least of which is the incredibly sensitive and very feeling yet understated performance by that great great treasure of an actress.....
Judi Dench.
This is a small film---not a "Blockbuster", no----
But, a small film with a big heart.
And Thank God the 'powers that be' put their money where their mouth is,
and fought to make this memorable picture!
More To Come.......
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 11:08:00 AM
Sunday, December 01, 2013
the dallas buyers club
It is "inspired" by the true story of a man named Ron Woodroof, a homophobic bigot who contracted AIDS, during the early period when the only approved-by-the-FDA drug to fight AIDS, was a very toxic killing medicine called AZT.
Ron Woodroof's zeal and determination NOT to be killed by this very toxic medicine, led him to seek out other alternative meds and other supportive therapies from other country's and also led him to partnering in this endeavor with a most unlikely compadre, a transgender woman, brilliantly and touchingly played by Jared Leto---("Oscar", Here I Come).....
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Woodroof formed what he called, a 'buyers club' which allowed him to legally supply other AIDS patients with this life-saving cocktail-of sorts.......
So many lives were saved by this daring and audacious move by this strange and interesting character, defying the rules of the FDA at that time, by any means needed, including, partnering up with someone he abhorred-----but, who ended up being a true alley as well as a true friend.
No, neither of them survived. But both of these people, plus thousands upon thousands of other people had their lives extended by embracing illegal alternatives because the wheels of justice concerning AIDS research and drug availability here in the United States lagged so far behind in interest and in caring because AIDS was thought of as a gay man's disease, and good riddance.
The evidence of this attitude by our Government is undeniable.
It took years and years to change this attitude and at a great loss of life.
Ron Woodroof's tenacity to find something----anything really----to extend his life from the death sentence of "You will be dead in 30 days".....
This is what this film is all about, and further than that, it is about the change in one man's feelings of inhumanity to actually caring for another human being who he had formally hated out of total ignorance.
This is an important film on many many levels, and the bonus for this truly surprisingly moving film----
the performances of Jared Leto and Mr. McConaughey.
Is this worth seeing?
You Bet!!!
And, in honor of World AIDS Day, here is a link to a post I wrote a lot of years ago regarding my own personal losses to this atrocious insidious disease, especially during the truly terrible years of this Plague, before anything but AZT was available.
More To Come
More To Come
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 10:56:00 AM
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