American Football

My husband and daughter LOVE Halloween but this year they were torn to be here OR to go to an American Football game that was being held at Wembley Stadium. You can all guess where they were, yup they went to the see the San Francisco 49ers (my home team) play against the Denver Bronco's. I handed out candy to the scads of kids and parents that came to my front door and they watched men running around in the cold with a pigskin. They both had a terrific time and said they'd do it all over again!

My Antique Shop Treasures

I saw (it's been many months ago now) in a magazine, a sitting room decorated in a manner that has stuck with me and has been in my head for quite some time. I'll have to wait until we get state side once again to find some wing back chairs, I've got the Turkish Rug and maybe I'll get lucky find a small table while here. Okay lets get back on topic- Then a little while back on the internet (HGTV to be exact) I saw a formal dining room decorated in a manner that I thought quite pleasing. Elegant yet not too formal to make ones guests feel uncomfortable. Then I saw a some more photo's of this persons house and loved what she had done with her Blue and white Staffordshire pottery collection. I knew that I wanted to recreate a similar look for my own home with my collection of blue and white pieces. Here's the link to Tetbury's photo's over on HGTV's website. Now here's the look I've recreated...

Actually it's 2 of the looks combined into one. My British house alas has narrow poky hallways and compartmentalized rooms. The picture you see here is in my breakfast room. But once I get back to New England I'll be able to have a larger house (hopefully one with an actual entry way like I had in my last house). I've found these items in various Antique shops here in the UK, on e-bay UK , the RAF Croughton gift shop and of course at the Burleigh Company factory shop in Stoke on Trent. Now if you'd like to catch up on the lovely person who created those wonderful rooms over on HGTV, well here's a link to her Blog Antiqueaholic, it's well worth checking out!

Olympics- have you been watching?

I've been watching the Olympics every night with my children. It's amazing to watch these athletes from every country in the world who are the best of the best in their sport. We ooh and aah, cheer on our favorites and applaud for the winner. We're cheering for Michael Phelps and hope to see him win a 7th Gold medal in swimming- wouldn't that really be something?!!!

Gymnastics last night all I can say is WOW! Way to Go Nastia Liukin! WooHoo!!! We were on the edge of our seats last night watching the athletes perform their routines. Here's the Summer Games medal stats- USA is in the lead (for now) with 44 medals with China hot on our tails!

Must see Movies

During the summer months I don't watch much TV, but from time to time I watch a movie. First on my MUST SEE recommendation list is a rental- The Bucket List, WOW was that a good movie! Yes, the two main characters do die in the end but it's not about their deaths but their lives and how they lived them. All I can say is "What a fantastic movie" it's a must see on the summer rental list.

Another movie, one I saw last night- Becoming Jane, Anne Hathaway portrays Jane Austen and I can see this young actress playing other parts like "Emma Woodhouse" and "Elizabeth Bennett"- she'd be excellent in them. I love anything Jane Austen and this movie is very much like her biography. I've seen other movies about Jane Austen's life but this one really tugged at my heart strings. Is it a chick movie? You best it is! Make some popcorn and have a box of tissues near by- and prepare to enjoy yourself!

Dog the Bounty Hunter

I'm excited! I'm watching some afternoon TV and I see an announcement that makes me smile... that one of my FAVORITE programs on A & E is coming back- Dog the Bounty Hunter! Oh this excites me to no end! I feel that this man and his brother have been given a bad rap and now I'm happy to say that A& E has done the right thing and Dog (Duane Chapman and his crew) is/are going to be back on the air!

We actually got to see one of his offices on our Hawaiian vacation in August of 2005. I have pictures of it somewhere on this computer, I"ll have to go through and figure out where they are :-) This makes me happy after having a bit of a depressing day.

PBS Masterpiece Theater

I made the sad discovery earlier this week that our DVR had skipped over recording Northanger Abbey (I'm seriously bummed at not getting to watch it). So I made sure to have the DVR programed to record Mansfield Park. As if was, I also watched it (for fear that the DVR would hiccup again). Oh was it ever good! The next movie I really look forward to seeing is the remake of Sense and Sensibility. I adored the one directed by Ang Lee with two of my most favorite actresses (Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet).

Last night's movie was superb! The best part is when Edmund realizes that he's in love with/has loved Fanny all along. Meanwhile Fanny knows her own heart and is waiting for Edmund to find his heart.

Check out www.pbs.org for the Masterpiece Classic schedule, you will be pleasantly delighted!

PBS Masterpiece Theater

As my children kept going on and on about there being NO School today...well I didn't really believe them at first. But alas it's true, school is not in session today. I have some things that I want to do and hey it's perfect...because I'm dragging my daughter with me. So errands here and there will go rather quickly with a companion to keep me company.

Any one watch PBS Masterpiece Theater? Anyone who really knows me knows that I adore everything and anything written by my favorite author Jane Austen (2nd favorite is Agatha Christie). So when I learned that Masterpiece Theater will be debuting some NEW Jane Austen books made into movies (done by the BBC) of course I'm all over it! Last night was the debut of "Persuasion". WOW was it good! I look forward to seeing the rest of Jane Austen's classic novels made into movies. The BBC always does an excellent job at putting the classics into film. I saw the last half of Jane Eyre (novel by Charlotte Brontë) and LOVED IT!!! This has to be the BEST remake of this movie to date (okay so that;s my personal opinion on the matter). One of my habits- is that I like to have either funny or romantic movies playing while I'm scrapbooking. These movies totally fit my scene of adding to a sense of suspense and happiness at that same time.

Cable TV- what are you watching?

I love Cable TV, there's so much diversity of programming these days. One thing I find is that there are little specials here and there that I will record to watch later with my family.

The Planet Earth Series is awesome! If you haven't seen it yet, tune into one of the episodes, you will be instantly hooked! The photography is amazing...you wouldn't expect anything less than phenomenal from National Geographic and they won't let you down with this mini series.

Shark Week- more family entertainment from the Discovery Channel. Who doesn't like Shark Week? It's so informative and fascinating at the same time. And there's new programs this season, woohoo! I have my DVR ready to record the new shows!

Animal Planet is bringing back Meerkat Manor on August 10th- it's an all new season and my entire family is giddy with excitement about it! So what has Flower and her troop been up to?

The History Channel with it's mini series Ice Road Truckers is topping the ratings charts this summer. We record and watch it later in the week. It's pretty interesting and that driving on a road made from ice gives it the thrill factor that keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Besides the Weather Channel and the News Channels...what's on your TV these days???
__________________