Son of Rambow

I know, another story about little boys. But that aside, this charming story pulled you in. You couldn't help liking all of the kids in this movie.

Will Proudfoot is a quiet timid child who daydreams of fantastical characters and has a talent for colorful cartoons and stories that he illustrates in his notebook. Lee Carter lives alone with his teenaged brother, their dad having abandoned them many years earlier, and their mother living in Spain with her boyfried. This unlikely pair find each other and in the innocence and exhuberance of childish minds, they have an adventure that bonds them as friends and influences others around them.

Okay, I'm cheating a little and copying the IMDB movie review, as it says it better than I can:

"SON OF RAMBOW is the name of the home movie made by two little boys with a big video camera and even bigger ambitions. Set on a long English summer in the early 80's, SON OF RAMBOW is a comedy about friendship, faith and the tough business of growing up. We see the story through the eyes of Will, the eldest son of a fatherless Plymouth Brethren family. The Brethren regard themselves as God's 'chosen ones' and their strict moral code means that Will has never been allowed to mix with the other 'worldlies,' listen to music or watch TV, until he finds himself caught up in the extraordinary world of Lee Carter, the school terror and maker of bizarre home movies. Carter exposes Will to a pirate copy of Rambo: First Blood and from that moment Will's mind is blown wide open and he's easily convinced to be the stuntman in Lee Carters' diabolical home movie. Will's imaginative little brain is not only given chance to flourish in the world of film making, but is also very handy when it comes to dreaming up elaborate schemes to keep his partnership with Lee Carter a secret from the Brethren community. Will and Carter's complete disregard for consequences and innocent ambition means that the process of making their film is a glorious rollercoaster that eventually leads to true friendship. They start to make a name for themselves at school as movie makers but when popularity descends on them in the form of the Pied Piper-esque French exchange student, Didier Revol, their unique friendship and their precious film are pushed, quite literally, to breaking point."

Review credit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0845046/plotsummary

Since the movie was British, we began the evening with dinner at Elizabeth's Tea House, an authentic British tea house offering teas is lovely individual pots, and British food you might never have heard of.

The exquisite pain of wanting someone unattainable. That's what Carrie said about Mr. Big in tonight's episode. An observation I've made myself. Why do we do it to ourselves?

I know it's repetitive, but

I walked 4 miles again last night. It was easier and faster this time. This after moving a bunch of patio bricks from the upper level. I'm not feeling as tired as I was a week ago. Night before last had a run-in with a dog on my walk. Nothing serious and I know the dog was friendly, it just scared me a little. I'm seeing more dogs outside in people's yards now the weather is warmer. I think I'll take some doggie treats in my bag and try to persuade them to be my friend if they come running up to me. I love walking on the streets in the center of old Bountiful. The houses and yards are so interesting and unique. It entertains me just looking at them.

Tonight, a girl's night out with the Reel Women. A British movie this time, "Son of Rambow". Dinner first at a cozy little English tea house.

Keep on keepin' on

Worked two hours in the yard and then walked four miles! Good lord. Got home a little after 10. Absolutely no television last night, barely time for a shower and then bed. The yard continues to show visible results from my work. My body, not so much. Today I'm a little stiff. But this walking challenge we have at work keeps me motivated and I'm going to keep pushing - can't let my team down.

A kick back day

No picnics or plans today. Worked hard Saturday and Sunday, thinking to give myself Monday off, but then thought about my To-Do list and thought again. But blessed rain has changed my plans yet again. Staying indoors and doing no yard work today.

I blogged about Utah Phillips on my RedStateBlues blog today - an old folksinger for whom I have a special liking, and who died last Friday. I've been playing my guitar and singing every folk song I can think of today as a little personal celebration of his life.

Also, made a beef stew and have some homemade bread rising which I'll bake a little later. This is my idea of fun. And playing Scrabulous. What a great day!

May flying by

Where is May going? Where is 2008 going? I think I'm truly running as fast as I can. Work work work. My walk is now 3 miles -about 1 hours 15 minutes.

Saturday was sidewalk chalk art day in Bountiful and it slowed me down a bit to look at the many offerings - some pretty good. Everyone was out there, couples, kids, old folks, bikes, strollers, skateboards, ice cream, ballons, frisbee on the lawn. The weather was warm but nice and you couldn't help getting caught up in the spirit on the street. It was small town America, Norman Rockwell, a day that harkened back to more peaceful times. Wouldn't it be nice if people would just come out of their homes more?

Well, back to my LOTTD (list of things to do).

Tired but happy

FINISHED the wisteria project and it's truly lovely. Now there's continuity with the wisteria and the front flower bed. I'm happy with the result. Got my mile walk in, too. Finished a big project at work. Just knocking things off the list. Moving on to the next things. Bought a new blender and I'm making margaritas Saturday to celebrate all the successes. Who to invite?

Tired

All this hard work is catching up with me. Had to take the night off from yardwork. Took a nap. But I did go for my walk. We have a wellness challenge at work to walk 25 miles in 4 weeks. That's about a mile a day. I have two routes I like to walk, a one-mile and a two-mile. Tonight I did the one-mile just because I'm tired. But I'll try to do the two-mile as often as possible. This is a good thing - getting back into my walking - it really does feel good.

The front yard is almost finished

Planted a dozen or so plants in the front-most garden and put down bark throughout. Jupiter's Beard, Blanket Flower, Lavendar, purple Cone Flower, and Sweet Williams. I still want something dark purple, like Speedwell, and at least one Agastache plant for hummingbirds in there, but they weren't on sale yet. So I'll wait a bit. Maybe I'll add some Asters for fall color. Now I just need to do one more phase of removing runners from under the Wisteria and put down bark there, and I'll call it finished in front. Oh, I know I'll be beguiled by plants I see in the coming months, and I'll be adding them in, but I've got a nice mix of color now for a start.

I did mow the lawn again and boy is it growing fast. I guess fertilizing does work. All in all, I'm very happy with the front. But the weeds are now getting out of control elsewhere, so I need to move on.

Plant away

Rule of thumb: it's okay to plant annuals after Mother's Day. It's May 12 and Mother's Day is past. It's snowing in Park City, but this is just one of those wonderful wet spring storms. I'm not sure if I will plant any annuals or not, but Smith's has perennials 4 for $10, and my flower beds are ready - after today.

Sisters and Friends

You know what's really wonderful about sisters and girlfriends? They love you no matter what. They don't criticize, they only gently advise, and they are always there for you.

Friday Celia, Pat and I had lunch together and then did what girls do when one of them has broken up with her boyfriend -- we went shopping. We found some treasures in a charming consignment shop. I came away with some really special crystal stemware and a tall stand for my copper bird bath. Pat surprised us with Mother's Day bouquets of apple blossoms from her neighbor's tree and tulips from her own garden.

As for my own tulips, the deer are at them again, and I managed to save just one purple late-bloomer. Friends and flowers -- good for the spirit.

The great Roy Orbison and check out the all-star backup singers.

Grapevine

No reason, no significance to the lyrics really, except I heard this on Sirius this morning and remembered how I've always liked the drum work on this. The ex's girlfriend is a drummer and is getting some popularity here in SLC. It was good to see them yesterday and see they are doing well. Ex is still feeling down, a lot of guilt, but I think improving a little. The girlfriend - what a talker. You can't help liking her.

Things come together

Feeling a little stressed with so much to do, I decided to take the rest of the week off and just work hard in the yard and garage. The Dish guy showed up early and the TV is back in business. Then someone called about the Olds, later drove it and bought it. Then the lawyer called and said he would get that retirement form completed and filed without further delay. Did a little running around to get the paperwork all squared away. Suddenly, I realize so many things did get done today after all and I can relax just a bit. Just a bit. Still have to work on the sprinkling system.

AND LATER: Got all the sprinklers repaired in the front and watered each station 10 minutes. Things look much better. The wisteria is about to burst into glorious bloom. If it rains tomorrow I'll wait till later in the week to do the back sprinklers. I know of two maybe three problems there.

Through digging up grass for the day.

I've managed to reclaim the west end of my front flower bed. The ground is bone dry. I think tonight I'll put a sprinkler on that bed. Can't charge up the whole sprinkling system yet. I know I have a few things to fix and probably some I haven't discovered yet. I'd sure like to redo the entire system, but that will have to wait for another year. I wonder what my ex was thinking when he ran all those lines all those various ways, some duplicating one another, some lying above ground, odds and ends. It doesn't make any sense. But I limped along with it last year, and I'll make do again this - I want to spend my money on a new kitchen this year.

Boy those grass roots are persistent!

I'll get cleaned up and go shopping now, and then paint the birdhouses when I get home. And put some water on those flowers.

The deer got a handful of tulips, but either they were scared off or my deer repellent worked as there are still dozens remaining in glorious bloom, and many more getting ready. That repellent is now $19 for a small spray bottle. I decided against getting more for now and just watered down what I had left. It seems to be okay.

No-one said anything about pictures