Happy New Year

I love the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. This scene where Collin Firth as Mr. Darcy comes out of the water... oh my!
This clip also shows Elizabeth Bennett as portrayed in this version.




My sister in law loves the newer version of Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightly. I just watched it today and while I like that she is a more expressive Elizabeth. I can not see anyone else as Mr. Darcy! To me Collin Firth is Mr. Darcy. What ever role he plays he is always Mr. Darcy to me.
The 1995 BBC version definitely tells the story better and explains the relationships deeper.
The awful cousin who comes to choose a wife among the sisters was way creepier in the BBC version!

My mom also loves the BBC version and came in today when I was watching the newer movie. Her feeling is that Elizabeth shouldn't look so anorexic. Which is funny because Kiera Knightly looks like she may have actually plumped up a bit for this movie. Like gained 5 lbs or something. She doesn't look so extremely thin as I've seen her in others. I thought she looked a more healthy weight.
I like the new Mr Darcy, but he played Arthur Clennam in Masterpiece Theaters version of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. I loved him in that role and when he's supposed to be Mr. Darcy I can't help but think of poor little Amy Dorrit who so loved him. Yep, he'll be Arthur in every film forever more!
Funny thing is, I like Hugh Grant movies and he's been in plenty of these types of movies. But all of his movies I see... Hugh Grant. I can't name the particular characters he's played, he's always just himself to me! Although don't get me started on his dance scene in Love Actually!
Well which Darcy do you prefer?
Have you seen either?
I actually got to watch a movie last night also! 2 movies in as many days is HUGE for me! I feel half normal! Well, Signing Time is running on my DVD now to bring me back to reality!

Magazine Article

Last Christmas my cousin got me a subscription to Southern Living. This month they had a sort of "best of" section.

The best drive in West Virginia was the New River Gorge, Fayette County. I read the article then had to call my dad and share it. He is from Fayette county. He has a sister and a brother that live with in a mile, as the crow flies, from the New River Gorge Bridge. It is thelongest steel arch bridge in the western hemisphere. Now, I'm not saying the drive on route 19 across the bridge isn't beautiful. It is. But the article goes on to encourage people to stop by a visitor center and pick up a map that shows the other roads that you can take. Even encourages the use of the thinnest and squiggliest of roads. That's a link to the map. At the top there's an old photo of a car going between rock walls. Yes it's an old photo. No the roads haven't been improved since then.
That's what really caught my attention! I have driven those roads and they should mention that while the roads are steep and switch back, (yes! switch back not just merely curve) they are most definitely not one way roads, yet they are one lane. So it is not uncommon to go around a switchback and be head to head with a bus bringing rafters up from the river. Generally you have 2 choices here. You either get as far over on the shoulder as possible, yet not in the ditch or down the side of the mountain. Or you throw it in reverse until you come to a spot where there's enough flat land and you can actually pull over safely. I've been driving and come straight into a logging truck and had to throw my car into reverse until I got to another small road and pulled into that road until the truck passed.
Honestly, if you are driving any of these roads the people in the back seat will be the only ones able to take in the views. You and your front seat passenger will have you eyes glued to the road to see what is coming at you.

My Dad told me that his cousin bragged on how pretty it was down there and a fellow from here in town took him down there once. When the fellow came back someone asked him if it was beautiful and he said "I'll tell you. If a fella went down there with a truck full of weed eaters he could make some good money". That's the truth of it too! It is nothing but weeds and dilapidated houses.
The #3 best drive in West Virginia was route 52 from Bluefield to Welch which I'm also very familiar with. My husband is from the Welch area and we get off interstate 77 in Bluefield and take route 52 to his mother's house. I seriously don't know what they want people to look at? Old coal camps? Which are abandoned or abandoned looking small houses with dirt yards, all looking the same and more weeds. Oh I can't forget the junk cars! Where would they be without the junk vehicles piled in yards. Maybe that's what they want people to see.
Now I have been to West Virginia more times than I can count and every time we drive up out of my mother in laws going east on 52 towards Bluefield I get sick to my stomach. It is so curvy and ugh, I'm getting nauseous just thinking about it!

It is a pretty area. But if you are not familiar with the roads it is dangerous!

Why Naomi Got Coal For Christmas

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes

OK ANOTHER movie!
I caught part of this movie while flipping through the channels the other night and it was so good! It's a good movie for our times. It was made in 1945 and is basically about a farm community in Wisconsin and a few trials that happen in the community. The last scene had me in tears! After the movie was over the AMC narrator said that the director of the movie was black listed during the McCarthy era. They thought he was spreading communist propaganda. I mention this because the last scene could be construed as such, in a very twisted mind! I'd call it charity, neighbor helping neighbor or a grand act of kindness that kindled a light in others to do the same!
I have to check out our library to see if they have this! It was so cute. If not I may just have to buy it!
I also watched Akila and the Bee on Disney and LOVED it! What a great story!

The Lost Prince

For some reason I woke up thinking about this movie today. It was made for TV in 2003 and I've caught it a few times on the local PBS station. It's the story of a British Royal who's been lost to history. He's forgotten because he had epilepsy and his family hid him away. Because of his "fits" he was thought of as an embarrassment to his family. It's a very touching movie. I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember there being one brother in particular who tried to connect to this prince. I think the brother who befriended him was Edward, the one who abdicated his crown for the love of the divorced Wallis Simpson. It is a very very good story. If you happen across it at your local library or what ever, check it out.

HATE IT!! HATE IT!! HATE IT!!!!!

Look Quick Before She flings It!

Since I first posted this Isaiah said the following to Naomi.

"Sissy, don't think of it as a safety helmet. Think of it as a tiarra."

Last night I dreamed Naomi's helmet came and I actually cried in my sleep seeing her in the first time. Then today at therapy the girls brought her out and she wasn't wearing her helmet but they were carrying it. Her face was red and blotchy. She'd been screaming and crying while they were making sure the fit was right.

In the photos I don't have it on her right. It's not low enough. But I was just trying to get her to wear it. It's a 2 person job getting it on her head I tell ya! It was a fight then I had to distract her and throw in a video so she'd leave it on for more than a second.

It's not the run of the mill helmet. The therapists felt that the regular padded blue one wouldn't work. She'd just play with the strap. So this was was made. It molds perfectly to her head. It's the type of helmet they use for kids who's heads need to be shaped.

She went through so much today I have cancelled the ultrasound that was scheduled for tomorrow. Neither of us need to go through more stress this week and in talking with her ketogenic nurse she said the slightly elevated lipid panel is expected with the diet. So at least now I can cancel with a clear heart without feeling like "Mommy Dearest" and just waiting for children's services to come knock down my door and demand to know why I didn't follow Dr's, well Nurse Practitioner's orders!

Who's side are you on

Ok, If I've blogged about part of this forgive me.
Isaiah has really been assigning things to this side of the family or that.
Isaiah you didn't flush the toilet- "Sorry mom I get that from Dad's side of the family".
Isaiah you didn't shut the gate- "Sorry mom I get that from Papaw's side of the family".
Naomi passes gas very loudly- "OOOOOOHHHH she takes after Dad!"
Isaiah wash your hands- "That's from Grammie!"
When we go to some one's home and they're not home Isaiah puts a broom across the door or moves the trash can in front of the door "Just to let them know someone was here. That comes from the Sayler side". It really does though! This year he's met family members he never really knew before. They are cousin's to my Grandma Naomi who's maiden name was Sayler and guess what! They do that too! The 73 yr old Grandpa Sayler thinks it's hilarious and his son thinks it eerie that Isaiah just seems to do that without being shown or told that it's "a Sayler thing".
About not flushing being from my husband's side of the family.. Funny thing is my Dad's sister said she's pretty sure it's from their side of the family since they never flushed a toilet when they were growing up. They had an outhouse and it was built over a creek so the creek just carried it down stream. My Dad thought his Grandparents were rich because their outhouse had a cement floor.
Isaiah once asked "If Dad is a hillbilly and you are half hillbilly. What does that make me."
I responded "A Buckeye!" Which he thought was hilarious!

Sick Kiddo

Naomi has been sick for about a week now. Here's my week in review!
Tues.the 12th at 8pm- doesn't want to finish meal she usually wolfs down.
Wed. the 13th 11 am- vomits has no appetite. 7 pm vomits again
Thursday the 14th vomits once today
Friday the 15th 11 am vomits bile. I call the pediatrician they can't get her in. She shows no signs of dehydration. Just trying to get liquids in her. 3pm vomits a small amount of bile again. OK now we seem to have a clean slate.
Saturday the 16th- the pediatricians office opens their schedule for Sat. at 8:30 so at 8:27 I start calling over and over until I get through. Get her an appt. for 9:20 am. The Dr is running late but we get seen and she orders blood and urine labs. The nurse puts a urine bag on Naomi (OH so much fun) and we head to the hospital to have blood drawn at the lab. Check her at the lab, no urine yet. It's 11 am. Head home to wait it out, keep checking for urine. Nothing until after 3:30!!! So Bill's home by then and I leave him with her and run the urine sample to the lab, which is closed. So the hospital volunteer calls someone down and they take it and get the test done. She didn't vomit at all on Saturday. Sunday night.... 10pm diarrhea.
Monday morning first thing and I do mean FIRST. I'm sleeping Naomi has moved in bed so her head is facing the bottom of the bed and her butt is right in my face. She explodes with diarrhea. Waking me up. The worst ever alarm clock! My goodness the smell! I guess this must be the virus making it's exit, in a big way! So two more rounds of that then her stomach seems somewhat better. She's eating little, drinking a little more but sleepy.
Today she slept from 7 pm last night until 6 am this morning and even ate some breakfast. Then by 8 she was sleepy again and has acted sleepy most of this morning. Falling asleep occasionally for a nap which is then interrupted by the phone ringing. The first call was the pediatrician's office saying the nurse practitioner would like to have an ultrasound done of Naomi's liver and gall bladder, I ask for kidney too because, Hey, if we're putting her through this lets rule out kidney stones which are not uncommon on the ketogenic diet. Then my Great Aunt called wanting me to email someone for a recipe, easily done. Then it was the school nurse, they're giving out H1N1 vaccines to all the kids at Isaiah's school and he told them he'd had an immunization. I have gone over this with him! Yes, he had the regular flu shot on Oct. 26! Plenty of time has passed! I'm still on the fence something terrible about getting this vaccination for him, but it's done now! He takes the others fine. I just feel like the odds are since they're doing the entire school, one kid has to have a bad reaction! I just don't want it to be mine! But then again they're giving the nasal mist and that is a live virus. So, since such a large number is getting this vaccination what about the kids who aren't? Since it's a live virus is there any way that it could be spread to those who don't get it. It's such a hard call!!!
Well Naomi's up and about now. We'll see what this day holds. Her ultrasound isn't until Friday.
My furniture is here though! I can't get a good photo. It's green and ends up looking taupe.

My Order is In!

I got the call today that my new sofa and chair are in and can be delivered.

So where's the pictures of the nice new furniture in my home?
I told them to hold off delivery until Monday. Naomi threw up twice yesterday and is gassy today and I don't know what is to come. She isn't eating right. I'm making sure she gets her carbs because her ketones are staying high and I don't want her to get too far into ketosis because in the past that has made her seizures worse.

So hopefully by Monday we'll be back to normal. I won't have to fear her baptising my new furniture with vomit.

I've never had this with either of my kids, and it's nasty, but her gas smells the same as what a prescription of antibiotic pills smell. That moldy smell. Lovely :)
One more thing. Every time she passes gas Isaiah says "She gets that from Dad".

Kicking off the Holidays

Today was potluck at church then they decorated the church. Bill, Naomi and I left but Isaiah wanted to stay and help our cousin decorate. Not a kid, a 40 something fellow and several other older men who are past retirement age. He helped find the junk bulbs so one of the old guys could repair them.



On the way home we stopped at Sells Farm to see Santa's reindeer. Naomi noticed them and pointed, which is good. There's been times she'd have been oblivious.

Santa saying "Don't pull on Santa's beard". Good luck with that Santa!

When I told my mom that we took her to see Santa she asked if Santa had any whiskers left.

Naomi is notorious for pulling out facial hair in the men in this family! With her teeth!

Saturday we ran to Possum Run Green house for the holiday open house. They have the best Santa and Mrs Claus set up in the area! (on the way home Bill noted he didn't think that Santa would be around many more years. The poor old fellow is very shaky like he has palsy and has a hard time walking. God love him!) When Isaiah was 5 we drove past the greenhouse in October on our way to a wedding reception and Isaiah said "Hey, that's where Santa lives!".

They had two of the most gorgeous Christmas trees I've ever seen! I thought I didn't like fake white trees but these were stunning! One had all red ornaments, cardinals and such and the garland that wrapped up the tree was like red berries. Gorgeous! The other tree had no ornaments it was just those things they stick in the tree. I don't know what to call them. Anyway they were the color of leaves in the fall, but metallic. Like bronze and gold and a metallic red the color of a red maple. If that tree was in my house it would be up all year it was the most beautiful non traditional tree I have ever seen!

The Birds

No it's not a movie review. It's true life! Why do they come around every so often? They are so noisy! They are pest. Too bad they don't eat squirrel! When they all take off together they cast a huge shadow!

A Trip to the bank

Who knew a trip to the bank could be so entertaining.
Naomi and I picked up my Great Aunt, who will be 83 next week, to take her to do her banking. Here's the conversation when she got in the car and we were leaving.
Me: Did the Eagle shit? That's what Grandpa Charlie used to say when his SS check would come
Aunt: No he shits tomorrow and all that's left from last month is a whiffer