“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.
Last night I watched an incredibly enlightening movie. I’ve been wanting to watch Amour since it won at TIFF as well as the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival in 2012. It’s only available on-demand at the moment and I see it will be removed in August, to be permanently retired to an archive. Now that’s a real shame. I didn’t realize, until I began watching the movie that the female character suffered from a stroke. Boy, was I meant to watch that one. If you have elderly parents, or even if you don’t, I highly recommend it. It’s definitely not one of those Hollywood blockbusters. Nothing Hollywood about it at all. Just pure reality, slow and careful. It was more like being a fly on the wall and watching their day-to-day life. The movie is titled ever so accurately — it truly is all about genuine love. ‘Til death do us part, through sickness and health. Recommended.
While I’m making recommendations, how about a book suggestion especially for any young adults (or adults). My friend from up north, Karen Bass, is a talented writer of novels for Young Adults. Her books have won awards and, most recently, she just received the 2014 Canadian Library Association Award for her most recent novel, Graffiti Knight. She’s currently in Victoria BC to receive the award — sorry I couldn’t make it Karen. And, especially if you have a teenage boy looking for a good book, her first novel Run Like Jaeger would be my other recommendation.
I continue to practice piano every single day. In fact, most days I sit down several times and play. I love the piano. I recently learned to play Greensleeves, Oh Solo Mio, and Scarborough Fair. Oh, did I forget to mention … I have a new piano. Lucky me. Hubby was feeling particularly generous.
QUESTION:
What is your favourite summer food?
Mine would likely be avocado or anything made with avocado. Oh and nothing beats summertime watermelon. I also am really fond of salad rolls — love ’em. Now you …
“One cannot think, love, sleep well if one has not dined well.” ~ Virginia Woolf
Thank you for reminding me I need to watch Amour, it has been on my “to-watch” list.
What a wonderful thing to able to play the piano. I often wish I were more musically inclined.
Summer foods for me consist of lots of fresh salads, with as many veggies that it can stand. Salads topped with a lovely light fish, it the ultimate for me.
It sounds and looks like your summer is off to a great start, Diane! I love that F. Scott Fitzgerald quote.
lovely images diane & what a sweet hubs you have 🙂
favorite summer foods are anything out of our garden & off the grill.
wishing you a wonderful week~
hugs~
katie
Ooooo, that hubby is a keeper, Diane!
And a sweet one too, I might add. How wonderful you have a new piano, and I am so glad to hear that you are playing. Greensleeves is one of my very favorite songs.
Amour sounds like a wonderful movie. I have Apple TV and Netflix, so I will check both places to see if they have it. It is a movie I would definitely like to see. thank you for sharing it here.
I am with you all the way on the avocado! I just love them. Hmmm, my favorite summer food…
The first thing that comes to mind is salad. The second is barbecued chicken. So let’s keep it simple and say a salad with barbecued chicken and lots and lots of avocado!!
Have a wonderful week ahead, my friend. xo.
Thanks for the movie recommendation. In my work life, I’m a health science librarian, so I really appreciate the movie recommendation. I’m sorry to hear that it’s not available as a dvd, and will soon be archived forever. It sounds like a good one for us to make available through our library … I also have a 13-yr old kid. I’ll try to nonchalantly recommend the books. I have to be careful–If I recommend too heartily, he resists. Oh–learning to be a crafty parent. Cheers!
Oh! Salads. Hands down the winner here. Today, after a really dirty morning pruning and hauling trash to the green tip, I nipped in to the supermarket and bought some corn cobs, then a spinach-and-feta loaf from the baker and some pale ale from the liquor store.It’s lunch time!Later, I’ll make some pastry for a quiche and that will be finished for lunch tomorrow.
A new piano? Lucky girl!
Avocado is a favorite of mine. But here in So. Cal. we eat them all year long. I love salads as well. Including potato salad, and pea salad. Pea salad is super easy. Peas, Buttermilk Ranch dressing(the kind you make with the packet, not the one in the bottle). Red onion, pepper jack cheese. Super yummy, and if you make it the day before, even better. You can add cauliflower or broccoli… just about anything.
My favorite summer foods are salads. I look forward to Cobb salad, taco salad, and chicken salad. It always feels like summer when I finish piano lessons and tell my husband that we are having salad for supper.