me time & movies

Once in a blue, green, purple moon friday I plan to have a "me myself & I midnight film festival" of sorts. This friday will be "Steel Magnolias". Yes, it's true, I've never seen it. I plan to choose movies that might make Jon snore, though to give him credit, he's entirely capable of watching any movie of any genre, be it chick flick or not.

It's been ages since I've had a quiet night to myself. I'd forgotten how nice it is to be free from telephone calls and daytime stuff. Perhaps it's good to have "me time" long before it becomes truly necessary. Preventive medicine.

I have yet to choose movie #2 for the same night, though I will indeed choose another just in case. I'm a night hawk after all.

To start, I found this list of "20 Movies All Women Should See".

I'll knit, record quotable quotes, snack, sip, and enjoy the night.

*not my popcorn photo. just sayin'.

heart knowledge

I watched the movie "Elektra" late last Friday night. Oh how I love movies where women kick some serious butt. Here's a quote that struck me:

"Some lessons can't be taught, Elektra. They must be lived to be understood."

It's not enough to know something in your head. Knowledge has to consummate with your heart in order for you to birth transformation.

a warm weekend

Yes, a warm weekend, but certainly not weather-wise. Lately, the weather has been ultra crappy. The warmth came from people and doing cozy'ish things. Jon took Kelly, myself, and Faith on an exertion to the best yarn shop in New Brunswick, about an hour away from here, where he bought me some 100% silk yarn for a wrap I plan to make. Don't you wish you could reach in and touch this stuff? Remember, it's SILK!


Last week Kelly came over for one of our knitting dates and on Sunday I got to see her finished sweater. Isn't this photo great? Her hubby took it in their "backyard".


I finished an old knitting project and then Faith took some pics for my Ravelry.com page. She did great in taking the photos.


I started a new sweater, in the most gorgeous green. It's good to be doing some personal knitting again.


I finished the weekend by making some fish chowder which Jon claims is the best he's ever had. Not bad for a girl who doesn't love to cook.

leadership

Jon and I were watching the movie "The Core" last night. It's not the most compelling movie in the world, but we were looking for random entertainment. There's a scene where Col. Robert Iverson (Bruce Greenwood) tells a very ambitious Maj. Rebecca Childs (Hilary Swank) a few things about leadership. You see she craves to be the one in control. She wants to be in the driver's seat. She thinks she can do it better. She has skills but lacks humility, and respect and concern for others.

Here's what her Colonel said:

"Being a leader isn't about ability, it's about responsibility."

"You're used to being a winner. You're not really a leader until you've lost."

the strength of women

“There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” ~ Washington Irving

i am blessed

I am blessed.

I have a Father who is more sweet, kind, loving, helpful, nurturing, strengthening, and understanding than any human could ever hope to be towards me. He's Light in the darkness, and Joy in the morning.

I have a husband who has a new level of insight into who I really am. He respects me. He continually affirms me. He's my biggest defender. He's my safety net.

I have a marriage where open and honest communication is held in high regard. There is no fear where love exists. That's not to say it's easy, but it's an atmosphere that fosters growth and intimacy.

I have two fantastic kids that I simply don't deserve. They are so good and insightful, smarter than many adults I know.

I have friends who seem up for the challenge of not confining me to the person they expect me to be. Friendships are going deeper than ever before, and for that I'm grateful.

For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

~ Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909)

some women are wild horses ~ part 3

wild mare and foal
How NOT to treat a woman (or a man for that matter):

belittle her plans and ideas

speak for her and over her

make any conversation off limits

put her down in private or public

treat her like a puppet to be manipulated

play head games

undermine her self-esteem

make decisions for her

deny her your help

embarrass her

treat her as if you know best

mock her intelligence

make her feel guilty for addressing relationship problems

take the trash out and act as though you cleaned the whole house

treat her like a sex object

call her names of any sort

think she should be grateful to be with you

suppress independence

hurt her physically, even in "teasing"

scoff at her thoughts and opinions

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved." ~ written in the Hebrew Talmud

i don't fit that any more

"The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." ~ George Bernard Shaw

unencumbered

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

gratitude quotes

"lovers" by nicole wong

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder

"When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" ~ George Canning

thriving

a lovely old window shutter in Old Quebec City

“Over the years I have developed a picture of what a human being living humanely is like. She is a person who understand, values and develops her body, finding it beautiful and useful; a person who is real and is willing to take risks, to be creative, to manifest competence, to change when the situation calls for it, and to find ways to accommodate to what is new and different, keeping that part of the old that is still useful and discarding what is not.” ~ Virginia Satir

some women are wild horses ~ part 2

Written by my incredibly wise and enlightened husband Jon

a wild mare photo found through google'ing
You can see it in their eyes...the fire, the knowing look, the sense of purpose. It's an inner strength, a deeply complex personality that defies all efforts to be controlled by others. You can't put your finger on it, but it's there...it's real, it's unmistakable. It's a passion, be it ever so quiet, that dwells just below the surface in many women. It's a desire to be free, to run, to pursue the desires of one's heart. To learn, to create, to develop God-given giftings and explore the world as they see it. In many ways, this passion, this need to be free can only be compared to the strength and passion of a wild horse...free, unbridled and strong.

"Love does not dominate; it cultivates." ~ Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Ooooooo Barracuda

Had a blast with friends tonight around our kitchen table. We ended the night with this video from Heart. Two seriously cool women who have stood the test of time.

insight, or the lack thereof

People believe what they want to believe. If it supports their fantasy world, their image of themselves, their image of others, makes them feel better, or makes them feel insightful, it must be right. It doesn't matter if it doesn't add up.

some women are wild horses ~ part 1

Jon and I talk a lot these days about a certain kind of woman we've come to refer to as the "wild horse":

She can't be fenced in. Ever. She needs complete freedom, without any expectations. Always.

You can't make her go where you want her to go. If she trusts your love, she'll walk alongside you. If you trust her instincts, she'll also lead you to places no one else can get to.

You can't try to control or regulate her passion and energy. She has a desperate need to express herself fully. To deny her this would crush her spirit.

If you respect the wildness in her heart, protect and nurture it, she will be yours wholeheartedly.

Some women will slowly die on the inside under any other circumstances. We'll be dying without even realizing it.

This YouTube video below is dedicated to all the wild horses who have bits in their mouths, and are at risk for losing their wild spirit. Despite the pretty horse pictures, I suggest just listening.

All The Wild Horses
Ray LaMontagne

All the wild horses
All the wild horses
Tethered with tears in their eyes
May no man's touch ever tame
May no man's reigns ever chain you
And may no man's weight ever defrayed your soul
And as for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away
As for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away

half truths

"Parts and parcels of truth are the most envenomed shafts which fly from the bow of Satan." ~ William Howells

a warm fire and friends

"Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?" ~ C.S. Lewis

We had a full weekend, spending time with friends here and there. Saturday night we spent time with my fantabulous knitting pal Kelly, her hubby Nathan, and their friend Shane. We ate, laughed at the antics of their big dogs, roasted marshmellows, and ended the night around a colourful fire.

stained glass

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross

perspective

flowers in my sister's window box

"It is important to live each day with a positive perspective. It is not wise to pretend problems do not exist, but it is wise to look beyond the problem to the possibilities that are in it. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, 'He's so big, we can never kill him.' But David looked at the same giant and thought, 'He's so big, I can't miss him." ~ Dr. Dale E. Turner

canada day

Last night I crashed into bed, well worn from a full day. First Jon and I abandoned our kids for a few hours to follow our biker friends to a waterfall embellished river far off the beaten track. After a "grueling" hike through the woods, we came upon this scene:



We ate and relaxed, enjoyed the heat of the sun. Unfortunately Jon and I had to leave everyone behind to relax some more so we could rejoin our kids for the rest of the afternoon, but it was well worth it.

We got home and took Faith to a local beach for a quick dip in the water. I love the sign below saying "Please Do Not Feed the Gulls".


Next was a family bbq at supper time. We then headed out to the country to watch some fireworks.