Two Unexpectedly Great Movies

Sometimes you just need a break. Normally, I would never watch a movie during the day. Honest. Movie lover that I am, I never do this. But recently, what with the ultra hot, hot humidity and having wrapped up a bunch of cartooning and with some days off the library, I had the opportunity to take a break on the old Appalachian Trail via this wonderful movie "Southbounders". Hopefully this trailer will embed. My former co-worker and former Assistant Director at the library, Melody, who is a hiking Goddess, did the whole trail with her significant other, so seeing this was like getting a peek at what life was like on the trail:



I loved that movie.
Here is a link to the film website:http://www.southbounders.com/

I also absolutely adored "Ginger and Cinnamon" a fabulous and very sweet movie about the unusual bonding experience between an Italian aunt and her niece.
Let us try embedding once more:


Hmmm, couldn't find a preview with subtitles, well, take my word for it, this is a delightful movie and has one of the best endings, ever!
Here's the imdb listing for it:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343594/

Check Amazon or netflix for these 2 gems!

Getting Back to the Garden

Above is my latest Chix Sunday. One of the best things I've done at the library in the last year is start a garden group. It's made up of a diverse core group of about 10 members. More come when we have speakers or an event like the seed swap. Last month we had a garden tour of the group's home gardens. Really fun to see all the different layouts and what everyone is growing.
I took a lot of photos of the garden in early summer. Have to get out and take some of what it looks like now. Not quite so gorgeous and lush as those nasty japanese (does not deserve capitalization!) beetles, potato bugs and squash bugs have found us and made themselves at home while wreaking a swath of devastation throughout.We've had our revenge... soapy water, anyone? Just not enough.So, here are a selection of the garden before: Some are taken from the roof. Not toooo near the edge.

                            
                 

This was an incredible year for raspberries.
We ended up with 28 lbs. frozen and ate quite a few more.

Some things like peas and the raspberries are finished already. But there is still an abundance of yummy things like beets, kale, chard and hopefully tomatoes. We have a ton, but all still green... and the blight is not far away!            

More on My Brother Lawrence

This is one of my favorite pictures of Lawrence.

I always looked up to and admired my brother. He was a great guy. Besides his intelligence and great sense of humor, he actually went out and did the things I only thought about doing. I always liked stories about people who sailed around the world or had adventures on sailing boats. He actually sailed to Norway on a big ship as a crew member. In high school, I thought about joining Vista. He actually worked for Vista as a lawyer for several Native American tribes in Nebraska.

My brother did things before they were cool. He went to college in Colorado at a time when most people I knew went to school locally. He was a birdwatcher. He took Tai Kwon Do lessons. He was a runner. He worked for the political campaign of Allard Lowenstein in NY. He was the first person I ever knew who had a jeep.

He was a hands on Dad, and he loved his family. I can't think of a better tribute than that.

My favorite family photo of Lily, Lawrence, Paula and Elena

Below are some links that my sister-in-law Paula sent me that tell some more about his life and career as a Public Defender.
http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=96850769

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/startribune/obituary.aspx?n=larry-hammerling&pid=143708242&fhid=3436

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/97035944.html?elr=KArks47cQiUdcOy_9cP3DiU47cQUU

I found this picture of us in the 1950's recently.
I couldn't remember when it was taken, but I love it.

This one was taken maybe 4 years ago
when John and I visited.

My Brother, Lawrence Hammerling

It breaks my heart to write this. My smart, funny, cool, brave brother, Lawrence, passed away this evening after a two year battle with brain cancer. He was a great person, a fantastic Dad of the two gorgeous girls, above, Lily and Elena, and was very happily married to my wonderful sister-in-law, Paula Duthoy. I am so grateful to Paula for all she did advocating on Lawrence's behalf.
I'll miss him.

Why They Call This River Road

We live on one of the nicest roads around. Come take a walk with Joyce and I. Well, actually this was a few weeks ago, but it looks pretty much the same only we are wearing less layers.

This is the Mad River. It winds all the way down River Road.

It has areas abounding in prehistoric (seeming) rocks.

Here's a view overlooking the river from a turn in the road.

And this is from a lovely glade.

A lot of this area is protected.

These huge rock formations are pretty magnificent.

as are these...

Here we are at a bend in the road.

A chair in the woods.

A notice about the land being protected.

Some ferns.

A little stream opposite the river.
Now we must head back. Wasn't that fun? Nothing like a good walk to begin the day!

Lost Without Lost (a tribute!)

Happy Mother's Day

I have the bestest of all daughters. I am sure, you, too have the bestest of all daughters as well, but today I will mention the fabulousness of my daughter, Nico! A couple of weeks ago a package arrived, but I was told not to open it till Mother's Day. And that there would be a part 2! OOOH, the temptation! But I am honorable, so left it on the corner of the table where I could keep an eye on it.

Then, a couple of days ago, part 2 arrived and I came home to find that on the table as well. Finally, the day arrived, and here are the wonderful surprises!

This looks like a charming graphic novel of a girl and her mom spending time in Paris. What could be better? I can't wait to read it!

And look at this. What could this be??? It turns out to be le French macarons! Alors! What a thoughtful and yummy gift, the perfect accompaniment to reading "French Milk"!

What could be a more perfect Mother's Day? Alright, having Nico here would be nice, but we did meet for lunch a couple weeks ago: see above, for our traditional Mother's Day lunch of bagels and lox with french fries. (Photo taken at the Friendly Toast by son-in-law par excellence Jeremiah!)

A special Happy Mother's Day out to my incredible sister-in-law Paula.