Everyone needs a day off...

We are 'off list' today....

We have been 'on list' for six months and it was time!

We did what we wanted when we wanted....

Of course, some of what we did was 'on list', but we gave ourselves permission 'to do it or not to do it'!

We did put up our Christmas tree...it didn't fit in our new house so we put it outside at our entry.  I even put up a couple of wreathes.

We did go to the Tomorrow's Fitness to our 'Silver Sneakers' workout.

We did go to the grocery store.

We did watch 'Elementary' which we had recorded.

We did work in the yard. I planted pansies and Chuck cut a couple of trees and put deer repellent on our new leafless azaleas.

We didn't fix breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  We each did our own thing when we got ready to eat.  

It is amazing what you can get done when you don't have a list:)

Hello Dolley!

Dolley Madison, that is!


I became an admirer of Dolley Madison after reading Dolley by Rita Mae Brown.  It is a fictional story about wife of our fourth President, James Madison.

Eve Best as
Dolley on PBS 

As I was shelving DVD's at the library where I work, I found a PBS documentary, Dolley Madison.  I couldn't resist taking it home.  It revived my interest in Dolley's contribution to American history.  







Dolley has been credited with saving 

Gilbert Stuart's famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington, an original draft of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution during the War of 1812.  She also began to define the role of the President's wife.  She was called The First Lady and was the first to a speak for a cause.  After the War of 1812 she worked to help the plight of the children that were orphaned as a result of the war.  She also invited members of both parties to White House entertainments.  She wanted to provide a place where they could meet each other outside their official capacity.  It is even said that she introduced "ice cream" to America. 


You can read more about Dolley on Wikipedia..by clicking of this text...and there is more.

CBS Sunday Morning

Just finished watching CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood...my Sunday morning ritual.  It is on from 8am to 9:30am Central Time. Until November 6 it is "daylight" time-after that we are back on "Standard" time.

Friends recommended this show to us several years ago.  We have been devoted fans ever since.  I pass the recommendation on to you!

Lady Antebellum...two guys and a gal

Today's show-as is every show-had a little history, a little inspiration, a little humor, and something current.  I found myself reminiscing over the past; smiling at the humor; and admiring the inspiring lives of famous and not so famous people.   Oh, and patting my foot and singing along with Lady Antebellum, the "something current" segment. 

I got a little teary-eyed today over the John Wayne segment.  I paid money to see his movies and don't remember him as the great icon as he is remembered today.  

I really admire Tyra Banks and her journey from girlhood to model to student at Harvard Business School.  She seems to be very up front with people.  I like it when people are comfortable and gracious in their honesty.

Mike Mullen, 

retiring Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair

Norris..a little girl from Little Rock
and Norman Mailer

and Norris Church Mailer 

 seem to fall in that category, as well.

...and what's not to like about "Our Gang" and Spanky?

All of these stories and more...You can find videos of them all on this link:  CBS Sunday Morning, Oct. 2, 2011

Roy Rogers...My Hero

Cover of book by Georgia Morris and Mark Pollard

When I was little, I spent many a Saturday at the neighborhood movie.   Me, my friends and I would go to see the movie of the week and the serial that came before it.

Cover of DVD I bought along
with one (below) of Roy and the gang!

My favorite serial was 
the Perils of Nyoka.  I had always remembered her as Nyoka of the Jungle.  


Then came the main attraction...
Gene Autry
The Three Musketeers
Lash LaRue
Hopalong Cassidy

I bought a set of DVDs
for good memories...

Part of US Postal Service
tribute to Cowboys

But none could equal my hero...Roy
...and 












Trigger...Dale...Gabby.


The best part was the action after the movie.  We would walk home and play cowboys/cowgirls and Indians the rest of the day.  I was Nyoka must of the time.  :)
I don't remember stopping for lunch.  If we did, we were right back outside chasing the bad guys...riding and shooting until the next Saturday when we started all over again.

OSCAR NIGHT

Thought for the Day:  One day at a time.

I actually saw five of the movies that are up for an Oscar:

Avatar     
Julie and Julia
Crazy Heart
Star Wars
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

We are watching Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as we speak.

So, I'll get back to you.

Esmee Lynne

CBS SUNDAY MORNING

Thought for the Day: 


"Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on earth."---John Lyly

CBS Sunday Morning...Our favorite way to spend Sunday morning.  The best show on TV.  It is all of the good news and just a brief moment of of the sad.  If you have an hour on Sunday morning, give it a try. 

 Some friends introduced several years ago and we have rarely missed a Sunday morning with CBS.  We are thankful for that.  It gives us smiles and sometimes tears of joy.


Find out more at:  http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml

Then, relax, watch and enjoy!


Have a nice day...Esmee Lynne

GRAMMY NIGHT

Thought for the Day: 
"What Jack says about Jill says more about Jack than it does about Jill"...on A church marque
                                                                                      
We are watching the Grammy's tonight...not something we normally think about doing. We probably will not hang in there to the bitter end.  Just finished watching Pink in a "Las Vegas"/"Cirque du Soleil" performance...awesome...very impressive.


Now...The Black-eyed Peas...the modern Mama's and Papa's.


(Pause...phone call from our daughter in San Francisco)


Back to the Grammy's..I just gave up...decided to watch and listen.  You can get the results tomorrow on-line or maybe, late-nite TV or early morning shows...radio?  newspaper?


Pleasant dreams,  Esmee Lynne