Movie Monday - 12/18/2023

The holiday preparations have reached defcon status around here. I know there’s always something, but something has put my sewing behind. In the meantime, I’m trying not to engage in too much self soothing, because that only put me further behind.

I did watch one movie last week because I really needed a diversion.

In Book Club: The Next Chapter, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda and Mary Steenburgen reprise their roles as longtime friends. One of them is now engaged and they all decide to go to Italy for her bachelorette. It was cute.

Good streamers:

Annika Season 2 - PBS Passport

Virgin River Season 5 Part 2 - Netflix

Fisk Season 2 - Netflix

MK out.

Movie Monday - 12/11/2023

I’m hoping everyone is enjoying the month. It’s a busy one, but it doesn’t have to be. Remember that. Take time to take care of yourself. Maybe, watch a movie or two - like I did last week.

Annette Bening stars in Nyad, a biographical film about Diana Nyad. In her sixties, she swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Jodie Foster also stars. 

In May December, an actress researches the taboo relationship of a couple. Twenty years prior, the woman had a sexual relationship with the man while he was still a minor. The film is loosely based on the life of Mary Kay Letourneau.  Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Charles Melton star. 

MK out. 

Movie Monday - 11/27/2023

Hello, hello! New movies keep coming out and here I sit…

In Fingernails, a love scientist has devised a method for determine if a couple is a true love match. A fingernail (yes, the whole nail) is removed from each person and analyzed by a machine. Jessie Buckley, Roz Ahmed and Jeremy Allen White star. It was a little oogy in parts, but otherwise alright.

Recent streaming:

The Morning Show Season 3 - Apple+

Lessons in Chemistry - Apple+

Hotel Portofino Season 2 - PBS Passport

World on Fire Season 2 - PBS Passport

MK out.

Book Chat - 11/16/2023

I’m back from the beach and am gearing up for the holidays. First, there’s Thanksgiving and I’m expecting a crowd. We’re eating out though - I’m not crazy!

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

Marnie meets her fiancé’s matchmaking great-aunt and her life takes a turn she didn’t imagine. It was a delightful read.

Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand

A celebrity chef dies, leaving behind three wives (2 are exes), his children and his best friend. All gather at Deacon’s Nantucket beach house for his send-off. It’s quite the bumpy ride. I liked it.

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

One twin lives on Nantucket and one lives on Martha’s Vineyard. Their sibling rivalry is tested after their father dies and their mother sustains a fall. It was good.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 11/13/2023

I need to get to the theater - there’s some films that look promising. In the meantime, the treasure trove of movies on streaming platforms is immense!

I enjoyed watching Bombshell, the documentary about Hedy Lamarr. She really was beautiful. I didn’t realize that they used her face for Snow White in the Disney cartoon. I did know that she invented a technology that was used to develop WiFi and Bluetooth, among others.

Many good actors star in The Estate - Toni Collette, Anna Farris, David Duchovny, Kathleen Turner, Rosemarie Dewitt and Ron Livingston - but are they enough to carry this film? Cousins compete for beneficiary status of their wealthy aunt’s estate. At times, it was funny but the characters were sad. Maybe, that was the point. Meh.

Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free - The Making of Wildflowers It’s entertaining to watch behind-the-scenes footage and present day interviews of the making of an album. Petty was a gifted songwriter and musician. I think he’s very missed in this world. There are more documentaries of him out there. I will be watching.

Recent streaming

Fisk - Netflix

MK out.

FO Friday - 11/10/2023

Hey everybody! My Birthday Season is drawing to a close. It’s been a good one. I’ve spent time with people I love, done some girlfriend trips, eaten good food - life is good!

I have a thing I finished:

I made this quilt for the condo and I’m really happy with how it turned out. The top had been complete for several months. I was waiting to take all the long arm instruction and do some practicing before I tackled the quilting part on this one. 

Have a great weekend!

MK out.

Book Chat - 11/9/2023

I’m back at the beach. As you will see, I did read one that applies. I’m trying to slow down and savor the rest of the books, because Ms. Hilderbrand is putting away her writing implements soon.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

A mother tells her daughters the story of her past. It was quietly good.

American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton

What to say about this book…It’s a novel about Alice Roosevelt, but it was rather dry. It could’ve used some poetic license. A factual biography of her life would have been more exciting. Eh.

The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

Using her best friend’s secret as the subject of her latest novel threatens a writer’s relationship with this friend. It was good- Elin good.

MK out.

Book Chat - 11/1/2023

I don’t know what I want to do with my life, but in the meantime, I will keep reading.

The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna

A fun, inspirational book about finding your calling and passion. 

The Direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah

When her father dies, Sophie learns that the mother she thought long dead is still alive. She travels from India to Paris in search of her. It was good.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

A young girl, with her family, farm tea in a remote mountain village in China. An opportunity to become educated changes the trajectory of her life dramatically. I liked it.

Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One by Raphaélle Giordano

A middle aged woman, who despite having many blessings, learns the diagnosis of her unhappiness - it’s acute routinitis. The definition is “finding it hard to feel happy despite an abundance of material wealth, a feeling of disillusionment and lethargy, amongst other things.” It was a delightful read.

A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

Charlie goes on a job interview billed as helping a famous star pen her memoir, but the job is much more than that. It was cute.

MK out. 

Movie Monday - 10/17/2023

Lordy, Y’all! The Birthday Season has been very busy. Movies have been low on the list, but then, there haven’t been any worth seeing lately.

I checked online just now to see if there’s any buzz for the Oscars. Hoards of films that I don’t think have been released are listed. Hopefully, theaters will get busy!

In the meantime, I’m watching a myriad of things on my streaming services - movies and shows.

Why did Keri Russell star in Cocaine Bear? It was loosely based on real bear attacks, but the film was stupid. I do not recommend.

Your Place or Mine, has best friends Debbie (Reece Witherspoon) and Peter (Ashton Kutcher) switching houses for a week. She has to be out of town for a class and he volunteers to watch her son while she’s away. It was predictable, but cute.

Steven Carell stars in Welcome to Marwen, a film based on the true story of Mark Hogencamp, who was brutally assaulted. He created a fictional village to help him deal with the trauma and his PTSD. It was good.

Streamed Series - 

Minx Season 2 - Starz

Only Murders in the Building Season 3 - Hulu

MK out.

 

Movie Monday - 10/2/2023

Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas is starting in a few weeks. I’ll be watching most, if not all the premieres. The last couple of year’s worth made challenging to watch - there are too many new ones made per year!!!

The Dig, starting Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes is adapted from a novel with the same  name that was inspired by true events. It tells the story of the excavation of the Great Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo. 

In Everything About Her, a high powered woman executive learns the hard way what should be more important in life. Vilma Santos-Recto, Angel Locsin and Xian Lim star in this heartwarming film in Filipino with English subtitles. It was very good. 

Good Streamers:

Seaside Hotel - PBS Passport - It is one of the best shows I’ve watched since A Place to Call Home. It’s a must watch!

World on Fire - PBS Passport 

Virgin River Season 5, Part 1 - Netflix

MK out.

FO Friday - 9/29/2023

Y’all! I haven’t done a finished object post in forever! Maybe, because I’m better at starting projects than finishing them. 

In an effort to use up stash, I had leftover lime green yarn that I used to make a hat. The pattern I used is called Limestone Lily Cap by Shelby Nichols.

I finished the top months ago, had my friend quilt it on her long arm and I finally applied the binding fairly recently. So, here it is! And, I have leftovers to make another quilt. Yay. (sarcasm) Sadly, I saw a major mistake after I took this picture, but it’s probably only major to me.

I took a class on a computerized long arm machine and then proceeded to make this little quilt using leftovers from another project that hasn’t been quilted yet. (eye roll)

Currently, I am working to finish some super, secret Christmas projects and as many of the other projects I have going before I start another thing. 

MK out.

Book Chat - 9/28/2023

Dear Peeps ~

Please forgive my absence. I’ve been reading, I’ve been sewing, I’ve been knitting and I’ve been watching shows (mostly streaming series), but I haven’t been home much in the last month.

The Birthday Season officially started on the 15th, but I’ve been spending time with some of my dearest since the beginning of September. 

I haven’t been ignoring my public on purpose. I promise! Let me start atoning for my neglect by telling you about a few of the books I’ve read since our last Book Chat.

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

In the third installment of the series, the Quinn family gathers for another Christmas together. Many changes have occurred ~ a jailbird has completed his sentence, somebody is juggling two men, a wayward wife returns to the nest, and more. You’ll have to read it to find out. This series kind of reminds me of Hallmark Christmas movies - heart warming, but with a lot less cheese. I liked it.

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand

The Quinn family story gets as wrapped up as it ever will in the final installment. Again, the gang gathers for Christmas and we get to see if everyone will get there happily ever after. It was good.

There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin

A woman is in hot water with the IRS and she needs a job to pay back taxes. An old flame comes to the rescue. Although she’s low man on the totem pole, she picks up on shenanigans around her and sets out to solve the mystery. It was an entertaining read!

Until next time - and hopefully sooner rather than later…

MK out.

FO Friday 9/1/2023

I have two projects to share today.

First up, I’ve been taking long arm quilting machine lessons. A couple of weeks ago, I learned how to do free motion quilting. 

I had to bring a completed quilt top and backing to practice my skills, but didn’t want to risk messing up one of the two completed quilt tops I already had. What’s a girl to do but quickly put together (yet another) quilt top? So, I did.

I even made a scrappy binding.

I really like how it turned out.

Secondly, I actually completed a sweater!

The pattern is Uptown Tee by Tori Yu. I used Shibui Knits Fern in a pretty gray. For being 100% cotton, this yarn is very soft and knitting with it is a joy. Sadly, Shibui has gone out of business.

Back to the work shop!

MK out.

Book Chat - 8/31/2023

I’ve read several books since I last wrote about my reading adventures. I’d like to share about a few of them.

Five Winters by Kitty Johnson

A woman is desperate to be a mother, but finds herself with a running clock and without a suitable partner in her life. It was pretty good.

The Art of Loving Libby Green by Bellebird James

A homeless street artist struggles to keep all the plates in his life spinning - his classes, dealing with an alcoholic father, and keeping the object of his unrequited love from knowing about his unhomed status. It was good.

The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana by Jennifer Banash

Two aspiring singers become best friends until the competition gets tough. One of them ends up dying in a tragic accident and traces of her life all but disappear, until a journalist starts digging into her past. I liked it.

That’s all for now.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 8/28/2023

Hey Peeps - the three of you who read my blog - I have a flick to mention that’s worth a look.

Jesus Revolution is based on a true story about how some California hippies found Jesus and The Word was spread. Kelsey Grammer is among the stars of this film. It was good.

Good Streamers:

Sweet Magnolias Season 3 - Netflix

And Just Like That Season 2 - MAX

MK out.

Movie Monday - 8/14/2023

Life at Chez Merry Karma is always something. My dash is very full right now. I did sneak in a movie I’ve been wanting to watch for a while and recorded it off of HBO.

Michelle Williams and Kristin Scott Thomas star in Suite Francaise. Set during WWII, a German soldier is billeted in the home of a widow and her daughter-in-law. It was very good.

Good Streamers:

Outlander Season 7, Part 1 - HBO

MK out. 

Movie Monday - 7/31/2023

I watched two documentaries about the same topic- I may have mentioned one of them before, but I rewatched it; so I’ll mention it again.

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened on Netflix and Fyre Fraud on Hulu tell the story of Billy McFarland’s scheme of producing a big, exclusive music festival in the Bahamas that ended up being a big, fat nothing. McFarland ended up being charged with wire fraud charges for his actions. Both films were entertaining in a jaw dropping way.

And, I went to the movie theater twice in the last week.

Barbara Millicent Roberts and I are the same age. She rolled out of the factory in the same year I was born. It’s a given that I would go see Barbie. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera and many others play all the Barbies and Kens living blissfully in Barbie Land. Blissfully, until Barbie and Ken visit the real world and find out life is a lot more complicated than they thought. I loved every bit of it.

Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. tells the story of how the atomic bomb was developed. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the director of the Manhattan Project’s Los Alamos Laboratory during WWII. The acting was superb, but the movie was about an hour too long. 

Good Streamers:

The Crowded Room - Apple+

Minx Season 1 - Starz

MK out.

Movie Monday - 7/18/2023

We are back from our visit to the beach. 

The main characters return in what is supposed to be the last chapter - Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny. Let’s hope it is, but too bad it won’t be going out on a high note. I found myself bored with the continuous action scenes and with each getting more ridiculous. Meh.

The documentary Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed takes a look at the life of one of Hollywood’s celebrated leading men. It was very good.

The Sound of Freedom is based on a true story. A federal agent rescues a child from human traffickers and finds out the older sister is also being trafficked. He sets out to find her too. The movie was rejected by all the major studios; so, the makers have been distributing it themselves and it has been wildly successful. It was very good. Go see it!!!

MK out.

Book Chat - 7/13/2023

I have two books to tell about this time. The authors happen to be a married couple. Both are very talented.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

A former sitcom star takes care of his niece and nephew while his brother completes a course of addiction treatment. It was very good.

Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane

A guy comes home with a secret, but it’s not the news his mom wants to hear. Will she come around? I loved it!

That’s it for now.

MK out. 

Movie Monday - 7/3/2023

It’s hot, Y’all! It’s the perfect time to stay inside and watch movies. 

In No Hard Feelings, Jennifer Lawrence plays a young woman who is hired by a wealthy couple to date their socially awkward son before he heads off to college. The message is actually a little deeper than most people will catch because of all the lowbrow comedy in it. It was entertaining.

Scarlett Johansson and Jason Schwartzman star in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. My husband deemed it beyond quirky. A group of students and their parents gather for an astronomy convention. The drama that ensues centers around the fact that each person processes grief differently. It was quirky.

I voted for the man, back in the day, but I never knew our 39th President loved all kinds of music. Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President is a documentary about how his love of music gave him the edge to win the highest office in the land. It was good.

The Booksellers is a documentary that peeks into the world of antiquarian booksellers. They buy and sell old books. It was very interesting.

Recent streamer:

Only Murders in the Building Season 2 - Hulu

Stay cool!

MK out.

FO Friday - 6/30/2023

I have no FOs to show, but I have a sad tale to tell.

Remember when I told y’all about a swatch for a new sweater being spot on and I started it? I was so happy. I was knitting along, minding my own business, but it soon became apparent that something was off. I kept knitting for a bit more until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I measured the gauge and it was the post block gauge. 

For the muggles, the stitches were bigger on the swatch I had made, but when I blocked (soaked and then dried) the swatch, they were smaller. They measured at the gauge the pattern was written. (The stitches shrunk to the right size after the sample swatch was washed.) I thought I was home free, but now the stitches are knitting up at the correct gauge and I’m worried that the garment will shrink and not fit after I wash it.

I was so frustrated!!! I was ready to frog (rip-it, rip-it - get it?) the whole thing and re-swatch.

A wise knitter told me to put the thing in time out for a bit. Then, take the whole shebang off the needles and block it.

Today was the day. I’ll keep you posted.

MK out.

Book Chat 6/29/2023

I think vacation should be real life. Who’s with me?

Maame by Jessica George

Maddie is a young woman who lives at home taking care of her ill father while her mother galavants far away. Her mom comes back and Maddie moves out and starts to live on her terms with varying results. It was very good.

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

It’s Christmastime again and The Quinn family gathers at the Inn one year after we last left them. The more things change, the more they stay the same! It was good.

MK out.

 

Movie Monday - 6/26/2023

It’s officially summer!!! I’m looking forward to a relaxing week. I finished a big paperwork project and am taking a little break. 

In the documentary Hotel Coolgardie, two Finnish girls who were backpacking in Bali got robbed. They made it to Australia to find work and save money to go home. They were hired by a bar in the western Australian mining town of Coolgardie. I was appalled at the sexual harassment from the patrons and the boss/manager who started verbally abusing them from their very first shifts. He expected them to be instant experts at bartending. The regulars were insulted because they wouldn’t play along with the abuse. It was interesting.

Spoiler Alert is based on the memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies by Michael Ausiello. Jim Parsons stars as Michael and Ben Aldridge stars as Kit. The film tells the love story of the two men and Kit’s death from a rare form of cancer. Sally Field and Bob Irwin also star. It was very good.

Recently streamed:

Picard 3rd and final season - Paramount+

MK out.

FO Friday - 6/23/2023

 Hey y’all!

I made another Jelka; so The Kid can have a hat to match his friend.

I also made a reversible scrub cap. Why? I guess because I can, because I don’t work in a surgical specialty.

I’m not sure if I like this pattern. It is a free one off the internet and it needed a tweak to get to this point, but we’ll see. I’ve got three other ones using same pattern cut out and ready to go. I’m sure I can find someone who’d want them.

MK out.

Book Chat - 6/22/2023

Merry Karma is traveling and anticipating lots of books in the next few weeks…

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

It’s a Christmas story! A far flung family tries to gather at Christmas, despite all the crises each are facing. I liked it.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley 

It’s funny. It’s sad. It’s poignant. A group of college students gathered after the death of one in their friend group and made a pact. When one of them was in need, they would gather and tell that person what they meant to them. It was so good. Now, I have to go back and read his other book - The Guncle - that has gotten rave reviews.

MK out.