“It's not what a movie is about, 

it's how it is about it.”

― Roger Ebert

For a woman who loves to go to the movies...I sure didnt go to many this year.  (Now there's a good goal for 2020!)
Looking back I see  I only have 8 movies that I felt worth mentioning. And picking the favorite was a good, thought provoking experience.  
But if I MUST- my choice for a favorite will be Bohemian Rhapsody.  My reasoning ifor this pick is that I think about this movie the most out of the handful I saw this year.  I am haunted by Freddie and his life. And yes, I do know that this movie didnt portray his life in its true form. But I do know that he was a gifted and conflicted  and talented young soul.  I am tormented at times by peoples burdens and choices...Freddie and Michael Jackson to name a few of the many.  I love Freddies music...I have many of his classics on my playlists.  Rami did an amazing job of playing Freddie! And Im still kinda amazed at how the supporting actors looked so much like the characters they are playing. This is the only movie this year that I watched several times.  So that is why its at the top of my short list.

The other movies Im noting for the year goes as follows:
2nd- Aladdin- with Will Smith. This was such a pleasant surprise!! I went in with low expectations and came out happy and singing a tune or two. 

3rd- The Ballard of Buster Scruggs- Dark, Dark, Dark...not for the faint of heart. But I think about this one a lot too. Its course and also a work of art. 

4th- The 100 Foot Journey- Warm and delicious!!

5th- Ford vs Ferrari- very interesting, well acted and beautifully shot! Who knew that camera angles could play such an influential part of a race car movie!!??

6th- Downton Abbey- It was wonderful catching up with old friends!!

7th- Avengers Endgame- Laugh out-loud fun and adventure!

8th- Yesterday- fun, a unique concept and who can go wrong with Beatles music?!

P.S.- It has just now occurred to me that some of these movies may not be strictly 2019 movies. But guess what?! They were for me!! So Im counting them!!
P.S.S.- And I also realize that 2019 isnt over yet! Knifes Out is definitely on my list to see before the years out!

Get a plan.  Follow it until you run out of road. Then get

a new plan- or build a new road.  Build a fire in your

belly that no one else can extinguish.  Stoke it daily. If you

dont already have one, get a dream.  A big one.  Bigger than

you believe is possible.  Do everything you have to do to

achieve it.  Then do more of the same stuff until you're an 

expert.   Stop being afraid of challenges, dead ends and

 mistakes.  You will run into all of them.  Decide now that

they wont keep you from running onward.  Dont you dare

accept mediocrity.  Dont you dare deliver it.

from: Put A Cherry on Top

by: Ben Behunin

Sweet Jenna has a bucket list.
"THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND ST GEORGE BEFORE GOING OFF TO THE GREAT ADVENTURE CALLED MEDICAL SCHOOL."

I've had a glimpse of the list. It looks something like this:
See Las Vegas
Hike Angels Landing
Eat at Cafe Rio
Learn to knit
Hike Subway in Zion
See the Grand Canyon
Hike with Cindy
Have a good time
etc
etc
etc

Its been my pleasure to be included and to participate by playing a small part in helping her plans to come to fruition.  Wishes coming true is a beautiful thing to behold.
Sunday my folks and I and Clark and Jenna all piled into my dads Jetta and headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (The best Rim I might add!)

My fear was irrational!! I know!!! But I couldnt let her go!! She wanted the edge!!! I would have nothing of it!! The thought of it literally made my stomach hurt!!

We thought it might take 2 hours of driving to reach the Rim. In actuality it took 3.  Three hours of beautiful scenery, good conversation...and the ultimate destination!
There were buffalo, and wildflowers, clouds that preformed, and vistas worthy of being one of the 7 Wonders of the World!!
Oh what a marvelous world we have been given to love and appreciate!!
Thank you Spark..for the time lapse. It makes me so happy!! Sitting on the deck with you while your camera clicked away...priceless!!

...the pleasure of painting is that hurting sense that you're 

not getting it right, and so you try something else, and 

you try and you try until  you get it.  It may not be 

perfect, but it's comfortingly better than when you started,

and when  that happens, it's one of the grandest feelings

in the world,  because it's earned.

from: The Passion of Artemisia

by: Susan Vreeland

I mentioned it before...but last weekend was 'my' first funeral as a Relief Society president.  Im happy to report that it went very smoothly.  Due in no part to me...for the woman in charge of compassionate service/funerals is a dynamo!! She's got funeral luncheons down to a science!! Im already ever so grateful she's on the team!!
 And.... how very cool is this hearse!!? I couldnt resist taking a shot of if as it waited out front of the church.  When I die...you can carry my bones to the grave in this ride!!! Gladly!!!

The apartment gets quite toasty come 3 o'clock, so often we head to the park for  a cool down...it truly is a wonderful place.

My new friend and her 'babies' went walking with us the other morning..or I should be more clear...I was invited to join them on their ritual morning walk up the canyon.  5 little Yorkie all in a row...pretty cute.

You cant tell from these pictures...but this week the deer have come into the garden and have been sampling the many flavors that grow so abundantly there.  It appears they LOVE strawberry plants, and squash leaves, and most decidedly my morning glory leaves!  Thankfully the garden is so large, that their feasting isnt too damaging...except for maybe the strawberry leaves...they took a good bunch of them out...not as much photosynthesis going on there right now...ugh!

Now that the Olympics are over---this show has become  my guilty pleasure, which is made all the better 'cause I share it with Anna. The men go down to the Mill to make rabbit food..and we make time to watch a few episodes. Its really quite captivating and an eye-opening  portrayal of the deaf culture! Not to mention the premise of two babies being switched at the hospital and going home to grow up under completely different circumstances...and then as teenagers learning the truth!!  Its sweet and entertaining and Im often moved with emotion as I watch.  (I dated a charming, and very handsome deaf  boy in high school..eons ago.) Switched at Birth is worth watching! (aint Netflix grand!?)

My Builder snatched away my copy of Mayflower and is enjoying it...(I'm happy to see him read..and relax) I will pick it up again when he's through. So Im reading a light and delicious  book..which is good for me right now.  Its full of eccentric characters, vivid imagery, and silliness...all written with great skill! Then it'll be back to the hardships and heartache and awesome courage that is the story of the Pilgrims!!
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard ***1/2

And look at this...Clark is in Chicago!  Good times!!  Love these two!!

Maybe happiness is this: not feeling like you should

be elsewhere, doing something else, being someone

else.  Maybe the current conditions in Switzerland

make it simply easier to "be" and therefore "be happy."

from: Geography of Bliss

by: Eric Weiner

MASTER of the Story of Griselda

[Italian Early Renaissance Painter, active ca.1500]

Artemisia

1492

Oil on panel, 88 x 46 cm

Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan

I finished reading The Passion of Artemisia longing to see some of her work. And here it is!!  I'll be searching for more!!

The Pah-Ute (Paiute) Indian group, near Cedar, Utah in a picture from 1872. O’Sullivan was famous for not trying to romanticise the native American plight or way of life in his photographs and instead of asking them to wear tribal dress was happy to photograph them wearing denim jeans.

I've been missing Southern Utah...I have friends that do a great job posting what they've been up to down there...without me...sigh.  Then I stumbled upon this photo...what a harsh life.  Im grateful I wasnt born to be a pioneer; without air conditioning, running water and bug exterminators. 

Its been a LONG time since My Builder and I have been to a movie. We stay home and Netflix...but we went to this one...Men In Black III, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Good choice for us!! Thanks dear.

I bought a bike helmet, for my bike riding adventures. Ben looks way cuter than I under that hat!

Mimi in 1975..with her best friend Judy and her family.  Arent the two of us just as foxy as they came!!?? te he Thanks for sharing Jude

I seek weekly refuge and peace here...and I always find it.

Two of my boys are spending a week at Lake Powell...I am not...

Instead we went to the Cashe County Fair..
and saw pigs...goats..sheep..and cattle.
Lucie got her face painted
Ben got to dip his piggies in the stream
I ate homemade french fries
and held My Builders hand.
The highlight for me was..strangely enough... being introduced to McClintock the 2300 lb bull..whom Im told will probably go to Nationals and win! 
I was impressed!!

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Thursday evening.

One of our many goals for Relief Society and my new calling is to visit every lady in our ward..and since I hate to go anywhere unfamiliar, empty handed...we made up this little card to give each lady..with our name and phone numbers and meeting times.
Silly, but it gets the job done.
Tomorrow (Sat) is our first funeral. We are expected to feed 90 people at the luncheon. Gulp. There's nothing like just jumping right in...

Peace

...the persistence of hope tapping us on our shoulders

 is a good thing because it reminds us of the larger

 picture, and keeps us breathing on the worst days.

from: The Passion of Artemisia

by: Susan Vreeland

Dont you just love watching the Olympics!!  I know I miss a lot of the events...but what we do get to see is so fantastic! I love the emotions and the awe and wonder I feel as I watch these amazing athletes accomplish what looks to be impossible!!  Im so glad there's another week!!   Go here for more amazing photos!!