Essie.

A review by Zoie: ESSIE nail polish in Movers and Shakers.

Essie nail polish in the color Movers and Shakers is my favorite. I like it because it's a hot color and I love hot pink. It's almost neon but not quite. It also has a glossy finish which is beautiful. This is my absolute favorite pink nail polish.

One day, I'd like to do a zebra pattern with Black and Movers and Shakers. I love zebras of course.

I think this nail polish would be perfect on any girl!

Spring

A Prayer in Spring

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

by Robert Frost

Hondo and Fabian

Zoie's favorite book.

Hondo is the dog and Fabian is the cat. The toddler reminds me of Zoie when she was that age.

Peter McCarty both wrote and illustrated the book, beautifully done in pencil. He won the Caldecott Honor for this book in 2002.

A Visit to Frist: Center of the Visual Arts

Ever since I can remember, I have always had a love for art. As a little girl, I went through countless pieces of paper drawing, writing, and even making MANY cards for my family. My mother had suggested I marry a man that owned a paper mill. I can see what she meant, as my own daughter Zoie does the same thing today.

Believe me, I am THRILLED that my daughter loves art as much - or maybe even more than I do. Last week was Spring Break so our family took a trip to see some amazing art exhibited at the Frist Center of the Visual Arts.

The exhibits we viewed were:

Masterpieces of European Painting - from Museo de Arte de Ponce
This is one of Zoie's favorite paintings from the show by Rosetti:

Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece - this was an interested exhibit with approximately 100 objects depicting various types of ancient Greek heroes on numerous kinds of vessels. A great history exhibit for students.

Zoie's favorite exhibit:

U-Ram Choe's New Urban Species - U-Ram Choe is a contemporary artist from Korea. His metal sculptures are so amazing. He incorporates biology, engineering and art into his moving mechanical sculptures. You have to actually watch not only the moving sculptures but also the beautiful shadows that are cast by the lights inside the sculptures.
This is a picture of just one of the sculptures:

I asked Zoie if she owned an art gallery, what would she choose to display. The pictures shown are the ones she picked. What would you show in your art gallery?

Bento Box Art.

I've always been fascinated with the art of Bento Boxes. Here are two of my favorite creations I've found on Flickr. Photos by Nonochan.

We love Tinker Bell!

Zoie and I watched the Disney movie Tinker Bell (2008) last night and loved it! Zoie loved seeing Tinker Bell as a child. I personally loved the story and the score was amazing. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Two sequels are being made and we can't wait to see them.

Memorial Day Weekend.

Zoie and I had a wonderful visit with my parents today. Despite the rain outside, it felt like the beginning of summer eating ribs, beans, salad and yummy lemon meringue pie. As many families enjoy their picnics and cookouts this weekend it's important to take a moment to think about what this holiday truly means. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

With this said, my favorite war movie is Saving Private Ryan (1998).

These are the lines from my favorite scene:

Old James Ryan: [addressing Capt. Miller’s grave] My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I wasn't sure how I'd feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me.

Ryan's Wife: James?...[looking at headstone]

Ryan's Wife: Captain John H Miller.

Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.

Ryan's Wife: What?

Old James Ryan: Tell me I'm a good man.

Ryan's Wife: You are.[walks away]

Old James Ryan: [stands back and salutes]

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Here is a poem that inspired the start of Memorial Day.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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Thank you Dad for serving our country for so many years! We love you!