Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I don't often rave about movies on here, and one reason for that is I can never find any pictures that I like for the movies that I like. There's other concerns I have as well, that usually prevent me from posting like this, but today I'm going to do it anyway.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is seriously one of my all time favorite musicals, and movies.

I love each and every one of the actors and actresses who play the sweet and hilarious "family" of four who fix up a car that takes them on adventures beyond belief! Jeremy and Jemima and absolutely adorable. Their sweet, childish faces and ideas are warming right down to your toes.

"Truly Scrumptious, you're truly, truly scrumptious. Scrumptious as a cherry peach parfait. When you're near us, it's so delicious. Honest Truly, you're the answer to our wishes."

Truly Scrumptious, the daughter of a wealthy and (sort of!) intimidating owner of confectionary factory comes into the story with her flowing skirts and high minded ideas, adding a little temperance to Pott's impulsive fancies.

Caractacus Potts is the father of Jeremy and Jemima. He also happens to be an inventor, which we often see the hilarious results of. He is adaptable, fatherly, imaginative, and a dreamer. Not to mention, he is played by the fabulous Dick Van Dyke.

Then there is Grandpa, the Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria, the Child-Catcher, the Toy-Maker, the spies and many other characters that create a good time for all who watch it.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang may not be the best for actors, special effects, plot, or anything else, but it still gets five stars from me!

Screencap credit goes to newsie_nympho. I do not endorse everything that can found through this link, so as always, please use caution.

Weekly Reads (Extremely Late!)

Some of these are actually from several weeks ago, but I thought they were still should be shared!

1. Not just dreaming -- doing.
2. Calendar of the Month Club 
3. Why We Don't Need More Followers
4. What's the Place of Journal Keeping? 
5. Irene ~ At the bottom of this post is a very interesting bit about how disasters like hurricanes draw Americans out to be the neighbors that we should be, instead of the withdrawn, don't-talk-to-strangers people that we so often seem to be.
6. Redefining Sucess [Through a Global Lens]

Oh, just as a heads up, I'll be doing a giveaway soon, and it involves books (The best kind of giveaway!). So keep checking back!

My Favorite Breakfast (Currently!)

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.  ~John Gunther

My breakfast the last few days has felt rather leisurely, and I think it's partly because you can't help but feel relaxed when eating peaches with sugar, and bagels with cream cheese. It's a great way to start the day!

Guest Posting over at Walk

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that today you can find me over at Laura's blog, Walk! I'll be showing how I made a cute pillowcase, so make sure to go and peruse at least the pictures!

Book Review ~ The Eagle's Mate

The Eagle's Mate by Anna Alice Chapin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Eagle's Mate tells the story of young Anemone who lives with her caretaker, Aunt Sally, who was born and bred a Morne of Eagle Mountain. When the leader of the Morne clan is arrested and then rescued by his son and followers, Anemone discovers a side of life that was previously unknown to her gentle, girlish ways.

At first she sympathizes with the Mornes, preferring their seeming courage and manliness over the comfortable and safe males of her acquaintance, but when she is kidnapped and taken to Eagle Mountain herself, she realizes that it had all just been a girl's romantic fancy.

Through the rest of the book you find Anemone struggling with herself to discover how she really feels about Lancer Morne, who seems better than the rest of his kin, but also desperately wishing that she could get away and back to the familiar and friendly life that she had been stolen from in the valley. When a sudden accident completely changes how she feels, she steps up to and beyond what the Mornes have always expected from one of their women and takes charge when no one else can. Through her actions the Morne clan remains almost wholly intact, and she has secured a respected place for herself on Eagle Mountain forever.

"Where shall you find the eagle's mate?
Up in the air so high;
Up in the hills where the thunderbolts wait, -
There you shall find the eagle's mate,
Up by the windy sky!"

This story was actually the very first time I have ever made a foray into the world of the lower-class romance novel, if you will. I hesitate to say just plain old romance, because I have read several romances that would be classified in that category. This book however, was a far lesser work. It was a gripping story as far as the sweet, old-fashioned language and the exciting tale, but there was no redeeming quality to this book, other than a (according to the times, 1914) sensational novel. (Sensational not meaning great, but desiring to produce a sensation, or sense of excitement)

I did enjoy the fact, however, that for a "sensational" romance, it seemed extremely clean, with only a few bad words, and absolutely no scenes that I felt uncomfortable reading.

On the whole, it is not a book that I would recommend to anyone else, although I don't plan to get rid of it, because it does have some nifty photographs from the old, silent film. I mean, it's hard to say no to a nifty book from 1914, isn't it? Unfortunately there are really no pictures to show you, although I hope to upload one soon!

View all my reviews

Kitties and Knitting

They just seem to go together.

The Ferris Wheel