It is that time of year when we hear Oscar Buzz, and this year is no exception. Hollywood saves the best for last with films debuting at the end of the year and the beginning of the next. The holiday audiences boost sales, and the films get lots of exposure. Whispers of excellence, however, began to stir in November about a movie with a rather odd name, Hamnet. Did they misspell Hamlet? Kind of….
As I began to read more about it, I discovered that the movie is adapted from a novel by Maggie O’Farrell, so I hurried to read it before the movie premiered. Hamnet the book is about the early life of William Shakespeare and his love story with Agnes Hathaway. The story doesn’t tell you that it is Shakespeare, but you know, and Agnes is not a new character because you know her as Anne. The tale is based on facts, but as with all historical fiction, the imagination weaves the possible dialogue and circumstances. The book is a fast read, and you intimately experiences all the emotions (lots of ups and downs) the characters experience as they live life. I think Shakespeare would approve how the story unfolds.
The hardest part of writing reviews is that you don’t want to tell too much of the story to ruin it for the reader and not telling enough to dull interest to read or to see the movie or whatever. So, I was ready when the advertisements began for Hamnet. The trailers tease and then you want, you must see the movie!
Hamnet the movie, is just, in a word, beautiful. The sets, the scenery, the engaging and attractive actors, the charming children, and on and on. It all sets the stage for a story of love and loss and eventually healing. The movie is true to the book. Hamnet didn’t last very long in the theaters. Most films don’t run long anymore unless it is a blockbuster with dinosaurs or a slice of the Marvel Universe. Eventually, Hamnet will come to one of the streaming services, or it may have a relaunch should it get an Academy Awards nomination. Regardless, both the book and the movie are worth your time. It is literature and film at its best. Enjoy!
It is that time of year for remembering the past year and looking ahead to the new one. Last year we did a blog on our 2025 favorite things, and we thought we would do it again for 2026. Maybe it will give you some ideas for 2026. There are a lot of 20,20,20s in that paragraph.
Nest Candles – You may have discovered this line of candles and their delicious smells. I am totally in love with the Birchwood Pine Reed Diffuser. I discovered it for Christmas 2024. It makes the whole house smell like Christmas. It is perfect for the entire winter season. The candles and the diffuser are a bit pricey. However, the products last a long time, and if you watch the website (Nest.com), the Nest company have great sales. After last Christmas, I bought the one I am using this year at a good discount. I am going to do it again this year. The diffuser is well-packed, and if you put it in a dark place, it will be ready when you are ready to use it. They also ran a Black Friday special this year with good prices.
Krebs Christmas Ornaments – I have had these Christmas balls on my tree for years. They are beautifully made in gorgeous colors, unique colors that can transform a tree. They can be found on their website, christmasbykrebs.com, and of course, Amazon carries them. It is a high quality product at a reasonable price that you can enjoy for years.
American Spoon – I shared this company last year and their wonderful Holiday Jam. This year, I tried their Bourbon Butterscotch sauce and Candied Pecans. Use both for a delicious topping for ice cream or pound cakes. American Spoon’s products are just yummy! I don’t think you can go wrong. The website is different from the name – spoon.com
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Yo Mama Marinara Sauce – I discovered this pasta sauce this year when I was looking for a healthy marinara sauce with few ingredients and no additives. I tried a jar, and now Yo Mama is part of my pantry. Spaghetti never tasted so good. In preparing this blurb, I found that the company has a whole range of products – alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, pizza sauce, and a variety of favors for their marinara. I look forward to trying them all. It is always fun to find tasty, simple products.
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Egg Omelet Dish – I saw this little pottery item in the Uncommon Goods Catalog. It claimed to cook a mini egg omelet in 45 seconds. What a quick way to have protein in the morning, and it fits perfectly in a bagel or English muffin. Spray vegetable oil in the little dish, whip up an egg and add cheese, bacon bits, peppers, onions, or any other veggie. Pour the mixture into the dish and put in the microwave for 45 seconds. Viola, you have a perfect egg to eat alone or in a sandwich. The Omelet Dishes are made by Holman Pottery. You can purchase them from their website, holmanpottery.com, at Uncommongoods.com, and Amazon carries the dishes as well. They are around $25.
Having sensitive skin I shy away from most scented products. But there are a few I can use without fear of developing rashes. One such product is from Natural Grocers – Lavendar Epsom Salts. I use it once or twice a week while soaking in the bathtub. I keep a canister with a small scoop by the bathtub, so the salts are read to use when the mood strikes. I simply put a few scoops under the warm running water and let them dissolve as the tub fills. Then I step into luxury for a 20-minute soak. Relaxing!
doTerra is an essential oil company that certifies its oils are pure. doTerra means “gift of the earth” in Latin. The company provides work for people across the globe, helping small businesses thrive while growing herbs worldwide. The products are expensive, but well worth the money. I diffuse essential oils in my office and bedroom every day. Two products I use extensively are the Deep Blue Rub to relieve muscle discomfort and the Breathe Respiratory Drops when my throat is scratchy or I feel an allergy or cold coming on. The scents are pleasant and I know I’m getting quality products when I buy from doTerra.
Using stickers activates my inner child. My planner is replete with stickers marking appointments, reminders, and elevating my calendar. I especially appreciate Bloom Stickers. They are fun, colorful, and meaningful. Bloom Stickers come in a variety of themed packages. Often, they accompany Bloom Planners. I have used the Bloom financial tracking planner and stickers in addition to the yearly planners. You can find Bloom products at https://bloomplanners.com/ .
Another favorite is Thoughtfully ( https://www.thoughtfully.com/ ). This company has curated gift sets that are reasonably priced. My favorites, of course, are the Thoughtfully Gourmet. These sets comprise miniature samples of multiple products such as olive oil, salts, and teas. I like these because it gives me a chance to try different flavors without ending up with large quantities of things I may not use again. Another fun use of these mini sets is to use them for advent calendar boxes. The small footprint of the items makes inclusion in the advent box perfect. And, you can use them for favors. This year I made nutcracker shaped breadsticks which I packaged with a small bottle of olive oil to use as a dipping oil. Fun and useful favor from an annual Christmas brunch.
One of my most favorite “things” is Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/ This is a company that has figured out what customers want and how to treat customers. Some people complain about the membership fee, but if you use the company a lot you will actually save quite a lot on shipping alone. The ability to order and receive most products within a few days is satisfying. The return process is easy and customer service personnel are empowered to make decisions about refunds. I am grateful that Jeff Bezos and his associates created a system of ordering, delivering, and returning that makes purchases so much easier.
There you have it, friends. Now you know a little more about Mary Ann and me – the things we enjoy and the products we use. What are some of your favorite things?
Happy New Year! It is that time of year when you reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the coming year. In my family, we started the year off with a dinner of Sauerkraut and Pork for good luck, and I have had this dish for my entire life every January 1st. This is pure Pennsylvania Dutch, and no matter where I lived the aroma of the kraut and pork fill the air to greet the new year.
The sauerkraut represented money, so you had to eat some to have a prosperous year. I must say it was hard to swallow when I was little, but now I’ve grown accustomed to the sour taste and like it. The pork is prepared because the pig only walks forward, never backwards. I recently read that it is also because the pig roots forward where other animals dig backwards. Good Jeopardy question with the rooting. In the new year, you want to be moving forward, not stuck in the past year. We always served mashed potatoes and applesauce with the meal.
When I lived in South Carolina, the natives could not imagine eating sauerkraut and pork. They always made black-eyed peas and greens cooked in ham hocks on New Years. Both were new foods to me when I first move there. The black-eyed peas were pennies, and the greens represented cash. It was for a prosperous year as well.
One year, my Southern neighbor and I did a combo meal doing both the Pennsylvania way and Southern way together. All tasted good, and it was fun eating a North/South meal. We had double luck that year.
No matter where you live, there are always special foods and traditions that are unique to an area or a family. Regardless of how you celebrate, it all kicks off the New Year with hope, good luck, and prosperity. You can’t go wrong!
Is it Octopi or Octopuses? I think it both. However, you currently see many movies, documentaries, and books about the Octopus. They are everywhere. Octopuses are very interesting animals and have been documented by many ancient cultures. They have fascinated humans for the ages.
The recent bestselling book, Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt captures the magic of this mesmerizes animal. This debut fiction by Van Pelt tells the story of Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow who works as a cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She is keeping herself busy after the recent loss of her husband. She has always kept herself busy ever since the mysterious death of her son, Erik.
While she cleaned, she was watched by Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Marcellus is a wily mollusk, and every few chapters, he charms the reader with his perspective on the ever-unfolding story. Late at night, Marcellus escapes his tank and gathers treasures left by tourists. He then hides them in his grotto in his tank. Eventually, Marcellus and Tova become friends. She saves him one night!
The story progresses when a young man, Cameron, comes to live in the community. There are lots of subplots to the story, but they all come together in the end when the dots are connected. You will have fun putting it all together, so I don’t want to give too many details.
Remarkable Bright Creatures is a delightful book, and everyone I know who love a good story have thoroughly enjoyed this tale. I highly recommend this book. It will lift your spirits! I hope Shelby Van Pelt will share her talents again with future books. Can’t wait!
Note: A movie based on the book is being produced with Sally Fields as Tova – a role made for her. Her range of emotions will help us interpret the story so we can all feel Tova and Marcellus’s lives.
While traveling in the South of France with friends, we decided to take a cooking class. It was held at a winery, and it all seemed so romantic and adventuresome. First however, we were going to the Farmer’s market in Aix-en-Provence to get the food we needed to prepare for our dinner. It was farm-to-table which is most of the meals in France.
The market was full of stalls that held produce of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, red meat, breads and pastries, and of course, cheese. It was a feast for the eye! The cheese monger was an older gentleman whose white hair and beard looked like an unruly goat with hair sticking out everywhere. He was beautiful. Just the kind of picture you want to take to remember a day at the market. So, I was sneaking around trying to get the perfect shot. He, however, was on to me and kept ducking or turning his head. I just was not going to get a picture of this” beautiful” man. No luck!
We met up with the chef who took us to the various stalls to buy the ingredients. The chef explained how to choose the perfect ingredients for our dinner such as selecting a monk fish – boy, one ugly fish! Then we moved to the cheese stall where the “goat” man reigned. I was coming face-to-face with the man I was trying to photograph. He looked me in the eye, and I looked him in the eye. We totally recognized each other. I was so embarrassed turning every shade of red, because he knew what I was trying to do. I spoke to the chef asking him to apologize for me. I was just plain rude to this man getting into his personal space regardless how enticing the picture would have been. The chef told the cheese man how sorry I was. As it turned out, the week before, he had been manhandled by a lady from Germany who took “selfies” of this poor man who just wanted to sell his cheese. The German woman shook him so when I came around with camera in hand, he thought I would do the same things. The goat man and I smiled at each other, but I don’t think he really trusted me. He went on to explain through the chef how the cheese was aged, and we tasted the difference – all very interesting! I then slinged away. I never did get a picture of the cheese or the cheese monger.
We continued shopping and then departed to the winery cooking the afternoon away in the creation of an excellent meal. We sampled their delicious wines, and it truly was a memorable meal. As we departed, they sent us off with three bottles of wine and the recipes. Yummy!
I did learn a valuable lesson that day about photographing native people. Tourists are the paparazzi of the average man. You must respect them. They are not a building or vista that is there to photograph. They are living, breathing people with feelings. Since then, I have always asked if I could take a person’s picture. I did always ask for permission to photograph children – too many weird adults out there who could use the pictures in a bad way. For the most part, people like to be photographed and some of my most interesting shots from any trip are of the people who live there.
This blog has been a lesson not to be the paparazzi of the native people of any country. It makes tourists live up to the ugly American reputation or in this case, the ugly German! Just ask and accept the answer they give you. You will find most people are kind. Smiles are universal!
When I was a young girl, my job at Christmas was to decorate the top of our piano. We first put down some fake snow that was quilt batting. Then, we would add Santa’s sleigh and various Christmas characters to the snowy scene. The featured stars of the display were four elves that were Annalee Dolls.
Annalee Dolls started in 1934 by Annalee Thorndike in Meredith, NH. It was a cottage industry growing out of the Depression. During the 1950s and 1960s, the felt dolls with the charming hand-painted faces began to take off around the country. With each decade the company grew bigger and bigger adding little characters for all the holidays in a variety of sizes. They ran limited editions and collecting fever hit the nation. Each year new characters are introduced, and suddenly, you just must have the Mardi Gras elf!
My mother began collecting the Annalee Dolls in the early 1960s. She would get them from a lovely gift shop in our hometown called The Studio Shop. She slowly grew her collection and decorated for each holiday with them. The catalogs would come, and she would place lots of orders
When I had my own family, I began to collect as well, but not nearly as many as my mother had. I love the elves and have several of them for all the holidays. However, I have a large collection of Christmas elves that are scattered all over the house. They peek around every corner and will surprise guests at every turn. I always seem to miss one or two when I put them away. They surprise me!
When my mother passed, we had to find new homes for hundreds of Annalee Dolls. I added several of hers to my collection. I gave relatives specific ones that I knew would have personal meaning to them. In the end there were still about 200 plus dolls. Then the hard part began – what do you do with them?? I tried to sell them to collectors who were also trying to find homes for their own collections. This went on for several months. In the end we gave them to a Women’s Thrift shop that helped abused women. They sold them at their auction and in the store. I know this would have made my mother happy helping other women.
Any of you that have collections from your own mothers such as Byers’ Carolers or Hummels or Jim Shore figures or Christmas Villages know what I mean about downsizing family collections. No one in the family wants them anymore. Once I am gone, I am not sure anyone in my family will want the precious Annalee Dolls. I hope someone will want the original four elves from the top of the piano.
When I unwrap my dolls to display for a holiday, it makes me happy to visit with them again. I know that my mother would be happy that they bring me joy. Most importantly, “playing” with the Annalee Dolls is like I am visiting with my mother. It brings a smile to my lips and a tear to my eye remembering her.
I got the best birthday present, and I am sharing it with you as it could be a great Christmas gift as well especially if you need a gift for an animal lover. It is a beaded bracelet featuring an animal such as a polar bear, an elephant, a giraffe, a cheetah, or manatees. There are 19 animals to choose from and new animals are added frequently. The bracelets are from a company called Fahlo. I got a polar bear bracelet.
When your purchase a bracelet, you also adopt a real animal that you can track in its habitat on your phone or tablet. You just download the app which is free. I received a polar bear bracelet with a card telling me about Bobbie, my gifted bear. She is a mother who has raised several cubs to adulthood. Bobbie lives near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada – the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Churchill has been on my bucket list for 30 plus years, and now, I have a little bit of it on my wrist. I check on Bobbie every day or two, and she does move around. You can see everywhere she has been over the last few months. She is waiting right now for the Hudson Bay to freeze, so she can go seal hunting to survive the winter and provide for her cubs.
Fahlo has partnered with various conservation groups that they support with a share of the profits from bracelets and other merchandise. My bracelet supports Polar Bears International. This company makes the public aware of the various animals, many that are endangered, and then supports the group who study and protect the animals. The animals are tagged with very humane protocols, and you can read about all of this on the website and on your app once you sign up for your animal. Animals such as elephants give you tracking info that is a few weeks old to keep the poachers from locating a vulnerable animal in real time – smart!
The bracelets are each $16.95 which I think is a very fair price. There is a wide array of beads to select the perfect gift for someone. They have sales all the time so you can get them even cheaper. I plan to give a cheetah bracelet and a manatee bracelet for Christmas gifts this year. They are interesting and unique gifts that help animals. You can make a difference, however small, with your bracelet purchase, and it will keep your animal or animals top of mind. Have fun shopping and making the world a bit better.
When we were children, there were phone operator – a real person – who would help find a telephone number or other information. They were the good old days. Boy, do I miss real people. I bet you do too. This brings me to a story about being thankful, making this Thanksgiving time of year even more meaningful.
My mother use to say that God had two angel phone operators. One angel was the please prayer operator and the other was the thank you prayer operator. She would say that the please operator was constantly busy. People would ask for things all the time – please, please, please! The thank you operator was hardly ever busy. Apparently, people didn’t thank God for his help. My mother told me that it was my job to keep the thank you operator busy. I needed to thank God for all my blessings. I took her at her word. I always thanked God. I still do at the end of each day.
During the Thanksgiving season, we do think more about our blessings and are thankful for them. If we could just keep those feelings throughout the year, we would all be better off. There are all kinds of studies that support that gratitude brings peace to our souls. It keeps us both mentally and physically healthy.
When I said my prayers as a little girl, my mother and brother and I would say three prayers. Now a Lay Me Down to Sleep which is well-known, but we would say two other prayers that I have never heard anywhere. I am going to share them because they are sweet, and I hate to think they will be lost when I am gone. Here they are:
Prayer 1
When I kneel down to say my prayers,
Each word goes climbing on the stairs,
On wind and ear to God who listens and rejoices
to little children’s thoughts and voices.
Prayer 2
Jesus, I kneel down to pray
Thank you for another day
With hands to feel and eyes to see
And all my loving gifts to me.
Help me in the way I walk. Teach me the way I talk
Guide and bless me from above
Jesus, it is you I love.
Do any of you know these prayers? They will both keep the thank you angel operator busy as they both say thank you to God. Maybe the little angel will help you to remember as well to count your blessings and say thank you!
One thing that you notice in New York City, it has gone to the dogs! There are dogs everywhere. There is also dog do-do everywhere so watch where you step. You are supposed to curb your dog, but not everyone follows the rules. However, it is not as bad as Paris.
There are all kinds of dogs. French Bulldogs are a favorite. You are surprised with Burmese Mountain Dogs – apparently, they are excellent apartment dogs. Just about every kind of dog you can imagine live in NYC. When you see an Irish Setter trotting down the street, you wonder how a hunting dog finds space to run. There are lots of rescues with suspect lineage. Then there are the Designer Dogs – a deliberate cross breeding of two pedigrees dogs to create a new breed. Maltipoos, Labradoodles, Cockapoos, Pomskys, and on and on are the “new” breeds. All are quite cute. There are pet shops that specialize in Designer Dogs.
On the streets of NYC, there are bowls of water in front of restaurants for furry customers. There are specialty services for dogs that include Doggie Day Care, Doggie Gyms, Pet Sitters, Shuttle Service, Groomers with salons that rivel human salons, and vets with clinics and mobile units. Dog walkers are walking dogs all over the city with solo clients and groups of 3 or more. The dogs all seem to get along well – it is kind of a pack mentality. Some dogs are on a walk in a stroller. I guess getting some fresh air. Dog parks dot the city scape where dog people gather and friendships bloom.
We had a school dog that on Mondays had play dates in Central Park with his other dog friends. The dog loved it, and I am sure he knew when it was Monday. The rest of the week the dog loved being everyone’s pet at school. Many of the little boutiques in the city have a dog that minds the shop. It adds charm to the shopping experience. Dogs are everyshere.
There were all kinds of Doggie Shops with normal pet shop items; however, they had a large selection of outfits accessorized with sparkly jewels. All kinds of “shoes” were available which is not a bad idea on city sidewalks – hot cement in the summer and salt on dog pads in the winter. It can prevent issues for the dogs. There are colorful canine raincoats and boots that deck gray rainy city sidewalks. There are several dog bakeries with custom dog biscuits among many other doggie treats. (The picture below is of two Italian Greyhounds dressed in matching PJs on a cold Winter’s day. Just too cute!)
The dog subculture is everywhere now. It is just more noticeable in New York because the population is so dense with people and dogs. New York is also innovative with new dog services and the like. It is fun to people watch in the city, but dog watching is more fun! You might just get a slobbery kiss while you watch. New York City is an interesting place, but it is truly a doggone city!
There are so many books to read. I read a lot, yet I never seem to be caught up. There is always another new book on the horizon. So why would anyone reread a book from their past. However, many of those old book friends still call us.
There were several books over the years that have beckon me to visit them again. Some of them were read when I was in high school, and somehow, we were expected at 16 years old to have a deep range of life experiences to relate to them. I don’t think so.
I reread a few books when I was teaching those novels to students. I can remember reading The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and crying at the end of the story when Jody was no longer interested in playing with the water wheel he had
built at the beginning of the story. He was no longer a boy. I was reading it to my 4thgrade class of girls. They probably thought I was nuts. I read Animal Farm by George Orwell in a reading class that I was teaching. It was fun watching young minds trying figure out if it was about communism or whatever. I think I will reread it again with the state of the world. It is probably coming true on many levels.
I decided to reread The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. At 16 what did I know of love, of adultery. Hawthorn writes such beautiful prose, and a tear or two fell down my cheek about Hester’s plight. When in 11th Grade, I was just trying to get through the assignments not really relating. With a little life under my belt, I could empathize with Hester’s life. You understood her emotions. I am so glad I carved out time for this reread.
Then I reread To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I loved it and it was so clear with a second reading what a good man Atticus was – doing the right thing despite his personal feelings. You learn universal lessons. Plus, it was a hoot reading Scout’s impressions of school. I remember that I read them to my faculty for a different point of view of education.
Another favorite from my youth was The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. As a teenager, I thought Holden had nailed life as he navigated coming of age. However, on the second read as an adult, I thought he was just a whiny kid – so disappointing for me. I think that is why I didn’t like TheGoldfinch by Donna Tartt– whiny teenagers.
There are few more books that I will give another whirl through the pages. I always reread Anne Lamott’s book. I find some little nugget of wisdom in each of the essays – always worth a reread. I am currently reading The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas that gave me the idea for the Reread Blog. I loved that book! I am so glad that it is 1500 plus pages. I don’t want it to end, and yet, I know the ending. It is so well-written with rich vocabulary. Remember the SAT practice list? It is that kind of rich vocabulary.
I am debating rereading Moby Dick by Herman Melville, but I think it is truly my white whale. I am sure you have some books that you might want to reread. Some will probably be duds, others true gems. Visit your old friends – they will welcome you back!
Silver Sage Sisters 