Emma

If you didn't know already, BBC just aired a new version of Emma in England. It is available for viewing on YouTube but will not air in the US until January or February. It is a four part mini-series and I must admit, is very well done.

I found that they followed the book quite well, the actors were excellent, and the scenery gorgeous. The house that was used to portray Hartfield was especially beautiful. From the moment it first appeared on screen, I was in love. I have a thing for stately red brick homes, large gardens, and surrounding woods.


It was interesting that in this version, Emma was portrayed as very much a home-body - not just the high society girl she is usually shown as, though she is that, too. As such, they showed many shots of her beloved home both inside and out. So much so that by the end of the film, you felt that you had been an intimate visitor the entire time and knew the colors of the walls, the fabrics of the furniture, and could point out the different paintings hung about the rooms. I have never quite had that sensation while watching a movie before and was impressed at the director's ability to make me feel comfortable in the home that Emma loved so much.

My only qualm with the movie was that the characters exhibited some modern mannerisms. The dialogue seemed fairly accurate as far as the time period goes, but often the way they interacted with each other, their gestures, or poses indicated that they were not quite comfortable in their period roles. But I think this was done on purpose as I recall reading an article awhile back as to the producers' intention of doing just that, though I don't know that it added anything to the movie except distraction.

If you have seen it or you watch it soon, I'd be interested in hearing your opinion.

Congressman Mike Rogers from Michigan

My mother-in-law sent this video to us last night. I'm so glad that some politicians in Washington are fighting for our freedom!

ER Trip

This morning Nathan took a tumble off of a chair onto the carpet. This is not a completely unusual experience for him as he loves to climb, but this fall scared him. He cried immediately, but picked up momentum and began one of those long drawing in of breath with face turning bright red sorts of things. You know, the kind that seems to last for a very long time and both parents are beginning to shout, "Breathe!" Then he promptly fainted on Daron's shoulder. He woke up just a moment or two later, but it seemed like an eternity. I raced for the phone as I yelled to Daron to keep him awake.

Having reached the phone, I dialed 911 and then Daron mentioned that perhaps we should just call the pediatrician. That sounded like a good idea so I hung up. Of course, the police department immediately called back. I talked to them and explained what happened and they suggested as he was conscious and breathing, we just take him to the ER. I was worried because he was just laying on his back on the floor and being pretty quiet - not a usual thing for our active little boy. But he started to move his arms and legs and was probably just wondering what all the fuss was about.

Daron gave him a blessing and then we proceeded to rush into clothes and jackets. Once we got Nathan into his carseat, he was acting as if nothing had happened. But we continued to the hospital and had him checked out just in case. Aside from starting to get fussy because of the bracelet they put on his ankle and the lack of breakfast, he was just fine. The good news was that the CT scan came back normal and the doctor pronounced him just fine.

Maybe we were a little over anxious. I think his fainting was simply caused by lack of air while crying so hard. Apparently, many children do it. But it was scary nonetheless and I hope it never happens again.

I'm ready to be done with adventures for one week.

I'm No MacGyver

When Esther first started sleeping in a toddler bed, we turned the door handle to her room around so that we could lock it from the outside. Cruel, I know, but she quickly learned to stay in bed. Then we forgot to turn it back around. Occasionally Esther would lock herself and Nathan into their room, but I never imagined what disaster may befall if we were ALL in there.

You see what's coming, don't you?

Yesterday Esther, Nathan, and myself were happily playing when Esther shut the door. She gave me that "I'm being naughty and I love it" grin and told me that she'd locked the door. My first thought was "no problem, I'll just get out through the window and get into some other part of the house." Except that all the other doors and windows are locked and my keys are in the kitchen. Suddenly, it dawned on me that we were truly stuck!

Of course, I could get out the window and phone Daron from a neighbor's house, but who wants that embarrasment? So I thought I could be clever and find my own way out. So the MacGyver theme music started up in my head and I went around the kids' room, trying to find something, anything that may be helpful. Well, MacGyver never got stuck in a child's room. If he did, he may have had just as much trouble as I did! Of course, I was fortunate enough not to have someone on the other side of the door waiting to kill me.

First, I tried to pry off one of the small springs on the crib. I nearly hurt myself. Then I used a piece of a kite to try to pick the lock. That didn't work. Next, I tried a small metal rod that was poking out of a carousel horse music box. No go.

Esther was full of all sorts of helpful suggestions like "Let's go get a key" and "Just open it, Mommy!"

Thirty minutes later, I swallowed my pride, popped off the window screen and climbed with the kids out the window. I explained to my neighbor what happened and they were able to provide me with the necessary screwdriver to unscrew the handle out of the door and get out.

I was rather disappointed that couldn't do a MacGyver Standard Escape. Maybe there's a MSE course I can take. Or maybe we should keep a screwdriver in the kids' room. Or better yet, we can just switch the handle back!

Heavenly Autumn

Seeing as we live in Texas where true Autumn is pretty much nonexistent, I have to live it through my memories and my imagination. Sigh...this is what I miss... George Eliot could have been quoting me, for all the passion I have for the fall.

Halloween!

Can you guess who we were for Halloween this year?

Here are a couple of pumpkin carving pics. Daron ended up doing all of it as it was getting late and the kids completely went beserk and needed to go to bed. We'll post one of the finished product later. But Nathan's eyes when he saw all the goop in the pumpkin was priceless.

And here is Esther pretending to be Groucho Marx - with cucumbers.