The Morning After
It snowed all day, the day before yesterday, lulling us into it’s clean bright world.
Then, yesterday, with a snide attempt at a grin the snow began to melt into muck. The two big cows are still on the concrete yards but Sheila and her calves have turned the hay corner of the salad bar field into a mire.
But that’s ok as this is part of the plan. It is a winter field and it will freeze soon and will be resown in the spring with my special mix.
Looks like today is the last of the warm weather, we drop below freezing tomorrow and stay there for the forsee-able future.
As you know later in the month (weather permitting) I intend to fly into Calgary then I will drive up into the mountains to have Christmas with my son and his family in Canmore.
My daughter in law LOVES Christmas which will be a lovely foil to my honed dislike of the whole affair. She was asking me if there are any Christmas traditions I had. I rather gloomily – Eeyore-like – said I had none, I spent many many Christmas’s alone, my children always went to their fathers family for Christmas, and I was perfectly happy with no traditions at all thank you very much. Old Grinch!
Truthfully I liked having Christmas Day to myself I wrote about it here.
Anyway as the conversation progressed I did remember a tradition of mine. Other than steak and mashed potatoes which I might not get away with – The MOVIE. I always watched a movie on Christmas day. For years it was Breakfast at Tiffanys.
But what movie to watch – I have no idea.
What was your favourite movie this year? I thought I might make a list of Movie suggestions – finding one that all three of us have NOT seen might be quite the challenge. Have you seen any good movies lately? What was your favourite? During the summer season I never get to the movies, and we do not have enough signal to support NetFlix so I am out of the loop. (Terrible for someone who used to work IN the film industry).
I am looking forward to your suggestions.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
PS Not necessarily a Christmas movie, just a movie you loved.
68 Comments on “The Morning After”
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thekitchensgarden 
It definitely looks like Christmas on the farmy! I’d watch, It’s a Wonderful Life 🙂
I was thinking about It’s a Wonderful Life too! I watched it for the first time in July (many years ago), so I’ve never thought of it as a Christmas movie, just a good movie that happens to end with a Christmas scene.
My own favourite movie of the year is The Intern, with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. It’s gentle, funny, intelligent and embraces the value and wisdom of older people, in the workplace and in life in general. I’ve watched it 3 or 4 times (we have it on DVD), and familiarity does not breed contempt.
I loved The Intern too. I plan to add it to our collection. Great suggestion!
I loved The Intern, too.
Snap! I was going to say exactly the same 🙂
It’s sweet without being soppy, funny without slapstick and respectful of the older, wiser person with life experience instead of worshiping youth and beauty to the exclusion of all else. I love it!
I LOVE Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And you’re right: it should be watched once a year!
Good morning, that is one problem with snow. It only looks pretty when it is fresh then when it turns to mud, it is awful.
My favourite holiday movie is
” Love Actually” with Hugh Grant.
Another oldie but goody – Gone with the Wind 🙂 Laura
We re-watch ‘Love Actually’ or ‘Notting Hill’ as soppy, feel-good, family favorites at xmas. We’re expecting our first grand baby (and two Jersey calves) around then so aren’t traveling this year. Have a wonderful time with your son and family if I don’t catch you again before then celie. 🎄
[J] Ugh! Slush!! Yuk!
Lots of good suggestions here in the Lounge, Love Actually is a seasonal tradition for me. If you like suspense The Girl on the Train had me clinching my nails! On Netflix, I watched all of The Crown and loved it. I watched War Dogs with my guys, they loved it, me not so much. We also watched Star Wars VII the force awakens, and I enjoyed it. The cold is on its way for sure. Rain and sleet here today.
Yes, I was wondering how long it would take for the farmy to turn to muck! We’ve not had snow yet here, and I’m not missing it one bit! Gosh, movies…. It’s a Wonderful Life, as Mad suggested is always a good one. A friend said ‘It’s just wrong!” if ‘A Christmas Story’ is not watched at Christmas time. It’s on my ‘must watch list’ now. 🙂
Movies on Christmas Day? Oh NO!..its a time for playing games and generally chatting about nothing and drinking drinks and eating things that are not on our diet… but yes we sall watch a movie and I shall be on my computeras I usually am…how times have changed!
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2016 at 2:42 PM
I usually watch Simon Birch (one of my top 5 movies of all time), New In Town, and The Holiday this time of year just because of the season and wintry tones. But Kate’s suggestion, The Intern (2015), was probably my most recently watched fav movie. I love your snowy photos today.
So we don’t watch movies on Christmas, but have some holiday favorites we watch every year in the run-up to the day. As so many others have said, Love Actually is one. Elf is another classic–sweet, sappy fun. And of course It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Story.
I spend Christmas alone too. Well, I usually work and then I watch Die Hard and Moonstruck. I know. They feel mutually exclusive but they sort of cover the range off not at all like my life and not at all depressing. Which is what I look for in escapist fun.
That scene in Moonstruck when Nicholas Cage sweeps away the table’s dishes–OMG is there anything more romantic than that ? We watched Die Hard last night!!! A Christmas Story with the march of the dogs has to be one of the best Christmas movies ever. And of course George C. Scott as Scrooge–a real keeper–so is the original with Alistair…can’t recall his last name.
P.S. Is that little creature in the cup a wombat baby??
My family LOVES A Christmas Story and – a few years ago – my neighbor made a lamp just like it. We put it our ‘parlor’ window and did a good bit of that scene outside!! ; o )
The original Scrooge was Alistair Sim, and for my money the original is still the best. I watch it every year, usually on Christmas Eve.
Chris S in Canada
A Christmas Story is a definite, and between Thanksgiving and Christmas I always have a screening of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which never fails to give me a chuckle. I think Star Wars The Force Awakens may be the only movie I saw in the theater this year. I am also loving The Crown on Netflix.
How about the Lord of the Ring trilogy?
A favorite Christmas movie is Polar Express with Tom Hanks. The Intern gets top marks from me as well. Miracle on 34th Street is also a favorite. I DVR a whole collection of the new Christmas movies from the Hallmark channel. I like less violent movies so I pick carefully. But the Die Hard series was so funny as is most with Bruce Willis that I watch them whenever my son puts them on. He’s a movie collector. Love Actually is one of his favorites if that tells you anything. Glad to see you have some beautiful snow. Ours turned out to be wet snow. Pretty but gone before it hits the ground. Yay! Wish you luck with the flight and drive to your son’s. I like being alone, just not so much on Christmas. I love the loud and happy chatter and waving a happy, tired farewell. 🙂 Have a wonderfilled day yourself. I would have been here earlier but my internet was down. Fixed it myself! 🙂
Polar express is such a lovely movie. I recently watch The Book Thief , as it is one of my favourite books, and it was so good.
I was afraid to watch The Book Thief, but I did and found is mesmerizing. I loved how well it was done. Thank you for reminding me of another great movie. I had forgotten.
You will love “Mud” (2012), written and directed by Jeff Nichols. The two boys take the spotlight away from Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Sam Shepherd. The film itself will lighten your winter mood.
Chicken People!!! It’s not Christmassy, it’s about 3 people who show poultry, which is an interest I share.
I like movies that are set at chrismas but not christmas movies if that makes sense. My favourite is The Apartment with Jack Lemmon and Shirley Mclaine, very bittersweet, and like Breakfast at Tiffanys you can watch it each year. Another favourite is The Family Stone. The best film I saw this year was Hunt for the Wilderpeople but chances are you have seen it.
No i have not seen it yet ! I wonder if it is on Netflix yet. Now THAT is an idea. My daughter said it was brilliant! and funny.. c
I haven’t seen many films this year but Hunt for the Wilderpeople was going to be my suggestion too http://m.imdb.com/title/tt4698684/. Also worth a watch is the very good 2016 Aussie movie with Jacki Weaver doing her usual great stuff along with David Wenham, David Gulpilil and Aaron Pederson – Goldstone http://m.imdb.com/title/tt4911996/.
Just watched this myself the other day – loved it. It has plenty of references that only Kiwis will get as well!
Perfect for a couple of kiwis far from home on christmas day.. c
I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in my curmudgeonly ways with all annual festivities which seem irrelevant in today’s world of have and have nots…any way, you check out a trilogy that I’ve always meant to see and haven’t yet, so I might get it as well – Marcel Pagnol’s Marseille trilogy “Marius” “Fanny” and “César”…http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1961/3/4/the-pagnol-trilogy-fanny-pit-all/. 🙂
And also highly recommend the colorful & heartwarming Marcel Pagnol Provencal set, La Gloire de mon Pere and Le Chateau de Ma Mere, also known by their English titles My Father’s Glory & My Mother’s Castle. Love them both & have seen several times each.
I love both of those films.
Oh! Haven’t thought about ‘Gloire’ & ‘Chateau’ in years, but I did love those! Thanks for the memory jog!!
My favorite Christmas movies are “Desk Set” with Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracey & the early giant computer, Emeril. So funny & bright & an over-the-top office party. And “The Bishop’s Wife” with Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven & Monty Wooly with a do-good/feel-good plot & a wondrously magical evening ice-skating scene. Heavenly interventions save the day. Both are often on TurnerClassicMovies in the days before Christmas. The best movie I saw this year was 45 Years with Charlottle Rampling & Tom Cortenay, 2 great British actors in great performances, but the film is not for Christmas Day.
My sister-in-law always provides rooty-tooty horns, silly hats & even sillier games & with the aid of festive tipples, we all get through it with hilarity & in fairly good grace. It comes around but once a year! I hope the weather cooperates with you for your get-away up into the Canadian mtns. to be with your loved ones.
Oh I love Desk Set, Katherine and Spencer were so lovely together. The old movies are the best I think. I love Holday with Katherine Hepburn and Carey Grant, also Holiday Inn for complete Christmas slush. Who can resist sleigh bells and puttin on a show in the barn!
Auntie Mame with Rosalind is my all time favorite movie- I might just have to rent it via Netflix for Christmas!
We have the same issue with internet connectivity so we get DVD’s from Netflix easy peasy! and I think
that there are more choices with the DVD’s as opposed to streaming? Maybe? Have a lovely day!
Auntie Mame is a terrific movie to watch on Christmas Day, you are right, Kathe.
Our DVD player died which is OK as we have no TV. However my son does!
I watch Love Actually and Holiday Inn (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye). That pretty much covers the spectrum. New and old.
I’m 58, but have to see “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby singing the theme song. There are other songs in the movie, and I enjoy them, too. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s ‘streaming’ on Netflix this year….. (I have the dvd and would share if we were closer!)
The only movie I saw this year is the latest Ice Age one, but my most favorite movie of all is The Rare Breed. Watched it as a child and still love it today.
I do something a little different. I always reread a book from Christmas to New Year. It’s called Nature Diary of a Quiet Pedestrian by Philip Croft. It’s not a brilliant book by any book critic, it’s just a personal diary of a year here on the West Coast, from New Year to New Year, from a man who loved to walk and draw. I’ve loved that book for years ad years.
So many great movies!! “Babe” and “The Black Stallion”–first half. Last half seems silly. “The Bishop’s Wife” recommended above is a wonderful movie. “Come to the Stable” another oldie but goodie with Loretta Young, Celeste Holm and Hugh Marlowe (another heartthrob). Besides that romantic “Moonstruck” scene, what about the Sam Shepard kiss in “Baby Boomer”?
I didn’t make it to many movies this year – but I did LOVE the Peanuts movie last year. Of course my go to movies are Serendipity, Fried Green Tomatoes, Coal Miners Daughter, Casablanca, A League of their Own, The Holiday, Holiday Inn and Christmas Vacation.
This year – we will have just the two of us on Christmas day. We will visit Daddy that morning – but I think we will make a nice stew or steaks and taters. I do have a tree – but your Christmas Owl was considered. 🙂
“Always” is an older, lovely and touching movie with Holly Hunter, Richard Dreyfus and John Goodman. Romantic, funny, sad, yet compelling. I think you would enjoy it Celi.
Only movie I’ve seen is Lady in the Yellow Van and would NOT recommend it !! and I don’t like to re-watch something I’ve already seen…but Under the Tuscan Sun is my favourite feel good flick and I can watch it over and over.
My traditions are The Holiday (just for myself), A Child’s Christmas in Wales, and The Snowman. The Snowman always makes me cry at the end, and the flying scene is so beautiful!
A Child’s Christmas in Wales is an old, old favorite. No child to read it to anymore, but it’s on our local NPR radio station every year & Dylan Thomas is still brilliant every time. So many laughs & satisfying sighs.
I’m with all of the sentimental Farmy Fellows above who revisit Love Actually when possible. Besides its being a sweet, feel-good film I just flat-out enjoyed, the first time Richard and I saw it was in its first release and, unlike our usual slowness, we didn’t wait for it to appear on TV but saw it in a lovely movie theatre. Better yet, we were in London at the time, and as the opening of the movie unfolded we joined all of the other moviegoers in the room in a loud, appreciative AHHHHH! and applause: the mall scene was filmed at the very shopping centre we were in, around the massive Christmas tree we’d all passed on our way to the cinema. *Plus-perfect, non?*, especially in the context of that fairytale sort of story.
Whatever you choose to do—or NOT do—may your holiday be precisely what you wish it to be, your *own* fairytale.
xoxo,
Kathryn
I’m on a Stephen King kick – and isn’t there some tradition of watching scary movies at Christmas, in Ireland and the UK? Not scary at all, but the Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption or Stand By Me are three of his best movie adaptations.
Deciding on a common preference and watching a movie on Christmas Day is a great tradition – quiet, simple way of spending time together and good far any weather. I left my suggestiions above but would also add we enjoyed The Lady in the Van http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3722070/, and another Aussie, good family movie Oddball http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3401748/ 🙂
What fabulous suggestions and comments! About not having a TV. I just bought myself portable DVD player which you can watch at home or while traveling etc. I got it for $50.00 & I think I’m going to enjoy it. ; o ) Wow – below zero… YIKES!! Here in western Massachusetts were still pretty warm, considering the time of year.
I loved Il Camino (with Martin Sheen, it’s in English) but although marvellous and uplifting, quite draining. Wizard of Oz for me otherwise!
Haven’t been to Cinema this hear (and do not own a TV set). But got a suggestion for you and family: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – maybe known by all already but worthseeing all time. Or – far back in time – one of Charly Chaplin’s old movies…. They are so well done. All of them.
Oh, believe it or not, there is a site on wiki called ‘List of made-for-television and direct-to-video Christmas films’ for everyone… 😉
Funny that, isn’t it?
My family always watched The Miracle on 34th St, It’s a Wonderful Life & A Christmas Carol – the English one on Christmas while mom put dinner on the table, finished laundry & did dishes. I watched the same movies with my Ex after going out to our favorite little cafe – yes, open on Christmas – to have breakfast with all our single friends who had nowhere to go. Now that I’m old & single, I buy all kinds of finger foods & fruit & sit them next to my knitting. I often just listen to audio books – Thrillers & Mysteries are my fav – while I knit or I watch my old VHS movies – Independence Day is one of my favorites!!! I love the scene where Will Smith punches the alien in the head & hauls it out onto the sand while muttering. I crack up every time. I don’t do laundry, dishes, cook, put up with relatives or do any indentured servitude of any kind. Now that’s Independence Day.
Another Christmas curmudgeon here 🙂 ! Have never seen the reason to celebrate the pagan Saturnalia festival which Emperor Constantine turned into ‘Christmas’ in Rome over 300 years after Jesus Christ – an expensive holiday for most at that!!! Oh but of best films there are many . . . . my very all time favourite being the Danish ‘Babette’s Feast’ – if one wants a real feel-good movie not of the “Pretty Woman’ or ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ variety, this still easily available: one which won so many awards [even Hollywood did not dare say ‘no’] And it is all about food, glorious food . . . and well, curmudgeonly people who wake up to themselves . . .
Ha – I have watched Babettes Feast so often! I just love it! and yes – the FOOD! those quail! .. c
Hope you and I have made just a few people curious ’cause they would not be disappointed! Yule or no Yule!! [Oh I just keep on thinking of that poor tortoise being carried in knowing what was going to happen . . . ]
I’m not a huge fan of Christmas but I go along with the family’s plans. It’s worth it as one son in law is a chef and we have an absolutely wonderful meal! I do enjoy watching the whole family intermingling and enjoying each other – lots and lots of laughter. Not a huge fan of watching movies, the thought of sitting still for a couple of hours does not appeal, especially in a theater. I did however watch one a couple of the grandkids brought over on a dvd. It was called Second Hand Lion and was just a nice little story with a message and a lot of laughs.
I like to watch Love, Actually at Christmas time. In fact, it’s time to watch it again.
Besides the usual XMas films one I like to watch over the holidays because it’s such a nice statement on the human condition is Local Hero a wonderful quirky little film
My daughter and I just saw Edge of Seventeen – there were some great lines. Brooklyn was good, so was The Young Messiah. If you like foodie movies and you haven’t seen it, The Hundred Foot Journey.
How long ago it seems when we used to immediately line up at the movie ticket booth to see the latest films – and then discuss them over and over again : themes, sets, choice of actors/actresses/ costumes/ set designs/ laughing over slips or anachronisms.
I am so out of the loop of current movies.
i do love to watch the old Miracle on 34th Street each year as I can remember watching it when very small with my dad on our little B/W tv set. (by now I could probably say the entire script) And I love Bing Crosby’s Holiday Inn and White Christmas (best in BW) because of the singing and dances.
I’ve been looking for Breakfast at Tiffany’s recently. Always liked Audrey.
Maybe you’ll get a moment during Christmas – outside: quiet, white snow, and bright sky. More and more that’s the Christmas I want. A bit of peace and calm all silent before you.
Anyway prepare to jingle –