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.
The Kitchen's Garden 
68 responses to “The Morning After”
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.