"Me Before You" (movie critique)

ME BEFORE YOU
movie poster

As much as we love the action flicks, we also love a good chick flick, so our latest foray into the movie theater was to see "Me before You".  The movie is based on a best selling novel written by JoJo Moyes who also wrote the screenplay.  

The movie opens with a quick insight into the life style of a very successful and wealthy young  man.  He was active in various sports and was a daredevil when it came to pushing the edge.  Will also had a beautiful girlfriend in his life.  As he begins another day of high pressure finance, he walks out the door of his condo and is hit by a speeding motorcycle. We learn that he is paralyzed from about the chest down and has little motion in his hands or fingers. He must have 24-hour care to see to all his needs.

Time passes and 2 years after the accident, a young local lady, Louisa Clark, is in desperate need of a job to help support her family as her father has lost his job.  Louisa also has a boyfriend, Patrick, who is more interested in running marathons than in supporting her life endeavors.The local job resource center sends Louisa to the manor to interview for a job to help care for a disabled man.  Louisa interviews with Will's mother and she is hired. Will's family is quite wealthy so paying for support is not an issue.  

On the first day of the job, Louisa meets another caregiver, Nathan who is a nurse, and has been caring for Will since the beginning.  Will is not taken with Louisa and treats her rather coldly.  She is by nature a very cheerful, happy and eccentric girl.  Her fashion sense reflects her  positive spin on life. She is determined to change Will's feelings for her, partly because she desperately needs the job and partly because she begins to like Will.  With one outing at a time, one movie at a time and several other funny adventures, Will starts to become very fond of Louisa.

But there is a secret that Will, Nathan and the family are keeping from Louisa. When she finds out what that secret is, she is totally devastated and heart broken.

So what is this devastating secret?  Well, Dear Readers as you know The Travelling Toe never shares the ending of a movie with you, so you will just to see the movie for yourself or read the book to find out what happens!


CAST

Emilia Clarke
Louisa Clark

Sam Claflin
Will Traynor

Matthew Lewis
Patrick

Steve Peacocke
Nathan

Janet McTeer
Camilla Traynor

Brendan Coyle
Mr. Clarke
(OK, he is really Bates from Downton Abbey!)

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a box of tissues to have handy!

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

Westmont Garden Club May Meeting

hay bale gardening

The Westmont Garden Club had its monthly meeting on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the home of the Program Director.The meeting consisted of three different and interesting presentations

A garden club member shared information about growing vegetables in a hay bale.  Most vegetables, flowers or even herbs that grow in the ground can be grown in hay bales.

According to the handout that was shared with the members, there are six steps that need to be used as a general guide in order to have a successful crop.

Step 1      on the 1^st day, water the hay bales and kept it watered for 10 days

Step 2      on the 4th day pour 4 oz of ammonium nitrate fertilizer (such as Miracle Grow) on the top of the hay bale

Step 3      on the 7^th day, pour 2 ½ oz of the same fertilizer on the bale

Step 4      on the 10^th day; pour 1 cup of fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium: 13-13-13, on the hay bale

Step 5      if using seeds, first place 3 inches of potting soil on top of the bale and then plant seeds

Step 6     if planting seedlings, potting soil is not required but can be used; plant the seedling by using a trowel to force the bale slightly apart and place the plant in this space; the bale should spring back together again

A few other hints:

Flowers or trailing plants can be planted in front of the bales

Keep the bales bound – bales cannot be over watered as they dry out quickly

Potatoes can be grown in hale bales but need to be planted in the bottom of the bale

Straw is cheaper than hay but hay breaks down and after growing season just undo the ties and spread the hay out to act as compost

Web sites for additional information:

www.beginner-gardening.com/staw-bale-gardening.html

www.strawbalegardens.com

After the presentation, we all went outside to observe the hay bale garden that had set-up.  All the tomato plants had successfully produced beautiful tomatoes.

tomatoes growing in hay bale

tomatoes growing in hay bale

              

                                                  

The second part of the program was presented by another member of the garden club. 

She instructed members on how to fold a sheet of newspaper into a biodegradable plant pot.  These pots are perfect to use for starting seeds, and then the seedling and pot can both be planted without having to disturb the young seedling.  It must be admitted several members of the group had excellent folding skills and had a splendid outcome with their paper pot project.  Other members, faced several folding challenges, but we all agreed it was an interesting, fun, worthwhile DIY project.

Additional information about paper pots can be found at:

www.forgreenies.com

DIY: newspaper pots for seed starting/cutting on You Tube

The third part of the program was presented by Master Gardener Sher Dunaway on “Heritage Plants and Quirky Plants”.  She was assisted by Bill Dunaway, her trusty tech support.

Sher explained that heritage plants are seeds from a plant that has been passed down from one generation to another.  They are open pollinated and true to its type – in other words it will look the same as the original plant.    She also told us that 60% of all foods consumed throughout the world are from the “New World” of North and South America.  She first discussed the 3 major native crops that are referred to as “Sister Crops”.  They are corn, beans and squash and are considered companion plants.  The corn is planted first and when it gets to a certain height then the pole beans are planted.  They in turn use the corn stalk as a runner stake.  Shortly after that, the squashes are planted which helps with weed control and pollination.

Other heritage foods that Sher discussed were:

Potatoes                they can be grown quickly and on less land

Chilies                   they are native to Central & South American and come in different colors, shapes and degrees of hotness

Cacao                    the inside of the pod is what chocolate is made from

Avocado                classified as a member of the berry family and is naive to Central America and Mexico

Pineapple             native to South America and is part of the bromeliad family and is not native to Hawaii

A few of the quirky vegetables:

Radishes              Chinese white radish and watermelon radishes

Eggplant               different types include American, Indian, Chinese, Rosa Bianca (Italian)

Okra                     Chinese okra is long and can be eaten cooked or raw

Ending her presentation, Sher encouraged the group to discover the unique diversity of heritage fruits and vegetables.

chocolate habanero pepper

watermelon radish

"Alice Through The Looking Glass" (movie critique)

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
movie poster

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend decided that we just had to see "Alice Through The Looking Glass" having seen the first movie, "Alice in Wonderland", in 2010.  Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter with relish and very bushy eyebrows!

This film starts closely to the time where "Alice" left off when she decided not to marry her unbearable fiancee,and to go on adventures on her father's ship.  When she finally returns to home port, she learns that her mother has had to sell her shares in the company and Alice must either sell her father's boat or her mother will forfeit her house. 

While all this turmoil is going on, Alice follows a beautiful blue butterfly to a magical looking glass (large mirror) which she passes into and immediately finds herself back in Underland. She lands at the tea table with the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat and the caterpillar, but no Mad Hatter!  Alice finds out he has been acting even madder than usual.  He found something that makes him believe that his family is still alive somewhere and he must find them.  In order to help the Mad Hatter, Alice must go back in time. To do that she has to find the Master Keeper of Time, who rules over all time. and  steal the Chronosphere.  It will allow her to travel back in time and find the Hatter's family.  Her journey allows her to see what happened to friends and foes alike during different times in their lives.  So, she is now in a race to save the Hatter before time does run out for him.

So Dear Readers, does Alice find the Hatter's family in time to save him?  When Alice has to return to the real world, what becomes of her mother, her ship and her future?  Well, you will just have to find out for yourself won't you!!!!


 CAST

Mia Wasikowska
Alice

Johnny Depp
Mad Hatter

Anne Hathaway
White Queen

Helena Bonham Carter
Red Queen

Sacha Baron Cohen
Time

Alan Rickman
Caterpillar

Stephen Fry
Cheshire Cat

Michael Sheen
White Rabbit

  

              

Matt Lucas
Tweedledum/Tweedledee

Side Note:

The film was dedicated to the memory of Alan Rickman, an actor who is treasured and missed.


The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a Mad Hatter Top Hat - because of the costumes, the unreal world that was fun and entertaining to be a part of, the 
make-up,especially Johnny Depp's.  It was just a fun, casual romp of a Fairy Tale fantasy.

"Love And Friendship" (movie critique)

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
movie poster

Recently The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend hopped down to the local movie house to see a period flick, "Love and Friendship  Jane Austen wrote the novel which was published as "Lady Susan".  However, Whit Stillman, screenwriter, producer, and director, changed the title to reflect the same connection to her other books and films,  "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility".  

JANE AUSTEN
1775-1817

The movie is described in publicity communications as follows: Love and Friendship is an adaptation of Jane Austen's novella "Lady Susan". Set in the 1790s, the film follows the title character, a beautiful, manipulative young widow (Kate Beckinsale) as she arrives in Churchill, to wait out colorful rumors about her dalliances circulating through polite society. While there, she embarks upon securing a husband for her daughter and herself, but the Churchill waters are troubled when handsome, eligible Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel) and cheerful Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett) arrive. After a series of dramatic turns, Lady Susan ultimately risks destruction when her jealous rival comes to call, uncovering a revelation that leads to the denouement of denouements. WHIT STILLMAN screenwriter, producer, director The gossiping scenes between Lady Susan and her American friend Alicia Johnson are juicy indeed. Stephen Fry who plays Mr.Johnson has told Alicia she must break off contact with the notorious Lady Susan and when she is caught, he reminds her that the voyage across the North Atlantic at this time of year can be rather chilly.  Also Sir James Martin is such a simpleton, he is really funny and actor Tom Bennett, actually breathes some life into that character. Kate Beckinsale was a delight in her role giving an of-hand compliment but somehow it comes out as a put-down...very clever dialogue and she delivers it perfectly! The costumes are luscious, full of silks, satin, lace and other beautiful fabrics. Additionally, the background music really helps set the tone of the story line and reflects the time period that of the tale. Newbridge Estate Ireland CAST Kate Beckinsale Lady Susan Chloe Sevigny Xavier Samuel Reginald DeCourcy -suitor Morfydd Clark Frederica - Lady Susan's daughter Emma Greenwell Catherine Lady Susan's sister-in-law Tom Bennett Sir James Martin James Fleet Sir Reginald DeCourcy Stephen Fry Mr. Johnson The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe with some tea and scones. Disclaimer:  The Travelling to is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

"X-Men: Apocalypse" (movie critique)

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
movie poster

Well, it was Friday movie time and the Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe decided to see another Sci-Fi epic "X-Men: Apocalypse".  We do love our super hero, fantasy movies! This is Marvel's 9th installment of the X-Men franchise.  

The following is just a very compressed overview of the movie as there are several interconnected stories regarding the different mutants and of them working together for good or evil.

The movie actually starts out in ancient Egypt where En Sabah Nur is the mutant ruler. However he is not beloved by all his subjects.  He is betrayed and left to be entombed under tons of rock and sand.  Generations later, in 1983, devoted followers locate his tomb and bring him back to life.  In 1983, mutants still live on the down low and En Sabah Nur, begins recruiting the best of the worst.  He plans to destroy the world, hence the title of the movie Apocalypse, and re-create it as he wants it.

Back in Westchester, New York, Professor Xavier, and his crew welcome new mutants while helping them hone their special skills.  

X-Men Mansion
The Englefield House in Berkshire, England

As En Sabah Nur, expands his powers, he manages to hack into Xavier's mind when Xavier is trying to find the bad dude.  The baddies attack the school and Xavier is kidnapped.  En Sabah Nur, has connected with Magneto and manages to convince him to help destroy the planet. There is a whole back story of why Erik (Magneto) is so bitter.  But Xavier is able to command some of his powers and connects to Magneto to plead with him to stop the destruction and help save what's left of the planet.  

So Dear Readers, does Xavier and his merry band of mutants save the day and the planet or do the bad guys win?  Well, after all if the good guys don't win then there would not be another movie on the way, now would there?????

Side Note

The Travelling Toe must make a side note of two things this movie goer particularly enjoyed about the movie. In one scene, a strange mutant is released by the good mutants and it turns out to be - who else but Wolverine.  Wow....Hugh Jackman without a shirt!  Be still my beating heart!  Then one musical selection provided a wonderful background to the action going on screen.  It was Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.   Wow...what majestic music.

Hugh Jackman
Wolverine

CAST

James McAvoy
Xavier

Jennifer Lawrence
Raven/Mystique

Tye Sheridan
Cyclops

Nicholas Hoult
Beast

Sophie Turner
Phoenix

Alexander Ship
Storm

Oscar Issac
En Sabah Nur

Michael Fassbender
Magneto

Olivia Munn
Psylocke

One last note, when the credits start rolling, wait a bit as there is a small nugget to watch.

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a toupee as we find out why Xavier loses his hair in this movie!

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.