Ya’ll, it’s been a week….as my Southern relatives might say.
I would say it’s been a month but we are in May now so April was a month…of good and bad, but when it comes to cats it was bad!
Not only did our youngest cat get sprayed with a skunk and then get an eye infection, he was also acting like he was in pain and sick this past week. Shortly after I noticed his issues, our second-oldest cat came down with something too, got worse and acted way worse than the youngest cat, and ended up at the vet with 104 degree fever.
This was all happening while Little Miss had a sore throat for two days and on one of those days refused to eat and almost passed out on me.
Scout, the older cat, is slowly recovering but I am still very concerned. She was given an antibiotic shot and a fever reducer and spends most of her time sleeping and eats only if we take food and water to her in Little Miss’s room where she has taken up residence.
The Husband drove the cat to the vet, which I felt awful about, because I had planned to take her later in the day. He’s been working full-time and rehearsing for a play and has barely been home because the bridge to get to the town where he works has been out, adding another half an hour to his 25-minute drive. That means he’s been staying in town after work to wait for the rehearsal to start. Rehearsals have been lasting until 9 or 10 and then he’s home at 11, falls asleep, gets up and starts over again.
He called the vet in the morning, though, and he had an opening so he took it and drove 45 minutes up and back to have her seen.
The vet really didn’t have an answer to why she had a fever, other than it must be an infection somewhere. That didn’t seem very thorough to me but at least they did something, I guess.
Scout was still very weak yesterday, so The Husband called and they said if there was no change to call again on Monday.
She did eat some food and drink some water, but then she lays back down again and passed out. It’s awful. This is the kitty who comes up to me when I am sitting in places where I can’t really hold her — like the toilet — and stretches both paws up at me as if asking for me to pick her up.
Sometimes I do even when it is inconvenient.
Then she likes to come up at 4 a.m. and curl up against my shoulder and insists, with little taps on my arm, that I pet her. She also pats my arm when she wants me to give her some of my food. Always very polite. I’ve never had a cat who did anything like that or a cat as cuddly as she is…or can be when she’s in the mood.
I am trying to be optimistic, but I have to be honest that I’m very worried we could lose her.
I’ve had Scout since she was a kitten. I saw her photo on the site of a rescue shelter near us and said I had to have her. I can’t believe I did that as I am the one who always says we don’t need more pets. We got her, during COVID, and she used to lay on my chest to keep like I was her mom. She kept doing it until she was just too big. She’s a very long, polydactyl, Tuxedo cat. When she stretches her body full length, she can reach our doorknobs and rattle them to let us know she wants to go out.
She’s our cat that got stuck in a tall tree our front and our neighbor, who is on the borough council, called the fire company to use their truck ladder to bring her down.
What’s odd is that right before Scout got sick, my dad had to take his outdoor cat to the vet because she seemed sick and had a cold like illness (not distemper) and had been cuddling with Little Miss. So now we are trying to figure if we brought Dad’s cat’s illness home to our cats.
Regardless, they are being treated and hopefully will be on the mend soon.
This week was our possible last week of a weekly art class that Little Miss has been taking. I say possible because I signed Little Miss up for horse riding lessons on the same day as the art classes, but the opposite direction. I only did that because the art class was starting a medium she’s already done and it was a new four-week session and because I hate the road we have to drive on to get there. Also, Little Miss has been asking for horse-riding lessons for years.
But now Little Miss says she’s disappointed to miss out on the next pottery class. So I may have to somehow try to get her to both classes or just one. We will see how it goes. I’m grateful for the opportunities but I do wish they weren’t so far away from where we live. Oh well! Such is the life of a homeschooling family in a rural area.
So what have you been up to lately?
I hope having a good week last week and having a good week this week!
Full disclaimer this week: the subject matter of this movie made it too difficult for me to watch all the way through, so I’m telling you what the movie is about, but I skimmed a lot of this movie.
I’ve been watching Bette Davis movies for spring and this week the one I chose was Dark Victory, released in 1939.
Sadly, for personal reasons, I could not make it all the way through this one. I did read what it was about before watching it, and I thought I could handle it, but I could not.
Bette acted well in this one — though I do think she is a tad bit overacting at times in many of her films. That is her style, so it’s okay, but her delivery is often more abrasive than I think it needs to be.
In this film, she had reason to be abrasive.
It is not a spoiler to say that in this movie, Bette’s character is diagnosed with a brain tumor.
It’s in the description of the movie online, such as Google:
“Socialite Judith Traherne (Bette Davis) lives a lavish but emotionally empty life. Riding horses is one of her few joys, and her stable master (Humphrey Bogart) is secretly in love with her. Told she has a brain tumor by her doctor, Frederick Steele (George Brent), Judith becomes distraught. After she decides to have surgery to remove the tumor, Judith realizes she is in love with Dr. Steele, but more troubling medical news may sabotage her new relationship, and her second chance at life.”
This is not a totally accurate description, however. Let me preface all this by saying the next bit will be a spoiler of sorts so if you haven’t seen the movie and want to, you will want to skip this.
Are you ready?
I’m going to tell you something about the movie that the description didn’t. Ready?
You sure?
Okay….
Here goes….
Judith is told by her doctor that she is fine when in reality she has a cancerous brain tumor that will take her life in about 10 months. Dr. Steele wants her to live her life fully, believing she is fine because, I guess, he is in love with her love of life (even though a lot of it was drinking and sleeping around) and with her and doesn’t want to see the light go out of her when she finds out she is dying. He tells her sister she is dying because he feels guilty for lying and then he makes her also lie about it so Judith will have a good life until the end.
I think it is horrible and cruel, honestly, but at the same time, I understand Dr. Steele’s reasoning.
This movie is very melodramatic with a lot of tearjerker moments that I struggled with because when I worked for a newspaper, I had to write several stories about fundraisers for a little boy who was born with a brain tumor.
He was an amazing little boy, wise beyond his years. He died when he was seven years old, and not long after that his mother was diagnosed with the same type of brain tumor and died a few years later. She’d had another son, married another man (the first son’s father was a total dirt bag who just recently was charged with some inappropriate behavior as a judge and I am so happy about that), and was just starting to have her happy ending when she was diagnosed. I wrote a lot of stories about fundraisers for her, after I interviewed her about the death of her son. He had become somewhat of a community celebrity because of all his issues and the fundraisers held for him.
His name was Jordan. Her name was Jodi. They had the same brain tumor that this character has.
This sounds very selfish after all they went through, but I think I still have some PTSD after getting to know them, writing stories about them, and then having them both die. They deserved so much more.
Even writing all this out makes me sick to my stomach and has me crying so that’s the reason I couldn’t stomach this movie beyond skimming through it.
Back to the movie before I make my keyboard a safety hazard from all the wetness.
According to TCM, Bette and her co-star, George Brent, who plays Dr. Steele, were in 11 films together between 1932 and 1942.
They were never romantically linked off screen until after this film. Brent was divorcing his wife and Bette’s first husband was divorcing her and her affairs with Howard Hughes and director William Wyler were ending. The pair remained together for about a year and later in life Bette said of him, “Of the men I didn’t marry, the dearest was George Brent.”
The role was already intensely emotional and with Davis at her emotional breaking point, her performance ended up being one praised by critics when the film was released and for years to come.
Bette was the one who pushed for the rights for the play to be purchased but when they were, she said she didn’t feel she could pull off the role.
Margarita Landazuri writes for TCM that after only a few days of shooting, “Bette begged to be released from the film, claiming she was sick. Producer Hal Wallis replied, ‘Bette, I’ve seen the rushes – stay sick!’”
This movie is called a “three-hanky hit” because of how emotional it was. Viewers knew they were being emotionally manipulated by it but it was so well made, they didn’t mind.
It is a well-made film, Bette carries herself through the role beautifully, and it was fun seeing Humphrey Bogart in a side-role as her a man who has unrequited love for Judith.
Maybe it is because the movie was made so well that it made it impossible for me to watch it all the way through.
If you do decide to watch it, bring your tissues and muster through better than I did.
I should also mention that our former president Ronald Reagan was in this one and he was a roaring drunk, loser. Ha! He didn’t play it very convicingly so I don’t think that was his normal state, even as a young guy, but maybe I’m wrong?
Bette and Ronald Reagan
Next up I’ll be watching Jezebel from 1938.
Here is a description of that movie in case you are interested: “In one of her most renowned roles, Bette Davis portrays Julie Marsden, a spoiled Southern belle who risks losing her suitor with her impetuous behavior. Engaged to successful banker Preston Dillard (Henry Fonda), Julie pushes him away with her arrogant and contrary ways, leading to a scandalous scene at a major social event and his subsequent departure. When Preston eventually returns and Julie attempts to win him back, she discovers that it may be too late.”
Welcome to the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot, where we offer a place for bloggers to link up and get a fresh set of eyes on their posts. We also feature one blog a week, letting our readers know about the blog and providing a link so readers can learn more about it.Please feel free to post new blog posts or old ones you want to bring attention to again.
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How in the world is it already May! Well, may we all have some lovely May flowers from our April showers!
Now, let’s introduce our current hosts for the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot:
Marsha from Marsha in the Middle started blogging in 2021 as an exercise in increasing her neuroplasticity. Oh, who are we kidding? Marsha started blogging because she loves clothes, and she loves to talk or, in this case, write!
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Fitfoodiemegha.com is created to inspire you to eat, eat and eat!
Welcome to Fitfoodiemegha.com, owned by Megha Chhatbar, who is obsessed with food. She is an honest food reviewer, ardent traveller and an enthusiastic painter who also loves reading, cooking, trying new cuisines and making good friends. Basically, FitfoodieMegha.com is your guide to good food, wherein, she has shared her personal experience by spending most of the time sampling the city’s food offerings and reviewing restaurants.
And now some posts that were highlights for me this past week:
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A possible murderer loose on the island resort where Miss Jane Marple has gone to stay for a vacation? Then a sudden death and an inn owner who suddenly starts having memory lapses?
Why that sounds like a recipe for a very good mystery and, indeed, it was.
A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie isn’t short on humor despite the tough subject matter of murder.
Miss Marple provides a good serving of witty comebacks and thoughts and is joined in her sleuthing by an elderly gentleman who is mostly paralyzed from the waist down.
Here is a description from Goodreads for you: Nephew Raymond West has given his favourite aunt, Jane Marple, a vacation at a beautiful resort in the Caribbean. While there she encounters an old wind-bag. One of his stories is about meeting a murderer. He has a snapshot. Suddenly he hesitates, and gets flustered. By the next morning, he is dead, seemingly of natural causes. Miss Marple has doubts.
And well she should.
In some Miss Marple books, a superintendent or detective from Scotland Yard of a small police force is the main investigator and we see a lot of the book from their perspective with Miss Marple popping in once in a while to show them up. In this book, Jane is our main character throughout the entire book and I loved having a better look inside her mind.
Jane runs this investigation on her own by studying the other guests at the resort and it is uncanny how many of them have some sort of connection to each other.
There are two couples who seem to know each other very well and, it later turns out, came to the resort together. There are the owners of the resort, Tim and Molly Kendall, who haven’t owned the inn long. Then there is a vicar and his wife, Mr. Rafiel, the man in the wheelchair, and Mr. Rafiel’s secretary and Mr. Jackson, his masseuse who have come with him.
I really enjoyed this one and started to get attached to Mr. Rafiel. I think he would have been a wonderful sidekick to Jane in other books.
What is so funny about the Miss Marple books is how Agatha head hops between characters. This is said to be a writing no-no these days but I don’t care. Head hopping is where the author tells the reader what each character is thinking in a scene instead of only sticking to our main character’s thoughts. A lot of writers of classic books did this – especially Jane Austen and the Brontes and L.M. Montgomery. If you do it these days, people shame you for it. It’s odd.
But anyhow, what is so funny in the Miss Marple books is that Jane will ask someone something and Agatha tells us that the person who is being questioned is thinking how either they didn’t expect that question to come from an old woman, the woman is batty, or the woman is “sex and scandal obsessed.”
Miss Marple isn’t really interested in scandal, though. She wants to hear about and solve murders.
“But it wasn’t really scandals Miss Marple wanted. Nothing to get your teeth into in scandals nowadays. Just men and women changing partners, and calling attention to it, instead of trying decently to hush it up and be properly ashamed of themselves.”
Back in St. Mary Mead, where Jane lives, she usually has someone to bounce her ideas off of when she is solving a mystery, her nephew who works at Scotland yard being one. This time, though, she is on her own, until she confides in Mr. Rafiel about her theories. She urges him to help her solve the crime.
He scoffs at that idea. “We, you say? What do you think I can do about it? I can’t even walk without help. How can you and I set about preventing a murder? You’re about a hundred and I’m a broken-up old crock.”
One thing I really like about Agatha Christie books is that she doesn’t just leave you thinking about the mystery but about life itself.
At one point Jane says, “Life is more worth living, more full of interest when you are likely to lose it. It shouldn’t be, perhaps, but it is. When you’re young and strong and healthy, and life stretches ahead of you, living isn’t really important at all. It’s young people who commit suicide easily, out of despair from love, sometimes from sheer anxiety and worry. But old people know how valuable life is and how interesting.”
If you haven’t read any of the Miss Marple books, this would be a good one to start with. As I mentioned above, it lets you inside the mind of Miss Marple more than the books where a police detective is leading the case.
Today’s prompt is: a freebie. Whatever subject we wanted.
so today I chose: Ten of the most relaxing books I have ever read (in no particular order)
The Secret Garden by Francess Stodgson Burnett
This book was not what I expected and I truly ended up loving it.
Description:
When orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle’s great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of secrets. The mansion has nearly one hundred rooms, and her uncle keeps himself locked up. And at night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors.
The gardens surrounding the large property are Mary’s only escape. Then, Mary discovers a secret garden, surrounded by walls and locked with a missing key. One day, with the help of two unexpected companions, she discovers a way in. Is everything in the garden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?
One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children’s literature, The Secret Garden has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911.
2. Miss Read’s Village School by Miss Read
I wasn’t sure what to expect of this one but it ended up being so fun and relaxing and I can’t wait to read more in the series. I’ve read two so far.
Description: Welcome to the English village of Fairacre: a handful of thatch-roofed cottages, a church, the school, the promise of fair weather, friendly faces, and good cheer––at least most of the time. Here, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and the villagers like each other anyway (even Miss Pringle, the irascible, gloomy cleaner of Fairacre School).
With a wise heart and a discerning eye, Miss Read guides us through one crisp, glistening autumn in her village and introduces us to a cast of unforgettable characters and a world of drama, romance, and humor, all within a stone’s throw of the school. By the time winter comes, you’ll be nestled snugly into the warmth and wit of Fairacre and won’t want to leave.
3. The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
The Jeeves books are just ridiculous fun. They are full of drama but not scary or sad drama. Hilarious drama that playboy Bertie Wooster keeps getting himself into and his valet Jeeves has to get him out of. The chapters in this book were originally separate stories but they all flow together and were compiled for the book.
Description:
Upon their first appearance in 1915, Bertie Wooster and his highly competent valet Jeeves were destined to become Wodehouse’s most famous duo. The hilarious stories that feature the charmingly foppish Bertie and his equally lightheaded friends being rescued from tedious social obligations, annoying relatives, scrapes with the law, and romantic problems by the quiet interventions of Jeeves are among Wodehouse’s best-loved tales.
4. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
I just read this book and it was very simple, relaxing, and heartwarming.
Description
Little orphan Heidi goes to live high in the Alps with her gruff grandfather and brings happiness to all who know her on the mountain. When Heidi goes to Frankfurt to work in a wealthy household, she dreams of returning to the mountains and meadows, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather.
5. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Van Arnim
I am actually not totally finished with this book, but so far it is very relaxed and delightful.
Description:
Four disillusioned women seek respite together; polite strangers, sharing an idyllic retreat in Italy. Each carries a burden that must be lifted; each must find a way…
At San Salvatore, ghosts are exorcised and bounds broken: each woman finds her own way back to happiness, on her own terms – aided by the simple magic of an Italian Spring garden.
Any story of a struggle to break free is compelling to the human heart. One way or another, we must each break free of our own prison. This then is the story of Rose, Lotty, Scrap Dester & Mrs Fisher – and their quiet story is epic, like the poems of antiquity.
Elizabeth von Arnim’s modern classic of women’s fiction was a worldwide bestseller upon its publication in 1922. Her story struck an emotional chord with women everywhere, inspiring numerous theatre and radio adaptations, plus an Oscar nominated movie in 1991. Her supreme talent for both dreamy exposition and sharp, witty dialogue made her whole body of work hugely popular in Europe and the United States of America.
I have not actually finished this book yet, either. This is a book written with each chapter representing a month of the year. I just finished the first chapter, which was April, and I loved it. I can not wait to read more. This is a non-fiction book about a woman and her friend who live on a farm in Connecticut.
Gladys first bought the farm with her husband but he passed away, and her friend moved in with her.
Finding Gladys’ books are very hard to find and I was so excited to find this one on a bookshop on Instagram.
I’ve read this book twice now and it always relaxes my tense muscles as I read it.
Description:
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery is a heartwarming and empowering story about self-discovery, courage, and finding true happiness. Set in the early 20th century, the novel follows Valancy Stirling, a shy and unfulfilled woman who has spent her life conforming to the expectations of her overbearing family. When faced with unexpected news about her health, Valancy decides to break free from societal norms and live life on her own terms. Moving to a remote cabin in the Muskoka woods, she discovers love, freedom, and the joy of living authentically. With its witty humor, vivid descriptions, and unforgettable characters, The Blue Castle is a timeless tale of transformation and resilience.
8. Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley
This book is full of individual stories about Quaker pastor Sam Gardener, his family, and the quirky characters of his town. The stories connect but there isn’t one long plot throughout the book. This is the first in the series.
Description:
In this acclaimed inaugural volume in the Harmony series, master American storyteller Philip Gulley draws us into the charming world of minister Sam Gardner in his first year back in his hometown, capturing the essence of small-town life with humor and wisdom.
9. Magical Melons/renamed Caddie Woodlawn’s Family by Carol Ryrie Brink
Little Miss and I listened to Caddie Woodlawn, the first book in this series a couple of years ago and at the end of 2025 we read this one and I found it much more relaxing and sweet than the first book. It is another middle grade book but it is very relaxing.
Description:
The high-spirited Caddie is back with her lively siblings for some amusing escapades. In these fourteen stories, learn about frontier life with the seven Woodlawn children. Join them as they romp through the pages, discovering a secret horde of watermelons long after melon season, engaging in cattail fights, and adopting baby animals. You’ll also encounter of a young preacher doing a favor for a wandering Indian, a poor girl revealing a surprising talent at a medicine show, and Caddie ruining her new dress at the Independence Day celebration. These latest adventures are sure to capture every reader’s attention—and heart.
Oh gosh this book and the whole series. It is so cute and creative. I am sure most of you are familiar with the cartoons and the movies based on this book and the 12 other books in the series.
I have read these outloud to my daughter for about five or six years and when I am down I like to read them on my own..
Description:
Paddington Bear had traveled all the way from Peru when the Browns first met him in Paddington Station. Since then, their lives have never been quite the same . . . for ordinary things become extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is involved.
First published in 1958, A Bear Called Paddington is the first novel by Michael Bond, chronicling the adventures of this lovable bear. Paddington has charmed readers for generations with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This brand-new edition of the classic novel contains the original text by Michael Bond and illustrations by Peggy Fortnum.
Leave me some of the relaxing books you have read over the years in the comments. I’d love to add more to my list.
If you write book reviews or book-related blog posts, don’t forget that Erin and I host the A Good Book and A Cup of Tea Monthly Bookish Blog Party. You can learn more about it here.
On Thursdays, I am part of the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot blog link party. You can find the latest one in the sidebar to the right under recent posts.
I also post a link-up on Sundays for weekly updates about what you are reading, watching, doing, listening to, etc.
Hello! Welcome to my blog. I am a blogger, homeschool mom, and I write cozy mysteries.
You can find my Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.
Another Man’s Poison was my second Bette Davis movie, and I watched it on a whim sometime back in January. All About Eve was my first Bette Davis movie, in case you are curious.
This movie is dark from the start. We have Bette Davis as Janet Frobisher, and she’s already committed a crime that she would like to keep quiet.
A celebrated mystery writer, Janet married a criminal who was also abusive. We never get to see her husband because at the start of the movie, he’s already dead and she’s killed him. Not a spoiler. It’s the movie set up and will set up the direction of the rest of the movie.
She’s already called Larry, the fiancé of her secretary, who she, incidentally, is having an affair with, and asked him to come to her house that weekend. She’s walked to a phone box very far from her house to make the call and her nose neighbor, Dr. Henderson, the local vet, comments to her about how odd it is she is in town when she owns a mansion with phones in every room.
Janet essentially tells him to get lost and goes back home.
She has plans to dump her husband’s body in the pond on their property, but a man, George Bates (played by her real-life husband Gary Merrill), breaks into her house looking for her husband, saying he’s a robber and a murderer he and her husband were supposed to meet there after the robbery to escape together.
After a bunch of back and forth, Janet confesses she killed her husband but before she can kick Bates out the door, Dr. Henderson (Emlyn Williams) shows up and not wanting him to know she killed her husband, who Henderson has never met, she agrees to let Bates pretend he is her husband.
What results is another hour or so of panic, blackmail, and manipulation that will make your head spin. And then ending…well I can’t talk about it but oof! All I’ll say is karma is a word I do not write out or usually use so I’ll just say — a jerk!
While researching this film I was surprised to find out that it was co-produced by one of my favorite actors — Douglas Fairbanks Jr. I watched a ton of his movies last winter, which you can find here (scroll down the page).
Bette jumped at the opportunity to film this British thriller in the UK because there was a part for her new husband, free passage on the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner, and she could bring her children. It was essentially a free honeymoon.
There was a problem with the script but, according to TCM, Bette ignored this because she could choose her director (American Irving Rapper who directed one of her biggest hits, Now, Voyager in 1942). She liked him because “she could dominate him” the TCM article says.
“I’ve always wanted to play in a suspense picture as they’re made in England, with that quiet effectiveness which the British singularly seem to possess,” Bette told the British reporter.
Trouble always seemed to follow Bette and this time was no different. As soon as she arrived in England she threw a lavish party for the British press who rewarded her with tabloid articles about her mink coats, her excess and her husband, “Mr. Davis.”
This movie was not really well-received, with critics rolling their eyes at what they called “the absurdities of the script.”
They were impressed with how Bette pulled off the role even with the issues, though.
“No one has ever accused Bette Davis of failing to rise to a good script; what this film shows is how far she can go to meet a bad one,” critic Frank Hauser wrote in New Statesman and Nation.
The movie wasn’t a success at the time for the couple but visiting England was.
Actor Emlyn Williams bringing the schoolteacher who had been the inspiration for Miss Moffat in The Corn Is Green onto the set of Another Man’s Poison, and introducing her to Davis was an absolute thrill for Davis who starred in The Corn is Green in 1945.
The marriage went the way of the movie, I should add, ending only a year later, which was probably good because it was said to be a rocky and abusive one.
Have you seen this one?
Up next for my Spring of Bette feature is: Dark Victory.
It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, whatthe rest of the familyand I have been reading and watching, andwhat I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.
I’m starting this post curled up under a blanket with a warm rice pack, while The Philadelphia Story is on the TV. I’ve watched it before, but it’s been years, so I thought a rewatch was in order. I’ve forgotten some of the details, but I know I enjoyed it. (Update: that was a little crazy of a movie, and I don’t know about the morals of some of the characters, but the acting was really good — especially Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart. Overall it is a really good movie, but The Husband says it isn’t the best of any of the actors. I told him to stop ruining my good mood and to go away. Kidding. I didn’t tell him that. I understood his point of view and I told him that his POV was valid but he was wrong….again, I’m kidding. I didn’t say that either.)
It’s 42 degrees and raining outside. Our cat with the eye infection still seems to have one so it looks like it is back to the vet this upcoming week. He also seems to have gotten his tail stuck in something because he cries when we touch it and it’s hanging weird. Poor thing. His life started tough and it just seems to keep going. At least he has somewhere warm to go and people to feed, pet, and cuddle him now, which he didn’t have when he was abandoned in October.
He also has fellow cats who slap him for no reason but that’s the price he has to pay for a warm, or cool, place to rest.
What I/We’ve Been Reading
In Progress
I am slow reading Stillmeadow Daybrook by Gladys Taber. Since each chapter is a month, I plan to read a chapter a month.
I finished April and might start May a little early. I am also slowly reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.
I’m halfway through The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim and will finish it this week.
I started Nancy’s Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene (a Nancy Drew Mystery) this week. Those are always quick reads.
Up Soon
I hope to read a Murder She Wrote book, Aloha Betrayalby Donald Bain, next and then Thrush Green by Miss Read. Or I might switch those two because Thrush Green has been calling my name.
What The Family is Reading
The Boy is listening to Storm of Iron by Graham McNeil.
Little Miss and I are still reading Heidi.
The Husband is reading Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead.
What I/We’ve Been Watching
I already mentioned I watched The Philadelphia Story yesterday. I watched Two’s Company earlier in the week. It’s a British sitcom, and it is on Amazon Prime if you are interested. There are also full episodes up on YouTube.
Last week I watched Lilies of the Field and Alias Jesse James (a crazy Bob Hope movie).
Erin (Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs) and I host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea. This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!). Each link party will be open for a month. You can find that link up for this month here.
Each week, I host the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot with some great hosts. It goes live Thursday night, but you can share any kind of blog posts (family-friendly) there until Tuesday of each week. You can check my recent posts on the sidebar to the right for the most recent link party.
Now It’s Your Turn
What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to, or writing?
Welcome to the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot, where we offer a place for bloggers to link up and get a fresh set of eyes on their posts. We also feature one blog a week, letting our readers know about the blog and providing a link so readers can learn more about it.Please feel free to post new blog posts or old ones you want to bring attention to again.
Look for the post to go live about 9:30 PM EST on Thursdays.
It was nice to have slightly warmer weather this week. Not too warm but not super cold either.
I hope the weather has been nice where you are and I hope ours continues to be nice. I need some time on the porch to read a book. It looks like that won’t happen Saturday, though, where it is set to rain all day!
Now, let’s introduce our current hosts for the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot:
Marsha from Marsha in the Middle started blogging in 2021 as an exercise in increasing her neuroplasticity. Oh, who are we kidding? Marsha started blogging because she loves clothes, and she loves to talk or, in this case, write!
Melynda from Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household – The name says it all, we homestead in East Texas, with three generations sharing this land. I cook and bake from scratch, between gardening and running after the chickens, and knitting!
Lisa from Boondock Ramblingsshares about the fiction she writes and reads, her faith, homeschooling, photography and more.
Cat from Cat’s Wire is a bookworm, movie fan, crazy cat lady, armed with beads, cabs, wire and a very jumpy brain which loves to go down rabbit holes!
Rena from Fine, Whatever writes about style, midlife, and the “fine whatever” moments that make life both meaningful and fun. Since 2015, she’s been celebrating creativity, confidence, and finding joy in the everyday.
We would love to have additional Co-Hosts to share in the creativity and fun! If you think this would be a good fit for you and you like having fun (come on, who doesn’t!) while still being creative, drop one of us an email and someone will get back with you!
WTJR will be highlighting a different blogger each week this year! We invite you to stop by their blog, take a look around and say hello!
This link party is for blog posts only. All other links will be deleted.
Please link only blog posts you created yourself.
Please link directly to the URL of your post and not the main address of your blog.
Please do not add links to videos, sales ads, or social media links such as YouTube videos or Shorts, Instagram or Facebook Reels, TikTok videos, or any other “social media” based content.
But do visit other blogs and give the gift of a comment.
Notice: By linking with Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot, you assert that content and photos are your own property. And you give us permission to share said content if your post or blog is showcased.
We welcome unlimited, family friendly content! This can include opinion pieces, recipes, travel recaps, fashion ideas, crafts, thrifting, lifestyle, book reviews or discussions, photography, art, and so much more! Thank you for joining us!
I have been watching and writing about The Thin Man movies, and up this time is Shadow of the Thin Man, which is the fourth movie in a six-movie series.
You can find my impressions/reviews/recaps/whatever you want to call it here.
If you have read my other posts or are familiar with these movies, then you know that the main characters are Nick and Nora Charles.
Nick is a private investigator, but is mainly helping to manage all of Nora’s money since she is an heiress.
Nora, however, would like Nick to do a little more and keep himself busy instead of drinking alcohol and gambling.
Myrna Loy made a comment in her autobiography that movies four through six weren’t as good as the first three because the original writers, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, had decided they didn’t want to be a part of the franchise any longer. I respectfully disagree with her, at least for Shadow of the Thin Man. The mystery is convoluted, as always, (and I am really not sure about the guilty party making sense) but I felt the banter between Nick and Nora was as well-written as the previous movies. This one was a lot better than Another Thin Man, which was confusing and all over the place to me, and written by the married writers.
Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett tried to tank the series after the second movie by adding a baby because they really didn’t want to write a third. They clearly failed at sinking the series. By this movie, Goodrich and Hackett had literally had it.
“They press you awfully hard there…” Goodrich said. “When they started talking about another Thin Man, we started throwing up and crying into our typewriters. We had the nervous breakdown together, [so] we said, ‘let’s get out of here [and] we quit.’”
Novelist Dashiell Hammett, the original creator of the characters, also bowed out of the movies and refused to be part of it.
In this edition, we are introduced to Nick Jr., who is now around 5-years-old. He adds even more chaos and comedy to the mix, especially with his interactions with Nick Sr.
In one scene, he tells his dad he needs to drink more milk instead of alcohol at dinner. This makes Nick Sr. choke down half a glass of milk with some hilarious expressions, before the doorbell rings and he is let off the hook.
It is in this movie that I have to admit I do feel like Nick’s drinking is less funny and more sad. I get that Nick drinking too much is a running joke throughout the movie series, but he’s a dad now and showing his kid that he drinks no matter the mood he is in. There is always an excuse to drink with Nick Charles Sr.
But let’s not get too logical or realistic here. This is a comedy-mystery and we are meant to have some fun watching it, which I did.
In the beginning of the film, we see Nick and Nick Jr. at the park and they are supposed to be reading a child’s book, but Nick Sr. is trying to read the horses who are going to be at the races later in the day. He’s added gambling to his irresponsible repertoire I guess.
Soon Nick is on his way to the track, but not before he’s pulled over for speeding, which is quickly forgiven when the officer recognizes Nick name. Not only does the office not give Nick a ticket, but he’s given a police escort to the track. Things seem to be out of hand, though, when tons of police cars surround the car and escort Nick and Nora into the track. The couple is confused when officers gather around the car and start fawning over him and telling him how impressed they were with the last case he solved.
It turns out that they aren’t actually there for Nick, though. There’s been a murder at the track. Nick doesn’t care, though, and seems determined not to get involved.
He doesn’t want to get involved even when Major Jason I. Sculley, the special deputy for the state legislature, and investigative reporter Paul Clarke visit and ask for his help in the case.
Of course, he eventually does get involved and the mystery picks up. I enjoyed the little interludes in this one, more than the mystery. There are some hilarious scenes with Nora and Nick at a wrestling match where Nora is where a hat that men keep commenting on because they think it is silly.
Then there is the relatable scene where Nick is on a merry-go-round with Nick Jr., trying to grab a ring but getting motion sick and dizzy in the process.
Another Thin Man (1939) was filmed shortly after Powell’s finance Jean Harlow died suddenly. This movie also brought heartache for cast members, especially Powell who lost his ex-wife Carole Lombard in a plane crash in and then his first wife and mother of his only son, Eileen Wilson also died. Myrna Loy went through a divorce and then a quick marriage, which was a strike at her character’s “good girl image.”
But then the real blow to the entire cast and country was when Pearl Harbor was attacked two weeks after the movie released.
In 1943 the franchise also lost its director, W.S. Vandyke, after he passed away.
Loy recalled feeling the void, both of a director and friend, saying that “[Van Dyke] seems to be neglected now. He was one of Hollywood’s best, most versatile directors.
Donna Reed appeared in this film in only her second major screen role.
The firth movie in the series, The Thin Man Goes Home, didn’t come out until 1944, partially due to the war and VanDyke’s death.
