Golden Gratitude - I is for Intuition

My intuition has never failed me and I am grateful for that.

Golden Gratitude - H is for Health

 I'm grateful for receiving a clean bill of health at my appointment today.

Golden Gratitude - G is for Good Friends

 Does this really need any explanation? :-)

Golden Gratitude - F is for Family

I've spent more time with my family this year than I have in the past couple of years and I am very grateful for that!

Golden Gratitude - E is for eggs

I've updated my blog post from 2020 to reflect how I boil eggs now. I just started doing it this way about a month ago and it has been working well. You can read my updated blog post by clicking or tapping here.

Golden Gratitude - D is for Daytime

I am not a night person at all. My preference is to be up to greet the sun as it's rising whenever possible. The promise of a new day feels good to me. Also, natural daylight is best for taking pictures even indoors.

Golden Gratitude - C is for Caboodle of Cozies

I'm grateful for the new blog I started this summer! Caboodle of Cozies has given me a place to share my thoughts on cozy mysteries, cozy puzzles, and updates and pictures of Bell and Fiona. I have also connected with other bloggers. It's been fun so far and I'm looking forward to building on it.

Golden Golden Gratitude - B is for Book Clubs

This year I have been participating in a few book clubs. I love book clubs for three main reasons. One is that they introduce me to books I might not have otherwise known about. Even if I don't join the discussion for a particular month, I might discover a book I want to read at another point in time in the future.

The second reason is that I enjoy participating in discussions with people who have read the same books. The discussions deepen my understanding and appreciation of the books. It's also interesting to hear other points of view through those discussions. 

The third reason I enjoy participating in book clubs is because they're a great way to meet people with similar interests, even if our friendships are just virtual.

I wouldn't want to run a book club, at least not at this time. It would be a commitment and I like the flexibility of joining whenever I can or want to. And thanks for the beauty of the internet, I can join online with people around the country and world.

Golden Gratitude - A is for Author

Each day for the next 26 days, I will take a letter of the alphabet and write about one thing I'm grateful for that begins with that letter. This is something I used to do every November in an online forum that ended in January of 2020. While that platform no longer exists in the same way, we can still continue the tradition here! This is the third year I'll be doing this on my blog.

A is for authors. I'm grateful for the many authors who write creative stories that entertain and move me. I have discovered so many new ones (new to me) this year.

Your turn! What are you grateful for that begins with a?

September Movies

Here we are at the end of October and I'm finally posting my September list of movies watched.

Ten of these are Hallmark movies. I have had "The Wedding Veil" trilogy on my list ever since it first aired earlier this year. I am pleased to say it was worth the wait. I really enjoyed them. The only issue I had was the way the third one ended. It seemed rushed and unrealistic to me. Other than that, these are all movies I would most likely watch again in the future.

I re-watched a couple of cozy mysteries. I still need to post my review (on my Caboodle of Cozies blog) for "Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate". I've now seen it twice and still haven't reviewed it. "Her Pen Pal" and "The Secrets of Bella Vista" were just okay for me. "The Perfect Bride" was good, but probably not one I'll watch again. I really enjoyed "Sweet Autumn" and "Harvest Moon. I can see myself watching those again sometime in the future. In the fall, of course.

I'm probably in the minority, but I enjoyed the 2022 version of "Pinocchio". Yes, it's a little different, but it's still a good movie in my opinion. Not perfect, but good enough for me to call it a September favorite. I'll probably post a review of it when I get my act together.

"Pride and Prejudice" will always be a favorite even though the 2005 movie version doesn't measure up to the 1995 mini series. I could watch either of them any day. 

"Enchanted" was recommended to me. I thought it was average.

National Pirates Day was on September 19th, so I watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Treasure Island" on that day. I wish I could say I liked either of them enough to watch again, but that was not the case. I enjoyed "Pirates of the Caribbean" more than "Treasure Island", though. This was my second time watching "Pirates of the Caribbean". I probably won't watch it again and I am not planning to watch the rest in the series. (I should go hide now because I know some people will strongly disagree with me on this.)

"Thor: Love and Thunder" was not as good as the previous Thor movies, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. I will eventually post a review of it, but at this point I'd probably have to watch it again first. I'm okay with that.

So without further ado, here is the full list for September. I've "hearted" my favorites, though the hearts may be difficult to see because they happen to be the same color as the maple leaves.

2  "Her Pen Pal"🍁🍁🍁🍁

8  "Pinocchio" (2022)🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

11 "Pride and Prejudice" (2005)🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

14 "Enchanted"🍁🍁🍁

15 "Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

16 "Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

19 "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"🍁🍁🍁

19 "Treasure Island"🍁🍁

20 "The Secrets of Bella Vista"🍁🍁🍁

21 "The Perfect Bride"🍁🍁🍁🍁

22 "Thor: Love and Thunder"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

23 "Sweet Autumn"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

26 "The Wedding Veil"🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

27 "The Wedding Veil Unveiled"🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

28 "The Wedding Veil Legacy"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

30 "Harvest Moon"🍁🍁🍁🍁💖

Puzzle 20

 It's time for a new puzzle from my collection of pictures! One of the few things I love about summer is that the crepe myrtles bloom. This picture was taken just outside the front entrance to my building. I completed the puzzle in 18:12 with 108 non rotating pieces. You have the option to change the number pieces if you have a different preference. Just click on the puzzle piece icon in the bottom right. That will take you to Jigsaw Planet. Then click on "Play as" in the top right to change the number of pieces.

Enjoy!

August at the Movies

Here we are at the end of September and I'm just getting to my August list of movies watched. 

My focus was mostly on summer-themed Hallmark movies, but I also watched two others - "Death on the Nile" (starting the book today!) and "Grease". "Grease" was Qandi's favorite movie to listen to and after Olivia Newton-John, who played Sandy, recently passed I wanted to watch it again. It's a sweet story, I think. It isn't perfect, but the singing and dancing in it are amazing. It's a feel-good movie. Death on the Nile is a mystery with some cozy elements in it. I thought the first half was very slow, but the second half made it worth watching.

As you can see from the very few hearts in the list below, I was not overly impressed with the Hallmark movies I watched in August. I was especially looking forward to the ones that were filmed on location somewhere else besides the U.S. and Canada, but several of them were a disappointment. I found that in those movies the scenery was stunning, but the story not so much. They weren't terrible, but they weren't all that memorable either. Honestly, I can't even remember why I liked "Two Tickets to Paradise" so much. Lol. I might have to watch that one again next year if it airs then.

So here's the August list:

1  "A Splash of Love"🌞🌞🌞🌞

2  "Sweet Pecan Summer"🌞🌞🌞

3  "Moriah's Lighthouse"🌞🌞🌞🌞

4  "Two Tickets to Paradise"🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞💖 

5  "Sun, Sand, and Romance"🌞🌞🌞🌞

8  "Summer of Dreams"🌞🌞🌞🌞

9  "Wedding of Dreams"🌞🌞🌞🌞

10 "A Taste of Summer"🌞🌞🌞

12 "The Baker's Son"🌞🌞

15 "The 27-Hour Day"🌞🌞🌞

15 "Grease"🌞🌞🌞🌞💖

16 "Hidden Gems"🌞🌞🌞

22 "Groundswell"🌞🌞🌞🌞

23 "Big Sky River"🌞🌞🌞🌞

24 "Feeling Butterflies"🌞🌞

26 "Like Cats and Dogs"🌞🌞

29 "Death on the Nile" (2022)🌞🌞🌞🌞💖

31 "Love on Safari"🌞🌞🌞🌞

Stay tuned for my September list of movies watched coming soon and don't forget to check out Caboodle of Cozies where I post five days a week most months!

"Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast"

⭐⭐⭐⭐

We've reached the end of the Disney Fairies road. The last one is "Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast". This is a misleading title because the protagonist in this movie is Fawn, an animal fairy and Tinker Bell's friend. Fawn loves animals and tries to help them. Like Tinker Bell, she is curious and determined to find answers even when it means putting herself into the midst of potentially dangerous situations. She encounters a strange beast and, despite being reprimanded by Queen Clarion for previous actions, Fawn sets out to figure out exactly what this creature is all about. 

This movie has a slightly darker vibe (even more so than "The Pirate Fairy") and somber tone. It moves along a little slow, but ultimately becomes a beautiful story with another great life lesson in it. The animation is once again top notch, though not as vibrantly colorful as it is in some of the previous ones. I am glad this one has narration at the beginning and end because it really ties the story together nicely. One thing that stood out to me in this one that didn't as much in the previous ones was the lyrics in the songs. The song lyrics really capture the essence of this movie. 

This is the final feature length movie in the Disney Fairies series. There are some movie shorts, but I'm not sure where to find them to watch. They are indeed very short, so I most likely won't be actively seeking them out. While the last movie isn't the best, I am glad this franchise exists. It truly has been a magical experience watching all of them and I can almost guarantee I will watch some of them (especially the seasonal ones) again.

"The Pirate Fairy"

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The Pirate Fairy" is the second to last film in the Disney Fairies franchise. The movie begins with the story of Zarina, a dust fairy whose thirst for knowledge ends up causing chaos in Pixie Hollow. When Fairy Gary, her supervisor, prohibits her from working with pixie dust, she runs away. 

The movie then fast forwards to one year later at the Four Seasons Festival when Zarina flies in and wreaks havoc on the celebration. Tink and her friends realize she has stolen pixie dust, which by now we know is needed for fairies to fly. Tink and her friends follow Zarina, only to find out she has become the captain of a crew of pirates. The fairy friends set out to retrieve the pixie dust...and Zarina.

I was almost immediately turned off from this movie when Fairy Gary prohibited Zarina from working with pixie dust and didn't offer her any other options. As a dust fairy, this is what she does. What's a fairy to do when her entire livelihood is taken away from her? Of course she's going to be lost in life.

I was able to put that shortcoming aside and enjoy the rest of the movie, though. It's an action-packed adventure unlike any of the previous movies in the franchise. It doesn't have the "it factor" that some of the others have, but it's still a well-made movie with all of the main characters, impeccable (though not as vibrantly striking) animation, and a well-developed plot. This one is a little darker than the previous movies, which is one reason it doesn't resonate with me as much as the others.

In this movie, the one character who stood out to me the most was Captain Hook, voiced by none other than Tom Hiddleston! Marvel fans will remember him as Loki. He makes the perfect Captain Hook. The other characters are well-voiced as well, but Captain Hook is new to the Disney Fairies franchise and it was a good choice to add him.

So, this movie is not up to par with the others, but it's still worth watching if you've been enjoying the rest of the feature length Disney Fairies films.

One more Disney Fairies movie to go. Stay tuned!

"Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The magic has returned! After a lackluster "Pixie Hollow Games", "Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings" delivered another phenomenal computer-animated feature length film.

The movie begins like some of the previous ones, with a narration that is beautifully done by Loreena Mc Kennitt. There are no human characters (well, except very briefly in something that is like a flashback scene), which is the way I prefer it. The core cast is still present, but we are also introduced to some new fairies who I love just as much as the main characters from the previous movies. 

True to Tink's nature, her curiosity once again gets the best of her. She guides some furry (not fairy) friends to the border where Winter Woods begins. Tink is very curious about the wonder of Winter Woods, but the residents of Pixie Hollow are not allowed to venture into it. Of course, this does not stop Tink from going there anyway. There is also a bit of a subplot in this movie that is predictable, but no less enjoyable.

I love that this movie focuses on the wings of the fairies. The wings are something that stood out to me from the very first movie in the series. It makes perfect fairy sense to film an entire movie about them. There's also a reading fairy and I love that Tink turns to a book to try and find some answers.

What unfolds is a light mystery with a beautiful and ever so slightly suspenseful story. While the music is not as much a part of this film as it is the previous feature length Disney fairy films, when it does happen it is classic Disney magic. The computer animation is spectacular, even surpassing those of the previous films in the series. Since this movie is winter-themed, the colors match the season and are still vividly striking. 

On a personal note, there is a cat in this movie named Fiona. I didn't know this until I saw the movie. She plays a small, but very important role in it.  Imagine my delight when I realized there is a movie featuring both "Bell" and "Fiona"! And this happened to be the first feature length film I watched since adopting my two kittens! (Check out my other blog, Caboodle of Cozies, to read more about them each week.)

There is nothing I don't like about "Secret of the Wings". I highly recommend it for children and adults alike. You will be transformed into a magical world of wonder that you won't want to leave. You don't have to watch the previous films in order to know what's going on, but why skip them? They are all worth watching.

We're not done yet! There is more to come in this series!

"Pixie Hollow Games"

⭐⭐⭐

"Pixie Hollow Games" is a 22 minute t.v. short featuring the computer-animated Disney fairies, including new arrival, Chloe. Rosetta and Chloe join forces to make an attempt to end the losing legacy of the garden fairies. Clank and Bobble, two male tinker fairy friends who have prominent roles in the previous films in the series call the action at the Games.

It pains me to give a Disney Fairies movie only three stars, but this short really is just average. I do love that it took place in Pixie Hollow and their were no humans present. Most of the characters are from the previous movies, but this one focused more on fairies other than Tinker Bell (although she did play a small role in this one). It was good to see the focus on her friends, but I also missed not having Tinker Bell around as much. The animation is good, but not as striking as it is in the previous movies. As for the music, I can only sort of remember one song. Overall, the music is not as impactful as it is in the previous movies.

In the previous movies, I adored the character of Rosetta, but her dislike for dirt, bugs, etc. (despite her being a nature fairy) is highly exaggerated in "Pixie Hollow Games" and this made me not like her as much. I think she was meant to come across that way in this movie, but it just felt like such a departure from her personality. It didn't sit well with me. There is also no narration in this short, which I missed. In the feature films, the narration is only at the beginning and end of each one, but it really enhances the entire experience.

"Pixie Hollow Games" does have a beautiful lesson at the end, but the 20-ish minute journey to get there was a rough ride. I do think young children will enjoy this one, but unlike the previous Disney Fairies movies, adults may have a tough time with it (unless they're parents accompanying their children). It just lacks a bit of the magic that the previous feature length films have. 

I am looking forward to watching the rest of movies in the series, which are all feature-length films.

"Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue"

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" is the first in the Disney Fairies series to include humans (in the form of computer animation as the rest of the characters are) that are main characters. I knew this going into the movie and I had concerns. One of the things I love about the first two is that they don't feature humans as main characters. "Tinker Bell" had humans in it, but only for a few minutes. "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" didn't have any humans in it.

In the world of Disney fairies, humans are believed to be dangerous and they must be avoided. In "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue", Tinker Bell's curiosity gets the best of her and she finds herself in a precarious situation - inside the home of humans, specifically Lizzy and her father. (Is it a coincidence that this is the same name as one of the main characters in "Pride and Prejudice"?) When Tink's fairy friends find out what has happened, they set out to rescue her, counting on "faith, trust, and pixie dust". As with the first two movies, while it is somewhat predictable, it's wonderful to see how it all happens. And in this movie, there is a bit of a twist at the end.

I love how, so far, these movies clearly take place in certain seasons. This one takes place in the summer. We are treated to lots of vibrant greenery, along with other summary colors, such as yellow. It is once again a feast for the eyes. I enjoyed seeing the same main characters that were in the first two, but I missed seeing at least one other one who made only a couple of brief appearances in "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue". One supporting character in particular has shown a lot of personal growth since the first movie. If you haven't seen the first two, I highly recommend that you watch them. Unfortunately, since most of this movie does not take place in Pixie Hollow, we are missing a lot of the other whimsical creatures that made the first two movies so magical.

A new animal character in this movie is Lizzy's cat. I'm still trying to sort out my feelings about him. In one way, he fits the typical stereotype often portrayed in movies that cats are mean, but in another way, I can accept that a lot of his behavior is simply typical cat behavior.

The story that unfolds had my interest in the beginning. I loved the interaction Tinker Bell had with Lizzy, the little girl. Tinker Bell can understand Lizzy, but Lizzy cannot hear Tinker Bell speak. She can only see her and hear a bell when she speaks. So they have to find ways to effectively communicate and it's beautiful to watch how this happens.

I know that the father was necessary for the plot to develop the way it did, but I wasn't crazy about this character. I also question his role towards the end. I can't say too much without giving it away, so I'll just say what happened is not in alignment with what I've learned about fairies.

Despite its shortcomings, "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" is a fantastic movie. If you've enjoyed the first two, it is definitely worth watching this one.

More reviews in this series to come!

"Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Tinker Bell", the first movie in the Disney Fairies series, set high standards. It is a masterpiece. Often sequels are not as good as their predecessors, so I didn't set my expectations too high for the next one. Still, I was very excited to watch "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure". I'm happy to say, it did not disappoint.

While "Tinker Bell" takes place in the spring, "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" spans an entire autumn season. When I realized this in the first few seconds of the movie, I was already hooked. You mean they made a movie with fairies in my favorite season?! It's like I won the lottery.

In "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure", Tinker Bell is tasked with creating a scepter for the moonstone. At the end of the season, the annual Great Autumn Revelry will take place. This is when the moonstone will be placed perfectly on the scepter and when the blue moon peaks, moon rays will pass through it.  This will create pixie dust and restore the pixie dust tree. Pixie dust is vital to the lives of fairies, so this will be a critical point in time for their survival. There is only one moonstone and since precise measurements need to be taken when creating the scepter, Tinker Bell must handle it with care.

The upcoming Revelry is a special one since it will coincide with a rare blue moon, which only happens every eight years. As a result, even more pixie dust is expected to be created this year. This is a lot of pressure to put on a fairy who always means well, but whose temper causes her to repeatedly make costly mistakes. Still, the Minister of Autumn, Queen Clarion, and Fairy Mary all believe in her.

What unfolds in the next hour or so is something so enchanting. While the overall outcome is predictable, the journey to get their and the ways in which their problems are solved is an unforgettable experience. At its core are the themes of friendship and forgiveness. It also touches on how to deal with stressful situations in a calm way. The characters are brought to life with incredible animation as well as impeccable voice acting. The colors are rich autumn tones and while the music is not as impactful as it is in "Tinker Bell", it still works its magic in "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure". The fairies as well as the animal characters are given human-like qualities and they are simply delightful to watch and listen to. I can't unsee and unhear the symphony of crickets the way this movie portrays them. There are some other details that stood out to me as well, like the pen made of wood that Tinker Bell uses to take notes and make lists. 

I can't say much else about this movie without giving away spoilers. It is my hope that if you haven't already seen it, you'll give "Tinker Bell" and "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" a chance. These movies for me have ended up being treasures I have now found and that I will watch many more times in the years to come.

Stay tuned for reviews of the rest movies in the series.

"Tinker Bell"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently read a cozy mystery called "A Sprinkling of Murder", by Daryl Wood Gerber. I will be reviewing it on my Caboodle of Cozies blog in September, but for now I will tell you it was this book that made me fall head over wings in love with fairies. This is why I decided to watch "Tinker Bell".

"Tinker Bell" is the first in a series of computer-animated Disney Fairies movies. This first one is the origin and coming-of-age story of the iconic Disney fairy, Tinker Bell. It takes place long before she met Peter Pan. 

"Tinker Bell" begins with her delightful birth and arrival into Pixie Hollow. She finds out what her talent is, which determines her job as a tinker. Tinker Bell, as she is named, befriends other fairies with different talents and when she finds out she will not be traveling to the mainland like many of them will, she struggles with who she is and who she wants to be. Although it is overall predictable, there are many surprises along the way, and it's beautiful to see who she becomes.

I am not a huge fan of the classic Disney movie, "Peter Pan". I recently watched it for the first time and it just did not resonate with me. (Although, I saw it performed live in a dinner theater a few years ago and I loved it.) "Tinker Bell", on the other hand, is a masterpiece. It has become my favorite animated movie, and quite possibly my favorite movie overall. The story is relatable to children and young adults who are trying to figure out their place in this world. There are boy fairies in it as well, so it is not just a movie for girls. The theme can be relatable to older adults as well.

The animation is the best I've ever seen in an aminated movie. It is clean, crisp, and simply stunning. The colors are eye-catching, but not overdone. The facial expressions of the characters are masterfully done and can we please talk about those fluttering fairy wings? I could not take my eyes off of them! All of the characters, including those like the weeds that come to life and the little birdie who is afraid to spread its wings, are quite entertaining to watch.

Not only is the movie visually appealing. The musical score is also brilliant. "Tinker Bell" contains a combination of classic Disney-sounding songs, as well as Celtic music. They made me want to dance and sing along.

"Tinker Bell" evokes emotions of all kinds. There were times when I laughed out loud and other times when I shed some tears. I felt a connection with every character, which were wonderfully voiced. Pixie Hollow is a warm and inviting place, one that I would love to visit myself. It's a very easy movie to watch. The plot is straightforward, but entertaining. I could not take my eyes off of the screen. I've watched it a few times and I never get tired of it. 

I encourage you to watch this movie if you haven't seen it yet. I'm confident it will leave you smiling and feeling happy. But consider yourself forewarned - you may also come away from it believing in fairies.

Puzzle 19

Just like last month, this month's puzzle is an individual, not collaborative, effort. You should be able to complete the puzzle directly from my blog and I think you can customize it for the number of pieces you wish to work with. The picture is from my July collection. In the comments, feel free to tell me the time it took you to complete and how you customized it. The pieces are not rotatable and I don't think you can change that. Have fun!