Rebecca - 1997 Masterpiece Theatre Production

Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier, is my all time favorite book. I have read it probably ten times in my adult life. All of my favorite genres are between the covers of this book: romance, mystery, suspense, drama, and tragedy.

If you have not read Rebecca, I will do my best not to spoil the plot. Trust me, the following synopsis does not ruin the surprising twists and turns of this book.

The narrator, who remains nameless, is obsessed with her predecessor, Rebecca. An interloper in her own home, the narrator's imagination runs wild. She interprets every word and look as a comparison to Rebecca. She hears Rebecca's steps behind her and smells her scent in every room. But even she can't imagine what truly transpired at Manderley.

There have been two film adaptions (that I know of) of Rebecca. One by Alfred Hitchcock in the 1940s. And the Masterpiece Theatre rendition in 1997. I can't say I'm a fan of either.

But given the two, I would choose the '97 production. The script stays much closer to the book.

But here are my problems with it:

• Max De Winter is not nearly as brooding or detached.
• The narrator does not reach the levels of panic that she did in the book..
• The car & cliff scene does not make any sense. Unrelated phrases were pulled from the book paired with unmatched emotion and a skid by the cliff. Really!! Why did they tamper with a perfectly good scene from the book??
• They added and elaborated on the ending. This was totally unnecessary and only fed the next point...
• They changed Mrs. Danvers from a insane neurotic to a jealous, sad lover. If you know the book...well, shall we say this is introducing an alternative lifestyle?...so to speak.

There was one deviation from the book that I liked: Faye Dunaway's performance as Mrs. Van Hopper. In the book, Mrs. Van Hopper was a social leech. She attached herself to anyone of the faintest notoriety.

Faye Dunaway's characterization of Mrs. Van Hopper was a middle aged woman trying to catch a rich husband. She did a great job and that change did not compromise the plot. In fact, I think Faye Dunaway's performance was one of the more enjoyable parts of the movie!

My recommendation: read the book!! If you still can't get enough, like me, watch both versions of the movie. Let me know which you prefer!

Davey Crockett Crochet Jacket & Hat

After a year and a half, I finally finished it. I think I originally started this in August of '06.

I'm great at starting projects. Not so great at finishing them.

After much reminding from my little guy, I finished this Davey Crockett ensemble right before Christmas and put it under the tree.

He barely can get it on, to my shame. But he loves it anyway. For the week after Christmas he rarely took the sweater off.

I crocheted the sweater in a terry yarn rather than the suggested suede. After finishing, I sewed on suede fringe.

The hat is crocheted out of a furry, mohair look yarn. The key is to choose something that looks like a dead animal. he he

The hat has a raccoon tail, of course! Crocheted in stripes.

This ensemble is just TOO cute! Hopefully I'll find a little boy to share this with once Jodan let's go of it.

Today he wore his Davey Crockett sweater to school. I snapped his picture early this morning. Doesn't he look proud?

This pattern comes from the book: Crochet for Kids: Sweaters for Infants, Girls, and Boys. I highly recommend this book for anyone who crochets. The patterns are wonderful.

Frankly, I usually don't like crochet for wearables. I much prefer the look of knitting. But this book offers crochet wearables that even pass my snooty test.

If you crochet, you should give it a look!

I Can Fly

The name of my blog comes from a Little Golden Book of the same title, written by Ruth Krauss sometime in the 1960s. My blog theme is based on the illustrations from this little picture book, illustrated by Mary Blair.

I just love the chunky little legs and arms Mary gave that dark haired girl. And Ruth Krauss gave her wonderful spunk and confidence.

When I grow up I want to be this little girl. I've already got the chunky arms and legs. Alas my hair never was that dark and now it's turning gray. But, no worries! L'Oreal Preference can rectify that.

But that little-dark-haired-girl's big attitude doesn't come from any bottle. She seems to find joy in every circumstance. She views life with the confidence and joy that only someone four years old could do.

Like I said...I want to grow up to be her.

Let's just enjoy her together. Storytime!

Original text in black, my useless comments in blue.

I Can Fly

by Ruth Krauss

A bird can fly.

So can I.
Wings?...pshaw...just stand on a swing!

A Cow can moo.

I can too.
so what if I'm not worship team material...I can join the cow choir!

I can squirm

like a worm.
handy skill for getting through the masses during hand-shaking time so I can get to the bathroom...also good as a morning stretch.

I can grab

like a crab.
ahhh, to take that leap of faith from one ring to the other and not...let...go. Only God and four year olds.

Crunch crunch crunch

I'm a goat out to lunch.
who knew that I could pretend to be a GOAT while I ate celery! Possibly if I eat the stuff for the SOUND rather than the taste, I just might not have to throw out bags of celery slime once a month...

Who's busy like a bee?

Me me me.
Guilty. But the wrong kind of busy. I want to be like this little girl. Busy at the fun of life...busy like the bee touring the flowers.

Who can walk like a bug?

Me! Ug ug.
Not in about twenty years. What's the key here? Should I do Leslie Sansone while watching Spidey?

I'm merrier

than a terrier.
Yes, yes, yes. Help me Lord! I want to have those sparkly eyes and that laugh! Where did it go?

Swish!

I'm a fish.
Gotta work on this one too. Haven't been a swimmer since they fished me out of the pool at ten or twelve years old. Adult swimming lessons.... do they make floaties for plus size women?

Pick pick pick

I'm a little chick.
Another project...get over my bird phobia. After being flogged by every duck, turkey, goose and zoo peacock that ever met me, I'm emotionally scarred.

Who can live in a hole?

Me! Like a mole.
Philippians 4:11 in a children's story book! Bravo Ruth Krauss! Sometimes we ministry wives have to live in mole holes...

Who can climb anywhere?

Me! Like a bear.
Like on top of chairs while 7 months pregnant while the only adult in children's church with ten or so children... can't remember why though.

My house is

like a mouse's.
Thankfully, mine is not. With five kids this big house is a gift from God. When it needs cleaned, that's another story!

A clam

is what I am.
Vacation on the beach. Bake in the sand. No one knows who I am. Now that is fun!!

Pop pop pop

I'm a rabbit with a hop.
Energy. Gotta get some.

Bump bump bump

I'm a camel with a hump.
It's a little early for osteo, but she does remind me that I need to take a calcium supplement!

Haw haw haw

I'm a donkey in the straw.
Laughter is ALWAYS good medicine.

Pitter pitter pat

I can walk like a cat.
Mothers learn this skill during their first child's naptime. It also comes in handy at church. When leaving during the song, and shazam, you always walk back in during prayer time!

Howl howl howl

I'm an old screech owl.
I'm confused. The illustration seems to refer to a peaceful "whoo." A good soothing skill for mothers of small children. But the word choice seems to refer to skills I've learned as a mother of teenagers. Hmmm....oh well, I've got them both covered.

Gubble gubble gubble

I'm a mubble in a pubble.
Wonderful, glorious nonsense. I definitely need more of that in my life, don't you?

I can play

I'm anything that's anything.
This is what we've lost. I've lost. The play. In whatever circumstance or place God puts me in, I want to find the play and the joy. I think it's there, even in the dark times.

That's MY way.
Mine, too. I hope. Some day. Thank you little-dark-haired-girl. Thank You, Father.