April 14, 2018

Saturday movie review: A QUIET PLACE

April 14, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

My husband and I saw A QUIET PLACE last weekend, opening weekend for the drama/horror flick directed by John Krasinski and starring him and wife Emily Blunt. The nerve wracking film was, of course, the feature of our theater-going experience, yet it was the audience that delivered the most interesting performance. Because they were quiet. Silent, in fact. Each and every viewer.

That never happens at the theater. Ever. People talk, laugh, question what's on screen, peek at phone screens that light up, ruffle wrappers, slurp sodas, and loudly gobble handfuls of popcorn.*

Not so during A QUIET PLACE. The entire place was quiet as can be. Which I found crazy... and compelling... and a huge compliment to Krasinski, Blunt, and all involved in making the movie.

A QUIET PLACE is so very...

April 11, 2018

Grandma's word of the day: Local

April 11, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Today's word is... LOCAL

Definition of local (per Dictionary.com):

[loh-kuh l] adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by place or position in space; spatial.

2. pertaining to, characteristic of, or restricted to a particular place or particular places.

3. pertaining to a city, town, or small district rather than an entire state or country.

4. pertaining to or affecting a particular part or particular parts, as of a physical system or organism.

Local example:

A recent social media post shared...

April 09, 2018

Several sprouts a sprouting

April 09, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Several sprouts a sprouting!

Not long ago, I shared with you photos of James getting my seedlings started for spring sprouting and eventual transplanting. I promised updates along the way.

As promised, update No. 1: Several seeds have sprouted!

April 07, 2018

Saturday movie briefs: Three to see on DVD

April 07, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

The week before the 90th Academy Awards, my husband and I scrambled to screen as many of the nominated films we'd not yet managed to see. Twas a task made much easier thanks to my access to select free screeners courtesy Fox Home Entertainment (thanks, Fox!).

So mere days before oodles of Oscars were doled out, we watched several movies.

Then I failed to share my thoughts on each with you in a Saturday movie review. Now those films are out of theaters and available on DVD (plus streaming, premium channels, and more).

With sincere apologies for the belated sharing, here are three of my faves from our pre-Oscar scramble. Though sans full reviews, I strongly recommended each for viewing as they definitely live up to hype you've likely heard.

April 05, 2018

Throwback Thursday: 4 spring walks to take with grandkids

April 05, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

This #TBT piece by Lisa Carpenter originally published April 21, 2015 on Grandma's Briefs.

Put on your walking shoes and head out with the grandkiddos. Here, four ideas for savoring spring while out and about.

April 02, 2018

My Easter peeps

April 02, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

My Easter peeps!

I had the privilege of spending Easter Sunday with Jim, Andrea, Brianna, Patrick, and James.

Based on the photos I nabbed, I'm pretty sure James had a good time despite being the only child in the crowd.

March 31, 2018

Saturday movie review: Still Dreaming

March 31, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

As our parents age and we consider how we can best assist and accommodate them in their later years, we baby boomers become more and more familiar with assisted living centers, nursing homes, and similar facilities Mom and/or Dad might at some point consider home. Many of our parents already reside in such spots, others of us may be in the researching-for-someday phase of the sandwich situation.

As is the case with most things, negative stories and worrisome aspects of assisted living centers and nursing homes get the most headlines, cause the most headaches. Yet there are indeed many positive—and true—tales to tell of facilities doing fun, fabulous, innovative, and invigorating things for the elderly folks they care for and, in many cases, consider family.