Creature From The Black Lagoon

Take A Peek

In the heart of the Amazonian rain forest, Dr. Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) unearths a most extraordinary fossil. It has five fingers arranged much like a human hand, but it displays webbing and claws that suggest a marine predator. Dr. Maia assembles a team of scientists to journey to the legendary, Black Lagoon in search of more fossils. Amongst the team are Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson), Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), Dr. Mark Williams (Richard Denning), and Dr. Edwin Thompson (Whit Bissel).

Lucas (Nestor Paiva), the captain of their chartered riverboat, weaves a story of the aquatic monster that stalks the Black Lagoon. When Dr. Maia and the others return to the camp, he discovers that a savage beast has slaughtered his assistants.

The team realizes that the legend of the half-man half-fish monster is true. The beast stalks the crew, silently coming aboard the boat to attack. The ambitious and ruthless Dr. Williams wants to stay in the Black Lagoon to capture the monster.

 There is much tension between the two young scientists over the love of Kay. The Creature also finds Kay quite stunning, and turns his attention to her. The beast is apprehended through the use of Rotenone (a poison used to catch fish) and is imprisoned in a cage on the boat.

The makeshift cage doesn’t hold the Gillman for long. He escapes and seriously injures Dr. Thompson. Everyone had decided to leave the camp, but not before the creature kidnaps Kay.

Did I Love It?

Creature from the Black Lagoon is a true masterpiece of monstrous proportions. The creature endures then humanity inside him. He is cunning, lustful and lonely.

When the Creature silently stalks Kay as she swims, it is a scene of cinematic beauty. The scenes between Carlson and Denning bring even more tension to a film that is oozing fear. Julie Adams was one of the most sought after “damsels in distress” of the genre.

This is my all-time favorite creature feature movie. I remember watching this as a child and feeling empathy for the Gillman as he lurked in the black waters all alone. Now I pass the torch on to my 11 year old daughter, who can’t seem to get enough of this movie.

Gracefully Yours,
Elle

Art By Bijou

While browsing the Etsy shops the other day, I came across a beautiful display of personalized watercolor art at Art By Bijou. The owner's name is Kelsey Bable and she designs notecards, wedding invitations and she also draws and paints custom portraits. Everything in her shop can be personalized to your tastes. I was so impressed with her artwork, I was moved to ask Miss Bable for an interview. Here is what she had to say.

Interview:

Q. I love your artwork. How long have you been drawing? 

A: Thank you very much! I've been drawing since I was very little, I was always coloring and drawing with my dad.

Q. What inspired you to use watercolors?

A. Through my high school career I've grown to love watercolors. They're my favorite medium to work with because of their free-flowing quality. I like, sketchy, flowing art.

Q. Have you taken any art classes or are you self taught?

A.  I've always had my school art classes, but haven't had any other classes. I think high school really helped me develop as an artist.

Q. What was your inspiration for opening Art By Bijou?

A. Well, I love Etsy, and I had been selling cards locally and thought maybe people not so local might want some too!

Q.  In addition to note cards, I noticed you also paint custom portraits. What first interested you in sketching portraits?

A. When I was little, I always told my family I wanted to be the artist that sketched peoples' portraits in amusement parks. I've always loved drawing portraits.

Q. Do you have future plans on expanding your shop?

A. I'm attending college this coming fall as an Art Therapy student, and hopefully my etsy shop will continue through school. Once I graduate, I'd love to expand and have my own little store, or even design cards for a company.

Q. Please tell my readers more about your beautiful art and what they can discover at your shop.

A. At Art by Bijou, you will find personalized, one of a kind gifts for friends or for themselves! I take pride in creating and sharing my passion. All of my work is original, and hand drawn and painted.

Q.How did you decide on the name Art By Bijou?

A.  I named my shop Art by Bijou because my dad, Tony DiGirolamo, had a tattoo shop called Bijou Tattoo in Colorado. He passed away a little over a year and half ago, and even though the shop is closed now, I wanted to continue the Bijou name. My dad gave me the gift of drawing and creativity, and introduced me to art. It was something we always shared and now we'll always share Bijou too.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?

A. I'd just like to say thanks to you, for your interest in my shop, and to everyone on Etsy who has shown the same interest. I'm just a high school senior, but it makes me feel so good to be sharing my art with people all over. It especially feels good to continue my father's legacy.

Thank you, Kelsey for taking the time to interview with me. Art By Bijou is a delightfully beautiful Etsy shop,

Gracefully Yours,
Elle

Evergreen Candleworks

It says it all in their name; Evergreen Candleworks is an environmentally conscious company that has found ways to “go green” with every aspect of their business. They use 100% wind power with bird friendly wind turbines, they recycle and reuse whenever possible.

Their products are Organic Non-GMO, soy wax. The soy wax they use is organically grown in the United States, being free of pesticides and herbicides. They use 100% lead free cotton wicks. They don’t use colorants of any kind and their jars are pretty enough to reuse once the candles burn out.

After much deliberation, I chose to order the fragrance Colorado Sunrise, in one of their lantern candles. The description brought me back home to Colorado, where my heart still longs to be.

“Creamy vanilla with a bouquet of orange blossoms & fresh oranges on a background of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and silky musk”

The scent of vanilla and orange blanketed around the sweet spices brought about an aura of serenity. This is a beautiful fragrance, not overpowering, but wonderfully subtle and sweet.

The candle burned clean, leaving a clear melt pool, the flame kept strong and steady, without any soot. The fragrance was crisp and the candle was long burning.

Even though Evergreen Candleworks is priced a bit higher (15.00-35.00) than some other candle shops, a quality candle with beautiful fragrance is well worth every penny. My candle was simply delightful.

Gracefully Yours,
Elle

In The Woods By Tana French

Inside Look

This is my job, and you don’t go into it – or if you do you don’t last – without some natural affinity for its priorities and demands. What I am telling you, before you begin my story, is this – two things: I crave truth. And I lie.

Whenever a book begins with the main character saying he can’t be trusted, I know I am in for some twisted reading, where the truth may never be uncovered. In The Woods is no exception.

Murder detective Rob Ryan has a secret, a secret he does not fully understand. Twenty years ago, when he was a young boy, Rob was playing in the woods with his two closest friends; he was the only one who walked out of those woods alive. He was found catatonic, clinging to a tree with blood soaked shoes. The truth remains a mystery, even to him.

When the body of a 12-year-old girl is found in the woods outside Dublin, Rob and his partner Cassie are called to investigate. The situation is eerily familiar to Rob. As they dig deeper into the case Rob begins to have partial flashbacks, but nothing to help the ongoing investigation.

Rob’s nightmares increase and he is left depleted, nearly destroying the case as he searches for his own truth.

Did I Love It?

Tara French’s debut thriller explores the psyche of lead detective Ryan. Memories from Rob’s past intermingles with his present day case, weaving each story together perfectly. Rob is not a very likable character, but I found his motivations very compelling. The novel is fast paced, intriguing with writing that is not only engaging, but also character driven.

The drawback to this story is the ending; it left one of the mysteries unsolved. Discovering the truth about Rob’s past was what I really wanted read. I realize not all stories are going to be tied up nicely with a pretty bow in the end, but I had an unsatisfied feeling when I finished the book.

Despite the ending, I enjoyed the story; it was engrossing and had plenty of twists to keep me interested. My favorite character was Cassie; Rob’s venerable, yet intelligent partner.

I am excited to read The Likeness by Tana French, which is a story with Cassie as the main character. The Likeness takes place six months after In the Woods ended.
Gracefully Yours,
Elle

Semi-Sweet By Roisin Meaney

Inside Look

Hannah Robinson is just about to open the doors to her new shop Cupcakes on the Corner when out of the blue her boyfriend Patrick announces that he’s leaving her for another woman. Faced with starting a business on her own, Hannah begins to wonder if her life-long dream has just turned into a nightmare. So her best friend Adam sets his birthday as a deadline – seven months to make her shop a success, or walk away from it all. And as Hannah immerses herself in her new business, she soon discovers that she’s too busy to think about Patrick and his now pregnant girlfriend …or to notice an increasingly regular customer who has recently developed a sweet tooth for all things cupcake. But while Hannah is slowly piecing her life back together, family friend Alice’s is falling apart. Her husband Tom’s drinking is getting out of control and things are about to get a whole lot worse. As the seven-month milestone approaches, Hannah must decide her future. And while she’s figuring out what’s really important, it becomes clear to everyone that happiness in life, and in love, is all in the making.

Did I Love It?

The cover of this book is so charming and sweet, I just wanted to walk right into the picture. Who can resist a cupcake anyway? I sure know I can’t. Cupcakes have always been my guilty pleasure, so when I saw this book sitting on the shelf, I thought this story would be the perfect combination of love and cupcakes.

Of course, one can’t judge a book by the cover alone; one must absorb and digest the contents to truly appreciate the power of the words penned.

I spent a delightful afternoon with the residents of Clongarvin, Ireland and became engrossed in their stories interlacing together. Semi-Sweet is an engaging book with surprising depth and emotion.

Hannah, the main character, is stronger than she gives herself credit for. I found her actions admirable and uplifting. She opened up her own business, the cupcake shop of her dreams, even when her world crashed before her. Hannah is a lighthearted testament to women everywhere…fights for what you believe in and believe in yourself.

I must say Semi-Sweet wasn’t the chick-lit I was expecting, it is something more. This is a story about friendship, family, and love with a delicious dose of cupcakes.

Gracefully Yours,
Elle

The Night Circus By Erin Morgenstern

Inside Look

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience, a feast for the senses. Welcome to Le Cirque des Reves.

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way-a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been bound. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.

Did I Love It?

The Night Circus is a magically woven tale invoking your sense of sight, taste and smell. Erin Morgenstern's words flow effortlessly off the pages with her rich, descriptive voice, lending the reader a detailed look into the world she created. The characters are enticingly colorful and charming, they complement the story well.

The book takes us from the past to the present, but is easy to distinguish because of the dates presented at the beginning of the chapters. There are several storylines that blend together into one enchanting story. I think adding the poem that continues with each chapter is a nice touch and a breath of fresh air.

If you enjoy reading about forbidden love, magic and enjoy a descriptive story, don’t delay-read it today.

The Night Circus is simply an enchantment.
Gracefully Yours,
Elle

The Grapes of Wrath Book Discussion

Welcome to the first installment of the Timeless Book Circle.

Q1. Why do you think this novel continues to have such wide, popular appeal? Is its message still relevant today?

Q2. Why has The Grapes of Wrath become one of the most banned/challenged books in American History? Do you think it should be banned?

Q3. What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful? 

Q4. What are some themes and symbols in the novel? How do they relate to the plot and characters?