I am not sure how many people out there have watched one of my favorite Christmas love-comedies, Christmas in Connecticut, but I suggest all of you to rent it this lovely season. I watched for the first time several years ago and fell in love.
I love the plot and the characters and especially the settings. This is the only movie that I can take Barbara Stanwyck in because she is actually charming and likable as a “Martha Stewart” kind of character. In fact, her job in the movie is something I had always wanted to do, writing articles and recipes for a magazine from her country home. In fact, while watching the movie this year (I watch Christmas movies all year around) I realized that I do indeed have that dream job through my blogging, Sweetie-licious newsletters, cookbook, and occasional magazine articles. And I write it all from my country home’s living room, just like Barbara’s character, Elizabeth Lane was supposed to be doing.
My home is hardly the Connecticut farmhouse depicted in the movie as there is no huge fireplace or vast living room and I have no cow in my barn nor do I have a hired cook in my kitchen. I do however, have a lovely gas fireplace in my small living room that I can see while I write and I do frequently see my chickens roaming about our barn, and I am certainly the only cook in our kitchen. Nevertheless, my country home is perfect to write my thoughts and recipes and I am so grateful that there are some of you out there that care to read them.
If you are a Christmas lover, a Foodie or love a screwball comedy, this movie is for you. The characters are quirky and charming and the plot is completely fun. Of course, there is some dated material, but it is still adorable. The movie’s message of food and its inspirational power, friendship and kismet love all under the guise of Christmas and laughter is perfect for this time of year.
I am not sure how this blog ended up being a movie review, but somehow it kind of did. J
Merry Christmas, I love those two words put together, and Happy Holidays!
Eat pie, love old movies, Linda xoxo
After writing that title, I realized that that those five little words probably aren’t put together in that fashion very often. But, gosh, do I love writing them in exactly that order. Our cute, little pie shop, Sweetie-licious, has always needed a new floor, yet not just any floor would do. I decided long ago that a shiny pink one would be practically perfect for our happy shop.
However, many factors prevented us from getting one. First of all, we didn’t own the building. Secondly, we had no money. Thirdly, I couldn’t find the perfect pink floor.
It is a lovely wonder what patience, hard work, love and simple blessings can do to make dreams come true. You see, another dream came true in late April when I won the Crisco National Pie Championships and the Grand prize of $5000.00! And as it turned out, we were able to buy our building last summer enabling us to truly own our cute, little pie shop! Then, I happened upon a local floor shop that had just gotten in some new bright, bright pink flooring.
So, in just a few short months, I owned our darling shop, I had money to buy a new floor and I had the perfect pink floor to buy! There was obviously only one thing to do. Hence, my beautiful dream floor was installed and waxed to perfection last Sunday.
I know I talk much about dreams, but I love dreaming. I love big dreams and little dreams. I love to see my little dream of having a pink floor at my cute, little pie shop (another dream) come true.
So, for those who can, come in and be marveled at our new, shiny, pink floor. Then eat a yummy piece of our $5000.00, Tom’s Cherry Cherry Berry pie. My only request is that you don’t get any pie on the floor!
Keep dreaming.
Eat Pie, Love Life,
Xoxo Linda
I have to thank everyone for being so, so wonderful to me with regards to my national debut on the Food Network Amazing Pie Challenge. Clearly, winning Best of Show was a real dream come true for me and especially sweet because I won with my beloved Tom Hundt’s Cheery Cherry Cherry Berry Pie who passed away right before the competition. He certainly believed in me. What an incredible life experience it was and continues to be. Thanks to all the fellow pie bakers and Food Network crew, Crisco, Sears and especially the American Pie Council for helping me realize my big dream. Every time I see it, I get teary eyed, emotional, but mostly very, very grateful. I now whole-heartedly believe that I truly do have the best pie in America!
I am immensely grateful for my wonderful family and friends, for all the sweet, hard-working folks at the shop and for all of my lovely customer/friends who believed in my dream of having the cutest, little bakery café in the whole, wide world. And for all who believed that we had the best food and pie in the whole wide world.
Most importantly, I am forever grateful for every single person in my life of 46 years who believed in me.
Thank you.
I implore all of us to start believing in each other, for I am a true example of what a difference it can make in someone’s life.
I implore all of us to start believing in ourselves. Again, I am a real example of what a difference it can make in someone’s life –your own.
Believe and Eat Pie, Love Life –Linda xo
October is here. I absolutely love the fall. In fact, so much so, that I get a bit offended if people aren’t in complete agreement with me of its magnificence. I love the coolness in the air and the aged, earthy smell of the blustery breezes. I love the grey, bullying clouds playing hide and seek with the warm, happy sun in the October sky. In our own front yard, our beloved Mother Maple tree creates the most vivid yellow leaves imaginable this season. And when the sunshine dances on her fading, falling leaves, well, it is breathtaking.
I truly love all things fall – bonfires, football games, homecoming parades, chili, soups, pot pies, hot cider, tea and chocolate, sweaters, fall coats, down comforters, gingerbread, custard, warm ovens, crock pots, caramel apples, hot bubble baths and lots of lots of pie…
Eat Pie, Love Life and Fall…Linda xo