Wordless Wednesday - 175

Thursday Thirteen - 132 - 13 Ways to Say Happy 40th Birthday to Gerard Butler

As many of you know, I'm rather partial to Scottish actor Gerard Butler.

On Nov. 13th he turns the big 4 - 0. Here are 13 wishes for him on this milestone birthday. He's the inspiration for a fictional character that I'm currently writing about during NaNoWriMo, a month-long writing marathon.

Thanks, Gerry.


- 1


"If you count all your assets, you always show a profit."

- Robert Quillen










- 2











"Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned."

- P. T. Barnum


- 3











"It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players."

- Larry Bird


- 4









"A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor, for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself."

- Jessamyn West


- 5















"Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again."

- James Cook


- 6















"The lion is most handsome when looking for food."

- Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Photo by Patrick Fraser


- 7















"The higher the hill, the stronger the wind."

- John Wycliffe

Photo by Debra Hurford Brown


- 8










"When you reach the top, that's when the climb begins."

- Michael Caine

Photo by Dagblat (Norway)


- 9















"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties."

- Erich Fromm

Photo by Amanda De Cadenet


- 10










"Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other."

- Carlos Castaneda

Photo by Martin Pope


- 11









"Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion."

- Scottish Proverb

Photo by Fotogramas.es


- 12















"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Genius will not. Education will not. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

Calvin Coolidge


- 13















"The face you have at age 25 is the face God gave you, but the face you have after 50 is the face you earned."

- Cindy Crawford

Thursday Thirteen - 120 - 13 Characters Played by Richard Armitage

This is a Happy Birthday shout-out to one of my favorite actors. On Saturday, Aug. 22nd, he'll celebrate his 38th birthday.

Writers everywhere will celebrate the man who has inspired countless characters in their own fiction - including mine.

Here's what Richard had to say recently on the subject of being our muse:

"Much as I would love to take credit for ‘launching writing careers’ the credit is Gaskell’s [for creating the character of John Thornton.]" - Richard Armitage at Vulpes Libris

Methinks he is mistaken...

Here's a look at 13 roles he's played.



1 - North & South - Victorian-era mill owner John Thornton








2 - BBC's Robin Hood - Medieval strongarm for the Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gisborne








3 - Spooks / MI-5 - Returned prisoner of the Russians, British spy Lucas North







4 - The Vicar of Dibley - 'Townie bastard' Harry Kennedy







5 - Spark house - Painfully shy farmhand John Standring







6 - The Impressionists - Painter Young Claude Monet







7 - Between the Sheets - Probation officer Paul Andrews, under investigation for inappropriate conduct with a client







8 - Cold Feet - Flirty lifeguard Lee Richards







9 - George Gently - 50's biker Ricky Deeming







10 - Ultimate Force - Captain Ian McAlwaine






11 - Inspector Lynley Mysteries - In Divine Proportion - Recovering upper-class gambler Philip Turner







12 - Shakes peare Retold / MacBeth - Head waiter Peter Macduff







13 - CBeebies - I'm Not Going Out There narrator



Janet says I loved The Vicar of Dibley!!! And I remember that episode :-)

Americanising Desi says Your #1 makes me drooooooooooool!

Sandy Carlson says And a handsome dude he is! I hope he has a happy.

Celebrating My Step Mom on Her Birthday

Just got back from celebrating with Doris, my step mom. We all met at Montana's at Dartmouth Crossing for dinner to start things off. So of course my step sister Rhonda got to work right away with the crayons on the paper tablecloth.














This is Doris with her great-granddaughter Ava on her lap, and her best-friend-for-40-years Mona.


















This is Tasha with her grandma, Doris.
















Tasha impresses her daughter Ava with her party horn playing, while her Aunt Rhonda checks out the menu.
















Doris can't escape the Montana birthday moose cap.














Or the birthday hat back at her apartment. My sister Michelle gives her a bit of encouragement.














Oh - who's that hanging out at Doris' table? Is it my mom? Of course. Doesn't everyone hang out with their late husband's first wife?














Rhonda brings out the cake while we all break out into song.














Ava sits across from me telling me baby-gibberish stories about the stuffed snowbaby that my dad bought for Doris. They were fascinating stories. Have I ever mentioned that I have baby-hypnotism powers? Ava talked and talked to me. No real words but she knew I understood her, anyway. My husband said, "You child charmer, you."














Doris gets up close and personal with her soon-to-be grandson-in-law, Matt (Ava's dad.) He also works at the pharmacy were I get my prescriptions. Small world!














And here's our family:

That's Doris and me in front.

L to R:

Doris' daughter Rhonda, my mom Paulette, my sister Michelle, Matt, baby Ava, Doris' granddaughter Tasha, Tasha's other grandmother, and my husband Brad

Thanks for coming to the party. Hope your Friday was fun!

Thomma Lyn Grindstaff says Family of the heart. That's awesome! :-D

Akelamalu says Doris lookes very sprightly. :)

Toni says 'Doesn't everyone hang out with their late husband's first wife?' * ROFL!

Wordless Wednesday - 104

Heather says Doris is a women of incredible character and classic style. I admire her so much.

Robin says What a sweet photo.

Brooke says A lovely picture of the three of you.

Thursday Thirteen - 106 - 13 Paintings By My Sister-in-Law, Violetta Smith

Oh look - there she is waiting for us. Hi, Violetta! ((hug))

Happy Birthday!

"Thank you Julia," she says as we head over to the gallery. I'm celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday today by having a showing of her work in my cyber gallery. "That is very nice of you," Violetta says. "That will make me feel very special."




Her husband Jeff meets us on the balcony before we head into the art show. "Hey bro," Jeff says to my husband Brad.

"Hey, Jeff," says Brad.

"Hey, Big Guy!" Violetta says, hugging Brad.



"Happy Birthday!" Brad says, giving her a big hug.

"I hope I don't have to make any speeches," Violetta says, laughing.

"Nah," I scoff. We're almost at the door. She turns and looks at Jeff, takes his hand and walks into the gallery.


















As I watch her walk in and look around at her paintings, I squeeze my husband's hand and feel so lucky to have Violetta as my sister-in-law.

Those Smith men really are magnetic - my husband pulled me from the Maritimes across three provinces to Ontario so we could meet. Jeff pulled Violetta all the way from Poland. It's probably why Violetta and I get along so well. We both fell under the same Smith spell.

I've always admired her adventurous spirit, coming to Canada and seizing life with both hands. I love her no-nonsense style, her easy laughter and her get-on-with-it manner.

I'm so glad you've come to my art show today, so we can enjoy the world as Violetta sees it.

Well, here we go.


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- 13














Ha! Ha! Here comes Violetta, bobbing through the crowd with food for us.

"What are you doing?" I ask. "I should be getting it for you!"

"Just sit down and eat it!" she says.










Who can argue with that?

Happy Birthday, Violetta.


And thanks to you for joining us at her art show.





Marcia says Wow. I am so impressed. I do love her art work.

Jen says They are all amazing.... I love 7 and 12!!

Adelle Laudan says Those are fabulous. What a talented lady.