Thursday-11:30am

Haven't been doing too well the last couple days. Not sleeping well--pain. It's kind of a which came first the chicken or the egg thing--the sleeplessness or the pain? Sometimes, like this time, I have no clue--suddenly overwhelmed by both at the same time? I didn't think I had overdone my hourly sessions? I guess sometimes you just don't know why. You are sometimes struck down with the apparent randomness of lightning--and no amount of spreading one hour sessions over the day and using a timer can help. So, I just have to wait it out. Ah, the joys of fibro--hehe!

Anyways, we had tennis ball sized hail in NW North Dakota yesterday. I can't imagine! I have never seen hail that large. They didn't show pictures on the news. Been hot and sticky here. We have had some scattered thunderstorms roll through since last night, but it isn't raining right now.

Caroline comes in a little while to clean. I shall remain on R&R until I am functional again. Later... :)

Tuesday-noon

Remains hot and humid out. I am still working on the second step of the project--almost done--having fun! One more big step to go. Boy! Things still take me so much longer than I am able to guesstimate. You'd think I'd be a better judge after all this time. My life shifted gears quite a few years ago, but I am still not quite used to it, I guess. Or my optimism and enthusiasm hasn't died--hehe! I prefer to think of it in those terms.

Today is Caroline's day to come and clean, but she called this morning. Her grandmother needed a ride to the doctor, so she asked if we could switch to Thursday. No problem. :) I'm not going anywhere and neither is the dust and dirt, I guess--hehe!

Well, back to the project... :)

Monday-3:30pm

Greetings! Greetings!

I've been using up all my good hours on the project I can't post. Therefore, computer time becomes very limited. Rest assured, I am having a good time--hehe! Been hot and humid so I have been working away indoors where it is nice and cool. :)

I did start watching The X Files from the beginning (Netflix, of course). One of those shows that I got behind, so I quit watching. The truth is out there....

Later....

Saturday-3:45pm

Karma watching CatTV--the Kids On The Loose channel. Was a little girl standing on the hood of the Paseo. I really need to get the garage organized so I can park the car in there, I guess.

It cooled off and was a little less humid in the evening. Still have the windows open right now since last night! Never know around here from day to day what the weather will be like. Supposed to be dry and in the 80's all weekend. So far it doesn't feel that sticky--tada! When it is nice out like this, I like to sit out on the porch and read. :)

I got a lot done on the second secret project yesterday. Was a good day! Can't show you, of course. I made sure I covered it with that white towel in the picture above--hehe! Later.....

Friday-4pm

I have never had a cat who loves a hard pillow like Karma does. She'll find a "pillow" in the oddest places!

Been hot and sticky out, so she's the only one appreciating the porch for a while. Been busy with the current puttering--the second secret project and the shifting and organizing stuff. Long, slow processes for me, but keeps me out of trouble, right? Hehe! Short and sweet today--want to keep moving while I can.

Keep smiling!

P.S. I have absolutely no control over my paragraph breaks on blogger. I guess that would be my one big complaint--that they either take them away and cram everything together or they make them twice as big (yesterday). Often they shift the paragraph spacing within the same post--they give and then they take away. But then some days the paragraphs are just fine. No rhyme or reason to it that I can find. I have tried centering, not centering, changing the way I do my spacing...have never figured it out. If anybody has any clues--please let me know.

????? Baffled on Blogger.

Thursday-2:30pm

Shortly after I posted the blog yesterday the laptop disconnected itself from the Internet. All I did was press send on an email and I lost the Internet altogether and couldn't get it back. Yes, these things happen to me every so often. Computers--can be so frustrating, but can't seem to live without them anymore. So I had even lost my backup laptop--cut off from the world. Feels strange to have no Internet. I don't like it.


Dagan came over during his lunch break today and had them both working within about one minute! No lie! We tease him, but he really, truly has the magic touch.




I knew he could get the laptop back online--the wireless thingie and the laptop had just quit talking to each other. But the desk computer--I am baffled?!?! He just went over and did the same things I had done--since Friday--turned it off and on from the back (I had done that three times) and then pushed the on button--(I had pressed that button several times and double-checked every day)--and poof! ON!!????




Dagan suggested I don't turn it off--just leave it on all the time like they do and let it go into sleep mode. Could be the starter button is losing connection? I think I will just leave it alone and keep it on--unless I automatically go to turn it off out of habit. I should put something over the button for a while. Old dogs, you know.


I just taped an index card over the button--hehe!



This is the first time I have added pictures after I started the blog. Jennifer told me about being able to move pictures around! TaDa! It worked! (Doesn't take much to thrill me, eh?)

Karma is snuggled under the covers taking her afternoon nap. I am so tired today I could almost kick her out--hehe!



Anyways, I have just been puttering with the "drawer content switching" project in the bedroom for the last several days. Have more for Goodwill and have freed up a bookcase shelf and some room in the third dresser. The cleaning avalanche has begun--hehe!


I am sure some of you have experienced the cleaning domino effect--ROFL!! It is a good thing and overdue, I guess. I have a time frame now--have to be able to put the car in the garage before the snow flies, so I will have to schedule a Goodwill pickup before then. Which means I want to go through everything before then--all the nooks and crannies of the apartment, the storage area, and the garage.


But that means that my second secret project is now merely being inserted here and there--occasionally slotted in between the cleaning and organizing sessions. And I have made myself a solemn promise that I would not start any other kind of art or craft project until the second secret project is done. (It's for Dagan and Leah--at this rate they might not get it until Christmas, as Ruby teased me--hehe!) Well, it will get done when it gets done. I can't cram lots more into a day whenever I want to like I used to do--in the good old days--hehe! Small steps.

Maybe I should go work on it a little bit right now this minute--before I decide what goes in the last empty drawer...:)

Wednesday-12:30pm

Things have not been going well with me and electronics lately. The camera has been acting up lately. The flash isn't working right. Pictures are all pale and I am getting the ones that have pink stripes or a pink hue to them more often. These are just pale ones this time--washed out--with a bluish or brownish hue to them.

Dagan and Leah got their table over, but can't find the bolts. The top is just sitting on the base. You can't lean on the edge of it, but you can set a few lighter things on it.

They got their couch over, the bed and nightstands, and some folding chairs (they are using to put their feet up and as endtables). Those are speakers on poles that are on either end of the couch.

Here's the giant TV!

Had such a nice time! We ate delicious chicken on the barbeque with rice and broccoli. Well, the broccoli wasn't done because Leah turned on the wrong burner--still not used to her new flat-top stove--hehe! But I have leftovers today--with broccoli. :)

We watched the movie Jumper (which wasn't all that good and may have a sequel). We put away several boxes of kitchen dry goods they had brought over from the storage area. And I watched Dagan play "Grand Theft Auto" for the second time while Leah worked on her laptop. What a crazy game! I finally got home about 11pm. Nice evening. :)


Got to try out the little cart that Leah got me that fits in the trunk of the Paseo easily and is lightweight. Perfect size for me--would be on the short side for other people, but just right for me. :) Leah sent some odds and ends home with me--like vinegar and corn starch--and Dagan found some more movies on tape for me to keep for them. They don't have a VCR anymore--so all those tapes have come over to my place now.

And here's Miss Karma having her morning treat--her tablespoon of canned catfood.

Well, her "after noon" treat really today--12:15pm--hehe! For the past week or so I have been up late again and sleeping later--but sleeping well, so I can't complain.

I figured out how to get pictures into the laptop, obviously. TaDa!!! Seems to me I had to do this one other time--and then send the pictures to myself later on so I could get them on to the desk computer?? I'm not the most computer savy person. What would I do without Dagan and Leah to help me with computer stuff?? :)

Whew! This takes me forever on the laptop with all the hitting of the wrong keys, etc. Glad Dagan will be over on Thursday to look at the desktop. Cross your fingers--hehe!

Tuesday-12:30pm

I have gotten as far as I need to with the dressers. Have two more small bags for the Goodwill. That was what I was working on all weekend. Tonight I am driving over to Dagan and Leah's with a movie they wanted to see, too. Dagan is planning on coming over after work Thursday to look at my desk computer.

Dagan and Leah are busy for the next two weekends with the pre-wedding parties and then the wedding of Leah's friend, Amber. :) So it will be the third weekend from now that they will be able to get a U-Haul. Funny how that doesn't bother them at all. They have the basics and are just fine, I guess. :)

I am only on the laptop a couple of times a day to check email--as you've probably guessed. Dagan copied my favorites onto the Google bookmarks--but they are all screwed up. My folders inside of folders are all separated out individually--and not even in alphabetical order. I have to scroll and scroll and can't find what I am looking for. Just a lot harder to navigate on this laptop--for me, anyways. And I don't know why, but I have a hard time typing on these flat keyboards. I keep hitting the wrong keys--and I keep hitting something that goes back and deletes part of what I have said? Always have. So annoying. So I won't be posting regularly until I get my regular desk computer up and running again. I hope it is nothing serious! Later...

Saturday-12:30pm

I went to turn on the desk computer and it is dead as a doornail--out of the blue. Just won't turn on at all--nothing. I emailed Dagan and Leah. Who knows when they will be able to come by and look at it? They are gone this weekend and might be renting a U-Haul to move things out of storage next weekend.

Meanwhile--I am on my backup laptop. :) But it doesn't have everything on it like my desk computer. I may have just lost all my photos....etc, etc. Very stressful! I have to ask Dagan about how to go about making a regular back up? We have discussed this before. Part of the problem is that photos take up so much space. I don't even want to talk about it. I hope it is something simple.

Meanwhile--been finally back working on the second secret project the last couple of days. Also, have been working on switching stuff around in the dresser drawers in the bedroom--need to be ready for the big furniture switch when it happens.

Also--watched the first of three DVDs--John Adams (mini-series by HBO)--23 emmy nominations. The second and third DVDs should be here in the mail today. Has been very good.

That's it from Fargo today. Hopefully we can salvage the desktop this week. :)

Thursday-11:15am

Dagan and Leah stopped by briefly last night. Leah said she had a little surprise for me--for the car?? Well, she had found a collapsible cart with the wheels that was small enough to fit in the Paseo trunk! Since I will be alone shopping now with the car, I can roll a couple of small packages up the my apartment and not have to make extra trips! Leah is so thoughtful!!

And--Dagan and Leah had plans for this weekend, too! So it won't be until NEXT weekend that they can rent a U-Haul and move their stuff out of storage. They have most of their kitchen stuff and clothes--bed and couch--so they've been okay--hehe! Have the essentials, I guess. They don't seem too concerned.

Oh, and--while we were sitting at the table talking--Leah came up with a different way to fold the 140 lb paper so that my next watercolor journal will lie flat and not want to pop open! Have I mentioned that she is also very clever!! :):) I'll try to take pictures (my camera is not so good with white) when I get around to making that last journal I have cut out. That one will be done in a regular book form, with a spine.

I couldn't get my garage door open a few days ago. The handle was turned--and so were several of the handles on the garage doors--like somebody had tried to open them. I told them on Monday. The office called Tuesday and said they didn't have a key to my garage, so I brought mine down. Haven't heard anything yet. The garage door has always been a problem, but I rarely used it--hehe! I will need a workable garage door--especially this winter.

When I first moved in, the garage door didn't work and I had them look at it. They just jiggled and jimmied it about--maybe sprayed some WD-40 in the lock. But the entire lock has always been loose and moves up and down, so you have to wiggle and wiggle until you can get the key to catch. I am hoping they will replace the lock this time. If they don't--I will be over at the office a lot more often if that garage door is giving me trouble, right?

Was a dark morning, so I slept late. Still is a grey, quiet day. Peaceful. :)

Wednesday-5:45am

Okay! I am going to post the first secret project I had been working on this summer--and all the "how-to" photos. One has been delivered--and I'll just hope the other person doesn't look at my blog--hehe!

These rice paper journals were made as thank you gifts for a couple of ladies in my Chinese Brush Painting Yahoo group. They have done so much for me, personally--and others, of course. :) I looked around online and couldn't find rice paper journals or sketchbooks for sale online anywhere. So--there may be a good reason for this. These may be totally impractical. Oh well.

First I took a roll of OAS practice paper for brush painting. I had to measure with rulers and pencil for each one and cut by hand. I don't have a large enough cutter. (A new item on my list--hehe!)

After I cut the 24" lengths I wanted, I had to then cut each section down the middle to get the 9" width--so I'd end up with about a 9 X 12" rice paper journal.

Then I found cardboard I could use and cut it to size (I save everything!).

Folded each of the sheets individually and creased with a bone folder. Then grouped up the sheets to make the signatures--4 sheets in each one--6 signatures in each book. (You can only use one side with the brush painting because the ink bleeds through the thin paper--so there were 48 usable pages in each journal.)

I picked out pretty papers for the covers--cut the paper larger than the cardboard--and then glued one side of the cardboard. I just used Elmer's white glue because I had it around. These covers were much larger than what I had worked on before and I discovered it was easier to catch glued newspaper and get glue blotches where you didn't want them. Sorry ladies--I am just a novice.

Probably wasn't a good idea to use Elmer's glue? It curled the cardboard, as you can see. I'll try something more proper next time.

I used a brayer to smooth out the paper. It had been all nice and smooth at this point. But because of the curling, I pressed the covers under some books overnight--and that caused wrinkles in the paper. I should have let the paper dry curled first, I guess. Sorry again, ladies.

Oh--I trimmed the corners first...

...and glued down all the edges before I pressed the covers. This is what they looked like after I pressed them. Nice and flat--but the paper wrinkled.

Next I picked out the inside paper for the covers...

...and glued them on.

Then (no pictures) I made a paper template, cut the holes, and set the eyelets. Here they are--all done.

Then I used the same template to cut the holes in the signatures. You could use an awl, but with this thin paper I wanted to cut holes--thought there might be less tearing while I was sewing. No tearing--tada!

It was at this point that I discovered I should have planned the holes better. The paper doesn't go all the way to the edges of the covers and I had the outside holes/eyelets too close the sides of the covers. So I had to re-do the template for the inside signatures and pull them in a little on each side. It worked out, though.

Next I picked out the waxed thread colors and was ready to start to follow the video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHAJyzzb4EE

I'd watch a step, put it on pause, do that step myself, and go back to watch the next step--back and forth--like it did on the very first coptic stitch journal I made when Jennifer was here. The video is a little over 9 minutes long. He shows from start to finish on the sewing of a three signature little book.

Very difficult to show in pictures.

Especially when you are both the sewer and the picture taker--hehe! Here you can see that you go back and loop under the previous stitching each time.

Then you return into the same hole--and go over to the next one--out, loop, and back in. I tried understanding drawings I found online--too confusing to me--all the arrows and such. I guess I am one of those people who needs to watch somebody actually doing it. Is there any wonder why I have fallen in love with YouTube! :)

Finished!!

This one is in the mail to Australia for Haiying.

And this one...

...went to Ann in Colorado.

They may have some wrinkles...

...and some glue blotches on the inside covers--but I was very happy with how they turned out.

I got some felt sold by the yard over at JoAnn's--and cut it to size. You use felt under your paper on the table when you do Chinese brush painting, so I thought maybe this would work for a journal? Slide them under the paper to keep the ink from bleeding through to the next page?

So--here's Haiying's--ready to mail. For each of them--a page that told the kind of paper I used from OAS, two pieces of felt, and enclosed a "cheater" picture I did long before I ran across the Chinese painting group on Yahoo.

And, here's Anns. The "cheater" pictures--I found bird and flower paintings I liked online, printed them off, traced them in pencil on watercolor paper, outlined them in ink, and then colored them in using watercolor crayons and a waterbrush.

So, not my own art, by any means. But a little something extra--what the heck! There's only so much I can put up on my own walls, right? I have several more of these--all inked and ready to be colored. I was just so afraid about using watercolors at that time. Have gotten a little braver now--I guess. :)

So this was the first secret project I was working on. I am still working on the second one (also a double project). I am soooo slow. But the tortoise wins the race, right? I keep telling myself that. :)

Tuesday-9:45am

Dakota Clinic on University--from the parking lot. Off to see Dr. Sleckman.

Seems like all waiting rooms look the same.

The rooms basically look the same, too--except for the fake body parts sitting around. You can tell which specialist you are seeing by the body parts and body charts on the walls.

All looks so familiar. eh? At least up here in the Midwest, anyways--hehe!

Dr. Sleckman is a really nice doctor--one of the few who listens (even talks and chats a little) and never makes you feel rushed. He did look tired yesterday, tho, and a little distracted. There are very few rheumatologists in this area and he is always booked to the max--takes months to get in to see him.

Anyways, all went well. Driving home I saw 92 degrees on a bank sign! It was really uncomfortable and I was glad to be home. And being out of the house for three out of four days and washing clothes the day I was home all day--well, let's just say this will be a very, very quiet day for me, to say the least. Caroline is coming to clean--earlier this time--around 11am instead of 1-1:30pm. So--I have to hobble around here and gather the trash and pick up cats toys...:)

Monday-8:45am

After being out and about for two days in a row--*big grin*--I had to take it easy yesterday. All I really accomplished was washing clothes.

I did watch Water--last in the trilogy--and really enjoyed this movie, too. At the end of the movie it said there are still places in India where they still isolate widows.

After losing her husband to illness, 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala) is forced to live out the rest of her days in a temple for Hindu widows, communing with 14 other women and a cruel headmistress who agrees to take her in. But it's through the trials of another widow, a beautiful prostitute named Kalyani (Lisa Ray) who's being courted by a man from a higher caste (John Abraham), that Chuyia learns the true restrictions of widowhood in this Oscar nominee.

I am fascinated by other cultures. This practice is so unfair to women--some of them were forced into prostitution, too. Can't even imagine being married at 7 or 8 years old in the first place. Makes me glad to have been born where and when I was, I guess. Even if I wasn't one of the bra-burners who wore men's suits and got really aggressive with men back in the 60s--we do owe those women a lot, don't we? There have been a lot of changes since then. We could still use some more. :)

This afternoon I have an appointment with Dr. Sleckman, my rheumatologist, for the fibromyalgia. And--I can drive myself over!! Such a blessing! I am so grateful to Dagan and Leah for letting me use their car. :)

Supposed to be hotter today--mid 80s. 64 degrees right now, tho. Sun is shining. Birds are rejoicing. The breeze is caressing the porch screen and Karma is sprawled out there in a patch of sun. It's a beautiful morning!

Sunday-12:15pm

I made it over to K&Krafts for the sale. Beautiful day! Much cooler than Friday. This is a tease photo for those of you who get my bookcards--hehe!

What a deal! I got almost $50 worth of fancy paper for less than $30! Wow! 59 sheets!! (Would have cost less but four of them were fancy 1.99 sheets--hehe!) Each 12 X 12" sheet makes two bookcard covers with leftovers for parts of regular cards. I am stock-piled for a long time! Hurray!

Next month I will buy a couple boxes of paper from Office Max for the insides--and purchase the better cutter. I am going thru the little Fiskars blades so quickly. The Dahle trimmers are supposed to be self-sharpening. We'll see! I will put it to the test, won't I?

I know--this is a sin against trees. All my life I have written, written, written--made cards--done crafting projects with paper, etc. Been the death of my own little forest, I suppose--especially when you think of all the paper we use for packaging, printer paper, kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels....etc, etc. The paper I use for letters and cards is small by comparison. I should find that place where you can pay to have them plant trees for you. Replace my big old tree footprint.

I am glad I recycle almost all my paper scraps from all the crafting and printing I do and from varius other waste sources (packing paper--junk mail--watercolor goofs, etc). These days I make my own paper from them. That is something, I guess. But I could never keep up with my own output (even if I could make paper smooth enough to write on). I have made 66 bookcards since the end of April and I have two left. Granted, I was as excited over the new bookcards as if I had discovered papyrus, and I will slow down--but, I will never stop writing and using up paper for cards and letters until I am physically incapable of doing it anymore. I probably carved on stone, scraped on bark, and painted on cave walls in past lives. Ha! Painting--another paper waster. If tree killers go to hell, I can at least guarantee you I will be totally miserable. I suffer here when it is 80 degrees out! :)

Do you think maybe I am feeling guilty for using fancy papers instead of my old standby--small legal pads? hehe! But I still made cards to stuff the legal pad letter into.....

The guilt never ends--ROFL!!

Saturday-9:45am

Haiying's order finally came yesterday. Maybe it took longer because it was a larger package? Was sure glad to see it! Thank you, Haiying!! :)

Three seals: eternal gratitude, singing bird-fragrant flower, and peaceful and profound. An instrctional book using the gongbi method (more detailed/botanical). And two different sheets of sized paper.

So, I made a trip to the post office (to mail Haiying's check) and to CashWise because it was nearby. CashWise didn't have my toilet paper with my monthly order (I always check "no substitutions" on my list because I've tried not doing that and you are never sure what you might end up with--hehe!), so I picked some up. First time I tried the self-serve aisle. I needed some help, but I managed--tada! Seemed dumb not to try it when I only had one item. Old dogs and new tricks, eh?

It was horribly hot and humid--in the low 90s--so I didn't make it any further than that yesterday. I was melting! The Paseo has no AC. Hasn't had, since the day Dagan bought it back in 2000. I got a spot closer to the door when I came back.

I can't get over that little red car being available--for me! :) Not that I can afford to waste gas, of course. I am obviously being very frugel. Only 12 miles on it since Leah filled it up--hehe! But--I might take her out for a spin today--over to K&Krafts in Moorhead--last day for the sale on the 12 X 12 inch paper! Was too hot yesterday. But it is really nice out this morning--65 degrees and sunny! This is supposed to be the coolest day of the next three days (predicted to be without rain).

I remember how awful it was as a kid--without air conditioning. Hot sticky sheets--damp pillows. Going down in the basement to lay directly on the cement (later tile) floor to try to sleep. We only had this one heavy, green, metal table fan. [Which my folks still use at their trailer!! Still works last I saw? Must be 50 years old! They sure don't make things like the used to, do they?]

Used to get a washcloth, crack the lever on the metal ice cube tray, and put a couple of ice cubes inside the washcloth. You could rub the coldness up and down your arms and legs and all over your face and neck to cool down--until the ice cubes were melted away. Then you could lay the cool wet cloth over your face until it became warm.

On really hot nights the big treat was when Dad decided to pile everybody in the car and go to A&W for root beer floats in the iced mugs! I would roll that frosty mug on my face, forehead, and neck as soon as I slurped down about an inch of liquid so that I wouldn't rub that sticky foam on my chin.

I never did like the heat. But I was actually used to a lot more of it back then--before ACs. I am very spoiled now--used to it. And I deeply appreciate air conditioning--maybe in a way that only those of us who grew up without it can. :)

Stay cool this summer! hehe!

Friday-10:45am

I worked diligently yesterday on the secret project. Finished another section--tada! Will be days of work yet, I'm sure, but making progress. It always takes me longer than I think it will. I always--still--think I can do more than I can--hehe! Is that optimism or foolishness?

Very humid and sticky out. AC back on yesterday and all night. They said it could get up to 90 degrees today and the air feels thick enough to cut with a knife. Karma is out on the porch soaking up the heat, of course.

Still waiting for Haiying's order to arrive. Maybe today?

Funny! As I was writing, Karma came to the porch door wanting to come in--complained all the way in the door--telling me all about how uncomfortable it was out there. Her fur was hot to the touch! Well, she can watch me crafting away again today (Rita TV)--hehe! And there's always the inside CatTV, too--hehe! What a life she has!

Thursday-9:45am

Two men finally got going on the shingles toward noon yesterday.

The one guy seemed to supervise. He'd bring the packages of shingles over to the younger man with the nail gun--and stretch a lot. We listened to the running of the nail gun compressor and loud music all day long.
They finished on the side I could see--and started on the other side. Looked like the supervisor man had an argument with somebody over the phone in the late afternoon. They stayed very late. I don't know if they finished the other side or not...

...but it rained and rained last night. Still very damp and cloudy this morning. Was raining when I first got up, but now has stopped again.

In the bottom two pictures you can see the little red Paseo--way on the right side of the photo in the parking lot! Still haven't driven her anywhere. Soon. :)

I watched a couple of movies in the last two days that were made in India--Fire and Earth--fascinating to me. These were not Bollywood type movies. More realistic and about real people and real life. Beautifully, gently portrayed.

Fire caused violent protests from India's religious right--looked like riots! (I watched the specials on the DVD.) They attacked the movie theater!

Deepa Mehta's Fire, the first Indian film about lesbians, follows two Hindu women struggling with loveless, arranged marriages. When Sita (Nandita Das) discovers that her husband, Jatin (Javed Jaffrey), has a mistress, she shares her unhappiness with her sister-in-law, Radha (Shabana Azmi), who cannot give birth. As the lukewarm coals of their long-term relationships fade, they ignite passion in their lives by finding comfort in each other.

I don't know much about India's history--bits and pieces. The second movie was about when India was given its independence in 1947. The movies are very personal--private--even with the scope of Earth.

Deepa Mehta directed this stirring tale about the religious and civil wars that broke out in India and Pakistan in the 1947 battle to gain independence from the British. The second movie in a trilogy from Mehta (it was preceded by Fire and followed by Water), Earth is based on the autobiographical novel Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa and is told through the eyes of a little girl, Lenny (Maia Sethna), who has one leg in a brace.

I had no idea of all the religious conflict that went along with India's "independence"--neighbor against neighbor. Earth made it very personal and memorable.

Now I will have to watch Water! :)