RODEO & JULIET: Initial editing complete!

3 weeks of professional editing by Corky Ehlers- COMPLETE!  Thank you Corky for a difficult job well done!
 Now on to assist editor Kyle Curry for compilation prior to Mar Vista look.









Here are some screenshots of my favorite actors:

Thadd Turner as the rodeo announcer.

Buck Taylor as Judge Lawrence

Chris Ranney as Bill Atterbury

Tim Abell as Hugh

Baseball! Zephyr vs Isotopes

Went to a game here in New Orleans on Thursday- perfect evening weather!  Just so happened that the New Orleans Zephyrs were playing the Albequerque Isotopes, who we usually watch when in New Mexico!

Afraid the Isotopes outhit the Zephyrs,

winning 4-2.

A "Free Spirit"

When I saw this image it made me smile and say:

"YOU GO GIRL"! 

She is a FREE SPIRIT!

Just what does it mean to be "Free Spirited"?

• According to the Urban Dictionary:  Someone who isn't weighed down by the troubles of everyday life, is always themselves regardless of the situation and lives life to the full. Not restricted by other people's opinions. 
• Someone who strongly believes in free choice.
• Someone not concerned about what they are “supposed” to do.  
• Someone who may avoid people who are controlling or judgemental. 

She is an adventuress...

... definitely her own unicorn!

IMDb: Top 25 Future Western Icons

BOTH Thadd Turner and Tim Abell are on this IMDb Top 25 Future Western Icons list- both who are in Rodeo & Juliet (Thadd as actor as well as Director & Producer).    Check out the full list on IMDb, but here are Thadd's & Tim's IMDb bios:

16. Thadd Turner

Thadd directed and produced Mar Vista Entertainment's family film "Rodeo & Juliet', starring Krista Allen, Nadine Crocker, Tim Abell and Buck Taylor, and directed country music star Clay Walker's 2013 'Top Ten' music video "Jesse James". He won the 2010 Western Heritage Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for his work portraying Wyatt Earp in the History Channel's series 'Cowboys and Outlaws: The Real Wyatt Earp', and previously won the 2007 Wrangler Award as executive producer for 'Truce' (2005). Thadd won the 2006 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for his original screenplay 'Miracle at Sage Creek' (2005) featuring the late David Carradine, Wes Studi, Irene Bedard and Buck Taylor. Producer, director, screenwriter, actor, and published author, Thadd's non-fiction book "Wild Bill Hickok: Deadwood City - End of Trail" was released in June 2001. Thadd is the father of producer/writer Wyatt Turner who co-wrote the upcoming films 'Palominas' and 'The Magic Season'.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: CVT

25. Tim Abell

An exciting, eclectic actor, Tim Abell is a man of his own making and when that making includes teaching ballroom dancing, horse training, writing, cooking, acting, producing and being a US Army Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment, you can see it is a formidable combination.

From the Maryland and Virginia area, as a young man Tim took up martial arts and boxing. He found a respect for wildlife conservation and a love for the land while hunting and fishing with his elders. At the age of 17 he joined the army, and owing to outstanding leadership skills, was promoted during basic training. He advanced quickly, attending AIT, Airborne School and Ranger School, all at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Ft. Lewis, Washington, as a Ranger after enduring the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP).

Gaining further promotions, Tim also achieved a substantial number of awards due to his expertise in many varied fields. During his final year in the Army he served with the 3rd US Infantry, "The Old Guard", Caisson Platoon. Here he excelled as a horseman and played Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson, charging into battle on his trusty steed, in the US Army dramatic re-enactment of the History of the United States Torch Light Tattoo, at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, and a longer version called "The Spirit of America" performed in various places.

After five years of service Tim left the army to go to college. Once there he was encouraged to join the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and was soon teaching class to support himself through college. It was here that Tim first got involved with the theatre. Just short of graduating he took the decision to leave college and head to Los Angeles, where he took classes with Jeff Corey while searching for that all-important break.

Early on, after a series of low-budget films and many theatre projects, his break came, when April Webster recommended that Jerry Bruckheimer cast him in Soldier of Fortune (1997) as Benny Ray Riddle, a former Marine scout/sniper recruited by the Pentagon to work as part of a covert team. The syndicated series ran for two seasons. Then followed a series of films that made much of Tim's military experiences, includingThe Base (1999), where he starred opposite Mark Dacascos in a performance that had him compared to a young Willem Dafoe, and The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option(2001) which also starred Treat Williams and Bill Nunn.

Tim was to find himself starring with Dacascos again in the film adaptation of Lisa Gardner's book "The Perfect Husband". In Instinct to Kill (2001) Tim played psychotic killer Jim Beckett with Missy Crider as his long-suffering wife.

Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man (2001) for CBS, saw a change of direction for Tim into historical costume drama, which was then followed by roles alongside James Caan and Daniel Stern in Jason Bloom's award-winning "Dead Simple" a.k.a Viva Las Nowhere (2001), and in the much acclaimed We Were Soldiers (2002) starring Mel Gibson. Guest-starring roles in the television series' CSI: Miami (2002), NCIS (2003) and JAG (1995) bought Tim face to face with David Caruso, Mark Harmon and David James Elliott.

In recent projects Tim has been behind the camera as well as in front of it. He was co-producer on the multi-award-winning film Soldier of God (2005), directed by W.D. Hogan and produced by Mir Bahmanyar. To date, "Soldier of God" has won Best Feature Film awards for 2005 at The Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas, The Stratford upon Avon International Film Festival in England and The Berkley Film Festival in California. As well as being co-producer on "Soldier of God", Tim took on the emotional intensity of portraying the eponymous anti-hero, Rene. It was a tour de force for this talented actor.

Tim also starred in and was associate producer on the Thadd Turner-written Miracle at Sage Creek (2005) starring David Carradine, Wes Studi, Michael Parks and Irene Bedard. Further films with Thadd Turner in 2006 will see Tim star alongside Shania Twain, Michael Madsen and Kris Kristofferson in _Buttermilk Sky (2007)_ and _Hard Ride, The (2007)_ .

He has recently finished filming "The Tom Campbell Water Story", a.k.a "Breathe", in Florida and Santa Barbara, California. The film, directed by and starring Don Murray, is based on the true story of three scuba divers trapped in an underwater cave.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rae Evans

Be a Unicorn

In an Etsy article about marketing plans and branding, I loved this comment:

"You need to be unique and compelling to be noticed.

You need to be a unicorn."

Apparently there are LOTS of unicorn quotes across the internet, so don't mind me as I focus on 

"Being A Unicorn".

As we are in post-production for Rodeo & Juliet, I can now breathe some life back into Yes2Years' product line as the stock has been dwindling.  We have done well selling tie-on bustle skirts and bolero shirts, but what is unique in the line are the men's upcycled jackets.  Here are a few that have found new homes:

The target customer is: 'classy pirate', 'victorian gentleman', or 'steampunk upscale traveler', and would work for either men or women.

So this will be the new focus of Yes2Years Fashions (although we will still take special commissions on bustle skirts, bolero shirts, hats & fascinators!).

If YOU have a unique jacket in your closet- stripes, patterned, or vibrant color...  contact me! 

I would love the opportunity to breathe new life into it!

Mississippi Coastline

We now can say we are familiar with the coastline of Mississippi from Waveland to Biloxi!  We took a roadtrip down I-90 (Beach Blvd), stopping at Waveland, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, and Biloxi.  Had a great time, although hit with flashes of rain here and there.

Most of the homes on this stretch seemed to have been recently rebuilt due to Katrina devastation.

We learned that these beaches are man-made.  In the 1920s a 12' sea wall was constructed to protect the frontage road; it spans 25 miles.  Sand is periodically replaced.

The water was comfortable temperature and the boys took a dip!  Dogs are not allowed on this beach so Lucy and I watched from the sidewalk.

We took a tour of Jefferson Davis's last home; beautiful property fronting the beach!

View from Jefferson Davis porch.

Next beach trip- further east of Biloxi all the way to Pensacola, FL!  We  hear the water is Carribean blue!

Pet Hats

Just renewed all my pet hat listings on Etsy!

This hat I made for a mini stuffed toy gives you a glimps of how they set (and stay) on a dog or cat's head:

Some of the hats available in the PurrBarkin Boutique:

Friday Night SIGNS

After a busy week, we went out to enjoy the cool evening in New Orleans... sharing oysters and beer. 

Can you guess where we went based on the signs and pics?

(HINT- 4 different locations!)

Cockroaches!

Seems we are NOT cockroach free here in NOLA, as just this week were visited by a scurrying 2" specimen. YECH!

SOME FACTS: The American Cockroach is also known as the water bug. Despite being called American Cockroaches they did not originate here in the United States. They came from Africa most likely on ships in the early 1600's.
The average American Cockroach is about 1.6 inches long with wings and is reddish brown in color. They have a bit of yellow on the backs of their necks. Juvenile cockroaches look like adult cockroaches except they have no wings. The American Cockroach is a very active night insect that shuns light & and are very fast- they are able to run up to three and a half miles a hour or about 50 body lengths a second. That's like a human running two hundred miles a hour!

So of course I go straight to google on how to eradicate this pest...  HERE is the plan:

1. GET RID OF CLUTTER: Not a big issue here as we brought so little to our NOLA home, but we do have a few items that cockroaches love... cardboard boxes, paper, and things setting on the floor.  My solution here will also be to buy more plastic bins.
2. STARVE THEM: We have been fastidious about food storage since we arrived.. but suggestion is not even fruit bowls out!  Think I will get more storage containers for the kitchen as well.  
3. CLEANING: Important to clean up after every meal- including sweeping. Use a solution of 50-50 white vinegar EVERYWHERE!
4. REPELLENTS-  Borax is used quite a bit for cockroach control, but I want to go natural route, so this tells it all:
   

YES! I do drink BEER!

lifehack.org posted 10 health benefits of beer. 
Note disclaimer: "Just remember, we’re talking moderate consumption (one drink per day for women, and up to two for men), not all-night drinking sprees."


CONSIDER THESE BENEFITS:

1. Reduce risk of heart disease
2. Protect against Alzheimer's disease
3. Lower risk of diabetes
4. Prevent kidney stones
5. Minimize risk of cancer
6. Reduce cholesterol levels
7. Manage blood pressure
8. Strengthen bones
9. Treat dandruff
10. Cut down risk of strokes

With the exception of taking a shower with my favorite bottle of beer (to reduce dandruff), I am just "brewing" with good health!

 For the details of the health benefits, see the article here.

RODEO & JULIET: Thank you to Amite extras!

The Daily Star, Hammond, LA

Extras blend love of horses with film 

Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2015 7:00 am

Lauren Langlois | 0 comments 

Fans of Christmas movies and horses gathered at the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite Saturday to play a part in the independent film, "Rodeo and Juliet."  The extras played the part of an enthusiastic audience that is watching a competitive horse barrel race during Christmas time.  Rodeo and Juliet Pictures, LLC, is producing the film, which is scheduled to air on the Hallmark Channel in December, said Thadd Turner, the director who has worked on several western films.

"This is really a love story," he said.

The movie follows a city girl who moves to rural Louisiana, connects with a special horse and falls in love with a local man, who teaches her how to barrel race. She then competes in a big race, which is what the audience was cheering for.

"I've never done this before and I just thought it would be fun," said Jo Ellen Carruth, an extra and teacher at North Shore Technical and Community College.

Carruth said when she heard about the shooting and that it was potentially going to be on Hallmark Channel, she could not resist.

"I love Hallmark. That's how I knew it would be good," she said.

Levern Blevins, of Roseland, and her daughter Gwen also jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the shooting, especially since the movie involves horses, Levern Blevins said.  "We love horses in the first place," she said.   And with the added bonus of it being a possible Hallmark film, they were sold.  "You can never see a Hallmark movie enough," Gwen Blevins said.  Both came prepared in Christmas outfits, following instructions from the film crew. Also decked out in Yuletide gear were Patrice and Ashley Morse, and Andre Escude, all of Ponchatoula.

Escude, who was there with his family, said he has seen just about every Christmas film out there, and was excited to be a part of one. His wife cannot wait for Christmas in July, when television starts playing holiday movies, to start, he added. "She loves Christmas movies," he said.  

Some of the extras got the chance to be in the film serendipitously, including Alexis Jefferson, Gracelyn Kelly and Breonna Bennett, who went to the arena for an outing with Brightside Social Services. And they were glad for the accident.  Jefferson said her dream is to be an actress, having been an extra twice before.  "I love it," she exclaimed.

Turner said the filming is about finished as the crew works on getting cutaway shots, inserts and other details for the movie. But, he said he is hoping to do more films in Lousiana, as it has beautiful scenery, and the people have been great. He particularly was thankful for Dillard University for providing sets and Tanya Carpenter, of the arena.

(disclaimer, please NOTE: Hallmark has not committed to release)

RODEO & JULIET: Sound Engineer & Film Composer

Sean Murray & Jon Vogle, at Apex Post facilities.

We are proud to announce that Jon Vogle at Apex Post, who was nominated for an Academy Award with sound team for "12 Years a Slave", has agreed to be the Sound Engineer for Rodeo & Juliet. (see more at www.apexpost.com)

As well, Sean Murray, who has composed two "Call of Duty" games, and numerous television movies (notable Buffy the Vampire Slayer & True Crime), many feature films and short films, will be the film composer.  (see all the details at: www.seanmurraymusic.com)

It's the LIFE in the years that matter!

Seems I am fighting a continual battle of wasted time...  so here is some great advice!

And here is a strategy to make the LIFE in your years better....
.. have a mindset where you aim to change just one thing in your life each day.
How can you improve? What can you learn? Who can you help?

Now add all these up and you have 365 efforts in one year!

More: according to the Department of Labor, the average American over the age of 15 still has more than 5 hours of free time each day.  SO to make it count: ELIMINATE, DELEGATE, MINIMIZE!

lifehack.org gives this advice:

1. Spend more time with yourself rather than with the needless dramas around you; that is NO hurtful relationships or negative talk.
2. Spend more time reading instead of watching TV. (no explanation needed on this one)
3. Spend more time with your family rather than compulsive busyness.
4. Spend time giving to others rather than pursuing those things we cannot have.  I like their statement on this "we shouldn't be a reservoir, but a river aiding to the flow of life".
5. Take care of yourself instead of worrying about failures and mistakes; don't worry about things that are not within your control.
6. Take action instead of procrastinating! There is never a PERFECT TIME.  Make the best use of your time buy going after your true desires. Chase your dreams, because there is never a better time to start than now.
7. Learn & educate yourself rather than staying in wrong relationships. Don't stagnate! 
8. Build good habits instead of spending money on wrong choices. 

Bayou Boogaloo Festival!

GOATS ON A BOAT!

LOVE this set-up.. two canoes with platform!

About

Only one short month after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, before many residents had even returned home, Jared Zeller—a New Orleans resident and music business professional with a deep love for his city—started working on a project to support his community during this extraordinarily intense time.

His neighborhood, Mid-City, suffered severe flooding due to the levee breaks, with flood waters ranging up to eight feet in certain areas. While residents and volunteers from all over the world were spending every day producing sweat and tears to rebuild the community, the MotherShip Foundation provided a break from the grueling task at hand by producing Bayou Boogaloo, a free music and arts festival in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. 

The Bayou Boogaloo was founded as a way to revitalize a neighborhood in peril, to connect neighbors, neighborhoods, and businesses, and to provide hope for the future by creating an opportunity for all residents to celebrate the heritage, culture, and diversity of New Orleans. From the very start, Bayou Boogaloo was more than just a festival: It was an opportunity for people to appreciate the beauty of the bayou, an opportunity for musicians to be paid for their talent and gain new fans, an opportunity for local food vendors to attract new customers to their restaurants and businesses, an opportunity for artists to sell their work and generate exposure, and most of all, an opportunity for people to have a good time.

This grassroots community festival has experienced tremendous growth every year, creating economic opportunities for artists, musicians, food vendors, and the community at large. It has become one of New Orleans signature events, drawing roughly 35,000 people to a once devastated neighborhood.

 Offbeat Magazine, which is considered to be “the music resource” of Louisiana, voted Bayou Boogaloo “Best Neighborhood Festival” in 2010. Also in 2010, Zeller was presented with a proclamation from the City of New Orleans for promoting an economically and environmentally sustainable event.

In addition to the Bayou Boogaloo, the MotherShip Foundation pursues its mission through working with neighborhood groups, nonprofits, and other organizations to implement neighborhood improvement projects throughout the year. Previous projects have included building playgrounds, supporting community sports initiatives, planting native habitat-building and erosion-preventing marsh grasses, and replacing trees that are lost during hurricanes.

"SMOKIN' HOT"

My family had never understood why I want to be cremated....

What are you waiting for?

JUST DO IT ALREADY! :-)

More Crawfish!

Went to Blue Pelican for happy hour oysters last night (25cent each raw) with the boys and Corky & Sean. Corky and I tried charbroiled oysters for the first time... YUM! (sorry no pic!)

THIS was happening on the front patio:

Be Kind...

Some days this is harder than others.. maybe I DO need a tattoo to remind myself?


Everyone you know... or may meet.. is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Be Kind Always.

Having trouble sleeping?

Just need to think of this duck snoring away....

RODEO & JULIET: Ariel & Denzel

Ariel Lucious (right), Valedictorian Dillard University 2015, with Denzel Washington commencement speaker.

GONE VIRAL: The Dillard Commencement Address

Proud of all the Dillard students-
especially all that we had the privilege to work with on Rodeo & Juliet. 
GREAT MESSAGE from Denzel Washington!

Rompers Romp?

FreeDictionary.com give the definition of ROMPER as:
romp·er  (rŏm′pər) n.
1. One that romps.
2. rompers A loosely fitted, one-piece garment having short bloomers that is worn especially by small children for play.

further, "ROMP" is defined as:
romp  (rŏmp) intr.v. romped, romp·ing, romps
1. To play or frolic boisterously.
2. To run or advance in a rapid or easy manner.

However, note that the "trending" Romper, close kin to the overalls & jumpsuits, has an inherent problem:

At a local restaurant, a woman exited the ladies toilet stall and told her friend that she would wait and go to the bathroom later, as she had to totally remove her stylish romper to use the toliet.

Of course, for her date this "negative" could be seen as a "positive"...

What do you think ladies: is the fashionable romper in your closet?

Rompers began as children's clothing, which explains their similarity to overalls, jumpers, and (as some are quick to point out) onesies.
The earliest advertisement found for rompers was in this issue of the New York Times from 1904. The ad called rompers "pinaforelike garments" with the skirt portion gathered into shorts for comfort. Easy to play in and often made of cotton or other washable material, rompers were the go-to play clothes of the 20th century.
Rompers continued to be popular into the '20s, as much for stylish young women as for children. With its one-piece design, the romper was a chic alternative to a blouse and full skirt and could be dressed up or down, depending on the fabric.
In the '70s, the romper's leggy cousin, the jumpsuit, was a wardrobe staple for anyone with disco on the brain. Since then, jumpsuits have gone in and out of fashion, recently being revived as part of spring 2011's 1970s trend.  (info from collegefashion.net)

and NOW once again in the 2015s....

all I ask is WHY?!  

RODEO & JULIET: Corky Ehlers, Editor

We are honored to welcome to the team, Corky Ehlers!

Corky and Thadd enjoying the evening at Balcony Pub on Magazine Street

Corky has a long history in film, with notable film credits as editor for Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, and Lonesome Dove episodes.