Wreath bird nest

What happens when you don't take your Christmas wreath down.

When I finally got around to taking it down I found this finch nest in the lower right corner. One egg, then two and finally five eggs.

Last year the same event happened. The chicks were hatched and fledged. We will keep watch again this year,

My Oscar Score

The blog photo of yesterday portrays what I felt about the Oscars overall. Rather boring and predictable. I scored 6 out of the 9 that I voted on. Check the blog of 3/3.

I can't fault the selection of Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock. Both performances were excellent. I just feel that there were better. I had both the supporting performances correct, as well as Director and Art Direction. I was glad that "UP", the animated winner received best in its class, however was surprised it won best musical score. I honestly don't remember noticing the music, something I usually do. I will have to i-tune the music.

Again to those who don't go to animation: Get over it! You are missing a lot!

My best film of the year remains "Avatar".

The Oscars 2010

In the Spring...Birds Sing

Here are four of the best spring singers.

Cactus Wren

The Pyroluxia

The Lesser Goldfinch

The Curvedbill Thrasher

The Academy Awards

I can't put it off any longer. I must make my annual list. However this list will not be my predictions. Rather it is a list of those picks I would make if I were a voting member of the academy.

Actor in a leading role. I have seen all of the roles except for Colin Firth in "A Single Man". Based on trailers, I think he has a good chance. But I am going to select new comer Jeremy Renner.

Actor in a supporting role. Although he is not one of my favorites, Christopher Plummer did a great Leo Tolstoy in the "Last Station." Why he is in this category instead of the above is beyond me. But my vote would go to the other Christopher, Christopher Waltz as the German General in "Inglorious Bastards".

Actress in a leading role. The acting in "Precious" was top notch by everyone in the movie. One can't deny the talent of beginner Gabourey Sidebe. But I am going to give it to the grand dames of film. A tie between Helen Mirren in the "Last Station" and Meryl Streep in "Julie and Julia"..

Actress in a supporting role. No contest here. Singer & Comedian Mo'Nique was just awesome in the role of the awful mother of Precious.

Best Animated feature film. No contest here either. Disney's "UP" takes the prize. And those of you who won't go to animation are really missing a pleasant experience. One of the biggest advances in movies in the last 10 years is in the quality and variety of animation.

Achievement in Art direction. I would give this to my favorite movie of the year "Avatar".

Achievement in Cinematography. My vote on this category is for "Hurt Locker"

Achievement in Directing. Kathryn Bigelow for her direction of "Hurt Locker". Only four women have been nominated for Best Direction. Bigelow has a big chance of being the first woman selected.

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

Ten movies this year. I have seen them all with the exception of "An Education".

#1 "Avatar" (20th Century Fox) This was a beautiful movie. I loved every thing about it. The music, the story, the hero, the bad guy and the message. It would be my pick for best picture.

#2"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)

#3"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing)

#4"The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)

#5"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)

#6"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)

#7"A Serious Man" (Focus Features)

#8"Up" (Walt Disney)

#9 "Up the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)

"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics) not seen by me

Another one I missed was "A Single Man".

Under rated "Nine"

Over rated "Up in the air"

It's time for lunch

More on Movies

Why does Hollywood want to recreate what was excellent in the first place? And it doesn't seem to want to wait a respectable period of time.

"Shall we Dansu", 1994 is a marvelous Japanese film about a mid life man who finds inspiration in dance. It has been said that it is one of the best comedies coming from Japan.

"Shall we Dance" 2004, is a pretty awful Hollywood film staring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. This film was shown to an Olli audience today and received much applause.

While viewing "The Last Station", one of the previews was for "Death at a Funeral".

Whoa! I have seen this movie before. Yep, it was "Death at a Funeral", 2007 was a great British comedy. It is unlikely that Hollywood can improve it.

I am so glad to see Roger Ebert,my favorite movie reviewer back in public again. He was on Oprah today with his Oscar picks demonstrating his new computer voice.