Ridiculousness and Ramblings

1. I found another "little gem" in a book. I was reading Anne of the Island and suddenly, said Mrs. Rachel of the substitute schoolmarm "Miss Carson is a very fine girl. There is no nonsense about her." I laughed till I'm sure my sister thought I'd lost my marbles! I was waiting for Anne to say, "Sparkler, be quiet!"
2. I dare say you know this already but Mr. Collins is a completely ridiculous man. (I took a break from Anne and read P & P over the weekend)
3. Sneezes only come at the most inconvenient of  times, like when your parents are speaking seriously to you...
4. It is far to wasy to take things for granted, things like electricity, hot water, internet, etc. It is no fun when they are "un-granted",  as it were.
5. I am very very excited to see things begin to bloom, even if it does cause sneezing, for it means that spring is nearing!
6. The amount of housework there is to be done is directly proportionate to how badly I want to "just read one more chapter".

 I grabbed this from Miss Dashwood's blog, Sink Me! because I wanted to give you a reason to laugh. (And a blog just seems empty without a picture)

I have a thought!

Whether it is a good one or not is yet to be determined. You figure it out.
Okay, okay, I think it is a good idea. And that's what counts. So on to the actual idea bfore I begin rambling on and on about absolutely nothing...
 So, I have already commited to reading sixty (60) books this year, and at least one new one every month.  I intend to reach that goal, but after I do that (next year) I am going to resolve not to read anything fiction, possibly non-fiction as well, excepting the Bible. I know! Crazy, absolutely crazy for a bibl;iaphobia like me to resolve not to read anything for about a year (possibly longer, depending on how long the second part takes), but I do have good reason, I promise!
 The second part of this resolution is...duh duh dun! I am going to write! And write and write and write! I know that I could just continue to read and write together, but this project is kind of meant to help me develope my "writer's voice", I don't want what I read to effect what I'm writing. And if that means I have to give up reading for awhile, then so be it. I am going to miss it. But I think it will be worth it.
  I am also going to be working on a special project that I won't say anymore about because it's a great secret...

P.S. I'm sorry I've been MIA, our power went out at home for a few days due to electrical problems, but I'm ba-ack!

What do you think of my idea? Do you have similar goals? Or an experience with this sort of thing?

Ta for now!

Of Anne and Gil

If Gilbert had been asked to describe his ideal woman the description would have answered point for point to Anne, even to those seven tiny freckles whose obnoxious presence still continued to vex her soul. Gilbert was as yet little more than a boy; but a boy has his dreams as have others, and in Gilbert's future there was always a girl with big, limpid gray eyes, and a face as fine and delicate as a flower. He had made up his mind, also, that his future must be worthy of its goddess.

Anne Shirley: I would not, and I defy anyone who would try and make me change.
Gilbert Blythe: Oh, you do?

 *photo/screencap from photobucket.com quote and links to IMBD.com

This is my favorite scene, in the movie, and favorite quote from the book.

Oh Anne, how could you keep him waiting so long?
Anyway, I know I said that I would be doing Anne and Gil post, but then I realized I would be stealing Miss Dashwood's thunder. So I apologize for the little kerfuffle. I'll be doing said posts sometime in the future, probably after I finish the series, because I have an awful lot to say about these two people.

Okay, I saw Miss Dashwood's dream casting post for Rilla of Ingleside  and though I don't know many of those actors or actresses she picked, *hides face in shame*. So I thought I might just comment on the folks I think I missed the most in the movie sequel. (with a picture of who I believe could have been the characters, not just acted.)

Paul Irving, Steven Irving, Miss Lavender, I mean, you left out such an amazing love story??

I know, I know, he probably didn't exist yet when they made the movie. But with a little more curl to his hair, he is Paul.

Steven is a tough one, in my mind he looks like George Clooney, but acts more like Jude Law, Oh wait! I've got it! (In case you couldn't tell, I don't plan my post very much ahead of time...)

Not the House actor, the jerk, . But the S & S actor.

Yes, I think he could do it quite nicely. Now, for the "Piece of Resistance" as I like to say, I don't speak French after all...
Miss Lavender.
 This took a lot of careful thinking, NOT. there is only one person in my mind who could do this,

Can you see it?

It feels weird to me to not have chosen known period film actors, but these people are the characters in my mind, and cannot be moved!

And wait! There's more,

I felt that Mr Harrison and his wife were a terrible loss not to have in the films, though I honestly have no actor suggestions! Do you?

Philippa Gordon, and Jonas Blake! Why? Couldn't you have added Philippa? I love the scene where they meet her in the book :)

Emma Pierson  Fanny Dorrit

I know she was very different from what Philippa is deep down, but I really think she could be absolutely wonderful.  I honestly don't know what to say about Jonas though. You pick...

And of course Davy and Dora, though I will not try and choose who would play them because they will insist on being dark haired! I know it's silly but this is one of those instances where I want to look at the author and say, "No, they look like this! Can't you see that?" There are many more people, not to mentions places and events, that I feel indignant where left out, but I will wrap up this post by saying that I am aware this post rambles, and I'm sorry I jumbled two different books as if they were one. I also know that I am late for Anne Week, but I felt I needed to post this because I am reading the books and, well, this just needed to be said!

By the way, I watched a sentimental old war movie with my sister last night, I'm not sure what to call it. Some people try to insist that it is the third installment of the Anne series, but it couldn't be! I know it has the same actors as the first two, and the characters even share the same names, which I thought was funny. However, as a stand alone movie, the story was well written. I just felt robbed of all the other delightful characters...

Ta for now! Thanks for stopping by.

Little Gems

 I don't have a whole lot to say today, that comes tomorrow in the form of a heroine post/character sketch, so prepare yourself, dear readers for the onslaught of my words! Meantime, I'd like to share with you a "Little Gem" I found whilst reading the dear little book An Old Fashioned Girl. Chapter thirteen, "The Sunny Side"

Now, I give you the thing itself, and let us see if it makes you smile as it did me.
       "Polly sucked her orange in public with a composure that would have scandalized the good ladies of Cranford." 

 Did it? If it didn't I pity you, for you haven't at least watched the series to which it refers. I confess I have yet to read it. How can I when there are so many old favorites to sit and devour?  (There I go again with the food metaphors!) But, I know that I should read all those new things I've heard so much of. I mean where would I be if I hadn't first watched North & South on Netflix one night? I was sooo bored, I felt like watching something "old" (you know what I mean). But I almost didn't!! Crazy right? And now I'm so glad I didn't just skip over it. It has taken over and graced the top of my list of favorite films since then. Not to mention the book itself. But I get way off topic...
  I hope I made you smile, or rather I hope Louisa May Alcott made you smile. I just brought her wit to your attention. I love it when I see that an author admires another of my favorite authors, don't you?

Do you know of any other book references for other well known books? Please share!

 Ta for now!
    Stephanie

Anne Week!

 Okay, so it's Anne week, or month, or something of the sort! I love Anne-spelled-with an-E. I'll be doing a heroine post about her because she deserves an entire post all to herself, (and probably a Gilbert gush, er, POST) but until then content yourselves with this gushing post about her "theme song". 

There is something about this song that touches me like few other songs, (pop, rock, classic, it doesn't matter) do. I hear this song and a flood of emotions and thoughts flood through my mind. It's deeply sad, yet at the same time, ready to burst with happiness. Does anyone else out there feel the same way? The composer of the theme was/is an absolute genius! I believe (feel free to disagree) that Hagood Hardy absolutely captured the spirit of the Anne series. I am now referring to the books (you may argue that the book has little to do with the music in the film, I disagree). I think that though the screenwriters/producers and everyone else involved in the decision making process maybe didn't stay completely true to the story, and absolutely abandoned it in the third installment (Yes yes, a good movie in and of itself, much like any adaptations of Mansfield Park I have ever seen), they still did a very good job capturing Anne. 

Especially the music, to get back on track. In the theme alone, not to mention the rest of the score, Hardy did a "bully" job. I don't want to spoil the series (but if you haven't read it or at the very least watched it, you are really missing out), though I will if you read on *SPOILER* The song captures the emotions of a scared orphan girl who refuses to admit that she is scared. She insists on seeing the good in everything, except Gil, oh Anne you silly fool. Every moment of the song brings back memories of tears shed (Yes, many many tears, and I won't be ashamed!) when Matthew, Ruby, Walter, and even "Rachel Lynde's husband". however it also parades before my minds eye the dearest and sweetest of friendships and romances, of which there are too many in the series to list! Overall, I think the word bittersweet describes this song to a "T", don't you? Just a wonderful song.
Well, I really enjoyed writing that did you enjoy reading it? I might do more like this. Just write about music that has moved me, unless I get a whole lot of negative feedback! So, please, tell me what you think!

Now, I'm off to go watch Anne of Green Gables, with my taller then me younger sister.
 
I highly recommend that you check out more from the person who made the above video (Username: TweedleDee1) He and his wife post a lot of period drama music covers that are absolutely beautiful! Though I don't condone all of the music he covers.

Ta, and thanks for stopping by.