Morning Sunlight - Art & Film

I love those moments when you see a film that is so beautifully filmed that it imitates art, or as is the case this time, art that reminds you of a favorite film!

I posted this piece of art on my Tumblr and it immediately put me in mind of Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility (1995)!

'Morning Sunlight' (1919) by Karl Harald Alfred Broge (1870 - 1955)

To be exact the figure reminds me of Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood:

The dress reminds me of the dark mourning clothing Marianne and Elinor wear, particularly this dress:

And the scene reminds me a bit of Barton Cottage where they live.

Is it just me or do you see a similarity too?

Have you ever been struck my similarities between art and your favorite period films?

Regency Life In Art

In the past couple weeks I've encountered several paintings that depict scenes of Regency life. 

This is purely a Regency eye candy post. 

Enjoy the dresses, bonnets, hairstyles, scenery and elegance of the time period!

While browsing through these beautiful works think of the story behind each painting. Some such as Love Will Triumph and At The Garden Gate are quite intriguing!

 Dare I
Charles Joseph Frederic Soulacroix (1825-1879)

 Elegant Lady and Her Whippet
Jules Worms (1832-1914) 

 La Soire 
Vittorio Reggianini (Italian 1858-1938)

 The Proposal
Alois Heinrich Priechenfried

 Love Will Triumph
Charles Haigh Wood (English 1854-1927) 

Francis Sydney Muschamp (British 1851-1929)

No Getting Over-Snowed Up at the Church Stile
1905 - Lucien Davis

The Kiss
Wilhelm Menzler

At The Garden Gate
Charles Sillem Lidderdale

 The Dancing Lesson
Vittorio Reggianini 

 Thoughtful Moments
Charles Haigh-Wood (1856-1927)

Which painting is your favorite? 
What stories do these scenes suggest?

Have you ever heard of these artists?

Today I Am...{7}

Wow! I just realized that the last Today I Am... post I did was back on July 19th before I went to the Jane Austen Festival! So I thought it was time to tell ya'll what I've been up to lately. 

{writing}
Blog posts and e-mails and really that's all. I haven't done any creative writing in a while or even much journal writing (no Mr. Tilney, not all young ladies "keep a journal"). My sister and I have been throwing around several ideas about writing a story together but so far no actual writing has taken place.   

{reading}
Well...I started re-reading Pride and Prejudice. It's been a while since I read it and as I found myself being so down on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth I felt it was high time to remind myself of what they are really like. It's going to be a book that I read off and on instead of reading all the way through right away.
I've picked up a few different books in the past couple weeks but I haven't stuck with anything yet. But I have been re-listening to some of my Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot audiobooks, my favorite Miss Marple book is The Tuesday Club Murders - after a dinner party the guests tell mystery stories and that unassuming elderly lady Miss Marple solves each mystery.

Also, I've been thinking about filming a vlog video that takes a tour of the two bookcases in my room. Would you be interested in watching something like that?

{watching}
I just got Netflix again and I've been really into old movies lately so I've enjoyed things like Audrey Hepburn movies. Can you believe I hadn't seen Breakfast At Tiffany's all the way through before? I liked it alright, there were of course a few things that were a bit strange but it was okay. I like the song Moon River and the other music in the film by Henry Mancini. I also really really enjoyed watching How To Steal A Million starring Audrey Hepburn and a very young Peter O'Toole, they were so clever and hilariously sweet and cute!
I've also been watching lots of clips from Horrible Histories and some full episodes. They are so much fun and usually very accurate and instructive. Here are a few of my favorites:


King Charles I's Wedding


George I Doesn't Speak English


Stupid Deaths: Richard the Lionheart


Stuart Wedding

{listening}
To Horrible Histories songs with my sister, so much fun. We really like these two songs, they are funny but also at a nice tempo and style.


I'm a Knight Song - Horrible Histories


William Shakespeare Song - Horrible Histories

I was also cooking the other night and a song popped into my head, I don't know what it means because it's in Italian and I couldn't even remember the name of it, I just knew I had to listen to it right away. The song is Mattinata and I listened to Russell Watson's version which is in the video below.

Russell Watson - Mattinata

{learning}

Well, re-watching Lorna Doone got me thinking on how little I knew of the Kings and Queens in between Elizabeth I and George III (that's a lot of years and included the English Civil War that I also didn't know too much about!) so I've been reading up on the monarchs and history in between.
Also Horrible Histories has a sketch and a song about Mary Seacole who was a contemporary of Florence Nightengale nursing wounded men on the front lines during the Crimean War (which I've been reading up on too). I was thinking about telling what I learned about her here but it got quite long so I'm going to write a separate post that will be out in a few days.

 

{looking}

At Pinterest! Yep, I'm a bit obsessed now and have to check my Pinterest at least ten times a day (well, give or take probably a lot)! It's been really fun and it's extra interesting that you can comment on other people's pins.

{feeling}

Tired. Late nights and lots of cleaning going on today and it will continue until next week. I'm also feeling very excited for the what I'm anticipating below!

{anticipating}

This week my family and I are cleaning and de-cluttering furiously in preperation for some missionary friends of our's from Maine to come stay with us next week! We are so excited to have them come and visit and to take them to the Creation Museum! They'll be here most of next week so I'll try posting a bit but there might not be too much time for that.

{wishing}

I could figure out what I'm allergic to here in Kentucky. Since coming here I've actually had more trouble with my allergies than I did in Maine which is odd because this climate is supposed to be better for allergies. So it must be a certain plant that's growing nearby that keeps making me sneeze so terribly. Medicine helps and using the AC on hot days helps a lot but we like to open windows on nice cool days and then I get sneezing. *sigh*

{loving}
The new way my room is arranged! I rearranged my room so our guests will be comfortable in it when they come to stay and I'm really liking how it's all set up now. I'm also really enjoying the new nightstand table in my room, it's so handy to put my alarm clock and glasses on at night. Now I've just got to buy a pretty lamp for it.

What have you been up to today?

Are you a fan of Audrey Hepburn movies or Horrible Histories?

Would you be interested in watching a tour of my bookcases vlog? 

Today I Am...{6} - Are You Attending The Jane Austen Festival?

Nellie Hepburn-Edmunds - Portrait miniature of Eileen Marshall (1912)

{writing}

When the mood hits I've been writing a bit about some characters in a story I've been inspired to pick up again. Mostly I'm working on content for two guest posts and then posts for OFC.

My newly unpacked books & DVDs

{reading}

My delightful jaunt through the world of Miss Amy Dashwood came to an end when I finished reading her Only A Novel on Tuesday evening! I might have finished it sooner only my sister Bea was reading it at the same time and she kept stealing it away, stayed up quite late finishing it on Monday night and then danced around telling me how wonderful it was! heehee :) I didn't mind though, it was good encouragement for me to read faster then I usually do because I wanted to keep up with her. Thinking on doing a review soon-ish. Bea and I both agree that Rodney is our favorite character! ;)

Thanks to the purchase of two new bookcases for my room I was able to unpack all of my books this week! Yay! (A room just isn't the same without books, you know!)

Now, I've begun The Scarlet Pimpernel! I read the first chapter and can't wait to read more but I've taken up Mansfield Park again (because I wanted to read some by Jane Austen in "preparation" for this coming weekend) and am finishing up the last few chapters in that. I'm enjoying it immensely and finding Henry and Mary Crawford as vexing as ever!

My new cozy place to read (it's a darker brown then is shown here)

Eine Kleine Welt Musik - MozArt Group

{listening}

To the Miss Austen Regrets soundtrack, the music is quite pretty. Also lots of classical music by way of watching YouTube clips of the hilarious MozArt Group! Four talented gentleman from Poland formed a stringed quartet and not only play beautifully but have fun with their music. There's a video sample above and here are links to a few others you might enjoy: Classical Wild West, The Dentist Ave Maria, How To Impress A Woman When You're A Musician, The Missing Musician & Classical Dances, The Gramaphone with mime Irek Krosny and The Cell Phones.

I also had the very great pleasure of listening to the BBC's recent radio broadcast of a stage version of My Fair Lady featuring the extremely wonderful Anthony Andrews! I've been listening to YouTube clips of the various songs (like these) and giggling profusely! :)

Thomas Edwin Mostyn (1864-1930) - Flora

{watching}

My sister and I have been watching things together on my laptop almost every evening when we haven't been fighting over the book. We've found several Hallmark movies on YouTube and have particularly enjoyed The Lost Valentine, The Love Letter (1998), Smooch, A Mother's Gift, Dear Prudence (a bit of a mystery story that I unfortunately figured out the answer to right away but it was still very fun)  and Touching Wild Horses. They're all pretty good, if you're interested in a review of these let me know. We also watched The Nativity Story (2006) and a review should be forthcoming but maybe not this week.

{looking}

At rain showers this afternoon! We haven't had a good rain in a while so our grass has been quite brown lately. It's supposed to rain tomorrow too so hopefully the plants will perk up a bit.

The Recital -  Alois Heinrich Priechenfried

{learning}

I'm refreshing my memory by reading a bit from the delightful Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners by Josephine Ross (highly recommend!) in case I have occasion to use my curtsy or be introduced to anyone on Saturday so I'll have my best Regency etiquette in mind! :)

{feeling}

A bit tired, I haven't been sleeping well lately - it's probably the hot weather. 

Blessed to have found a church to go to. It's a bit difficult making friends because all the younger people attend the more contemporary early morning service, and we prefer the later more traditional service, but we're getting to know a few people and I've had some suggestions of where the best Assisted Living Facilities are when I'm ready to start working again. 

{anticipating}

The Jane Austen Festival in Louisville on Saturday!!!! Squeeeee! (oh, sorry...ladylike decorum...)

As my birthday is on Monday my parents are making a present of taking me to the JA Festival this weekend. As my dad is also a JA fan he'll be driving me down Saturday morning and we'll spend most of the day exploring Historic Locust Grove in Louisville and the many displays and booths that will set up. There will be a ball in the evening but we won't be going to that this year (it costs extra and I don't have Regency dress either). This will be my first time attending a Janeite event of any kind so I'm very very excited!!!! Hopefully I'll remember to take my camera so I can share with ya'll! :) Watch the festival commercial above.

We don't know of anyone else who is going but perhaps there might be a fellow blogger to bump into. T'would be most delighted if anyone reading this who is planning to attend the Jane Austen Festival would drop me a comment, I'd love to make your acquaintance!

{wishing}

For a nice cold chocolate milk shake...don't know why, I'm just in the mood for one. Or maybe a fudgecicle...something cold and chocolaty!

{loving}
The artwork I've included in this post. These three are some of my favorites that I've been posting on Tumblr.
My sister who helps me with vacuuming. My mom who makes lovely smelling enchiladas for dinner.
Making period drama funnies using Bleak House screencaps, it's highly amusing!


What have you been up to today?

Are you attending the Jane Austen Festival this weekend?

Have you ever been to a Jane Austen event?

What have you been watching lately?

What book are you reading right now?

Today I Am...{4}

This is my first Kentucky edition of Today I Am... so excuse my exuberance about this new place I find myself in! heehee :)

{writing}

This post, cards and letters to friends in Maine and occasionally jotting down more plot ideas for my latest story. On our drive from Maine to NY, from NY to Kentucky I was collecting interesting names from road signs and store signs - it was a lot of fun jotting down the names and thinking how they might fit into one of my stories or might turn into a story of their own! :)

{reading}

I actually didn't do as much reading on our trip as I thought I might, it was more interesting looking about me and chatting with mom and my siblings. So recently besides catching up with blog posts I missed I've been enjoying reading from my Jane Austen Devotional Book a few times a day. 

{listening}

Recently during the day when I think of a song and start humming it I have been pulling out my iPod and listening to it on the spot. Several of the songs are from Les Miserables but also hymns, folk songs or show tunes. 

Also my sister and I were watching Celtic Woman's Believe concert last night (it's probably my least favorite of their DVD concerts but we hadn't seen it yet) and the song Nocturne has been in my head today and apparently Bea's too because she's brought the YouTube video up on my computer several times today. It's strange because Chloe is probably our least favorite singer from Celtic Woman but the tune is so melodic and gorgeous! heehee :)

Oh! And I've been rather addicted to listening to Ramin Karimloo's voice and realized that I'd enjoyed him singing Till I Hear You Sing (from POTO sequel Love Never Dies) long before I'd loved him as Enjolras in the Les Miz 25th Concert.

My mom's birthday was on Monday so I made her this in lieu of a real cake.

{watching}

Celtic Woman, Josh Groban and Les Miz videos on YouTube. Also the comedy and amazing salvation testimony of Christian comedian of Jeff Allen (My Heart, My Comedy DVD was a gift for my mom's birthday on Monday). It made me laugh hysterically and then cry majorly! 

View from my window

{looking}

At my new neighborhood, there is a flowering rose-like bush right out my bedroom window that is much admired by me several times a day as I sit typing at my desk. 

My room - sort of bare right now because I haven't unpacked everything yet.

{feeling}

Incredibly, incredibly blessed! There is so so much to praise the Lord for! Each day since last Friday I find myself from time to time sitting and staring about me in amazement at the huge and gorgeous house that the Lord has provided for us! Each time we go to a restaurant the food tastes amazing and each time we go to a store we not only find that they're closer but we find so many interesting things to look at and much lower food prices than in Maine (you should of heard us exclaim over the low prices in the produce and dairy sections of our local grocery store! haha). Sunday we drove around in the country part of our neighborhood and even found a sweet little park that's near the river! Kentucky is a very interesting state and it's so much fun to explore! My dad is loving his new job too - he's already making good friends with his co-workers and has so many ideas that they are very interested to hear! God really is so good! Life is not without it's problems but God is blessing amazingly right now and we're just praising Him!

"Shelves in the closet. Happy thought indeed!" - Elizabeth Bennet, P&P

{anticipating}

The closing for our house which should be tomorrow - finally! It's a rather long story but basically the closing (or formal purchase where papers are signed) was supposed to be the day after we got here but over three days it kept being delayed and while waiting we had to stay in a hotel and pay extra rent on the moving truck. Finally last Friday the house sellers agreed to let us rent the house temporarily until the closing. It was a huge relief to be able to unpack our moving truck (all in one day - boy was that a load of work!!) and sleep in our own beds that night! This week the closing has continued to be delayed because of the sellers not having their paperwork straight but it looks like tomorrow mom and dad will be able to sign all the paperwork and make the house officially ours! It will be easier to unpack boxes then, because now there's still a slight feeling of "oh no, what if the seller's change their minds?", but we are so close!

{wishing or rather praying}

My family and I are praying for a good church to attend. We had research churches online but we had a scare this past Sunday when the church we visited was very little like what their website presented! 

After dad talked with his co-workers there are a few other churches on our list to try but we're running into the problem of the churches having either good music or good preaching and not both. And after having to drive half an hour to get anywhere in Maine we're praying for a church that is near by. It's always interesting visiting new churches... :P

They pile up the cheese!

{loving}

Life at the moment! Our new house. My three kitties who made the trek cross country surprisingly well and have now settled in so comfortably! My new room that is so spacious and my closet has so much room! Cincinnati style chili on everything from spaghetti to hot dogs to french fries! Going to Golden Corral after not having been in almost ten years was really tasty too. Oh, and Chick-Fil-A! Yes, we've had to eat out a lot when we first got here in KY but I'll be glad when we can really start cooking in our new kitchen.

Been a while since I've posted a photo - here's me and my trusty laptop!

Thanks for praying!

Again thank you all so very much for praying for me and my family as we made the long trek to Kentucky. It was super exhausting work loading (but we had some help) and unloading (all by ourselves) the moving truck. Our drive from Maine was divided into two days of driving with a day in between to visit family and dear friends in New York state. The longest part of the trip was going from NY to KY because it was all new territory to us, but God helped us through all of the little difficulties along the way. 

We are in Kentucky safe and sound and unpacking boxes in our new home that we enjoy immensely! 

There's many new experiences that lie ahead but we know God will continue to guide us all the way.

What songs are at the top of your favorites list right now?

Have you ever had Cincinnati style chili?

Which of the two paintings in this post are your favorite?

All My Scarlet Pimpernel Fans...

...have you seen this lovely piece of artwork: Antique Fashionista: Sink me!

Artist Masha Laurence at Antique Foshionista specializes in custom watercolor illustrations of literary characters. I am particularly fond of her Jane Austen related works.

Her recent work is a lovely sketch of none other than The Scarlet Pimpernel himself! "Odd's fish, m'dear", it is simply delightful! :)

I encourage you to check out all of her amazing watercolors at her blog and visit her sweet Etsy shop.

Very Truly Your's,

'via Blog this'

A Fair Maiden and Other Things

A Fair Maiden - Giovanni Costa (Italian, 1826-1903)

Isn't that painting lovely? Her Regency style dress and bonnet are so lovely!

Quotes from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens:

"Is it better to have had a good thing and lost it, or never to have had it?“ 

"A heart well worth winning, and well won. A heart that, once won, goes through fire and water for the winner, and never changes, and is never daunted.“ 

"You could draw me to fire, you could draw me to water. You could draw me to the gallows, you could draw me to any death. You could draw me to anything I have most avoided, you could draw me to any exposure and disgrace.“ 

These are just a couple random things I wanted to share with you. My film review will be delayed a few days but I'll hopefully have a review of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) for you soon after it airs Sunday on Masterpiece Theatre.  


Very Truly Your's,