An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

I first saw this film when it aired on the Hallmark channel last Autumn. This story by Louisa May Alcott was unfamiliar to me. It seems that it first appeared together with a set of other short stories and was entitled An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving and Other Stories published in 1882.


Matilda Bassett seals a letter addressed to her grandmother.

The story centers around the Bassett family who live "up among the New Hampshire hills" on a farm. We meet Mary Basset and her three children just after the death of her husband when they are just making ends meet. Young Miss Matilda Bassett "Tilly" is our story teller is very good at embellishing the facts.


Younger children Prudence and Solomon Bassett.

Mrs. Bassett is an independent woman who is trying to support her family with her skills nursing those in need but her patients are often poor and enable to pay. Though the Bassetts have just enough Mrs. Bassett is having a hard time making ends meet so Tilly fearing the worst takes it upon herself to write to her estranged grandmother.


Grandmother and Tilly on their shopping spree.

Intrigued by this letter signed by her daughter Mary, rich socialite Isabella makes an unexpected visit to the Bassett family. Her daughter is very loathe to even let her enter the house but she has to stay somewhere while her broken carriage is being repaired. Isabella soon gains the affections of her three grandchildren and delights in using the money, that her daughter so despises, to buy needed items for her family and new friends. With her influence Tilly attends her first ball in high style and the family's pantry is stocked full of good things for Thanksgiving dinner.


Tilly and her mother Mary at the Hopkins ball.

While her mother enjoys the grandchildren Mary Bassett is busy nursing a neighboring family who are suffering with scarlet fever and she herself is overcome by the sickness. Tilly and her grandmother learn how much they really have to be thankful for just when they are in danger of loosing it all.


Tilly talking to her dear friend Gad.

In the midst of all her troubles Tilly also becomes reacquainted with her childhood friend Gideon who has just come back from college. It is "Gad" who helps Tilly as she makes decisions that will change her future and future of her family.


The family around an old fashioned Thanksgiving table.

I really enjoy this film, it is not quite like Little Women but reminds me of that story in many ways. Tilly reminds me of Jo March in some ways, a fanciful writer who is quick to feel and act, often being very selfish and childish. I love the costumes and the settings the acting is fairly good and it is a sweet story of family, forgiveness and being thankful for what you have. A good family movie and I highly recommend it!

I found the trailer here if you'd like to take a look and also the original Alcott writing can be found here. I look forward to reading the story soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." - Psalm 95:2

As we head into Thanksgiving I reflect on the many things that I am thankful for. This year in particular I am thankful for my family, my comfortable home, plenty of delicious food on the table, access to spiritual guidance and most particularly my salvation and continued growth in the Lord Jesus Christ.




"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." - Psalm 100:4

In past years my family and I have spent Thanksgiving Day with family but since the passing of dad's mother and then mom's mother this year it has been more difficult. The day is quite dreaded most years by both of my parents, we are thankful but any holiday is difficult without family near. Last year we spent the day with some dear friends and I had to work in the late afternoon. I am thankful that this year I do not have to work and to make it an extra special day for us we are going on a little family trip from Maine to Massachusetts.




In past years we've been to Colonial Williamsburg but this year my family and I are headed to Old Sturbridge Village, a historic village filled with buildings from the 1700's and early 1800's. Each house, shop, store, and meetinghouse stocked with period furniture and folks re-enacting life in the 19th-century. There will be many things to see and do while we're there and I can't wait! Among the things we'll enjoy is Thanksgiving dinner at the Oliver Wight Tavern, A New England Wedding, Shooting Match and a Stagecoach Ride. Depend upon it there will be many pictures taken and lots of fun had!



So what are your Thanksgiving traditions? How are you planning on spending Thanksgiving this year? What are you most thankful for?

I also hope to soon watch and review Louisa May Alcott's An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving which should be just the ticket for getting me into the spirit of the holiday.




I want to leave you with lyrics from a song that is not really old-fashioned but which I think suit the occasion. Click here if you'd like to hear the song sung by the rich voice of Josh Groban, one of my favorite singers. I pray you have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day with your loved ones and keep praising the Lord for all He's done!

Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

-lyrics from Thankful as sung by Josh Groban on his album Noel


Mood:

Thankful

The Old Curiosity Shop (2007)

I've been wanting to watch this film since this past spring when I missed watching it when it aired on Masterpiece Theatre. An adaptation of Dicken's tale by the same name the story was first serialized in his weekly serial Master Humphrey's Clock.


Nell Trent and her Grandfather fleeing into the country.

The story centers around 14-year-old Nell Trent an orphan who lives with her grandfather the owner of The Old Curiosity Shop. Nell's grandfather has a very serious gambling addiction and is heavily in debt to the evil Mr. Quilp. When Nell's grandfather signs over possession of his shop to Mr. Quilp Nell knows that they will never be free until they leave. In the early morning Nell and her grandfather flee to the country and try to make their fortune as "beggars". Though Nell finds work her old grandfather foolishly gambles away their few savings. Persued by Mr. Quilp and also by a mysterious stranger the granddaughter and grandfather continue on the run until there is nowhere left to turn.


Little Nell follows Mr. Quilp through a debtors prison.

When it was first serialized The Old Curiosity Shop was widely followed and it was said when the final installment was released Dickens fans were reported to storm the piers of New York City, shouting to arriving sailors for news of the fate of sick Little Nell's. The story was printed in novel form in 1841. As a Dickens' novel it has not continued in popularity. I found the story from the film not quite as complex as Dickens' other novels and there are several inconsistencies or loose ends left over from the newspaper printing.


Zoë Wanamaker as the eccentric wax museum owner Mrs. Jarley.

There are several delightful characters, the novel itself may be considered an Old Curiosity Shop stocked with interesting people. Like a secondhand store though, I find that most of what's inside is not worth much but here and there we do find a gem, or a character who only needs a little polishing to be good as new.


Nell Trent with her best friend Kit Nubbles in The Old Curiosity Shop.

The gem of the Shop is Little Nell herself who bravely does what she can to help her grandfather and tries to always be acting rightly. She stays bright and shinning throughout the film. Alongside her is her good friend Kit who does his best to help and protect Nell from Mr. Quilp's evil doings and her grandfather's often careless and self centered ways.


Lovely Sophie Vavasseur as Little Nell.

There is a fantastic cast of actors in this film some whom are easily recognized such as Derek Jacobi, Toby Jones, Zoë Wanamaker, Gina McKee, Anna Madeley and Adam Godley. Young actress Sophie Vavasseur though a bit older than 14 years is brilliant as Little Nell. Miss Vavassuer is not a stranger to period film having already appeared as Jane Lefroy in Becoming Jane, Anne Thorpe in Northanger Abbey, and her first film role was playing Pierce Brosnon's daughter in an interesting looking film called Evelyn.


Nell and Grandfather walk down a country lane.

Though by no means as brilliant as Little Dorrit, Our Mutual Friend or David Copperfield, this 90 mintue film is charming and I would recommend it to all fans of Dickens' adaptations or anyone who enjoys a more serious period drama. I will send this warning, watch it with a box of tissues because as others of his novels the characters do not all end happily. But all in all a good view!

Resting And Trusting

It's been a while since I've written about what is going on in my life. As I have mentioned before the past year I have been working at an assisted living facility for Alzheimer's residents. Yesterday was my last day of work at that facility. For many months I have known that it is the Lord's will for me to move on. I have so enjoyed my time with these lovely older people. I've learned so much, not just medically, but also in life experiences and wisdom from the lives of folks I've met.

The next question everyone asks is why? do you have another job? My answer is no, I do not have another job. One of the biggest reasons for not working is not having transportation through the snow this winter. Other spiritual and physical reasons have led up to this decision especially the need for spiritual re-grouping. So I will not be working this winter instead I will be getting physical rest and spiritual rejuvenation.

Working in a secular environment I was definitely feeling the need for separation as Paul mentions in Romans 12:1-2:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."



With at least three months of free time on my hands I intend to do everything that I've been wanting to do the last year but haven't gotten to. Here's a short list:

• Completing BBNBI free online bible courses
• Practicing piano
• Becoming physically healthy and fit
• Driving practice in preparation for my license
• Continuing in homemaking skills - baking, cooking, sewing, crochet, cleaning
• Writing my novel (NaNoWriMo isn't gong too well for me)
• Correspondence with family and friends
• And of course more blogging!

This is only a short list of the things I'd like to do. I'd also like to go to every service at my church, rejoin the church choir and spend time getting reacquainted with my family. We'll start getting reacquainted when we take a trip for Thanksgiving to an old-fashioned place, Old Sturbridge Village! We leave Thanksgiving day and come back Saturday, I can't wait! :)



Though I will be looking for the Lord's leading all along come spring I will actively start looking for somewhere else to use the certifications I've received. I'd really like to care for elderly ladies in their homes and am praying toward that end. Who knows where the Lord will lead me next! I'm just so thankful that I can be a stay-at-home-daughter for right now and have no pressures to work. I am so blessed!

My dear friend Kyrstin was very sweet in her comments:
"What faith you have to follow God and leave your job without having a next one. I am excited to hear where God will lead next! You will definitely be kept in my prayers as you seek God for His will."

I'm not really sure I've thought of it this way but her comments do bring new perspective to my decision.

Hope your weekend is going well!

Mood:

Thirsty (for God's Word)

News Of A New Poirot Film!

Just a quickie to help spread the word about a new Agatha Christie adaptation from ITV/BBC. I'm so excited that filming has begun on a new Murder On The Orient Express starring who else but the talented and delightful David Suchet as Mr. Hercule Poirot!


The other cast little matter but they include Eileen Atkins, Hugh Bonneville, David Morrissey and Samuel West among other wonderful names!

“It's an honour to have such a wonderful international cast on board for this world famous murder mystery. Writer, Stewart Harcourt, has created an exquisite script. His attention to detail is impeccable.” - David Suchet

And if Mr. Suchet thinks so it must be true! I adore the audiobook of Orient Express read by David Suchet and can not wait until this film comes to a public television station near me! Yay! :)