Don't Keep Calm Poster Contest - Winners!

The votes are in on the finalists and now it's time to announce the winners of the Period Drama Don't Keep Calm Contest!

First I'd like to thank everyone who entered! There were some new names who entered this time around and I hope you'll come back and play games here at OFC.

Now onto the winners!

3rd Place (Tied):

#3. She Didn't Look Back 

Made by: Vivika 

Period Drama: North & South

Vivika's Button:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveqjUQJpw0kTqmtsq6qLXmEtFoH0tkRnRFkuYSEK-bWUUgdtr3m-wz9rBv8uwbreWtDkCxcHuZREIpiDM6MQB76xNHHJcjjiJt2g4qDyYx-blPbH-EasKPRy8_cADIgGbxzklPLNJUMvz/s200/Tied+3rd+Place.jpg" /></a></center>

and

#4. Drowned Mouse 

Made by: Jessica 

Period Drama: Anne of Green Gables 

Jessica's Button:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVmzgnDcmnS1FJ5aGanY-TQrU0HwSrmyrd-lljMmcShNOw2exiBjgfBK51YRAnweBAWZHLvMceeiYTqP0VmNCc0SQpoOQeBT1RIvKLVrBvtBguM-O5_IUXN8VGURH_iaVU4lQMtNSpMxH/s200/3rd+Place.jpg" /></a></center>

2nd Place:

#9. Edward Is Single 

Made by: Vicki 

Period Drama: Sense and Sensibility (1995) 

Vicki's Button:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh0iKEGZDia4XK_rbYyM0JbrrVFVDJD1LZJDkfTLd9bOHp0FN0dAy1p_qtt5YplHSi2ao4Pc0hiZfZd2BmmpO8_g51M7Mkm175X0_L_nEmhN6YCgDg7lamoehvxgzWtrbWf6zKzT8BiEz/s200/2nd+Place.jpg" /></a></center>

1st Place:

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#1. Netherfield Park Is Lent At Last 

Made by: Scullery Maid 

Period Drama: Pride & Prejudice 1995

Scullery Maid's Button:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk3Sq3hskNZ3EkZuz-pe9ZyRJhTsaw_OLfKNDMqcVFC8N0t3Gyrh42rDE_yR3I4Rad78YsqSssXuPDwp36uOg1054csmASlTO9Rm2fSfLIubiQX1Fgo8ViO70RYBhHTUuts_t_qD5xAo7/s200/1st+Place.jpg" /></a></center>

Thanks for playing!

Don't Keep Calm Contest Finalists (Vote Now!)

Ten lovely ladies entered the Period Drama Don't Keep Calm Contest that I posted last Saturday. Thanks so much to all of you who entered, I really enjoyed seeing your entries!

It was so difficult trying to choose just five posters / finalists so instead I chose one poster from each person who entered and am leaving it up to ya'll to vote for your favorites. 

Voting Rules: Vote for up to two of your favorite Don't Keep Calm Posters in the poll to the right. You may vote for your own poster. Winners will be announced on Sunday!

The Ten Finalists:

#1. Netherfield Park Is Lent At Last

Made by: Scullery Maid

Period Drama: Pride & Prejudice 1995

#2. Chauvelin's Limp Cravat

Made by: BatZion

Period Drama: The Scarlet Pimpernel 1982

#3. She Didn't Look Back

Made by: Vivika

Period Drama: North & South

#4. Drowned Mouse

Made by: Jessica

Period Drama: Anne of Green Gables

#5. Henry Tilney's Hair

Made by: Miss Dashwood 

Period Drama: Northanger Abbey (2007)

#6. Love Mr. Knightley

Made by: Julia

Period Drama: Emma (2009)

#7. Puffed Sleeves!

Made by: Kiri Liz

Period Drama: Anne of Green Gables

#8. Horrid Railroad

Made by: Elisabeth Grace Foley

Period Drama: Cranford

#9. Edward Is Single

Made by: Vicki

Period Drama: Sense and Sensibility (1995)

#10. Sir Arrogant Numbskull

Made by: Rachel Huffington

Period Drama: Bleak House

There you have the finalists. Now go vote for your two favorites!

Which posters had you giggling?

Words Of Thanksgiving

To be honest I wasn't sure if I'd do a Thanksgiving Day post this November.
Oh yes, there is so much  for me to be thankful for this year with our safe move, our new house and a wonderful job for my dad. But somehow without people to gather with for dinner, or a church family to call our own, it's been a bit hard for me to thank the Lord right now.
But over this past week I kept encountering things that have a similar message for my heart: Praise and thank the Lord even when you don't feel like it, because He is worthy!

I'm not sure if anyone else feels the same way I do but I wanted to share some of the things that have been encouraging my heart lately.

Gorgeous November wallpapers like these posted at Faith Hope and Cherrytea. I've greatly enjoyed using these on my laptop over the past few weeks!

These verses have been a big encouragement and perfect for meditating on throughout the day:

"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation." - Psalm 111:1

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

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." - Psalm 98:4

There's been a few hymns that have really been encouraging lately:

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Count Your Blessings 

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

This article from Young Ladies Christian Fellowship (YLCF):

"I think when faced with celebrating a holiday in a way that doesn’t fit our expectations, we need to go back to the essence of the holiday. What are we really celebrating? Why do we have this day?" - from When Holidays Don't Follow The Recipe by Trina Holden at YLCF

And lastly for a bit of fun, this hilarious retelling of the First Thanksgiving Day story from Kid Snippets:

Their description of England totally cracks me up. "You dance with balls?"

"Plastic hasn't even been invented yet!" 

"What about corn!?!?!?" hahaha :)

I pray that all of you dear friends and readers have a very Happy Thanksgiving full of reminders of just how much you have been blessed by God. May His praises be on your lips and His joy in your hearts. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! 

Book Review: Love Comes Softly

This was my second reading of Love Comes Softly. I had read it as a pre-teen and shortly after devoured all of the other books in the series. This time my sister and I read it aloud together and we both enjoyed it greatly. We'd both seen the movie a couple months ago but the scenes as described in the book are even more hilarious and sweet!

Still love this older cover, this was on the book when I read the story the first time.

Synopsis: She ventured west with the man she loved, but in one day her whole world had crumbled around her...   Nineteen-year-old Marty Claridge starts west with her adventurous, boyish husband, Clem, seeking to claim land and hoping for good fortune. But when the venture turns suddenly to tragedy, Marty is left alone with her great loss. And coupled with her grief and heartache is the grim reality that there is no way to return home.   Clark Davis and his little girl, Missie, are also in great need. Clark's wife has died, leaving him to care for Missie and the farm at the same time. His offer to Marty comes with good intention, but will courage and faith be enough to bring them to true love?

Janette Oke

Visit Janette Oke's Website: JanetteOke.com

Author: Janette Oke celebrated her 77th birthday this past February! She wrote her books a bit later in life, as the wife of a Canadian Minister her stories often revolve around Pioneers in Canada and America. I read my first Janette Oke books when I was about eleven years old and devoured her Love Comes Softly series. My mom and I have read many of her books and greatly enjoy the way she usually includes the salvation message and verses from scripture in each of her stories.

Interesting Bits: The day to day work, activities and life of prairie families are described in some detail and I found that fascinating. Also the strength of the the pioneer people really impressed me, how they often carried on amid great heartache or trouble - you had to keep going or you'd get swallowed up by it all and fade away. My sister and I loved the scenes described of inexperienced Marty's first attempts at housekeeping and her interactions with her neighbors.

Spiritual Content: Clark Davis is a man of great faith and begins each breakfast meal with Bible reading and prayer. His daily readings initially take unbeliever Marty by surprise but she soon becomes interested, starts asking questions and finds herself in hard times calling out to Clark's God. The Christmas story and Easter salvation messages are explained in detail and Marty eventually asks Jesus Christ to be her Savior (a scene which brought tears to my eyes!). Another spiritual message is that God does care about our lives and is with us through the hard times.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved reading this book again! Marty it's interesting seeing prairie life through Marty's eyes and commiserate with her through that first week of trying to keep house for another man and be a mother to a little girl who doesn't like her at first. Missie is a sweet two-year-old (unlike in the movie where they make her a stubborn ten-year-old) and it's so lovely to see her bonding with Marty. Clark Davis is the type of hero my own heart longs for! He's so dedicated to his Lord, an extremely hard worker, a loving father, a kind friend and a loyal family man. It warmed my heart to read of the things he does for Marty's benefit even while he's still hurting after his first wife's death. And then there's Ma Graham and her clan - Ma is the most amazing pioneer lady and the best neighbor you could ever wish for! She comes to Marty's aid physically and emotionally which have the reader saying with Marty: "Thank the Lord for ya' Ma Graham!" It's neat that the story doesn't just stick with Clark and Marty but also tells about other families in the neighborhood. The stories of Sally Anne and Laura Graham always bring tears to my eyes, I was reading aloud during the 'Laura' chapter (Chapter 27) and I literally had to stop several times because of the sob welling up in my throat and the tears pouring down my face! And the final chapter? Thankfully Bea was reading because I was messy puddle of happy tears!  Love Comes Softly was as good, or better, than I remembered it being when I first read it several years ago! :)

Have you read Love Comes Softly?

Have you read any other books in the series?

A Couple Shameless Plugs

Okay we'll start with a plug for something not related to me...

Charity over at Austenitis is hosting A Week Of Musicals! All sorts of fun posts about her favorite musicals equals lots of fun! Go check it out! :)


Speaking of Charity, she has a sister by the name of Analiese who just recently started a new blog Portrait Of A Maiden. When considering design prospects Analiese came to me and I had so much fun designing her header, blog button, signatures and finding a background image for her. The result is quite pretty and it was a real treat being able to help sweet Analiese out with her blog. I encourage you to check out Portrait Of A Maiden not only to see the design but also to read her interesting posts on period dramas, literary characters, fairy tales, books and much more!


Also, some of you may not be aware that I have a reading/writing blog. I do enjoy writing fiction and poetry, when the inspiration strikes, and I've recently revived posting about the story and characters I'm currently working on over at Rather Bookish. It's nothing grand but 'tis fun.