A New Leaf

Recently I've been reading quite a bit more than is usual for me these days. I happened to pick up a vintage paperback copy of Silas Marner and read the back story which intrigued me, and so began reading it. It didn't hurt that I was given a hug light that allowed me to read laying flat in bed with tiny lights shining up at the words to urge me on through the book. So I began.

The story unfolded gently and I was thankful for this since George Eliot is not one of my favorites particularly. In fact, the volumes of hers that I have read could only be called slim. I am pleased to say that Silas Marner is now one of my favorite classic books.

It worried me that his story would remain sad and end badly. But, I read on, and was again pleased with the story and his growth as a character. Pleased that Effie, his daughter, was loyal to him to the end. Being that Jean Valjean and Michael Henchard are two of my favorite book characters, I feared that Silas' story would rank among these, but the ending came together happily for once. 

I recommend this book if you are looking for something new to read. My reading habits used to be insatiable and have slowed as I've gotten older, but I'm turning over a new leaf (pun intended).

I Know Your Story

Fleeting thoughts today.

Bronte Parsonage Donations

We did it for Jane, now it's time for the Brontes. To keep this amazing place open into the coming year, they need our help. If you love Emily, Charlotte, Anne, and Branwell, their books, art, poetry, etc. Please consider donating!

DONATE TO THE PARSONAGE

There Was No Possibility of Taking A Walk That Day

This is a book of poetry composed during Covid 19 pandemic and all about the Brontes. Each poem has something to do with the Brontes and also experiencing a pandemic. You will find my poem called, "Homebound," in this collection. Available as a paperback book or Kindle versions.

Jane Austen House - Donate!

Jane Austen's House Museum needs our donations!
Please visit this link and help get it to 100%. 
Help future generations know and love where Jane wrote.

Hymns

I was listening to church hymns this morning, but when I heard the hymns of God outside, I turned off the church hymns to listen more thoughtfully. It is pouring outside, one of my favorite sounds hymns. I hear all of the nature hymns and they are beautiful to me.

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church

I keep it, staying at Home

With a Bobolink for a Chorister

And an Orchard, for a Dome

Verse by Emily Dickinson

Healer

Little Books

The British Library is encouraging children to make little books like the Bronte sisters did!
https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books/activities/make-a-miniature-book

She Gathered Words

I have a new space to share called, "She Gathered Words." A place to write of my creative endeavors, and a link to my Instagram. You can check it out and follow me there. "The Bookish Kind," will still be here and will remain my place for writing prose.

Sharing Beauty Regardless

I've been down a rabbit hole tonight and ended up with this pretty painting by Stanley Spencer called, "Neighbours." Do you think this counts as social distancing? Maybe, as long as they wash their hands? I love that they are sharing beauty regardless. I see that happening pretty much all over social media. Have we turned a corner and gotten back to simplicity yet? I doubt it. But I see some baby steps that direction. Have we turned back to God and shown Him that we have not forgotten Him? I doubt it, but there is always Hope, after all. Have we all turned into Joanna Gaines, making our homes beautiful, bright, and baking up a storm? Why, yes, yes, we have! Keep sharing the beauty!

The Duchess Reads

I'm pretty sure the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) likes classic books. Here she is in her Anmer Hall office below, and on her desk there are a set of these stunning cloth bound books that really look like this set I've been coveting.

And several years ago, she wore a certain dress for visiting the Anne of Green Gables house on P.E.I. that was Anne-like, a nod to Anne, if you will. In fact, she went out of her way on that tour to be able to see the Anne house. I posted about that here.

What do you think, is the Duchess a fan of the classics?


Edited:
Just saw this story about the Cambridges at home during the isolation, and yes, they noticed the books, too!
Here is a caption that went with the story (see below)

From Hello Magazine:

 

From Daily Mail:

 

The New Emma and Isolation

I keep seeing the new Emma flash across my Amazon as being able to watch it at home right now. It's currently playing in theaters, but because we're all homebound, we can watch it early, at home. Honestly, it's really tempting to do that, anyone else? Grab the popcorn and your wallet, and sit in your comfy chair.

At Home

If you need a little pick me up right now, I want to offer this~
We will learn through this time and get through it, together.

In the meantime,
learn something new (from home)
redecorate with things you already have (at home)
live your best life (at home)
That's what Anne would do, after all!

The Most Wonderful Spot

by French_Manoir

I saw this on instagram {yes, I finally joined there}, and I am stunned by the beauty of this little spot created in a French manor by the owners. I simply love everything about this. So simple, yet so beautiful. I could step right in the frame and never want to leave.

She Moved Through the Fair

I find the best things at the library sales. This week there was a cd of Loreena Mckennitt's, "Elemental." I have other cd's of hers, but not this one. She features a lot of narrative poetry in her work, which is absolutely stunning. You should check out her works such as, "The Highwayman," and "The Lady of Shalott."
On the Elemental album there is a song called, "She moved Through the Fair," that is beautiful and haunting and I find myself putting it on repeat and repeat in the car. Here are the lyrics:

My love said to me, "My mother won't mind
And me Father won't slight you for your lack of kind"
Then she stepped away from me and this she did say
"It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day"

She stepped away from me and she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her move here and move there
She went her way homeward with one star awake
As the swans in the evening move over the lake

The people were saying, "No two e'er were wed
But one has a sorrow that never was said"
And she smiled as she passed me with her goods and her gear
And that was the last that I saw of my dear

I dreamed it last night that my true love came in
So softly she entered, her feet made no din
She came close beside me and this she did say
"It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day"

And here is The Highwayman if you want to hear it. Just beautiful.