The Victorian Lady and Christmas Lights

I'm thinking...(I wrote this yesterday? but I'm posting anyhow)

There is a lady who lives in the town nearest to us who wears Victorian garb every day, and when I say Victorian garb I mean everything. You can see her walking down the street with trailing skirts and lacy blouses, her hair up in a large pompadour. She often carries a parasol and rides on a very old fashioned looking bicycle. Now, I’ll be honest and say that originally I thought this rather strange. You know, one of those odd quirks of people belonging to a little town (and this is coming from someone obsessed with historic dresses and hairstyles.)
I’ve been thinking about her a lot though lately, and found that I really admire her. If I found it strange, you can well imagine the looks she must get when she walks into a grocery store or something. I admire her because she really doesn’t care. She isn’t doing it to make a show, to go against society or anything of the like- she does it because she likes to. She feels comfortable in floor length skirts and heels that lace or button up past the ankle. She wears clothes like that because she loves them, and honestly doesn’t care about other people’s opinions.
Which I find really refreshing.
It is all too common for us to worry how we appear in other people’s minds. To worry about the impression we are making, or what is being said about us. When really the most important thing is to have a good opinion of yourself. Now I’m not saying that we should all live a Victorian lifestyle, indeed that would be most impractical, but I think we should care a little less about what other people think of us. I know that there are times when I feel like simply being happy and humming as I go about doing whatever task I’m at work with, and yet I stifle the hum because I’m afraid of the stranger walking past me.
It’s not that I hide who I am, and if someone asks me I’m happy enough to answer them honestly, but there’s still that part of me that wants to be invisible. That doesn’t want to stand out. I want to be less afraid of being noticed, because if you’re confident and happy with yourself that’s what is really important, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Outside my window...it's a lovely chilly day.

I'm wearing...A striped sweater and jeans and am wrapped up in a large blanket.

I'm reading...Jeeves and Wooster books by P. G. Wodehouse

I'm creating... Almost finished with my doll's dress.

I'm listening to...Christmas music, yay!

A picture thought I'm sharing...

 

 

My room all decorated with lights, doesn't it look lovely?

 

Road to Avonlea

I’m pretty sure most people have a favorite show. The show you own all the seasons to and know every episode by heart. That show where it only takes the theme music to make you perfectly happy. For me that show would be Road to Avonlea. When I was about nine or ten we rented the first season, and after that everyone knew that my favorite present on a birthday would be the next season. Even now it is the show that I go back to when I have a head cold or am feeling sad. There’s just something about the opening shots of the cliff tops in front of the ocean, the fields of waving grass, the soft piano music, it makes me happy. Perhaps this is partially because I have so many memories with it, nostalgia, but beyond that there’s something about it that I love so much. It’s s happy, it’s sweet, and it’s innocent. I’ve never been a fan of a lot of drama. I’ve always felt that there’s enough of that in real life without having to feed myself that in entertainment. I’ve grown some since when I was younger and used to refuse to read any book where a person died. I like a good story, I like plot and emotion, but I still don’t like an excess of drama. Road to Avonlea is essentially a happy series, a series following children running through fields and wiggling their bare feet in the sand on the shore. I honestly feel attached to each and every one of the various characters, Aunt Hetty, Uncle Alec, Gus, Felix, they’re all a part of my childhood and I have a special fondness for each of them.  Yes, Road to Avonlea has this special place in my heart.

 Leave it to Beaver

 If you know me you probably know that I love old black and white movies and TV shows. For years I knew that if I brought up a favorite thing to watch most of my peers would give me blank stares. They hadn’t even heard of these shows that had played back when their grandparents were growing up. Actually, I think this rather pleased me, as if I knew a lovely secret. Leave it to Beaver was one of these.  They’re awfully fun and sweet, and I have quite a few brothers so I like stories about little boys. Besides, I have a soft spot for Wally.

 I Love Lucy

 I don’t think I’ve laughed so much over a show as I have I Love Lucy. Comedy that makes one laugh with no crudity as so much of our humor now days is filled with. My favorite episode would probably be “Lucy does a TV Commercial.” I like the ones when they go to Hollywood a lot too though (mostly because of all the cameos of movie stars I know. I always go JOHN WAYNE and wave my hands about because I actually know all of the movie stars) Also, Lucy’s dresses are beautiful, but that’s just a side note.

 

 Robin Hood (BBC)

 This show is the best. No, really, I know I keep saying this, but it’s one of my favorites. It is just the sort of adventure tale I like, nothing too dark, but full of daring do and escapades. Yes, that’s the sort of thing I like. Robin’s my darling with the way he smiles and strides about cockily. I love Marian and her way of combining being ladylike and adventurous. (Did I mention her costumes. Beautiful.) and Will. I shan’t go into them all, but Will must be mentioned, as he’s quite probably my favorite character. Actually, the characters are what really make this show. They’re all really well done. I laugh, I cry, and with each rewatch I laugh and cry some more. I just love. (FYI I refuse to acknowledge the existence of a third season. It didn’t happen. That is all.)

Doctor Who

This is my newest favorite show. I actually hadn’t watched it until last Summer. I had heard all about it, but I’d never actually watched it myself. Now it’s very high on my list. I went through all the episodes at probably the fastest pace I have with any show before. What I like best is how different every episode is. They’re always different and I always enjoy them. I admit it, I originally started watching for Rory, because Rory is amazing, but as soon as I was through his episodes I had come to love everything about the show. Now my brother and I can chatter about Doctor Who for hours, and it has the distinction of being the only show I went so crazy about that I bought a poster (which hangs up by my desk if you’d like to know.)

 

 

It's Monday Again

I'm thinking...

I'm going to be keeping this short today. November is seeming a very busy month. (Also, no I never did finish the October challenge did I? Perhaps I'll write up some more letters in December. After college applications and NaNo.)

From the Kitchen...

Two nice little balls of bread dough sitting on the counter in a puddle of flour. What a lovely way to begin the week, with the smell of homeade bread flooding through the house.

I'm listening to...

Christmas music. (yes, we are listening to Christmas music already. It isn't really full out Christmas music though, just piano. It makes us all happy though.)

I'm wearing...

My periwinkle blue "Christendom" t-shirt and jeans. As soon as my hair dries I'm going to fix it into the bun style that I've been wearing quite often lately.

I'm creating...

I really do need to finish knitting my doll, don't I? My hope is to definetly finish it by the end of December. I'm rather looking forward to December as a month that will have slowed down some. A month of knitting, crafting, baking and counting down the days till Christmas.

Around the house...

spread all across the table are many pages of paper painted with lovely watercolors.

I'm reading...

Joy in the Morning, by P. G. Wodehouse.

Outside my window...

It's a rather grey day. (Is gray the British spelling and grey the American one? I was just thinking about that. Perhaps I shall look it up.)

One of my favorite things...

Baking bread.

A few plans for the rest of the day...

Finishing up my bread, writing an essay, working on my novel, etc.

Of Writing and The Hobbit

I'm reading...

Perhaps I should begin with what I'm reading, as that is what is on my mind at the moment. Sorcery and Cecelia Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Don't you just hate it when you reach the most absorbing and altogether interesting point in a story, and it's just at that point that you have to put it down? Now I don't mean to complain, but really. When you are forced to leave your heroine in the most horrendous of circumstances how are you supposed to put your mind to anything else? You may appear to be thinking about the many things you ought to be thinking about, but really you're just thinking of the book.
This is especially the case if it's a good book such as the one I'm reading right now. At first I was rather put off by the fact that it is written in letter form, which is really a difficult way to tell a story, you know. Because just when you're getting into the telling of the story, and you forget that it really is a story at all, you are reminded by the ending of one letter and starting of the next. So, yes, it's a harder style to write without loosing your reader's attention, but I think the authors of this book succeed at it. Now that I'm reaching the end I'm really hooked (I must admit that the letter styling did bother me till a good six chapters into the story.)
I was also a trifle unsure about the regency setting, considering that it was also a fantasy story (not usually a pairing one finds.) I do think that it sounds a trifle funny to be having references to Lady Jersey and talk of enchanted chocolate pots in the same sentences. It makes me laugh. No wonder the dedication was to Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

I'm creating...

(Or, in other words, NaNoWriMo update!) Dear me, um, I do believe that I may possibly be starting over? *ducks head and hides from all bystanders* I know, I know, remember what I said, what was it two days ago? Keeping on with it and all that rot? Well, you see, I just can't stand my main character. It isn't that she's hate-able (I might be able to stand her if she was) and she isn't likable either. One can't connect with her. Then I started reading an old story of mine, about a character called Mary-Agnes. Honestly, she's probably my favorite character that I've ever written, and yet the story feels rather badly written I wrote it so long ago. So now I'm writing a whole new story about her. Starting NaNoWriMo over again five days into it? Bad done, Emily. Badly done. (Did I really just quote Mr. Knightly, there? Yes, yes I did. Changing Emma for Emily and there we are.) How shall you ever catch up on 8,334 words while still maintaining a consistent 1,667 words a day besides that? I really don't know. All I can say is I better get back to writing.

Also, on a slightly differing creative note, I just restarted my knit dress for my knit doll. (Dear me, that's a lot of starting again on things, isn't it?) but I dropped some stitches and I needed to unravel the whole thing so there we are. I do think it's going to turn out rather cute though.

I'm listening to...

The Brave soundtrack on youtube. I really like it. It's my favorite right now.

Outside my window...

Don't you just love fall? *sentimental sigh*

One of my favorite things...

Holiday coffee cups. They're just lovely. They make me happy.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Having a smashing good week of school, work, and being generally productive (such as writing out some essays for my college application.) Other than that NaNoWriMo takes over.

I'd also rather like to go down to Barnes and Noble since I have a gift card (Is this a yes, Mama? Yes, please?)

I'm wearing...

Jeans, a cream sweater, and a grey vintage looking hat (I'm rather in love with this hat). Also, on the subject of hairstyles I've figured out this way to put my hair up in a bun and it's really quite lovely. You twist it all up with the cuff of a sock (that you have cut down for that purpose) and tie it off with a rubber band or two. It really makes me feel quite happy.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

Did I mention we carved Avenger style pumpkins?

 

Also, (because everyone needs to get as excited for The Hobbit as I am)...

 



EVERYONE. HOBBIT. THE HOBBIT. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. EVERYONE. THE HOBBIT. ARE YOU EXCITED? I'M EXCITED. SO EXCITED.

MARTIN FREEMAN IS THE PERFECT BILBO. HE IS ADORABLE PERFECTION. AND RICHARD ARMITAGE. MR. THORTON. DO YOU SEE HIM?

Okay, sorry, capslock.

BUT THE HOBBIT, PEOPLE. READ THE BOOK. WATCH THE TRAILER. LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. DRAW LITTLE HOBBITS IN EVERY NOTEBOOK. GAWK AT THE POSTERS. WATCH EVERY MOVIE THE ACTORS PLAYING IN IT WERE EVER IN AND TRY TO ENVISION THEM IN THEIR PARTS AS CHARACTERS IN THE HOBBIT. THE. HOBBIT.

Basically, this is amazing. At the time the Lord of the Rings movies came out I was obviously not old enough to watch, but now I'm going to have that time of waiting for each new movie and properly hyperventilating the whole time. I expect to enjoy tremendously.

Breathe, Emily, breathe.

But, you do realize how amazing this is, right?

Anyhow, must start up on some math and SAT studying. Have a lovely Monday, dear reader!

NANOWRIMO

You may have noticed that it is now the 2nd day of November, and thus the second day of NaNoWriMo!  I have so far written 3,304 words into The Story of Living (I put up a little widget in the side bar where you can keep track of the word amount I am currently at.)

I'm really not sure if I've written anything of quality so far, but that's not the idea of NaNoWriMo. The idea is to write, write, write, for all the month of November. At the end of it we'll all have a first draft of a story, and first drafts are supposed to be bad. (No really, ask any published author and they'll tell you that their first drafts were terrible. It was only after they went about editing and going over their first draft, creating a second and a third draft that the real story began to appear on the page.)

I'm going to continue on with this story, knowing that my characters may change personality several times during the story, that the plot might change into something quite different from what it was to begin with, and I'm not going to edit a bit. Editing is for December. (Did I mention how hard that is?)

I'm going to let my fingers fly across the keyboard without hindering them, and see where I end up.

Now a bit of NaNoWriMo writing music.