Happy Birthday Lucy Maud Montgomery!

To celebrate Lucy Maud’s birthday ~

http://www.classicsandcraziness.wordpress.com

~ has a fun-filled week planned on her blog. Go take a gander! Today she has a list of 9 questions to answer! Join in the fun!:)

~ How did you first discover LMM’s books?

That’s a good question. A relative mentioned she had watched the movie, “Anne of Green Gables.” So, I decided to check out the movie. After watching Anne, I read the books.

~ What’s your favorite LMM book?

Another good question. I haven’t read all of her books, however, of the books I’ve read I loved “The Blue Castle,” and I have read Anne Shirley’s wonderful stories more than once. Emily’s three books are good also. Mmm. It’s difficult to choose just one. 🙂

~ What’s your least favorite LMM book?

I don’t have one. 🙂

~ Who is your favorite character in allll of LMM’s books?

Anne Shirley, Diana Barry and Matthew. 🙂

~ What couple is your favorite?

All of them! 🙂

~ What is your favorite quote from LMM (either a quote from one of her books, or from her personal life)?

“I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

~ How many LMM books have you read?

🙂 I’m thinking. All of the Anne Shirley books. Mmmm. The three Emily books, The Blue Castle and Pat of Silver Bush. And, mmmm . . . 

~ Which LMM book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Good question. Probably the “Emily” books.

~ Have you found a kindred spirit?

Really cute question. 🙂 Yes I have. 🙂

Enjoy your day!

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Christmas Favorites ~

 

 

Every Sunday for the next few weeks, I hope to share my favorites of the Christmas Season. It could be anything – a Christmas book, the story of a surprise gift I received . . . “O Holy Night” is one of my two favorite Christmas songs. Celtic Woman sings this song beautifully. Enjoy! What is your favorite Christmas song? I’d love to hear from you.

 

Classic Movie Friday

White Christmas

~ starring ~

Danny Kaye

Bing Crosby

Rosemary Clooney

Vera Ellen

Could a movie be more Christmasy? Could a movie be more bursting with color? Romance! Comedy! Dancing! Singing! And just plain fun! White Christmas is my first choice for classic movie Friday for the Christmas Holiday season.

Have you seen White Christmas? Do you have a favorite holiday Christmas movie? I don’t think I really have a favorite Christmas movie. There are so many good ones. 🙂 There are so many to choose from! I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving I have compiled a list of TEN fictional girlfriends who are coming to our humble abode for Thanksgiving. Poor Rick! He’s going to be surrounded by women. 🙂 “Ahem.” I’m making the turkey and stuffing and they are each bringing the side dish of their own choosing. It should be interesting. These great gals are listed alphabetically by their fictional first name.

Alex Danvers from the TV series, “Supergirl.” Alex, played by Chyler Leigh had big responsibility placed on her shoulders early in life. She’s tough although not so tough. I like her!

Cynthia Kavanagh of the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. What’s not to love? This lady is creative and so full of love. She has an innocent/childlike quality and a strong faith.

Emma Woodhouse played by Romola Garai from “Emma” by Jane Austen. I have not read all of her books but, Emma right now is my favorite book by Jane Austen. This lovely lady will definitely bring sparkle to the Thanksgiving table!

Eowyn played by Miranda Otto, from “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King” by J.R.R. Tolkien. I love this character. She’s tough and full of courage, yet vulnerable. She loves her people. I am eager to know what side dish she will bring to the Thanksgiving meal! 🙂

Jo March played by Winona Ryder from “Little Women.” Good strong but flawed female character from a great family. Do you remember the cake with the powdered sugar sprinkled on it from the movie? I hope she brings that cake to the meal!

Jules from “The Intern.” I love Jules, played by Anne Hathaway. I connected with this character in so many ways. And, her daughter is more than welcome to join us.

Kara Danvers the amazing “Supergirl!” She flies into danger, eager to help  always giving the villain an opportunity to change for the better. This character is played by Melissa Benoist.

Lucy Pevensie from “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. This strong female lady is played by Georgie Henley.

Raleigh Harmon of the “Raleigh Harmon Series” by Sibella Giorello. Good strong woman from a troubled home. I really like this character. She needs to have a weekly TV series!

Tuppence Beresford from the Agatha Christie mysteries, “Tommy and Tuppence.” These two have such fun together, but Tommy has to stay home. Sorry Tommy, this is a fictional girl Thanksgiving. Maybe Rick can join him for some guy fun!

There it is! My list of fictional female characters who are making the journey to my home for Thanksgiving. I’d love to hear from you. Who are your favorite female ladies of fictional? Have a great Thanksgiving! 🙂

Welcome Ness Kingsley!

Rise and Shine. I have a visitor today! Come on in!

That’s right, the talented Ness Kingsley, author of, “Our Intrepid Heroine,” “Our Accidental Adventure,” and “The Curse of Cackling Meadow,” is visiting the cottage today.  So, without further ado, here’s Ness Kingsley!

You can find Ness at ~ http://www.nesskingsley.wordpress.com

1.) How long have you blogged and why do you blog?

I’ve blogged for . . . hmmm . . . about four years? It took me quite a few goes before I found a blog I could settle into and now I’ve been blogging on of words & books for a little over two years.

I blog because I like having a place to express myself – to rant about books, writing and occasionally life in general.

2.) What is your favorite genre?

Oh! Tough question. Now, I like romance, mystery (mostly of the murderous kind), fantasy and a wee bit of sci-fi. Anything that has a good adventure or a character that I can truly get behind, laugh with and cheer on.

3.) What are you reading right now?

The Chronicle of Robin Hood by Rosemary Sutcliff – it’s not my favorite of her books, but hey! It’s Robin Hood.

4.) You are going to meet your favorite fictional character at a local coffee shop. You can visit with this fictional character for one hour. Who are you going to meet and why? What are you going to talk about?

You know what? I love this question even if I have no idea who my favorite fictional character is. Hmm. Alright. So I would herd the Phantom of the Opera into a seat and lecture him on manners and healthy relationships. Also, I’d ask him what he thinks about modern music. And rap.

The answer should be rather entertaining.

5.) If you could live inside a fictional story which book would you live in and why?

Any Mary Stewart book – Nine Coaches waiting or Airs Above the Ground. (I should have picked a heroine of hers to go for a coffee with!) Oh! Or Georgette Heyer’s regency world. Or I’d be a friend of Amelia Peabody’s and crack open a murder case with her.

The possibilities . . .

6.) Has one fictional character ever inspired you? Who was this character and how did he or she inspire you?

Wonderful question but of so hard to answer! And do you know what’s awful? I can’t think of a single one. I mean, I have been inspired by fictional characters – I’m certain of it. But to bring one to mind is proving rather hard.

(I’m probably going to remember a character after I’ve sent you these answers and kick myself in the shins for forgetting him/her!)

7.) You are stranded on the North Pole for one year. You have shelter, plenty of food, water and warm clothing. You are allowed to have one book. Which book are you going to have with you on the North Pole to read for that long 365 days?

The Bible – I’d try and memorise as much of it as I could. And probably fail horribly at it. Memory like a sieve and all that!

Thank-you for the excellent questions.

 

photos provided by Ness Kingsley.

Thanks so much Ness for your visit. It has been fun. Thanks for the photos of your books and the awesome answers to the questions!

Good morning!

“Plum Pudding Murder,” by Joanne Fluke

This was the first time I read a book by this author. It was an interesting cozy mystery with some clean romance. However, I guess I will begin with the romance. Hannah is a likable character. However, it really bothered me, throughout the entire story, that she was seeing two guys! I realize both of the men knew she was seeing the other guy, but really? She wasn’t hiding anything, but really? Norman is the dentist and Mike is the detective, both great guys but I really think she needs to narrow it down to one guy. 🙂

Hannah owns a successful bakery and this mystery has almost as many recipes in it as a cookbook! haha.

Larry Jaeger owns the “Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot,” where there is more happening than selling Christmas trees. Well, one, cold, winter night Hannah and Norman, the dentist, discover Larry’s dead body in his own comfy home away from home.

I did solve the mystery but that is really ok with me. I don’t mind solving mysteries at all. I give this cozy read 3 stars!

“Rancher for the Holidays,” by Myra Johnson

Ben Fisher was “downsized” from his dream job. His aunt and uncle invited him to stay with them on their ranch in Alpine, Texas. Ben is searching for a new job and is ready to hit the road as soon as he finds one.

Marley Sanders is a photographer, trying to keep her business going so she doesn’t need to ask her political minded father for financial assistance. Marley loves Alpine and never wants to leave.

There were so many things I liked about this book. I liked Marley. Photography is such a wonderful profession and I enjoyed reading about her talent in photography. She was a creative person and loves the people of Alpine. She’s involved in a wonderful outreach in a border town and – with the help of others – does so much for the people of this needy community.

Ben is a good guy. He seems a litlle lost and his ego is bruised from loosing his job. He does so much to help Marley and doesn’t hesitate to assist where help is needed.

It seems strange, but I couldn’t connect with Marley and Ben at all. I couldn’t “get into” their characters or the story. It has a sweet ending as most “Love Inspired” romances do, but this one just wasn’t for me – I guess. 3 stars.

Both photos are My Awesome Photography. If you are curious, that is Walter the Bear holding both of the books! 🙂

 

 

 

“Lovely Weather for a Picnic!”

It’s snowing!

• pinterest.

Food

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m thinking of food. Well! Alright then! I have never had bad food on Thanksgiving. 🙂

This is a random blog post. I really don’t know where I’m going with this. 🙂

The worst foods I’ve ever had in my life ~

• soy hot dogs ~ They are terrible. I don’t eat meat at all. One day, while grocery shopping, I noticed soy hot dogs, so I bought them, just to give them a try. Blah! They were horrible! Our dog wouldn’t eat them! Shocking!
• prune juice ~ Oh! My! Goodness! It was nasty! However, I would rather have prune juice than soy hot dogs!
• mushrooms ~ Oh! Nasty! Slimy! Slithery!
• avocado ~ Euuuuuuuu! That is all.

It is a little more difficult to list favorite foods because there are so many, and they need to be in categories. So, I guess I will list foods I can’t live without.

• bread ~ There is nothing in the world that compares to homemade hot bread right out of the oven. Yummy! And! I make homemade bread the old fashioned way. No bread machines here! 🙂 I like all kinds of bread.
• salads ~ Mmmmm. My husband makes the best salads I have ever tasted. And, he’s so meticulous about his creations. They are a work of art!
• mac and cheese ~ Oh yes! Mac and cheese is the food of superheroes! I have said it before and I’ll say it again, Captain America eats mac and cheese! 🙂
• apple pie ~ Hey! A girl has to have dessert! My grandma made the best apple pie in the world!

So. I hope you have enjoyed this random feature. Have a great day. Enjoy!

 

Fun Morsels ~ “The Fellowship of the Ring.”

I finished Tolkien’s story this morning. The story is better and better every time I read it. 🙂 In this reading, I became more acquainted with Sam and Lady Galadriel.

• “Mellyrn” is a tree that bears a yellow blossom.
• “In Rivendell there was a memory of ancient things; in Lorien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world.” ~Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
• “Haldir” said, “Gimli” was the first dwarf to see the trees of the “Naith of Lorien” since “Durin’s Day.”
• “On the land of Lorien there was no stain.” ~Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
• “I feel as if I was inside  song, if you take my meaning.” ~Sam, The Fellowship of the Ring
• “For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair . . . ” ~Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
• “Yet more fair is the living land of Lorien, and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that lie beneath the earth!” ~Gimli, The Fellowship of the Ring
• “This is the Nenya, the Ring of Adamant, an I am the keeper.” ~ Lady Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring

Enjoy! 🙂

 

 

 

The Sidekick? The Unsung Hero/Heroine Part 8

 

If you’ve seen the new TV series “Supergirl,” then you’ve met Winn. He’s in love with Kara. He loved her before he knew she was “Supergirl.” He’s a little quiet, kinda stays in the background. He’s intelligent. He’s always there for Kara. I don’t know what the writer’s are going to do with this character in the future, but I believe he is an unsung hero.