Downton Abbey

Since the season finale of the second season of Downton Abbey aired here in the U.S.  last night, there's been quite a sigh of "Well, finally!" mixed with "More! More! More!"  around our house and with various friends.  That said, I've been on a nostalgic tour of various online articles about Downton today during my down time (aka afternoon nap time.)

I thought I'd share these here with you, Readers, for your perfect amusement.  It should satisfy your Anglophile needs until season three can be ripped from various sources online.  (Not that I would ever condone such behavior.  Ever. Never.  Ermm.  Well.  Right-o.  Changing the subject please...)

Read some great recaps at Vulture.com.  They are sarcastic and witty down to the perfectness of it all.  Ending with Lady Grantham quotables from each episode.  Highly recommended.
http://www.vulture.com/news/downton-abbey

For laugh out loud, gaffing at your work desk during lunch or just because you needed a break, something that will make all of your coworkers stare at you as you bust a gut:
Downton Abbey printable paper dolls.  (Thank you, Amy!)
http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/print-out-vultures-downton-abbey-paper-dolls.html

The Abbey That Jumped the Shark by James Fenton (I was led to this from one of Vulture's articles on Downton.  Both are interesting and anything that invokes the jumping of the shark is worth it.  Can you say, "Mysterious bandaged war vet with amnesia?)
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/mar/08/abbey-jumped-shark/

Downton Abbey: You are Awful...But I Like You from the Guardian, published in November 2011.  The article calls it "warped genius.  And I agree: Actress Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) is" exempt from all criticism because she is wondrous (fact) and has saved the entire series from near-disaster.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/nov/04/downton-abbey-series-two-storyline

Fabulous pictures of Downton stars On-Screen and Off-Screen.  These pictures make me love costumes, makeup and period dramas even more!
http://www.papermag.com/2012/02/downton_abbey_stars_out_of_cos.php

And of course, the official site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/
Great exclusives here along with various links to other fun things Downton-ish.  (Like the Guardian's quiz: Which Downton Character are you?)

Enjoy!

2012 Goals

First, before the Jane book blogging can begin, I am going to share my 2012 goals.  Notice how I'm not calling them New Year's Resolutions?  The word goals seems a bit more attainable.  I was listening to the news earlier this week and they said it was good to have set times to meet resolutions or goals, so I even have those this year.  (Hey, at least I didn't write my own personal goals in SMART format, ok.  That would have been a bit overdone for even me...)

1. Lose 15 lbs by the last day of school, June 8th.  I did just have child numero dos and even my fat "I purchased these after the birth of numero uno to go back to work" pants don't fit.  No good.  No good at all.  Must control chocolate habit.  Must drink more water (Dr. Oz claims this is key to losing weight and jump staring one's metabolism.  Did I mention I have been watching a lot of daytime TV?).  Eat more vegetables.  (More Dr. Oz.) Probably should add exercising in there, too.  But I do have 2 young children and will soon be working full time again at a job where I'm on my feet a lot.  Remember, I'm starting with attainable.

2. Finish numero uno child's 1st year scrapbook by end of Winter.  (Spring Starts Tuesday March 20th, I guess that's my day!) She's 3 now, I think it's about time.  And I'm not sure my marriage can take my scrapbooking crap all over our den much longer....

3. Blog.  ONCE A WEEK.  By Friday.  With some connection to Dear Jane.  In each one.  No problem, right?!

4. Learn to make a decent pot of coffee.  It's come to my attention, recently, that I can't do this.  It all tastes like crud.  I should be able to do make a pot of coffee....

Other Thoughts and Ruminations on these goals:
A. I've never owned a scale in my adult life.  Maybe now's the time if I'm serious?
B. There might need to be a chocolate purse in this house.
C. Child numero dos will be lucky to get a scrapbook at all at the rate I'm going.
D. Need to not let blogging pile up.  (Like right now, seeing as I have a large stack of books to write about.)
E. Since I got a new coffee pot for Christmas, I can't blame the coffee pot anymore. Darn it!
F: Jane would probably suggest I make a nice pot of tea instead.  (See, there's the Jane Connection for this entry...weak, yes, but there nevertheless) And I might agree with her right now...

Where The Heck Did She Go?

Where the heck did she go?  No blog posts for a solid three months.  This will not do!

Answer:  Little man born on October 30th, now 2 months old.  We have our feet more firmly planted on the ground, we are sleeping, we have managed to survive The Holidays.  And alas, now that there is time to read and blog again, this Jane Austen Addict is beginning to end her maternity leave and go back to work. Le Sigh.  But before that can happen, there is some serious blogging to be done.

And begin...now!....

HP Alternate Ending

DH shared this one with me and I can't help but share it here.  It is the HISHE (How It Should Have Ended) for the Harry Potter series.  While I do not agree with all of the blog/video, it couldn't agree more with the Time Turner thoughts.  Where the heck is it?  Come on J.K!?!  Come on editors!  Read the blog for some description or just watch the video for kicks.  Enjoy.

Birthday Celebrating!

Having just celebrated a birthday I’m feeling contemplative on the whole birthday thing….Especially the summer birthday thing.  Since my birthday falls in what I have always deemed “the exact middle of summer” it is both wonderful and crummy all at once. It is wonderful because it is summer –I’ve hardly ever worked on my birthday being that I chose education as a profession (maybe I did in college when I worked at the canning factory? I don’t recall.).   So there’s that and well, heck, it’s my birthday.  There’s usually some kind of cake or dessert and presents with ribbons.  That’s pretty good. 

While, yes, it’s true I hardly ever got the paper birthday crown in elementary school. ---Well, maybe once for a half birthday in January and I never got to bring treats in to celebrate--except for that one time when I had a crown?—Really, this lack of inclusion stopped bothering me at some point.  Let’s be realistic here, I looked on with bits of jealousy, but for the most part this lack of recognition fits my personality—the introvert in me finds no need to draw extra attention to myself.

Back to reality.  Being that my day is the 15^th of July that means it’s the middle of summer.   The summer countdown begins and it’s over, this summer business, I mean and that means back to school or work or whatever it is. (Target and Staples had back to school supplies advertised last week!) Le sigh…

Usually, a nice quiet dinner and dessert with family has sufficed and I’ve been quite content.  But as I work my way through the decade of my, gulp, thirties, I think I’ve finally hit on something.   Here it is:  Let’s just make this virtually a whole week of celebrating and craziness and exhaustion!  What’s more, this year I documented the celebration with a photo blog story.   

Here goes:

Wednesday AM: Run around in the morning trying to get toddler to cooperate after she declares she doesn’t not want to go to storytime (one of her favorite activities).  Mom bribes child with cheerios to get her in the car and at least return books/movies to the bookdrop that cannot be renewed another day….

Wednesday early PM:  Uncle Dan arrives for his first solo babysitting adventure after sitting in traffic for an extra 45 minutes. We’re all a little flustered but said toddler is excited to play “pay-doh” with Unc Dan.  Score! (No photo available, photographer preoccupied with getting out the door.)

Wednesday evening:  Indigo Girls concert at the MN Zoo.  1. Yay that the zoo is open.  2. Yay for no rain during the outdoor concert. 3.Thank you to KC for the bleacher seat.  This pregnant lady would not have made it through the evening with out the back support!

We had a great time as per usual at the concert. Our seats this time ‘round weren’t the greatest we’ve ever had (last time was something like row 3 or 4 smack dead center!), but it’s not about seeing their faces as much as hearing the music.  Besides, their roadie/tuner gal was fun to watch as she chucked guitar picks at the Skippy the security guard.    

That all said, I have a small IG problem.  Later this week, my dad asked how many times I’d been to see them and the conversation went something like this:  “So, that was your second or third concert?”  “Um, no.”  I held up my hand and displayed all five fingers.  “Yes, I guess you really are a groupie.”  (And I’m making DH, dear hubbie, a groupie, too.  It was his third.) 

(Set List photo shamelessly yanked from the IG's FB page. They did not play Watershed and the question mark was an awesome rendition of Chickenman/Bitter Root mixed together.)  Thanks, ya’ll.  

Thursday AM:  Toddler dropped off at daycare.  Check.  Mini-cat nap on the couch.  (Have I mentioned I’m not sleeping very well right now?)  Check. 

Thursday Noon:  For my mom’s birthday, I’d said I’d take her out to lunch and shopping.  We did this on Thursday, which added to the birthday hoopla, we were celebrating someone’s birthday, right?  We had a delightful tea luncheon at the Mad Hatter in Anoka.  Unfortunately, the rain kept us from perusing the shops in downtown.

Thursday PM:  Pick toddler up from daycare and stop by the theatre on the way home for tickets.  Harry Potter tickets!

Friday AM:  Package on table with ribbons.  Wait wasn’t the concert my birthday present?  Guess not.  Teehee! Convinced toddler to hop in the car, despite the thunder to get Mom her ‘Bou Day Birthday Coffee.  Oh sweet decaf skinny almond cappuccino, it’s been a while! 

Friday AM cont.:  Matching Thomas and Friends with toddler.  Note that Mom’s spot is supposed to be RIGHT next to toddler and Little Nut Brown Hare on the floor.  Thank you thunderstorm!

Friday AM:  Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bruce arrive to spend part of the day with us.  We attempt the library musical program but it’s beyond packed.  Instead we do puzzles together at the library. 

Friday Noon:  Lunch at Chile’s.  DH joins us in the downpour.  Good food, albeit a bit slow in the service department.

Friday PM:  Naptime for toddler, birthday cake time for adults.  MMMMMM!  Say goodbye to parents, attempt to cat nap on couch.

Friday PM:  Papa Murphy’s pizza pickup (Ok, so it’s not Punch Pizza like last year, but this was pretty good stuff and what awaited was even better!)

Our church friends, Audrey and Al arrive to babysit.  They’ve offered to babysit pretty much since kiddo was born and it’s just never happened until now.  We show them the ropes, eat pizza together and head down the road several blocks to the theatre….

Friday PM:  Much Harry Potter Goodness.  And Crying.  And saying Goodbye to Dear Friends.  Sigh.  Gulp.  It was like finishing the last book for the first time—bittersweet.  It was awesome and even the small bits that were changed were perfect.  And can I just say what a pleasure it’s been to have all of the same actors and actresses play the same roles each time? 

The Star Tribune's review said this:  "For all the movies' dazzle and flash and Hippogriffs, the characters are more vivid than the special effects.  It is out emotional involvement with the three-dimensional heroes and villains, sidekicks and background players that draws us back time after time.  The final chapter ends with an epilogue that puts a lump in your throat and makes you want to watch them all again from the beginning.  That's the definition of a classic."  So true--as Albus Severus Potter found his seat on the Hogwart's Express, a chocolate frog jumped across the window of the train and I uttered, "Oh, a chocolate frog!"  Yep, time to start from number one again.

(See photo with Snape/Alan Rickman.  I Heart Alan Rickman.  Not that I think he's hot or anything but he's an awesome actor.  Love him!)

I’d also like to thank Baby Boy in utero for cooperating for a whopping 2.5 hours and allowing me not to have to get up to use the restroom.  Not even once.  Thank you, Son.  Much appreciated. 

Friday Later PM:  Birthday cake whilst watching the Thursday episode of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Who will be in the Top 10? One we pegged and one was a bit of a surprise. 

Saturday:  Recovery Mode. We’ve all slept a lot.  For the first time in 2.5 years, the child slept until almost 8 AM.  What a blissful summer schedule!

An Homage to Anne Shirley

I know I posted this on Facebook for some of my friends, but I feel that this link needs to be shared here since Anne of Green Gables is on my Ultimate Top 10 Book List.  Again, Fug or Fab makes me Gafaw, Chortle and any other form of laughing you can figure.... I've posted it below,  but it does cut off Kate's ensemble, so clicking on the picture will take you to the original.  LOVE IT!

Beware of the Sleep Deprived Mom

At the last bookfair my school held, I picked up a cute little sticker that said, "Beware of the sleep deprived mom!" I bought two, thinking that some one or other of my dearheart girlfriends with a kid (kids) needed one, too.  After carrying this little sticker around in my day-planner-calendar-keep-me-sane book for several months, I've come to the possible conclusion that perhaps, just perhaps, I should change the name of this blog to that quote.  It might better fit my life right now...

So, dear blog, it's been awhile.  And while I do have some Jane Austen blogging to do--I have been reading in my hiatus--I also have some mom updates, thoughts and ruminations for this blog entry.

• First, let's be upfront.  A hiatus from blogging?  Sleep deprivation?  Tums in my purse?  Yes, this sleep deprived mom will be going from just a little bit of sleep deprivation to a significant amount at the end of October with the arrival of Baby Boy.  I've started suggesting names like Fitzwilliam or Darcy, but I just get these strange looks from DH.  Hmmmm...At least I'm not suggesting Willoughby or Wickham! Geez!

• Not sure how I feel about this article: Regrets of a Stay-At-Home Mom. My gut reaction:  Can you say bitter much about your divorce, lady?  

•  Here and there I get it in my head that I (read that as we:  daughter and I) need a craft project.  There have been several this winter/spring.  (Think foam monkey Valentine's, felt projects etc. We did forgo May Day this year. I was disappointed but too exhausted to care.  There's always next year.) I thought I'd share two here.... 

Somewhere around Miss L's 2nd birthday, I saw this project in a magazine and couldn't help myself.  Yes, that's a homemade felt cornucopia!  Thank you, DH, for helping to cut out the shapes!  Seriously, this bunch of veggies and fruit has been a great addition to our kitchen playtimes.  Miss L has been making stews and soups galore!  They are great! And better than the cornucopia is the little toy grocery basket I found at the dollar store--we grocery shop at our house quite a bit with this basket and set up felt goodies.

 

 Elmo Cupcakes for the 2nd birthday!  Really cute, but so many on a tray is a bit frightening, yes?  These are about as shnazzy as I do when it comes to cakes/cupcakes.  I am thinking about making cupcakes a birthday tradition at our house. 

• We finally had a first solo overnight for the kiddo at Grandma and Grandpa's this February.  Everyone did fine and really it was mom (me, not my mom) who needs to learn to chill.  Sigh...

• At our church kids can start Sunday school at 2.  We started attending in January and it is here that I point out the "we."  As in L and I.  Together.  Or else SCREAMING would occur.  Miss L thinks Sunday school rocks and is pretty excited when church is done.  She might be mute during the whole of class, but rehashes the entire hour in the car on the way home.  We've spent a lot of time talking about how in the fall she will go to Sunday school by herself without Mommy.  Stay tuned to find out how that works for us... 

• As we've reached the mid-twos here, I feel it is my duty to record 2 of the following events.  Both of which had DH and I rolling on the floor in laughter and somehow cringing at the same time.  At one point Miss L was complaining that her bottom hurt.  She said she needed "the diaper cream."  The next thing we knew she'd disappeared and DH went to find her.  From the kitchen I heard, "Some assistance here, please!"  Miss L had found the diaper cream, taken off her diaper and was happily smearing it on her bottom.   

Similarly, I'd hardly had a chance to blink and ask, "Did you poop?" one afternoon (me again in   the kitchen and her in the living room) and was drying my hands when I heard a door close and realized it was the bathroom door.  I ran to the bathroom to discover said child, diaperless and dumping the contents of her diaper into the toilet to flush away.   After both incidents we had to talk about asking Mommy or Daddy for help with these tasks.  Oh, such a big little person!

• And finally, we did our first trip involving an airplane with Miss L this spring.  We went to Ann Arbor to celebrate the wedding of a good friend and knew that the 14-16 hour drive wasn't in the cards for us with toddler in tow.  While flying might be a big deal to some folks, it is for us--or for me at least.  The older I get, the more I hate flying.  Usually I take some "mild tranquilizers"  as my doctor puts it (I tend to make myself sick).  This time, no such luck given my expanding waistline.  Instead, I bucked up with a smile on my face and let DH sit next to the kiddo on the plane. We went armed with quiet activities, but really flying out all we needed was a snack and the window seat!  Seriously, I was about to get out the Elmo DVD's or Follow That Bird to keep me occupied on both flights...

Miss L was a weekend trooper, given 3 days sans naps and did reasonably well on the plane ride home. She was just a bit grouchier as we made our decent, but 3 days without a nap will do that do a kid.  We had a great time celebrating with our friends.  DH sang some of his best man speech.  (Truly priceless! He's thankful I didn't record it on the camera and I'm kicking myself.) We were thankful for the extra assistance of my in-laws at the reception (Miss L can spot a park/playground a MILE away or just next door, thank you, Grandpa!)  We are also thankful for the holding up of our GPS (it's got some charging issues) and its magically ability to point us in the direction of a park in an unknown neighborhood when it was just what we needed or an Arby's for that matter...And I called it, Miss L was asleep by the time we were pulling out of the park and ride parking lot in our own car. 

And so with those thoughts and ruminations, I click "publish post"  dear blog. I think it will be the beginning of a new tag here at JAA.  So if you see this tag and can't handle its lack of Janeness, well, I'm sure there's a Jane quote for that but I don't have the energy to find it because I need a nap.

~With Love, the sleep deprived mom on a restricted caffeine diet, aka a Jane Austen Addict.

This Will Put Tears In Your Eyes

It's not often that both DH and I fall into hysterics and fall onto the floor, laughing with tears in our eyes!  Because of this hilarity, I share the link.  This post from the website Go Fug Yourself is sure to be a day brightener! 

The posting is titled, The Other Fugs. And yes, it does relate to Jane Austen.  :) :) :)

(I think it was AustenBlog who alerted me to this.  A sincere thank you.  And if it wasn't, thank you to whatever Janeite blogger did actually alert me to it.)

Do You Know the Muffin (Wo)Man?

Needless to say, I like to bake.  I think it's somewhat therapeutic. (I also actually think this about doing this dishes, but not quite 100% of the time...) About a week ago Sunday, I decided to make some banana chocolate chip muffins (one of my signature recipes, or so I like to think).  Then I was inspired to make some raisin bran muffins.  Next thing I knew there were 3 dozen plus muffins sitting on my kitchen counter.

It's during this explosion of baked goods that I am reminded of Izzy from Grey's Anatomy.  Specifically, I am thinking of the episode where Izzy bakes.  And bakes and bakes and bakes and bakes.  And friends, what does she bake?  That's right muffins. She finds it therapeutic.  Hmmmm....does that mean I'm going a little crazy? 

Adieu, Sweet Summer.

Monday marked the return of full time work until mid-June and I'm not thrilled with this prospect. 

But nevertheless I am reflecting on the glory of summer and all of the wonderful relaxation that occurred this summer.  Miss L and I learned a new routine together--one of baking, going to the park, going to storytimes-a-plenty, one of dance parties to Hey Hippopotamus by Justin Roberts, one of learning to paint and color and discover kiddie pools and watering cans. One of farmer's markets and music classes, one of attempting to use the potty, repeating the word no constantly and finally--one of learning to say the word love and getting a squished up hug thereafter.

Ready to bike!

 

 

We're biking and we're happy!

Making cookies with Mom.

First ear of corn on the cob!  YUM!

Hugging Teddy (teddy bear puppet) from storytime!

Watering can fun!

At the beach, impromptu swimming!

Reading with Mom.

Tutu, car and Elmo!

Lest you think I can't relate Jane to this blog post.  Miss L with my glasses, reading The Annotated P&P. 

At summer's end, I have shed many tears this week as work stress begins and we've sent Miss L to daycare.  My summer pilates/yoga straightened shoulders look pinched again.  I have taken ibuprofen too many times to count this week.  With a sigh and a gulp, I bid you adieu, sweet, dear summer. 

Jane Cooks (Everything Austen II Challenge)

As part of last year's Everything Austen Challenge, I'd put down that I was going to read and make something from The Jane Austen Cookbook by Maggie Black and Deirdre Le Faye (McClelland & Stewart, 2002.  128 pgs.) and a few other Jane cookbooks. (Here's that blog post.) I at last read them, but no baking occurred.

And so-- As part of the Everything Austen Challenge this go 'round, I'd put on my list that I was to actually bake something from The Jane Austen Cookbook (TJAC from now on.)


And bake I did, friends.  Let's begin.

When I'd read TJAC, I'd made some photocopies of about five recipes that I thought I could tackle.  Nothing too complicated and I mostly chose from recipes that were actually from Martha Lloyd's cookbook. (Who was Martha Lloyd?  A good friend of JA's that lived with the family at Chawton Cottage and after Jane's death married Jane's brother Frank after the death of his first wife during childbirth.) I chose recipes from her cookbook because while the recipes have been adapted for the modern kitchen, I thought it rather fun that JA might have eaten these recipes some 200 years ago.

In early June I made Martha Lloyd's Macaroni recipe from pg 49.  Think macaroni with a cream sauce.  Yes, real cream.  It was pretty good and tasted somewhat like a carbonara sauce less the egg that carbonara contains.  Freshly ground pepper to top the macaroni was a nice addition.  (Forgot to take pictures of this one.)

In early July, I made Martha's Ratafia Cakes recipe from pg. 125.  When read through, this recipe sounded something like the simple meringue cookies I am used to around Christmas-time.  The difference here being that there were ground almonds and a teaspoon of orange liqueur in them.  I purchased baker's sugar (superfine sugar) as the recipe suggested and began.  Essentially, one whips egg whites with the orange liqueur until stiff, adds the sugar and almonds and bakes.  I found that the liqueur made the egg whites not want to become stiff. Or maybe I didn't beat long enough, but I did beat for what felt like forever and I do know what stiff is....so, a little flat they were, but tasty nevertheless!  Next time, I will whip eggs to stiff and then add orange liqueur and beat in for a few seconds to see if this remedies the problem.  Pictures are of them going into the oven and coming out.  Rave reviews from Dear Hubby on this one!  They were a bit addicting--the almond is a nice touch to the meringue like texture.  They were light and hollow inside, and about as close to a 'cookie' as JA may have gotten (rather than a cake).

Last week I made Rout Drop Cakes.  This recipe noted as from Maria Rundell, the 1806 edition of her cookbook--a cookbook of the day etc.  TJAC says that these cakes are "pleasant with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at mid-morning or in the evening.  They were easy-to-eat party cookies on a Georgian evening tea-table, too" (pg 125).

Essentially, these little ditties are raisin or currant scones.  They were easy to mix up. I used raisins rather than currants because I couldn't quite determine how old my currants were (they were thrown in the trash with a small shudder!).  Curious, too, the recipe contained 1/2 tsp. each of orange juice and rose-water.  (For the rose-water, I substituted plain old tap-water, not wanting to deal with trying to figure out where to find it or how to make it myself....) It also called for 1 tsp. white wine or sherry (I used some white zinfandel that was already open in my frig) and 1 tsp. brandy (I actually had that for baking, can you believe it?!?).   So, a lot of little flavor additions but really, they tasted like scones.  Plain and simple.  Delightful with some lemon curd or Devonshire cream.   (Of which I made for my bookclub's tea party, see blog entry here.)

And the question remains--would I make any of these recipes again?  Macaroni--no.  I'd rather have real cream, aka serious caloric intake, in another recipe not this one.  Ratafia Cakes--yes.  I'd like to see if I can get them a bit more round rather than flat and they were pretty tasty.  Rout Drop Cakes--maybe.  They were a bit dry.  The jury is still out on that one.

Are there JAC recipes in line for the future?  Maybe.  I have Martha Lloyd's bread budding recipe and her Gingerbread Cakes recipe.  The bread pudding is a might.  The Gingerbread Cakes recipe is a "probably not" given the review of the recipe from the lovely blogging ladies at Austentacious.  These ladies declared them to taste like "dried out cookie dough" and said they aren't worth the time if one has options like we do now (as opposed to JA's time).  (In other words, go for something much more tasty!!)

That said, if anyone would like the recipes, I'll gladly share them.  Do ask. And again, Check out the tea party picts, we went all out!

I Capture the Castle Tea Party

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
St. Martin's Griffin, 1948 (1998 republished), 343 pgs.

My bookclub read I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith for the month of July.  While originally published in 1948, this book is truly timeless! There were times one wasn't sure what decade the story took place in, so much was this story and its characters timeless.   The characters are ones to fall in love over and over again and is a beautiful coming of age story.  (Can you say Hallmark Hall of Fame Classic?)

Here's the description from the back of the book: "I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"--and the heart of the reader--in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments."

Is there an I Capture the Castle's JA tie-in?   You bet your buttered scones!  At one point Cassandra refers to she and her sister as much like the Bennet girls, Elizabeth and Jane, as they realize that marriage is their only option of survival in this world.

Because the book takes place in England and in a ramshackled ruin of a castle, my fellow book friend and Anglophile, SarahA and I hosted a tea party for our fabulous bookclub friends.  Now, it should be noted that SarahA and I have been finding all of the places in the Twin Cities metro area that offer High Tea and each year to celebrate our birthdays we go to a new establishment.  So what I'm saying is that we do tea.  And we do it well. Or at least we know how to do tea.  Or something.  Did I mention both of us studied abroad in the British Isles during college?  We even met up in Oxford for a quick afternoon for...pizza.  Don't ask.  We're not sure why we did pizza now either.  I think it was more about timing and catching a bus for me, but you get the idea.  True Anglophiles are we.

And so, here are pictures of our menu from our delightful tea party.  I, as per my usual, forgot to start taking photos until we were in mid course just about every course.  So do excuse the presentations of half-picked food. :)

1st Course:  Assorted Mini-Quiche

Ahem, store bought.  (But quite tasty.  Thank you, Archer Farms.)

Course 2:  Cranberry Orange Scones & Rout Drop Cakes

Cranberry Orange Scones recipe from author Marilyn Brant's monthly newsletter.  They were fabu! The recipe made what felt like a zillion and they were extremely rich.  Rout Drop Cakes from The Jane Austen Cookbook.  See more details about them in my blog entry here.

Course 2: Easy Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Strawberry-Rhubarb Preserves.

Easy Devonshire Cream--very tasty!  Adapted it from the recipe at AllRecipes.com. I've made this one before and added more sugar and some vanilla this time around.  Much better!  Lemon Curd recipe from an unknown internet source--it's a microwave recipe and was actually quite easy.  A bit granular from the sugar, but highly recommended.  Preserves, store bought.

Course 3: Chicken Salad Sandwiches and Sweet & Savory Ham Sandwiches

Chicken salad sandwiches--basic chicken salad, but quite delightful.  Sweet & Savory Ham Sandwiches---OHMYGOSH!  They were to die for!  The original name for this tea sandwich was Ham & Apricot Tea Sandwiches, but as we used Strawberry-Rhubarb and not Apricot, I thought one couldn't really call them their original name. Here's the gist:  raisin swirl bread, one slice spread with Dijon mustard, the other with preserves and a slice of ham in between.  Cut crusts off.  This tea sandwich is going in my "I am so making those again (very soon if I can help it)" recipe pile.  Sources unknown for all tea sandwiches as SarahA found and made them (although I did help with assembly). 

Course 3: Asparagus & Prosciutto Tea Sandwiches and Cucumber Sandwiches

Asparagus and prosciutto--very good, bread a bit much.  Even though the recipe called for hearty bread, I'd say a thinner slice would do next time.  And why the heck don't I made cucumber sandwiches more often??  These were such a refreshing bit of heaven.  I think SarahA says she uses whatever cream cheese the spirit moves her to purchase.  This time it was flavored with chives and a bit of fresh dill.

Course 4: Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Mini Cherry Cheesecakes and Double Chocolate Cupcakes.

The cinnamon sugar cookie recipe is a recipe I grew up with.  I think it might be one of my all time favorite recipes.  These cookies are so very good with tea or coffee.  They are great dipping cookies!  Mini Cherry Cheesecakes--are much easier to make than they appear.  I halved the recipe this time to only make a dozen and it worked pretty well. I thought the cheesecake portions were a bit small but they were refreshing as always.  And double chocolate cupcakes.  SarahA bought these and I don't know where from.  I only know they were quite deadly and one my go into chocolate shock after eating even just one.

Fabulous bookclubber friends.  Love you!

Yes, there were actual people at bookclub.  It wasn't just food.  Surprised aren't you?  :)  Hope you're hungry now!  I'm not and it's Tuesday already....

Back in the Saddle

I keep singing Gene Autry's song, "Back in the Saddle Again."  I can't get this song out of my head lately.  It's just stuck there.  And it might be because I'm feeling Back in the Saddle Again for several reasons...

1. Literally, I am back in the saddle. My bike saddle that is.  My bike has been taken down from it hanging space in our garage and has been dusted off.  After a hiatus (a pregnant summer and well, no real excuse last summer other than no free time), we've attempted to ride again. On Memorial Day we did our annual Memorial Day ride.  Rather than go for what had become our annual excursion to Elm Creek Park Reserve and do a nice long ride complete with DQ  (because we'd earned it!), we changed our tune this year.  We added a Burley bike trailer (thank you, Craigslist!) and a toddler to the mix.  We rode a whopping four miles along the Rice Creek  and had a break at the playground and it was quite delightful.  And hilarious as said toddler had to keep lifting her helmet up to look out and then she fell asleep a block and half from home.

There have been several other attempts at this biking business since then.  My computer got an update (um, errr, I made have needed to update a setting starting with the letter W, um, errrr....), the toddler hasn't fallen asleep any other time and now when we say let's go for a bike ride, she points to the yellow Burley trailer hanging from our garage rafters. And let's just say that my saddle can tell that we are back in the saddle again.  Ouch!

2. I tried on some pants that were packed in a galaxy far, far away just before school got our for the year and lo and behold--they fit.  I knew there was a reason to keep them for two years...Back in the saddle--need I say more?

3.You can tell summer is here.  I am attempting to read blogs again and read and read and read (both for work and for pleasure).  Can you say back in the saddle again?

4. I am also excited about 2 fabulous online Janeite opportunities.

The first: An online read of Pride and Prejudice sans zombies hosted by Laurel Ann at Austenprose.
I offer you the reading and event schedule here--do be sure to check out her clever image for this group read.  If you know the zombie cover, then you should appreciate the image. 

The second, Stephanie at Stephanie's Written Word has done it again!---Everything Austen II Challenge!  Second verse, same as the first.  Maybe this time 'round I'll actually read some non-fiction like I'd challenged myself to do for the first go 'round.  Now I must go read some P&P, naptime is almost over and I've got a schedule to keep for this group read thing.

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast

Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry by Katrina Kenison.
Warner Books, 2000. 222 pages.

I was introduced to Katrina Kenison via an email forward of this fabulous poem/reflection. 




The poem resonated with me.  Our fleeting lives.  Our fast paced, breakneck lives.  How fast our children grow and change. After investigating a bit further about the author of the poem, I was pleased to discover she’d written a series of reflections about motherhood.  I found her writing easily accessible and captivating—transported to a simple, easier time. I laughed out loud (always a treat when reading a book, a laugh out loud moment means the author has done his or her job at humor— very well indeed!) and cried a bit when I could relate to her yearning to slow down and one story about trying to get dinner ready while trying to deal with her then 2 and 4 year olds. (She resorted to putting the little one in the sink to play. I have yet to do that…But these are daily questions, tensions, and issues in my family due to working full time, although we only have just one little sprite to follow around.)  Kenison is a part stay at home mother, part time editor; a believer in simplicity, and Waldorf education.  She mentions and quotes the writings of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Louise Erdrich, & Mother Teresa.  Virginia Wolf’s soft whispers were there, too, but not directly quoted.

Her writing resonated with me so much that I came up with seven pages of typed notes and quotes from her book.  Here are a few passages that spoke to me:

“I have learned to quick speeding through life, always trying to do too many things too quickly, without taking the time to enjoy each day’s doings. I think I always thought of real living as being high.  I don’t mean on drugs—I mean real living was falling in love, or when I got my first job, or when I was able to help somebody, or watch my baby get born, or have a good morning of really good writing. In between the highs I was impatient—you know how it is—life seemed so Daily.  Now I love the dailiness.  I enjoy washing dishes.  I enjoy cooking, I see my father’s roses out the kitchen window, I like picking beans.  I notice everything—birdsongs, the clouds, the sound of wind, the glory of sunshine after two weeks of rain.  These things I took for granted before.” –pg 10-11 from friend Olive Ann

On Healing:

“To an adult, a Band-Aid may be nothing but a sticky plastic strip; but to a child it is a badge of honor, imbued with magical healing properties.  Be grateful, and stock up.” Pg 101

☺ Need I say more on that quote?

On Nurturing:

"In the moment my first son was delivered out of my body and into my arms, the world tilted.  Miraculous life!  How fiercely I loved him, and how urgently I plunged into my new vocation, this career of the heart called motherhood.  At the time, I had no idea how I would nurture this tiny infant through his journey into manhood.  Don’t spank? Spend quality time? Build self-esteem?  Buy organic food? These were the themes of the parenting books I had poured over through nine months of pregnancy.  But how little I really knew, as we embarked on our new life together.  And how quickly, it seemed, the days were eaten up by the details of parenthood—feeding, diapers, ear infections, housework…It took a long time for me to begin to develop anything that might be called a philosophy of mothering.  Most night I felt it had been all I could do to get through the day. “ pg 171

On spirit:

“Over and over again, I am reminded that most of what I know of God, I have learned from my children. From the instant they arrived on this earth, squashed and bloody and astonishingly alert, they have been my teachers, messengers sent from beyond who force me to confront my own deepest questions and beliefs.  Surely in those first moments after birth, when we come face-to-face with these diminutive souls entrusted to our care, we do catch a glimpse of God. We know what it is to be blessed.  Our children arrive, as Wordsworth wrote, ‘Not in entire forgetfulness, and not in utter nakedness, but trailing clouds of glory…from God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy!’ Life as we know it is suddenly transformed—by the arrival of six new pounds of humanity.  Few would deny the presence of spirit then, for in giving birth, we experience a profound awakening ourselves, perhaps even a heightened consciousness.  But is there a way to sustain that spiritual connection as we set about our tasks as parents? How do we nourish our children’s souls as they grow and begin to challenge us?  Where, in our complex lives, does spirit live and flourish?” pg 181

On balance:

“The sweetest memories are right here, in the moments we create and share with one another.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote Gift from the Sea….she said she “went away in search of answers to the question of ‘how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center.” Pg 195

“I suppose I think of Gift from the Sea as a kind of mother’s fairy tale—a fantasy of peace and quiet that I could only dream of.” Pg 196

I love this realistic view of AML’s time at the sea.  While her writing resonates a cord within me, I see the fantastical elements in her work.  How did she get away for such a long time (2 weeks is long)?  How’s did she manage?  But then I think, the Lindbergh’s probably had a nanny.  I should do a little research to solidify my guess here, but seriously.  How’s she pull that off?

On Choices:

“As Louise Erdrich wrote in her memoir, The Blue Jay’s Dance: A Birth Year, ‘Mothering is a subtle art whose rhythm we collect and learn, as much from one another as from instinct.  Taking shape, we shape each other, with subtle pressures and sudden knocks.  The challenges shape us, approvals refine, the wear and tear of small abrasions transform, until we’re slowly made up of one another and yet wholly ourselves.” Pg 204

“And, at some point, we may begin to ask ourselves: Just whose standards am I living by, anyway?  An advertiser’s? A neighbor’s? A parent’s? A corporation’s? A culture’s? Only when we stop long enough to figure out what we really care about, and begin to make our choices accordingly, can we create lives that are authentic expressions of our inner selves.” Pg 207

Oh, the people we are amidst the chaos of life and the people or moms we want to be or dream of being.

As I started this blog entry I kept singing a certain song I learned around the 5th grade.  That year we students learned what we called ‘the groovy song,’ a classic rock song that we often asked to sing.  We thought it was a bit silly, but nevertheless fun.  “Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin’?” Strange, but strangely appealing to a ten or eleven year old.  As an adult, I amazed my own husband, who incidentally, did not know all of the lyrics to this song, when I could sing the song in its entirety.  I was shocked & amazed that he did not know it and immediately determined that he should learn it.  My daughter things it’s a pretty happy tune that she smiles and dances to. It is, after all, classic Simon and Garfunkel.  The “59th Street Bridge Song” sings a kind of harmony with Mitten Strings For God. I'll close with it.

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobblestones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

Hello lamp-post,
What cha knowin'?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo,
Feelin' groovy.

I've got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

Dunnottar Castle

A place needs to be pretty memorable to visit it more than once.  In Scotland that place was Dunnottar Castle.  Recommended to me by a college friend who'd been in Aberdeen the year prior to me, I visited it three fabulous times during my semester in Aberdeen (1. with American friend Ellie Feb 21, 2000,  2. with DH March 27, 2000 and with my parents June 5, 2000).  It was by far my favorite site in Scotland!

Dunnattar Castle is located just south (1.5 miles) of the village of Stonehaven, a mere 20 minute (15 mile) bus ride from Aberdeen's bus depot & train station.  It sits on a cliff hugging the North Sea.  It not an easy journey to get within its walls.  The footpath one takes after the initial parking lot walk is steep and narrow and full of stairs one must traverse both up and down.  On a sunny day, it is bright and invigorating to see a place with such history and on a wet day it is forboding and haunting as an old sea-side fortress should be.  To learn more quickly, read the Wikipedia article. Quick piece of trivia:  The castle was used in the filming of Mel Gibson's Hamlet.

Pictures are a hodge podge of those three visits.

Walking down the main entrance from the road.

The village of Stonehaven, as seen from a footpath walking north from the castle to the village.

Homebodies Go To the Mall

As many of my readers know, I am no home decorator. I haven't the inspiration, eye or attention to detail. My house, while cozy and warm to me, may feel stark and sometimes empty to others. Knickknacks? Hardly. Wall decor? Some. So, when I saw this placard in a boutique while on vacation with family, I knew it was for me.

Ah, yes. "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." --Jane Austen

My husband and I are homebodies. We aren't much the social butterflies. We are introverts (extroverts when need be). Sometimes bordering on boring. So far our daughter seems to do just fine socializing at daycares and doesn't get too terribly shy in front of strangers (a few minutes of clinging and then she's off discovering fabulous things she should not be playing with). I feel for her, though. She's going to go to school some day and some kid is going to say, "Have you been here?" or "Have you gone here?" And she'll answer something like, "No." "What's the zoo?"or "The mall, what is that?" Get the picture, dear reader??

So, imagine my surprise (and my husband's, I think), when we started talking about actually doing something on Saturday afternoon that did not involve either A. a nap, B. grocery or Target shopping? We've heard on good authority from friends that the Mall of America's Underwater Adventures is a fun family outing and that the Rainforest Cafe is a great place for kiddos. And so we started talking. And planning.

Because that's another thing about us. We plan. We are not spontaneous people. We have trouble making decisions. Um, and it should be noted that it took quite awhile make the decision to go out yesterday...) We discovered that with my Teacher ID badge, we could get a free single annual membership to Underwater Adventures. Add the dual membership (Miss L is still free!) and we scored a dual annual membership for around the cost of one adult admission price. I see rainy, wet days at the MOA in our future and some too hot to go outside summer days, too. Even if we are homebodies, we need to get out of the house sometimes.

This was a pretty big adventure for us because even though we live in the same metro area as the nation's largest mall, we live on the opposite end of the mall and it takes 30 minutes to get there. It is not somewhere where most locals go frequently. (Ok, these locals.) And after we got there, we wondered what we were thinking. MOA on a Saturday afternoon/evening in below zero weather = hoards of people! It took us almost as long to park as it did to drive down to the MOA. Sigh.

Thankfully the ticket line at Underwater Adventures moved quickly. Unthankfully, we were surrounded not only by an underwater labyrinth of aquarium tunnels (if you are claustrophobic this place is not for you), but also by everyone with children in the tri-state area. Even so, Miss L was quite enthralled and pointed and followed the big sharks & fish with her eyes, and head and body--almost tipping over in Daddy's arms. We saw seahorses and pretty tropical fish that Miss L watched intently and pointed to and said, "Uh, uh, uh." I think that's fish in Klingon. She and I even touched a starfish.

After our Underwater Adventure, we walked (conveniently only one length of the mall and the same floor) to the Rainforest Cafe, where we had reservations for 5:10. (Note, always make reservations for this place! Sheesh! I think I heard it was a two hour wait last night.) Now folks, for us, this is a big deal. We don't go out to eat very much. Especially with a 14 month old. It's just not quite the dining experience one wants to, well, experience. But we went for it anyway and figure we could always pack up our meals to go and find the car quickly (or as quickly as one can find their car at the MOA...)

We really didn't have to wait and found ourselves seated next to one of the fish tanks. We quickly ordered off of the children's menu and got settled in and looked at menus. Miss L did very well--she thought the mini cheeseburgers and corn were great! (Mom and Dad appreciated the fact that her meal was served on a plastic kid-friendly plate.) She was not a fan of cold 2% milk though. (This is what we get for usually giving her quasi warm milk.) But she was so mesmerized by the the fish swimming across from us and the children that sat next to us, that in between leaning out of her highchair, waving and clapping at the fish, she did eat some food and didn't throw too much of it on the floor. We got to actually eat our meals and she was still eating. (Thank you to the rainforest thunderstorm and its distracting capabilities!) Miss L ate a bit more, cooed & clapped at the fish some more and we marveled at how well our afternoon had gone! We were quite proud of ourselves, these homebodies getting out of the house and all.

But wait!--There's more! Now you'd think we were about done with the MOA and should really head home so Miss L could get to bed on time. But we were soooo close to the Apple store and two out of the three of us were hoping for a glimpse of the iPad. We couldn't help ourselves! Too bad for us, the iPad is not due in stores until March. Mama even got to check the Baby Gap sale rack (Baby Gap is conveniently located across from the Apple store at the MOA) and then it was time to head home.

As we walked back around the mall, we walked by the Rainforest Cafe again and who should be there? Mr. Gecko! Laura was very enamored with him, as you can clearly see from the photo. (Almost or equally as enamored as she is with Goldy Gopher when we go to Basketball games! Picture from last weekend.)

All in all, a good night for homebodies who ventured out to visit the Mall on a insanely busy Saturday afternoon.