Literary Heroine Blog Party - 2012

I decided that it might be a fun way to relax (since I don't have any school today,yipee!) to take part in this blog party hosted by Miss Kellie

Introduce yourself!  Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

A little about me ~ I am a senior/freshman in high school/college homeschooler! (wow that kinda  got away from me) to further explain I am a highschooler who is now taking a my first year of college a year early. I am majoring in animal science and hope to eventually go on to Vet school. Besides my fondness of all living creatures, I am also a complete any-thing Jane Austen Nut, (not to mention, Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Anime Nut(oops! how did that get in there?)). Besides my somewhat bizarre likes, I am the happy middle child of a large Catholic Family ( ten kids, composed of seven boys and three girls) and enjoy spending much of my time with them! I am a stolid believer in the right to life, and the dignity of every person! Now that's over I can move on to the other questions.

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? 

I can't exactly say, would I think be different for everyone. I suppose in essence it would be anyone who longs and fights for the truth. Not someone who is perfect but despite their faults peruses perfection. Someone who overcomes their fears and becomes better, and is willing to be saved

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. 

Amy Dorrit

Jane Eyre

Ester Summerson

Five of your favorite historical novels?  

Jane Eyre

North and South

Bleak House

Little Dorrit

Wives and Daughters

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? 

Jane Eyre - My favorite character would be Jane. I love how she sees the world, though she has experience very little love or kindness, she still is a good person who does not resent the people who where unkind to her. 

North and South - My favorite character is Margret. I admire her strength, how she takes care of everyone around her, how she stands firm even in tragedy.

Bleak House - My favorite character is Esther. She is probably the kindest creature alive! Can't be matched in her humility or gratitude.

Little Dorrit - My favorite Character is Amy. She has such fortitude, and patience, she is always affectionate and caring. In her quite way she watches for out for all those who are dear to her.

Wives and Daughters -  I love little Molly, she such a lovely character, so believable. 

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? 

Jane Eyre - Mr. Rochester, he adds an interesting element to the story, being almost the exact opposite of Jane. There conversations together are quite intriguing!

Bleak House - I just love the character Mr.Woodcort, though he is not much in the book, the point in which you do read about him, make him unforgettable!

North and South - Mr. Thorton is quite the interesting character, adding much to the story in way of intellect and an objective view of what it is like on the other side of the industrial revolution

Little Dorrit - Mr. Clements is quite the hero, I love his quite gentleness to everyone, especially to little dorrit.

Wive and Daughters - Roger the steady gentle Roger. Such a interesting character!

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? 

My dream is to eventually travel to either the UK (including a round tour of England, Ireland and Scotland) or to go to Japan. For the UK trip I would visit all the places that my favorite Authors lived, and go to see the country side. In Japan I would probably mostly visit historical sites and learn more about their culture (which I find fascinating!)

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? 

Depending on the culture, for England I prefer the from Regency to early industrial revolution. For Japan I prefer the Baskumes to the Meiji era, but more Meiji.

I like the English culture mainly because of the books written in it history and though the culture is very interesting I suppose I have been getting a little tired of it. My newest fanaticism is the Japanese culture, which is quite different from the other oriental culture once you start learning more about it!

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? 

I would probably would recite a very dark or dramatic poem or selection, that or play a song on my violin.

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? 

Probably Jane Eyre because I look very much like how that character was described. Plus I just love the costume of that time!

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 

Fine for an occasional treat, but not exactly my favorite.

Favorite author(s)? 

Elizabeth Gaskell, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Watsuki Nobuhiro, and some others that I can't think of right now.

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? 

My sister, a dictionary in that langue, painting supplies, a pack horse or two, swords, two wool cloaks, and walking staff.

In which century were most of the books you read written? 

Victorian mostly...

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… 

Besides Kenshin (which might not be included as literature) not anyone I can think of off the top of my head.

Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

A place in deep in the mountains of some distant land, a delightfully ancient house filled with books, old papers, maps, and paintings. A stable is a must. 

Sum up your fashion style in five words. 

historical, old-fashioned, colorful, creative, and quaint. 

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? 

Yes, in Mansfield park I wish the main character had any name except Fanny, such a horrid name!

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... 

the villain in Bleak House, Mr. Tulkinghorn!

Three favorite Non-fiction books? 

How to grow Bonsai

Medrick Veterinarian Manuel

Diary of Anne Frank

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? 

Horse back riding, painting or reading.

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. 

elegant sophisticated and NO HAT! If I must wear something over my head probably a long flowing veil.

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 

Probably starting college a year early, it has been interesting to say the lest, but not exactly as challenging as I thought it would be.

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

My favorite is and probably not a original choice but it is one of my favorites:

For the plan He has for you are for your good, not evil, life not death, to give you a future and a hope.

~ Jeremiah 29:11

Thanksgiving Party

Good evening everyone! It's been awhile hasn't it? I would be posting more often, except for the sad fact that I have to study for tests and things like that! Enough of depressing subjects, I am joining in Miss Kellie's delightful Give Thanks Blog Party



1. List three (little) things you wouldn't want to live without

Uhmmm probably books, animals, and the great out doors

 

2. Name something you had to do without recently

A heated room, lately been piling blankets on my bed because of the cold draft from my new and not quite finished window.

 

3. What are you most thankful for that you consider a luxury?

Having my own room, which in a family of ten is quite a luxury!

 

4. Name an item you use the most throughout your day

My mama's kindle, I am currently addicted to the books by Elizabeth Gaskell and am doving through Wives and Daughters

 

5. What would life be like without the item listed in #4?

Not too bad, but I would miss all the free old books. I guess I would have to resort to the book forms, not too bad a thing in my estimation.

 

6. Name something that you use in the kitchen that you are thankful for

Our grace radio, I love listening to old radio shows while cleaning the kitchen!

 

7. What is (one of ) the best earthly gift(s) you ever received?

Very tough question, hmmm, I think that their are too many for me to count but one that comes to mind is the gift of life (I think that counts as earthly), I would have to admit that it is rather hard to enjoy anything else without this gift!

 

8. Name a completely random thing you are thankful for

Sweaters, great for a cold room, and socks too, its amazing how warm they can keep you!

 

9. How often do you think about the item listed in #8?

How often? Well practically never I suppose, just grab the sweater whenever I'm cold. Same thing goes for the socks.

 

10. Name something you recently acquired, that you have wanted for a long time

Not exactly, I did get a dress for Christmas that I have been wanting for the total of one morning! Mentioned to my mama that morning that I didn't have a dress for Christmas, and that very evening my mama finds a beautiful velvet dress (I think it looks like it could have come from the 1940's) for one dollar at the thrift store!

 

11. Would you rather have #4, or #7?

Not very hard decision there! I think I would rather be alive then have a kindle to read! Rather hard to enjoy anything without #7!

 

12. Name one of your favorite things

Horses! Have been crazy about them since I was three years old! Still am for that matter!

 

13. Look around the room you are in, and name three things you enjoy in it

Knitting, Reading, and playing with my cat, Oh wait sleeping's nice too!

 

14. List three tools you use in your daily work that you are thankful for

Notebooks, computer, and pens, rather boring but when pretty much all you do all day is do homework, there aren't too many things that you have to use for that. Still I'm very thankful for these daily tools even if they are rather boring!

 

15. Name something that you sometimes wish you didn't have in your life, but that you would miss dreadfully if it were taken away

I don't think I know how to answer this question, it poses a rather difficult question. But I shall give a rather odd answer to it and it may not make very much sense. Pain, that is my answer, but before you start thinking that I enjoy this or something, pain is really a one of those things that we never see as a blessing, but I think that it is. With pain we learn many things, and through our pain we become closer to God. We can even use our pain as an offering to God. I have in my life experienced quite a bit of physical pain, and still do though my headaches, but even though I would love for these to stop, it is not always what is best for us. Now that I have finished my little sermon on pain, you may now commence to the next question!

 

16. Post a picture (or ten) of something you are thankful for!

 

Large Families! Mine expecally!



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Little siblings!

Very Long hair



Long walks in the woods

Old books!

I hope that you will all have a blessed Thanksgiving!


Manners, Culture and Dress of the Best American Society

One of my strange interests include old time etiquette, and this one I find very interesting. I am concocting at this moment some devious ideas of a ball (oh wait its only ball if you have at least a hundred couples, anything less is just a dance) I mean dance according to these social rules, it would be quite interesting! Anyway we shall see, if you want to check out this delightful book of Manners, Culture and Dress of the Best American Society free on Google e-books. Quite the interesting read if I may have an opinion.
Also since I don't have anything else to talk about here is my latest find for music, it called I am stretched out on your grave, a nice cheery little ditty as you can tell by the title. Following true to my taste of depressing music and fondness for Irish ballads. So I present for your entertainment

Sir Edward Landseer - Victorian painter

Sorry about not posting for a while, it has been very difficult for me to get to computer recently, but in the mean while I have had some time to think of what I should post. I decided to post about a Victorian painter, Sir Edward Landseer. He was well known for his portraits of animals, in fact because of his paintings of the Newfoundland dog, Landseer is the official name for the variety of that breed which he depicted in a painting like this

Saved by Sir Edward Landseer

Besides doing portraits of dogs he also did many of horses. Here is my favorite of his;

The Shrew Tamed or The Beautiful Housekeeper by Sir Edward Landseer

He was frequently commissioned to paint the Royal family and their pets.

Queen Victoria at Osborn House by Sir Edward Landseer

Besides having a obsession with the old things, I also have an obsession with animals, so you can imagine my excitement in finding these paintings.

Victorian Chatelaine

       What is a Chatelaine? Well its a type of jewelry that was worn by women in the Victorian era. They were  useful little trinkets that also doubled as jewelry. They could be almost anything, a nail file, small notebook, pencil, match case, scissors, needle case, anything that would be useful to a lady of that time. They would look something like this

They would be worn at the waste or at the neck. While I was looking for a picture I came across this cartoon from Punch magazine 1849,

Which makes me think where they really all that helpful? Well, probably not as much as they could have been, but they also had to be pretty and lite so that they could double as jewelry. So far as fulfilling their purpose as being useful and pretty (which is a very hard thing to put in to one object, completely)  they do rather well.

The Art of Penmanship

On the subject of penmanship, I believe that it is important to have good handwriting. I will recommend the book Practical Penmanship by the Spencer Brothers, I have found that this pamphlet has greatly improved my handwriting (though I still need a little more work on it). In an age of computers, e-mails and texting, penmanship may seem a useless accomplishment but, as I see it not everything we do has to have a practical application. Many things may not make sense but to the old fashioned girl, beauty and neatness are very important.