Austenprose—Book #1 Challenge

Jane Austen Ruined My Life is filled with imagination and speculation about Jane Austen’s missing letters and with interesting facts  and information about the places that became more famous because she was there.

Reading this book just made me more excited for my UK trip that’s coming up. 

I have more places to add to my “must see” list and my tour map.  I know we’re already going to Bath and Chawton,  and now I’m hoping that also on that list are St. Nicholas Church in Steventon, the Cobb at Lyme, and Hatchards Book Store.

           In  this book the author, Beth Pattillo, writes about Hatchards …”my life was a disaster, but there were still books, lots and lots of books. A refuge.  A solace.”

She assures us books are better than meditation or a new pair of shoes—or even chocolate.

I know if I had to choose between my favorite chocolate or a good book, the book would win every time.

Imagining London

 

I’m so excited now that I’m actually planning my trip to London in the UK!  The Utah chapter of JASNA is planning a trip in May and June and I can hardly wait! 

In a short time, I’ll walk the paths of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Hardy, Thackeray, Dickens AND Jane Austen.  We’ll go to Bath for sure and visit other sites where she wrote or visited.

Today I finished this book that tells about English authors and the places where they wrote and wrote about .

There’s a map included with so many amazing must see spots and their places in English literature, that I am compelled to enlarge it, hang it on my wall, and make notations of places I just cannot miss!

There are some 20th century authors that I never cared to read because I always prefer the classics or historical novels.  Now I MUST read those to appreciate the places they wrote about!

I’ve wanted to go to London and other parts of England since I read my first historical novels as a 14 year old.  It’s been a part of my ever expanding bucket list for the longest time.  Now I’m counting down the days!

I’ve dreamed about visiting Stratford on Avon and Stonehenge since I was a pre-teen.  Now I dream about England every day.  I’ll make certain to keep you posted because it’s UK OR BUST!

Hopelessly Addicted to Books

I am so lucky to belong to the best bookclub ever….we’re all addicted to reading!  Often a book a month isn’t quite enough, so we have two. 

Then there’s also our yearly classic which is read in 200 page monthly increments. 

This photo is from our meeting Saturday, and shows my great friend Peggy modeling her Type 3 Energy outfit and demonstrating the remarkable similarity to the author Carol Tuttle (also a Type 3).  The book is It’s Just My Nature.  Peggy knew from the get-go that she was a Type 3, where as I, on the other hand, was so confused that I wanted to throw the book out the door. 

Did I mention we also sometimes have a “secret” book?  That’s the book we LOVE so much that if anyone hates it, she can’t say a negative word about it!  Some of us have very tender feelings, you know.

Another fabulous part of our bookclub is our all night reading marathons (which evolve into talk-a-thons—but we’re talking about books) (mostly). . . and we sometimes follow this with a day at the outlets.  We’re serious shoppers, too.

Loving Jane

I’m so excited to have an excuse to read  Austen’s works again and revisit the movies.  AND….here’s hoping I will actually make it across the pond to the UK this spring to visit the places I’ve been dreaming about since I was a teenager.

For this challenge on Austenprose.com, I’m aiming for the aficionado challenge.  That’s 9-12 pieces new or revisited.  I have 4 new books just waiting on my bookshelf!  Plus Austenprose has listed several broadcasts to watch for the challenge.

Last year for the bicentennial year of Sense and Sensibility I attended a fabulous tea party with the Utah chapter of JASNA.  This year the chapter is taking a trip to England to celebrate the bicentenary year of Pride and Prejudice.

This absolutely demands a new Regency gown to add to my collections…and I already have the most gorgeous lace that I purchased in Portland while attending the JASNA convention a couple of years ago.  You’ll have to check back later to see more details!

From My House to Yours

I know it’s late for this post.  For heaven’s sake—it’s been almost 2 years since I posted anything at all.  But here you can see my new mantle.  All right, it’s really about a year old, but the decorations are new!  I designed it myself and my wonderful son-in-law (more about him later) brought my creation to life! 

I’ll post more about it later…I have a few pictures of the process, but I ALWAYS forget to do the before photos as you’ll see in the next few days when I try to catch-up what I’ve been up to.

One thing I’m so pleased about is my Christmas newsletter.  I’ve had a goal for a few years to do one, but never had time until I retired this year. 

The most exciting thing that happened this Christmas is that SANTA actually came to our house!  REALLY!   When I saw gifts all around the tree and stockings that I didn’t fill, I was totally confused!

This is what happened:  my youngest son had visited early Christmas morning the year before, and saw our stockings hanging pathetically empty.  Then he talked to his sister who talked to all of the other kids and they planned the Christmas surprise, snuck into the house after midnight, put gifts under the tree and filled our stockings.  I always knew I had awesome kids, but this year they blew me away!!!

Hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you’ll have a Happy New Year, too!