I ♥ thursday {5}

click the photo to join in

I've started reading both of these blogs recently and love them

I've been listening to both of these songs a ton recently

                     

(in fact, I love the movie to)

                           

Mug cakes have been my most recent obsession. I mean really, there are so many variations, they're just right for a last minute snack, and they are (usually) easy to make. Here are some of my favorites. Click on the photos for the recipes.

My Life Recently

I thought I'd share a bit about the recent happenings in my life.

Back in January I moved. That was quite an adventure, though fun. While moving I ran across a ton of stuff I though was lost. Plus some books I hadn't seen in years. Here are some pictures of our new house.

Moving gave me  an excellent opportunity to go through my stuff, throw out some of it, and reorganize the rest of it. (I love to organize my stuff during my spare time!)

Our new bedroom is huge. Which is nice since I share with three other sisters. All of my school stuff, crafting supplies, and books are now in one room. Much more convenient!

We also got quite a bit of land... including woods and a creek. I can't wait till summer so I can get in the water!

Then came problems with the weather. And it didn't even let us finish moving in first :) Rain, rain, and more rain. Our creek flooded and our back yard looked like a swamp. Even our driveway was covered, leaving some of us 'stranded' for a while. Then came the snow. Then a week of more snow, freezing rain, nice 70's weather, a tornado watch, and last (but definitely NOT least) worse flooding than before. Thankfully this all happened back in January/ beginning of February. We've had pleasant weather since then.

More recntly I started reading North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) and The Circle series (Ted Dekker). I'm enjoying both of them. Though they can be slow at times. So far I think I definitely prefer the mini series for North and South over the book. I've also been watching some new (and old) films/shows. Like Merlin and Horatio Hornblower.

I'm also watching The Fellowship of the Ring for the umpteenth time (and falling in love with my favorite characters all over again). Which reminds me, I need to reread the book again!

So that's all I've had going on lately. What about ya'll?

Literary Heroine Blog Party 2013

I'm joining in Kellie's annual literary heroine blog party again. This is one of my favorite blogging events. I look forward to it every year. You can see my previous answers here: 2011 (I wasn't able to join in 2012). Click the button bellow to join in and enter the giveaways!

The Literary Heroine Blog Party Link up:

~ The Questions ~
1. Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!
I'm a sixteen year old girl who can't wait for spring. That's pretty much it! :)
I also enjoy reading, sewing, drawing, and cooking.

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?
A girl who portrays God-fearing characteristics, knows what she believes in, is gentle and caring, and resourceful.

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.
Rose Campbell (Eight Cousins/Rose in Bloom), Eowyn (Lord of the Rings), Margaret Hale (North and South), and Edith Adelon (The Inheritance)

4. Five of your favorite historical novels?
To Have and to Hold, The Scarlet Pimpernel series, Stepping Heavenward, the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes, and The Blue Castle

5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?
Sherlock Holmes, definitely. His talents are amazing and he can play the violin excellently.

6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?
Marguerite Blakeney. She's a gracious lady and stands by her husband. Though she is rather headstrong!

7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?
I have two dream vacations. One is to visit Hawaii. Live on the shore. Try the food. Ride horses along the trails. Viewing the sunsets and the scenery. The second one is a cruise to the Caribbean. I love the ocean. And the pictures people have taken are amazing. I'd love to see it for myself. Of course since both of those are out of the question, I'll settle for a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee. It's one of my favorite actual vacations.

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?
I used to not know. But apparently it is the French Revolution. I've read so many books from that time period recently. And without even meaning to. I didn't realize it until recently. Stuff like The Three Musketeers, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and A Tale of Two Cities.

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?
Quit frankly none of those. I can play the piano and violin, but not very well. When there's something like this I usually just bring some examples of my art work to display. It keeps me from having to get up in front of lots of people :)

10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?
Either Anne Shirley, Rose Campbell (from Eight Cousins), or Anne Elliot (from Persuasion)

11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?
It's the best stuff on earth! Excellent for remedying a bad day. Dark is preferable. Chocolate filled with caramel is even better!

12. Favorite author(s)?
Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, all three Bronte girls, Victor Hugo, Brian Jacques, C. S. Lewis, L. M. Montgomery, Emma Orczy, and J. R. R. Tolkien

13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?
A camera, journal, my knitting (I can't live without it), and my Bible (which is of course an essential)

14. In which century were most of the books you read written?
I have no idea. I don't pay as much attention to the authors and their lives as I should :(

15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…
Aragorn Dunadan (Lord of the Rings) and Captain Ralph Percy (To Have and to Hold)

16. Describe your ideal dwelling place.
I have two. The first is a big rambling farmhouse with a wrap around porch, plenty of extra bedrooms, and a huge kitchen. It would be placed on a ranch, which my husband would own :) The second is a small and cozy English Tudor style home placed in the woods. With a white fence by the road and a large flower garden.

17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.
A mixture of classic, country, and bohemian.

18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?
At first I didn't think so, but then I remembered something. It seems like I didn't like the name of the guy character in The Blue Castle (I think it was Barney).

19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...
Chauvelin (Scarlet Pimpernel) EDIT- I forgot someone, Lord Carnal (To Have and to Hold)

20. Three favorite Non-fiction books?
If I Perish, Joyfully at Home, and The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey

21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?
Either sewing, reading a book, playing in the woods, watching baseball games, enjoying a picnic, or going for a run.

22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.
It would be a large floppy, straw hat. Covered in just the right amount of exotic flowers, with maybe some pearls intertwined.

23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.
Turning 16, and realizing I'm half way through being a teenager :( , and moving to a new house.

24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
(Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)
This has been a very good verse for me this semester  I've had lots of assignments this year that I do not enjoy in the least. It's good for me to remember who I'm really working for.

Christmas 2012

I know this post is sadly late. I'll be posting more on why later.

I had a lovely Christmas. First of all there was almost three weeks of no school, ah! We celebrated as a family the Saturday before. It snowed (finally) on our pretend Christmas Eve. There wasn't much, but it was pretty to look at. We left on Monday for North Carolina to see family. The week was spent opening presents and visiting relatives.

I thought I'd show ya'll some of the presents I received. This was definitely the year of books. Between my sisters and I we filled up a whole new shelf with books. That's fine with me, because I love books. I just like them to all fit on my bookshelf. :-)

1. Celtic knot flexi clip / 2. BBC's North and South / 3. Two pads of drawing paper / 4. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Doyle / 5. The Circle Series by Ted Dekker / 6. From Rack Room (my first pair of boots)/ 7. the Jane Austen magazine for fall 2012 / 8. Sherlock Homes paper dolls / 9. My first fountain calligraphy pen / 10. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell / 11. Diamond lattice weave ring from Target / 12. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo / 13. A perfect cup for taking to classes/ 14. One Night with the King

How was your Christmas? What were your favorite gifts?

I ♥ thursday {4}

I would love to add this sparrow ring to my collection :)

In the midst of all this snow and cold weather I've been dreaming of spring/summer fashion. This outfit definitely has a country look to it, which I love. 

 This website is amazing. It is VERY expensive, but one can always dream, right?

Mrs. Bennett can never keep calm!

and lastly a sneak peak into my latest obsession...