Saturday, April 27, 2013

Sewing and Miss Austen!


I'm such a hopeless Jane Austen Fan.  I don't think I can quite get enough of anything Austen related.

I can sit for hours and watch documentary after documentary,  watch and rewatch the movies, the sequels, the prequels, the adaptations and anything that remotely relates to her books and her life.

Everyone that knows me, knows that I am totally irrevocably in love with Jane Austen.  In a non creepy way, of course.

Today was one such day.  I just couldn't get her off my mind, and so,  while I went about my business, I had a number of documentaries playing on the laptop.


The Many Lovers of Miss Jane Austen, was a documentary that played on BBC back in 2011.  Amanda Vickery takes a look back at Austen's life, at her fans and what exactly makes everyone love this author so much.

Funny thing, if you had to ask me for the one reason why I am so obsessed with her, I wouldn't be able to answer.  There isn't just one single thing that stands out, other than the fact that I find her to have been such a brilliant writer.  I guess in a way, every single novel reiterates the beauty of love, and the fact that you CAN find that amazing connection without it having to resort to sexual connotations to get the point across.


She has the knack to draw you right in, to make you feel a part of the story, to root for the characters, to dream about that Mr. Darcy.  And don't pretend you haven't, I know you have.  LOL

The second documentary I watched was The Real Jane Austen.  This one is presented by Anne Chancellor who played Caroline Bingley in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, who so happens to be her great aunt from 8 generations ago.  How amazing is that???

Fascinating documentaries which only served to bring forth a renewed craving for anything Austen related, which means pulling out some of my favorite books.....

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IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

Oh just to read those first few words send joy through me, like nothing else.

I can't possibly be the only one who feels this way, I'm sure many of my blog readers share this love for Jane Austen.

But let me show you what else I did today.....

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Worked on some new sheer curtains for the living room, they are hung up but are far too long for my liking, so tomorrow I'll be measuring, pinning and hemming the curtains so that they don't pool on the floor.

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Sewed a little more on my new quilt, and I'm not being very strict with this one, I'm basically just sewing strips and adding them as I go and letting the pattern work itself out.

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And as I add a few strips, I hang it on the clothesline so that I can see how it's coming along, and because I love seeing it flutter in the wind, if nothing else.

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Tended to the garden and harvested a little more parsley which I used for dinner. If you don't grow your own herbs, you have no idea what you're missing out on. Truth be told for many years, I didn't either, and now I just couldn't imagine cooking any other way.

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You need parsley, basil, or thyme or rosemary or mint or whatever, just step outside the back door and pick some fresh. It makes a world of difference.

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I needed some for tonight's dinner, which was another old favorite, Smothered Pork Chops. So yummy.

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and to make my boy child happy???? Stuffing. He LOVES this stuff.

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Even though it's now 8:40pm, I think I'm going to go watch Pride and Prejudice or maybe Mansfield Park.....hmmmm decisions, decisions.

What is YOUR favorite Jane Austen book or movie adaptation?


12 comments:

Rachel Lynn said...

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book. I have to admit to not seeing many of the movies. I did like Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Kathy Skinner (Kat) said...

Oh how I love anything Austen! I have watched the movies and read the books but now need to watch the documentaries:) Your new quilt looks wonderful!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

visiting around blog land and wanted to suggest you put a watermark on your photos...on my blog, each photo is labeled Thistle Cove Farm in the lower right. what with pintrest, people are snatching up photos all over blog land and, usually, not giving credit. it irks me but who has the time to police?
the smothered pork chops look fabulous; now I'm off to see the recipe and thank you.

Sherri B. said...

It is my daughter that is the Jane A. fan, she is wild about her just like you.

Love your quilt and seeing it on the line, the colors would be perfect for a 4th of July picnic too!

Have a lovely Sunday. xo

~Carla~ said...

I'm 'with you, I love anything and everything Jane Austen! :) Your quilt looks wonderful!! I posted a sneak peek of mine as well.. if you have time take a peek at my blog today to see it! I used ALL scraps which i'm quite happy with! lol!! Have a great day!!

PS - As usual your meal looks incredible! Yum!!

Anonymous said...

I love your quilt and it's colors...good for all the patriotic holidays coming up! So true about growing herbs...convenient to get them fresh and frequently!

I watched (for the umpteenth time)
Pride and Prejudice a couple of Sundays ago. A good Sunday movie, any of them! I just love them too. They are just dreamy. Although I have to pinch myself and remind me that I would be a poor village dweller if I had lived back then!

I happened to notice that the father, when he is giving permission for Elizabeth to wed, covers his mouth...and his teeth do look like dentures. But I also noticed Jane covered hers at one point, when smiling, and also Elizabeth. I was wondering if this was common etiquette, to not show teeth. I did read that by the age of 21, most would lose their teeth during this era!

I just bought the latest doctor who episode for my daughter today from amazon. :)

Spinneretta said...

I love Jane Austen too, but I couldn't say why either.
That being said, my favourite screen adaptation would HAVE to be the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. It just is :)

Love the quilt on the line- the way the sun shines through it is so pretty!

Debbie Jones said...

I really love your quilt! You must be a very talented seamstress. My favorite Jane Austen is Pride and Prejudice. Enjoy your week.

Amber said...

The newest quilt looks great! I love those colors! And you are so right about fresh herbs! I love having a bunch of herbs right off the back deck. I use them all the time, and I dry a bunch of extra to use during the winter months.

Debbie said...

I love Jane Austen! My favourite is Pride and Prejudice (both book and 1995 movie).

I'm going to attempt to grow herbs again this year. I tried a few years ago and they did not survive. My vegetables do well, but not the herbs. Hopefully, mine will look as great as yours!

Heather Ortega said...

I can't pick a favorite...that would be like picking a favorite child or only one meal to eat for the rest of my life!

Liz said...

I'm ashamed to say that in highschool I read Pride and Prejudice and hated it. I couldn't understand it, it was drawn out to much for me to keep track of what was going on, and basically I was forced to read it. When someone makes me read something I decide then that I won't like it... I know, AWFUL!!! Since then, I've re read it multiple times and love it even more each time.

I love your quilt. I want so badly to be able to quilt, I'm just not sure I can do it. I guess I'll never know if I don't try, but it makes me nervous because it's such a big project.

I am hoping to grow my own herbs this summer. I tried to do it this winter in my house, but it failed. I don't have the best house for indoor plants because of a lack of windows with sun. Oh well, I'll just try and try again.