I've Moved

Hi everyone. Life has taken many interesting turns recently and I've decided it's time for a change. So I've given my blog a make-over at this address: http://lydiathelibrarian.blogspot.com/

See you there!

I Love Paris

Yesterday Mom asked me if I could do anything today what would it be. I thought about it and said, "I would probably go to Paris." Paris. Is it possible to love a place where you've never actually been? I also thought about what I want to be when I grow up: a traveling writer. Travel around the world and write stories about it. What could be better? Unfortunately until my Dad invents a Tardis or a Stargate, that would mean traveling by airplane, not my favorite activity. I wish I could travel by map, like the Muppets. I hear it's much faster than most forms of travel.

 
Someday I'll get to Paris, and England, and Italy. Until then I'll be satisfied with my books, movies, and Disney's Epcot.

I Did It!

This evening, I accomplished my personal challenge and finished reading Jane Austen's Emma. Thus I have read each of her novels, some of them multiple times.

Now the question stands: What should I read next?

Just Too Tired

Maybe it's the fact that it's August, nearing the end of a long, exhausted summer. Or it could be all the cleaning, reorganizing, and putting-things-away going on around here. But no matter how much stuff gets put away, either in an old place or a new place made specially for it, there is always more stuff to be taken care of. The mountain of mess just keeps growing!
 
Whatever the reason, everyday I wake up tired and can't wait for night so I can go back to bed. I've taken to napping in the afternoons. Today I climbed back in bed, still in my nightgown, at 12:01 p.m. and did not emerge until almost 1:00.

Another reason I want to be a Jane Austen heroine: They have servants to clean up the mess. The external messes at least. Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse had to take care of the emotional messes themselves. (Let's not even get started on Marianne Dashwood!)

I've had Jane Austen on the brain lately. I finally picked up Emma again, after I-don't-know-how-long, and am determined to finish her this time. Last time I read Emma I got a little more than half way through. When I finish I just might reward myself by reading Sense and Sensibility again, which may even surpass Pride and Prejudice and be my favorite of Jane Austen's works.  
  

A New Day

This has to have been the longest summer of my life. In fact I think this has been the longest year of my life (and it's not even August!) Everything has happened: life, death, weddings, funerals, work, play, happiness, sorrow; you name it, I'm sure it must have happened here.

But now it's all behind us. All the events laid out for this season have ended, all the major ones at least. Stretched out before me is a blank slate, a story not yet written.

College turned out to be less enjoyable (and useful) than I had anticipated. (Although I did get an A in the class.) So I'm taking this next semester off from school, at least class room school. I'll keep up with my homeschooling, reading, writing, and music. I may even try to get a job this fall.

And now that I'm out of school, the Harold B. Pricklepants society will begin meeting again. I have requested we read Gone With the Wind (one of my all-time favorite books) even if I have read all 700+ pages of it two or three times before!

Life will continue. Even if sometimes I wish it would slow down and give me a chance to catch my breath!  

It's May!

Obviously I did not succeed in my Lenten challenge of blogging for forty+ days, but after a few weeks of respite I'm feeling inspired again.

First of all it's May, one of my favorite months. It's at last warm enough to dance about in sun dresses and leave the windows open all night long. And the gardens look glorious.

I took so many pictures of these purple beauties, trying to get the perfect shot. 

Everyday I step out the door and am greeted by a waft of sweet perfume from the collection of roses. 

With the turning of the calender comes my Mom's birthday, the first of May. We celebrated with a proper Jane Austin tea, complete with cupcakes slathered in a pale pink frosting and a good black tea served in floral teacups. 

The Birthday Girl! (And Daddy.) 

(Who's Un-Birthday we celebrated.)

And last but not least, I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT! 

I'm not going away to school yet, just taking English 1A at the junior college over the summer. I'll probably take several classes at the j.c. over the next year or two, and then it's on to the big leagues! 

Day 5: An Empty Day and a Return to Childhood

"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet," said Anne Shirley. (L.M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.) And I think it is equally nice to wake up to a day with no plans in it yet.

I feel so much freedom in having a simple day at home where I don't know what I am going to do. There are so many things I could do! Should I have oatmeal or toast with my eggs this morning? Shall I choose to knit, a familiar pastime, or try something new: crocheting? Would I rather ramble through the garden this afternoon, or just curl up with a good book? And if I chose the latter what should I read? Julia Child's My Life in France, Out of Africa, or start something new altogether?

Earlier this morning, after getting a little frustrated at my lack of internet, (I do have a deadline to keep here!) I thought of a beloved children's book I had not read in a long time, one which happened to be safely tucked in the bookshelf in my own bedroom. I ran my finger over the bottom shelf, the home to several, over-sized children's stories, and selected the one on my mind from the bunch. I opened The Gardener (by Sarah Stewart) and perused the colorful, beautifully illustrated pages that tell the story of a little girl with a great love of gardening and flowers, a girl who happens to share my first name: Lydia, Lydia Grace Finch.

Later in the day I chose to walk outside in the garden, (possibly inspired by the morning's reading!) Being outdoors in the warming days of spring, examining all the new growth in the flowers and on the trees, makes me feel very child-like again. It is a wonderful feeling. Sometimes I yearn to truly return to my childhood, where my world was smaller, simpler, and sometimes even sweeter. Of course I only remember the beautiful things at times like these. But that is not an option. I can never go back, only forward. But I can take as many things with me into the future as I want, like children's books, a love a flowers, the simple beautiful things that I remember from long ago....       

A Cloudless Day (Figuratively)

Though the sun has shone in a blue sky for most of the days these past two weeks, my head has felt like it's been under a dark Eeyore cloud. Nothing seems to go right: our flock of chickens recently got attacked by a hawk and we lost two birds, work for my Dad and older sister has been difficult and stressful, one of my favorite holidays is practically upon us and I am in no way cheerful. What went wrong? Yesterday I did not even want to get out of bed and I felt almost angry at nothing for half the day! (an emotion I'm not accustomed to.)

I dragged myself through the afternoon, helping with housework and trying to muster some good feelings from my moody soul, and then settled down for teatime with my Mom. With hot cups of tea in our hands, she reminded me that, "Who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Mathew 6:27) I needed to remember that worrying will not help me or anyone, in fact it does harm. No situation will be made better by stress. I forget too often that the Lord has everything in control and He will take care of me. All I need to do is trust Him.

Suddenly I felt lighter and happier, and the things around me were not nearly so bleak. Elizabeth, joyfully filled with relief, came home and announced that the biggest order of mounts that she had ever filled (and most difficult) was finished! Our reinforced, chicken-hawk-proof chicken coop is nearly complete, my Aunt Cindy will be arriving on Wednesday, and the day after is Thanksgiving!

Whereas  yesterday just pulling myself out of bed was a burden, today I arose feeling happy and thankful. It's as if Thanksgiving has started today.  

Staying Happy

Sometimes, amidst the changing of seasons and lives, I feel too busy and restless to really enjoy life. My latest life project has been trying to find a small part-time job in our little town and I've been a little impatient about it. I feel like there's something in life that I'm missing out on, that destiny is passing me by. When that happens I find it hard to be my usual cheerful self and I don't like the feelings that take the place of wholesome happiness.

So late last night, while writing in my journal, I made a list of things to do to keep myself happy, and not let my inner moody "Hulk" take over.

1. Read Books More
I am generally a happier person as a bookworm (obviously).

2. Write About Good Things
Keeping up with my journal has not been top on my list of priorities lately, and when I do write it seems like it's always to complain. So I must write more and write joyfully.

3. Think About Good Things
The sad or angry feelings that come upon me come mainly from inside. It doesn't matter how beautiful the day is if I keep thinking of negative things.

4. Spend Time Outside
As long as the weather is fair I must spend time outdoors everyday, even if I just take a ten-minute walk through the garden. Fresh air and sunshine are as good for the spirit as the body.

That is the basic list to practice. There are other to be kept up with, housework (which I do enjoy to a point), knitting, playing music, but I don't want my list of requirements to become too long. That would just be counterproductive.

My amateur (or lazy) photography never seems to do things justice. You can't really see what I saw when I took this picture. I think one of the most beautiful things in the world is sunlight shining through leaves on a tree.

Up A Road Slowly

Three days ago, I turned eighteen and officially entered my life as an adult. 

Interestingly, at this time of transition for myself, the Harold B. Pricklepants Society is reading one of my very favorite books of all time. It's simply the story of a girl growing up. When I read it I feel like I'm reading Julie Trelling's journal.  I love stories about fellow writers.

Now I've grown up, or have I? I feel that I still have such a long way to go. 

Like Julie, I am walking up a road slowly, wondering what is at the end.