Going All Lizzie Bennet Diaries On You, Again

Spoiler alert:  If you haven't started watching LBD as I politely encouraged you previously--then do it NOW.  Before you read this!

I hinted that the Lizzie Bennet Diaries have me reluctantly liking Lydia Bennet. It's impossible not to love a happy-go-lucky, ever-so-slightly obnoxious but sweet little Irish setter puppy either.  So I started watching Lydia's YouTube channel.  Adorbs!



Thanks to the writers and Mary Kate Wiles, she's the best Lydia ever--there's a complex human being behind all that fluffy air-brained exterior.  I admit I feel completely protective of her now and worry like a big sister.  See I told you I got hooked on the LBD!

Darling sweet Jane Bennet has her own Pinterest account. 
I've been inspired to begin braiding my hair in new styles as an homage.  (Milkmaids of the world, unite!)

Then there's Pemberley Digital's new Domino application.  Turns out Darcy has an awesome sister.
But you already knew that, right?


It's just possible that some faux blogs have popped up to carry us through real-time until the next episode pops up.  Because LBD only Mondays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. is not nearly enough.  Two of the better ones:
Diary of a Darcy  or Worst Wingman Ever Fitz

Other fans feel just like I do but make better use of their wait time. What else does a true fan have to do whilst awaiting the next episode? Well, if they enjoy musicals they make this YouTube video.

I love creativity.

But I cringe to think of how much time it took to assemble this.  Then I watch it again. Combining LBD with Beauty and the Beast? Crazy good!

Depending on how much you like Jane Austen, I promise either to not torture you with another LBD post until the final episode or I promise to share my delight as the series wraps up!

One final confession:  I tried filling in the wait by re-reading Pride and Prejudice but all I could hear every time Mrs. Bennet spoke was Lizzie's southern accent.  It fits so darn well!  So I dug up my BBC mini-series version to get her British accent back.  Whew!

And my positively last confession:  I've been reading Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Northanger Abbey too.  (In my spare time.)  (I read really fast.)

Bring joy,

Currently Obsessed with Jane Austen and LBD

What is it about Pride and Prejudice anyway?  It's truly amazing that a two-hundred year old novel's still going strong.  Each DVD version brings new opinions about the best Darcy. There have been jump-offs like Lost in Austen and Death Comes to Pemberley and P and P and Zombies.  And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's lost count of how many times I've read the book.

And now? Now I've gotten ensnared by the Lizzie Bennet Diaries on YouTube!  For those of you who are not LBD subscribers, it's delivered as a twice-weekly vlog by grad student Lizzie Bennet. Yes, THAT Lizzie Bennet.

I've become pretty much obsessed with this modern twist on a fav classic.  These single women (even if it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife) are smart, educated and thoughtful and I'm rooting for them every step and er, misstep of the way.

You may think you know the characters, but prepare to be surprised and delighted. I think the best part of this new adaptation is the fleshing out of minor roles.  I'm not dropping any spoilers here, but I predict your heart might get highjacked by an unlikely member of the Bennet family.

I love browsing Jane's Pinterest boards and may have re-pinned a sweetly romantic idea or two.

And Lizzie isn't the only one who vlogs about her life.  Facebook, Twitter and tumblir accounts exist in the world of LBD.  The more I dig, the more I find. It's like a Jane Austen treasure hunt!


I could go on and on, but all I really wanted to say was that you might enjoy the Lizzie Bennet Diaries as much as I do.

But be warned, you might find yourself sitting in front of your computer at precisely 9 a.m. Pacific Time waiting for the latest episode to be posted and being tickled to find you're viewer #307.  Not that I'd ever be enough of a fangirl to do that or anything.

Bring joy,
 

Felt Scotty Dogs

I fell in love with these little guys that Jenny B. created on Allsorts a while back. I love the peppermint look of the whipstitching.

They just kinda whispered "Valentines" to me so I pinned them to my ValenTimes board. I have a border collie rather than a scotty dog but I'm putty in the paws of a puppy so I just had to make them.

 

A free pattern, felt and a bit of embroidery thread, a lazy Saturday night watching White Collar on Netflix.  Bliss.  Productive bliss.

Sending warm fuzzies to everyone in Nemo territory.  Stay safe and cozy.

Bring joy,

Who In Their Right Mind Would EVER Bring That Home?

I never claimed to be sane, just hopelessly optimistic.

And adept at concealing my treasures from my sweetie which is fortunately easy in our over-stuffed garage.  He's not as bad as I am about dragging things home, but he does currently have four mid-century office desks stacked where car number two would be parked.

Did I mention that my walking partners are Enablers Extraordinaire? Bless their hearts, they are not embarrassed to help me comb through likely-looking garbage cans or walk next to me while I cart a thirty-gallon basket on my head. They even have helped me carry home large planters that neighbors were throwing away. They are true friends!

The Chief Enabler has even gone back with her car to rescue a bit of roadkill too heavy to carry home while I've trotted off to work. So on a chilly drizzly November day, I found this in my driveway when I came home from lunch.

Feel free to shudder. It's truly terrible. Really truly.  Horrid.

The top was upside down in the trash heap that morning so I didn't know what it looked like. I was appalled when I saw it.  Deeply aghast.  Horrified.

(Am I protesting too much?)

The bottom of the coffee table was what "attracted" me.

It had nice legs plus much of the black paint had already flaked off so half the job was already done for me.  I had grandiose visions of converting it into a plush velvet-covered bench.  Or tall footstool.  Or pouf.

Probably rodents have equally delusional thoughts about a free banquet as they approach a box of d-CON.


Anyway, I grabbed that coffee table, disasssembled it and hid away before the neighbors or my husband could see it.  Then did what any crazed crafter would do--complete ignored the legs and began projects using the top that I had no intention of keeping initially.

I've had these letter stashed away since Christmas 2011.

I had planned to buy and paint a nice pine board to mount them for 2012.

But when the free wood showed up...voila!
 
Next Christmas I'll have it surrounded with greenery so it shows up against my white walls.  And I'll straighten that lower-case "r" too. Because it's about a whole eighth of an inch off plumb.

The other drop leaf became a chalkboard that I just finished.


That flaky paint sanded easily. 

The edge stain is a new favorite--Minwax English Chestnut--which nicely frames the blackboard.

The remainder of the tabletop (I sawed part of it off for the bottom of the "mERrY" sign) is sitting on my workbench awaiting a few finishing touches so I can't show it to you yet.  I can tell you it's not going to be white or black or English Chestnut.   Part of the fun of this atrocious roadkill is the total freedom to experiment with anything my brain can conjure!

Once that's done, I'll be looking for some inspirational fabric to complete that fabulously luxurious (or not) upholstered bench.

Bring joy,
 

Joining Met Monday on the Porch

Sharing my insanity at: Creative Cain Cabin Budget Decorating Party

and at Be Colorful

My Guideposts --Week96

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. 

  

~George Santayana

Bring joy, 

 

My Little Valentine

I'm a long-distance grandmother.  Doting...but way too far away.  So you can bet I cuddled Miss Rosie Rosebud, sang lullabies, changed diapers, pushed the stroller, and carried her around as much as possible on their first trip to see us.  We let her play with her Daddy's baby toys, pound on the toy piano that her great-aunt used, and fed her in the wooden high chair that's now serving a third generation.  In other words, I used every available moment to store up memories that will have to last until the next baby fix--hopefully Spring Break will find us at Casa Encantada once again.

Babies change daily and over the six months since we've seen her, she's changed from a newborn to a little person.  Oh, how I wish we were closer so we could absorb every little change!

Please put up with me for just a bit as I share my favorite memories from their recent visit. I spent my time reveling in our Rosebud instead of taking a zillion photos.  And since I'm the designated photographer, there's not one single photo of her and I together from this trip.  A mistake I won't make on the next visit!

 

There's a dimple in her right cheek. 

 She's still the queen of farts.  It's not as ladylike as a burp, but then burps aren't very feminine either.

Her socks fall off less than a minute after you put them on.  Thank heavens for tights.

If you eat in front of her without offering her a taste, she gives you the most offended look possible.

She has the bestest big sister in the universe.

The end of the turkey baster makes a pretty good binkie/toy.

I'm sure it's just coincidence that she usually spits up on you if you're wearing black but not if you wear tan or some spit-loving neutral color.  

I suspect she'll love roller coasters since she adores it when her Daddy gives her upside-down rides or giant side-to-side sways or rocket launches up near the ceiling.  

She somehow recognizes her Grandpa even from far away and gives him a special just-for-Grandpa smile.  

She's entranced with Mickey's Clubhouse and you can bet we're already thinking Disneyland.

On the other hand, her little lips quiver and her eyes fill with tears when her Uncle proceeds to show her that a lion roars.  I'm not sure whether to feel sorry for my son who makes her cry or to laugh at the response she inevitably gives.  Let's just say it's videoed it for posterity.

She learned to crawl forward instead of scooting herself backwards into a corner while she was here.

We finally solved the question of what happens when you take a blue-eyed boy and a brown-eyed girl and mix them up.  You get a darling hazel-eyed daughter with a curl on top. 

Thanks for letting my inner grandmother come out to play today.  

Bring joy,