Courage in Courtship

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” In keeping with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, here is another quote from that work, and in accompaniment is the painting ‘Courtship’ by…

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Happy 200th Birthday, ‘Pride and Prejudice’!

Two hundred years ago today, genius Jane Austen gave her ‘own darling child’ to the world. I for one, think of the many children she gifted us through this now classic literary work: from the hilarious Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, to the lovely Jane and Elizabeth, to entertainingly flawed Mary, Kitty and Lydia, to the…

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Made in England Teacup, Saucer and Show!

Last night we watched the 2006 ‘Pride and Prejudice’ movie and now we’re going to start the 1995 BBC/A&E version. I’ve got my ‘Made in England’ Spode teacup and saucer (the Blue Italian pattern first introduced in 1816), and companion goodies ready to add to my Regency Anglophile viewing pleasures. I’ve got quite a varied…

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Happy P&P Anniversary, Jane Austen!

As a girl growing up under the Union Jack in a very British part of Canada singing ‘God Save the Queen’ in school daily, I would have thought that a teacher or somebody would have introduced me to Jane Austen along the way, but no. Not at all. Well, to be fair, I did come…

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A Red Coat Myself

“My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother.—When they get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well—and indeed, so I do…

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Crossed, Off

“Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.” In keeping with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, here is another quote from that work, and in accompaniment…

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Matrimony in a Moment

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” In keeping with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, here is another quote from that work, and in accompaniment is ‘Signing the Register’ painting by Edmund Blair Leighton, a Pre-Raphaelite artist.

A Truth, A Request

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” In keeping with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, I thought I might post the occasional favorite quote from that work over at least the next month or so,…

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Why Love the Christmas Season?

And why hate it?! It always surprises me when I hear about or stumble onto somebody who hates Christmas. What a contrast to me, who wants to gear up for Christmas every September 25th (and sometimes I start planning for next Christmas January 1, if not the day after this Christmas – I always like…

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Happy Feast of Saint Stephen’s Day!

And Happy Boxing Day! Growing up in Canada, I always wondered what Boxing Day really meant. Being on the 26th of December, it seemed associated with Christmas somehow. It was another day off for many. When I was younger, it was just a play day holiday the day after Christmas. More playing with new toys…

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