r a m b l e s

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i.     this morning was gray, dark and gloomy. i've been told that the forecast predicts more of the same for the next two weeks. i've also been told that we can expect much more of the same all the way until july.

ii.     i have a cold, (thanks to my annoyingly super low immune system.) basically if i get exposed to anything i will get sick.) so today i have been drowning myself in tea, water and kombucha. (it's nasty stuff, really.) in hopes that i shall feel a bit better presently. i am also consuming large amounts of honey and cinnamon,. because they both have amazing healing powers. (according to my mom.)

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iii.     this morning i read 1 corinthians 13 again. can you imagine if the whole world loved like that. everything would change drastically- it makes me think of Heaven. lives would flip 

around completely; we wouldn't be consumed with hate  and bitterness. it would mean that people really care about each other. that perfect love is what I should strive for every. single. day.

iv. yesterday my mom walked to the neighbors to introduce herself. they weren't home, but Sunny, (our eight-year-old yellow lab) found her special toy that had been missing, in a pile of doggie toys. they have two yellow labs  that visit us constantly, so there are always a lot of dogs running around.

v.     soundtracks are amazing. lately i've been enjoying ones by Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, Harry Gregson-Williams and John Williams, (and various others.) They are perfect for days when you just want something soft and amazing on in the background.

vi. i apologize about the pinterest photos... i really feel lousy, and didn't want to go through my photographs to find some, or to bother running around to take some... :)

North and South // Book Review

North and South

by Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South tells the story of Margaret Hale, a southerner newly settled in the northern industrial town of Milton, whose ready sympathy with the discontented millworkers sits uneasily with her growing attraction to the charismatic mill owner, John Thornton. The novel poses fundamental questions about the nature of social authority and obedience, ranging from religious crises of conscience to the ethics of naval mutiny and industrial action. Margaret's internal conflicts mirror the turbulence that she sees all around her. 

I was so excited to read this book; I've seen the BBC mini series several times, and it has become one of my all time favorite movies. (*cough cough* Richard Armitage may or may not have to do with that fact. :) The story is so beautiful and interesting, and I was curious to see if the movie followed the book at all.

     For the most part it kept my interest and made me extremely happy. I was already in love with the characters, but reading the book gave me even more insights into their thoughts and actions. I like Ms. Gaskell's writing style, although she does ramble a little bit occasionally. Other than that, the story was wonderful, the characters well developed, and while the ending wasn't at all like the movie, it was just as sweet, adorable and wonderful.
     Margarete is amazing. She has her faults, of course, (and Thornton seems to be able to find them! :) but she is so sweet, and eager to learn. She has such a big heart for everyone, and is gentle, and loyal. Thornton is... Thornton. He may just surpass Darcy in my affections, (again, Richard Armitage may have  a little something to do with this fact. :)
     This book will definitely be on my re-read list! (in fact, I'm planning to buy it to add to my collection as soon as possible.) I would recommend it to those who don't mind a little wordiness when it comes to a sweet, adorable love story. 

* * * * {four of five stars}

t o d a y

2:00 am. my morning has already begun. one of my *darling* brothers thought it would be extremely amusing to set my alarm and wake me up in the middle of the night for absolutely no reason at all. he has since discovered that doing so is not at all amusing, and it gets one in trouble. 

8:45 am. i have already spilled coffee, pear juice and water all over the front of my pj's. if this is any foretelling of what the day is going to be like, i should have just stayed in bed!

 11:00 am. i am already fifteen minutes late for my eye doctor's appointment...  not used to this "city" driving!

11:06 am. i am wandering aimlessly around costco in big circles hoping the employees don't notice i'm not doing anything at all while i wait for my mom to come. being the cook/country-kid/weirdo i am, i spend most of the time standing in front of the tiny kitchen knife display, wondering if the plastic lettuce knives actually work or not.

12:46 pm. we are finally home from running errands and eat a scrumptious lunch of leftover everything. left-over meals are great, because you get a little bit of a ton of different delicious foods. 

2:30 pm. i am watching a lecture on "how to be an effective reader."  it's pretty interesting, and i am looking forward to implementing the technique into my reading in the future.

3:03 i start my eighteenth history lecture; chinese dynasties... not my favorite lecture by him, but interesting enough to keep my attention. :)

4:04 pm. my puppy gets a bath. she is starting to smell like a dog, and cuddling with her isn't nearly as enjoyable. She smells much better now. :)

4:30 pm. I start to work in the yard and garden, cleaning up all the branches and dead leaves that have been there for ages, and weeding the abandoned raised beds.

5:00 pm. mom and I work on unpacking more boxes out in the pantry. i'm getting a little tired of boxes... :)

 just little every day moments from my day so far. over all it's been pretty good... how's your day been? 

toddlers // a photo documentation

this is what happens when you request a two year old to look at you and smile so that you may photograph their adorable face. once a child notices a camera in your hand, all sense of cooperation and dignity fly out the window as they sprint around acting crazy and insanely cute. these are out of focus, imperfect and most of them are cropped off funny, but they capture James' personality perfectly.