Inklings // May 2026

Happy May! 

We had some travels early this month... got to visit family + the St. Louis Zoo and Art Museum, the Art Institute in Chicago, and also some historic houses (including two of Laura Ingalls' homes), etc. Altogether it was very full and a trifle tiring, but an amazing trip. 

Since getting home we're still very much in Kittenland, and the garden is happily and vigorously growing lots of volunteer weeds and runaway mint. Definitely hoping to get to that soon. :) 

I hope you've all been having a lovely month and, as always, feel free to join any time here until the next prompt goes up! 💜 

Rules:

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back here in your post.

2. Make sure to come back and leave a link to your entry in the box on this post. That's it!

~

May's prompt is:

A riddle scene in book or film

So this isn't an endorsement (I know the ending, but the verdict's still out on how we get there ;D), but I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon and say that I have been very much enjoying The Other Bennet Sister. A full discussion of character tweaks between it and P&P will have to be deferred for another day, but yeah, the story by itself is really resonating for me and I'm liking it very well indeed.

I can't give you an excerpt -- or even a better screenshot -- but this scene, with Mary making friends and discovering new things about herself, is really quite sweet.

Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story develops! ;)

You can pop your links below:

🌿 I can't wait to see what you all come up with! 🌿

Announcing Legends of Western Cinema Week 2026

Howdy everyone! 

I'm delighted to announce this year's Legends of Western Cinema Week, running from June 22-26, and which I'm happy to be once again hosting with Rachel of Hamlette's Soliloquy. (She it is who designed this year's party buttons. Aren't they striking? So epic!)

Old timers know the drill -- it'll be a week long celebration of all things western. We plan to have a tag and possibly some games for you all, and any and everyone who wants to join us will be welcome to share movie reviews, character studies... anything you'd like to dream up! The sky's the limit. The only qualification is that all contributions must be appreciative of the genre. 

But no expertise required! This party is just a relaxed place for good conversation -- hobnobbing over shared favorites or possibly discovering something new and exciting. 

If you're able to, please grab one of our fine buttons to share on your own blog and thank you so much in advance. Any spreading of the word is much appreciated! 

LOWCW is always a highlight of my entire summer... really one of my favorite happenings of the year. 💜 Looking forward to celebrating with you all!

(And today marks 119 years from John Wayne's birth. How apropos is that? :))

Inklings // April 2026

Happy spring everyone! 

Per last month's notes, everything here this month has been kittens, kittens, KITTENS!!! Four cuddly little orange striped fuzz balls.... 🧡 (Plus lots of dahlia planting, Bible studies, some wonderful visitors, etc. So yes... we've been just a tad busy.)

I also watched a new period drama that I'm over the moon about (more details hopefully coming in the future), started a proper reread of Jane Eyre, and am plugging along in War and Peace.

So that about brings things up to date.

I hope you're all having a lovely spring and, as always, feel free to join any time here until the next prompt goes up! 💜 

Rules:

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back here in your post.

2. Make sure to come back and leave a link to your entry in the box on this post. That's it!

~

April's prompt is:

A scene with kittens in book or film

We've also been moving right along in These Happy Golden Years and, per the obvious, I just had to share this scene. Definitely one of my favorites! ;) 

"It was so crowded that morning that they could not find three empty places together. So Pa went forward to sit with the graybeards in the amen corner, while Laura and Mary sat side by side near the middle of the church.

"Reverend Brown was preaching earnestly and Laura was wishing that with so much sincerity he could say something interesting, when she saw a small plump kitten straying up the aisle. Idly she watched it pounce and play, until it wandered onto the platform and stood arching its back and rubbing against the side of the pulpit. As its round, kitten eyes looked at the congregation, Laura believed she could hear its purring.

"Then, at her side in the aisle, a small dog passed, trotting briskly. It was a little black-and-tan, with slender legs and a perky short tail, and its quick, business-like trot was natural to it. It was not seeking anyone nor going anywhere, but merely sight-seeing in the church, until it spied the kitten. For an instant the little dog stiffened, then with a firecracker explosion of shrill yaps, it leaped.

"The kitten's back rose in an arch, its tail swelled, and in a flash it vanished from Laura's view.

"The strange thing was that it seemed to vanish utterly. There was no chase, and the little dog was silent. Reverend Brown went on preaching. Laura barely had time to wonder, when she felt a slight swaying of her hoops, and looking down she saw the tip of the kitten's tail slide out of sight beneath the pink lawn ruffle.

"The kitten had taken refuge under her hoops, and now it began climbing up inside of them, clutching and clawing its way from wire to wire. Laura felt an impulse to laugh, but she controlled it and sat solemn as a judge. Then the little dog passed anxiously, peering and sniffing in search of the kitten, and a sudden vision of what would happen if he found it made Laura shake from head to foot with suppressed laughter.

"She could feel her ribs swelling against her corsets and her cheeks puffing out and her throat choking. Mary did not know what amused Laura, but felt that she was laughing and pushed her elbow against Laura's side, whispering, 'Behave yourself.'

"Laura shook all the harder and felt her face growing purple. Her hoops kept swaying under her skirts as the kitten curiously crept down them again. Its little whiskered nose and eyes peeped from beneath the pink ruffle, then, seeing nothing of the dog, it popped out suddenly and scampered down the aisle toward the door. Laura listened, but she heard no yapping so she knew that the kitten had escaped.

"On the way home Mary said, 'Laura, I am surprised at you. Will you never learn to behave yourself properly in church?'

"Laura laughed until she cried, while Mary still sat disapproving and Pa wanted to know what had happened.

"'No, Mary, I never will,' Laura said at last, wiping her eyes. 'You might as well give me up as a hopeless case.' Then she told them, and even Mary had to smile."

Love that so much. :)

You can pop your links below:

🌿 I can't wait to see what you all come up with! 🌿