Inklings // May 2025

Here I am! Here I am! Squeaking in under the wire at the last minute. The last three weeks in May have been absolutely jam-packed, but I was determined not to miss this month's Inklings.

As always, feel free to join anytime 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 stagecoach scene in book or film

And *surprise surprise* I'm highlighting this introductory scene from the 1939 Stagecoach. One of my tip top favorites of all time. 

There are so many things going on in this scene... but my lips are sealed. 

I seriously don't want to give any of the deliciousness away. xD 

(You can see my full review for it here, if you're interested. ;))

I c o n i c

Love it so much!

Have you seen this Stagecoach?

You can pop your links below:

🌿 Have fun and can't wait to see what y'all come up with! 🌿

Inklings // April 2025

Happy April! Hope you're all having a lovely spring.

As always, feel free to join anytime 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 roses in book or film

I'm really getting into a period drama mode lately... We also have roses blooming everywhere right now, and -- while I generally get in a N&S mood more in the fall / wintertime -- what with these sunny, blowsy yellow blooms glowing outside my kitchen window + everything being absolutely saturated in fresh green (you can probably see where this is going... xD), I just had to highlight the '04 North and South. I mean, what else is one to do?

I was specifically thinking of the early scene when Margaret's in the verdant south and Lennox comes to visit and then they're sitting in the grass together. (You can see the roses popping up in the pic below.)

(And then, of course, we have to have this lovely Pinterest collage... ;) Is that sliding two scenes into one prompt? 🫣)

*happy sigh* So beautiful!

Have you seen the '04 North and South?

You can pop your links below:

🌿 Can't wait to see what y'all come up with and have fun! 🌿

Inklings || September 2024

Happy September! Below you will find this month's prompt. <3

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!

~

September's prompt is:

A scene in a kitchen in book or film

So after much deliberation, I decided to go with this scene from Anne of Green Gables. Though I'll be very disappointed if someone *giving a long side eye multiple directions* doesn't also highlight the dwarves' song while cleaning up Bilbo's kitchen in The Hobbit. (Sorry, it's ok. I'll get over it if no one wants to do it. At the same time... *coughs pointedly*)

Internal conflicts aside, I just kept coming back to this Anne scene. I haven't read or watched Anne in quite awhile and I've been thinking of her often these last few weeks -- especially with a few fall colors juuuuust starting to appear. (I've also been researching and implementing a new feeding regimen on our geraniums / pelargoniums so was tickled, as always, by the naming of Bonny here. Anyhow, just seemed like we needed an Anne highlight!

“I don’t dare go out,” said Anne, in the tone of a martyr relinquishing all earthly joys. “If I can’t stay here there is no use in my loving Green Gables. And if I go out there and get acquainted with all those trees and flowers and the orchard and the brook I’ll not be able to help loving it. It’s hard enough now, so I won’t make it any harder. I want to go out so much—everything seems to be calling to me, ‘Anne, Anne, come out to us. Anne, Anne, we want a playmate’—but it’s better not. There is no use in loving things if you have to be torn from them, is there? And it’s so hard to keep from loving things, isn’t it? That was why I was so glad when I thought I was going to live here. I thought I’d have so many things to love and nothing to hinder me. But that brief dream is over. I am resigned to my fate now, so I don’t think I’ll go out for fear I’ll get unresigned again. What is the name of that geranium on the window-sill, please?”

“That’s the apple-scented geranium.”

“Oh, I don’t mean that sort of a name. I mean just a name you gave it yourself. Didn’t you give it a name? May I give it one then? May I call it—let me see—Bonny would do—may I call it Bonny while I’m here? Oh, do let me!”

“Goodness, I don’t care. But where on earth is the sense of naming a geranium?”

“Oh, I like things to have handles even if they are only geraniums. It makes them seem more like people. How do you know but that it hurts a geranium’s feelings just to be called a geranium and nothing else? You wouldn’t like to be called nothing but a woman all the time. Yes, I shall call it Bonny. I named that cherry-tree outside my bedroom window this morning. I called it Snow Queen because it was so white. Of course, it won’t always be in blossom, but one can imagine that it is, can’t one?”

“I never in all my life saw or heard anything to equal her,” muttered Marilla, beating a retreat down to the cellar after potatoes. “She is kind of interesting as Matthew says. I can feel already that I’m wondering what on earth she’ll say next. She’ll be casting a spell over me, too. She’s cast it over Matthew. That look he gave me when he went out said everything he said or hinted last night over again. I wish he was like other men and would talk things out. A body could answer back then and argue him into reason. But what’s to be done with a man who just looks?”

~

Do you love Anne as well? Have you read or watched any of the series recently?

You can pop your links below:

Have fun! <3

Inklings || August 2024

Happy August everyone and thank you so much again for your patience! I hope your summer's going swimmingly well. As you can see, I've taken the plunge (why I keep thinking of water metaphors... it's ridiculous; I'm sorry, I really am), but anyway, I've taken the plunge and we have a couple major changes to our link up! The previous graphic was always beautiful, but I felt the need to mix things up a bit, so decided to make a new one for us with this beautiful picture I took on our trip in June. (Brings up lots of happy thoughts. <3)

And as you will see below, I've made a serious upgrade to the way you can leave links. Going forward, you'll just leave your post urls in the widget for everyone else to immediately and easily access (v. leaving them in the comments section). The new method has the added advantage of keeping the prompts and corresponding posts all together too, which is nice. I think it'll work really really well. (I did post all the June entries in this post as before, though. So make sure to check those out if you haven't been able to yet.) 

I think that's it for the big changes. And below you will find our August prompt!

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!

~

June Round-Up:

(prompt: an archery scene)

Chloe // Brave

Heidi // Emma

Ivy Miranda // The Princess Diaries 2

Lizzie Hexam // Prince Caspian

~

August's prompt is:

A scene by the ocean in book or film

(I just couldn't resist. xD) My entry is this moment from the 2007 Persuasion, when the party from Uppercross first comes out on the beach while visiting Lyme. 

I always think of this scene whenever we go to the ocean, especially during those first moments of seeing the sea again -- spread out to the horizon -- and then of running out across the sand to meet it. 

(And then, of course, there are all the additional Story Reasons why I love this scene in the film. ;))

You can pop your links below:

Have fun! Would love to hear if you've been able to visit an ocean or which one you'd most like to visit in the future. (And let me know in the comments how the new system is working for you. <3)

Legends of Western Cinema Week 2024 // Wrap-Up

And now here we are at the end of another Legends of Western Cinema Week... Thank you to everyone who participated! (Today is also the National Day of the Cowboy, which is just fortuitous.)

I know a few of my reviews this year may have been ever-so-slightly unusual, but I wanted to show that there really is something for everyone when it comes to western-y tales. And I really enjoyed everything I learned while working on them!

Below you'll find all our entries for this year's party:

Happy trails, everyone!

Inklings // June 2024

Whew! May (and the beginning of June) were absolutely jam-packed here, but I feel like we're right on the edge of hitting our summer stride, so I'm excited about that.

I absolutely loved all your selections for May. <3 If you haven't already, be sure to visit round and see everyone's lovely contributions! Below you will find our June prompt.

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. Leave a link to your entry in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

~

May Round-Up:

(prompt: pearls)

Astrya // Pearl translated by J.R.R. Tolkien

Autumn Grace // The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (1993)

Chloe the MovieCritic // Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Heidi // The Con (1991)

Ivy Miranda // Julie & Julia (2009)

Lizzie Hexam // The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Ruth // Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

~

June's prompt is:

An archery scene in book or film

I feel like we maaaaaay have done this prompt before, but, if so, it would have been on an entirely different blog of mine before Inklings moved over here, and I'm getting in a period drama mood and really want to do the following scene, and it's perfect for this time of year, so we're just gonna do it. XD 

My highlight comes from this memorable scene in Emma (1996). It's still rather funny to me how they used the whole visual of her with the bow and arrow in promotional materials, cover art, etc., almost as if to advertise / hype her up as Cupid or something while the reality -- epitomized by the entirety of this scene -- is so entirely opposite. I mean, I get the point, and it worked, it's just so on-the-nose marketing-wise. xD Oh well, at least the script got it right.) 

And as soon as I started putting this together, I remembered -- not one -- but two other archery scenes in similar-era period dramas alone (well, set within a hundred years of Emma, i.e. The Inheritance and The Young Victoria), but as I haven't reviewed either of those yet, with all their attendant notes and provisos, I'll just stick with this one. :) (Anyone else who wants to go for those, though, feel free! ;)) And yes, overall the '09 is my favorite Emma adaptation, but this remains an epic, beautifully composed scene.

You can watch it here:

~

Have you seen this version of Emma? 

And looking forward to seeing your entries as well -- have fun! :)

Inklings // May 2024

And here we are in May. Can you believe it?!? First off, I'm thrilled so many of you were also excited and joined in with our Inklings! If you haven't already, be sure to check out everyone else's wonderful entries below. You'll also find the new prompt for May. 

(My blogger account -- or our firewall, not sure which -- is still acting weird and won't always let me comment on the computer so I have to do it off my phone, which is slightly tricksy, but I'm hoping to come round and leave proper comments on all your lovely contributions asap. <3)

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. Leave a link to your entry in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

April Round-Up:

(re a cake)

Astrya // The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Chloe the MovieCritic // Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Heidi // An Old-Fashioned Girl

Housemouse // Big Little Island by Valenti Angelo

Ivy Miranda // Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Lizzie Hexam // Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Ruth March // In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson

~

May's prompt is:

A scene with a pearl necklace in book or film

My brain was spinning with ideas for this one, but ultimately I ended up going with this tried and true scene -- Bertie and Aunt Agatha and the Stolen Pearls during their sojourn at Westcombe-on-Sea in The Con (based in part on the short story Aunt Agatha Takes the Count in The World of Jeeves). It's a climactic moment so I won't divulge too many details, but it's also notable in being one of the few moments (only moment?) when Bertie stands up directly to Aunt Agatha. xD 

An all around classic. 

Full ep here:

~

Looking forward to seeing your entries as well -- have fun!

Inklings // April 2024

Happy April everyone! Spring is springing on every hand and -- what with all that excitement in the air -- I decided I should just go for it and try to revitalize our Inklings here. We had a good run with it a number of years ago and it was such fun. Can't wait to see if anyone else wants to do it as well and what you come up with!

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. Leave a link to your entry in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

~

April's prompt is:

A scene with a cake in book or film

My entry comes from Louisa May Alcott's An Old-Fashioned Girl -- literally the first grown-up-ish classic I ever read, at the tender age of eleven or so. So many fond memories.

"It was a most delectable cake, with a nosegay atop, and round it on the snowy frosting there ran a pink inscription, just as it had been every year since Tom could remember...

"Whose doing is that?" asked Tom, surveying the gift with satisfaction; for it recalled the happier birthdays, which seemed very far away now.

"I didn't know what to give you, for you've got everything a man wants, and I was in despair till I remembered that dear Grandma always made you a little cake like that, and that you once said it wouldn't be a happy birthday without it. So I tried to make it just like hers, and I do hope it will prove a good, sweet, plummy one."

"Thank you," was all Tom said, as he smiled at the giver, but Polly knew that her present had pleased him more than the most elegant trifle she could have made.

"It ought to be good, for you beat it up yourself, Tom," cried Maud. "It was so funny to see you working away, and never guessing who the cake was for. I perfectly trembled every time you opened your mouth, for fear you'd ask some question about it. That was the reason Polly preached, and I kept talking when she was gone."

"Very stupid of me; but I forgot all about today. Suppose we cut it; I don't seem to care for anything else," said Tom, feeling no appetite, but bound to do justice to that cake, if he fell a victim to his gratitude." 

~

Have you read An Old-Fashioned Girl? Or seen the 1949 musical film? I haven't seen the film and curious... Part of me doesn't like the idea at all, but then, one never knows.

Would love to see your Inklings entries as well -- have fun!

Legends of Western Cinema Week 2023 || Wrap-Up

So here we are...! At the end of another LOWCW. Can you believe it? I feel like I was just getting started, but then it's always good to get a bunch of new ideas and be able to look forward to the next year. Right?

Below you'll find all the entries from this year's party. If you haven't had a chance yet, feel free to keep reading through them, commenting, and spreading good cheer. :)

 

And... we have two giveaway winners: Rachel and Chloe! Congratulations! (I'll be emailing the winners directly.)

Thanks for a lovely western week everyone -- hope you all had a great time as well and hope to see you again soon!

Legends of Western Cinema Week 2022 || Wrap-Up & Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in LOWCW this year! I'm looking forward to reading all the contributions and hopefully leaving some comments round next week. Thanks also to my fellow co-hosts for this fine event, Rachel and Olivia. :)

And... *drumroll please*  our giveaway winners are below -- woohoo! 

Olivia // Huckleberry sign

CC // cowboy mug

Rachel // candle set

Clare // Open Range dvd

(I'll be emailing the winners directly.)

~          ~          ~

Below are all our lovely party entries for this year:

~

Thanks so much to everyone for joining us this year and happy trails! <3

Legends of Western Cinema Week 2021 // Kick-Off & Link-Up Spot

Well, boy howdy y'all.

So overnight we were woken up by stale smoke drifting in and scouting round in the dark we discovered the orange glow on the horizon. Turns out it's from a big fire a county away, but still, it added some overnight drama. This morning the smoke's higher up and we have a creamy pinky sky, so that's lovely. 

And! Around here it's also currently one of my favoritest times of the year, Legends of Western Cinema Week which I'm co-hosting once again with Rachel of Hamlette's Soliloquy and Olivia of Meanwhile in Rivendell. So welcome!

We have some fun posts (including games and giveaways) planned so be sure to check back on all three blogs throughout the week and we'd love to have you join in with any movie reviews, character study posts, general western enthusiasm, etc.

Below you'll also find the party tag, which you can copy and fill out on your own blog at your leisure.

After you post anything, be sure to pop your links in the widget here (or in the same thing-y on Rachel or Olivia's posts) so we can all enjoy. Also be sure to grab one of our fine party buttons and link back to one of our three blogs somewhere in your post so as many people as possible get a chance to join in the fun. 

And.... that's it. Can't wait to see what y'all come up with! ;)

Legends of Western Cinema Week Tag

1) Western movies or western TV shows?
2) Funny westerns or dramatic westerns?
3) Westerns that focus on loners or westerns that focus on families?
4) Male-centric westerns or female-centric westerns?
5) 1930s to 1960s westerns or 1970s to 2020s westerns?
6) Westerns that take place in America or westerns that take place internationally?
7) Family-friendly westerns or edgier westerns?
8) Straightforward good guy or conflicted hero?
9) Historically accurate westerns or westerns that aren't afraid to take some creative liberties?
10) Bittersweet or happily-ever-after endings?

/ / /

/ / /

Inklings // March 2021

What ho! Spring has arrived here with busy exciting stuff popping anywhere and everywhere (meaning, too, tons of things to get done -- plants to get snugged into their new homes etc), all of which leads up to my pointing out how ridiculously late this Inklings post is. BUT I still really wanted to get a prompt in this month, so here goes!

(P.S. And I loved all your entries last month! 😊)

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. Leave a link to your post in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

February Round-Up:

 

MovieCritic // The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Havalah // Brother Bear

Ivy Miranda // Beauty & The Beast (2017)

Johanna // Swing Time

Livia Rachelle // Warrior Scarlet by Rosemary Sutcliff

Rachel // The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Cordy // White Christmas

Heidi // North & South (2004)

~

March's prompt is:

A scene involving a mirror in book or film

My entry comes from one of my all time favorites, Greenwillow by B.J. Chute. The story in its entirety is sweet and so refreshing -- like filling your lungs with spring wind or drinking a deep draught of pure water. The context for this scene is pretty simple/self-explanatory so I'll let you get right to it:

"When she remembered how late she was, she turned about and picked up her skirts and ran, causing one or two to stare at her but arriving on her doorstep just in time to find Miss Maidy getting into a bonnet to go out and find her.

"'Blessed be!' said Miss Maidy, giving a cry of joy and taking off her bonnet at once so the roses would not be shaken by her relief. 'We thought you'd gone wandering and lost yourself, nothing's safe in November and Puss in a maze about something.'

"'I'm sorry,' said Dorrie penitently, throwing back her hood and unfastening her cloak.

"'There, it's no matter,' Miss Maidy said comfortably, unable to hold to her grievance for even a moment. 'Nothing's to rights though, and Sister can't even find the hen-cozy for the teapot. I do wish Mrs. Lapp would be more agreeable about the hen-cozy, Dorrie, though she's very Christian in most things. Sister's in the kitchen. She gave your lame kitten some cream which I thought wasteful, but wasn't it kind? Do lay supper quickly, dear, you know how Emma is about keeping hours. Only run and tidy your hair first. You look,' said Miss Maidy unexpectedly, 'so pretty.'

"Dorrie stared at her blankly, then turned and sped up the narrow flight to her attic room where she laid aside her cloak and stepped quick to the mirror, meaning only to smooth her hair and retie the ribbon before she went down.

"She took the ribbon off and shook her hair loose, and it fell all around her shoulders in a soft veil. She looked at her face but she could not see what Miss Maidy meant at all, it being too broad to be pretty and her eyes not blue and wonderful like Sheby's but only plain gray. It was a face that served for the week and went nicely enough to church on Sundays, and if it looked pretty to Miss Maidy it must have been because she was so glad to see it come back.

"Dorrie leaned a little closer to the mirror. Her cheeks were pink from the high wind, and her hair was shiny. Maybe her hair could be called pretty, though it was tumbled about. She stared at herself looking back at herself for quite a long moment, and then she spoke to the Dorrie in the mirror. 

"'I'd like for Gideon to see my hair so,' said Dorrie. She put the backs of her hands to her cheeks and felt them hot.

"Then she stopped looking at the foolish girl in the mirror and braided her hair up very tight and ran out of the room as fast as her feet would carry her. She had Puss to care for, and the lame kitten. She had Miss Emma to be seeing to, and Miss Maidy, and the hen-cozy that would not be found." 

~

Isn't the word craft delicious? Have you heard of or read Greenwillow? 

Now have at it y'all and I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with! Have fun!

Inklings // February 2021

I'm still working through reading the period drama party posts, but obviously wanted to get this up asap. I'm so excited about all the great entries we got last month!

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. Leave a link to your post in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

January Round-Up:

 

Cordy // Miss Potter (2006)

MovieCritic // Anastasia (1997)

Rachel // The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery 

Livia Rachelle // Harry Potter

 Ivy Miranda // The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe

Heidi // Jane Eyre 

~

February's prompt is:

A snow scene in book or film

Ok, so.... I was debating between two different options for my entry: the first being a certain delicious snowy day book description, but that particular idea also ties in beautifully with the new year, so I think I'll wait on that till next January (I know, that means waiting awhile :p), which brings us to my other top option -- also tying in with the whole period drama thing you'll notice --

and... you all know what's coming right? 

Because around here all that preamble is pretty much gonna mean one thing,

I mean...

OBVIOUSLY. xD

And then the scene immediately following:

 

(from the '04 N&S)

Apart from the top part being romantic of course, you feel like you're actually there. Feeling the softness of all those flying white flakes. And cold in the blowing wind. 

~

(To clarify, the period drama thing isn't mandatory. Feel free to pick whatever snowy scene you like! ;)) Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with and have fun!

Valentine's Day Romantic Period Drama Party // Wrap-up Post w/Links

Well, here we are at the conclusion of our period drama party! Thank you to everyone who participated (posting, reading, and commenting -- readers and commenters are vital! ;)) and especially for making it such an enthusiastic, charitable, and just all around lovely time. 

Below are links to everyone's contributions. Be sure to check them out and scatter round plenty of comments!

 

 

Tag Answers

Carissa @ Musings of an Introvert

Cordy @ Any Merry Little Thought

Gabby @ Finding Freedom, Living Loved

Havalah @ Havalah Ruth Peirce

Heidi @ Along the Brandywine 

Ivy Miranda @ Revealed in Time

Katie Hanna @ I'm Charles Baker Harris (And I Can Read)

Livia Rachelle @ Rose Petals & Faerie Dust

Miss Woodhouse @ Notes from a Hartfield Girl 

Movie Critic @ Movies Meet Their Match

Olivia @ Meanwhile in Rivendell

Rachel @ Hamlette's Soliloquy

Sally Silverscreen @ 18 Cinema Lane 

 

 

Movie Reviews

Hamlette // The Three Musketeers (1948) 

Heidi // Emma (2020)

Movie Critic // Little Women (2019)

Rebecca Deniston // Emma (1996)

Realweegiemidget Reviews // A Room with a View (1985)

Sally Silverscreen // The Love Letter (1998)

Tiffany // Quality Street (1937)

 

 

 

Other Romantical Posts

Anna & Irene // Rose in Bloom: A Tribute to Rose and Mac

Carissa // Childhood Friends: Raoul & Christine in The Phantom of the Opera

Charity // The Power of Forgiveness: Lorna Doone

Gabby // Anne & Gilbert

Ivy Miranda // Dawsey Adams & Juliet Ashton

Katie Hanna // Love Triangles in Jane Austen

Miss Woodhouse // Period Drama Romances That Deserve More Love

Olivia // Top Ten Period Drama Couples

 

And Our Game Answers

Scrambled Titles

Period Drama Hands Game

Romantic Quotes

~

I can't wait to catch up on reading everything. Thank you so much again to everyone for joining in and let me know in the comments if you think we should do a variation of this again next year!

Till the next post, my fellow story loving friends!

Inklings // January 2021

Hi everyone! The long and the short of it is that I was so busy trying to figure out a Halfway Adequate First Post for the Year + getting excited brainstorming for our period drama party next month + trying to keep up with the LOTR read along that I completely forgot about Inklings! *face palm* Good news is, cliche or not, it makes for a very apropos January post.

So let us at it!

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. Leave a link to your post in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

December Round-Up:

Revealed in Time // Leverage: Season 1, Ep 4 -- The Miracle Job

Movies Meet Their Match // The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Along the Brandywine // Midsomer Murders: Season 16, Ep 1 -- A Christmas Haunting

~

January's prompt is:

A new beginning in book or film 

My contribution comes from Jane Eyre, a book chock full of new beginnings, with the future as it materializes always masterfully tying in with who Jane is/what she's becoming all the way through. I haven't thought this out in all it's details, but it could be argued that every new beginning/pilgrimage section of her story leads directly into the next answering haven. (Yeah, that might all be obvious.) Anyway. It just got me thinking how Bronte ties those two ideas (a haven and a setting out) together. Also thinking how (with the possible exception of Lowood in the early years) she describes each of the havens her heroine finds -- pretty entirely shut away from the world all of them -- as still being worthy fields of endeavor, with work to be done.

"When Mrs. Fairfax had bidden me a kind good-night, and I had fastened my door, gazed leisurely round, and in some measure effaced the eerie impression made by that wide hall, that dark and spacious staircase, and that long, cold gallery, by the livelier aspect of my little room, I remembered that after a day of bodily fatigue and mental anxiety, I was now at last in safe haven. The impulse of gratitude swelled my heart, and I knelt down at the bedside, and offered up thanks where thanks were due; not forgetting, ere I rose, to implore aid on my further path, and the power of meriting the kindness which seemed so frankly offered me before it was earned. My couch had no thorns in it that night; my solitary room no fears. At once weary and content, I slept soon and soundly: when I awoke it was broad day." from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Chapter 11

Love this story so much. Have you read or seen Jane Eyre?

~

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with -- have fun!

Inklings // December 2020 (Christmas is coming!)

Here ye! Hear ye! It's time for our December Inklings! It's lots of fun and we'd love to have you hop along and join us -- the more the merrier, say I! ;) (For more see the first post here or the rules below.)

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. Leave a link to your post in the comments section on this post and I'll post all your links with the next prompt. That's it!

November Round-Up:

 Revealed in Time // Downton Abbey

Movies Meet Their Match // Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Along the Brandywine // Ever After

~

December's prompt is:

A Christmas scene in book or film that makes you happy

My contribution comes from BBC's Midsomer Murders: Season 16, Episode 1, A Christmas Haunting. (Note: obviously I don't unreservedly recommend all the seasons/episodes of the show and/or for all audiences and so on and so forth. You get the idea. ;))

If you're a MM's devotee, this episode has quite a few highlights and fun moments (including a new sergeant coming on the team and Barnaby in a reindeer sweater) + a number of familiar faces. The scene I'm highlighting though comes part way through with two long lost sweethearts meeting in a dilapidated village playground. No spoilers (cause it's a mystery and all that),

but suffice to say, there's a sweet, patient, faithful Anne Elliot-ish auntie figure

and a haunted, brooding, battle and world weary warrior -- returning home to very little welcome.

And (with the police searching for them) they end up having this impromptu little heart to heart moment. And there are twinkly lights. And it's CHRISTMAS. (Obviously.) And there're so many undercurrents and mysterious tensions and things left hanging in the air and other things they don't even have to talk about because they both know... and I really really really want to write an entire story based on their characters. 

The ending is pretty dramatic and tingly and quivery (in both deeply sad and happy ways), but I won't talk about that or even share any more pics cause it would give away too much and I promised no spoilers. 

(I have to mention this gooorgeous wreath from earlier in the episode though. Isn't it amazing??)

~ 

Getting screen caps for this I'd forgotten just how delightfully Christmas-y the entire episode is and also all the other secondary characters, some of whom actually make me tear up at the end. Definitely one that needs to go on my Christmas movie list. <333

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with -- have fun!