North and South

My friend Sherri told me about this movie years ago, but I didn't watch it until recently. It is based on a book by Elizabeth Gaskell, who was writing in the nineteenth century. I read the book and liked it, but I loved the movie. I stayed up until after 2 in the morning watching it and then rewatched the last hour the next day. It got hazy near the end there.

Margaret Hall is a young woman who is raised with her cousin in London. When her cousin marries, she goes back to live with her parents in the vicarage of a picturesque village. Her father is a vicar but has doubts about the church and feels he can no longer be a part of the ministry. So shortly after she comes back, her father moves her and her mother to a dank and dirty town in the north of England. At first Margaret dislikes the north and always is comparing it with the more genteel and idyllic south. However, she grows to accept her circumstances and starts to adjust.

Because he has left the ministry, her father now teaches private students and has very little income. One of his students is a local factory owner, the rich but rough John Thornton. He wants to become more cultured and so takes lessons with Mr. Hall. Thornton and Margaret pretty much hate each other on site, so of course they're going to fall in love, right? The story follows their developing relationship but also deals with the tension between the factory owners and workers. There's also tension between Thornton's mother and Margaret. The mom is a fearsome character. Talk about a potentially terrible mother-in-law. I'm not sure I would have had the fortitude to marry Jared if his mom had been like that. Also, I'm not sure I would have married him if his name were Chester, so thanks for not doing that Sisko.

Ok, confession time. I liked the movie way better than the book. I know, this is blasphemy coming from an English major. What can I say? I have no excuse. Although part of the reason is the actor who plays Thornton. He's all Mr. Rochestery (yes, that is the official literary term) and makes the movie. If you are a fan of period pieces, you will probably like this movie. If you're not a fan of period pieces, then well I don't know you.

Playing In the Backyard

Last time we were swinging in the park. This time we are playing in the backyard. We are trying out our new jackets. Yes, you sometimes need jackets in GA in October. This is the closest we got to both of them looking at the camera at the same time. Charlotte likes to wear her hood. We like to call her the baby unabomber.
She thinks it's a good name! Although she wonders why I'm pointing my toes on the concrete behind her. She kinda thinks I'm weird. Actually I'm doing the same thing as I type this. I wonder how frequently I sit like that without even thinking about it?
Katie kind of looks like she's doing some dumpster diving.
Here she thinks it's funny that we called her a dumpster diver.
And finally they are ready to go inside and do some plotting. They like to plot. Or maybe they'll eat a snack. Snacks are good.

Swinging In the Park

The babies have found a new love- the park. They like to go down the slide.
Then they like to squat and cry when they get to the bottom.But most of all, they like the swings!
And here's a video with really crappy image quality but with really cute babies talking and laughing.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Hi people. My mom told me about a book a few months ago called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Marie Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows. She said that her book club was reading it and that I would like it. Well, I took her advice and read it. And I liked it. A lot. I might even take her advice again some day. Ha ha ha ha.

It is just after WWII in England. Juliet is a writer who spent the years of WWII doing articles about the lighter side of the war. The war's over; she's tired of being sunny and wants to do something different. She gets a letter out of the blue from a guy on Guernsey Island who happens to have one of her old books (it had her name and address in it). Guernsey Island is a British possession in the English Channel that was occupied by the Germans at the beginning of the war. It was completely cut off from communication with England and is still fairly isolated even after the war. He wants her recommendations on a bookshop in London that can send him some new books. They start a correspondence that leads her to find out about much of what happened on the island during the occupation, including the happenings of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, of course.

The book is written entirely in letters. It's a device that can go either way. I think it works really well in this book. Partly because the letters are not just between two characters. Letters, telegrams, and notes go between many of the different characters, so you get all sorts of perspectives. What I really like about the book, though, is it made me want to jump on a plane and visit Guernsey. I want to learn all about it. Also, the book is funny and sentimental without being sappy. I hate sappy. Sentimental is ok as long as I don't cry my stinkin' eyes out, which I didn't. All in all, I enjoyed it very much. Thanks Mom!

Sunday Morning

Hi everyone. Here we are getting ready for church a few weeks ago. The babies have taken up brushing hair and eating bows.
(Sorry about the fuzzy pictures. My picture-taking skills seem to have taken a turn for the worse.)
Katie's wondering why I felt it necessary to put a bow in her hair. Charlotte likes it though.
Well, she liked it for about 2 seconds until she realized how tasty the bow was. Then she tried to eat it. Her sister followed suit. Haven't they ever heard that beauty requires sacrifice? Although it is true, most people don't have to sacrifice the joys of eating their hair accessories. Just babies.

Scenes From Our Kitchen Table

Can you find the common theme in these pictures? It's really hard, so I'll give you a hint. Stuffed animals.

And now, for your viewing pleasure...

Here is a new video of the girls. It is a 30-second thrill ride that includes dropping toys, sucking on thumbs, squealing, and even some throwing of pacifiers. You may think it's cute even if you are not my mom or my mother-in-law. Enjoy!