Monday, February 27, 2012

Fleur d'Elise

I surmise that most of my readers are getting a bit nauseated from the sheer speed at which I change my blog header and title :) So, I have decided to stick with one for a good long time! There--I hope you feel better:D

My dear sister Libby took a bunch of pictures for me, and designed my new header. I think it is just right :) Here are a few more pictures from the photo shoot.




I hope everyone is enjoying a productive Monday morning, as I am!

"In ALL labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."
Proverbs 14:23

xoxo,
Elise

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Literary Heroine Blog Party


Hello to you all! Today I am participating in Kellie's Literary Heroine Blog Party and am quite excited to tell you a little about myself and my bookish tendencies:)

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-Les Questions-

Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes,
aspirations, or something completely random!
My name is Elise :) I desire to be a godly woman, and am preparing to be a godly wife and mother someday. I love reading, knitting, cooking, organizing, and spending time with my family and friends.
I have wanted to learn how to play the accordion since I was a little girl, and reading Kellie's blog has made me want that more than ever. I also want to learn how to tap dance sometime:)

Every time I click the Google "follow" button on someone's blog, I hear the Ricky Nelson song, "I will follow you." (how's that for random??)
If you have never heard that song, I recommend you go listen to it now so that I am no longer the only one plagued by it :D


What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?
So often heroines in literature are rebellious, independent and headstrong, yet that is not what makes a true heroine. To me, a true heroine is humble and teachable, kind to all, and develops character as the pages turn. She is submissive to the authority in her life and serves her family wherever she can. In essence, a God-fearing woman is a true heroine :)


Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.
1. Molly Gibson would have to be at the top:)
2. Rose Campbell from Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom

3. Emily Fox-Seton from The Making of a Marchioness

4. Edith Adelon from The Inheritance


Five of your favorite historical novels?
Ok, so my choices are not all novels, but here they are anyways...
1. A Bride Goes West
2. The Scarlet Pimpernel
3. Princess Ka'iulani
I can't think of anymore right now---sorry :(


Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?
I love Nannie Alderson from A Bride Goes West! She has such courage and determination and goes through so many hardships pioneering in Montana, even though she was brought up very well-to-do!
I love that it is a true story too:)


Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?
Hmmm...this is not a secondary character, but a second first character.....it would have to be Sir Percival Blakeney, Baronet :) Who doesn't love him???
If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?
So many places! I would love to go to: Scotland, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, South Africa, India, Alaska, Iceland, and North Idaho:) I would walk a lot wherever I was, and just look...and look....and look!
What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?
I don't think I could choose, so I will skip this question :D (cheating I know)


You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?
Oh so hard to choose:) I might do a comedic song and dance with my sisters...that is if I could whack up the ginger to do that sort of thing in public :D Or perhaps a wild theatrical.


If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?
I think I could do a jolly good imitation of Mary Bennet, or Gwendolen (of The Importance of Being Earnest), or Molly Gibson :)


What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?
That it should be consumed early and often, that it should be consumed with someone (I find chocolate is not half so delicious eaten alone), and that it should be enjoyed a little at a time:) I love dark the most, but also milk and white.


Favorite author(s)?
Goodness, here we go---Elizabeth Gaskell, P.G. Wodehouse, L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, J.M. Barrie, R.C. Sproul, the Botkin sisters, Elizabeth Prentiss, Shakespeare (comedies only), Charles Spurgeon, Jane Austen, George Macdonald, R.J. Rushdoony, need I go on? :)


Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?
A journal, a camera, rough n' tumble boots, and a trusty hat.
Although those could be called essentials I guess:)


In which century were most of the books you read written?
A wide variety:)


In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate hero! But after Him, I love the story of Othniel, who took a whole city single-handedly in order to win Caleb's daughter for his wife. (Joshua 15: 16-17)


Describe your ideal dwelling place.
A small and cozy home with lots of sunshine and land, somewhere in Northern Idaho or Western Montana.
The house is organized, but comfy, with lots of books and knitting in handy places, children everywhere,
a yellow kitchen, a wood stove, chickens, some apple trees, and a garden for vegetables and flowers.


Sum up your fashion style in five words.
Feminine, vintage, western, colorful, and full of plain thingness:)


Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?
Nopety-nope :D


In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...
Uriah Heep from David Copperfield...*shivers*


Three favorite Non-fiction books?
1. The Bible
2. The Art of Divine Contentment
3. Institutes of Biblical Law


Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?
A hammock, a book, a little knitting, and a strawberry kombucha :D


Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.
It would be a straw hat--simple, elegant, adaptable to most any situation.
I'm not sure that this portrays my true character, but I would definitely wear it :)

In the winter, it would be a cherry red wool beret, or taupe wool cloche.
Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.
My family and I have spent 5 out of the past 12 months in Idaho, and have grown to love the place and the people dearly. Our trips there have been the biggest event:) Probably my biggest challenge this year has been learning to be content not living in ID!
Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25
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Whew! I didn't think it would take me so long to write all that! I do hope you have enjoyed reading it, and that you will comment and tell me what you thought! :)
xoxo,
Elise

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Organized

Hello there!
Today I want to share some pictures of my recent organizing projects with you.
I absolutely LOVE organizing things, big and small!

First, the library bookshelves. We moved our furniture around in November, and I got to arrange a bunch of books:)

before--

and after--

Sorry these shots are not very good quality :-/

After the library was mostly done, I rearranged the books in my room! I had outgrown my bookcase, so I snatched one from our basement. It still is none too large for my book collection! :) I especially enjoyed making this look pretty.


Hope everyone is enjoying some fine weather and perhaps "an excellent chocolate thing" as Janna would say :D

xoxo,
Elise

Monday, February 6, 2012

Friendship


"...though they cling together, no friends are true friends unless you, my God, bind them fast to one another through that love which is sown in our hearts by the Holy Ghost..."
-St. Augustine