*~* Miss Jane Day *~*

He [Sir William] paused in hopes of an answer: but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moved towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her, --

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William, --

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour."

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is, indeed: but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?"

Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley, --

"I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner, -- in such society; and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise; -- the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures of them!"

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity, --

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? and pray when am I to wish you joy?"

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."

"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you."

He listened to her with perfect indifference, while she chose to entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.

The disadvantages of being an older sister

It all started out with the innocent game of "Egyptian Rat Killer" (I haven't the slightest idea why it is called that) my little bro and I were playing. In the game, if the cards are alike you slap them. As this was near the first time Ethan had ever payed it, I was quicker at slapping things then he was. So he warned, as he made a fist with his right hand, "You'd better watch out." I should have listened. A few minutes later my fingers were throbbing and tingling after he pulled his fist away, but hey, I got the slap, so I got the cards. Wahoo!

I creamed him, of course, in the game. So what does he do? Playfully he picks up a bag clip. Yes, the ones with the "jaws" to hold the bag closed, and then he chucks it at me. Shocked, I picked it up and playfully threw it back, right before it came flying back at me.

I held onto it this time, so he searched for another weapon. What does he choose? The deck of cards. I was lying on my back, covered with a blanket to help fight off the chill of the house and recovering from the recent attack of the bag clip, when 52 cards came flying at my face.

Needless to say, Ethan left the room (rather rapidly, his excuse, he had to use the bathroom. *Rolls eyes* Riiiiiight.) as I picked up the cards.

After picking them up, I shuffled into the kitchen to refill my tea cup. I had just picked up the tea pot, with hot water in it, when Ethan comes running into the kitchen with the blanket I had abandoned in the living room, yelling something about the attack of some vicious sounding blanket. I was then pulverized, tea pot still in hand.

Amazingly I didn't even spill, though I was being rammed into by killer boy and sidekick blanket.

Setting the pot down I managed to free myself, then *Ahem* ran him over, all in self defense, mind you. :) He backed off.

At this point I realized our dog was outside and wanted in, so I walked over to the door to let her in. Just as I was about to close the door a half eaten baby carrot was flung my way, quickly followed by a whole one.

Not wanting to be "carroted" I retreated to my bedroom.

Moments later the door opened and Ethan appeared, armed with ping-pong paddles (I kid you not). :)

He tried to give me a pair, of course I refused and told him to put them away and go find somewhere else to play. He then proceeded to squish his cheeks with his set of paddles repeating over and over (yes I know that's redundant.) "I'm a scared boy." (He told me later he had said that because he was pretending I was angry and that he should be scared.) I, however, thought he was saying, "I'm a scary boy," (which I thought fit better with what was going on) to which I would have replied, "Quite".

He left and so did the paddles shortly after that, thankfully, only to return a few seconds later with a pillow on his head. He was holding it down on the edges so it covered his ears, almost like a bonnet, but not quite.

I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him because I was working on something at my desk. But soon I turned back around to see why he was making gorilla noises.

What met my eye was him, still making gorilla noises, dancing, yes dancing, with the pillow as he watched himself in my floor length mirror.

After repeatedly telling him to leave my room, and having him not leave, I thought of the only place where he could not get to me ... yes the bathroom. :)

Sitting on the bathroom floor, I waited until I knew it would be safe.

I was laughing my head off the whole time, (from the very first time he chucked the bag clip at me) which of course encouraged him. At least I was not mortally wounded.

It sounds, perhaps, slightly violent, but please know he was playing the whole time, as was I. :) I'm sure if any of you have younger, sometimes crazy brothers, or any siblings, know all about this type of thing.

The snow is gone already!

Wow, three posts in one day, you lucky peeps you. :)

I walked upstairs, not moments ago :) and looked out the window and look what I saw:I know, 'tis amazing! :) Actually, I knew it would be gone within a day or so, but I was rather surprised that it happened in a matter of hours. That's the nice thing about snow in Minnesota in the spring, it doesn't stay around long. :) So umm ... this random post was just to let you all know that amazing tidbit about what happened in the last 10 minutes. :) Sorry, I'm just weird like that.

Yup, in the rain

Yesterday when it was raining I went out to uncover my mini roses (yup, in the rain) so that they would get better rained on. I really enjoy being out in the rain but I didn't want to be completely wet on my head so I put my hat on. I really like my hat even though I haven't used it much. So I thought I'd show you my hat. It's so cute. But while I was outside, I didn't realize how wet I actually got. My back was completely wet.

<---See how dark gray my sweater is? In the pictures below of me in my hat you can see how wet the ends of my hair got.

This is the color my sweater is suppose to be, a light gray color, you can see the dark colors on the sleeves and shoulders. :) Yup, I was pretty wet. --->

It rained pretty hard a times, so hard that the rain was actually rolling off the brim of my hat in little streams. But it was fun, and my hat looks cute wet. :)

Spring is here ... I think

Ahh, spring. The birds are singing, the grass is green, the flowers are growing, the trees are budding, the weather is slowly getting warming, the snow is falling ... wait, back up. The snow is falling? Yessirree peeps. The snow fell last night. Just when I thought it was getting warmer and I was really enjoying the rain. It rained most of the day yesterday (and the whole day before that) but as the temperature dropped last night the snow started to fall. Well, I guess that's what you learn to expect when you live in Minnesota. :)

Rain and flowers

(Below and two right) Yes, the little sparkly things on the pussy willows are raindrops! :)
It rained so wonderfully today!! Sometimes hard, but mostly soft and calming, and a few little rumbles of thunder every now and then. I love the rain. I just went out and walked in it, letting the drops land on my face. It was so wonderful!!! It also made everything green! I was so surprised at how just yesterday everything was still looking wintry and today it's green and springy! Also, my roses are growing!!!! Ahh, that's almost more exciting then the rain. I can't wait for my "babies" to grow and bloom so I can adore them, talk to them, smell them, look at them, and everything else a good "mommy" does. :) Along with my roses, other flowers are starting to grow, and produce buds, or have already bloomed. They are so beautiful!! I LOVE SPRING!!

Lilacs. They are coming out! Hurrah!!


























Random flowers with raindrops on them.

My roses!!! Yippy!!






















Look, everything is so green.

Snickerdoodles

Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies

~*~ 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
~*~ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (or allspice)
~*~ 1 cup shortening (DO NOT use butter, the cookies will not be fluffy but flat and pancake-ish.)
~*~ 2 eggs
~*~ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
~*~ 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
~*~ 1 teaspoon baking soda
~*~ 1/2 teaspoon salt
~*~ 2 teaspoons cream of tarter

~*~ ~*~ Preheat the oven to 400. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. Cream the shortening in a mixing bowl and gradually add the remaining sugar, beating well. Add the eggs and beat well. Stir in the vanilla. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Add this mixture to the sugar and eggs and beat well. Shape the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, and roll each ball in the reserved sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place each ball 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

`~*~`Surprise gift bag`~*~`

At church on Wednesday night my friend L, who is eight or nine, I think, gave me a bag with my name on it. :) She then proceeded to tell me what was inside. :) She put some special "treasures" in the bag for me. She also decorated the bag as well. She taped ribbon to it, put a Wyoming sicker on it (she knows how much I love Wyoming. :) ) and drew little swirlies on it. Isn't she just the sweetest!? I love her! Thank you L!! Click on the last picture to see what everything is, I labeled them. :)

The promised post!

See? A post. :) Amazing, I know. :)

It was so nice yesterday morning (and afternoon, although it got a little windy in the afternoon) that I decided to sit out on the front step and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. I love sitting outside and I love warm weather. It makes me very, very happy. :)

My blanket I was sitting on and books I was looking through.

Coffee!!!! Mmmmmm. :) And my constant companion.

The pen I was using is a gift from my little sister Leah! It's purple and it sparkles!!!! How great is that?! :)

One of the books I was looking through. Yes, it is a Jane Austen book. :)

The new tote bag Popi bought me so that I can beautifully tote things around. It's very large and holds lots of things. I love it!

It was so warm that I just wrapped myself in one of my shawls and was warm enough.

Tulips! Need I say more?

The little stone/brick path we put in last year. It is rather short, very short in fact, but I love it!

Robins! Spring is here!!

I assure you ...

there IS a post in this blogs future. Hopefully near future. :)

I have things to post about, it's just that with piano teaching and going to Leah's softball games I run out of time to post the things that have been on my mind.

So do not give up on this little rejected blog just yet, I have not forgotten it. :) Keep checking back, soon you will be rewarded for your patience and faithfulness with a new post.

Until the promised post,
*~Ana~*

*~* Miss Jane Day *~*

I really liked this scene from Pride and Prejudice because Mr. Darcy reminds me of my older brother. :) My brother, like Darcy, is very to the point in his answers, if he answers at all. Any one who knows him I'm sure would agree.

"The day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening, Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing-room. The loo table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet,* and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.
Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each.
"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!"
He made no answer.
"You write uncommonly fast."
"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly."
"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a year! Letters of business, too! How odious I should think them!"
"It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to yours."
"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her."
"I have already told her so once, by your desire."
"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well."
"Thank you -- but I always mend my own."
"How can you contrive to write so even?"
He was silent.
"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp, and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley's."
"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? At present I have not room to do them justice."
"Oh, it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?"
"They are generally long; but whether always charming, it is not for me to determine."
"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill."
"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her brother, "because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?"
"My style of writing is very different from yours."
"Oh," cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."
"My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them; by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents."

*Two-person game played with thirty-two cards.

~Pride and Prejudice

`~`Encouragment from Auntie Emma`~`

Reading Auntie Emma's CaringBridge site today tears filled my eyes as hope and encouragment filled my heart while I read her words. Now I share them with you! May you find comfort in them, as I have, and as she has.


"...the thought I have been carrying around since then is from Jehoshephat's prayer... 'We don't know what to do... but our eyes are on you.'

K and I often spin the same cognitive and emotional circle these days and ultimately this is the conclusion we reach: God is good. We don't know what to do; but where else can we go? He alone gives life. We cast ourselves, our dreams, our future on Him and we learn to wait on Him. He sees me... He knows what we need and we will never go without.

Through His Word, God says to me...
'Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for Him to act.' Psalm 37:7a

'Pay attention, {Emma}, for you are my servant. I, the LORD, made you and I will not forget to help you.' Isaiah 44:21"

So I ask you ... What would you use it for?

Shopping at our secondhand store the other day I found this beautiful little basket, and just had to get it, the only problem is now that I have it I don't know what to use it for! This is quite sad because I want to use it and not just put it away until I can think of something, so here's where you come in, all you wonderful peeps!! What would you use it for? Please tell me, I'm so in need of help, and also very excited to see what you come up with! So please, comment, comment, comment. :) I'll be waiting!

A spring look for my bed

Since spring is now upon us I thought I should decorate my room accordingly. I've been doing little things here and there just to give it a lighter, springier look rather then a cozy wintery look. :) Yesterday I did my bed. Popi bought me a new pillow for my bed, it was on sale! Hurrah for sales. And since I had a beautiful new pillow I thought I should make the rest of my bed look "new" or rather different.

Before
After
See the new pillow? It's the little one with the purple "flower" on it. It's so beautiful. I was going to use a lighter purple pillow case for the purple one, :) but I couldn't find it, so we have dark purple. And see the box spring? It's covered. In the before picture, although you can't see it, the box spring is not covered and you could see it perfectly, so I just tucked a stray piece of fabric I found between the mattress and box spring and also between the box spring and the bed frame to keep it in place. I think it turned out great! I'm so happy with how it looks.
Also, this little basket holds the fabric I found in a box that will one day become a quilt, when I get around to it, until then, it graces my floor. I'm not going to use all the fabric on the same quilt, fear not, I know they don't all go together. :)

Miss Jane Day Oops

For those of you who were looking for my Miss Jane Day last week, I'm sorry to say that I forgot to post one. :) It just completely slipped my mind. I hope to get back into it this week if time allows. Sorry about that.

Buttons, Necklaces, and Earings

Today I decided I was going to organize my necklaces and earings. Organizing the earings involved buttons. :) I got the idea from Mrs. Wilt from The Sparrows Nest.

And of course there had to be music. :)