Meanwhile, in Rivendell . . .

Today I shipped off packets to most of the several winners of the giveaway:)  Thank you all so much for participating, and I wish I had enough of those that different people wanted to give you ALL some. As it is, I promise that these winners were all selected fairly, via a drawing (some were the lucky winners of more than one drawing).  But anyway, here are the winners for the books/bookmarks that multiple people requested (those that only received one preference were also shipped to the winners) : Kaiulani:  The People's Princess :  Winner:   Kerry The Last Trail:   Winner:   Emma Jane The Thief and the Beanstalk:   Winner:   Cryslyn The Princess Bride Inigo bookmark:  Winner:   Lois The Robin Hood bookmark:   Cryslyn The Samwise bookmark:  Winner:   Lois I think those are the only "contested" ones?  Congratulations, winners!:D

What-ho, all!  I'm just popping in to share a 'gripping story opening' for  Heidi's  June edition of Inkling Explorations! The prompt is a beginning that grabbed you and kept your attention, not necessarily a high-action one.  I decided at length to go with the opening to The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern  by William Goldman;)  (The opening to the actual PB opening, that is, not the first line of the book.  Because, as anyone who's read it knows, it's a rather strangely constructed book in that regard…anywho.  Rambling.) The year that Buttercup was born, the most beautiful woman in the world was a French scullery maid named Annette.  Annette worked in Paris for the Duke and Duchess de Guiche, and it did not escape the Duke's notice that someone extraordinary was polishing the pewter.  The Duke's notice did not escape the notice of the Duchess either, who was not very beautiful and not very rich, but plenty smart. The Du...

I'm currently rereading Louisa May Alcott's Rose in Bloom (which, by the by, is a book I absolutely love), and recently I started thinking of people whom I'd love to see play the main characters if the book were ever made into a movie.  (Which sadly seems unlikely.)  So I decided to try and make up a dream cast!  I don't have a mental picture of all the characters yet, but here are a few actors that I think could do well in the more prominent roles:) ~ Rose Campbell ~ Sarah Gadon ~ Mac Campbell ~  George Rainsford ~ Phebe ~ Anna Popplewell OR Hailee Steinfeld ~ Charlie Campbell ~ Christopher Egan ~ Uncle Alec Campbell ~  Viggo Mortensen ~ Archie Campbell ~ Sam Claflin Those are all I can think of at the moment.  What're your opinions?  Agree or disagree with any of these ideas?  I'm not rock-solidly-sure of them myself, but it's a start;D ...

(If you are currently watching BBC's Robin Hood and don't wish to know how the entire series ends, DO NOT read this post.) I don't know if any of you, besides DKoren, paid much attention to the comments in  this post .  Therein, basically, Natalie and I were freaking out over BBC Robin Hood, as is our wont, and we were talking about how awesome it would have been had the screenwriters included a clip of Guy and Marian reconciling in the final scene of the show.  Basically, what I would have LOVED to have seen was Marian forgiving Guy, and then seeing the two of them, along with Robin and Meg, talking and laughing together in the forest after the rest of the gang went to bury Robin's body.  However, 't'is apparent that the powers that be didn't share our vision *sniff*.  Now, please understand, I'm not complaining about the finale.  It was aching and beautiful and real and gorgeous and pretty much destroyed me.  BUT, I'd still like to have seen this...

Hello, my pretties.  How is everyone today?;) So you know how I like those name the actor/actress games?  Well, I've come up with an idea sort of like those, except for this one, I'll be posting pictures of authors instead of actors (and yes, I realize that there are more male than female authors in this list.  I gotta work with what I have).  Let's see how well we know our writers, yes?;) #1:   #2: #3:   #4: #5: #6: #7: #8: #9: #10: Wow…this turned out to be a much harder game than I had planned.  Honestly, if any of you get all of these, I'll be impressed!  I don't think I'd get most of them.  But have at it, if you'd like:)

Ahem, no, not really.   The Great Book Giveaway Bonanza , however, IS here!  (I'm a little hyper right now because I've been quite excited for this for a while.  And…) I'm shameless, I know. But anywho!  Click the link I provided, and you'll go to a page on Hamlette's blog that links to all the participating blogs, so you can check out all the giveaways at once:) Here are my giveaway options!  ( *Note*  I'm sorry to say that, for financial reasons, I have to restrict this to US residents only:( ) Books (Please note--all of these books were bought used and still have their price stickers on them, which I can try to remove, if you prefer, except Zia , which was bought new.) Apologies for the poor picture quality. The Last Trail by Zane Grey--I picked this up at a library sale; good condition. Zia by Scott O'Dell--This is a sequel to Island of the Blue Dolphins .  It is gently used, but in great condition.   Kaiu...

Howdy, peeps. First of all, since yesterday evening, I can officially say that I have read Tolkien's The Silmarillion !  That probably sounds inconsequential, but trust me, it was a big thing for me to accomplish (because it's not exactly bite-sized and it IS a little, ahem, dry in parts).  Let's talk about it, those of you who've read it!:D Secondly. The Great Book Giveaway Bonanza (instigated by  Hamlette ) draweth nigh.  In precisely six days, I'll (hopefully) be giving away some books/memorabilia.  I'm not sure how popular my selections will be, since I'm rather fond of most of my books ;-P , but I'll do my best.  Stay tuned, and check out Hamlette's blog for more details! Third, two gifs to brighten your day:) I saw this on  Naomi's blog  and promptly stole it.  Because look at it!!!!!!! Because I've been rewatching My Fair Lady recently, and have I mentioned lately that I absolutely love Henry Higgins?  'Cause I ...

Spring bursts forth in glowing verdure, The embodiment of a soul both playful and calm. Grass and flower and tree uninjured Weave with the wind a youthful tale of yore. Summer pioneers its wild and steadfast freedom; The sun is king and holds full sway. The joy of many, the burden of some-- These are months  wherein totality  comes. Fall arrives, in stately anticipation.  Color erupts, a fire of gold and red. The air hurries you gladly to a joyful occasion, To celebrate this cozy, friendly season. Winter comes next, the oldest of seasons. And though many bemoan its venerable snows, There is eloquence in a hushed word unspoken, And there is grace in a soul by pain unbroken. Seasons pass, billowed and furled-- Joys come, sorrows go-- And though wars rage, and mountains into seas be hurled, Still "God's in His Heaven; all's right with the world."

Emma  and  Lois  have both nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!  (Whew, that's a mouthful.)  Thank you so much, darlin's:D Rules 1.  Thank the blogger[s] who nominated you, linking back to [their] blogs. 2.  Put the Award logo on your blog. 3.  Answer the ten questions sent to you. 4.  Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer. 5.  Nominate ten blogs. (I don't think I'll be able to come up with ten blogs that haven't already been nominated, but we'll get to that later.) Emma's questions 1.   Do you like county fairs? Sure!  Why not?:) 2.   Were you ever in some sort of club as a kid? I don't think so…I was in co-ops, but that's not really the same thing. 3.   What's one of the first movies you remember seeing? Ah, I love those movies that take me back to the dear old days gone by forever  when my brothers and I had a few that would jus...