"Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It'll be spring soon…and the orchards'll be in blossom…"

(Yes, that quote was necessary.)

SO.  This week, due to Easter's proximity, I have two weeks to get done a little less than a week's worth of homework (there was a lot of 'week' in that sentence).  Yaysies!  I'm attempting to be diligent and use the time profitably, of course, but sometimes it's tempting to just take a full-on break (not a good idea if you're like me) ;D

Thusly, "getting on the computer to work on a poetry presentation for British literature" turned into a half-hour Pinterest spree pinning OUAT gifs and collages.  Behold, the fruit of my searching labors:


GUYS IT'S SPRING AND I'M SO RIDICULOUSLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.  The birds are trilling of a morning again, and it isn't black as midnight at 4:30 p.m., and--*lowers voice*--my dear, darling, beloved cherry tree is starting to hint at blossoms.  I'm ecstatic :)

Speaking of the cherry tree, I want to share with you all the benefits of impromptu swing-making, as discovered by me sometime last year.  As you know (obviously), we have a cherry tree on our property.  I adore that tree, and I mightily wish that it'd stay in bloom longer than a few weeks, but we shan't complain.  Anywho, sometime last spring, I spontaneously decided that I wanted a swing under said beloved cherry, and so I determined to make one.  Somehow I recruited my younger brother into helping me, and after a good bit of trial and error, we managed to construct an extremely makeshift swing by drilling two holes in a thick plank of wood my father had on hand.  (This plank is just long enough to be able to sit on it comfortably.)  We then used a random length of rope that was lying around, knotted and contorted it into handles that fastened under the holes in order to provide security, slung the ropes around one of the tree's thick boughs, and voilà!  We had ourselves a swing :)

This is an enterprise I highly recommend, if any of you ever have a hankering for a plain-and-simple, good-old-fashioned swing under a favorite tree.  It is sheer bliss to be able to tramp outside and loll in a swing while either reading or composing poetry with God or whatever it is one can feasibly do on a swing.  Of course, the blissful nature of these pastimes is considerably lessened if one wants to be reading masterpieces like Ivanhoe and instead has to read Wuthering Heights for school (which, in case you didn't know, is like literally the worst book to have to read on a swing, under a cherry tree, on a beautiful spring day).  There's also always the vague danger that the rope (which is really more like sturdy cord, if the truth be told) will snap and you'll fall and break your femur.  BUT if you can get past those drawbacks, nothin' beats it ;)


I'm re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and OHHHHHH MY HEART.  Atticus though.  I just--isn't it weird how you can want to be married to a guy, want to be his daughter, and want to be his neighbor friend all at once?  This story is just doing something to me, guys.  I mean, all the parts when life happens and one of the children starts to cry and suddenly find themselves pressed against his vest…I want to get to bury my head in Atticus' shirt front.  There, I said it.  I admitted to the weirdness of my soul :P  And seriously, how was Gregory Peck so flippin' perfect for the role?!?!  That movie is basically spot-on for an adaptation, guys.  It ain't getting any better than that.  *siiiiiiiiiigh*  Anyway.  Moving on.  

My mom and I are re-watching the Anne movies for the umpteenth time :)  (Btdubs, go read this.  Whoever made it understands life, I tell you.  It does contain some language, including abbreviations, just so you know.)  I really love this story.  It's so…good (#vocabularyofficiallyexhausted).


I have a new look in store for spring, and I'm really excited to put it together :D  Howevuh, I think I'm going to wait at least until April starts, because I really do like the look I have now and I feel like I just changed it :P  What do you all think?  The new look will probably have to stay for quite a while, so…

You know what's awkward?  When you sign up for a semester of free voice lessons that music students at the local college are offering, and the (really awesome) girl who's tutoring you begins to undermine the foundation of your choral training xD  ('Cause there is a WORLD of difference between choir-singing and solo-singing, as I'm only now starting to fully comprehend.)  

I can't think of anything else to say, really.  I just felt a need to post randomness in conjunction with pretty pictures :)




Comments

  1. THE SECOND PICTURE. I want to be IN it. Thanks. :-D

    HAHAHA. As you all know (OBVIOUSLY), we have a cherry tree. That made me laugh. :-P (This post made me smile a Lot. You are a genius.) Oh, we have a HISTORY of swings-on-tree-branches-that-end-up-breaking-because-the-rope-is-too-much-like-a-string. But they're always very fun swings. I reccomend swings in the garden. (Especially blossom trees, GAH. Our roads are filled with pinks around April and May - can't wait.)

    EVERYTHING YOU SAID ABOUT TKM. Yes. Yes. Yes.
    I just--isn't it weird how you can want to be married to a guy, want to be his daughter, and want to be his neighbor friend all at once? (I had to quote you.)
    BASICALLY YOU'RE ME IN THAT PARAGRAPH.

    And the Anne movies. Sighhh.

    You have voice lessons?! Oh, nice. I really want voice lessons, actually - but I don't feel like finding the time and the place for it. :-) (Solo voice and choir voice is different. Trust me, I know.)

    ~ Naomi

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    1. Ohhh, I wrote the first comment. *fistpump*

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    2. Naomi, RIGHT?! It's SUCH a cool picture. It makes me super happy :)

      (*blushes* Goodness! You ARE kind :D) Haha, the struggle is so real ;) Blossom trees! Those sound so gorgeous!

      WE ARE ONE. In that, at least ;)

      Yep! Haha, it's definitely…different. And they are kind of time-consuming :-/

      You did! And it made me very happy :)

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  2. Aww! Olivia! That beginning quote was PERFECT! And now you're making me very anxious for Spring! The weather here is still going back and forth. Can't seem to make up it's mind what season it wants to be yet. ;)

    Your swing sounds SO lovely! And the fact that you and your brother made it yourselves makes it altogether chummy! :) Oh, and your description of reading a book out on the swing! Ah! Deliciousness! Though, it is too bad the book had to be Wuthering Heights. :( I've never read that book myself, but I've heard things about it.

    TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD! Oh, THAT BOOK! I SO need to read it again! And what you said about Atticus! YES, YES, YES! It is strange perhaps how one can want to be all three of those things in regards to Atticus, but I guess that just goes to show that Atticus makes an excellent husband, father, and friend! :) And I didn't think your sentiments were at all weird, my dear. I think I could easily feel the same way myself. :) Atticus is SUCH a good character!! (Oh, and I have to agree about the movie, too. You're so right! The casting was PERFECT!) By the way, have you read the sequel to TKAM?

    Oh! And you've been watching the Anne movies? *sigh* That sounds like so much fun!

    I'm really excited to see your new Spring look!! :D

    Thank you for this post, Olivia. Random posts are so much fun!

    ~Miss March

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    1. *sniffle* It just does something to me ;) Yes! Our weather is going somewhat back and forth, too, and it's getting a leetle tiresome, but not too bad, I suppose :)

      Haha, yes, it was and is :) Yeah :-/ WH wasn't actually BAD, per se, it's just that it's a Gothic romance, and I really dislike Gothic romances :P

      Exactly! He's just that amazing :) (ISN'T IT, THOUGH?!) I haven't read Go Set a Watchman, yet. I think I will, eventually…just not sure when ;) What do you think?

      It really was!

      Thanks so much, girl! :)

      Delete
  3. Oh Olivia, I loved this post!! It was so gorgeous, and fun, and that quote you started it with oh my sould the feels.

    It seems we are quite similar in how we do school, except my horrid procrastination has resulted in me being terribly behind in Biology and Latin.... I blame Pinterest. And the internet. :)

    I love swings!! We have an enormous willow tree in our back yard, and we made a big swing to go with it, except, when you have three brothers, it turns into "let's see how dangerous we can make it". So now, In order to ride it you had to climb up onto this scary stack of skids and spools, and then jump off the edge. It's all worth it though, cause it feels like flying. Unfortunately I'm to tall for it at the moment, and it has snapped with me on it at least three times. (wow. that was longer than i thought.)

    And my dear, you are not strange for feeling that way about a character in a book; that's rather how I feel about our dear Mr. Holmes.... So you are not alone. In the least. I usually end up hugging my book tightly at some-point or other....

    I eagerly await the new blog look!

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    1. Abigail, thanks so much! I'm so glad you liked it :)

      Haha, indeed, indeed ;)

      You have a willow tree! I LOVE willow trees! Ooh, that sounds like so much fun! Except the snapping as you were riding it. That sounds painful and awful :P

      Haha, I'm so glad I'm not the only one with these kinds of problems xD Hugging books…yaaaaaasss.

      Thanks, girl!

      Delete
  4. This post was beautiful. It got me super excited for all the cherry blossoms and Spring days. I should construct a swing on one of our trees...

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  5. I LOVE the quote!! :D Oooo you have a cherry tree?! I love charries! And that swing sounds absolutely delightful! Lovely post, Olivia! I forgot to tell you...I watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!! I LOVED it!!! <3

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    1. Thanks, Morgan! I do! It's a wild cherry, so it doesn't actually produce any edible cherries, BUT STILL. Aren't they beautiful?! I just wish they bloomed a little longer, maybe :)

      Thanks so much! *gasp* YOU DID?!?!?! AAAAAAHHHHH, you must tell me every delicious detail of what you thought!!

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  6. Ah, spring!!! That just NEEDED three exclamation points.
    We have an old truck cap sitting in our yard, so I like to go outside and sit on it. It's a wonderful place for reading L.M Montgomery for an hour and a half on a gorgeous day.

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    1. I agree, KB! ;D

      *sigh* That sounds so utterly LOVELY! Oh my goodness. I want to do that :D

      Delete
  7. Happy Spring, Olivia!! I wanna tree swing too :D But we don't have any trees that would be strong enough/the right shape. We used to have a tulip tree, that would've worked halfway, I suppose, but it got some sort of blight or other and we had to cut it down. Tire swings at parks are a good substitute though . . . :)

    I like that it's light in the evening too :) AND YES NAOMI. THAT SECOND PICTURE IS GORGEOUS. I would love to leap in and stay foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvah.

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    1. Happy Spring, Rosie! :) Eck, that's annoying :-/ But you had a tulip tree?! ACH IT SOUNDS SO BEAUTIFUL. Yes, tire swings'll do ;)

      I KNOW RIGHT.

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  8. Aah, I loved this post, Olivia. <3
    I've still got two weeks of full on school to do, before I can have holidays, but I'm SO ready for them right now! *sigh*
    I'm so happy you're having spring. Spring always makes me happy. :D
    Your swing sounds lovely! ;) (And the fact that you made it makes it even more so.) We have a wooden swing set with two swings in our backyard, and we also have a big tire swing looped off one of our huge trees in our front yard. They're always nice... Although, admittedly, I prefer the trampoline, because bouncing agrees with me more. ;D
    That second picture is SO COOL. It's like it's a story all in itself!
    I am HOPING to read TKaM soon! I'm just slowly plodding along reading "The Three Musketeers" and while it's good, it's very slow going. ;)
    I LOVE the Anne movies! *happy sigh* They're like, one of my FAVOURITE movies EVER. And GILBERT!!! I read what you linked to... ohhh... I don't remember a time when I didn't like Gilbert. ;)
    I think you should put up your new long on the first of April. :D There! I was actually decisive for once. ;P
    Oh, wow! I've ALWAYS longed for vocal lessons, but never had the opportunity. How neat! Haha, yes, I can imagine that solo singing and choir singing is different. And I know aallll about someone beginning to undermine the foundation of what you were taught... I've had that happen a lot to me, with different things. ;)
    Loved this, Olivia! :D
    ~Miss Meg

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    1. Oh OH and I somehow failed to mention the title!! That made me feel so... emotional. :P I just... that quote... no words. You understand. ;)
      ~Meg

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    2. I'm so glad you liked it, Miss Meg!

      I know exactly how you feel…BREAK MUST COME!

      Yes! Ooh, trampolines are so cool--unfortunately, I have an irrational fear of them :P

      Isn't it, though?! Pinterest <3

      You're reading TTM?! Wow…#respect. Hehe, I'm too intimidated to start an Alexander Dumas book xD (Wait…it is Alexander Dumas who wrote that one, right?) I hope you get to read TKAM soon! It's so good. Little bit of swearing, but with one exception, I think all of it was fairly necessary :P

      They're such lovely movies. Siiiiiiigh :D

      Oh, that's too bad :-/ It's frustrating when there's something you really want to do, but there's just no opportunity to do it. I'll pray you'll be able to someday! :)

      Thanks, girl!

      (I KNOW RIGHT. Yes, I do understand.)

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    3. Haha, I've been reading The Three Musketeers for 2 months and I've still fifteen (short) chapters left. ;) It's actually easy reading (well, relatively easy!), it's just the fact that it's so LONG! And yes, it's Dumas who wrote that one. (He wrote The Count of Monte Cristo, too, which I have on my to-read list. I've seen the movie of that lots - it's SO good!!)
      Thanks, your comment made me smile! <3
      ~Miss Meg

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    4. I bet! (TCoMC is a really good story!)

      Aww, well, ditto ;)

      Delete
  9. Gahhh, you sure know how to title your posts, Olivia!

    You lucky duck! ;) School has been tiring me lately, but only four weeks and a day left. I'm going to be SO glad when its over. Summer last year left me with so many happy memories-- meeting tons of bloggers, creating my own Blogger account, reading lots of books I LOVED, watching P&P'95 for the first time, listening to Les Mis just about every day, raising our new puppy, improving my writing, and rediscovering my Beauty and the Beast passion. :)

    Your swing sounds awesome! I don't think any of the trees in our backyard would hold a swing very well, but at least that saves me the risk of breaking my femur! ;)

    Gregory Peck was the perfect Atticus!

    I don't think I've seen the later movies, but the first Anne movie is. so. good. We watched a local production of Anne of Avonlea a few weeks ago and ahhhhhhhh, I love those stories TOO MUCH. :D My summer goal, in fact, is to finally finish all the books and movies.

    (Yikes, that comment sure rambled.) Enjoy the rest of your spring(our snow just melted!). :D:D

    ReplyDelete
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    1. *blushes* Aww, shucks ;)

      I'm SO ready for summer, too. Honestly, I think we all need a break xD Aaahhh! Sounds like you had a fantastic summer :D

      Haha, true, true ;)

      He really was!

      Ooh, that sounds like fun! (You should totally do that! Coincidentally, I'm planning on re-reading at least most of the books myself this summer :D)

      No, it didn't! And even if it had, I love longer, rambl-y comments :) (It did?! How exciting!)

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  10. Utterly LOVE the post, dear! Ohhh... but I could just SEE those cherry blossoms. Yes, one of the most fleeting and beautiful things of all the grand and glorious year... ;D

    And Wuthering Heights! Eeeesh. Quite and absolutely. I've dipped into it on various occasions and originally had it down to read rigorously from start to finish as my February choice for the Classics Challenge (with which I'm woefully behindhand BTW ;P), but I picked it up and... yes, not the right season in life at the moment.

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    1. Aww, thanks, Heidi! Yes, cherry trees are come and gone all too soon, but they're still lovely :)

      *shudders* I didn't actually hate it with QUITE as much vigor as I expected to, but it was still a Gothic romance, and therefore it irritated me to no end. It's quite…something.

      Delete
    2. Yes, I don't hate it either. I think Bronte's really instituting a character/life comparison (which a lot of critics miss) and it really does end with a beautiful picture of hope. But still... just not personally where I needed to be emotionally this spring. :P Someday though!

      AND EEEEEEEEEEE, YOUR NEW HEADER IS GORGEOUS!!!!!! ;D :D

      Delete
    3. Exactly. The end was okay, but…blehh ;-P I so understand a book not being right "in the moment"--that happened to me recently.

      AWWWW, thanks :D

      Delete
  11. SPRING SPRING SPRING!!!! Eeeeek, I love this time of year. ;-) Your cherry tree sounds lovely! I wish I could see it -- we don't have many cherry trees around here, though there are a few wild apple trees down by the creek that are perfectly gorgeous when they bloom (but that's not till later in April, it being the north an' all.) And of course my darling violets. ;-P

    Half-hour pinning sprees? THOSE ARE SO FUN! Haha, except for the niggling feeling of guilt you get afterward....when you realize how much time you just spent looking at Aidan Turner's face. *coughcoughpersonalproblems* (Oh, and I went and read that thing about Gilbert Blythe.....and yeah. Says it all right there.)

    I usually re-read TKAM sometime in the spring -- it's a tradition (one that I am very fond of). Yes, I understand the confusion of wanting to be Mrs. Atticus Finch and daughter of Atticus Finch and neighbor of Atticus Finch all at once. ;-P (It's a tough place to be.) I LOVE that book to the heavens. I actually don't like the movie though....which has kind of a long explanation, and I don't need to go into all that now (my comments are always long enough without the backstory, haha).

    Free voice lessons! Awesome. I actually started taking voice lessons too...only they're not free, haha.

    I love your random posts -- they is good for the soul. This one made my day happy. :-)

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    1. I know, so do I :) Aw, I wish you could see it too! But for the record, I wish I could see those wild apple trees--they sound gorgeous! And so does the creek :D

      "The niggling feeling of guilt afterwards"--YOU UNDERSTAND. The struggle is so real. Haha, "*personalproblems*" And yes, isn't that article darling?

      That's a fabulous tradition. Oh my word. Oh, really? Huh. I'm actually curious now; what don't you like about it? (Hey--long comments are the BEST, as you well know ;D)

      Haha, yeah, it was a kind of special the college did in connection with my choir :D

      Aww *blushes* I'm so glad to hear that :D

      Delete
  12. Olivia! This is such a lighthearted and cheery post! One can't help but love it!! My favorite part was probably your talking about the swing. It sounds 'dangerously' delightful. :)

    Oh I am so sorry for you!! Have you ever read Wuthering Heights before?! I read it because of a friends recommendations and I--seriously, I believe it would make the happiest person in the world seek counseling for depression!! :P :P :P I HATE that book! So I am so very sorry for you!!

    The Casablanca pic! :D And the Lord of the Rings quote! I'm not a OUAT person but I liked the quote from your first picture as well. It's interesting. :)

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    1. Awww, thanks, Cordy! That makes me happy, that you liked it :)

      Nope, I'd just Heard Things. And then I did and I was all, "Whyyyyyyyy?!?!" It's just...weird. I didn't like it :( (Seriously, the characters in Gothic romances. Don't even get me started.) Thanks, the empathy is much appreciated, I assure you!

      *squeal* I know, right?!

      Delete
  13. Why thank you, I now have a burning desire to make a swing! :P I think I will... I think I WILL! *uncle billy voice*

    OH. Wuthering Heights. BLECK. I prefer to call it Withering Heights, actually. It's even worse if you have to read literary analysis essays about it. :O

    Aw, TKaM is soooooooo good.

    Oh, and are you sure It was necessary? *sniff* :)

    Happy Spring!!!!!!!!!

    ~Merry [who has actually been reading your blog a long time...]

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    1. Oh! Merry! Your comment made my day! I'm SO thrilled to meet you and to learn you've been reading my blog for a while! I hope you'll come back and that we'll become great friends :)

      You should! (Ooh, what is that reference? I feel like I know it but I don't.)

      "Withering Heights" BAHA. I like that name, I like it a lot ;) Ugh, I bet.

      *sniffle* I know, isn't it?

      *smiles in sympathy for a fellow Tolkienknight* Yes, I'm afraid so :D

      Happy Spring!


      Delete
    2. It's from It's a Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart)!
      Nice to meet you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Delete
    3. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….I still don't remember it, but it sounds funny :D

      Delete
  14. So sorry you had to read Wuthering Heights :-( You and me can hate Gothic romances together.

    (Wish I could say a LOT more but I'm travelling right now so I'm kind of behind on blog stuff . . .)

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    1. Indeed we can, and it's a great comfort to know you understand my good-natured abhorrence of them :D (I do love Jane Eyre if I'm in the right mood, though.)

      Oh, no problem! I COMPLETELY understand! I appreciate your comment anyway :) Hope you have a fantastic trip!

      Delete
    2. It was a great trip, thanks! I decided I didn't want to go to school there (at TAMU) though, because it just wasn't a good "fit" for me. I didn't like the place or the people very well--and to top it all off, I was experiencing serious mold allergies in the History building . . . it's a thing that runs in my family, and I pretty much have to avoid any place where I run into those symptoms. So . . . yeah. I'll be staying home for grad school :-)

      Delete
    3. I'm sorry TAMU didn't work out, but I'm glad you know it was the right decision :)

      Delete
  15. Ugh, the distracting power of pinterest. But it sounds like you enjoyed it. :D

    Yay, spring!! And -gasp- you have a cherry tree? That's so wonderful!
    Hahahaha, your warnings about breaking a femur made me chuckle. I would love to construct a swing similar to yours...there's even a branch I have in mind. But, instead of being worried about the cord, I'd be worried about the branch. :/ I'm not sure how sturdy it is.

    Hahaha, I understand what you mean about wanting "to be married to a guy, want(ing) to be his daughter, and want(ing) to be his neighbor friend all at once". Although I haven't experienced that exact combination, I've experience similar emotions. ;) (And yet I can't think of an example at the moment...bother.

    I do love your current blog look, but you've made me VERY excited to see the new one! :D

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    1. Haha, yes, indeed ;)

      I do! It brings great joy to my heart :D

      Haha ;) Oh, yes, that's a real difficulty, too! Sometimes it's hard to know for sure if the branch will be sturdy enough. But one can always try :)

      Yep. It's a struggle, that's for sure.

      Aww, thank you! I hope everyone will like it *fingers crossed*

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