Austen Musings

You all know me as Miss Sandra, but did you know some days I go by Elizabeth Bennett, or Elinor Dashwood...or even Emma Woodhouse? Do you see a pattern here? I love Jane Austen. I easily get lost within the pages of her books.


I'm Miss Bennett at wit's end with that proud insufferable Mr. Darcy. Oh please someone get this silly cousin of mine, Mister Collins, away from me! Dreadfully embarrassing. Can it be? Mr. Collins has proposed to my best friend Charlotte Lucas...and she accepted? What can she be thinking? Oh merciful heavens...better her than I. My dear sister Jane, so in love with Mr. Bingley...they shall be happy. Lydia has gone and eloped with that bounder George Wickham! What is to become of us all? And that pompous Mr. Darcy....he's wonderful after all! I can't help but love that man!

I've been in Miss Woodhouse's shoes and have wondered why Mr. Elton cannot see the charms of my dear friend Harriet. I think it's a perfect match..and you know I have been successful as a matchmaker. Just see how happy Mr. and Mrs. Weston are! Proof indeed. Oh dear...I cannot imagine why Mr. Knightley is cross with me again. Oh but I do love that man!

And oh the trials and tribulations of being Elinor Dashwood. I hide my feelings for Edward Ferris deep within my heart...knowing that Lucy Steele shall have him. My sister Maryann, so wrapped up in her own broken heart, cannot see my daily suffering. Oh if only she could see the love that Colonel Brandon exudes whenever she's in his presence! What is that??? Edward didn't marry Miss Steele? Is he to be all mine? Oh merciful heavens...I love that man!

Currently I am Anne Elliot, invicible to my family but loved like a daughter by Lady Russell. It was this kind lady who eight years ago persuaded me to turn down my engagement with Captain Frederick Wentworth. Oh why did I ever listen? Now he's back and will probably marry Louisa Musgrove. Oh how can I stand it!? What's this? My cousin William Elliot has set his sights on me? He seems nice...but he's not my Frederick. However, if we marry I shall be mistress of my very own beloved home Kellynch Hall. Oh dear. What have I just learned? Oh can it truly be? Captain Wentworth is not marrying Louisa! She's to marry Captain Benwick! There is still hope. Yes!! Frederick loves me still......oh I love that man!

Isn't it wonderful to lose oneself in a good book....to live the lives of the heroines within those pages? Jane Austen created some truly wonderful and memorable characters. They come to life the moment I open a book. I make sure to visit them over and over again.


Tell me...what's your favorite Jane Austen novel?

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Weekend Ramblings...

This morning my alarm went off at 8:00am. I know, not exactly dawn but my body still protested. I wondered to myself...Why can't the weekend consist of seven days? Why does it go so fast?
I went in to the shop and with the length of the weekend still in mind, I asked my minions (dear staff) the same question. Needless to say, they really had no response.
Not surprising.

I did a bit of crocheting under my linden tree on Saturday.

Perhaps if the weekend lasted seven days it wouldn't be so enjoyable. N'est pas? Perhaps a week of only two days would prove tedious and lacking in essence. This is what I told myself. Really...I tried to convince myself.

Still to no avail...I wish the weekend consisted of a whole week.

My view looking up, while lying down underneath the linden tree.

These silly ramblings have been brought to you by the lady of Harmonie House, who is sorely lacking in blog material this evening.

I guess I just wanted to say hi...glad to see you all again after this lovely, yet too short weekend. Hugs and kisses all around!!

xoxoxo!
Miss Sandra

...On Loneliness

This evening was yet another perfect one for dining outdoors. I made myself a simple dish, poured some wine into a goblet, and went out to my garden.
The breeze felt divine as I savored the moment of being outdoors in nature with birds, chirping away, as my only company.

Funny how one can embrace being alone, for sometimes it does becomes habit. However, this evening found me feeling the loneliness. I sat there, with life and beauty surrounding me....eating alone. I thought of how my husband, had he lived, would be sitting beside me discussing the day's events. I feel his absence on a daily basis, but very much so tonight. I guess perhaps the beauty of the day reminded me of the beauty of my yesterdays with Ron. They were lovely days.

The loneliness was so thick...still is...I can cut it with a knife.

I don't know why I posted this here, when most of time I'm my ever cheerful self...probably just the need to share my feelings. Besides, writing about it is a form of release and therapy.
Please...it's not to garner sympathy or anything of the like. I'll be fine and this too shall pass.

I guess I just wanted the company and you have all been so wonderful. Thank you for always dropping by and reminding me that there is a world out there with so many beautiful individuals.


I need not feel alone.

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Letters From The Heart

Isn't this lovely?

Here's a closeup...

Today was absolutely divine. The sun was at its brightest, the breeze was warm, and I was feeling rather nostalgic. So upstairs I went, opened my desk, and pulled out several bundles of old letters. Tied in cream colored ribbon, envelopes of all shapes, sizes, and colors, greeted me like an old friend with arms extended in warm welcome. Some were even yellowed...or I should say mellowed, by time.

Out in my garden was the right place to sit back and relax while reading these special missives from near, far, but very dear correspondents. I laughed, smiled, and sometimes even got misty-eyed as I ventured as far back to 20 years of written memories. What a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Flowers from my garden including: rosemary, thyme, chive, and coral bells.

I do hope my letters, sent throughout the years, have touched many a heart as these have touched my own. Happy & sweet reading indeed.

xoxo
Miss Sandra

In Case You're Wondering....

What did I do on Sunday after all..besides the reading I mean? Need you ask?

I baked.

No my dears, company did not arrive but I was in short supply of scones. Actually...no supply.
So I figured what a better day to bake...and besides, they're good to keep in hand and freeze beautifully. So with apron on, baking necessities at hand, I went ahead with a song in my lips and a smile on my face.

Here is my floured surface with some of the scones already cut out and being shaped. I make my scones smaller than norm. It makes for a nice portion...... especially if one is having more tea fare at hand. Good enough to have just one or an extra without the guilt. *smiles*

Here they are on the tray, egg wash on the tops, and ready to be put in the oven.


And here they are on a platter.
I drizzled them with a light orange blossom/citrus glaze.
Forgive the slight blurriness of the picture. I do not own the best camera.


After all is said and done, one must eat a scone accompanied by a cup of tea.
Mmm...clotted cream and preserves. What more can anyone ask for?

So there you have it my dears. Now the only question that remains is.....Who wants to join me for tea?


xoxo
Miss Sandra

Sunday

Sunday...lovely Sunday.

I sit here at my kitchen table, still in my robe, and having
a cup of tea. Mr. Knightley is curled up on the chair beside me snoozing away. The wind is blowing lightly and the sun keeps peeping in and out...trying to decide if to stay or go. Truly it makes no difference to me, for it's Sunday. It's my day to relax, lounge about, and not worry about a thing. If it should rain, I shall welcome the shower with open arms. I'm home after all...home where I can watch nature's whims come and go.

...and again, it's Sunday!! Did I mention I love Sundays??

What to do on my most favorite of days? Hmmm... I can bake. Nah...no company coming by. I might end up eating it all. I can stay in my robe all day and snooze beside my cat. No, that won't do. What if by chance company should come by? Well then perhaps I should bake after all. Nope. I'm sure I'll have no visitors today. All right then. Perhaps I shall curl up with a good book and look out my window at the beautiful linden and the bench beneath it beckoning me to go out and sit. Okay..that'll defeat the purpose of staying in...and it might rain after all. Scratch looking out the window. Ahhh....I can go downstairs to the basement (the only place I keep the telly) and watch a movie. Oh dear...that won't do. It's Sunday and I musn't be cooped in a basement and dear Mr. Knightley wouldn't be pleased. Besides, I might not hear the door if company should come by.*Sigh*

What does it matter what I do anyway? It's Sunday!! I can do whatever I please or absolutely nothing at all. How wonderful is that? I can hear the church bells tolling away nearby. The classical music is playing softly in the background. The steady breathing of my cat as he snoozes adds a special cadence to the calm of the moment. The serenity of Sunday has me in its trance. I think I'll go grab that novel in my library and curl up in the nook. I'm sure Mr. Knightley will soon follow and keep me company while I lose myself within the gentle confines of the story.

...Or I'll just go and bake something.
You never know. Company might drop by.

Have a beautiful Sunday my dears!!
xoxo
Miss Sandra

A Beautiful Life

It's a rainy and windy evening and I'm once again in a reflective mood.

As I hustled and bustled at my place of business today, I had this constant feeling of restlessness. It didn't matter that I was taking phone calls, packing orders, and chatting with customers. That feeling lingered and somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard it....that inner voice asking me over and over..."Is this all there is?" I know that question very well for I have spoken it aloud many a time. However, it was quite prevalent in my mind today. I thought to myself. No, this cannot be all there is. There is so much more out there waiting to be discovered. The life I've been dreaming of...it's out there. It's reaching out to me, beckoning to grab it and take it by storm. Oh it's there all right. I can feel it sometimes...the dream, the hopes, and the reality of it coming true.

Well, that reality is lovely, but it's not mine at present....or is it??

At this moment I must continue to keep shop, day in and day out. I must save my pennies and keep strong of spirit and heart, for I've realized that in order to live the beautiful life of my dreams all I have to do is make beautiful my life now. And as I look around me, I see so much beauty, so much to be thankful about. I have the home of my dreams, the cat of my heart, family & friends in abundance, and the blessings of the sun in the morning and the moon at night. In this life, I can dress up and live another era one night, be in my Wellies out in the garden the next day, and have friends over for afternoon tea the next. The peonies are about to bloom, the linden tree is exuding it's sweet euphoric scent, my lavender is promising another year of fabulous growth and I was able to make another mortgage payment on this wonderful home I call my refuge, my sanctuary, and my Shangri-la. *smiles*

I'm out to work in the modern world by day, but have the wonder of coming home to Harmonie House...where it's always 1918. It seems all this time I've been searching for what I have already created for myself one day at a time...lovingly and patiently....bit by bit.


I found it......

A Beautiful Life.

xoxo
Miss Sandra

The Joy Of Writing Letters

...And I mean handwriting, not typing.

Today I composed a nice, long letter to a friend in New England. It was my first time writing with my new fountain pen. Oh, but what a lovely pen....the Mother Of Pearl from Libelle's Nature series. Not only is it pretty to look at, but the words flowed effortlessly, quite nicely onto the paper.

How easy it is to lose oneself through the art of writing. The words paint vivid pictures of thoughts and express feeling. That which your mind has created, flows through the pen in fluid motion...thoughts the reader will be able to see and perhaps even feel. That is the beauty of the written word.

Oh how lucky is the receiver of hand written letters, for we know how precious and rare it is to find that envelope in your mailbox when one can easily e-mail in minutes. So much is lost in electronic correspondence...most importantly, the personal touch. The rare times I do receive snail mail, I make a ritual of it. I make sure all my toils of the day are done. I take some quiet time, a cup of tea, and find a cozy spot in my home. There I indulge in the moment...the visit of loved ones as they talk to me and bring me closer to them through the simple magic that is the written word.

Remember, this was the way in days of old. Writing to keep in touch was an everyday part of life. Before phones and computers there were letters. Why not encourage this lost art? Pick up some lovely stationery and send someone a ray of sunshine through the mail. Start today!

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Happy Mother's Day

A little late in the day perhaps, but I want to wish all you Moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day. You are a beacon of light to your loved ones. I hope your day has been filled with sunshine, laughter, and loads of love.

I also hope you were spoiled rotten. *smiles*

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Back to Earth

My dears...as I sit here having a nice cup of tea, I'm thinking of the lovely time had during my weekend away from the present. It was an escape for the soul as well the mind....a much needed escape. Where did I go you wonder? Well I ventured not too very far from home. Cape May, New Jersey.

For those who have not had the pleasure of visiting this seaside town steeped in the past, I urge you to venture out some day. Victorian homes in all colors, shapes, and sizes grace the streets with their ever present charm...inviting you to stop in for a cup of tea and step back in time if only for a brief spell. Thankfully for my sake they hold many events throughout the year. My favorite is the Victorian Dance Weekend held every April and October.

This year, I stayed at the lovely Humphrey Hughes House on Ocean St. The hosts were not only warm and welcoming, but helpful as well. I found that out first hand....leaving my lady's maid at home, I had no one to help me get into my 1890's gown for the ball. Thankfully our hostess was roaming about and was more than happy to give me a hand. Oh!! Did I mention the food??
Breakfast was not only a feast for the eyes, but also an experience for the palate. So good is the fare at the Humphrey Hughes House, a cookbook was written in order to placate those who wanted the recipes. Needless to say, I'll make this Cape May inn my place to stay from here on.

On Friday, a non-Victorian dance was held at the next town over...an impromptu gathering for the vintage dancers to get a head start on their weekend. That night I danced the waltz, fox trot, cha cha, and even a little swing. It was loads of fun.

Saturday night was the main event of the weekend. The Victorian Ball. This is the night to dress to the nines and be seen. I wore a lovely 1890's blue gown with gold trim. I felt like Cinderella, without having to lose a slipper. *smiles* However, once upon the dance floor, I felt like Ginger Rogers. Oh how I love to waltz!! I did plenty of that and also a couple of polkas, quadrilles, shotisches, and more waltzing. In the words of Eliza Doolittle, "I Could Have Danced All Night."
Alas, the clock struck midnight, my coach awaited, and I had to give in to the demands of slumber.

Ahh....but the Sunday afternoon Tea Dance was next! This affair was less formal and the music spanned the ragtime of the 1910's. Foxtrots, waltzes, tangos, and the one/two-step were the dances of the afternoon. Needless to say, I did a little of each and enjoyed every minute. My tootsies would have probably danced for another few days before giving in to resting.

I've been floating on that wonderful journey for the past couple of weeks. I look forward to the next affair through the veil of time. Oh wait! That'll be held here at Harmonie House on the 4th of July. Picnic and croquet in period attire....I can hardy wait!!

In the meantime....Fred Astaire, here I come!
xoxo!