Randomosity

A mug of chamomile tea is brewing as I type this. Homework is done (a rarity before 8pm!) and I wanted to come over to say hello to all my 90+ readers. I tried journaling some deep thoughts earlier this evening, but the words won't come (so frustrating!) so I'll type a few random things here on the blog.

It is currently just two degrees above 40 right now with a forecasted wind chill of 16 tonight. With the wind and weather such as what we're having right now, I almost felt like I was back home! I kept my black peacoat coat and isotoner gloves on nearly all day. Obviously, I had to take them off when I had my violin lesson. :) Much to my often gratitude this time of year, that one particular window in the big room faces the south and the sun helps warm many a student. Of course playing the 1st movement of the Bruch violin concerto is bound to warm up anyone, too! ;)

Over the weekend I sold four more aprons to the shop owner in town. She was quite delighted with them, and loved the Tasha Tudor style ones her employee picked out a couple weeks ago, but decided to trade them out with two other half-aprons. Because I already took the listings for the Tasha Tudor aprons off of etsy, and never saved any of the pictures or info I listed, they may not be online for another six weeks or so. But they are once again available, for anyone who had their eye on one of them.

Has anyone seen Wuthering Heights, with the actress Tom Hardy? 2009 version? For several years now I've heard the name bounced around several times but never read the book or watched the movie up until a few weeks ago. A friend introduced to me her favorite version, and so we cuddled up with quilts and watched it on my laptop. Emily Bronte, the sister to Charlotte Bronte (who is known for her Jane Eyre) wrote Wuthering Heights in a similar fashion that borders creepy, melancholy, and romantic. There are some ::ahem:: romantic parts to be fast-forwarded, and if you can get past the modernized hairstyles and clothing, and like "darker" movies, it's a fun one to watch. Over Christmas break, I'm hoping to read the book. It's one of those movies where reading the book might fill in missing details or clear up confusions that weren't evident in watching it.

Have a lovely week, my friends!

The Home Stretch

You know you're on the home stretch when your hands/wrists remain sore even after a good night of sleep (ie, lots of violin practice + HW on the computer) and your brain feels like it's starting to run out of space for more information.

A little over 6 weeks and the fall semester will be completed.

I can do this, through Christ who strengthens me.

A few verses from my Bible reading this morning that are so fitting:

"For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed."

Psalm 71:5, 14-16, 21-23

Immersed in Literature

Say hello to my weekend.

 

I'm spending it with Dostoyevsky, Lu Xun, Pirandello, Tennyson, Browing, Baudelaire, and Cavafy. I have a test early next week. While I love reading and the lectures in World Lit, it remains to be the toughest class this semester.

When I met with the professor this week, she asked if I've looked into being an English minor. I'm going to take that as a compliment.

Happy News!

There is a new vintage-inspired tea shop and boutique that is opening its doors soon on The Square near my university. Yesterday the shopkeeper called me and asked about buying some aprons to display and sell in her new store.

Today after chatting with her, it looks as if some of the aprons in Peasant Cottage will find their way into an actual shop with possibly more that she wants me to sew. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined my work being sold like this.

For a fair warning to my friends and customers, she's looking at the aprons on Wednesday and is already planning to purchase a couple, so as always: first come first serve. Get it (or them!) while they're still there since I won't be able to re-stock the shop until December, and you know that I rarely make two of the same apron.

My Saturday Morning

Mrs. C makes the best blueberry nut muffins in the world.
She also makes the best blueberry nut waffles in the world, and that is what I had for my Saturday morning breakfast.

And she gave me an extra recipe book that contains both of these recipes (and her delicious whole wheat pizza crust recipe). I know what I'll be making for my family over Christmas break!

Mid-Week Inspiration

This is the next piece I'm learning, but I'm not allowing myself to learn a note of it until this weekend since I'm performing Bartok's Roumanian Dances (all six of them) on Friday and don't want to become distracted. :)