Tribute to Jane Austen

“You pierce my soul, I am half agony half hope.”
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On this day Dec. 16th in 1775 the brilliant
Jane Austen was born. I am a huge fan, and have read every novel (I think) she has written.

Jane Austen was an amazing English writer born at Steventon rectory to a substantial gentry family. She had only 1 sister, and 6 brothers. Both her and her sister never married and both almost died from Typhus.

Jane Austen was said to be very fond of dancing. This of course makes us Kindred Spirits. 🙂 One of my favorite Jane Austen quotes is:
“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love”
(Pride and Prejudice)
Pride-and-Prejudice_BN
My personal favorite Jane Austen novel is
Pride and Prejudice
(although Sense and Sensibility is one of
my favorite movies…)

Here is a great list of things you quite possibly never knew about Pride and Prejudice:
http://article/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-pride-and-prejudice

Jane Austen died in Winchester on the 18th of July 1817, at only 41. The cause of death was somewhat speculative between Addison’s disease, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bovine tuberculosis, and/or Brill–Zinsser disease. Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were both published after her death, by her parents Cassandra and Henry.rl1adh2glggyomed-edited
Fun fact: Her works, though usually popular, were first published anonymously and brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews during her lifetime, but the publication in 1869 of her nephew’s A Memoir of Jane Austen  introduced her to a wider public. Janeite fan culture emerged in the second half of the 2oth century. (fun fact found via Wikipedia.)
I didn’t know the last part of this,
about her nephew.

Now I will HAVE to read
this Memoir!!!

“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
What is your favorite Jane Austen book and/or movie?
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The Enchanting Beatrix Potter

“I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood,
tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense.”

Beautiful words by a beautiful soul!
Beatrix Potter, 2012, Olivia WasteHelen Beatrix Potter 
A whimsical and brilliant
writer and artist.
Born today July 28th in 1866.

Known mostly for her charming sweet
Jemima1children’s books starring such famous characters as; Jemima Puddle-Duck, Tom Kitten, and of course the timeless Peter Rabbit.

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However she was more than just an enchanting
tumblr_luee59rs3e1qaq5smauthor and incredible artist. She was also a natural scientist and conservationist, and she dedicated much of herself to the passion of plants and animals.

What an astonishing women!


A few books that tell her story/stories:
      (Click Pictures for details)
The first is a biography on Potter, the second a collection of her
classic tales, and the last is a book that is all about the places and
2377e7c31526aae7a16b7312aae1ba22.jpgsubjects that inspired her work.

Book Beans: Duchess Tea 
Create your own little Ribby tea party : Steep some classic earl grey and serve
hot with milk and honey. Bake some
poppy-seed muffins and sugar cookies to accompany. Set up your treats and tea out in nature, maybe under a tree. Now invite a friend or two over, or make a little kiddos day, enjoy your afternoon tea!

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story.
You never quite know where they’ll take you.”

Beatrix Potter

What Beatrix Book do you love? What character/s capture your heart?