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Jane Eyre

A and I went to the cinema this weekend and saw Jane Eyre.  I looked forward to this movie's release for months, and then waited impatiently to see whether it would be shown in our local theaters.  The Globe gave it a very favorable review.  Apparently, movie-goers were also pleased with the film, because its select theater release was soon expanded, and now there are limited engagements of Jane Eyre everywhere.

I love the story of Jane Eyre.  But, I did not love this movie. The beginning was disjointed and confusing.  The director chose to begin the story in the middle and then flash the viewer back to scenes throughout Jane's life.  Unfortunately, it didn't work.  The viewer never really got to know Jane as a small girl.  The important influences in her early life, such as the harsh deprivation at Lowood, redeemed by her friendship with Helen Burns, and her mentor Mrs. Temple, were hinted at, but never properly developed.

The scenery, and especially Thornfield Hall, was outstanding, but I felt that Jane's entrance to Thornfield was not well executed.  The film pointed out the loneliness and isolation of Thornfield, but it didn't  really express it in a believable way.  The film did not show us long lonely evenings, or long days with Jane at her work with only her young charge Adele as companion.  Mr.Rochester was suitably imposing and arrogant, but not at all likable.  His selfishness came across as pitiful on screen, and in the last scene, he was almost too pitiful to watch.  I did not sense any chemistry between Jane and Mr. Rochester.  

It's always difficult to transfer a book to the screen. Scene selection is everything, I think, and I wonder at the scenes that were left out.  The fortune-telling scene would have helped convey the developing tender feelings between Jane and Mr. Rochester.  In the movie, his proposal seems even more unexpected than it did in the book.  

In all, this movie fell flat for me.  A said that it was boring and depressing--it gave her a terrible first impression of one of my favorite stories of all-time! The movie didn't really capture the gothic atmosphere (although it did provide a few unexpected "bangs' that made me jump), the romance, the horror and betrayal, the loneliness--really none of the magic of this story at all.  Far too much was missing, most especially the important themes of moral triumph, the worth of the individual (equality), and atonement and redemption. 

But, please don't take my word for it.   This movie has a very high approval rating at sites like Rotten Tomatoes. It's quite possible that you may love it.   

transformation

My little world is so beautiful right now, it takes my breath away.  Nature does this every year, and yet, when spring comes, I am still amazed.  

 View from my front door.

This week, even though I was sick with a nasty cold, I made an effort to get up early every day, make my bed, and get dressed immediately.  I made several other small changes, too, which together made for a very productive week and a more peaceful home atmosphere.  I gave myself completely to my children during the day, and only let myself knit and read when all of the day's work was done.  All week I practiced being fully present, and it was energizing--I feel so alive!  So awake!  It helps that it's spring.

Today we took a ride to Agway to pick up some supplies for the chicks, who went through a big growth spurt this week.  I think they've doubled in size since last Friday. It is one of those beautiful, golden spring days, and everything is in bloom:  forsythia, tulips, hyancinth, magnolia, azalea, and all of the trees.  It was a lovely ride.  We stopped at a farm stand on the way home and bought a couple of quarts of icy cold farm fresh milk.  It was delicious.  And, so different from the watery liquid in plastic jugs that passes for milk in the supermarket.  I can hardly wait until our chickens begin laying, and we get to taste real eggs.

Penny and Trixie    

grab your popcorn

   

Tracey came up with a list of her top ten movies to see at least once (or twice, or a dozen times).  I thought I would join in the fun, too, since I love, love, love movies!  Of course, my list could easily be a hundred movies long :- ) 

I made mine a mix of both old and new flicks.  Here are my top ten, in no particular order:

• The Wizard of Oz
• Pride and Prejudice 
• Rebecca 
• The African Queen 
• The Illusionist
• The Pincess Bride
• Elephant Walk
• The Planet of the Apes 
• House of the Flying Daggers
• Chocolat

Linking with The Little List

there IS love and peace in this world

Bad Bad World from Guster on Vimeo.

Kinda makes me want to put a tutu on and pass out flowers to everyone :- )

 

spring song

 Lap full o' chicks

Birdsong in the morning

Buebells and daffodils and trees dressed in lace

The scent of sunshine on my children's hair

Tired muscles

Tidy garden beds

Robins promenading on the lawn

Red ball rolling

Shouts and laughter

Pumping legs

Bumblee bee

Awake and sing

It's spring

The chicks are getting bigger everyday.  They now have wing feathers tiny tail feathers. 

five I's for Friday

 

1. I am...

excited about two things:  1) Z will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation tonight!  It's been two years of preparation, and now the blessed day has arrived for Z to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  2)  Z and S will be peforming a full set at Johnny D's Uptown tomorrow night in Somerville!  

2. I'm not...

going to stop posting pictures of chicks.  That's Miss Penny above :- )

3. I wonder...

what my next knitting project should be:  a stuffed lamb or bunny?  Socks?  A new cardi for spring?  I don't think the little piggy that I'm knitting will take too long to finish.  

4. I will...

walk in the woods this weekend.  I haven't gone to the pond in a couple of weeks, and Buddy (our lab) is pretty despondent about it.  My own soul is feeling quite tattered, too--I need to be out among the whispering trees, the soft earth, and soaring sky.    

5. I hope...

that L will be able to sit through the entire Mass tonight (he's not good at this yet).  I also really want to find a way to visit my parents soon.  They are getting older, and I miss them.  

May your weekend abound with blessings and happiness!

five I's for Friday

Miss Willow watching the snow fall.

1.  I am...

going to the library to pick up the book Chick Days: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens from Hatching to Laying, by Jenna Woginrich.  

2.   I'm not...

making dinner tonight.  I'm going to order fish sandwiches instead.

3.  I wonder...

Which cat got into my knitting basket last night.

4. I will...

do my taxes today, come hell or high water.

5.  I hope...

this is the last snowfall of the season.  Despite the snow, I did see daffodils in bloom at the community college yesterday.  I also hope that my little tricksters don't get me today ;- )

Happy Fool's Day!

the way the wind blew

Weathervane on my neighbor's rooftop.  

This week:

:: two days were +60F = joyous, sunny afternoons at the playground

:: crocuses and robins are popping up on everyone's lawn

:: I met a pretty little year old tabby cat through our town's Feral Cat Association, who I might invite to come and live with us tomorrow

:: Jane Eyre is playing at the cinema!  

:: I saw two romantic rabbits in the garden

:: S re-desgined my blog to make it look more like "me" (his words).  Yellow is my favorite color, and daisies are my favorite flower

:: I bought a new crossbody "fieldbag" for my many adventures to meadow, wood, and sea 

:: I woke to birdsong, falling snow, rain, and sunshine on four different mornings 

:: I visited a friend and brought dinner and gifts to welcome her new baby

:: we had a great learning week, with a trip to the science museum, and lots of good literature read, ideas discussed and written about   

lenten thoughts

The Gospel reading today was Matthew 4:1-11, about the temptation of Jesus.  Father John said, "We're tempted when we're hungry."  

When we're hungry we're likely to reach for anything.

Father John said that it's foolish to give up putting sugar in your coffee, or to give up sweets for Lent.

Lent is not about giving up, so much as it's about looking up--and in. To practice Lent, we look at ourselves and ask, what is the one thing that is holding me back from the life God wants me to have in Him? And for forty days, we practice letting it go.  

By the time we reach Easter that temptation is gone...and we are, miraculously, more full.  

 

melt

I am amazed at how fast the snow has melted.  And, look--the swans are back!  We walked around the pond today and saw grackles, red-winged blackbirds, robins, and Canada geese, too.   Spring is begiinning to seem possible.  

spring haiku:

snow melts, soft grey ice

here come the Canada geese

splash-land into spring

 

unexpected gifts

Today was our Girls Club pool party, and our last club meeting until autumn.   It was quite overcast for most of the day, and I thought that I might have to cancel the party, but then right before the girls arrived with their swimsuits and towels, the sun came out!  It was a golden afternoon.  I chatted with two of the mothers who stayed to watch with me, and the girls swam and snacked on fresh fruit, cheese, chips, and tootsie rolls.   One of the girls gave me a small gift for making the Girls Club so much fun.  I was very touched by that.  All of the girls certainly made the season great fun for me.  I will miss them.

There wasn't much time this morning for lessons, but at lunchtime, I read aloud William Steig's Amos and Boris and Roland the Minstrel Pig to my children,  just for fun.  The older children enjoyed these picture books even more than the younger ones did, and  I think that I enjoyed them most of all.  Why do people think that picture books are only for very little children, I wonder?  I shall never give them up. 

 After all of the girls packed up and went home, A and I sat out in the back yarden together, I, with my iced tea and book, and she with her bug boxes.  Yesterday evening she found this large maple spanworm on the fence:

Doesn't it look just like a stick?  It is so well camouflaged that I am amazed she discovered it.

And, today she found this mourning cloak caterpillar:

We have had good luck with getting mourning cloak larvae to pupate in the past.  Hopefully in a few weeks I will have a butterfly photo to show you. 

~*~

And, now I must share the most amazing thing.  Sarah has written a poem for me...a beautiful, soul-stirring piece that I know will be meaningful to many mothers.  I am deeply honored.  She is an exceptionally talented writer, and a very kind friend.  I am blessed to know her.

blessed ordinary

Today was blessedly, an ordinary Monday.  I was grateful to be able to begin my day with Mass and the holy rosary. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the church, reminding me of the answer a little girl once gave when asked, "What is a saint?" She pointed up at the windows, (which depict various saints) and said, "They're the people that the Light shines through".

Home again, we had pancakes for breakfast.  Lesson time included viewing some coraline algae from Z's saltwater aquarium through the microscope.  There were tiny transparent creatures busily working on the algae.  Very cool.  While the children busied themselves with math and grammar, I did the meal planning, made the grocery list, and wrote the bills--my usual Monday chores. 

After lunch we went out to the pond and saw a mama swan with her brand new cygnets.

  

And a flock of Canada geese snacking on clover.

 

And a soft brown rabbit enjoying a snack, too.

 

After our walk, L and I went grocery shopping, and then it was time for afternoon chores:  vacuuming, a couple of loads of wash, and supper preparations. 

There is sweet magic in ordinary days.

5.17 - 5.23 week in review

On Sunday L turned three!  We had our usual simple celebration:  the birthday fairies arrived during the night and decorated the kitchen with streamers, ballons, and a happy birthday sign; L wore a golden crown all day and had all of his meals on the red plate;  we made him a chocolate cake per his request; and, he got a bicycle.  It was a very happy day.

I've had some difficult and worrisome things to deal with lately, and on Monday I felt absolutely crushed by the weight of it all.  I needed to get out of the house and distract myself from my thoughts.   All of the children needed new clothes, so we went to the mall and did some shopping.  It was just what I needed; we all had a lot of fun trying on clothes and going in and out of all of the beautiful shops.  I was even generous with myself and bought a new purse and a couple of summer tops.   

We are still reading about Shakespeare, which has captured all of our imaginations.  S has hit a road block in his Geometry lessons.  I think that I should have had him study Trigonometry first, since those processes are necessary at this point in his Geometry curriculum.  So, we've made the decision to set Geometry aside for now, and pick up Algebra again at the community college this autumn.  S is going to focus on writing and reading the books on this list over the summer.  Currently, he is reading Crime and Punishment.  I've switched Z's math curriculum again.  This time, I am having him work through the Spectrum math workbook for 8th grade.  Math is just such a drag for him. 

On Tuesday the girls and I went on a letterboxing picnic with our Girls Club.   None of the other girls had ever been letterboxing before, and they loved it.  It was a perfect late spring day, bright golden sunshine and a light breeze to keep the bugs at bay.  We hunted for and found this letterbox at our beloved Horn Pond, and were lucky to observe some interesting birds, insects, plants, and reptiles during our hike.  One of these was a BIG watersnake, right in the middle of our path.  It was about four feet long, and it tried to strike us!  We also found some lovely lady's slippers: 

Wednesday morning we had our meeting at the school regarding L's speech evaluation and the report we were given.  Unfortunately, the supervisor was out sick, leaving the speech pathologist who evaluated L to conduct the meeting.  I shared my concerns with her about her use of negative language in the Desciption of Peformance, and the absence of environmental and other factors that contributed to the evaluation.  Her first impulse was to defend herself by saying that she has evaluated hundreds of children, and L was far more active than any of them.  It was laughable, really, and I would have been amused if the report was not going to be a part of my child's school record.  I took the opportunity to remind her about the Pygmalion Effect, and explained that when I was in teacher training twenty years ago, we were strongly cautioned to always use neutral language when writing reports about the children in our charge.  By the end of our conversation, she expressed her appreciation for what I shared with her, and regret for the way she had worded the Description of Performance.  It was she who suggested that we re-word the report together.  It was a good meeting. 

Thursday was happily, a quiet day, spent mostly at home.  We had a good morning of studies, an afternoon of housework and play, a simple dinner of chicken sandwiches and salad, and then a trip to the park and icecream stand. 

Friday was our first real pool day.  The sun was our friend; the pool warmed up to a comfortable 77 F, and we swam all afternoon.  

While I layed in the grass looking up at the brilliant blue expanse of sky with its light marbling of whispy vapor, I found myself thinking about what a marvel it is that this planet is absolutely teeming with life, while the others in our solar system are devoid of it.  I wonder sometimes about whether there is life in other galaxies...even if there is, it is so far away.  It was a rather lonely thought.

Last night A woke up with a stomach bug.  The poor girl has been sick all day, so I've spent my Saturday puttering about inside in order to be close to her.  When I retrieved the mail, there was a letter from her sweet pen pal, which brightened her spirits considerably.   

tweet tweet

My brother is here visiting this week, which makes me very happy.  All of my family lives in another state, so I treasure the time I get to spend with any of them.  I am blessed to have both of my parents still living, and three brothers, too.  Bob arrived Tuesday evening, and so far we have had lots of fun together. 

Today we drove up to New Hampshire to a fabulous aquatics shop.  Bob and Z are both aquarium enthusiasts.  L loved seeing all of the fish--and there were lots of fish to see!  Honestly, Jay's shop puts the New England Aquarium to shame. From there we stopped in at Nevins Farm to visit the cats, dogs, cows, horses, chickens, goats, sheep, and dogs, which delighted A and E.  We had lunch, and brought L home for a nap.  Then Bob and I took our binoculars and went for a walk in the woods to see what we could see.  We saw a baby turtle, and evidence of some animal that had dug up several turtle nests in the sand; beautiful deep blue wildflowers, that looked like a miniature version of lupine; northern orioles, a catbird, chickadees, robins, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, a cormorant, yellow warblers, a warbling vireo, a flicker, a blue grey gnat catcher, and six newly hatched cygnets. 

Supper was simple fare:  BLT's and pasta salad with grape tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, ripe cantaloupe, and baked beans.  We had yellow cake with chocolate frosting for dessert while we watched Survivor on television.  I shall always remember the line that Coach uttered tonight with all of the drama of a character in a Shakespearean tragedy:  "Cowards, cowards, cowards all around me!"  Gosh, I hope I never take myself that seriously. 

daily bread

It is difficult to do much birdwatching when you have five children with you. 

This morning while the older children were completing their math assignments, I read Moongame to L.  He pointed to the mallard ducks on one of the pages and said, "These ducks Horn Pond.  Need bread.  Hungry.  I feed them.  Horn Pond, Mommy."  It is hard to resist such a request.  Three months ago, L did not yet put two words together.  Now, he is speaking in full sentences and paragraphs.  I grabbed what stale bread was in the house, and my binoculars.  S got the dog's leash.  Z his fishing pole.  We piled into the van, the seven of us (including Buddy, the dog), and went. 

I should say, right off that the bluets are in bloom.  We have a special path at the pond that we call the fairy trail, and it was carpeted with the tiny four-petaled, blue-tinged, white flowers.  It was magical.  The woods were full of birdsong.  I heard many calls that I recognized, and was privileged to see a warbling vireo and what I believe was either an Ipswich or Savannah sparrow.  The turtles were out.  And, Z caught a nice blue gill and a smaller pumpkin seed.  We saw one of the swans sitting on its giant nest.  Oh, and there was a double breasted cormorant not too far out in the water, resting on a partially submerged branch.  L threw a hundred rocks (at least) into the pond.  Splash, splash, splash!  And, he fed his ducks. 

I should have enjoyed it all more.  But, I was troubled and agitated today.  I should have received the blessings of the day with gladness.  Instead, I nearly missed them. 

4.26 - 5.2 week in review

Last week we began our study of Shakespeare.  We read aloud from Who Was William Shakespeare and Bard of Avon, The Story of William Shakespeare.  Z pointed out that the popular actress Ann Hathaway shares her name with Shakespeare's wife, which made us wonder if it the afore mentioned is a stage name.  Our study method is as follows:  we gather at the kitchen table, I read aloud a couple of chapters, we discuss them and make comments, and then the children write about what they learned.  On Wednesday we did some map work.  The kids each labeled a blackline map of the United Kingdom, showing the Avon River, Stratford-upon-Avon, The River Thames, London, The Irish Sea, The English Channel, The North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as all countries:  Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. 

Monday night I went to see John Michael Talbot in concert at a local Catholic Church, with my friend Kristen.  The concert was beyond my expectations.  I almost didn't go, because, well,  24 is on Monday night, and the boys and I like to watch it together, but, I am so glad I went.  John Michael Talbot is the coolest monk going, and his music was soul-stirring and meditative.  In between many of the songs he performed, shared his thoughts with us and directed our hearts toward God.  He was at turns funny / light-hearted, and sober / reflective. I left the concert full of joy and quiet peace--which has remained with me through the entire week; I am eager to go to Mass this morning.  Kristen bought a compilation of Talbot's entire collection of older work.  I bought his new CD Living Waters and his book Simplicity.  I haven't had much time for reading this week, and have only managed to get through the Preface and Introduction, but just in those preliminary sections I have already learned a great deal. 

On Tuesday we joined our homeschool group for a double dutch jump-roping workshop.  It was a very hot day--97 F.  Afterwards I was concerned about E, who tends to throw herself whole-heartedly into whatever she does.  Her little face was bright red and she didn't feel well.  I made her lay on the couch at home with a cool compress on her face, and gave her lemonade to sip.  Thankfully, she bounced back quickly.

Thursday we went to Habitat Sanctuary for a hands-on guided nature walk that I organized for our homeschool group.  Our guides were very nice, but the activities were pretty lame.  The cost per child was $6.50, which was rather expensive, for what it was;  I expected that the program would be more in-depth.  Even so, we did make some nice nature connections.  We saw a baby salamander, some owl pellets at the base of a big white pine, a pair of mourning cloak butterflies mating, tadpoles, a caddisfly larvae, and we caught grasshoppers in the meadow. 

Friday, L went to our local public elementary school for a speech evaluation.  It was awful!  The evaluation was everything I hate about school.  No matter what the results of the testing (we won't know until May 20th), I will not allow him to receive therapy there!

Yesterday was a typical Saturday of housework and leisure activities:  A and I gave the dog (BIG black lab) a bath outside, I did five loads of laundry, vacuumed upstairs and down, went for a bike ride with the girls while L was napping, finished writing a letter to my best friend Sombra, and  played outside with L. 

All in all a busy week, and a  good one.