I ♥ Thursday {No. 3}

 I'm here to do another I ♥ Thursday and so here is what I'm loving this Thursday.



Memory // Lea Salonga



Someone You'd Be Proud Of // Lauren Samuels

Source: theglossiernerd.tumblr.com via Hanne-col on Pinterest

Paris. I really, really want to go to Paris someday.


The Impossible Dream // Ramin Karimloo

~ Hanne-col

Liebster Blog Award

I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Natasha over at Day by Day back in (excuse me while I check) ... ahem, October. Thank you so very much for awarding me Natasha and I am very, very sorry for taking so long to complete the questions.

The rules -
   1. You must post eleven facts about yourself.
   2. You must also answer the eleven questions the awarder has given you and make up eleven questions for your awardees to answer in turn.
   3. Tag eleven fellow bloggers.
   4. Notify them that you've awarded them.
   5. No tagging back.
   6. And the eleven blogs you tag must have less than 200 followers.

Eleven facts about myself -
   1. I love reading about the First World War.
   2. A new favorite book is The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
   3. I am an aspiring novelist.
   4. I am currently working on the second draft of my 2010 NaNoWriMo novel.
   5. Someday I want to write a series that take place during the First World War.
   6. I am an avid book reader.
   7. I love high heels.
   8. I'm gluten free.
   9. One of my life long favorite movies is Born Free (1966).
   10. Someday I want to go to Africa.
   11. I also want to go to Europe someday.

Natasha's Questions for Me -
   1. Which is your favorite season? (spring/summer/fall/winter)
      Fall. Definitely. It is sometimes nice, cold and crisp. It is sometimes warm and breezy. Or it's that beautiful mixture of the two.

   2. Do you watch more British TV shows or American?
      That actually depends on whether or not you're talking about modern TV shows or old TV shows (1950s - 1970s). I watch a lot of old American TV shows from the 50s and 60s (I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Program, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and ect.). However, when it comes to modern shows I watch more British TV shows (BBC's Robin Hood, Lark Rise to Candleford, Doctor Who).

   3. What's your everyday hairstyle? A ponytail, a braid, a bun?
      I just simply wear it down most of the time. If I'm tired of it falling in my face I'll typically pull it back into a messy bun or low pig-tails.

   4. Do you sew most of your own clothes or buy them?
     Buy them. I have a number of sewn skirts, but the majority is store bought.

   5. In what year did Columbus sail the ocean blue?
     1492!

   6. Favorite screen/literary couple?
     Oh, hard one! For literary either Jeanne and Harry from In the Reign of Terror by G.A. Henty or Elsie and Mr. Travilla from The Elsie Dinsmore Series by Martha Finley. For screen either Marguerite and Percy from The Scarlet Pimpernel or Gabriel and Dorcas from Lark Rise to Candleford.

   7. Which is your favorite/most read book of the Bible? (not including Psalms and Proverbs)
     Maybe, Ruth.

   8. Your favorite TV show when you were a child?
    I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, or Liberty Kids.

   9. Least favorite vegetable?
    Celery.

   10. Do you watch Marvel Superhero films? If so, which is your favorite superhero and why?
    I haven't seen any of the Marvel Superhero films.

   11. Do you think bow ties are cool?
    Yes, bow ties are cool and they were cool before Doctor Who.

My Questions For the People I Tag -
    1. What is currently your favorite song?
    2. If one of your favorite books was being made into a movie; what book would it be? And who would you pick to play the main roles?
    3. What is your favorite "winter" meal?
    4. What is your favorite Christmas song?
    5. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
    6. Who is your favorite historical figure?
    7. Who are your favorite authors?
    8. What are your favorite books?
    9. If you had the chance to visit London, England for 24 hours, where would you try to go?
    10. Book series are fun. What is your favorite book series?
    11. What are your top five favorite fictional characters?

I Tag -
Maria Elisabeth from Miss Georgiana Darcy
and
Alexandra from Of Trims and Frills and Furbelows

 I just discovered most blogs I follow have over 200 followers. Well, even if I did not award you, do feel free to answer some of the questions in the comment box. I would be more than delighted to read your answers.

~Hanne-col

I ♥ Thursday {No. 2}

   Hello everybody! Here is another I ♥ Thursday for you all. I have some future posts in the works, but not always the time to work on them. I am working a book review and hope to get that up before November rolls around.

Source: seasonal-love.tumblr.com via Hanne-col on Pinterest

I love all the leaves changing into their Autumn colors. There it's yellow and then down the road it's red.

 
Bring Him Home // Ramin Karimloo

Source: etsy.com via Hanne-col on Pinterest

This quote from Miss Potter.

Source: brattlebookshop.com via Hanne-col on Pinterest

Brattle Book Shop in Boston, MA. I love this bookstore.

~Hanne-col

Book Giveaway At The Second Sentence

   Hello y'all! I just wanted to pop by and tell you about a giveaway going on over at The Second Sentence. Elizabeth is giving away the winner's choice of her three books. Do stop by and check it out.

~ Hanne-col

____________________

I ♥ Thursday {No. I}

   Today I decided to finally link up for I ♥ Thursday over at Bramblewood Fashion and actually remembered to do the post before Friday rolled around and it was to late. So here's what I'm loving so far this week.

Source: Uploaded by user via Hanne-col on Pinterest

I am certain all writers can sympathize.

   

Ever since Ashley posted this video on her blog a couple of weeks ago I have listened to it just about once every day.

 

Kristen Chenoweth // The Girl in 14G

Source: cycletownusa.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Roy Rogers on a motocycle

~ Hanne-col

Well Over Three Months Have Past

via Pinterest

   *clears throat* Right. It has been a tad-bit over three months since I last posted and that was on the 31st of May and now 'tis the 3rd of September. Between then and now I have tried to decide what to post about- since I am sure my followers deserve some sort of post. So you shall get a post, though whether or not it is much good I don't know.

   Anyway, I have been taking a writing class since last September and classes will be starting up again next week. We will now have a brief pause while I panic for a couple of seconds. Alright, yes I enjoy the class and all that, but I still have my moments of panic. I love to write novels and this class is not about writing novels. It is about writing essays, research papers, profiles, and news stories. I've survived two semesters already and I feel confident that I shall make it through the following semesters. I just need to make sure I keep on top of my assignments and don't procrastinate.

   In the midst of this I am working on the second draft of my NaNoWriMo novel from 2010. I started rewriting last September, but am taking this project at a slower pace. This slower pace is going too slow, however, and so I'm setting up word count goals for myself. They aren't 1,000 words a day word count goals. I'm trying to over pressure myself. My goal is to have 10,000+ words on my second draft by the time writing class starts up again and to have 25,000+ words by January 1st of 2013. I'm not sure if I'll manage to meet all these goals, but I dearly hope I am able.

   I am also working hard on reaching my reading goal of 50 books this year. I have read some really good books this year so far, excluding some I didn't like, and I might be posting a couple book reviews every once and a while.

   Trying not to worry to greatly about her term paper,
~ Hanne-col

A Tag

 Well I have been tagged by the lovely Maria Elisabeth (is that not a beautiful name?) or also known as Miss Georgiana Darcy. I do not know about you, but I think tags are very fun and I am very thrilled whenever someone does tag me.

 Now, the first thing the list of rules says to do is to "post these rules."

1. Post these rules

2. Post 11 random things about yourself (optional)

3. Answer the questions the tagger posted for you in their post.

4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5. Go to their blog and tell them that they have been tagged

 The second thing on the list is to post eleven random things about myself.

1. I love Judy Garland's music and movies.
2. I love to write novels and such.
3. One of my favorite books is Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
4. I'm not a big fan of Pride and Prejudice
5. Of all the P&P movie adaptions I've seen, I watch the 1940 version with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier the most.
6. I am a big fan of the Emma adaption with Romola Garai
7. One of my other favorite books is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
8. And another of my favorite books is The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
9. I think I am probably boring you all with these eleven things
10. I love listening to old radio shows from the 1930s/40s/ and 50s
11. I love horses, but have yet to ride one

 If you all are still awake, the next thing on the list is to answer the questions the person who tagged me put together.

1: What is your favorite kind of tea?

 Well, actually, I usually do not drink tea. You see I have a great deal of food allergies and I tend to be allergic to things that are in teas. I usually enjoy English Breakfast Tea, though, and ice teas.

2: What are your five absolutely-most favorite movies?

 Maria, how could you be so cruel? How shall I ever decide? Oh, well, this list is subject to change.

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur

2. Cranford and Return to Cranford

3. Summer Stock (1950) - starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly

4. Born Free (1966) - starring Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers

5. Seven Days in Utopia (2011)

3: What are some fashion trends - from the present or the past - that you love and actually wear?

wedge sandals = me love

tiered skirts = the story of my life

jean shirts = the thing I used to hate

4: What are three inspirational/devotional books that you love?
I am really liking the Proverbs family devotional book written by Kevin Swanson that my family is going through right now. I also liked the Millie Keith devotional/study guide book that A Life of Faith put out. I haven't actually read the Millie Keith books by A Life of Faith, but the original ones written by Martha Finley. While not a devotional, I really like The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

5: What is your favorite artist or picture?

I really love Claude Monet's works and Norman Rockwell's, as well as so many others.

"Reveries" c.1913 by Maxfield Parrish

For some odd reason I really like this painting. I don't know why I just do.

"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper

I've always liked this painting too, for some odd reason. Again I don't know why. Anyway, someday I want to write a story based on this particular one.

6: If you had to describe your own looks as a character in a novel, what would you write?  Or your own looks as you wish they were.  You can have an imagination, y'know.
 Bound to be the shortest in her family, she had blond hair that was more brown than blond. Her eyes, after much debate, were gray, but would still occasionally be described as blue. Her face was quite freckle-less and indeed had a tendency to be quite pale.
 I wouldn't put that paragraph in a novel, but it does work nicely.

7: What kind of music do you listen to most of the time?

I think I am going to bore you again, folks. Judy Garland, stuff from the 1940s, Janet Drew, Heather McCready, movie soundtracks, celtic, and hymns. Of course right now I am on a huge musical kick! You have to admit it, music from musicals is EPIC!

8: What literary secondary character are you most like?
 Oh, dear I don't know. While not secondary characters, I'm somewhat like Minnie and Daniel from the BBC TV series Lark Rise to Candleford.

9: What literary secondary hero-like characters do you love? (I know you can think of a million main characters.  So can I.  So I'm making it harder.)
 Well, let me see here.
Rab from Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, but he's not exactly a secondary character. I also rather love Jacob from For the Temple by G. A. Henty.

10: What are your opinions of the subject of poetry?

I love poetry, though I have difficulty writing it most of the time. I haven't started to read Tennyson until recently. Shows you how much Gilbert Blythe's opinion has influenced my tastes. Haha. Actually I didn't realize the connection until last year, but I really do think his opinion has unconsciously influenced me over the years. I like Sir Walter Scott's poetry and Roberts Burns and others.

11: Which author's writing styles do you admire the most?

 I was listening to a Johnny Tremain audio book several months back and really liked how it read and it's writing style. Others would be Douglas Bond, 

Okay, those were Maria Elisabeth's questions. Now onto Natasha's questions.

1.Which song has inspired you most at this time in your life?
 Hmmm, maybe "The Impossible Dream." It does leave you with that absolutely thrilling exhilarating feeling.

2. What are your sentiments on the subject of brussel sprouts?
I have never had any, to my knowledge.

3. Do you feel faint at the sight of blood?
 I don't feel faint, but if it starts to get kind of major in movies I feel kind of queasy.

4. Do you enjoy chatting on the phone or would you just as soon write an email or send a text or even write a letter?
I never really chat on the phone, I never do text anyone unless they won't be able to talk on the phone where they are. I do write emails and very rarely handwritten letters.

5. What if suddenly the sky was green and the grass was blue?  What would you think?
 What in the world happened?!

6. If you built a time machine, where would you go first? (let's just assume we're all capable of building a time machine, ok?;)
 Oh, hard decision! Maybe the 1940s.

7. If the powers that be suddenly decreed that everyone must wear a bright pink shirt with a chartreuse daisy adorning the front and bunny slippers on our feet, what would you do? (um...nope.  No idea where that one came from!)
Never ever, ever leave the house and not let anyone in.

8. If you could become a character from a book, who would it be?
 I think it would be rather fun to be Nancy Drew. Or wait! I do love Philippa Gordon, though, and it would be kind of interesting and fun to be her. 

9. Do you paint your nails?
 Yes, every once and a while.

10. Are you a perfectionist?
 Somewhat.

11. Do you unintentionally incorporate movie lines into your everyday conversations?
 All the time, all day long.


 There! Now I have fully completed all the tag questions after much delay. I apologize for the delay, but I have been rather busy.


 Now here are the eleven questions for the people I tag.


1. What is your opinion on The Scarlet Pimpernel? Are you a fan?
2. Aside from Anne and Gilbert, who is/are your favorite character/s in the Anne of Green Gables series?
3. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
4. Who is your favorite female singer?
5. Who is your favorite male singer?
6. If you could learn another language which one would you choose?
7. What are five of your favorite literary/or movie heroes?
8. What are five of your favorite literary/or movie heroines?
9. What is your favorite movie costume?
10. What is your current favorite song?
11. If you inherited a large old southern plantation home outside of Charleston, South Carolina and one million dollars, what would you do?


And I choose to tag:
Ashley of Bramblewood Fashion
Natasha of Day by Day
Kellie of Accordion to Kellie
Gabrielle of Gabrielle's Atelier
Maria Elisabeth of Miss Georgiana Darcy
and anyone else who might wish to do it.


~ Hanne-col

I've Been Given an Award

 Well, the Ginger Girls at Laughter and Lipgloss have awarded me the Liebster Award which is for up and coming bloggers. Thank you very much girls!

The rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to the site. :)
2. Copy and paste the Liebster Award logo to your blog.
3. Choose five more up-and-coming bloggers who you feel deserve the award and hope that they will accept and nominate in turn five more.

I nominate:
The Breathings of My Heart (http://alexandra-thebreathingsofmyheart.blogspot.com/)
Yet Another Period Drama Blog (http://miss-dashwood.blogspot.com/)
Miss Georgiana Darcy (http://missgeorgianadarcy.blogspot.com/)
The Quest for Stories (http://mysillyscribblings.blogspot.com/)

I shall forgo a fifth because most the blogs I follow are mostly "established" already. *cough* Even some ones listed aren't so up-and-coming anymore, they're going strong.

_____________________

 I have been tagged twice too. (alliteration, alliteration) I should hopefully post those and their answers soon.

~ Hanne-col

Silver Screen Blog Party Tag Questions

 First of all I want to apologize for not getting these up sooner. I meant to post them yesterday, but I never did get around to it.





 These questions were created by the lovely Miss Natasha of Day by Day for her silver screen blog party.

{1}

It seems to be standard procedure for blog party questionnaires to begin by asking you to introduce yourself to the rest of the party goers. Far be it from me to be remiss in my duty, therefore, do tell us a bit about yourself, in as many or few words as you wish.
Well, I'm 15 years old. I am a Christian. I am an aspiring novelist, a sister, and a daughter who wants to bring glory to her Savior, Jesus Christ.

{2}

What are a few of your favorite classic films?

Summer Stock (1950)

Something in the Wind (1947)

The Wackiest Ship In the Army (1960)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Listen, Darling (1938)

Don't Fence Me In (1945)

Shall We Dance (1937)

High Society (1956)

Three Smart Girls (1936)

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943)

Africa Screams (1949)

{3}

Out of those films, who are your favorite characters (not actor, character)?

Summer Stock (1950) - Jane Falbury

Something in the Wind (1947) - Charlie Reed

The Wackiest Ship In the Army (1960) - Capt. Rip Crandall

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - Clarissa Saunders

The Magnificent Seven (1960) - Vin and Bernardo O'Reilly

Listen, Darling (1938) - Pinkie Wingate and Buzz Mitchell

Don't Fence Me In (1945) - Toni Ames

Shall We Dance (1937) - Petrov/Pete Peters

High Society (1956) - Mike Conners

Three Smart Girls (1936) - Michael Stuart and Penny Craig

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943) - Ruth Kirke Holliday and Timothy Blake

Africa Screams (1949) - Stanley Livingston

{4}

Share one of your favorite movie lines...

Kay Craig: Haven't you any conscience?

Michael Stuart: Conscience? About what?

Kay Craig: You were just about to cheat that poor man, weren't you?

Michael Stuart: Oh, no. I wouldn't cheat anybody. Uhh. I just wanted to buy a little gift, for you.

Kay Craig: For me?

Michael Stuart: Yes.

Kay Craig: Do you think I'd accept a seven-thousand dollar ring that wasn't paid for?

Michael Stuart: Oh, I would have paid it. Uhh, on terms you know. A dollar down, a dollar a week.

Kay Craig: For seven-thousand weeks?

Michael Stuart: Eh ... That is a rather long time, isn't it?

from Three Smart Girls (1936)

{5}

What is your opinion on remaking classic films?

It usually depends.

{6}

How about colorizing black and white films?

I prefer black and white films to stay black and white, but if I have a choice I'll usually try out the colorized version maybe once or twice.

{7}

Name a few of your favorite silver screen actresses.

Judy Garland

Deanna Durbin

Dale Evans

Ginger Rogers

Debbie Reynolds

Audrey Hepburn
Jean Arthur

are some

{8}

Now a few of your favorite actors.

Donald O’Conner

Fred Astaire

Frank Sinatra

Jimmy Stewart

Cary Grant

Roy Rogers

Gregory Peck

are some

{9}

Why are they your favorites?

I love their singing, love their dancing, love their acting, and love how they make me laugh and cry.

{10}

Do you enjoy westerns? Why or why not?

Oh yeah! I love westerns. Roy Rogers’s movies, The Roy Rogers Show, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and The Rifleman. 

{11}

Are you a purist when it comes to adapting a book you love to the screen?

I’m usually pretty forgiving, though I must say I have a list of complaints for the 1954 Ivanhoe adaption.

{12}

Are there any film adaptations that you enjoyed more than the original book?

Off hand, no. 

{13}

There are a lot of wonderful classic TV shows, but which one is your favorite? 

Oh, dear! What a question to ask. I think it's a close race between The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, The Dick van Dyke Show, and The Jack Benny Program. Yeah, I know that's four shows, but I love them all so much.

{14}

After watching a musical, do you hum and singing snatches of the songs as you go about your day?

Yes, unless I have a sore throat or a really bad cold.

{15}

Assuming the answer to the above is "yes", which song, without fail, get's stuck in your head?

Mack the Black sung by Judy Garland in The Pirate (1948). It is a very catchy tune.

{16)

What's the corniest film you've ever seen?

I'm sure there's one out there, but at the moment I can't think of it.

~ Hanne-col

Summer Stock (1950) - Movie Review

 Jane Falbury (Judy Garland) is struggling to keep her farm afloat due to past bad crops and, being unable to pay wages, her hands are forced to find employment elsewhere. After managing to get a tractor on credit from the store owner and her future father-in-law, Jane is shocked to return to the farm and find the place crawling with actors. Jane's sister, Abigail (Gloria De Haven), has returned home after offering the barn to Joe Ross (Gene Kelly) to put on his show that Abigail stars in. Jane at first tells Joe and his acting troupe to clear out, but eventually relents and lets them stay on condition that they help out on the farm too.

 I personally love this movie! Judy is lovely and adorable as always. Gene Kelly's character is a bit different than his usual ones- in a good way, he's not cocky in this movie.

Some Trivia:
 Summer Stock was Judy Garland's last movie for MGM and was originally meant to star Mickey Rooney in the Gene Kelly role. Mickey Rooney's box office draw was not much, however, and they cast Gene Kelly in the role.

 Judy Garland starred in Gene Kelly's first picture for MGM and his screen debut, For Me and My Gal. Gene Kelly starred in Judy Garland's last picture for MGM, Summer Stock.

Music:
 Here are two of the songs from the movie. I'd do several more, only I don't want to spoil it all for you.

Dig, Dig, Dig, Dig for Your Dinner

Howdy Neighbor, Happy Harvest

~ Hanne-col

What's On? (1950s TV Shows)

 In the 1950s television became popular and movie stars began having their own shows. Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, and Donna Reed had their own shows, but there was also a lovely TV show called What's My Line. In the show a panel had to try and guess what occupation their guests had. There would also be a mystery guest, usually a celebrity, who the panel would have to blindfold themselves for. Here are some of my favorites of both.

The Jack Benny Program - Guest Star Humphrey Bogart

The Jack Benny Program - Guest Star Ginger Rogers



What's My Line - Mystery Guest Debbie Reynolds



What's My Line - Mystery Guest Yul Brynner



What's My Line - Mystery Guest Fred Astaire



What's My Line - Mystery Guest Ronald Reagan



What's My Line - Mystery Guests Roy Rogers and Dale Evans



What's My Line - Mystery Guest Jack Benny

~ Hanne-col

Matinee Saturday - 1940s

 Today is Matinee Saturday for Going Through the Era's. There are so many movies I love from the 40s that I couldn't pick just one so I decided to make a list of some of my favorites.

His Girl Friday (1940) - Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, and Ralph Bellamy star in this hilarious screwball comedy. Newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) is given a surprise visit by his ex-wife and ex-reportor Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) when she tells him that she is going to remarry. Next ensues chaos as Burns gets Hildy to do one last newspaper story for him in exchange for buying life insurance from her fiance (Ralph Bellamy), but as murderer escapes jail Burn's is trying to get the story and his ex-wife back.

Babes on Broadway (1941) - The third of the Mickey and Judy 'Backyard Musicals' finds Tommy Williams (Mickey Rooney) and two pals trying to get their big break on Broadway. One day with the thought of the next days private audition with a broadway producer glimmering before them Tommy's happiness is dimmed when he sees a girl, Penny Morris (Judy Garland), crying in another booth at the drugstore. Determined to cheer her up he talks to her and then takes her to her home. The next day their audition is crashed hundreds of other hopefuls and they end up not being able to audition. Mickey and his chums decide to put on their own show for broadway producers to see them and soon find a cause in the orphanage that Penny helps out at.

It Started With Eve (1941) - Jonathan Reynolds (Charles Laughton) is on his deathbed and near death as his only son and child Johnny (Robert Cummings) arrives in New York City and rushes home. Before he dies Johnny's father wants to meet his son's fiancee and so Johnny promptly rushes to her hotel. His fiancee and her mother are not in however and he is unable to find them anywhere. In desperation he asks the hat check girl Anne Terry (Deanna Durbin) to pretend to be his fiancee so his father can die happy. Johnny's father is pleased with the girl he thinks is his sons fiancee and unexpectedly recovers, leaving Johnny frantic for a way to resolve the mix-up without throwing his father into a relapse and Anne determined to attend the engagement party his father is holding and meet some broadway producers.

Don't Fence Me In (1945) - Magazine photographer Toni Ames (Dale Evans) is sent west to Twin Wells from New York City to try and find the outlaw from the wild west Wildcat Kelly. There she meets an old man who claims to have been a friend of the outlaw (Gabby Hayes). She goes to the dude ranch where he works along with Roy Rogers and the rest of the Sons of the Pioneers and begins to snoop around for clues.

Well, those are just four of some of my favorite movies from the 1940s and let met tell you there are many, many more.

___________

I think I'll close off this post with some pictures of one of my favorite singers and actresses Judy Garland.

 A publicity still for the 1948 film Easter Parade starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. I really like this movie and wish Judy had been able to make another movie with Fred Astaire.

A movie still from the 1942 movie For Me and My Gal starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and George Murphy. This movie was Kelly's big screen debut and another one of my favorites.

~Hanne-col