Now I know how Emma (the OTHER Emma) felt about Pip...

(sorry about the picture quality; took it with my cell phone)

You see that little cutie?  That's Fern, a former stray.  She waltzed into our yard today when we were outside.  She immediately took to me, and I wanted to keep her so badly!  But, the sad news is, my parents are both allergic to cats. :( BUT we took her to our local no-kill shelter.  They took her in, and we got to give Fern her name since we rescued her.  I chose Fern because it just felt right.  The crazy thing?  She might be expecting kittens!  'Course, it's hard to tell because she's so, so thin. :( I was petting her, and I could feel her shoulder blades, her spine, and her ribs.

I also wanted to use this post to ask people to adopt from shelters.  There are so many strays that no-kill shelters are having to turn them away and send them to Animal Control.  Animal Control kills animals if they don't have enough space or if they're there too long.  So, NEVER buy from pet stores (they get their dogs and cats from puppy and kitten mills) and try not to buy from reputable breeders.  Yeah, they're reputable, but there are so many poor shelter pets that need loving homes!  Check the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Animal Cruelty is the full name, I believe) and check your local shelters.  You can make a difference just by adopting a rescue pet.  OR if you or a family member is allergic, consider making a donation. ;)

I'll be posting again on Monday about the first book I read this summer. ;)

A Week of Books

This summer, I had to read 5 books from a recommended reading list (that I also have to read from over the course of this school year).  Since I never blogged about them, I decided next week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I'm going to blog about each book.  They were certainly interesting reads, and I hope if you haven't read them yet, I'll inspire you to.

In other news, my homeschool co-op starts Friday.  One of my teachers e-mailed my mom the syllabus for the class.  It's an English course, just one semester, and it's going to be INTENSE.  Oh, boy...that's what I get for wanting to take three English courses, though, LOL!

The Scarlet Letter

I had to read The Scarlet Letter for lit class.  I found it both interesting and boring at the same time.  The characters were kind of dreary and weird, the writing style was seriously old-fashioned, but the plot was pretty cool.  I was totally shocked when I found out the true identity of two characters.  If you haven't read this book yet, I'd recommend it for a book report, not pleasure reading.  It would definitely impress your teacher if you used this book.  Well, that's it for this pleasant September day!  I'm about to go next door and take care of my neighbor's dog.  And use the swing she has for her granddaughter, LOL. ;) It's a nice day for swinging.

A

HURRICANE IRENE

Of course the hurricane affected my family and friends in VA.  As of now, we've heard back from all but two families.  Everyone (of those we've heard from) is safe, praise the Lord! :) I'm sure there is going to be a long period of recovery and rebuilding.  The area that I think will bounce back the quickest?  NYC.  New Yorkers are so resilient, I think!

On a less serious note, I wondered if y'all would be interested in some Fashion Faux Pas, like Megan did in her blog in MDBC?  One of my friends and I love spotting them whenever we're out.  We've spotted some truly hideous combinations.  The faux pas will be far and few between, as I'm a little nervous to try and surreptitiously take pictures.  But I'll try my best, for the sake of my readers, if you really want me to do them. :) Please, please, leave me a comment with your answer.

8/23/11 East Coast Earthquake

I was very glad to hear that it sounds like everyone is safe.  I have friends and family in VA, and they say there was very little damage, just a lot of shaking.  My prayers are with everyone there, and also the people in Colorado. :)

The Beginning of All Chick Lit...

And so my blog finally comes to one of my favorite topics-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 
I knew the book existed.  My mom bought a copy of it for me to attempt reading.  It was even a special copy with little insights, including historical notes, key notes about the story, Jane's life, etc.  But I epically failed in my reading of it.  It was probably over my head at that point.  But then the beloved mother-daughter book club in Heather Vogel Frederick's series read it.  I knew I had to try again, for the sake of the girls who seem so real to me.  And I'm glad I made a second attempt, for I finished P&P and LOVED it! :) And now I read it at least once a month.  I have only seen the 2005 movie, but I'm trying to find the edition with Colin Firth in it at our library.  But I'm hooked!  And my mom found out that the same publishing company that did the edition I have of P&P has done one of Sense and Sensibility so I've ordered it.  Hooray for Jane Austen!  If only she'd lived longer...how many more books she might've written....

If you want to know the version of P&P I own, just leave a comment. ;)

There is Nothing I Dread So Much as.....SCHOOL (Excluding a Few Things, I Suppose)

Yes, I think I'm allergic to school, LOL.  It's not that I don't like some of my subjects.  In fact, some of them can be enjoyable part of the time.  But it's the lack of free time, I suppose, that irks me.  That and the subjects that I do dislike (a.k.a. math, science, P.E.).  I started school yesterday (I'm homeschooled), and history, lit, English, and Bible (some of my fave subjects) have been a bit of a bore thus far.  I suppose because it's all introductory stuff.  French hasn't been too bad.  I'm learning new stuff all the time in that, so of course it's interesting.  So, what do each of you think of school?  What's your fave subject?  Answer me in the comments.  I'm interesting to hear. ;)



Fashionista Jane

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a girl in possession of a passion for fashion must be in want of an audience.... So Megan Wong started her blog in Pies & Prejudice, my favorite MDBC book thus far.  I'm going to take my own spin on that famed line.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a girl in possession of a passion for fashion (but hardly any talent for designing) must be in want of simply appreciation.
That sound good to y'all?  Well, this whole blog post is going to be about fashion through the decades.  Let's start with the 1900s....


Skirts were long, hats were popular, and puffed sleeves were in. (Anne of Green Gables, anyone?)


Moving onto the 1910s, the Grecian empire waist style was in, and skirts shortened a few inches.  Elegance was still top.  But that would all change in the 1920s...


Fashion changed majorly turning the Roaring Twenties.  Skirts shortened majorly, the flapper look was in (at least for young women), and the fashion world took a complete 180.

Alas, I have no good pictures for the '30s and '40s, but I can tell you this: during the 1930s, clothing became more practical again (after all, the Great Depression was running its course).  It stayed that way during the 1940s, one of the best fashion decades, IMO.  Skirts were knee-length and A-line style.  The shirts were gorgeous blouses.  And pumps were well-loved.

Now onto the 1950s...

I must admit, the 1950s were pretty fabulous, too.  After all, belts and skirts.  What could be cooler???  This was also the decade of the poodle skirts.  But we shall not feature those, as I don't find them very...groovy.  Oh, wait.  I'm a decade ahead of myself with that word. xD


Ignore Barbra Streisand's....interesting pose, LOL.  What I'm focusing on is the DRESS.  The 1960s were a time of crewneck shift-style dresses.  Never mind the hippies and their rad styles. ;) What else was "in" during the '60s?  Go-go boots and mini skirts.


Flared jeans, platform sandals, and a cowgirl blouse, oh my!  It looks like some trends go away and then return...


Princess Diana would hopefully still be a style icon today...if she managed to give up the shoulder pads, LOL!  Shoulder pads were the rage in the 1980s, as were aerobic gear, loose tops, and tight bottoms.

The 1990s were such an "anything goes" decade that there's no single picture that could represent it all.  Casual clothing, continuation of the '80s' trends, revival of the hippie styles, etc., etc.

Once again, with the 2000s, almost everything was seen.  From miniskirts, Daisy Dukes, and ponchos, to skinny jeans, Converse, and Uggs.

So, what will happen this decade?  Only time will tell...I personally hope the styles of the 1940s and '50s will get a revival. ;)

The Mist Can Deceive You

    

   



Do any of these books sound or look familiar to you?  Even if you've never picked up a book from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, you've surely heard of them (or maybe the absolutely horrid movie made of book one-seriously, how much can you change of a book?!?!).  Just like Canterwood Crest, this series is a new find of mine.  One of my besties has been talking about PJO for ages, and she finally got me to read them this past spring.  I discovered that I LOVED them and couldn't put them down.  Rick Riordan is a master author.  Seriously.  He makes aspiring author me seem like, oh, I don't know, a kindergartener trying to write a masterpiece that only their parents will love.  His books aren't my fave series (I'm addicted to The Mother-Daughter Book Club and Pride and Prejudice), but they're definitely in my top 5.  If you haven't tried this series yet, please do!  You might be pleasantly surprised...just like I was. ;-)

My Naughty Dog Named Sunny

I come downstairs from my room, and this is what I see:

My dog (who is NOT a puppy-he's almost 9 years old) was lying on the sofa.  He's not allowed on the furniture.  So, I took the pics and then sent him to his crate.  Here's another picture of my sweet but insubordinate dog.