Well. I'm having quite a relaxing week.
It's a holiday week here at my house! We haven't done a lick of school and have been erring hard on the fun side of things.
We've had three sleepovers so far, with three different friends, and the girls and I have been on a bit of an Austen movie kick.
(Joshua has not joined us. 😉 )
We watched the new Pride and Prejudice on Sunday night (love the cinematography on that one), and then on Monday, we watched the loooong BBC version (my favorite!)
My friend Melissa suggested that we give the BBC version of Sense and Sensibility a try ($3.50 to stream it from Amazon. Done!), so last night we watched half of that and this morning, I think we'll finish it.
I rarely watch TV, largely because it takes so much time (and I am too impatient for that!), which is why it's nice to have a week with fewer responsibilities.
Normally if the girls asked me to watch the BBC Pride and Prejudice, I'd have had to say no, because I have a lot of things to do.
But this week? Bring it on.
Also, I must say that it is quite lovely to have my own little Austen-movie viewing club right here at my house. Mr. FG, dear husband that he is, is usually game for watching the Austen-type movies one time, but after that, he's done. The girls are totally up for re-watches, though.
It's fun to share these characters and stories I've loved for so long with my girls. We can all laugh at the horrible Mr. Collins and the ridiculous Mrs. Bennett together. 😉
(Cornmeal buns. I might have eaten 4 of these yesterday. With butter.)
By the way, if you're looking for a yeasty something-or-other to make for your Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, all of my yeast-dough recipes are right here for your perusal.
Me? I'm making the perennial favorite: honey-glazed pan rolls.
I'll pop back in tomorrow morning to share my annual Thankful List.
But right now I have some Sense and Sensibility to finish with my girlies. 😉
The BBC Persuasion (with Ciaran Hindes as Captain Wentworth) is the best of all. Try to watch it with the girls before the week is out. Its fabulous!
Just wondered, is the flour you use in your bread strong flour?
Ooh, ok! Putting it on our list.
I use Gold Medal unbleached flour for pretty much all of my bread baking. It works great!
Have you seen the 1995 version of Persuasion? It's rather subtle - one reason it was hard to cast is that the main character, Anne Elliot, says almost nothing, which is what makes it a good rendition of the story.
Marianne and I must have posted at the same time.
My girly favorites are Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Little Women. My husband tried to watch them for my sake, but he cannot without falling asleep. I cannot wait until my little girl is old enough to watch them with me.
Oh my..........I used to LOVE Anne of Green Gables!!! I might have to check the library for these!
Oh, so awesome that you can share this with them! Agree with WilliamB -- the Sense and Sensibility is wonderful. Persuasion was great -- well, I pretty much love all Austen all the time. The BBC was pretty perfect, though I even like the recent Keira Knightley Emma. O gosh, Emma -- my heroine for all times. Sorry to gush, but hope you and your girls enjoy every minute. And I think there is no better education than a sound immersion in Jane's world 🙂 Happy viewing!
Did you know that, just as Star Trek fans are Trekkies, Jane Austen fans are Janeites? I know because I had a Jane Austen class in high school and got involved briefly with the Jane Austen Society of North America, JASNA. Hee hee!
Of course, in addition to the wonderful Jane Austen movies, there's the complimentary piano book, Jane Austen's World! Also, movies based on Elizabeth Gaskell's or Charles Dickens's books are totally wonderful ways to waste a day!
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Jane Austen marathons!
I might have a wee crush on Mr. Darcy as played by Colin Firth. Not a crush on Mr. Firth himself but the fictional character as portrayed by him. No other Darcy comes close.
Swoon.
Oops -- British-Austen-Production confused -- Keira Knightley was P&P; Gwyneth Paltrow was Emma -- both good! Well, hard to beat any of them. Do enjoy!
My rolls for this Thanksgiving - your pumpkin yeast bread recipe! I divided up the recipe between a loaf pan and rolls. The loaf was cut into cubes for dressing a couple of days ago and are getting a bit stale. lol
We watch as many BBC British shows as we can. They are so well done, you almost feel as though you are 200 years or so in the past. The more modern ones are wonderful too.
Hi Kirsten
There is also a lots of wonderfull Bollywood version of Jane Austen movies. They are really fun, for a night of head moving and hips shaking. Beter with a side of homemade curry and chutney.
We do also Nippon night with sushi and edgy movie. Italian ones, ect. They are a big succes and many friends of my daughters come over.
Bride and Prejudice!
BTW, have you seen the YouTube production, the Lizzie Bennett Diaries? Updated modern version, tracks well to the original, safe for kids of any age.
I haven't! So much good stuff to see. 🙂
I was going to recommend Gurinder Chaddha's Bride & Prejudice, which is a retelling of p&p. Beautiful movie! She also directed Bend it like Beckham.
Another great movie and I'm not even a soccer fan.
Oh my gosh, the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite movies of all time and I own a copy. I watch a lot of British tv and I occasional catch one of the characters from that movie in more recent BBC productions. Just the other night I was watching Midsomer Murders and the actress who played sister Mary was in it.
My favorite Sense and Sensibility though is the one with Alan Rickman in it.
I noticed that the actress who plays Lady Crawley in Downton is Lizzie's aunt in the new P&P. And then in the BBC Sense and Sensibility, Dan Stevens is Edward Ferrars.
I keep seeing Downton actors popping up all over!
(like the Cinderella star...she's the one on Downton who is always getting into trouble.)
We've been watching the Great British Baking Show--and I thought making yeast bread made me a baker! We are leaning so much.
Learning
Hooray for your relaxing week!
I am writing this during the "let the yeast and water sit for a few minutes" stage of your potato bread recipe. 🙂
Have you and your girls watched Phantom of the Opera? It got us through many nit-picking hours when my long-haired girls had lice a few years ago.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
The mid-1990s movie version of Sense and Sensibility is great - one of my favourite movies. Stars Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant. Fantastic dresses.
I do like that version, although I could never quite get into that Colonel Brandon. Something about his voice...
A few years ago, several single ladies in our church had an anti-super bowl party and did an Anne of Green Gables marathon. My go-to rewatch is Princess Bride. Love that movie.
The BBC P&P is fantastic, definitely one of my favorite movies. I also love the Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow, very funny moments in that one.
I want to be at your house this week. lol. I can't count the number of times my husband and I have watched the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice. So much so, we now quote it to each other. It has been a while since we saw it, but with your inspiration, I think I'll pop it in the DVD player today. It's just so good. Another one of my favorites is Sense & Sensibility - the Emma Thompson version. Always makes me want a cup of tea. lol. Have a wonderful holiday with your family. Take care.
GOOD! You deserve a relaxing week! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
I got the BBC P&P from Freecycle five years ago. I watched it two years in a row when I was in the hospital (3 days--had sections) with my new babies :-).
What fun! I love both those films, but I have all sorts of the other books-turned-to-films for Northanger Abbey, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and even Persuasion. Fun to watch while baking or crocheting!
Our daughter is four weeks old, so I know it will be a while, but you've got me all excited about watching Austen movies with her! Since you're into it, another Masterpiece Theater I'd recommend is Little Dorrit.