Thoughts on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

If you want to read or see this and haven’t you should probably wait till after you a) read the book and b) watch the miniseries (in that order!) before reading my take on it. I don’t intend to give away a lot of spoilers, but if you are one of those people who are vehemently against being spoiled, you have been warned!

First of all, this is one of my all time favorite books, and while I was super excited about the possibility of seeing on the screen, I was also unsure how they were going to condense the wonderful history, footnotes, and rich world into something people would actually watch. While I enjoyed this miniseries, as always,

That being said, there are many things I feel they got bang on. Norrell, Childermass, Stephen, Drawlight, Lady Pole, and Segundus were particularly well realized I felt. The visualization of Fairy was incredible, and the dialogue was mostly from the book. The feel of the novel was mostly there, and the sets and cinematography were quite well done. The blend of magic and Georgian England felt real and believable, and I totally want Norrell’s library even thought it isn’t as described in the book.

Despite all these great interpretations, there were things I think they went a bit wide on. The Gentleman with Thistledown Hair’s character (and to a lesser extent, his hair), Jonathan’s look (but not his voice)—I’m too attached to the illustrations from the novel!), and a lot of the last episode. I understand them wanting to give more closure than the book might have provided to certain story lines, and I understand the simplification of others, but I was disappointed with the final scene between Stephen and the Gentleman. It was more visually dramatic than in the book, but less dramatic story-wise I felt.

Overall, I would totally recommend watching this whether you are a fan of the book or not, but while I enjoyed seeing this beloved world realized (especially since I was sharing the experience with my family overseas via text and Facebook chat), I still would have to conclude:

Like so many other movie adaptations, there is no way that a book of that length, complexity, and subtlety could be translated 100% faithfully into the very different medium of film, and still be watchable by any then the most die-hard of fans. Like spoken and written English are closely related by their own separate entities, movies and books are two different ways to tell different kinds of stories. Both have their merits, and I'll return to them both many times over the years. Well done BBC--I'm so glad you waited until the technology and the right actors were in place to bring this beautiful world to life.

Christmas Day

You might wonder why I’m compulsively blogging these last few days. Partly, because even though it’s a totally one sided conversation, I feel I have to speak somehow or go crazy—the aloneness is starting to wear a little. Partially it’s because I’m going to so much effort to keep my family’s traditions, and I feel like there has to be some kind of record out there to prove that I didn’t give in! And partially, it’s because blogging means that I’m not doing school work, so it’s a declaration of holiday. So, more blog!

This morning I slept in a bit as I was up pretty late last night. I was up late partially because I was watching another episode of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell with my family. So far we love Norrell, Childermass and Stephen, but think the Gentlemen needs more fairy charm. While he was dangerous and sinister, he was also whimsical and charming in his dangerous amorality.

I was also up late because I was playing and singing Christmas carols since (intentionally in deference to the carol hating person on station or not) we have not sung any Christmas carols together that I know of since the kids left, and I’m sorry, there MUST be carols sung on Christmas Eve! Also, as is tradition for me ever since my senior year of university when I took music history, I listened to both the Renaissance and the modern version of “O Magnum Mysterium” by candle light. Pausing to listen to the divine music and reflect on the greatest of mysteries is a nice way to end an often busy day.

I made my family’s famous breakfast casserole, and Beth’s apple cider. Yes, that is the TARDIS holding the spices!

I enjoyed watching The Muppet Christmas Carol while eating my brunch, and then I opened the gifts from my family that had arrived on time. Seeing their love in the things they chose for me was so special, and also made me miss them more! I had an adorable cat in a bag,

and I finished my SHIELD ornament.

I took a nap this afternoon, processed 6 cups of mangoes, listened to my Christmas Day pick,

and then went over to the Ronald’s for a light supper and some games. All in all a pleasant day; of course I would rather have been with my family, but all in all today was a good day. And in this year... that is something. Merry Christmas wherever you are, and may this time of light and love refresh you for the new year ahead.

Christmas Eve

Today was mostly spent in the kitchen preparing for the station Christmas dinner and washing the billion and one dishes that despite my best efforts seem to follow my cooking endeavors. I’ve been listening to and enjoying my Christmas Eve pick,

and looking forward to our next set of dual continent Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell viewing.

Today I made Smitten Kitchen's pecan pie which looks and tastes AMAZING,

way too much eggnog, (which included the new experience of making condensed milk—I might have condensed mine a smidge too much…)

and a green bean casserole (which involved making yogurt which didn’t set up in time).

Last night I finished the second of my Japanese ornaments that I stitched last year and got them both on the tree,

and this morning I actually woke up after 7! My sleep cycles this week has been all over the place…

Wishing you all the best as we remember the magnum mysterium; God became man and lived among us.

Christmas Adam

So, now that I’m back from town I’ll do a quick entry before the internet goes off. I spent today deep cleaning my floors and bathroom--a clean house is a lovely thing! Totally worth the effort. As I was vividly reminded, shopping and traveling in Zambia takes a rather larger expenditure of energy than it does in the States… I was able to find pretty much everything on my list—PtL! I’m amazed at what is available in the Copper Belt now if you are willing to poke around for it. I got to thinking about what an adult Christmas list is like compared to a kids. Some of the things I treated myself to were:

* A dentist appointment
* My first ever salon haircut and a French manicure
* A fan
* A new over the door shoe organizer
* Curtains for my living room
* Cheese

I also ate lots of gelato (they had a pistachio that was particularly good) and enjoyed eating out for lunch. For supper I got to enjoy fantastic curry and other Indian food at the Fernandos. Such a treat after a long term in the dinning hall! This is what the outside of the truck looked like when I returned,

and this is the inside. Chickens are messy!

I didn’t get the chance to knit a lot while I was in town; the power was often off making it hard to do fiddly increases in the dark, but I did manage to get well down the leg of that everlasting sock, and before I left I finished the stitching on the Christmasmyth griffon, so when I got back I was able to finish that ornament,

as well as the phoenix I stitched last year.

Here is the whole set (as of now) on my mantle:

In other news over the last two weeks I read the whole Chronicles of Narnia—in PUBLISHED order—and enjoyed them immensely. It’s been several years since I indulged in that particular Lewisfest, and I’m very glad I did. Now I want to watch the movies; I can hardly remember anything at all about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader… Shame that they stopped making the new movies.

The other thing I did before heading down to town was to make my grandmother’s fruitcake. I first had to candy a pineapple,

before I could add all the other goodies. In my family fruitcake is a serious thing, and not to bestowed on the ungrateful. I thought it would make a good gift for the families on station, plus of course I wanted some! Since it’s just me I’ve decided to choose 2 or 3 Christmas treats to indulge in. I think I’ll make ‘oysters’ tomorrow in addition to the pecan pie for the station dinner.

Parting shots: Christmas in my little house!

Final parting shot: Latte, knitting, and pretty nails = happy!

Finding Christmas

I've found it hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year. Due to many things happening in my life right now and the extreme stress of the end of term, I couldn't even bring myself to start listening to Christmas carols till after I finished writing report cards. I have discovered that I possess the dubious ability to be surrounded by Sakeji Christmas and not be affected by it at all. I didn't decorate in my classroom, I did some Christmasy stuff with the children, but Christmas had absolutely NOT started for me at all until really just a few days ago. We had our single's Christmas on Saturday (while I was in the grip of malaria but didn't know it yet...much is now explained) which helped start it, but I think when it really and truly felt like Christmas for the first time was yesterday.

On Thursday I finally got around to lighting the second two advent candles (being sick with malaria has a way of pushing even the most cherished of traditions to the side...) while I ate my first full sized meal in days--an egg with cheese on toast. Nothing big, but to be well enough to be sitting upright and eating that much food was such a gift. Then that afternoon I put on Let It Snow, Let it Reindeer for the first time since last year, and put up my little tree. I had to re-do a string of lights three times before I got something I could live with, but standing there in my living room while a warm rain pattered on the roof, I suddenly started to feel it stirring again. Christmas joy has begun to sneak into my heart. Honestly, being in this place makes it a fight to celebrate much of anything and a fight to celebrate the traditions that hold me together, and this year I am so, so weary of fighting. But standing there in the gentle light of my little tree, I knew again that it is worth it. I will not give them that victory over me, and even though this looks to be the very hardest Christmas I have ever kept, I will keep Christmas in my heart and in my home and in my way, and if someone has a problem with that, then they can just keep it to themselves. So there.

Due to stress injuries like a strained right hand and wrist and a pinched nerve in my right shoulder, knitting pretty much came to a very grinding halt in the last few weeks of term as I had to conserve my energy and strength for the painful (for me physically) piano music for the program. So, most of what I did was a little bit of cross stitch and ornament finishing. Now that it's gifted, here is what I made for Beth. The quote seemed appropriate, and yes, I made one for myself too!

I also finished off this trio of Trekkie ornaments. I stitched them last year, but my odd reluctance to finish off ornament struck again, so I have them on my nerd tree this year. Ironically enough, Java attacked one—the red shirt!

I also have been working on a plastic canvass Avengers logo; I’m pretty happy with it, and have started a SHIELD one as I’m currently watching Season One of Agents of Shield.

I have made a little progress on my gift knitting front. I’ve already given Beth the incomplete pair and taken them back to finish them. This is the second sock, still in its gusset decrease phase.

And while it’s not done in time for use this year, I’m still plodding through my much larger but still no where near large enough tree skirt. Hopefully I’ll have it done so it can go into service after Christmas Day.

That’s all for now—more in progress! Since I am just me and there is hardly anyone here on station, I’m picking and choosing what I want to make for Christmas. This year I have decided that it is very important to me to make my grandmother’s fruitcake as she will never make it again. I desperately need a link with her as I mourn the loss of the woman I love and admire, and adjust to the new reality of dementia. Also, I’m addicted to the stuff…

Parting shot:
And a TARDIS in a little nerd tree!

Lots of picks!

I haven't been very good at keeping up with my picks, so here are the highlights of the last few months.

On the music front, I have been really enjoying the soundtrack to the movie, August Rush. I just watched it recently, and while it's rather improbable and a little sentimental for my taste, the music has been filling my soul these last few weeks. I like the mix of styles, and I love the sounds of August's Rhapsody.

The other album that I have been listening to a lot is the newest Need to Breath album, Rivers in the Wasteland. So many of there songs are encouraging to where I am myself in my own wasteland, and I love that their sound is still what I fell in love with. Excellent album; I can't recommend it enough.

Lastly, I downloaded the full album that I've had a damaged copy of since college, Watkins Ale by the Baltimore Consort. If you love Medieval music like I do, than this is a great place to start. It dosen't sound too 'rough' while still being period accurate.

In books, I have come across some really good ones. First, Winter, the final chapter of the Lunar Chronicles finally came out, and I gobbled it down in a matter of days. I liked the ending; while I found it very hard to see the depths that all the beloved characters had to descend before things could swing up, that made their sacrifice worth it. I think we do kids a huge disservice by 'protecting' them from everything sad. After all, “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” Neil Gaiman paraphrasing G. K. Chesterson.

Finally, I have been waffling about whether or not to buy this book, finally took the plunge, and didn't regret it for one instant. This has been likened to steam-punk Hornblower; steam-punk yes, Hornblower in feel no, but a brilliantly written tale of a duty bound captain, yes. Awesome cats? Yes! Crystals? Yes! Great story? When does the next one come out--I don't think I can wait. This it the first steam-punk novel I've read (other that Wells and Verne), and it ROCKED. READ. IT.

Holding off the crazy with a fork...

Not a lot to report even after two weeks; I strained my right hand and arm, so I haven't been able to put in the crafting time that I would have liked. Plus, there is a lot of Christmas crafting going on, and I don't want to spoil people's surprises. That being said, here is the baby cat hat I made: not sure if I like the fun fur or not...

I've been working a bit on my tree skirt, trying to finish off my Ned scarf, working on a cross stitch gift, and a knit gift that I don't see how I'm going to get done in time, plus doing a lot of work for school. I am so tired all the time now; I'm just hoping that there is enough nap time amidst the ton of work I need to do this holiday to let me get somewhat caught up. Next year is going to be an endurance run, and I'm already so tired.

Parting shot: I caught these amazing clouds while walking on the airstrip; I love watching a good storm roll in!

In which I make pretty things!

It has been a long time since I puttered about with a dye pot, but since it’s half-term this Monday and Tuesday, I figured I could splurge and take one afternoon and evening completely off from marking. I had the remnants of a dried out food coloring paste from the kitchen that I wanted to play with, so I soaked some yarn and a bit of alpaca roving in water and vinegar while I mixed up the food coloring with some more water and vinegar.

I soaked one skein of yarn properly for over an hour, and the other one I didn’t soak as long as I wanted it to take up the dye unevenly. The less soaked yarn went straight into the pot to kettle dye, and the more soaked yarn I wound around a stick of bamboo which I put over the top of the pot. I wanted to try my hand at a gradient dye job, so about every five minutes I would go in and turn the stick to let a little more yarn into the dye bath.

The alpaca roving I had was stuffed in an old nylon, also thoroughly soaked, and I just let that cook away in the hot dye. Overall, I am quite pleased with the results! Too bad that was the last of that food coloring… I tried to make sure to heat it for long enough for the dye to set properly, and when I rinsed the yarn very little washed out.

Now I have the yarn I want for the project that I have been desperately wanting to cast on…

And cast on I feel I can since I finished two things this week!

On Halloween night Beth and I really pulled out all the party stops…or something like it! I was a pirate for the evening,

and we made lattes, ate Nibbs, and watched Ghostbusters while knitting. Do we know how to party or what? Neither of us had seen that particular part of pop culture before…can’t say that it was life changing, but for what it was, it was fun!

In knitting news I finally finished the everlasting mittens! I had enough green to do the thumbs in the checkered pattern, so I ripped out the first one and fixed it. Not bad; I’d do that pattern again, but not for awhile…

I also finished a little hat with cat ears for a friend’s new baby—adorbs! I might have to make a few more of these… I opted out of embroidering the cat face on the hat; I think that puts it over the top. I have another one that I tried that involves fun fur…picture to follow.

I'm hoping to do a bit of spinning over half-term, but we'll have to see how things go. Signing off for now!

Parting shot: Java is too adorbs sometimes for her own good...

Cray Cray Bananay

So, as I continue to learn about myself and how I react to certain things, I now know how dangerous it is to ignore a bunch of warning signs that I was tipping off the edge that I've been walking all term and into a full meltdown. Unfortunately it happened on Independence Day which is enough to push me pretty close under normal circumstances. So, not the most fun holiday weekend I've ever had, but I was off afterwards and got to sleep (very good for restoring perspective), be alone (also very vital and part of the reason I fell off the edge), drink a good cup of tea or two, and breath. Also, I may have stress cast on a new knitting project...

This is is going to be a long wanted Christmas tree skirt for my little table top tree. I'm modifying this Christmas Tree Skirt pattern to make it a bit smaller; I've had to rip a bit once and I'm thinking I might rip again, but we'll have to see.

I managed to finish two bits and pieces dishcloths over the last two weeks,

and have made some good progress on a major project re-do. The kind where I finished one half of it, and the found that it was like three inches too small. *facepalm*

Other than that I don't have much worth photographing. I've been pretty taken up with school stuff lately, so if I can get a row in here and there I'm doing well. I have a baby project that I really need to get on, and I need to finish the second mitt so Beth can take it back. So, that's my crafting and crashing. Have a great week, and when you realize that you are on the verge of a meltdown, STOP and do what you need to do so you don't spend a day hating the universe.

Parting shot: Best family costumes evar! "You remind me of the babe..."