Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Persuasion movie

Persuasion (1971)
BBC TV mini-series - 2 episodes
my 1st viewing

Director: Howard Baker
Writer: Julian Mitchell
Based on book: by Jane Austen
Rating: 5

Ann Firbank plays Anne Elliot
Bryan Marshall plays Captain Wentworth

A blip:
Whew!
This is the last review of the DVD set and for Jane in June posts.


Once you get past the hair you'll come to this portrayal of Anne as much as I do. I rather liked this film from the DVD set just as much as Mansfield Park. I have yet to read the original Jane Austen piece and felt that I got more details than from this than from the 2007 movie version which I saw last year.

What I liked best of this film is the passion and dialogue between the couple when they finally reunite. Of course, this happens during the last 20 minutes of the show. But worth the wait.

A bloop:


I also liked the cast for this film. They were well chosen compared to the other 5 films. They fit pretty well. I found this Captain Wentworth rather gallant.

~*~

* my review Persuasion (2007)

* see my Persuasion monster mashup

* image source Anne in green and Wentworth
* image source Wentworth in cape
* image source Anne in blue

* part of my Jane in June

* make sure to check out the main site for Book Rat's - Jane in June for all the reviews, interviews and giveaways galore!!!

Winners - June giveaways pt2


Here are the winners for giveaways that
ended June 14, 2010 - second batch
June 27, 2010

a third batch of steampink winners
will be announced July 31, 2010


Thanks to all contestants!

I will email winners for mailing addresses.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

~*~

Mechanical Rose
by Nathalie Gray
ebook giveaway courtesy of author
Winner: Pearl of Café Pearl

~*~

Soulless
by Gail Carriger
Winner (complimentary): Charlotte of The Book on the Hill
Winner (complimentary): Trisha of MarySew
Winner (complimentary): Shana of Kreating Insecurities

~*~

Tangled in Time
printed ARC giveaway courtesy of author
Winner: ElizabethN

~*~

Courtesy book giveaway from publisher - Quirk:

Android Karenina
by Leo Tolstoy
and Ben H. Winters
Winner: Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom
Winner: Nastassia


~*~

Freebies for you:
please pickup these goodies if you haven't already...

Time Traveler by Calista Taylor (short story)

Steamside Chronicles by Ciar Cullen (ebook)

Steampunk Magazine

~*~

* if not this time, maybe next time -->check out the sidebar for the current giveaways

SteamPink schedule


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Save the date: Pemberley Ball


Save the date:
Pemberley Ball
November 18-20, 2010

hosted by
the other Mr Darcy


Another ball is being held for those of you who missed your chance to capture Mr Darcy's heart at last year's Pemberley Ball. Ah yes, our Mr Darcy is now in wedded bliss with Elizabeth. But, there is another Darcy who is quite eligible.

Invitations will go out in October.

In comments, tell the other Mr Darcy what you would like to see, hear or do at the upcoming Pemberley Ball. You can make special requests and he'll try to accommodate.

Now listen to a special message from the other Mr Darcy about the ball...



~*~

* excuse my crude humor ;-D

~~- Pemberley Ball schedule -~~


Mummy Maddie


Mummy Maddie
created by Shana of Kreating Insecurities
for giveaway which ends July 31, 2010


Maddie isn't too happy about being a mummy. She has tried various ways to cope with her strange affliction: nice dresses, expensive jewelry and countless perfumes. However, all her efforts are in vain. No matter what she tries, Maddie still feels hollow inside.

~*~

The Mansfield Park mummy is out of the box and I wanted to share her with you. She is so cute, I don't know how Mr Boddy could have possibly been frightened from the likes of her. Perhaps her personality or mood was something to be reckoned with. After all, she can't have been happy lying in a tomb for as long as she had.

~*~


~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Monday, June 28, 2010

SteamBoyz in July

SteamBoyz
July 9-17, 2010


From SteamPink to SteamBoyz...

Travel by airship and learn about other worlds from a steampunk boy's point of view...

Books featured:

The Clockwork Angel
Cassandra Clare


Thomas Riley
by Nick Valentino


Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld


more books announced later...

~*~

* image for button from Vecona

::= SteamBoyz schedule =::


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Mansfield Park: Departure


The hour is late. Fanny has retrieved your cloak and final goodbyes are said all-around.

THANK YOU for your attendance!

It was a pleasure to have you for dinner and other activities.

Leave your callings cards on the tray by completing the super short 5 question survey before you step into your carriage. We would love to call on you for tea later this week ;-D

Giveaway winners will be announced and notified via email around August 3, 2010.

~*~

Special thanks for guest posts from...

Fellow bloggers:
please take the time to visit their blogs for a quick hello

Charlotte and Mr. Illustrator of The Book On The Hill
for Mansfield Park Murder Mystery button
for recipe posts

Titania86 of Fishmuffins of Doom
for mummy posts

Shana of Kreating Insecurities
for mummy doll

Misty of Book Rat
for Jane in June - Murder at Mansfield Park book tie-in giveaway

Publisher for giveaway prizes:

Quirk

~*~
* image source cloaks

*Picnik was used for graphics creations for this event.

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Titania


~ * ~ guest post ~ *~
Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~

I was totally obsessed with Ancient Egypt as a kid. I was convinced I wanted to be an archaeologist. Now, I’m happy to become a teacher, but I still harbor a love for everything Egyptian. Here are some great reads that I love AND feature mummies!


Crocodile on the Sandbank
by Elizabeth Peters

This series is excellent. It follows Amelia Peabody as she has adventures in the late 19th century and early 20th century in Egypt and England. She is a no nonsense, confident woman who isn’t afraid to whack someone with her parasol. There are 19 books in the series so far. I started them in high school and I still go back and read them. Plus a new one was just released this year. The books have everything: romance, mystery, murder, and (of course) mummies (though the unmoving, nonsupernatural types). Elizabeth Peters skillfully interweaves her own characters with actual figures in history such as Lord Carnarvon, Howard Carter, and Gaston Maspero. If you like Victorian England and ancient Egypt, you will surely like this series.

The Mummy or Ramses the Damned
by Anne Rice

This is a stand alone book that was published in 1989. The story takes place in 1914 and follows the resurrected pharaoh Ramses II as he collides with an archaeologist’s dysfunctional family. Ramses isn’t the typical Boris Karloff type mummy that shuffles around in ragged linens. He has drank the elixir of life which makes him doomed to wander the earth forever trying to sate his senses that offer no sustenance. For example, he eats and drinks constantly though he needs neither to survive. There is also murder, intrigue, and archaeology framing this supernatural story. I enjoyed this book immensely and I think you will too.

Changeless
by Gail Carriger

This is the second novel in the Parasol Protectorate series. There are similarities between this series and the Amelia Peabody series because of the strong heroines that carry around parasols, but both are unique stories. In this book, Alexia must figure out what is causing rampant normalcy in the supernatural creatures in London. This plague of normalcy follows her husband on his unannounced trip to Scotland, so she has to follow him (with a largely unwanted entourage of people) to warn him. A mummy figures largely in the story. I can’t really elaborate any more without spoilers. Except that there is an important mummy unwrapping party that happens. This book (as well as the entire series) is highly recommended.

~*~

* guest post from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Conclusions


The butler calls everyone to rejoin in the billiard room where the stage is set.

Lady Lori and Miss Carol of Lenthall Manor and Lady Marjorie scurry forth from the Dining Room. Each with Almond Puffs (maybe two) in hand.

And there behind the grand mixed fruit centerpiece is a glimpse of Lady Violet. Whatever is she doing, sneaking about so?

Not far behind them, coming from the Kitchen is Lady Charlotte and Lady Nevey Berry of Regan Hawkes chatting about the delights of chocolates souffles. However prefers a good cheese souffle.

Countess Juju and Midnight Cowgirl walk down the stairs after a visit to the Powder Room. They look refreshed and sport smiling faces as they speak of the latest London fashions.

Lady Giada rushes forward from the Conservatory to meet Miss Marple. She hands Miss Marple a golden cufflink that she found earlier this evening as they walk. Lady Giada is in awe as Miss Marple gives her opinions on the matter.

The Duchess Throuthehaze lingers in the Conservatory hoping to have a word with Poirot. She has a mystery of her own in which she wanted to consult him about.

In the Lounge, Miss Freda is roused from her steampunk daydreaming by Lady Sarah E's fan lighting tapping her arm. Miss Kallie and Lady Sabrina commend Mary Crawford on her beautiful harp playing. Lady Carol T joins Edmund and Fanny as they proceed downstairs.

Lady Mary Ann quizzes Lady Titania on her knowledge of all things zombie as they leave the Library. Sullivan McPig trails behind them with ears perked.

In the Study, Lady Sharli and Lady Iris Seyton (aka Stella) put the playing cards away. Lady Meredith joins in their conversation and talk of the upcoming books about Darcy.

Lady Mesmered and Sherlock Holmes leave the Study and exchange information about the latest Egyptian finds and all things mummy.

~*~

As guests congregate in the Billiard room, the three detectives make their way to the stage.

Seated in the audience is Misté la Marquessa speaking with Lady Vee about the recent surge of Jane Austen this month.

C'est fantastique! Jane in June!

In another part of the room, Lady Lisa R and Miss Louisa Church of Cowanwray Manor (aka Aik) look about the room for suspicious characters. Surely one of Mr Boddy's entourage is involved in this evening's interruption.

~*~

*** S P O I L E R ***


Do not proceed if you wish to enter the Edmund Bertram book giveaway. You must enter your guess of who you suspect is the culprit there before reading the conclusion below.

*** S P O I L E R ***


Hercule Poirot takes center stage to greet and address the audience.

And then Sherlock Holmes steps forward...

... upon the results from Dr Watson's examination of the body, we are in agreement.

Holmes then invites Miss Marple to take the spotlight.

... and so we conclude that Mr Boddy has expired due to a heart attack.

He died of fright at the sight of a mummy.


*gasps* and then an uproar emerges from the audience.

Holmes resumes the stage.

Not to worry. We have apprehended the mummy who was found in the kitchen. And he will be dealt with accordingly.

*sighs* and relief ripples through the audience.

Edmund Bertram steps up to the stage and offers profound apologies for any inconvenience or harm done to anyone during this most unfortunate occurrence at Mansfield Park. He expresses his hope that you will again visit Mansfield Park for another event in the future.

~*~

* image source Jane Austen mystery

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Kitchen

If a mummy loses his bandages,
how long does he have to stay in the hospital?

~*~

Time travel can lead to unexpected encounters. I am a proud fan of Doctor Who, and I must say that even if I haven’t yet met any aliens during my travels, I did meet some supernatural folks from time to time. Which is, I grant you, rather scary, but exciting at the same time.

This week, a weird encounter awaited me again...

I was in the Mansfield Park’s kitchens, mixing my mixture for the almond puffs (which, I must say, was becoming a bit too granulous, but I managed to avoid a cooking catastrophy). A few minutes before, I had been enjoying a nice round of gossips with Rowena, the cook, and Lottie, the under cook. We had mainly talked about the guests, but also had fun imagining what vegetable each member of the Bertram family looked like. But now that everything was ready and served, and since the only thing left to do was bake the dessert, Rowena and Lottie had left me alone to take care of it.

So here I was, in the now silent kitchen, tasting the mixture one last time before putting it in the oven, when an enormous noise made me jump so high that the almost-ready-mixture ended up on my face and clothes. Instinctively, I turned around to see who was the person whose joke transformed me into Super-Almond-Girl. And there it was. Coming out of the pantry. Not Rowena. Not Lottie. Not even Oscar, the scullery maid, well-known for his tricks and jokes. Nope. The person (maybe ex-person would be more appropriate) standing in front of me was a Mummy. A classic, white-bandaged, growling Mummy.

I was more furious than scared. Not only was I covered in almond mixture, but I also had to start the recipe all over again ! Would the guests believe me if I told them that “the dessert was delayed because of the unexpected appearance of a Mummy in the kitchen” ? I think not. Except for Miss Marple. I’m sure she would’ve loved it.

So, what did I do ? I did something absolutely logical and sane : instead of running off screaming, I asked the mummy if it could help me preparing the new almond puffs. And it kindly obliged. And it was fun. Ok, the mummy couldn’t talk and would only answer my questions with ‘mwouas’ and ‘gwoos’, but I could tell it was enjoying this little cooking party. All in all, we finished right on time. We even had time to fix the poor Mummy’s bandages, which were kind of raggedy.

I have no idea why the Mummy was in the pantry.

I have no idea where it went after our little cooking meeting.

Mysteries are like that.

All I know is that I shall make a trip to Egypt one day and meet its friends.

Because Mummies sure CAN cook.

~*~

* answer to trivia question: Until he is completely recovered. -David Lubar

* guest post by The Book On The Hill

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Survey



Dear guest,

It is now your turn to undergo some questioning...



~*~

* the direct link to the survey form is here

* image source quill and paper

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: and Mummies


Mansfield Park and Mummies
by Jane Austen
and Vera Nazarian


Description from author's site:
Spinsterhood or Mummification!

Ancient Egypt infiltrates Regency England in this elegant, hilarious, witty, insane, and unexpectedly romantic monster parody of Jane Austen's classic novel.

Our gentle yet indomitable heroine Fanny Price must hold steadfast not only against the seductive charms of Henry Crawford but also an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh!

Meanwhile, the indubitably handsome and kind hero Edmund attempts Exorcisms... Miss Crawford vamps out... Aunt Norris channels her inner werewolf... The Mummy-mesmerized Lady Bertram collects Egyptian artifacts...

There can be no doubt that Mansfield Park has become a battleground for the forces of Ancient Evil and Regency True Love!

Gentle Reader—this Delightful Edition includes Scholarly Footnotes and Appendices.

*** Mummy book and doll giveaway ***


Prizes:

Mansfield Park and Mummies
by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian

and

Mummy doll
created by Shana of Kreating Insecurities
Dear Shana is *wrapping* as we speak. Actual mummy will be revealed on winner's post.

Open to all.

Offer ends July 31, 2010

TO DO:

1. Visit Shana's site and leave a comment on at least one of her posts.

2. Read at least one of Titania's mummy posts and leave a comment on it (if you haven't already).
Closet
Pharaoh
Necklace
Lady Bertram - Epilogue

3. Comment below with your email and tell me a mummy joke.
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Contest has ended - winner is here

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* image source sarcophagus

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Lady Bertram


an epilogue…

Everyone sat in stunned silence just after Fanny returned the mummies to their immobile states.

Lady Bertram came out of her daze and gazed around the room. “What happened? I thought I was in Egypt. What happened to the dining room? The state of it is deplorable! I cannot have it get out that my home is in such a state! I would never live it down…..” she ranted continuously. She had no recollection of anything that had happened.

Everyone ignored her rambling and helped clean the huge mess.

All the Egyptian antiquities were sold, given away, or thrown out. No one ever wanted to see any of them ever again. They tried to donate them to museums, sell them to private collectors, and so on.

The pharaoh’s body along with his sarcophagus now sits in the local museum. His head is still exposed because the linens he had ripped off are gone. Guests of the museum reported to feel chills and feel that someone is watching them when they are near this particular mummy.

Fanny had felt that in the brief moments she had seen the dead pharaoh, he had seemed familiar in some way. She dismissed it as a passing fancy and concluded that it was useless to dwell on. Everyone else required quite well (except for Josephine) and “not a single mummy more was ever seen at Mansfield Park.”*

~*~

* from Mansfield Park and Mummies by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian, pg. 555

* guest post from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

* image source Lady Bertram

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


In My Mailbox - 6.27.10


Today is the last day of the Mansfield Park Murder Mystery event (see schedule). If you like Jane Austen, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes and Watson, it is not too late to participate and enter the giveaways (which end July 31, 2010).

Bought:

Masked Ball
by Prue Batten
My first miniature book.
I pictured it here with the daughter's raven mask
so that you can idea of the size.
So adorable!

~*~

For review and giveaway courtesy of author:

Cold Magic
ARC by Kate Elliott

~*~

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service

* In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Mansfield Park: Necklace


The story ends…

Edmund and Tom looked at each other as if trying to read each other minds. They simultaneously struck at the mummy and ran out of the room to see if whatever was going on downstairs was a bit more manageable than an undead creature. It turned out it was not.

The vision they were greeted with as they descended the stares was one of chaos.

There were other, less regenerated mummies all over the dining room. Maria and Julia were both having fits of hysterics, trying to keep the mummies away from them. Sir Bertram, Mr. Rushworth, Fanny Price, and Henry Crawford were attempting to fight off the monsters with various makeshift weapons, such as a fire poker, a broom, and frying pan.

Lady Bertram was the only person in the room who seemed completely content. She went along eating her meal peacefully and without concern for any of her friends and family. Strangely, she was also left alone by all the monsters in the room.

The two men had no idea what to do. Nothing anyone did to the mummies helped. Their moments of hesitation cost them dearly when the dead pharaoh caught up with them, resuming the fight they had started in the upstairs closet.

Both Julia and Maria were locked in an unpleasant embrace with a mummy that was opening its mouth extremely wide. Mr. Rushworth was now on the floor with a mummy holding the fire poker he was using. It seemed as if everything would be lost. Fanny, who had been dodging mummies after losing her broom, saw Lady Bertram and had an epiphany.

The Eye of Horus necklace the lady wore around her neck had only been there for a few months, coinciding with Lady Bertram’s return from an Egyptian vacation for the good of her health. That necklace’s appearance also coincided with Lady Bertram’s odd behavior.

She ran to her aunt and ripped the necklace from her neck. She held it and shouted, “Enough! In the name of all the Gods of Egypt I demand you desist!”

Every mummy in the room came to a halt and stared at her as if expecting instructions. She threw the necklace to the ground and crushed the jewel beneath her heel. A puff of smoke emitted from it and the necklace deteriorated and fell apart. The mummies all fell over at that moment, never to rise again.

~end~

~*~

* Taken from Mansfield Park and Mummies by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian, pg. 296

* guest post from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

* image source necklace

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Pharaoh


The story continues…

The dead pharaoh dropped the dead maid’s now desiccated body. He unwrapped the linens around his head and revealed that his lifeless flesh now held a glow about it. He was unmistakably dead, but seemed to be regenerating. He shuffled off to find someone else to aid in his regeneration process.

Meanwhile, the loud crash was heard in the dining room. Tom Bertram and Edmund Bertram looked up, alarmed. Everyone else hardly noticed and calmly continued their chatter about society and the latest gossip. Fanny Price, who had absolutely no interest in the subjects in question, also noticed the loud sound emanating from the upper floor. Tom indicated (to those that paid attention) that everyone should stay seated so that he may investigate. He didn’t think it was anything serious and therefore thought it was unnecessary to alarm anyone. He excused himself formally from the table and walked up the stairs.

Tom walked up the stairs and looked at the empty hall in front of him. He wondered which room the sound could have come from and resumed walking slowly down the hall, listening for any more sounds. He heard a rustle in the closet next to Fanny’s room.
He walked slowly and silently up to it and threw it open with a shout. He saw Josephine’s crumpled figure on the floor next to the empty sarcophagus. He exclaimed. “Josephine! Are you all right?”

Hurriedly, he bent to help her up. He recoiled and gasped in horror when he realized that the young woman was dead and looked to have been so for quite some time.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, the mummy gripped Tom’s neck, lifting him easily. Tom gave a shout of surprise and struggled against the mummy’s vice grip. He tried to hit or kick the monster, but it proved ineffective as the mummy’s grip continued to tighten.

Black spots danced at the edges of his vision. He knew he couldn’t stay conscious for much longer. His attempts at escape became weaker and weaker until he could hardly lift his limbs anymore. He was about to be engulfed by the darkness of unconsciousness when he was unceremoniously dropped onto the floor. Color flooded back into his world as he coughed and tried to breathe.

When he took a couple of full breaths, he looked up and saw his brother Edmund, striking the mummy about the head with a golden bust of Nefertiti he had found in a random crate. It just seemed to be annoying the creature rather than doing any real damage. Tom attempted to stealthily find a weapon in the closet to no avail. He was about to strike the mummy in the back of the head with his fist when he heard a woman scream downstairs! “How could this possibly get any worse?” wondered Edmund.

~*~

* Based on Mansfield Park and Mummies by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian.

* guest post from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

* image source mummy

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Closet


Dear guests, before we continue I must relay this story of a dinner party of last week...

For the past few months, Lady Bertram had not been herself. She had taken to muttering to herself and going through her daily routine in a daze. In addition to this odd behavior, she had been buying as many Egyptian antiquities she could get her hands on.

There were dusty crates, animal headed figures, papyrus, and things of that nature everywhere. One could hardly walk down the hall without tripping over one thing or another. Unfortunately, everyone just politely ignored her eccentric behavior instead of trying to figure out why she had changed so drastically.

As everyone was eating dinner in the dining room (which had been cleared of Egyptian artifacts for the evening), a rustling could be heard in the small closet next to Fanny Price’s room.

The rustling grew louder and became a scratching, accompanied by a muffled moan. Inside of the closet was a large crate in the center of the room with a beautiful sarcophagus in it. It was vibrantly painted and depicted a man wearing the nemes of an Egyptian pharaoh and holding a hook and flail. The sides of the coffin where covered in beautiful hieroglyphics designed to protect the dead pharaoh.

A scraping noise was heard as the lid of the sarcophagus inched slowly open. A mummified hand could be seen as the mummy struggled to free himself from the tomb he had obviously been in for some time. The lid fell to the floor with a crash and alerted Josephine, the maid, to investigate. She ran into the closet, fearful because she thought something might have broken which would surely incur the wrath of her eccentric employer. She knew how Lady Bertram treasured all her Egyptian antiquities.

She was puzzled by the open sarcophagus and slowly stepped towards it to see what could have moved such a large and heavy object. The mummy inside looked as it should: wrapped in linens and unmoving. She bent over the lid to make sure it wasn’t noticeably damaged. She heard a rustle of linens and she was suddenly lifted in the air by her neck! She gazed down at the mummy that held her and tried to scream, but the thing tightened its grip around her neck. “The mummy opened its already gaping maw wide…and it continued opening—wider, wider—and it drew forward just inches away from [Josephine’s] face.”*

This was the last thing she saw before she fainted.

to be continued...

~*~

* Taken from Mansfield Park and Mummies by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian, pg. 296

* guest post from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

* image source sacophagus

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


Mansfield Park: Suspects


Dear guests, we have come to the moment where speculations and assumptions must be put aside. What are your conclusions for the affair at hand? Wild guesses are acceptable.


SuspectWeaponRoom
Miss ScarlettKnifeConservatory
Colonel MustardCandlestickLounge
Mrs. WhitePistolLibrary
Mr. GreenRopeStudy
Mrs. PeacockLead PipeKitchen
Professor PlumWrenchDining Room


*** Edmund Book & Paperdoll Giveaway ***


Edmund Bertram's Diary
by Amanda Grange

Edmund paper doll (pictured above)
created by Legacy Designs

Open to all

Offer ends July 31, 2010

TO DO:
Based on the list above, give me you best guess. In comments give me your email and tell me...

Who did the deed? What is the cause of Mr Boddy's demise?

Name the suspect, weapon, room the crime was committed and possible motive.

Feel free to be creative and if you feel that someone else (not on the list) is suspect, then specify the other.
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Contest has ended - winner is here

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~ Mansfield Park schedule ~




Mad Tea Party

Virtual Mad Tea Party
hosted by A Fanciful Twist
view more parties here


~*~

teaser 1: Pine Cone Palace
teaser 2: Soulraye's Hut
teaser 3: Tree Top


~*~


The table has been set.



Fairies start to arrive for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.



Fairy flight is the main mode of transportation.



Alice is present and waiting patiently.



More fairies arrive for the occasion.



Dormouse is sleeping.



Hare is perplexed.



Hatter is absent.


Fairies frolick as they wait to be served.



Alice joins in the fun.
But her stomach is starting to growwwwl.
Perhaps she should take a swig from her bottle o'blue.



Where is Hatter?


Methinks, being the Mad Hatter, he got caught up with other imaginings and plainly, simply forgot!

*** Alice Book Giveaway ***

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy
edited by Richard Brian Davis
courtesy of John Wiley & Sons


Open to all.

Offer ends June 30, 2010

TO DO:
Comment with your email and tell me...

What is your favorite item to eat while drinking tea?

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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* special thanks to the daughter, svb, for the use of her fae
* Alice created by Shana of Kreating Insecurities
* image source dormouse sleeping
* image source march hare
* image source Mad Hatter

Friday, June 25, 2010

Mansfield Park: Study


While Professor Plum is being interviewed by Dr Watson, Sharli of Montgomery Park, Midnight Cowgirl and Lady Iris Seyton of Brightmore Manor (aka Mademoiselle Stella) amuse themselves with a game of cards.

During their card game they speak of the latest gossip and news. They are most excited about Meredith of Austenesque's latest book acquisitions...

To Conquer Mr. Darcy
by Abigail Reynolds

Darcy's Voyage
by Kara Louise

Mr. Darcy's Little Sister
by C. Allyn Pierson

The ladies' voices steadily increase with their excited chatter. Dr Watson must interrupt his interview with Professor Plum to alert them of their volume.

Things to know about Watson:
--> full name, Dr John Hamish Watson

--> British Doctor who is the friend, assistant, and flatmate of detective Sherlock Holmes

--> used to be an athlete

--> Assistant Surgeon of the Army Medical Department (attached to the 66th Foot) in Afghanistan, but he was discharged following an injury

--> Watson often uses his service revolver in the cases. He is a crack shot, apparently a better marksman than Holmes.

~*~

Shelock Holmes pokes his head into the study.

psst. Watson, have you examined the body?

No, not yet.

Well, what are you waiting for ol' boy. Be off. I shall finish the narratives here.


Dr Watson concludes his interview with Professor Plum, writes down final notes, gathers his things and leaves the room.

Dr Watson found that...
Professor Plum is almost the smartest man on the planet. If he wasn’t so scatterbrained, he would definitely be the smartest. Slightly balding and middle-aged, Peter Plum can’t remember where he’s been the last five minutes of any part of any day, so how could he remember if he murdered Mr. Boddy or not? He’s a simple, intelligent man and good-natured at heart, but he likes to steal his own things. That’s because he's just scatterbrained enough to do so! -Plum bio

Before Holmes continues with questioning the remaining guests he notices a crumpled letter that did not make it into the trash bin. It lay on the floor beckoning him. With curiosity, Holmes picks up the letter and smoothes it out...

~*~

Whenever I think of mummies, I think of them buried in the Valley of the Kings or in grand pyramids in Giza or lying behind glass in a museum. I never thought there were other more disturbing uses for mummies employed in the past. Here are a few that I find the most interesting.

* The bitumen was considered to have healing properties and was used as a medicine. People believed for a long time that bitumen was used in the mummification process. Because of this, people would grind up mummies into powder and use it for medicinal purposes. This practice is over 500 years old and was used as recently as 1972. When mummies were hard to find, merchants would embalm corpses themselves and market them as mummies.

* The Mummy Brown or Egyptian Brown is a color of paint that contained powdered mummy. It was primarily used in the 1500’s and 1600’s in oil and watercolor painting. The color was no longer used after the contents were well known in the 1800’s.

* Mummies were used as entertainment as well. Mummy unwrapping parties were popular in the 1830’s and 1840’s. This was most likely to discover if there were any valuables within the wrappings. Gail Carriger added this tidbit in her new novel, Changeless (the second of the Parasol Protectorate series). I was horrified that it was considered acceptable, let alone a form of entertainment, but I accepted that it was a part of actual history.

* The tombs of Ancient Egyptians have been robbed throughout history by a variety of different people. This practice was accepted and not criminalized until that late 1800’s.

* There is speculation that there may have been papyrus paper imported into America in the 1850’s that was made from linen wrappings of mummies.

* Mummified cats were shipped to Europe to sell as fertilizer.
I find these facts also saddening because these practices destroyed so many mummies and tombs that may have led to important discoveries about the Ancient Egyptian people.

~*~

More mummy facts. Holmes is intrigued. First the marked book in the Library and now this letter. Whatever could be the meaning of it all?

*** Watson Book Giveaway ***

Courtesy of Quirk Books:

The Crimes of Dr. Watson
An Interactive Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Author: John H. Watson, M.D.,
Edited and with an Introduction by, Duane Swierczynski
-for 2 winners

Open to all.

Offer ends: July 31, 2010

TO DO:
Visit the Quirk Books site and tell me 2 things of interest that you found there in comments along with your email.
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Contest has ended - winner is here

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~*~

* guest post of mummy facts from Titania of Fishmuffins of Doom

* image source Dr Watson

~ Mansfield Park schedule ~


 
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