Thursday Text: Tears, Idle Tears

I've been in the mood for poetry lately. Here's one of Tennyson's that I love.

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld,
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge;
So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.

Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death,
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned
On lips that are for others; deep as love,
Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more!

Masterpiece Classic: Sense and Sensibility

My Jane Austen class just finished reading Sense and Sensibility. I really love it. We're now watching the latest BBC adaptation of the book. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. I watched it a while back and liked it better than the version with Emma Thompson...

Borders and Frames Download

Here's an example of what Cathe Holden made with her borders and frames downloads. I really love this idea. Check it out at Just Something I Made.

The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor

Have you heard about the big auction? Elizabeth Taylor's jewels are going to be sold by Christie's in December. Here are some highlights of the collection. I love the charm bracelet.

Friday Featured Art: Christ in a Red Robe

One thing that was interesting for me to notice at the Nauvoo Temple was that they have Minerva Teichert paintings hanging in the chapel and the hallways. Of course her works are of a much later period than Nauvoo, but I feel like they fit in nicely. This is Christ in a Red Robe.

Thursday Text: Happiness in Marriage

Here's a quote from Pride and Prejudice. My class will be reading that next...

Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of choice.

So true.

Nauvoo

We went to Nauvoo over Labor Day, and it was so beautiful. Every time we're there I am so grateful that they rebuilt the temple. It is fabulous.

Genealogy Fan Chart

I went to our Family History Center last week and discovered some great features on the new FamilySearch. I'm getting excited about genealogy again. I even made up this fan chart of Jane Austen's ancestry to tie in with my Jane Austen class. So fun.

Friday Featured Art: Huddled

Huddled is a recent painting by Joseph Alleman. It is oil on panel, and I really like it.

Thursday Tunes: Bryn Terfel sings Loch Lomond

I can't believe that I haven't talked about Bryn Terfel already! He is Welsh, and he has the most incredible voice that you'll ever hear. We saw him in concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Christmas a few years back. The latest that we've seen of him has been in the Met's new production of the Ring cycle for their Live in HD series. Here he is singing one of my favorites, Loch Lomond.