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Northanger Abbey is the charming story of how 17-year-old Catherine Morland came to fall in love while discovering that life and her beloved novels are not quite alike.
One of ten children of a country clergyman, Catherine is invited by family friends to visit Bath for the first time. She is a sweet and naive girl who views her adventures through the eyes of a heroine from one of her Gothic novels. She makes new friends while in town: two sets of brother and sister – one more conniving and manipulative than the other.
When Catherine has the opportunity to visit the titular Northanger Abbey, she is at her heroine’s best and ready to seek out horrors and imagine wrongdoings committed in the past.
This was a fun little read and probably the most light-hearted of Austen’s novels.
I added a small pleco to my pond a week ago and never saw him again.
Until tonight.
Pleco are nocturnal, so I’ve been looking out for him each night with a flashlight. I just wanted to know that he’d made the move alright.
You can see clearly that my little ecosystem needs some help getting cleaned up. I’ll be adding some trapdoor snails and new water plants next week. My hardy lilies and a few other plants are starting to sprout.
All ten goldfish survived the winter (including two hard freezes) outdoors.*
Maybe I can name them now.
*Plecos don’t tolerate the cold as well, so I’ll be adding a heater for him the next time the temperature drops.
BHG's Do It Yourself Spring 2011
I love browsing through magazines for cheap home improvement ideas. This issue had a section dedicated to spray-paint.
My front door was in dire need of a new paint job. I would prefer a new door as I really don’t like the ugly gold lines and frosted glass that date my door. I want one more modern with glass I can actually see out of or a peephole.
In the meantime, I decided to try the spray-paint project for the front door. This is what my door looked like before painting. I used plastic wrap to protect my walls, trim, glass center, and door knob. The paint is weathered. You can see obvious spots where I have attempted to touch up the paint in the past.
And here’s the (almost) finished result. I need to touch up the trim, other side of door, and get a new doorknob/deadbolt set.
It shines.
I declare this a pass.
1. Cartwheels
2. King Pigeon Pose
3. Pass for a teenager
4. Watch Full House
5. Drink milk
6. Remember a time before bills
7. Speak Spanish fluently
8. Write in cursive
9. Pull an all-nighter
10. Crash on someone’s couch
1. Any vacations you are looking forward to this summer? I’ll be seeing my college buddies this May. Location yet to be chosen.
2. What is your favorite article of summer clothing (shoes included)? Cute shorts
3. What is your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or non)? Sonic’s cherry limeade, sangria, sweet tea
4. Do you tan or burn? Tan. Unevenly.
5. Any goals you are working toward this summer? Improving my curbside appeal. That didn’t sound right. Improving my home’s curbside appeal.
6. What is your favorite summertime food? Ice cold watermelon on a hot day
7. What song most says “summer” to you? Any cheesy song that is fun to sing in the car with the windows rolled down.
8. Any home improvement goals planned this summer? Lots of little things around the house. And I want to finish my office.
9. What is one thing you hate to see at the beach? People speeding around in four-wheelers. I hate those things. They’re noisy and blow sand everywhere.
10. Did you ever go to a summer camp? I went to summer church camps when I was a kid. I always wished I could have gone to those cool summer camps with nothing but outdoorsy activities.
*** Meme from Roots and Rings
I was inspired by Green Apples to make my own try-on order from Warby Parker*. My own glasses are at least five years old and not the least bit flattering. I mostly wear contacts, but I like to take a break every now and then.
The site describes their collection as “vintage-inspired, with a fashion forward twist.” I would describe it as a punk nerd aesthetic.
I’m a nerd, and I like it.
These are the four I chose:
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- Zagg
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- Japhy
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- Finn
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- Nedwin
If you choose less than the 5 allowed, Warby Parker will select additional frames for you.
I can’t wait.
* Read their story: offering fashionable yet affordable glasses to you while providing the gift of vision to the needy.
I was receiving report when the night nurse told me the new admit had asked about me by name.
He had been my patient over two years ago, and he wanted to know if I was working today.
His family recalled conversations we had that summer and asked about that Florida beach wedding I was about to attend.
Another daughter stopped at the station before she even made her way to his room to say hello to me and ask how I was doing.
She later told me she meant to write a letter about me and apologized for not doing so.
I told her that remembering me two years later meant more than any letter she could have sent.
She said she’d make sure to send a letter this time.
Someone remembered me.
*Combating work-related negativity since October 2010.
Today,
I’m trusting that I have the abilities and talents to accomplish my dreams.
I’m grateful for a better relationship with my sister.
I’m inspired by the good just one person can do .
*TGIF copied from Brené Brown. If you haven’t already, you must watch her speak in this video.
We finally have a new manager after five months of waffling by administration. (The CNO reported dissolving the position a month ago.)
He seems like a nice guy who actually understands the work on a floor. He appears sincere in his praise of our staff. He acknowledges hospital issues while not laying the blame solely on the nurses as every other administrative person does while giving us a “‘pep talk.” He comes to us for solutions to problems.
I like him.
*Combating work-related negativity since October 2010
I received information on my ten year high school reunion.
The date and time are set.
The location has been chosen.
The money-begging donation requests have begun by people with whom I don’t believe I exchanged even one word.
Tick, tock….
