Evolution of a Hedgehog

Testing a Flickr slideshow:

Button for Blue Jeans Cardi

Button for Blue Jeans Cardi, originally uploaded by toadncat.

Yay! Not only did I find a button for this cardigan (finally) but I also sewed it on. The wood is lightweight, but yet the button is big enough so that is doesn't slip out of the buttonhole and it provides a nice accent.
And did I mention that I found the button at Bobbin's Nest Studio? ;-)

Little Anne Bronte

I've been reading "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" and really enjoying it! While it isn't as dramatic as "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights," it makes up for that by being a realistic story of an abusive husband and the lengths his wife goes to escape from him. Helen is a bit of a goody-goody, but still likable. You can empathize with her fears for her son. Her husband is a philandering, alcoholic, controlling man who can be charming if he wants to be. But most of the time he can't be bothered to control any of his behavior. He also has a sadistic streak a mile wide where Helen is concerned.

Why has Anne Bronte been so overlooked? I guess it's because her sisters' books are so emotional and dramatic. Also, the subject matter of "The Tenant" is scandalous for the time it was written. I also plan to read "Agnes Gray." I think Anne was the most practical and down-to-earth of the Brontes. She worked as a governess to supplement the family's income even though she didn't enjoy the work much more than Charlotte or Emily did.

Bright Star

I'm finally watching "Bright Star" but only in fits and starts on my iPhone, so it could take awhile. The costumes are beautiful! I'm also reading the book ( I finally got my act together and returned the copy with no pages 1-36). Taken together, they help put a human face on a historical character.

You may also notice on my shelf "The Brontes Went To Woolworth's" -- another Bronte related book. It is whimsical and wacky, with more in common with "I Capture the Castle" perhaps than "Jane Eyre." The Brontes do make an appearance at a table turning in Yorkshire. Spooky!