I have been awarded!

I have been awarded The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award from Miss Elizabeth Bennett at The Elegance of Fashion. Thank you so much! :)

What I have to do:
          1. Post seven random facts about myself.
          2. award this to ten other bloggers!

Random facts about me.
1. I have 3 sisters
2. I had piano lessons today.
3. I really really like the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series! :)
4. I like to bake a cookies, and all that good stuff!
5. I am studying British Literature this year.
6. I am not very fond of modern art.
7. "The Hunt for Red October" has become one of my favorite movies!

Now for 10 blogs to get the award! :)
1. But When The Young Lady is to be a Heroine
2. Femininity and Daydreams
3. I Will Smile
4. Fullness of Joy
5. Novel Pretender
6. The Kings Bookworm
7. All That is Gold
8. Miss Georgiana Darcy
9. Reilly Clan 13
10. Think Green Love Purple

Thank you again for awarding me!
Blessings
~Elizabeth

Review: Miracle at Midnight

Title: Miracle at Midnight
Producer: Disney
Director: Ken Cameron
Writers: Chris Bryant, Monte Merrick
Actors: Sam Waterston, Mia Farrow, Justin Whalin
My rating: 5/5

The story takes place in Denmark during the NAZI occupation in World War II. It is bases on a true story, of how the Danes saved many of the Danish Jews. It is a very moving story. 


This is such a good movie! I enjoy studying WWII. (I know it sounds weird and that it was a horrible time, but I find it interesting, I think the survival stories are what I like)

The movie made me cry. When some one died, I started crying. When the Jew said he had studies Christianity, and started saying I was hungry and you gave me food, I was a stranger and you took me in, couple that with the context of the story, I cried some more. It really moved me to see what he said in action.Over all this movie was very moving for me. I don't think I can express how much it effected me.

One of the things that annoyed me though was it seemed like no one could keep their accents strait. They kept trying to sound Danish, and then sound American, then something else, the American. I really think they should have just dropped trying to do accents altogether if they really could not keep it strait. The Germans seemed to be able to keep their strait though.

The acting seemed alright, I think the one actor that really impresses me in this movie was Sam Waterston. I think it is good to note that there is nothing really overly violent, or bad in it. I think the most disturbing is when a character has hanged himself, you don't see anything, only the shadow of his feet. But other than that I think this is a great movie to watch with your family. I think you can have some great discussions with your family.

Blessings
~Elizabeth

Dickens Books I have Read

I thought it might be a fun thing to do to say what I have read for Charles Dickens. I really like to see what I have gotten done, it can sometimes motivate me to get more done. I like check lists.

Oliver Twist: I really really liked this book, it is one of those Cinderella like stories that you can help but like. It starts out so sad, but has a happily ever after ending. Overall I think this is a book I would consider rereading.







Bleak House: Ahhh Bleak House. I really really loved this book!! I love the changing perspectives.I loved how it seemed like nothing was connected at all when it really was! I loved the characters. I love the whole combination of it all. This is one that really feel in love with.





Great Expectations: This book was one that I enjoyed. I like the mystery of it. Wondering who had helped Pip, and why? I liked how Pip was able to be better than what so many people thought he would be. I really really enjoyed it.







Blessings
~Elizabeth

The Star of the County Down

I am completely an totally in love with this song! It is a traditional Irish ballad, how could I not love it?
The words are by Cathal McGarvey. I have heard several versions, Loreena Mckennitt, Orthodox Celts, and a few other people who I don’t remember. But I like Sarah Moore’s version best!! It is slower sweeter, and she tells it third person, instead of first. I prefer the third, because it makes it a little more story like to me. Sadly though Sarah moore, at least so far as I can tell, didn’t do the last verse. I cannot seem to find a version that uses all the verses, that I like. Anyway here are the lyrics.

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
One morning in July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed him by.
She looked so sweet from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, he  to shake himself
To make sure he was standing there.

Chorus
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid he’d seen like the sweet colleen
That he met in the County Down.

As she onward sped he shook his head
And he gazed with a feeling rare
And he said, says I, to a passerby
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
He smiled at him, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
She's the star of the County Down."

Chorus

He’d travelled a bit, but never was hit
Since his roving career began
But fair and square he surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
He’d a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did he meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and he asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.

Chorus

At the crossroads fair he’ll be surely there
And he'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And he'll try sheep's eyes, and deludhering lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose.
No pipe he'll smoke, no horse he'll yoke
Though with rust my plow turns brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.

Chorus

Blessings
Elizabeth 

What books I am reading for Dickens

So I said I would post about what books I am going to read for the Charles Dickens Reading challenge. You can click the button on the side to learn more. I am really really excited about this challenge! I really feel I should read more Dickens, but just have not had the push I needed to actually do it.  I think this is  the push.
But Anyway, I will now tell you about what I am going to read  
                                                                                  
Little Dorrit:I have always wanted to read Little Dorrit. I have heard so many good Things about it, but I am only few chapters in, and can’t seem to get motivated to read it. I think the Challenge will motivate me to finish it.
                              
                  
David Copperfield: I don’t know very much about this book, but I keep seeing the name, and want to do know what it is about. I find it interesting how Charles Dickens liked to use names as titles. Not all his books had titles that were names but the books that did have name titles, where names that grabbed your attention.


A Tale Of Two Cities: My piano teacher told me this was her favorite Dickens book, and I have heard a lot about it. The title sounds interesting. Like a story that a grandfather might tell his grandkids around the fire place.


Great Expectations: My mother read this book aloud to us a long time ago, and I wanted to read it again because I liked it so much! And there will be a movie, and a BBC series, coming out, and I want to read it before I watch either.



A Christmas Carol: I am ashamed to say I have not read this. I say I will read it, but then I don’t. I have seen several versions of the story(the Muppets are my favorite:) but never actually read the book. Well I am going to read it now!

What books are you going to read this year? (any books, not just Dickens)
Blessings

Reading Challenge 2012

So I have decided to join in the Charles Dickens Reading Challenge for 2012 over at Newly Impassioned Soul. I have never done a reading challenge before and I am very excited to do this one. I have read one Dickens book, and had another read aloud to me. I have often wanted to go more deeply in to Dickens but have not had the drive to. Hopefully this will give me the push I need.

There are three options with this challenge. You can chose to read 3 books by Charles Dickens, or read 5 books, or if you are really up for a challenge you can read 10. I am going with the 5 book challenge. I feel I could do more than 3, but I don't feel up for the challenge of 10. :)

I hope more of my blog friends join is it will be lots of fun!! :)
~Blessings
Elizabeth