Hello dear Miss N,
As always, I was thrilled to hear from you. Have you had your music exam yet? I think I may say with some authority on the subject that music exams can be extremely difficult and tiresome. So I feel for you. Truly. And although I feel that there are the rare pieces of Gregorian Chant that have a feeling of reverence about them, for the most part, it just bores me to death. Music history is much more interesting to study when the repertoire expands to include more than just a bunch of monks singing a Capella. At any rate, I hope you did well on your exam and don't have to waste another thought on it.
The waters of life here seem to be much more stagnant than the turbulence you seem to be swimming in. The only variance seems to come from the waves of sickness that come over me from time to time, and is therefore not much of a welcome change. The children continue to thrive in spite of the periodic negligence caused by the aforementioned sickness that hinders me from providing the usual amount of care for their needs. The girls have indeed become quite independent. The only thing that suffers is their musical training which I, alone, can provide - however, they don't seem to mind. Little Jack is content to play with his trains for all of his waking hours, so he is independent in his own way as well.
We have enjoyed a very mild January with many warm days where only a light jacket is required for comfort out of doors. Spring in our region lasts for months and months and is so green and beautiful with clean, clear air. I love living here.
I just finished reading the "Anne of Green Gables" series. Most of them, anyway. I think Miss Lavender's cottage is exactly the one you are looking for. Now we just need to move it from the fictional world into this one....
Well, I must close mine epistle. Write when you have time, dearest.
Yours ever,
Mrs. P
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Going slightly crazy
My dear Mrs. Pemberly!
How are you?
Forgive me, I've once again taken a longer while than I should've in responding.
Thank you so much for those lovely words from Grandpa. What an honor it is for us to be his granddaughters. We have so much of his wisdom ready to guide us.
Right now I am studying for a music exam and am near to crazy from listening to Gregorian chants and other such ridiculous songs. The Medieval and Renaissance styles truly irk me, I don't mind admitting it.
I cannot wait to invite you to my cottage! We will discuss books and make music and forget about borish things of the real world. First I must acquire one...
Love you dearly!
How are you?
Forgive me, I've once again taken a longer while than I should've in responding.
Thank you so much for those lovely words from Grandpa. What an honor it is for us to be his granddaughters. We have so much of his wisdom ready to guide us.
Right now I am studying for a music exam and am near to crazy from listening to Gregorian chants and other such ridiculous songs. The Medieval and Renaissance styles truly irk me, I don't mind admitting it.
I cannot wait to invite you to my cottage! We will discuss books and make music and forget about borish things of the real world. First I must acquire one...
Love you dearly!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The dream
Wonderful to hear from you my dear Miss N!
I had to write instantly and tell you how your dream struck a chord in my heart. What a perfect little scene your words painted for me. I can see your little cottage now with smoke rising from the chimney and a pleasant little brook running under the footbridge that leads to your door. I see you at the window, smiling and beckoning me to come in.
In many ways, I envy you your dream; for it feels much like a long ago dream of my own. Forgive me; that statement savors strongly of regret. I have no regrets. I love the life I am living now. There are simply some dreams that I have that are not yet fulfilled. Someday...
I can appreciate the challenge you are struggling under in trying not to forget the world you recently left behind in the world you find yourself inhabiting now.
In reading dear grandfather's journal I came across a passage that touched my heart and put my experiences of this life in perspective. It was from some counsel he received as he was preparing to go to the temple for the first time. He was told that "what you accumulate, you must leave behind. What you are goes with you." I hope that the experiences you had in Israel are becoming so much a part of you that they cannot be forgotten. They have helped you become what you are. And that will go with you.
I hope I can visit you in your cottage someday. What music and laughter will find us there!
Love unending,
Mrs. P
I had to write instantly and tell you how your dream struck a chord in my heart. What a perfect little scene your words painted for me. I can see your little cottage now with smoke rising from the chimney and a pleasant little brook running under the footbridge that leads to your door. I see you at the window, smiling and beckoning me to come in.
In many ways, I envy you your dream; for it feels much like a long ago dream of my own. Forgive me; that statement savors strongly of regret. I have no regrets. I love the life I am living now. There are simply some dreams that I have that are not yet fulfilled. Someday...
I can appreciate the challenge you are struggling under in trying not to forget the world you recently left behind in the world you find yourself inhabiting now.
In reading dear grandfather's journal I came across a passage that touched my heart and put my experiences of this life in perspective. It was from some counsel he received as he was preparing to go to the temple for the first time. He was told that "what you accumulate, you must leave behind. What you are goes with you." I hope that the experiences you had in Israel are becoming so much a part of you that they cannot be forgotten. They have helped you become what you are. And that will go with you.
I hope I can visit you in your cottage someday. What music and laughter will find us there!
Love unending,
Mrs. P
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dear cousin,
I would like to take my first sentence as Miss Netherfield - of the Busy Nothings - to beg your forgiveness for my tardy response to you.
For the longest time I've been trying to compile a collection of thoughts to share with you regarding the current state of my life.
I've just come home from the land of my dreams, which you know. I didn't realize until I left it that I'd been dreaming of it all my life. My days are filled with trying to remember and keep that dream in my heart - the memory is fragile and requires constant care. I've found dear friends in my scriptures; they take me away to dreamland.
Being in school faces me with the wretched decision of what I want to do with my life. The truth is, I want to run away to a forest where I can inhabit a small cottage. In that cottage I will paint, read, write, and make music. That's what I want to do.
Fondest wishes and missing you,
Miss N
For the longest time I've been trying to compile a collection of thoughts to share with you regarding the current state of my life.
I've just come home from the land of my dreams, which you know. I didn't realize until I left it that I'd been dreaming of it all my life. My days are filled with trying to remember and keep that dream in my heart - the memory is fragile and requires constant care. I've found dear friends in my scriptures; they take me away to dreamland.
Being in school faces me with the wretched decision of what I want to do with my life. The truth is, I want to run away to a forest where I can inhabit a small cottage. In that cottage I will paint, read, write, and make music. That's what I want to do.
Fondest wishes and missing you,
Miss N
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Anxiously waiting
My dear Miss Netherfield,
I am aware that you are most certainly busy readjusting to life at school, but really, my dear, I am dying for news of you.
How have you been? What occupies your time? Are you much amused by your surroundings? Or are they dull and not worth writing about? In any case, they would not appear dull to me.
Not much going on here to speak of, although my eldest amused us greatly this evening by arranging a family gaming night. She created all of the activities from her own little head. Dear girl. I love how much it means to her that we spend time together.
Write as soon as you can. In the meantime I shall hope for your sake that your friends are plentiful and that the gentlemen there behave themselves.
All my love,
Mrs. Pemberly
PS - I was perusing your letter dated 30 November, again today. It prompted me to write this letter. Don't feel chastised, but do write when you can.
Love, etc.
I am aware that you are most certainly busy readjusting to life at school, but really, my dear, I am dying for news of you.
How have you been? What occupies your time? Are you much amused by your surroundings? Or are they dull and not worth writing about? In any case, they would not appear dull to me.
Not much going on here to speak of, although my eldest amused us greatly this evening by arranging a family gaming night. She created all of the activities from her own little head. Dear girl. I love how much it means to her that we spend time together.
Write as soon as you can. In the meantime I shall hope for your sake that your friends are plentiful and that the gentlemen there behave themselves.
All my love,
Mrs. Pemberly
PS - I was perusing your letter dated 30 November, again today. It prompted me to write this letter. Don't feel chastised, but do write when you can.
Love, etc.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Daily events
My dear Miss Netherfield,
As often happens with the start of a new year, I'm lost in a ponderous meditation of what life will bring, and what changes will come in the next three hundred and sixty-four days.
I have but one consolation: that a record of daily events will not, as one wise and beloved man once said, "render the past obscure." We shall know what we have been about. We shall know how we have passed our time.
And so, with the hope of hearing from you soon, I remain, yours ever,
Mrs. Pemberly
As often happens with the start of a new year, I'm lost in a ponderous meditation of what life will bring, and what changes will come in the next three hundred and sixty-four days.
I have but one consolation: that a record of daily events will not, as one wise and beloved man once said, "render the past obscure." We shall know what we have been about. We shall know how we have passed our time.
And so, with the hope of hearing from you soon, I remain, yours ever,
Mrs. Pemberly
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