Tomorrow is the first day of school for me and my sons for the 2015-2016 school year. I will be teaching one of my poor sons this year while the other starts his first year in college. So, in honour of the beginning of the new year, I decided to share a school-related music video. This one is a throwback to the old days when I was a kid — I remember seeing Schoolhouse Rock commercials every Saturday morning during cartoons, and I loved them! I chose a grammar song since this is a blog about writing. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
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Music Monday: Stjepan Hauser – Vocalise (Rachmaninov)
I thought I would share this classical piece of music. It is the newest addition to my “Music to Write By (instrumental)” list.
“Stjepan Hauser – Vocalise (Rachmaninov).” YouTube. Posted by Stjepan Hauser, August 29, 2015.
Thursday’s Three Hundred: And Then Love, Part 3
In case you missed it: Part One, Part Two
Part Three
The rain was just beginning to fall lightly as the parishioners began to file out of the small church in Kympton. Each took a moment to comment on Mr. Dobney’s sermon and to congratulate him on his upcoming marriage.
Lucy remained in her spot, watching the man she would soon call husband. She had seen him greet people as if he had always known them for as long as she could remember. He was soft-spoken and welcoming. Even as children, he had been the one to which the others had looked to for guidance, and he had provided it without ever making one of them feel as if they were lacking in any way.
She smiled as he leaned his tall frame down to speak close to Mrs. Walcroft’s ear. Others might have raised their voice to speak to the woman, but he never did. He was so cautious to not injure the dignity of others. She had always admired that about him; though, not all had found the trait admirable. In fact, there were those who thought it a weakness and would tease Philip relentlessly.
It was not the only thing about which Philip was teased. He had been gangly as a young man. His arms and legs seemed to grow rapidly, much more rapidly than his ability to use them with grace and dignity. He had also been rather skinny until he had gone away to college. However, during those years, his body had finally righted itself. He had not added another inch to his height, and he was no longer skinny. She ducked her head as she felt a bit of colour creeping into cheeks when she realized just how fine he now appeared to her. He was still taller than most ─ he often had to duck to avoid a collision between his head and the door frame ─ but his clothes no longer hung on him. She turned her mind away from admiring how his jacket now stretched across his back and wrapped snuggly around arms that were well-muscled and strong.
She rested a gloved finger on her lips. She had chosen him for his admirable character, but since that kiss two days ago… She swallowed and rose from her seat. This was not the place to be contemplating kisses. She took one more look at Philip and ducked out the side door.
Music Monday: Thinking Out Loud / I’m Not The Only One MASHUP
A friend had this video posted on Facebook last week, and I thought it was just so beautiful that I had to share it here.
I love this phrase in the song,
“People fall in love in mysterious ways,”
or as Mr. Darcy says it in Pride and Prejudice,
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
which also made me think of Anne in Listen to Your Heart
“I know I have loved you all my life, but it was not until…well…I am not sure where it changed from the love one has for a cousin to the love one has for a man.”
The truth of the phrase is not confined to lyrics and stories. If I think of my husband and ask myself the following questions
- Why do I love you?
- How do I love you?
- When did I begin loving you?
There would be no simple answer because
“People fall in love in mysterious ways.”
A truth which makes writing about characters falling in love and fighting for that love so much fun!
“Thinking Out Loud / I’m Not The Only One MASHUP (Sam Tsui & Casey Breves).” YouTube. Posted by TheSamTsui on January 19, 2015.
Music Monday: Listen to Your Heart
This song seemed appropriate for this Monday since my book, Listen to Your Heart, will be published later this week. I have to say the title for the book came from a little card my friend Kathleen made for me — it is the picture that has posted with the story each chapter — but this song often ran through my brain as I was writing. Could this song be a theme for one of the characters in the story? I don’t know. Parts of the song seem to speak of Anne and others of her mother. What do you think?
“Listen to Your Heart Lyrics by DHT (slow Version).” YouTube. Posted by dioxigen92 March 12, 2011.