Filter System for Individual Coffee Cup Existing in 1868

Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
source listed as:
Jean-Baptiste Deschamps d’Avallon, Compendium de pharmacie pratique. Guide du pharmacien établi et de l’élève en cours d’études, Germer Baillière, Paris, 1868, 1134 p., p. 737.

We ended the last chapter with the gentlemen drinking coffee, and we are going to start this week’s chapter when they have just finished their coffee. My youngest loves his coffee, and we have several gadgets and pots for filtering it. We even have one that is not so very different from the drawing above, although it sits on the rim of the cup. Therefore, I simply could not resist sharing this image with you today. Below is how chapter 5 begins.

~*~*~

A half an hour later, Bingley and Darcy had finished their cups of coffee and discussion with Mr. Bennet. The man was quite knowledgeable on several topics. Bingley had done more listening to his friend and Mr. Bennet discuss books and the struggles that come with estate stewardship than he had talking. That had been an excellent thing since he was occupied trying to figure out a way to get rid of Wickham or to keep Darcy in the area if ridding it of Wickham was not a possibility.

“I wish you well in your quest, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said when Bingley stood and Darcy followed suit. “Elizabeth’s opinion is not always easily swayed.” He leaned to the side as he looked up from his place behind his desk at Bingley and Darcy. “You may have to prove to her that you are the opposite of what Mr. Wickham said.”

Darcy nodded slowly. “I know.”

“Especially, since her opinion of your sister is based on her opinion of you.”

“I am aware of that, as well.”

“You know…” Mr. Bennet suddenly found several papers on his desk that needed attention. “There is something you could do which might guarantee, at least, a small reversal of her displeasure.”

from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball

~*~*~

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A Very Mary Christmas $0.99 Sale

I updated my book promotions page yesterday. (You can find that page in the menu at any time.) This is just a repeat of that information, but I wanted the sale to be on my main blog page. I’d hate for anyone to miss out on a sweet deal like this.

Fred and Whit are two of my favourite characters. Such troublemakers!

Price reduced to $0.99* from November 20 until November 24, 2020.

Since the gentleman Mary loves does not seem to return her feelings, there is only one thing on Mary’s Christmas list: escape her mother by going to town.

Nicholas Hammond would like nothing better than to enjoy a peaceful Christmas without any additional bills to pay or disasters to clean up.

However, Nicholas’s brother, Alfred, and Alfred’s friend Whit are not about to give either Mary or Nicholas what they want for Christmas. Instead, they are scheming to see the two married. (Hopefully, everyone survives their machinations.)

Click here to see all of the stores where this book is available.

or go directly to one of the stores below

*$0.99 USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, with all other currencies also reduced.


Too Restless to Read

~*~*~

“What shall we do tonight?” he asked the chair across from him. “Mrs. Nichols knows about the ball…” He drummed his fingers on the arms of the chairs. “We could read.” His nose wrinkled at the thought. “No, I do not wish to read either,” he said as if agreeing with his non-existent companion. He was far too restless to read tonight.

from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball

~*~*~

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Music Monday Revisited (August 24, 2015)

I know I said I was only going to post Music Monday posts every other week, but I’ve been missing them. 🙂 So, I’m breaking that rule for this week and revisiting a post from five years ago.

On August 18, 2015, I published my fourth book. That book was Listen to Your Heart, which happens to be on sale at present. I thought it might be fun to look back at the Music Monday post from when that book was published. So, here it is below (with a little bit of an excerpt tacked on under the video, which is where the original post ended).


A friend had this video posted on Facebook last week (back in Aug 2015), 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 

Continue reading Music Monday Revisited (August 24, 2015)

Preparing for the Ball (Franz Xaver Simm)

Preparing for the Ball, Franz Xaver Simm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Oh, the details in this painting are fantastic! And, I think, the way she is looking at the gentleman who is reading to her is sweet. However, those are not the only reasons I chose to share this picture this week.

We are starting a new Thursday’s Three Hundred story tomorrow, and in it, Mr. Bingley is getting ready for a ball. So, yes, 🙂 the title of the painting is my justification for pairing this image with the short story excerpt below.

~*~*~

“That is the plan. If all goes well, I shall host a Yuletide ball to celebrate my betrothal to Miss Bennet. Darcy will, of course, attend, and he and his sister will join me for Christmas. And then, well, then, I suppose, we shall see what can be done about improving Miss Elizabeth’s opinion of my friend.”

“Well, then.” Mr. Bennet stood and straightened his jacket. “I feel a need to visit my friend Sir William and share some gossip concerning a particular officer.” He lifted a hand to forestall Bingley’s comments. “I shall not reveal my source, nor will I mention the attempted seduction.”

“I had not thought you would, sir. I was only going to agree that indeed, a little gossip might be our solution.”

Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Do not let the parson hear you say so.”

[From Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball, a Teatime Tales novelette]

~*~*~

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