Another AWM update!

The first in a series of correspondences for Chapter 15...


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(Letter of Di to Daniel)

Dearest Daniel,

It’s been another chilly day here in Kingsport and I’ve just come home from the Ashtons’. I spent the last twenty minutes just getting out of my wet things and spent the longest time just sitting in front of the fire, toasting my toes. Yet today has been the brightest day in this month of wintry storms- because your box had come!

The children were a little restless today, cooped up indoors nearly the whole week. They were longing to go sledding at the Hill at St. Francis but I had to veto the trip as the snowdrifts were near as high as my knees. May was a little put out, Grace was teary-eyed and even Aaron was staring outside the windows glumly, ignoring his spelling lesson. Then the door swung open and Miss Pickford came marching in, announcing, “Miss Blythe, children, Master Daniel’s parcel has come.”

We all sprang up like jack-in-the-boxes and Miss Pickford was engulfed by reaching arms. Certainly it was the highlight of our day, discovering all the precious things inside. Grace was delighted with the little Sunday suit you sent over for Flopsy the bunny – give my thanks to Katharine for making it. Aaron loved the toy caboose you gave him; he attached it immediately to his train and even now, it must be chugging it’s way through the miniature Alpine forests. May was charmed with her pink Quahog shell. We’ve been reading about the South Pacific Islands in geography, pining after tropical breezes, and she set it proudly on her mantelpiece. We devoured the ginger snaps your Mother baked but left the almond cookies for an afternoon snack … I wouldn’t want Miss Pickford to think that I was completely irresponsible!

And what could I say about the darling brooch you gave me, except thank you a million times?

(Di gazed in satisfaction at the delicate pink and yellow flowers hand-painted in porcelain. She could hardly wait for spring to come so she could wear it with the new ruffled white organdy Mother was making for her.)

I suppose Kat helped you pick it out. Persis calls it old-fashioned but I love the soft colors on the milk-white surface. Oh but you needn’t be so extravagant, spending your hard earned money on me!

So how are your folks at Blue Pearl? How are the children at the school behaving in this weather? The Turner twins you wrote of remind me of the Pringles – they were students of my Mum when she was the Principal in Summerside for three years. They made her first few months rather difficult. The ringleader was one Jen Stedman nee Pringle, who always reminded Mum of Becky Sharp. They made up their quarrel though Mother wouldn’t tell me how exactly except for this cryptic remark, ‘Family pride started the quarrel and family pride ended it.’ Jen visited Mother a few years ago with a little boy of her own so I suppose her days of terrorizing teachers were over. But whatever surprises they throw at you, whether its water balloons over the door and garden snakes at your desk drawer, I’m sure you’ll survive and conquer them beautifully.

News from the Glen is rather scarce these days. I suppose it is difficult for mail to get through in this weather. Mother, Rosemary and Faith are all pre-occupied with the wedding preparations; it’s to be in late June. There are lots to be thought of still, Faith’s trousseau, the wedding banquet, the decorations and the invitations. Faith plans to do her house-hunting in the spring. Jem and Faith have decided to settle in Ashdale. It’s really ideal; a decent sized town with a very modern hospital that would be great for Jem and for Faith as well. She plans to continue working as a nurse. They’re close enough to the Glen to make frequent visits home and far enough away for it to be a real adventure, meeting new people and setting up their household. It makes me a bit lonesome to think that of them leaving; I’ll miss Jem’s teasing and Faith’s laughter. But I suppose I should get used to the old crowd scattering to the winds; Ken and Rilla plan to be married in October and then they’ll move to Toronto and Nan and Jerry will be wed next summer. When I think of being without my twin, I feel a wrench but I comfort myself thinking it’s not for a year yet.

We try our best to keep busy here, though there is a temptation to doze like cats in front of the fire. Nan is busy brushing up on Dickens’ for the Literature Society. Una has gotten involved in the Mission Society in Redmond and is occupied sewing shirts and socks for a poor village in Africa – she is really one of the dearest and sweetest girls that ever lived. Faye is busy catching up on her schoolwork; she and Sylvester have been out twice this week to some affair in Dartmouth. I’ve scolded her that she’d be better off at Wild Magnolias than out gallivanting at night but all she did was kiss me on the cheek and promise to be back early.

Persis spends many evenings scribbling away at something but she is strangely secretive about it. There are times when she goes about with a Pentecostal fire in her blue eyes and is good humoured at everything –she doesn’t even quibble when we ask her to wash the dishes. Other times, she goes about rumpled and disgruntled, taking her coffee inky and dark. Then we know to stay away from her. Nan is hurt that Persis hasn’t confided but I suppose she’ll tell us when its time. I suppose she’s working on a magnum opus of some sort.

And speaking of magnum opus, we went to a piano concerto the other day, sponsored by Redmond’s Music Guild. O Norwell played well but his music didn’t have as much feeling nor half as much charm as you. I can’t wait until the summer comes. Do hurry and write back soon. It’s only been a month since we were apart but you can’t imagine how much I miss you!

Your lovingest Di

Tiny AWM update

Hey, everyone - haven't abandoned AWM at all. I still have heaps of plans for it ... guess I'm doing more of Faith's Journey though, as some events in AWM may have spoilers for FJ. Still, I've been working on both now... here's a tiny tidbit of the next chapter of AWM:

Chapter 15: Correspondence

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For much of January and February, the weather had been mild. Other than brisk winds and light flurries, the Bower girls enjoyed the wintry clime, going on ice skating parties and snowshoe-ing in St. Francis. Children ran outside, pelting each other with snowballs and sliding on icy patches with their boots.

Then like the old adage, March came roaring in like a lion. Gray skies and ominous winds whispered of oncoming tempests. With outdoor activities debarred for the time being, the girls spent much of their time in what Persis termed “writing parties” in their parlour. With a fire roaring at the grate and a tray of cocoa and sandwiches they foregathered on wintry evenings, catching up on their correspondence. It was a pretty scene, one that displayed the character of four very different girls living in one roof.

Persis was sprawled across the carpet, scribbling furiously with her hands covered in ink. Her hair was disheveled and occasionally, she chewed on her pen when stumped for a word, her legs swinging restlessly in the air.

Nan, curled up in her armchair, would rebuke her. She was looking as fresh and pretty as ever, writing on dainty parchment paper with the fountain pen that was her father’s gift. It really was a splendid pen, one you could refill with ink, and she felt she must live up to it by filling her writing with elaborate scrolls and flourishes.

Una sat on the other armchair, with an afghan on her lap. She was always easily chilled. Her letters were neatly printed on snowy paper with a border of lilies. She wrote slowly, often getting up to see to one thing of another – whether it was the sugar plum loaf baking in the oven or the stew warming over the stove.

That left Di sitting on the couch, her back on the arm-rest and legs stretched comfortably across its length. Her pale green stationery lay across her writing board and at her side purred one of the cats that had taken residence in the Bower this winter. Freckle was a dear orange striped tabby, often sleepy and well content in his place, snuggled within the folds of Di’s heavy winter skirt.

Being the most at home, it was Persis who was in charge of getting the mail and they spent many a happy hour that might otherwise have been dull and gloomy, reading them aloud. Then these letters were speedily answered and plump envelopes were stuffed in the mail the following morning. It is these letters that we might take a peek at...

I'm Alive

Ever felt like there were times in your life when work simply swallowed you up? That's how I've been feeling these past few months ... it's like you wake up thinking about all the stuff you have to finish and go home thinking about all the stuff you have to do the next day. But I've decided there's no way I'm going to let things continue this way... so guess what I've started writing Faith's Journey and I thought I'd post a little bit of it the next chapter here in my blog (of course, this is just a draft and it may still change in the next few weeks but it's a start) ... hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 7:

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October announced it’s passing with a dizzying array of color. The Quad was decorated with sprays of burnt reds, withered yellows and yes, gleaming lilac. This last could not be found on the magnificent boles of trees but on the proud bosoms of the newest LSC members - that select group of freshettes that aroused huge cheers from the crowd and was envied by all. Well, nearly all.

Faith looked on from the vantage point of her Quartet without a whit of regret. She and Ana were as thick as thieves again, Lulu just as lovable and Phil kept them all laughing with a constant stream of jokes. Faith was getting to know the many of the girls at Blaekers’ and found most quite companionable. Clara Belle gloated insufferably at first but found victory ultimately hollow, as it often is when one’s opponent is oblivious to the sting of defeat.

Meanwhile there were many interesting things to do on campus and in a fine city like Kingport. Freshman year was beginning to take on a semblance of order for Faith – there were crisp afternoons at the football field; ice cream at Mama Alfredo’s, cozy study sessions at the Common Room at Blaekers’. Jerry won the election for Sophomore class president and was busy setting up committees for second year events – but he was never too busy to have long walks and talks with his sister. They talked most often of the Glen for home was never too far away from Faith’s thoughts. She wrote voluminous letters home – fat, breezily funny epistles, full of her small adventures and exploits. Father wrote back, his letters full of philosophical musings and paternal wisdom. Mother Rosemary kept her up to date on all the Glen news. Di wrote about the new Junior principal in the Glen school - Faith was beginning to suspect that she fancied him – and included harrowing accounts of being a country schoolmarm. Nan’s was full of questions about Redmond and news about social doings in the Glen. Nan was getting to be quite a belle, Faith concluded thoughtfully from pictures she had sent of her and Di’s seventeenth birthday. Carl reported that Ingleside’s front lawn was full to bursting with rigs from all over Four Winds and that Geoff North of Blair Water was giving Nan quite the rush.

But maybe I shouldn’t have said anything to Jerry – he always thought North a pompous ass, wrote Carl. I think he and Nan had a row about it and Nan stormed over here to give me a piece of her mind. Talk o’ October chills! Now both of them are put out with me and I haven’t the least idea why. Makes me wish I had stayed over at Queen’s for the weekend.

Faith had to laugh at Carl’s discomfiture. For someone who could identify a hundred different species of bugs and butterflies, he could be surprisingly unobservant when it came to matters of the heart. Faith was quite convinced now that Jerry fancied Nan. He denied it vehemently but his frequent calls to the Glen were made to Ingleside just as often as the Manse. . And for the twins’ birthday, he had sent yellow roses for Di and pink for Nan but Nan’s bouquet had a tiny be-ribboned box tucked in it.

My Very First Post

I'm pretty tired so this will be a short post.

On an impulse, I've decided to create a blog - an anonymous one for now, I guess. I just need an outlet, some place where I can post all my thoughts on my writing, fanfic or otherwise.

On the upcoming weeks, will probably post my plans for a series of LMM fics I'm writing - it'll be nice to see it all neatly laid out in black and white and then add bits and pieces to it as I go along. Like a very long tapestry, weaving in thread after thread.

Ciao, everyone! Til the next post