A Christmas Blog Tag

 Merry Christmas (again!) I’ve been tagged for the Christmas Blog Tag and this felt like a very fitting day to stop procrastinating that. (For obvious reasons.)

    Here are the rules:

1. Acknowledge who tagged you (Thank you, Lizzie!)
2. Answer the questions
3. Tag friends & notify them
4. Fill out this form to have your blog challenge post spotlighted on The Moonlight Wanderer’s December Newsletter! (Optional)
5. Have fun!

1. What are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? And what’s something new that you want to try this month?

Let’s see… we get our tree around the end of Thanksgiving season, and continually procrastinate on putting up Christmas lights. On Christmas Eve, we go to our church service (my brother and I join the worship team with our violins), watch Miracle on 34th Street and wrap presents - it started as more procrastinating, but it’s become a fun tradition! As for something new… hm. We’re always do so busy that we’re kind of lacking in the decoration department, so it would be wonderful to do some more of that.

2. What’s your favourite Christmas recipe, food, or drink?

I’m a sucker for hot chocolate, apple cider, tea, and anything peppermint!

3. Every Christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. But if you could have the perfect Christmas, what would the day look like for you?

Well, it doesn’t snow where I live, but if I had my way it would! We’d get up on the relatively early side, eat blueberry pancakes and exchange gifts, maybe take a trip to the mountains or something, and have a generally cozy time. And then we always have family over for dinner, which is really wonderful!

4. What are some of your favourite winter activities? (e.g. carolling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)

Really all of the above! I love Christmas activities in general, and also reading cozily by the fireplace and exchanging gifts.

5. Do you decorate? How?

Like I said, I do wish we decorated more than we did, but we tend to favour candles and greenery and red ribbons and also some Norwegian traditions, because my family’s very European.

6. What is your favourite Christmas song or hymn? Why is it your favourite?

I don’t have a favourite, per se, but I do love The First Noel because it has an interesting and beautiful melody and also encapsulates the entire Christmas story.

7. What’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this Christmas? And what’s your favourite gift to give others?

We live about a two hour drive from the mountains and slightly longer than that from Sedona, and I do love taking road trips to see snow! As for what to give others… I don’t have a lot of time or money, and usually give people hand-painted gifts.

8. Describe some of your favourite Christmas memories. 

There are a lot, but some of my favourite include Christmas Eve services and time with family on Christmas morning.

9. What is your favourite Christmas-y book? Movie?

I love The Christmas Carol, The Gift of the Magi, and also It’s A Wonderful Life and really all old movies.

10. List ten words to that encapsulate the feel of Christmas for you.

cozy

family

Christ

candles

peppermint

apple cider

red

fire

snow

laughter

11. In your own words, what is the meaning of Christmas?

Christmas literally means Christ’s mass. It’s a time of gift-giving and remembrance and beauty and joy. It’s a time of spending time with family and eating good food. But most of all, it’s a time of worship and of glorifying God for the good He’s done for us.

And I’m not sure who’s been tagged and who’s not, so if you’d like to steal it, feel free!

Merry Christmas!

Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books Tag

    Why hello there :)

    An embarrassingly long time ago in a galaxy rather close by, I was tagged for the Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books Tag by my dear friend Miss Lizzie Hexam. Since there in fact are many I things I love in books, Let Us Begin. 

    (Because you know, we could be here all day.)

    First, allow me to present The Guidelines. 

1. Link back to who tagged you.
2. Share the Graphic on your blog
3. Share the Outline on your post.
4. Share a detail you love about the season of summer into fall.
5. List at least 7 random/ specific things YOU love to read about in books, big or small.
6. Tag 7 people who would enjoy taking part/whose answers you are curious to read!

    As you (hopefully) know, unless you have buried your head under a rock for the last few months (and as Lizzie pointed out as well) it is no longer summer into fall, but rather fall into winter. Autumn is of course my favourite season, but the feeling in the air when it’s slightly crisper (despite living in a Rather Warm Place), the rain, pumpkins everywhere and hot chocolate and tea (of which I have been known to drink an Uncivilised Amount) - it’s all just wonderful.

    Anywho, after having ado-ed for longer than necessary, shall we proceed?

    

    1. Faith content

Let me clarify on this one. I absolutely love it when authors include faith content that is not preachy, heavy-handed, or inaccurate. Well-done, like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien; or like some more modern authors such as Elisabeth Aimee Brown or Nadine Brandes, it is brilliant. I am all for good stories; and faith-filled fiction is even better :)

2. Cozy descriptions

I have a weakness for cozy things and for beautiful things. I tend to be attracted by anything warm, fuzzy, pretty—you name it. The beginning of The Hobbit is a wonderful example of this.

3. Loveable side characters

The main characters are great and all (or sometimes they aren’t), but everyone has their own story and I love seeing well-developed, relatable side characters who are actually people too. (Lewis does this really excellently. For example, Tumnus. And Puddleglum. You can’t go wrong with Puddleglum.)

4. Music… described correctly

One of my biggest pet peeves, as a classical musician, in any form of media (movies and books) is music represented or described incorrectly. So naturally I love it when it is done correctly all the more :D

(I still haven’t found a book that does this. Let me know when you do.)

EDIT: I  found one!  The Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen (an actual musician and also a Christian!) is a split-time romance and murder mystery and it’s actually really good ;D

5. Flawed and virtuous characters

One of the biggest problems in today’s modern literature is stereotypes. There’s the strong female character who’s better than the boys at everything; there’s the suave, dark male love interest who’s always got a suspicious past; and I’m tired of it. I love it when people do new and interesting things. Give me torn characters, flawed and indecisive characters, human characters. You know it’s a good book when you actually care about what happens to the characters, even if you don’t necessarily like them all the time. 

6. When characters repeat a phrase to each other

This one’s oddly specific and the title doesn’t make that much sense, but it just Does Something to me when one character says something that’s meant as a reproof or slight, and then the other character says it back to them at a later point. Example: in Enola Holmes, Sherlock tells Enola “you’re being emotional. It’s understandable, but unnecessary.” She later repeats it back to him and it’s just So Satisfying. (And yes I know that’s a movie but it’s a very good one and please don’t kill me because that’s the only example I could think of.)

7. After-marriage romance

I’m kinda stealing one of Lizzie’s points here, but… I love it when the author lets you see beyond the initial romance into the marriage relationship as well. In so many stories it’s like okay they fall in love and kiss and that’s the end… but really, in real life, it’s not. So I love seeing the characters fall in love with each other again continuously. (Love is a choice, after all.) L.M. Montgomery does this really well in the Anne series, and so does Alcott in Little Women. 

And there you have it - seven of the Oddly Specific Things I Love In Books ;P

I shall tag…

Hannah Ruth at Faith, Fiction, and Fairytales

Iona at Story Blossoms

Olivia at Meanwhile, in Rivendell…

And because everyone else I know has already been tagged, consider yourself tagged if you’d like to be! 

What do you think of tropes in books? What’s your favourite Oddly Specific Thing?

the music tag

    “Music is life.” - Ludvig van Beethoven

    Thank you to The Hopeful Pen at With Joy For The Work for tagging me :)

    

    The Rules:

1. pick ten songs/pieces that come on shuffle (the original rules say no skipping but must I really?)

2. write your favourite lyric from each song (seeing as how classical music is 99.9% of my listening repertoire, not sure how this is going to work)

3. tag some people (everyone reading this, consider yourself tagged)

—

1. Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 (The Year 1904)

I played this over the summer and it’s such an amazing piece of music. I highly encourage listening to it; not only is the music itself brilliant and impactful, but so is the storytelling.

2. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2; second movement

One of the most romantic pieces ever written. It’s beautiful.

3. Theme from “Schindler’s List”

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

4. Dvorak Symphony No. 8

I got to play this over the summer as well (as concertmaster; the solo is so beautiful!) and it’s just so playful and exuberant and joyful and I love it so much.

5. “The Last Goodbye” by Billy Boyd

“Many places I have been / Many sorrows I have seen / But I don’t regret / Nor will I forget / All who took that Road with me.”

So beautiful and so sad and so amazing.

6. Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8; second movement

According to sonata form most second movements are quiet, but this is definitely not. This piece is sooo fun to play and it’s crazy to boot. How exactly like Shostakovich.

7. “Give Me Jesus” by Bethel Music

“You can have all this world / Give me Jesus”

One of my favourite worship songs. It’s so powerful and beautiful.

8. Elgar “Enigma” Variations No. 9 (Nimrod)

I played the entire Enigma Variations two years ago and it’s just amazing. (Warning: will make you sob. I am not kidding.)

9. Sibelius Violin Concerto; 1st movement

This is the piece I’m playing for college auditions. It’s one of the most difficult concerti written for violin, but it’s also incredibly distinct, beautiful, and virtuosic.

10. Mahler Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection) 

I highly recommend this. It’s long, but incredibly well-worth it. 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Hannah

Chasing Sunbeams: A Summer Book Blog Tag

    Exciting newsflash: I was tagged by Cecilia from Craft, Coffee, and Cake for a Summer Book Blog Tag not too long ago, so here are the rules and my responses!

    The rules are: 

1. Acknowledge who tagged you! (Thanks muchly, Cecilia :D)

2. Answer the questions!

3. Tag friends!

4. Have fun!

    The questions:

1. What's a book you read with summer vibes?

2. If you could travel anywhere this summer, where would you go?

3. What's a poem or quote that reminds you of summer?

4. Describe your favorite summer memory.

5. Your ideal summer is filled with _______, _________, and _________.

6. What is your favorite summer food?

7. Favorite summer activities?

8. How do you usually celebrate 4th of July?

9. What's a song that reminds you of summer?

10. What are you most excited for this summer?

    Answers!

1. What's a book you read with summer vibes?

It has (sadly) been a while since I’ve read this, but Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery always felt rather summery to me. It’s such a beautiful book—and actually, the entire series is lovely. Please go read it.

2. If you could travel anywhere this summer, where would you go?

I’ve wanted to travel around Europe for a long time. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Norway, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, France…

3. What's a poem or quote that reminds you of summer?

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” (Predictably, this is Tolkien. The first lines of The Hobbit. Don’t ask me why it reminds me of summer. I don’t know.)

4. Describe your favourite summer memory.

Oh, dear, why must this be so difficult?? I’ve so many. For the past three summers (this’ll be the fourth) I’ve attended an intensive violin program. We get so many amazing experiences there; meeting famous conductors and artists, getting leadership experience, making friends with other passionate musicians. Some of my favourite memories are of us making music together and improving as musicians and people.

5. Your ideal summer is filled with violin, books, and God.

6. What is your favourite summer food?

Watermelon. I don’t think this needs any explanation.

7. Favourite summer activities?

Besides practicing? Reading, pretending to be a lizard in the sun, sleeping in (too much), walking at the beach.

8. How do you usually celebrate 4th of July?

So I’ve unfortunately been gone at aforementioned summer camp during 4th of July for the past three years, so I haven’t really celebrated it, other than texting HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to various group chats. But before I started doing this, my family and I would usually go see fireworks and all that fun stuff :D

9. What's a song that reminds you of summer?

Not exactly a song per se, but Dvorak’s New World Symphony, perhaps because I played it at camp last year as concertmaster.

10. What are you most excited for this summer?

Violin, reading, writing, spending time with family and friends, and actually, getting up early and spending time with God. I’m terribly bad at both mornings and consistency, so I want to develop the habit now :)

    I tag…

Anyone who would like to fill it out! I’m not picky ;)

Blessings,

Hannah

Sunshine Blogger Award #2

    Hullo. Hi. Greetings.

    …Remember me? 

    So I’ve been gone for a while—well, I was only actually gone for a week, but then Life and Other Somewhat Important Things accosted me and I surrendered (to some things, gladly, and others… not so much).

    But without further Ado About Nothing (see what I did there?) I would like to present to you my second Sunshine Blogger Award! I was tagged by the lovely Lizzie of Starlight and Saucepans, and I’m actually quite excited for this one because her questions are Marvellous. 

    The rules are as follows: 

1. Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog. (Been there, done that :P)
2. Thank the person who nominated you. (Thank you, Lizzie! :D)
3. Provide a link to your nominator’s blog.
4. Answer your nominator’s questions.
5. Nominate up to 11 bloggers.
6. Ask your nominees 11 questions.
7. Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts.

And here are the questions!

1. What was your first word?

    Um. Respectfully, I have not the slightest clue in the world. It was probably something incredibly unromantic, like AHHH or FOOD and that sort of thing. Or perhaps it was BOOK. I’d like to say it was. 

    …Let’s just go with that, shall we?

2. It’s a rainy afternoon. Would you most enjoy going outside and feeling the rain on your face Marianne-Dashwood-style, curling up in a window seat with a good book, or getting your favourite music on and doing some housecleaning?

    Can I say all of them? Because all of them, in that order, excluding of course the housecleaning. Very few things can induce me to voluntarily partake in housecleaning. Books, however, are an entirely different matter, especially during rainy days :P

3. What does your handwriting look like?

    Very, very small. And cursive-y. And I’m not sure how else to describe it, so here, have a picture. (It’s an excerpt from my notes about Sense and Sensibility, if you were wondering :))

4. Which decade in history do you think had the best women’s fashion, and which decade had the best men’s fashion?

    Hm. That's a tricky one. I'd say (and I know this is really broad) but 1800-1900's, ish, for both!

5. What’s your dream career?

    A concert violinist, naturally ;)

6. Name three to five of your favourite fictional characters.

    Alas, no. Sadly that's quite impossible... I shall have to list all the ones I can think of at the moment, which far exceed five, in no particular order.

> Sam Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings)

> Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings)

> Lizzie Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

> Rudy (The Book Thief)

> Horatio (Hamlet)

> Eówyn (The Lord of the Rings)

> Faramir (The Lord of the Rings)

> Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)

> Lady Macbeth (Macbeth)

> Beatrice & Benedick (yes, they must go together) (Much Ado About Nothing)

I would go on, but I've so far exceeded the limit already that stopping there seems wise. :P

7. What’s one virtue that particularly attracts you in other people?

    Um. Can I name more? Because I'm going to name more. 

• kindness
• devotion to God
• curiosity/love for learning
• sympathetic/empathetic

There are more, probably, but that's what I'll go with for now :)

8. If you write, which authors do you think have most influenced your writing style? (If you don’t, which authors’ styles do you most admire?)

    This is a wonderful question. I would say that I very much admire Jane Austen's writing--it's so beautiful and iconic. Though, I am more influenced by Tolkien and Lewis' style, as well as occasionally more modern authors like Jennifer Nielsen. 

    As for poetry (which I write most often recently) I'm mostly influenced by, again, Tolkien, as well as the wonderful Mary Oliver (if you don’t know, her poetry’s Marvellous.)

here, have a picture of Faramir and Eówyn, because our lovely Captain of Gondor basically embodies all these attributes :P

9. What are the three best and three worst period dramas you’ve seen? (Broaden this to movies in general if you’re not a period drama person.)

    See, I'm rather picky about the movies I watch, so I haven't really seen any period dramas that I dislike. I do, however, really love Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee's film is rather wonderful), Emma (not the new one, by the way), and both versions of Pride and Prejudice (which both have their merits!)

THIS.

10. Who were some of your earliest role models (either real or fictional)?

   Uh, I'm actually surprised by how difficult this question. Of course as a Christian, I strive to emulate Christ in everything, but as for fictional role models, well. Jane Austen generally has lovely heroines that grow into characters very worth emulating in many ways. I'm thinking, for example, Lizzie Bennet and Elinor Dashwood, who, though they have flaws, are quite wonderful!

11. What’s one of your favourite prayers/Bible verses?

    I love Isaiah 40:31: but those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint.

And as for people…

anyone who wants to take this tag, feel free! ;P

EDIT: Many Apologies, but I kind of forgot to add my questions before publishing. Please ignore the first email, and pay attention to this one, if you’d like!

Anyhow, here are the questions:

1. If you could somehow insert yourself into a fictional family, which would you choose?

2. What’s your favourite period of literature to read? (For example: Lewis and Tolkien lived in 1900’s England.)

3. I’m stealing Lizzie’s question a little, but changing it. What are your top three favourite and least favourite musicals? (Or movies, if you’re not a musicals person.)

4. What kind of music do you generally listen to?

5. I asked about coffee vs. tea before, but what about hot cocoa vs. cider?

6. What’s been the best newly-published book you’ve read?

7. What is your favourite dessert?

8. What do you generally do to relax?

9. Preferred manner of transportation?

10. How would your best friend describe you?

11. What does your ideal library look like? (This can be the physical place you keep your books, or the book collection you’d like to have, or both!)

Namarië,

Hannah

Tolkien Blog Party | Tag

     Hallo and happy Saturday to you all! You may already be aware, but today concludes the Tolkien Blog Party hosted at The Edge of the Precipice—click here to read the original post and join the fun!

    I’d originally planned to do a post on the humanity of Tolkien’s characters (particularly Boromir and Thorin) and Why It Matters—however, because of my Extraordinarily Busy Schedule, it won’t be done in time for Tolkien Week. (I do plan to finish it though!) Nonetheless, I do have for you today some answers to a lovely Tolkien-themed tag! So without further ado, let’s get started. ;P

1. The Shire:  What place in Middle-earth do you think you would feel the most like home for you?

    To be completely honest, I’ve got to say the Shire. Yes, yes, I know it’s what everyone says, but that’s for a reason, I think. It’s so very beautiful and home-y and comfortable—and anyway, who wouldn’t want to live in Bag-End?

2. Bree:  If you could create a Middle-earth-themed restaurant, what would you serve there?

    I’m picturing it as kind of like a bed-and-breakfast. There would be lembas bread with butter and preserves, perhaps some athelas tea (I don’t know if that’s a thing, but I don’t really care), and mostly a hobbit-ish cuisine.

3. Rivendell:  Where in Middle-earth would you like to hang out with your friends for a week or so?

    Frankly I’d love to go to Rohan. It’s so beautiful and free—and horses. Who could say no to horses?

4. Moria:  Have you ever delved into the history of Middle-earth (or the history of Tolkien's creative process)?  If so, did you learn anything cool you'd like to share?

       …yes, actually. Perhaps a wee bit too much. This is not a boast, but just a fact, when I say that I’ve probably read almost everything Tolkien ever wrote. I’ve also discovered a serious interest in philology and the creation of his languages, which are incredible.

This (very long, but worth every word) essay is on Tolkien’s invented languages.

5. Lothlorien:  Would you like to sleep in a tree?

    That sounds like great fun!

6. Edoras:  Do you like horses?

    Very much so. (See response to the Rivendell question…)

7. Minas Tirith:  Have you ever dressed as a Tolkien character, whether for a convention or Halloween or anything else?  (Bonus fake internet points if you share a photo!)

    No photo, sadly, but yes, I have! It was some time ago, but I’ve been Arwen, Luthíen, and an archer vaguely reminiscent of Legolas. 

…why is this picture so dramatic?

8. Erebor:  Do you have any Middle-earth merchandise you particularly treasure?

    Yes, I’m afraid I’m That Person. I’ve got a full-size (and very sharp) replica of Andúril, Aragorn’s sword, and I’m quite proud of it too. 

9. Mordor:  Have you ever read anything by Tolkien that wasn't about Middle-earth?

    Yes! (Should I be concerned that the answer to all of these are yes?) Anyhow, I’ve read a number of his letters, his essay on philology, Letters from Father Christmas, and a number of his short stories including (but not limited to) Farmer Giles of Ham and Smith of Wooton Major.

10. The Grey Havens:  How long has it been since you last ventured into Middle-earth via book or film?

    The last time I’ve read the books in their entirety was last February for a retreat (about which I posted), but I’ve since then re-read The Hobbit and re-watched all six of Peter Jackson’s films. (Which I do love, but they are not as good as the books for Obvious Reasons.) 

    Well, that’s it! I hope you enjoyed it, and I’ll try to get that other post out soon (even if it’s not in time for Tolkien Week). 

Soli Deo Gloria, 

Astrya