BOOK: Jane Austen's Guide to Thrift

This book, JANE AUSTEN'S GUIDE TO THRIFT, is on my night stand right now. I am a huge fan of the well crafted, entertaining non-fiction read and I have been delighted by this unique look into Jane Austen's famous novels.

Anyone who has read most of Austen's books (and really who hasn't) will know money plays an important role in the characters lives. Either the revenue abounds or there is a complete lack thereof. An independent female at a time in history when females were not valued or protected by law, Austen had her own small nest egg to handle and handle it she did. She did well to stay within her means and left a tidy sums for her family upon her passing.

Austen's opinions regarding prudent spending and careful penny pinching abound in her books. Men who gambled their money away were painted as rogues, the types of men who could not be trusted. The men and women who were careful with their expenses came across as wise and organized.

This book has a different take on thrift than others I have read (and believe me I have read many, many books on the subject) and that makes it entertaining, fascinating and fun. Halfway through the pages I have yet to stumble upon any nugget of information that I had not come across before but that is not where this book gets it's value. The value is in the comparison between what Austen's characters would do, how they would perceive a situation and how Austen imparted her own opinions on the subject through the deeds and misdeeds of her characters. Call it a wake up call from two centuries prior. Debt was still debt in the Regency era with the only major difference between then and now being society's willingness (dare I say eagerness) to take it out.

All in all, it's an interesting book for fans of Austen and anyone looking for a recharge to their financial health. But I would charge you not to buy it, rather check your local library first and Jane Austen would approve.

The Way We Travel... (Part 1 - Washington D.C.)

The family and I just got back from a 10 day vacation to the States. We drove to Washington D.C. and spent a weekend before driving to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for seven days. Each part of our tour was inspiring in its own way and we now rank this vacation as one of our best ever (second only to Prince Edward Island which will always remain our absolute favourite - it was our first family vacation in 2007 and it was absolutely amazing for so many reasons).

As a Canadian I did not hold Washington D.C. as one of those places "I have to visit". I figured we'd go when the opportunity presented but besides the Smithsonian museums I doubted there would be much interest for us "foreigners". I was wrong. Two days was simply not enough time. While there we visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and walked the length of the National Mall surrounded by scores of American tourists, scout groups, and loads of tourists (some of whom looked like well-off elite, others gangs of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts). There is something about America's capitol that draws together and inspires people from all walks of life. The diversity was very evident as we walked the pavement.

I stood under the massive stone that makes up the Martin Luther King Memorial, his likeness carved beautifully into the stone and I was inspired by the sheer number of tourists, mostly African Americans. We were literally the only Caucasians there and I could not figure out why.  I wish I could have told the scores of tourists haunting the Lincoln Memorial that just across the way was another inspiring memorial that held just as much significance for their nation. My son stood in the spot where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech, over looking the reflecting pool and Washington Monument. I do not exaggerate when I say Americans sure know how to build impressive monuments that inspire a nation.

In the end two days was not enough. We did not even get to see the White House. There just was not enough time. After much debate about which museums we had to see, we went to The Natural History Museum and the Air & Space museum. My favourite exhibit in the Natural History Museum was the Human Origins exhibit and I really enjoyed the Wright Bros exhibit at the Air & Space museum. We left Washington D.C. with a promise to return, the next time for a week, where were could freely explore every nook and cranny at a more relaxed pace.

My next post will talk about our stint in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Any Anne Fans Out There?

I adore Anne of Green Gables, Road to Avonlea and anything related to Lucy Maud Montgomery. For years I have been collecting books, visiting sites and stumbling upon historic places related to one of my heroines. I was fortunate enough to be born in Southern Ontario, a place where L.M. Montgomery herself lived for the majority of her life. Ontario is just rife with places related to her, her books and all movies produced by Kevin Sullivan.

In 2007 my family and I visit Prince Edward Island, our 'Anne Trip' where we took in everything authentically Anne. I felt no guilt while dragging my family around visiting Maud's old haunts and places that inspired her beloved stories.



Much of the movies were not filmed in PEI but were actually filmed in Ontario at various historic sites. The White Sands in a historic restaurant in PEI but usually the shots in the Road to Avonlea series were body doubles, much cheaper than flying actors from Toronto to the site.

This past summer the kids and I have been visiting historic pioneer villages, not only to haunt some sites related to Everything Anne, but also to learn more about our ancestors in the hopes it will inspire me to continue my journey to simplicity.

We live 30 minutes from the Museum which houses the blue school house used in the second Anne movie. This is also the museum I volunteer at while demonstrating spinning. I have no digital pictures of this site so I will have to snag one the next time I am there.

In Toronto there is Black Creek Pioneer Village where a lot of filming for the Avonlea television show took place. We first visited last year but enjoyed it so much we wanted an encore this summer. My daughter is also convinced that part of the American Girl Felicity movie was filmed here. This fact I can not substantiate so I am not sure.

The actual Road to Avonlea main street were just building facades built in a field in Uxbridge, Ontario which were dismantled after taping ceased. L.M. Montgomery lived in Uxbridge before moving to Toronto when her husband retired. Citizens in Uxbridge are still working on a museum commemorating one of their most famous residents.

Maud also lived in Norval, Ontario. I stumbled upon a garden and plaque erected there in her honor while driving through one day. There's a big sign that says Lucy Maud Montgomery Garden, so of course I had to stop and take a stroll through it.

This past week we went to Doon Heritage Crossroads, in Kitchener. Two major scenes were filmed here including one with Rachel Lynd sitting on her porch watching Matthew Cuthbert driving by in a buggy, wear a suit! "He's not going fast enough for a doctor." This is the porch. The house was yellow and white back then.






There is also a scene filmed here for the Anne Sequel movie, where Anne comes out of the Post Office, Gilbert Blythe and her walk through the main part of town and then ride bikes through this covered bridge. It's a lovely scene.






L.M. Montgomery wrote one book, The Blue Castle, set outside Prince Edward Island. It was set in her second most beloved locale, Muskoka only a short drive from here. In the next week or so we plan to visit the Bala Museum with Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

There is another Museum near Hamilton, Ontario that hosted the movie crew. The Westfield Heritage Village has the train station, the Hammond Sawmill and the Hammond's home and stairwell where Anne heard she would be sent back to the orphanage.

There is so much here at my fingertips, I feel blessed to be 'a part of it'. I can visit as often as I like and get a real feel for the places from our not so distant past. I find these historical sites just dripping with history and inspiration. I could go back again and again.