The Ordinary Princess...

The Ordinary Princess is the story of Amethyst--otherwise known as Amy--a princess who is given the gift of "ordinariness" by a fairy at her christening.

This was one of my favorite books as a child--and even now I still find this story enchanting. Sarah purchased a copy for Elizabeth a few years ago, and now she too, shares a love for this classic, simple fairy story. The black & white sketches that accompany the author's delightful text are beautiful in their simplicity & only serve to make the story spring more fully to life.

If you haven't yet read this story, you should really try to track down a copy to read to that special little girl in your life. Or...find a copy for yourself. Because no matter how old you are, and no matter what anyone says, you can never be too old for a good fairy tale.

* * * * * * * * *

Old Crustacea put out a long bony finger and touched the seventh princess's pink cheek. Then she looked at the King and Queen and the resplendent guests and the six little sister princesses, each more beautiful than the last, and finally she looked at the huge pile of glittering presents and the long list that the Lord High Chamberlain had made of the gifts bestowed by the other fairies.

"Hmm!" said the Fairy Crustacea. "Wit, Charm, Courage, Health, Wisdom, Grace...Good gracious, poor child! Well, thank goodness my magic is stronger than anyone else's."

She raised her twisty coral stick and waved it three times over the cradle of the seventh princess. "My child," said the Fairy Crustacea, "I am going to give you something that will probably bring you more happiness than all these fal-lals and fripperies put together.

You shall be Ordinary!"

~excerpt from The Ordinary Princess
written & illustrated by M.M. Kaye

Shirley...

"When I was 14, I was the oldest I ever was.

I've been getting younger ever since."

Shirley Temple

Excellence Award...

Sweet Elise was kind enough to give me this blog award.

Thank you so much, dear!

Rules:

1) Post the award on your blog

2) Pass it on to some friends, up to 15

3) Let them know they've received the award.

I award:

Laura

Millie

Clare

Carla

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes...

I slipped outdoors as the day--long, and gray, and lazy--wound to a close. The "dim" was creeping cat-like over our land, leaving footprints of pinks, and orange, and gray tiptoeing behind it in the sky over our small farm.

Abra, Sarah's feisty, muscular little pup, ran with me. Excitement leapt into her large dark eyes as she saw me nearing the door with boots in hand; nearly wriggling herself to pieces with happiness when I finally slipped out.

We two ran across our back lawn, slipping away to the solitude of the trail cut through the wild tangle of our twenty-five acres. Old-time music filled my ears; a favorite thing of mine to do as I walk our property. The trees, still stark and bare, wove their branches in tangled webs above our heads, as I paused, chin uplifted, to marvel at the beauty God has created.

I don't think that there is anything else quite so nice as the quiet companionship of a pup tumbling about your feet on a long walk. They never break a perfect, fragile silence with unimportant words; they ask for nothing more than an extra scrap of your attention, and are more than content with just a good scratch behind the ear every now and again.

I ran laughing & tumbling across the uneven, wet ground, not caring that the bottoms of my pants were getting soaked with every step I took, only thankful to be young, and alive, and well. Abra, bouncing along rabbit-like ahead of me showed her discontent when my steps slowed by jumping towards me again and again with legs held stiff and straight before her.

We paused, as we usually do, at the farthest bend of the trail, where our land mingles with two fields of neighboring farms. A spot that always...somehow...makes me inexplicably want to...dance.

Abra, her dark eyes staring out disapprovingly from amidst the brown, crackling underbrush that lines the path, watched...as the lone girl, with muddy black pants & icy cold hands, danced & swirled all by herself beneath the covering of a few wise old oaks. You could tell by her eyes that she thought the girl was crazy.

But you see...

sometimes life is too beautiful to worry about seeming crazy. Sometimes...you just have to dance, and dance, and dance.

So the girl did, as a lovely old melody rose up to mingle with the very first stars.

...So I smile and say

When a lovely flame dies

Smoke gets in your eyes...

Vivien...

"People think that if you look fairly reasonable,

you can't possibly act,

and as I only care about acting,

I think beauty can be a great handicap."

Vivien Leigh

Neglect...

It's been so long since I've had a moment to sit down and write anything at all for songs I sing. It's quite the understatement to say that school has kept me more than a little busy these past few weeks. I thrive on studying...but I've missed my little blog!

It was such a beautiful day today in more ways than one. Sarah, Elizabeth and I headed out on a small road-trip of sorts, driving the hour and fifteen minutes or so into our former city of residence. While Sarah & Elizabeth spent some time at my grandparent's home, I headed to the library to find a few books that I desperately need to use for several presentations (ugh!) that I am working on for a few of my classes. We really don't have a library near our home that we are able to use, so an aunt was kind enough to lend me her library card so that I could find what I need in the big, beautiful library she is blessed enough to be able to use. *sigh* I could spend hours upon hours there. Actually, I would be perfectly content to take up permanent residence. ☺ Do you think they would allow me to set up a cot in the back near the WWII section??

It was so nice to be out and about for a little while. I treasure the slow, quiet peace of our country home and, for me, there is nothing quite like our loping hills and ruddy dirt roads, but it is nice to get away for a little while and be able to experience the cheerful commotion of a "big" city.

...and when I came home? I found a letter waiting for me! Yippee! I love those days. Sadly, they have become few and far between as of late. I really do need to find some more friends who appreciate the "old-fashioned" art of letter writing as much as I do (hint, hint).

I promise that you will be seeing more of me. Amidst the "ordinary" busyness, those moments that I can spend writing small bits about my life, my loves, my thoughts...help to keep me inspired & grounded.

Much love,
Emily