The Week in Review

This past week has been both lovely and busy.  My fiance and I had the pleasure of visiting our future home once again on Thursday.  He has been frequenting it quite regularly over the past month with his father, working on transforming it from the inside out.  They have both been consulting me just about every step of the way--I feel so spoiled, and certainly very blessed!  I never expected that I'd have the opportunity of personalizing my first home to such an extent. 

The cottage in the afternoon light

I have only visited the cottage in the afternoon and evening, and though it is undeniably lovely there during those times of the day, my fiance says that it is absolutely beautiful in the morning sun, as well.

Huan rather wary of the cottage

Soon after we met in 2011, my fiance received this little guy as a birthday gift.  The three of us have had the immense privilege and pleasure of getting to know each other over the past 2+ years.  I cannot imagine beginning life with my man without him, as well!  As of yet, he is not completely comfortable with the unfamiliar sight of his future home, but we're confident that he'll warm up to it over time.

Early stage of ongoing craft projects

I have also enjoyed delving into the world of paper crafts since graduating.  I'm a fond scrapbook-er, and I also have a few friends with upcoming birthdays, so I'm working on making them birthday cards, too.

Last batch of bridal shower invitations

I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of the last of the bridal shower invitations--and why shouldn't I capture such a sight?  A paper craft dream, they're absolutely beautiful, not to mention hand-made by my sister and Maid of Honor.  I am looking forward to our tea party oh so very much!

What are some of your highlights from this past week?

Poem of the Week ~ The Lady of Shalott, Part I

One of my favorite poems is Alfred, Lord Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott (1832).  The language, imagery, and story it tells captivate me entirely.  As it is a rather long poem, I plan on sharing it in the four separate parts to which Tennyson assigned it.  I have never read it this way before, so I'm looking forward to a new experience with this poem.  I hope to note both the distinctions and links between the four parts, and in so doing deepen my appreciation for each of them and the whole poem, as well.

  

The Lady of Shalott

 Part I

On either side the river lie

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;

And thro' the field the road runs by

To many-tower'd Camelot;

The yellow-leaved waterlily

The green-sheathed daffodilly

Tremble in the water chilly

Round about Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver.

The sunbeam showers break and quiver

In the stream that runneth ever

By the island in the river

Flowing down to Camelot.

Four gray walls, and four gray towers

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent isle imbowers

The Lady of Shalott.

Underneath the bearded barley,

The reaper, reaping late and early,

Hears her ever chanting cheerly,

Like an angel, singing clearly,

O'er the stream of Camelot.

Piling the sheaves in furrows airy,

Beneath the moon, the reaper weary

Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy,

Lady of Shalott.'

The little isle is all inrail'd

With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd

With roses: by the marge unhail'd

The shallop flitteth silken sail'd,

Skimming down to Camelot.

A pearl garland winds her head:

She leaneth on a velvet bed,

Full royally apparelled,

The Lady of Shalott.

What are your thoughts on Part I?
Do you have a favorite line or description?

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art

I found the following video through one of my favorite blogs, Like Mother, Like Daughter.  Prepare to be completely mesmerized!  

 Wishing you a happy (belated) summer and a blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!  

Did you recognize any of the featured paintings?

Do you have a favorite? 

Style Inspiration ~ Penelope

Today's featured style is that of Penelope Wilhern in the 2008 film Penelope.  I discovered this film a few years after its release, and I found myself completely enchanted with the titular character, the scenery, and especially Penelope's wardrobe.  While this piece could easily become a film review, I'll save that for another time, as my focus today is strictly on the costumes Christina Ricci had the presumed pleasure of wearing while playing the role of Penelope.

French promotional poster

I chose to display the above version of the film's poster, as I think it more accurately captures the atmosphere of the movie--magical and intriguing, the subdued color palette hints at the struggles Penelope faces over the course of the plot--and it also attracts my own preference for deeper, bolder colors.  It also features the iconic coat she wears often throughout the movie.

  

Above I've included an image of an architecturally-inspired and delightfully textured inspiration board based on Penelope's clothes.  

I couldn't resist highlighting one of favorite outfits she wears nearing the end of the film.  A lover of all things horticultural, just as yours truly is, Penelope wears an ensemble that captures that love in a simultaneously subtle and unique manner.

Have you seen Penelope?
If so, which is your favorite outfit?
In what ways do your clothes reflect your personality? 

Poem of the Week ~ "My Song of Today"

I love poetry.  I used to be self-conscious about this, but I have recently been inspired to embrace the feeling, instead.  My previous self-consciousness arose from my budding awareness of the numerous well-known poets who suffered from mental disorders, expressed the struggles associated with them through their poetry, and more than likely eventually met ends that God did not intend for them.  However, while these poets may be more well-known than others (for some reason I don't care to explore), there are even more who use this literary form as a way to glorify God.  Now, I do not in the least intend to criticize poetry as a form of expression, for this is a foundational aspect of the art.  I freely admit to using the form to articulate past struggles.  I just think that using the form to articulate the joy and beauty found in the Lord is just as valid and valuable, if not more so.

I recently came across the below poem written--rather appropriately--in June of 1894 by St. Therese of Lisieux, a woman who lived her very abbreviated life on Earth in total service to God.  I found myself particularly struck by her embrace of the present and her release of anxiety about the future.  As the weeks so quickly pass, my wedding day drawing ever nearer, I have increasingly struggled with maintaining this mentality.  I strive to enjoy these days of engagement, have fun with the many preparations required, and maintain a (relatively) peaceful mindset.  So far, I have not been as successful as I had hoped, but I still have plenty of time to cultivate it.  As St. Therese reminds me, "Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs, / Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay[.]"  At the end of the day, I have the love and comfort of God and the joyous anticipation of eternal Life with Him, which certainly puts everything into perspective!

"My Song of Today"

St. Therese of Lisieux

(1873-1897)

1. 

Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee

And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!

Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,

To-day, dear Lord, to-day.

2.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings

That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;

I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,

But only for to-day!

3.

O sweetest Star of heaven!  O Virgin, spotless, blest,

Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!

O Mother! 'neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,

For this brief passing day!

4.

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,

Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;

And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,

 The eternal, glad To-day!

                                                                                            June, 1894

Have you ever read this poem before?  

Which stanza strikes you most?

O God Beyond All Praising

My apologies for the hiatus, all. Wedding preparations + job searching + a trip with my prospective in-laws = quite a busy week!  I'm trying not to become discouraged by my lack of regularity so soon in this humble endeavor.  I trust that my readers (few though they may be) will understand and forgive my brief absence from the online realm.

As I mentioned, I had the privilege of making a short trek to Arlington with my fiance and his family to witness his cousin's ordination to the priesthood this past weekend.  This event marked the first time I had ever attended an ordination (excepting his diaconate ordination the previous year), and I must say that it was one of the most beautiful Masses to which I have ever been.  Seated in the balcony of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More next to my soon-to-be husband, I became acutely aware of God's Will active in my life and in the lives of those around me.

This awareness tends to overwhelm me whenever I sing O God Beyond All Praising, one of my favorite hymns.  I have yet to sing it without tears peeping out from the corners of my eyes, and I don't expect this to change soon, especially as both my fiance and I plan on incorporating it into our own wedding Mass.    

   

O God, Beyond All Praising

O God, beyond all praising, we worship you today

and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay;

For we can only wonder at every gift you send,

at blessings without number and mercies without end:

We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word,

We honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.

The flower of earthly splendor in time must surely die,

Its fragile bloom surrender to you, the Lord most high;

But hidden from all nature the eternal seed is sown

Though small in mortal stature, to heaven’s garden grown:

For Christ the man from heaven from death has set us free,

And we through him are given the final victory.

Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring,

That we who know your favor may serve you as our King;

And whether our tomorrow be filled with good or ill,

We’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still:

To marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,

And make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise!

 

Have you ever been to an ordination?

Are you familiar with this hymn?

How do the words stir your heart?