Thomas Morton marriage certificate

 

Thomas Morton married OCT 30 1954

Sparky; the Dog.

How the kids ever convinced us to buy a dog is beyond me.  But I ran them up north past Oakland to buy it, and bought the crate for the dog on the way home, and now we are a dog family.

Cleaning the kids' room reminded me how destructive the little dog was when he was more puppyish.  Legless barbies and other chewed toys.  He had his own chew toys, but they were never good enough for him.  You wouldn't belief how many bottle nipples and binkies we had to replace because the the little terror.  It seemed if the fell on the floor, they were chewed. He seems to have gotten past that stage.  Maybe that's because we decided he was an outside dog.

But now there's the mess outside.  He was a tendency to get into the trash (which we put outside because the the one-ear-old terror inside.  His favorite thing to chew it seems are bad diapers.  I hate having to pick up trash all around the house, but I do it all the same.  This week we may have found an answer.  We have brought the big trash can that goes to the road right outside the back door, and everything goes directly into it.

And then there's the dog getting away if he wants.  It's hard to let him out to play, because he will take off down the street, having gotten through the front fence.

He does have some redeeming factors.  He is a cute little guy, and man can he run and jump.  He loves to run around the front yard, chasing a ball.  And he can jump a lot higher than you would think.

Charity's birthday

We did not do well for Charity's birthday.  We didn't celeb rate the day of her birthday because Antony took her out.  So we had it on Sunday, and this photo attests that we made her make her own birthday dinner.  We didn't get cake done, so Charity made one for herself tonight.  Mark was here for the celebration as it was Marine Birthday Ball the night before and he came home for it.  Charity was satisfied with ham dinner, and she learned how to make ham gravy.

Happy Hollow Day

A day at Happy Hollow with Miranda, Tony and J. (foster son)  We had fun.  The slide is great, as was the petting zoo.  My only complaint, $10 for parking.

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

My first introduction to Jane Austen was the 1995 BBC "Pride and Prejudice" with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. I don't know why I like this story so much, but I do.  At least once a year, over a weekend, I go through the entire series.  We have it in VHS.

More recently, 2005, the Keira Knightly version came out.  I enjoy this one as well, but not as well as the longer version. 

I think I have all the Jane Austen movies (not each version, but at least each story.)  I have also read all the books now.  I like the way Jane Austen writes, and I enjoy her stories.  I am intrigued by her characters, and the changes they make in their lives.

All of Jane Austen's novels have received great acclaim. "Sense and Sensibility" "Emma" "Northanger Abby" "Mansfield Park" and "Persuasion."  I enjoy these works, but still "Pride and Prejudice" is my favorite.  I love the character of Miss Eliza Bennett, her whit, her strength, and her walking miles and miles to calm her mind.