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Tag Archives: Vacation

En Vacances (And Books!)

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Happy Tuesday, everyone. I am off on vacation this week (the first time I could get away all summer!), and having a great time shopping, eating, swimming, and above all–reading! So this will be a short post–longer next week, I promise…

I’ve been reading Linda Urbach’s new historical novel Madame Bovary’s Daughter, about what happens to poor Bertha Bovary after the death of her parents. It’s a great concept, and I know there have been several novels out lately concerning minor characters from classics (especially Austen novels!). I think I would love to see what happened to Adele from Jane Eyre…

What character’s story would you like to read?

Posted in Former Riskies, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , | 6 Replies

Regency Pop Tarts

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I am on vacation in New York, visiting Risky Megan. This means I am away from my library of paper inspiration. I have the internet at my fingertips but all I can think about is the awesomeness that is the Pop Tart Store. Genius. Sheer genius.

Now I’m wondering what life in the Regency would have been like if someone had invented Pop Tarts 200 years ago.

Mrs. Porter-Evans: Archibald, dear, Cook has made the most delicious biscuit for the little darlings!

Archibald: What’s that dear? Frederick? Frederick! Stop running around like that Freddie!

Mrs. PE: Biscuit, dear. DUCK!!! It’s jam between slices of puff pastry and covered in frosting! You toast it.

Blam. A rasher of bacon slides across the floor and hits the footman’s boots.

Mrs. PE: Freddie, dear, do stop and Darling Susan, poppet, if you keep spinning you’re going to be— Johnson!

Johnson: On it, Ma’am.

Mrs. PE: Do change your boots, Johnson

Freddie: May I have another?

Susan: Mama, he’s already had three and I’ve only had two.

Archibald: No more of those infernal things. And please dismiss the cook.

I don’t think the Regency was ready for Pop Tarts. Agree or disagree

Posted in Former Riskies | Tagged , , | 10 Replies

Serving the Gentleman

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Get your mind out of the gutter now.

I am acting as valet today. My husband is going on the Grand Tour–to Italy, at any rate–and I am helping him put a huge amount of t-shirts etc into a suitcase and urging him to do all the things you have to do before a trip. We leave the house in less than two hours when I will assume the roles of coachman and porter.

Eek.

So I think I can safely offer my services as a gentleman’s uh gentleman. I haven’t used an iron in years, can’t get out stains or tie a cravat, and wouldn’t know a clothesbrush if it hit me around the head, but I can sure stuff things into a suitcase.

And this is where he’s going:loro-ciuffenna_1437_smallOther than continual recorder playing it sounds fab (well, that’s why he’s going and why I’m not). And he’s the only person I know who’s going to Tuscany to eat vegan food.

Have you been on vacation this summer? Tell us about it.

And PS, in really important news, Dedication is now available as a paperback, first time in print (this edition)!

Posted in Anything but writing | Tagged | 1 Reply

Regency Boardwalk?

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First, a mea culpa: I am so, so sorry for not posting last Friday. I was away, and internet access was nonexistent.

But where were you, Megan, that you couldn’t share your wisdom with us?

I was at the Jersey shore. Now, before you go making cracks, let me tell you that the town I was in is a dry town, founded by Methodists, and a far cry from Snooki et al‘s stomping grounds.

It had, in fact, a lot in common with Regency romance novels:

–In Jersey, social gatherings take place at the boardwalk; in the Regency era, it’s Almack’s.
–Drunkenness is frowned upon.
–Teens parade in front of each other for potential romantic coupling.
–There are very few places people can go to engage in PDAs. You have to get creative.
–Old ladies are constantly judging.
–You take the waters at the beach in Jersey, in Bath in Regency novels.

And now the summer is over! I hope everyone had a lovely one. I am happy to be back to my routine, although I do miss the lobster patties pizza.

Megan

Posted in Jane Austen | Tagged , , | 7 Replies