Edible Mr. Darcy? Okay....

Though it has been a long while since I've posted an update about my English Lit. class, it hasn't been so long that you've forgotten about it. (I hope) For those of you who are new aboard ship, I teach an English Literature class for two of my younger sisters who are in the late middle school-early highschool age range. We've been going through Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, but I admit to having grown lax in the last several months in my teaching. Yesterday, however, I sat down and planned out a couple of lessons.

I felt it was a befitting way to spend the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice! :) I have been wanting the girls to get through the book a bit quicker than we've done yet. We were reading aloud to each other two chapters each session, and managed a session or two a week. At any rate, we were only at Chapter 20 out of 40-some, so I needed us to pick up the pace. I will assign them 4 chapters a session to have read and take notes on in the off-days, and then we'll come together to do a couple activities, discuss key points, ideas, shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings. 

But to ease the girls into this new regime and to celebrate the bicentennial of such a fabulous book, I decided we'd make Pride and Prejudice cookies...I looked on Pinterest in a lazy moment and saw all sorts of beautiful Jane Austen cookies, but none took my fancy. Okay. So I'd have to be creative on my own. Converting my mad hypothetical-cake-decorating skills (learned from watching too much Cake Boss) into cookie skills, I put together a plan...I made a batch of sugar cookies and cut some into squares, then made a furling banner type thingamabobber out of paper and cut around it with a knife. The cookies were baked, and when they were cool I made a Royal Icing paste. Literally nothing but powdered sugar, egg whites, and water. I iced them carefully and left the icing to harden overnight.

The bigger scheme? Paint favorite quotes from P&P onto the icing with concentrated food coloring. Would it work? I hoped so. 

The girls were monstrously curious over what on earth these rather drab-looking cookies were for. As you can see from my white-board lesson plan, the first activity was for the girls to choose a character from the book and write a congratulatory letter to Jane Austen in that character's "voice". While they did that, I tested my Theory of Decorating...

Nailed it.

I was so thrilled.

The girls were none the wiser yet, and worked away at their card-making:

They nailed it too. :)

Finally I got to show the girls what our next assignment was, and food-dye ink reigned for the next half-hour as we all bent over our cookies and used teeny paintbrushes to endow them with clever sentiments from the novel itself.

We took some license and included a movie quote or two...

I had so much fun making these, and realized that this technique is now for sure going into my Awesomeness Arsenal, to bring out on special occasions like weddings and graduations. Seriously, these would be adorable as wedding favors!

Mine above, Leah's below.

The picture is a little blurry, but it says, "I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in a pretty woman can bestow..." ;)

Aren't they just darling? First day back at class was a smash. :) Thank you, Jesus!

Hilarious Mail... :)

 

"It is my opinion that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill."

                -Jane Austen

My pupils may cause me great secret amusement with their definitions, spelling, and their answers to reading comprehension, but there's certainly nothing wrong with their imaginations! These letters came to me after I assigned Leah and Anna to write a charming letter from one character to another that had to be at least 2 pages long. I am  rather proud of them. Enjoy! :) (All spelling, grammar, and punctuation as the original)

Leah's Letter: Comprised of a plethora of commas, hyperboles, and a cold heart

Dearest Adelaide,
     How are you this glorious day? Has your cold bettered? As I write to you, I am siting in the Duke of Shamphires seat, and at his most equisite desk. The Duke's drawing room has just recently been decorated, and in the latest French style. Now, you may wonder, how on earth I came here, and I shall tell you.
I have recently made an aquaintence with his daughter. She is the sweetest creature I have ever beheld. She has a slight temper when she is riled. But beyond that there is no seeable fault with her. I am having a wonderful time in the country. We have attended 5 balls, 3 dances & 6 feasts in one week. Though I must admit, I was disappointed in their lack of propriety. What should I expect from country people?
But the Duke's "palace" brings a awed presence in that part of the Shampshire. When people enter the palace, of the most important people of the land, they seem to know they are in the presence of someone higher than they.
Anyway, dearest, you must tell me what have you been doing of late? I'm dying ot hear all the latest town gossip. Has Gertrude married that Italian yet? Has Jenny been to see you lately?
Oh! I wanted to tell you of this young man I met at the Himlet's ball. He was from France, doing a favor to his uncle. He had dark brown hair, with a head of curls, and 2 curls that must have escaped the comb that morning, and were standing impishly out of place. His manner was charming, but I could sense a sort of conceit about him. I must do him credit and mention that he was very gentlemanly and honored me by dancing with me twice. (Well, at least he thought he honored me,) but actually it was quite the opposite. I detested dancing with him, because I saw a man, who I liked much better, and he was moving toward me, and right then "he" had to ask me, and of course I couldn't turn him down.
How I long for you. I do wish you were here. Of course you caught cold right before the day we were going to go with Amelia's family. Well, at least I'm here to do the things here, so I can tell you on my return home.
Oh! Speaking of Amelia's family, they are staying here, at the Duke's house, as well. Amelia's been out almost every night we have been here, with a fellow by the name of William Ruxeby. I like him well enough, it is obvious she likes him too!
You should be proud of me, I have read a book of William Wordsworth's poems today. You are always wanting me to read more, so to oblige you, while you are ill, I did. And I have started one of Dicken's books as well, "Mansfield Park", I believe. Oh, Dear me! I mis-said the author's name. Jane Austen wrote, "Mansfield Park" Charles Dickens wrote a great many other grand books.
That's another things, the libraries here, are superb. There are 2 downstairs, and 2 above the stairs.
As I look about me, hanging on the walls, are portraits of 1 and twenty men and women. It is funny, because you can tell who had the cheery disposition, and who hadn't.
The ones in lighter colors were smiling, the ones in dark colors looked concerned.
Well dearest, the clock chimes 3:00.
               Yours Truly,
                          Mary Ann Willshod

Anna's Letter: Characterized in chief by quick, slashing handwriting, abundantly missplaced commas, and creative spellings. :)

Dearest Jane,
       It was good to receive a letter from you! I can only hope your visit in London has been as you had anticipated. I do wonder though, if you have yet visited Miss Bingley? She and Mr. Bingley have been in London for several weeks now I believe. My stay at Aunt and Uncle's home has been....quite pleasant, although at times I feel lonly and ready to return to Longbourn. I think Father misses me, but who can blame him wholly, for staying with Mamma and Mary and Kitty, I'm sure can get on one's nerves. Have you heard from Charlotte recently? I am going to come and see, her, when I get a chance. I do hope she is doing well. It worries me when dear friends don't write or come to call after they marry and settle. Maybe she is busy with visits to Lady Cathrine Debourg! Oh Dear Jane, almost everyday I think of Lydia, and Mr. Wickom. Poor Lydia, how could she expose herself, and her family, to such gossip and run away with Mr. Wickom. But it is not so unexspected from Lydia.
Jane, I think we both should try our best to comfort Mamma, and try to cheer up Father, because Lydia really didn't think about Father, or Mamma when she ran away. Please write as soon as you, can, althouhg I"m sure London keeps you constantly on your toes! Oh! and if you hear from Charlotte, please write to me and tell me. But I would hope she would write to me, before she would you, seeing as we are good friends!
                  Love,
                    Lizzie

...Little Letters...

This post began with the intention of being a sewing-project post, complete with lots of pictures. Then our mutual friend T. H.C. (The Horrid Computer) decided to stick his nose into the idea and it all ran amuck. Do forgive it for not being That Sort of Post--it was meant to be, at the start.I suppose you will have to content yourselves with a Little Letters post. I pilfered the idea from Rebecca Jane, and so here I go! :)

...Dear swingy-jeans-skirt: you and I and contra will be a smashing combination.

...Dear It's (Not That) Complicated: As soon as Sarah is done reading you, I get dibs. Okay?

...Dear sewing machines: I love you, you know I do. Please love me back! :)

...Dear Jane Austen: Edmund Bertram is just a little dense about Fanny Price...don't you think?

...Dear "My Current Novel": Please behave. Please behave.

...Dear Hair: Why won't you ever oblige me and look fashionably messy? I can't for the life of me do anything but smooth, glossy looks with you, and those don't particularly suit my face!

...Dear Husband-To-Be: I'm trying my hardest to abide in Christ and learn everything God hands me so I'll be your dream-woman when you find me. :)

...Dear vintage heels: You're perfectly charming, darlings. 

...Dear imagination: Give me a little help thinking up what I can use that white jacquard for--I'm out of ideas.

...Dear vanity: Don't let me quote myself. It's so gauche. 

...Dear feet: Learn contra quickly so I don't embarrass my partners. I'd appreciate it!

...Dear baked-goods: Don't put off such a good smell. I am your creator and you tempt me easily. ;)

...Dear waist: Take a hint. Shrink yourself, please.

...Dear Gracie: You are so utterly kissable. Don't ever grow out of it. :)

...Dear Public at Large: Don't forget the classic books you read as a child. This modern stuff is so...blech.

...Dear Pupils: Please do not giggle at me. My laugh has an automatic response to even smiles. We'll get no work done if you aren't perfectly sober.

...Dear Green tea: Um...you aren't all you're cracked up to be. *runs to hug English Breakfast and P.G. Tips* ;)

Love Ever and Anon,

<3 Rachel