Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Scribble Picnic - Favorite Fiction Character


"Oh, Mr. Cuthbert," she whispered, "that place we came through--that white place--what was it?"
"Well now, you must mean the Avenue," said Matthew after a few moments' profound reflection. "It is a kind of pretty place."
"Pretty? Oh, pretty doesn't seem the right word to use. Nor beautiful, either. They don't go far enough. Oh, it was wonderful--wonderful. It's the first thing I ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here"--she put one hand on her breast--"it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache. Did you ever have an ache like that, Mr. Cuthbert?"
"Well now, I just can't recollect that I ever had."
"I have it lots of time--whenever I see anything royally beautiful. But they shouldn't call that lovely place the Avenue. There is no meaning in a name like that. They should call it--let me see--the White Way of Delight. Isn't that a nice imaginative name? When I don't like the name of a place or a person I always imagine a new one and always think of them so. There was a girl at the asylum whose name was Hepzibah Jenkins, but I always imagined her as Rosalia DeVere. Other people may call that place the Avenue, but I shall always call it the White Way of Delight."

Are you a kindred spirit?  I just love Anne of Green Gables.  I must admit that I had not read the books as a child.  I was introduced to her through the Disney Channel that featured the movie starring Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth as Anne, Marilla, and Matthew.  A beautiful story that drew us in.  We watched The Road to Avonlea - a spin-off from the movies on Sunday nights, my daughter and I, after she had taken her shower and she sat in front of me as I braided her wet hair for that crimped look that was popular when she was a child.  She had a tea party, complete with non-alcoholic raspberry cordial for her 9th birthday reminiscent of Anne and Diana's tea party.  And then of course, we bought and read the Anne of Green Gables series of books that summer.   

It's been a wish of mine to visit Prince Edward Island though I doubt I ever will.  Maybe my daughter will someday.

So there must be quite a cast of characters at the Picnic this week.  I really should head over there and see for myself.  You can join in the fun by clicking here.  And if you would like to play along next week, the theme is HOT CHOCOLATE (yum!).

P.S. - I made the mistake of asking HWNSNBP if he could tell what was going on in the picture....... "two people watching a bear" was his first guess.  Then he remembered that I had asked him to bring down the little rocking chair with the Anne Shirley doll from Rachel's room.  "Oh, it's the doll in the rocking chair watching a bear."  It's not a bear. 

20 comments:

  1. I immediately recognize the drawing as from Anne of Green Gables. I read the series not as a child but later on but I like it. I do remember more of the movies than the book and this scene with Matthew & Anne is, I think, the most memorable. so sad about Matthew, he's one my favorite character from the series, just a quiet, shy, gentle man.

    good take on the theme.

    have a lovely day.

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    1. Matthew is such an endearing character. Buying her the dress with the puffy sleeves. Oh how we cried when he died.

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  2. I haven't had the plaeasure of reading Anne of Green Gables ... I feel I have missed something special and wonder if I would still enjoy reading them at my age or is that magical young age a part of the wonder. I will have to explore this further, Lorraine. A lovely post indeed ...

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Thanks Andrea. I think you would enjoy it.

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  3. What a great choice. Love the illustration and thanks for the story...I love her imagination, and I hope that feeling will be in each of our hearts.... I think I shall rename my street....Thanks so much for this trip in time.

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    1. If you do, I hope you share it. I'm curious.

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  4. I LOVEeee Anne and this is such a wonderful painting depicting her story. Wow! I love it!!

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  5. haha on hubby, mine does the same sort of thing! Beautifully done Lorraine, thanks for sharing Anne with us.

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  6. Lol "it's not a bear" lol....
    This is great Lorraine! :) I read Anne as a kid and loved those books so much. And...I was lucky enough to live on P.E.I. for a year in 2009. I visited the Gables and it was so magical for me. I do hope you have a chance to visit. The entire town of Cavendish is a story book and most houses have green gables as well! :)

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    1. I imagine it must be as beautiful as I picture it in my head from the books and definitely from the films. Maybe one day!

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  7. I've been to PEI and it's absolutely charming. Unfortunately we could only stay one day but I would have loved to have spent at least a week there. 'Anne' has been an enduring story that has lasted so many generations - and is bound to last a lot more. There's a definite need for those sorts of stories, particularly with all the bad things that are happening now.

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    1. I agree - I wish there were more stories like it.

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  8. Oh my gosh, Lorraine, your recall of your hubs angle on it, made me bust out laughing! Baar? Whaaa? That poor horse! Hahah.

    You know, I am 100% along with you. I could identify with everything you wrote here as if you were writing my won experiences too Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea. I too read the books afterwards, same with Laura Ingalls Wilder as of course we did not have those in school and only years later as an adult did I get to enjoy them.

    I have always wanted to go to Prince Edward ISland as such too ..with a stop in Nova Scotia from having flown over it so much. Similarly though, I fell in love with the idea of the settlers and brave homesteaders of the American West and actually did have a chance to travel in Wilder's footsteps, along the Laura Ingalls Wilder highway, with my favourite stop being De Smet where the Long Winter was set.

    Febulous take. So looking forward to Anne's melodramatic ways and cheer.

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    1. That's awesome that you did the Laura Ingalls Wilder highway. What an experience that must have been. I hope you get to go to PEI one day. I know you'd soak it all up like a sponge and totally enjoy it.

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  9. I LOVE your take on the theme, Lorraine! I have the movie-series on DVD and love watching it from time to time. A wonderful movie series indeed...Megan Follows was amazing as Anne. Actually, all the characters were perfect in their roles.

    I had to giggle at the bear comment from HWNSNBP. I knew it was a horse but since reading his comment, I can now see a bear too. Funny how the mind works...

    Have a great week!

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    1. I think they really got it right with the actors that they chose for the movie. What went before and what has come since don't match up. So glad you liked it.

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  10. I only spent one day on PEI back in the 60's when we were 'doing' the Maritime Provinces by car - and it rained cats and dogs just about the entire trip, the roads were like red rivers with the clay soil. (We lived in New Hampshire then). So, don't recall going to visit Green Gables - perhaps need to put it on the list for another visit - but only if they can guarantee dry/sunny weather!

    Lovely painting and story, her plaits hanging over the back are so cute - even I had those as a girl and wish I could get my thick hair back again!

    Hugs - Mary

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  11. Of course it's a horse...and what book lover wouldn't have recognised Anne's auburn hair. I loved (still have)those books, although the first L.M Montgomery one I read (also mostly set in P.E.I, so for years I too wished to go and visit till reality waved a hand and I realized it must have changed a lot) was my mother's old copy of Jane of Lantern Hill.

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  12. No matter how many times I see that wonderful movie, or see glimpses like your lovely sketch, my heart smiles. Who could not love Anne with an “e” and Matthew...and all the Green Gables characters!?! Thanks for brightening my day!

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