A Good Imagination Gone Wrong (ch.20)

Judging from the title it doesn't sound good for Anne does it? How about a lovely picture of Mayflowers? Aren't they sweet?

Well, Anne didn't get into any mischief after all. She just had the dickens scared out of her by her imagination. Ha ha ha ha.

capricious - changeable

A Concert, a Catastrophe, and a Confession (ch.19)

You can read "Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight" and "Bingen on the Rhine" here and here respectively.

My goodness! They are both long poems. I can't imagine memorizing either of them.

I had to laugh when I read this. "I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might."

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."


pung sleigh - a sleigh with a box like appearance
sated with dissipation - sated (satisfied fully) dissipate (to spend or use wastefully) I still have no clue????
furtive - shifty
arduous - requiring great exertion

Anne to the Rescue (ch. 18, part 2)

I think this chapter deserves two post. I do believe that this is my favorite chapter so far.

I have to admit that tears came to my eyes when Marilla told Anne she and Diana could be friends again. I do have to agree that dishwashing is terribly unromantic. I'm not sure that being grown up is really so lovely either. Isn't that just like God. To prepare Anne with the lifesaving techniques by having her survive 3 sets of twins.

"Anne came dancing home in the purple winter twilight across the snowy places. Afar in the southwest was the great shimmering, pearl-like sparkle of an evening star in a sky that was pale golden and ethereal rose over gleaming white space and dark glens of spruce. The tinkles of sleigh bells among the snowy hills came like elfin chimes through the frosty air, but their music was not sweeter than the song in Anne's heart and on her lips."

I really want to end with this quote.

"..I feel like praying tonight and I'm going to think out a apecial brand new prayer in honor of the occasion."

I've go to make a list of all the vocab words so I can use them on a regular basis.



pulchritudinous - having qualities that delight the eye ( I know, this word didn't come from the book but I was looking up something else and ran across it. I thought it sounded like something Anne would say) You can listen to the pronunciation here.

Anne to the Rescue (ch. 18)

"All things great are wound up with all things little." Isn't that the truth?


and


"It's all very well to say resist temptation, but it's ever so much easier to resist it if you can't get the key."

and

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are white frost, aren't you?"

I was curious about blue plums. You can see pictures and read about them here.

Canada's Premier - In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada.



Women's right to vote in Canada - Women in what is now known as Canada could vote before Canadian Confederation if they owned property, but after Confederation in 1867 they were legally barred from voting. In 1917, women were allowed to vote if they met an exception for military personnel stationed abroad. "Bluebirds", nurses caring for wounded soldiers in Europe in World War I, were the first women to vote legally in a Canadian federal election. In 1918, women had the same voting rights as men in federal elections.



Read about ipecac syrup here.

A New Interest in Life (ch.17)

I just got the greatest chuckle out of this quote. "I don't think there is much fear of your dying of grief as long as you can talk, Anne," said Marilla unsympathetically."

What a sweet little poem.


To Anne

When twilight drops her curtain down
And pins it with a star
Remember that you have a friend
Though she may wander far


trice - a very short time (well, duh!)
muse - to think or meditate in silence
effusion - pouring forth (mmmmmm)

Diana Is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results (ch. 16)

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." Oh, Anne, I do agree.

Well I wonder why Marilla's Raspberry Cordial is so much better than Ms. Lynde's? I guess we will find out soon enough. LOL.

A few quotes,

"Oh, Marilla, I'm just overcome with woe." Love it!

"Marilla, I do not think she is a well-bred woman. There is nothing more to do except to pray and I haven't much hope that that'll do much good because, Marilla, I do not believe that God Himself can do very much with such an obstinate person as Mrs. Barry."

"Then she bent down and kissed the flushed cheek on the pillow."

indignant - expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust

A Tempest in the School Teapot (ch 15)

A few quotes .........


"maples are such sociable trees, said Anne; they are always rustling and whispering to you,"
This is the second time she has mentioned the trees whispering.


"excruciatingly" Not a good idea to hurt Anne's feelings excruciatingly.

"It is possible the matter might have blown over without more excruciation if nothing else had happened. But when things begin to happen they are apt to keep on." How true.

"You harrow up my very soul." What?

"tremenjusly" There it is again.

All I can say is. Poor Gilbert Blythe.

ebullition - the act or process of boiling up

ostentatiously - intended to attract notice

harrow - to disturb keenly or painfully

Anne's Confession (ch 14)

"I didn't think about its being wrong to go in and try on the brooch; but I see now that it was and I'll never do it again. That's one good thing aboutme. I never do the same naughty thing twice."

Oh how I wish I could say the same thing. That I never do the same naughty thing twice.

"I believe you are telling me a falsehood, Anne" Why is it we say lie and she says falsehood? Doesn't falsehood sound much less condemning?

Sooooooo, Marilla finds the brooch. And Anne gets to go to the picnic and return home "completely tired out and in a state of beatification impossible to describe."

And the ice crea, was sublime.

The Delights of Anticipation (ch 13)

I can't imagine having never had ice cream or a childs kiss.

"...Anne cast herself into Marilla's arms and raptuously kissed her sallw cheek. It was the first time in her whole life that childish lips had volunatily touched Marilla's face. Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her. She was secretly vastly pleased at Anne's impulsive caress, which was probably the reason why she said brusquely:"



brusquely - abrupt in manner
sallow - a sickly yellowish color (really??)

A Solemn Vow and Promise (ch,12)

Bouncing Bets (from the Barry Garden)


According to http://home.howstuffworks.com/ Soapwort, or bouncing bet, is a European immigrant that has now naturalized over much of North America. Soapwort was brought over by the colonists to be used as a soap substitute. When bruised or boiled in water, the leaves produce a lather with detergent properties that even removes grease. The genus name refers to the Latin word sapo, meaning "soap."

Anne finally gets to meet Diana.

"Oh, Marilla, I'm frightened-now that it has come I'm actually frightened. What if she sholdn't like me! It would be the most tragical disappointment of my life."

And then Marilla..

"Now, don't get into a fluster. And I do wish you wouldn't use such long words. It sounds so funny in a little girl."

Don't we all wish out children could use long words and understand their meaning?

Vocab for this chapter:

consumption - progressive wasting of the body

tremenjusly - not a real word (I thought as much)

dryad - a divinity presiding over forest and trees

deprecatory - apologetic

Anne's Impressions of Sunday-School (ch.11)

Oh, the poor girl.

"But I'd rather look ridiculous when everybody else does than plain and sensible all by my self," persisted Anne mournfully.
I have to agree with her. Don't you?

And then...

Marilla felt helplessly that all this should be sternly reproved, but she was hampered by the undeniable fact that some of the things Anne had said, especially about the minister's sermons and Mr. Bell's prayers, were what she herself had really thought deep down in her heart for years, but had never given expression to. It almost seemed to her that those secret, unuttered, critical thoughts had suddenly taken visible and accusing shape and form in the person of this outspoken morsel of neglected humanity.

All that to say that she agreed with Anne but just hadn't said so out loud.

dudgeon - a feeling of offense or resentment; anger

Anne's Apology (ch. 10)

I have to say what fun it is to read this book. Lucy Maud Montgomery isreally tickling my funny bone. Half the time I don't even know what the words mean but they make me chuckle. Like this line.

"It's a good thing Rachel Lynde got a calling down; she's a meddlesome old gossip," was Matthew's consolatory rejoinder. What is the world does consolatory rejoinder mean? I have now clue but is made me giggle. Didn't you giggle when you read that?

And later on the same page the word obdurate. Where does she find these words? Twit. I love that word too!

"That wouldn't be so hard if people wouldn't twit me about my looks, said Anne with a sigh.

Alright enough of that, here are the definitions for this chapter.

refractory-stubbornly disobedient (LOL, had no clue)
obdurate-unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding (hmmmm)
gable-the portion of the front or side of a building enclosed by the end of a pitched roof (knew houses had gables, but thought it was more part of the roof)
consolatory- giving comfort (obvious)
rejoinder- an answer to a reply; response (oh, duh)

I love these words!!!

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Properly Horrified (ch. 9)

Poor Anne. To know you are skinny and ugly is one thing. But to hear it said to your face is quite another. Mrs. Lynde was mean and uncaring. Of course, she didn't think so. Orphan's must not be human and must have no feelings. I think Marilla handled things quite nicely.

I love this sentence.

Leaving this Parthian shaft to rankle in Anne's stormy bosom, Marilla descended to the kitchen, grievously troubled in mind and vexed in soul.

I have several words for this chapter. Again, I know what a few of them mean but couldn't give you a definition.

Parthian- Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot. (had no idea)
vexed-tossed about(okay?)
grippe- the flu(thought is was something like that)
consternation-a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay
twitted-to taunt, tease, ridicule (didn't know that, wish I could find this word again)

Anne's Bringing-up Is Begun (ch. 8)

Anne went and attended to the dishcloth. Then she returned to Marilla and fastened imploring eyes on the latter's face. I love the use of "latter's face" here. I don't think I've ever heard that before. It seems so much more interesting that saying "Marilla's face."

I do wish that Marilla had let her call her Aunt Marilla. However, I do agree with Marilla on one point. "When the Lord puts us in certain circumstances He doesn't mean for us ti imagine them away."

I loved the paragraph about the picture of Jesus and the children. What did you think?

fortnight - fourteen nights and days (didn't know that)

Tuesdays Quote

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all. ~Abraham Lincoln

Tuesdays Quote

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it. ~Oscar Wilde

Tuesdays Quote

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb

Anne says her prayers (Ch. 7)

"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair, said Anne reproachfully. People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about Him since." I love it!!!! LOL

heathen - an unconverted individual of a people that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible; a person who is neither a Jew, Christian, nor Muslim; pagan

I thought I knew what this word meant, but I just wanted to be sure.

reproach - to find fault with

Marilla makes up her mind (Ch. 6)

Well, she sort of makes up her mind. She didn't say they would keep Anne.

Nancy is the person responsible for Anne being at Green Gables. Did Nancy have an ulterior motive? Did she want a playmate? Or was she just being flighty? I'm so glad that Marilla decided not to send Anne with Mrs. Peter Bluett. Of course, Marilla didn't want the memory of a helpless little creature who found herself in yet another inescapable trap to haunt her until her dying day.

fractious - readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome:
benevolent - characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings
blight - the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues
superfluous - being more than is sufficient or required; excessive
gimlet - a small tool for boring holes (so Mrs. Bluett could bore holes right through a person)

Anne's History (Ch. 5)

So, just how nice and kind were Anne's caretakers? On page 41 (lol..in my book anyway) Marilla felt pity for the starved, unloved life Anne had had - a life of drudgery and poverty and neglect; for Marilla was shrewd enough to read between the lines of Anne's history and divine the truth. No wonder she had been so delighted at the prospect of a real home. I concur.

I did come across a word from chapter 4 but forgot about it. So I'll include it here.

abstracted - lost in thought
inculcate - teach persistently and earnestly
asylum - an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.

I wanted to look up the official definition for asylum because I had always thought it was only for the mentally ill.

Brook vs. Creek vs. Stream vs. River

As I was reading today I wondered what the difference is between a brook and a creek. Then I got to wondering about the stream and the river.

Dictionary.com defines them as...

Brook - a small, natural stream of fresh water

Creek - (in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.) a stream smaller than a river

Stream - a body of water flowing in a channel or watercourse, as a river, rivulet, or brook

River - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels

So a brook is smaller than a creek which is smaller than a steam which is smaller than a river. I'm just trying to decide if my grandpa's farm has a creek or a stream or a brook that runs along one side. It must be a creek considering it doesn't look nearly as lovely as the description sounds of the brook that streams by Green Gables.

Morning at Green Gables (Ch 4)

Okay, I'm caught up. How about you, keeping up? I am really enjoying this book. I have to share a quote from my dd. "I'm already tired of listening to Anne talk! She just goes on and on!" LOL

Finally the first chapter without any obscure words. I know obscure probably isn't the word I'm looking for, but I have a limited vocabulary. (I did go back and look up obscure and it means exactly what I wanted it to. Not easily understood)

Another favorite quote:

I had my quote almost typed out and decided to see if you can guess what it is. I will tell you that it is early in the chapter. What beautiful words they are.

Dictionary.com defines beautiful as having qualities that delight the eye. So beautiful isn't the word I'm looking for either. Honeyed is more how they sound to me. They almost made my mouth water and it didn't have anything to do with food. Can you find it?

Marilla Cuthbert is Surprised (Ch 3)

I can't imagine how broken hearted Anne must have felt. She was so set on having a "home" and felt as if someone finally "wanted" her.

My favorite line:

"Well this is a pretty kettle of fish, she said wrathfully."

I love that and intend to start using it!

I did have a few more words to define this time:

deprecatingly - to express earnest disapproval of: belittle
raiment - clothing; apparel; attire
perturbation - mental disquiet, disturbance, or agitation
predilection - a tendency to think favorably of something in particular

I'll end this post with this quote:

And upstairs in the east gable, a lonely, heart-hungry, friendless child cried herself to sleep.

Matthew Cuthbert is Surprised (Ch 2)

Poor Matthew couldn't get a word in! Thankfully he didn't mind.

I'd like to share my favorite line.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive - it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

My what an imagination she has! I love the name "White Way of Delight" and "Lake of Shining Waters." Don't they sound beautiful?

I kept wondering where they actually were. Finally their location was divulged (I had to consult the dictionary to spell this one.)

Here is what I found when I searched for pictures of Prince Edward Island.

Avonlea is a unique village in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island where tourists can venture to and relate to the world of Anne of Green Gables.

Avonlea is a fictional village that is set around the famous novel, Anne of Green Gables that was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Her childhood revolved around the farming communities of Prince Edward Island and Avonlea was inspired by her life while growing up here.

While visiting Prince Edward Island, be sure to take the family to the village of Anne of Green Gables, a day of excitement taking you back a hundred years to 1908 to the life that Lucy Maud Montgomery led.

I had to define :

sundry - everybody
wincey - a plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pajamas
witch - Archaic. to affect as if by witchcraft; bewitch; charm

Now, I know what most people think of when we read the word witch. I was just curious to see the definition as it pertained here. I think Anne had bewitched him. Or, in other words, she had charmed him. What are your thoughts?

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised (Ch 1)

Well, I finally have chapter one under my belt. I know that I am behind but I'll get caught up. My dd has decided to read with us also. She has a friend in Lubbock, Tx. that is going to read also. What a beautiful picture is painted of Green Gables.

"the big, rambling, orchard-embowered house....as far away as he possibly could from his fellow men without actually retreating into the woods....built at the furthest edge of his cleared land ...barely visible from the main road"

Sounds great to me.

I did have to look up the words embowered and betokened.

embowered - cover or surround with foliage
betokened - to give evidence of

So what is up with naming the houses? I love the names but where and why did that tradition start?