10 Favourite Screen Characters Tag

When looking for new ideas for blog posts, I suddenly remembered that Heidi had tagged me with The 10 Favourite Screen Characters Tag a long, long time ago.

Well, better late than never...

Just to make this a bit more challenging I am mentioning characters I solely know from the screen (Which means no book to movie adaptions where I have read the book)

So without further ado... here they are:



Rapunzel (Tangled)

I love her because she is adorable, artistic and awestruck by everything she meets and she has such a positive attitude despite her locked up life. Oh, and not to forget...she is surprisingly apt with a frying pan - gotta love a princess who can defend herself using kitchen utensils.




Ella (Cinderella)

I gotta say I'm just so in love with everything regarding this new Cinderella adaption. My favourite part of it was the way they managed the portrayal of Ella - very true to the original fairytale but without making her weak and passive. She is just so good and kind it almost radiates of her and the way she manages to hold onto that through all the distress she is put through is just admirable.

Anna (Frozen)

Don't worry, this post is not being completely taken over by Disney princesses, but I can't pick favourites without mentioning Anna. I mean, she is the first Disney princess who is awkward, clumsy and looks realistically in the morning - all traits that make me love her more. Besides that she is fiercely loyal towards her sister - even when she does nothing to deserve it - and is really selfless.




Peggy Carter (Captain America)

Well, here comes a completely different genre. Peggy Carter is, in my opinion, the ultimate feministic role model. She is tough, constantly proves her worth to her male colleagues and at the same time she is not at all afraid of being feminine. Another bonus is the series is set in the 40's so I use a lot of time swooning over her gorgeous outfits, hair-do's and make up.

William Buxton (Return to Cranford)

Considering he only played a supporting role, he completely stole the show for me. I mean, is it possible not to love William? He is sweet, kind, funny, honorable, stands up to his father to defend his fiancee and is not afraid to follow through, even when it means he has to work hard. (That he is played by Tom Hiddleston is only a bonus)



The Doctor (Doctor Who)

Again, I couldn't pick favourites without at least mentioning the main character of my favourite show ever! How do you describe the Doctor? Considering he has been played by 4 different actors, each with their own personality (and that is only the reboot), you can safely say that he is an extremly complexd and layered character. But he is always really entertaining and funny with many quotable lines, quite crazy and very deep at times.

Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Yay, a chance to  mention Rory again. (Don't think I have done so since my very first post years ago) You can't say the name Rory Gilmore without also saying books, so of course she will be one of my favourites. Who wouldn't love a teenager who prioritises reading over random socialising, who brings a book everywhere she goes and whose idea of a perfect saturday is browsing the book shop for hours? That and she really knows her popular culture. (I'm not even kidding. Everytime I actually understand a reference in that show I feel so clever)

Captain Hook (Once Upon A Time)

                                        

No list is complete without at least one pirate. If he happens to be roguishly handsome (his words, not mine), secretly have a heart of gold and have quite an extensive vocabulary you have most likely met Captain Hook. As this show is known for, they give quite a twist to what we thought we knew about the character, which in his case makes him one of my favourites in the entire series. 

Phoebe Buffay (Friends)

                                              

If it isn't clear by now, I tend to like the crazy ones. Phoebe is no exception. I love that she is wholly untraditional and proudly embraces her weirdness as completely normal for her. That and she has some great lines.

Abby Sciuto (NCIS)

                                               

Abby is a character full of contradictions. On one hand she dresses like a goth, on the other hand she is the most positive person in the series. She seems happy-go-lucky and sometimes acts like an overexcited child when introduced to new tech, but at the same time she is the best at what she does and produces results unimaginably quickly.  I also love how she is always bribed with Caf-Pow and the fact that she sees her team like her extended family and therefore is fiercely protective of them.




So...this is it. I gotta admit that is one of the most diverse list I've made in a long time.
Do you agree with my list?

As it is a tag, I should probably tag someone in return. So if you read this and feel an urge to make your own list consider yourself tagged.

Inkling Explorations and Railways

                        

Well, it is once again time for Inkling Explorations. This month has a gorgeous theme: a scene happening around a train or a train station.

I know the possibilities are endless, and I spent quite some time thinking on them. When I heard the theme I immediately thiught of North & South, Miss Potter and several other heartwarming goodbyes or reunions between lovers, but on further thought I remembered what my absolute favourite railway scene is.

It is from "Rilla of Ingleside", which in itself has quite its share of train station scenes, but the one that tuches me the most and bring me near tears everytime is this scene near the end of the book where Jem Blythe returns and is welcomed by his faithful dog, who has been waiting for him for four years:

"One spring day, when the daffodils were blowing on the Ingleside lawn, and the banks of the brook in Rainbow Valley were sweet with white and purple violets, the little, lazy afternoon accommodation train pulled into the Glen station. It was very seldom that passengers for the Glen came by that train, so nobody was there to meet it except the new station agent and a small black-and-yellow dog, who for four and a half years had met every train that had steamed into Glen St. Mary. Thousands of trains had Dog Monday met and never had the boy he waited and watched for returned. Yet still Dog Monday watched on with eyes that never quite lost hope. Perhaps his dog-heart failed him at times; he was growing old and rheumatic; when he walked back to his kennel after each train had gone his gait was very sober now--he never trotted but went slowly with a drooping head and a depressed tail that had quite lost its old saucy uplift.

One passenger stepped off the train--a tall fellow in a faded lieutenant's uniform, who walked with a barely perceptible limp. He had a bronzed face and there were some grey hairs in the ruddy curls that clustered around his forehead. The new station agent looked at him anxiously. He was used to seeing the khaki-clad figures come off the train, some met by a tumultuous crowd, others, who had sent no word of their coming, stepping off quietly like this one. But there was a certain distinction of bearing and features in this soldier that caught his attention and made him wonder a little more interestedly who he was.

A black-and-yellow streak shot past the station agent. Dog Monday stiff? Dog Monday rheumatic? Dog Monday old? Never believe it. Dog Monday was a young pup, gone clean mad with rejuvenating joy.

He flung himself against the tall soldier, with a bark that choked in his throat from sheer rapture. He flung himself on the ground and writhed in a frenzy of welcome. He tried to climb the soldier's khaki legs and slipped down and groveled in an ecstasy that seemed as if it must tear his little body in pieces. He licked his boots and when the lieutenant had, with laughter on his lips and tears in his eyes, succeeded in gathering the little creature up in his arms Dog Monday laid his head on the khaki shoulder and licked the sunburned neck, making queer sounds between barks and sobs.

The station agent had heard the story of Dog Monday. He knew now who the returned soldier was. Dog Monday's long vigil was ended. Jem Blythe had come home."

For more beautiful train related scenes or stories, don't forget to check out the link-up at Sharing the Journey.

The Big Vacation Post

You may have noticed I've been absent from the blogging world for quite some time now. The main reason is vacation - lots of it.

"So, where did you go?" you probably ask.

Well, I'm glad you're asking.

I went to LONDON! For a week! And me and my friend had a great many adventures.

Off course we did the obligatory things: spent a lot of time sightseeing and shopping and using the Underground (which in itself was quite entertaining because I just read Neverwhere).

                                           

But the highlight of the tour was when we went to the theatre and watched Phantom of the Opera!!! 

That was just brilliant!! Firstly the actors were fantastic! Georònimo Rauch, who played the Phantom was just amazing, and even though I couldn't help comparing him to my favourite Phantom (Ramin Karimloo) he certainly held up his own, and it was quite interesting to watch how he interpreted the character differently in some of the key scenes.

I wasn't so sure about Harriet Jones, who played Christine, in the first act, but after her stunning delievery of "Wishing you were somoehow here again", I promised myself never to think a bad thought of her portrayal again. 

I think the highlight of the entire play was that scene where Christine and the Phantom sails across the lake. Just imagine the stage full of smoke and lights, and on top of all it is happening 20 meters from where you sit! It was almost unbelievable.

(Sorry for my long rant - sometimes a little fangirling is neccesary)

On to other subjects - books! One day we found the largest bookstore I have ever seen. Just imagine 5 floors filled with books of all subjects, and a whole depatment just dedicated to classics. We spent some blissfull hours there.

Surely you can't go to London without visiting at least one park, so off course we did that too. My favourite was St. James Park, which had a big lake filled with all kinds of ducks and birds, some of which I have never seen outside my ornithology books. And it had squirrels too!

Another highlight of the tour was when we visited British Museum. The collection is so big that it is quite overwhelming for a history lover as myself.

To make it even more excited we had a guided tour with a Bible theme, so we spent a lot of time hearing of the old Assyria and Babylon, watching all those inscriptions and prisms that I have read so much about and hearing how the archaeology fitted with the Bible's story of events. Really exciting!

We did a great lot of other things that I honestly don't remember (too many adventures in a short time apparently affects the memory).

The rest of my vacation was a lot more laid back, and mostly spent in my family's summer house, but I will save that for another post.

Have you had any vacation this summer?

The Great Book Giveaway Bonanza

It is here at last! 

Hamlette is hosting a collection of book giveaways on her blog, and there are some fine titles to choose between this far.

So if you love books (and even better free books) check out the giveaways at all the blogs. 

Inkling Explorations and Violets

There is a new literary link up starting at Heidi's author blog for lovers of good stories, and especially for those who love finding funny little details in stories.

This month's theme is violets! 

It took me quite some time to think of a book where violets were mentioned (and I may have had to rely on Heidi's hints to possible stories), but I went with an excerpt from " By The Shores of Silver Lake" by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

"There was Grace! There in a great pool of blue sat Grace! the sun shone on her golden hair blowing in the wind. She looked up at Laura with big eyes as blue as violets. Her hands were full of violets. She held them up to Laura and said: "Sweet, sweet". 

 Laura sank down and took Grace in her arms. She held Grace carefully and panted for breath. Grace leaned over her arms to reach for more violets. They were surrounded by masses of violets blossoming above low spreading leaves. Violets covered the flat bottom of the large round hollow. All around this lake of violets, grassy banks rose almost straight up to the prarie level. there and around the low place the wind hardly disturbed the fragance of the violets. 

The sun was warm there the sky was overhead the green walls of grass curved all around and butterflies fluttered over the crowding violet faces"

I always loved this chapter of the book with the wonderful description of a dreamy hollow of violets in the middle of the prarie.

For more scenes of violets check out the link-up at Heidi's blog.

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

As I have probably mentioned before spring is my favourite season and has quite a peculiar effect on me. Something about it just makes me think about all the little things I love about life.

So I decided I would share some of them, but be warned - just like Maria I have quite a few favourite things.

Favourite flowers

Well roses of course




Also Peonies




Ranunculus




And dahlias





Favourite smells

The smell of freshly mowed lawn, is there anything better? Maybe the smell of freshly dried hay.




Also, that special smell when it has just rained.



Ooh..and not to forget the smell of freshly baked bread




Favourite view

Close to my family's summer house is this gorgeous view point called Vejrhøj. It's a great little hike up the hill, so I persuade them to go there every year.

Favourite nature phenomena

A sunset, no doubt



Maybe if I get to see Northern Light someday that would take first place, but that hasn't happened yet.


Favourite outdoors activities

Walking in nature of course, it sets the imagination free.




Reading in the sunshine - a combination of two of my favourite things.




Favourite words

I really love words! Not just the meaning of the words but the words in themselves. There are so many pretty words, and I especially love the old fashioned and seldom used ones.
Most of my favourite words are in English (I think that is because it isn't my first language).

Felicity - a pretty name, and a lovely meaning.

Petrichor - means the smell of dirt after rain.

Bouncy - such a funny word, and it immediately places an image in my mind.

And not to forget the German word Frühling (means spring), it's just such a cute word.




That was only a few of all the things I love.

What are some of your favourite things?

Random Questions Tag

Naomi had created a wonderful random tag, and I have been tagged by both Olivia and Heidi, so prepare for a long post.

The rules for the tag are:

~ Paste the button onto your blog post.

~ Leave a new list of questions (or just pass on the question list you answered) and tag a few people of your random choice (and say why you tagged them, if you have time!) (Be original and nonsensical in your question-creativity - make the blogging world a cheerful place :-) And be disastrously random.)

Now for the fun...

~Write down three facts about you - one of them is WRONG. Let your commenters guess in the comments which one is wrong (and tell them in the comments after a while)
~Answer the questions of the person who tagged you - make it all super random and interesting
:-D

Firstly 3 facts about me (well actually only 2 of them true, but which ones?)

1. My favourite colour is green

2. I wear glasses

3. I am not a morning person

And now onwards to the questions!

Olivia's Questions:

~ Animated movies - what's your opinion?

I love animated movies dearly. I grew up with them and have many happy memories involving them. 

~ Do you prefer earbuds or headphones?

Earbuds.

~ What is one thing it seems like everybody loves but you (could be a book, song, movie, author, actor, 

food, whatevs)?

Almost all my friends are crazy about Downton Abbey, but it just never caught on with me.

~ Do you have flowers in your room (yes, yes, I'm stealing this question from ya, Naomi)?

Not in my bedroom, but in my living room I always have flowers in the spring. Right now I have 2 small roses and some cherry branches.

~ Do you like the sound of keys on a keyboard clicking?

I love that sound. To me it means I am on a writing spree and makes me feel very productive.

~ Who is one fictional character whom you absolutely loathe with a burning passion? *evil grin*

That is actually a really hard question! I had to go through my reading log just to remember which characters I dislike. 

I really hate Milady De Winter from The Three Musketeers. She's just evil!

~ Are you a procrastinator?

Oh, yes! I even procrastinated writing this post for several days.

~ Shoes or no?

Well, they are a requirement most of the time, but I don't wear shoes if I can avoid it.

~ What are three movies that take you back to the dear old days gone forever (look, I quoted Little Dorrit!  Oh, and meaning your childhood)?

Lady and the Tramp - I was crazy about that story when I was little. (Even gave up several months' allowance just to get a Lady plushie)

The Ugly Duckling - an animated movie I could watch on repeat. 

I simply cannot think of a third. Most of the movies from my childhood are old Danish movies which I'm sure no one of you have ever heard of.

~ Pens or pencils?

Pens.

Heidi's questions:

~ Do you love the color pink?

Yes!! 

~ Your favorite book set in ancient times?

I just realise I haven't read that  many books set earlier than the Middle Ages.
One book I love, is The Edge On The Sword by Rebecca Tingle. I takes place in England in the 800s and follows a young noblewoman - it is really exciting.

~ What color is your bedroom?

White. I know, kind of boring but it fits with anything.

~ Do you like traveling?

Yes, very much. To travel is to live (I didn't make it up H.C. Andersen did). Exploring new cities and countries, it is just wonderful.

~ Your favorite animated film?

Frozen.

~ The shortest you’ve ever cut your hair?

When I was very little my hair was as short as a boy's. But that was my parents' choice.

The shortest I have cut it myself is just below the ear.

~ Your thoughts on butterflies?

So pretty!

~ Do you enjoy putting together puzzles?

Funny you should ask that question. It is one of my favourite pastimes. I spend most of my summer vacation doing them, and buy new ones each year.

~ Do you get excited when the daily mail arrives?

Not particularly. Only if I see an envelope that isn't a bill.

~ A favorite spring-ish period drama dress?

This is the part where I'm supposed to tag people but seeing that all the ones I want to tag have already done posts of their own, I'll just leave the questions and you can answer them in a comment if you like (or make a post if you'd rather do that)

~ What is something you love about spring?
~ Favourite colour?
~ Favourite ice cream flavour?
~ A song that makes you happy?
~ Favourite author when you were a child?
~ Do you like fairytales?
~ Favourite flower(s)?
~ Something that makes you nostalgic?

I'm looking forward to your answers!