VINTAGE PARKS

Little Fannie Price of Mansfield Park could well be a little girl that delights in play about the waterfront of a town once known as Tuleberg. The Jane Austen classic of MANSFIELD PARK herein offers the view from a ten year old: "Of all my relations, My Aunt Norris has a shrill voice, however she is the one responsible for negotiating my stay at Mansfield Park. Her sister, my beloved Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, became Lady Bertram of Mansfield Park. Sir Thomas Bertram affords my fortunate aunt ~ with all the comforts and consequences of a most handsome estate. Mansfied Park is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the Bertrams have the income to maintain these vast acres very well while keeping the enormous barns filled with gallant stallions. Aunt Norris married Rev Norris who had not the luck of possessing such a fortune. My aunt Frances married a sailor and became Mrs Price and without sufficient income, gave birth to me, Fannie Price. Such is my luck, my fortune, to reside at Mansfield Park with cousins Juila Bertram aged 12, Maria aged 13, Edmund aged 16 and his brother aged 17. At first the grandeur of the house scared me. It did not comfort as it was too large to ever console me with memories of play on the floor with my brother William. The rooms were entirely too massive to feel warmth. They were decorated with furnishings too elite to be touched without fear of injury. Within my first week my cousin Edmund found me near the attic stairs, weeping. His gentle kindness was shared with exquisite manner and it was he that persuaded me to pass through the shrubbery and delight with him. Cousin Edmund, six years my senior inquired about my siblings during our first walk about the garden. Brother William was age 11 and Edmund urged me to write him a letter to make me feel better ~ and it did! Any Human Heart is refreshed when it has the occasion to rest in a city park. A family values time in parks for reunions and celebrations of love at weddings, birthdays or just basking in a good read. Children love playing in the fountain at Webers Point in Stockton. With the annual VINTAGE VALUE event soon coming ~ one can feel the electricity of anticipation building! Let us all renew ourselves and the fine City of Stockton with voluntary acts of interest in croquet with a view of the Delta on the waterfront~ Enjoy the inter active spring of water, and fill your soul with the sound of children at play or simply stroll the promenade and enjoy the panoramic river view.

Little Dorrit

Dickens is telling a story far too near to his own with the theme of these families forced to see many generations live behind prison walls for the want of a few pounds. The story is one of his strongest and this series tells it honestly and with an incredible strength of cast and script. Little Dorrit was born inside a debtors' prison and has lived her entire life working unendingly and without complaint to make her father's decades long imprisonment there more bearable. She is the first child born there; this fact and his former stature as a gentleman gives him an informal social superiority inside that he enjoys and uses as possible to his personal benefit. The arrival in London of Arthur Clennam from China to share with his mother the news of his father's death, pushes an already moving story into many surprising turns. Rich and poor, good and bad, people of all social circles find themselves pulled into confronting their changing fortunes. Some who find themselves well-off deal with their new situation far less well than those dealing with adversity. The scandalous secrets, strangling bureaucracy, and crippling debts collide in the compelling BBC/Masterpiece Classic adaptation of Charles Dickens' weighty novel, which debuted in serial form in 1855. Mrs. Clennam (Judy Parfitt), a shut-in, kicks the complex storyline into action when she hires 21-year-old seamstress Amy Dorrit(Claire Foy) just days before her son, Arthur (Matthew Macfadyen), returns to London after 15 years at sea. Amy lives with her proud father, William in Marshalsea, the debtor's prison where Dickens' own father did time. Despite his mother’s denials, Arthur becomes convinced that there's a connection between the Clennams and the Dorrits, so he attempts to solve the mystery on his own, with help from sniveling rent collector Pancks and hindrance from surly servant Flintwinch and the aptly-named Circumlocution Office. "Dash my buttons!" A good dialogue line to use for this award-winner set in 1820's pre-Victorian London. Dickens wrote about class tiers within society, levels of wealth, and the injustices that caused. The Emmy writer, Andrew Davies, condensed the novel, reorganized it's events, and added dialogue into making a series actually considered by some to be better than the Dickens book. That it won 6 Emmys. Dickens style was not lost. The series includes the caravan of peculiar, grotesque, quirky, and funny characters; the names being equally odd: Flintwich, Pancks, Fanny Sparkler, Pet, Tattycoram, Chivery, Tip, Affery, & Tite Barnacle. Dickens suspense was mingled throughout the 14 episodes, with the overriding plot related to "Do not forget" inside a watch, and "Make it right" a dad's dying last words, which remains unrevealed till the end (unless you've read the book). Each individual episode ends with suspense, just like Dickens wrote it originally when published in magazine form. PURE Dickens, but BETTER. Fabulous scenes, locations, costumes, hair, dialogue, props, cast, it's all perfection even Dickens would be proud of. You will fall in love with Amy, Little Dorrit way before Arthur! It tis a delightful adventure into period drama, humor sprinkled, intoxicating, till you can feel the grime of Marshalsea Prison, and sparkle to the glamor of the rich in Venice. A sensual presentation of a rags-to-riches tale.

SENSIBILITY Please

When Mr. Henry Dashwood dies, leaving all his money to his first wife's son John Dashwood, his second wife and her three daughters are left with no permanent home and very little income. Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) are invited to stay with their distant relations, the Middletons, at Barton Park. Elinor is our heroine in this epic novel and she is sad to leave their home at Norland because she has become closely attached to Edward Ferrars, the brother-in-law of her half-brother John. However, once at Barton Park, Elinor and Marianne discover many new acquaintances, including the retired officer and bachelor Colonel Brandon, and the gallant and impetuous John Willoughby, who rescues Marianne after she twists her ankle running down the hills of Barton in the rain. Willoughby openly and unabashedly courts Marianne, and together the two flaunt their attachment to one another, until Willoughby suddenly announces that he must depart for London on business, leaving Marianne lovesick and miserable. Meanwhile, Anne and Lucy Steele, two recently discovered relations of Lady Middleton's mother, Mrs. Jennings, arrive at Barton Park as guests of the Middletons. Lucy ingratiates herself to Elinor and informs her that she (Lucy) has been secretly engaged to Mr. Ferrars for a whole year. Elinor initially assumes that Lucy is referring to Edward's younger brother, Robert, but is shocked and pained to learn that Lucy is actually referring to her own beloved Edward. In Volume II of the novel, Elinor and Marianne travel to London with Mrs. Jennings. Colonel Brandon informs Elinor that everyone in London is talking of an engagement between Willoughby and Marianne, though Marianne has not told her family of any such attachment. Marianne is anxious to be reunited with her beloved Willoughby, but when she sees him at a party in town, he cruelly rebuffs her and then sends her a letter denying that he ever had feelings for her. Colonel Brandon tells Elinor of Willoughby's history of callousness and debauchery, and Mrs. Jennings confirms that Willoughby, having squandered his fortune, has become engaged to the wealthy heiress Miss Grey. In Volume III, Lucy's older sister inadvertently reveals the news of Lucy's secret engagement to Edward Ferrars. Edward's mother is outraged at the information and disinherits him, promising his fortune to Robert instead. Meanwhile, the Dashwood sisters visit family friends at Cleveland on their way home from London. At Cleveland, Marianne develops a severe cold while taking long walks in the rain, and she falls deathly ill. Upon hearing of her illness, Willoughby comes to visit, attempting to explain his misconduct and seek forgiveness. Elinor pities him and ultimately shares his story with Marianne, who finally realizes that she behaved imprudently with Willoughby and could never have been happy with him anyway. Mrs. Dashwood and Colonel Brandon arrive at Cleveland and are relieved to learn that Marianne has begun to recover. When the Dashwoods return to Barton, they learn from their manservant that Lucy Steele and Mr. Ferrars are engaged. They assume that he means Edward Ferrars, and are thus unsurprised, but Edward himself soon arrives and corrects their misconception: it was Robert, not himself, whom the money-grubbing Lucy ultimately decided to marry. Thus,x Edward is finally free to propose to his beloved Elinor, and not long after, Marianne and Colonel Brandon become engaged as well. The couples live together at Delaford and remain in close touch with their mother and younger sister at Barton Cottage.

Austen Fest in Bath 2010

The Jane Austen Festival in Bath occurs annually in September. It attracts thousands from all over the world. Fans of anything from the 1800's travel across continents to attend. Many take the time to prepare wardrobes to wear during the Promenade, the ball, and the teas. They enjoy the slower tempo of life and enjoy walking through gardens and playing croquet. Mr Darcy, Mr Knightley or Edmond Bertram could be seen to cause women to swoon! Darcy and Lizzy, Emma and Mr Knightley and Fannie Price and Edmond Bertram would spin with delight to see us at breakfast the day of the ball ~ then when we arrive at the grand ballroom we could expect a friendly hello!

WE GOT THE POWER

Oh my goodness, we GOT THE POWER to multiply the BLOSSOMS on the Vine, to magnify the BEAUTY of GOD's PRESENCE with a single Word of truth! "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 ~ and then to be reassured that all concern about what to say will be master fully handled! "But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:14-15 As appointed Ambassadors of Christ we are equipped with the full authority of the indwelt Holy Spirit! We do not need to blend in, we are set apart, to stand out, and to speak up as it is our blessed priviledge to use our voice on behalf of Jesus. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." Paul spoke this to the followers in Corinth. ~ 2 Corin 5:20"Calling the twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits." Mark 6:7 "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 2 Thess 1:11 "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess." Hebrews 3:1 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall" 2 Peter 1:10 "A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." Isaiah 40:3 Thank You Lord Jesus for calling us by name. We hear our Shepherd's call and we willingly and gladly follow. AMEN "But I tell you the truth: It is good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you but if I go, I will send Him to you." John 16:7 ---The summary of what John 16:8-11 means to me: "The Counselor comes to comfort, convict and guide us as He glorfies Jesus." As we pray for the Holy Spirit to teach us before we read our Bibles ---and as AMBASSADORS sent out to make His appeal --- when we utilize the exercise of listing the FACTS / LESSONS / ASKING QUESTIONS and RESPONDING to what God spoke to us ---this exercise enables us to discover the eternal truths revealed by the Holy Spirit. We can then share the method with others of how they too can personally hear God's voice speak to them. The method that Anne Graham Lotz teaches is like a recipe that boils down the Word in order to hear the voice of God speaking directly to your heart. We allow the Scriptures to simmer in our spirit, and it becomes more rich in flavor, more satisfying, more edifying as it feeds our hungry souls. We trust that whenever we ASK the Holy Spirit --- We receive. When we boldly ask for a personal message from God, we can then listen and expect to hear God speak to us personally through the Holy Scriptures. With this exercise we experience a fresh encounter with our first Love, Jesus, the Lover of our souls.
We ASK for the Holy Spirit to give us UNDERSTANDING, we pick out the FACTS, God gives us a personal LESSON in the TRUTH, we formulate a QUESTION, and the Holy Spirit convicts us to RESPOND, thus equipping us in our vocation to be His authentic voice in the wilderness. Halleluiah ~ AOC = Ambassadors for Christ. In Stockton they work at the Homeless Shelter feeding the hungry and doing acts of kindness while equipping those that ask "Where does your hope come from?" Recyle HOPE, Reuse HOPE, Restore HOPE. The Holy Spirit compels us to speak words. As Jill Briscoe says FAITH is just "doing it scared" while trusting the Holy Spirit to do His work. Loving Jesus with all our Heart, Mind and the Soul, requires us to mobilize our feet with acts of kindness. WE GOT the Bible babe! Let it empower you to speak and reconcile the lost to our Father who loves all, in all ways, eternally!

HEARING VIOLINS

America's First Great Master of the Violin: "'Listen to Maud Powell's violin. If you want to be transported to a heaven of delight by the pathos of a simple sweet song, -- if you want to feel the uplift which an evening of aesthetic enjoyment gives, or if you want to feel a thrill of patriotism because a great, modest, unaffected, true and vibrant talent has been born in the Western Hemisphere--in short, if you want to find out how much can be got out of a fiddle, go -- listen to -- Maud Powell.'" Maud Powell was born on August 22, 1867, in Peru, Illinois, on the western frontier in the American heartland. A pioneer by inheritance, she was endowed with the same extraordinary passion, integrity and vision that characterized her missionary grandparents and unconventional parents. Her grandparents had been Methodist missionaries in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois before the Civil War. Her father William Bramwell Powell was an innovative educator; superintendent of the public schools in Peru, then Aurora, IL, and finally Washington, D.C. Her mother Minnie Bengelstraeter Paul Powell was a pianist and composer whose gender precluded a career. Minnie and Bramwell's sisters were active in the woman's suffrage movement. Maud knew that "girl violinists were looked upon with suspicion," Powell boldly walked into a rehearsal of the all-male New York Philharmonic in Steinway Hall and demanded a hearing from Theodore Thomas, then America's foremost conductor. Deeply impressed, Thomas acknowledged his "musical grandchild" and hired her on the spot to perform the Bruch G minor violin concerto with the New York Philharmonic on November 14, 1885. New York critic Henry E. Krehbiel acclaimed the 18-year-old's debut performance: "She is a marvelously gifted woman, one who in every feature of her playing discloses the instincts and gifts of a born artist." At that time, American appreciation for her art was in its infancy with only five professional orchestras, no established concert circuits, and few professional managers. Solo engagements were difficult to obtain; doubly difficult for a female artist and an American since all orchestra players and conductors were male and generally German. Maud refused to be lured into a comfortable career in Europe. Her pioneering spirit preferred to face the challenges of the raw, uncultured American continent. From 1885 forward, Theodore Thomas's "musical grandchild" made it her mission to cultivate a higher and more widespread appreciation for her art by bringing the best in classical music to Americans in remote areas as well as the large cultural centers. As one of the most capable and thoroughly artistic violin players of her time, with a nature richly endowed with genius, character, and spirit. Maud Powell pioneered the violin recital as she blazed new concert circuits throughout the country, even braving the primitive touring conditions in the Far West to reach people who had never heard a concert before. Maud Powell's life of achievement ended the same year that the Nineteenth Amendment granting national suffrage to women was ratified. Upon her death on January 8, 1920, the New York Symphony paid tribute to this "supreme and unforgettable artist": "She was not only America's great master of the violin, but a woman of lofty purpose and noble achievement, whose life and art brought to countless thousands inspiration for the good and the beautiful."

LORD BYRON

"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in the aspect of her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face."

-Lord Byron