My Latest Heart-throb: Logan Lerman

He's a 19-year-old American actor.  He's been in films like The Patriot and 3:10 to Yuma, but I came across him when I saw Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Theif the night before last.  Well, ack-chellay I first saw him when I was browsing Skandar videos on you tube, and a video of Skandar and Logan pictures came up, so I clicked it.  Skandar is still my #1, but Logan is fine eye-candy as well.  The Lightning Theif was a cool movie, though I don't rank it with Narnia.  Percy is quite the hero, from battling a hydra to slaying Medussa *fangirl sigh* xD 

Love those eyes! And eyebrows! (Odd, I know, but I do)

Oh snap! A hydra!

My little sister thinks he looks like Zac
Efron, but I think Logan is the better-looking

Well, I'm back...

to quote my dear Samwise Gamgee.  Anywho, sheeshie! I've missed a lot.  On Wednesday, I went to a nearby city to celebrate my sister's 13th birthday by shopping and spending the night at a hotel.  So this is the first time I've been on since Wednesday.  Oh, while I was out shopping, I went to A.C Moore craftstore and they had their canvasses 50% off (Queen Elizabeth, I know you especially understand :)! I was so excited. And after I bought some canvass board and oil solvent (for my oil pastels), my wonderful grandmother  bought some watercolors for me! So, looks like I've an artistic weekend ahead.  I'll post what beauty may come of it.
At the hotel last night, we had pizza and cake.  And I'm always so happy when it's my older little sister's birthday because she likes the same cake as me.  So after some Hawaiian pizza (which is also my favorite) I lost myself in chocolate cake/buttercream frosting bliss.  I really did kinda lose it: after eating, I was chasing my two year old cousin around the lobby and sneaking and jumping around.  But it's so fun to be crazy.
Before we had left home, I stocked up my ipod with new songs: Weeping Willow and Lighthouse by The Hush Sound, Hello by Schuyler Fisk, Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon, Walking in the Air by Chloe Agnew, and I Don't Wanna Wait by Rosi Golan.  All awesome.  I also listened to Wunderkind on the way there, and it got stuck in my head like bubble gum in your hair.  Narnia has got some of the best music ever. EVER! And everyday I re-realize this: There is art. There is music. There is imagination. Life is good. Really good. In case you couldn't tell, right now I'm just happy to be alive to take it all in.
Well, enough of my ramblings; all this music talk has got me itching to write a song.
Fare thee well, readers beloved.

Music that Just Gets Me Right Here

May It Be and Concerning Hobbits from LotR are my music heartbreakers right now. When I hear them, it's just so beautiful I want to cry. This will take you to the May It Be music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhUhiDjID1I  I just love this song! It makes me think of Frodo and I love Frodo. There's a sort of deep sweet sadness about him. Check itunes for Concerning Hobbits because that one's really good too.
And huzzahness! The DBF has returned, with a beautiful new blog background and an even more beautiful Skedmund picture collection. This was a most pleasant surprise for me, only, I can't comment anymore. :(  But you're a smart DBF, so I'm sure you'll get fixed.
Ok, back to music. I am in a dilemma because my itunes wish list is like $19 long, and I have only $4 left from my gift card. Not good. Not good.  Those little $15 gift cards don't go far, ya know? 
Aside from listening to music, I've also been making it. I've been practicing the ones I've written, and also written a new one called "Full Moon Obscuring".  And one of these days, I'll post audios, because lyrics do so much more when backed by music notes. 
And finally, drama class was today.  We worked on movements to go along with a song from the musical Seussicals, practiced auditioning, and played some drama games like Taxi and Photo Story. I really love my drama teacher. And I love my fellow drama queens. Good times, good times.
And so, my beloved readers, a bid thee farewell.  Keep your chin up; spring will come!

And Even Another Poem

Sun or Storm

Happy what my life has been,

Happy where I be.

Content, but something's at unrest

Somewhere inside of me.

Comfortable and safe am I

Down here on the ground,

Yet flight instinct does overtake,

On my dreams 'tis found.

Why face the weather and the wind

When all is well at home?

Why leave support of family near

To venture on my own?

Goals and wishes in my heart,

A destiny untold,

My comfort zone is just to small

For pages to unfold.

Farewell my dear familiars,

Your thoughts shall keep me warm,

As I seek out what I must do

In sunshine or the storm.



Yet Another Poem

Refusal of the Flower

While walking down the road one day

To my planned destination,

An old man stopped me on my,

Proffering slight carnation.

From his earth-filled hands the thin stem reached,

Pink-laced at its end,

A pretty thing, though simple be,

And toward me seemed to bend.

"'Tis a gift," the old man said,

His wise kind eyes aglow,

"Take it, give it proper care,

Much beauty then will grow."

"I've not the time," I did reply,
Remembering my errand present.

"For such small things I tarry not."

Then on my way I went.

Aft time went by, I came upon

A girl in garden fair.

Such lovely blooms I'd never seen,

But the pink one in her hair.

"The carnation was a gift," she said.

"The old man said to grow it.

And so I did, though patience took.

Now look what I've to show it!"

I walked away, my head hung down,

And left her to her joy.

"What better place," I thought aloud,

"For my time to employ."

I'd lost the gift, what could have been,

Thanks to my neglect

Of small carnation that blessings held.

I shall forever regret.

My Body on Standby Mode

Okay, so on Tuesday, I had to go help my homeschool group scrapbook for our year book, and thanks to this, I missed lunch, which can sometimes bring on headache.  Then I had my first drama class of this year (and I was joyful to see dear familiar faces, Lady Hannah :))  in which we played this game called Murder.  Long story short, if someone winks at you, you die, and I got winked at, so I did this oh-so-dramatic death collapse.  Bad idea.  More headache.  It was a beautiful fall though.  I don't know whether either of these incidents had much to do with it, but yesterday and today found me tired, somewhat sickly, and achey in various places: head, lower back, legs, even stomach.  So basically, my body has been screaming "Go lay down, or I quit!" while my mind is as active as ever, saying "Go practice that song, go paint that picture, go post on your blog cause you haven't done so in days!"  My body won over a couple times, but for the most part, I let my heart, or head, whatever, rule my body.
Gosh, enough about pain already.  Let's have some Skedmund! 

Have you ever heard that song "You Make Me Smile"?  As I was uploading these pictures, that song kept playing in my head. :)





Thankful to Be Content

Today, I just feel happy with my life, even though I'm unusually tired and I had to bring in firewood.  When I look in the mirror, I think, "I like my hair.  I like my face.  My acne is clearing up nicely.  I'm glad God made me the way He did."  I'm not boasting, I'm just happy with who I am.  As I was doing my schoolwork, I was so glad that I can read and don't have some learning disorder, even whilst doing chemistry.  My house is small, but it's a house and it's warm.  Firewood is a drudgery to bring in, but we're saving money on fuel.  And when things do get tough, I've got a Savior who loves me and an imagination that takes me where I will.  Life is good.

It kinda made me think of this adorable video, even though I'm not THIS hyper:

LOL, I love this kid.

My plans for the remainder of the day are as follows: do some itunes shopping, paint a watercolor picture, practice piano, write a song or poem, make some ink, and watch The Two Towers.  In case you're wondering, I want to make ink because I have this cool feather pen and an awesome leather journal, so all I need is the ink to write like some one from a fantasy tale. :D

And speaking of fantasy, here's some humor:

Frodo considers quitting being
a hobbit.

Strider has a fear of spiders. Legolas
knows this, and is looking for a laugh.
Elves have a mean sense of humor. 

The Dragon that Saved my Life

Well, it didn't ack-chellay save my life, but it did give my artistic confidence a much needed boost.  Ever since the faerie queen drawing I did, my drawings have been rather disappointing.  So in a last desperate attempt, I followed a dragon painting book to create this Van Gough style dragon with oil pastels.  I'm pleased with the results, and will likely enter it in the state fair art competition this September.  Lemme know what you think! :)

The Band Perry

I like this country band of two boys and their sister.  I think I may like Kimberly Perry's voice better than Taylor Swift's.  I especially like the music video for their song "If I Die Young."  It's sweet and thought-provoking.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2nm

I have the words for yet another song.  This one came from a diary entry in which I noted the lovely pink clouds outside my bedroom window, and how they soon faded away.  I haven't named it yet, and I am in the early stages of getting a tune and rhythm going.  Can't wait to see how it'll turn out.

And, I found a really cute picture today...

I love inspiration

It's wonderful.  You never know when it's going to alight upon a branch of your mind.  I love going places, or looking outside, or just going to sleep because this glorious idea called inspiration could be floating around anywhere waiting to bless me. 
In this young year I have written four songs, which really has me giddy because one of my resolutions this year is to write 12 songs and like them.  The liking them part will be tough, as I'm really self-critical when it comes to music, but I'll keep going.  I'm a third of the way there already!
Last night, as I was complaining about the snow in my diary and how it is keeping me from getting out and doing fun things, I just randomly started writing this poem.  And this is how it goes...

At first I thought you glorious,
Was cast under your spell,
But what I once thought magic white
Is dull, now time doth tell.

Once thrilled by how you glistened 'neath
The beautifying sun,
My heart is sudden downcast now
The shielding clouds have come.

You do no longer sparkle;
You're blank in disarray.
So I'll sit here knowing you in truth
And watch you melt away.

Thus ends it.  I'm thinking about calling it "Frosty Disappointment" or something along those lines.  After I read this to my mom this morning, she said "So what was it about?"  And I think to myself, "Snap! Does that mean it's no good?" So explained what it meant to me, and she said "It made me think of snow."  I think, "Well, that was my inspiration, but 'I was hoping for something a little more original'."  Ah, well.  The minds of a middle age woman and a teenage girl don't often think on the same level. 

I am getting a bit discouraged with my art.  I drew a less than satisfactory picture of Susan the night before last, and I've been trying to draw the Dawn Treader with oil pastel, but it just isn't working.  So, I'm reading online about oil paints, and I think I may buy some and some canvasses to do the Treader and some other ideas I have.  Oh dear.  I see myself becoming one of those poor artists someday if I'm not careful...

Well, dear readers, here I leave thee.

What my name means

Today, I find myself fascinated with my name.  I've read in different books in the past that it means "little but strong".  And I think "Hobbits! Reepicheep!"  So today I googled Caroline Name Meaning and this is what I got:

Song of Happiness
Beautiful Woman
Free Man  >:0

Doing name searches is lots of fun, if somewhat scary, lol.  Oh, and I also looked up Skandar... wait for it... wait for it.... PROTECTOR OF MANKIND!  Love it!

And...
Here's some more Narnia humor:

The Goose Girl

Well, as I said in an earlier post, my little sister got me turned on to Shannon Hale's novels.  The Goose Girl, the first of the four Books of Bayern, is based on the Grimm's fairy tale by the same name.  The heroine, 16-year-old Princess Ani of Kildenree, can understand birds, has conversations with her horse Falada, and later discovers that she can hear and talk to the wind.  Her mother is sending her to the neighboring country of Bayern to marry the prince there, and create peace between the two countries.  But on the way, her lady in waiting, Selia (who has the enchantingly convincing gift of people-speaking) and half of her company rebel, saying that Selia should be the princess.  Ani narrowly escapes assassination, but gets separated from Falada.  Hungry and frightened, she follows the voices of birds to a small cottage, where the Bayern woman Gilsa takes her in.  Ani keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Isi, and she is soon on her way to Bayern's capital with Gilsa's son, Finn, for market day.  At the captial, Isi finds a job as a goose keeper amongst a poor group of teenagers from Bayern's large forest who keep the king's animals for a living.  While trying to plan a way to stop Selia, Isi begins to feel at home with the animal keepers, among whom are Enna and Razo (who star in later books). Also, while in the fields, she meets a young man named Geric (who I, for some reason, imagine looking like Ben Barnes), and finds herself falling in love with him.  As the wedding day for the false princess and the prince of Bayern draws near, Isi discovers that Kildenree and Bayern are headed for war, and if she doesn't act fast, it could mean the end of her home country.   Phew, that's a lot!  But each of the 388 pages in this book kept me spellbound.  There are quite a few "aha!", "oh no, this is the end!", and "oh thank heavens" moments.  That, the setting, the characters, and the climactic plot all blend together to make an upscale fairy tale!

Fantasy Humor: the best kind isn't it?

Just when he needs it most.  He ack-chellay didn't leave it; Caspian stole it! xD

Here's a link to a "Dorky Eragon" video on you tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UfDKAJQcFEE  These are funny sequences of clips from the movie, and each one has an odd story line to it.  I think it may be more funny if you've seen "Eragon" before.  This one is called "Eragon's ABC's" and his teacher is trying to explain a simple word to him, but Eragon just can't get it into his dense head.  When he finally does get it, he ends up blasting his instructor.  "Eragon is Obsessed with Brisingr", "Eragon Pesters Brom", and "Murtagh Wanted for Insanity" and many more by Dorky Eragon are hilarious too. 

Lucy's angelic goodness and unwavering faith in Aslan made her siblings feel guilty.  But instead of changing, they left her in England with the Scrubbs while they attended lovely parties in America.  Ed still feels a twinge of guilt though.

Run, Ed, RUN!!!

 

"My Favorite Things", Revised Edition

For some reason, "My Favorite Things", which is my favorite song from The Sound of Music, has been stuck in my head today.  Here's the link to the clip from the movie: http://movieclips.com/sLbjZ-the-sound-of-music-movie-my-favorite-things/  But, since "bright copper kettles" aren't the greatest thing in the world to me, and I've no idea what "schnitzel with noodles" is, I thought I'd put my own spin on this classic song:

 

Dryads in forests and naiads in rivers,                                                 

Blue-glowing short swords and long bows and quivers,                           

Magical wardrobes and powerful rings,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Unicorns braying and white elven waybread,

Dragons and hobbits, and sweeties in sleigh beds,

Griffins that fly with some handsome young kings,

These are a few of my favorite things.                                           

When the Just falls,

When the wraith calls,
When I'm feeling mad,
I simply remember that Aslan rules all,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Elves in fine dresses, and sailing ship paintings,                                        

King Edmund's brown eyes (oh snap, now I'm fainting,)

Brave, talking, young mice that know how to sing,

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the Just falls,                                 

When the wraith calls,

When I'm feeling mad,

I simply remember that Aslan rules all,

And then I don't feel so bad.                                     

I should totally record this one. :)

My poem and other random stuff

I wrote this poem about a month ago.  It kinda relates to my drawing, as well as other areas of my life:

Eraser Dust

Eraser dust, the trace of work

That scratched away has been.

Mistakes and stray lines all are gone,

Ne'er to be seen again.

Eraser dust, a trail that follows

Whate'er I try to do.

I'll work and write and make my strokes

Then obliterate, start anew.

Eraser dust, that nagging reminder

That I have erred in way,

And though I cannot see the gaffe,

Still yet it has been made.

But what would happen if this dust

I should cease to make,

And left my errors in plain sight

To look back on my mistakes?

T'would be no pleasure, that I'm sure,

To view what I did wrong.

But a backward glance ev'ry now and then

May improve a future song.

There you have it: my first poem in at least a year.

A pox on school.  Mind-numbing and unimaginative, school just takes up time that should be spent creating.  Ok, I know it's important for college and all that, but it is quite frustrating.  On top of that, sometimes my schoolbook itself contains distractions.  For example, in rhetoric I learn about emotional appeals.  When I read the word "emotional", in my mind there automatically pops up that press conference interview with Skandar and Georgie, and Skandar says in this funny high-pitched voice "it's really emotional!" (in reference to the end of The Dawn Treader.)  And then I start laughing and lose any attention I may have previously had in what I was reading.  And when my mom was giving my little sister her spelling test, one of the words was "groceries," so I think "Edmund, you're supposed to be helping me with the groceries."  And in another schoolbook I read something about doing what we set out to do.  I think of Frodo: "You're right, Sam.  We did what we set out to do..."  Grrr. Somehow I'll make it.

Speaking of Frodo, this link will take you to an interesting little piece of news on "The Hobbit" film: http://movies.msn.com/the-wrap/will-elijah-wood-appear-in-hobbit/story/?gt1=28101

I had an idea for this movie a while back: what if it would show Bilbo at the funeral of Drogo and Primula (for those of you who haven't read The Lord of the Rings, they are Frodo's parents, and they drowned when Frodo was 12 years old.)  And then Bilbo sees Frodo there, and pities him, and takes him in.  I don't know what the significance would be, but it would be interesting, I think.

Well, that's all for now.  Fare thee well.  

Tangled - Adorable Movie

Well here I am, fresh from my local theater to talk about Disney's Tangled.  It's the Rapunzel story, just a little bit funnier, more exciting, and more fun!  The story line, which I won't here detail, is a rather clever spin on one of my favorite fairy tales.  The soundtrack was great too.  And there was this one scene toward the end... oh,  I can't tell it, for it'd be a major spoiler, but it was just so sweet I almost cried.  The guy Rapunzel falls for, Flyn/Eugene is perhaps the most good-looking male I've ever seen in a Disney movie; animated, that is. (Edmund is the best otherwise, of course.)  I also found Rapunzel an easy character for me to relate to: protected all her life, but about to bust open with all the dreams inside.  She even likes to paint, read, and play guitar and sing!  It's also a visual  delight: the tower and it's location, the castle, the laterns...
Anyway, this is, in my opinion, definately one worth going to see (even my dad liked it!).  If you don't see it in theaters, rent it when it's released on DVD and Blu Ray.
And that's about all I've to say. Fare thee well! :)


Flyn and Rapunzel try to reach an agreement.



My Wild, Wacky, Wonderful Dream

I love dreaming, be it daydreaming, in which I control all, or night dreaming, in which it feels more like I'm ack-chellay living it.  Fantasy night dreams are the best, of course, and I was blessed with this one the night before last:

                                                    

That darned wizard Saruman is at it again.  Only this time, instead of using his Uruk-Hai to claim Rohan, he has convinced Miraz and his Telmarine army to side with him in his conquest of Narnia.  But we musn't let him have it.  As I watch Caspian and Peter ride off (on the same horse for some reason) with the Narnians, I realize that we are outnumbered.  So what do I do?  I go off with Pippin and Merry and talk Treebeard and the other ents into fighting for Narnia.  Thankfully, Gandalf the Gray shows up and destroys Saruman's staff. We arrive at the tower Orthanc (which is now in Narnia) just in time to help the Narnians out, and victory is ours within a short span of time.  Then my sisters and I go to Orthanc's back yard and find some delicious chocolate cake waiting for us.

Dreams.  I'm tellin' ya, I couldn't have come up with somethin' this wild if I was awake.  Unfortunately, I was not granted the joy of seeing Edmund anywhere in my dream.  But hey, Peter and Caspian... that's not too bad. :)

Artistic Me

Painting and drawing.  The fun thing about it is that you never know just what the result will be.  Well, one of the fun things; there's also the color, the creativity, the beauty...

Though I'm only an amateur, I thought I'd share some of my works.  Of course, almost everything I draw is fantasy: dragons, fairies, griffins, talking mice (you know who), marsh-wiggles (that didn't turn out so well).  For Christmas I received the wonderful gift of oil pastels.  Drawing with these vibrant beauties is like drawing with lipstick; I lose myself in their creamy bliss.  I haven't attempted any fantasy with those yet, but when I do, I have a feeling it'll be stunning.  I think maybe part of why I like fantasy so much is because of the colorfulness.


This is my first oil pastel drawing.
I chose a simple subject, since
I'm new to the medium.



This is, obviously, my dragon.  Now that I look at him, he kinda
reminds me of Eustace.



             



My faerie queen.  Simple pencil.  I may
do her again in color.

My Spa/Relaxation Day

Today, after I finished up my dull schoolwork, which included American Government (horrid), Chemistry, American History (blah), Rhetoric (horrid), Law (ack-chellay ok), and Health (blah), I soaked my feet in a mint soak while I read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (also for school, but I love it).  Then I used a pumice stone and a foot scrub.  My feet were singing thank yous.  After my pedicure, I applied a face mask and eye soothers and reclined for 15 minutes.  It was a lovely 15 minutes, daydreaming about being a princess, seeing elves and dragons, etc.  Anywho, I thought readers might enjoy these recipes I used:

Honey Banana Face Mask

Mash 1/2  of a ripe banana with 1 tablespoon of honey.  Apply to damp face.  Run two black tea bags and a washcloth under cold water, squeeze out excess water, and put one bag on each eye.  Drape folded washcloth over eyes and relax for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse mask off with cool water and pat dry.

Minty Foot Soak

Fill a large bowl or basin with warm water.  Place three herbal mint tea bags in water and soak feet in it for 10 minutes. Rinse feet with lukewarm water.

Sugar Foot Scrub

Mix 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and juice of 1/2 of a lemon.  Rub briskly over damp feet and rinse.

You'll feel fabulous!

Thoughts on Illustrators

   A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes.  I love to look at illustrations, as they give insight to the artist's take on the story.  Simple or elaborate, colorful or monochromatic, watercolor or oil paints, the variety is amazing. 
   I especially like Trina Schart Hyman.  Her bold paintings bring to life tales like St. George and the Dragon, The Kitchen Knight, and The Canterbury Tales.  I also fancy Alan Lee for his graceful watercolor illustrations for The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  K. Y. Craft's paintings for several traditional fairy tales exude a warm, eye-soothing glow, and John Jude Palencar's cover art for The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini is some of the most beautiful dragons I've ever seen.  Juliana Kolesova's cover designs for Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern are a visual delight as well.
   I can't leave a discussion on illustrators without mentioning Pauline Baynes, who illustrated The Chronicles of Narnia.  While not my favorite pictures, there is a pleasing sort of childhood simplicity about them.  Nevertheless, I would like to see a more intricately illustrated edition of the Narnia series.  Perhaps I'll become that illustrator...

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Several months ago, my younger sister borrowed a book entitled Princess Academy from the library.  My mom read it to her, then told me I would probably like it.  I wasn't so sure; it seemed to me like it was for the 9-14 age group.  A bit young for me.  But I read it anyway.  It was a delight from beginning to end. 
14-year-old Miri lives in a small village on the fictional Mt. Eskel, where everyone works in the quarry, chiseling away for linder, the village's only trade item.  Miri, however, is too small to work in the hazardous quarry.  She wants to help her village succeed, to see their lives improved, but performing children's chores like keeping the goats doesn't seem to do much.  When the villagers receive word that the lowlander prince is seeking a bride, and that she is to come from the mountain, Miri, along with the other teenage Mt. Eskel girls, gets sent to a makeshift school down the mountain aways to learn how to be a princess of the lowlands.  Anticipation builds as the welcoming ball for the prince draws near.  Yet Miri feels torn between this new exciting world and her home, where she knows her pa and older sister miss her and love her.  And then there's Peder.  Her childhood friend, Peder is about the only boy who pays attention to little Miri.  She's begun to feel strange, exciting feelings for him, and she's not sure she'd want to give him up, even for a prince.
Tension mounts to the "can't-put-it-down" point, and the ending is one that leaves you with a good feeling down inside.  This wonderful tale was definitely worth my while; Miri is such an admirable character, one that girls of all ages can befriend and relate to easily.  Princess Academy is one of those stories with which a girl can't go wrong.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to "Beneath the Mallorn Tree."  On this blog I'll be posting book and movie reviews, news on fantasy entertainment, and just about anything to do with Narnia, Middle Earth, and other worlds. 
   A word on the title: The mallorn  is a beautiful tree that grows in the elfin realm of Lothlorien in Middle Earth.  They grow to extreme heigths, and if I had one growing in my yard, I know that beneath its branches would be my thinking spot!