Idlewild Cottage

Wintering with Laura, Jo, and Anne Feb 20, 2024

“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder 1916

We'll step into the following books and movies to delight in the "everyday things around us" by way of wrapping up our "wintering" season at Idlewild Cottage:

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Little Women" (1994 film)

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944 film)

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954 film)

"On Moonlight Bay" (1951 film)

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946 film)

"Pride and Prejudice" (1995 film)

"I Guess I Haven't Learned that Yet" by Shauna Niequist

"Anne of Windy Poplars" by L. M. Montgomery

Philippians 4:8

Wintering: Part 1 Feb 06, 2024

Over the course of two episodes, I’ll be sharing a few of my wintering activities with you, connecting them to excerpts from the stories and movies we have grown to know and love together here at Idlewild Cottage.

Works Shared:

"Book of Stillmeadow" by Gladys Taber

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pride and Prejudice" (1995 film)

"Betsy in Spite of Herself" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Anne of Avonlea" (1987 miniseries)

"Cristofori's Dream" (composed by David Lanz)

"Where Winter Waits" (a Spotify playlist)

"Old Year Leaves" (poem by H.T. Mackenzie Bell)

"The Music Man" (1962 film)

"Summer Magic" (1963 film)

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944 film)

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (1953 film)

Psalm 96:1

Favorite Things Jan 23, 2024

Hello, kindred spirits, and welcome back to Idlewild Cottage. It is a delight to gather together once again - after quite a long break - for our winter series. This will be a shorter, every-other week series this time around, but I do hope it will still provide “all things lovely and cozy” for you in this quiet little corner of the podcast world.

Throughout our time together today, we’ll jump into several literary moments in which beloved heroines find joy in their "favorite things."

Works Shared:

The Sound of Music (1965 film)

“Heidi” by Johanna Spyri

“The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Heaven to Betsy” by Maud Hart Lovelace

“Anne of Windy Poplars” by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Psalm 16:11

A Spirit of Gratitude Nov 14, 2023

Hello, kindred spirits, and welcome to episode 40 here at Idlewild Cottage. This marks the last episode in our autumn series. I’ll be taking some time away from the cottage - going on holiday, so to speak - and plan to pick back up with winter content in the coming weeks. As we gather today in anticipation of Thanksgiving, I’d like to center our thoughts on gratitude. Specifically, we’ll step into four literary scenes in which some element of sacrifice, gratitude, or generosity breaks the barriers of pride, softens hearts, and cultivates lasting friendships.

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

Psalm 100

November With Anne Shirley Nov 07, 2023

“It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines.” Lucy Maud Montgomery’s pen brings each month to life like no other. Now, this month does mean the wrapping up of the fall content here at Idlewild Cottage. We’ll share together in one more episode next week, and then break until the winter season arrives. For now, as we step cozily into November, we’ll continue to take our cues from Maud, in the form of Anne Shirley. Following our beloved heroine through several November scenes, we’ll discover that - true to form - she has a knack for seeking out beauty wherever she goes.

Works Shared:

"Anne of Green Gables" (all "Anne" titles by Lucy Maud Montgomery)

"Anne of Avonlea"

"The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery" Vol. 1

"Anne of the Island"

"Under the Umbrella" Idlewild Cottage Episode 9

"Anne of Windy Poplars"

"Anne's House of Dreams"

"Anne of Ingleside"

Psalm 95

Around the Table Oct 31, 2023

As autumn steals quietly on and the days shorten, our attention shifts to embrace the cozy indoor rhythms of home. One of these rhythms, both by necessity and by delight, is that of gathering around the table. This gathering may be as formal as a company meal, crowded with guests and overflowing with delectables; or, it could be as simple as bread and cheese before the fire. Today, we’ll peek into several feasts, imagining our way through an entire day, from breakfast through dinner.

"Anne of the Island" by L.M. Montgomery

"Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" 1954 film

"One of the Family" painting by Frederick George Cotman

"Swallows and Amazons" by Arthur Ransome

"Anne of Avonlea" by L.M.M.

"Emma" by Jane Austen

"Pride and Prejudice" 2005 film

"Heaven to Betsy" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

Psalm 23

Moments of Mystery Oct 24, 2023

All great stories have some element of surprise, suspense, or mystery about them. Often this is precisely what keeps us turning the pages to see what happens next. As autumn draws on, many readers reach for cozy mysteries. This week, I thought we’d step into several mysterious moments from a few of our favorite stories. Now, these books aren’t actually mysteries, but the element of suspense definitely keeps us wanting to read more.

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Drift Off Bedtime Stories (Podcast)

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"Gone Away Lake" by Elizabeth Enright

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

"The Moonspinners" 1964 film

"That Darn Cat" 1965 film

"Arsenic and Old Lace" 1944 film

"Meet Me in St. Louis" 1944 film

"Hide 'em in Your Heart" album by Steve Green

Psalm 56:3

A Home by Any Other Name Oct 17, 2023

Throughout our time together today, we will step into several literary homes, finding that their names alone have the power to conjure up images, memories, sensations. Can you guess the books connected with the names of each home?

Works Shared:

"Anne of Windy Poplars" by Lucy Maud Montgomery (L.M.M.)

"Pat of Silver Bush" by L.M.M.

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Illustrator Charles Robinson

"Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

"Rebecca" 1940 film

"Mother Carey's Chickens" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"Summer Magic" 1963 film

"Anne of Avonlea" L.M.M.

Psalm 127:1

A Trip to the Library Oct 10, 2023

On this cozy October day, I’d like to invite you into the library of Idlewild Cottage. Though imaginary, I can just picture the ceiling to floor wooden bookcases . . . the fire crackling merrily on the hearth . . . the plush chairs, just the right shape and squishiness for curling up with a good book . . . and yes, the pot of tea to fortify our intellectual endeavors. As we pull books off the shelves together today, we’ll step into several literary and cinematic library scenes.

Works Shared:

"Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown" Maud Hart Lovelace

"Betsy in Spite of Herself" Maud Hart Lovelace

"Sense and Sensibility" 1995 film

"Little Women" Louisa May Alcott

"My Side of the Mountain" Jean Craighead George

"All of a Kind Family" Sydney Taylor

"The Philadelphia Story" 1940 film

"Good News" 1947 film

"The Music Man" 1962 film

"Beauty and the Beast" 2017 film

"My Fair Lady" 1964 film

Proverbs 4:13

A World Where There Are Octobers Oct 03, 2023

I do believe our dear Anne Shirley said it best: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” Welcome to this October day, my friends! In celebration of this vivid month, we’ll weave our way throughout several favorite books, seeking out idyllic October settings along the way. You’ll find that Lucy Maud Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott very much take center stage!

Works Shared:

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Betsy Was a Junior" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Anne of Windy Poplars" by L.M. Montgomery

"Anne of Windy Poplars" 1940 film

"Eight Cousins" Louisa May Alcott

"A Gathering of Days" by Joan Blos

"Mrs. Miniver" by Jan Struther

Merrily Singing the Harvest Home Sep 26, 2023

There’s a merry hustle and bustle in the cottage yard here today, for it is time to join the merry harvesters and bring home the fruits of the season. And so, let’s don our work aprons, straw hats, and kerchiefs and step into several works - books, poetry, scripture, and art - gathering a variety of crops, from apples and pumpkins, to cranberries, honey, and more.

Works Shared:

"Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy

Artist Julien Dupre: The Harvest, Peasants Stacking Hay, The Haymakers

"Singing, the Reapers Homeward Come" (hymn)

"Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little Men" by Louisa May Alcott

"Walden" by Henry David Thoreau

Idlewild Cottage Episode 7: "Fall Foraging"

"Stillmeadow Daybook" by Gladys Taber

"Under the Greenwood Tree" by Thomas Hardy

"Pilgrim's Inn" by Elizabeth Goudge

"Harvest of the Soul" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Galatians 5:22-23

Fleet Horses on the Autumn Wind Sep 19, 2023

Join Ken McLaughlin, Velvet Brown, Almanzo Wilder, and more as our literary and cinematic friends experience the thrill and delight of horsemanship.

Works Shared:

"My Friend Flicka" by Mary O'Hara

"National Velvet" by Enid Bagnold

"National Velvet" 1944 film

"Billy and Blaze" series by C.W. Anderson

James Herriot's Treasury for Children: "Bonnie's Big Day"

"The Man from Snowy River" 1982 film

"The Man from Snowy River" poem by Banjo Paterson

"Jessica's Theme (Breaking the Colt)" by Bruce Rowland

"Little Men" by Louisa May Alcott

"Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The Man of the Forest" by Zane Grey

Psalm 8

A September School Day Sep 12, 2023

Hello, kindred spirits, and welcome back to Idlewild Cottage! It is a delight to gather together once again as we turn our thoughts toward fall. The month of September naturally brings to mind back to school images, so during our time together today, we’ll journey through an old fashioned school day with several literary friends. Now, our journey will pay no heed to time or place. Rather, we’ll piece together a school day from beginning to end, following the experiences of Betsy Ray, Anne Shirley, Laura Ingalls, Christy Huddleston, and more.

Works Shared:

"Heaven to Betsy" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"Christy" by Catherine Marshall

"The Country School" 1871 painting by Winslow Homer

"On the Banks of Plum Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Vol. 1

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"Glengarry School Days" by Ralph Connor

A Place Called Idlewild May 30, 2023

Today marks the last episode in our spring series. Now, I’m not entirely sure what this summer and the future of Idlewild Cottage will look like, so in the meantime, I’d love to leave you with a tribute to several sweet childhood haunts and hideaways in literature. We’ll begin, most fittingly, with Anne Shirley’s very own Idlewild, which - as you may have guessed - is the inspiration behind the name of this podcast.

Works Shared:

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"Rainbow Valley" by L.M. Montgomery

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The Saturdays" by Elizabeth Enright

"The Holiday" (1938 film)

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Psalm 55:22

Frills and Furbelows May 23, 2023

If you were with us last week, you may recall the scenes with Frightful the Falcon preening her feathers and Mary Lennox’s robin friend showing off his sleek red waistcoat. As spring skips along in riotous color, so our literary friends primp, preen, and put on their finest in today’s episode. Now, we have just two more episodes in our spring series. So today, let’s imagine ourselves dressed in our sweetest organdie frocks with parasols swinging and hats nodding as we cherish a fleeting visit on the Idlewild Cottage veranda. We’ll step into six scenes as several book characters prepare for various events. We’ll also note how fashion changes along the way.

Works Shared:

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell

"Betsy in Spite of Herself" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery

"Meet Me in St. Louis" by Sally Benson

"Hello, Dolly!" (1969 film)

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944 film)

"Summer Magic" (1963 film)

"Mary Poppins" (1964 film)

"The Music Man" (1962 film)

"My Fair Lady" (1964 film)

"Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel" (1987 miniseries)

Hail to Thee, Blithe Spirit May 16, 2023

Just as Percy Bysshe Shelley was swept into the poetry of the skylark’s dance in the first two stanzas of his immortal work, so we will take a moment today to open a few literary passages that sweep us into sky, island, garden, parlor - and even a schoolroom - in admiration of birds.

Works Shared:

"To a Skylark" poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley

"My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

"The Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann Wyss

"The Wheel on the School" by Meindert DeJong

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

"Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery

Mother-Love May 09, 2023

September 1921: " The most universal sentiment in the world is that of mother-love . . . . it is the strongest force in creation. It holds within its sheltering care the fulfillment of the purpose of creation itself. In all ages, in all countries it is the same - a boundless, all enveloping love." (Laura Ingalls Wilder) As we look toward Mother’s Day, we’ll join Laura Ingalls Wilder in celebrating this boundless, all-enveloping mother-love. It’s a love that is expressed in many ways, as we’ll see through our time together today.

Works Shared:

"Little House in the Ozarks: The Rediscovered Writings" of Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little House on the Praire" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little House on the Prairie" television series episode: "Country Girls"

Artwork: Mary Cassatt's "Young Mother Sewing" 1900: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10425

"Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie

"Louisa May Alcott: Dreamer and Worker" by Belle Moses

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbit

"Mother Carey's Chickens" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" by Margaret Sidney

"I Remember Mama" (1948 film)

"Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950 film)

"Room for One More" (1952 film)

"The Swiss Family Robinson" (1960 film)

The Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Vol. 2

Isaiah 40:11

Where Time Stands Still (Part 2) May 02, 2023

If you were with us last week, you’ll recall that we started our two-part series, “Where Time Stands Still,” with a number of moments in which our literary friends are swept into the beauty of nature. We joined Heidi on mountain tops, Ratty and Mole on an island, Laura and Mary on the prairie, and more. This week we’ll continue with this delight, shifting our focus to majestic waters. From the humble stream to the powerful sea, we’ll invite time to once more stand still as we step into the pages of several favorite stories.

Works Shared:

"By the Shores of Silver Lake" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The Yearling" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

"Rose O' the River" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot

"Anne's House of Dreams" by L.M. Montgomery

"Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth Von Arnim

"Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard

Where Time Stands Still (Part 1) Apr 25, 2023

Some of my favorite literary moments are those in which the main character finds him or herself still and quiet in the overwhelming presence of nature, soaking in the vastness of the blue sky, the immensity of towering firs, the ruggedness of majestic mountains, or the power of raging waters. For the next two episodes, we’ll linger over a number of scenes, both on land and along the water’s edge, where nature causes time to stand still for the beholder. This week finds us on land, savoring a number of vistas, from wild mountain summits to the more cultivated orchard.

Works Shared:

"Golden Rowan" by Bliss Carman

"On the Banks of Plum Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Christy" by Catherine Marshall

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" by John Fox Jr.

"My Friend Flicka" by Mary O'Hara

"Adventures in Contentment" by David Grayson

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

"Pilgrim's Inn" (Book 2 in the Eliot Family Trilogy) by Elizabeth Goudge

"Kilmeny of the Orchard" by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Psalm 95

Cuts, Curls, and Catastrophes Apr 18, 2023

Spring fever is to blame for any number of hasty decisions. The feeling of restlessness that follows winter’s chill and inactivity often prompts our literary friends to burst out of their shells, just like tulips and daffodils, desperate for a change. That change is not infrequently directed to the human head. Specifically? Our impulsive friends reach for the scissors, curling rods, or hair dye when longing for a new look. Now, many times the results are just as lovely and welcome as they hoped they would be. But sometimes . . . well, sometimes regret is the stronger emotion. Throughout our time together today, we’ll highlight some of the more humorous hair escapades, as well as a few of the lovely successes. Now, these scenes aren’t necessarily all set in the spring, but I do hope you’ll indulge me, as we turn the pages toward these literary cuts, curls, and catastrophes.

Works Shared:

"Betsy-Tacy and Tib" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Heavens to Betsy" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"Little House on the Prairie" (Television series: S4.E6)

"Little Town on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pollyanna" by Eleanor Porter

"Little House in the Ozarks: The Rediscovered Writings" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A Wee Cuppa: Duck, Duck, Goose Apr 11, 2023

I hope you had a lovely Easter and that this season’s signs of life continue to bring you joy, beauty, and encouragement. One of those signs of life is the marked increase in the bird population! Today’s episode is what I call a Wee Cuppa - a bit shorter than usual, but just as cozy . . . and today, somewhat fluffy, too. For today, we will find joy in the soft, downy feathers of the ducks and geese that make their presence known in farmyard, wayside pond, and other favorite literary haunts.

Works Shared:

"Anne's House of Dreams" by L.M. Montgomery

"The Diary of a Goose Girl" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

"The Tale of Tom Kitten" by Beatrix Potter

"Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey

"The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck" by Beatrix Potter

"The Story About Ping" by Marjorie Flack

"Petunia" by Roger Duvoison

"Tasha Tudor's Mother Goose"

"Angus and the Ducks" by Marjorie Flack

"Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm" by Alice and Martin Provensen

Psalm 104:10-12

The Open Road Apr 04, 2023

Spring carries with it numerous possibilities: rows on the river, picnics in shady glens, seeds tucked into fertile soil. As I explore favorite books, I see that spring also welcomes another form of adventure: as the earth warms and muddy paths gradually dry, our friends eagerly take to the open road. Now, Walt Whitman’s lines invite the traveler to take to "the open road" on foot, but today we’ll travel "the long brown path" by wagon, horse and carriage - and finally, the automobile.

"Song of the Open Road" poem by Walt Whitman

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little House on the Prairie" television series, Season 6, Episode 25

"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery

"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" by Kate Douglas Wiggint

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

"The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery" Vol. 2

"Betsy in Spite of Herself" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Summer Magic" (1963 film)

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (1953 film)

"Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950 film)

Irish Blessing

Setting the Stage Mar 28, 2023

Welcome back to Idlewild Cottage, where the daffodils are nodding, the earth is warming, and the winds are as fitful and fickle as ever! It is a joy to be with you, my friends, as we step into this new season. Early spring is a time in which the stage is set for many adventures and activities, from planning a garden to simply enjoying more time outdoors. Throughout our time together today, we’ll enjoy literature, art, and a few movie scenes where spring is stepping into the spotlight, setting the stage for all sorts of possibilities.

Works Shared:

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

"Mary Poppins" (1964 movie)

"Anne of Green Gables" (1985 movie)

"Anne of Ingleside" by Lucy Maud Montgomery

"The Lilac Fairy" art by Cicely Mary Barker https://flowerfairies.com/the-lilac-fairy/

"Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The Yearling" by Marjorie Rawlings

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954 movie)

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944 movie)

An Unlikely Romance Feb 28, 2023

Many of our favorite movies and stories end happily ever after with expected matches: we expect Anne to marry Gilbert, and we expect Laura to marry Almanzo. But what about the love that blossoms unexpectedly? In today’s episode, we’ll wrap up a month of love - and our winter season as well - with the unlikely romances found among several literary and cinematic couples.

Works Shared:

"Fiddler on the Roof" (1971 movie)

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"My Fair Lady" (1964 movie)

"Little House on the Prairie" (Season Six, episodes 23-24)

"Anne of the Island" by L.M. Montgomery

"Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen

"The Sound of Music" (1965 movie)

"The Music Man" (1962 movie)

"The Philadelphia Story" (1940 movie)

"Sabrina" (1954 and 1995 movies)

Psalm 100

Next of Kin Feb 21, 2023

Valentine’s Day may be behind us, but here at Idlewild Cottage we’ll keep love at the center of our hearts for a couple more episodes, wrapping up our series next week. So far we’ve explored the love between sisters and the love shared among kindred spirits. This week we’ll shift our attention to next of kin. It’s not an uncommon theme in literature for a child to be brought up by an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. Though the relationships may begin on rocky ground, they ultimately end in newfound love and gratitude.

Works Shared:

"Pollyanna" by Eleanor Porter

"Pollyanna" on Librivox: https://librivox.org/pollyanna-by-eleanor-h-porter-2/

"Summer Magic" (1963 movie)

"Eight Cousins" by Louisa May Alcott

"Emily of New Moon" by L.M. Montgomery

"The Secret of Roan Inish" (1994 movie)

"Rowing With Grandpa" (painting by Frederick Morgan)

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte

"The Inheritance" by Louisa May Alcott (also a 1997 movie)

Psalm 121

Anne's Kindred Spirits Feb 14, 2023

Happy Valentine’s Day, kindred spirits! This month we are celebrating loving relationships, both in literature and in our favorite movies. Because Idlewild Cottage is a community for kindred spirits, I thought it would be most fitting to step into the world of Anne Shirley for Valentine’s Day. Anne is the most kindred of kindred spirits, and she takes her relationships seriously. We’ll take a look at four significant female friendships throughout Anne’s life and draw some connections from those to other favorite stories and movies.

Works Shared:

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

"The Sound of Music" (1965 movie)

"Beauty and the Beast" (2017 movie)

"Betsy-Tacy" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery

"Christy" by Catherine Marshall

"Anne's House of Dreams" by L.M. Montgomery

"Miss Potter" (2006 movie)

No Friend Like a Sister Feb 07, 2023

As we step into a month that is traditionally set aside as a tribute to love, we’ll look at a variety of loving relationships, both in literature and on the silver screen. If you’re listening to this episode on the day of its airing - February 7th - then today is the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder. And so, I thought it would be fitting this week to celebrate the love shared between sisters. For, as 19th century poet Christina Rossetti wrote, “there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather.”

Works Shared:

"Little Town on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The Parent Trap" (1961 Movie)

"Lisa and Lottie" by Erich Kastner

"Green Dolphin Street" by Elizabeth Goudge

"Louisa May Alcott: Dreamer and Worker" by Belle Moses

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

"Lark Rise to Candleford" by Flora Thompson

"Meet Me in St. Louis" by Sally Benson

"The Sisters" painting by Ralph Peacock

Psalm 116

Winter Evenings in the Parlor Jan 31, 2023

As we wend our way through the winter series at Idlewild Cottage, we’ll center our thoughts this week on the many indoor entertainments that kept evenings lively in an age when parlor games, artistic pursuits, and plays were all the rage. Children and adults alike called upon a creativity and ingenuity that just might inspire us to have an electricity free evening this winter, as well.

Works shared in this episode:

"Sense and Sensibility" (1995 movie)

Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (magic lantern slide illustrations)

"Invincible Louisa" by Cornelia Meigs

"Jack and Jill" by Louisa May Alcott

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte

"Kit Kittredge" (2008 movie)

"Anne's House of Dreams" by L.M. Montgomery

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri

Winter Medley Jan 24, 2023

I hope you are warm and cozy following last week’s episode, because it’s time to bundle up and head back out into the winter wonderland to enjoy a medley of merry scenes, from winter walks to snowy snacks! Here at Idlewild Cottage, January is always dreamily filled with just enough snow and ice to make the out of doors both fun and magical.

Works shared in this episode:

"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

"The Snowy Day," by Ezra Jack Keats

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte

Poem: "February Twilight" by Sara Teasdale

"My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

The Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery (Vol. 1)

"Little Women" (1994 movie)

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"Mother Carey's Chickens" by Kate Douglas Wiggin

"Heaven to Betsy" by Maud Hart Lovelace

"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Psalm 119

A Wee Cuppa: Come in Out of the Cold Jan 17, 2023

For the past couple of episodes, we’ve soared and sailed, slipped and skated over snowy and icy landscapes. This week, we’ll take a few minutes to come in out of the cold and cozily tuck ourselves indoors. Our literary and cinematic friends will do the same. This episode is what I like to call a "wee cuppa." It will be a bit shorter than a full length episode, but will still carry the warmth and nostalgia that -- I hope -- is characteristic of this space.

All Shod With Steel Jan 10, 2023

The winter merriment continues this week as we explore literary and cinematic moments . . . on ice! Ice skating is such a beautiful sport, it's no wonder our beloved heroes and heroines take to ponds, rivers, brooks, or lakes whenever the temperatures drop.

Over the Fields of Snow Jan 03, 2023

Happy New Year, kindred spirits, and welcome to our winter season here at Idlewild Cottage! For the next several episodes, we’ll celebrate the magical coziness connected with this time of year, from snowy outdoor frolics to warm indoor gatherings. During our time together today, we’ll soar through a number of literary and cinematic scenes connected with sleds and sleighs.

Bonus: A Fireside Christmas Dec 13, 2022

Merry Christmas, kindred spirits! I’ve been so eager to pop back in this month to share this special bonus episode with you. During our Christmassy time together today, we’ll revisit some of our all-time favorite stories, from Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, to Little House on the Prairie and even a Charles Dickens gem. Each of these classics draws us near the crackling fire in a meaningful way. Let's peek into the pages of these stories -- and some corresponding film adaptations as well -- to delight in the atmosphere of an old fashioned Christmas by the fire.

Giving Thanks Nov 15, 2022

As we wrap up our autumn content here at Idlewild Cottage, let’s turn our attention to the joy, gratitude, and abundance that characterize this season.

Under the Umbrella Nov 08, 2022

As prosaic as it sounds, an umbrella does allow us to step out into the changing world to seek out the hidden treasures of the season. I’ll be sharing a number of umbrella-related scenes today. May they inspire us to find beauty as the year ages and the landscape shifts more and more toward winter.

A Wee Cuppa: Choose Your Own November Nov 01, 2022

There are no wrong answers in today's "Choose Your Own November" (decidedly cozy) adventure!

Fall Foraging Oct 25, 2022

"Nut gathering has all the aura of tradition with us. With old gunny sacks over our shoulders, we climb the pasture slopes." (Gladys Taber)Today we’ll look at both the pleasurable and practical nature of foraging for treasures such as berries, nuts, and herbs. We’ll draw on literature, art, a movie scene, and more to inspire our time together.

Hunter's Moon Oct 18, 2022

If you had your eye on the horizon a couple of weekends ago, and if the weather conditions were favorable in your area, you likely caught a glimpse of the stunning hunter’s moon stealing its way across the night sky. This mesmerizing luminary has been the admiration of writers, poets, and artists since the beginning of time, and will inspire our time together today, as well.

Literary Letters Oct 11, 2022

In his Manifesto, Wendell Berry challenges the efficient ones: “So, friends, every day do something that won’t compute.” Snail mail doesn’t compute. It’s not the way of efficiency. But it is a way to meaningfully connect with others. And so, during our time together today, we’ll look at books, movies, poetry, and art that celebrate the old-fashioned craft of letter writing. It may even inspire you to write a letter of your own.

Rah, Rah! Sis-Boom-Bah! Oct 04, 2022

If we were to each make a collage composed of items representing the coziness of fall, I imagine a lot of similar images would come to mind. Likely we would choose vibrant leaves, hot beverages, plump pumpkins, and plaid scarves. Now, I want you to envision your own collage for a minute. What else might you add? Perhaps red-capped mushrooms? A crackling fire? This week at Idlewild Cottage, we're going to tuck one more image into that collage: a football. Now, I know football isn’t what you might call a “cozy” sport, but during our time together today, we’ll explore some of the cozier aspects of this favorite pastime. As usual, we’ll glean from favorite books and movie scenes, and this week we’ll also check out a couple of songs.

Autumn Picnic Sep 27, 2022

Let’s take advantage of the “maturing sun” and ripened fruit today, and slip into the woods that lie just beyond Idlewild Cottage. For a sunny day in autumn is simply begging for a picnic. Toting wicker baskets and checked blankets, we’ll hunt up the perfect spot for our merry little feast. As always, we’ll draw inspiration from favorite books, art, nature, and movies.

One-Room Schoolhouse Sep 20, 2022

As we make our way through the month of September, it seems quite fitting to center our thoughts for a little while on school days. Now, when I think of school, multiple images come to mind. Naturally, I think of my own school days and my kids’ school experiences, but where I most like to let my imagination wander is in quite a different setting. The old-fashioned, one-room schoolhouse has always been a romantic ideal in my mind. So, during our time together today, we’ll draw inspiration from books, poetry, art, and movie scenes that are in some way reminiscent of this theme.

The Apple Orchard Sep 13, 2022

"Conversation at tea time should be tranquil . . . a time to rest the spirit, remember pleasant things.” (Gladys Taber, Stillmeadow Daybook.) Here at Idlewild Cottage, my hope is to provide you -- my fellow kindred spirits -- with a quiet space to linger over "pleasant things," throughout each episode. Today’s “pleasant thing,” is the Apple Orchard. We’ll enjoy some book selections, poetry, nature study, a memorable movie scene, a painting, and even a tea blend -- all paying tribute to this idyllic autumn setting.

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