Ask Me Anything - My Answers!

'Tis time for the answers to the questions you all asked me on my "Ask Me Anything" post a couple of weeks ago! I'm just going to jump right into them, since this post will likely end up being a bit long anyways. :)

Rae Asks...

How many siblings do you have?

I have three wonderful siblings--one younger brother, and two little sisters. There is scarcely ever a dull moment in our house! ;P

What's your favourite season AND why?

Autumn/fall, for several reasons. The trees during this time of year are just gorgeous, all decked out in their various hues of red, yellow, and orange, and the weather (at least where I live) is wonderful--not too hot and not too cold! I also love being able to wear my sweaters and scarves (of which I have an abundance), sip hot chocolate in the evenings, and hear the leaves crunching beneath my shoes when I go for walks. Autumn just seems like such a festive, cozy time of year as well, what with Thanksgiving, and Christmas fast approaching. Plus, my birthday is in fall, so perhaps I'm a little biased towards this season. ;)

I took this picture last year on my birthday at--you guessed it!--Colonial Williamsburg.

What are some of your "hidden talents", the ones that people don't really notice but you have a gift for?

I'd like to think that I do a pretty good job at cooking and baking, and it's something that I don't think many people know about me. (Although I'm not sure that it involves much talent on my part; I mostly just follow other people's recipes!)

In your opinion, who is the handsomest period drama hero? (Ha. Ha. Easy, right?)

Oh, Rae, why must you ask me such a difficult question?! 

Alright, alright, I think I've decided...I'm going to have to go with Gilbert Blythe. Shocker, right? ;P
He's just so sweet, adorable, and very handsome, in my opinion.

Michaila Asks...

What is your all-time favorite Jane Austen book chapter?

What a fun question! Can I pick two instead of just one? I can? Well, thank you! ;) *pulls JA novels off bookshelf and starts flipping through them*

Okay, first is Vol. Three, Chapter 16 in Pride and Prejudice. This is where Mr. Darcy proposes to Lizzy for the second time, she accepts, and then they overcome all their former misunderstandings. I especially love this line from Mr. Darcy in this chapter:

"'You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.'"

Oh, and I can't forget the part where he calls Lizzy "dearest, loveliest Elizabeth"! 

I've totally used this picture on my blog before, but it's so cute that it deserves to make another appearance. ;)

My other favorite would have to be Vol. Three, Chapter Thirteen of Emma, in which Mr. Knightley proposes! Oh, this is such a sweet chapter. Here are a couple of my favorite lines from it:

"'My dearest Emma,' said he, 'for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma--tell me at once. Say "No," if it is to be said.'--She could really say nothing.--'You are silent,' he cried, with great animation; 'absolutely silent! at present I ask no more.'"

"'I cannot make speeches, Emma:' he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.--'If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about more. But you know what I am.--You hear nothing but truth from me.--I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.--Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them.'"

Elanor Asks...

What's your favorite place in Disney World? 

Magic Kingdom, definitely! 

I took this photo on our most recent trip to Walt Disney World, in May of last year. :)

Who is your fashion icon?

Hmm... I can't really say that there's any one person whose style I keep up with. Instead, most of my style inspiration just comes from various fashion bloggers and, of course, Pinterest. :)

What's your favorite movie of all time?

My favorite movie of all time?! I don't know if I can choose just one, so I think I shall list my top three faves instead: Emma 2009, P&P 1995, Anne of Green Gables. (Okay, technically those are mini-series, but oh well!)

What is your greatest strength?

I'd like to think that I'm good at sticking with something once I set my mind to it, in most cases. ;) I'm also not a huge procrastinator; if there's something that needs to get done, I like to work on it as soon as I can, or else it hangs over my head. (Unless we're talking about schoolwork; then I can tend to be a very good procrastinator!)

Are you more of a country girl or a city girl?

I am definitely more of a country girl! I think I would choose a nice house surrounded by trees and fields over an apartment in a big city any day. I do enjoy visiting large, bustling cities for the sightseeing and shopping, but I wouldn't want to live in one. I realized this all the more after visiting New York City; I had a wonderful time, but I was so glad to see trees and greenery once again on the way back home! 

Have you read all of Jane Austen's novels yet? Which is your favorite?

I have read all of her six major novels except for Mansfield Park, which I am currently reading for the first time. As for my favorite, I'm torn between P&P and Emma, because both are just so, so good!! However, I think I'm going to go with Emma this time. I'm just in an Emma sort of mood at the moment, after watching the first two episodes of the 2009 adaptation again last night. ;)

Also, while we're on the topic of Emma, I just feel like saying that Mr. Knightley has officially become my favorite Jane Austen hero! I've always been torn between him, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Tilney, but after re-reading Emma earlier this year, he's definitely moved up to the top of my list. He's such a sweet, caring, honorable, funny character, and I love him.

MovieCritic Asks...

What is your favorite animal?

Okay, so I'm really not much of an animal person (does that make me sound heartless?), but I do rather like cats. My family has two (one of which is named Gilbert--can you guess as to whether or not I had a hand in choosing that name?), and they are both very sweet, although they do a pretty good job at getting on my nerves every now and then, too! ;P

Here's a cute picture of Gilbert from when he was a kitten, all sprawled out on my JA coloring book.

What is your favorite song?

I'm not sure I have one particular favorite song, but one that I really like is "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" from White Christmas. It's my favorite song (and scene) from the movie!

What song do you have stuck in your head right now? 

Now it's "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing!" Haha.

What is your favorite (Not Jane Austen) movie?

How about I shake things up a bit and tell you my favorite Disney movie? It's Tangled. :)

Drawing or writing?

Drawing, definitely. While I do enjoy writing, I don't love it nearly as much as I do drawing (and I don't believe I'm as good at it, either!). 

Here's a sketch I did the other day of Emma, based on this photo.  

Favorite Anne of Green Gables book?

Anne of the Island is probably my favorite of the bunch. I love reading about Anne's college experiences, and the ending is just perf. I also really, really love Rilla of Ingleside, and of course, Anne of Green Gables.

Favorite Bible verse?

I have so many, so I'll just give you one of them:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5

I just love this verse. It's so encouraging, and an excellent reminder to rely on God's strength and wisdom instead of our own!

Rachel Asks...

What's your favourite Jane Austen movie?

When I've answered this question before on tags, I've always said Pride and Prejudice 1995, but now I think it's actually Emma 2009. It's just so bright and cheerful, what with the gorgeous costumes and the amazing soundtrack (which is sadly no longer on Spotify! *sobs*). I love Romola Garai's portrayal of Emma, and Jonny Lee Miller is awesome as Mr. Knightley.

I wonder how many times I'm going to use Emma 2009 in my answers before the end of this post... ;)

Where would you rather live, on a farm in the country or in a big house in England?

Probably a big house in England, because it would likely be surrounded by gorgeous countryside, anyways. More specifically, I'd like to live at Pemberley, or Hartfield, or somewhere like that. ;P

Who's your favourite actress?

I don't really keep up with any actors or actresses, so I wouldn't really say I have a favorite. However, I do like Megan Follows for her portrayal of Anne Shirley, and Romola Garai for her portrayal of Emma. I haven't seem them in anything else, though!

Who's your favourite actor?

Hmm... Let's go with Jimmy Stewart. He was such a great actor, in my opinion!

Favourite ice cream flavour?

Vanilla bean, preferably in an ice cream cone!

If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

Maybe the forties or fifties. Or the Regency era. Both would be pretty great (for a little while, that is; I think I'd probably start to miss some of the modern conveniences that we enjoy today!).

What's your favourite Period Drama couple? (pick at least five)

Oh, good, I can pick several! Let's see... (These are going to be in no particular order, and none of them will likely come as a surprise to you!)

Anne and Gilbert

Emma and Mr. Knightley

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy

Catherine and Mr. Tilney

Jane and Mr. Bingley

Do you have any brothers and sisters? (If it is too personal, I understand)

I do, indeed! One younger brother, and two little sisters.

Favourite movie quote?

I've never really thought about this before! Hmm... I do love the quote below from Northanger Abbey 2007. It cracks me up every time!

Which country would you love to visit?

Canada, specifically Prince Edward Island.

Horse or donkey? (silly question, I know)

A horse, definitely. :)

If you could meet anyone, who would that be?

All of you lovely readers! Seriously though, that would be amazing.

Mr Darcy or Gilbert Blythe?

Wait, I have to choose between them?! Why, that's preposterous!

Ha, just kidding. Honestly, as much as I love Mr. Darcy, I think Gilbert Blythe is much more like the type of guy that I'd probably fall for. He's sweet, funny, smart, caring, thoughtful, hardworking...you get the picture!

Alright, that's all! If you've actually read all the way to the end of this post, thank you!!! I feel as though my answers were pretty repetitive, but I hope you've enjoyed this post nonetheless. :)

-Molly