“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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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