Romantic At Heart

I must confess, I'm a romantic at heart! I do believe this started when I was in the eighth grade. During the summer my teacher had suggested a number of books to read - a couple were written by ladies with the same last name - Bronte. The rest is history! A true romantic was born.

Now, I've mentioned before our dear daughter and son-in-law lived in England for a couple of years. On one of our visits to see them, dear daughter had planned a trip just for me! You see, I had introduced her to the famous Bronte sisters. We hopped on this little steam train and headed to a little town, Haworth, on the Yorkshire moors. This, Dearest Ones, was the home of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

We were thrilled to see the magic and charm of this little town on the hillside.

Doesn't this just look like a fairy tale town?

But first things first! It's lunchtime and we had to have some Yorkshire Pudding - it is made from batter and most often served with roast beef, vegetables and served with gravy. Ye Olde Bronte Tea Room had to be the place!

After lunch it was time to tour the home (parsonage) of the famous Bronte sisters.
This is the only existing painting of the sisters. Anne is on the left, Emily in the middle and Charlotte is on the right. This portrait hangs in their home and was painted by their brother, Branwell Bronte, whom himself wrote poems. Look closely and you'll see an outline of a figure that is no longer there. He painted himself in, but later painted himself out. He lived a very troubled life.

These ladies were daughters of a very strict Anglican clergyman who was the pastor of this church. Their mother died at an early age. They all at one time went off to attend school, but eventually ended back up at the parsonage (their home).

The graveyard is right in front of the parsonage. It was eery looking, but at the same time beautiful.

The time of our visit was the end of October and the leaves were turning.

Elizabeth Gaskell, a friend, wrote their bio and that is how the world has come to know about their lives. She writes of three girls who grew up on the wild and isolated moors, spending most of their time together writing stories which was their passion.

Now to the romance...
This is the start of my romantic heart! How clever I am! ;) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Have you read it?

It was made into a movie in 1944! There is a newer version, but I still prefer the old black and white movie staring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells.

If you get the change to read this book - PLEASE DO! If you get the chance to see the old movie - PLEASE DO!

But this, Dearest Ones, is my all time favorite book by Emily Bronte - Wuthering Heights! If you've not read this, you really don't know what you're missing. This is a story told in a backflash by the housekeeper. She tells of a doomed and tragic love, conflicting passions and revenge. Ooooo...it's just wonderful! Cathy and Heathcliff, be still my heart.
This wonderful literary work was also made into a movie in 1939, staring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, before he was a 'Sir'! They both were at their most beautiful, I believe, in this movie. Again, there is a later version of this movie, but I just love the black and white one.

Look, Heathcliff, the heather on the moors...the heather!

Oh, just to look at this picture fills my heart with pain and my eyes are filling up with tears...

At the museum, look what is there: the headstone from Heathcliff's grave..

and the headstone from Cathy's grave.
Dearest Darlings, it's true, they don't make them like they used to...books or movies. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading some of the literature from these sisters, and even their brother wrote a book of poetry, go to your library and check out Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I don't think you'll be disappointed and you may find out ~ you're a romantic at heart, too!

Be sweeties,



I'll not leave you with a Note Song today, but some words that really go to my heart spoken by Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights:

"...and I pray my prayer - I'll repeat it till my tongue stiffens - Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you - haunt me, then! I know the murdered do haunt their murderers! I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is ununtterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT life without my soul!"