“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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