Of Bird Song and Elegant Economy~

Good morning, dear friends!

Last night must have surely worn out Mr. Jack Frost, for he has covered every hard surface with beautiful, though sharp-looking crystals. The other day he did the same, and the sun came out and transformed everything into a beautiful fairy-land. As we drove into town, we felt that we had quite literally walked into a story book! I was certainly glad that there was no one else on the road, as I was most definitely not focusing only on driving :) .





I wanted to share with you my beautiful breast pins that were hand-crafted by my dear friend Lynn, of A Mother's Journal~

This one I bought from her brand new Etsy shop, A Bit of Bird Song~

And this one she sent me because she loves me :) .

Aren't they just perfect? Lynn has been quite busy, crafting sweet birdies, pins, and other magical things! I feel very blessed to have come to know her and her family through her blog.

Have you had a chance to watch the BBC's "Cranford" and "Return to Cranford", on PBS' Masterpiece Classics? The girls and I watched them both online, since we don't have television access. We have all fallen in love with the story, and the many little happenings of the simple, gentle folk of this small, fictional English town. I ordered the book by Elizabeth Gaskell and have been enjoying reading it, very much.

One of the things that I loved the most was learning the term "Elegant Economy". I believe that words are very powerful, and can change our perceptions of things. The ladies in Cranford are for the most part "of reduced circumstances", but all of them practice what they call "elegant economy", being careful with their funds, yet genteel and refined. Here is how Mr. Webster defines the words "elegant" and "economy":

elegant: Polished; polite; refined; graceful; pleasing to good taste; as elegant manners.

economy: A frugal and judicious use of money; that management which expends money to advantage, and incurs no waste; frugality in the necessary expenditure of money. It differs from parsimony, which implies an improper saving of expense. Economy includes also a prudent management of all the means by which property is saved or accumulated; a judicious application of time, of labor, and of the instruments of labor.

Isn't that wonderful? From now on, we shall be putting into practice "elegant economy" when we shop second hand stores and yard sales for beautiful, useful household goods and clothing, and when we reduce, reuse, and recycle! :)

Here is wishing you a most beautiful day,

Love,

Marqueta

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" 'Elegant economy'! How naturally one falls back into the phraseology of Cranford! There, economy was always 'elegant', and money-spending always 'vulgar and ostentatious'; a sort of sour-grapeism, which made us very peaceful and satisfied." ~Elizabeth Gaskell