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going gluten-free

I've been baking all week. Most creations are yummy, some are not; all are gluten-free. All I have to say is that this kind of baking is a learning curve and a half! Oh, and sorry about the empty plate—the apple-stuffed crepes were so good, I forgot all about my camera until I swallowed the last bite.

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Uploaded on Nov 3, 2009

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~*~

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Uploaded on Oct 28, 2009

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in the hands of a woman

I've been on a Jane Austen kick lately. Pride and Prejudice, Emma {the new BBC One tv series is fantastic, by the way}, Mansfield Park, and all the rest—I simply cannot get enough. However, after I finally ran out of books and simply let my mind dwell on the brilliance of her writing, it occurred to me that every single one of her 'highly accomplished' women played either the piano or the harp. What about my beloved fiddle?

Well, the Victorian era was one of odd prejudices and social strictness, and as it turns out, the violin was considered best played by a man. Part of this stemmed from the shape of the instrument, "inspired by and symbolic of the most beautiful human object, the woman's body"; {Menuhin, 1976} the male player had a particular, exalting relationship with his instrument, whereas the female player was seen as narcissistic, viewing the sound as an expression of her own voice, rather than that of one she loves. It was even suggested that a more appropriate instrument for ladies would be the cello, for its more masculine qualities.
Another well-known stigma of the violin was its link to sin and death. In the well-defined roles of Victorian men and women, it fell to men to protect women from such perceived evils—including the violin's affiliation with evil and socially disruptive forces. It's little wonder Austen never permitted her heroines to play such a dangerous instrument; but I for one am thankful for changing times, and changing attitudes. How could I live without my favourite instrument?

{On a side note, my heart was torn in two last weekend after I dropped a piece of metal through the body of my violin during rehearsal. I had to play the gig with a spare fiddle.The one pictured is actually a loaner from a friend, with a lovely bright tone that almost makes up for the loss. I'm really more annoyed about the fact that I can't exactly afford repairs at the moment.}

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Uploaded on Oct 26, 2009

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freedom

I have a thousand thoughts in my head today,
peace and tranquillity vying for attention alongside hesitation and worry.
what to do, what to do? too many dreams, not enough realities.
I hope I get a job soon
I wish I could find my lost sheet music
I hope he makes his meaning clear
I pray that my body would heal
and that she would find her peace
I hope I'm doing the right thing, here.
what other options are there?

{to see a little better}

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Uploaded on Oct 21, 2009

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