“My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.’
‘You are mistaken,’ said he gently, ‘that is not good company, that is the best.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasion
Last spring, we, along with our good friend Aurora, planned a Jane Austen themed movie marathon. We hoped, dreamed, and schemed, but life took over and it seemed like our lofty goal of a weekend of tea, sweets, and our favorite historical author would never happen. Lo and behold, the husband was out of town for a few days, and the weather forecast was cloudy!
Our very loose schedule for a weekend of Jane Austen obsession:
Friday Evening:
7pm – Niki and Aurora arrive.
7:05 – Hug and squeal, and generally make the neighbors dread our happy nerdiness.
7:10 pm – We set up our tea hoard and the TV Aurora smuggled from her very generous parents. (we millenials apparently don’t have tv’s just yet, and Jane Austen is way to big a personality for a laptop)
7:30 pm – We dine on butternut squash soup and drink our first gallon of tea. * Note, we spent a good twenty minutes matching up the teacups to the saucers. Apparently ,that wasn’t very important to Hunter when he put them away on top of our cupboards. Heh heh…
8:00 pm – 3 am – Drank copious amounts of tea, while watching the best ever version of Pride and Prejudice (in Bekah’s opinion, at least), followed by Sense and Sensibility. Oh, and Lemon Bars!
“I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Saturday Morning:
9:30 am – We woke up to clouds, rain, and a desire for even more 19th century romance with a touch of spunky wit and feminism!
10:00 am – We whipped up some amazing crepes and devoured ate them with lemon curd, cardamom whipped cream, and strawberries. They were truly the bestest.
11:00 am – 4:00 pm We watched the most amazing version of Emma that has ever been, or ever will be, made. I’m pretty sure Miss Austen herself couldn’t find fault in it. “Because we are doing our best to find fault in you…”
5:00 pm – We drove to our local Salt and Straw for most delicious ice cream around, and for some nearby thrift shopping, all while discussing how we would survive in a real version of ‘The Hunger Games’. Important stuff.
8:00 pm – 12:00 am – We watched half of a terrible version of Mansfield Park, (you’ve been warned!) and then gave it up in favor of discussing our favorite scenes in Austen Lit, and which Austen hero we would choose as our soul mate. Oh, and we drank more tea.
We agreed that it was the most relaxing (if not sappy) weekend any of us have had in a long time. I think it was from all of the tea!
– Bekah and Niki
“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.”
― Jane Austen
They Couldn't be Spies 
I had SO much fun with you two ladies! It was a perfect, refreshing, delightful weekend that came at just the right moment to lift my spirits. I love you both so much! If I had 10,000 pounds a year, I would send you both fire-work trimmed, dove-filled wicker carts every day of the year!
And for any skeptic who is reading this, I also testify that the amount of tea we drank was… astounding.
– Aurora
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Sounds like a deliciously delightful weekend!! I agree with your assessments of Pride and Prejudice (Can’t begin to imagine how many times I’ve watched this version —suffice it to say, many sections are memorized and I speak the dialogue along with the characters…only if I am alone) and Sense and Sensibility. I love them both and watch them shamelessly as often as I can. How fun that you all have such similar tastes and can enjoy a weekend of staying inside, eating tasty treats, and enjoying Austen. You have a tremendous gift in each other!!
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