Inklings ~ September 2026

Happy September Inklings 🍎

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog with a link to you Inklings prompt.

September's prompt

A scene with a carriage in book or film

Welcome October

 

October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.

~ John Sinor

House of David: Season 2

Shepherd, Warrior, King. Those are the three attributes or stages that House of David focuses on when telling the story of the rise of King David to the throne of Israel. If season 1 was about a shepherd boy who must follow the will of God, then season 2 is about a warrior who must fight for God's people. Even if it's against their own king. Picking up literally where season 1 left off, the story is plunged into epic battle sequences with little time in between to breathe. And that's just the first 10 minutes of episode one. 

House of David: Season 1

After catching up with The Chosen during my surgery recovery, I came across House of David on Amazon Prime video and had seen several posts on Instagram about it. I was hesitant at first because there had already been so many versions done about King David (an animation film came out earlier this year), but my curiosity was piqued and I finally sat down and watched it.

Let's just say that if I hadn't known what the show was, I would have thought it was a Game of Thrones spinoff and I mean that in a good way.

Inklings ~ August 2026

Hello August Inklings 🍦

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog with a link to you Inklings prompt. 

August Prompt

Pre-battle scene in book or film

Welcome September

 

There comes a day each September when you wake up and know the summer is over and fall has arrived.

~ Ann Rinaldi

Goodreads Reviews: A Storm Summoned

 

A Storm Summoned by J.C. Wade

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The final chapter in the lives of the Ruthven Family of Perthshire. As the English continue to choke the life out of the patriotic Scots, Lord Ewan and Lady Edyth prepare to bring their first child into the world. However, what kind of world will there be to greet their child?

Ewan's hands are tied as he must watch as his own countrymen are conscripted into service and his land used for military barricades. Uprisings are rumored throughout Scotland, outlaws such as Andrew Moray who is in hiding and William Wallace bring both hope and trepidation through the war-torn country. Meanwhile, lively Iain Ruthven starts to emerge from his brother's long shadow. Tasked with more responsibilities, which includes an arranged marriage...to the most boring and plain women he's ever met.

And Edyth still dreams. Even amidst her happy life with her husband and waiting for her child, Edyth's premonitions of death and bloodshed still haunt and lead her, all the way to the penultimate battle of Stirling Bridge.

A solid ending to a solid series. Whereas Edyth and Cait were the protagonists in the first two books, the story is mostly told between Ewan and Iain. Truth be told, Iain and Alice could merit their own spinoff series. They were hysterical to read. A great deal of history that I knew nothing about was definitely packed into the storyline and I was happy that William Wallace made his appearance in the end as well.

The Other Bennet Sister

I finally saw it!

I read the book last year and really enjoyed it. It captured Mary Bennet's struggle within her family very well and being the middle child, there's was so much internal relation with her. So, when I found out there was going to be a television production, my period drama loving self was excited. Unfortunately, it took me forever to view it but while I was in surgery recovery I was able to binge watch the series in two days.

Inklings ~ July 2026

Hello July Inklings 🎆

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog with a link to you Inklings prompt.

July's Prompt

A picnic scene in book or film

Welcome August

This morning, the sun endures past dawn. I realize that it is August: the summer's last stand.

~ Sara Baume

The Reader Problems Tag

With Joy for the Work tagged me!

Thanks!

Hamilton

After years of telling myself I would, on July 4th I finally sat down and watched Hamilton. I remember this show back in its heyday. It was everywhere and although I love history, a musical about a Founding Father did not interest me at all. I knew nothing about Alexander Hamilton except he was on the $10 bill and he died in a dual. And seems prior to Hamilton's release, that's what most of the general public knew about him.

However, Lin-Manual Miranda's groundbreaking production, which premiered in 2015, did something no other musical in history had ever attempted. Uniting classic musical theater with hip-hop. And what better story to experiment with then the story of an immigrant who came to the new world and spent his life creating new ideas and making bold decisions that changed the course of history. 

Inklings ~ June 2026

Hello June Inklings 🍓

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog with a link to you Inklings prompt.

June's prompt

A scene with a wagon in book or film

Young Washington

He is one of the most revered, most loved and most admired men in American history. Founding Father, powerful general, devoted family man, and proud Virginian, known for his calm, resolve, wisdom and patience. All qualities that led him to become the first nominated leader of the newly created United States of America. George Washington is usually the first historical figure children will learn about in history. However, before he was the legend that helped birth America, he was once a young man who had nothing of material value, but only his intelligence, ambition and love for his country.

Happy 4th of July!

“The secret of happiness is freedom; the secret of freedom is courage.”

~ Carrie Jones

Welcome July

July is like the sunniest hour of the day.

~ William C. Bryant

Understanding Adam Banks

The Mighty Ducks Trilogy are some of my favorite childhood films. My siblings and I loved watching them and I believe that D3 was the first film I saw in theaters (I would have 5 almost 6). I seem to have some vague memory that I had a massive crush on Adam Banks (sorry Obi-Wan), and it would make sense that he would be any little girl's first fictional character crush. He's cute, sweet, sensitive and moreover can never seem to catch a break. Even as a child I saw the constant hardships that Adam had to face throughout the series. 

And upon my most recent rewatch (which led to another rewatch), I have only now realized what an absolute injustice was done to the writing of Adam Banks by the time we get to the third movie.

The first two films built up a growing character arc for Adam through constant life alterations, severe injuries, setbacks, jealous teammates, and having to stay true to himself. You would think by the third film that it would come full circle, but unfortunately that was not the plan.

     

Goodbye Anthony Head . 1954 - 2026

With the rewatch of Merlin, this was an utter shock 

He was absolutely wonderful as King Uther Pendragon, the enigmatic, morally grey father to the Once and Future King. 

As I wrote in my review for season 4, that even though I didn't like Uther Pendragon I didn't hate him either.

 For all of Uther's faults, he loved Arthur and the father/son moments between Anthony Head and Bradley James are some of most memorable.

Inklings ~ May 2026

Welcome May Inklings 🌸

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog with a link to you Inklings prompt.

May's Prompt

A riddle scene in book or film

I am Mary. Mary is Me (Or...my life as a middle child/sister explained)

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see The Other Bennet Sister, but I read the book last year and I loved it! I have been able to keep up with clips from the show on Instagram and Facebook and hopefully I can view it sometime this summer. 

 I can relate to Mary on so many levels, the middle child and sister. Serious, introverted, gets lost in the arts, prefers books to people and always having her voice quieted. Oftentimes overlooked and ignored and what attention we get it's usually negative (somebody yelling at you or making you the joke of the situation.) When I saw this scene between Mary and Lizzie it really struck a chord with me.

When Mary started to call out Lizzie on how they were viewed so differently in the family and Lizzie began to deflect by telling Mary how much she admired her, that hit me hard. I've had similar conversations with my own family members; telling them how lonely I was growing up and how I always felt left out of which they go on the defensive and try to appeal to my better nature. I've been told that I seemed so independent and didn't need anyone or I always had such a good attitude about things I didn't seem to need help. 

Everyone...every child needs help. Regardless of if they look like they need it or not. 

After seeing this interaction for the first time, I wondered, "If Lizzie admired her sister so much, why didn't she try and spend more time with her? Why didn't she defend her from her family?" Lizzie's heart may be in the right place, but at the center, she's self-preserving and not willing to admit that she was a part of the problem in Mary's life, because she neglected her just like everyone else in the Bennet family.