Baja Janeite sent us a link to a travel article about a visit to Chawton.

The house was exactly the size I imagined; comfortable, but not small. There were the amber crosses that Charles Austen, Jane’s seafaring brother, had given to her and her sister, Cassandra — famous to us Janeites. On the door leading to the staircase, a sign warned that it squeaked, and said Jane liked it that way so she could hide her manuscripts if she heard someone coming.

Then, there it was: Jane’s writing table. I stood and stared, amazed that she could write a brilliant work like Persuasion on such a tiny table. It was beautiful to me. It looked so well-loved and well-used.

In related news, Alert Janeite Lisa sent us a link to an article about an artist working on a sculpture that will grace Austen Court in Basingstoke, the town where Jane Austen went to assemblies as a young lady living in Steventon.

The pyramid-shaped sculpture, which is four feet tall and made from Portland limestone, features four aspects of Basingstoke including references to Jane Austen, the Basingstoke Canal, Basingstoke as a new town and the town crest with a dragon and St Michael.

It looks to us from the accompanying photo that there is a side with a quill pen and books–very likely the Jane Austen reference. It looks lovely.

Congratulations to Tina B., who won a paperback copy of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler. Tina gave us permission to share her own Confession…

I am in a Mom’s group at our church. We meet once a week and discuss issues of women, parenting and marriage. Often, some point will remind me of something in Jane Austen and I’ll say, “It’s just like Jane Austen says…” I get looks of either surprise or amusement, depending on how often these particular women have heard me do this. I usually brazen it out, explain my point and defiantly say, “There is a Jane Austen quote for everything!” I’m pretty sure I have become a caricature, but I won’t ever stop, because I can’t!

There really IS a Jane Austen quote for EVERYTHING!!!

We were amused by a cross-stitch sampler chart for “Mr. Collins’ Humble Abode,” featuring the rector of Hunsford and his cara sposa. Thanks to Cub Reporter (and avid cross-stitcher) Heather L. for the link.

Here’s the latest lineup of local Austen events; one might be in YOUR neighborhood!

May 20 (and monthly through October), Charlotte, NC: The Janeite Disciples Book Club begins monthly discussions of Jane Austen’s novels with Sense and Sensibility at the Concord main library. To register, stop by the library or see the e-mail address at the link.

May 28, Glendale, CA: Laurie Viera Rigler, author of The Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, will speak at the Glendale Public Library. Tea will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

June 4, Myrtle Beach, NC: Conway Library will hold a discussion of Pride and Prejudice led by Becky Hubbard, English professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Registration is required.

(Have we mentioned that Librarians Rock? Because you do!)

Alert Janeite Jessica sent us a link to the Questionable Content comic, which has a reference to The Darcy. Though we would think by the character’s t-shirt she would be a Wentworth girl.

Ungentlemanlike language warning, not in the comic itself but in the side matter.