kouw's house

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Fri, 24 May 2013 21:56:33 +0200

quotesfromfiction: The Magic Begins - A 30 Day HP ChallengeDay...

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:30:58 +0200

The Magic Begins - A 30 Day HP Challenge
Day Twelve - Favourite Canon Ship/Couple

Maybe I took day four too literally.

I’m going to take today as ‘favourite established relationship’ versus ‘favourite romance’ in the books, and talk about why I love Molly and Arthur Weasley.

It’s really wonderful that J.K. Rowling demonstrates the give and take in marriage through Molly and Arthur, who, despite their obvious love for one another, struggle greatly in a variety of ways over the course of the series. I find the idea of raising one or two kids terrifying (as well as exciting, mind you), never mind a whole hoard of varying Gryffindor personalities (though all of who, funnily, bow in terror to Molly’s wrath, ha), and never mind again with what little money the two of them have between them. Clearly, though, they share common insight when it comes to what makes life worth living, being a) who you love, b) what you love, and c) unshakable loyalty.

My husband is currently re-reading the series, and we were talking briefly the other night about the kind of woman Molly Weasley is. I think for a while she got brushed aside a little as an overprotective housewife caricature, but when you look back on the books you realize just how much magical skill and strength as a human being—not just as a mother—she had. Molly does an insane amount of wandless and wordless magic, all impeccably while multi-tasking. That’s bananas. Tonks can’t even roll socks properly. Also, with Molly, after losing her brothers in the first war, it’s actually incredibly selfless of her to not only agree to her family’s participation, but to participate herself in the Order of the Phoenix and all the insanity that comes along with it. She wants to protect her children, but she doesn’t deny them (once they’re of age) the right to fight for what they believe in. She is proud, driven, and perhaps a little single-minded sometimes, but she is such an inherently GOOD person. She takes Harry on, not out of pity but out of love, for a want to improve his quality of life.

She’s also got budgeting skills an accountant would be proud of.

Arthur, too, seems a little like a caricature in the beginning with his obsession with muggle things, and his sort of funny profession. But man, he is one smart guy. He’s observant and very kinesthetic (which is why I think he likes the tinkering around with things so much, he literally has to feel and see how things work), and he picks up on a hell of a lot. He has a lot of passion for ingenuity. He loves what he does. He has amazing morality, and a strong sense of who he is. Despite the obvious joke that Molly wears the pants, I think he provides a lot of solidarity for his children and for Harry, demonstrating perhaps quiet strength as a foible to Molly being Molly, but they all tend to, emotionally, take a lot of cues from Arthur. I really love that, rather than the Weasley household being either a patriarchy or matriarchy, both Arthur AND Molly are the heads of it.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley love one another unquestionably, and the biggest reason why their relationship works is because of compromise. What makes each and the other happy is what they do (being a mother and homemaker, protecting muggles and studying their science), and in providing for their family (and consequently Harry) more than just financially. Money doesn’t make you happy. Money provides you the necessities, and everything else is exactly what you make of it. As a result, Arthur and Molly’s children are hard-working, successful people who value honed skill and an honest day’s effort. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley have spent their lives together perfecting the balance between necessities, and Rowling demonstrates both their achievements and imperfections, making them very well-rounded, and bringing them out of land of caricature and into the realm of relatable.

Lastly, they are just so wonderfully sweet together. I can only hope that after so many years, and so many ups and downs, that my husband and I can still share a love like that: Quiet, unassuming, forgiving, and strong, the backbone of their family.

The many faces of Elsie Hughes

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:27:16 +0200

The many faces of Elsie Hughes

beautyiinthebreakdown: Sam

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:25:41 +0200

beautyiinthebreakdown:

Sam

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Fri, 24 May 2013 21:22:50 +0200

The weather forecast is so depressing.

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:35:12 +0200

The weather forecast is so depressing.

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Fri, 24 May 2013 18:59:08 +0200

Women, what is it about them! Can’t live with them or without...

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:28:21 +0200

Women, what is it about them! Can’t live with them or without them!

awesomepeoplehangingouttogether: David Bowie and Elizabeth...

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:23:01 +0200

awesomepeoplehangingouttogether:

David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor

beautyiinthebreakdown: Can’t wait to go shopping in Lush this...

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:12:47 +0200

beautyiinthebreakdown:

Can’t wait to go shopping in Lush this weekend!! :D

carryonlaughingandpainting: kouw: No, I am not entirely sure how watching Tenko is going to make...

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:52:04 +0200

carryonlaughingandpainting:

kouw:

No, I am not entirely sure how watching Tenko is going to make me feel better either.

it makes you think “oh well at least my life isn’t that bad..” plus Stephanie Cole is awesome..just saying

Stephanie Cole is queen. Revering her is balsem for the soul.

heycometoseejoncryer: I love this picture so much! <3

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:42:01 +0200

heycometoseejoncryer:

I love this picture so much! <3

ellie5192: captainraydor: SHARON RAYDOR YOU SHADY...

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:13:52 +0200

ellie5192:

captainraydor:

SHARON RAYDOR YOU SHADY LADY

#don’t be discreet or anything sharon babyyy

astridfarnsworths: Astrid in 1x03

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:12:26 +0200

astridfarnsworths:

Astrid in 1x03

No, I am not entirely sure how watching Tenko is going to make me feel better either.

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:23:40 +0200

No, I am not entirely sure how watching Tenko is going to make me feel better either.

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Fri, 24 May 2013 12:03:13 +0200

Lilacs MiL gave me for our ‘ondertrouw’

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:39:08 +0200

Lilacs MiL gave me for our ‘ondertrouw’

riddlemetom: every fandom has put its characters in hogwarts houses at some point it’s just a...

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:25:44 +0200

riddlemetom:

every fandom has put its characters in hogwarts houses at some point it’s just a straight up fact

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Fri, 24 May 2013 09:01:28 +0200

my-mother-used-to-say: Downton Abbey proposals...

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:38:13 +0200

my-mother-used-to-say:

Downton Abbey proposals downstairs

Sometimes it’s not very directly asked and answered. Fortunately some do understand what you mean.
Sometimes one will answer for you
Sometimes you may regret not accepting
Sometimes it’s better not to accept

But love is always a wonderful thing