Illustration at left stresses Henry Ward Beecher’s hypocrisy in his relationship with Elizabeth Tilton. Center drawing of Mrs. Tilton seated in Beecher’s lap; a reference in the bottom left to Beecher and a Mrs. Moulton, and other negative references to Beecher. On May 22, 1871 the New York World printed a letter written by Victoria
Victoria Woodhull: The First Woman to Run for President
Victoria Clafllin Woodhull lived life on her own terms and if her terms were scandalous, all the better. She was the seventh of ten children born to unmarried parents. Her mother, a believer in spiritualism; her father, a some-time lawyer and con man. As a child, Victoria worked as a fortune teller and child preacher,
Mischievous Tanuki
If you’ve been to a Japanese restaurant, you may have encountered this rascal outside the door. Known as a Tanuki this mythical creature is derived from the actual Japanese Raccoon Dog, Nyctereutes viverrinus, which is endemic to Japan. Tanuki are related to foxes, wolves, and domestic dogs, but not to actual raccoons. Mythological Tanuki have
The Sewing Machine Revolutionized Stitchery
The sewing machine, beloved by stitching hobbyists and home fashionistas, was invented by French tailor Barthelemy Thimonnier. In 1830 he patented a mechanical device that could produce a simple chain stitch that would allow uniforms for the French army to be mass produced, rather than sewn by hand. Thimonnier’s innovation was not well-received. Realizing mechanized
Aphra Behn: Restoration Playwright
In 1929 Virginia Woolf published A Room of One’s Own in which she argued that if a woman is going to write fiction, she must have money and a room of her own. Woolf developed her theme by looking at female writers in history, many of whom did not publish their writings. In her observations
Lady Mary Wroth & the English Renaissance
When we think of women novelists writing in the English language, Jane Austin is usually the first name that comes to mind. It’s fair to say the Jane Austin was the first to have a popular impact, but the first female author writing in English was Mary Wroth (1587-1653). Jane Austin’s work came out 200
More Mysteries: Dark, Cozy, & Curious
I kicked off this year’s Summer Reads with murder mysteries set in Yorkshire, so perhaps it’s fitting to end the series with a darker story set in the same locale. Grimm Up North by David J. Gatward Grimm Up North: A Yorkshire Murder Mystery is the first volume in the DCI Harry Grimm crime novels.
An 18th Century Formal Dinner
Over the past two weeks, we’ve dressed a lady and a gentleman in 18th century clothing, so it seems only fair that we give these fashionable people a destination. In this case, they are attending a formal dinner. Table manners were different in the 18th century. As you may have observed from Jane Austin dramas,
Gentlemen’s Fashion in the 18th Century
Though clothing for an 18th century gentleman was less cumbersome than it was for women, getting dressed was more complicated than slipping on slacks and a dress shirt. Like their female counterparts, 18th century men didn’t bother much with basic undergarments. Though underbreeches existed, most men took advantage of their long shirt tails to provide
An 18th Century Woman Gets Dressed
I write historical fiction based on the lives of actual women. This involves a great deal of research on the person being profiled and the world in which she lived, as well as information on events that occurred. Saxon Heroines, for example, focused on the lives of four royal women in 7th century Northumbria. Information
Mystery Reads
I like good historical fiction, but while in mindless escape mode as I lie on a hammock, I want stories that engage my attention but don’t require much thought on my part. My recent reading choices lean towards mysteries that don’t dwell too much on crime details. And if there’s a dash of romance involved,
Stories of Fanciful Pigs: Porky Pig, 3 Little Pigs, & the Mathematical Yellow Pig
Day dreams on lazy summer days bring many strange things to mind. The other day, I started thinking about fanciful pigs. In particular, Porky, the stuttering pig created by Warner Brothers for Looney Tunes, and later a fixture of children’s cartoons. Porky first appeared in 1935 in a film short called I Haven’t Got a
Pickleball Isn’t Played With Pickles
The Birth of Pickleball Once upon a time, during the summer of 1965, three families spent their weekends on Bainbridge Island, a scenic town just a ferry ride away from Seattle. When Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum returned from a round of golf, they found their families in the doldrums of boredom. Not
SLIP – SLOP – SLAP : Pick the Right Sunscreen to Protect Yourself & Coral Reefs
Whenever you’re in the sun, remember the mantra above: SLIP on a shirt – SLOP on sunscreen – SLAP on a hat, and – WRAP your eyes in sunglasses. After that, go have fun! Why did we ever think tanning was good? In 1923, fashion icon Coco Chanel vacationed on a yacht near Cannes. When
Summer Ferris Wheels
Today, June 21, is the Summer Equinox, the first official day of summer, and also the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s true. Summer vacation has arrived. Whether you vacation elsewhere or staycation near your home base, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the sun — with sun protection, of
How to Adopt a Cat & Communicate With It
June is Adopt-A-Cat-Month, which is a purrr-fect reason for me to blog about felines. Cat Adoption has multiple applications. Sometimes the cat adopts us, as our cat Hoku did when, as a kitten, he came to our patio door every night. Some cats are thrust upon us, as was the case when my daughter brought