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
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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
Beach Reads for Summer
Looking through my E-Reader, I notice I haven’t been doing much leisure reading lately, a situation I hope to change this summer. Today’s blog is the first in my annual series of Summer Reads, a sampling of escapist leisure reading I’ve enjoyed over the past several months. Upstairs at the White House: My Life With
“Would You Like to Ride in my Beautiful Balloon?”
In 1967 The 5th Dimension [remember them?] invited listeners to join them in “my beautiful balloon.” At the time, it seemed an unrealistic invitation. Did they mean the balloons we used for decorations? Obviously not. However, there was a new mode of transportation in the air, one that Ed Yost made possible in 1960. That
Flowers Bring Happiness
In Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, Nanki-Poo sings about flowers, because he’s happy about his upcoming marriage to the lovely Yum-Yum, which for him was as wonderful as the flowers that bloom in the spring. The flowers that bloom in the spring, Tra la, Breathe promise of merry sunshine – As we merrily dance and we sing, Tra
Leftovers: Once Virtuous, Now Annoying
Except for point number 5 advising less wheat and meat products, this 1917 poster for about the acquisition, preparation, and consumption of food is similar to advice we receive today. Number 6, “use what is left” is tricky, because it refers to the dreaded food category of “leftovers.” One 1948 cook book observed, the word
Jumping Frogs In Calaveras County
This is a story about jumping frogs, a mining camp, and an unknown American writer later known as Mark Twain. During the winter of 1864-1865 Twain accepted an invitation from the Gillis brothers to stay with them at their cabin at the top of Jackass Hill in Tuttletown, a mining town in Calaveras County. Jackass