I had a post ready for this week on travel. But the events of yesterday, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, called to me as an amateur historian to learn more about this remarkable woman, her life, and her accomplishments. I just got off the phone with my son, who lives in the U.K. The […]
Today, on the first of the month, I wondered where some of these traditions originated as I wished everyone a happy new month. The Greeks say Καλό μήνα (Kaló mína), which translates to a good month. But it should be the first thing you say that morning. Some British friends say Rabbit Rabbit, or White
Very Superstitious! Read More »
Several years ago, I took part in the National Geographic Genome Project. This study tracked migrations using DNA samples to compare to indigenous populations. Unlike the genealogical sites that compare submitted data to DNA, this looks at your ethnicity, not individual family members, and compares it to those populations. It was fun to participate and
Part of my byline claims I’m a traveler. With Dave’s knee surgery and rehab, this summer hasn’t presented many opportunities outside our local area. I recently mentioned that to a friend, and she said, “but you live overseas. Isn’t that like always traveling?” I suppose you could see it that way. But it’s more than
How could I choose? Read More »
In researching the next book in the MacKay mysteries, I am learning a lot about protesting, boycotting, and secret societies. As in many time periods, certain everyday items can take on new significance. In the Pre-Revolutionary period, homespun fabric represented the boycott of English goods. A red and white flag symbolized the Sons of Liberty,
(G)nomenclature: Dwarf or Gnome? Read More »
Have you ever attended a local fall festival? This week marks Lughnasadh, the fourth of the ancient Celtic quarter festivals celebrating the year’s passing. Ancient cultures divided the world into light and dark: day/night, summer/winter, sun/moon, and so on. It helped them understand life and the natural world around them. They began the year with
Celebrating Lughnasadh Read More »
Smuggling invokes images of pirates on the high seas. And yes, Blackbeard and others have been romanticized over time in stories as well as movies. In researching Angus’ arrival in Philadelphia for Death on the Line, I learned that they would not have sailed all the way up the Delaware River to the city. The
Fiction is the art of telling a story. But history is based on facts, though we all know that history is written by one side or the other or from one person’s perspective. So I try to keep in mind that old saying “trust but verify.” How important is accuracy in telling a story? What
The other day, my landlady showed up with a bucket of currants. Don’t get me wrong; I love currants. But what was I to do with a bucket load? I froze most of them in small batches in freezer bags by first spreading them out on a tray in the freezer for twenty minutes. But
Dreams really can come true, and recently one of mine did. Since taking part in the Pompeii Food and Drink Project, I have longed to join a hands-on dig. Twelve years later, working with many of those same people, I joined the Melite Civitas Romana Project, examining the ruins of a Roman Domus and its