Cultural information
While writing the third book in the Dun Cael series, my research involved learning about Iron Age horses. Reading the descriptions of their short stocky legs and shaggy coats reminded me of the ponies on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands on the Virginia/Maryland border. As a young girl, I read Marguerite Henry’s book, Misty of Chincoteague, […]
I love to travel and this month is giving me several opportunities. For Christmas, we are flying to the U.K. to spend the holiday with our son, his wife, and her family. So, in the past few days, Dave and I drove to North Carolina to visit our daughter and her family. Then, it was
You Are Free to Move About Read More »
Despite the fact that we won’t be at home for Christmas, I wanted to put up a Christmas tree. So, we did. In the old Victorian houses we had, we always found the largest trees possible and filled them with ornaments. We decided to put the tree in front of one of the windows in
I’m wrapping up Native American Heritage Month with a visit to Wolf Creek, a reconstructed Native site about a half hour away. We’d passed highway signs for it before, but we were always on our way somewhere else. So, despite a bit of snow on the ground, we trudged down the hill to visit the
A Glimpse Back in Time Read More »
Today, the term matriarchal is often misunderstood and is frequently construed to imply that women had sole power or leadership. However, other terms, such as matrilinear, might be more accurate as this implies balance and cooperation between the genders, where women also have an essential role in the decision-making process. Nowhere is this more evident
In searching for the next topic for Native American Heritage Month, I came across a reference to the importance of language to native speakers. That resonates with me, as years ago, I began learning Scottish Gaelic. With a daughter who did Scottish Highland Dance and played bagpipes and a son who played the fiddle, I
The Importance of Words Read More »
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. There are many ways to celebrate their heritage. Recognize their contributions to American History from agricultural practices (such as the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash) to their military service, contributions to
We often hear the stories of soldiers during the Revolutionary War, but what about the families these men left behind? One day, you’re sitting in your cozy cabin, the venison stew simmering in the cast-iron pot on the hearth, with the efforts of your canning and preserving stacked neatly on shelves in the loft above.
Yesterday was a lovely autumn day, and Dave and I resumed our rambling road trips. It was a bit early to see much color in the trees, though we did see a few beginning to turn. Our destination was over the border into West Virginia. As often happens, Dave had seen a post online about
On the Road Again! Read More »
When our daughter, Megan, was four years old, we lived in San Diego, California. One sunny Saturday, we attended a Scottish Highland Games. Ian was only a few months old, but I knew he would enjoy it. The month before he was born, I’d had to leave a Christmas parade as he marched along with