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, […]
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
Living in so many places over the years, Dave and I have learned that while we love to travel, we often find interesting things to explore nearby. And our recent move has been no exception. Whenever I mention to someone here that I am interested in history, they always say, “Well then, you’ve heard the
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.
On Saturday, Dave and I attended the Historic Fincastle Fall Festival. It was a perfect autumn day, and some trees were beginning to turn. Fincastle was established in 1772 as the county seat of Botetourt County. The town was strategically situated along the Great Wagon Road and the Wilderness Road, which were used by settlers
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I must confess that I enjoy watching Time Team, a British television show where a team of archaeologists must uncover the answer to a question and have only three days to do it. It seems most people, like Tony Robinson, the host, expect to hear about beautiful finds, which, in the past, was also what
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What springs to mind when someone uses the term ghost ship? Are you like me and envision the Black Pearl from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? When I heard there was a ghost fleet in nearby Mallows Bay, I was intrigued. They offer kayak tours, so of course, I signed us up. Mallows Bay,
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There is so much history near our house in Maryland. Pulling out of our neighborhood, to the right lay the ruins of Marshall Hall, the home of William Marshall, constructed in 1725. From the grounds, I can look across the Potomac River at Mount Vernon, the home of Marshall’s friend, George Washington. Turning left and
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As you know, I loved living in Germany, but there were a few things I missed while we were gone. One of them was being a part of the 7th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, an American Revolutionary War re-enactment group. Well, this weekend, Dave and I rejoined the 7th for the Revolutionary War
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I love to visit Washington D. C. There is so much to see and do. Years ago, Dave worked in the District while the kids and I remained in Norfolk. Each month, we drove up and spent a weekend in his apartment. While the accommodations were cozy for four of us, it was always an