We’d been in Germany for a year when COVID hit, forcing us into lockdown. Our upcoming trip to Wales was canceled, and we spent the following year forced to stay at home. That ruling was particularly strict in Bavaria, but we found ways to make the most of it. One of the five things we […]
Happy Saint David’s Day! Read More »
For my birthday this year, Dave bought a ticket for me to visit the Monet Experience in the District. I’d thoroughly enjoyed the Van Gogh Experience in Munich the year before. However, I prefer Monet’s works and was excited to go. Everyone has their personal preferences in terms of art, and Dave is not a
Today is February 14th, Valentine’s Day, and I wondered about the origin of this day that celebrates love and romance. I remember, as a child, we decorated shoe boxes at school and bought boxes of small Valentine’s cards to put inside. Everyone received a card from everyone else. And I remember those little candy hearts
Last month, Dave joked that he missed the book Off 13, which we used for weekend drives while we lived on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Route 13 runs down the spine of the peninsula, and it’s hard to get anywhere without being on part of it. If we had nothing going on, we’d grab
Determined to be a Villain Read More »
Since Dave was having minor surgery, we took our Christmas tree down on the 3rd of this year, which is early for us. Dave’s birthday is on the 5th, so his family left the decorations up through his birthday. When we got married, I adopted this tradition. And when our son came along on January
Maryland Leads the Way Read More »
What is your first thought when you hear the Boston Tea Party? Well, yes, it took place in Boston. But many believe this started the American Revolution. And while it did trigger the uprising, trouble had been brewing long before the tea was dumped into the harbor. And Saturday, December 16th, is the 250th anniversary
Trouble is Brewing Read More »
Everyone’s heard the phrase, “Put your John Hancock on it.” Did you ever wonder where the phrase came from? John Hancock was one of the fifty-six delegates to the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence. In fact, Hancock was the first man to sign it, and he did so with a large, bold
Put Your John Hancock on it. Read More »
Since the prehistoric man met water, he has tried to conquer it. Circumstantial evidence of man using some form of watercraft to cross between land masses dates back at least 900,000 years. These ancient crafts were most likely dugouts made from carved or burned tree trunks. Having lived on the island of Crete, I was
I’d Rather be On the Water Read More »
I’ve always heard terms like ‘different as two sides of a coin’ or ‘two sides to every story.’ And as an amateur historian, I am constantly reminded that history is written by the victors. I found many examples of this researching the MacKay Mysteries. And I am finding even more as I study the ancient
Who Can You Believe? Read More »
We discovered produce markets when we moved to Italy. The fresh-from-the-vine strawberries rarely made it home before we attacked them, the juice running down our chins. We found the same in Greece, where weekly market shopping became a habit. Over time, we discovered we preferred this vendor for peppers and onions and another for tomatoes.
To Market To Market Read More »