References to Valentine’s Day go back to early times. Chaucer mentions it, and so does Shakespeare. By the 1600’s, giving gifts or tokens to ladies seems to have become a common practice, mentioned by the diarist Samuel Pepys. During the … Continue reading
Are you one of the people who make resolutions every January? I confess I am not –I often just carry on with unfinished goals from the previous year. But is the practice of New Year’s resolutions a modern one, with … Continue reading
I have a new book out! Lord Grantwell’s Christmas Wish is available at online bookstores now! I had a lot of fun writing this one, especially in adding Yorkshire Christmas traditions and researching toys of the time period. See my … Continue reading
Sumer is icumen in, Lhude sing, cuccu; Groweth sed and bloweth med, And springth the wode anu; Sing, cuccu! (words from a 13th century song) Happy May 1st 2020! I’ve been steeped in May Day customs recently as my next … Continue reading
New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and here we are, already three days into the new year. If you were hoping to increase your chances for a lucky year, it’s too late now for most of the folk lore … Continue reading
Do you like Christmas stories? Just wanted to alert everyone to this special promotion! If you love Christmas stories and read them even after the holiday is over (as I do!!), take a look at this group (yes, you’ll see … Continue reading
I originally posted this on November 10, 1914. I’m adapting it today, because….We need to remember! Today is November 11, Veteran’s Day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and the 101th anniversary of the armistice that … Continue reading
If you do a Google search on “ghost sites london”, guess how many hits you can get? About 31.4 MILLION!! Needless to say, I am not going to claim that I went through all of those in putting together this … Continue reading
How do you celebrate the January holidays? I think I have only just recovered from celebrating New Year’s Eve, when I hosted a group of old friends who gather to enjoy a festive dinner every year. My health has improved … Continue reading
(I first posted this blog on Dec 3, 2012 and, really, it still applies. I still need to prepare for Christmas….) I am the lady of this house, not an exalted country house, but a respectable one and I must … Continue reading
