Author: Anne Madison
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A Trifling Little Dessert
To quote Mrs. Bennet, people don’t die of trifling little colds. Serve this to your holiday guests and they may well expire from delight. We’re going to get serious and have a little fun with the English trifle, an antique dessert of fruit, custard, cake, and booze. Lots of booze. People have been enjoying trifles…
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Miss Darcy Receives a Caller
by A.K. Madison Summary: Georgiana Darcy spends an exceptionally uncomfortable afternoon with her cousin, Anne. Author’s Notes: It seems entirely possible to me that Georgiana Darcy and her companion were in residence in London during Lady Catherine’s outraged visit. The story takes place in London immediately following Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s hasty visit to Elizabeth…
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Winners!
UPDATE AND CORRECTION: I had intended for those who answered my question last month to be declared the winners. Obviously my brain has had other ideas. Poor brain is having trouble adjusting to the Electric Chair. But we’re still all winners. SO . . . Since I can’t possibly give my book away to the…
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Taking a Break: Burning Questions that No Amount of Research Seems to Tackle
Friends of mine all over these United States—well, all over the world, really—are coping with the most awful weather patterns imaginable. Mother Nature is certainly letting us know she does not take too kindly to people messing with the climate, and we all know it’s not nice to fool Mother nature! The sole exception seems…
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Mr. Darcy Hits the Trail
A brief summer diversion, told in Internet memes, of our favorite young men seeking coolness and refreshment. Two vultures, veritable pinks of the Ton, set out to see what adventures London has in store. Note they are wearing their features styled as greatcoats, which makes perfect sense in London in July. Please note secondly that…
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Food, Glorious Food . . .
“Food, glorious food!Hot sausage and mustard!While we’re in the mood — Cold jelly and custard!” – The orphan boys of “Oliver” Well, I have had this summer’s “AHA!” moment. While other authors are busy having their “aha’s” over love and relationships, deep-seated family concerns, and even stuff like money and estates, I have been visited by…
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Modern Mudlarks
I am slowly but surely working on my latest bit of JAFF. Due to my health, this is the first time I have used what is referred to as “pantsing,” or “writing by the seat of your pants” as opposed to having a clear-cut and detailed outline. There are all sorts of reasons for this,…
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Make a Fool For Yourself
One dessert that Darcy and Elizabeth must have enjoyed was the artless and simple fruit fool. People have been making fruit fools since the 1500’s, and there aren’t too many lovelier ways to enjoy summer’s bounty of fruits and berries. Back in time, the fruit was served with a “boiled” custard, a simple combination of milk,…
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The Land of the Billy Bookcase
As recently as 2010, I lived with my family in the Land of the Billy Bookcase. We had three of them in the large room that served as both the laundry room and my office. There were two installed in the family room, and there was one in our bedroom. And that was just the…
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Being Breeched
From the 1600’s to just after World War I, infant and toddler boys started their lives wearing dresses. These feminine looking garments were thought to provide babies with the freedom of movement they needed to learn to walk well and to use their muscles freely. Most boys who were above the working class were “breeched;”…