Category: Europe
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Regency Childbirth
Forceps, anesthesia, and hot, spiced wine: What was it like to give birth in Regency England?
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When Was a Birthday, Not Really the Day One Was Born? Or Another Meaning for “Double Dating”
Recently, I was attempting to explain this concept to my grandchildren, who were anticipating no school for President’s Day. However, they did you know that George Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731, and NOT on February 22, 1732, as we in the United States celebrate. How is that possible? First, let us look…
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A Visit I Will Forever Remember Taking: Part 2
This past September, my husband, aka the Marine, and I went to England for a day to see Stonehenge, then we traveled the next day to Romania. I shared of my visit to the lovely England countryside, and the busy Romanian Old Port in the first post. Here I continue my adventure. Our first two…
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Christmas in Paris: A Short Story
I’ve just returned from a wonderful holiday in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. And of course, the plot bunnies kept on hopping all the time we were there. I hope you enjoy this short contemporary story that hopped out of my head. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. However you celebrate, may…
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Giving Birth on a Sailing Ship in the 1800s, or Things to Avoid at All Costs
The Journal I began skimming the newly digitized journal of Augusta Hendee, the wife of ship captain Thomas Hendee, and I fell in love. I have now spent two days reading the whole thing in depth. At moments hilarious and at others tragic, it is at all times relatable. The first half of the digitized…
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Feliz Sexta-freira Santa!
Bees are sipping from the dogwood blooms out my window, and I hope each of my wonderful readers is enjoying a glorious spring or autumn morning – and that the continuous summer is not too scorching for those readers residing along the equator. Since today is Good Friday – and a blessed one to those…