Most people know about St. Patrick's Day. We might've attended a parade or lifted an Irish bevy in salute, but here's some background and a few fun facts. 1. St Patrick's Day, originally a day to honor St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, has...
Blessings are a part of Irish culture and express sentiments such as goodwill, joy, and hope. Some also contain sly humor that brings a grin to the face. Blessings are usually short and often in poem form, but there are some longer ones, too. They are a perfect...
Traditions abound at Christmas, with many of our present-day rituals inherited from the distant past. Here are some of the oldest ones. 1. Christmas Trees Greenery has long been used to decorate homes and halls during the winter, but Queen Victoria’s husband, Albert,...
These days there are many tools available to help in the writing of a book. Here are a few that I use and recommend. Some of the tools overlap, and I don’t always use everything in the intended way. I adapt my usage to suit my needs and writing habits. 1. 4 The Words...
This is a continuation of my post about my visit to Hobbiton in Matamata. Part one is here. I was busy taking photos of Hobbit holes and my surroundings and saw something moving. It took me a moment to realize the pheasant was real and it was busy feasting on the...
I've wanted to visit Hobbiton in Matamata for ages, and yesterday, I finally got to explore the home of the Hobbits. In order to visit it's necessary to plan and book ahead. My tour was for 10:30 and Hobbiton central was very busy with tours going out every half an...
For the last year, I’ve been obsessed with owls. I have no idea why, except that I like their cute faces and huge eyes. Photo by Rúben Marques on Unsplash My current work-in-progress is Black Moon Dragon. I was writing away, and suddenly, an owl appeared. Since this...
