Category: My Blog

Friday Finds – Bats in my Belfry

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This little guy took  up residence in my patio umbrella, not my belfry, this morning. Fortunately, I’m not a superstitious French Peasant or my day would be doomed to misfortune.  Because bats flew at night and had eerie, leathery wings, the peasants of 1650 France linked them with witches, demons, and the Devil. The creatures … Continue reading Friday Finds – Bats in my Belfry

Throwback Thursday – Feast or Famine

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We are so spoiled! The amount of work that went into providing food for a peasant family in 1650 is daunting by today's standards. The typical seigneurial system in France granted 1-3 acres to a family to farm. A family of five would need two acres of rye to provide bread for a year. Their … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – Feast or Famine

Writing Wednesday – Self-Publishing

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I was too impatient to wait for a “real publisher”… and I ended up as an indie author with six books on Amazon and elsewhere. Authors know that publishing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every path—self-publishing, working with an indie press, or chasing a traditional deal—comes with its own mix of freedom, work, frustration, and reward. Self-publishing is … Continue reading Writing Wednesday – Self-Publishing

Wonders of Wonders – Time Travel Tuesday

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The Wild Grape Jelly Worked ! I am happy to report that traveling back in time to harvest wild grapes like the peasants did in France in 1650, worked out for my jelly. Actually, peasants didn't make jelly because they lacked sugar. Even so, I got a feel for what they'd go through to use … Continue reading Wonders of Wonders – Time Travel Tuesday

Mystery Monday – Harvesting Wild Grapes

~ jeannemeeks ~ 3 Comments

It’s a mystery to me how I’ve gotten through life so far and why I sometimes do stupid things.  After finding wild grapes along the trail, I imagined being like my peasant character while I picked them. I spent an hour harvesting the grapes and another two hours de-stemming them, my fingers hurt as if … Continue reading Mystery Monday – Harvesting Wild Grapes