Throwback Thursday – Feast or Famine

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

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

Mystery Monday – Harvesting Wild Grapes

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

Friday Finds – A New Book Store!

What do Bookstores and Dodo birds have in common? Nothing. Dodo birds went extinct years ago, but bookstores are making a comeback. This area hasn't had a book store in 15 years. Now we suddenly have two. Combining books with coffee, good food, and an inviting vibe seems to do the trick. Grounded Books (and … Continue reading Friday Finds – A New Book Store!

Thursday Throwback

French peasants in 1650 played a game similar to modern bowling. Skittles or nine-pin (quilles in French) was played outside a tavern or in a barn on hard-packed earth. The nine skittles were set up in a diamond or square pattern.  The wooden ball and skittles were carved from  hardwood – oak or beech.  My … Continue reading Thursday Throwback