Castle Howard is one of the most treasured homes in England, located in North Yorkshire. It has been the home to the Howard family for over 300 years, and is still a private residence for the current Howard family. While the house is not a real castle, it was given...
Gentlemen and ladies carried personal cards – often in highly decorative card cases – which they gave to friends and acquaintances. Personalized cards were presented as a matter of course when making a first visit to someone newly arrived in the neighborhood, when calling for the first time on newly...
I admit to being a big fan of both Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. That isn’t to say I’ve loved every movie they have done, but the majority have been enjoyable to some degree with a number amongst my all-time favorites. Recently I watched the third movie the two acted...
Two hundred years ago, love tokens offered an enduring and romantic means of expressing devotion to a cherished person, often but not always a lover. Acceptance of the token admitted a return of affection. One common practice was to personalize legitimate coins, usually by smoothing and engraving them (by hand) with a message...
I love this portrait of David Lyon. Isn’t he dashing? Possibly a bit Darcy-esque? He has the refined air, proud stance, slender musculature, and elegant, chiseled face we all imagine when envisioning Mr. Darcy. His richly nuanced clothes, from the fur lining his coat to the slim cane and dandyish handkerchief, the gentleman in...
Continuing on with my study in Floriography — the cryptological communication through flower use or arrangement. For the first post covering A and B flowers, as well as a short history on the “language of flowers”, click HERE. For C and D flowers, click THIS LINK, and for F and...
Moving along in the alphabet to the letter I… more fascinating history lessons in etymology and strange words for your enjoyment! I LOVE vocabulary! For a list of all my archived posts covering the topic: VOCABULARY Inglenook A delightful word I think all who visit my blog can easily relate...
An August 8, 2016 article by Erin Blakemore on Smithsonian.com I just stumbled across is so fascinating I have to share. Below is the whole article, but to read on the website, here is the link: Bookworms, Rejoice: You May Live Longer Bookworms, Rejoice: You May Live Longer Let’s face...
I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Gene Wilder. Granted, he hasn’t been in anything recently, and indeed his wealth of classic movies will endure forever, yet it is always a shame when someone so supremely talented passes on. Rest in peace, Mr. Wilder, hopefully in the...
Hardwick Hall, which is located in Derbyshire, is the former home of Elizabeth Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick. It was built between 1590 and 1597 and designed by architect Robert Smythson. Of humble origins, Bess of Hardwick married four times, gaining power and wealth with each marriage, and...
Today I am sharing two of my favorite happily-ever-after romance movies, both set in an indeterminate past with a Medieval flavor. One is clearly fantasy laced, while the other is a well-known fairytale given a rational explanation. Each have humor, fantastic supporting characters, a fair amount of suspense, and the oh-so-necessary...
Continuing on with a study in Floriography — the cryptological communication through flower use or arrangement. For the first post covering A and B flowers, as well as a short history on the “language of flowers”, click HERE. For C and D flowers, click THIS LINK. I know a bank...
Blenheim Palace is the only non-royal country house in England to be titled as a palace. This large estate is located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England and is the current residence of the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. Blenheim Palace was constructed between 1705 and 1722 as a gift to...
Once an object of royal privilege, the parasol had its origins in the ancient east, migrating from China to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent where its use was exclusively to protect from the sun as opposed to rain. It eventually spread to the arid climes of Egypt, Greece, and...
Bringing y’all some more strange words with their etymology or origin stories. I love language! Today is the time for H. For a list of all my archived posts covering the topic: VOCABULARY Hackney and Hack Hackney comes from the Old French haquenée, meaning a gentle, riding horse, an ambling horse. It was...
