Naval Officers: Self-made gentlemen
Naval service was different than the other branches of the military, and naval officers different than army officers.
Continue reading →2018 A Year Half-Full
Starting the new year off with a little advice from Robert Frost and a reminder that the glass is half-full. Usually I like to start the year with a bit of a retrospective on the previous year. But this time around I’ve found myself procrastinating until literally the eleventh hour. Since I’m not by nature a procrastinator, this sort of thing usually signals there’s a problem afoot, one that I’m not very happy to … Continue reading →
Reason #90 Why writing takes so long
#90 Out of control Christmas decorations Writers are a distractible lot by nature. Between flighty muses and wild, vorpal plot bunnies rampaging about, it is difficult to focus on keeping hands on keyboards, parked in our chairs. The holiday season makes that even more difficult–not that it should be a surprise to anyone to hear that. That is especially true when said writer likes to decorate. I try very hard not to … Continue reading →
Regency era Holiday Gift Giving
Gift giving in Jane Austen’s Day. What might she have given or received for Christmas? Though gift giving was not the primary focus of the Christmastide season, gifts were commonly exchanged. St. Nicholas Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Twelfth Night were the most likely days for gift exchange. Old traditions called for gifts to be exchanged on New Year’s Day. Many gifts exchanged were gifts of obligation between unequal parties. Landowners and the well-off … Continue reading →
Another Chance part 6
Can Caroline find another chance for an happily ever after? Part 6 “Caroline! Caroline!” Charles called from just outside her chamber door. “We will be late.” If she did not respond, he would be pounding on it in just a moment. She heaved a heavy breath and dragged herself to the doorway, opening the door a fraction. “Go without me. I have no taste for entertainments tonight.” “Absolutely not. I will not accept that for … Continue reading →