Over the last several months, I have been spending some of my time delving through documents and research to construct my family tree. I had help from some of my family that came before me, and I use the Ancestry.com template to follow my lines. Unfortunately, there are family lines I could not follow, my […]
Following Your Roots and My Native American Sweat Lodge Experience Read More »
Many plants and fungi’ were used by ancient tribes and civilization as a means to enter the spiritual world. Ritual use of psychedelic mushrooms dates back to the Neolithic age (9500 B.C.). Cave art from Northern Italy depicts mushrooms being used by shamans and for use in sacred ceremonies. In Guatemala, a group of “mushroom
Drugs and Addiction in Regency England, Magic Mushrooms Read More »
Gentlemen Club’s were social gathering places for many men in Regency England. Unlike the clubs in the U.S. today, there were no exotic dancers. Women were not allowed. Men in Regency England often belonged to one or more of these establishments. Nevertheless, these clubs were more than just places to escape female society and partake
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Laudanum I’m researching book one in my Wintergale Orchard series, titled When Love Wins. In this story, the hero is addicted to laudanum. Laudanum is an opium tincture made with 10% opium and 90% alcohol and then flavored with cinnamon or saffron. The tincture is reddish-brown in color and has a bitter taste. Laudanum is known
Drugs and Addiction in Regency England Read More »
St James’s Palace is located in the City of Westminster in London, England. The palace was commissioned by King Henry VIII on the site of a former leper hospital for women. The hospital was dedicated to Saint James the Less, who was one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. When the inhabitants of the hospital
While dogs and horses top my list of favorite animals, birds of prey, especially hawks and falcons, hold a special place in my heart. There’s something mesmerizing about their fierce grace and silent power. I’ve been known to pull over mid-drive just to capture a glimpse of a hawk perched in the wild. Falconry, the
Dancing is a way to let go and to move your body in a manner that may seem silly to some, but it’s a wonderful form of exercise and self-expression. Whenever I’m at a function where there’s dancing, I find myself completely entertained by watching the dance moves of others. Dancing, of course, has evolved
Dancing in Regency England Read More »
Books are believed to have the power to change us and influence how we see the world and others. We know that pictures, music, and even simple words can evoke feeling and memories, and so it makes sense that stories would influence us as well. Novels have the ability to make us laugh and make
We Are What We Read? Read More »
The Regency happens to be one of my favorite times in history, which is likely the reason the majority of my books take place during this time. The Regency era in the United Kingdom is the period between 1811-1820. This is the period when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son,
A Short History of the Regency Period Read More »
It is likely you have tried a few home remedies when you were ill. Perhaps some hot tea with lemon and honey, or a saltwater gargle to soothe your sore throat. I’m sure when you were concocting your remedy that the thought of leeches never entered your mind. And yet bloodletting was the most common
Regency Home Remedies: Leeches and Bloodletting Read More »
