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Hogmanay - A scottish celebration

‘Lang may yer lum reek, in yer ain wee hoose!’ Long may your chimney smoke, in your own small house. In other words, may you live long, and prosper. ‘What a year it’s been?’‘Aye, Where’s it gone?’ It’s the same conversation every year as is the merriment to mark the end of the year. Both the conversations and the celebration are as old as the Macalpines, and we all know they are older than the hills and streams. Who first celebrated Hogmanay?The end of the Celtic year is Samhai...

Being Creative wherever you are!

I fell and fractured my coccyx and sacrum, not too badly, but enough that I had to stay still. No haring about the countryside, in fact no driving at all. I sat on a cushion cut out so there would be no pressure on my spine and I had no choice but employ my time in sedentary activities. I wrote, I read, I listened and I got to thinking. Always trouble. What if I choose to live more simply? Since I couldn’t go anywhere and had little energy to chat much, I sewed and listened to books. I love t...

What does your family tree reveal?

Family trees connect us to our ancestors, and perhaps help us understand ourselves better. My Family Tree Family trees fascinate me. I learn not only the names of my ancestors, but also their occupation, and important dates used to mark their life, births, marriages, and deaths. Recently, my mother unearthed our family tree. The first person on the tree was born in 1685, a farmer with two wives. His first wife died, although she had given birth to a live child, who was named, but died as a infan...

The Three Quills are up to no good!

Rather they are always Good! But they do like some fun.  Fun is their middle name, if truth be told. Second anthology in Tangled series  Jen Yates, Leigh D’Ansey and Caroline Bagshaw have been creating words to tantalize and titivate in the second volume of three short stories in the Tangled series. Set in a Regency garden with a maze somewhere in it’s midst, there are two people who simply must find each other.  The Three Quills are bound by their vow to bring you Happy ...

The Three Quills are born

“What?” “Never?” “It can’t be true.” “But it is.” “Who are they?” Jen Yates, Leigh D’Ansey and Caroline Bagshaw have pulled on their muslins, donned their jewels, and whipped out their feathered nibs. Together they are The Three Quills, not to be confused with the three musketeers. As far as I know Jen Yates does not own a pair of gold buckled shoes, and Leigh D’Ansey has not been seen wielding her sword for sometime. And you will be pleased to know I have given up toss...

Do you need a Retreat?

"Retreat? From what? Why on earth would I do that? I am a woman with a million and one things to do at home, why would I retreat?” Retreating from home One of the Cambridge dictionary definition of retreat is a move back by soldiers or an army, either because they have been defeated or in order to prevent further fighting. “Ah…now you mention it, I have been in a bit of a fight with all the things I need to do versus placing my bottom on the seat and writing. Perhaps a retreat is wh...

500 words a day - inspired by the snowflake guy

I am a writer but haven’t published my first novel yet. It is on its way. Still in the womb. In the past twelve years I have written creative pieces, travel stories, and my journal, but have I published? The answer was a big fat NO! Until last year, when my dear friends Jen Yates and Leigh D'Ansey encouraged me to write a short story for an anthology. A Tangle of Tinsel & Tartan http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M945JBR It's Free on amazon or follow the link on my website if you want a copy. Bu...

Preparations for a Scottish Regency Ball

“May I have the pleasure?” Before a lady could accept such an offer from any suitor she needed to learn to dance. ...

Freedom

Ah! Freedom is a noble thing! No words are truer now than they were in 1376 when John Barbour wrote them. Inspiration Here I was rummaging in my Granny’s library for something else and came across this mighty poem. It resonated with me, brought Scottish friends to mind, and a character for my next book came to life. Ah! Freedom is a noble thing! Freedom makes man to have liking! Freedom all solace to man gives: He lives at ease that freely lives! Dear heavens! The words conjure up in me figh...