Punxsutawney Phil has spoken: it will be an early spring in 2013.? Of course, few people take?Punxsutawney Phil?Sowerby, the groundhog from?Punxsutawney, PA, as an actual weather guru, even though he is a cute little rascal and, for being a claimed … Continue reading →...

Every year, Scots and those who like things Scottish gather on or about January 25th to honor Scotland’s unofficial national poet, and enjoy a fine dinner and copious drink (hopefully single-malt Scotch).? There is a common program that includes toasts … Continue reading →...

This first appeared as a guest blog on Rosemary Adkins’ great website, www.ExtraordinaryIreland.com.? Since Noelle is going to Ireland this month, it seemed appropriate to re-post it here. When we booked our last trip to Ireland in 2000, our party … Continue reading →...

American traditions surrounding New Year’s Eve and Day are limited and not from the depths of history.? Getting together with party hats and champagne while watching the glittering ball descend in Times Square on TV (recorded three hours earlier, if … Continue reading →...

The Next Big Thing is a “viral blog” exposing the reader to blogs of authors who write in a varied genres.? Each of these bloggers will answer identical questions about a work he or she has in progress.? The plan … Continue reading →...

For the last 35 years, the historic Gold Rush city of Nevada City has hosted Victorian Christmas.? It occurs on certain Wednesday and Sunday nights in December.? Being in the Sierra Nevada foothills, weather can vary from warm to snowy … Continue reading →...

My name is R. L. Cherry and I am a Christmas junkie.? All my life I have loved Christmas. My wife never has to bug me to put up the Christmas lights, haul out the decorations or shop for the … Continue reading →...

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, has an interesting history. All Hallows’ Day is All Saints” Day (hallowed meaning holy) and is now November 1st. Why it was moved from its original May 13th date is lost in antiquity. Perhaps it … Continue reading →...

When I moved to the Isle of Man (home of the famous Tourist Trophy, or TT, motorcycle races), I had to get a new driver’s license.? No big deal when you’ve already been driving for almost thirty years, right?? Wrong.? … Continue reading →...

In my last post, I said that we cannot be sure who originally said the above quote.? I like to think it was Oscar Wilde because he displayed such wit in his writing, but many sayings attributed to him he … Continue reading →...