Happy Groundhog’s Day! via GIPHY I always thought Groundhog’s Day to be a fairly bland holiday–no presents, after all–but Groundhog’s Day has a Pagan history. You have to hand it to the Pagans–their calendar is jam packed with party days. Called Imbolc, Oimelc (Ewe’s Milk), St. Brigit’s Day (Brighid, Brigitte, etc), Candlemas, the first day or two of February celebrate the return of light with bonfires, candle making, and illumination of every kind. It’s a celebration of renewal, regeneration, creativity, […]
2018
48 posts
Winter is not my favorite season. When I tell people I get depressed in the winter, they ask if I get suicidal and are uncertain how to react when I tell them homicidal may be the word they’re looking for. When days are short, the biting satire and sarcastic humor of these seven authors has—more than once—saved lives. Here’s a sample of what I like about them. ONE: P.G. Wodehouse “And she’s got brains enough for two, which is the […]
The Moon is Center Stage in January and March! The phrase “Blue Moon” has been used for over 500 years to indicate something unlikely or downright false. In 1528 a group of surly friars used the phrase in a pamphlet criticizing Cardinal Thomas Wolsey-. “O churche men are wyly foxes… Yf they say the mone is blewe, We must beleve that it is true.“ That’s the first written record and, given the times, I’m assuming those friars were burnt at the […]
Winter! As a writer, I am required by law to get seasonal depression. Over the years, I’ve written a number of posts showing the struggle to maintain sanity during this time of year. Sometimes I make promises to be “healthy.” I explore healthy herbs and make salads. This is a temporary phase which always ends with Scotch. Protect against Vampires and Viruses with Garlic Boost Immunities with Magical Echinacea Holy Guacamole: A Scotch and Salad Diet Recipe Looking out on […]
The Brownies who infest Castle Logan are anything but sweet. In my Zoraida Grey Gothic romance series, Castle Logan rises from the craggy hillside in northern Scotland, just a few degrees of latitude south of the Arctic Circle. In midsummer, the sun remains above the horizon for nearly 24 hours but in winter, the reverse is true. Sometimes strange things crawl from their hiding places deep in the caverns beneath the mountains during the long, dark winters. As I was […]
Before I tell you about my goals for 2018, I have to note that at the beginning of January thirty-six years ago, my youngest spawn came reluctantly into the world. Despite my doctor’s assurances that I had not been pregnant for eleven months, I can just as positively assure you such was indeed the case. The only way to dislodge the little alien was by C-section which was not the most fun I’ve ever had. But, of course, it was […]