Writer for Young Adults
Just as I was starting school at the end of August, Libba Bray's long-awaited Lair of Dreams hit shelves. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of pretty much anything she writes, and The Diviners, a sprawling historical thriller set in the 1920s, set my expectations high for her new series. Luckily, Lair of Dreams delivers, delving into fascinating… Continue reading Lair of Dreams and the American Dream (Spoilers)
AKA: That time we went to Downton Abbey. We saw all sorts of wonderful things on our honeymoon. The Churchill War Rooms, the Tower of London, Stonehenge, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, a play with Sîan Phillips...and yet, now that we're back, every time someone asks us what we saw, the first thing out of my… Continue reading Afternoon Adventure: Highclere Castle
We've just returned from our honeymoon and family vacations (nothing wrong with a month away!), and I'm excited to share some of our adventures with you. But today I'm thinking about World War I (known as the Great War by most English-speaking historians until the second war broke out), which began at the end of… Continue reading Reading World War I
I really like to listen to stories while I cook. Sometimes it's books on tape (Jim Dale narrating Harry Potter? check!), sometimes it's NPR, and lately it's been dramatized mysteries. My sister and I grew up listening to dramatized Agatha Christie books and the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes radio plays from the 1940s, so much… Continue reading By Timothy!
I promise this isn't going to become a blog about weddings. But it turns out that when you're planning a wedding, you end up thinking about weddings a lot. Sometimes it's fun, and sometimes you want to plug up your ears and sing "I can't hear you!" when the next person asks about your colors.… Continue reading Wedding dress, 1920
Happy December! I've just returned from a whirlwind trip home to Cleveland for Thanksgiving, and it was wonderful to see family and take long walks and eat lots of delicious (modern) food. Around the holidays we often reflect on the past--not only our recent past and childhoods, but the "family past," stories about my grandfather's… Continue reading Afternoon Adventure: The Tavern Club
There's something I've been keeping under my hat for a while, and it's time you knew: Josh and I are engaged!We're thrilled, and despite all the chaos of starting a new school year, we couldn't be happier. We're also trying to get used to calling each other "fiance," which feels pretty weird. (Did anyone else… Continue reading Dining at Downton: Champagne julep
It's the last gasp of summer, friends. The air is getting cool at night (sometimes). Stores offer apple cider in big displays. And this week I go back to school.To mark the occasion, let's look at one more recipe from this summer's Canadian vacation. It's a pretty basic shortbread recipe, one that calls for three… Continue reading Shortbread fans (and a bit about ovens)
It's been two weeks since we returned from vacation in Canada, and I can't stop thinking about it. Even though I've since joined my parents for a weekend in upstate New York. Even though Josh and I have entertained and seen friends and gotten thoroughly back into the Providence swing of things. Even though school… Continue reading Blueberry picking (and muffins)
We just returned from a week in Maine with Josh's family. A gorgeous lake house near the town of Casco served as our home base, and we spent the week swimming, kayaking, reading, and playing games. The men-folk cooked almost every meal on the grill, while the women-folk engaged in some serious salad-making and baking.… Continue reading Himmel torte
Abby Murphy 