I am looking forward to a relaxing, and extended long weekend. The kiddo is away at music camp, and Matthew has taken a couple of days off of work. His birthday is this Sunday, and we will celebrate quietly at home.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

One of the prettiest castles in all of England.

Please note WW is now played all week.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

Image Credit: Wiki

North Korea has detonated an estimated one-kiloton nuclear bomb in an underground test this morning.

What the heck is wrong with them?!

I am going to do some research into North Korea's history. something I admit I know very little about. The answer to why they are doing this is most certainly there.

Isaac Blessing Jacob. painted 1638 by Govert Flinck. The subject of the painting being obvious (a blessing) it is also a great blessing in my opinion that we can all view such paintings through Rijskmuseum Amsterdam's website.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

It was on this day, May 19th in 1536 that Anne Boleyn the second wife and queen consort of Henry VIII of England, and mother of the future Elizabeth I, was beheaded at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest, and high treason.

Published as a stereoscope in September 29, 1905 The original caption reads "The native mode of grinding coffee, Palestine."

Please note WW is now played all week.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

Victoria, first sovereign of a confederated Canada

Victoria Day is a Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday before or on May 24 in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's birthday.

In some parts of Canada, the holiday is colloquially known as May Two-Four. This phrase has two meanings: the holiday always falls near the date of May 24, and a two-four is Canadian slang for a case of 24 bottles of beer, a common packaging of the drink in Canada (and a common purchase of those planning to celebrate the weekend).

So let us hoist up a brew in honour of our monarch! Or in my case and iced tea

Happy Queen Victoria Day!

Sources, and further reading please see:

Queen Victoria Day Wiki

The Government of Canada's page on Victoria Day

In some ways it has been a very hard week, and seemingly not so blessed, but in other ways blessings can be found.

Firstly let me share my new look with you.

Yes, that is me, with red hair! It is something I wanted to do for a few years now, and finally I had the courage to go out, and make the big change. I LOVE it!

My hyperthyroidism is seemingly back under control with the pills. At least I feel much better than I did a few weeks ago.

Because I am feeling better again I got a lot of work down on the websites that I maintain.

And finally.....

We got cable! We have lived without it for years, but because we have a teenager in the house we decided to get it. For the time being I am enjoying tv again.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

I have just finished uploading some new photos to the Norfolk Militia Heritage Regiment Re-enactment Group, and added in a new section called Camp Life.

If you are interested in historical re-enactments, and the War of 1812 please click on the linky, and check us out

Living history is a great way to teach kids what life was like back then, the hardships, and the horrors of battle.

Life in a 19th century camp as portrayed by historic re-enactors.

Please note WW is now played all week.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

And I say if it was good enough for the Queen Of Bohemia....it certainly is good enough for my family!

Seriously, I would LOVE the opportunity to stay in such a grand country home as Ashdown House never mind live in it permanently. Check out this beautiful bedroom....fit for a Queen!

According to the BBC

The house dates back to the mid-17th Century and was built by the Lord Craven for Charles I's sister, Elizabeth, the exiled Queen of Bohemia, so she might avoid the plague in London.

She died before she could see it and Lord Craven never married but the property remained with the Craven family until 1956 when it was given to the National Trust.

A 41 year lease is available, and the property includes:

*Eight bedrooms
*Two pavilions
*Heated pool and tennis court
*Three keepers' cottages
*Orangery

Sigh....................

It never hurts to dream though!

My blessing today is my Mother, and all the wonderful women who have helped to shape my life so far.

And if you are a Mom I wish you a very happy Mother's Day!

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

Actor and comedian Dom DeLuise passed away Monday night (May 4th 2009) at the age of 75. He had been battling cancer for a long time. Although he made many, many films, and tv appearances I will always remember him best for Blazing Saddles and Silent Movie. Thanks for all the laughs, you will be missed!

A huge wave crashed into the New York City region 2,300 years ago, dumping sediment and shells across Long Island and New Jersey and casting wood debris far up the Hudson River.

Some of the researchers think a giant asteroid may have been involved.

Can you imagine the destruction if another such wave hit NYC today?

Here is what the scientists are saying about that on the BBC

It has been a hard week to try to find a blessing. The news has been getting me down, between the economy, and the swine aka H1N1 - Type A flu I cannot help, but feeling stressed. With the latter my kid's Aunt (ex-sister-in-law) is in Cancun as I type. She left last Friday before the travel advisories. My eldest is house sitting for her, and I had to read her the riot act about not coming into contact with her Aunt for at least 5 days. It sounds mean, but I don't want the Swine flu here.

On a bright note I was able to help Matthew unmask History Of A Haunting which claims to be a reality tv show, but put out a casting call for actors. This offends me as both a historian, and a paranormal enthusiast. Good that the general public can now see the truth.

Since they were casting for an non-frumpy actor I was delighted to find this stunningly frumpy red hat at a thrift store the very day Matthew posted his article. Skelly is wearing it, but you know it is for me.

Now I think this weekend I will turn off the news, stay clear of so-called reality tv, and check out our local churches craft sale for Mother's Day gift ideas.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings