Dalmatians were used as stable and carriage (or coach) dogs as early as the mid-1700s. Their speed, endurance, and affinity… Read more Did You Know? Dalmatians as Firehouse Dogs
Category: Origins
From Fish Sauce to Heinz: A Timeline of Ketchup
Scrambling for an idea for a blog post today I was inspired by my lunch of grilled cheese and ketchup… Read more From Fish Sauce to Heinz: A Timeline of Ketchup
The Interesting Life of Joseph Pilates
For years my favourite form of exercise has been a version of pilates taught by Cassey Ho, founder of Blogilates.… Read more The Interesting Life of Joseph Pilates
Did You Know? Galileo Thermometer
One of the first pieces of home decor I bought (long before I had a house) was a Galileo thermometer.… Read more Did You Know? Galileo Thermometer
10 Things You Didn’t Know About LEGO
The name LEGO comes from “leg godt” — Danish for “play well.” 2. The LEGO company began as a woodworking… Read more 10 Things You Didn’t Know About LEGO
What Is Steampunk?
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction literature. It’s retrofuturistic, meaning it shows “depictions of the future created in an… Read more What Is Steampunk?
A Timeline of Kombucha
Today I started a new batch of kombucha (my first attempt failed a few months ago and due to Covid-19… Read more A Timeline of Kombucha
The Blessing of Baking Powder
The Great British Baking Show is hands down my favourite thing to watch these days. The competition begins with twelve… Read more The Blessing of Baking Powder
The Long (Orange) History of Fireworks
When I was growing up we celebrated Victoria Day with a huge scavenger hunt, dinner, and fireworks with a big… Read more The Long (Orange) History of Fireworks
Wedding Bells
Today is Andrew’s and my anniversary. When deciding what to blog about the second stanza of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem… Read more Wedding Bells
Early Bird-Watching Books
Bird-watching is a hobby that really emerged in the 20th century. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “In the 19th century… Read more Early Bird-Watching Books
A Short History of 4/20
If you’ve ever wondered how April 20 became a holiday celebrating marijuana, you’ve come to the right place. Origin Myths… Read more A Short History of 4/20
Did You Know? The Didache
In a discussion following our church service yesterday the pastor touched on a text of the early church called the… Read more Did You Know? The Didache