The house we were hoping to buy (not the one pictured here), before the offer fell through, was an American… Read more The History of Rusticated Concrete Blocks
Category: Origins
Did You Know? 12 Facts About A.Y. Jackson
One of the first pieces of art I ever bought was a large print of an A.Y. Jackson painting (Maple… Read more Did You Know? 12 Facts About A.Y. Jackson
Did You Know? World’s Oldest Parliament
After posting about the library we visited on our trip to Charleston I got thinking about other travels Andrew and I… Read more Did You Know? World’s Oldest Parliament
Did You Know? Owen Sound & Underground Railroad
Did you know that Owen Sound, Ontario was the northernmost terminus of the Underground Railroad, the secret network of citizens… Read more Did You Know? Owen Sound & Underground Railroad
Did You Know? Birthday Celebrations in History
Last year I published a post about the origin of birthday candles on my sister’s birthday. Today another family birthday has… Read more Did You Know? Birthday Celebrations in History
Did You Know? Maldon Sea Salt
Very recently I have acquired a fascination with salt. This sudden interest has two sources. First, I bought a cookbook… Read more Did You Know? Maldon Sea Salt
A Short History of the Pacifier
What do you know about the history of the pacifier (also known as a soother, dummy, or binky)? With a… Read more A Short History of the Pacifier
The Origins of New Year’s Resolutions
Our community association puts out a monthly newsletter that includes information on sports programs, letters from local politicians, jokes submitted… Read more The Origins of New Year’s Resolutions
Travel and Trivia in the Columbia Valley
This past weekend my family spent a few days in the Columbia Valley of British Columbia. We stayed at a… Read more Travel and Trivia in the Columbia Valley
Canada’s License Plate Slogans
I have to admit that the license plate slogans of Canada’s provinces and territories is not the most riveting topic,… Read more Canada’s License Plate Slogans
History of Pumpkin Spice from “Pompkins” to PSLs
Happy Thanksgiving, Canadian friends! If you’re curious about the history of Thanksgiving in Canada, here’s a post I wrote two… Read more History of Pumpkin Spice from “Pompkins” to PSLs
Did You Know? Mozart’s Name
Did you know that Mozart’s middle name — Amadeus — may have originated as a joke? Turns out there’s a… Read more Did You Know? Mozart’s Name
The Origins of Birthday Candles
Since it’s my little sister’s birthday today, I thought I’d write a short post on the history of birthday candles.… Read more The Origins of Birthday Candles