A week with Richard the Third

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So this week I have been devouring the latest historical novel by Anne Easter Smith.  On the very day that I was reading about the birth of Richard the Third in Queen By Right, I heard an interview on the radio announcing that his remains (found last year under a car park in England) have been positively identified.  The news and the book prompted me to find out more about him and I was interested to learn there is a whole society dedicated to setting the record straight about his incredible life and family.  It would seem Shakespeare took some great liberties with his retelling and I encourage you to try out Smith’s novels if you are interested in being interested in the people and the history surrounding the Wars of the Roses.  Anne Easter Smith has certainly succeeded in igniting my interest in this long ago time and place, which is something my high school socials studies classes failed to do!

Try her books, I think you will be as interested as I am with her portrayal of this time in England’s history and I know that you will fall in love with the female protagonists that she weaves her stories around (this latest one revolves around Richard III’s mother, Cecily Neville).  I now have a picture in my mind of life for the women of that time and place and I have Smith to thank for that while I eagerly await her next book in the series!

P.S.  It has been over a year since I read her first book, A Rose for the Crown.  I am tempted to re-read it now as I am all fired up about learning more about the adulthood of Richard III where my current read leaves off.  Would you believe, I just finished some internet research on the subject?  This is a first for me and I now realize that the web is a fantastic place for a history lesson (something I never bothered trying before today).

my wish

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Revisting a favourite piece with this photo, as part of the photo challenge at 52photosproject for this week.   The theme is MY WISH and this is certainly something I wish for myself….and for all of you.  What do you wish for in your heart of hearts?

housebound

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Everyone in my family is sick with the flu, somehow I am still healthy and doing my best to play nurse. Making soup, keeping the fire lit, snuggling in response to the many middle of the night calls from my girls.  Trying to stay patient as we come on to nearly a week of sickness.  Trying to fill this house with LOVE with the hope that my housebound crew will heal quickly!

 

2013 calendars – still so many exciting days to come

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So I am a bit late off the mark with my calendars this year, but hey, there really are so many days left to enjoy in 2013, better late than never!   I actually had not planned to make them this year, the winter crafting was in high gear and there was just not enough time. But then, right before Christmas I had some of last year’s customers asking for 2013 calendars.  Oh how that made me SMILE but there simply was not enough time to sneak it in.  To console them I reminded them that the page per month version I did last year includes January 2013 (most seemed unaware of this bonus page) and I promised that next year I will make another.  In the meantime, I decided to whip up a few year-at-a-glance poster calendars for 2013.  Thanks to my hubby for creating a beautiful template and a local print shop for zipping up my order, I now have some for sale in my etsy shop and at Artzi Stuff in downtown Nanaimo.  And I mean SALE….since these puppies are late, you can have them for a great price (just $7 for each 12 x 18 inch poster)!

Now our office wall has a fun new poster to help us plan the months to come!  I wonder, which 2013 design do you like the best?