Over The Dam

Kiltackymor House, Boston Road, The Burren My Ireland Between 1993 and 2017 Gere and I had the unique privilege of spending many, many days in Ireland. The first few visits, we traveled as tourists, driving thousands of miles around the island, taking in as much scenery, culture, and history as we could absorb. Then in 2000, we were taken on as partners by a couple who owned a stone cutting business in County Clare. Our office here in the USA was called Irish Limestone, US. O

This photo of eighteen Buddhist monks on Day 96 of their 2300 mile Walk for Peace was shot in southern Virginia yesterday during a winter storm. The image illustrates quite clearly to me the effort and perseverance shown by the group all along the route from Fort Worth, Texas to the final destination, Washington, D.C.   At a time when violence and unrest is plaguing our nation, an example of devout people walking… sometimes barefoot… along highways and paved country roads, st

In a Wiccan tradition, 1 February is the day when the Caillech or Hag of winter goes out into the woods to gather her fire wood for the rest of the season. Perchance, the day is inclement and she must stay inside, winter is gone for another year. The U.S. groundhog, taking the place of the European hedgehog, will not venture forth while the hag was about. It knows winter could only be done, if weather is bad and there is no sun.

Gere and me at Giant's Causeway Ireland tales and stories do show up regularly in pieces I write here and sometimes in posts on my Facebook page . I hope you get something out of them. This week, I'd like to tell you why I have become such a Hibernophile.   In 1993, when I graduated from Radcliffe Seminars (now Boston Architectural College ) with a Certificate in Landscape Design, it seemed like a good idea to visit Italy and see all of the classic villa gardens that I had st

For the last few months I have been sharing links to articles about King Philip’s  War published by Bristol Historical and Preservation Society in Rhode Island. The horrendous conflict between European colonists and Native American nations (1675-76) in southern New England serves as the foundation of my historical novel Conflicting Roots (Maine Authors Publishing, 2025). While this short essay covers details of a genocidal attack on Narragansett natives a few miles west of

Dear readers, followers, friends and family members, you have helped to turn a tough personal trip around the sun into a successful professional year. You have purchased more titles from me than during any year since I entered this retirement career in 2016. Many of you have personally given me feedback: encouragement to continue.

Roly's Bistro in Dublin, present day. It had been open just 2 years when we visited. Celebrating out 10th wedding anniversary and New Year's in Dublin was over the top. But, why not? After all, we were international citizens. So, we decided to make it a full week of fun and frivolity in the most European of cities. Luxury hotel room overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, dinner every night at a top restaurant, visits to museums and breweries and pubs. We put it all together before

Photo for illustration only. This is not my sister and me. Each November Dad set up a worktable next to the oil-fired furnace in our basement. There,after supper on nights that he didn’t have to work somewhere else, he made Christmas wreaths to be sold to raise money for our Church. Setting up a wooden clamp to hold metal wreath rings, he would secure small bundles of greens with florist wire wound round and round until you couldn’t see the ring at all. He used pretty hollies

Click to read an excerpt from the historical novel, Conflicting Roots.

She told me “every novel is different.” I had to agree to a point, but I have always tried to discipline myself as an author to complete each stage of creation before starting the next. Always finish the rough draft before moving on to the First Draft. And then to editing. And then rewriting.