Anita Mae Draper - Writing/Author Blog

Snowballs Part One

1/4/2021

Snowball Fight, Anonymous (Flemish), circa 1510. Public Domain, courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Wikimedia

I'm starting a new series on the 5th day of every month over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog and since it's January and we have snow on the ground for the next 2-3 months, I thought I'd show you some historical images of snowball throwing.

My January 5th post, Snowballs Go Way Back, will feature images from about 1400 up to 1794. Hope you stop by and see where my research took me this time.

Christmas Board Games

12/5/2020

Game of the Visit of Santa Claus, 1898., McLoughlin Bros. Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society

I'm finishing my series on the history of board games over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog by welcoming the festive season with Chistmas board games.

Come on over to HHH to see what I've discovered.

Playing with a Teetotum

11/5/2020

A Child with a Teetotum by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin, circa 1736. Public Domain

A teetotum, also called a spinner, was like a spinning top used instead of dice in early games. It's the thing that looks like a marshmallow on a toothpick in the above image.

Join me at Heroes, Heroines, and History as I blog about some interesting facts about this precursor of today's board game spinner.

Picture Block Puzzles

10/5/2020

Chromolithograph block Puzzle, 1898. Courtesy of SS Moore Antiques on Rubylane

I've always loved puzzles, including puzzles made with blocks, and I've played with my share of animal and farm scenes, but cube puzzles like the one pictured above is exquisite for decor as well as play.

If you haven't guessed, Block or Cube Puzzles is my posting topic over at the Heroes, Heroines and History blog. Hope to see you there.

Dissected Puzzles in Jane Austen's World

9/5/2020

Wallis's New Dissected Map of World, published June 25, 1812. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Public Domain

Did you know that the puzzles we call jigsaw or interlocking puzzles are mentioned in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park? I didn't make the connection until I researched them for my history post Dissected Puzzles in Jane Austen's World for the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog.

If you like jigsaw puzzles, join me as I delve into the history and creation of one of my favorite pastimes which has been a lot longer than I ever imagined.

Carom or Crokinole

8/5/2020

The deciding shot, 1903. Public Domain, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

See the children in the above stereograph? Are they playing caroms like the caption questions?

I don't think so.

Join me for Caroms and Crokinole as I continue my board game series on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog with images and ephemera to support my theory that the children are actually playing a hardy game of crokinole.

What do you think?

Life Board Game

7/5/2020

The Checkered Game of Life board. Wikipedia, Public Domain

I've covered Geographical Board Games and Virtue Board Games, but as the 19th century progressed, people pursed wealth and success along with happiness and virtue.

If you like board games, join me at Heroes, Heroines, and History where I bring you the story of the Game of Life, one of the most successful board games of all time.

Virtue Board Games

6/5/2020

The New Game of Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished, London, 1818. Courtesy of SLSA B1715487

I'm carrying on with my board game theme with the topic of virtue, or morality, games over on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog.

Of this theme, the most famous is the Snakes and Ladders game where my research led me to several versions including winter-themed and a Christmas version.

You can find it all on my HHH post, Virtue Board Games.

Geographical Board Games

5/5/2020

The road to Washington, c1884. Library of Congress, Public Domain

We're talking board games over at the Heroes, Heroines and History blog and my post this month is all about geographical or map games from the 19th century.
These games are fun and educational and just the thing for kids and adults with too much time on their hands.

Join us and see how you can get your hands on one.

Butchart Gardens Trip

4/5/2020

Almost 30 years ago in March 1992, I had the opportunity to visit The Butchart Gardens near Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. Perhaps I've been thinking of that time because it's spring, or maybe it's because we're all in lock down, but whatever the reason, I wanted to share the beauty of the sunken garden and my photos with you.

So pop over to the HHHistory blog where I compare my pics along with some one-hundred-year old ones of when these special Butchart Gardens were created and why they were built in a quarry.