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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.

Giant Victoria Lily Pads

3/5/2020

Woman playing violin, standing on lily pad at Shaw's Garden (Missouri Botanical Garden), in front of Linnean House, c1905. Courtesy of Missouri History Museum, Public Domain

The woman in the above image is playing her violin while standing on a giant lily pad. Sound incredible? It's not. The leaves of the Victoria regia can grow up to 8 feet across depending on conditions. With a fascinating underside that allows it to support weight, many historical images show people standing or sitting on the giant leaves.

If you're interested in learning more, and seeing historical images about this wonderful plant that grows in the wilds of South America and many of the world's botanical gardens, check out my post on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog.

Valentine Ephemera

2/5/2020

Valentine in form of a bank note. Philadelphia c. 1852. Library of Congress, Public Domain

With Valentine's Day coming up I'm showing three pieces of Valentine ephemera including picture and word puzzles.

And keeping with the topic, I'm giving away a print copy of The Secret Admirer Romance Collection which contains 9 novellas, including my love note story, Love in Store. (Bookmark in the right column shows the book and love notes.)

So head on over to the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog and get yourself entered for the giveaway by leaving a comment before midnight, Feb 5th.

Historical Snowman Pics

1/5/2020

Winter, Penrhyn Stanlaws, artist, 1907. Source: LOC Prints and Photographs Division

Snowman, snow woman, snow people photos in history...that's what I researched for my 1st post for 2020. So join me at www.hhhistory.com on January 5th when I bring you through illustrations, photos, a woodcut, and more the history of a fun winter activity.

Giveaway on Sleigh Bells Post

12/5/2019

Lady in cutter, Calgary, Alberta, ca 1910. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives

I love the sound of sleigh bells and their modern jingle bell cousins, and that's why I'm featuring them on my December 5th post at Heroes, Heroines, and History blog.

Did you know that driving a sleigh without bells is still a law in some areas? I even found a video showing different sleigh bells and how the sound changes according to weight and size.

If you do get a moment to visit my post on the HHH blog today, enter for a chance at my giveaway.

Hope to see you there.

Tale of a Tiny Discarded Tree at the Inkwell

11/19/2019

Draper's Acres, Christmas 2007

This is the true tale of a tiny tree we dug out of a discard pile back in 1994. After 17 years of healthy hibernation, the tree was still under two feet tall. Then, in the summer of 2011, it began to grow.

Check out my post at the Inkwell for the story and photographs of our favourite tree and how it's played a prominent role at Draper's Acres, our family farm..

Camouflage That Dazzles

11/5/2019

HMT Olympic in dazzle camouflage at Pier 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, painted by Arthur Lismer. Public Domain wikipedia

With Remembrance Day on November 11, my post, Dazzle Camouflage, on Heroes, Heroines, and History shows the dazzle paint scheme made to camouflage direction, number and movements of ships from enemy U-boats during the First World War.The post includes images of the Olympic and her sister ships Titanic and Britannic, as well as the USS Mahomet.

The dazzle paint scheme was brought to my attention after reading letters sent home during WW1 from my husband's grandfather, Noah C Draper, a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Voluntary Reserve (RCNVR). His letters mention that for some reason, the Olympic was still in harbor but would be leaving any day. That led me on a search for the reason, and why Noah, who was in Halifax waiting to be shipped overseas, would mention a ship as if everyone knew it. You can read the actual letters and my findings here:
- www.anitamaedraper.com/author-memories/ww1-letters-home-dec-19-1916
- www.anitamaedraper.com/author-memories/ww1-letters-home-dec-13-1916

Historical Pumpkin Pics

10/5/2019

It's October 5th and that means it's my day to blog at the Heroes, Heroines and History blog. Stereograph, glass lantern slide, greeting card, magazine cover, and photographs from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Simple images to show that not much has changed when it comes to growing and showing those treasures of autumn, the lowly and fantastic pumpkin.

POW Uses Water Wings to Escape

9/5/2019

And here I thought water wings was a modern invention. Nope. Try 100 yrs ago.

Join me today at Heroes, Heroines and History as I delve into the origin of those colorful swim aids we call water wings.

Fiction Finder Post at ICFW

8/22/2019

ACFW Fiction Finder at fictionfinder.com

As a Featured Author Interviewer of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), I'm delighted to be posting on the International Christian Fiction Writers (ICFW) blog today about the F iction Finder website.

Fiction Finder is a site for readers looking for Christian fiction and authors supplying information about their books. Drop in for a visit as I share more information about this great place to find Christian fiction.

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