8 Ways Books are Better Than Scrolls: eBooks of the Ancient World

What were libraries like in the past? While trying to figure out how ancient books were repaired, I came across the delightful Libraries in the Ancient World by Lionel Casson. It’s a small, friendly sort of book, clearly written and even the black and white illustrations are fascinating. If you asked for a book in […]

Growing into shape: A 1,000-year-old linden tree

This 1,000 year old linden tree has such a perfect shape from the outside. A really old tree gives me a new perspective on life and how long it takes to grow something beautiful. This one almost certainly saw a procession of Emperors passing by. It’s very near the open-air museum of Tilleda, a kind […]

Becoming an artist at The Winged Pen

I really enjoyed this book! The gutsy girl artist, Emelin, is appealing. Her mysterious friend Wolf is also intriguing. The story is easy-peasy accessible and the everyday details of England in the middle ages are effortlessly accurate. Try it, you’ll like it. You can read the interview with author, Jackie Randall, here. Save Save Save […]

An Epic Tree

My husband and I went looking for a half-circle of oaks he knew from thirty years ago. (No comments from the peanut gallery 😉 He said their group held hands around it because it was so big (nearly 8 meters around and 24 meters tall!). It’s gotta be old: 600-800 years!

Writing Gratitude Countdown: (3) People who Rocked my Worlds

This is the third post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. I’m noticing that gratitude is like a pair of sunglasses. My writing journey takes on a whole color. (Find all the posts: 1. The Gift of Attention , 2. The Gift of Permission, and 3. The Gift of Hospitality, and 4. The Gift of Feedback, […]

What’s it like to visit historical sites for a story world you’ve only imagined?

The Middle Ages come to life in Arezzo, Italy. ©Jan Decher, 2002 The itinerary included the most important and accessible places in the story: Bologna (nearest airport and unexpectedly beautiful) Casa Cares near Tuscany (a family visit to this retreat center brought me to Arezzo and the story) Camaldolì monastery (an 11th century monastery and […]

Rituals for Starting Work: medieval construction, coal mining, printing presses

Medieval construction workers building Schloss Horst. ©Laurel Decher, 2015 Over the weekend, I visited a castle, the Schloss Horst Museum in Gelsenkirchen, a printing press, the Historische Druckwerkstatt that offered a trip to the age of lead, and a coal mine, Bergbaustollen Nordsternpark. Schloss Horst turned out to be a museum that drops you into […]