If you’ve read my blog or follow me on social media or heard me speak, you probably know how much I am obsessed with Scotland. It wasn’t always that way, though. But I met Scotland at a pivotal time in my life. I first visited Scotland when I was 13 years old. I was with… Read more »
The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter
Real Medieval (and pre-Medieval) Scottish Weaponry!
In my school talks, I chat a wee bit about the weaponry mentioned in my books. And after a visit early this summer to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (my favorite museum ever, by the way), I’ve some wonderful examples of medieval weaponry and armor that link nicely to my books. First, here’s… Read more »
Teacher’s Guide: Update
With the school year about to begin (and having already begun in some parts of the country), I’ve finally got around to updating the Teacher’s Guide for The Mad Wolf’s Daughter to include some new resources, as well as discussion questions for The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter. I realize that sequels are rarely used in classrooms as… Read more »
Eight years ago today, I lost a person very important to my life, one of my best friends ever: my mom. Here`s one of my favorite pictures of her on Mount Desert Island, a place she loved. Mom was a huge support and advocate for me as I grew up on that island, and always believed in me. When I was an adult, though, we had a new and very special relationship. She`d come to visit me and we`d go on adventures, exploring the area where I lived. She had a job, but she`d leave early on Friday and spend the whole weekend with me, returning home late Sunday. Those times, just Mom and me, were so incredibly special. We joked, talked, sat in companionable silence, and just felt each other`s company. My mom loved to learn and adored history, nature, plants, and animals, and more. I miss her so much. The grief of loss softens, but it never goes away.
#ParentalLoss #Love
My son said yesterday’s bagels are his favorite yet! I’ve been trying out different recipes with different flour. This one was all bread flour and boiled 30 seconds per side. I think they came out well too! Pictured here: cinnamon sugar on the bottom, then nigella and kosher salt above, and extra sharp cheddar at the top.
By the way, I love that my son asked for the less traditional nigella (black onion seed) and salt over sesame seed. He’s a kid for whom such spices (along with garam masala and fenugreek, one of his top favorites) make the ultimate comfort food.
#bagels #baking #bakingfromscratch #weekendbaking