Above image by Theo Crazzolara from Pixabay The new year is here and tradition would have me listing a slew of resolutions concerning my 2024 writing goals. The problem, as I explained in a previous post, is that I am not much for announcing changes and intentions for the following twelve months. At best, my decisions will last two or three months, so why bother? Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay It’s not that I am a lazy person by nature,…
I thought I’d finish off the season with a last few jokes to send you on your way into the new year, jokes I’ve searched for high and low from every corner of the internet! While I will allow you to judge whether these are the best (or worst) ever, I hope you will enjoy this last post of the Christmas season! What goes “Oh, oh, oh?” Santa walking backwards! (Cue the groans!) Why don’t snowmen get married? Because they…
Featured photo by Antonio Gabola on Unsplash Just a quick note to wish everyone the Happiest New Year. All of us at A Glimmer of Gold want the very best for you and your loved ones throughout the coming year. However you celebrate, please do so safely. I am not trying to lecture, but please take the time to plan the conclusion of your celebration. Arrange a designated driver or engage a taxi, Uber, etc. As for my wife and I, we…
I wanted to jump in and wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, or whatever you prefer to celebrate. I love this time of year, for the hearts of everyone we meet seem to be somehow softened at this time of year. I am a Christian and celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ at this time of year, but I see this softening in anyone, and not only Christians. May you have all the…
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Although it’s not Funny Friday, I’m in both a festive and humorous mood, so I decided to share some amusing Christmas cartoons I found on the web. the authors or sites are listed in each cartoon. I was unable to provide attriution for the few that do not contain that information.They are not side-splitting, but they tickled my funny bone and I hope they do the same for yours. …
Hey folks! I know I’m a little late on this one, but I have some good news for you. If you haven’t listened to The Mistress of Longbourn on audio yet, it’s being offered now for 75% off until the New Year! Just follow the link and enjoy! https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/595034/mistress-of-longbourn?refId=111992
In the spirit of Christmas, I decided to refresh my memory with regards to celebrations of the season in Jane Austen’s day. It did not take long to find a trove of information. To tell the truth, there are so many good sources that condensing it comes down to a struggle between what to include and which to leave for another article. Christmas in the early part of the nineteenth century was similar to the season now. For estates such…
Those who know me know that I have long been a huge fan of fantasy fiction. While I cannot remember the first fantasy I read, the first I actually recall was the Narnia series. From there I branched out into Tolkien, Eddings, Donaldson, Brooks, and many others besides. I was so into fantasy that I once read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in a single weekend! Robert Jordan came later, as he did not publish the first book…
Today I want to share three of what I think are the prettiest Christmas songs of the past sixty years. They are not carols, but they do bring the spirit of the season. The first is “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake. A bit of interesting trivia about this song is he did not compose it as a celebration of the season, but rather as a protest over what he saw as the increasing commercialization of the holiday….
While the name Samuel Johnson might not be a household name in today’s world, he was a prolific and well-known writer in 18th century England. Johnson lived from 1709 to 1784, and wrote in many genres, including plays, poetry, essays, sermons, and literary criticism. His works were so popular that the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography refers to him as “arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history.” I’ve used quotes from him in my own writing. Today I thought…