Today I’m thankful for Travel. We’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to several interesting places. Some, like Iceland, we just lucked in to. We’d wanted to go to Ireland but the travel agent couldn’t get us in at any time over that summer. She did get us a deal where, if we flew Iceland …
Tag: Scotland
Aug 27
Scotland’s August Bank Holiday
Last year we’re in Scotland on August 28, so we were affected by the August Bank Holiday. This year’s holiday is on Monday, August 27. The August Bank Holiday was instituted by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 to give bankers a day off so they could participate in cricket matches. Since then, however, its significance …
Aug 23
Anniversary of William Wallace’s Death in 1305
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. He was appointed Guardian of Scotland and served until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Glasgow, …
Aug 19
World Photo Day
Today is another of those “Who Knew” holidays. I was recently talking to someone about our last trip to Scotland and she reminded me to take lots of pictures. Then, she said to be sure to print them out so she could see them. Um, no way! I haven’t printed out pictures since probably …
Apr 06
Since it’s Tartan Day: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Scotland
I have my Black Watch tartan ready to go to wear but we won’t be able to go the parade in New York this year 🙁 Don’t be surprised if you see people decked out in tartan this weekend. Today, April 6, the United States is celebrating National Tartan Day. The day is intended to …
Apr 06
April 6 is National Tartan Day
April 6 is National Tartan Day. This is an official national holiday which kicks off Tartan Week. National Tartan Day honors all the Scottish heritage that flows through this nation. From its earliest beginnings, Americans with Scottish ancestry endeavored for that freedom as much as any American. It was in their blood. It was …
Feb 04
Sean Connery and Bagpipes
This video just came up on my Facebook feed this morning but I hadn’t seen it before. Even though Washington is misspelled, this is still a fantastic performance for Sean Connery in 1999. Sean Connery was honored at the Kennedy Center for lifetime achievements. The music consists of the Washington Pipe Band, Alasdair Fraser, …
Jan 14
Greyfriar’s Bobby
When we were in Scotland a couple years ago, we walked to Edinburgh Castle and back from hotel a couple times. I had never heard of Greyfriar’s Bobby until our bus tour the second day although we had walked by the statue 3 times already! On our 4th pass-by, we saw several people taking …
Dec 31
Time for those Hogmanay Fireballs Again!
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year’s Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. The …
Nov 11
Giving Thanks, Day 25: November 11, 2017
Giving thanks to our Veterans today I’m not sure how Veterans Day turned into a Friday holiday and a day to sell stuff, but then, most every holiday has turned into a day for stores to run “sales”. Possibly, the original intent was to give our veterans a break but it has sure morphed …
Music
- 🏥 2024 Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Health Fair, TomorrowThe Schar Cancer Center and Saville Center for Cancer Screening and Prevention will be on hand to provide informative sessions from our team of experts, free cancer screenings, and recommendations for healthier living.
- 🚈 Model Train Exhibition, TomorrowEnjoy the magic of a running model train display and layout.
- 🎸 Loudoun Youth Guitars, TomorrowLoudoun Youth Guitars is one of the most accomplished and renowned youth ensembles in the Metropolitan Area. The ensemble is led by its founder – Dr. Miroslav Lončar and Dr. Nataša Klasinc-Lončar, Is the assistant director.
- 🪭 Intergenerational Japanese Folding Fans, TomorrowIn May’s intergenerational craft program, we’ll introduce you to the history and art of the Japanese folding fan. You will then make and decorate your own paper folding fan.
- 📚Little Free Library Week, Today through May 18, 2024This May, we’re excited to mark a special milestone: the anniversary of Little Free Library becoming a nonprofit organization on May 17, 2012. We’ve dedicated our efforts to making books accessible for everyone, and to celebrate, we’re hosting a week-long celebration from May 12-18, 2024.
- 📚 Little Free Library Bingo, Today through May 20New for Little Free Library Week 2024, celebrate by playing Little Free Library BINGO! Get out and explore the book-sharing boxes in your neighborhood while connecting with your community. Want to win?
- 🌱 Community Plant Swap, TomorrowBring your cuttings, seeds, seedlings, transplants, and plant and garden supplies for a community plant swap. Please ensure that your plants and cuttings are pest-free.
- 🌱 Plant Swap, May 19Are you on the hunt for different varieties of plants to add to your collection? Bring your cuttings, seeds, seedlings and transplants for this in-person plant swap.
- 📆 O'Connor Music Studio CalendarUpdated daily with music and Northern Virginia events.
- 🍿 Movies in the Park, TomorrowAre you looking for a fun outing to do as a family? Join us for a movie under the stars. Bring your blanket or chair and a picnic dinner for this fun outdoor family or date night event.
Little Free Library
- Dying To Date: Love, betrayal, murder—a great first dateBy a good friend of mine! When dying to date Mr. Right leads to finding Mr. Wrong—it’s deadly. Relationship expert Kristina Truly has a proven track record of dating the wrong men. However, her highly publicized romantic failures don’t stop her fans from attending her Finding Mr. Right, Not Mr. Perfect seminars and reading her […]
- The Poisoned PeerThe 99-year-old Earl of Middlemop has had his future cruelly snatched from him. Who could have poisoned the richest man in Wessex? The answer lies within the walls of Gripedown Hall where family secrets and bitter rivalries prevail. Senior sleuths Churchill and Pemberley investigate on the behest of their friend Tryphena Ridley-Balls. However, another friend […]
- Murder in the ManorMURDER IN THE MANOR (A LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 1) is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace. Lacey Doyle, 39 years old and freshly divorced, needs a drastic change. She needs to quit her job, leave her horrendous boss and New York City, and walk away from the […]
- Murder on a Midnight ClearA snowbound country mansion, a missing butler, and a Christmas case . . . Olive and Jasper have never been closer—except in one area. Jasper is still reticent about his frequent disappearances from polite society. With the holidays approaching and no paying client on the books, Olive decides to shadow Jasper when he’s unexpectedly called […]
- Discerning GraceAs the first full-length novel in The White Sails Series, DISCERNING GRACE captures the spirit of an independent woman whose feminine lens blows the ordered patriarchal decks of a 19th century tall ship to smithereens. Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a […]
- The Thursday Murder Club: A Novel (A Thursday Murder Club Mystery Book 1)A New York Times bestseller | Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment “Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining.” —Wall Street Journal “Don’t trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman’s own laugh-out-loud whodunit.” —Parade Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves A female cop with her […]
- Body on Baker Street (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Book 2)The amateur sleuths at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop must call upon the powers of deduction in order to rid Baker Street of a ruthless killer Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are busy managing the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium on Baker Street and adjoining Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room in anticipation of the store’s upcoming book […]
- The Devil and the Dark Water (A Locked-Room Historical Mystery)A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist. It's 1634, and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who […]
- Too Many WomenAh, sweet mystery, when Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin plunge into a case of murder brimming with luscious, lethal ladies. Who murdered Waldo Wilmot Moore? Well, there were five hundred female employees at the Wall Street firm where poor Waldo had worked. Any one of them might have done it. And there was also the […]
- Christmas Cupcake MurderAs December turns Lake Eden, Minnesota, into the North Pole, the heat is on in Hannah Swensen’s kitchen to honor two Christmas promises: baking irresistible holiday cupcakes and preventing an attempted murderer from succeeding the second time around! While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa’s waistline on Christmas […]