I just finished reading  Judith Flanders’  CHRISTMAS A BIOGRAPHY   and  WHAT  a REFRESHING read!!! I bought the book on a whim, hoping to find some justifications for simplifying duties as well as to glean insights into the old conundrum of religious vs....
How do you adorn your holiday tree? How have you collected your ornaments? Are they just fun or do they contain symbolism of your cherished beliefs and fantasies? Does your tree invoke your better self or lighten your mood? When you’ve lived as long as I have, a...
Tips for Managing the Busiest Holiday Season Ever Simplify ~ Simplify ~ Simplify!  Easier said than done… I am living testament to the difficulty of untangling the proverbial Xmas lights to find comfort and joy amidst the hot mess of  ‘not-missing-out...
I have been pondering the paradoxes of Sedona’s allure and ‘sitting with’ the notion of writing about some of my experiences among the Red Rocks. But, for some reason, I have not been able to adequately articulate the dual nature of Northern Arizona....
One of my more recent pleasures has been to enjoy the BBC Series, The Last Kingdom, which takes place in tenth century England. It is inspired by Britain’s early history and is mesmerizing! When I heard Marilyn MacDonald speak on Kings Arthur and Alfred, I...
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the...
Now and then, it’s wonderful to hear from others about their interests  and read their interesting research. Please welcome my guest contributor, Dr. Christopher Dalrymple, a Templar Knight with a curiosity for all things Masonic! The ancient Egyptian pantheon...
Making Sense of the Middle Ages 500 – 1500 A.D. What comes to mind when you think of Middle Ages? Castles? Crusades? Knights & tournaments? Well, here is attempt at making sense of the complexities and constellations of dynamics at play from the fall of...
The Middle Ages  lasted roughly from 476-1453 A.D. This timeline offers a glimpse of  some of the rough dates in this continuum. I created this timeline to accompany a presentation I recently gave on the Middle Ages. LATE ROMAN EMPIRE 165 – AD Antonine...
There are times when the best remedy for the bustle of life is a ‘reset.’ Â And then, there are times when bucket list items meet that same need. Well recently, I spent my first weekend in Destin, which had been on my bucket list for some time. I felt...
Excerpt from The Häling and the Scottish Templars where young Templar Squire Adam de Dalrymple finds relief from the long ride from Dunbar. On this Beltane Eve, bonfires lit hilltops to purify and cleanse all lingering weakness from winter’s hardships....
This summer, I just could not resist sharing joy of spirit. I have mentioned in the past that the Hopi have some things in common with the Templars. But I acknowledge that this is an ‘aside.’… for the pure joy of it. Our newest addition to the family is Chöp,...
There is a reason why official family portraits are becoming more of a rarity, and it ranks up there with hosting formal dinner parties for forty! But when it happens, we know that heaven and earth have been moved to make it so…especially in this day and age...
One of the amazing things about Sedona is the vibrant food scene, for tourist and residents alike! While I do a fair amount of cooking, I also frequent several yummy places. Congestion is becoming the norm in the shopping district, as folks explore the vistas for...
When I recently dropped several copies of Häling and the Scottish Templars by the Sedona Library, I was thrilled to see a bronze statue of Sedona Schnebly. The story goes that she and her husband established the first Post Office in the area. T.C. Schnebly named the...
