In my last post I forgot to share something I learned in March — archaeologists recently discovered the first Dead… Read more Dead Sea Scroll Discovery
Category: Origins
The Surpisingly Interesting History of Crocuses
At the end of last week the kids found the first crocus blooming in our front yard. This of course… Read more The Surpisingly Interesting History of Crocuses
Did You Know? Books Inspired by Toys
You probably know that Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by Christopher Robin’s stuffed bear, but did you know that the Thomas the… Read more Did You Know? Books Inspired by Toys
Who Was Saint Valentine?
Five years ago I posted a history of valentines (with lots of interesting pictures). This year I decided to look… Read more Who Was Saint Valentine?
The Long History of Truffles
Priced between $900 and $3000 per pound, truffles are one of the delicacies of haute cuisine. Truffles are fungi that… Read more The Long History of Truffles
Knock, Knock. Who’s There?
Do you know when knock-knock jokes appeared? Let me enlighten you with some quotes from the NPR article “The Secret… Read more Knock, Knock. Who’s There?
10 Facts About George Washington Carver
Have you heard that George Washington Carver (1864-1943) invented peanut butter? Well, that’s not quite true. A version of peanut… Read more 10 Facts About George Washington Carver
A Brief History of Apple Desserts
As I was making apple crisp this afternoon I decided to look into the origins of various apple desserts. But… Read more A Brief History of Apple Desserts
Did You Know? Dalmatians as Firehouse Dogs
Dalmatians were used as stable and carriage (or coach) dogs as early as the mid-1700s. Their speed, endurance, and affinity… Read more Did You Know? Dalmatians as Firehouse Dogs
From Fish Sauce to Heinz: A Timeline of Ketchup
Scrambling for an idea for a blog post today I was inspired by my lunch of grilled cheese and ketchup… Read more From Fish Sauce to Heinz: A Timeline of Ketchup
The Interesting Life of Joseph Pilates
For years my favourite form of exercise has been a version of pilates taught by Cassey Ho, founder of Blogilates.… Read more The Interesting Life of Joseph Pilates
Did You Know? Galileo Thermometer
One of the first pieces of home decor I bought (long before I had a house) was a Galileo thermometer.… Read more Did You Know? Galileo Thermometer
10 Things You Didn’t Know About LEGO
The name LEGO comes from “leg godt” — Danish for “play well.” 2. The LEGO company began as a woodworking… Read more 10 Things You Didn’t Know About LEGO