Words and Photos: The Bake Shop

1 Reply

When I finished my master’s degree in Library Science, I took myself on a congratulatory trip to Quebec City, where I spent a long weekend exploring the historic walled city and snapping photos. While wandering down a cobbled street, this wooden rabbit caught my eye and inspired a romantic and winsome photo essay.

Photo by L.A. LeVasseur, 1998

At exactly 5:00, the bells in the church tower rang and the young man rounded the corner onto the Rue Saint-Paul. He had left his office earlier than usual despite his secretary’s questions about that evening’s conference call. Above him on the cliff overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, the roof of the Chateau Frontenac shone in the late afternoon sun. Momentarily distracted by the iconic view of the famous hotel, he halted, but then set out again, quickening his pace. He had to reach the bake shop before she closed for the day.

Moments later, he reached his destination and stood beneath her open window. Dainty lace curtains fluttered in the summer breeze. He stooped, hands on his knees, trying to compose himself as he breathed in the warm scent of cinnamon. The wooden rabbit she kept on the sill stood guard over a wicker basket that was probably filled with hot, fresh doughnuts or perhaps chocolate cookies. He took off his aviator sunglasses and smiled at the toy sentry, which seemed to beckon him inside.

As he straightened and adjusted his suit coat and tie, she appeared in the mauve-framed window. Her honey-colored curls were pulled back from her freckled face and her nose was smudged with flour. She wore a cheerful yellow apron over a sleeveless floral dress. Her arms were tanned and toned. Reaching for the basket, she glanced down into the street and her bright blue eyes met his.

Mesmerized, she gazed into his hopeful grey eyes and slowly smiled. There he was again! Carefully, she stepped back and closed the window, still watching him. She placed the basket on one of the round, cafe tables scattered across the hardwood floor and turned to the door. Today, he would finally step inside and into her life.

I am a deltiologist. Are you?

Leave a reply

One of my favorite postcards. I found these cute pups in a postcard rack on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Today, I learned a new word—deltiology—the collection of postcards. I love postcards. Whenever I travel, I write stacks of them to family and friends and also buy some to add to my own collection. At home, I always look forward to the pleasant surprise of finding postcards in my mailbox, carefully saving each and every one. Additionally, I collect virtual postcards on my Pinterest page. I suppose I can call myself a deltiologist.

Sending and collecting postcards first became popular around the turn of the twentieth century. During the golden age of postcards (1907-1915), millions of picture postcards traveled through the mail, especially at holiday time. Some of the most collectible vintage postcards were produced and printed by a British company, Raphael Tuck & Sons. A native of Prussia, Mr. Tuck was an art-lover who opened a graphic art printing business with his wife in London. They sold postcards, Christmas cards, prints and lithographs, eventually being awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment from Queen Victoria and expanding their business worldwide with offices in Paris and New York. (TuckDB) Today, historic Tuck postcards even comprise a portion of the photograph collection of England’s National Portrait Gallery (my favorite museum in London).

Photo Source: TuckDB.

Although Raphael Tuck died in 1900 before the dawning of the golden age of postcards, his sons faithfully carried on his legacy. Deltiologists worldwide still recognize and revere the name Raphael Tuck. In his honor, I will extend my Happy Thanksgiving wishes to one and all with this charming Tuck holiday postcard.

Happy Thanksgiving! Best wishes for a day filled with warmth, happiness and satisfaction!

Bermuda: Top Five

2 Replies

Just a ninety-minute flight from Boston in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean lies one of my favorite travel destinations. I have visited the beautiful Bermuda islands several times, going there for the first time on a family vacation in 1990. Riding around on a moped with my sister and my parents, I was enchanted by the pink sand beaches, breathtaking views and British charm. Twelve years later, I introduced my husband to Bermuda on our honeymoon and we have returned there twice since then, collecting more lasting impressions and happy memories. If you plan a Bermuda vacation, don’t miss the following highlights:

The Reefs: I first stayed at The Reefs in 1990 with my parents. It is an award-winning elegant resort hotel on South Shore Road in Southampton. The rooms are comfortable, the service is excellent and the food is extraordinary. Dining each evening at Ocean Echo or at the more casual Coconuts is a memorable culinary experience. Everyone on the staff, from the general manager to the bartender, makes sure that all the guests feel “perfectly at ease” during their stay.

One of the reasons my husband and I love staying at The Reefs is because of its super location. With a bus stop just steps away from the front door, we enjoy hopping on the big pink bus each morning to travel from one end of Bermuda to the other. We also love the ocean views afforded from nearly every room. After an exciting day of sightseeing, we look forward to sitting on our balcony, listening to the ocean and watching the longtails fly out across the ocean in an aerial ballet.

Aquarium/Zoo: One of my favorite attractions, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, is small, but fascinating. I have been there several times. Upon arriving, I always take a few minutes to sit on a bench in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the main aquarium tank. Watching the varied and colorful fish glide by while listening to classical music is both soothing and inspiring. My husband and I each have our favorite animals in the zoo. He looks for the zoo’s friendly and gregarious peacock that roams the grounds and I like observing the lemurs.

Dolphin Quest: On our last visit to Bermuda in 2012 to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to splurge on something special. We made an appointment for a Dolphin Experience at the Dock Yard. Dolphin Quest offers a variety of different programs. We chose the 20-minute Discover Dolphins experience. We met two dolphins, a mother and daughter named Ely and Marley. We were able to feed the dolphins and pat them in an up close encounter. The trainer taught us some of the hand signals the dolphins respond to as well (Dolphin Quest also offers a Trainer for a Day program. Wouldn’t that be cool?) We had such an awesome time meeting Ely and her daughter, Marley. For the rest of the day, we could not stop smiling.

Swizzle Inn: A true landmark, the Swizzle Inn is the oldest pub on Bermuda (established in 1932). The family-run establishment has since expanded to two locations. The original tavern remains on Bailey’s Bay. Locals and tourists on the South Shore can now gather at the second Swizzle Inn in Warwick. Known for its signature cocktail. the Rum Swizzle, the Swizzle Inn also offers an extensive menu of pub food including awesome homemade onion rings!

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse: Just a short walk from The Reefs, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is a must-see for me whenever we visit Bermuda. I have climbed the 185 steps to the top of the cast iron lighthouse to enjoy the splendid views. Along the way, visitors can stop at each level to explore the informational displays about the history of the lighthouse. Opened in 1846, the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse continues to shine its beacon of light from 362 feet above sea level across the waters of the Atlantic. Today, the lighthouse also provides a delightful gift shop and restaurant for visitors.

Thank you for reading. Have a Bermudaful day!

Words and Photos: The Tearoom

Leave a reply

On my first visit to St. Andrews in Scotland, my friend, Susan, and I stumbled upon a charming tearoom located on the edge of the sea. The name of the establishment made me laugh: Crumbs Pavilion Tearoom. When I returned home, I wrote this photo essay sparked by the photo I took that afternoon in St. Andrews.

Photo by L. LeVasseur, 1995

As soon as she spies the tearoom from the crest of the hill, Sage can’t help smiling. The compact building sits squarely on the edge of the cliff above the calm, clear ocean. The summer sun shines down from the azure sky bathing its coral-colored walls in curtains of golden light. The murmur of voices and the clatter of china and silverware blend with the steady hum of the surf on the beach below.

For her, Crumbs Pavilion Tearoom is a favorite old haunt from her childhood. She and her pen pal, Linda, who lived on the Isle of Skye, met face-to-face for the very first time at the tearoom. Shy with each other after their initial greeting, the girls exchanged curious glances as they stood silently at the counter waiting to order Wall’s ice cream bars. Sage asked for a Magnum White and Linda chose almond. Finally, as they sat side by side on the sea wall, swinging their legs and biting into the thick chocolate that coated the rich vanilla ice cream, they began to talk. For years, Sage continued to meet Linda at Crumbs each summer. As they moved from college to first careers and then to marriage, they somehow had let the tradition go. Until now.

Linda waits for her at the doorway of the tearoom. She holds the hand of a young girl, who has straw-colored braids and sports a pair of glamorous white sunglasses. Catching her breath, Sage feels like she has stepped back in time. The child is the spitting image of Linda at the same age. Swept away on a wave of fond memories, Sage laughs like a carefree girl and runs down the hill.

Vicarious Travel Through Summer Reading

Leave a reply

Summer is an ideal time to vacation and catch up on my joy reading. Why not combine the two by traveling somewhere new with the characters of a great summer read? As Emily Dickinson so astutely observed, a book can take you worlds away. Since June, I have taken a vicarious trip to Florence, Italy with Robert Langdon in Dan Brown’s Inferno and another journey to London in the pages of A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith.

Photo Credit: Flickr.com

Right from the opening pages of Inferno, Robert Langdon is on the run, desperately trying to solve a life or death puzzle. Quickly turning page after page, I experienced the wonders of Florence as I followed in the Harvard professor’s footsteps in his race against time. His chase takes him to Venice and Istanbul as well, but I was particularly captivated by the scenes set among the the iconic museums, churches and gardens of Florence. Thanks to Professor Langdon’s hurried travelogue, I now have a sense of the bucolic beauty of the Boboli Gardens, the grandeur of the Pitti Palace and the sanctity of the Baptistry of San Giovanni.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

After my breakneck, hurtling journey through Florence, I was happy to meander more slowly through the neighborhoods of London with the residents of Corduroy Mansions. In A Conspiracy of Friends, the third volume of the wise and witty series, William, Caroline, Barbara and even Freddie de la Hay are confronted with the sometimes puzzling nature of friendship. William receives a surprising revelation from the wife of his oldest friend. Caroline and Barbara struggle to distinguish the fine line between friendship and true love, Freddie, through no fault of his own, is parted from his devoted master. The intrepid terrier accepts his comfortable new home with philosophical resignation, while William laments his loss, almost giving up hope of ever reuniting with his beloved pet. At the end of their individual days fraught with worries, these Londoners gladly return to their respective Pimlico flats, happy to be home.

At this moment, I am between books. Where shall I travel next? Lisa See’s novel Shanghai Girls beckons to me from my bookshelf. Perhaps a trip to China is in order. . .

Words and Photos

Leave a reply

After school in my library, I host a creative writing club. At our meetings, I often use photos or illustrations as the weekly writing prompt. I love words and photographs and I think they go together like peanut butter and chocolate or like fireflies and summer evenings. For years, I have traveled with my camera in my hand, capturing memories and moments as I roamed the streets of Edinburgh, traipsed across the sands of Miami Beach or floated down a river in Costa Rica. I have collected all of these pictures in albums and used some of them as inspiration for a selection of photo essays.

On a trip to Scotland, I visited the Victorian seaport of Oban. From there, I ferried over to the Isle of Mull to tour Duart Castle. One of the pictures I took on that bright and beautiful day inspired this photo essay:

The Garden Steps

Gardens at Duart Castle, 1995. Photo by L. A. LeVasseur

“Oh, wow,” she sighs, her voice echoing against the stone archway as she descends the stairs into the garden.

Pausing on the last step, she lifts her face to the summer sky and breathes in the romantic scent of the roses, which have wandered rampantly up and over the garden walls. The lawn opens out before her like a velvety green carpet. Stepping out from the shadow of the imposing castle edifice behind her, she can’t contain her smile as she takes in the vibrant flower beds that border the lawn and the dancing cupid balanced atop an ornamental stone fountain in the middle of the lawn. The distant tolling of church bells blends harmoniously with the soothing splash of the fountain.

She lifts her camera and takes a careful snapshot. Then, standing perfectly still, she holds her breath and imagines other voices that have echoed up and down the garden steps. The authoritative tones of the laird of Clan Maclean. The respectful replies of the head gardener. The shouts and laughter of generations of children. The whispered vows of secret lovers. And finally, the awed exclamations of tourists like herself.

When in Rome . . .

Leave a reply

In Elizabeth von Arnim’s delightful novel, The Enchanted April, four London women find a soothing respite from the rain and cold of the British winter by taking up residence in a small Italian castle. Feeling a bit like Mrs. Wilkins or Mrs. Arbuthnot, I too traveled to Italy this February. My niece, is studying in Rome for the semester, and my husband and I simply could not pass up the wonderful opportunity to visit her.

On our first morning in the Eternal City, we were treated to a warm and sunny day. Walking through the quiet streets of our hotel’s neighborhood, I was happy to have escaped the bleak, relentless winter weather at home. As we strolled toward the Spanish Steps to meet my niece, I couldn’t believe our plane had taken off the night before in a near blizzard and now were basking in the gentle spring-like sunshine of Italy. During our five-day visit, we eagerly played tourist, crossing the city by metro and by bus to experience as many of those can’t-be-missed sights as possible. We viewed the Colosseum and the Forum by night. We said a prayer in the Pantheon and stood in awe in front of Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica. We toured the Vatican Museums and gazed up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We had dinner on a restaurant terrace in the Piazza Navona and sampled “the best” gelato in Rome at the Frigidarium. However, the highlight of the trip for me, was the morning we spent at the Keats-Shelley House. In 1820, diagnosed with tuberculosis, poet John Keats traveled to the warmer climate of Rome to convalesce. He lived at 26 Piazza di Spagna, just at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Sadly, he never recovered his health, and passed away there in February 1821. Today, the house is preserved as a museum dedicated to the British Romantic Poets. The collection features, portraits, correspondence, manuscripts and other memorabilia of literary notables like Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron, as well as Keats. We spent a fascinating morning learning about these writers and their connection to Rome. The neighborhood surrounding the Spanish Steps was a haven for writers, artists and architects during the nineteenth century. John Keats and many others found great creative inspiration during their time in Rome. Perhaps I should follow in their footsteps. Right now, I am writing a series of short stories chronicling the travels of a food critic named Elizabeth Ann Martini. She (and I) might enjoy a trip to Rome in her next story . . .

Beloved Pets in Literature

Leave a reply

Handsome Cosmo (photo by L. Walkins, 2010)

Every morning, our two cats and our dog, greet the new day with enthusiasm. Cosmo, Emily and Princess (our shih tzu, also known as Fluffy Head) bring us much joy. They are important members of our family.

Beloved pets can be just as important in literature. In Forget-Me-Not, my character, Darcy Seton, shares her home with a personable Cavalier King Charles spaniel. i enjoyed writing the scenes of Darcy spending time with her happy little pup. I also like to read about dogs and cats. Animal stories have an endearing charm. In my reading over the years, I have encountered many memorable and appealing literary pets . . .

The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith: This charming novel is one of my favorite children’s books. It became a literary classic long before Walt Disney transformed it into a popular animated feature. The dalmatians, Pongo and Missus, who set out into the English countryside to rescue their kidnapped puppies, are courageous and resourceful. I love the scenes on Primrose Hill when they join the twilight barking to gather news about their missing children.

Murder Past Due by Miranda James: Charlie Harris, a college librarian and his Maine Coon cat become involved in a murder mystery when a famous writer who has returned to his hometown, is found dead in his hotel room. As Charlie gathers clues, Diesel, the cat, impresses everyone in town with his immense size, his larger-than-life personality and his devotion to Charlie.

Flowers in the Rain & Other Stories by Rosamunde Pilcher: I often wish I could live in a Rosamunde Pilcher story. Her sensible characters, friendly villages and Scottish landscapes make me smile. Her stories and novels, often set in the country also feature many animals, including a faithful sheep dog named Loden in her story, “The Doll’s House.” Loden provides comfort to his distraught young master, William, who has been frustrated in his attempt to build a doll’s house for his little sister. Pilcher, in her customary insightful manner, perfectly portrays the relationship between a boy and his dog.

Paw Prints in the Moonlight by Denis O’Connor: The author, a British university professor, ventures out into a snowy Northumberland evening to rescue a homeless, new-born kitten. He tenderly nurses the cat and it grows up to become his beloved companion. This heartfelt story about how a unique feline changed one man’s life is captivating and inspiring.

Princess says, “Peek-a-boo!” (photo by L. Walkins, 2012)

The Dog Who Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith: Part of the Corduroy Mansions series, this witty and entertaining novel takes place in London and features a cast of quirky and amusing characters, including a small dog named Freddie de la Hay. Pimlico resident, William French’s dog, is unexpectedly recruited by the MI6, The intrepid terrier turned informant helps the authorities to break up a Russian spy ring. In his usual engaging style, McCall Smith includes many humorous insights into the perils and pleasures of city life, and the chapters told in the dog’s point-of-view are particularly amusing.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling: The students at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are allowed to bring a magical pet with them to school. Harry’s owl, Hedwig, is perhaps the most well-known, but my favorite Gryffindor pet is Hermione’s cranky cat, Crookshanks. Although the ginger long,-haired feline appears in volumes three through seven of the series, he plays the most pivotal role in Prisoner of Azkaban, helping Hermione, Harry and Ron to solve a mystery surrounding the death of Harry’s parents.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: Denny Swift, an ambitious race car driver, faces a personal crisis just as his career is about to take off. The author writes convincingly in the point-of-view of Denny’s faithful dog, Enzo. While waiting to be taken to the vet for a final visit, the much-loved pet tells his master’s story and reflects back on their life together. Enzo, who is convinced he will come back as a person in his next life. is a compassionate and insightful narrator.

Lovely Emily (photo by L. Walkins, 2013)

Like these literary cats and dogs, my pets, have their own unique personalities and they keep us laughing. Perhaps, I will write about them in my next story or novel!

Art and Literature

Leave a reply

Photo by L. Walkins, 2010

A portrait in the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh inspired one of the scenes in my novel, Forget-Me-Not. Darcy Seton visits the museum and spends some time studying a painting of her ancestors, George, 5th Lord Seton and His Family by Frans Pourbus the Elder. Art and literature share an intrinsic connection. Many authors have ventured into the artist’s world, writing compelling stories that bring to life the important figures in art history and their masterpieces. Two of my favorite art-inspired novels are Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland and The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier.

Susan Vreeland vividly portrays the lives of Impressionist artist, Auguste Renoir, and his friends who posed for his celebrated painting, Luncheon of the Boating Party. She recreates 19th century Paris and brings Renoir’s amazing work of art to life. I especially enjoyed reading the scenes set on the terrace of the riverside restaurant. As Renoir labored over certain areas of the group portrait, I continually flipped the book closed to compare Vreeland’s descriptions to the cover illustration. I would love to go back to France some day and visit Chatou, the town where Renoir worked on his masterpiece.

Although I haven’t been to Chatou (yet), I have seen Renoir’s beautiful painting. Luncheon of the Boating Party is part of the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. On our last visit to our nation’s capital, my husband and I visited the museum and eagerly made our way to the second floor where the painting hangs. We hurried down a hallway, rounded a corner into the gallery and stopped in amazement in front of Renoir’s brilliant portrait. I felt like I could step through the frame and join the Parisians lounging on the terrace of the restaurant, Maison Fournaise, on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Reading Vreeland’s novel encouraged me to go see Renoir’s work in D.C., but in opposite circumstances, I was inspired to read The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier after viewing the renowned unicorn tapestries at the Musée National du Moyen Age in Paris. In her compelling historical novel, Chevalier skillfully weaves together the fascinating story of the French family who commissioned the tapestries and the Belgian weavers who created them. I enjoyed reading her descriptions of the medieval setting and getting to know Chevalier’s well-drawn characters. As an avid cross-stitcher, I was also fascinated by the details of how the iconic tapestries were created. The six beautiful wool and silk tapestries created in Flanders nearly 700 years ago, are now housed behind glass in a dimly lit gallery on the lower floor of the Paris museum.

In William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, the Major tells Emmy that “every beauty of art or nature made him thankful as well as happy, and that the pleasure to be had in listening to fine music, as in looking at the stars in the sky, or at a beautiful landscape or picture, was a benefit for which we might thank Heaven as sincerely as for any other worldly blessing.” Both Vreeland and Chevalier have generously shared “the beauty of art” with their countless thankful readers. I am certainly glad to have had the opportunity to see these marvelous works of art and read the novels inspired by them.

Literary Friendships Last Forever

Leave a reply

Make new friends, but keep the old . . .

This summer, I reconnected with many childhood friends. I had brunch with a high school classmate and her daughter. We hadn’t seen each other in years and had a wonderful time filling each other in about our lives. I went to dinner in Boston with friends from California who were dropping their daughter off at college. They were nervous and excited for her as she begins this new chapter in her life. I also traveled to my hometown in Connecticut for a mini-reunion with three of my best friends. The four of us meet at least once a year to catch up, reminisce and share lots of laughter. It is wonderful to be able to pick up where we left off so many years ago as if no time has passed at all.

In my book, Sandra Cahill’s Best Friend, Emma and Sam reconnect several years after high school, unsure if they can reestablish the bond they shared in tenth grade. While I was working on this (my first) novel, I felt like I had a whole new set of friends. Each day, I couldn’t wait to get home to jump back into Emma and Sam’s world.

I also enjoy reading about friendships. Throughout literary history, authors have created memorable characters who confide in and rely completely upon each other only as best friends do. A few of my favorite books feature some of literature’s most iconic characters and their steadfast companions.

Anne Shirley and Diana Barry — When red-haired orphan, Anne Shirley comes to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables, she discovers that “kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” One of the most important kindred spirits in Anne’s new life is Diana Barry, her neighbor and best friend. Anne and Diana share their hopes and dreams as they grow up on Prince Edward Island and remain bosom friends throughout the entire series.

Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton — Scarlett and Melanie start out as romantic adversaries competing for the heart of Ashley Wilkes. But then shots are fired on Fort Sumter and the war between the States begins. United as sisters-in-law, Scarlett and her nemesis face Union soldiers, the burning of Atlanta, devastating hunger and Reconstruction. Through all of these trials, Melanie becomes more important to Scarlett than she cares to admit. In the end, Scarlett realizes just what a great friend she had in her former rival.

Jo and Meg March — Sisters, Jo and Meg March, also confront difficulties brought on by the Civil War. They wait anxiously at their Massachusetts home for news of their father, who has gone south to help the Union soldiers. Although the March family does not have much money, Mr. and Mrs. March’s four little women are rich in other ways. Jo and Meg support each other through their daily trials and tribulations, setting an admirable example for their younger sisters. When Meg marries Mr. Brook, poor Jo fears she will lose her dearest friend, but the sister’s devotion to each other remains strong as they enter the world of marriage, children and running their own homes.

Nancy, Bess and George — Intrepid girl detective, Nancy Drew, depends on her best friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne, to help her solve many of her cases. Although they are cousins, Bess and George have little in common. Bess is pretty, blonde and feminine. She is often frightened by the dangers she encounters while following Nancy in her adventures. George, on the other hand, is an athletic brunette, who relishes coming to Nancy’s rescue when she gets herself in a tight spot. Although Bess and George are little more than stock characters, their loyalty to Nancy is genuine. The titian-haired sleuth is lucky to have such faithful friends.

Harry, Ron and Hermione — Like Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, has two trusty friends at his side to help him solve mysteries at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley befriend the orphaned boy with the lightning bolt scar on their first day of school. Together, this awesome threesome, stand up to the snobbery of pureblood Draco Malfoy, rail against the unfair attitudes of Professor Snape and battle the evil influences of Harry’s arch enemy, Voldemort. They also share adolescent angst, academic challenges and romantic dilemmas as they come of age during their seven years at Hogwart’s.

Fortunately, these literary friendships will live on forever in the pages of their respective novels. I too am fortunate to have made many lifelong friends. Following the sage advice of the Girl Scouts, I have always been inspired to make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold.

Words and Photos by Linda A. LeVasseur

I love words and photographs. They go together like peanut butter and chocolate or like fireflies and summer evenings. For years, I have traveled with my camera in my hand, capturing memories and moments and using my photographs to inspire my creative writing.

Words and Photos: The Bake Shop

I am a deltiologist. Are you?

Bermuda: Top Five

Words and Photos: The Tearoom

Vicarious Travel Through Summer Reading

Words and Photos

When in Rome . . .

Beloved Pets in Literature

Art and Literature

Literary Friendships Last Forever