The Well-Groomed Samuel Pepys Died 310 Years Ago Today

The well-groomed Samuel Pepys died on 26 May 1703. He was seventy.

Samuel Pepys, 1666

Samuel Pepys, 1666.

QUOTE: “But me thought is lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain.”

KNOWN FOR: His incredibly diary.

A KEEPSAKE:

Samuel Pepys' Diary at Lady Frans Library

Samuel Pepys’ Diary at Lady Frans Library. $19.00

Awards Announcement!

Let’s be real: we enjoy receiving awards. They are sweet acknowledgments that readers like our blog. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to nominate us for various awards these last few months. Unfortunately, we’ve lost track of a few of them and for that we apologize. Keeping awards in play is awfully time-consuming and repetitive: there are only so many personal facts we have to share. Frankly, we’d rather spend the time creating new content for the blog. Although we’ve no desire to hurt the feelings of our nominators, a compromise is definitely required.

It’s a work in progress so, whilst things are subject to change, here’s what we’ve come up with after much thought:

  • Any future awards will be immediately acknowledged, because we really are grateful! We will be up front if we do not have the time to pass them on. Please understand that we write and edit and create things for a living. This blog is not a hobby, but an extension of what we do in the real world. There are only so many balls we can keep in the air!
  • We are finally going to create a blogroll! There are so many amazing blogs that Kevin and I follow, and we’d love to share them with you. They are all worthy of your time and mental space. These blogs deserve all of the awards on WordPress.
  • We will do an occasional post spotlighting newly discovered awesome blogs.
  • In another effort to share the love with our favourite blogs, we will be creating our own award. I know, I know. Creating an award to make up for the fact that we receive too many awards to handle probably doesn’t sound like the most logical solution, but bear with us. This award will not require recipients to give it to others. It will make perfect sense when you have the details. More on that later.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Thank you, Morgan, from I am a heathen, for nominating us for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Versatile Blogger Award

Versatile Blogger Award

Thanks, Nanuschka, for nominating us for a 3-in-1 Award. Check out Nanuschka’s Blog here.

Daily Diversion #132: Time Spent By Myself, Alone, in a Chair

If you need me today, I’ll be in this chair: legs thrown over the side, disheveled, peaceful. Reading, sipping tea, staring out open windows. Living life with the timer off. Collecting quotes, not thinking, blissfully unaware. Ruffling doggie ears, painting my toe nails, napping. Tomorrow, I’ll be back. Ready to jump into the fray. But that is in the future and today, today, is about the now.

A great place for solitude

A great place for solitude.

  • “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.”-Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet
  • In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.”-Albert Camus, The Minotaur
  • “If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.”-Jean-Paul Sartre

Thank you to the lovely Vickie Lester, for reminding me that I do not need permission or justification for taking some alone time.

Hey There, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, You Natty Gent! It’s Your Birthday!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on this day in 1859. In addition to being a physician and wildly famous author, he was quite the fashion plate.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890.

QUOTE: “I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.”

SOME WORKS: The Sherlock Holmes books; The Stark Munro Letters; The Maracot Deep; The Lost World; dozens of short stories.

A KEEPSAKE:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle print by Pemberley Pond

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle print by Pemberley Pond. $19.92