tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122171972024-03-12T22:28:49.648-07:00Extraordinary Places<img src="http://extraordinaryplaces.net/images/epmast.jpg" />Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-442756987422167222010-04-25T07:47:00.001-07:002010-04-25T07:49:26.315-07:00My New BlogI'm happy to annouce that I've set up a new blog that's designed to support all of my work rather than just travel and etymology. I hope you'll continue to visit regularly by following this link.Thanks for your interest.Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-35168018633187578822010-04-05T17:28:00.000-07:002010-04-05T17:31:31.944-07:00Town CrierPhoto: James Shrubb, Town Crier and Doreen Waters (both mentioned in Christmas Past in Essex ISBN #978 0 7524 4463 5)In days of old, when few people could read and write, the appearance of the Town Crier was a cause for much excitement. He would appear in a brightly colored outfit, white stockings, three cornered hat and ringing his bell to assemble an audience. He would unroll the proclamation Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-57003800217673998102010-03-29T18:27:00.000-07:002010-03-29T18:32:03.637-07:00Kitchen News - The Versatile Stock PotDo you want to control the fat and salt in your diet? Why not try a centuries’ old custom of keeping a stock pot? What could be better than a nutritious and flavorful base for soups, stews and sauces? It’s easy to do, full of goodness and may help reduce high blood pressure. Yes, I know it’s convenient to use a little cube or take a spoonful of paste instead of using a cup of homemade stock; I’veElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-2633222352093907952010-03-19T07:51:00.000-07:002010-03-19T08:27:34.976-07:00A Stilt PerformerI came across this man on stilts walking through a park in Cozumel. Unfortunately, I did not get his name, but as you can see...he was wearing evening dress. I watched him stride across the park and literally had to run alongside him to catch up and ask for the photo. The man was very polite and accommodating, especially as he was on his way to work. He was advertising a shop called Diamonds (theElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-16211671697779862012010-02-21T09:30:00.000-08:002010-02-21T19:51:19.195-08:00George Washington's BirthdayAs I sat enjoying a meal at The Bell Pub in Purleigh, Essex, I had the distinct feeling this was the very place where the great-great grandfather of George Washington (Lawrence Washington c1633-1650) "...sat daily tippling there and encouraging others in the same beastly vice..." as was said by the Parliamentarians who wanted to oust Lawrence Washington from his post as Rector of All Saints Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-65715769645643314592010-02-13T08:43:00.000-08:002010-02-13T09:00:42.088-08:00Ancient Vineyard in PompeiiCare was taken during the restoration of Pompeii. Even the vineyards were carefully reconstructed in every detail. The following information was taken from a pamphlet in the area."Nearly 2,400 root holes of vines were plastercast in this large area, along with their supporting stakes: the plants were laid out along north-south rows at a distance of 1.20m from each other, with a 1.5m between rows.Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-17638269671925921732010-02-07T07:42:00.000-08:002010-02-07T10:47:17.359-08:00Connections - England and America Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of giving an Extraordinary Places presentation to the Kum Dubl group, a fascinating and interesting study group. Many shared the stories of their lives, some remembering the dust bowl and how the sky "...turned black as though it were night...so dark was the afternoon..." said one woman. Most remembered stories their grandmothers and grandfathers had told Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-92206336580775787592010-01-29T10:08:00.001-08:002010-01-29T10:33:12.774-08:00Cockney Rhyming SlangFor almost two years, I appeared on a live radio show in Kansas City (The Walt Bodine Show) as part of a panel to discuss the Origins of Everyday Sayings. It was a fun time for me as many listeners called in and asked for a definition of a particular word or expression they had perhaps heard in a movie or read in a book. Later, I wrote a column for a weekly newspaper entitled Origins and once Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-11830646831062909232010-01-27T07:32:00.000-08:002010-01-27T07:51:41.175-08:00Sorrento, ItalyJust when I thought I had seen everything in Sorrento, Italy, I came across the lemon grove. Located in the middle of town, it’s almost hidden from view. Away from the hustle and bustle, businessmen and women sat in their beautiful tailored clothes eating their packed lunches and reading their newspapers. It was so quiet and peaceful, I almost felt as though I were an interloper, disturbing theirElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-51489538683075644242010-01-26T07:21:00.000-08:002010-01-26T07:40:40.492-08:00Napa Valley, California A couple of months ago while touring Napa Valley sampling the wines, enjoying the fantastic restaurants and scenery, I noticed there were rose bushes planted along the rows of vines. Even though it was November, I could still see the remnants of roses - some red - some white. Curiosity got the better of me and I began checking out every single vineyard we visited, and saw rose bushes in many of Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-44453325050662431662010-01-21T07:41:00.000-08:002010-01-21T15:24:14.629-08:00Breckenridge's “Bullwinkle” MoosePhoto courtesy - Kelly.Just last week my tennis buddy Kelly, and her family saw two very large moose meandering around their bungalow in Breckenridge in the early morning. Camera in hand, Kelly’s husband approached the animals, but kept a healthy distance knowing they would charge him if threatened.Most people associate the wild moose with a fictional cartoon character called “Bullwinkle" who Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-7181322020702881252010-01-20T09:50:00.000-08:002010-01-20T09:58:39.875-08:00Two Countries - Two Societies - Two WritersPhoto: Sylvia Kent book signing event at Waterstone's Book Shop.I have the privilege of belonging to two of the oldest writing societies in the world. The Society of Women Writers and Journalists in London (1894) and The Denver Woman’s Press Club (1898) here in the United States. Both have so much to offer a writer that it is difficult to know where to begin. Suffice it to say, both societies Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-55737002025058730702010-01-19T13:00:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:05:49.251-08:00Left to right: Marni Jameson and Susie MastersonThe Denver Woman’s Press Club hosted a scrumptious brunch last Saturday. The guest speaker was Terry Vitale, President of Colorado Expression. Upbeat and positive, Terry led the members and guests though her fascinating life, the continuous challenges of running a good publishing house, family and friends. After the meeting with Terry and hearing Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-54723441346433222852010-01-03T10:12:00.001-08:002010-01-03T10:22:24.192-08:00Real Ale in DenverFor some years, I’ve heard about Pint’s in Denver. Last week, we had the pleasure of stopping by the pub enjoyed a meal and had a couple of drinks. Although I know relatively little about ale, my husband does! He remarked, on tasting his first pint of Lancer IPA ,“This is the best pint of ale I’ve had in America.” He followed with a pint of Dark Star Ale, which he said was typical of the darker Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-89739747353980601822009-12-07T05:58:00.000-08:002009-12-07T06:08:20.066-08:00The Guinness Book of World RecordsExtraordinary Places...Close to London comprises 30 chapters (with another 17 locations close by that may be of interest to travelers). Within the pages, there are short stories of kings and queens, witches, ghosts and Vikings. The book gives a brief history of the village or town and also what a visitor can expect today. Following is a short excerpt from Extraordinary Places...Close to London. Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-91651356626317475582009-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:002009-11-20T06:57:13.122-08:00PompeiiOne of the first things that struck me when I visited Pompeii a few weeks ago was the pure size of the place. The site is absolutely huge and, instead of staying just a day, I could have stayed a week or more to explore the fantastic ruins. I could clearly imagine how the people lived, went about their everyday lives, and bought and sold their wares. Evidence of the extensive traffic can be seen Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-40316623440127925252009-11-15T09:25:00.000-08:002009-11-15T09:35:38.589-08:00Tattered Book Cover EventAfter publishing five non-fiction books, I was ready to write my first novel. I had this great idea of writing an historical novel based on an ancient Scottish legend. One hundred thousand words later, I knew I needed help, and found it in Laura Pritchett. Every writer should have an editor who is honest and kind, gentle with criticism, and generous with praise. However, Laura is no pushover, andElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-27399230525477571422009-11-06T18:20:00.000-08:002009-11-06T18:33:18.844-08:00The Woman Writer by Sylvia KentSylvia Kent has written an account of Britain’s oldest society dedicated to women’s writing through its 116-year existence.Although the Society of Women Writers and Journalists was created very much with women in mind, the concept was the brainchild of a man – an enterprising London philanthropist and newspaperman – Joseph Snell Wood. From its introduction on 1 May 1894, the Society has attractedElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-90701017514886218922009-10-20T20:21:00.000-07:002009-10-20T20:35:22.867-07:00Local Brewery in Norfolk, EnglandOn a recent visit to Acle, Norfolk, I had the pleasure of sampling a local beer that was being displayed at a small country market (in the Parish churchyard of St. Edmund no less.) I had to stop and visit with Jason who displayed a fine list of local brew. He gave me a brief history of the brewery.The Tipples Brewery of Norwich offers ten fine beers with another five that are produced for specialElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-37615977998231543122009-10-08T15:21:00.000-07:002009-10-08T15:26:30.449-07:00Argo Gold Mine, Idaho Springs, ColoradoThe Argo Gold Mine is a must to see if you are visiting Colorado. For years and years, I have driven by and only last week ventured inside. There is a great presentation about gold, silver and other precious metals which is followed by a self guided tour. The mine celebrated its 116th anniversary this year and although much of the 4.16 mile mine is now closed, it is still a fascinating place to Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-81644677437278904222009-09-27T07:12:00.000-07:002009-09-27T07:54:50.460-07:00The Auditorium (Formally the RLDS Auditorium)Photo courtesy: Nancy BishoffA regular visitor to my blog is Nancy Bishoff and her husband Al. Both are originally from Missouri and had their graduation class at the Auditorium (formally the RLDS Auditiorium). When in Missouri, they often visit the site because it brings back such pleasant memories. Nancy feels the Auditorium is a “must see” for anyone visiting the area.The following informationElizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-45924494019197445402009-09-06T06:25:00.000-07:002009-09-06T06:52:30.716-07:00Broncos Pre-Season Game Just last Thursday night, I have the privilege of attending the second pre-season Broncos game of the season. Actually, it was my first ever football game since arriving in America all those years ago. In any case, there I sat in a suite at the 50 yard line (which I guess is really important) eating fabulous ribs, shrimp, crab and helping myself to a full complement of beers, wines and soft Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-12407661205423871462009-08-19T13:15:00.001-07:002009-08-19T14:13:34.275-07:00Baby "Doe" Tabor, Leadville, ColoradoThe story of Baby Doe is fascinating! She must have been an exceptional woman, full of courage and determination, and well ahead of her time. She went from rags to riches and then back to rags. Honestly, Baby Doe's life is so interesting, I couldn't make it up if I tried. There's simply not enough room here to do her justice, so I encourage readers to purchase a book on her life, and also visit Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-37277919499287058452009-08-07T16:23:00.000-07:002009-08-07T16:40:19.174-07:00Arena de Verona Photo and text courtesy: Theresa Francis.On a warm July evening we join a few thousand others and stroll to the Arena de Verona. We climb the ancient stone steps to our unnumbered seats high above the stage set for Aida. As the seats are not numbered it is necessary to arrive well ahead of the performance. Along with almost everyone else we have a small picnic of cheese and wine. The atmosphere Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12217197.post-40931525925171753632009-08-03T11:41:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:54:52.068-07:00Tour de France 2009Photo and text: Derek FrancisMontélimar – Le Ventoux17th edition – 170 kmJuly 20 2009“The sun was already shining in the streets of Montélimar this morning at 7am for the start of the 17th edition of the l’Etape du Tour Mondovélo.A record 8500 riders headed on to the roads of the Drôme and Vaucluse departments in their collective quest to climb the giant Mont Ventoux.Numerous family members, Elizabeth Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11204815847927328174noreply@blogger.com