Elaine's Blog

When You Think Of Fall You Think Of Apples! Yum! An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (Malus domestica). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus siever...

Warning! Do Not Take This Ride Share On or Near Halloween!  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow resurfaces every year around Halloween. Washington Irving's 1820 tale of a headless horseman who terrorizes the real-life village of Sleepy Hollow is considered one of America's first ghost stories—and one of ...

Quote The Raven  “Nevermore, Nevermore” Edgar Allan Poe (né Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a ce...

I Will Order A Stake, Please: Richmond’s Vampire! The Richmond Vampire (also called locally the Hollywood Vampire) is a recent urban legend from Richmond, Virginia.Local residents claim that the mausoleum of W. W. Pool (Dated 1913) in Hollywood Cemetery holds the remains of a vampire. Supposedly ...

It Will Shake Your Nerves and Rattle Your Brain: Virginia Haunted Church Hill Tunnel!All aboard! Visit the haunted C&O Church Hill Tunnel in Richmond.Tunnels and superstition seem to go hand-in-hand. There are many people who feel a sense of foreboding when entering a tunnel. Perhaps it’s the abs...

The Almanac You May Not Know!  Part TwoDog Days of Summer: The “Dog Days” of summer are from July 3 to August 11 each year. They’re usually the hottest and most unbearable days of the season. We often hear about the “Dog Days” of summer, but few know where the expression originated. Some think it...

The Almanac You May Not Know!  Part OneEmber Days:The name is derived from the Latin quattuor tempora, meaning “Four Times” or “Four Seasons.” The specific themes for each Ember Week of the year are as follows:Spring: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Ash Wednesday, to give thanks for the...

Let Me Tell You All A Story About A Man Named Doc! Let me tell you a story about a man name Doc!  I love the Wild West legends and my favorite is the notorious Doc Holliday!  He had a bad rap to say the least!  But what I love about him is he was a southern gentleman!   John Henry Holliday (Augus...

High Five for Hydrangeas!  If you were to come and visit me, you would notice several colors of Hydrangeas in my yard.  For some reason I am in love with this plant! The word origin of hydrangea comes from the Greek words for water, hydros and jar, angos because some species are quite water thirs...

Working in the Coal Mines:  Going Down, Down! Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a ...