Monthly Archives: March 2017

The Evolution of the Kitchen

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A few years ago, I had the chance to tour the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island, the “summer cottages” of the Gilded Age wealthy.  While the mansions are over-the-top gorgeous (and literally built to impress), I found the kitchens, sculleries, and butlers’ pantries more interesting.  Maybe because I could actually picture the people who worked there.  I’m not sure how much if anything I have in common with the social set of Newport. The photo below shows the amazing kitchen and two story butler’s pantry at The Breakers, one of the more splendid “cottages” in Newport.

The two-story butler's pantry held all of the dishware for the family.

Gavin Ashworth and The Preservation Society of Newport County

This link connects to a site that shows the evolution of the kitchen from the 1870s to the 1970s.  It’s a little click-baity, but the illustrations and photographs of vintage kitchens more than make up for a.

And it’s a good reminder of why those of us who live in vintage houses, generally don’t have kitchens from the period.  I like my refrigerator and microwave, and wouldn’t really enjoy keeping the stove stoked and the ice box full of ice.

Half-price sale on To Rule the Skies

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In anticipation of the release of my new book The Secret Notebook of Michael Faraday, I am running a special 50% off special on my previous book To Rule the Skies.

The special is only on Smashwords and is only for the ebook version.  (Of course, if you’d like the paperback version, it’s always available at Amazon.)

My new book will be released in May, and is a prequel to To Rule the Skies. The novel tells the early story of Nicodemus Boffin (the hero of To Rule the Skies) from his upbringing as an uncommonly clever boy in the slums of East London through his very unlikely meeting with the greatest scientist of the day, Michael Faraday, who mentors him to reach his full potential.  Nicodemus accidentally discovers a secret notebook that Professor Faraday has kept, and strives to keep its contents from falling into the hands of Viscount Whitehall-Barnes who believes the book may hold the secret to immense wealth and power.

To get the ebook version of To Rule the Skies at the discounted price of $1.50, use coupon code YQ66C .  Offer ends on March 12, 2017.