Are You Listening? Snow Is Glistening! #haiku #poems #MerryChristmas to all.

Haiku for RonovanWrites Weekly Haiku Challenge–a fun activity and contest that is open for everyone to participate, and helps keep our creative writer’s brain active! This week’s words are: Bells & Ring. “Are You Listening?” Frost bites as they wait Through the darkness bells chime forth, Rings of Santa’s sleigh. ~ “Snow Is Glistening” Icicle bells ring While the …

Legends and Legendary Creatures, the A-Z List!

April's #AtoZChallenge explored many legends and legendary creatures from around the world. I learned a ton doing this: about creatures I'd never heard of or only vaguely knew of, about many interesting folklore tales and how they came to be, and about fossils of monstrous creatures that once lived. Many of you really enjoyed the posts, …

Giant Animals That Once Roamed the Earth #AtoZChallenge

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. I hope you enjoy following along! Giants in the Animal Kingdom An image gallery of some of the massive animals that once shared our planet. And yes, it is terrifying and thrilling to imagine what it must have been like to see them alive! You …

The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa, a #fairytale #AtoZChallenge

“The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa” A crazy tale from Slavic folklore for you.😉 The king’s archer is on a hunt and runs across a firebird’s feather. But the archer’s horse warns the archer not to touch it, as bad things will happen if he does. (The horse can talk?!) The archer ignores the horse’s advice and takes it, bringing the feather back to the king so he will be praised and rewarded. When the king is presented with the feather, he demands the archer bring back the entire firebird or he will be executed. (See? Why didn’t he listen to that wise horse?)

Eagles, we’re talking the giant predators of legend, like the Roc #AtoZChallenge

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. Every day (except Sundays) this month, a legend beginning with that day's word will be featured. I hope you enjoy following along! Eagle: the Roc Legends of giant predatory birds abound, such as the Roc, appearing in Arabian fairy tales, sailors' folklore, and …

Dokkalfar, the original Dark Elves #AtoZChallenge

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. Every day (except Sundays) this month, a legend beginning with that day's word will be featured. I hope you enjoy following along! Dokkalfar or the "Dark Elves" You see them everywhere in video games and fantasy. But where did the first concept of a …

The myth of the Cat Sith #AtoZChallenge

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. Every day (except Sundays) this month, a legend beginning with that day's word will be featured. I hope you enjoy following along! Cat Sith Do I mean this kind? No. Or the cat character from the video game Final Fantasy 7? Haha! But …

Barbegazi Dwarf #AtoZChallenge

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. Every day (except Sundays) this month, a legend beginning with that day's word will be featured. I hope you enjoy following along! Barbegazi A variety of dwarf or gnome (from Swiss and French mythology), a barbegazi resembles a small white-furred man with a long …

European Christmas

Christmas is a magical time in many parts of Europe. Let me take you on a tour... Back when my family lived in Italy, the holidays were one of my favorite time of year, because it meant traveling. We had no other family or relatives to spend the holidays with, and so instead we drove …

Book Review: Snow Like Ashes

Meira is a tough and determined protagonist with a lot of personality. She grew on me as I followed her thoughts and narration throughout the story. The fun, energetic side of her I found appealing. I'm not sure that I agree with every decision she's made, at times being...