Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains Gratitude in this darkness that ends a day of homecoming and feasting should be all we have in our hearts. But Ana and I both want each of our children to be loved as we know love, and now for Greg, this love is tenuous. Ana whispersContinue reading “#49.7, Tues., Oct. 17, 2023”
Category Archives: Early Medieval
#49.6, Thurs., Oct. 12, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains I’m trying to make sense of this, and at the same time, be the voice of wisdom for my son. “Greg, I think the trouble the abbot finds with the king taking a concubine is the moral issue of a concubine. This dilemma is rooted in the notionContinue reading “#49.6, Thurs., Oct. 12, 2023”
#49.5, Weds., Oct. 11, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains Greg is telling me that he has completed his indenture and Gaillard’s family may release him but he fears that would be so that Gaillard could take a wife. He tells me Gaillard finds the solution for that in calling Greg his “precious concubine.” What can IContinue reading “#49.5, Weds., Oct. 11, 2023”
#49.4, Tues., Oct. 10, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains Greg and I are butchering the lamb that was slaughtered for the homecoming feast for those who returned today from a peace and charity mission to the strangers across the rivers. Greg is helping me prepare the lamb so he can talk with me alone. He toldContinue reading “#49.4, Tues., Oct. 10, 2023”
#49.3, Thurs., Oct. 5, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains When I was last keeping this journal, before the caravan of charity, before our farm was rich, before our sons were grown, Ana and I had a house full of wee ones. We had just sent Gabe and Greg off only imagining them as the men they wouldContinue reading “#49.3, Thurs., Oct. 5, 2023”
#49.2, Weds., Oct. 4, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains Now it’s been many months since the caravan of Christian charity crossed over the hills and out of sight. We’ve heard nothing from Greg and Gaillard, and Hannah as well — until yesterday. The bird Hannah had for messaging came ahead with the news to expect them homeContinue reading “#49.2, Weds., Oct. 4, 2023”
#49.1, Tues., Oct. 3, 2023
Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains Seven years since last I wrote. Bishop Felix returned from his recent journey to Rome with the news that Pope Gregory is dead and much is left unfinished. The hopes Columbanus had in finding an ally in the pope went array because the pope didn’t even receive hisContinue reading “#49.1, Tues., Oct. 3, 2023”
#48.12, Thurs., Sept. 28, 2023
Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains Those who were once hunters will soon be bent into farmers who will have no safety from wars except for a landowner’s castle walls. The legends haunting the Samhain fires of the dwindling tribes of pagans remember the ghost riders across the sky, the soldiers of TheodoricContinue reading “#48.12, Thurs., Sept. 28, 2023”
#48.11, Weds., Sept. 27, 2023
Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains I was asking what Bishop Felix will do if the noble bishops of Gaul won’t negotiate. He explains, “I will go to the pope again and ask for an assignment to East Anglia. Oh, but I probably shouldn’t make it sound so futile when these powerContinue reading “#48.11, Weds., Sept. 27, 2023”
#48.10, Tues., Sept. 26, 2023
Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains We’re gathered at the table for our morning oats with our guest, Bishop Felix. Right in the middle of the table is a wilting bouquet of pinkish shades of chickory gathered by Haberd and Brandell. Now I see they are thinking of the color of this bishop’sContinue reading “#48.10, Tues., Sept. 26, 2023”
Lazarus Ink 