The Tri-River Historical Museum Network (TRHMN) will hold its premier special event “Spring into the Past 2022” this weekend on April 30th and May 1st with more than 30 museums and historical societies participating.
Stop by at the one-room schoolhouse signature museum in Fallasburg just six miles northeast of Lowell.
This year’s theme “Celebrating Women” depicts the many roles that women have played in history over the centuries as they serve their families in the home or community and fight for equality in many different ways.
Many museums are preparing special exhibits featuring women in their local communities such as Bowne Township Historical Society which is home to TRHMN.
“It has been a long couple of years and we are all excited to get back to business as usual,” said TRHMN president Sally Johnson. “We’re hoping for a great turnout.” TRHMN received the 2021 State Award for Special Programs/Events in…
The Czech and Slovak Easter traditions are deeply embedded in the villages of Moravia and Slovakia, and they are not as prevalent in the big cities such as Prague or Bratislava.
Slovak goose eggsEaster egg artist Anna Krocova in VizoviceBakery by Ellen Machackova of VizoviceKlabacka or noisemakerEaster whips
Most families color eggs in dyes or onion skins for the deep brown color and polish the eggs with butter and set them on the Easter table to reward the revelers, along with a bottle of plum brandy, desserts, lamb pound cake, and open-faced sandwiches.
Easter egg artists make “kraslice,” which are decorated empty eggshells after the yolks and whites have been blown out. These pieces of delicate art painted on a fragile shell are the mainstay of Easter sold at markets and gift shops, along with hand-embroidered tablecloths and ceramics.
The prevailing tradition remains the mysterious “whipping” of the women of the household on Easter Monday known as “schmigrust.” Men and boys traditionally braid their own whips from willow branches in all sizes. These whips are called “pomlazka” or “karabac” and they can be up to two meters long braided from 24 willow rods. Some use large special wooden spoons with ribbons or branches of juniper.
“Schmigrust is my favorite part of Easter,” said Ludek Pala, a Moravian native of Stipa, now a resident of Lowell, who still practices the tradition in the USA.
The revelers get up at the crack of dawn and head out into the streets in groups of all ages. Depending on the region they also carry wooden carved noisemakers carved by local wood artists.
When the door opens, the women and girls get a gentle whipping to drive away evil spirits, according to old legends. Originating in ancient pagan fertility rites, the practice is supposed to guarantee beauty and good health for women in the coming year.
Loosely translated as: Give me a colored egg, if you don’t give me a colored one, give me at least a white one, and your hen will lay another.
The plum brandy aka slivovice reward
The plum brandy is made in the stills in Moravia and across the country. People usually bring in their own plum or pear ferment that is distilled.
We decided to bring this tradition to the USA where we live permanently. The fruit is locally sourced from Paulson’s, Hills Brothers, and Mason peaches and apples, with no additives the brandy reflects an age-old tradition of craft stilling started by our forefathers.
Copper still by Kovodel Janca from the Czech Republic.Jakub Pala, Emma Chavent and Ludek Pala.
Moravian Sons Distillery
In return for the whipping, the revelers get a ribbon tied to the whip, a colored egg, a shot of plum brandy and they help themselves to open-faced sandwiches and desserts, such as festive kolache and lamb pound cake.
“By noon you’re tired,” said Pala.
In some regions, if the group arrives after 12 p.m., they get doused with water. However, in Slovakia, the Easter custom is to douse the women and girls with water or perfume in the morning.
According to a 2019 survey, 60% of Czech households follow the tradition of spanking (or watering) someone on Easter Monday.
In the past, young boys would chase young girls in the village streets with the whips, and vintage illustrations by Josef Lada of people in traditional folk costumes show girls running or hiding as if playing tag.
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According to the Czech calendar, today is my name day. I named our daughter Emma, and coincidentally she was born on April 8. During my podcasts, I found out that Emma is also a popular name for female protagonists.
More on name days coming soon.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC . All rights reserved.
Visit booth no. 49 in the Gymnazium of the Lowell High School on Saturday, March 26 2022 during the Lowell Community Expo.
“Our visitors to the Expo should stop by our booth to hear of the progress we have made over the last several years,” said Alan Rumbaugh, treasurer for the Fallasburg Historical Society ( FHS).
The FHS has been working on digitizing files and artifacts so anyone can access them in the future.
“We have a major event planned for July 30 and would like to tell everyone about it,” Rumbaugh said.
The 150th anniversary of the Covered Bridge commemorative coins and cookbooks will be available for purchase at the Expo on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stay tuned for more news in a special spring newsletter coming to your inboxes.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I’ve just found out from Facebook memories that it’s been one year since the first episode of For the Love of Books Podcast aired on major podcasting apps.
I was honored to have Diana Plopa of Pages Promotions as my first guest author, and a big-time supporter. And the support continued with founding authors Jean Davis, Luba Lesychyn, Ingar Rudholm, Andrew Smith, Joan Young, and countless others.
Our daughter Doc Chavent sponsored the show from the get-go, most recently joined by Modern History Press which supports its fine authors. So new horizons are opening for all of us as spring is in the air after the long winter.
I am pleased to welcome author guests from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Mikel Classen, Phil Bellfy, Robin Marvel, Chris Stark, Deborah Frontiera and Sharon Kennedy, because who doesn’t love U.P. its magic and mysteries. Also in the line-up are Mike Carrier, Elizabeth Fust and Victor Volkman, president of L H Press Inc.
This will be an exciting time as we navigate upcoming big events like the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in Muskegon and different Art in the Park events around the state of Michigan, as well as Expos.
In the special episodes, we offer tips like how to win and survive the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.) Prior to major events, I chat with the show organizers.
Stop by at any of the events to pick up your next favorite read and chat with us. We care about our fans.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Mikel B. Classen has been writing and photographing northern Michigan in newspapers and magazines for over thirty-five years, creating feature articles about the life and culture of Michigan’s north country. A journalist, historian, photographer, and author with a fascination of the world around him, he enjoys researching and writing about lost stories from the past.
Currently, he is the managing editor of the U.P. Reader and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association. In 2020, Mikel won the Historical Society of Michigan’s, George Follo Award for Upper Peninsula History. Classen makes his home in the oldest city in Michigan, historic Sault Ste. Marie. He is also a collector of out-of-print history books and historical photographs and prints of Upper Michigan. At Northern Michigan University, he studied English, history, journalism, and photography.
His book, Au Sable Point Lighthouse, Beacon on Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast; was published in 2014 and his book, Teddy Roosevelt and the Marquette Libel Trial; was published in 2015. Both by the History Press. He has a book of fiction called Lake Superior Tales published by Modern History Press, which won the 2020 U.P. Notable Book Award. His newest release is Points North a non-fiction travel book published in 2019 by Modern History Press. Points North has received the Historical Society of Michigan’s, “Outstanding Michigan History Publication,” along with the 2021 U.P. Notable Book Award.
True Tales
True Tales
True Tales – The Forgotten History of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Stories of piracy, lost gold mines, the origin of the Copper Boom, profiles of people of note, Starvation on Isle Royale, and one of the darkest periods of Michigan history, all True Tales of the early days of the Upper Peninsula Frontier. Penned by U.P. historian, Mikel B. Classen, years of research are culminated in a book that reveals history on the verge of being lost to time. The book collects stories from across the northern peninsula making this an essential book for any Michigan history enthusiast.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Visit with 17 Michigan authors this weekend to find your next favorite read at the West Michigan Women’s Expo in Grand Rapids through Sunday, March 20 inside DeVos Place at 303 Monroe Ave, NW. Most genres will be represented. The Great Lakes Writers are located inside booth 111 close to the Main Stage and restrooms.
The participating authors are Jean Davis, Janet Vormittag, Tracy Brogan, Norma Lewis, Sherry A. Burton, Melanie Hooyenga, Wendy Sara Thompson, Bob Muladore, Andrew Smith, Angela Rodgers, and Tina Derusha.
The Expo is back after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. The West Michigan Women’s Expo features hundreds of exhibits, seminars, shopping, and fun that aim to provide a weekend of entertainment, education, and enjoyment tailored to women and their families.
The hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Unfortunately, I missed out on this event due to sickness, but I am recovering. Watch “For the Love of Books Podcast” episodes with authors Mikel Classen, Michael Carrier, Sharon Kennedy, Robin Marvel, Chris Stark, Phil Bellfy, Deborah Frontiera, and Joanna Walitalo as we move into spring.
I am excited to have these fine authors, many of them from the Upper Peninsula, on the podcast.
Make sure you find us at our different events scattered throughout the state of Michigan and beyond.
Tracy BroganBob MuladoreWendy Sara ThompsonJanet VormittagAndrew SmithMelanie HooyengaNorma LewisJean DavisSherry A. Burton
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, I’ve returned to my annual winter writer’s retreat on the island of Venice in Florida.
I missed everything; from the turquoise waters, tropical flowers to Mahi Mahi and Mango Bango at Sharky’s.
This year’s stay was very special because we had an unplanned family reunion that just happened when Doc Chavent and Ludek decided to join us in “Paradise.”
Since it was sort of a reunion, mom Ella slaved in the kitchen and made some tropical goodies like open-faced sandwiches with mango chutney and blue cheese spread. We bought cold cuts at the International Food deli in nearby Northport owned by Ukraine owners.
I admire these Ukrainian women who have been running the store sine 1989 with little knowledge of English, but with a lot of gusto for life and preserving the old country traditions by carrying foods such as sproty, smoked mackerels, Russian champagne, Alexander II black tea and loose tea packed in Russian nesting dolls.
Venice on the island with sandy beaches and pelicans is better known as “Paradise.” The temperature in the winter months is around mid 70F. We lucked out it was in the 80s all week long, and sunny.
We all met on Sunday, Feb. 20 by the beach at Sharky’s, the only restaurant on the beach in Venice. Ludek waited for us by the picnic bench and surprised Doc Emma and the grandkids, as well as Vincent by his unexpected presence. Our daughter didn’t recognize him in his beach attire and hat, and her new friend Vincent didn’t stand a chance, since they’ve never met.
However, the grands eventually realized that it was their own grandpa sitting underneath the palms drinking beer, even though they were jet-lagged after the long flight from Paris.
We all enjoyed the sunny tropical afternoon on the beach in February. Usually, we spend Sunday afternoons at home shopping after the Sunday mass.
This was a much-needed break from the winter drill of taking care of the house and our new business. But I also had to somewhat break away from my usual retreat routine except for the morning yoga on the beach with Elin.
My dad Vaclav gave me a ride every day for the 9 am yoga session on Venice Beach. The class is always well attended by close to 200 participants from all over the USA. But most of us are from either the Midwest or from New England.
I enjoyed the morning conversations about how many inches of snow was the northeast getting and how many flights have been canceled. The last yoga class before my departure was dedicated to Dotty of Michigan who was celebrating her 100th birthday and until two years ago did yoga with Elin on the beach, a definite testimonial to the overall benefits of yoga.
“Dotty wouldn’t want us to do any balances today,” said Elin holding a poster of Dotty. “ So we’re not going to do them.”
Elin offers plenty of tips on how to maintain balance, good posture, and fall correctly, if necessary. We often do executive stretches and airplane balances. Plus there’s a lot to do in town including Farmers Markets on Saturdays.
I love downtown Venice with palm-lined streets, boutiques, Ciao Gelato shop, Coffee and Wine Co., and restaurants. This year, colorful sculptures of mermaids and seahorses adorned the street corners and storefronts.
We only made it once to town for coffee with mom, and a few times to Jetty’s Jack for ice brewed latte with Ludek. However, we indulged in a fancy tropical lunch at Finn’s on an unlimited budget sponsored by the Docs from France.
You should never tell a Czech person that he or she can order whatever they want from the menu. Because they will. LOL
Mom ordered filet mignon, while dad went cheap and ordered fish and chips. We all shared octopus for appetizers. I have yet to acquire a taste for that.
The North and South Jetty located on the north side of Venice are wharves with marinas, kayaks, and boat rentals such as sailvenice.com and the Freedom Boat Club.
We enjoyed a sunset cruise with Captain Paul Aquaholic Charters starting at the Venice Marina by the Old Salt Dog. Marine patrol officer Paul for Sarasota County during the day turns into Captain Paul at night. Barefoot Paul took us out to sea via the Venice waterways past the dockside restaurants on the waterways.
We saw dolphins playing by the docks. They chased our small boat in the waterway and Paul even lent the Captain’s bridge to the grandkids to steer us toward the setting sun.
The journey into the sun that lit the gold and orange waters on fire to see the Gulf sunset lasted more than an hour, and created memories for a lifetime.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite songs is “Time for me to Fly” by REO Speedwagon.
I like the lyrics and everything about the song. But I really feel that now is the time to fly with everything we have started in the previous years.
Leaving icy Grand Rapids behind, I am headed into paradise with beaches, sun, shells, dolphins and cocktails. After 90 minutes in air the clouds have cleared and I see a green patchwork of fields and forests below. We’re making a sharp turn right, and the sun is shining on the left wing and flooding the cabin with warmth.
For me that means getting my newest book in the Shifting Sands series on the summer market starting with the Lakeshore Art Festival in Muskegon at the end of June.
Our Moravian Sons Distilling is a go after many years of dreaming, planning and finally realization and production. I don’t think I need to hold my breath anymore. It has been a huge team effort across two continents.
I am stoked with my podcast show “For the Love of Books” which is approaching it’s one-year anniversary fast with 50 episodes in March as I’ve expanded it to include Motown Writers and UP Authors in 2022. YAY!
Inspired by author Diana Ploppa’s Pages Promotions virtual festivals, I launched the podcast show featuring Indie and small press authors and their events on March 17, 2021.
With the support of authors Ploppa, Jean Davis, Ingar Rudholm, Andrew Smith and many others in the pilot first season, the show flew into its second season in the fall.
We always have a blast while sharing our insights from the writing world, publishing industry and our author experiences along with the presentation of our newest books.
Not only do you gain from the knowledge of all the authors but you also have a chance to win a signed copy of authors’ books. I call the content “edutainment” combining both entertainment with publishing tips.
I added special episodes prior to multi-author events such as Expos, art fairs and festivals. Right from the get go, the podcast has been a win win situation for all of us.
I am grateful for all the positive responses I have received from guest authors and listeners, as I continue my search for sponsors. Currently, the major sponsor Doc Chavent makes this show possible. Her incredible philanthropy pays for the podbean fees where the podcast episodes live.
From the podbean hub, the episodes are distributed to major podcasting apps such as iHeart, Stitcher, Google and Apple podcasts, Spotify and many more for your enjoyment.
My upcoming author line-up:
Virginia Johnson Feb. 18
Caroline Topperman Feb. 25
Norma Lewis March 2
GR Expo special March 3
Michael Carrier March 1o
Open March 24
Mikel Classen March 31
Bob Tarte April TBA
If you would like to be a guest or a sponsor email Emma at emmapalova123@gmail.com or comment below. If you would like to be on the production team contact me as well.
The recordings are on Thursdays at 5 pm on Zoom. All recordings are organic with limited editing. The episodes go live within two weeks on podbean and major podcasting apps.
First fill out the jot form on For The Love of Books page on this website, and you’re on your way to fly with us.
I am looking forward to chatting with you on the show or working with you as a sponsor or partner.
authoremmapalova 