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One of the most significant seasonal traditions to emerge in the Victorian era was the Christmas card due to the development of the postage system. In 1840 The Penny Black was the first stamp introduced in Britain which paid for the postage of a letter or card which could be mailed anywhere in the country. Sir Henry Cole, 1st director of London’s Victoria & Albert Museum hired the artist J.C. Horsley to design the first printed Christmas card. One thousand were printed and hand-colored. Those he didn't use were sold to the public for a shilling. The temperance league d ..read more

My exhibit "Anatomy of a Victorian" Now at the Fort Bend Historical Museum in Richmond Texas until Nov. 3, 2018 My books are there for sale there  as well as in Galveston at Bryan Museum, Galveston Historical Society and on Amazon ..read more

When a vessel's hull below the water line is exposed by rolling or wave action, that part of the ship is particularly susceptible to damage. This condition is called being between wind and water. When a person is in a dangerous situation, whether it's physical or emotional, they too are between wind and water. My heroine, Abigail, who has led a silent life of desperation in her long and lonely marriage, finds herself in such jeopardy when she leaves her desolate homestead in the Texas panhandle and moves to Galveston. The island off the coast of Te ..read more

Wonderful things happen when you listen to your heart and follow your passions. Last summer, I traveled to England and visited the beautiful houses that are part of the National Trust. Walking through these historical rooms and photographing them is one of my favorite things to do. The difference this time was that I took a book of watercolor paper and a pen and started drawing at the houses and from my photographs. I was struck by a creative passion that had me doing a drawing each day. When I got home, I was still so excited to have discovered this newfound passion and so I had the idea t ..read more

Salutations dear Readers, I've neglected my blog because life happens and also my creative pursuits are spent on other avenues. I'm writing feverishly on three novels. The latest one, "Between Wind and Water" will be published in 2018! A quick teaser for this 1898 Galveston Tale: Stuck in a loveless marriage for thirty years, Abigail is desperate to escape. Her chance comes when she moves to Galveston. Her tailoring business thrives amongst high society, and a passionate love affair unfolds with an English sea captain. At last she’s found happiness, but what happens when she realizes she h ..read more

Lenore and Archibald had enjoyed a busy day. They'd attended two balls and danced with exuberance every waltz and quadrille until they could dance no more. Cousin Myra and Aunt Minnie had finally departed after a month's visit and their little ones were tucked in for the night, leaving just the two of them to toast the New Year in. With champagne tickling their noses, they were quite content with the cozy arrangement. "Dearest, I think 1840 was such a lovely year!" Lenore exclaimed. "We were finally invited to tea with the Vanderbilts and lawn tennis with the DuPonts." Archibald twe ..read more

Endless Days and Nights in Fat Alley Fat Alley was a notorious red light district in Galveston Texas. Photographs from that era rarely show the terrible plight of the women involved in that trade. This is one poor girl's story. Lottie was only ten when her mama died and her good-for-nothing pa sold her to Madam Kitty in an alley off Postoffice Street. Her job was to fetch clean water for the basin next to the bedstead in between Johns. She kept her head low and learned to stay out of reach of lecherous men who fancied the virginal blossom of youth. It seemed overnight her breasts grew a ..read more

written by Rosa Morgan Temperatures are rising and it's time to take the plunge. Ah, but we must be vigilant in our modesty. Perhaps a gentle stroll at water's edge? Or dare we disrobe in the sanctity of the bathhouse. Emerging in our woolen finery to be goggled by the passerby. But we are braver yet. With ankles hidden in dark stockings and coquettishly crossed, we shall demurely make conversation with the handsome swim instructor. Dear, I do need another lesson. These fine specimens of manhood are demurely wearing skirts over their swimming trunks.  While these ..read more

written by Rosa Morgan At first glance the purpose of a door knocker is simply to allow people outside a house to alert those inside to their presence. Such as the delightful moment the postman delivers a sweet missive from a friend.  If this were the door knocker’s only purpose, the design would have remained fundamentally a ring for the hand to take hold and a striking plate to create the resonating sound. However, it is the homeowner’s intent to convey a message that has led to the knocker’s artfully intricate evolution. The earliest designs were figures with dis ..read more