Neanderthals used twigs and bits of grass, usually secured around the ankle. The Egyptians used bone, leather, ivory and sometimes hemp. Early Romans used iron. Colonial Americans, believing jewelry to be trivial, used thimbles. When the wife was finished using the thimble to sew linens for the couple’s new home, the top was sawed off to create a ring. No matter the material, from the earliest iterations to today, the wedding ring is viewed as a contract of sorts, signifying …
As far back as ancient Rome, cakes at weddings have played an integral role in the celebration. Well, in ancient Rome it was actually a loaf of barley bread, which the groom …
In a time with resplendent technology that enables us to instantly share thoughts with just about anyone from anywhere, the covid-19 pandemic has shown the resurgence of an age-old record-keeping and thought-sharing …
It doesn’t take a master’s degree in art to recognize the masterful work of Blake Le, the New River Valley’s resident nail guru. While his canvas may be small, his creativity is …
No one would argue last year won’t go down in history as the year-of-cancellations. No concerts, no festivals, no trips abroad or, for that matter, even to a neighboring state. Most industries …
In this cold and monotonous season, we find ourselves craving something different, unique and exciting. Throughout the New River Valley, local boutiques, hidden gems and locally-owned shops embody our desire for the …
What’s a Mow Monster to do come winter? Why, push snow of course! Mike Alderman, Jr., established Mow Monsters as a lawn care service in 2013, three years after returning home to …
The staff at Al’s on First broke away from its food side, prepping, cooking, serving, clearing, to embrace its decorative side right after Thanksgiving last year. “We made little groups of staff …
When it comes to holiday decorations, “less is more” just doesn’t cut it. Nothing illustrates this better than when Charlie Brown tried to put a lone red ball on his paltry tree. …
The small mountain town of Seiffen, Germany, captivated Jamie Worley like no place she had ever been. “It was like a fairyland,” she remembers. Now a popular international destination for its enchanting …