Welcome to The Spindle, where we spin you a yarn about the historical ephemera, hobbies, and random hyperfixations keeping us up at night. Whether you’re seeking crafting tips, tales of women who changed history, or weird pop culture takes, we have something to prick your curiosity.
Pour yourself a cup of tea (or something stronger), sit down, and stay for a while. There’s plenty of reading material.
Minced Oaths, Curses and Expletives
An Academic’s Guide to Muttering Under Your Breath I have a hypothesis that right after inventing the words “fire,” “run,” and “hungry,” hominids decided to workshop some expletives. They were makers and users of tools, and you don’t use a tool without busting a knuckle and getting creative with your
Falling into the Wonderscape
A Magical Realism Short Story Set in the Heart of Paris I sat alone at a cast iron table that seated two outside the little patisserie in the heart of Paris. The trip was my attempt to escape a bad breakup, finding myself in unfamiliar places after four years of
Mutton Chops and Handlebar Moustaches
In the bustling cobblestone heart of Spinsters Row stands a little boutique with gilded signage reading Tuck and Bow Emporium. Inside, amid shelves of monogrammed cravats and artisanal marrow bones, work two very particular pups—Tuck, a dignified schnauzer mix with remarkable eyebrows, and Bow, a platinum dandelion of a dog
Pow! Zap! Bang! Talking Comic Books and Graphic Novels
This week we celebrate National Comic Book Day (Sept. 25), which means that it’s time to brush off the dust jackets on our most treasured issues and tomes. I’m the first to admit that I’m more of a visitor than an expert on the wild, vast world of comic books
Autumn Craft Guide for Hibernation Season
As the days grow shorter and the evenings cooler, the critters of Spinsters Row return to their dens of comfort and solitary amusements. From autumnal simmer pots that make your home smell like the inside of an apple cider distillery crossed with a cozy bakery to knittable woodland friends, there
Women of the Seas: Our Favorite Historical Pirates
Portrait of the female pirate, from the Library of Congress collection Here are some terms and phrases that shiver our timbers: Bilged on her anchor: A ship holed or pierced by its own anchor (also an obvious innuendo) Grog blossom: Redness on the nose or face of someone who drinks
Legends of the Fall: How to Autumn Right
Spinsters Row celebrates the Autumnal Equinox in high style, albeit a wee bit overserved. Did you hear that? That is the distant bleat of the cornucopia that ushers in the annual drive to pick apples, don plaid, and gather with your family. Harvest festivals and autumnal equinox celebrations predate written
How I Became Obsessed with Amelia Earhart
The first time I heard about Amelia Earhart was in the fourth grade. I’d been on a rampage reading every biography of a famous woman I could find in the library. Amelia Earhart: Kansas Girl was next up on the list, and little did I know that someone exciting and
Cultivating Your Inner Child
In today’s world, where adults are unabashedly embracing #nostalgiacore, we don’t see any point in putting the ways of childhood behind us. After all, we’re a culture enamored with the adorable yet creepy monstrosity that is the Labubu, going full maximalist with our home decor choices, and some of us
Top 5 Motorcycle Rides to Chase the Sunset This Summer and Fall
In most of the United States, motorcycle riding is a three-season hobby, except for those lucky bikers in the south who get to enjoy it as a year-round activity. Since summer and fall are prime riding time for almost everyone, we’re sharing our top five favorite routes to ride during
It’s Getting Hot in Here: On Beating the Heat
On Spinsters Row, many of us are a bit precious when it comes to heat intolerance, so thank heavens we don’t actually live in the Victorian Era. We would never be able to cope with all those heavy layers and corsets without central AC and a cold pitcher of margaritas
Puppies and Kittens and Horses, Oh My!
According to historians, in England prior to the 19th century, pet owners were ridiculed and derided. The Guardian notes that pet owners, “particularly when they were female, were seen as frivolous consumers who spent their money in absurd ways.” Lady Playing with a Dog c. 1670, Eglon van de Neer
