Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I had a different tip for you and then I read an editorial in the NY Times, by David French and this part of it really resonated with me.

Stand up for good people under fire. Private messages are important, but even the simple act of posting public support (or offering other forms of public aid) can help mitigate the damage. It tells a person that he or she is not alone and that decency is not dead.

Now, he was specifically talking about judges who were being personally threatened because of their rulings, but I think it applies more widely. People can be vicious and loud and leave others who disagree feeling like they need to keep their heads down lest the mob turn on them as well.

Don’t let the bullies win.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 8 August 2025 at 6:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! It’s neither beastly hot nor raining right now and I am so grateful!

Today’s travel tip comes from Scratch:

Fill a zippered pillowcase with squishy clothing, like socks, underwear, and t-shirts.

You get a comfy pillow for your trip and you have more room in your suitcase.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 1 August 2025 at 3:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Derby Day 2025

Dear Constant Reader,

Last year, at basically the last moment, B.A.B.E. sponsored a horse at the Paragon Carousel’s Derby Day fundraiser. This year we did it again.

Although I sent in our sponsorship early this year, they didn’t contact us until a couple of days before so we weren’t in the program again. Annoying. But I did have a lovely horse. I was told that her name is usually Belle and she’s the largest horse on the carousel.

Among the privileges of sponsorship is that you get to name the horse for the night and decorate it. I named her Miss Toni, after Toni Elling,  and bedecked her with a leopard fur stole with embroidered badges of the B.A.B.E. logo (made by Full Moon Creations) and coronet of roses.

Miss Toni

She won one of the races (sadly, that was the one race where someone else was riding her) and was draped with a wreath of winner’s roses. Folks remembered that my horse won last year too. I guess I can pick winners! 

Although I looked completely smashing, I don’t have any good photos of myself,  but here’s Miss Toni again with her roses.Derby Day 2025

EDIT: I completely forgot that Scratch had taken pictures, so you do get to see my lovely frock and hat after all.
Me and Miss Toni

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 19 June 2025 at 7:31 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cherry Tree Update

Dear Constant Reader,

You might recall my heartbreak last year when our cherry tree had to be taken down. However, we immediately replaced it with a new sour cherry tree.

Baby Tree, though small, is trying very hard. In the spring she was covered in blossoms
Cherry blossoms
which have turned into proto-cherries.
tiny cherries
I’m hoping for a handful of cherries, maybe enough for a dessert for two.

Some summer soon, fingers crossed, we will again have enough to share.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 5 June 2025 at 9:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Quiet = Busy

Dear Constant Reader,

I realize it’s been months since I posted anything more than a Friday Tip. There’s been a lot going on and it keeps me from my writing desk.

For the past six weeks, Scratch and I have been coaching students while they created their own burlesque acts and now they’re ready to hit the stage! We’ve got two student showcases this year, one in Salem on this coming Saturday and one in Somerville next Sunday. Come on out and cheer them on!

Besides the usual Introduction to Burlesque  and Beyond Basic Burlesque classes in May, we’ve got two very special workshops. I’m so excited that Kerri N’Fuego will be visiting Boston from Denver and teaching an introduction to acro chair. I love having guest instructors at B.A.B.E.! And I’ll be bringing Shimmy at the Speakeasy back to Salem to teach a new striptease routine. The last time was so much fun!

If that weren’t enough, we’re getting ready for three shows in June — one at a new-to-us venue, one at our beloved Deacon Giles, and one out on the Cape.

Hopefully I’ll have a few minutes soon to finish one of the many missives sitting open on my desk

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 22 April 2025 at 6:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again. Given my druthers, this is not a tip I would choose to write, or would even conceived of before this year. We’re getting into high season for festivals and…

Maybe don’t come to the US.

If you live outside the United States, this might not be the best time to visit.

There’ve been plenty of incidents in the past with burlesquers being refused entry, usually because they were suspected of coming here to work. The repercussions these days could be a heck of a lot more drastic than just being turned away at immigration. We’ll miss you, but stay safe.

Sorry for the downer, but it’s scary out there.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 21 March 2025 at 11:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Check your elastic before you sew with it.

Old elastic loses its, well, elasticity. Check your stash and make sure nothing has gotten crunchy or stretched out. If so, you should toss it. Get some fresh elastic so your garment has a long, useful life after you’ve gone to all the work of sewing it.

If this happens with a costume piece or even regular clothing, see if you can replace the elastic without completely deconstructing the item. If it has a casing, that makes an easy fix.

I make my g-strings in such a way that the elastic is incredibly easy to remove and replace (like 5 minutes easy). You too can learn how from my Little Costuming Book or Patreon-exclusive tutorial.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 14 March 2025 at 4:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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An Alternative to Amazon

Dear Constant Reader, 

Here at The Manor, we’re trying to live with less Amazon. I suspect some of you are as well. And thusly, I’ve been going through my book reviews and replacing links to Amazon with affiliate links to Bookshop.org. If you buy your books through those links, you’ll be supporting an independent bookstore and also this blog (as an affiliate I get a wee kickback).

You can tell which reviews have changed links by the ❤️ on the review page. I haven’t been able to replace all of them, since a number of the books are out of print.

I know it’s been a few months since my last book review. Any burlesque book in particular you’d like me to read and review?

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 13 March 2025 at 5:32 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Albert Day

Dear Constant Reader,

Thirteen years ago today Albert A. Cat found us and transformed our lives. At the time, we though he was a lost cat, but he knew where his home was right away.

This is the third Albert Day without our handsome boy. I miss him every day.Albert

If you wish to honor our distinguished gentleman, be kind today. Tell the people and creatures you love that you do. Take a nap with a friend. Donate to a cat rescue or shelter or MSPCA Angell Hospital. Treat yourself to a traditional Albert cake (small almond cakes with white frosting, topped with shredded coconut, a little chocolate, and a pinch of sea salt).

But mostly, be kind.

M2

Published in: on 28 February 2025 at 11:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

January has been a rough month for many, so today’s tip is:

Do something nice for yourself. And then do something nice for someone else.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 24 January 2025 at 1:39 pm  Leave a Comment  
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