Good morning! Today is Theme Reveal Day (like it’s a big drama or something). Anyway, I’m going by the A to Z guidelines, so today I’ll let you know what I’ll be blogging about next month.
This past year has had plenty of challenges, as I’m sure it’s been the same for you. On this day last year, I boarded a flight at Boston’s Logan Airport and flew to Reykjavik, Iceland, then on to Zurich, Switzerland. I’ve blogged about that ill-fated trip, cut short after a few days when COVID-19 concerns had me flying back home just three days later. Since then, it seems that COVID has dominated everything – the news, chats with friends, concerns with family, how we socialize, dine out, shop. And we’re not quite out of it yet, but the days do look a little brighter. (Please get vaccinated when it’s your turn!)
This year I have stayed close to home, and I’ll be blogging from A to Z about places within the 1,214 square miles that make up Rhode Island, my home state and the smallest one of the fifty. Road trips with my husband gave us fun destinations in January and February, as we plotted out our drives. I was able to cover all the letters in the alphabet, even if I did have to get creative with “X” and “Z.” (Don’t we always have to get creative with at least one of the letters?!) There was history to research as well, and not all of it is pretty. Rhode Island was inhabited by Native people until European settlers moved in, sometimes forcefully. The state’s industry was rooted in the mills, and the wealthy mill owners relied on the labor of immigrants. Textile mills turned cotton (picked by slaves in the South) into fabric. Slave trading took place along with the import of tea and spices from far-off lands. I hope to provide you with a little insight into Rhode Island and its Native American and early Colonial connections, as well as our beautiful shoreline. We are The Ocean State, after all.
My theme for 2021 is…
STAY HOME! WEAR A MASK!
So whether you’re a Rhode Island resident, someone who was born and raised here but have since moved away, or you’ve never set foot in Little Rhody, this is a chance to learn a bit about the 13th state. I hope you’ll join me, every day in April except Sundays (when I’ll be catching up on all of your blogs!).
Martha Reynolds Writes 
I’ve lived most of my life in the states that border Rhode Island but I still have much to learn!
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Oh, great theme, I’m looking forward to it!
My 2021 AtoZ Reveal
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We’ve never been to Rhode Island, but we’re really looking forward to joining you over the course of April!
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Thank you! You might recognize a few of the place names.
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I’m always keen to learn about a new place, especially its history. Roll on April.
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I’m looking forward to doing a little traveling via your posts. Rhode Island is one state I’ve never been to, so I’m especially excited.
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Thanks, Deborah! I’m looking forward to yours! Great theme.
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I’m alway good for a history AtoZ Challenge!! 🙂
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Theme Reveal – The Great War
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I am looking forward to reading your creations.
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Great idea! Looking forward to this.
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Looking forward to reading about your local road trips. Weekends In Maine
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Hari OM
One of the great things about the internet is that we have still been able to travel – in our heads! I look forward to learning somewhere new (to me)! YAM xx
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Sounds great Martha, look forward to learning all about Rhode Island! Stay safe.
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Thank you, Iain!
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I am excited to see what I know and also learn more about the state I will always call home, even though I have lived more than half my life in CT.
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did in researching, Jean!
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I like it!
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, Beck!
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What a great idea for a blog, Martha! I’m looking forward to learning more about Rhode Island.
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It seemed to fit for this year, Terry!
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It’s such a tiny state, I realize I don’t know much about it. This will be wonderful, Martha.
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So tiny we could do easy day trips, Jacqui – but there was still plenty to learn.
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I love this theme. I may live in Massachusetts but I have spent a lot of time in Rhode Island especially since I live 3 blocks from the state line and of course 4 years living at Providence College.
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I hope you enjoy the posts, Michelle!
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What a brilliant theme for this year of pandemic and stay-at-home adventures. This is bound to be fascinating and enlightening, certainly something to read, enjoy, and be enlightened.
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Thank you, Connie. Jim and I had some really enjoyable road trips!
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Oops! Sloppy proofing! Can’t delete, but considered the second “enlightened” to be removed.
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Once again you have not disappointed with your theme! How fantastic! As for the unflattering history, let’s just remember that history is in the past. We can learn from it so we can do better! You can’t undo it, so we must learn from it.
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This was the year for a stay-at-home theme! Thanks, Lori – I hope you enjoy it. 💜
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Hi Martha, I can’t wait to read your blog. I’ve lived in RI most of my life, but I’m sure you’ll reveal some unknown treasures.
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I discovered a few, Debbie, and it was a fun adventure!
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Looking for to your April A-Z Rhode Island Blog. I know I will learn a lot. Thank you.
Helen
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I learned a lot, Helen!
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Hi Martha, I am so excited about this blog. Hope you are doing well. 💜😊
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you, Leslie! I hope you enjoy the virtual tour.
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