The first episode of Trifles every month in Season 7 is all about monthly observances - National ___ Month, in which we tie that month's topic to something in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Monthly Observances

Food

“this insignificant-looking man inspired me”&nbsp;[GREE]&nbsp;  &nbsp; We all have examples of mentors in our lives. People who inspire us and coach us, helping us to grow. What examples do we see of this in the Sherlock Holmes stories? &nbsp; From excellent examples to counter-examples, there are a handful of instances of experience and knowledge being passed from one person to another. It's National Mentor Month, the first of our monthly observances in Season 7 and it's just a Trifle. &nbsp; If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. &nbsp; Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals.&nbsp;.   &nbsp;  &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on&nbsp;&nbsp;and become eligible for our regular giveaways.  &nbsp; Sponsor  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;   &nbsp;

Mentors in the Canon

“over many nations and three separate continents” [SIGN]        

We all know about Mary Morstan from The Sign of Four, of her marriage to Watson, and of Watson's "sad bereavement" after Sherlock Holmes returned from his hiatus in "The Empty House."   

But there is evidence in a number of stories to show that Watson has been married more than once. Evidence from scholars such as Baring-Gould, Bell, Blakeney, Brend, Bristowe (and that's just the B's!), as well as Roberts, Sayers, Simpson, and others. 

But exactly how many marriages were there? You may be startled to hear how many we identify. It's just a Trifle.   

If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.   

Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today: https://patreon.com/trifles 

Links / Notes
This episode: https://ihose.co/trifles318
Other episodes mentioned:
  Episode 23 - Married Life with Dr. Watson https://ihose.co/trifles23
  Episode 61 - John Watson, Ladies Man https://ihose.co/trifles61

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Music credits 
Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band 
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Dr. Watson's Marriages

“I found myself in dream-land” [SIGN]
 Regular sleep patterns seem to be a rarity in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Watson dozed off while Holmes remained vigilant or was prevented from sleeping by something he saw; various clients described something disturbing their sleep. 

Such instances of sleepless days and nights, rude awakenings, and other sleep-related issues give us plenty somnia interrupta examples to discuss in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.  

If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. 

Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. https://patreon.com/trifles

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles322

Sleepless in Baker Street

“one by one passed through into the little garden”&nbsp;[STUD]&nbsp;    &nbsp;  Whether we think of British gardens as landscaped acres of greenery or as the source for finer botanical specimens such as roses, the Sherlock Holmes stories are littered with these examples of outdoor offerings.&nbsp; &nbsp; April is National Garden Month, so we survey the Canon. From the plantings of John Ferrier to untended weeds of Josiah Amberley and everything in between, we talk about the importance of gardens in Victorian times. It's just a Trifle.  &nbsp; If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. &nbsp; Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals.&nbsp;.      &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;     &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  Inspired by&nbsp;The Botanical Holmes: A Monograph on Plants in the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 6 in&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series&nbsp;by Donald Girard Jewell.  Related Episodes:       Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on&nbsp;&nbsp;and become eligible for our regular giveaways.  &nbsp; Sponsor  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;    &nbsp;   &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Gardens

“when I have exterminated that fourth egg” [VALL]

While we discussed breakfast in the last episode, we felt we paid more attention to the toast than the eggs. And there was one quote in particular that didn't make the cut. 

We recall that quote, search for an egg-seller in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and ponder the evolution of chickens and eggs in the history of human cuisine. Which came first? It's just a Trifle.  

If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. 

Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. https://patreon.com/trifles   

Links/Notes: https://ihose.co/trifles331

Eggs

Dr. Watson tells us that he and Sherlock Holmes visited one London restaurant two times. And while the gustatory habits of the famed Baker Street duo are not entirely well-documented, we have a good sense as to what they must have eaten at the famed Simpson's in-the-Strand.

This is a case of fact meeting fiction, as Simpson's is very much a real establishment in London — one that was recently in danger of losing its identity. We bring you inside this gem that dates from the 1820s as a cigar and chess divan and explore what dining like Sherlock Holmes was like.

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Simpson's

"a quite epicurean little cold supper" [NOBL]&nbsp; &nbsp; In "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor," Lord Robert St. Simon assumed that Holmes was going up in the world by taking him on as a client; Holmes replied that he was actually descending, as his previous client was something of a king. But it was still a royal feast set out at 221B Baker Street for Lord Robert and the assembled guests.  &nbsp; Just what was in that supper for five, and what did it say about Holmes and his guests?     &nbsp;    Have you&nbsp;left us a rating and review&nbsp;on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  And please consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;  Links / Notes  "The&nbsp;Noble Bachelor" "221B Baker Street: Certain Physical Details" by Paul McPharlin,&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2 (OS) 1947, pp. 180-194  Dining with Sherlock Holmes&nbsp;by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Fritz Sonnenschmidt I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere&nbsp;Episode 103: Al &amp; Julie Rosenblatt   &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp;   Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band&nbsp;   Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  &nbsp;   --

A Noble Supper

“he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose” [STUD]&nbsp; &nbsp; The holidays typically bring a bounty of food, followed by solemn pledges to exercise and take better care of ourselves in the new year. &nbsp; What do we know about Sherlock Holmes and his eating habits? He was thin, but did that mean he didn't have an appreciation for food? From fast food to fine dining, Sherlock Holmes displayed a wide range of culinary appreciation. And it's our topic for the final episode of Trifles for 2018. &nbsp; Do you have any special requests for 2019? Let us know&nbsp;what additional topics you'd like us to discuss in the coming year.   &nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;iTunes&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;  And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp; or&nbsp;PayPal.   &nbsp;   &nbsp;   Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles104 RadioPublic   &nbsp;  Sponsor   The Baker Street Irregulars Press    &nbsp;  Music credits   Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Sherlock Holmes's Dining Habits

“cuisine is a little limited” [NAVA]&nbsp;&nbsp; We find a smattering of food references throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. But which can be considered consummate British dishes? &nbsp; We don't come across toad in the hole, bubble and squeak, or cock-a-leekie soup, but there are other meals that are considered British. And by more than the virtue of appearing in British stories. Which food might this be? It's more than a trifle. &nbsp;  Have you left us a rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp; We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including  Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify,&nbsp;SoundCloud, and&nbsp;RadioPublic.  &nbsp;  And please consider supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal. &nbsp;  &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles158 Episode 42: A Noble Supper I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 103: Al and Julie Rosenblatt  Superb English Plum Pudding&nbsp;(Epicurious) William Banting&nbsp;(Wikipedia) Food Timeline: Sandwiches Dining With Sherlock Holmes&nbsp;by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt The Sherlock Holmes Cookbook&nbsp;by John Farrell and Sean Wright   &nbsp;  Sponsor   The Baker Street Journal    &nbsp;  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  &nbsp;   --   &nbsp;

British Food

“the City and Suburban Bank, the Vegetarian Restaurant” [REDH]&nbsp; We have plenty of instances of animal flesh on the side-board, whether it's a couple of brace of grouse, Henry Baker's Christmas goose, or a joint of beef. There was one lone vegetarian restaurant mentioned in the Canon. It had a real-life inspiration. But what else do we know about vegetarianism in Victorian times? It's just a trifle.   &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp; yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;, and&nbsp;.   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;by Robert Veld (Wessex Press) &nbsp;(History Extra) The famous&nbsp;&nbsp;in&nbsp;Murder By Decree   &nbsp;  Sponsor       &nbsp;  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;   --   &nbsp;

Victorian Vegetarians

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.