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

The 25 (or so) episodes we chose as our favorite from the first 400 episodes of Trifles

Favorites from the Great 400

“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

“I only breathe it among ourselves—a suicide” [GOLD]    
LISTENER ADVISORY: This episode contains mentions of suicide, which some listeners may find disturbing. 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and as part of our series on monthly observances, we take a look at suicides in the Canon. 

Sherlock Holmes was never called in to investigate a suicide, but he encountered a few, along with a number of instances when suicide was attempted, assumed, and ruled out.

Suicide is never a trifle, and if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please dial 988. 

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: ihose.co/trifles349

Suicides in the Sherlock Holmes Stories

Sir Eustace Brackenstall met with a grisly, if appropriate end in "The Abbey Grange." Ultimately, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson let his killer go free. &nbsp; But was Captain Crocker solely responsible for Brackenstall's death? Other individuals were involved with the calm plotting of the aftermath of the death&nbsp;— but whose shoulders bear the ultimate brunt of the guilt in the end? &nbsp; Links &nbsp;  "The Abbey Grange" "The game's afoot" as found in King Henry's speech "Once more unto the breach" in Henry V.  &nbsp;

Guilt in The Abbey Grange

"what's amiss with the names?" [VALL]&nbsp; &nbsp; One of the most puzzling passages in the Sherlock Holmes stories is when Mrs. Watson referred to her husband, the good Doctor, as "James." However, we know that his given name is John. What could be afoot here? Was it a typo? An impostor? A slip of the tongue? We review some of the longstanding theories and even provide a few of our own to see if we might get to the bottom of this mystery. Links  "The Adventure of the Man with the Twisted Lip"  Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Sources by Donald A. Redmond   Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp; &nbsp;

John, James and Mary

"The chain of events is certainly one of extraordinary interest." [NAVA]&nbsp; Nepotism, bullying, carelessness and a locked room mystery&nbsp;— "The Naval Treaty" has it all. A young government employee is given a top secret assignment that keeps him at his desk late at night, but the document he was working on goes missing. And it's up to Sherlock Holmes to find the culprit. &nbsp; Clocking in at 12,701 words, this story is the longest of the 56 short stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon. But should it really have taken Holmes that long to figure out the mystery? We discuss some of the finer points of the story, including glaring plot point that you may have missed before. &nbsp; Please&nbsp;leave us a rating and review&nbsp;on the podcast player of your choice, and consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal. &nbsp; Links  Please nominate us for a&nbsp;People's Choice Award&nbsp;or in the&nbsp;Arts&nbsp;category in the&nbsp;2017 Podcast Awards "The Naval Treaty" "Bob's your uncle"   &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 Lengthy Treaty

"there was peace in our hearts" [SIGN]&nbsp; &nbsp;  Peace in the canon. Reading the Sherlock Holmes stories to find peace is something like going to Casablanca for the water.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"But there are no waters in Casablanca."&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"I was misinformed." &nbsp; Regardless, during this season of peace, we reflect on moments — even if they're glimpses — of bucolic, peaceful moments we find scattered throughout the Sherlock Holmes canon. They're there, if you look for them — trifling as they may be. &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; Links / Notes  Christmas Peace&nbsp;(Wikipedia)   &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;

Peace in the Canon

"applying his tape to the walls" [STUD]&nbsp;  There's quite a bit we know about the inner sanctum of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at 221B Baker Street. The cozy sitting room with its fireplace and windows at once beckons us in to look around. &nbsp; Upon glancing at the walls, though: what do we see? Is it typical of Victorian bachelor decor? Or is there hidden meaning behind any of the wall hangings? We investigate the trifling matter of the walls of the sitting room at 221B. &nbsp; Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. &nbsp; And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode: ihose.co/trifles59 "The Cardboard Box"  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

Inside 221B: On the Wall

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Suicides in the Sherlock Holmes Stories

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles