C: A to Z Blogging Challenge & QotM

For my 2016 A to Z Challenge, I’m sharing three facts for each letter. The genres I write and love to read are mostly science fiction and high or epic fantasy. In fantasy, there is often magic associated with crystals or metals. They also used herbs both for medicine and for magical spells. Each day I will post a short description of an herb or a mineral you might find in medieval or fantasy writings. For the record, most of the herbal remedies I’ve investigated are not recommended by the FDA. Many are actually poisonous and dangerous. As tribute to my second love, I will post a scientific fact that may deal with physics, biology or health science. And because another name for a writer is wordsmith, each day I’ll share a strange word that I would probably never use in my writing, but that amuse me in some way. So enjoy my trio of quick facts. And don’t forget to visit the IWSG site where we’ll share a writer’s resource for every day of the challenge.

Commensality: The practice of eating together like families do.

Clove is sometimes used as a local anesthetic and antiseptic by dentists. It's also used for toothaches.

Corrosives are chemicals that destroy or damage other substances such as metals or organics.

Do you see how corrosives could be used in a science fiction story? Ever hear of cloves for toothaches? Do you practice commensality at your house?

It's the first Monday of the month and that means the question of the month, a blog hop sponsored by Michael D'Agostino on his blog, A Life Examined. Other participants are on this list.

"What is your favorite thing that begins with C?"

If we're talking about food, I have to say cheese. If we're talking in larger terms, I love my children more than anything.

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe