Announcements

10 Year Anniverary & New Releases Winners: Carrie Fancett Pagels' Butterfly Cottage - Melanie B, Dogwood Plantation - Patty H R, Janet Grunst's winner is Connie S., Denise Weimer's Winner is Kay M., Naomi Musch's winner is Chappy Debbie, Angela Couch - Kathleen Maher, Pegg Thomas Beverly D. M. & Gracie Y., Christy Distler - Kailey B., Shannon McNear - Marilyn R.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Living History Museums

I imagine most visitors to Colonial Quills blog have heard of Colonial Williamsburg. It is not just a living history museum, but a living history village.  We are very thankful for those with foresight to maintain this treasure from its colonial days to become IMHO the most incredible 'history immersion' experience for anyone interested in American Colonial History.  

While it's probably the most well-known, "living history" museums can be found in nearly every state and province. (sites with restored or maintained historic buildings and costumed interpreters presenting researched history of an area, event, craft or time period.)

Some others that come to mind:  Plimouth Plantation, Old Sturbridge Village, and my favorite, Genesee Country Village and Museum.



GCVM is specifically a 19th Century Village but that should not deter any Colonial Devotee!
It is located southwest of Rochester, NY and was created by collecting houses, buildings, and shops from across western NY and gathering them to create a rural-setting village. It is large enough that there are, for lack of any better word, neighborhoods which share similar time periods. The founder, John Wehle, regretted the loss of historic architecture and, in the mid-sixties, proposed the village. In 1976, the village opened to visitors. I believe there are 68 buildings on site. Since that time, the curator and staff have worked to equip the buildings with artifacts and working artisans.



Together, the village covers more than 600 acres including nature trails. The working staff  and volunteers recreate the hands-on life of pioneers up to the Victorian turn-of-the-century, so it includes those activities carried over from the colonial period.



Throughout the year, it is open daily in season (roughly May through October) and, during special events out of season.
You can enjoy: Winter Family Fun Days, Maple Syrup Festival, Antique Show, Hunter Derby, War of 1812/Jane Austen weekend, Independence Day, Civil War Reenactment, Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, SilverBall Tournament (original baseball) Victorian Day, Fall Agricultural Days, Spirits of the Past Halloween Tours, Breakfast with St. Nick, Yuletide in the Country Tours...

I hope you consider a visit if you travel through upstate NY!



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Our Five Kernels of Thanksgiving

by Roseanna M. White

We all know the story of the first Thanksgiving, and it's one I've enjoyed reading to my kids again this year. All those old familiar tales of Squanto and the Pilgrims, of neighborliness and sharing.

But even more stirring was when I read about the Second Thanksgiving the Pilgrims celebrated.

After that first harvest we've all read about, the Pilgrims wisely stored food to see them through the winter. And they had plenty. Certain that it wouldn't be a repeat of the previous winter, where so many had died of hunger and illness, they settled in to their settlement to await spring.

But another ship came, bearing more settlers...and with no food supplies. Suddenly they had far more mouths to feed than they had stores with which to feed them. But it wasn't their way to turn anyone away. Instead, they accepted these newcomers and divided their rations again. They adjusted as best they could.

And they grew hungry. At one point, each person's daily ration was five kernels of corn a day. Five kernels!

The Pilgrims knew they couldn't survive on this meager allotment. But they had nothing to trade for food, no other ships were due with supplies. And they, unlike those in the Virginia Colony to the south, weren't about to steal and kill for it. Instead, they prayed. They humbled themselves. They searched their hearts for any sin and appealed to God for salvation.

He provided it. A ship unexpectedly entered Plymouth harbor, on its way from the southern colonies to England. Though they didn't have extra food, they did have goods that they traded for the Pilgrims' beaver pelts. And with those goods, the Plymouth colony could trade with the Native Americans for more food.

They survived the winter without one death. When spring came, they planted. In summer, they tended. In the fall, they reaped in an admirable harvest.

Again, they declared a feast of Thanksgiving. Again, they invited the natives that played such a vital role in their survival. But there was something different at this feast.

This time, around each plate, they put five kernels of dried corn. A reminder of all they had been through...and of all the Lord had done to save them.

As we reflect on Thanksgiving this year, let's put our kernels before the Lord. They don't just represent the blessings He heaps on us...they represent the hardships He sees us through. They represent His faithfulness.

What are your kernels this year?

Monday, November 24, 2014

What's for Dinner, Pilgrim?

    



The First Thanksgiving 1621, oil on canvas by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1899). The painting shows common misconceptions about the event that persist to modern times: Pilgrims did not wear such outfits, and the Wampanoag are dressed in the style of Native Americans from the Great Plains
        The Thanksgiving food we know today is nothing like what the 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans hunted, harvested, prepared, and served at the famous meal 391 years ago.
        No one knows the complete dinner menu, but historians are certain that the participants enjoyed the following:

• Wildfowl (goose, duck, swan, passenger pigeons)
• Wild turkey
• Venison
• Porridge
• Corn bread
       
        Instead of turkey, goose or duck was the main course. Historians suspect that some birds were boiled first, and then roasted, and others were roasted first, and then boiled. Also, the birds were stuffed with shelled chestnuts or onions and herbs.
        Historians, although uncertain, believe that the following was also served:

• Eels
• Lobster
• Clams
• Mussels
• Chestnuts
• Walnuts
• Beechnuts
• Hickory nuts
• Multi-colored Indian corn
• Pumpkins
• Squashes
• Onions
• Dried beans and peas
• Lettuces
• Spinach
• Radishes
       
        Seasonings included salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, liverwort, leeks, and nutmeg.

        Here are some recipes adapted from Plimoth Plantation’s recipe page featuring original colonial recipes www.plimoth.org

Onion Sauce for Roast Turkey
        In the 17th century “gravy” was the drippings from the meat that were often transformed into a sauce.
6 medium onions, sliced thinly
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of coarsely ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup bread crumbs (optional)
        Follow your favorite recipe for roast turkey. Remove the turkey to a platter reserving the pan juices. Place thinly sliced onions in a pot with water and salt. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook until the onions are tender but not mushy. A good deal of the water should have boiled away. Set aside for a moment. Place the roasting pan over medium heat and stir to loosen any brown bits. Stir in the onion sauce, sugar, vinegar and bread crumbs if desired. Add pepper to taste and adjust seasonings. To serve, pour over sliced turkey or serve alongside in a separate dish.

Hasty Pudding
        This pudding recipe was originally brought over from England and was called Indian Pudding or supawn when it was made in Colonial America, since cornmeal was cheaper and more readily available.
        As a British dish, it was a quick pudding to make using a sweetened porridge made from flour, tapioca or oatmeal and milk.
        Here the recipe was transformed to use local ingredients -- cornmeal, molasses or maple syrup and milk.
       It’s anything but “hasty,” since it requires 2 hours to bake. If you want to be truly authentic, serve as an appetizer.
2 cups milk
2 cups light cream
3 tablespoons stone ground yellow cornmeal
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
         In a heavy pan scald milk and cream. Gradually sprinkle with yellow cornmeal and bring to a boil, stirring briskly. Stir in sugar, maple syrup, butter and all the other dry ingredients. Let the mixture cool slightly. In a small bowl beat the eggs with the milk/cream mixture. Pour the batter into a buttered 1 ½ quart baking dish and bake in a moderately slow oven (325 degrees F) for 2 hours. Serve hot or warm with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

Susan F. Craft is the author of the award-winning Revolutionary War romantic suspence, The Chamomile. She is represented by Linda S. Glaz, Hartline Literary Agency.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Constructing a Red Cape

Reenactors at the Battle of the Hook - Two with Red Capes

I have a story where a red cape is one of the plot details. I've been on the lookout for construction of capes. So when Cynthia Howerter and I came across these lovely ladies at the Battle of the Hook reenactment last year, we had to stop to chat with them!

Below is the inside of the longer red cape. As you can see, it requires a great deal of material. I was told that the cloth, a bright red wool, is often available through reenactor sales suppliers.  You'll see in the pictures that follow, that the hood can be lined with white fabric.
















Here it is fully pulled open. You can see the panel on the right, that I'll also show below.  So below we can see she is pointing to the seam that was stitched to hold the extra panels on the ends.  Note, above, that the material is gathered at the neckline where it meets the hood.
















Below is the hood from the shorter cape. Note how the center of the hood becomes almost a cone shape when pushed through.

You can see from the picture below that the spacious cape comes in handy for keeping your daughter warm, too! Loved meeting these ladies.
 In the picture below, the excess lining is gently gathered and tucked inside between the wool and linen or cotton lining.

Here we can see how the fabric is not stitched together in this hood, but it can be, if you prefer. It is not required. This is a nice time saving if one is in a hurry to get ready for a reenactment event. Or if one is a busy mother with little time to attend to the detail for finely sticking down the gathered sections which is very time consuming.

I sure wish I had my own red cape. Alas, I still do not. And I don't think I'll be able to construct my own at this point in time. But this project does look very doable. The heavy wool does not really require a hem at the bottom. It can be cut with sharp sheers with little to no fraying.

Until I have my own red cape (which I'd love to have used with some willing young lady as model for the cover I have in mind) I'll have to content myself with looking at these pictures of these beautiful red capes!

Question: Is there some colonial garment that you wish you owned? 

Friday, November 14, 2014

COLONIAL COFFEE HOUSES IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA

With around 12,000 Starbucks, plus countless other coffee shops in the United States, it’s evident that Americans like their coffee. While coffee, tea, and chocolate all arrived in the colonies in the 17th century, it wasn’t until the mid 18th century when the British decided to tax tea that coffee drinking took off in a big way.

Tea was very popular in the American colonies in the 18th century. When the British imposed taxes on tea, some feisty Bostonians revolted and dumped tea in the harbor. Citizens from all the colonies showed support and began boycotting tea, and coffee quickly became a new favorite beverage.

Coffee establishments began appearing in England in the 17th century and differed from taverns that offered liquor, food, lodging, and gambling. Coffee houses became a popular opportunity for gentlemen of all ranks and stations in life to gather and enjoy coffee, tea, and chocolate while discussing the news of the day. Women were not allowed in these male bastions. By the 1800’s there were said to be 3000 coffee houses in London alone, often with their own particular character.

Virginia, being the most English of the colonies, was not far behind in making coffee houses a popular destination for men to gather and discuss the events of the day. Williamsburg, then the capitol of Virginia, was the home to four known coffee houses, although not at the same time. With a population of 2,000, of which half were slaves, the city could only support one coffee house at a time. Fortunately there has been extensive research done to locate and identify the periods each of these establishments existed.

William Byrd II of Westover, a member of the Royal Governor's
Shield's Tavern
Council kept extensive journals. He identifies a coffee house from 1709 at the east end of Duke of Gloucester Street near the Capitol where he ate, drank, read newspapers and enjoyed cards.

The same gentleman noted another coffee house in the 1740’s. Later, in the early 1750’s a coffee house was located at what is now Shield’s Tavern. Another coffee house believed to be R. Charlton's
R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

Coffeehouse was established in the 1760’s a few steps from the colonial Capitol. In 1765, this coffee house was the site of a hostile crowd confronting the Stamp Act tax collector, George Mercer. Fortunately Mr. Mercer was protected by the Royal Governor Francis Fauquier who
A View of the Capitol from
Charlton's Coffeehouse
happened to be seated with his council on the porch.

That is the last known Colonial Williamsburg coffee house as the Capitol was moved to Richmond in 1780.

Colonial Williamsburg, with an endowment from the Mars family, did extensive research and archaeological work to locate and rebuild the R. Charlton's Coffeehouse. The Armistead house, a Victorian home, rested on the original site of the coffee house. It was moved to a new location on nearby Henry Street. The 35’ by 35’ square two story coffee house was
Excavation of Charlton's Coffeehouse Foundation
reconstructed on the original foundation. By 2009 it had been restored to what it looked like at the time of the Revolution. 

When originally built, the kitchen was located downstairs. Two rooms were available to rent for private dinners or occasions, and one room was the room where citizens, whether they were the Burgesses or a local merchant or farmer, could gather and discuss current events over coffee or chocolate drinks.


Discussing politics with Patrick Henry
Like many other fascinating sites in Williamsburg, tours are available of the R. Charlton's Coffeehouse. You’ll be treated to a complimentary coffee, tea, or chocolate drink and you will be engaged in a spirited discussion of the news of the day. Just like our predecessors in the 1700’s.

For more information about coffee in Colonial America, see Elaine Marie Cooper's earlier post.   http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2013/03/coffee-in-colonies.html


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Memorials to Veterans of the American Revolution

by Elaine Marie Cooper

As we pause this week to remember the sacrifices and bravery of our veterans of war, it seems fitting to recall those veterans who were there at the beginning of our country. They are the men (and women) who helped birth this nation. They are the heroes of both yesterday—and today.

                                                     *     *     *     *      *

It all began at the Lexington green on April 19th, 1775. It was a beautiful spring morning but it quickly turned into a day of terror in that small Massachusetts town. Eight Minutemen were shot and killed there, "the first victims to the sword of British tyranny and oppression."

A short distance away in the town of Concord, the British troops marched onward, looking for hidden gunpowder and arms. Instead of finding these, the King's army discovered a well-armed band of Minutemen, mere farmers by trade, fighting back.

Startled by the resistance, the British troops retreated back toward Boston. But on the way, they encountered more resistance as the troops were picked off one-by-one. The Minutemen, armed with the skills developed through years of fighting native Americans, hid behind stone walls and trees, attacking the weary British troops. Reinforcements from Boston helped the King's Army re-group. Outraged by the colonist's attacks, the war broke into the worst battle of the day in Menotomy Village, six miles west of Boston. More Americans and British were killed in that community than any other that first day of the war. Here is the monument to Jason Russell and ten other Minutemen killed in Menotomy Village.

The war was just beginning and soon spread throughout New England and New York. One battle occurred in Oriskany, New York on August 6, 1777. General Nicholas Herkimer led a brave group of American soldiers into an intense battle which resulted in great loss of life. The general himself died a few days later. An incredible monument on his estate in Little Falls, New York, gives honor to his memory.


Some soldiers survived battles and lived to tell their children about the tales of war. Solomon Peirce was one. He was wounded at the Battle of Lexington and fought at Bunker Hill. His gravestone is engraved with the words, "Patriot sires teach civic virtue to their sons."

Then the great turning point of the war occurred in 1777: The Battle of Saratoga. Under British General John Burgoyne, a plan was attempted to divide the colonies and defeat the Americans once and for all. That was the plan. But once again, by God's grace, the King's Army was thwarted in their efforts. And on the fields of colonial farmers in eastern New York Colony, heroes were born.

One of them, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, came all the way from Poland in 1776 to help with the American cause. His military training in his homeland helped prepare him to mastermind the key British defeat in Saratoga.

Timothy Murphy was the son of Irish immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. As an adult, he became an expert marksmen, which qualified him to join Daniel Morgan's riflemen. His monument on the fields of Saratoga was dedicated by the Ancient order of Hibernians of Saratoga County. The granite memorial reads: "A celebrated marksmen of Colonel Morgan's rifle corps whose unerring aim turned the tide of battle by the death of the British General Fraser on October 7, 1777."

A beautiful memorial in Saratoga commemorates the numerous unknown American soldiers who perished in the battles of Saratoga. They were honored by this monument provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1931, in celebration of the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.


In 2009, I was escorted to a very special veteran's memorial by a local historian in western Massachusetts. When this historian was a young boy, he had followed a man deep into the woods of Williamsburg, Massachusetts and watched the man chisel words onto a large, triangular stone. The inscriber was the great grandson of a British soldier who had fought under General Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga.

Years before, this great grandson had been escorted to the site by the son of the soldier, who returned to visit his birthplace.

The inscription on the memorial, still easily visible when highlighted by chalk, reads this: "Site of log cabin built by Daniel Prince, a Burgoyne vet." At the very top, was the Union Jack.

And as I visited this memorial to a veteran, I was overwhelmed with the deep family connection to the man who left the King's Army in 1777 and decided to become an American. Daniel Prince. My fourth great grandfather. It was an unforgettable moment, difficult to put into words—even for an author.

He may not have been a hero to America. But he will always be a hero to me.



Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of Fields of the Fatherless, as well as the soon-to-be-released, Bethany's Calendar.




Monday, November 10, 2014

Honoring Those Who Served

Kings Mountain memorial, SC
Veterans Day is a fairly modern holiday, established to honor anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces—in contrast with Memorial Day, which serves to remember those who died while serving. Originally named Armistice Day, in celebration of the agreement that ended World War I, signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day)

I suspect we history buffs hold those who served in the older wars of our country, particularly the War Between the States and the American Revolution, in special awe.
It’s always heartwarming to me to walk through an old cemetery and see memorial flags decorating the graves of those who were known veterans ... sobering to look at photographs of the oldest living veterans of the Revolution, and to wonder what their stories were.

Confederate graves, Strawberry Chapel, SC
 

 As the wife, daughter, and sister of veterans, I’m keenly aware of the sacrifice. In awe of those who went weeks, months, and often years without word of their loved ones who went off to fight. Fascinated by the courage and tenacity it took for both men and women to endure wartime—especially those brave women who followed their men on campaign for love and necessity.
Kings Mountain, SC

In working on my next article, which focuses on the infamous British officer Banastre Tarleton, I began to wonder, why does the whole myth vs. fact thing matter ... and am I dishonoring those who fought for our country’s freedom?

Henry & Eliza Laurens, Mepkin Abbey, SC
To begin with, deconstructing myth can be hard and cruel. I've found that people would often rather hold onto their suppositions and prejudices than accept evidence for another view--or even look at the other side of an issue. (Just look at the debate over whether the Civil War really began over states’ rights or slavery.) And it's astonished me how fact can get embellished into legend, and either romanticized or demonized, not very long after the fact.

The more I read and study, the more I realize that some myths will never be completely dispelled. People's opinions are sometimes literally set in stone, and so many will continue believing the idea that the patriot cause was completely righteous, and the British one completely corrupt.

In truth, I think any serious examination of primary sources will reveal that the issues of time past were far more complex ... just as complex as some of the issues of today. And just like today, some find it easy to decide which side to give their allegiance to, but for others, the choice was excruciatingly difficult.

Francis Waring, WWII veteran, Strawberry Chapel, SC
Regardless of political leanings, the truth is that our country came to be through the blood, sweat, and tears of those who believed there was something worth fighting for ... and despite all odds, this upstart, ragtag bunch of colonists managed to wear out one of the greatest empires in the world. It was nothing short of Divine Providence that allowed us to be, and later continue as a union—and for that, I am awed and grateful.

Ironwork at the Laurens family plot, Mepkin Abbey, SC
So for today, for this month, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude, first to the Author and Finisher of our faith and freedom, and then to those who fought on behalf of both. This country has been a wonder and a marvel to many, over the past 238-plus years!

May God continue to bless America—and have mercy on us.

(Photos by Kimberli Buffaloe, Breanna McNear, and myself)

Friday, November 7, 2014

November New Release Tea Party with Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Kelly Long, Roseanna White, and Carla Olson Gade


Source


Welcome to tea party to celebrate the releases of Jennifer Hudson Taylor's third book in the MacGregor Legacy, For Love or Liberty, Carla Olson Gade's Christmas short story, "The Memory Shop" in volume 3 of the 2014 two book set of A Cup of Christmas Cheer, and Roseanna M. White's A Soft Breath of Wind, the long-anticipated sequel to her debut biblical novel.

Source & recipe

We are serving some Scottish tea and  shortbread and a cup of Christmas cheer to get you ready for the holiday season! So please do come in and join us and be sure to leave a comment to enter our giveaways.




A Cup of Christmas Cheer (volumes 3 & 4) is a two book, hard-cover gift set of sixteen Christmas tales offered exclusively from Guideposts Books. "The Memory Shop" is featured in volume four, Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present. Carla also had a story in last year's A Cup of Christmas Cheer (volumes 1 & 2) along with CQ founder Carrie Fancett Pagels.

Carla takes a turn from her historical writing to pen her first contemporary story, albeit with a nostalgic twist. "The Memory Shop" takes place in present day Woodbine, Iowa. The proprietor of a revitalized downtown Main Street memorabilia shop finds his own cherished memories rekindled and relationships renewed at Christmastime.

 
Carla Olson Gade is the author of Pattern for Romance (Abingdon Fiction) and The Shadow Catcher's Daughter. Her novellas "Carving a Future" and "'Tis the Season" appear in Colonial Courtships and best-selling Mistletoe Memories and forthcoming novella "Proving Up" in Homestead Brides (2/15). She lives amidst the tall pines and plentiful lakes of rural Maine. Carla loves to connect with her readers socially and on her website.

Carla is offering one copy of the new A Cup of Christmas Cheer, volume 4, as a giveaway.


~*~

Jennifer here - Hope you are enjoying the tea party, and please, have another piece of shortbread! I love the festivities of the holidays. It's such a joyous time of the year for so many people, and since joy is contagious, it eventually catches up with the rest of us.


For Love or Liberty
She wants to live in the past. He wants to step into the future. 

Will either of them recognize the love between them now?
Coast of NC to Lake Erie, Ohio (1813)


Grieving over her sister’s death, Charlotte Morgan leaves the Carolina coast for the shores of Lake Erie, Ohio, to help care for her niece and nephew. Conrad Deaton is also there to assist his brother after this devastating loss. Soon, Conrad and Charlotte are locked in a battle of wills as the War of 1812 rages around them.


While Conrad criticizes Charlotte for her interest in politics, lectures, and lack of domestic skills, she faults him for his insensitivity, rigid schedules, and harsh discipline. The two just can’t seem to get along. But could all their bickering be a sign of something more—an attraction between the two? Afraid of loving a man duty-bound to war, she ignores the growing affection between them.
Battle breaks out on Lake Erie. As U.S. Naval officers, Conrad and his brother attend their posts. Charlotte turns to fervent prayer and wills her faith to grow strong as she learns to wait upon the Lord. When neither returns, Charlotte fears the worst. 

"Taylor channels Jane Austen as Conrad's and Charlotte's bickering fuels their attraction to each other, in a manner reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Charlotte struggles with trusting the man who left her for the sea, and Conrad fights to show his affection without further alienating the woman he loves."  Publishers Weekly

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning author of inspirational fiction set in historical Europe & the Carolinas. She provides keynotes and presentations on the publishing industry, the craft of writing, building an author platform & digital marketing.

Both her debut novel, Highland Blessings and Highland Sanctuary, received a 4 1/2 star review from RT Book Reviews. Highland Blessings won the Holt Medallion Award for Best First Book and she has had reviews appear in USA Today, Publisher's Weekly & the Library Journal. Jennifer's work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, RT Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Communications/Journalism. When she isn't writing, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, visiting historical sites, parasailing, horseback riding, cycling, long walks, genealogy and reading. 


Jennifer will be giving away one package of all 3 MacGregor Legacy novels, includes "For Love or Loyalty" book 1, "For Love or Country" book 2, "For Love or Liberty" book 3. 

~*~ 
Thanks so much to everyone for coming! My characters wouldn't likely know what shortbread is...but they'd invite you to try one of Dinah's famous honey cakes! And oh, would they have some traditions to tell you about, that they celebrate with the Church of Rome at their Italian villa...
A Soft Breath of Wind

A gift that has branded her for life

Zipporah is thirteen when the Spirit descends upon her, opening her eyes to a world beyond the physical goings-on of the villa outside Rome she has always called home. Within hours, she learns what serving the Lord can cost. Forever scarred after a vicious attack, she knows her call is to use this discernment to protect the Way. She knows she must serve the rest of her life at Tutelos, where the growing Roman church has congregated. She knows her lot is set.

Yet is it so wrong to wish that her master, the kind and handsome young Benjamin Visibullis, will eventually see her as something more than a sister in Christ?

Samuel Asinius, adoptive son of a wealthy Roman, has always called Benjamin brother. When their travels take them to Jerusalem for Passover, the last thing he expects is to cross paths with the woman who sold him into slavery as a child the mother he long ago purged from his heart. His sister, Dara, quickly catches Benjamin s eye, but Samuel suspects there is something dark at work.

When Dara, a fortune-teller seeking the will of a shadowy master determined to undermine the Way, comes into the path of Zipporah, a whirlwind descends upon them all.

Only the soft wind of the Spirit can heal their scars...with a love neither divination nor discernment could foresee. 


Roseanna is offering winner's choice of paperback or digital copy of A Soft Breath of Wind (US addresses only for paperback, but everyone is eligible for the digital).

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two small children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of 9 historical novels and novellas. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.



~*~
Kelly Marie Long's new releases are the novella "A Christmas on Ice Mountain" in  An Amish Christmas Quilt and The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain. Both are part of a series set in Pennsylvania. The story line in the series revolves around the natural marvel/phenomenon of Ice Mountain.  Amish Mennonite live there and some of their customs are different from other American Amish.

This novella collection is published by Zebra, a Kensington imprint. All of Kelly's books have been published by Christian publishing houses up until now and this is her first foray into the secular market.
The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain by Kelly Long


Here are the blurbs:


Like most Mountain Amish girls, Mary King has always dreamed of her wedding day. But she never imagined that a sudden, irresistible kiss would result in marriage to the handsome Englischer professor studying her unique community. Or that doing the truly honorable thing means keeping their relationship chaste so both she and Dr. Jude Lyons can someday go their separate ways.
But when Mary accompanies her husband-in-name-only to Atlanta to meet his wealthy, overbearing family, she's tempted more than ever by Jude's kindness, humor--and vulnerability. And when a wrenching misunderstanding causes her to return heartbroken to her remote Appalachian home, she's certain she's lost the real love they have found...and the shared future she's come to want so much. But a crisis of more than faith will work surprising miracles--and show Mary that love is strong enough to make the impossible come true.


A Christmas On Ice Mountain
By Kelly Long


Matthew Beider and Laurel Lapp's secret wish to marry is a gift their feuding fathers definitely won't accept. And trying to settle their dats' long-standing quarrel is making their holiday anything but merry. Can rediscovering the joys and friendships of Christmas past finally turn their families' futures bright?



Bio:
Kelly Long is an award winning multi-published best selling Christian fiction author.  She is giving away a copy of the Christmas book An Amish Christmas Quilt, which contains her novella.



Do you have any family traditions that come from your family heritage? What are they?


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Old Fort Niagara's Trading Post by Cynthia Howerter

As part of the research for the colonial historical novel I’m writing, I recently visited Old Fort Niagara near Youngstown, New York where the mouth of the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario.

Old Fort Niagara

 In 1726, the French military force in North America desired to build a fortification on this strategic site in order to control who traveled on the Niagara River. However, the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy owned this land and strenuously objected to the building of a fort. In order to appease the Iroquois and still meet their own military objective, the French purposely built the main building of the fortification to look like nothing more than a large residence. They named it the “French Castle.”

The French Castle at Old Fort Niagara

Eager to retain the Iroquois’s loyalty, the French shrewdly outfitted a room on the castle’s first floor as a trading post and stocked it with goods that the Indians desired to purchase. Cognizant of Europe’s insatiable desire for furs—especially beaver pelts that were used to make hats—the French encouraged the Indians to trade the furs they trapped for European goods. As would any woman who enjoys shopping, I was eager to spend some time in the French Castle’s trading post. Come with me as we take a look at some of the items that induced the Iroquois to part with their furs.


Bundles of imported wool trade blankets
Bales of luxurious wool trade blankets were shipped from France to Old Fort Niagara. Before the Native Americans were able to purchase blankets, they used furs for warmth on a cold night. Notice the small keg containing trade tomahawks in the lower left corner which not only provided the owner with a sharp edge, but a pipe for smoking tobacco as well.


An iron trap amidst colorful fabrics
Hanging between bolts of colorful wool fabric is a metal trap used in hunting. Because Native Americans were unable to produce iron, these traps were a popular and fast-selling item, helping them acquire more furs for trading. Knives and trade beads are displayed on the bottom shelf.



Guns, snowshoes, kegs of cider, plates, iron cooking kettles, kegs of gunpowder, and silver jewelry enticed the buyer to part with his furs or money.









Once the French learned what items were important to Native Americans, they imported large quantities from Europe. Because the Indians loved jewelry, the trading post offered a large selection of silver necklaces, pendants, and glass trade beads.





Note the animal pelts on the counter and the canoe and paddles hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps someone needed a canoe but didn’t have time to construct one.







A customer has recently traded fox pelts for goods.










Purchased furs were bundled and tied with cording …

… or wrapped in canvas and sent to France where they were made into garments.




The man who ran the French Castle’s trading post not only slept in the store—perhaps to make certain his wares didn’t disappear during the night …








… he also cooked his meals in the trading post’s fireplace.










I’m glad you were able to join me on this tour of Old Fort Niagara’s trading post. Did you see anything that you'd like to purchase? I must admit that I loved the well-made silver jewelry imported from France. Because there’s so much more to see at the fort, I’ll return there on a later post.

A very special thank you to our wonderful Old Fort Niagara tour guide, Jim Watz, who graciously answered our many questions and to Robert Emerson, the Executive Director of Old Fort Niagara, who met privately with my husband and me and provided valuable historical details, and to Hawk, a Seneca Indian employed at the fort who taught us about muskets and rifles. Visit Old Fort Niagara’s website: www.oldfortniagara.org 

All Photographs ©2014 Cynthia Howerter


Award-winning author Cynthia Howerter loves using her training in education, research, writing, and speaking to teach and inspire others about a time in America that was anything but boring. A member of the Daughters of the American revolution (DAR), Cynthia believes history should be alive and personal.