Julie Lence's Blog, page 2
September 4, 2024
Ouray, Colorado
On Colorado’s western slope lies the small town of Ouray. Most John Wayne buffs know Ouray and it’s surrounding areas are where his movie, True Git, was filmed. On Ouray’s main street is The Outlaw, a small steakhouse the Duke frequented while filming the movie. He gifted The Outlaw the hat he wore in the movie and the owners proudly keep it on display above the bar.
A handful of miles north of Ouray is Ridgeway. This small town is home to a few more scenes from the movie and The True Grit Café, another eatery the Duke frequented. Inside The True Grit, some of the walls are lined with John Wayne and True Grit movie memorabilia. Outside of Ridgeway, the highway snakes west as it climbs in elevation, leading to the Last Dollar Ranch; a sprawling working ranch with spectacular views. Not too far past The Last Dollar Ranch is the home featured in the opening and closing scenes of True Grit (and is for sale), and past that, one can turn off the main road onto a narrow trail through and around Aspen trees that leads to the famed ski resort of Telluride, Colorado. (Hubby and I did this drive in the fall and it’s beautiful! The scenery is breathtaking, and there’s something so peaceful and humbling about stopping beneath a grove, rolling down a window and just listening to the soft rustle of leaves.)
Though this area is perfect for John Wayne buffs (myself included), Ouray boasts other claims to fame. Most notable are the hot springs at the north end of town and the Million Dollar Highway at the southern end. The famed highway is paved and takes travelers over 14,000+ ft mountains that lead to Silverton and Durango. Due to its sharp switchbacks, The Million Dollar Highway is considered one of the most dangerous roads in America and one the most scenic. Located in the San Juan mountains, and with several creeks in and around town, Ouray sits at 7,800 ft in a mountain valley; the jagged rock formations mountains on either side reaching 12,000 to 13,000 ft high. Incorporated as a city on October 2, 1876, just 2 months after Colorado became a state, Ouray carries the nickname Switzerland of America.
Gold was discovered in the area in the 1870’s, hence the formation of Ouray, Silverton, Telluride and nearby Lake City as mining communities. Once not too popular in tourism, today, these four towns are crowded with people who enjoy hiking, camping, 4-wheeling and sight-seeing, and with several mountain ranges, trails and ghost towns, there is a lot to see in and around Ouray.
A handful of miles north of Ouray is Ridgeway. This small town is home to a few more scenes from the movie and The True Grit Café, another eatery the Duke frequented. Inside The True Grit, some of the walls are lined with John Wayne and True Grit movie memorabilia. Outside of Ridgeway, the highway snakes west as it climbs in elevation, leading to the Last Dollar Ranch; a sprawling working ranch with spectacular views. Not too far past The Last Dollar Ranch is the home featured in the opening and closing scenes of True Grit (and is for sale), and past that, one can turn off the main road onto a narrow trail through and around Aspen trees that leads to the famed ski resort of Telluride, Colorado. (Hubby and I did this drive in the fall and it’s beautiful! The scenery is breathtaking, and there’s something so peaceful and humbling about stopping beneath a grove, rolling down a window and just listening to the soft rustle of leaves.)
Though this area is perfect for John Wayne buffs (myself included), Ouray boasts other claims to fame. Most notable are the hot springs at the north end of town and the Million Dollar Highway at the southern end. The famed highway is paved and takes travelers over 14,000+ ft mountains that lead to Silverton and Durango. Due to its sharp switchbacks, The Million Dollar Highway is considered one of the most dangerous roads in America and one the most scenic. Located in the San Juan mountains, and with several creeks in and around town, Ouray sits at 7,800 ft in a mountain valley; the jagged rock formations mountains on either side reaching 12,000 to 13,000 ft high. Incorporated as a city on October 2, 1876, just 2 months after Colorado became a state, Ouray carries the nickname Switzerland of America.
Gold was discovered in the area in the 1870’s, hence the formation of Ouray, Silverton, Telluride and nearby Lake City as mining communities. Once not too popular in tourism, today, these four towns are crowded with people who enjoy hiking, camping, 4-wheeling and sight-seeing, and with several mountain ranges, trails and ghost towns, there is a lot to see in and around Ouray.
July 3, 2024
Another Dose of those Hilarious Housekeeping Tips
Tomorrow is July 4th, and as most of us are spending today either preparing for tomorrow’s backyard grilling or heading out of town for our nation’s celebration, I thought I’d keep this blog simple and fun. And what better way to do that than with some housekeeping tips of days of old.
--Keep plenty of matches in every room to keep one from having to search the entire house for a match. It’s considered a good idea to give one daughter the job of filling the matchboxes every day.
--Keep nothing in your house that you believe is not useful or beautiful. Wastefulness is proof of a lack of brain function and culture.
--If possible, a family bedroom should be on the 1st floor of the house. The room should be plain and warm, with simple and scanty furniture. Items in luxury homes such as dainty toilette cushions and knickknacks are of no use.
--Using an old-fashioned feather duster on tapestry, picture frames and curtains only serves to move dust from one place to another. To dust proficiently, spread out a cloth and gather dust into it, folding the cloth as you work. Shake cloth out the window.
--To rid the home of moths, wash the floors with common lamp-oil. The smell is horrible, but will be gone a few days and so will the moths. Another trick, when the floor is dry, spread cayenne pepper into the cracks. To keep moths from getting beneath carpets, grind black pepper and mix with camphor gum, then spread under edges of carpet.
--When doing laundry in the middle of winter, set the clothes pin bag in a kettle of boiling water. The hot clothes pins will keep your hands warm when hanging the clothes.
And you thought modern day housekeeping was hard, lol!
Courtesy: And You Think you've Got it Bad... By: Barbara Fairchild Gramm
--Keep plenty of matches in every room to keep one from having to search the entire house for a match. It’s considered a good idea to give one daughter the job of filling the matchboxes every day.
--Keep nothing in your house that you believe is not useful or beautiful. Wastefulness is proof of a lack of brain function and culture.
--If possible, a family bedroom should be on the 1st floor of the house. The room should be plain and warm, with simple and scanty furniture. Items in luxury homes such as dainty toilette cushions and knickknacks are of no use.
--Using an old-fashioned feather duster on tapestry, picture frames and curtains only serves to move dust from one place to another. To dust proficiently, spread out a cloth and gather dust into it, folding the cloth as you work. Shake cloth out the window.
--To rid the home of moths, wash the floors with common lamp-oil. The smell is horrible, but will be gone a few days and so will the moths. Another trick, when the floor is dry, spread cayenne pepper into the cracks. To keep moths from getting beneath carpets, grind black pepper and mix with camphor gum, then spread under edges of carpet.
--When doing laundry in the middle of winter, set the clothes pin bag in a kettle of boiling water. The hot clothes pins will keep your hands warm when hanging the clothes.
And you thought modern day housekeeping was hard, lol!
Courtesy: And You Think you've Got it Bad... By: Barbara Fairchild Gramm
June 5, 2024
Con-Man & Gambler Jefferson R. ‘Soapy’ Smith
Jefferson R. Smith was born into a wealthy Georgia family in 1860. By the end of the Civil War, his family was in financial ruin and moved to Texas, where Jefferson received a good education, due in part to his father’s position as a lawyer, and became an eloquent speaker. But proficient in speech didn’t net him a job, so he hired on with a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas. He made good money, but while in Abilene, Jefferson’s attention was snagged by a con man and the ‘what walnut shell is the pea hidden beneath?’ game. Jefferson lost the money he made on the cattle drive, and found his calling in life as a gambler and con man.
Having the gift of gab, he spent the next decade roaming the west and perfecting his skills, determined to be the best poker player. He made his way to Leadville, Colorado in 1885 and met up with Old Man Taylor, whose reputation pegged him the King of the Shell Game. The two joined forces and set up a con involving bars of soap. Taylor would blend in with the crowd while Jefferson, using a tripod and suitcase, would set out several bars of soap and invite people to play a game, hooking their interest with the line, ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness, friends, so step right up and watch me very carefully’. Players were to find the greenbacks he’d hidden within the bars of soap. Taylor would volunteer to be the first plyer and find the $100 bill, giving others the incentive to try their luck, but most only 5 cents, while Jefferson and Taylor raked in the cash, though Jefferson didn’t always keep the money for himself. He gave substantially to churches, widows, the poor, and often paid for the funerals of the girls from the red-light district, and never would he con the townsfolk. His games were strictly for unsuspecting tourists.
Jefferson eventually left Leadville for Denver, where he added singing and joke telling to his routine. A complaint was filed against him and the sheriff, when filling out the paperwork, couldn’t remember Jefferson’s name but remembered the complaint had something to do with soap, so he wrote Soapy Smith and the nickname ‘Soapy’ stuck.
Soapy went on to become a successful gambler in Denver and opened his own saloon, Tivoli Saloon and Gambling Hall, with the Latin inscription Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware) above the door. He also formed a gang and a bond with the police department, which benefited both sides. Soapy helped the poor, especially at Thanksgiving by giving out turkeys so none were stolen, and by donating to churches. He even rescued an innocent girl from a detective agency trying to force a confession from her. Eventually, he learned of the silver boom in Creede, Colorado and left Denver for more riches.
In Creede, he formed another gang and put into motion taking control of the town, much to the dislike of rival Bob Ford, better known as the man who killed Jesse James. Ford wanted in on the controlling of Creede, and a third party arranged a meeting between them before bloodshed broke out. The two agreed to keep out of each other’s way, but Soapy went on to build the New Orleans Club with his longtime pal, Joe Simmons. From there, Soapy and his gang did take control of Creede, with Soapy still helping the poor. But the townsfolk tired of Soapy’s control and he went back to Denver and opened a ticket office, where he advertised tickets to Chicago for $5. Another scam, as when people tried to buy these tickets, he told them they were only sold on certain days, of which the present day was not one of them. With Colorado’s governor looking to clean up the lawlessness in Denver, he called in the militia to run Soapy out of town, but Soapy hunkered down in city hall with dynamite, threatening to bomb the building if the militia fired at him. Federal troops from Fort Logan were brought in to keep the peace. The governor withdrew the militia and finally ran Soapy out of town.
Making his way to Mexico, Soapy joined forces with Mexican president, Porfirio Diaz and set up other scams. But when he tried to convince Diaz that Mexico needed a foreign legion and set up a recruiting office for a hefty price, his scam was discovered and the deal broken.
1897 found Soapy heading to Skagway, Alaska when news of the Gold Rush broke. There he built another saloon/casino under the name Jeff’s Place, assembled another gang and used his winnings to open a phony telegraph office; the wires were under water and folks ‘often’ received word from back home to send money, of which Soapy kept. Eventually he stole $3,000 from a miner and a vigilante group demanded he pay it back. Hearing about the meeting the vigilantes were holding on the docks, Soapy armed himself and went, only to meet up with Frank Reid, a foe of Soapy’s. Soapy struck Reid with the butt of his rifle. Reid fired at Soapy and missed. The two got into a scuffle, with guns firing again. Soapy was killed and Reid died almost 2 weeks later from his injuries.
Soapy is buried on the outskirts of Skagway’s cemetery. A plain marker gives the dates of his birth and death. He was 38 and left behind an estate of $250.
Having the gift of gab, he spent the next decade roaming the west and perfecting his skills, determined to be the best poker player. He made his way to Leadville, Colorado in 1885 and met up with Old Man Taylor, whose reputation pegged him the King of the Shell Game. The two joined forces and set up a con involving bars of soap. Taylor would blend in with the crowd while Jefferson, using a tripod and suitcase, would set out several bars of soap and invite people to play a game, hooking their interest with the line, ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness, friends, so step right up and watch me very carefully’. Players were to find the greenbacks he’d hidden within the bars of soap. Taylor would volunteer to be the first plyer and find the $100 bill, giving others the incentive to try their luck, but most only 5 cents, while Jefferson and Taylor raked in the cash, though Jefferson didn’t always keep the money for himself. He gave substantially to churches, widows, the poor, and often paid for the funerals of the girls from the red-light district, and never would he con the townsfolk. His games were strictly for unsuspecting tourists.
Jefferson eventually left Leadville for Denver, where he added singing and joke telling to his routine. A complaint was filed against him and the sheriff, when filling out the paperwork, couldn’t remember Jefferson’s name but remembered the complaint had something to do with soap, so he wrote Soapy Smith and the nickname ‘Soapy’ stuck.
Soapy went on to become a successful gambler in Denver and opened his own saloon, Tivoli Saloon and Gambling Hall, with the Latin inscription Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware) above the door. He also formed a gang and a bond with the police department, which benefited both sides. Soapy helped the poor, especially at Thanksgiving by giving out turkeys so none were stolen, and by donating to churches. He even rescued an innocent girl from a detective agency trying to force a confession from her. Eventually, he learned of the silver boom in Creede, Colorado and left Denver for more riches.
In Creede, he formed another gang and put into motion taking control of the town, much to the dislike of rival Bob Ford, better known as the man who killed Jesse James. Ford wanted in on the controlling of Creede, and a third party arranged a meeting between them before bloodshed broke out. The two agreed to keep out of each other’s way, but Soapy went on to build the New Orleans Club with his longtime pal, Joe Simmons. From there, Soapy and his gang did take control of Creede, with Soapy still helping the poor. But the townsfolk tired of Soapy’s control and he went back to Denver and opened a ticket office, where he advertised tickets to Chicago for $5. Another scam, as when people tried to buy these tickets, he told them they were only sold on certain days, of which the present day was not one of them. With Colorado’s governor looking to clean up the lawlessness in Denver, he called in the militia to run Soapy out of town, but Soapy hunkered down in city hall with dynamite, threatening to bomb the building if the militia fired at him. Federal troops from Fort Logan were brought in to keep the peace. The governor withdrew the militia and finally ran Soapy out of town.
Making his way to Mexico, Soapy joined forces with Mexican president, Porfirio Diaz and set up other scams. But when he tried to convince Diaz that Mexico needed a foreign legion and set up a recruiting office for a hefty price, his scam was discovered and the deal broken.
1897 found Soapy heading to Skagway, Alaska when news of the Gold Rush broke. There he built another saloon/casino under the name Jeff’s Place, assembled another gang and used his winnings to open a phony telegraph office; the wires were under water and folks ‘often’ received word from back home to send money, of which Soapy kept. Eventually he stole $3,000 from a miner and a vigilante group demanded he pay it back. Hearing about the meeting the vigilantes were holding on the docks, Soapy armed himself and went, only to meet up with Frank Reid, a foe of Soapy’s. Soapy struck Reid with the butt of his rifle. Reid fired at Soapy and missed. The two got into a scuffle, with guns firing again. Soapy was killed and Reid died almost 2 weeks later from his injuries.
Soapy is buried on the outskirts of Skagway’s cemetery. A plain marker gives the dates of his birth and death. He was 38 and left behind an estate of $250.
May 1, 2024
Early Furniture Manufacturers & Distributers in the U.S.
Situated along the Chadokoin River in the heart of Pine tree country, Jamestown is credited as the 1st settlement in the United States. As such, people needed food, water and shelter to survive in a new land. They also needed chairs to sit on, beds to sleep in, and cabinets to store food and housewares. In 1804, Edward Work and Thomas R Kennedy built a sawmill near the settlement. James Prendergast built one in 1810, and others popped up by 1816, producing the furniture needed for everyday life. Royal Keyes is credited with opening the 1st cabinet making shop. In 1820, he partnered with William Breed, who bout out Keyes’ share in and converted the business from a hand labor to a water-powered factory. Additional sawmills opened around the settlement and by 1840, Jamestown was shipping roughly forty million board feet of timber a year to other settlements in the Ohio Valley, earning an income of $250,000 and depleting the pine trees.
Out in western New York, the Lake Erie area was heavily populated by pine, chestnut, walnut, cherry, oak and other trees that were perfect for sturdy furniture. Several creeks crossed through the area, providing the power needed for early factories but not the means to transport boards to Jamestown. Until the railroad came along, these factories provided for settlements in northern Ohio and Central New York, leaving Jamestown tied to western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley. But southwest of the Lake Erie area is Cincinnati, the 5th largest city in the United Staes at that time, and the largest in the west.
Situated along the Ohio River, Cincinnati was a major port for people making their way west. Steamboats also brought goods from the east to the city and to New Orleans, paving the way for Cincinnati to boom economically. 1815 saw the city expanding their trade, to include distributing chairs and other furniture to the west. Forests around the city were full, and tradesman from worldwide came to build the furniture that was in demand. Unfortunately, the Great Flood of 1832 wiped out much of Cincinnati’s furniture making business. Tools and paint were washed away, and then, in 1834, the Asian Cholera added to the destruction of the city’s economy. Steamboat operators and owners were weary of coming to the city for fear of catching the disease and bypassed Cincinnati, leaving more furniture makers to close shop and go into a different trade.
In 1833, settlers searching for place to call home crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa onto newly opened wilderness land purchased from the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians. The area was densely populated with Cedar, Oak, and Walnut trees, and with the arrival of the settlers, wagons loaded with sawmill machinery soon followed. Within ten years, people had sturdy homes and furniture.
Most of the people looking to make their way further west traveled in covered wagons that were packed tight with furniture, food staples, blankets and clothes. Eventually, the railroad paved the way to make traveling and transporting furniture and other big items, such as stoves, to the old west easier. Today, many towns have their own furniture stores, with a manufacturer nearby. Others rely on tractor trailers to supply their businesses with the comfy couches and beds we enjoy.
Out in western New York, the Lake Erie area was heavily populated by pine, chestnut, walnut, cherry, oak and other trees that were perfect for sturdy furniture. Several creeks crossed through the area, providing the power needed for early factories but not the means to transport boards to Jamestown. Until the railroad came along, these factories provided for settlements in northern Ohio and Central New York, leaving Jamestown tied to western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley. But southwest of the Lake Erie area is Cincinnati, the 5th largest city in the United Staes at that time, and the largest in the west.
Situated along the Ohio River, Cincinnati was a major port for people making their way west. Steamboats also brought goods from the east to the city and to New Orleans, paving the way for Cincinnati to boom economically. 1815 saw the city expanding their trade, to include distributing chairs and other furniture to the west. Forests around the city were full, and tradesman from worldwide came to build the furniture that was in demand. Unfortunately, the Great Flood of 1832 wiped out much of Cincinnati’s furniture making business. Tools and paint were washed away, and then, in 1834, the Asian Cholera added to the destruction of the city’s economy. Steamboat operators and owners were weary of coming to the city for fear of catching the disease and bypassed Cincinnati, leaving more furniture makers to close shop and go into a different trade.
In 1833, settlers searching for place to call home crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa onto newly opened wilderness land purchased from the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians. The area was densely populated with Cedar, Oak, and Walnut trees, and with the arrival of the settlers, wagons loaded with sawmill machinery soon followed. Within ten years, people had sturdy homes and furniture.
Most of the people looking to make their way further west traveled in covered wagons that were packed tight with furniture, food staples, blankets and clothes. Eventually, the railroad paved the way to make traveling and transporting furniture and other big items, such as stoves, to the old west easier. Today, many towns have their own furniture stores, with a manufacturer nearby. Others rely on tractor trailers to supply their businesses with the comfy couches and beds we enjoy.
April 3, 2024
Interview with Creel Weston
Last month I sat down and talked with Racine Weston from No Luck At All. This month, I’m talking with her husband, and hero, Creel Weston, in the privacy of his home.
Hello, Creel. Thank you for chatting with me today. What did can you tell us about Racine? What did you think when you 1st met her?
Racine’s father is a doctor, and my professor. Every year he has a fancy supper for his interns. I honestly didn’t want to attend, thought to pick up more work at the docks. But Dr. Somerfield insisted I join him and the other interns, so I went… and I thank God that I did. Racine was sitting beside her mother staring at the floor. Her father introduced us and when she lifted her chin, I thought I was gonna pass out. With her auburn hair and pale blue eyes, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
What was your 2nd thought?
That I wasn’t leaving Boston without her. Somehow, some way, she was going to marry me.
We know you and she wed before you left Boston, but Racine said you changed the night of your wedding. Why?
Before I proposed to Racine, her father blackmailed me. He said if I didn’t marry her, I wouldn’t graduate. At the time, he didn’t know I was already looking at rings and planning to propose to Racine. She made my blood pound in ways no woman ever had, but Somerfield wouldn’t give me a chance to explain. He said Racine and I were to remain in Boston, where I’d go into practice with him and live in some grand house, that this was what Racine wanted. All this time I thought her sweet and innocent, not selfish and conniving.
I married her hoping to find some common ground with her, because fool that I am, I still loved her. Even thought that maybe in time she’d forget her spoiled ways and love me for who I am and not for who she wanted me to be, but when I intercepted her return ticket to Boston, I was sure she’d never warm up to my modest home on a ranch, or support the clinic I planned to open. The only way to find out for sure was to ask her.
Did you?
I did.
What did she say?
(Grinning) You’ll have to read the story to find out…
No Luck At All is available only through Amazon and can be found here:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0064R6NVI
Don’t forget to check these other stories in the Weston Family Series, all sold through Amazon.
Luck of the Draw
Lady Luck
Bring Me Luck
Hello, Creel. Thank you for chatting with me today. What did can you tell us about Racine? What did you think when you 1st met her?
Racine’s father is a doctor, and my professor. Every year he has a fancy supper for his interns. I honestly didn’t want to attend, thought to pick up more work at the docks. But Dr. Somerfield insisted I join him and the other interns, so I went… and I thank God that I did. Racine was sitting beside her mother staring at the floor. Her father introduced us and when she lifted her chin, I thought I was gonna pass out. With her auburn hair and pale blue eyes, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
What was your 2nd thought?
That I wasn’t leaving Boston without her. Somehow, some way, she was going to marry me.
We know you and she wed before you left Boston, but Racine said you changed the night of your wedding. Why?
Before I proposed to Racine, her father blackmailed me. He said if I didn’t marry her, I wouldn’t graduate. At the time, he didn’t know I was already looking at rings and planning to propose to Racine. She made my blood pound in ways no woman ever had, but Somerfield wouldn’t give me a chance to explain. He said Racine and I were to remain in Boston, where I’d go into practice with him and live in some grand house, that this was what Racine wanted. All this time I thought her sweet and innocent, not selfish and conniving.
I married her hoping to find some common ground with her, because fool that I am, I still loved her. Even thought that maybe in time she’d forget her spoiled ways and love me for who I am and not for who she wanted me to be, but when I intercepted her return ticket to Boston, I was sure she’d never warm up to my modest home on a ranch, or support the clinic I planned to open. The only way to find out for sure was to ask her.
Did you?
I did.
What did she say?
(Grinning) You’ll have to read the story to find out…
No Luck At All is available only through Amazon and can be found here:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0064R6NVI
Don’t forget to check these other stories in the Weston Family Series, all sold through Amazon.
Luck of the Draw
Lady Luck
Bring Me Luck
February 7, 2024
Writing A Series
The first books I ever penned were contemporary romances, and are currently buried in a box in the basement. Though they had workable plots and a dashing hero, once each story was written, the excitement fizzled. Sure, I was proud I had actually written 2 stories from beginning to end, but something was missing. Something I couldn’t quite figure out. I felt the same in my home life. I’d look around at the contemporary décor on the walls and anxiety would bubble inside me because what I was looking at wasn’t what I wanted. It took time to deduce that a western flair was. Ever since I was young, I loved horses. And John Wayne. Moreso the women in his films. I liked their clothing, their hair, and the ranches and saloons where they lived.
At the time, I was living in New Jersey. The state along the Atlantic didn’t offer much in the way of cowboy décor, (that would come later when I moved to Colorado), but my admission helped to ease some of my home life anxiety. A typewriter and notebooks helped to ease the writing anxiety. With pen in hand and a good imagination, I was able to hit on a storyline involving a cowboy and a girl who had amnesia. The more I thought about the story and wrote in my notebooks, the more I began to take notes, to include the color of Royce and Paige’s hair and eyes, the ranch Royce owned, the town not too far from him. I branched out from there into other characters; Royce’s siblings, his father and mother and his backstory concerning his mother. Then came Paige’s background and family. And with it came the realization Royce’s brother and Paige’s sister needed their own story, so out came another notebook. Not just to detail Lucas and Missy’s descriptions and backgrounds, but Missy’s home. She lived in California and researching the Barbary Coast led to her residing on a ship that had been converted into a gambling hall. Plus, there were her girls, her maid and an evil banker requiring their own stories. And a ruthless outlaw. But I wasn’t done there. Royce had other siblings, and as you guessed it, I needed more notebooks.
Fast forward to the present, and I currently have notebooks and computer files for 3 series, to include 10 novels and 6 short stories. Some of those notebooks are combined, and all contain not only the main characters, but secondary characters to include descriptions and jobs. Two series’ notebooks contain hand-drawn layouts of towns. When developing the hero and heroine, I don’t ask many questions, such as their favorite book or color, but I dig deep. I start with the hero and where he is in his life when the story opens and work backward to his childhood. It’s how I discover what in his past brought him to the beginning of the story, what defined him to be untrusting, wanted by the law, or just needing to keep to himself. And then, I do the same for the heroine. And when the story is finished, I set the notebook aside, because I know when I begin the next book in the series, I’ll have to go back to it for something. Usually that something relates to a secondary character’s name, or his occupation. It isn’t until I’ve finished the series that I put the notebook(s) away. But they’re never too far from my hand. In all honesty, they are my heart and soul to my characters, to my writing and me.
At the time, I was living in New Jersey. The state along the Atlantic didn’t offer much in the way of cowboy décor, (that would come later when I moved to Colorado), but my admission helped to ease some of my home life anxiety. A typewriter and notebooks helped to ease the writing anxiety. With pen in hand and a good imagination, I was able to hit on a storyline involving a cowboy and a girl who had amnesia. The more I thought about the story and wrote in my notebooks, the more I began to take notes, to include the color of Royce and Paige’s hair and eyes, the ranch Royce owned, the town not too far from him. I branched out from there into other characters; Royce’s siblings, his father and mother and his backstory concerning his mother. Then came Paige’s background and family. And with it came the realization Royce’s brother and Paige’s sister needed their own story, so out came another notebook. Not just to detail Lucas and Missy’s descriptions and backgrounds, but Missy’s home. She lived in California and researching the Barbary Coast led to her residing on a ship that had been converted into a gambling hall. Plus, there were her girls, her maid and an evil banker requiring their own stories. And a ruthless outlaw. But I wasn’t done there. Royce had other siblings, and as you guessed it, I needed more notebooks.
Fast forward to the present, and I currently have notebooks and computer files for 3 series, to include 10 novels and 6 short stories. Some of those notebooks are combined, and all contain not only the main characters, but secondary characters to include descriptions and jobs. Two series’ notebooks contain hand-drawn layouts of towns. When developing the hero and heroine, I don’t ask many questions, such as their favorite book or color, but I dig deep. I start with the hero and where he is in his life when the story opens and work backward to his childhood. It’s how I discover what in his past brought him to the beginning of the story, what defined him to be untrusting, wanted by the law, or just needing to keep to himself. And then, I do the same for the heroine. And when the story is finished, I set the notebook aside, because I know when I begin the next book in the series, I’ll have to go back to it for something. Usually that something relates to a secondary character’s name, or his occupation. It isn’t until I’ve finished the series that I put the notebook(s) away. But they’re never too far from my hand. In all honesty, they are my heart and soul to my characters, to my writing and me.
December 6, 2023
The Christmas Tree Ornament
Many of today’s Christmas tree ornaments are made from blown glass. The process to create blown glass originated in the 12th century in the Thuringia region of Germany. Within that region was Lauscha, a small town located in a river valley that was rich in the elements needed to produce blown glass; timber for firing the glass ovens and sand. Lauscha began creating blown glass ornaments in the later part of the 16th century, but before that the area was known to create drinking glasses, glass bowls and glass beads. They even created glass eyes in 1835.
Christoph Muller and Hans Greiner are credited with establishing Lauscha’s glass production circa 1597. Fast forward to 1847 when Greiner’s descendent, also named Hans Greiner, began creating glass-blown ornaments in the shape of fruits and nuts. These fruit-shaped ornaments were created by a unique process that involved using molds, with the inside of the ornament appearing silvery. The process of making the inside look silvery began by using mercury or lead. Later special compounds of silver nitrate and sugar water were used. Greiner and his sons and grandsons continued manufacturing glass blown Christmas tree ornaments, often called baubles, and even created glass marbles.
Greiner’s baubles were soon exported to parts of Europe. By the 1870’s, they were being exported to Britain, which had become very popular in the region after Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree was shown in the London paper circa 1846. F.W. Woolworth, the dime store millionaire from the United States, happened upon the baubles when he visited Germany and quickly began importing them to the U.S., selling more than $25 million worth of the baubles in the 1890’s. Following Greiner and the town of Lauscha’s success, other countries such as Japan began manufacturing and selling their own glass ornaments. Over the years, the bauble Christmas tree ornament has become very popular, paving the way for Hallmark to introduce their Keepsake Ornaments line in 1973. Today’s ornaments are manufactured in several different ways. Some are woven, some are still blown glass, and others are molded from porcelain or metal, all created to last for many years.
Christoph Muller and Hans Greiner are credited with establishing Lauscha’s glass production circa 1597. Fast forward to 1847 when Greiner’s descendent, also named Hans Greiner, began creating glass-blown ornaments in the shape of fruits and nuts. These fruit-shaped ornaments were created by a unique process that involved using molds, with the inside of the ornament appearing silvery. The process of making the inside look silvery began by using mercury or lead. Later special compounds of silver nitrate and sugar water were used. Greiner and his sons and grandsons continued manufacturing glass blown Christmas tree ornaments, often called baubles, and even created glass marbles.
Greiner’s baubles were soon exported to parts of Europe. By the 1870’s, they were being exported to Britain, which had become very popular in the region after Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree was shown in the London paper circa 1846. F.W. Woolworth, the dime store millionaire from the United States, happened upon the baubles when he visited Germany and quickly began importing them to the U.S., selling more than $25 million worth of the baubles in the 1890’s. Following Greiner and the town of Lauscha’s success, other countries such as Japan began manufacturing and selling their own glass ornaments. Over the years, the bauble Christmas tree ornament has become very popular, paving the way for Hallmark to introduce their Keepsake Ornaments line in 1973. Today’s ornaments are manufactured in several different ways. Some are woven, some are still blown glass, and others are molded from porcelain or metal, all created to last for many years.
November 1, 2023
Embracing that Cowboy Slang
Cowboys are a rare breed. They work hard, live by a strict moral code, and love fiercely. They also have their own jargon. Since I haven’t shared some of that jargon in a long spell, today I’m taking you back to some popular words and phrases of the old west. (Taken from Western Words by Ramon F Adams)
All horns and rattles- said of one displaying a fit of temper
Body Spin- trick roping term. Spinning a wide loop over the head down around the body.
Case of slow- the loser in a gun fight
Curly wolf- a tough character
Fizzy- a range horse with a bushy tail
Grass-bellied with spot cash- rich, to have plenty
Heating his axles- a person running swiftly on foot
Jewelry chest- an outside box on the front of the chuck wagon for storing hobbles, extra cartridges, and anything else needed in a hurry in case of an emergency
Ketch hand- one whose duty it is to rope calves for branding
Last year’s bronc- a horse in his 2nd season of work
Made a nine in his tail- a man or a beast leaving in a hurry
Phildoodle- a drugstore cowboy. One who imitates the cowboy in dress and speech
Piggin’ string- a short rope used for hog-tying
Ride herd on a woman- one courting a woman
Sachet kitten- a skunk
Skin string- slang for a rawhide rope
Taking leather- grabbing the saddle horn when riding a bucking horse
Techy as a teased snake- one in bad humor, or one easy to anger
Wagon manners- term to describe good behavior
Wreck pan- receptacle in a cow camp for dirty dishes
All horns and rattles- said of one displaying a fit of temper
Body Spin- trick roping term. Spinning a wide loop over the head down around the body.
Case of slow- the loser in a gun fight
Curly wolf- a tough character
Fizzy- a range horse with a bushy tail
Grass-bellied with spot cash- rich, to have plenty
Heating his axles- a person running swiftly on foot
Jewelry chest- an outside box on the front of the chuck wagon for storing hobbles, extra cartridges, and anything else needed in a hurry in case of an emergency
Ketch hand- one whose duty it is to rope calves for branding
Last year’s bronc- a horse in his 2nd season of work
Made a nine in his tail- a man or a beast leaving in a hurry
Phildoodle- a drugstore cowboy. One who imitates the cowboy in dress and speech
Piggin’ string- a short rope used for hog-tying
Ride herd on a woman- one courting a woman
Sachet kitten- a skunk
Skin string- slang for a rawhide rope
Taking leather- grabbing the saddle horn when riding a bucking horse
Techy as a teased snake- one in bad humor, or one easy to anger
Wagon manners- term to describe good behavior
Wreck pan- receptacle in a cow camp for dirty dishes
October 4, 2023
Delicious Fall Soups
Crisp mornings, cool evenings, leaves changing colors; Autumn is my favorite season. Early September, I decorate my home with scarecrows and pumpkins and patiently wait for the hot days of summer to die off so I can turn off the A/C and open the windows and let the fresh air fill the house. Early September, I’m also thinking about abandoning my summer menu for my winter menu, and on the winter menu is soup. My son will gag and probably try to convince you soup is the work of an evil person, but hubby and I love all different soups, so this month, I’m sharing some fall soup recipes.
Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
1 small pumpkin, approx. 2 lbs, scrubbed clean
1 small onion
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
4 cups vegetable broth
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp pepper
Directions:
Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds with edge of a spoon. Cut into 2-inch chunks, roughly the same size.
Add pumpkin, onion, and potatoes to the slow cooker, along with vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
After the soup is cooked, carefully use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. To avoid splatters, partially cover the crockpot with a clean towel while you process the soup.
Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Adjust seasonings, and serve.
Butternut Squash & White Bean Soup
Ingredients:
1 large butternut squash
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1/2 cup couscous
1/4 cup roasted pistachios, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 scallion, sliced
Directions:
Cut neck off butternut squash (reserve base for another use). Peel and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in nonstick skillet on medium. Add the squash and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in Dutch oven on medium. Add onion and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute.
Add broth, thyme and butternut squash and bring to a boil. Using a fork, mash white beans and add to soup along with chickpeas.
Cook couscous as label directs; fluff with fork and fold in pistachios, apricots, cilantro and scallion. Serve soup topped with couscous mixture.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, smashed
Kosher salt
Pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 12-ounce jars roasted red peppers, drained and coarsely chopped
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
1 32-ounce container low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
Toasted sliced almonds, sliced scallions and chopped cilantro, for serving
Directions:
Heat large Dutch oven on medium. Add oil, then onion and garlic; season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
Uncover, stir in coriander and cook 1 minute. Add red peppers, chickpeas and broth; cover and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in vinegar.
Using immersion blender (or standard blender in batches), puree soup until very smooth. Serve topped with almonds, scallions, and cilantro if desired.
All recipes can be found here:
https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/fo...
https:// https://www.rachelcooks.com/crockpot-...
Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
1 small pumpkin, approx. 2 lbs, scrubbed clean
1 small onion
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
4 cups vegetable broth
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp pepper
Directions:
Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds with edge of a spoon. Cut into 2-inch chunks, roughly the same size.
Add pumpkin, onion, and potatoes to the slow cooker, along with vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
After the soup is cooked, carefully use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. To avoid splatters, partially cover the crockpot with a clean towel while you process the soup.
Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Adjust seasonings, and serve.
Butternut Squash & White Bean Soup
Ingredients:
1 large butternut squash
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1/2 cup couscous
1/4 cup roasted pistachios, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 scallion, sliced
Directions:
Cut neck off butternut squash (reserve base for another use). Peel and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in nonstick skillet on medium. Add the squash and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in Dutch oven on medium. Add onion and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute.
Add broth, thyme and butternut squash and bring to a boil. Using a fork, mash white beans and add to soup along with chickpeas.
Cook couscous as label directs; fluff with fork and fold in pistachios, apricots, cilantro and scallion. Serve soup topped with couscous mixture.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, smashed
Kosher salt
Pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 12-ounce jars roasted red peppers, drained and coarsely chopped
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
1 32-ounce container low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
Toasted sliced almonds, sliced scallions and chopped cilantro, for serving
Directions:
Heat large Dutch oven on medium. Add oil, then onion and garlic; season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
Uncover, stir in coriander and cook 1 minute. Add red peppers, chickpeas and broth; cover and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in vinegar.
Using immersion blender (or standard blender in batches), puree soup until very smooth. Serve topped with almonds, scallions, and cilantro if desired.
All recipes can be found here:
https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/fo...
https:// https://www.rachelcooks.com/crockpot-...
September 6, 2023
Writing An Outlaw Hero
I began my career of writing western romance many years ago. The first book I wrote (and had published) was Luck of the Draw. The heroine in the story is Paige. Throughout the story, Paige believes her sister is dead, but has the shock of her life when Missy shows up on her doorstep. Very much alive, Missy has spent two summers searching for Paige, and as I developed Missy’s character, I realized that she needed help finding Paige, and who better to help her than an outlaw. Buck Grayson was so much fun to write, because in this story, and again when he appears in Lady Luck, unlike the hero, he is free to act and speak in the unruly and crude manner most of us depict an outlaw. As Lady Luck came to an end, I had an inkling in the back of my mind that Buck needed his own story. It wasn’t until a few years later when I decided to create a new series that I went back to Buck, but as I honed in on the fictional town of Revolving Point that I created in Luck of the Draw, I kept wondering if Buck was hero material.
In Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck, Buck is hard and unyielding. He’s temperamental, deadly accurate with a gun, and speaks without thinking, not caring who he offends. He trusts no one. Even worse, he likes no one… except Missy… and Suzanna, one of the girls who works for Missy. Aha! Somewhere deep inside, Buck did have heart and soul. The all-important questions I had to deduce is why did Buck abandon the good inside of him, and could Suzanna soften him enough to make readers warm up to him?
As in most movies, television shows, and books, there’s a reason why the villain is cold-hearted. Buck was no exception, so I sat down and slowly started to unravel him by asking him easy questions; where did you grow up? Do you have siblings? Do you dress in black because that’s your favorite color? As he answered, he began to open up more about himself, how he had sisters and adored them… how his parents were honest, hard-working people… the awful afternoon when his world shattered… how something inside took a shine to Missy, and not in a romantic way… how Suzanna wormed her way inside his heart with her outrageous flirting… how she became more important to him than his own life… And luckily, I was able to convey his goodness and weaknesses to the reader, but I wasn’t done. I had two more stories in that series to write, and again I had to sit down and dig deep in to Roth’s background and into Gage’s background, find out what made them tick, why they chose to strap on a gun, too. For some reason, Roth wanted to open right away and let me know he’d do anything for his sister. Gage took a bit of persuasion, most likely because he didn’t want to live his life in a prison cell for something he didn’t do, disappointing his family and the woman he loved.
The more I learned about my outlaws, the more I realized that circumstances beyond their control forced each of them into a life of crime, a life they never would have chosen. But, as rough and ruthless as they were on the outside, the softer they were on the inside, and the love of a good woman didn’t necessarily change them. Rather it soothed an ache deep inside because someone actually took the time to understand the bad and accept it, to care.
In Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck, Buck is hard and unyielding. He’s temperamental, deadly accurate with a gun, and speaks without thinking, not caring who he offends. He trusts no one. Even worse, he likes no one… except Missy… and Suzanna, one of the girls who works for Missy. Aha! Somewhere deep inside, Buck did have heart and soul. The all-important questions I had to deduce is why did Buck abandon the good inside of him, and could Suzanna soften him enough to make readers warm up to him?
As in most movies, television shows, and books, there’s a reason why the villain is cold-hearted. Buck was no exception, so I sat down and slowly started to unravel him by asking him easy questions; where did you grow up? Do you have siblings? Do you dress in black because that’s your favorite color? As he answered, he began to open up more about himself, how he had sisters and adored them… how his parents were honest, hard-working people… the awful afternoon when his world shattered… how something inside took a shine to Missy, and not in a romantic way… how Suzanna wormed her way inside his heart with her outrageous flirting… how she became more important to him than his own life… And luckily, I was able to convey his goodness and weaknesses to the reader, but I wasn’t done. I had two more stories in that series to write, and again I had to sit down and dig deep in to Roth’s background and into Gage’s background, find out what made them tick, why they chose to strap on a gun, too. For some reason, Roth wanted to open right away and let me know he’d do anything for his sister. Gage took a bit of persuasion, most likely because he didn’t want to live his life in a prison cell for something he didn’t do, disappointing his family and the woman he loved.
The more I learned about my outlaws, the more I realized that circumstances beyond their control forced each of them into a life of crime, a life they never would have chosen. But, as rough and ruthless as they were on the outside, the softer they were on the inside, and the love of a good woman didn’t necessarily change them. Rather it soothed an ache deep inside because someone actually took the time to understand the bad and accept it, to care.
