Julie Lence's Blog, page 7
May 1, 2019
Andrew Carnegie’s Dickinson Public Library, North Dakota
Born on November 2, 1835 in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie migrated to the Pittsburgh area in 1848 with his family and found work as a bobbin boy at a cotton factory. He left the factory in favor of other jobs, to include secretary and telegraph operator for the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Pittsburgh division. Carnegie surpassed his boss and went on to make lucrative investments in the oil, coal, and steel industries. He created his own steel company in the 1870’s and amassed a fortune over the next 2 decades, eventually selling the company to John Pierpont Morgan in 1901 for $480 million. The sale of Carnegie Steel propelled Andrew Carnegie to become one of the richest men in the world.
After selling off his company, Carnegie retired from the business world and turned his attentions to giving back to the community. He was a firm believer that the rich had a moral obligation to use their money to promote the welfare of the common man and published an essay on the matter titled The Gospel of Wealth. As an avid reader, one of his philanthropic activities included opening more than 2500 libraries world-wide, one of which was the Dickinson Public Library in North Dakota.
Planning for the Dickinson library began in 1908 when original board members John F. Davis, Dr. V. H. Stickney, Father Robstenick, R.H. Johnson, and W.L. Richards drafted a proposal to Carnegie for the library. They estimated the cost at $15,000, but that amount was reduced to and funded from a grant of $12,500. To pay the difference, a tax was submitted to the townspeople and passed. Butler & Soules won the contract to build and the library opened on January 3, 1910, with Josephine Hargrave the 1st librarian, earning $60 each month. The Commercial Club donated most of the books that made up the library’s original collection.
In 1939, a west wing, to include a full basement, was added. At the same time, the interior received a new floor and light fixtures. The library was again renovated in 1956, and in 1975, an east wing was added. In 2007, after years of planning and raising money due to voters nixing a tax increase for upgrades and continual restoration, ground was broken to again expand the library. Original woodwork and tin ceilings were transformed back to their original beauty, with the historic entrance featuring the original cast stone steps, cast stone lettering above the door referencing the 1908 construction date, and the original ‘Public Library’ sign. The Dickinson Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
*** Some photos provided by my good friend, Mike Pursley
After selling off his company, Carnegie retired from the business world and turned his attentions to giving back to the community. He was a firm believer that the rich had a moral obligation to use their money to promote the welfare of the common man and published an essay on the matter titled The Gospel of Wealth. As an avid reader, one of his philanthropic activities included opening more than 2500 libraries world-wide, one of which was the Dickinson Public Library in North Dakota.
Planning for the Dickinson library began in 1908 when original board members John F. Davis, Dr. V. H. Stickney, Father Robstenick, R.H. Johnson, and W.L. Richards drafted a proposal to Carnegie for the library. They estimated the cost at $15,000, but that amount was reduced to and funded from a grant of $12,500. To pay the difference, a tax was submitted to the townspeople and passed. Butler & Soules won the contract to build and the library opened on January 3, 1910, with Josephine Hargrave the 1st librarian, earning $60 each month. The Commercial Club donated most of the books that made up the library’s original collection.
In 1939, a west wing, to include a full basement, was added. At the same time, the interior received a new floor and light fixtures. The library was again renovated in 1956, and in 1975, an east wing was added. In 2007, after years of planning and raising money due to voters nixing a tax increase for upgrades and continual restoration, ground was broken to again expand the library. Original woodwork and tin ceilings were transformed back to their original beauty, with the historic entrance featuring the original cast stone steps, cast stone lettering above the door referencing the 1908 construction date, and the original ‘Public Library’ sign. The Dickinson Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
*** Some photos provided by my good friend, Mike Pursley
April 3, 2019
John Cleveland Osgood and Redstone, Colorado
John Cleveland Osgood was a prominent figure within the coal industry and best remembered for erecting the town, Redstone, Colorado. Born in Brooklyn on March 6, 1851, Osgood moved to Burlington, Iowa with his father when he was 6. A few years later, he was sent to live with relatives in Providence, Rhode Island after his father died. An office job at a cotton mill taught him business. He moved to New York City at 16 and found work in a Produce Exchange Commission while attending night school. Afterward, he returned to Burlington and took a job at White Breast Fuel Company and a position at First National Bank as a cashier.
During his time with First National Bank, he learned the banking side of the business world. This led to him taking over the fuel company at age 26 and visiting Colorado to learn more about the state’s coal resources for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. Osgood bought several tracts of coal land in Colorado and formed the Colorado Fuel Company. His business grew fast and he eventually merged with Colorado Coal and Iron Company to become Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Bessemer Iron Works in Pueblo, Colorado became the company’s headquarters.
Colorado Fuel and Iron mined about three quarters of the coal in Colorado, but miner strikes between 1894-1901 proved costly for the company. Osgood testified before the Colorado General Assembly that he knew what was best for miners and not the labor unions, going so far as to declare labor unions a threat to the United States. During the same timeframe, an idea to eliminate labor unions, known as welfare capitalism, was gaining popularity. Osgood approved this idea, believing a happy and content worker was a productive worker who didn’t strike, and set about providing for his employees’ every need by building Redstone, Colorado.
Located west of Pueblo and south of Glenwood Springs, Redstone was constructed as a company town. Coke ovens were built to turn coal into coke (see explanation below on coke and coal). To carry the coal from the Coal Basin mines and the coke to the foundries in Pueblo, the Crystal River railroad was built. To accommodate employees’ housing needs, Osgood built 84 cottages for married workers and 1 dormitory with 40 rooms for single workers. The cottages and the dormitory were somewhat of a rarity as they all had indoor plumbing and electricity. Some of the cottages are still in existence today, as is the dormitory. To further accommodate his married employees’ needs, Osgood built a school for their children.
Osgood also built the Redstone Club, which had reading rooms stocked with papers in different languages, weeklies and magazines. A library, small theater and a bath house were also part of the Redstone Club, which cost $25,000 to build; $707,000 in today’s market. Redstone boasted a saloon, with card tables and pool tables. Saloon rules were strictly enforced, to include a ‘No Treating’ rule, which prevented anyone from buying a round of drinks to avoid drunkenness. Gambling was kept to penny ante poker and dime wagers on a game of pool. Rounding off the town was an irrigated garden, a public barn for employee’s livestock, and a wash house for laundering clothes, but the crème-de-la-crème to Redstone was and still is Osgood’s castle, Cleveholm Manor.
Built to impress his second wife, Swedish Countess Alma Regina Shelgrem, Cleveholm Manor is a 24,000ft English Tudor-style castle. Designed by New York architects Boal and Harnois, work on the Manor began in 1897 and was finished in 1901, with a price tag of $50,000 (1.1million in today’s market). Sometimes called Redstone Castle, the manor sits on 72 acres and includes servants’ quarters, a gamekeeper’s lodge, carriage house, greenhouse, and a kennel for dogs. Gate keeper’s homes were erected on the north and south boundaries. The stable housed horses, cattle and chickens, with a game preserve of deer, elk and bighorn sheep, and a stocked fishing pond.
Sadly, Cleveholm Manor nearly fell to ruins. A strike at Colorado mines weakened Osgood’s company. He successfully foiled a takeover by John Gates from Chicago, but lost to John D. Rockefeller and Jay Gould in a stock war in 1903. Osgood was forced to abandon his welfare programs, though he did remain active in combating unions, this time around with violence. He founded the Victor-American Fuel Company and took up residence in New York City; his stay at Cleveholm now infrequent. Eventually the manor was boarded up when Osgood elected to spend time in Palm Springs or cruising to Europe. He finally returned to the manor with his third wife, Lucille, in 1925 when diagnosed with terminal cancer. He passed in 1926 and Lucille tried to turn the estate into a resort, but the Depression thwarted her plans.
Today, Redstone, Colorado is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a population of about 130. The dormitory is now the Redstone Inn and Cleveholm Manor and the gamekeeper’s cottage are listed independently on the National Register. The castle contained 75 percent of its furnishing as of 2004 and was bought by the owners of Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs and underwent restoration, to include road and utility work. Currently, it is open for tours.
During his time with First National Bank, he learned the banking side of the business world. This led to him taking over the fuel company at age 26 and visiting Colorado to learn more about the state’s coal resources for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. Osgood bought several tracts of coal land in Colorado and formed the Colorado Fuel Company. His business grew fast and he eventually merged with Colorado Coal and Iron Company to become Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Bessemer Iron Works in Pueblo, Colorado became the company’s headquarters.
Colorado Fuel and Iron mined about three quarters of the coal in Colorado, but miner strikes between 1894-1901 proved costly for the company. Osgood testified before the Colorado General Assembly that he knew what was best for miners and not the labor unions, going so far as to declare labor unions a threat to the United States. During the same timeframe, an idea to eliminate labor unions, known as welfare capitalism, was gaining popularity. Osgood approved this idea, believing a happy and content worker was a productive worker who didn’t strike, and set about providing for his employees’ every need by building Redstone, Colorado.
Located west of Pueblo and south of Glenwood Springs, Redstone was constructed as a company town. Coke ovens were built to turn coal into coke (see explanation below on coke and coal). To carry the coal from the Coal Basin mines and the coke to the foundries in Pueblo, the Crystal River railroad was built. To accommodate employees’ housing needs, Osgood built 84 cottages for married workers and 1 dormitory with 40 rooms for single workers. The cottages and the dormitory were somewhat of a rarity as they all had indoor plumbing and electricity. Some of the cottages are still in existence today, as is the dormitory. To further accommodate his married employees’ needs, Osgood built a school for their children.
Osgood also built the Redstone Club, which had reading rooms stocked with papers in different languages, weeklies and magazines. A library, small theater and a bath house were also part of the Redstone Club, which cost $25,000 to build; $707,000 in today’s market. Redstone boasted a saloon, with card tables and pool tables. Saloon rules were strictly enforced, to include a ‘No Treating’ rule, which prevented anyone from buying a round of drinks to avoid drunkenness. Gambling was kept to penny ante poker and dime wagers on a game of pool. Rounding off the town was an irrigated garden, a public barn for employee’s livestock, and a wash house for laundering clothes, but the crème-de-la-crème to Redstone was and still is Osgood’s castle, Cleveholm Manor.
Built to impress his second wife, Swedish Countess Alma Regina Shelgrem, Cleveholm Manor is a 24,000ft English Tudor-style castle. Designed by New York architects Boal and Harnois, work on the Manor began in 1897 and was finished in 1901, with a price tag of $50,000 (1.1million in today’s market). Sometimes called Redstone Castle, the manor sits on 72 acres and includes servants’ quarters, a gamekeeper’s lodge, carriage house, greenhouse, and a kennel for dogs. Gate keeper’s homes were erected on the north and south boundaries. The stable housed horses, cattle and chickens, with a game preserve of deer, elk and bighorn sheep, and a stocked fishing pond.
Sadly, Cleveholm Manor nearly fell to ruins. A strike at Colorado mines weakened Osgood’s company. He successfully foiled a takeover by John Gates from Chicago, but lost to John D. Rockefeller and Jay Gould in a stock war in 1903. Osgood was forced to abandon his welfare programs, though he did remain active in combating unions, this time around with violence. He founded the Victor-American Fuel Company and took up residence in New York City; his stay at Cleveholm now infrequent. Eventually the manor was boarded up when Osgood elected to spend time in Palm Springs or cruising to Europe. He finally returned to the manor with his third wife, Lucille, in 1925 when diagnosed with terminal cancer. He passed in 1926 and Lucille tried to turn the estate into a resort, but the Depression thwarted her plans.
Today, Redstone, Colorado is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a population of about 130. The dormitory is now the Redstone Inn and Cleveholm Manor and the gamekeeper’s cottage are listed independently on the National Register. The castle contained 75 percent of its furnishing as of 2004 and was bought by the owners of Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs and underwent restoration, to include road and utility work. Currently, it is open for tours.
March 6, 2019
Women of Western Television
We all have our heroes from western television; Matt Dillion, Joe Cartwright, and Seth Bullock to name a few. Aiding these swoon-worthy men are heroines who are often over-looked or forgotten after the series has ended. Here are a few I have admired for their spot-on portrayal of women living in the wild west.
Barbara Stanwyck: Born Ruby Stevens on July 16, 1907 in Brooklyn. Stanwyck is best known for portraying Victoria Barkley on The Big Valley. Barbara played the matriarch of the Barkley family; a strong-willed, compassionate mother who loved her children and ranch dearly. Before taking on the role of Victoria Barkley, Stanwyck appeared in over 80 movies, most notably Stella Dallas and Double Indemnity.
Stanwyck did not have an easy childhood. At the age of 4, her mother was killed when pushed off of a moving streetcar. Her father couldn’t cope with the loss and left much of her upbringing to her older sister, who was a showgirl. Stanwyck began smoking at 9 years of age, quit school early and made her way into showbiz. Shortly after changing her name to Barbara Stanwyck, she made her Broadway debut in 1926 playing a chorus girl in The Noose. By 1930, she was married, had bid farewell to Broadway and moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in the movies. Her first 2 films flopped, nearly ruining her career before it really began, but she convinced Frank Capra to give her a role in his production, Ladies of Leisure. The movie gained her the recognition she desired and helped launch her career.
Along with actresses such as Bette Davis, Stanwyck played a hand in redefining the typical roles women played in films. Instead of females in distress or the typical housewife, Stanwyck portrayed women with their own motives and ideals. She never won an Oscar for her work in film, including for her role as seductress and murderess Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity, but she did receive an honorary Oscar in 1982.
As she aged, Stanwyck steered away from film toward television. She appeared on The Jack Benny Program and hosted her own show, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, before taking the role as Victoria Barkley. Stanwyck also appeared on The Thorn Birds for which she won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Unlike many of the characters she played, she was a social recluse, though she did form a lasting bond with Linda Evans (also from The Big Valley) after Evans’ mother passed away. Stanwyck was married and divorced twice, and passed away in 1990 from congestive heart failure.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Ms. Stanwyck in some of her films, but to me she will forever be Victoria Barkley from one of my favorite childhood television shows.
Linda Cristal: Born Marta Victoria Moya Burges on February 2, 19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Linda Cristal is best known in the United States for her role as Victoria Buchanan on The High Chaparral, for which she won a Golden Globe award. Victoria was patriarch John Buchanan’s wife. Somewhat strong-willed, she loved her husband and strived for some common ground with her grown stepson.
Cristal was born to a French father and an Italian mother. She lost her parents in 1947 in a road accident. Before coming to the United States, she was a movie star in Mexico and Italy. One of her first roles in the United States was in the movie Comanche. Afterward, she met up with John Wayne, who asked her to asked her to take on the role of Flaca in his movie, The Alamo. Afterward, she went on to co-star with Jimmy Stewart in Two Rode Together.
Cristal appeared in other westerns before briefly retiring in the mid 1960’s to raise her 2 young sons. She was coaxed out of retirement to play Victoria on the High Chaparral in 1967. After the show ended, she appeared in the movie Mr. Majestyk opposite Charles Bronsan before starring in the Argentine television series, Rossé.. At the time of writing this blog, Ms. Cristal is retired and residing in California.
The High Chaparral was a favorite childhood show. I especially liked the character of Uncle Buck since he was funny and always made me laugh. I will forever remember Cristal as the beautiful Victoria with the pretty clothes who supported her family and fought for peace alongside her husband.
Paula Malcolmson: Born June 1, 1970 in Belfast, North Ireland, Malcolmson played soiled dove, Trixie, on Deadwood. Before landing the role, she appeared in several television shows and movie, including Tombstone as Allie Earp.
Malcolmson began her acting career in theater. Her 1st movie role was in 1992’s Another Girl Another Planet. From there was cast in Tombstone and Dunston Checks In. She has appeared on television in The Practice and Ray Donavan, but her most notable role is still Trixie from Deadwood.
Malcolmson is sometimes known and credited as Paula Williams. She is extremely secretive about her personal life, so much so no one knows for certain if she is married. Rumors have swirled regarding a husband, but since nothing could be proven, her bio lists her as single. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles and will co-star in the revival net year.
I was a huge fan of Deadwood, and Malcolmson in particular. She brought to light the hardships of Trixie’s life as a soiled dove, (and saloon owner Al Swearengen’s girlfriend) but she also gave Trixie strength and heart and soul. Living with a dangerous man, in a dangerous town, she was a strong woman who carefully navigated a path between right and wrong and always championed lawman Sol. Of all the characters who have come and gone through the years, Malcolmson’s Trixie is one of the ones I miss the most.
Barbara Stanwyck: Born Ruby Stevens on July 16, 1907 in Brooklyn. Stanwyck is best known for portraying Victoria Barkley on The Big Valley. Barbara played the matriarch of the Barkley family; a strong-willed, compassionate mother who loved her children and ranch dearly. Before taking on the role of Victoria Barkley, Stanwyck appeared in over 80 movies, most notably Stella Dallas and Double Indemnity.
Stanwyck did not have an easy childhood. At the age of 4, her mother was killed when pushed off of a moving streetcar. Her father couldn’t cope with the loss and left much of her upbringing to her older sister, who was a showgirl. Stanwyck began smoking at 9 years of age, quit school early and made her way into showbiz. Shortly after changing her name to Barbara Stanwyck, she made her Broadway debut in 1926 playing a chorus girl in The Noose. By 1930, she was married, had bid farewell to Broadway and moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in the movies. Her first 2 films flopped, nearly ruining her career before it really began, but she convinced Frank Capra to give her a role in his production, Ladies of Leisure. The movie gained her the recognition she desired and helped launch her career.
Along with actresses such as Bette Davis, Stanwyck played a hand in redefining the typical roles women played in films. Instead of females in distress or the typical housewife, Stanwyck portrayed women with their own motives and ideals. She never won an Oscar for her work in film, including for her role as seductress and murderess Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity, but she did receive an honorary Oscar in 1982.
As she aged, Stanwyck steered away from film toward television. She appeared on The Jack Benny Program and hosted her own show, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, before taking the role as Victoria Barkley. Stanwyck also appeared on The Thorn Birds for which she won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Unlike many of the characters she played, she was a social recluse, though she did form a lasting bond with Linda Evans (also from The Big Valley) after Evans’ mother passed away. Stanwyck was married and divorced twice, and passed away in 1990 from congestive heart failure.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Ms. Stanwyck in some of her films, but to me she will forever be Victoria Barkley from one of my favorite childhood television shows.
Linda Cristal: Born Marta Victoria Moya Burges on February 2, 19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Linda Cristal is best known in the United States for her role as Victoria Buchanan on The High Chaparral, for which she won a Golden Globe award. Victoria was patriarch John Buchanan’s wife. Somewhat strong-willed, she loved her husband and strived for some common ground with her grown stepson.
Cristal was born to a French father and an Italian mother. She lost her parents in 1947 in a road accident. Before coming to the United States, she was a movie star in Mexico and Italy. One of her first roles in the United States was in the movie Comanche. Afterward, she met up with John Wayne, who asked her to asked her to take on the role of Flaca in his movie, The Alamo. Afterward, she went on to co-star with Jimmy Stewart in Two Rode Together.
Cristal appeared in other westerns before briefly retiring in the mid 1960’s to raise her 2 young sons. She was coaxed out of retirement to play Victoria on the High Chaparral in 1967. After the show ended, she appeared in the movie Mr. Majestyk opposite Charles Bronsan before starring in the Argentine television series, Rossé.. At the time of writing this blog, Ms. Cristal is retired and residing in California.
The High Chaparral was a favorite childhood show. I especially liked the character of Uncle Buck since he was funny and always made me laugh. I will forever remember Cristal as the beautiful Victoria with the pretty clothes who supported her family and fought for peace alongside her husband.
Paula Malcolmson: Born June 1, 1970 in Belfast, North Ireland, Malcolmson played soiled dove, Trixie, on Deadwood. Before landing the role, she appeared in several television shows and movie, including Tombstone as Allie Earp.
Malcolmson began her acting career in theater. Her 1st movie role was in 1992’s Another Girl Another Planet. From there was cast in Tombstone and Dunston Checks In. She has appeared on television in The Practice and Ray Donavan, but her most notable role is still Trixie from Deadwood.
Malcolmson is sometimes known and credited as Paula Williams. She is extremely secretive about her personal life, so much so no one knows for certain if she is married. Rumors have swirled regarding a husband, but since nothing could be proven, her bio lists her as single. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles and will co-star in the revival net year.
I was a huge fan of Deadwood, and Malcolmson in particular. She brought to light the hardships of Trixie’s life as a soiled dove, (and saloon owner Al Swearengen’s girlfriend) but she also gave Trixie strength and heart and soul. Living with a dangerous man, in a dangerous town, she was a strong woman who carefully navigated a path between right and wrong and always championed lawman Sol. Of all the characters who have come and gone through the years, Malcolmson’s Trixie is one of the ones I miss the most.
February 6, 2019
Birth of Valentine’s Day & The Valentine Rose
The origins of Valentine’s Day stretch back to the 3rd century when Claudius II was Emperor of Rome. Believing single men made better soldiers, Claudius outlawed marriage for young men. A priest vehemently objected to Claudius’ order and began marrying young couples in secret. Father Valentine was found out and sentenced to death. While awaiting execution, his jailer’s daughter visited often and Valentine fell in love with her. Before he was executed on February 14, 270 AD, he sent her a letter and signed it, From Your Valentine. Somewhere around 460 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th a day to honor Valentine, who was a saint by then.
The giving of flowers on Valentine’s Day traces back to two separate customs. The 1st is from 12th century France where random slips of paper were used to match men and women on Valentine’s Day. A man had to supply his woman with flowers every week for a year, as the match was expected to last that long. The 2nd custom dates back to the 18th century when Charles II of Sweden introduced sending floral bouquets in lieu of verbal messages. Each flower had a specific meaning, making it possible to have an entire conversation without actually speaking the words.
Roses became the popular flower to send on Valentine’s Day because of their vibrancy and hardy nature. Half of the roses sold in the United States are shipped from Columbia and Ecuador. After the roses are cut in their home land, they’re shipped here in a constantly chilled temperature, making it possible for them to arrive undamaged and ready for sale. Lore suggest the red rose became the color of choice due to the flower being the favorite of Roman goddess, Venus. It’s worth noting that the Netherlands are responsible for half the worlds’ flowers overall, and whether you gift flowers, cards, or candy, the Valentine’s Day industry earns over a billion dollars each year.
For your Valentine’s Day Reading:
Be Mine, Valentine
Amazon.com/dp/B01ATV451O
Excerpt:
Quietly moving across the floor, he nudged the door open to find Jessie wearing her night clothes and sitting in a chair before the hearth, her blonde hair hanging loose down her back. She cradled a cup in her lap, caressed the rim while staring at the low-burning fire. He filled a cup and joined her.
“Can’t sleep,” he asked.
“Oh,” she startled, and arched her neck toward him. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He nodded toward the hearth. “May I join you?”
Her guarded gaze traveled the length of him. “Al-all right.” She shifted her attention back to the crackling wood.
He pulled a chair beside her and sat, took a long drink of the hot brew. “Are you up because you’re worried about the squatter?”
“No. The sheriff and the deputies will find him.” She kept her gaze on the flame. “They won’t allow harm to come to their wives and children.”
“Reckon you’re right about that.” He took another long swallow to settle the unease snaking through his gut. He had plenty to say to her, and hoped the words came out right.
“Why are you awake?” she asked.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“Most people do.” She leaned forward, pulled a log from a basket beside the hearth and added it to the fire. Sat back in her chair.
“Jessie,” he started, only to pause and take a deep breath. He let it out slow, prayed his gumption wouldn’t desert him. “I apologize for what I said to you earlier. You’re more than a waitress to me. You’re someone I care about very much.”
She sniffled and met his gaze. Except for the moisture clinging to her eyes, her expression was void of feeling. “So you’ve often said.” She cocked her head. “Are you willing to do something about that?”
He swallowed hard. “If you’re referring to marriage, than I’m sorry, but the answer is no. I can’t marry you.” He touched her arm. “But I can be your friend.” And love you with everything I am. “Someone you can depend upon for anything.”
“I have friends, Tom,” she said, stonily. “I want more than that.”
The giving of flowers on Valentine’s Day traces back to two separate customs. The 1st is from 12th century France where random slips of paper were used to match men and women on Valentine’s Day. A man had to supply his woman with flowers every week for a year, as the match was expected to last that long. The 2nd custom dates back to the 18th century when Charles II of Sweden introduced sending floral bouquets in lieu of verbal messages. Each flower had a specific meaning, making it possible to have an entire conversation without actually speaking the words.
Roses became the popular flower to send on Valentine’s Day because of their vibrancy and hardy nature. Half of the roses sold in the United States are shipped from Columbia and Ecuador. After the roses are cut in their home land, they’re shipped here in a constantly chilled temperature, making it possible for them to arrive undamaged and ready for sale. Lore suggest the red rose became the color of choice due to the flower being the favorite of Roman goddess, Venus. It’s worth noting that the Netherlands are responsible for half the worlds’ flowers overall, and whether you gift flowers, cards, or candy, the Valentine’s Day industry earns over a billion dollars each year.
For your Valentine’s Day Reading:
Be Mine, Valentine
Amazon.com/dp/B01ATV451O
Excerpt:
Quietly moving across the floor, he nudged the door open to find Jessie wearing her night clothes and sitting in a chair before the hearth, her blonde hair hanging loose down her back. She cradled a cup in her lap, caressed the rim while staring at the low-burning fire. He filled a cup and joined her.
“Can’t sleep,” he asked.
“Oh,” she startled, and arched her neck toward him. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He nodded toward the hearth. “May I join you?”
Her guarded gaze traveled the length of him. “Al-all right.” She shifted her attention back to the crackling wood.
He pulled a chair beside her and sat, took a long drink of the hot brew. “Are you up because you’re worried about the squatter?”
“No. The sheriff and the deputies will find him.” She kept her gaze on the flame. “They won’t allow harm to come to their wives and children.”
“Reckon you’re right about that.” He took another long swallow to settle the unease snaking through his gut. He had plenty to say to her, and hoped the words came out right.
“Why are you awake?” she asked.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“Most people do.” She leaned forward, pulled a log from a basket beside the hearth and added it to the fire. Sat back in her chair.
“Jessie,” he started, only to pause and take a deep breath. He let it out slow, prayed his gumption wouldn’t desert him. “I apologize for what I said to you earlier. You’re more than a waitress to me. You’re someone I care about very much.”
She sniffled and met his gaze. Except for the moisture clinging to her eyes, her expression was void of feeling. “So you’ve often said.” She cocked her head. “Are you willing to do something about that?”
He swallowed hard. “If you’re referring to marriage, than I’m sorry, but the answer is no. I can’t marry you.” He touched her arm. “But I can be your friend.” And love you with everything I am. “Someone you can depend upon for anything.”
“I have friends, Tom,” she said, stonily. “I want more than that.”
January 2, 2019
Welcome 2019
Greetings! Can you believe another year has ended? 2018 kept the Cowboy Kisses authors busy publishing blogs on a variety of topics related to the western genre. Some of our authors were also busy celebrating the release of a new western romance. And, as in previous years, Cowboy Kisses bid farewell to old friends and said hello to new comrades. Please give a warm welcome to Maggie Carpenter, Ginger Chambers, Rhonda Frankhouser, Doris McCraw, Jacqui Nelson, Danni Roan, and Wilhelmina Stolen. Each are talented and well-known authors within the western romance community and are sure to strike a connection with you via the blogs they write. I invite you to get to know them better by visiting their author pages located on the right toolbar.
2018 also saw a few other changes to our routine. Due to personal reasons needing my attention throughout the year, this was the 1st year since I’ve taken over the reins that I was unable to host the annual Facebook party. Not to worry, we will have one this year! Also, I spent a few months away from the blog and the Facebook group and extend my heartfelt gratitude to Shann Hatfield and Kristy McCaffrey for taking over in my absence. I also thank Andrea, Paty, Robyn, Patti, Nan, Lauri, and Stephanie for their continued support of me and Cowboy Kisses. Cowboy Kisses is a group effort and I couldn’t do it without any of them. Lastly, I thank you, our followers. Without you Cowboy Kisses wouldn’t exist.
As 2019 unfolds, I wish our authors continued success in their endeavors, to, no doubt, include more sexy, handsome cowboys for everyone to swoon over. And I wish all of you health, happiness and prosperity. Happy New Year Cowboy Kisses!
Julie
2018 also saw a few other changes to our routine. Due to personal reasons needing my attention throughout the year, this was the 1st year since I’ve taken over the reins that I was unable to host the annual Facebook party. Not to worry, we will have one this year! Also, I spent a few months away from the blog and the Facebook group and extend my heartfelt gratitude to Shann Hatfield and Kristy McCaffrey for taking over in my absence. I also thank Andrea, Paty, Robyn, Patti, Nan, Lauri, and Stephanie for their continued support of me and Cowboy Kisses. Cowboy Kisses is a group effort and I couldn’t do it without any of them. Lastly, I thank you, our followers. Without you Cowboy Kisses wouldn’t exist.
As 2019 unfolds, I wish our authors continued success in their endeavors, to, no doubt, include more sexy, handsome cowboys for everyone to swoon over. And I wish all of you health, happiness and prosperity. Happy New Year Cowboy Kisses!
Julie
November 7, 2018
Poker Alice
Born in Sudbury, England in 1853, Alice Ivers is best known as the highly skilled female poker player and faro dealer who loved cigars. The only daughter of a school teacher, Alice’s childhood consisted of the best education and moral values. When she was twelve, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Virginia, but with the Civil War raging and gold being discovered in the West, she and her family eventually moved to Lake City, Colorado.
As a young woman, with exceptional breeding, class and beauty, Alice was sought after by many men. The first man she favored was Frank Duffield, a mining engineer and gambler. It is believed that throughout her life Duffield was Alice’s one true love and she soon married him. Duffield’s job took the couple from one mining camp to another before they settled back in Lake City. There they enjoyed social parties and Alice loved the attention lavished upon her. She began joining her husband at the poker tables, where Duffield taught her everything he knew about the game. Some nights she sat in for him while he was at work. Because of her fine education, her math skills were exceptional and it wasn’t long before she was more adept at the game than her husband and gaining a bit of notoriety; females rarely ventured into a saloon and were never expected to be good poker players.
A few years into married life, Duffield was killed in a mine explosion. Alice quickly came to the conclusion she would now have to make her own way in the world and turned to gambling full time as a means to support herself. Shortly after she hit the tables, she earned the nickname ‘Poker Alice’.
Finding work wasn’t difficult for Alice. She held many jobs in gaming houses throughout Colorado, to include Leadville and Alamosa. She kept her appearance neat, dressed in fashion, carried a .38 caliber revolver, and somewhere along the way, acquired a love for cigars. Often seen puffing on a stogie, if anyone rudely commented on her smoking habit, she’d pull out her gun and effectively put an end to their ribbing.
Alice found her way to Oklahoma and her fame spread there, too. She continued to win substantial amounts and made her way to New Mexico before moving to New York City. There she treated herself to new clothes and enjoyed the nightlife. With her funds nearly depleted, she left New York and headed back west, to the new mining town of Creede, Colorado. At forty years old, she took a job working eight hour shifts at the tables at Bob Ford’s Exchange. Bob’s claim to fame was having killed Jesse James. Many folks disliked his bragging, because at that time, Jesse James was still considered more of a hero than an outlaw. Eventually, Ed Kelly killed Ford in 1892. Alice witnessed the shooting and moved to Deadwood soon after.
In Deadwood, Alice took another job dealing stud. She met fellow dealer, Warren Tubbs, and the two struck up a friendship. Tubbs hailed from Sturgis, worked as a house painter by day and dealt at night, though his skills weren’t good. Alice saved Tubbs’ life when a drunk miner came into the saloon and tried to stab Tubbs. She shot the miner in the arm, and soon after Tubbs fell in love with Alice. They married, with the agreement Tubbs would stick to painting and Alice would continue with gambling. The couple had seven children, whom Alice kept away from the tables as she continued winning large sums of money to provide for her family. Once their children grew up and moved away, the couple retired to a chicken ranch north of Deadwood. Tubbs contracted pneumonia in 1910. He died on a cold winter’s night with a wish to be buried back in Sturgis. Alice drove his body back to Sturgis through a blizzard and pawned her wedding ring for payment for his burial.
Alice remained in Deadwood and took another job dealing poker. At this time in her life, she changed her clothing from fashionable to plain attire and continued with her cigar smoking ways. She hired George Huckert to take care of her farm and when she owed him wages of more than one thousand dollars, she married him, reasoning it was cheaper to marry him than pay him what she owed him. Huckert was a loafer and spent most of time in the bars. Upon his passing, Alice was relieved and took back her name of Tubbs.
Life became tougher for Alice as she aged. Most of her money was gone and reform was fast becoming the rage in Deadwood and Sturgis. She opened her own gambling hall and catered to the soldiers at Ft. Meade. Several times she was arrested on gambling, prostitution, and alcohol charges. Each time, she beat the charges and was set free. She was also charged with killing a soldier and beat this rap as the jury agreed she killed the man in self-defense. Past the age of 70, Alice began having gall bladder troubles. With medicine reaching new heights, doctors convinced her to undergo a relatively new surgical procedure. She readily agreed, mostly due to the fact a fortune teller had told her she would live to one hundred. Sadly, Alice died during the operation. She is buried at St. Aloysius Cemetery located in the Black Hills. Ted Walker saved her home in Sturgis from demolition and had it moved to Junction Avenue. To this day, Alice remains a poker legend in Colorado and South Dakota.
As a young woman, with exceptional breeding, class and beauty, Alice was sought after by many men. The first man she favored was Frank Duffield, a mining engineer and gambler. It is believed that throughout her life Duffield was Alice’s one true love and she soon married him. Duffield’s job took the couple from one mining camp to another before they settled back in Lake City. There they enjoyed social parties and Alice loved the attention lavished upon her. She began joining her husband at the poker tables, where Duffield taught her everything he knew about the game. Some nights she sat in for him while he was at work. Because of her fine education, her math skills were exceptional and it wasn’t long before she was more adept at the game than her husband and gaining a bit of notoriety; females rarely ventured into a saloon and were never expected to be good poker players.
A few years into married life, Duffield was killed in a mine explosion. Alice quickly came to the conclusion she would now have to make her own way in the world and turned to gambling full time as a means to support herself. Shortly after she hit the tables, she earned the nickname ‘Poker Alice’.
Finding work wasn’t difficult for Alice. She held many jobs in gaming houses throughout Colorado, to include Leadville and Alamosa. She kept her appearance neat, dressed in fashion, carried a .38 caliber revolver, and somewhere along the way, acquired a love for cigars. Often seen puffing on a stogie, if anyone rudely commented on her smoking habit, she’d pull out her gun and effectively put an end to their ribbing.
Alice found her way to Oklahoma and her fame spread there, too. She continued to win substantial amounts and made her way to New Mexico before moving to New York City. There she treated herself to new clothes and enjoyed the nightlife. With her funds nearly depleted, she left New York and headed back west, to the new mining town of Creede, Colorado. At forty years old, she took a job working eight hour shifts at the tables at Bob Ford’s Exchange. Bob’s claim to fame was having killed Jesse James. Many folks disliked his bragging, because at that time, Jesse James was still considered more of a hero than an outlaw. Eventually, Ed Kelly killed Ford in 1892. Alice witnessed the shooting and moved to Deadwood soon after.
In Deadwood, Alice took another job dealing stud. She met fellow dealer, Warren Tubbs, and the two struck up a friendship. Tubbs hailed from Sturgis, worked as a house painter by day and dealt at night, though his skills weren’t good. Alice saved Tubbs’ life when a drunk miner came into the saloon and tried to stab Tubbs. She shot the miner in the arm, and soon after Tubbs fell in love with Alice. They married, with the agreement Tubbs would stick to painting and Alice would continue with gambling. The couple had seven children, whom Alice kept away from the tables as she continued winning large sums of money to provide for her family. Once their children grew up and moved away, the couple retired to a chicken ranch north of Deadwood. Tubbs contracted pneumonia in 1910. He died on a cold winter’s night with a wish to be buried back in Sturgis. Alice drove his body back to Sturgis through a blizzard and pawned her wedding ring for payment for his burial.
Alice remained in Deadwood and took another job dealing poker. At this time in her life, she changed her clothing from fashionable to plain attire and continued with her cigar smoking ways. She hired George Huckert to take care of her farm and when she owed him wages of more than one thousand dollars, she married him, reasoning it was cheaper to marry him than pay him what she owed him. Huckert was a loafer and spent most of time in the bars. Upon his passing, Alice was relieved and took back her name of Tubbs.
Life became tougher for Alice as she aged. Most of her money was gone and reform was fast becoming the rage in Deadwood and Sturgis. She opened her own gambling hall and catered to the soldiers at Ft. Meade. Several times she was arrested on gambling, prostitution, and alcohol charges. Each time, she beat the charges and was set free. She was also charged with killing a soldier and beat this rap as the jury agreed she killed the man in self-defense. Past the age of 70, Alice began having gall bladder troubles. With medicine reaching new heights, doctors convinced her to undergo a relatively new surgical procedure. She readily agreed, mostly due to the fact a fortune teller had told her she would live to one hundred. Sadly, Alice died during the operation. She is buried at St. Aloysius Cemetery located in the Black Hills. Ted Walker saved her home in Sturgis from demolition and had it moved to Junction Avenue. To this day, Alice remains a poker legend in Colorado and South Dakota.
October 8, 2018
Cowboy Cooking
Cooking is not something I enjoy, except for the Thanksgiving turkey and lasagna. I do like leafing thru cowboy and old west cookbooks, mostly for material to put into my stories. Occasionally, I find a recipe that interests me and will try it. Last year I shared some of those recipes. Today I’m sharing recipes from a different Cowboy cookbook. I have not tried these, but they did catch my eye.
Three Cheese Egg Bake:
4 Eggs
½ cup Whipping cream
1 tsp. sugar
½ lb. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 oz. Cream cheese
1 cup Cottage cheese
3 Tbsp. Butter
¼ cup Chopped green onions
½ cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
In a bowl, beat eggs, whipping cream and sugar together. Stir in the cheeses and mix well. Melt butter in a small skillet and lightly sauté onions then stir in flour and baking powder. Combine mixtures and blend well. Pour batter into a greased 1 ½ quart casserole dish and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
Rancher’s Beef Stroganoff:
3 Tbsp. Butter
1 Onion, diced
½ lb. Mushrooms, sliced
2 lbs. Round Steak
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 Tsp. Salt
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. Tomato paste
2 cups Beef Bouillon
½ cup Sour cream
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté until onions are tender. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
Debone steak and cut off excess fat. Cut steak into 2 ½ inch long and ¾ inch wide strips. Add remaining butter and steak to skillet and brown steak.
In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Add water and tomato paste and mix until smooth. Pour mixture over meat. Simmer over medium-low heat until steak is tender (about 1 ¼ hours) Add onion mixture and bouillon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and stir in sour cream. Heat through but do not boil.
Applesauce Nut Cake:
2 ½ Cups flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Mace
½ tsp. Nutmeg
¼ tsp. Cloves
¾ Cup butter
1 ¼ cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 ½ cups Unsweetened Applesauce
1 cup Chopped nuts
In a bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
In a 2nd bowl, cream together butter and sugar. One at a time, add eggs to mixture, beating well after each egg. Add vanilla and stir well. Stir in dry ingredients, applesauce and nuts. Mix well and pour into a well-greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes. Cool before serving.
Orange Clove Tea:
1/3 cup sugar
3 Tea bags
12 Whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick
1 4inch strip of fresh orange peel
3 Cups boiling water
½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
3 Tbsp. Lemon juice
Lemon slices studded with cloves
Place sugar, tea bags, cloves, cinnamon and orange peel in a sauce pan and pour boiling water over the top. Steep for 5 minutes then strain. Pour black tea into sauce pan and stir in orange and lemon juices. Heat but do not boil. Serve in cups garnished with lemon slices.
Three Cheese Egg Bake:
4 Eggs
½ cup Whipping cream
1 tsp. sugar
½ lb. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 oz. Cream cheese
1 cup Cottage cheese
3 Tbsp. Butter
¼ cup Chopped green onions
½ cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
In a bowl, beat eggs, whipping cream and sugar together. Stir in the cheeses and mix well. Melt butter in a small skillet and lightly sauté onions then stir in flour and baking powder. Combine mixtures and blend well. Pour batter into a greased 1 ½ quart casserole dish and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
Rancher’s Beef Stroganoff:
3 Tbsp. Butter
1 Onion, diced
½ lb. Mushrooms, sliced
2 lbs. Round Steak
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 Tsp. Salt
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. Tomato paste
2 cups Beef Bouillon
½ cup Sour cream
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté until onions are tender. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
Debone steak and cut off excess fat. Cut steak into 2 ½ inch long and ¾ inch wide strips. Add remaining butter and steak to skillet and brown steak.
In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Add water and tomato paste and mix until smooth. Pour mixture over meat. Simmer over medium-low heat until steak is tender (about 1 ¼ hours) Add onion mixture and bouillon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and stir in sour cream. Heat through but do not boil.
Applesauce Nut Cake:
2 ½ Cups flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Mace
½ tsp. Nutmeg
¼ tsp. Cloves
¾ Cup butter
1 ¼ cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 ½ cups Unsweetened Applesauce
1 cup Chopped nuts
In a bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
In a 2nd bowl, cream together butter and sugar. One at a time, add eggs to mixture, beating well after each egg. Add vanilla and stir well. Stir in dry ingredients, applesauce and nuts. Mix well and pour into a well-greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes. Cool before serving.
Orange Clove Tea:
1/3 cup sugar
3 Tea bags
12 Whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick
1 4inch strip of fresh orange peel
3 Cups boiling water
½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
3 Tbsp. Lemon juice
Lemon slices studded with cloves
Place sugar, tea bags, cloves, cinnamon and orange peel in a sauce pan and pour boiling water over the top. Steep for 5 minutes then strain. Pour black tea into sauce pan and stir in orange and lemon juices. Heat but do not boil. Serve in cups garnished with lemon slices.
September 5, 2018
Writing The Five Senses
See. Smell. Hear. Taste. Touch. We all know the five senses, experience them in our everyday lives. But do you have them layered throughout your story? If so, do you have too many? Not enough? And did you know that one sense can trigger another?
Imagine walking into the grocery store and the first thing you notice is the aroma of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. What happens next? Your mouth begins to water in anticipation of warm, gooey chocolate melting on your tongue. Your fingers can feel the texture of the cookie, the stickiness of the chocolate.
What about when you look at a painting? I have one depicting three Native Americans riding their ponies through the snow-packed woods. When I look at them, I can hear the quiet plodding of their horses hooves, feel the dampness of a bleak day and taste the cold on my lips.
When writing, the five senses are all necessary to the story. Readers want to relate to characters. Through description, they want to see what the characters see, hear what the characters hear. More importantly, they want to be smack-dab in the middle of the action. They want their hearts to melt at a tender moment and their stomach to clench when danger rears. Most importantly, they want the feel-good emotion of a happy ending to linger long after they’ve read the last words.
Sight is perhaps the easiest to put into words; bright blue eyes, hair the color of straw, over-sized furniture crowded into a dark room. Smell is also easy; chicken roasting in the oven, digging holes in fresh dirt, riding through a cow pasture. Each of these allows your reader to see what your character sees and get a whiff of his/her surroundings. And when you add sounds―the shrill whistle of a train, the whiny of a horse, the murmur of voices inside a dimly lit saloon―the reader is even more immersed in the scene.
Taste and touch are even better ways for a reader to relate to characters. I wrote a scene where the hero uncovers a plate of ham and grimaces. With those few words, it's clear he can't stomach the taste of ham. How about something he does like? His mouth watered at the aroma of apple pie wafting through the eatery. And what about things he touches? Soft hair, the coarse fibers of a rope, the prickly husk of a pineapple; the right adjective is sure to conjure a response in the reader's mind, maybe even in her fingertips.
There is another aspect to touch―what a character feels inwardly. Whether relating to ‘matters of the heart’ or a shock to the system, it’s always best to show what the character feels rather than to tell it. Putting a word or a group of words in italics emphasizes emotion and internal thought, to include disbelief, sarcasm, surprise and fear. Using body language allows the reader to experience firsthand what the character is experiencing―a flutter in her heart, coldness pricking her spine, knees wobbling―and allows for a better connection to the character and the story.
As you hone your skills, you'll find you can use one or two sentences to invoke a variety of senses. Ex: Jack walked into the crowded restaurant. His stomach grumbled at the delicious aroma of pumpkin pie wafting from the kitchen… and his heart skidded to a stop when his gaze settled on a familiar face seated at the back table. Or, beneath a hot sun, Jack crested the hill and reined in his mustang, dragged a gloved hand across his brow and stared long and hard at the neat farm house below. A woman stepped onto the porch and his pulse began to pound. Tall, with long, ebony hair curling around her waist, the last time their paths had crossed, she’d run him off her land from behind the barrel of a shotgun.
Be creative when layering the senses, but don't use the same descriptions throughout the story. And don't over-burden the reader with description. Good narrative and a few well-placed words and she’ll feel as though she’s right in the middle of the action.
Imagine walking into the grocery store and the first thing you notice is the aroma of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. What happens next? Your mouth begins to water in anticipation of warm, gooey chocolate melting on your tongue. Your fingers can feel the texture of the cookie, the stickiness of the chocolate.
What about when you look at a painting? I have one depicting three Native Americans riding their ponies through the snow-packed woods. When I look at them, I can hear the quiet plodding of their horses hooves, feel the dampness of a bleak day and taste the cold on my lips.
When writing, the five senses are all necessary to the story. Readers want to relate to characters. Through description, they want to see what the characters see, hear what the characters hear. More importantly, they want to be smack-dab in the middle of the action. They want their hearts to melt at a tender moment and their stomach to clench when danger rears. Most importantly, they want the feel-good emotion of a happy ending to linger long after they’ve read the last words.
Sight is perhaps the easiest to put into words; bright blue eyes, hair the color of straw, over-sized furniture crowded into a dark room. Smell is also easy; chicken roasting in the oven, digging holes in fresh dirt, riding through a cow pasture. Each of these allows your reader to see what your character sees and get a whiff of his/her surroundings. And when you add sounds―the shrill whistle of a train, the whiny of a horse, the murmur of voices inside a dimly lit saloon―the reader is even more immersed in the scene.
Taste and touch are even better ways for a reader to relate to characters. I wrote a scene where the hero uncovers a plate of ham and grimaces. With those few words, it's clear he can't stomach the taste of ham. How about something he does like? His mouth watered at the aroma of apple pie wafting through the eatery. And what about things he touches? Soft hair, the coarse fibers of a rope, the prickly husk of a pineapple; the right adjective is sure to conjure a response in the reader's mind, maybe even in her fingertips.
There is another aspect to touch―what a character feels inwardly. Whether relating to ‘matters of the heart’ or a shock to the system, it’s always best to show what the character feels rather than to tell it. Putting a word or a group of words in italics emphasizes emotion and internal thought, to include disbelief, sarcasm, surprise and fear. Using body language allows the reader to experience firsthand what the character is experiencing―a flutter in her heart, coldness pricking her spine, knees wobbling―and allows for a better connection to the character and the story.
As you hone your skills, you'll find you can use one or two sentences to invoke a variety of senses. Ex: Jack walked into the crowded restaurant. His stomach grumbled at the delicious aroma of pumpkin pie wafting from the kitchen… and his heart skidded to a stop when his gaze settled on a familiar face seated at the back table. Or, beneath a hot sun, Jack crested the hill and reined in his mustang, dragged a gloved hand across his brow and stared long and hard at the neat farm house below. A woman stepped onto the porch and his pulse began to pound. Tall, with long, ebony hair curling around her waist, the last time their paths had crossed, she’d run him off her land from behind the barrel of a shotgun.
Be creative when layering the senses, but don't use the same descriptions throughout the story. And don't over-burden the reader with description. Good narrative and a few well-placed words and she’ll feel as though she’s right in the middle of the action.
August 1, 2018
Leadville, Colorado Historical Buildings
Sitting at 10,152ft above sea level, Leadville, Colorado is a small town known for its importance in 1800’s silver mining. Folks looking to ‘strike it rich’ flocked to the Continental Divide with picks and shovels, and before long the town was booming with business. Even the railroad eventually made its way to Leadville. With striking views of the peaks along the Continental Divide, two of the buildings from the 1800’s boom are still in existence and use today.
Delaware Hotel: Originally from the state of Delaware, William, George and John Callaway left the east coast and settled in Denver as ware merchants. The brothers decided to expand their business and chose Leadville for their next venture. They built the 2-story Callaway Block on the corner of Sixth and Harrison in the mid 1880’s. The Callaway burned and the brothers turned their attention to building the Delaware as a tribute to their home state. The Delaware opened in 1886, with the ground floor home to several shops. The second and third floors housed fifty furnished rooms for use as offices or bedrooms. The hotel had steam heat, hot and cold water, gas lighting, and six bathrooms. William and George eventually went back to Denver, leaving John in charge of the hotel. The brothers retired in 1890, wealthy from their business ventures and investments.
Today, The Delaware is Leadville’s only remaining hotel from the mining era. The hotel features a museum, gallery, and Victorian style rooms. The hotel is decorated with American and European antiques, with each bedroom telling a story relating to Leadville’s history.
The Tabor Opera House: Born in Vermont in 1830, Horace Tabor was a stone cutter. He moved to Leadville in 1850 with his wife, August, and mined what is known as California Gulch. That mine didn’t net him riches, so he sold it and became a Leadville merchant. During this time, he gave supplies to two men in exchange for 1/3 of their mining claim. Lucky for Tabor, the men struck silver, making Tabor rich. He used his wealth to start several other mining companies, making even wealthier. But Tabor was also a reckless spender, of which his wife didn’t approve. He eventually divorced August and married his mistress, Elizabeth McCourt, a.k.a. Baby Doe. Horace and Baby Doe continued to spend their wealth in a reckless manner, and when the silver market crashed in 1893, they were poor. Horace died in 1899 with the notion his mines would become profitable again, but he was wrong.
As a prominent, historic figure in Leadville’s history, Tabor’s house is now a museum and open to the public. His other famous legacy is the Tabor Opera House. Before Tabor came to Leadville, Denver had a difficult time acquiring opera singers to come to the city and perform. Out of the way and off the beaten path, opera companies thought Denver unworthy of their time, as getting to and leaving the city meant the loss of other dates and revenue. After Tabor came to Leadville, he opened a small opera house, and later decided to build an even bigger one that Denver, ‘Queen City of the Plains’ deserved. Construction began during the summer months, with Tabor sparing no expense for the finest opera house in the west. Constructed of cherry wood from Japan and mahogany from Honduras, the house was furnished with paintings from Europe, silk plush chairs, tapestry and carpeting. Opening night was September 6, 1881, with Tabor securing Emma Abbott and her Grand English Opera Company to christen the house. The house was a success for a few years until the Broadway Theater opened on 16th Street and took away most of the opera house’s business. Tabor had to sell his opera house in 1896, after he went bankrupt.
The Tabor Opera House still stands today and is undergoing major renovation, which is expected to last several years and is paid for in part by the town of Leadville. Improvements have been made to the roof and to structural support due to water seeping through the bricks and causing major problems from freezing and then thawing. Electrical work, plumbing, and the brick exterior also need to be improved as well as the heating. Currently the opera house is only open for performance during the summer because the building does not have heat.
Delaware Hotel: Originally from the state of Delaware, William, George and John Callaway left the east coast and settled in Denver as ware merchants. The brothers decided to expand their business and chose Leadville for their next venture. They built the 2-story Callaway Block on the corner of Sixth and Harrison in the mid 1880’s. The Callaway burned and the brothers turned their attention to building the Delaware as a tribute to their home state. The Delaware opened in 1886, with the ground floor home to several shops. The second and third floors housed fifty furnished rooms for use as offices or bedrooms. The hotel had steam heat, hot and cold water, gas lighting, and six bathrooms. William and George eventually went back to Denver, leaving John in charge of the hotel. The brothers retired in 1890, wealthy from their business ventures and investments.
Today, The Delaware is Leadville’s only remaining hotel from the mining era. The hotel features a museum, gallery, and Victorian style rooms. The hotel is decorated with American and European antiques, with each bedroom telling a story relating to Leadville’s history.
The Tabor Opera House: Born in Vermont in 1830, Horace Tabor was a stone cutter. He moved to Leadville in 1850 with his wife, August, and mined what is known as California Gulch. That mine didn’t net him riches, so he sold it and became a Leadville merchant. During this time, he gave supplies to two men in exchange for 1/3 of their mining claim. Lucky for Tabor, the men struck silver, making Tabor rich. He used his wealth to start several other mining companies, making even wealthier. But Tabor was also a reckless spender, of which his wife didn’t approve. He eventually divorced August and married his mistress, Elizabeth McCourt, a.k.a. Baby Doe. Horace and Baby Doe continued to spend their wealth in a reckless manner, and when the silver market crashed in 1893, they were poor. Horace died in 1899 with the notion his mines would become profitable again, but he was wrong.
As a prominent, historic figure in Leadville’s history, Tabor’s house is now a museum and open to the public. His other famous legacy is the Tabor Opera House. Before Tabor came to Leadville, Denver had a difficult time acquiring opera singers to come to the city and perform. Out of the way and off the beaten path, opera companies thought Denver unworthy of their time, as getting to and leaving the city meant the loss of other dates and revenue. After Tabor came to Leadville, he opened a small opera house, and later decided to build an even bigger one that Denver, ‘Queen City of the Plains’ deserved. Construction began during the summer months, with Tabor sparing no expense for the finest opera house in the west. Constructed of cherry wood from Japan and mahogany from Honduras, the house was furnished with paintings from Europe, silk plush chairs, tapestry and carpeting. Opening night was September 6, 1881, with Tabor securing Emma Abbott and her Grand English Opera Company to christen the house. The house was a success for a few years until the Broadway Theater opened on 16th Street and took away most of the opera house’s business. Tabor had to sell his opera house in 1896, after he went bankrupt.
The Tabor Opera House still stands today and is undergoing major renovation, which is expected to last several years and is paid for in part by the town of Leadville. Improvements have been made to the roof and to structural support due to water seeping through the bricks and causing major problems from freezing and then thawing. Electrical work, plumbing, and the brick exterior also need to be improved as well as the heating. Currently the opera house is only open for performance during the summer because the building does not have heat.
July 4, 2018
Cowboy Slang
From the Atlantic to the Pacific and from North to South, folks are firing up the backyard grill and spreading checkered cloths over tables in preparation of celebrating the 4th of July. Potato salad, hot dogs and watermelon are in demand. Children are splashing in pools or running through sprinklers eagerly awaiting tonight’s fireworks. To add to the celebration across our great country, I present you with more Cowboy slang and humor. Happy 4th of July!!
Slang:
Bar dog: a bartender
Belly cheater: a cook
Camping on his trail: following someone too closely
Choke strap: derisive name for a necktie
Didn’t have a tail feather left: a person cleaned out at the gambling tables or a person who is completely broke
Dump: slang name for a bunkhouse
Flea bitten: a white horse covered in small, brown freckles
Gallin’: courting a girl
Haywire outfit: an inefficient outfit or ranch
Landed fork end up: thrown from a horse head first
Lead chucker: slang for gun
More lip than a muley cow: a person who talks too much
On the dodge: hiding from the law
Paul Pry: a meddler
Prairie wool: grass
Ride like a deputy sheriff: to ride recklessly
Roll your bed: command meaning you’re fired
Sacking: a saddle blanket
Shoots his back: when a horse bucks
Tear squeezer: a sad story
Slang:
Bar dog: a bartender
Belly cheater: a cook
Camping on his trail: following someone too closely
Choke strap: derisive name for a necktie
Didn’t have a tail feather left: a person cleaned out at the gambling tables or a person who is completely broke
Dump: slang name for a bunkhouse
Flea bitten: a white horse covered in small, brown freckles
Gallin’: courting a girl
Haywire outfit: an inefficient outfit or ranch
Landed fork end up: thrown from a horse head first
Lead chucker: slang for gun
More lip than a muley cow: a person who talks too much
On the dodge: hiding from the law
Paul Pry: a meddler
Prairie wool: grass
Ride like a deputy sheriff: to ride recklessly
Roll your bed: command meaning you’re fired
Sacking: a saddle blanket
Shoots his back: when a horse bucks
Tear squeezer: a sad story
