The tree with lacy whiteness on redded berries danced branches open to embrace winter's wonders
I HATE WINTER!! Looking at the above line you might not guess that. I was born in the winter warmth of Southern California. I do NOT need snow to think it's Christmasey. Actually I would prefer to go to the beach, and tiptoe into the waves, dancing with the oceans rhythms.
I lived for six wonderful years in socal as I've heard it called now. SIGH, I know that by confessing the next statement I'm showing my age. At the same time I'm proud of each and every year that I've lived and would NOT give any back, EVEN the miserable ones...they had something to teach me!
So....age, and life aside, I have since lived in Utah, Minnesota, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where they proudly announce that they receive at least six FEET of snow each and every winter. They fail to announce that said snow falls over the period of around SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS EACH YEAR! Really, really? Who wants to live in winter longer than any other season?
OK...so, six years in wintry warmth, and forty-nine years in winter frost and ice. HMMMM....maybe I should finally learn to embrace winter? That is my goal for this year. So, once in awhile you will see me post something wonderful about winter as I try to change my attitude towards this specific season.
I'm going to partake now of one of my favorite gifts of cold....HOT COCOA! Either made with Kaffix, or Pero to give it a mocha like sweet and bitter, or with cinnamon, and whipped cream to turn it into a Mexican luxury...either way it's warmth and goodness both to sight, smell, and sniffing, and gently it warms you from the inside out.
So...two positive things about winter, writing fun little sound bites of beauty, AND drinking hot cocoa. Please, anyone that reads this put in the comments positive things that you like about winter. Maybe I can add your reasons to my I EMBRACE WINTER list.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Christmas Tradition
The hill was steep, strewn with gopher holes, and small bushes trying to trap Angela's feet
as she trudged along. Suddenly she was airborn. Two strong arms slid her onto a tall back.
Angela shrieked, "Eric, what are you doing?" "The doc said that we have to make certain
that you don't over do any physical exertion." "Phooey," Angela grumbled. "Doctor's don't
know nothin' about nothin'!" Eric chuckled. I'm glad that Dr. Stone isn't hearing you say that!"
"Come on Angela, let's run!" Angela shrieked again as she clutched her arms around Eric's
neck. She put her short legs around Eric's waist as far as she could and hung on hard. At
one point Eric said in a raspy, choked voice, "Um, do you think that you could loosen that
grip around my neck just a tad? I find choking to be most uncomfortable!" Angela giggled.
When they reached the top of the hill Angela gasped. The world seemed to slant away from
them. Below them were silvery clouds that seemed to be tucked in between the trees. A cozy cottage was nestled in the valley below with a stream that ran by.
Jamie came up and tickled Angela. She couldn't stop him. Everytime she tried to capture
his invading hands he just moved to a different spot. Finally Angela said, "Eric, help me.
Stop Jamie!"
Eric turned quickly and slid Angela into his arms in front of him. Angela
thought that she was safe from tickling. She couldn't have been more wrong. Now Eric
and Jamie BOTH started tickling her ribs, her knees which were EXTREMELY
ticklish. Angela was laughing so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.
When she could catch her breath she called out, "Help me Papa Blake!" Blake and Red
came up behind them. Red and Blake had been taking turns hauling a large sled. The
sled was to pull the tree home.
Blake said, "Jamie, Eric, you need to give Angela a break. After all you should pick on
someone your own size!" Jamie looked at Eric, Eric looked back at Jamie. Eric put
Angela on her feet, and the two of them began to tickle their father. Both of them knew
that Blake was very ticklish. Angela saw what they were doing and moved in to help
them. Laughing hard Blake couldn't fight off the three of them at once.
Finally Red whistled between his two fingers. The sound was shatteringly surprising.
The ticklers all ceased their actions. "Now don't get me wrong. I'm all in for a good
tickling, especially when it's directed at Mister Blake. On the other hand we need to
get Angela home quickly. She can't get a chill.
Angela groaned. "I'm all better. Honestly! When are you menfolk all going to quit
treating me like Great Old Aunt Matilda?" "'Great old aunt Matilda,'" Eric and Jamie
mouthed at each other in delight." Angela bristled, "Don't you two fools go off
making fun of the way I talk. I reckon that if you had lived my life you wouldn't
know how to talk too good either."
Blake nodded, "Angela is right." Now, enough of this, let's get tree hunting. The
great Christmas tree hunt of 1890 began.
as she trudged along. Suddenly she was airborn. Two strong arms slid her onto a tall back.
Angela shrieked, "Eric, what are you doing?" "The doc said that we have to make certain
that you don't over do any physical exertion." "Phooey," Angela grumbled. "Doctor's don't
know nothin' about nothin'!" Eric chuckled. I'm glad that Dr. Stone isn't hearing you say that!"
"Come on Angela, let's run!" Angela shrieked again as she clutched her arms around Eric's
neck. She put her short legs around Eric's waist as far as she could and hung on hard. At
one point Eric said in a raspy, choked voice, "Um, do you think that you could loosen that
grip around my neck just a tad? I find choking to be most uncomfortable!" Angela giggled.
When they reached the top of the hill Angela gasped. The world seemed to slant away from
them. Below them were silvery clouds that seemed to be tucked in between the trees. A cozy cottage was nestled in the valley below with a stream that ran by.
Jamie came up and tickled Angela. She couldn't stop him. Everytime she tried to capture
his invading hands he just moved to a different spot. Finally Angela said, "Eric, help me.
Stop Jamie!"
Eric turned quickly and slid Angela into his arms in front of him. Angela
thought that she was safe from tickling. She couldn't have been more wrong. Now Eric
and Jamie BOTH started tickling her ribs, her knees which were EXTREMELY
ticklish. Angela was laughing so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.
When she could catch her breath she called out, "Help me Papa Blake!" Blake and Red
came up behind them. Red and Blake had been taking turns hauling a large sled. The
sled was to pull the tree home.
Blake said, "Jamie, Eric, you need to give Angela a break. After all you should pick on
someone your own size!" Jamie looked at Eric, Eric looked back at Jamie. Eric put
Angela on her feet, and the two of them began to tickle their father. Both of them knew
that Blake was very ticklish. Angela saw what they were doing and moved in to help
them. Laughing hard Blake couldn't fight off the three of them at once.
Finally Red whistled between his two fingers. The sound was shatteringly surprising.
The ticklers all ceased their actions. "Now don't get me wrong. I'm all in for a good
tickling, especially when it's directed at Mister Blake. On the other hand we need to
get Angela home quickly. She can't get a chill.
Angela groaned. "I'm all better. Honestly! When are you menfolk all going to quit
treating me like Great Old Aunt Matilda?" "'Great old aunt Matilda,'" Eric and Jamie
mouthed at each other in delight." Angela bristled, "Don't you two fools go off
making fun of the way I talk. I reckon that if you had lived my life you wouldn't
know how to talk too good either."
Blake nodded, "Angela is right." Now, enough of this, let's get tree hunting. The
great Christmas tree hunt of 1890 began.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Lucille Bond
Lucille Bond LOVED nothing better than creating! She created all day long. Willard Bond, her husband had helped her in the creation of a family. Their love had created three beautiful daughters, Wilhelmina Elizabeth (Willy), Roberta, (Bertie), and Alexandria (Alexa).
Her family gave her the motivation to create, beautiful meals, clean clothes, a lovely home, and a community that was a positive place to live. Lucille spent every minute of everyday "creating."
Even in Lucille's sleep she "created," the things that she needed and wanted to do the next day, the next week, the next month, she fell asleep "creating," and her dreams were filled with her "creations."
Lucille LOVED to cook. She adored taking raw ingredients and turning them into a savory broth, or stew. Making dessert that made her family smile brought her sincere joy. One of her favorite recipes was one of her simplest. Fresh egg noodles were a way that Lucille connected to her Mother and Grandmother who had both passed from this life.
Everytime she beat out the eggs, thicken with flour, and then rolled the preparation into a thin sheet she remembered her Mother teaching her with a huge smile. As she cut the noodles into long strips she remembered the way that her Grandmother had looked with a winter fire shining into her silvery crown of braids.
Yes, Lucille Bond loved to CREATE!
Her family gave her the motivation to create, beautiful meals, clean clothes, a lovely home, and a community that was a positive place to live. Lucille spent every minute of everyday "creating."
Even in Lucille's sleep she "created," the things that she needed and wanted to do the next day, the next week, the next month, she fell asleep "creating," and her dreams were filled with her "creations."
Lucille LOVED to cook. She adored taking raw ingredients and turning them into a savory broth, or stew. Making dessert that made her family smile brought her sincere joy. One of her favorite recipes was one of her simplest. Fresh egg noodles were a way that Lucille connected to her Mother and Grandmother who had both passed from this life.
Everytime she beat out the eggs, thicken with flour, and then rolled the preparation into a thin sheet she remembered her Mother teaching her with a huge smile. As she cut the noodles into long strips she remembered the way that her Grandmother had looked with a winter fire shining into her silvery crown of braids.
Yes, Lucille Bond loved to CREATE!
Lucille Bond's Egg Noodles
4 eggs
pinch of salt
Beat eggs and thicken with flour until stiff. Roll out thin and let dry. When dry
roll up and cut.
Guaranteed DELICIOUS in chicken noodle soup, or any other recipe that uses egg noodles!
pinch of salt
Beat eggs and thicken with flour until stiff. Roll out thin and let dry. When dry
roll up and cut.
Guaranteed DELICIOUS in chicken noodle soup, or any other recipe that uses egg noodles!
JAMES LEHI CALKIN
The first time that Beth saw Jamie she was convinced he was a giant. It seemed to her that his head touched the clouds. At six years of age Beth was not very tall. Jamie was around Wilhelmina Elizabeth's age but he was much taller.
His full name, when the school teacher read it, was almost as big as he was. "James Lehi Calkin," Mr. Dredge said. "Here," responded James. Then he added, "Mr. Dredge, please call me Jamie, everyone does." Mr. Dredge looked over his spectacles, "Well then, Jamie, it is."
Wilhelmina Elizabeth didn't understand why Jamie's skin was so much darker than hers. Of course, she reasoned most people had darker skin than she did. Her skin was very, very light. In fact one of the students in her school told her that she was transparent. She didn't know what that was but she thought it must be bad because the other children snickered.
Her Mother had told her about Indian's. They were savages, uneducated, and godless. It didn't make sense for Jamie to be an Indian, he WASN'T uneducated. He had the same education that she did.
Jamie's Father was Blake Calkin. Blake was golden brown most of the time from working outside most of his life. Yet Jamie was subtly browner, darker than his Father. Wilhelmina Elizabeth had never met Jamie's Mother. Sarah Calkin had died only a few days after giving Jamie life.
Rumors swirled around young Wilhelmina Elizabeth's head. Rumors that said that Jamie's Mother had been the leader of a tribe of Indian's called "The People." The stories said that Sarah had left her tribe to become Blake Calkin's wife. After that information nothing else made sense to young Willy.
Her Mother said, "Sarah Calkin was nothing but a low-down savage." Willy didn't really understand but she knew that her Mother's sweet voice got harder, and darker when she said those words.
His full name, when the school teacher read it, was almost as big as he was. "James Lehi Calkin," Mr. Dredge said. "Here," responded James. Then he added, "Mr. Dredge, please call me Jamie, everyone does." Mr. Dredge looked over his spectacles, "Well then, Jamie, it is."
Wilhelmina Elizabeth didn't understand why Jamie's skin was so much darker than hers. Of course, she reasoned most people had darker skin than she did. Her skin was very, very light. In fact one of the students in her school told her that she was transparent. She didn't know what that was but she thought it must be bad because the other children snickered.
Her Mother had told her about Indian's. They were savages, uneducated, and godless. It didn't make sense for Jamie to be an Indian, he WASN'T uneducated. He had the same education that she did.
Jamie's Father was Blake Calkin. Blake was golden brown most of the time from working outside most of his life. Yet Jamie was subtly browner, darker than his Father. Wilhelmina Elizabeth had never met Jamie's Mother. Sarah Calkin had died only a few days after giving Jamie life.
Rumors swirled around young Wilhelmina Elizabeth's head. Rumors that said that Jamie's Mother had been the leader of a tribe of Indian's called "The People." The stories said that Sarah had left her tribe to become Blake Calkin's wife. After that information nothing else made sense to young Willy.
Her Mother said, "Sarah Calkin was nothing but a low-down savage." Willy didn't really understand but she knew that her Mother's sweet voice got harder, and darker when she said those words.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wilhelmina Elizabeth Bond Calkin
A one room school was Wilhelmina's introduction to education. Her name Wilhelmina was intimidating to other children. So they shortened Wilhelmina to Willy. Wilhelmina HATED being called Willy only slightly more than she hated being called Wilhelmina.
Her Father's name was Willard. Her Mother was convinced that Wilhelmina was going to be a son. Since she was the first child it seemed normal to name her after her Father. The name would have been Willard Lucas Bond, Jr. When the baby was NOT a boy, her Mother still named her for her Father.
When being obedient, a model student, and practically perfect in every way did NOT gain her absentee Father's attention Willy began to pick on smaller children, or poorer children, or pretty much ANY children that she could get away with bullying. She decided that she would rather get her Father's attention for negative behavior than to never get his attention at all. Her nickname became WICKED WILLY. This name gave her pleasure because she WAS Wicked. Somehow her misery seemed less when others were also miserable at her hands.
Her parents sent her to a very elite school for women in Switzerland. This was a dream come
true for Willy. She determined before she arrived at school that she would NOT be called Wilhelmina, Willy, or Elizabeth. Beth was a beautiful name, and it would be hers, she would make certain!
When she arrived home after three years in Switzerland she looked very different. She had learned how to wear clothes elegantly. Her hair was dressed in a new style that was very becoming to her long face. The most important difference was that she was extremely confident...actually she was more arrogant than confident. She felt that she was better than anyone else. Especially in the tiny town where she had grown up.
The one person that made her return to Calkington was Eric Calkin. As a tiny girl she had decided that she was going to marry Eric. He was the oldest son of the founder of the Calkington, and the heir to the amazing Drifting Anchor Ranch. Imagine her dismay to discover that her worst childhood enemy Angela Butler was engaged to Eric. There was nothing she could do to stop their marriage, or was there?
Her Father's name was Willard. Her Mother was convinced that Wilhelmina was going to be a son. Since she was the first child it seemed normal to name her after her Father. The name would have been Willard Lucas Bond, Jr. When the baby was NOT a boy, her Mother still named her for her Father.
When being obedient, a model student, and practically perfect in every way did NOT gain her absentee Father's attention Willy began to pick on smaller children, or poorer children, or pretty much ANY children that she could get away with bullying. She decided that she would rather get her Father's attention for negative behavior than to never get his attention at all. Her nickname became WICKED WILLY. This name gave her pleasure because she WAS Wicked. Somehow her misery seemed less when others were also miserable at her hands.
Her parents sent her to a very elite school for women in Switzerland. This was a dream come
true for Willy. She determined before she arrived at school that she would NOT be called Wilhelmina, Willy, or Elizabeth. Beth was a beautiful name, and it would be hers, she would make certain!
When she arrived home after three years in Switzerland she looked very different. She had learned how to wear clothes elegantly. Her hair was dressed in a new style that was very becoming to her long face. The most important difference was that she was extremely confident...actually she was more arrogant than confident. She felt that she was better than anyone else. Especially in the tiny town where she had grown up.
The one person that made her return to Calkington was Eric Calkin. As a tiny girl she had decided that she was going to marry Eric. He was the oldest son of the founder of the Calkington, and the heir to the amazing Drifting Anchor Ranch. Imagine her dismay to discover that her worst childhood enemy Angela Butler was engaged to Eric. There was nothing she could do to stop their marriage, or was there?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Here WE go AGAIN!~
I'm always excited by the prospect of putting thoughts on a blank page! This is the blankest of pages currently, but don't be confused....IT WILL NOT STAY BLANK!
On this Blog I will post information about my series "Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch." I will have pedigree charts of family connections, pictures of my fictional town "Calkington, and the Ranch. I will post recipes, and patterns from that era, and music that they would be tapping their toes to. In addition I will be sharing some original music...we'll see how that works out? lol
I'm ever so excited for the new Blog as it unfolds. I hope that others will find their way here and enjoy the content.
Update....Beth, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, can be purchased at Aunt Addy's Country Cottage, on Main Street in Farmington, UT. Buying the paperback there will save a bit of cash. I priced it for sale $3.00 cheaper than purchasing it online. You also save shipping costs. If you are shopping for Christmas Aunt Addy's has many, many lovely, affordable gifts to purchase, and there is very little traffic to battle, and easy parking!
If you wish you may purchase my first book online at Lulu.com in book format or Nook format. You can purchase the Kindle format on Amazon.com.
This blog has journal entries for Celeste. Her book, Celeste, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, will be published soon, also Angela, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch. For a change of pace I'm also writing a book, "Thrive, Don't Just Survive."
On Nov. 20th you can read my interview with writer Kathryn Elizabeth Jones at Kathy@riverofstones.com She is a terrific writer that I met at a Christmas boutique. She's been writing since 1986 (ish), and her book about facing your personal Goliath's will inspire you to reach higher, and do better.
I LOVE to write, and I love to read, and I really appreciate any and all comments on my blogs. Your constructive criticisms or insights help me to understand who my audience is. Thanks!
On this Blog I will post information about my series "Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch." I will have pedigree charts of family connections, pictures of my fictional town "Calkington, and the Ranch. I will post recipes, and patterns from that era, and music that they would be tapping their toes to. In addition I will be sharing some original music...we'll see how that works out? lol
I'm ever so excited for the new Blog as it unfolds. I hope that others will find their way here and enjoy the content.
Update....Beth, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, can be purchased at Aunt Addy's Country Cottage, on Main Street in Farmington, UT. Buying the paperback there will save a bit of cash. I priced it for sale $3.00 cheaper than purchasing it online. You also save shipping costs. If you are shopping for Christmas Aunt Addy's has many, many lovely, affordable gifts to purchase, and there is very little traffic to battle, and easy parking!
If you wish you may purchase my first book online at Lulu.com in book format or Nook format. You can purchase the Kindle format on Amazon.com.
This blog has journal entries for Celeste. Her book, Celeste, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, will be published soon, also Angela, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch. For a change of pace I'm also writing a book, "Thrive, Don't Just Survive."
On Nov. 20th you can read my interview with writer Kathryn Elizabeth Jones at Kathy@riverofstones.com She is a terrific writer that I met at a Christmas boutique. She's been writing since 1986 (ish), and her book about facing your personal Goliath's will inspire you to reach higher, and do better.
I LOVE to write, and I love to read, and I really appreciate any and all comments on my blogs. Your constructive criticisms or insights help me to understand who my audience is. Thanks!
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