Celeste's Journal

A pounding headache awakened me this morning.  Outside I could hear rain pounding.  Vivid flashes of lightning were punctuated by loud booms of thunder.  I could not pull myself from bed.  I went back to sleep.  And then...  I was awakened by a thunderous pounding on my shop door.

Glancing at the clock on my wall I realized that my shop was supposed to be open a half hour ago.  I flung on my wrapper, and dashed down the stairs, doing my best to ignore the violent pounding of my head.

Opening the door slightly to hide my state of dishabille I discovered Lucille Butler and her three small daughters, Alexa, Bertie, and Willie.  Now my head was REALLY pounding. 

In her most snippy tone Lucille said, "Are you sick?  We can't risk catching any disease from you."

I wished to slap that smug, snotty, superior look off her face.  I knew that I can not afford to lose her business.  So I said, "No, you can not catch my headache.  Come in.  I will just rush upstairs, dress, and then I will be back to help you."

Lucille did not utter one single word of condolences for Celeste's pounding head.  She sniffed in her most unattractive manner.  "I suppose that will have to do.  Such poor business practices are hard to accept!"

The next hour was torturous.  Lucille pulled out each and every bolt of cloth.  She chose the fabric for her daughters.  Then her daughters proceeded to have a temper tantrum.  Not just one Bond daughter but each and everyone of them. 

At the height of the madness, Blake Calkin strolled in.  Celeste noticed that he hesitated when he saw the Bond girls screaming and wailing.  He smiled briefly, "Lucille, girls."  Blake lifted his hat to each of the Bond's.

"Excuse me ladies but I must speak to Celeste, privately."  Blake took Celeste's arm and led her into her kitchen. 

"Thank you Blake.  I simply can not express to you what a blessing it is to have a distraction from the screamers."

Blake said, "I wanted to invite you out tonight."

"Out?"  Celeste asked.

"It's such a beautiful day.  I thought we could go out to Carter's Creek and have a picnic.  I will bring the food.  I'll pick you up at six?"

Celeste sighed, "Blake it sounds divine.  I have a migraine headache and the Bond ladies are NOT helping the situation."

Blake moved forward and began to massage Celeste's neck, head and shoulders.

The sensation was so marvelous that Celeste felt as though she would melt into the floor.  After only a short time Celeste stopped Blake.  "Blake this feels like Heaven but I can't afford to lose the Bond's patronage."

Blake said, "I'm going to stay while you assist them.  I think they may be a shade kinder if I'm witnessing their actions.  Then I'm going to massage you and get you some headache powders.  I will just spend the day with you.  Do you agree to that?"

Turning Celeste gently around so that she was facing him slowly, deliberately, he leaned down and kissed her gently. 

The kiss was gentle but Celeste's reaction to it was anything but gentle.  She was certain that she could hear fireworks, drums, perhaps an orchestra or two.  "Yyyess Blake, I would love to have you spend the day with me."  

Lucille called out in her most nasal tone, "If you have no interest in assisting me, I can take my business elsewhere!"

Blake whispered in Celeste's ear, "I will NEVER understand how a good man like Willard Bond married th tha thattt  Lucille!"

Hand in hand they walked out into the shop.

Anchors for good, or for bad?

 

Anchors have been used for a very long time.   They provide a way of holding a boat in place.  This is a good thing for many reasons.  It's helpful if you need to stop in one place to fish.  It's helpful if you need your boat to stand so that you can rest for a while.  There are many useful applications for an anchor.

Anchors are extremely heavy.  Not only does the ship pull at them, but they are buffeted by wind, rain, and ocean currents. The above picture is an anchor from the 1800's that was rescued and now plays the part of a reminder of time gone by.

Why did I choose the title for my series, "Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch?"  Why choose an anchor to name a landlocked ranch?  Well, actually, it's not really landlocked, the Columbia River is on part of the property.

Blake Calkin, the founder of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, is shanghaied at the age of 14.  He rises to become a ship Captain, and owns his own ship by the young age of 20.  He has reached an age, 22,  when he wants to build his own ranch, and start a family.  He looks all over the world and just can't seem to find the right place to build.

One night he has his 2nd in command take over so that he can get some much needed rest.  They are very close to the junction of the Columbia River, and the Pacific Ocean.  This is a very dangerous place to be.  The currents of the ocean, reaching the current of this great river creates a dangerous shifting of sands.  Even the most experienced of captains struggle to navigate this portal.  It has been named "The Graveyard of the Pacific," for a very good reason.  There have been myriads of shipwrecks in this space that have been recorded.

Running aground Blake is astonished at the beauty of the area that they have landed in.  He spends an hour walking around looking at the land.  He realizes that he has found the place that he wishes to make his own.

The crew fix the minor damage to the boat, and Blake commands it to Astoria.  There he goes to the land filing office.  He is very nervous that the area has already been sold.  He is ecstatic to discover that he can purchase five thousand acres, even ten thousand if he wishes.  He has wisely saved his money.  He sells the boat to his second in command and travels back to his new home.   He travels the ten thousand acres for a week before he finally determines where he will build his log cabin.  When trying to find a name for his ranch he remembers what led him here.  Drifting Anchor Ranch it is!

An anchor can actually be a negative thing.  If not set properly it can drift, pulling us off our life's course, and even running us aground.  It is good to have your life anchored to something positive, like having faith in yourself, your family, and your God.  On the other hand, if you do not set that anchor properly, by choosing to fill your time with shallow choices, you may find yourself run aground.

Anchors are hugely trendy in fashion right now.  I love it.  I have two anchor purses, an anchor phone case, anchor necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Wearing these often gives me the opportunity to speak about my series.  So, if you see a red headed lady with lots of anchors on, that just might be me!

Ripple or Chevron...you choose

When I was young I made a bunch of afghans.  One pattern that I enjoyed crocheting was called the "Ripple" afghan.  During the late 80's, 90's and into the first of the 21st century this pattern fell into disgrace.  People saw it as something only Grandma's would appreciate.

I was challenged one day when my daughter asked me, "Mama will you make me a Chevron afghan?"  I asked her to repeat the question.  Then I said, "What's a Chevron?"  She went to Google and showed me Chevrons.  I guess the British renamed the pattern and it became renewed, something trendy and desirable.

Not only are Chevron's big, they're REALLY BIG!  Chevron's on beach balls, clothing, towels, shower curtains, etc. etc. etc.  Sometimes the pattern all over women at  church makes me slightly dizzy.  I really like this pattern, but in small amounts.

It also reminds me of a trim that was used on clothing in the 60s and 70s.  It was called "Ric Rac."  This was sewn on clothing, towels, etc. etc.  It came in varying widths of Chevrons.

I know that in the 1800's crocheting and knitting was not something done as a hobby.  The products that were created were used as bedding, clothing, etc.  Knitting and crocheting were a satisfying method of clothing and warming your family.

I am not certain that either the Ripple or Chevron afghans were made then, but they may have been.  In the mean time they are just downright fun to create.  I will include links here on how to crochet or knit the things.

http://mosierfarms.blogspot.com  is a grand Chevron afghan pattern that is knitted.  I have made seven and they are absolutely lovely.

http://allfreecrochet.com gives some lovely variations of ripple afghans to make.

Christmas is coming, far too rapidly.  These make lovely gifts, especially in the cold winter months!  I know that any of the characters in my series, "Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch," would love to curl up in one of these beauties and read a good book in front of a warm fire, or just put it over them at night to go to sleep.  Happy creating!

Celeste - Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch

I had a grand book opening re-scheduled twice for my newest book in the series, "Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch".  The first postponement was because my beloved Mama passed at 95 years of age.  The other happened because my venue closed down.  So the birth of my 2nd book in the series, "Celeste, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch," fell flatter than bread without yeast, lower than a snake's belly, lower than the lowly earth worm.  Accompanying sound effect would sound like this....slow hiss of escaping air from a tire.

That does NOT mean that the book isn't interesting.  It does not mean that I no longer have any of the books for sale.  I actually still have many of them here in my humble abode.  If any one lives in the Davis County area of Utah and would like a copy of "Celeste, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch," that can be arranged through comments on this blog, Facebook or email.

It's time for a delicious recipe.  I've searched for the one that sounds most delicious to me...here it is!

FUDGE

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 squares of chocolate
3/4 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of butter

Mix together, stir briskly until sugar is dissolved and chocolate is melted.  Let boil until soft ball stage, turn into platter, and let it cool.  Nuts may be chopped up and added before it hardens as well.

Fudge is my favorite food.  I love all the myriad kinds of modern fudge.  I rarely eat it because I don't want ONE PIECE.  Doesn't satisfy me.  I want a pound or so...all to myself! 

Sugar was not as common in the 1800's as it is today.  It was really expensive.  Honey and molasses were still very commonly used sweeteners.  An estimate has been made that we, in the 21st century, eat about 500% more sugar than we did in the 1800s.  Our bodies have not evolved fast enough to deal with our sugar overload. 

So, make fudge, and only eat it once a week, right?  Am I right?  Well maybe you should not eat an entire pound of fudge once a  week.  Half a pound would probably be better!