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Monday, November 30, 2009
Regret
"The only thing I regret is that I will never have time to read all
the books I want to read." --Francoise
Sagan
Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving!
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving feast lasted for three days. Can you imagine stuffing yourself for three days? The Pilgrims did,
but I guess times were much different then. The least of their worries were over-eating Turkey and mashed potatoes to clog
their arteries. During the 17th century, they were more concerned about the plague and pox.
A while back a friend
of mine referred me to a website: Butter Bee Happy it's an on-line gratitude journal. Everyday you're supposed to write down five thoughts of gratitude, to help make
you a happier person. In the spirit of the holiday, I thought I would share some of my journal entries.
- Wonderful
family
- Great friends
- A job
- Internet access
- Wonderful pets (most of the time)
- Mexican
food
- Free time
- Chocolate & peanut butter--YUM!
- DVR!
- Coffee
- The Ellen D. Show
- Supplies
to do my crafts
- Ample money to buy supplies for crafts
- A fairly stress free life
- Bubble baths
- Movies
- Writing
- Books
What are you thankful for?
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Rewriting
“Rewriting is like scrubbing the basement floor with a toothbrush.”—Pete Murphy
I love this quote. And it very much fits the way I feel about editing. I’ve decided I dislike the editing process—greatly.
I am so bored with my current WIP, I am ready to stick it on the shelf and walk away. Probably never to look at it again.
I want to start something new, or pull out another of my unfinished novels just so I can work on something different
for a while. But everyone I have spoken to about this has advised me to push myself through my doldrums and get this story
polished. So back to the basement I trudge with my toothbrush in hand.
What is the editing process like for
you?
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Writing
Years ago I read The Forest for the Trees it's an advice book for writer's written by an editor, Betsy
Lerner. If you haven't read it, I suggest you do. It's great.
Not only does she give advice, but
she breaks down writer's personalities. One of things she suggests is: "In many ways writers are scared by
their ambitious hearts. Just as they are often accused of exposing others, they often fear being exposed themselves. To be
a writer, to come out of the closet, is to announce that you are different in some way."
As my family
can attest, this statement fits me to a tee. I absolutely hate letting anyone know that I write. Or for that matter, allowing
others to read my work. Ms. Lerner goes on to say that writing is a risky business in so much as is requires you to isolate
yourself from others, run the risk of rejection from family, friends, publishers and eventually critics, while so few writers
succeed to actual publication. She also wrote, if you can't give up, if hearing how impossible the odds are only makes
you want it more, it doesn't really matter. What's important is that you create.
You can read Ms. Lerner's
blog here:
The Forest for the Trees
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
RWA PRO Status
I have finally received my PRO status from RWA®. Actually, I received it a few months ago. This is supposed to be
an important step in my writing career, although in all actually, nothing has changed. I still struggle every time I sit down
at the computer. Not that I thought by reaching PRO status someone was going to wave a magic wand over my head and writing
was suddenly going to become easy. I don’t think writing will ever be easy, but will it ever get easier? I guess I thought
it would become easier by the time I reached that PRO status hurdle. Let me just tell all you newbies out there, the grass
isn't any greener on this side. Some days I wonder why I do it…but then the following morning I find myself, once
again, sitting at my computer hoping that will be the day the words will flow.
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Who's Your Dough Girl?
Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought it appropriate to talk food. My dough girl is a cute little
shop decorated in 50's style decor. They sell gourmet cookies and frozen dough. These cookies are delicious. As good as
homemade. For a complete list of their cookie selection visit: My Dough Girl
While eating one of these delicious cookies, I thought about what type of sweet confections a lady would have
eaten in the past. I came across a recipe for Ginger Bread Cakes that seemed fitting for the time of year. I thought I would
share.
Ginger Bread Cakes
Take 3 pd of flower a pd of sugar & a pd of butter rubbd
very fine an ounce of ginger & a grated nutmeg mix it with a pd of treacle & a quarter of a pt of cream warmed together
to make up you bread stiff roul them out cut them in little cakes bake them in a slack oven.
The Iceing
Beat & sift a pd of doubt iceing sugar & put to it ye whites of 4 eggs put it but one at a time beat them in a
bason with a silver spoon till tis very leight & white.
I think I'll stick with "My Dough Girl". What about you, has anyone else tried these cookies?
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Regency Marriage--Part Five After The Runaways
There were always ways around the rules. Some couples chose to dash across the border to Scotland. Although Gretna Green
was not the only place for runaway couples, it was the most famous.
Off to Gretna Green, “to be wed over
the anvil,” although there was not anvil or a blacksmith to perform the wedding, despite the folklore. The ceremony
was usually performed by a parson. Why did so many young couples choose to dash off to Scotland? There were any number of
reasons: A young man out to make his fortune, and the quickest way, marry an heiress. Pressure from parents to marry their
daughter to one she detests, so she makes the choice herself and runs away. Two lovers trying to cover a pregnancy…
Many young women were persuaded to make the run to Gretna Green and face the family and society rejection that would
follow on their return, all because of love. Sometimes, runaways were pursued, and even caught;
before damage could be done and they would become society’s outcasts.
Robert Elliott the most famous
Gretna Green parson, claims to have married over 3,000 couples. Gretna was a small village with a few clay houses, the parish
kirt, the ministers house, and a large inn. There was a bedroom adjoining the marriage room. Occasionally, a runaway couple
who was being pursued would race in there, prior to the ceremony, and consummate the marriage.
The tradition
of flowers at weddings stems from the tradition of a Medieval knight wearing his Lady's colors. The Groom's button-hole
flower is supposed to be a flower that appears in the Bride's bouquet. Each flower has its own meaning so expresses a
special message.
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Monday, November 9, 2009
Napoleon Bonaparte
November 9, 1799--Napoleon Bonaparte pulled off a coup and declared himself dictator of France.
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Friday, November 6, 2009
Regency Marriage--Part Four Special License
A special license was obtained from the Archbishop of Canterbury or his office in Doctor’s Commons in London.
The fee for this license was about £5. A special license lifted the time and place restrictions, but all other requirements
were the same. The names of the applicants had to be included and risk of nullification existed if these names were altered
in any way. As with the banns and regular license, the special license was good for three months.
Brides seldom
bought a new gown for their wedding, they opted for their best dress instead.
It was Queen Victoria who made
the white wedding dress popular. Not only did white symbolize purity and virginity, but they believed it to also ward off
evil spirits. Another tradition to confuse malicious, no good spirits, was the custom of bridesmaids. Brides began surrounding
themselves with other finely dressed women in order to keep the evil spirits at bay.
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Regency Marriage--Part Three License
Can you imagine being pelted with eggs on your wedding day? Psst...don't knock the bride out before she makes her
escape from the church! In some European countries, eggs are thrown instead of the traditional "confetti" of grain
or nuts. They were chosen because they are "life-giving" seeds. Eggs? I'm not sure why...
Originally,
the wedding cake, made up of a lot little wheat cakes, was broken over the Bride's head in order to bestow fertility and
a lifetime of luck. It is said, if a single woman sleeps with a piece of the cake under her pillow, she will dream of her
future husband.
Marriage with a license is similar to banns, although there was a fee. The stamp of duty was
10s. Any bishop or archbishop could issue the license without first publishing the banns. The parties
had to declare they had parental (or guardian) consent if underage, that there was no impediment to the marriage, and that
they be wed in a parish church or chapel where one of them dwells or resided for the duration of at least four weeks. Again,
the marriage took place between 8 a.m. and 12 noon.
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Regency Marriage--Part Two Publishing the Banns
Get me to the Church. When it comes to weddings, every one is superstitious. But where do all these old traditions and
superstitions come from?
Well, some can be traced back to Roman & Anglo Saxon times, some to Victorian rhymes
and still others to folklore that has been passed down through countless generations. All of them have to do with bestowing
good luck and fertility on the happy couple.
So according to superstition the best way to get to the Church is
to walk. And you had better keep your peepers peeled for a lucky omen or two on the way--such as: meeting a black cat, having
the sun shine on the bride, a rainbow, or meeting a chimney sweep.
But when you walked you also took a chance
of running across a bad omen. You wanted to steer clear of Nuns or Monks. Seeing either of these foretold of a life dependent
upon charity or perhaps of barrenness. Spotting an open grave, or having a lizard, pig or hare cross your path was also extremely
unlucky.
Prior to actually getting to the ceremony the happy couple had to establish their intent if there was
no special license involved. That is where publishing of the banns came into effect. There was no fee involved, but
this had the longest waiting period. At least one of the couple had to have established residency of four weeks before the
reading of the banns. This had to be presented to the cleric seven days prior to the first banns reading, along with their
true identity, abode, and established residency. Over the next three Sundays during the church service, the names of the couple
were announced and an inquiry made as to whether there was reason they should not be wed.
After the banns were
published, the cleric then issued a certificate. The couple had three months in which to use the license. They could marry
any given day between 8 a.m. and 12 noon in the parish chapel were the banns had been published. If one of the party came
from a different parish the banns had to be read there also and a certificate sent to the performing cleric stating the marriage
could proceed.
Coming home after the ceremony could be equally hazardous as getting there. To avoid bad luck,
tradition dictates the new wife must enter her home by the main door and must never trip or fall - hence the custom that a
bride should be carried over the threshold.
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