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Feeling Elderly

ellenparkerwrites

In preparation to write today’s blog, I reviewed some photos from September vacations. (That has been the general theme for this month.)

I had to pause on this one taken in a Wisconsin museum:

Hours and hours of my life, prior to college graduation, were spent filling, using, and draining a twin of this laundry aid. For those of you who grew up NOT using a wringer washing machine, this is a fine pair of rinse tubs. You arranged your equipment for the wringer to squeeze out the soapy water back into the washer and the clothes into the first tub. Then you rinsed, and rinsed, by hand, before you positioned the wringer to return the water to the first tub and the clothes into the second. Repeat your rinsing and then use the wringer between second tub and basket.

Presto! You’re ready to take the basket of clothes out to hang on the line.

Several hours later, you brought the dry clothes inside. (Quicker if a sudden shower arrived on the scene.) They were now ready to be ironed. A few could be folded directly from the line after ‘wash & wear’ fabrics were available. But in our household — we ironed almost everything.

The above description is a great improvement over doing the laundry in 1851. A scene in New Dreams, a sweet romance set in a fictional Illinois village, describes portions of the process. Find information about the book here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Military Outpost

ellenparkerwrites

Imagine for a moment you live in 1835. It’s graduation from West Point, and you are nervous as you open the envelope with your first assignment.

Fort Howard, Territory of Wisconsin.

Do you need to consult a map? Or are you familiar with your geography enough to know you’ll be at the junction of the Fox River and Green Bay?

You’ll find a thriving fort, a small town, and much forest. Will the Native Americans remain friendly? Will one of the many fevers put you in the hospital? Can keep your shooting skills sharp leading hunting parties? Or will your work be mundane — watching supplies, grooming horses, or supervising the guards?

No matter what the Army has in store for you — you can be certain that the winters will be long and the summer mosquitos plentiful.

Sounds like a good place to have a supply of books. Your choices would have been more limited than today. Religion, army manuals, naturalist’s journals, and a few novels.

I’m glad I live now and can read a sweet romance set in 1851 and consider it historical. New Dreams will be just right. But I wouldn’t mind reading while sitting on one of the many porches facing the parade ground. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Drive Careful!

ellenparkerwrites

Are you taking a road trip this September? I find this month an excellent time to travel — often the weather is fine and the tourist venues are less crowded than in summer. In the northern portions of the United States, the trees are might preview their fall colors.

Keeping watch at the weigh station

One day on the bus, this was our “welcome to New Hampshire.” The driver was careful, obeyed the rules, and left the police to watch, and correct, other drivers.

Never underestimate the value of a rest area when traveling on the highway. Most these days offer restrooms, water, picnic tables, and vending machines. They are excellent places to stretch your legs. Walk the dog when traveling with pets. Read a little local history on a placard or watch the kids enjoy a little playground time.

Travelers in 1851 would marvel at the facilities today. No matter the reputation of the steamboat, conditions were not like any modern mode of travel.

Check out a sweet romance set in a Mississippi River town in that era with New Dreams. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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City Spot of Green

ellenparkerwrites

City dwellers of all ages deserve the opportunity to enjoy a bit of nature. In the tiny village where I grew up, we had two parks. One, rather informal, was called The Duck Pond. As you may guess, the primary feature was a pond where ducks hung out. The other, where baseball games were played was operated by a local veteran’s organization.

Larger cities often have more and larger parks than the two I grew up near. And they are great places for a tourist to drop in, as well as local residents.

Willow trees and water features – and waterfowl – were plentiful in Boston Common.

Can you imagine yourself relaxing under the friendly willow on a sunny day and reading a book?

I’d pick a romance to read. Perhaps on the sweet side. If I wanted to mentally visit Missouri parks while relaxing in Boston, my choice would be Morning Tryst.

https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Keeping Employees Honest

ellenparkerwrites

From soon after the first cash transaction, employers have been keeping an eye on employees to make sure they stay honest.

Along the way — they’ve gotten some help from technology.

Carillon Historical Park – Dayton

Nope. Not a camera and recording system from the 21st century. This fine device has it’s roots firmly in the 19th century. With invention and patent issued in 1879 the idea of a cash register (they were expensive), did not gain popularity until several years after the Patterson brothers purchased the original company in 1884. They gave it a new name — perhaps you’ve heard of National Cash Register.

Accurate records tend to keep sticky fingers out of the till.

New Dreams, a sweet romance set prior to the cash register’s invention, includes characters with varying degrees of stickiness and their fingers — and varying attitudes toward thievery. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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The Sixth?

ellenparkerwrites

The Upper Midwest. The Great Lakes Region.

The area of the United States where I grew up goes by more than one name. And yes, the regional geography is dominated by five, large, freshwater lakes.

Burlington – Lake Champlain from shore

This is not a photo of any of the five Great Lakes. Rather it is Lake Champlain, sometimes referred to as the Sixth Great Lake.

Large enough to form a good share of the border between New York and Vermont, this is a contender. Actually, I prefer to think of it as separate and standing on its own for beauty and history. Besides, it’s rumored to have a monster — none of the five make the claim.

No sea monsters on the immigrant’s voyage. But they certainly saw their share of both salt and fresh water before they reached the interior of the United States. For a sweet romance featuring this journey, check out New Dreams. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

Sailing ship. Riverboat. Smaller riverboat. The journey from the German States to fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois, demanded courage — and time.

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Swedish Contribution

ellenparkerwrites

In my elementary school social studies book, I believe the Swedes rated two sentences. Somthing to the effect that they established a settlement in Delaware and contributed the log cabin to the American colonies.

Arriving in 1638, the Swedish established first a fort, and then a settlement – Fort Christina and Christinaham near the mouth of the Brandywine River.

Fort Christina

This 1930’s interpretation of the 17th century structure leaves much to be desired. We should have gotten the hint when we asked a group of relaxing firefighters for directions and their first response was an eye roll. But we found out way — through a rough, industrial section of the modern city to a small park. Hmm. Let’s give them a couple of points for effort.

Log cabins, frame buildings, and a few structures of brick and stone comprise fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois in 1851. Readers of sweet romance should enjoy this story of immigrants searching and working toward New Dreams.

Link for more book information: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Vacation Time

ellenparkerwrites

Do you have a favorite time for vacation? Are you limited by a school schedule? Or your specific occupation? Does your employer shut-down and thus everyone has the same vacation days?

Approaching bridge over Ohio River in Louisville

My personal favorite vacation time is September.

Early on this 2013 vacation trip, my travel companion was driving and I was able to enjoy our crossing of the Ohio River at Louisville, KY.

The fictional town of Elm Ridge, Illinois, attracted residents from Kentucky. And many other places — including the German States. For a sweet, historical romance featuring a few of these people, check out New Dreams. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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No Trespassing

ellenparkerwrites

Sometimes you see a sign. Or a fence. Or both to signal that a certain area is off limits for visitors.

The reasons are numerous. Perhaps the owner is a very private person. Or there is a danger — poisonous snakes or predator. Sometimes the danger is not visible — heed the warning.

Sometimes no sign is necessary.

These plants and sculptures sport an international, multi-lingual “no trespassing” sign. Stay away or suffer the consequences of my sharp spikes. I need space.

Space — and the ability to own land — brought many immigrants to the United States. Check out the story of one small group in the sweet, historical romance, New Dreams. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Fiddle among the Ferns

ellenparkerwrites

Is that right? No? Let me try again.

“Among the Fiddlehead Ferns.”

Is that better? Instead of conjuring an image of a violin player standing in a patch of ferns — we have created an image of you, dear reader, in a patch of unfurling ferns.

Translated to glass… the artist came up with this.

Green and graceful the fern unfurls in the spring air.

Can you see the tight coil unwinding as the plant draws nourishment from the soil? If you can identify the fern species the coils make a spring treat — be sure to cook — and have been eaten by numerous generations.

Alas — the glass will only remain in the public garden for a limited time. I do hope I can pay another visit before the exhibit ends.

No ferns cooked by the immigrants in New Dreams, a sweet historical romance. I wonder if some of the native-born in fictional Elm Ridge harvested the treat in early spring.

More book information here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE