Old Homes and the First Thanksgiving

As many of you know, I'm mad about old homes and often feature them in my books. My latest time travel romance series, Ladies in Time, is all about cool old homes. Maybe living in antiquated houses most of my life has influenced me. The farm house my husband and I live in now was built just after the Civil War, probably because its predecessor was burned, but that's another story. History fascinates me, and Colonial America has a powerful draw. Virginia is great state to immerse myself in that era, among others. The Civil War...

(Berkeley)

Years ago, while doing research for Traitor's Legacy, the sequel to colonial American historical romance novel Enemy of the King, the idea came to me for ghostly time travel romance, Somewhere My Love. In addition to touring colonial Williamsburg, mom and I visited some of the lovely James River Plantations. Two of these stately homes, Berkeley and Shirley, inspired the house in Somewhere My Love, Foxleigh. Berkeley, originally called Berkeley Hundred and named after one of its founders, has a wealth of history behind it. As we toured the grounds, a strong sense of the past flowed over me, carrying me back.

The magnificent terraced boxwood gardens and lawn extend a quarter-mile from the front door to the James River. The mansion itself wasn’t built until 1726, but the plantation’s history reaches much farther back into America‘s roots. I didn’t realize this, but Berkeley was the actual site of the first Thanksgiving in America on Dec. 4, 1619.

 (Breadseed Poppy-- seed from Monticello)

 (Williamsburg)

 (Foxglove--historic herb/flower)

On December 4,1619, 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred about 8,000 acres on the north bank of the James River near Herring Creek in an area then known as Charles Cittie. It was about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607. The group’s charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a day of thanksgiving to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving.

In 1622, nine of the settlers at Berkeley Hundred were killed in a Native American uprising, as well as a third of the entire population of the Virginia Colony. The Berkeley Hundred site and other outlying locations were abandoned as the colonists withdrew to Jamestown and other more secure points. After several years, the site became Berkeley Plantation and was long the traditional home of the Harrison family, one of the First Families of Virginia. 

(Reenactors)

Benjamin Harrison, son of the builder of Berkeley and the plantation’s second owner, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and three-time Governor of Virginia. William Henry Harrison, Benjamin‘s third son, born at Berkeley, nicknamed Tippecanoe for his fame as an Indian fighter, later became the ninth President of the United States, in 1841. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President.

Many famous founding fathers and mothers were guests at this gracious estate. For more on Berkeley Plantation and a fascinating glimpse into early America visit: http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/ 

And: http://www.jamesriverplantations.org/Berkeley.html

 If you have the opportunity to visit in person, by all means go.

(Chipmunk on pumpkin by my mother)

For more on my work please visit my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Beth-Trissel/e/B002BLLAJ6/

Thanksgiving and a "A Musical Christmas" - by Judy Ann Davis

Thanksgiving, a national holiday in our United States, originated as a harvest festival. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. As a farmer’s kid, I especially like the idea of celebrating the fall harvest. It means all the hard work in the fields is done for the year.

Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the last Thursday of the month since the time of Abraham Lincoln. In 1941, President Roosevelt made the final permanent change by signing a bill making Thanksgiving Day fall on the fourth Thursday of November, regardless of whether it is the last Thursday of the month or not. This year it falls on November 28^th.

I’m a fan of Thanksgiving. It’s a day of celebration where gifts are forgotten and the food is plentiful. I love the smell of a turkey roasting with the scent of sage and spices filling the entire house. And I am a huge fan of pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream.

Now Available

In the northern states, Thanksgiving also is a reminder that Old Man Winter is on his way with flying fat snowflakes and sparkling white snowbanks. For many, the national holiday also heralds the start of the holiday season as stores and shops blare carols, hymns, and contemporary songs of Christmas from their speakers.  And Christmas music is something I can get behind, even if I dislike shopping for presents.

Releasing Soon!

This year, I created a “Musical Christmas Series,” consisting of three novellas. My first one, JUNE ~ The Pianist, was released the end of October. Each female main character plays a musical instrument and has a story to tell. I’m excited to reveal that ADELENE ~ The Violinist is also releasing at the end of this month in time for the Christmas season. LUCY will be released next year. What is her instrument? It’s a secret. [wink, wink]

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holidays. The next time my post comes up, it will be Christmas Eve.

LINKS:    JUNE on Kindle   JUNE  on Nook      

ADELENE on Kindle
Amazon Author Page    

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My Blog    Website   

 

MEMORIES OF THANKSGIVINGS AT OUR HOUSE -- Laurean Brooks

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving Dinner might consist of a couple of squirrels or a rabbit that Daddy brought home from his early morning hunting excursion. Daddy rose early on Thanksgiving day, took his rifle off the rack, and trekked through the woods with our trusty dogs, Rex and Joe at his side. 

These dogs were a funny-looking pair. Rex was an Airedale mix while Joe was mostly Daschund. One small, one large. “Mutt and Jeff,” we used to call them. It didn't bother them. They were best of buddies.

After Daddy skinned the rabbit or squirrels, Mama did the cooking and made creamy mouth-watering gravy to go with it. No matter what meal we shared on Thanksgiving Day—turkey, squirrel, or rabbit, with mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans, green beans, sweet potato pie, and banana pudding--the best part was the conversation. And it flowed among our large family gathered around the long table as we caught up on the latest developments in each others' lives. Plenty of laughter filled the air, good-natured teasing and such.

Only when the older kids went to work, did our family feast on Butterball Turkey for Thanksgiving. Henry I. Siegel, where I worked, gave one away to its employees at Christmas, while my brother got one from his factory for Thanksgiving.

When I was in my teens, my two older brothers joined the service to fight in the Vietnam conflict. They were sorely missed, more so during the holidays. The empty chairs around the table spoke volumes. But, although they were absent in body, they were still in our hearts and in our prayers.

These Thanksgiving memories dwell in my heart as proof that family ties, love and laughter can still exist while conflict rages across the ocean. I thank God for those special family get-togethers and for bringing both my brothers safely home.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends. Enjoy these special holidays with your loved ones. But most of all make lasting memories while you can. 

May God bless you all. 

***************************************************************

When Josh Kramer picked up his aunt's house help at the depot, he had no idea she had actually ordered the young woman as a bride for him. The plot thickens. Carrie Franklin isn't even the young woman Josh's aunt ordered. She's an imposter, running from the law. 

If you enjoy Western Romance with plenty of unexpected twists, you will love NOT WHAT HE ORDERED.

https://www.amazon.com/Not-What-Ordered-Laurean-Brooks/dp/194509429X

Winter Comes to Texas by @JoanReeves #SmartGirlsReadRomance

With these reminders, how did I forget to blog?

When I was a kid, if I didn't move fast enough, my grandparents would say, "You're as slow as Christmas!"

Well, that's me lately. I've been crazy busy for about 2 weeks so it was inevitable that something important—like writing my monthly post—should fall through the cracks.

Even worse, I realized I hadn't written my Smart Girls Blog about 4 hours ago, but I was handling another crucial issue so I couldn't drop everything and write it.

Until now. So let's talk about Winter in Texas. If you have to have a winter, then the ones we have in Texas are tolerable.

Winter? Brrr!

Yep. I don't care much for winter. I spent a year living in South Dakota, and I spent a couple of winter weeks many years ago in South Korea—truly one of the colder places on the planet. Both those experiences left me with a lasting disregard for cold weather.

Bronze mums with still-blooming lantana.

Still there are some pleasant aspects of this less desirable season. Mums spring immediately to mind.
I love chrysanthemums of every hue.

When I lived in Japan, the flower lady came by every week with a dishpan full of pom pom mums on her head. I bought from her every week even though the flowers lasted for several weeks.

For years, I've bought a pot of mums from my local supermarket at least once a month. They grace my living room coffee table until they begin to fade. Then I cut them back and plant them in my yard.

I have just about every color of mum growing in the yards of both of my houses. They defy the Texas winter.

Holiday Books and Box Sets

Winter brings the wonderful holiday romances and box sets that I love to read and to which I love to contribute.

First up this season is a brand new box set, Christmas Shorts, a collection of 18 holiday short stories.

I totally love this cover. Isn't it  adorable?

Stories in Christmas Shorts

Christmas Runaway by Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

The Captain's Christmas Leave by  Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Christmas Games by Stephanie Queen, USA Today bestselling author.

Second Chance Christmas by Jen Talty, USA Today bestselling author.

Meeting Sam Klaus by Melinda De Ross, USA Today bestselling author.

Stuck On The Naughty List by Joan Reeves, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Can the new Police Chief mend Cassie's broken heart?

I love this cover too!!

A Match Made in Mistletoe by Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Candy's Christmas Rescue by Cynthia Cooke, USA Today bestselling author.

A Christmas Creek Caper by Rachelle Ayala, USA Today bestselling author.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Taylor Lee, USA Today bestselling author.

Peter Elph by Dani Haviland by USA Today bestselling author.

Christmas Cupid by Nancy Radke by USA Today bestselling author.

A Love on the Edge by Jennifer St. Giles by USA Today bestselling author.

Because We're Snowflakes by Susan Jean Ricci, USA Today bestselling author.

A Magical Christmas by Jacquie Biggar, USA Today bestselling author.

A Chance of Snow by Alyssa Bailey, USA Today bestselling author.

Holiday Pickup By The Sea by Traci Hall, USA Today bestselling author.

A Chocolate-Box Christmas by Josie Riviera, USA Today bestselling author.

See Capitola in the northwest corner of Mason County?

About STUCK ON THE NAUGHTY LIST

I wrote this story and set it in Capitola, Texas, a town which exists only in memory now.

Capitola is one of more than a thousand ghost towns in Texas. I seem to have formed the habit of creating fictional towns from these ghost towns.

I loved the characters so much that I could not say goodbye when I finished the story.

So I decided to make this story the beginning of a series about this town that was named by the town's postmistress for the heroine of her favorite novel, Capitola the Madcap.

Add Christmas Shorts To Your Romance Library

For only 99cents, you get 18 holiday romance short stories, including mine. You're bound to find some stories you love!

JOAN REEVES—Keeping Romance Alive...One Sexy Book at a Time!

Joan Reeves is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Joan lives her happily-ever-after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. They divide their time between a book-cluttered home in Houston and a quiet house at the foot of the Texas Hill Country where they sit on the porch at night, look up at the star-studded sky, and listen to the coyotes howl.

Sign up for Joan's Newsletter and be the first to know about new books and giveaways plus receive a free ebook after you confirm and opt-in.

Dog Days by Bea Tifton

I was watching TV the other day and saw a commercial saying something like, “Your dog sees everything you do. And they don’t care.” I started thinking about that. I’ve been told I’m er, eccentric.  I live alone, except for my pets, so they probably do see some pretty strange things.  In fact, if someone ever does perfect a device allowing dogs to talk, mine are going to have to put their paws on the dotted line of a confidentiality agreement. 

Yes. I talk to my dogs. Why not?  They’re here, staring at me all day. I couldn’t ignore them because why have them if you’re not going to interact.

There are times when I think I’m completely hilarious. Other people, not always. I make what are commonly called “Dad jokes” and crack myself up. And some jokes never get old so I repeat them often.

I love to sing. That can have unfortunate effects, such as when I learned the words to “Baby Shark” and had an earworm that lasted for days. But sometimes I just sing. I have opera day, where I sing most things I say as a recitative.  Sometimes we have Broadway day as well.  I think the dogs prefer show tunes.

When I’m watching TV, they are treated to a running commentary of what I think about things. When I watch “Antiques Roadshow,” I express dismay, envy, or astonishment at what something is worth. When I watch a mystery, I am bad about yelling, “He did it!” early on. The dogs never get upset with me for spoiling the ending.

Zoe at the groomer

I run around in some pretty strange, but very comfortable clothing when I’m at home. My dogs have never commented on my fashion choices. 

If I choose to eat, well, an entire bag of chips? (Hey, give me a break. I’d had a really bad day.) Other than staring at me in hope of a handout that won't come, nary a judgement passes their doggy lips.  Or if I choose to eat dinner on the sofa, they don’t seem to be bothered at all.

Brighid smiling for the camera

That’s the thing about dogs, though, isn’t it. Their unconditional love has no bounds. They, by their very existence, simply want to be loved. It’s worth the alarm clock barking to be fed first thing in morning, the fur on my clothes or around the house, the rare naughtiness.  They are company without comment, comfort through the bad times, reasons to laugh at their quirkiness. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. 

Liam at the groomer

Do you have pets? Do they witness you in all your glory, being yourself and loving you anyway? Leave a comment below.