The Compass Rose, not just a pretty image

 Did your historical or contemporary hero ever use a compass in his travels? The idea of the modern compass started a long time ago. 

     The Chinese measured direction based on the 12 signs of the zodiac; the Arabs used the stars and constellations. The Europeans relied on the winds blowing in the Mediterranean so the precursors to the compass rose, was the stella maris (star of the sea) and the wind rose.

    This device indicated the directions of the eight major winds, the eight half-winds and the sixteen quarter-winds making the 32 points corresponding to the thirty-two headings of the mariner's compass. 

   

   In the1300's, portolan charts first made their appearance. These were charts frequently drawn on vellum (generally calfskin) which showed coastal features and ports. The availability of ports and harbors was especially important as ships were smaller often needing refuge or a place to beach for maintenance.

     As far as navigation went, the early renderings on the portolan maps did not take into account the curvature of the Earth, and so were not useful in crossing open ocean. But they were a great help for dentification of landmarks and harbors, in the Mediterranean, Black, or Red Seas. 

                                        

     The term "rose" in compass rose is derived from the figure's compass points resembling the flower.                                      

       For western apprentice seamen, one of the first things they had to know were the names of the points. Using the original Mediterranean words for the eight winds, naming them all off perfectly was known as "boxing the compass".

     There is no absolute standard for drafting a compass rose, and each school of cartographers seems to have developed their own style. 

           On the east side of the rose there was often a cross, indicating the direction to Paradise long thought to be in the east.

Today, wind roses are used by meteorologists to depict wind frequencies from different directions at a location. The compass rose is used in global-positioning systems (GPS) and similar equipment and devices.

                    The sign can be found in rugs, tiles, and inlays
                      

     Also flower arranging, embroidery, and woodworking.

                    

                     

                The symbol is a favorite in the tattoo world.  

   

 The next time you see a map, look for a compass rose!  

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                                Thanks to Bill Thoen for his helpful article.

When do cows give birth? by Reggi Allder

      When do cows have calves?

I was thinking about that because I was raised across the street from a cattle ranch and saw bulls in the pasture in the late spring or early summer. All the kids in the neighborhood understood to stay out of the way when the bulls were in the pasture.

The primary time calves are born is in the March through May, to align with warmer weather and improved pasture land. Although many beef producers also operate in late winter (February) or fall. According to the Beef Research.ca, 70 to 75% of all calves are born in this period, although it is not exactly “spring in February,” but the forage is regrowing as sunlight and temperatures increase and may provide adequate nutrition to the cow and her calf assuming the snow is not heavy.

The gestation period for a cow is approximately 9 months. Dairy farmers usually plan for their cows to give birth to their first calf when they're around two years old, so heifers (young female cows) will usually be pregnant for the first time when they're around 15 months old. After this, farmers generally hope for their cows to calve again every year.

In the eighteen hundred and early nineteen hundreds, cowboys were often out in the range taking care of the cattle during the winter. This meant they had to help with the birth of the cows if necessary. They also had to live and work in the snow in some states.

 Afterward, the calves were rounded up and brought to the ranch.

What do you call a calf without a mother? Answer: Dogie. You may have song the western song, Git along little Dogie. Part of the lyrics include: “Git along little dogie. It’s your misfortune and none of my own.” It is believed to be a variation of a traditional Irish ballad. The cowboy adaptation is first mentioned in the 1893 journal of Owen Wister, author of The Virginian.

 Don’t know why motherless calves were called that. However, the little ones were rounded up with the others and taken from the range and brought to the ranch. 

After I had written several suspense novels, I needed a hiatus from the bad guys and decided to write a different kind of book. I remembered my childhood in a small town where it was not unusual to see cowboys on the main street. Though the Sierra Creek Series books are not autobiographical in anyway, I do remember the feel of a close knit community, and the people who helped each other. The town of Sierra Creek and the Country Heart books were born.

The first book of four is Her Country Heart Sierra Creek Series Book One. 

★ 5 Star reviews “If you love cowboys, small towns, second chances, and real-to-life characters, the Sierra Creek books are for you!” “Perfect when you need a feel-good read.” “A seriously great book!!” “Great characters, I couldn’t stop reading to find out what happened next!” ★

Her Country Heart by Reggi Allder Sierra Creek Series Book 1 of 4 books.

Amy Long needs a forever home. Downsized, she lost her apartment in the city and returned to the small town of Sierra Creek to find a fresh start. Does she belong? Cowboy Wyatt Cameron doesn’t think so. She’s in the way of his plans and as executor of her grandmother’s estate, he has the power to send her packing. What can she offer to change his mind?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012U5UTGW

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B012U5UTGW

https://www.amazon.ca/ebook/dp/B012U5UTGW

Do you want to read a good romantic suspense?

Try my Dangerous Series books  most current Dangerous Moves or start with the first one, Dangerous Webb.  

 

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