Lawman or Outlaw?

 In the aftermath of the Civil War, countless men found themselves jobless, homeless, and without families. Many headed west in search of new lives. Some hunted for gold, some set down new roots, some became cowboys, and some, those skilled with firearms, chose to become gunfighters. 

The line between being a lawman, an outlaw, or somewhere in between such as a bounty hunter or hired gun, was fine. Some men crossed that line back and forth. Tom Horn found acclaim as a hired gun, and it was also why he was hanged. Wyatt Earp walked on both sides of that line as well. So did many others. Grat, Bob, and Emmett Dalton were all lawmen before they formed the Dalton Gang.

The west was raw, unclaimed, with few laws, fewer courts and little to no government. But others were heading west too, setting down roots and they wanted law and order. That was easier said than done. Most towns or territories couldn’t afford to pay lawmen, so salaries were often a percentage of the fines paid by those arrested and/or bounties collected on wanted men. For those who might have been paid a salary, it was often very low and they also were charged with keeping the streets clean of debris, responsible for taking the national census, and distributing governmental proclamations. 

Unlike Matt Dillion on Gunsmoke, few men made a ‘career’ out of being a lawman, however, as writers, writing fiction, we can utilize Matt’s honor and longevity while creating our own lawmen.

My next book, In the Sheriff’s Protection, will go on sale April 1^st. 

He will protect her

But can the sheriff resist his forbidden desire?

Oak Grove sheriff Tom Baniff might be hunting Clara Wilson’s criminal husband, but that doesn’t mean he won’t help protect Clara and her young son from the outlaw’s deadly threats. When he invites Clara to his hometown, Tom is determined to keep her safe. But with her so close, can he resist the allure of the only woman he’s ever wanted?

Modern Day Staple

Toilet Paper

Hubby and I went grocery shopping today, and of course had to buy toilet paper. That thing that is a staple for us, but hadn’t been back in the old west. Personal rant here—but I know the rolls keep getting smaller and smaller, even the ones manufactures claim are double or triple the average size.

 

Here are a few other tidbits about toilet paper:

The average American uses about 100 rolls of toilet paper a year.

Manufactures say an average roll of toilet paper lasts five days. (Manufactures have never visited my family, or we are above average.)

In the late 1500’s, when paper became more available, it began to take the place of rocks, stones, sponges, shells, corn cobs, and other various tools that were customarily used for ‘cleaning up’.

Toilet paper, i.e. paper manufactured specifically for ‘cleaning up’ was invented around 1880 by the British Perforated Paper Company and sold in boxes of individual square sheets.

Tiffany’s was one of the first stores in America to carry Woman’s Elegant Stationary directly imported from Europe, and it became such a rage, others soon followed. 

Around 1890, Scott’s Paper Company made the first rolls of paper used for such reasons.  

The Waldrof brand of toilet paper came about because the Scott’s Paper Company convinced the highly regarded and well-known hotel that toilet paper was something no other hotels had and that their customers would appreciate it. (The sales pitch worked and soon Scotts was selling to hotels across America. Other hotels were also able to brand the paper with their name.)

Toilet Paper was an ‘unmentionable’ product, and many were too embarrassed to ask for it by name, so shoppers would merely need to say, ‘Two please’, and the clerks knew what they needed. 

It was so unmentionable, Scotts wouldn’t put its name on the package, hence the various ‘hotel’ brands, they also had many other ‘private’ label brands. 

To keep things discreet, toilet paper was packaged and sold in brown paper.  

Early on, rolls of toilet paper were known to have splinters in them, many complaints and infections encouraged manufactures to find ways to break down the wood fibers more thoroughly. 

In 1901 Northern Paper Mills from Wisconsin introduced its version of toilet paper, which came complete with a wire through the center of the roll so it could be hung on a nail. 

By 1911 Scotts Paper Company had eliminated all the ‘private brands’ and put their name on their products. 

In 1928 the Hoberg Paper in Wisconsin introduced a line of toilet paper. Their logo, a woman’s head on a cameo pin had been designed to appeal to the woman’s fashions of the day. A female employee remarked that the design was ‘charming’ and the name Charmin was born.

1932 Charmin introduced the four-roll package, making it a convenient bundle for purchasers. 

On a separate note:

My next book, Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir, will be released on February 1!

To claim his heir…
…he must marry his enemy!

Gabe Callaway is outraged when feisty Janette Parker lands on his doorstep with her orphaned niece—though he soon realizes little Ruby is heir to his ranch! If Janette wants money, he’ll pay her off to keep the little girl in her rightful place. But all Janette wants is Ruby… Will Gabe do whatever it takes to claim his heir—even marry Janette?

 

AND on a completely separate subject that has nothing to do with this blog, but because everyone in my household is still cheering....

GO VIKINGS!

BRING IT HOME!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My favorite holiday is approaching fast. The gathering of friends and family to give thanks makes me look forward to Thanksgiving more than any other holiday.

Although my family, and many others, goes for the ‘traditional’ turkey dinner for Thanksgiving, the first one—a three-day feast of thankfulness hosted by the Pilgrims and a local tribe of Wampanoag—is thought to have consisted of lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squash, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese. 

Due to the size and abundance of wild turkeys, the turkey became a Thanksgiving mainstay by the time President Lincoln issued his proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as a national Thanksgiving holiday. Some historians claim Lincoln was also the first president to official pardon a turkey (his son’s pet turkey). 

A few turkey facts:

The average turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.

The heaviest turkey recorded was 86 pounds.

A mature turkey has approximately 3,500 feathers.

Turkey is the most popular ‘leftover’ food.

We all know Thanksgiving is followed by Black Friday. I’ve been there done that, and will never do it again. It’s just not my cup of tea. I much prefer to stay home reflecting upon the wonderful gathering we’d experienced the day before. However, if any of you are shoppers and plan on going out on Black Friday, I hope you find deals of a lifetime!

I’m thankful for the life I live every day, but relish the one day I can celebrate the fact we live in a wonderful country, our freedom, our right to worship God, our family, friends, and all the obvious, bountiful, and even sometimes taken for granted things.

Blessings to each and every one of you during this wonderful holiday.

Lauri