For the Love of Quilts

Quilts have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I took them for granted as a child, but now I appreciate the beauty, the skill, and the history. One day, when I finally retire from nursing, I want to spend some of my non-writing time making quilts.

My maternal grandmother lived in a wooden farmhouse with a large porch and high-ceiling rooms. The house has since been torn down, but I can still remember the large wooden frame suspended from the ceiling in one of the bedrooms. It was a frame for quilting that could be lowered down to work on the quilt and raised back up, out of the way, as needed. I never saw it in use, but I knew what it was.

My mother would pull out some of the everyday quilts and use them to make pallets for us kids when we needed a temporary bed on the floor. She would also add one to our bed in winter to keep us warm. She was a busy teacher who usually made clothes when she had time to sew; but one summer, she cut a bunch of hexagons and pieced a quilt while supervising us at the neighborhood pool.

Years later, I had some photographs transferred to fabric and made a family picture quilt top for her and my dad for Christmas. It was my first effort at piecing. The photos were different sizes, and I had to make it up as I went. Mom hired someone to quilt it, and it hangs over a display frame in her den.

I love antique sewing machines, too. When Mom got a Bernina, she gave me her old Singer. (It looks a lot like this stock image, except it's electric.) The cover for it has dry-rotted and can no longer be used to pick it up, but the machine still sews.

I joined a Facebook group of quilters in anticipation of eventually taking up the hobby. I love to see the beautiful quilts they post. The traditional patterns revive treasured memories, but I also love the gorgeous modern patterns.

The National Museum of American History has a National Quilt Collection that you can view online. It features quilts back to the 1700s. Some of them look plain until you click to expand the picture. Wow.

Do you quilt? Do you love them like I do? 

I'd love to hear your stories and your memories!

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Emma F. Langdon - Mother Jones and the Colorado Labor Wars

Post by Doris McCraw aka Angela Raines

“THE state of Colorado ceased under the administration of James H. Peabody, to be republican in its form of government, and became a military oligarchy. The expressed will of the people was ignored by their chosen representatives; thus bringing upon the state a series of calamities, the magnitude of which may now readily be seen.”

The above is taken from the introduction to Emma's book “The Cripple Creek Strike, A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado 1903-04”. Regardless of your belief in who was right or wrong during this tumultuous time, this book is considered the definitive work on the region and events of the time and area. That it was written by Emma F. Langdon makes it even more amazing. 

Emma Langdon
from Wikipedia

Emma was born September 29, 1875, in Tennessee. Charles Langdon, whom she married in 1896 was born June 9, 1870. In 1903 Emma and Charles moved to Victor, Colorado where they both worked at the Victor Daily Record. 

In 1903 the tensions between miners and mine owners increased in the Cripple Creek Mining District.  Although the miners had won a victory of $3.25 for an eight-hour day, the miners union supported the smelter workers who were working longer hours for less pay.

The situation became so volatile that the mine owners censored and arrested anyone who opposed their story. As a result, the workers at the pro-union Victor Daily Record were rounded up to stop the next issue's release. When Emma was told of the 'arrest' she went to the paper and that night barricaded herself in, set type, and put out the paper on schedule. When she delivered the issue to the men who had been taken to the 'bullpen' (and outdoor holding area) the laughter of the captors (jailers) changed while those incarcerated rejoiced.

When the strike ended in 1904 those who had supported the union were requested to leave. Emma moved to Denver Colorado, continuing her work on behalf of the union, until her death on November 30, 1937.  

"Mother Jones"
from Wikipedia

Mary Harris (Mother) Jones, born around 1930 or 37 in County Cork Ireland, was according to Reese Blizzard, a West Virginia DA, “The most dangerous woman in America” Clarence Darrow reportedly said she was “one of the most forceful and picturesque figures in the American Labor movement.” 

Her family moved to Canada when she was a child, and she studied to be a teacher at the Toronto Normal School. She in fact worked briefly as a teacher and dressmaker. She married George Jones an ironworker and union organizer in 1861. They had four children, but she lost them and her husband to a yellow fever outbreak. After their deaths, she moved to Chicago where she worked as a dressmaker but lost everything in the Chicago fire of 1871. From that point on she became involved in the labor movement. Her history in Colorado involves the Ludlow Massacre on April 20, 1914.

A sample of her writing on the labor movement comes from an article in the “International Socialist Review” published in 1901. In part, it reads, “I visited the factory in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at 10 o’clock at night. The superintendent, not knowing my mission, gave me the entire freedom of the factory, and I made good use of it. Standing by a siding that contained 155 spindles were two little girls. I asked a man standing near if they were his, and he replied they were. How old are they?” I asked. “This one is 9, the other 10,” he replied. “How many hours do they work?” “Twelve,” was the answer. “How much do they get a night?” “We all three together get 60 cents. They get 10 cents each and I 40.” 

I watched them as they left their slave-pen in the morning and saw them gather their rags around their frail forms to hide them from the wintry blast. Half-fed, half-clothed, half-housed, they toil on, while the poodle dogs of their masters are petted and coddled and sleep on pillows of down, and the capitalistic judges jail the agitators that would dare to help these helpless ones to better their conditions.”

 

The story of the Labor Wars in Colorado is full of people from both sides that made their mark on the history of the region. From 1893-1914, Colorado was a hotbed of conflict between the haves and have-nots with errors in judgment on both sides. Not an easy read, but a fascinating one, and these two women were in the center of and writing about it.

This post is a reposting of an earlier blog. The book "Under the Stone: Early Women Doctors in Evergreen Cemetery"  is heading to the printer. So excited.

Mock-up of the Cover

Until next time.

Doris McCraw

Sharing Women of the West by Jan Scarbrough

You can find many things on Facebook. Look what I found today! An article about women of the Old West!

Take time to look at these remarkable photos of real women who paved the way for all of us. The website is True West: History of American Frontier.

And I love the quote that begins the article:

Alexis de Tocqueville came to America to study democracy. At the end of his two-volume Democracy In America, he wrote, “if one asked me to what do I think one must principally attribute the singular prosperity and growing force of this people, I would answer that it is to the superiority of its women.”

Long before we received the right to vote or managed corporations, we were making a difference, weren’t we?

An FYI – my contemporary Western romances are now at #applebooks, #Nook, #Kobo as well as #Kindle.

Brody https://books2read.com/Brody-DofM

Mercer https://books2read.com/Mercer-DofM

Liz https://books2read.com/Liz-DofM

Ben https://books2read.com/Ben-DofM

Hank https://books2read.com/HankGhostMountain

Darby https://books2read.com/Darby

Slade https://books2read.com/SladeGhostMountain

Kelsey https://books2read.com/Kelsey

Working on a New Series ~ Raine Rochelle

Hi there, I hope this finds you well. I’m busy putting together the

next four books which will follow on from the The Billionaires of

Brightside Ranch, and follow their cousins, the Johnson Brothers. I

thought it was time to introduce you to the star of the first book in

the series, so here he is!

Meet Tyler Johnson…

 

 

Being the eldest of the Johnson brothers isn’t always easy – in fact it’s

seldom easy! I know the guys sometimes think I’m just bossy and a little

too hard on them, but the fact is, there are times when I have to be.

Dad’s not getting any younger, and I know that one day I’ll be called

upon to take over the running of the family ranch. Trouble is, Dad’s a

little too set in his ways and reluctant to teach me all I need to know to fill

his boots when that day comes. I’ve tried explaining to him that having

me learn the ropes would make life easier on him, as well as prepare me

for my future role, but he’s as stubborn as a mule sometimes and just

doesn’t seem to want to show me the books or anything. I’ve spoken to

 

Mom about it, but she says that we have to respect that he’s the head of

the household, and knows what he’s doing. I sure hope she’s right!

And then there’s the band. We’ve always been into country music as a

family, and it only seemed right that we boys would form our own band

one day. The Johnson Brothers (catchy name, huh?!) started off just

playing at small gigs, but have since won a few competitions and made

a bit of a name for ourselves. Pat O’Malley owns the large bar in

Brightside and he asked us to play there a time or two. The girls, in

particular, seem to enjoy our music, and we must be doing something

right, as we now play there quite regularly. Everyone knows us, and we

rarely have to buy our own drinks. Well, every job should have its perks,

right?

As well as playing in the band I’m also the one who manages it. Kind of.

I usually book the gigs, and we all discuss which numbers we want to

play at each one. I’ve been trying for the past couple of years to land us

something real big, and have one or two ideas up my sleeve, but haven’t

told the guys yet in case they get disappointed if it doesn’t work out.

Lately, though, I’ve been working extra hard to secure us a good event

as I think we all need something good to focus on. Dad’s driving us real

hard on the ranch right now, and won’t say why, which is a worry to me

but a real pain to my younger brothers who just see it as unnecessary

extra pressure.

I’ve got a beautiful girlfriend, Sasha, who works over at Brightside Real

Estate. She’s real good at her job – and can be very persuasive! Not

only is she gorgeous to look at, that girl also has a heart of gold. Despite

being treated badly by her last boyfriend, she’s as warm and kind as

they come. She’s becoming almost like part of the family around here,

as she gets along with everyone, especially my mom. I really love her

but we’re just taking things slow right now – we’ve both got a lot going

on.

Did I mention that I’m tall, dark and handsome? Probably not, as I’m not

one to brag, lol! Actually, when I say tall I’m talking way over six feet. 6’

7” to be exact. I’m kind of noticeable in a crowd!

Well, that’s about all I can say about myself right now. I look forward to

getting to know you, and hope you enjoy reading my story when it gets  

released this summer. Till then, take good care of yourself, and keep it

country!

I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing from Tyler, and that you’ll look out for the first

book of the new series The Johnsons of Junova which is due to be released in

August 2022.

Take care,

Raine

PS – If you haven’t read them yet, there’s still time to catch up with The

Billionaires of Brightside Ranch and The Brides of Brightside Ranch here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NCHVJGQ

Hair, Shoes & Jewelry ~ Julie Lence

Women world-wide are faced with the same decision everyday--what to wear. Once out of the shower and standing before the closet, those who work outside the home are faced with deciding if they should wear a dress or pants, what shoes go best with the outfit (and are they comfortable for all day wear), how to arrange their hair, and what jewelry to add to the ensemble. Those who are home are more likely to opt for comfy sweat pants, slippers (that's me!) and maybe some jewelry. But women of today's times aren't the only generation to face this daily challenge. Our comrades before us met with the same plight. Those living on a farm or ranch most likely had a quick two minutes to scramble into a skirt and apron before they dashed into the kitchen to light the stove and get the coffee cooking. Those who had the luxury of sleeping in (and a maid) had more time to ponder the day's wardrobe. It's these women of the 1800's I'm featuring today and some on the choices they may have made each morning.       

Here are some hairstyles. I'm partial to #.

 

courtesy of Trendium

courtesy of Whizzpast

courtesy of Trendium

Take a look at these shoes. #3 doesn't look comfortable. 

courtesy of Shoe Zone

courtesy of
History of boots

Pinterest

Jewelry to finish the ensemble

choker

 

hairpin

courtesy 1st Dibs

Based on the wardrobes, I am Thankful to be living in this generation! 

National Coloring Book Day

 

Today is National Coloring Book Day.

The celebration was first marked back in 2015, and has continued to celebrate a hobby many adults and children love. 

The first coloring books are credited to the McLoughlin Brothers. In the 1880s, they produced The Little Folks' Painting Book, in collaboration with Kate Greenaway. 

Many educators at the time concluded that all students, regardless of their background, would benefit from an art education. It was a means of enhancing their conceptual understanding of the tangible, further developing their cognitive skills, and improving skill that could be useful in a profession. 

The McLoughlin Brothers continued publishing coloring books until the 1920s, when their company became part of Milton Bradley Company. 

Coloring books have been used for more than a century for educational purposes. And fun.

They've also been used as a rehabilitation tool. Accident victims have found aid with hand-eye coordination by coloring, and the act of coloring has been considered a great way for many to destress.

I loved coloring books when I was a child, although I tended to color outside the lines. There are those who might say I still do that in a figurative sense. 

Regardless of my coloring skill, I thought you might enjoy some free coloring pages today! 

Enjoy and happy coloring!

Do you suppose any cowpokes ever take along a few colored pencils and a coloring book to pass the time around a lonesome campfire on out on the range? 

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength.

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find her online at http://shannahatfield.com

The Starling Releases Tomorrow!!

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

I'm pleased to share that The Starling is out tomorrow. Don't miss this new, full-length novel in my Wings of the West series.

Colorado 1899

Kate Ryan has always had a streak of justice in her. When she decides to apply to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, nothing will stand in her way. Initially hired in a clerical position, she quickly works her way up to field agent with the help of her mentor, Louise Foster. When Louise is injured, Kate gets her first assignment and the opportunity of a lifetime.

Henry Maguire has been undercover in the household of wealthy entrepreneur Arthur Wingate. Employed as a ghostwriter to pen the man’s memoir, Henry is also searching for clues to a lucrative counterfeiting scheme. When Henry’s “wife” shows up, he’s taken aback by the attractive woman who isn’t Louise. Now he must work with a female agent he doesn’t know and doesn’t necessarily trust. And because he has another reason for coming into Wingate’s world, Kate Ryan is unavoidably in his way.

Kate Ryan is the daughter of Matt and Molly from THE WREN, and THE STARLING is the first of five novels featuring the second generation of Ryans in the Wings of the West series.

The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight:  The Starling

Click here to pre-order a digital copy (available for Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play). Or grab a paperback copy.

Excerpt

Kate used the glass of sherry as a shield. It was obvious undercover agent Henry Maguire was stunned to see her and less than happy with her presence. Luckily, she had known who to look for from a photograph Mr. Jones had given her, although it hardly did justice to the man before her.

Henry Maguire had presence. There was simply no other word for it.

His intense blue eyes accented the hard line of his jaw like the frozen slopes of Colorado where her cousin Molly Rose had lived. Kate couldn’t help but notice his clean-shaven face and the citrusy smell coming from him. It was pleasant in a way that unsettled her, and she was entirely uncertain why.

But she had been warned … Henry was expecting Louise Foster, and he would have no idea who Kate was. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Wingate had caught Kate right at the door and had started speaking with her, because it had made contacting her “husband” fraught with danger.

But it was over. Henry had accepted the charade, and they were now working together. He had said he wanted to speak privately, but as yet he hadn’t, so Kate could only conclude it wasn’t safe to do so while at the party. She vowed she wouldn’t break protocol. She wouldn’t say anything to Henry that his loving wife, who had been separated from him for nearly two months, wouldn’t say.

“When did you arrive?” Henry asked.

“Earlier this evening.”

“How did you get here?”

“A man named Francis O’Malley brought me. I hired him.” The Pinkertons had hired him, but she couldn’t say that aloud. “I believe he’s a blacksmith in town, and he runs a livery too. He offered to stay, but I assured him that you would be here and see me home.” Her lips stretched into a smile, but she couldn’t hold Henry’s gaze as he watched her rather intently, so she took in the room.

It was quite festive. The Wingate wealth was on grand display with sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging from tin ceilings, a tiled floor covered in ornate rugs, and stuffed chairs likely imported from Europe.

As she brought her attention back to her “husband” she caught him still staring at her, those ice-blue eyes holding her briefly spellbound. He must have been watching her the entire time she had scanned the room. She shifted, feeling a bit uncomfortable, wanting to clear the air more than anything.

Had she done something wrong? Was she dressed inappropriately?

But a second glance around the room revealed that while her gown might not be quite as fancy as the many ladies in attendance, it was good enough. It had been Louise’s dress, after all, and Kate had to believe her mentor had been very prepared to enter this operation as Henry’s wife.

That was it. Henry was upset about Louise.

She turned to him. “I’m sure you’re worried about my dear sister, Louise.”

He regarded her with interest. “I am,” he replied in a measured tone. “Is she well?”

“Unfortunately, no. She’s indisposed at the moment, but she should be better soon.”

Henry accepted the news with a nod, his gaze conveying a glimmer of concern. Suddenly, Kate felt terrible. It had been clear from Louise that she valued Henry’s expertise, as well as his friendship, but Kate hadn’t thought any further than that.

The additional assignment that Louise had given Kate—privately and outside the dictates of the job—now seemed to take a different tone. Louise had asked Kate to keep an eye on Henry because eight years ago his father had died in an accident in Trinidad, apparently falling to his death down a mine shaft. Kate had inferred that Louise considered Henry compromised, and that it could place him at odds with the job the Pinkertons had been sent to do.

But now the worry in Henry’s eyes, however brief, said something else. Did he and Louise have a relationship that extended beyond business associates? Is that what his irritation was about? Did Henry love her? And why did that thought cause another ripple of unease in Kate?

Ignoring it, she added, “She’ll be all right. You’ve no need to worry. The bullet missed all vital organs.”

His eyes flicked back to her, reflecting shock.

Oh, no. He did love her.

Copyright © 2022 K. McCaffrey LLC