A blog dedicated to Early American History Lovers, Civil War Reenactors, Living Historians, and people that love the past. Lots of Historical Recipes and Patterns!
January 1, 2014
Goodbye 2013
Another year. I'm always amazed at how fast a year goes and how much happens during one. One of my personal reasons for keeping a blog is to track what has happened in my life. It's great fun to see what I was doing or what I was interested at a given time.
I want to sincerely thank my readers. You guys are the best and have been with me through thick and thin. You keep me going and I have met so many great friends through blogging. I frequently get such awesome emails from readers and love hearing about who they are as individuals.
Some key events this year:
- Joined the crew of Barkentine Gazela.
- I've started taking my photography hobby a bit more seriously. (Probably a joke as those of you who know me personally know I am pretty serious and that a camera is pretty much permanently attached to my hand.)
-My father was in the hospital, which I did not write about.
- I attended a few reenactments that I've never been to before such as Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
I found it a bit difficult to adjust to life without school for the first time in over 19 years. It's strange to not have a force making you learn something whether you want to or not.
Plans for 2014:
-I hope to completely redesign this blog to make things easier to find.
- I'm thinking of turning the Secret Life of Bloggers Blog Party into a 365 project. I had a lot of fun with it and it helped me take some time out of my day to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Anyone who wants to take part this time around, just leave a comment.
-Much much more!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year! I'd love to hear everyone's plans for this year and new year's resolutions.
December 30, 2013
December Sketchbook Challenge
This was my least favorite Sketchbook Challenge to date. Not because it was a bad challenge or I didn't like what I sketched but because the topic, "Holiday Colors" pretty much dictated that the challenge had to be in a pigmented medium. I wanted to sketch in pencil, so this month, my holiday color is white.
I liked the sketch. I'm in the process of making a customized sketchbook and made this little sketchbook out of the scraps.
Overall I enjoyed drawing in it. I just hope next month's challenge is pencil sketcher friendly. If you are looking to get into or back into drawing, the Sketchbook Challenge has been very fun. People interested can post their photos in their flickr group.
I liked the sketch. I'm in the process of making a customized sketchbook and made this little sketchbook out of the scraps.
Overall I enjoyed drawing in it. I just hope next month's challenge is pencil sketcher friendly. If you are looking to get into or back into drawing, the Sketchbook Challenge has been very fun. People interested can post their photos in their flickr group.
December 20, 2013
Holiday Butter Cookie Recipe
This recipe is new to me. I was really in the mood to try and make butter cookies. My mom used to make them when I was younger.She used to make them with a press in the shape of camels and stars. They were an adorable Christmas treat. The press died years ago and with it the little cookies.
Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
- 3 Cups Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Butter, softened
- 2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
Instructions:
Cream the butter, sugar, juice, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add the flour and baking powder. Form dough into 1 inch thick rolls and refrigerate until still. Slice the dough in 3/4 inch slices and place on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake in a preheated oven a 400 degrees for 7 minutes.
If you want sprinkles on top, dip the dough into the sprinkles before placing on baking sheet.If you plan to use a press, subtract 1/2 cup of flour.
I'm pleased with how they turned out for a first time recipe. It's a delicious recipe for winter, especially with hot chocolate.
Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
- 3 Cups Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Butter, softened
- 2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
Instructions:
Cream the butter, sugar, juice, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add the flour and baking powder. Form dough into 1 inch thick rolls and refrigerate until still. Slice the dough in 3/4 inch slices and place on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake in a preheated oven a 400 degrees for 7 minutes.
If you want sprinkles on top, dip the dough into the sprinkles before placing on baking sheet.If you plan to use a press, subtract 1/2 cup of flour.
I'm pleased with how they turned out for a first time recipe. It's a delicious recipe for winter, especially with hot chocolate.
December 16, 2013
Awesome Civil War Reenactor Homemade Gift Post at The Victorian Needle
So much snow this week! But the holidays are still fast approaching. I've been baking, buying and wrapping like a crazy person.
Are you looking for homemade gifts to make your favorite reenacting buddies? This post at The Victorian Needle is great. The pattern for the traveling bag is fantastic. I have been meaning to make one of those for years.
December 11, 2013
"Began my New Life by Seeing a Man Die at Dawn": Louisa May Alcott's Army Hospital Diary
Everyone remembers famous writer Louisa May Alcott for her Civil War novel, Little Women. But on December 11th, 1862, Louisa was on her way to become an army nurse.
Many people know that her experiences working in the hospital led her to write Hospital Sketches, a fictional account, but few know that she actually kept a short diary during her 6 weeks there.
Louisa did not intend to leave the hospital when she did but was forced to due to a terrible sickness she contracted while there. The diary excerpt is a raw account of her time there and her experiences similar to many army nurses at the time.
Journal kept at the Hospital, Georgetown, D. C, 1862.
Many people know that her experiences working in the hospital led her to write Hospital Sketches, a fictional account, but few know that she actually kept a short diary during her 6 weeks there.
Louisa did not intend to leave the hospital when she did but was forced to due to a terrible sickness she contracted while there. The diary excerpt is a raw account of her time there and her experiences similar to many army nurses at the time.
Journal kept at the Hospital, Georgetown, D. C, 1862.
November. — Thirty years old. Decided to go to Washington as nurse if I could find a place. Help needed, and I love nursing, and must let
out my pent-up energy in some new way. Winter is always a hard and a
dull time, and if I am away there is one less to feed and warm and worry
over.
I want new experiences,
and am sure to get 'em if I go. So I've sent in my name, and bide my
time writing tales, to leave all snug behind me, and mending up my old
clothes, — for nurses don't need nice things, thank Heaven!
December. —
On the 11th I received a note from Miss H. M. Stevenson telling me to
start for Georgetown next day to fill a place in the Union Hotel
Hospital. Mrs. Ropes of Boston was matron, and Miss Kendall of Plymouth
was a nurse there, and though a hard place, help was needed. I was
ready, and when my commander said "March!" I marched. Packed my trunk,
and reported in B. that same evening.
We had all been full of courage till the last
moment came; then we all broke down. I realized that I had taken my life
in my hand, and might never see them all again. I said, "Shall I stay,
Mother?" as I hugged her close.
"No go and the Lord be with you" answered the Spartan woman; and till I turned the corner she bravely smiled and waved her wet handkerchief on the door step. Shall I ever see that dear old face again?
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