Jouneying Through this World Together
Wrapping paper
Before the Victorian era, wrapping paper wasn't a thing. Tissue paper or cloth always wrapped people's Christmas presents. One year the tissue paper ran out at a shop, and the enterprising store dudes convinced shoppers that French envelope liner paper was all the...
Chesterfield
Instead of packing their pleasingly plump pillows for travel, the who's-who of Victorian times would cart along their comfy custom Chesterfield sofas-- Sigmund Freud being in the Chesterfield carrying club. According to Chesterfield craze sources, the uppitiest of the...
Lipstick
.Ancient Sumerians made it with crushed gemstones, waxes and oils over 5,000 years ago. Since then, it has faded or brightened in popularity over and again. Greek prostitutes had to mark their lips with bright red so men were not confused about which scantily clad...
Temple Tree
This is a temple tree. It looks dead on many of the branches. But then a dead-looking branch will push out a leaf or a flower. Healthy leaf. Gorgeous flower. In the Bible it talks about pruning branches that don't bear fruit, and I have often wondered if I'm bearing,...
Interesting Choice
Four years ago today, I was hiking with two of my favorite guys. Under my hat, I had a twelve inch scar from ear to ear, and short stubbly hair growing around it. "Interesting choice of hair style," a lady judged soon after. Yes. In that hairstyle, I chose life, chose...
Ever Thankful
The past nine/ten months-- the time it takes to grow a baby-- we have had broken ribs, brother hit by a bus with nasty recovery, bladder cancer diagnosis, operation, treatments, seizures, scads of discouragement, tragic loss by dear ones, a freaky home market that...
Lost Coin
You are valuable--the lost coin, the sheep God leaves the 99 to find. You are so loved!!! Don't believe that you are too damaged, too imperfect, too anything that makes you less- than. You so matter. A thought going through my head today that I thought might help...
The End
Yaaaaahooo! For my current story, I have had a blast researching everything from Victorian undergarments to Coastal Salish traditions. Some days, real life troubles kept me from writing the struggles and joys of my fictional and historical characters. Other days, I...
Taking that Hand
Christ the Lord is Risen today! It happened sometimes that the grave couldn't hold lesser men. It also happened, and happens, that people would and do give their lives for others. Thank you! Jesus broke the life/death barrier, sacrificed, so that all people could walk...
Ahead of His Time
The English abolished slavery long before the US did-- in 1833. But in 1772, the Mansfield case had already decided that slavery was unsupported by English law. Post 1833, English colonies freed slaves and set up ships at African ports to stop slaves from being taken...