Fiction vs Non-fiction

Historically, people have considered novels as second class works, and I still run across this attitude today. It's true everywhere and especially in the Christian market. Many of the men in some type of ministry turn their noses up at the idea of Christian fiction. "Of course, the classics are different," they'll say if asked. Well, the classics were once first-published novels, too.

I read and write both, but my first love is fiction. I can get across messages by showing them within a story, instead of just expounding on them. Isn't this what Jesus did with His parables? In general, novels don't tend to go out of date as quickly as non-fiction, either, so they can have a longer shelf life. Writing fiction also gives me more creative room.

On the other hand, Non-fiction is somewhat easier to write and easier to get published. Both require research, however. Except for bestsellers, non-fiction usually sells better.

Mark Twain once remarked, "It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense." He also said, "Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."

I continue to enjoy all types of reading and writing. I even write some poetry, because I think it helps firm-up my prose. If I had to put my preferences in order, however, they would be as follows:
       Novels
       Non-fiction books
       Magazine articles
       Poetry
       Short stories
What about you? What do you enjoy reading most?

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Moving a Lighthouse

Before move

When it was built in 1870, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stood 1,500 feet from the Atlantic Ocean on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. However in 1999, when it was moved back 2,900 feet,  it was in danger of being swallowed by that ocean. In a way, it's surprising that it survived so long.

A study done in 1987 gave 10 possible solutions to saving the structure, but they recommended relocation as the most cost-effective. Many, however, expressed concerns that such a move would destroy the tallest lighthouse in the United States. Short term measures were implemented while the debate went on and supporters raised funds to save it.

Finally, the International Chimney Corp. of Buffalo New York was awarded the contract and enlisted help from some other companies. The original foundation was replaced with temporary supports and a system using beams, hydraulic jacks, and rollers were used to roll the lighthouse along, inch by inch. It made it to its new location on July 9, 1999, where a new foundation awaited it.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse resumed its watch in November 1999. It remains a steadfast sentinel to the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," at Diamond Shoals, where the warm Gulf Stream collides with the colder Labrador Current.

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Snuff

Snuff is made from grinding or pulverising tobacco leaves. The first snuff was sniffed until it made the inhaler sneeze. This quickly became all the rage in England not long after tobacco was discovered among the Native American populations in the New World. A pinch could be placed between the thumb and a finger, put on the back of the hand, or there were special sniffing devices. Men carried it around in special snuff boxes.

Later, snuff was dipped by placing it between the lower lip and gum. This was different than chewing tobacco, which was usually inserted into the cheek area, but the user spit out tobacco juice with both. Snuff, however, was ground into a finer powder.

There were strong, mild, and sweet varieties of snuff, and flavored snuff became common. During the first half of

the 20th century, snuff could be purchased in small tin cans or in glass containers. Housewives often saved the glass ones to use as drinking glasses, and they've become a collector's item.

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Pound Cake

Today is National Pound Cake Day. The treat is believed to have originated in Northern Europe around the late 1600's. The recipe is usually simple and rather basic. It got its name because it would contain a pound each of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Isn't that a four-pound cake?

There are many variations based on countries, regions, and what might be added. The American variety became very popular in the South. The British style pound cake resembles a sponge cake. The French kind doesn't add any additional ingredients and is somewhat similar to America's. The Germans baked theirs either like the British or like the French.

Most pound cakes are baked in a loaf, tube, or bundt pan, and other ingredients have been added over the years. Now there's all types, like coconut, sour cream, chocolate, lemon, cinnamon, berry, nut, etc. They can be served plain, with a glaze, or sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Cooking oil can be substituted for the butter to make the cake more moist. Baking powder or soda also gives it a lighter texture. Below are some recipes for you to try, beginning with early ones and going to an easy, modern one.

Colonial Pound Cake (rewritten for today's cook)

3 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups softened butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
7 eggs
3/4 cup milk

Cream together butter and eggs by adding eggs one at a time. Mix in other ingredients and blend well. Pour into bundt pan. Bake about 1 hour at 300 degrees with a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over the top for the first 45 minutes.

British Pound Cake

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
(no liquid)

Beat sugar and eggs together. Add other ingredients. Pour into a sponge cake or loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Cake Mix Pound Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
1 3.4 oz, pkg, vanilla instant pudding
4 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 cup water

Combine ingredients and blend with an electric mixer. Pour into a tube or bundt pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes. Cool of another 30 minutes before removing.

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Milling

Photo by Ken Christison

Mills became a necessity to convert grains to flour and meal. It involved putting the grain in a hopper, feeding it between two stones with one rotating and one stationary, removing the flour,  sifting it though a series of screens where it's graded, and bagging it. It took skill to adjust the stones to the correct balance and spacing, because it could be difficult to keep the grain from burning and still have it finely ground.

In settled areas with flowing streams and some drop in elevation, water powered mills were common. This was true in mountainous areas like the Appalachians and in the foothills. 

In coastal areas, power to drive the mill wheels could be obtained from windmills. A few coastal towns with large tidal areas connected by narrow straits could use the movement of the tides to drive a mill. Windmills, however, were more common. They were found in the coastal plains of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Windmills could operate in steady winds of 15 to 80 m.p.h. that didn't have drastic shifts in direction.

When other forms of power came along, the force that drove the mill changed, but the problems were still similar. Today, there's great interest in the old water or wind driven mills. You're lucky if you have one in your area.

Photo by Ken Christison

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Old Over-the-Counter Medicines

Today is National "Old Stuff Day." I had no idea there was such a day, but it seems ideal for me. I like old stuff, and I have a lot of it. It's accumulated over my lifetime, and some have been handed down by relatives. Since I have so much, I'm just focusing on old over-the-counter medicines in this blog.

At one time, especially in the country, families took care of many of their own medical problems. Part of this came from the fact that getting to a doctor was often inconvenient, but part of it came from a mistrust of doctors handed down through the generations. Many felt that going to a doctor meant you were close to death, and a hospital was a place you went to die. 

There were even peddlers that included medicines, like pills, tonics, and salves, in their inventory. I can remember my grandparents buying Rosebud salve this way, but there were other popular brands also. 

At one time, some people brushed their teeth with dental powders, not exactly a medicine, but clean teeth could prevent health problems. There were even specialty medicines, like Ramon's Brownie Pills, a diuretic. And, of course, people kept pain-relievers like aspirin on hand. For more about medicine men tonics, see my earlier blog on Doc Tom Scott. 

  

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Flickering Faith

"And ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with your whole heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

I knew a girl who had a pretty wild adolescence. Then, in her late twenties she found the Lord. She eagerly put her energy into serving Him. She worshiped, witnessed, and worked for a few years, and then she'd burned out. She didn't turn from God, but she grew lukewarm.

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16).

Have you known someone like this? Can you see some of yourself here? Many people seem to lose their exuberance all too quickly and become pew warmers instead of fire starters, while some never get excited at all.

"Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14a).

Any close relationship requires attention or it can can fade. Christ is always there for us, but we're not always there for Him. We need to communicate through the Word, pray, and be aware of Him working in our lives. If we let our attention drift, we grow cold.

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

In addition, we sometimes go off on our own tangents, even in service. We have good intentions, but we fail to ask God what His will is. God doesn't ask us to become so busy we cram every moment, and there's no set time for devotion, study, and prayer. But, one of the wonderful things about our Lord is that we can ask for guidance and help in matters like these, and He'll gladly supply it.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6).

Do you remember the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). It speaks to being ready for the coming of the Lord, but, also look at the lamps. Five of them had not brought enough oil for their lamps. Perhaps they were in too big of a hurry, had other things on their mind, or didn't think this was all that important. For whatever reason, their flames flickered out.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Let's not let that happen in our lives. The whole purpose in life is to live in obedience to God and glorify His name. Nothing else even comes close to being as important as He is. Let's recommit to making sure He is Lord of our lives today, and, if we need help, all we need to do is ask.

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).

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