Monday Was Wash Day

No one seems to know for sure why Mondays became designated the day to do laundry. It's also uncertain exactly when this happened-certainly not too early, because in Elizabethan times, households only washed clothes once every few months and not weekly. Even in the mid-1800's, it was common to brush outer clothing and let it air-out instead of laundering it often.

By later Victorian times, however, housekeeping advice stated that the wash should be done on Mondays. This would give the homemaker time to get the wash finished, aired, dried, folded, and pressed before Sunday, the day of rest. Also everyone wanted to make sure they had clean clothes to put on after Saturday evening's bath and to wear to church on Sunday morning.

Doing the laundry normally took all day. The lengthy process included collecting the water, heating at least some of it, soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, hanging it out to dry, and getting the clothes in. Some steps, like soaking and scrubbing, had to be repeated several times. When it came time to iron them, everything was usually ironed in the day before any permanent press.

Things have changed since the time people expected Monday to be wash day. Now most people do laundry whenever they need to and have the time. However, some families still prefer to wash on Mondays, simply because it's traditional.

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The Final Judgment

And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me (John 8:16).

Most of us don't like to think of a final judgment. When it comes down to it, none of us like to be judged, and it seems to be wrapped in uncertainty. Being judged makes us insecure, but knowing we have a perfect judge, who never makes a mistake, should calm us.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them (Revelation 20:11).

Actually, Revelations 20 tells us there will be two final judgments. The lost will stand before the Great White Throne and be judged for their sins - the wrong that they've done. Those sins will send them to eternal damnation. Sin is never acceptable to God, and He can not reside with sinners, because His very nature is holy.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:10-12).

The saved won't be judged for their sins, because Christ's blood at Calvary already washed them all away. God remembers them no more. The believer has swapped his sins for Christ's righteousness, when he or she invited Christ into their hearts. Now, he or she can be in God's presence as a holy, righteous person, saved by grace. This is why Paul called us "saints." Instead, Christians will be judged for their works, service, and ministry, and they'll be rewarded for the good they've done. They're already guaranteed a home in heaven.

So, the question is, which group are you in?

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The Marketing Side of Writing

Thursday the publisher put Sown in Dark Soil, my new release, on sale for $1.99 on amazon for kindle. At the same time, Cleared for Planting, the first book in the Appalachian Roots series, was marked down to $2.99. Both are regularly $5.99 each, so this was a great deal, where the reader could get both books for the price of one, or the new one for a third the normal cost.

In conjunction with this, I tried to inform as many people as possible that I thought would be interested about the sale. I don't think most people realize that more and more of the marketing rests upon the author's shoulders. Even the bigger publishing houses no longer have big budgets for marketing like they once did. This makes it hard for the new author who is just trying to build name recognition. In lieu of an advertising budget, word of mouth seems to be one of the best ways to market.

With Cleared for Planting, I had no help with marketing. I literally had to do it all myself. I don't mind or dread marketing, but, as a former teacher, I have little to no training in it. This time, however, Ambassador International has a social media director, who is helping with sales. I don't know if this is a new position, if an author doesn't get the marketing help until the second book, or if I got it this time because they know I've been working hard on my own. In any regard, I appreciate the help. I need all the help I can get, so if you can help me spread the word, that would be great!

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Early Log Cabins

The first houses built by English settlers in America were mainly wattle and daub. These were the type of buildings constructed by the colonists at Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plimouth. With his method, sticks and saplings are woven together to form a foundation for the walls between timbers, and a mud mixture is used to cover the saplings.

A little later, settlers from Scandinavia had a better idea. Trees grew in abundance in the New World, and  they used log cabins, something that had been used in their country for years. In fact, Scandinavians were one of the first Europeans to do so, probably sometime around 3,500 B.C. Logs were also used for buildings in the Roman Empire. And, it wasn't long before some of all nationalities of immigrants to American were living in log cabins. They were available, sturdy, durable, and quick to construct. They were especially helpful as the settlers began to move west.

Of course styles varied in different regions, and the type of tree used depended on what was available. The log cabin made a good first home for those without enough financial resources. In fact, log cabins were still being used in some places into the 20th century. It was also common to build on to them and clapboard around it all, so that many old homes have a log cabin somewhere within them. The Civilian Conservation Corps built lodges of logs during the 1930's. Even today, tourists seem to love them. There are, of course, modern log homes, too.

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Bobcats

I grew up in the country, occasionally hearing the cry of a bobcat. The older I got, the less I heard of them, and I rarely thought of them at all. Then, one night, I sat quilting in an outbuilding I'd turned into a hobby room. I heard an awful commotion, and I recognized my cat's cry. She sounded like something was wrong. I went to the sliding glass door. Something had her treed, but I couldn't see what it was in the dark. I assumed it was a tom from the sounds. I'd just started through the door, when a large bobcat dropped out of the tree. I immediately stepped back inside and closed the door. He stood for a moment, looked right at me, and then took off in the other direction.

Bobcats are the most common wild cats in North America and found throughout most of it. In parts of the Appalachians the critters are called "wildcats." Of course, the name "bobcat" comes from its short, bobbed-looking tail. They vary in color from gray to beige to brown with markings of dark brown or black. Approximately one million bobcats are estimated to still live in the wild. They mainly eat rabbits and rodents but also birds, bats, and even small deer. If a farm or ranch is convenient, they may also kill some of the small animals there.

These animals tend to be solitary and establish a territory. Within that territory, they have a main den and perhaps a few others as well. The main den is usually in a protected area, like a cave, rocks, hollow log, etc. Kittens are normally born in the early spring, and a litter has from 1 - 6 kittens most of the time. The kittens will start eating solid food around two months old and learn to hunt at about six months. Sometime between eight and eleven months, the mother will evict them from her territory, and they will have to find their own.

The day the one dropped out of the tree and stared at me, I was glad he didn't seem any more eager to confront me than I did him. But he was a beautiful creature.

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The Frescoes at St. Paul's

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, has many unique aspects, including an interesting history (see my blog of Aug, 12, 2015) , but the most noted feature is its frescoes. Ben Long painted the two scenes, which show the apostle Paul and are so appropriate for this church named after him.

Roger Nelson and James Daniel assisted Long on the paintings. A large fresco stands in the commons area, on each side of the doorway to the old chapel. The one to the left shows Paul's conversion based on Acts 22:6-11. The one on the right is entitled Paul in Prison, based on Philippians 1:3-8.

The parish and the Cultural Arts Council for Wilkes County joined together to have Long paint the two frescoes. Long is an internationally know artist from North Carolina, who specializes in fresco painting using the ancient technique from the Renaissance. It's a drawn-out process that involves applying three separate layers to the wall. The first layer includes a base coat of plaster. Next comes a finer coat to which a red outline drawing is added. The final layer of plaster is applied in small sections, so the water-based pigments can be added before the plaster dries. In this process, the painting becomes part of the wall.

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Corner Cabinets

Corner cabinets were common in Early America. They were practical and offered a wide area for display and storage in a small amount of space. Families often placed their best dishes and curios in the cupboard, and social status could often be told by what was on exhibit there.

The style and workmanship varied greatly, because they were used in simple cabins, large mansions, and everything in between. Some of the top cabinetmakers build them. Farmers and unskilled homeowners might also try their hand. Some were more adept at carpentry than others. The better furnishings proclaimed the family's wealth.

Today, those corner cupboards still in good condition are highly sought after, even the rustic ones. Reproductions are also available, but, of course, the antiques are preferred. When touring historical sites, it is quite common to find a corner cabinet among the collection. They usually hold a lot of history.

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