Floorcloths

Floorcloth at historic Kenmore

Floorcloth was an early term for a throw rug used to protect the larger flooring or to cut down on drafts and cold floors. These historic floorcloths were often made from oilcloth or heavy canvas and painted or stenciled to make them attractive. As such, they can even be waterproofed.

Making floorcloths

Floorcloths were widely used in colonial America and are still recognized as a part of Early American decor. They continued to be used into the nineteenth century, but the widespread use of linoleum after 1920 put an end to the general use of floorcloths, and they became a part of historical displays for the most part.

Installing a floorcloth at Kenmore

There have been revivals of interest in the craft periodically, such as during the years surrounding the Bicentennial, but in general, they've not become in vogue in modern times. It's somewhat of a shame, for they're fun to make and add a special touch to a home. They'd be great to use in front of a kitchen sink and could have designs to match any decor.

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The Power of Story

Several months ago, I heard a small group of pastors talking, and one was telling how he wouldn't waste his time reading novels, even if they were Christian. According to him, stories like that was unimportant and he saw no need for them. The others seemed to agree, and I was taken aback. I had never looked at Christian fiction so judgmentally.

My church has been doing a study using the book, Patterned, which is on "sharing & imitating Christ together." Week 8 deals with ministry opportunities through storytelling. Jesus was the Master Storyteller, using parables to teach important biblical truths. And yes, the parables were stories like those pastors were disparaging. 

"Stories can reach into the minds and hearts of people, teaching beliefs, values, and attitudes where other approaches have difficulty" (p. 193). They pull us in and cause us to apply what's happening there to our own lives. Research shows that 80% of the world's population prefer to learn from stories; and while a few might choose to learn through an explanation of concepts, even these can learn through stories.*

"No matter how much education we have, no matter how old we are, stories still move us" (p. 194). In fact, the Bible is not just a book or rules, as many think. It is God's story, a true story, but a story nonetheless. "Stories bring the truth to life" (p.199). "Many misunderstand the place and power of story. Jesus didn't. We shouldn't either. Story has the power to lead us and draw us into a deeper relationship with God" (p.195).*

*Robinson, George, Tim Brannagan, and others, Patterned. Cary, NC: Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. 2016.

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Tom Swifties

How many of you remember Tom Swifties? They are phrases using adverbs in a statement that almost become a pun. The term comes from a series of books about Tom Swift which started around 1910 and continued into modern times. In an effort to avoid being repetitive, the author constructed sentences using different ways to tell who said it, and some became almost comical.

People began constructing similar sentences for fun and produced many parodies, since they became even more exaggerated than the original ones. There have even been some books published that are filled Tom Swifties. Here are some examples of them:

This salad dressing has too much vinegar," said Tom acidly.
I'll try a martini," Tom said dryly.
"I don't like shellfish," Tom said crabbily.
I won't stick my arm in a lion's mouth again," the animal trainer told off-handedly.
"I might as well be dead," Tom croaked.
"My uncle struck oil," Tom gushed.
"It's too cold in here," Tom stated icily.
"I'm finally here," Tom announced presently.
"I'd like to make some returns on my investment," Tom said with interest.
"I think this spaghetti tastes great." Tom voiced his opinion saucily.
"Do you also write fairy tales?" the brothers asked grimly.

What do you think? Have you had more than enough of the often corny or silly Tom Swifties, or are you inspired to go write some of your own? Maybe you could make a car game of them on your next long trip. Who do you think can quickly make up the most Swifties?

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The Arts

In the days of dwindling funds and budget cuts, the arts are often the first to go. For example, many school systems have watered down their art programs or deleted them altogether. Community art programs have had their budgets slashed until, if they've survived, they can do only a fraction of what they once did.

The arts encompass much more than the visual arts, although they're an important part of it. Theater, dance, music, writing, etc. are included. The list could be exhaustive. Even the visual arts include a wide variety of crafts, like jewelry making, glass blowing, pottery, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, needlepoint, candle making, woodworking, and many others. 

Admittedly, attitudes that art has to be risque to be viable hasn't helped their cause, but the public often focuses on this more than necessary. Art can touch places deep within us and brings out the best. It can lift us out of the mundane routines, whisk us away from our problems, and take us to where we're faced with beauty instead of turmoil. It stimulates possibilities and lets us dream dreams. We all should support the arts, because they touch our lives for the better.

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Are You Good Enough?

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do (Romans 7:19).

Last year, I had a frustrated young man respond to one of my blogs. He seemed about to throw up his hands with trying to live a Christian life, because no matter how hard he tried, he still felt like a failure. "What is wrong with me?" he wrote. Last week at a Wednesday night prayer service, a dear little lady teared up and said, "I try my best to do what's right. That's all that I can do."

These two people express sentiments all of us have probably felt at one time or another. However, they're looking at the Christian life from a distorted perspective, one that Satan would like us to keep. It is true that we will always struggle to live a righteous life on our own, and our best will never be good enough. But that's why Jesus died on the cross. Now, it's not about us but about Him in us. 

That's why the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. We aren't strong enough to live the life we should, but He is. Our best is not good enough, so we let Him have control and we become more like Christ. We traded our sinfulness for Christ's righteousness, and those sins died on the cross. The more we surrender all, the more we have the power of God within us and become the person He meant for us to be. "It is no secret what God can do." Praise the Lord!

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Love to Learn

I'm a lifelong learner, and I love it. Perhaps that's why I became certified in twelve different areas, K-12, when I taught and often joked that I was a professional student. I find the structure of a class keeps me from procrastinating and forces me to get the job done. I stay so busy, I tend to postpone it otherwise. The only way I learn well without this structure is by traveling to places and touring.

When my husband and I moved to our current location and I discovered a small, private university thirty minutes away, I decided to take advantage of some of their programs. They allowed me to take up to nine hours a semester for a ridiculously low tuition price through a special grant. I did this for two semesters, until my first book was published, and then things got too hectic and busy to fit it in. But this new career has been exciting too.

Recently, I've found free online classes that allow me to take a four to six week class, which I complete at my own pace during that time. I'm taking mine from FutureLearn from universities mainly in the United Kingdom. They have a long list of classes staggered to start all along. I especially like the history classes. I recently finished England in the Time of Richard III, which I found to contain excellent information on life in the Middle Ages and the War of the Roses. Now I'm taking A History of Royal Food and Feasting, and I find it quite intriguing. It began with food in the court of Henry VIII. I think there might be a novel set in Old England somewhere in my future. This is furnishing much of the research or at least giving me a good start. Oh yes, I love researching historical novels, too, and I've always had more historicals published than contemporaries. Learning, researching, and writing are so much fun!

Tower of London, Thames view

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May Day

Photo by Paul Barnett

May Day is an ancient spring festival celebration in the Northern Hemisphere. It often included singing, dancing, and eating special foods like cake. The Roman Empire even held such celebrations, and German and Gaelic events came a little later. In fact, some sort of spring celebration can be found in many of the European nations.

May Queen - photo by Charles Rispin

Dancing around a May pole and crowning a May queen are traditional activities for May Day celebrations. Small May baskets filled with treats and anonymously left on doorsteps used to be popular but faded from vogue more quickly than the other two. The Catholic Church chose May 1st as a day to celebrate Mary and later Mary and Joseph, so the date also became a saint's day to celebrate.

Photo by Kevin Gordon

Although May Day celebrations came across the ocean with the colonists, they haven't had the same impact or continued in the same way in America as in Europe. Many of the villages in Britain have kept the traditions alive for a long time, and May Day festivals have had renewed interest in recent years. It is certainly a part of European and American history, so happy May Day, everyone!

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