Fences

When Robert Frost said, "Good fences make good neighbors," he had an understanding of human nature. But fences have not always been seen as necessary, and they've certainly changed through the ages.

Ancient Roman walls

The first fences were so high they were called walls and usually protected ancient cities against invaders. We find such walls mentioned often in the Bible. A similar type of wall was used to fortify castles in the Medieval Period. 

In the rocky terrain of the British Isles, fences were often constructed of stones. The American colonists had plenty of trees available, and they made some variety of rail fencing, if they made any at all. For years many let all their animals range, especially in certain areas, although a few might try to enclose their garden area in some way.

With the invention of galvanization (see my post of 11-22-2024),

barbed wire became the norm for enclosing fields. Other forms followed, like chain link, chicken wire, electric, vinyl to imitate painted wooden ones, etc. Today there's a wide variety to choose from. 

Do fences make good neighbors? I guess it depends on your prospective. If you're somewhat of a recluse, you might agree with Arthur Baer who took Frost's comment a step further: "A good neighbour is a fellow who smiles at you over the back fence, but doesn't climb it."

_________________________________________

Thanksgiving Should Be an Attitude

Giving thanks shouldn't be something we do on a special Thursday in November or occasionally, when we think of it. Even thanking God for our food before meals or when we recognize a special blessing is not enough. We need to live with a thankful heart.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

We can cultivate a thankful heart; it's a choice we make. Paul gave thanks in all his situations (and he went through beatings and imprisonment), because he knew God would use him for good, even in bad circumstances. Do you trust God that much?

"As ye therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye with him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7). "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes, "A thankful heart opens the windows of heaven.... Thankfulness opens you up to these experiences [glimpses of heaven's glory], which provide further reasons to be grateful" (p.341). Isn't this a marvelous cycle of blessings, understanding how great God is, and recognizing how good He is to us? Cultivate a thankful heart and attitude and see how much better your life seems.

"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever" (1 Chronicles 16:34).

______________________________________________________

Galvanization Changed Things

Before galvanization, tubs, buckets, and other large containers had been made from wood. Nails came from a blacksmith and rusted easily, therefore wooden pegs were also still used. Galvanization changed all this. Some of the older generation may even remember taking a bath in a galvanized tub.

Galvanizing applies a zinc coating to iron or steel to keep it from rusting. The first patent for the process came in France in 1837, but the earliest example came from India in the 1600's on armor. Galvanization just slows down the process of rusting but doesn't completely stop it. Since it is a thin layer applied to the exposed areas, a dent will cause the metal to rust quickly. Yet, galvanized

items are expected to last around 50 years in non-coastal climates and 25 years in a coastal environment.

Not only did galvanization revolutionize the container industry so that buckets and tubs no longer were commonly made from wood,

but now nails no longer rusted so quickly, and farm and ranch fencing changed to barbed wire. All of these had a tremendous effect on America as other galvanized products arrived. The first U. S. patent for this new fencing was given to Lucien Smith of Kent, Ohio in 1867. Many different styles of barbs developed, and over 2,000 different varieties were used.

I know of two museums dedicated to just barbed wire. The one I've visited is in LaCrosse, Kansas, and there's also the Devil's Barbed Wire Museum in McLean, Texas.  In addition there are various societies and associations for barbed wire.

_________________________________________

What's a Book Worth?

Today's value system leaves questions in many of our minds. When professional athletes and entertainment stars make mega-millions, and our teachers' children often qualify for reduced price school lunches if both parents don't work, we might scratch our heads.

It's the same with books. The ebooks have not only changed the reading format, but they've changed the pricing. Now, most people are no longer willing to pay $20 for a book. Many even balk at paying over $5 for an ebook. Yet, these same people have no problem paying over $5 for a cup of Starbucks specialty coffees or a dish of frozen yogurt that will be gone in a few minutes. 

With indie authors and publishers sometimes offering free ebooks, is that our expectation now? I'm an avid reader, too, and I find my mindset changing over the years. There's whole groups out there, especially on the social media sites, who expect authors to send them free books for their reviews. Are we shooting the rising star authors before they get off the ground? Is writing only going to be left to a select few?

Putting on my author's hat, I worry that I can't compete with these views. With my first novel coming out 

soon, I can't afford to give away many books, because each time I do, over $10 comes out of my own pocket. My publisher has indicated that the print copy will cost around $15 and the ebook about $5.99. Will readers think this is too high? I know that if this first one doesn't sell well, the next one won't be published.

I find my answer right now from my place as a Christian writer. I am writing to give God the glory. I feel He has given me whatever talent I have and that's why I plan to donate all of my book profits to charities. None if this is about the money or fame for me, but I need to sell if I want to keep doing this. So, I turn the dilemma over to God. I am His and my writing is His. To Him be the glory and may His will be done.

________________________________________

Gathering Wood

Getting wood used to be a pretty endless job, especially in colder climates. At one time, people burned wood to cook with all year long, as well as to heat their homes in winter.

In Cleared for Planting, when the Moretzes weren't busy elsewhere on the farm, they cut, hauled, split, and stacked wood. When Edgar saw how little firewood the Cagles had, he seemed worried. Since this would be the first winter Emma had spent in the Appalachian Mountains, she didn't know what to expect, but everyone said it would be rough.

Much of what I wrote about in Cleared for Planting comes from personal experience. Although I have never done the initial cutting or splitting, I've watched, and I've helped with sawing the logs into usable lengths and carrying and stacking the pieces. Pulling one end of a crosscut saw was hard work, but it made me feel special when Dad was on the other end. 

My father and his family had sawmilled, so he knew about wood. We only used pine for starter or kindling and burned hardwoods. Burning pine causes creosote buildup in the flue or chimney, which can cause a chimney fire and burn down the house. 

I'm glad we don't have to work so hard to heat and cook today, but fresh cut wood still brings back wonderful memories. As the old saying goes, "Cutting wood warms you twice - when you do the work and when you burn the wood."

_____________________________________

Help for Achy Bones and Joints

In the Appalachian Roots series, three of the heroines know something about herbal healing. It's an interesting and almost exhaustive subject.

A little over a year ago, I ran across a health tip for something that seems to ease my arthritis pain - ginger. I use about 1/4 teaspoon of the spice sprinkled in a beverage, like hot tea, water, or a lemon-lime soda once a day. You can also buy ginger tea. My husband prefers the over-the-counter ginger root pill, which he takes once a day. This won't cure the condition, but it eases my pain and makes me less stiff.

My mother had severe arthritis and took ibuprofen for years. In the end, she had kidney failure, likely from the pain medication, and had to go on dialysis. Because of this, I've been hesitant to take

ibuprofen or acetaminophen (which can cause liver problems) on a regular basis. Therefore, the ginger is a welcomed alternative.

As with any supplement or medication, you should consult with your doctor, for individual cases and needs can vary. I did, and mine said ginger was also good for the digestion.

___________________________________

Old World and New World Foods

As we're coming up on Thanksgiving, it's interesting to note what foods were brought to the New World from Europe and what foods the Europeans took back with them. Most of our traditional Thanksgiving meal did come from the Americas. Here's a list:

Found in the Americas -
potatoes          corn            beans             turkey             pumpkins   cabbage
peppers           pecans        tomatoes       
peanuts           avocado      squash
cranberries     pecans        sunflowers 
blueberries     pineapple   black walnuts
guava               papaya        huckleberries
pineapple       peanuts       maple syrup
cashews          vanilla         hickory nuts
chocolate        zucchini      Brazil nuts    
American chestnut


Found in Europe -
wheat             cinnamon   radishes         
chickpeas       cucumber   asparagus            
melons            chickens     cloves
figs                   rice              cows
mutton            garlic           sugar cane
pigs                  sheep           hazelnuts      
citrus fruits     goats           nutmeg
almonds          mango        apples            
apricots           okra             olives             
bananas           onions        beets               
peaches            pears          pistachios
artichoke         peas            kale                 
collards            tea              cabbage           
rhubarb           turnips       carrots            
watermelon    Brussels sprouts
cauliflower      English walnuts 
coriander or cilantro            

    

____________________________________