Hezekiah Alexander, an Early Statesman

Of Scotch-Irish ancestry, Hezekiah Alexander's family had immigrated to Maryland prior to 1670. His father was a tanner, who became a magistrate and an elder in the Presbyterian church. Alexander learned the trade of a blacksmith and moved to Cumberland (now Franklin) County on the Pennsylvania frontier. He married Mary Sample in 1752.

When the French and Indian War broke out, their property became a dangerous place to be and threatened by severe Indian attacks, so they moved to Piedmont North Carolina, where some of Hezekiah's relatives had already moved. There he rose to prominence, becoming a magistrate, an elder of Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church, and was instrumental in forming Queen's College, the first college chartered south of Virginia and the only school for training Presbyterian ministers south of New Jersey. Hezekiah's involvements and accomplishments during the Revolutionary War are too numerous to mention here, and could be material for a blog of its own. 

He built a stone house that would have been considered a mansion in its day in Mecklenburg County. He spent his last years with his family. He had seven sons and three daughters. He died in 1794 and was buried in the cemetery at Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church. You can tour his home, one of the earliest ones in the area, now located in Charlotte.

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Are You an Apathetic Christian?

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23).

As a pastor's wife, I've been asked on several occasions what I see as the Church's biggest problem. My answer has always been the same - apathy. Webster defines it as not having much interest or emotion. Can a person even be a Christian and not have emotion or be interested? Yet, I think too many try. They just don't care very much about spiritual things.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

For example, how many people sit in church pews today without understanding why they're here in the first place - to glorify God. There is nothing in our lives that comes even close to being as important to us as He is. Christians should be shuffling schedules, shaving time off watching television or hobbies, or getting up earlier in the morning to spend time in His Word and with Him.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40).

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God; and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

We have to love others; it's the greatest commandment - that's all people and not just the ones we choose. We can't be void of emotions. We can't be lukewarm, either, for Revelations tells us He will spit us out. How many so-called Christians join megachurches so they can be lost in the crowd and not have to do anything? How many sit in church Sunday after Sunday and are never moved by any message? How many people think they know they're going to heaven, so they really don't care whether strangers make it or not, and they don't see the need of witnessing and discipling? How many are more likely to be thinking about and planning other

things instead of worshiping God on Sunday morning? How many pray to God daily, often with tears streaming down their face, because they are so moved by His presence or by the burden on their hearts for others?

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm. and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelations 3:15-16).

Truthfully, are you trying to be an apathetic Christian who doesn't care very much for the things of God? Please don't be!

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Character-Driven Novels

Novels are either character-driven or plot-driven, and mine are definitely character-driven. When I start planning for a novel, the setting and the characters come to me about the same time. I live with them for quite a while and visit with them often before I ever start writing their story. By that time, I know them well.

Let me use my Appalachians Roots series as an example. I wrote Sown in Dark Soil, but Emma, Luke's grandmother, wouldn't leave me alone. Even before this book was finished, she kept telling me I needed to back up and tell her story, so that's what I did. Her story and that of her son, Clifton, became Cleared for Planting, the first book in the series, leaving Sown in Dark Soil as the second one.

I'm putting the finishing touches on the third book, Uprooted by War, now. Hawk was another character that wouldn't retire. I actually cried when I wrote the scene of him walking away that morning, and I continued to tear up every time I reread it. My husband couldn't help but laugh at me. Well, Hawk comes back in Uprooted by War. Ivy also surprises everyone, even me, when she comes back to the mountains, something she'd vowed never to do.

I really don't have full control over what happens in the books I write. My characters share control, but, that's what makes writing so much fun for me. When I begin a book, I never know exactly what's going to happen in it, and what I do know might change. I write, just like I read, to see what unfolds. My readers tell me they do, too, and many have a hard time putting the books down. Now that's what I like to hear.

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Colonial Barns

Colonial barns came in all shapes and sizes and were constructed of different materials. Of course, most of the early ones were built of logs. At first, the immigrants designed their buildings based on what they would be used for and what they'd known in Europe. However, as they adapted to their surroundings, practicality won out. 

We think of barns as a place for cows and livestock with hay in the loft. However, even in colonial times, barns had many more uses. They were also a place for work. Farmers often used the barns as a place for repair jobs, and maintenance that needed to be done, especially during the winter months, when they weren't as busy elsewhere. It wasn't uncommon to find something like a woodworking shop in the barn.

In addition, grains were often threshed or shucked in or near the barn. In fact the word, "barn," started off meaning a place to store barley. There were also specialty barns, such as cotton barns and tobacco barns. The Quakers and Shakers even built some round barns. I find barns interesting, and take pictures of them wherever I go. They're not as common as they used to be, but they're still a part of rural America.

Reconstructed Colonial Cotton Barn

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Otter

Otter can be delightful to watch. One of the highlights of my first Alaskan trip was taking a small boat out into the bay and watching a family of otter put on a spontaneous show of water acrobatics for us. Their antics were certainly fun to watch. They are such playful creatures and do so for the sheer enjoyment of it. They've been known to make water slides and use them to slip into the water for hours. They also like to use small stones as balls.

There are about 13 species of otter. Some live in fresh water, like rivers, and others dwell in the sea. River otter live across the United States, except for the desert. Sea otter are on both coasts.They're related to weasels, minks, and martens. On average, otter live to be about 16 years old. Females mate at about two years of age and males at three. The mother, father, and older siblings help care for the pups. These pups are able to leave their den at about one month old, and they can swim around two months old. They stay with their family for around one year.

Characteristics of the otter include a slim body, short legs, and webbed feet with claws. All, except the sea otter, have long tails. A giant sea otter can weigh close to a hundred pounds, but the smallest otter only weighs about two pounds. Of course, most fall between this range. They need to eat 15% of their body weight each day, so they spend much of their time hunting for food. They'll eat things like frogs, crayfish, crabs, and shellfish, but regular fish are their mainstay.

Both river and sea otter have long been hunted and trapped for their fur. They have almost become extinct in places, and some areas have listed them as protected. Sea otter spend most of their time in the water, while other otters spend more time both on land and in the water. If you ever get a chance to watch them play and perform, you'll be in for a treat.

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National Dessert Day

That's right, October 14th is national dessert day, so, if you're looking for a reason to splurge, this is it. You can forget about the calories and fat grams for one day and celebrate with your favorite dessert. What will it be - chocolate cake, apple pie, an ice cream sundae, or (my favorite) cheesecake? The choices are almost endless. 

It's easy to come up with great desserts. If you enjoy cooking, you can make your own; buy them at the store; or just go to a restaurant and enjoy someone else's cooking. Think of a dessert you would like to make, and you'll likely find a recipe for it online. Or better yet, experiment and come up with your own original recipe. Almost everyone I know loves a good dessert.

Some of the online sites about the day suggest that we have a dessert at every meal today. Um-m-m, I wonder if tomorrow is national fasting day. Maybe I'll walk four miles instead of two. Oh, well, I'll decide on that tomorrow. Now, I just need to decide on which desserts to celebrate today with.

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Claudius Died on This Day in 54 AD

On this day in history, October 13, 54 AD, Rome's emperor, Claudius, died under mysterious circumstances. He was only 44 years old and had been poisoned. He had been born in Gaul, which is now France, and was the first Roman emperor to be born outside of Italy. His grandfather had been Mark Anthony and his grandmother Octavia, the sister of Augustus. Due to a childhood illness, he couldn't hear well and had a slight limp. Because of these, his enemies never considered him a serious threat to come to the throne. Yet, he managed to climb through the ranks and do exactly that.

Claudius became know as an able and efficient leader, despite his lack of experience or training to become emperor. Under him, the Roman system of roads, canals, and aqueducts was expanded and the successful conquest of Britain begun. He had a personal interest in legal matters and is known for sometimes issuing up to 20 edicts in one day. Yet, he still had his enemies, as most Roman emperors did, and they worked against him. Even before his death, he dealt with several coups, which led to the death of some senators and their supporters.

Most historians agree that Claudius died from poison, but they're not sure if he was in Rome or in Sinuessa, Italy, at the time. Most believe his wife, Agrippa, had something to do with it. His son, Nero, took over after him, and that would have long-lasting effects on history.

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