The Great Blue Army Wagon

Welcome back! A bit of a transportation theme threading here on the third of every month. In May, I shared some of the locations in America where private vehicles are not permitted. For this post, instead of discussing cars, trucks, and other fuel driven modes of getting from point A to point B, we travel back to a time with simpler machines.

Early American settlers employed this method to traverse the vast land we now call the United States. The western migration predicated the need for a conveyance for not only people, but also the supplies required for such a grueling journey. According to the National Park Service, it is possible that upwards of 500,000 people utilized this means from 1841 to 1869. These brave adventurers were not the only individuals to use the Pioneer Wagon - also known as Covered Wagon or Prairie Schooner. During the Civil War, armies also needed help moving items and men.


Roger Hanson, a volunteer at the Tabor House Museum in Ellijay, Georgia and owner of an authentic wagon shared tidbits about one such example. Trying something new for these posts with short videos. Listen as Roger explains interesting history and features. (Some of the text below features his words; in case the videos are tad sluggish.)

This is a model 1858 Army Wagon. During the Civil War period the north built 70,000 in factories and the south 40,000 - generally based on the same design.

Mules pulled these wagons. After removing the mules, the rectangular attachment on the front tongue served as the feed trough. The empty section of the tongue held the related harnesses.

Studebaker Company created this model. They built 6,000 units during the war, at their factory in South Bend, Indiana.

Not all the wagons offered brakes. This is the actual chain brake, attached through the back wheels. For going up and down hills, the rear wheels remained locked. Basically, they could drag it up and down to give them some control of the wagon when it was heavily loaded. 

This maroon undercarriage, along with the body and bed of the wagon in sky blue are the proper colors. The Army began employing these colors in 1812. There is no documentation explaining why these choices developed. We can surmise their use because the soldiers' uniforms sported these shades at that time.

This main color existed on The Great Blue Army Wagon until 1907. At that juncture the color switched to green.

This is the tailgate for the wagon. The chains held the feed trough while in motion. This allowed the mules and other following animals to eat during stops in route. This allowed the convoy to remain compact.

Notice the case full of wagon grease under the wagon. The wooden bucket is original. Named the Tar Pot, it served all the wagons.

This canvas is called a wagon cover. The manufacturer - J. Clemens & Co., Manufacturers of Tents, Tarpaulins, & Wagon Covers, in St. Louis, Missouri. Does the name sound familiar? Mark Twain's (Samuel Clemens) uncle was the richest man in St. Louis during the war period and after the war.
The box at the front of the wagon held tools. The driver did not ride on the wagon step. Rather he rode a mule and controlled all six mules from the front.

During the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman arrived in Georgia with 4,000 wagons, including 24,000 mules. The Confederates utilized 3,000 of these wagons. This gives an idea of the logistics efforts involved.

Can you imagine the overwhelming task of transporting troops and all they required with carriages pulled by mules? Contrast that scenario with the options afforded by the Armed Forces of today. Night and day.

Have you ever seen a Prairie Schooner or Army Wagon in person? Did you know the Prairie Schooner garnered that name because it seemed as if the covers were gliding across the country as Schooner sails on the ocean. Nifty! Hope you enjoyed these little pieces of the past. Thank you to Roger Hanson for sharing living history with us.

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 130 Plans, in 44 languages on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. She is a proud mom of an American soldier and a college senior. If it were up to Rebecca, she would be traveling - right now. First up, trips to see their two grown sons. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, she tackles the craft of fiction while learning from a host of generous writers.

Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest X/Twitter

Traveling the Oregon Trail

The journey west on the Oregon Trail was difficult and sometimes deadly. 300,000 - 500,000 people traveled to the Pacific Northwest between 1841 and 1884, with about 10 percent losing their lives along the way.

Public domain, Wikicommons

The 2,000-mile overland trip from the Midwest to Oregon and California was lengthy and very difficult. In good weather, a wagon train would complete the journey in five months. The average wagon train traveled about 10 - 20 miles per day, over rough terrains such as rocky land, crossing dangerous rivers, and traversing steep hills and mountains. Of course, the distance they ventured each day was dependent on the weather, the difficulty of the landscape, and unexpected obstacles along the way.

Public domain, Wikicommons

It wasn’t cheap to outfit a Conestoga wagon. The total cost of the trip with supplies could be as much as $1,000. Putting that into perspective, $1000 in 1850 equals nearly $40,000 today. The recommended amount of food for each adult was 150 lbs. of flour, 20 lbs. of corn meal, 50 - 150 lbs. of bacon, 40 lbs. of sugar, 10 lbs. of coffee, 15 lbs. of dried fruit, 5 lbs. of salt, half a pound of saleratus (baking soda), 2 lbs. of tea, 5 lbs. of rice, 15 lbs. of beans, and 25 pounds of green apples or peaches. The travelers enjoyed fresh game when it was available, as well as wild berries.

Here is a price list of some of other necessary items they often had to purchase:

Ox - $30-35 each, with 4-6 oxen needed
Mule - $10-15
Pack horse - $25
Riding horse - $75
Milk cow - $70-75
Cattle - $8-20
Covered wagon $70
Tent - $5-15
Rifle - $15

On the trail there were other things that you had to pay for such as tolls for crossing bridges, ($0.15 - $0.50) ferrying rivers ($2 - $5) per wagon, and Indian moccasins ($0.50) to replace worn out shoes.

Public domain, Wikicommons

The entire Conestoga was narrower than a full-size bed and slightly longer. Including its tongue, the average wagon was 18 feet (5.5 m) long, 11 feet (3.4 m) high, and 4 feet (1.2 m) in width. It could carry up to 12,000 pounds (5,400 kg) of cargo. Every stitch of the family's belongings needed to be packed into the wagon, leaving no room for beds or the comforts we take for granted. The families either camped in the open under the stars or slept on the ground beneath the wagon or in a tent.

Beans, cornmeal mush, Johnnycakes or pancakes, and coffee were the usual breakfast fare. Fresh milk was available from the dairy cows that some families brought along, and pioneers took advantage of the rough rides to churn their butter in a bucket hanging on the side of the wagon.

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, Public domain, Wikicommons

Contrary to popular belief, Indians were among the least of the settlers' problems while in transit, though the settlers themselves certainly believed otherwise. While there were cases of Indian attacks on western wagon trains, the majority of settlers made their cross-continent journeys without incident. Shootings, drownings, being crushed by wagon wheels, and injuries from handling domestic animals were the common killers on the trail. One of the biggest killers was disease, namely cholera, diphtheria, and dysentery. Wagon accidents were most prevalent. Both children and adults sometimes fell off or under wagons and were sadly crushed under the wheels.

Considering everything that wagon train travelers endured, it’s a miracle that any of them made it to trail’s end, but many of them did, and their stories are an intriguing part of our U.S. history.

A woman fleeing her past runs straight into her future.

Laney Dawson is desperate to leave Council Grove, KS. Her abusive father is getting out of prison in a week, and she refuses to allow him to hurt her again. With few options available for a young woman, she poses as Lane, a teen boy, and hires on with a family traveling the Santa Fe Trail to New Mexico. Laney regrets lying to the kindhearted Buckley family, especially Ethan, the oldest of the five siblings. As her feelings for Ethan grow, she knows she needs to tell him the truth, but will he leave her at the next town when he learns she's a woman?

Amazon

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, doing making cards, gardening, reading, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com

Rocky Mountain National Park - Firsts and Feuds

I've lived in Colorado ever since I was toddler. My grandparents worked in Estes Park, managing several cabin resorts over the years including MacGregor's, Indian Village, and Tiny Town. Suffice it to say, Rocky Mountain National Park became my playground, and it's still very special to me. I had no idea what all went into declaring a national park, or the struggles and feuds that took place.

THE FIRSTS

The first inhabitants: As far back as 10,000 B.C., Native Americans used the land for a seasonal hunting ground. Ute and Arapaho were the most prominent.


The first expedition: Stephen A. Long brought the first expedition into the area in 1820. They were the first non-Indians to view the tallest mountain at 14,259 feet. As a result, this mountain became Longs Peak. 

The first permanent residents: In 1860, with the promise of gold in Colorado, successful miner, Joel Estes, decided to try his pan in the higher elevation. Unfortunately, he and others who tried mining found that while the area was beautiful, it didn't have enough yield of any mineral to make a profit. However, Estes built a ranch for his family and lived in the valley for six years. They became the first permanent residents and thus the town of Estes Park was named by newspaper man, William Byers, owner and editor of The Rocky Mountain News. Estes left because he found the altitude at 7,522 feet above sea level difficult for farming and he sold his homestead to a Welshman, Griff Evans. 

The first dude ranch: Griff Evans wasn't interested in farming, but saw the value of hospitality for those beginning to discover the pristine land. He built the first dude ranch and hosted many prominent historical figures.

The first thoroughly documented accounts of Rocky Mountain exploration: Another guest of Griff Evans was Isabella Bird, a world-renowned explorer, historian, and writer who traveled solo to the Rocky Mountains to see what everyone was talking about. She met Mountain Jim, a rough mountain man with a horrid scar, but apparently with a heart for the stately woman, and they became good friends. In 1873, together, they scaled the fourteener, Longs Peak. Just before her ascent, she wrote:

"Nature, rioting in her grandest mood, exclaimed in voices of grandeur, solitude, sublimity, beauty, and infinity, 'Lord, what is man that Thou are mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitist him?'" Her experiences are published in the book, A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains.   

The first shuttle service: In 1903, F. O. Stanley, from Massachusetts, visited the Elkhorn Lodge seeking a cure for his tuberculosis. He, and his twin brother, F. E. Stanley established the Stanley Hotel and invented, among others, a means of transportation in the Stanley Steamer automobile. They would go on to create a nine-passenger Stanley bus and start the first shuttle service, bringing guests up from the Loveland train station.

The first greedy settler: One of those figures was Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, Earl of Dunravin. An Irishman, he didn't care about the historic value of this Colorado gem. He ended up acquiring the entire valley for his own private resort and hunting reserve. His unethical practices angered the other ranchers and mountain residents. Whether they encouraged his departure or he simply became bored is up for debate. He would eventually sell to F. O. Stanley and B. D. Sanborn in 1908.

The first luxury hotel: At a cost of a half-a-million dollars, the Stanley Hotel was established and the city grew exponentially. Soon, Estes Park felt a tourism boon that threatened wild life and the delicate ecosystem. 

The Stanley Hotel

Wikimedia Commons

THE FEUDS

With the Stanley Hotel and working dude ranches becoming popular, by the early 1900s, Estes Park and the playground known today as Rocky Mountain National Park, had become overrun by tourists, some gentle on the land and others tramping all over and scarring the primordial mountains and forests, and depleting the wild life.

National conservation and preservation movements began strengthening, powered by Theodore Roosevelt.

Enter Enos Mills, a naturalist who caught the eye of Stanley, now president of the Protection and Improvement Association. Mills was running the Longs Peak Inn at the time, and making known his naturalist views. Stanley funded Mills in his effort to campaign across the nation to bring awareness of the need to

One of Enos Mills' many photographs 

in support of the National Park

Wikimedia Commons

protect and preserve the Northern Rockies. Mills wanted to set aside 1000 square miles, encompassing the entire mountain range from Wyoming to Pikes Peak, for a national park. After numerous publications, speaking engagements, and countless photographs to prove his point, the lobbyist finally saw his dream come to fruition, albeit smaller than he had wanted at 325.5 square miles. William Byers, the newspaper man who had named Estes Park after the first resident, Joel Estes, also named Enos Mills the Father of Rocky Mountain National Park.

President Woodrow Wilson signed into effect the Rocky Mountain National Park Act on January 26, 1915, and the park was dedicated on September 4 of that same year.

RMNP Dedication 1915

Wikimedia Commons

During the fight for control over the land, two factions warred against each other. Those who wanted to keep the land open for ranching, lumber milling, and hunting. Others wanted to regulate the use of the land, keeping it pristine and untouched. In my story, "Periwinkle in the Park," a novella in the Barbour Romance Collection, A Bouquet of Brides, these two views clash as hiking guide, Periwinkle Winfield, and rancher, Clayton McCarrick, butt heads. She's

determined to help commission the national park, and he, for reasons of his own, doesn't want to have a thing to do with the government. Only one will win. Can they see past their differences and allow their hearts to talk to each other in the land they both love?

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband Jim raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado she's a grandmother, though much too young for that. Kathleen is a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

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Life in an Old West Boardinghouse

By Miralee Ferrill

     I’ve always been fascinated by stories depicting cowboys, pioneers and the rugged individuals who helped tame the West. The American frontier, or the Old West, as it came to be known, drew adventurers from all over the world.          They came hoping to find a new life, whether that meant staking out a homestead, mining for gold, finding a husband, or starting a business. Whether it was a family, single men or women, a miner, gambler, or cowboy, the same thing captivated each one—the chance at a fresh start. Beyond that, they all had one need in common—a place to live when they arrived.

I’d never really thought about that aspect before—until I started writing and digging into the research aspect of telling a story. Where did they all go when they arrived out West? Most people didn’t have the means to buy land and build a home, as the trip across the country often took most of their funds.

For some, like the cowboys, it was simple. They slept on a bedroll under the stars, their horse picketed close by. Others slept in a bunkhouse, often with thin bat-and-board siding barely covering the walls, allowing the wind to whistle through the cracks or the knot holes, but always with a cozy wood stove nearby.

My current historical romance series, Love Blossoms in Oregon, is centered around a boardinghouse and the interesting characters who reside there. In the 1880s there was more than one type of boardinghouse, and each catered to different kind of folks. The home operated by my heroine, Katherine, rented rooms to the more genteel type of client looking for more than a one or two night stay. A boardinghouse/combo hotel in Last Chance, CA (pictured here and featured in my book, Love Finds You in Last Chance, CA) only took men, and they all slept in a common room on the second floor, reached exclusively by a ladder.

        Saloons often offered accommodations as well, as they were sometimes attached to or housed within a hotel. Even the independent saloons provided rooms to travelers who wanted drinks, a meal and a bed. Many saloons provided a free lunch with the purchase of a drink, with the hope the traveler would decide to imbibe a bit longer and possibly spend the night. The Crystal Palace and The Oriental Saloon, both built in the last 1870s in Tombstone, AZ, (and featured in my novel, Love Finds You in Tombstone, AZ) provided more than drinks.

     Of course, no decent lady or family would consider such accommodations, as their reputation would most certainly be ruined. Only ladies of ill repute frequented saloons, so the more genteel women chose a hotel, or a boardinghouse for a longer stay.

The average boardinghouse was different than a single family home, often having a large number of bedrooms, a common washroom, a good-sized dining room and a cozy parlor made available to the boarders. Of course, a bathroom as we understand it didn’t exist in the 1800s, at least not in homes in the Old West. Most boardinghouses provided a wash bowl, towels, and a pitcher of fresh water per room, along with a chamber pot. In very rare cases you might find some type of rustic indoor plumbing, but typically a bath was drawn by heating and carrying buckets of water to a wooden or tin tub in a wash room. 

Breakfast was almost always included, and oftentimes supper, with some hostesses occasionally offering laundry service as well. Boarders could share a room, and often did, but the more wealthy patrons could choose to room alone. The least expensive rooms tended to be in the top floor, including smaller attic rooms, as heat rises and made sleeping uncomfortable. For the poor, cheap lodging houses provided basic accommodations for low prices. In San Francisco over a century ago, the majority of people frequenting a hotel were either working class or poor, and a passable room might cost 35 cents a night ($8 in today’s currency). Some rooms were more like dorms with multiple beds shoved close together and with very poor ventilation.

Old Boardinghouse in Texas

Life at a nicer boardinghouse could be almost like home, especially to a lonely widow or single woman struggling to make it on her own. In fact, many boardinghouses in the Old West were owned and operated by women, as it was a respectable way to make a living while keeping your children close by. Warm fires in the parlor and kitchen, reading books or newspapers in the parlor or playing games in the evening, along with story-telling and sharing the happenings of the day, were all common entertainment for the residents.

I’ve always had a fascination for the Old West, and the historical research for my novels has become one of my favorite parts of writing. Life was varied in the 1800’s, and often extremely challenging. The more glimpses I get of the strong men and women who made up the West, the more I’m compelled to share their stories.

If you’d like to contact me or see pictures of the settings for several of my historical novels, I’d love to have you stop by my website or my blog, or subscribe to my newsletter at www.miraleeferrell.com--click on the blog tab.

Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live on 11 acres in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington State. They have two grown children and a beautiful granddaughter. Miralee loves interacting with people, gardening, riding her horse with her daughter, and playing with her dogs. She speaks at various women’s functions and teaches at writers’ conferences. Miralee, an award-winning author of Western fiction, has been writing since 2005, and her first book was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had 23 books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction plus a five-book series of horse novels for middle-grade girls. You can sign up for Miralee's newsletter on her blog.

First published as Love Finds You in Last Chance, California--New title: Finding Love in Last Chance, California

It's 1877 and Alexia Travers is alone in the world. Her father has died unexpectedly, leaving her burdened with a heavily mortgaged horse ranch. Marrying one of the town’s all-too-willing bachelors would offer an easy solution, but Alex has no interest in marriage.
Instead, she dons men’s clothing and rides the range, determined to make the ranch a success on her own. Help arrives when Justin Phillips, an acquaintance of her father’s, comes to Last Chance with his young son. Justin'’s and Alex’'s combined effort to save the ranch quickly turns into a fierce competition between cowboy and tomboy.
But when disaster threatens Travers' Ranch, they must work together to save someone they both love. Can these two independent people learn to depend on God —and on each other?

Popular Historical Writing Periods Plus Giveaway!

I've had many people read Sword of Forgiveness as their first medieval romance and say they expected something different from a medieval book and were pleasantly surprised. I found it interesting that many people think all medieval is the dark ages. That got me to thinking about the different historical eras that we often see in fiction print and I thought I'd briefly go over each time period and mention some of the highlights of each one.

So often the word medieval congers up an image in our minds of barbaric people. But truly, medieval times covers a vast amount of years. The medieval time period started in the 5th century and went until the 15th century! That is 1000 year span when one uses the vague term medieval times. There was such great change from the 5th century to the 15th century that one can't hardly compare them. The last several hundred years had made great strides in laws, protection, rights, and much more. So as a writer of the medieval time period, I'd like to clarify this a little more.

So with good reason we need to break down the medieval time period into 3 eras-- Early Middle Ages, High Middle Ages, and Late Middle Ages.

The Early Middle Ages start in the 5th century and continue on into the 10th century. This time was called the 'Dark Ages' with lack of literary and cultural output. Up until about half way through this period population and trade in Europe declined while immigration increased. 

                                              Repaired walls of Constantinople                                              By en:User:Bigdaddy1204 - Photograph taken in June 2006 in Istanbul by en:User:Bigdaddy1204. All credits go to him., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=880970

The High Middle Ages pick up from the 11th to the 13th century. One of the huge changes was the swiftly increasing population. Such an increase like that would not be seen at such great numbers for another 600 years. Later in the era this population growth helped contribute to the economy picking up. They also saw political and social changes during this time period. 



The Late Middle Ages which I write in are usually considered the 14th and 15th century. This time period saw so much hardship. They were a part of The Great famine as well as the black plague. The combination of the famines and the plagues that hit Europe reduced the population almost in half. There was much social unrest within the country. Peasant uprisings leading to revolts, senseless warfare, and The Hundred Year War kept this era in constant turmoil.

Peasants preparing the field. Background the Louvre.

The Renaissance Period which started in the 14th century in Italy, reaching its peak in the 15th century and then spreading through out Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. What most know about the Renaissance period is its art and architectural contributions. But the Renaissance Period also saw a scientific revolution of its kind turning to observation. It also saw its share of social and political unrest.

The School of Athens by Raphael

The Georgian Years ranged from 1714 to 1837 including the short reign of William the IV. This period began the industrial revolution and great social changes. The industrial revolution strengthened the class divisions as well as help them to see the appearance of Tory and Whig parties.

The Circus in Bath (meaning circle or ring in Latin)
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1188457

The Regency Period is a sub-period of the Georgian Era, when the King was deemed unfit to rule and the Prince Regent ruled the country. Those years ranged from 1811 to 1837. The Regency period is known for its elegance but it too was a time of great change socially, politically, and even economically. 

Almack's

The Victorian Age ran from 1837 when Queen Victoria took the throne to 1901 when she died. This period for the most part was peaceful. The economics continued to increase and people gained more confidence in their queen and country. It was also a time that was considered refined sensibilities. (That made me think of the Regency period and Jane Austin's Sense and sensibility).

The Epson Derby- 1840

The Edwardian Period was a short time from 1901 to 1910. Sandwiched in between the great achievements of the Victorian Age and the first World War this period is many times romanticize as the Golden Age. One thing this time period did accomplish was the growing awareness of the working class. It saw an increase of labor unions, labor movements, and a push for better working conditions.



The American Colonial Period ranged from 1607 to 1776. This was a time of great change. Many came to America for religious purposes, while some came to get away from the reaching arm of England or to make money. There were lost colonies, starvation, growth, unrest, and finally a fight for freedom.

 

Castillo de San Marcos construction began in 1672 in St. Augustine, Florida
By National Park Service - http://www.nps.gov, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1151786

19th Century 1800 to 1899. Its a time when much of the world prospered. America settled the west. The century saw wars, political growth, a fight for equality, medical break throughs, inventions, and so much more. 

The first ships sail through the Suez Canal

So to break this down:

Medieval Era  5th century to the 15th century              1000 years
(Medieval breakdown)
Early Middle Ages 5th century to the 10th century         500 years
High Middle Ages 11th century to the 13th century        300 years
Late Middle Ages 14th century and the 15th century      200 years
Renaissance Period 14th century to the 17th century     300 years
Georgian Period 1714 to 1837                                      123 years
Regency Period (sub period of Georgian) 1811 to 1837   26 years
Victorian Period 1837 to 1901                                       64 years
Edwardian Period 1901 to 1910                                     9 years
Colonial Period 1607 to 1776                                        169 years
19th Century 1800-1899                                              100 years

Interestingly enough when you look at the years of each era and think about when most books are set, the majority of books are set in the minority of eras.  

How about you? Do you have a favorite time period or periods that you like to read? Let me know for a chance to win my new release, Sword of the Matchmaker in choice of format ends June 12th.
  
Giving away a copy of my new release, Sword of the Matchmaker so be sure to leave a comment to enter for just my book AND don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter! Your comment can count toward my book giveaway and the rafflecopter give away. Be sure to share on FB and twitter for Rafflecopter entries!

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Penelope Beatty made up her mind long ago she would live and die a Scottish warrior not a wife. But when nearly all her clan is killed and she is betrayed, she loathes doing the unthinkable, but must seek the help of an Englishman who owed her father his life.

Thomas Godfrey never married, but when a Scottish warrior lass shows up needing his aid, he finds her both annoying and irresistible. But the last thing he wants is to marry a woman who fights alongside him. If he was going to marry—which he isn’t—it would be to a soft, submissive woman. But when the Lady Brithwin meets the Scottish lass, she’s sure she’s found the perfect match for Thomas and nothing is going to stop her from seeing a summer wedding.

Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.

Pease Porridge (Hot or Cold) Recipe

This article is brought to you by Janalyn Irene Voigt.

Pease Porridge Hot and Cold

Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold,

Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.

Some like it hot, some like it cold,

Some like it in the pot, nine days old.

In the pioneer kitchen, a large pot suspended over an open fire usually contained some sort of soup, and a savory porridge made of peas became a favorite. The soup would be consumed hot for the evening meal, and the leftovers cold at breakfast.

Food scraps might be added to the pot over the course of many days. Keeping the soup going like this meant that some of the ingredients could, indeed, be nine days old by the time they were eaten. Sausage or boiled bacon might be included in the soup or served on top. Pease porridge was often served with thick slices of buttered bread.

 

A nursery rhyme and popular singing game played by children featuring this staple of the pioneer kitchen carried into modern times.

Pease Porridge Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. split peas
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 1/2 lb. cubed uncooked bacon
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 Tbs. mint, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• water to cover
• salt and pepper to taste

Note: You can add other vegetables and herbs for different flavors. Sage is another herb that goes well with peas.

Optional Toppings

• fried and crumbled bacon
• diced shallots
• diced green onions
• chopped mint, mint leaves, mint flowers

Steps

1. Soak the peas according to the package directions.
2. Drain the soaked peas.
3. In a large pot, cover the peas with fresh water.
4. Add the salt, pepper, carrots, bacon, and shallots.
5. Bring the pot to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 2½ hours, adding more water as needed.
7. Add the mint in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
8. Ladle the pease porridge into bowls and garnish with mint leaves and mint flowers, if desired.
9. Serve this soup with optional toppings and buttered bread or rolls
10. Enjoy!

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and whimsy creates breathtaking fictional worlds for readers. This multi-faceted storyteller writes in the historical fiction, romantic mystery, and epic fantasy genres. Janalyn is a history enthusiast and romantic. These elements appear in everything she writes.

Beginning with DawnSinger, the epic fantasy series, Tales of Faeraven, carries readers into a land only imagined in dreams.

Hills of Nevermore, the first installment in Montana Gold, a historical romance series set during Montana's gold rush, releases in 2017.

Deceptive Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans, book 3), the final installment in a romantic suspense series set in an island paradise off the coast of Washington state, releases August 1, 2016.

    Learn more about Janalyn Voigt and her books.