DECEMBER 1, 2019 - A Look Back

Post by Doris McCraw
writing as Angela Raines

I find it hard to believe it's December 1, 2019, already. It seems like just yesterday that I was making plans for the upcoming year and here the year is almost over.

So what became of those plans? I don't know about you, but when I look back I'm surprised at how the year turned out. Did I succeed in those plans? Well, yes and no.

1. When it came to writing, my goal was to have a novel and a short story published. I am happy to say, I did succeed. Of course, I had started writing the novel in 2018 much like I am writing the 2020 novel now. The challenge for 2020 is the novel needs to be about twice as long as I normally write. I am enjoying the challenge but it is taking a lot longer to write with a lot more twists and turns.
     The short story was published, along with the other wonderful stories in the anthology "Hot Western Nights", I was so honored to be included and enjoyed reading all the other stories in the book.

2. I decided I would fulfill my desire to have my first novella, "Home for His Heart" out in an audio form.  It looked like that wouldn't happen with so many obstacles in my way. I have ended up working more hours this year, including being called back to work at the second job I'd left about a year and a half ago. I am glad to say, the extra hours are helping to pay for the studio. After my first day in the studio, half the story is now recorded. I will finish recording next week if all goes as planned. (It felt good to be in the studio again, just this time it's for a book instead of music.)

3. I truly wanted to be further along on the book about Colorado's Women doctors, however, that has not happened. I am currently working on rewriting a paper that is an overview of what the book can be. I plan to try to get it published in 2020.

4. I had a surprise request for an article earlier this year and was able to write about a four thousand word piece on Women, Custer, and the Westward expansion. Fortunately for me, I have been researching a lot of that information with my work as Helen (Hunt) Jackson and her writings on the Indians. For those who might be interested, it was published by 'Saddlebag Dispatches'.

5. I wanted to be able to sell my home and move to a smaller place, but that is one plan that will take a lot longer than anticipated.

6. The goal of selling more books is ongoing. I don't know that any author ever stops going for that. I do realize that for 2020 it will be important that my pen name be more familiar to readers.

So as we get ready for the Christmas Holiday and the coming of 2020, how did your 2019 stack up to your expectations? I confess I am happy with the way the year went. I've been able to fulfill my love of research and include much of what I've found in my writings. All in all, a good year despite some setbacks.

Wishing everyone a great Holiday Season and that your dreams and plans be fulfilled.

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet

Books: Angela Raines Books

Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here

EARLY COLORADO CHRISTMASES

Post written and copyright by Doris McCraw

As the Christmas and Holiday season approaches, how about some early celebrations? Imagine if you will, 1858, you have followed the siren's call to Colorado in search of the 'golden fleece' known as gold and silver. Life has been busy and the high desert with its mild weather has fooled you. Then when you do the figuring, its Christmas, what do you do? Or maybe you have traveled with your family and now you plan to celebrate in the middle of nowhere. Join me as I share some of the stories I have found.

According to the records, the area around what is now Denver had about 200 men and 5 women (four were married) and assorted children. Perhaps I should add the two towns that made up the area were about sixty days old. Plans were being made in the two camps for a festive meal. One camp was planning and candles for a tree that had been cut in the foothills. This was the German couple and trees were a part of the home country festivities. The other party had a meal of buffalo, rabbit, wild turkey, rice pudding and peach and apple pie, listing just part of the menu.

USGS Topographic Mapping Field Camp

It is written that Christmas morning that year was 'soft and genial as a May day...'. Into this lovely mix "Uncle Dick" Wootton (sp) brought his gift, "Taos Lightening". Needless to say, the day was one to be remembered, if you hadn't taken in too much of the free gift Uncle Dick brought to the party. (I'll have to tell you more about Uncle Dick later)

One family on the Arkansas river, up close to the cut off to what is now Monarch pass, had been cut off from others and the towns due to heavy fall snow storms that year of 1863.  They had been working their claim, even in the heart of winter. When Christmas arrived, they had plenty of food, but not much variety. So the one daughter decided to bring out the good china brought from their home in Nebraska and serve up a feast. According to the story, they made mock turkey, from beef, beans, substitute coffee, made from browned bran. The parents were the guest of honor. Now that is a creative young lady, who set this up with the help of her siblings.

. Harding sandstone on gneiss and schists 1.5 miles northwest of Canyon [City]/USGS. “

In the early trapper days around 1842, the northeast corner of Colorado/Utah saw a holiday take shape with the help of the Indians in the area. Their Holiday meal consisted of appalost, a type of shish kabob with lean meat and fat roasted over a low fire, buffalo cider, a liquid found in the stomach of buffalo, supplemented with washena, marrow fat and pomme blanc from the Indians.

In Leadville in 1888, Dick Berryman's Saloon offered the following bill of fare: Possum, Turkey, Roast Pig, Sweet Potatoes and Corn Dodgers.

Leadville, Colorado, mining district, subject of an early mining-geology study, 1879.

As you can see, even back in the early days, people did what they could to celebrate. I will leave you with a lovely passage from Isabella Bird's book, "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains". As Isabella traveled the Rocky Mountains, alone, she wrote letters back to her sister in England. This passage is from her time in the Estes Park area of Colorado in 1873 as she rode her horse Birdie through the fir covered area.  "...I think I never saw such a brilliant atmosphere.That curious phenomena called frost-fall was occurring in which, whatever moisture may exist in the air, somehow aggregates into feather and fern leaves, the loveliest of creations, only seen in rarefied air and intense cold. One breath and they vanish. The air was filled with diamond sparks quite intangible. They seemed just glitter and no more. It was still and cloudless, and the shapes of violet mountains were softened by a veil of the tenderest blue."

This area is known as Little Yellowstone in Rocky Mountain national Park (photo W. Lee, USGS, ...

To each and everyone, may you have the Christmas and Holiday that your heart desires.

snowfall - by the author

HOME FOR HIS HEART
http://www.amazon.com/Home-His-Heart-Angela-Raines-ebook/dp/B00LU3HZEK/
also available as an ebook on Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.


Doris Gardner-McCraw/Angela Raines
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

https://www.amazon.com/author/angelaraines-dorismccraw
Photo and Poem: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
Blog: http://renawomyn.blogspot.com/ 

“Film and Photography on the Front Range” (Regional History Series): Colorado Springs, CO. Pikes Peak Library District 2012

PUDDLE JUMPING

According to the current on-line dictionary the definition of puddle jumping is: the action of flying an airplane for only short distances or making many stops. Now I don't fly an airplane, at least not yet ( in fact probably never since I don't like flying...but you never know), so what in the name of Paul Bunyon am I talking about it?

Actually, when talking about puddle jumping, the second half of that definition, making many stops, is the focus. At tea with a friend the other day we were discussing dreams, plans, the usual. The more we talked the realization that she wanted everything to be perfect before she jumped in materialized. Also she hoped I would convince her it was perfect, so she could go ahead. In contrast, jumping in and figuring out how to make it work is a better scenario for myself. Because of that philosophy, life has been so much fun and I have learned so much, made so many friends, and rediscovered my love of history.

Colorado Blue Columbine, first written of in the
journal of Edwin James, botanist on the
 Long Expedition in 1820

A few years ago I mentioned to a producer friend I would like to do a one woman show. After about a month she told me she had a venue and a time, and asked "was I going to do it?" What do you think? Six weeks later with a bit of research the show had a great weekend run. That led to researching the Pikes Peak Region and onto storytelling gigs. It led to Helen (Hunt) Jackson and Katharine Lee Bates, who have led me a merry chase that's been a great joy along with a nice bit of payment. (On Saturday, Sept 6, I sang 'America the Beautiful' as KLB for the rededication of the Municipal Building built in 1904)

You see where this is going? When asked to submit a proposal for the Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, the story of Karol W. Smith was published along with the talk on cable. Of course, the next year the story of the Cripple Creek volcano had to be told. That area around Cripple Creek/Victor is the setting for more than one story in the works. The town of Florissant just north of those towns, joined the others to play a part in the story "Home For His Heart" published by Prairie Rose Publications. 

As a child, how many have been told they couldn't do that, follow your dream but have something to fall back on. Don't jump in the puddles, you'll get wet. Sorry, life's too short, getting wet is fun, and oh the joy of jumping in and learning so many things that lead to other things. What a joy! So the next time someone says, "can you do..." guess what the answer could be. In the meantime 'Dirty Woman', her sawmill and ranch are calling for more research. Andrew needs to be saved, a former Pinkerton wants to fall in love and the wife of a murderer wants to tell her story. The people in my head are clamoring to get out, so until next time, enjoy those puddles.

For fun I leave you with some quotes:

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." Lao Tzu

"Only those who will risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot

"It is never to late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

and lastly from one of my favorites:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream,Discover." Mark Twain

To follow my haiku: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com 

“Film and Photography on the Front Range” (Regional History Series): Colorado Springs, CO. Pikes Peak Library District 2012

available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

Post and photos copyright by Doris McCraw

CHRISTMAS IN JULY! by CHERYL PIERSON

What’s better than a slice of cold watermelon on a hot July day? How about CHRISTMAS IN JULY! Yep, here at Prairie Rose Publications, we’re celebrating early and trying to drive off the heat for a spell!

Did y’all know that the National Day of the American Cowboy is a legally observed day now here in the good ol’ US of A? Well, it might just be one day that’s legally observed, but here at PRP, we think it deserves a whole week! And we’re celebrating with our Christmas stories, combined to make one doozy of a holiday sale—CHRISTMAS IN JULY! If you’re curious, here’s what the resolution has to say about it. Take a look and then we’ll talk about how WE’RE celebrating!

This resolution recognizes the important role that the cowboy has played in the American West and calls on people to celebrate the cowboy’s influence on our history and culture.

Designating July 26, 2014, as ‘‘National Day of the American Cowboy’’.

Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as ‘‘cowboys’’, helped to establish the American West; Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism; Whereas the cowboy spirit exemplifies strength of character, sound family values, and good common sense; Whereas the cowboy archetype transcends ethnicity, gender, geographic boundaries, and political affiliations; Whereas the cowboy, who lives off the land and works to protect and enhance the environment, is an excellent steward of the land and its creatures; Whereas cowboy traditions have been a part of American culture for generations; Whereas the cowboy continues to be an important part of the economy through the work of many thousands of ranchers across the United States who contribute to the economic well-being of every State;

Whereas millions of fans watch professional and working ranch rodeo events annually, making rodeo one of the most-watched sports in the United States; Whereas membership and participation in rodeo and other organizations that promote and encompass the livelihood of cowboys span every generation and transcend race and gender; Whereas the cowboy is a central figure in literature, film, and music and occupies a central place in the public imagination; Whereas the cowboy is an American icon; and Whereas the ongoing contributions made by cowboys and cowgirls to their communities should be recognized and encouraged: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) designates July 26, 2014, as ‘‘National Day of the American Cowboy’’; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

WHEW! Well dang it, we already knew all that, since we write so much about cowboys in our stories, didn’t we? Still, it’s good to know that our lawmakers got SOMETHING right! And here’s what we’re doing for our part! Only we’re not celebrating for just one DAY—we’re carrying on for the entire WEEK! Because we know how y’all love cowboys, and one day just isn’t enough to do them justice.
We’ve got lots of great promotions this week at our website. Not only do we have our first Christmas anthology, WISHING FOR A COWBOY for sale (with eight wonderful, delicious cowboy stories in it!) we also have released each of these stories as “single sell” short stories for only .99 each!

You’ve read WISHING FOR A COWBOY? Well, how about some new stories you might not have tried? We’ve got those, too, both in single sell and anthology form, from Cheryl Pierson! Take a look at A NIGHT FOR MIRACLES, HOMECOMING, THE GUNFIGHTER'S GIRL, and MEANT TO BE!

We’ve got a new release from LOIS CARROLL, WITNESS ON THE RUN. And what about another new author you might not have tried, ANGELA RAINES? Her new release is called HOME FOR HIS HEART, and if you’re looking for a swoon-worthy cowboy, you’ll find one in both of these tales.

LIVIA REASONER has a full-length novel, MENDING FENCES for only .99 that you can snap up and add to your digital reading (also available in print).

But wait, there’s more! We’ve got giveaways going on every day during this week, and a grand prize that we’re giving away on Friday, August 1, to one lucky commenter. We’ll be drawing a name from everyone who commented during the week! Be sure to stop by every day and see what’s going on.

Our giveaway today is a "double whammy"! One lucky commenter will receive HOME FOR HIS HEART by Angela Raines, and another will receive WITNESS ON THE RUN by Lois Carroll! These are both brand new releases and though they are not Christmas stories, they're bound to warm your heart just like the cheery glow of a welcoming fire on a cold winter's night! Be sure to leave your contact information in your comment in case YOU are one of the winners!

If you just can't stand the suspense, you can head over to Amazon and pick up any of these reads at some great prices. Also, check out our new website to see what other stories might tempt you!

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE HERE: http://s528097299.onlinehome.us/books-2/christmas-in-july-2/

PRP New Release Home For His Heart by Angela Raines -- Free Giveaway

Angela will be giving away a free ebook of HOME FOR HIS HEART to one lucky person who comments on this blog.

BLURB
Clara Cross ran away as a young girl after the suspicious deaths of her parents, and has spent the last nine years trying to find safety from a man she had reason to fear. Finally landing in the small town of Agate Gulch in the high Colorado mountains, she believes she may have found a safe home at last, and can send for the brother she had to leave behind. Sam Tower is the man she loves—but would he ever give her a second glance? When Clara’s past catches up with her, her survival depends on her own strength and courage, as well as Sam’s.

Sam Tower runs on a ranch with his friend, Paul Ward, near Agate Gulch. Sam has been running from the past since the loss of his family, and the injury he received as a fife and drum boy in the Civil War. Clara is everything he admires and loves—but she is too good a person for him. When Clara is kidnapped, Sam begins a journey of discovery and finds what he’s always wanted—a HOME FOR HIS HEART.

EXCERPT:

   “So, Sally, are you and Paul ever going to get married?”

Paul Ward and Sam Tower had started ranching on the Welty spread five miles outside of town a year ago. They’d taken over after John Welty was killed in a stampede. They were new hires when the accident happened. Mrs. Welty was happy to sell to them, especially since Paul was hurt while trying to save John.

   Paul and Sally had been spending quite a lot of time together. Clara thought they were perfect for each other. She hoped for an announcement soon. Her friend deserved to be happy.

   “He has to ask me first,” Sally said as she blushed. “And what about you and Sam?”

   “What about me and Sam? We’re just friends, nothing more, so stop your matchmaking, you hear?” Clara laughed, turning her head so Sally wouldn't see the moisture in her eyes.

   Clara admitted to herself, she was half in love with Sam. Tall Sam with the brown eyes, dark brows, and blond hair. Clara knew he enjoyed her company, but just as friends. No one would want someone who looked like her.

    “No one’ll want an ugly girl like you.” The words from her childhood kept running through her mind every time she thought of Sam. If only she were pretty.

   Sally’s insistent words broke through Clara’s reflections.

   “But Clara, he is a great catch. He’s a hard worker, kind, and considerate. And he doesn’t like to fight—unlike some of the others around here.”

   “I’m not blind, but—let’s finish bringing out the food.” Clara said, hoping to change the subject.

   Clara was glad Sam was a friend. It started with her cooking, and a comfortable friendship had grown from those first few meals. With her looks, Clara knew it would never be more.

   From inside the restaurant, Clara heard the sound of horses running, then coming to a stop. The door flew open, and in walked Sam and Paul.

   “Where’s the pie?” shouted Paul.

   “Where’s the tables?” asked Sam at the same time.

   “The pies are safe from your sticky fingers. You’ll have to wait, just like the others,” said Sally as she walked up to Paul. She threw her arms around his waist, raising her face for a kiss.

He pulled her close for a quick kiss and hug.

   “With the weather so nice, we’ve decided to eat outside this year,” said Clara, in answer to Sam’s question.

   “Don’t tell me you moved the tables outside by yourselves,” said Sam. “If you’d waited, we could have helped.”

   “You’re just in time to help set up the barrels and planks,” Clara replied.

   “Point us in the right direction,” Paul said, as he moved toward the door.

   “Be glad to help,” said Sam, following Paul out the door.

   Soon, the area was full of talk and laughter. Clara stood off to the side watching. Her friends and patrons were enjoying her offerings—a warm and happy feeling. How far she’d come since that fateful night when she ran away and changed her name!

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