Approximately six weeks ago, I decided to take a short hiatus from social media. Life is short–too short to waste precious moments staring at a screen (including this one). If you are reading this, thank you for your precious time. As soon as you finish, consider taking a walk outside, weather permitting. Sit on the porch or plant your bare feet in the grass and wiggle your toes. Feel the wind on your face. Listen to the birds. Breathe. Relax. Repeat.
I have discovered a vast [sizable] [imposing] block of time.
At first, I didn’t know what to do with it. Then, one day, I realized something. Oh, the places I can go and the things I can do.
I finished projects I had once started and never finished.
I read books.
I talked to friends and family.
I spent time studying the Bible.
I listened to podcasts.
I weeded my flower beds and planted annuals. Re-potted and rearranged perennials.
I cleaned my house.
When I stopped wasting hours on the phone checking this and that, I had time to do the things that really matter.
No more excuses.
Yes, I’m retired. I have taken some time off between writing projects to rest and recover. I realize not everyone has that luxury. I am thankful for every moment.
So, for a time, you will not find me on social media. I’m not sure whether this may become a permanent departure. Time will tell. I’m praying about it.
Though I miss seeing your posts, your pics, and your lovely faces, I do not miss the interjected posts and comments of those who wished only to debate and push hatred. “Disturbers of my peace.” I tried to block them, but that didn’t work. So, I had to make a difficult choice. I started with a short fast from certain accounts. When it ended, I had no desire to go back.
If you need me, I’m here. You can reach me through my blog, email, or on Messenger. Family and friends, feel free to text or call.
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
A 1920s Traditional Christmas was originally posted in 2014 and has been my most popular post over the years. The research went along with the Legacy Series (you’ll find a link to those below). However, one of the original links to a 1920s Christmas music playlist had long since been broken, along with a list of my publisher’s giveaways, so I decided to make the corrections and repost it this year. The other blogpost will be taken down, so I will no longer receive those pesky error messages! I hope you enjoy the post.
Whatdid Christmas look like in the 1920’s? It depends on who you were, and where you lived. I guess you could say the same about contemporary Christmas celebrations. When I began this research, I was a little surprised. It didn’t look that different. But I shouldn’t have been surprised. Traditions are kept and passed down from one generation to the next. We love our traditions and Christmas wouldn’t be complete without them.
Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, lights, candles, goodies, toys, and Santa Claus, stockings, ribbons, bows, nutcrackers, cookies, cakes, pies, nativity sets, train sets, Christmas villages…the list goes on. These are still part of our Christmas celebrations today, as they were almost a hundred years ago.
One of the greatest differences will not surprise you. One memoir-writer said, “We had neither the time nor the wherewithal to decorate our homes…” (earlier than Christmas week). Most waited until Christmas Eve. But when you think about it, with the use of real trees lit by candles, it wasn’t safe to keep one up longer than a few days.
I was interested to see the train sets and villages set up beneath the trees, a tradition that continues in some families today. The trees were pine or cedar and didn’t always have the lovely traditional shape we go for these days. Some looked reminiscent of Charlie Brown’s tree.
Their traditional tree decorations included stringed popcorn, pine cones, red and green ropes (purchased at the store) or homemade paper chains. Snowflake cutouts and tinsel icicles were also used. And don’t forget the lights. Yes, those who had electricity could string lights on their trees. The lights were made by General Electric’s “Edison Decorative Miniature Lamp Division.” You’ll notice they were weather proof, so yes, our ’20s era counterparts decorated outdoors. But most folks either used candles or no lights at all.
What did the stockings contain? An apple (not the lovely red variety we now have, but a homegrown one), an orange, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, candy canes, chocolate drops, and raisins (dried on stems). Maybe a small toy or two. One lady says, “We didn’t hang our stockings by the fireplace, we needed that for heat. Besides, our stockings were just that. Our stockings. They weren’t decorative.” They’d wake up Christmas morning to find their sock or knee-length stocking filled and lying on a chair, or tied around a bedpost or doorknob.
Most folks didn’t go all out for Christmas. Handmade items like socks, gloves, mittens, and scarves were the most common gifts and may be the only gifts a family received. The most popular gifts: the Raggedy Ann doll and die-cast metal toys. Also, roller skates gained popularity, along with wagons and bicycles. And of course the toy train sets and baby dolls.
A traditional Christmas dinner usually included roast chicken rather than turkey or ham. Cakes, pies, and cookies were included. And Jell-O! Yes! Beautiful Jell-O molds for the holidays. Do you think they made “pink stuff” and “green stuff” back then?
Folks baked extra during the holidays and shared desserts with family and neighbors. The wonderful fruitcakes probably got passed around. Some families are still passing the same ones around, apparently. I grew up eating fruitcake and liking it. During prohibition, I suppose they had to use rum flavoring for their cakes and eggnogs.
Religious celebrations included Christmas Eve services, Christmas morning services, traditional programs at church and school, and wandering carolers who usually waited until Christmas Eve, or sometimes Christmas Night to walk about their neighborhoods. You would recognize many of the songs they sang, because we still sing them today. Here’s a sample of some popular Christmas music of the 1920s: Vintage Christmas Songs from the 20s & 30s
Folks sent Christmas cards. I found some cute samples of Christmas cards from the twenties and they’re posted here on Pinterest, along with a few other goodies I found.
One thing that has never gone out of style is giving. We give gifts. It doesn’t really matter how big or how costly the gifts. Sometimes, it’s just really nice to be remembered.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at an interesting era in our history. What traditions do you and your family observe (past or present)? What is/was your favorite food served at Christmas Dinner?
Not long ago, I wrote “the end” on the final chapter of the Home Found Suspense series. After all the work ended, the book went into production and then came Release Day!
Revelations Can Kill . . .
Lisa has spent her entire life hiding, on the run. She didn’t know anything different until Jake entered the picture. Now, he and his family give her a yearning for . . . home. Something she would never have because of the secrets she’d only recently learned about.
Jake is convinced that learning the truth about Lisa’s parents will release her to a new life. A life with him. But when he finds a body near his office – a man that he knows and has fought with before – Jake himself is on the run. From the authorities.
No place is safe. Lisa travels across the country, but she is still certain that she’s being followed, hunted. Even changing her name doesn’t seem to make a difference. And the closer Jake gets to finding answers, the more danger he thrusts upon them both.
Will the answers come at a price too high to pay in this thrilling conclusion to the Home Found Suspense series?
My pulse rate quickened. Adrenaline surged through my veins. I pressed myself against the side of the bank building at the corner of Patton and Coxe. Turned my head toward the direction of the sound.
Not much happening at five thirty in the morning. Streetlights cast eerie shadows against the buildings. A traffic light changed from red to green. Only a couple of cars passed beneath it. In front of the newspaper office, movement caught my attention. . .
The phone rang. I reached for it, but Alex grabbed it first.
“Hello?… No, ma’am, he left early this morning.”
When Alex turned his back to me, I rose and stepped in front of him. I didn’t care for the serious expression of his face. “What is it?”
He ignored me, speaking into the phone. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. Yes. Yes, ma’am, I will. And ma’am, if he shows up there, will you ask him to call us, please? Thank you.”
I gripped his arm as he set the receiver down. “Alex, what is it?” His muscles flexed beneath my fingers.
“That was the editor’s secretary. Greta, I think?” His chair scraped against the vinyl floor as he stood.
“What did she say?”
“Someone found a body in the parking lot, so police have the entire area cordoned off. She was hoping to catch Jake before he left—to let him know.”
I sucked in a breath. “He should already be there. Ages ago. Unless…” It was Jake’s body? I couldn’t say the words aloud. That might make them true.
Inspiration comes, and in that moment, a story starts.
And so it was, on a long ago summer’s day, a dream came true for me. Throughout my life, I had longed to return to my birthplace. Seattle always beckoned, but it seemed too far away. And then my brother-in-law moved there. A few years later, my youngest son moved there as well. My bucket-list item became a reality.
My son asked if there was anything I really wanted to see while I was in the Seattle area. There was a place I’d heard about, and longed to go–Orcas Island, in the Puget Sound. So, we drove to Anacortes and took a ferry to the San Juan Islands.
We found a small cabin in Leiber Haven, arrived late and sat out on the shore beneath a canopy of stars. I’d never seen so many! The guys planned to get up early and go fishing.
We awoke to the most amazing sight! A sunrise that surrounded us with vivid color. This photo doesn’t do it justice. The glow was sensational.
As the sun rose, I was completely enthralled. And in those quiet moments, inspiration came. A story started that would continue to grow and change over the next few years. About a girl like me in some ways, who had been uprooted over and over, crisscrossing the country and moving every few months. Never in any place for very long. Always the new kid. Never really having a place to call home.
The scene in the above photo would become Still Water Cove in the story. The first book, titled “Still Water” would lay the groundwork for a young woman named Lisa Oliver. After her parents die in a tragic car accident, she is caught up in a dangerous mystery. Her parents weren’t who she believed they were. Who were they, and why were they always running?
The story continues in “Open Water” (book two), and finishes in “Dark Water” – releasing this fall.
I love experimenting with recipes! In my last post, I wrote about two recipes for some wonderful homemade bread. These are artisan-type loaves that produce a wonderful, chewy, toast-worthy bread. Especially the cranberry-nut loaf.
My husband loves a softer product for his sandwiches, so I set about researching and testing a few more recipes. I finally found one that is truly easy and makes a beautiful loaf of truly tasty bread. I will put a link down below for the original website. I couldn’t download and print the recipe, so I hand wrote a shortened version for my use. There was a link to print on the site, but it looked sketchy, so I didn’t click on it. However, the author does have a cookbook available that you may want to look at.
What I liked about the bread:
Few ingredients
Easy to put together
Knead or No-knead instructions included
Done in a few hours
Wonderful taste
Dense crumb
Easy to slice
I made one or two substitutions. Mainly with the oil. I use half olive oil, and half ghee. I think the ghee enhances the flavor slightly. I used the no-knead, but if you have a stand mixer or you just love to knead dough, this is a good recipe for that. It will be even quicker if you do all the kneading up front.
I suggest that you read through all of the baker’s instructions (she provides photos as well) before trying this bread. Then refer back to her website as needed. But once you get the hang of it, this is a super-easy recipe that comes together quickly. The bulk of the time is spent waiting for the dough to rise. I do the stretch-and-fold every 30 minutes through four repeats. If I’m writing, this gives me ample opportunities to get up and move around every few minutes.
I would like to thank Emma Fontanella for this excellent recipe. I’ve baked this bread four times now, and it is consistently good.
So, without further ado, here is my finished product:
Yes, I bought a breadbox (on Amazon*) to keep my freshly baked bread nice and fresh for several days.
*I don’t make any money off the referrals here
As you can see, the slice is beautiful! It is dense, but soft and the crust is kept soft by applying melted butter immediately following the baking. So, I suppose you could call it “butter crust” bread.
In conclusion: This bread makes wonderful sandwiches. I like to toast it slightly for mine. And it passed the grilled cheese test! It held together very nicely and came out golden brown, just the way I like it. 🙂
Note: I allow the loaf to cool completely – a couple of hours at least – before I slice it with an electric knife. It’s easier to slice that way, and my slices are more consistent.
Betty Thomason Owens 