tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8101853988991632012-01-31T17:50:27.131-08:00Kristen G. Johnson Christian Historical Fiction Writerkristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.comBlogger3431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-72217079874217307172012-01-30T08:48:00.000-08:002012-01-30T09:17:16.293-08:00

Writer, Fran Striker, and radio station owner, George Trendle, wanted to create an American hero that would mirror the popular silent movie Mask of Zorro. Neither of the men knew much about cowboys, but that didn't discourage them from creating one of the most beloved Western heroes of all time: The Lone Ranger.The Lone Ranger debuted in Detroit on this day, January 30, 1933. With the William

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-25798055444973216142012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-27T00:00:10.814-08:00

James Dewar was a baker for the Continental Baking Company (makers of Wonder Bread and Hostess snack treats). In the 1930's, Dewar realized that the shortcake machines were sitting unused when strawberries were not in season. He created a shortcake filled with banana cream. It was a huge hit, sold at a nickle for two. Dewar said that he got the idea for the name from a billboard advertising

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-57048269399019441922012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-25T00:00:05.366-08:00

We had a death in the family. Pete, our plecostomus (you know, the algae suckers), perished a few weeks ago. He was a large guy, maybe about 6 or 7 inches long, and he kept our tank so clean. In fact, we had to supplement his diet with zucchini so he would have enough to eat. When he died, it was pretty sad. I mean he's a fish, so we weren't weeping, but we did go, "Ahhh, poor guy. That's sad."

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-44831088253666035882012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-23T00:00:15.764-08:00

Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England. Her family immigrated to the U.S., and shortly after moving to Ohio, her father died. The work ethic she developed during this time would serve her well in her years ahead.Blackwell became a teacher and took positions all over the east. At first, she had no desire to become a doctor. In her book, Pioneer Work in Opening the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-82449094057545814612012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-20T00:00:02.401-08:00

Lady Bird Johnson was born on December 22, 1912 as Claudia Alta Taylor. Her African-American nurse, Alice Tittle, once remarked that she was as "purty as a ladybird." A ladybird is a what is commonly known as a ladybug, a member of the beetle family. And the nickname virtually replaced her name for the rest of her life. She married Lyndon B. Johnson on November 17, 1934.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-5628872659727033592012-01-18T09:49:00.000-08:002012-01-18T10:27:43.545-08:00

I'm not that crafty. I quit croqueting because everything turned out misshapened. Scrap-booking threatened to send me to the nut farm. If you could see my house, you'd see bare windows, and no fancy-schmancy accessories decorating anything. And I'm okay with that.But when I read the February issue of Better Homes and Gardens, I found a craft that was so cool, I had to try it, and here are the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-70080427714856674642012-01-16T06:33:00.000-08:002012-01-16T06:57:11.185-08:00

Before January 16, 1938, Carnegie Hall was a place of high brow music. But on that date, Jazz came to the Hall for the first time, and the legendary Benny Goodman was the one to bring it. Goodman laughed when the idea was first presented to him, but he warmed up to it and threw himself into the concert with a passion. He mixed famous favorites with new songs, and threw in "Twenty Years of Jazz,"

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-49315924066244088072012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-13T11:49:04.259-08:00

When my husband was preparing for a sermon last week, he came across a man by the name of Raoul Wallenberg. I had never heard of him before, but after hearing his story I had to share it with you.Raoul Wallenberg was born on August 4, 1912 in Lidingö, Sweden. He was from a reputable family which included bankers, bishops, and diplomats. He studied Russian and art, and graduated from the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-86803443756965891312012-01-11T12:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T12:24:52.149-08:00

The Brotherhood is the first in the Precinct 11 series by Jerry B. Jenkins. It follows Chicago police officer Boone Drake. He has a dangerous job in a dangerous part of Chicago, but he loves his job. Every night he goes home to a beautiful wife and adorable two-year-old son, so life is just about perfect. He attends church, but that is about all for his Christian duty. His Bible is a prop on

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-30982300880668411242012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T00:00:05.509-08:00

On this day in 1493, Columbus saw three mermaids playing in the water. Yes, along with thinking America was Asia, Columbus also found mermaids that were actually manatees. Not surprisingly, he reported that they were not as pretty as the mermaids in pictures, but rather manish. Oh, well. At least Larry thinks manatees are pretty.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-37676016934185785152012-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-06T00:00:06.075-08:00

I love the Muppets. I haven't gotten around to seeing the new film yet, but my girl and I love to watch the Muppet show together after her nap. Here is a fun little documentary about the Muppets, and how they came to be.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-20433887926793381982012-01-04T06:34:00.000-08:002012-01-04T06:57:02.607-08:00

One of my favorite pieces of scripture is Romans 8. It reminds me what I am set free from (the laws of sin and death) and who I should live by (the Spirit who is life and peace).In times like the New Year when I make my goals for the next 366 days, it's nice to remember who I should live by and where I should set my mind; on what the Spirit desires. I'll fail my list of goals on day 2 if I'm not

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-9945593543286945582012-01-02T09:16:00.001-08:002012-01-02T09:49:25.442-08:00

Famed opera singer Maria Callas hadn't been feeling well. On January 2, 1958, she was slated to sing the opera Norma to open the season at the Rome Opera House. Italy's president was in the audience. Which made what she did much worse.The day before the performance, she told management she wasn't feeling well and that it would be wise to find an understudy. "No one can double for Callas," was the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-58374868754314421062011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-12T00:00:00.873-08:00

Father Flanagan believed, “There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking." And so, on this day in 1917, Father Flanagan, an Irish Priest in Omaha, Nebraska, opened the doors to a run-down Victorian mansion that would become known as "Boys Town." Six boys walked in that day, but within six months there was no more space for the children that had

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-18285616252050982362011-12-09T10:13:00.000-08:002011-12-09T11:32:18.856-08:00

When trying to get a helium tank filled for a children's event at church, my husband was told he couldn't get it filled because there was a helium shortage. A helium shortage? I'd never imagined such a thing could happen, but that's where we are in the world. Which got me wondering, where does helium come from?The year was 1868 and a French Astronomer, Pierre Janssen, was in India observing a

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-8275100188802506162011-12-05T11:18:00.000-08:002011-12-05T11:37:41.442-08:00

It was on this day, December 5, 1945, that Flight 19 which took off from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for a training mission and then disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Here is an interesting video clip from the Museum of Unnatural History. Enjoy!

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-21892930822348412572011-12-02T19:00:00.000-08:002011-12-02T19:00:02.237-08:00

Here she is! Lily Elise Johnson. This is one of the first pictures we took of her when she came home at 3 months old.So here is my daughter. She loves music, reading, and driving her car around the living room. She is sweet and feisty, full of energetic fun and also snuggly, she makes me smile and laugh, and at times makes me want to pull my hair out. I don't have enough words to tell you how

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-69081444197153055052011-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-30T00:00:13.561-08:00

It's finally here!Almost. After 18 months and 8 days, we will finally be adopting our "Rebecca" this Friday. I can't wait to introduce her to you all. I can finally say her real name, post pictures of her, (of which we have hundreds, because she's so adorable) and finally say I have a forever daughter. I was thinking the other day, as I was checking in on her before I went to bed, at the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-44216048146223942942011-11-28T10:50:00.000-08:002011-11-28T11:18:12.613-08:00

James Frank Duryea, along with his brother Charles, built the first gasoline powered automobile in September of 1893.On November 28, 1895, the Chicago Times-Herald sponsored a race intending to advertise the new American car industry. The original track was supposed to loop from Chicago to Waukegan, Illinois and then back, a distance of 80 miles, but a blizzard changed all that. With over a half

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-40085017163479186782011-11-22T20:47:00.000-08:002011-11-22T20:50:50.941-08:00

Hello Everyone-I'm taking a little break this week. It's Thanksgiving, so let's all enjoy family, friends, and food. Stop by next week where I will have an exciting announcement, part 1 on Wednesday, and part 2 on Friday.See you then:)Happy Thanksgiving!

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-92166361699635105222011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T00:00:12.414-08:00

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. And for 56 years, one dish has consistently joined the turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing on the Thanksgiving table: The Green Bean Casserole.The history is quite simple. In 1955, Dorcas Reilly was head of the test kitchen at Campbell's Soup Company. She wanted to make a dish that was simple from ingredients most American's always had on hand. Those ingredients

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-14665734674903444232011-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-16T00:00:01.099-08:00

NaNoWriMo. Oh, dear NaNoWriMo.I've been attempting, along with hundreds, maybe thousands, of writers to write an entire novel (50k) during the month of November. I'm sorry to say I'm rather behind. Just short of 13,000 is a sad number when I'm supposed to be at 25,000. But I'm plugging along, and hoping I'll catch up.Back up a few months ago: I attended both the Oregon Christian Writers Summer

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-22499810155890750722011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-04T00:00:02.963-07:00

The history of the Pecan Pie can be simply put, or it can be a little more muddled.Simply put: The wife of a corporate sales executive from Karo Syrup invented the pie in the 1930's.More Muddled: The Native Americans introduced the French to the pecan when they were settling New Orleans in the 17th Century. The French then invented the pie. It's a little muddled in that there is no evidence for

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-91566477892337312642011-11-01T22:17:00.000-07:002011-11-01T22:36:24.024-07:00

This past spring and summer I waged a full scale war against the slugs and snails in my garden. They would destroy my beans. I'd set out pans of beer. They'd attack my basil, I would pick them off and drop them into the beer because they weren't finding it fast enough. They'd drill holes into my cabbage. I would cry in despair, throw up my hands, and go buy produce in the store. During this

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-49814865240129576032011-10-30T22:31:00.000-07:002011-10-30T23:27:06.601-07:00

Big stars in Europe, but relatively unknown in the U.S., it was a chance encounter with Ed Sullivan that brought the Beatles to America. On October 31, 1963, Ed Sullivan was walking through the Heathrow airport in London while teenagers galore swarmed the area in hopes of seeing the Beatles returning from a tour in Sweden.After witnessing that scene, Sullivan wanted them for his show, but it

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-29591574268654681002011-10-27T22:19:00.000-07:002011-10-27T22:59:50.956-07:00

2,000 years ago, the Celtics celebrated the festival of Samhain on October 31, which was their "new year's eve." In the dark nights of the winter season, they believed that on this night the line between the living and the dead faded, allowing spirits to roam the earth once more.The tradition of wearing costumes comes from both Celtic and European roots. In the dark nights of winter, people would

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-12969004345079947272011-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-26T00:00:13.467-07:00

I'm going to do it!! I'm going to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writer Month) this year. Yes, I'm going to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I've been plotting, planning, thinking it through, and stuffing all my TV watching hours for the entire month of November into the last week of October.Would you like to join me in this crazy, frantic race for writing genius? Sign up,

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-12353382139946861762011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-24T00:00:11.481-07:00

It's your 63rd birthday. You are seeking fame and fortune. What do you do? Why, ride a barrel over Niagara Falls, of course!This is just what the widow of a Civil War soldier did on October 24, 1901. Annie Edson Taylor seems to be have been a restless person. After her husband and her infant son died, she moved from place to place and job to job. She finally settled in Bay City, Michigan. Annie

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-72075405675693885392011-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-21T00:00:09.252-07:00

You've heard them said, or maybe you said them yourself, as they roll off the tongue with the greatest of ease. But where did they come from? And while the ideas of many phrases perhaps didn't originate with Shakespeare, he put them in a popular form and the general word order and structure are still used today."Well, aren't you a sorry sight."This comes from MacBeth, or "The Scottish Play," for

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-78241168797985341052011-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-19T00:00:11.369-07:00

For all you writers out there, if you haven't heard of the book The Moral Premise I highly recommend it. Stanley Williams writes about the principles to all successful stories. While it is written to screenwriters, it can be applied to all kinds of writing. I can't tell you how it has helped as I begin to rewrite my novel.The Moral Premise basically says that your main character has a flaw, or

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-70971140059432036042011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-17T00:00:03.506-07:00

A career criminal, who began his long prison record at the age of 14, was about to attempt a gutsy heist. Wilhelm Voigt had difficulty getting a job or housing with his prison record, but a brilliant plan just might be the solution to his problems.On October 17, 1906, after collecting various parts of a Prussian Captain's uniform, Voigt approached the army base just outside of Berlin. Knowing

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-73903912240115097092011-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-14T00:00:08.595-07:00

While references of guide dogs for the blind date back to the mid-16th century, a formal training school originated in Germany to aid blinded WWI vets. While visiting Switzerland, an American dog trainer named Dorothy Harrison Eustis, visited the school in Germany and was instantly impressed. She was training German Shepherds to be work dogs, but thought that training dogs to guide the blind was

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-73171370332166702262011-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-12T00:00:01.409-07:00

I had been waiting for Bonnie Leon's next installment in her Alaskan Skies series, and the "yippee" feeling at the last page made the wait worth it. Wings of Promise is the second novel following Kate Evans and Paul Anderson.Kate, a bush pilot in the wilderness of Alaska, is torn between her affections for two men. She deeply cares for Mike Conlin, and he's one of her best friends. But she loves

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-87011503283842171282011-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T00:00:06.212-07:00

The Christian, Charles Martel, was the illegitimate son of Pepin, the Mayor of the Palace, or the true power behind the Frankish throne (or Austrasia). After his father died with no legitimate heirs, Charles battled it out with Pepin's grandsons and eventually took over as Mayor of the Palace.In 732, the Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula were encroaching on the Frankish territory as they tried

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-47971094583408003452011-10-07T11:22:00.000-07:002011-10-07T12:01:10.180-07:00

It's often one of the 3-5 choices of dressing in every restaurant throughout the United States, and probably the world. "Ranch, Blue Cheese, Russian, or 1000 Island."But where did 1000 Island dressing come from?Near the beginning of the 20th century, a fishing guide named, George LaLonde Jr. lived and worked around the Thousand Island region which is on the St. Lawrence Seaway between New York

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-26431287132643644982011-10-05T09:40:00.000-07:002011-10-05T09:49:29.293-07:00

I just saw this video of a bear cub running from a cougar. It made me cry, but more for the victory at the end.It reminded me of the verse in 1 Peter: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8)"There are many times I feel like this bear cub. For those of you who don't

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-2941176979197158252011-10-01T12:20:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:46:15.222-07:00

On this day, one of the greatest Civil War novels was published, even though the author had never seen a battle. Stephen Crane, the youngest of 14 children, was born in November, 1871 (six years after the Civil War ended). He grew up in a strict Methodist home, and after his father died when Crane was 9, they lived in Asbury Park, New Jersey. After leaving college, he moved to New York where he

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-29335524481273737862011-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-30T00:00:06.550-07:00

Do you ever wonder where writers get their ideas? Well, maybe this isn't the exact history of Star Wars, but here is one hilarious fictionalized account of how George Lucas came up with his idea. It was written and directed by Joe Nussbaum, a University of Southern California graduate. In the summer of 1999, the film was passed around in Hollywood, and then premiered at the Toronto Film Festival

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-55945147787238034492011-09-28T08:58:00.000-07:002011-09-28T09:34:09.474-07:00

Did you see the film, Revolutionary Road (2008)? It starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. This is one of those movies that had me thinking about it for weeks afterward. Mostly because it showed me what can be the result of living with no hope and what it can drive you to do. If you haven't seen it, a word of warning: (rated R) I found it pretty dark and difficult to watch. Brilliant

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-32530283717825444752011-09-26T12:30:00.001-07:002011-09-26T12:53:34.556-07:00

I had the most wonderful time at ACFW. I was able to meet blogging buddies, fantastic agents and editors, and some of the greatest new friends you could ever want to meet.The first day was filled with learning about the Moral Premise. Stanley Williams taught us how to construct our stories to have the most impact on our audience. I had been reading his book, and it was amazing to hear him teach.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-62064267630914353832011-09-21T08:37:00.001-07:002011-09-21T08:50:50.492-07:00

Greetings from the Portland, Oregon International Airport. I am about to begin my journey to my first American Christian Fiction Writers national conference in St. Louis, Missouri. I'm very excited for this opportunity to learn, make connections, and be able to speak "writer" with a group of people who understand when you say your character messed up your plot. Traveling alone is always an

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-32009610041551639392011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-19T00:00:15.575-07:00

It's the happiest place on earth, but if you're a Soviet leader named Khrushchev, I'm afraid you are denied such happiness.On this day, September 19, 1959, during a short tour of the U.S., Nikita Khrushchev and his family visited L.A. They were shown 20th Century Fox Studios where the cast of the movie "Can-Can," which included Shirley MacLaine, performed a number for them. They toured some of

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-2868848756440335712011-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-16T00:00:14.654-07:00

Do you dunk them in milk? Crunch through the delicious layers of chocolate and cream? Do you twist the cookies apart and partake of the cream filling first? Oreos are one of those iconic cookies of childhood. And I was surprised to find out just how many generations of children the Oreo has been a part of.In 1898 a few companies merged to become the National Biscuit Company or Nabisco. In 1912,

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-24032283786327585202011-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-14T00:00:03.994-07:00

Last week we vacationed in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. It's gorgeous there. We rented a cabin (really a manufactured home, but cabin sounds more romantic!) and had an elk herd visit the field behind us nearly every evening and morning, we hiked, walked on the beach, and saw a gigantic cedar tree. All of this was refreshing, but there was one moment where it was just God and me that

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-59251790603044602152011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-12T00:00:10.837-07:00

The romantic in me sighs when I think about Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. What a story!Elizabeth Barrett was born to a wealthy family. The oldest of 12 children, her family had made their fortune in the sugar plantations of Jamaica (a fact that Elizabeth did not care for). She apparently had a lung ailment, and also had received a spinal injury while saddling her horse, both of which

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-25432982295462056932011-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-09T00:00:11.722-07:00

Photography was invented in 1820's by Nicéphore Niépce of France. And while experiments with colored photographs began around the 1840's, it wasn't until 1861 when the physicist James Clerk Maxwell took three images, one with a red filter, one with a blue filter, and one with a green filter, and combined them that the first colored photograph really hit the scene. The first photograph ever take

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-80297284326386407012011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-07T00:00:06.340-07:00

Here in the Northwest we have a special wild berry called a huckleberry. They are related to cranberries and blueberries. We've decided to make it a yearly tradition with our family to pick, and then once our "Rebecca" is adopted, that day will be marked each year with a pie or crisp or some other delicious huckleberry treat. And boy, did we find some of the largest, most delectable berries

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-73790579644197779072011-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T00:00:10.771-07:00

Boris Pasternak had become an avant-garde poet in Russia, but after the Revolution, his work fell into disfavor. It was the time of Communism in Russia, and in the midst of censorship on literature and art, the poet squeezed out a living as a translator of Shakespeare, Rilke, Goethe, and others. In 1956, his most well-known work, Dr. Zhivago, was completed. This epic love story was denied

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-78041337432927557772011-09-01T23:45:00.000-07:002011-09-02T00:00:11.357-07:00

Hello - Starting this week, we're going to have three posts a week full of history and fun. "On This Day" Mondays- Here's where we will explore one momentous event in history that happened on that particular day. It might be a significant battle, an study of a swell person, or a splendid tidbit of media lore. "Adventures In..." Wednesdays- On this day, since this is Adventures of History Girl,

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-91703864470219135722011-08-22T22:10:00.000-07:002011-08-22T22:51:03.807-07:00

Hello Everyone! I'm back. I had a fantastic time at the Oregon Christian Writers conference. I learned a ton, and got to know some great people! I'm always filled with ideas. Now I just gotta put it all into practice! And now, on to history! Before Fannie Farmer, cookbooks generally told you to add a dash of this, a handful of that. But Fannie Farmer changed all that. She believed in the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-33111494282854259502011-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:002011-08-09T11:43:41.907-07:00

For the last few weeks, I've been frantically trying to get ready for the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference. In addition to submitting, I'm also on staff as one of two working on hospitality/decor, and singing on the worship team. Needless to say, that hasn't left a lot of time for historical explorations. Today, I bring you a video by my partner in hospitality/decor duties and

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-81512401853655804272011-08-01T13:14:00.000-07:002011-08-01T13:24:29.589-07:00

I love this video. I can't remember where I first saw it, but I think any creative person can connect with it. I'm in the editing phase right now; scared all my hard work will have to be deleted, and worried I'll never make it to any kind of respectable word count.It's a little long, but really fun.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-40360753741656708292011-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-25T00:00:04.338-07:00

On March 2, 1963, an 18-year-old Phoenix woman told police she had been abducted, driven into the desert, and raped. Polygraph results were inconclusive. The police eventually brought in Ernesto Miranda. Miranda had a pretty long criminal record, and even though his accuser couldn't pick him out of a line-up, he was arrested. Somehow, (the details are shady as to exactly how) the police got a

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-23165900033519946142011-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-22T00:00:04.999-07:00

It’s my blogiversary! Leave a comment and your email address to be entered into a drawing for some sweet vintage candy (don't worry, it's fresh). I’ll have three posts this week, so that’s three chances to win. (Mon./Wed./Fri.) Become a follower and get another entry. (Must be a U.S. resident to be win.)Thanks for a great two years! This is one of my favorite posts from two years ago. I hope you

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-32048269292515878232011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-20T00:00:00.844-07:00

It’s my blogiversary! Leave a comment and your email address to be entered into a drawing for some sweet vintage candy (don't worry, it's fresh). I’ll have three posts this week, so that’s three chances to win. (Mon./Wed./Fri.) Become a follower and get another entry. (Must be a U.S. resident to be win.)Thanks for a great two years! The conjoined brothers, Lazarus and Johannes Baptista Colloredo,

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-65617419584146287142011-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-18T00:00:07.406-07:00

It’s my blogiversary! Leave a comment and your email address to be entered into a drawing for some sweet vintage candy (don't worry, it's fresh). I’ll have three posts this week, so that’s three chances to win. (Mon./Wed./Fri.) Become a follower and get another entry. (Must be a U.S. resident to be win.)Thanks for a great two years! You sit in a tiny car with only a lap bar across your legs to

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-42334095412414036282011-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-14T05:11:28.725-07:00

Today we're chatting with Roseanna M. White, author of A Stray Drop of Blood, and her newest release, Jewel of Persia, (WhiteFire Publishing)Welcome, Roseanna. It’s real swell of you to come by. Sure, Kristen! Thanks for having me.Before we dive into Roseanna the writer, let’s get to know Roseanna the woman a little bit.Tell us a little of your history:I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-6814749221131470422011-07-11T08:04:00.000-07:002011-07-11T09:38:10.921-07:00

On an August day in 1929, a race was about to begin in Santa Monica, California. The contestants would leave from there and go all the way to Cleveland, Ohio. Columnist Will Rogers noticed some of the competitors dabbing their noses with powder, so he dubbed it "The Powder Puff Derby." But it was more than just a race to see who was the fastest. It was a race that could prove to the country that

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-31389520803269879102011-07-06T07:24:00.000-07:002011-07-06T08:31:19.699-07:00

A little fireworks quiz!Question 1:What date were fireworks first invented?a) the 7th century.b) 2000 years ago.c) 1000 years ago.If you chose a, you might be right.If you chose b, you might also be right.If you chose c, you still have as good a chance of being as right as those who chose a or b.Question 2:Who first combined saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal and discovered gunpowder and its

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-85987894854504498532011-07-04T10:48:00.000-07:002011-07-04T10:57:37.886-07:00

Hey Everyone!I'll return with a History Girl blog on Wednesday, but for today, head on over to a new blog, Colonial Quills, that is stuffed with great historical facts from the 1700's. This blog has 4th of July Fun Facts, or join the party on today's post as authors of Colonial era fiction come as one of their characters for some Liberty Tea and Independence Cake.Have a wonderful 4th, and I'll

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-31175306509433093412011-06-27T00:00:00.000-07:002011-06-27T00:00:04.041-07:00

The unacknowledged, illegitimate son of the first Duke of Northumberland, James Smithson devoted his life to scientific research, which garnered him many honors, including having a mineral, smithsonite, named after him. He traveled all over Europe doing his research. And while he traveled extensively, he never set foot on American soil. So why would he include America in his will?James Smithson

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-40247867462537600612011-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:002011-06-20T00:00:11.431-07:00

When one hires a guide, one expects the guide to know where he's going. Such was assumed when in 1845 a group of about 1000 people with 200 wagons threw their lot in with Stephen Meek.After the long hard travel of the Oregon Trail, many were eager for a short cut to the Willamette Valley. Besides, two Frenchmen had just been murdered by the Cayuse Indians on the regular trail through the Blue

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-5817696163011659792011-06-09T09:06:00.000-07:002011-06-09T09:37:35.147-07:00

I love a good book that makes me think. And The Amish Midwife by authors Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould is just such a book.Born in Pennsylvania's Amish country, Lexie Jaeger was adopted as a baby and taken to her new home in Aurora, Oregon. With her adoptive parents now deceased, Lexie yearns to know her story. Working as a nurse-midwife, Lexie has an opportunity to help out a possible

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-40570501763706471862011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-30T00:00:05.117-07:00

In the turbulent economic landscape of 1893, a small flour mill in Grand Forks, North Dakota struggled to stay afloat. But employee Tom Amidon had an idea. His family loved his "breakfast porridge," so he presented his product to the three owners. Amidon called it "Cream of Wheat." It was made from the first break rolls, or the first pass of the wheat through the machines that separated the bran

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-12518720732040398362011-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-25T00:00:04.101-07:00

On May 25th, 1935, Babe Ruth, "The Bambino," "The Sultan of Swat," hit the last home run of his career.George Herman Ruth was the oldest of eight children, though only he and a sister would survive infancy. At the age of seven, he parents were fed up with his misbehavior, and sent him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, an orphanage where he stayed until he was 19 when he was drafted by the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-39004480075056087472011-05-16T07:31:00.001-07:002011-05-16T07:34:38.649-07:00

We've heard it referenced in numerous country songs. "Head for the Mason-Dixon Line." "Below the Mason-Dixon Line." So what exactly is it and where did it come from?Charles Mason, an astronomer, and Jeremiah Dixon, a land surveyor, were called to settle a land dispute. The Calvert family was given the Maryland colony by King Charles I in 1632. In 1682, King Charles II gave the Penn family land in

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-31497413482825769142011-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-09T00:00:09.262-07:00

Cheerios is one of the cereals that makes childhood magical. Those little O's are perfect for little and big people alike to pick up with a spoon or fingers and munch their way to a healthy diet. Since its invention, Cheerios has become one of the iconic cereal of kid-dom.The turn of the century saw a shift in how people ate. As we discussed in my post about "Hooverizing," the American diet

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-9097035357589922052011-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-02T00:00:06.843-07:00

I know this is a history blog, but there are some things that we like to believe is purely historical, and does not affect our everyday life. I have felt this way about slavery and human trafficking. It surely couldn't be all that prevalent, right? After all, we don't have slave auctions any more. You can't go to the classifieds and see listings for run away slaves.And yet an organization called

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-39307814344917657142011-04-25T13:14:00.001-07:002011-04-25T13:51:18.458-07:00

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush:This phrase dates back the to medieval times when falcons were used for hunting. It basically means it's better to have one valuable bird on your hand, than two animals (prey) in the bush.Life of Riley:One of the earliest known citation for this phrase was in "The Hartford Courant," in December, 1911, in a piece entitled, "Bullet Ends Life of Famous

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-83517990713636681182011-04-05T21:14:00.001-07:002011-04-11T11:06:02.775-07:00

Before WWI, it was thought that eating a lot was sensible, and being plump was not only a sign of prosperity, but also an indicator of health.The war brought about many food needs, and there was no other country who produced more food than the United States. When President Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover to be the U.S. Food Administrator, Hoover got right to work changing the views of American

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-23357183602753763492011-04-04T12:06:00.000-07:002011-04-04T12:31:15.029-07:00

Wow, sorry for being gone for so long. Where did the time go?Well, I'm back and I have just finished a fantastic book.Ann Shorey's third installment of her "At Home in Beldon Grove" series was a fantastic story full of spirit, obstacles to overcome, and the goodness of God.Luellen O'Connell wanted to be a teacher, but an Irish accent and handsome face turned her attention. A month after her

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-43653271201159775862011-03-08T07:11:00.001-08:002011-03-08T07:14:09.243-08:00

Hello all you writers out there.Just wanted to share with you an invaluable resource I discovered not to long ago. It's the emotion thesaurus at The Bookshelf Muse.Describing emotions and heeding to the whole show don't tell mantra was difficult for me, but not anymore! Not with the emotion thesaurus. If you haven't heard of it, give it try.Happy Writing:)

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-34303825819703261392011-02-28T07:13:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:37:46.346-08:00

"I want it now!!!" (stomp, stomp of my little foot.)Some days I'm very much like Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm waiting for the adoption of my amazing little "Rebecca." And some days it's all I can do to not let fear, demands, and doubts creep in and overshadow my trust in God. All I see is the little patch of rocky path directly in front of me, and the mountain (the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-44952325197655921042011-02-21T16:13:00.000-08:002011-02-21T16:15:49.835-08:00

Ahh, this writing journey! It's fantastic with all it's ups and downs. Hopefully we who are striving for this publishing dream are more informed than this poor bear.

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-5631246462937845982011-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:002011-02-14T00:00:17.832-08:00

It's hard to trace the history of Valentines day, and in fact, the Catholic church recognizes three saints named Valentine all said to have been martyred on February 14th. One legend is set during the 4th century. Claudius II was miffed that his married soldiers would get homesick and not be so focused on their job. So he banned marriage for young men. Valentine, who was a priest or bishop,

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-39643875032504757972011-02-07T00:00:00.001-08:002011-02-07T00:00:06.572-08:00

Charlie Chaplin is best known for his portrayal of the "Little Tramp." It was first seen on this day, February 7, 1914 in the film, "Kids Auto Race at Venice, California."To create the character's look, Chaplin apparently sifted through the costume closet at Keystone where he found the baggy pants, tight coat, large shoes, and small hat. To disguise the age of the "Little Tramp," Chaplin added

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-4961393727575607632011-01-31T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-31T08:15:00.480-08:00

We've all seen and used them in public buildings. The doors that have a bar that we push, the door opens out and--ahhh, we're free. They are so common place nowadays, we don't really notice them all that much. But back in June of 1883, they would have been a real life saver.On June 16, 1883, what was billed as "The Greatest Treat for Children Ever Given," became one of the biggest tragedies in

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-67073017759108654272011-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:002011-01-24T00:00:02.898-08:00

I don't know about you, but all my life I've heard that Darwin became a Christian on his deathbed, and therefore renounced his theory of evolution. After recently hearing that "fact" again, I wondered if it was one of those rumors everyone took as fact. So I did some research.It turns out that Darwin did not recant and died still entrenched in his belief of evolution. Charles Darwin died at the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-16313382452260972192011-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:002011-01-17T00:00:02.523-08:00

They say there is no honor among thieves. That certainly seemed to ring true in the 1950's for one famous heist and the men to almost pulled it off.The Brinks Robbery took place on January 17, 1950, but the planning of it started a year and a half before. Eleven men, led by Anthony "Fats" Pino, staked out the Brinks Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts. They watched to determine when the

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-41065041388887329662011-01-09T18:04:00.000-08:002011-01-09T19:30:17.518-08:00

Hello Everyone!I hope you had a great Christmas and New Years. I was in chilly North Dakota. Saw my first blizzard, and had a great time watching "Rebecca" meet her other set of grandparents.Did you make any resolutions this year? I am foregoing the yearly resolutions in favor of monthly goals. (Maybe if I call them goals I will actually achieve some of them!)But where did this tradition of

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-28416474050668388482010-12-20T12:35:00.000-08:002010-12-20T15:36:44.325-08:00

While getting ready to celebrate Christmas at his newly purchased mansion, Elvis Presley received his draft notice from the U.S. Army at Graceland on December 20, 1957. It was the peak of his career. He had a line of gold records with "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," and "Blue Suede Shoes" among them. He had a hit movie, "Love me Tender" out. And his gyrating style caused mother's to cover their

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-10161799603851674952010-11-29T09:33:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:34:19.272-08:00

November 29, 1942 was the official day coffee was added to the rationing list. Most items were rationed not because of a shortage, but in an effort to distribute fairly and to make sure that troops were provided with enough. According to an article in Time magazine dated November 9, 1942, the word about rationing coffee was spread about a month before the official date with the idea that it would

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-60272026041633259892010-11-21T16:03:00.000-08:002010-11-22T11:46:30.474-08:00

Thursday is Thanksgiving. Here in the U.S. we have a little tradition where the President pardons a turkey, otherwise destined for the table. But just how long has this tradition been going on?There is a story about Abraham Lincoln who refrained from eating his son, Tad's, pet turkey. However, that was supposed to be a Christmas meal, and it was more out of love for his son than anything else. So

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-9941979152907622362010-11-13T14:34:00.001-08:002010-11-16T09:40:40.315-08:00

Fall is in full swing. So I thought I'd write about a couple "Fall" things.Harvest- The season between Summer and before Winter was most commonly called Harvest. It started to change between the 16th and 18th centuries, at which time many people moved from the country to the city. Harvest then became a term more for the farming activity than for the name of a season. Autumn and Fall then replaced

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-13663513183732230812010-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:002010-11-08T08:51:18.767-08:00

This is just to good to keep to myself.Follow the link to read about how a man squashed a would-be robbers plan with a ... squash!! The Security Gourd

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-47781402615739819552010-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:002010-11-01T00:00:10.287-07:00

November 1, 1938 was the day that Seabiscuit raced head-to-head with the famed War Admiral. They had attempted three times to run a stakes race, but each time one of them or the other scratched the race. Even the jockeys were not exempt from being scratched. Due to injury, Red Pollard was not able to ride Seabiscuit for the match race, but his good friend, George Woolf, took the job.Finally, on

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-19104044640537307602010-10-24T21:03:00.000-07:002010-10-25T15:39:12.978-07:00

It's a stormy day here in Southwest Washington. Fall has finally arrived, and it's time to think about all the Halloween traditions that come with the last day of October.One tradition I was interested in learning more about was the history of the Jack-O'-Lantern. There are many versions of the folklore that led up to the Jack-O'-Lantern. But they all have a character named Stingy Jack, a miser

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-16889553273368271272010-10-03T16:58:00.001-07:002010-10-03T17:01:06.672-07:00

I tried. I really did, but I can't keep up with a 6 month old little girl and five blog entries a week. So we're going to try something else. I'm going to write one blog entry per week on some cool history. I will probably throw in some book reviews when I can and some fun things too, so don't despair.Thanks everyone, I appreciate each one of you who stop by Adventures of History Girl!!God Bless!

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-55933015946774343112010-09-27T09:16:00.000-07:002010-09-27T09:27:39.168-07:00

Hello everyone!!This past Saturday was my birthday, and it was a great weekend.On Friday, my husband, David, "Rebecca," and I drove out to the Hood River Valley, which is in the Gorge between Oregon and Washington, and got apples and pears. They have what they call the Fruit Loop with about 30 farms selling all kinds of produce. I discovered apple and pear varieties I had never dreamed of. My

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-89097224128428145092010-09-24T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-24T00:00:04.398-07:00

Ben Johnson was born in Jamaica, but moved to Canada with his family as a teenager.In the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles he finished third, with Carl Lewis of the United States receiving the gold.Entering the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, on September 24, all Johnson wanted to do was beat Carl Lewis. He did it. He won the one hundred meter dash in 9.79 seconds. A huge victory for Ben

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-20757363481840738792010-09-23T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-23T00:00:06.651-07:00

My critique partner, Christina Berry, did a very bad thing. She got me hooked on Improv Everywhere. I could literally waste hours watching, and then rewatching, their amazing bits of improv genius. They go into subways, grocery stores, a little league game, or in Washington Square Park posing as the New York synchronized swimming team trying out for the Athens Olympics.Check it out.Okay, and

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-79281566243367370712010-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-22T00:00:09.025-07:00

As I write queries for articles, and my ever-present novel in progress, it's easy to freak out about what I've written. Will it really catch an agent or editors attention? Will they think I'm a nerd and never publish me? Will a bad query letter dash my publishing hopes?I'm sure all writers have such fears. But such fears can easily be avoided if you follow the writings of a self-proclaimed grumpy

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-44481101445927645182010-09-20T21:43:00.000-07:002010-09-20T22:15:13.376-07:00

After reading agent Steve Laube's blog yesterday about the curse of the writer, I started thinking about writing and if it really makes a difference in people's lives. Fiction is powerful, and in recent years we've seen just how powerful as a few fiction books have burst onto the scene and changed many people's perspective on live, both for the good and the bad.For myself, I've had my heart

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-82219130992001785752010-09-19T18:41:00.001-07:002010-09-19T21:40:38.549-07:00

Random thoughts:It's an early fall here in the Northwest. Usually we'd have another few weeks of sunny weather before the wet stuff hits, but here we are with wind and rain. A bummer for the tomatoes still to ripen. I expect I'll lose most of them. Sad:("Rebecca" is so close to crawling. She can go from sitting on her bottom to a crawl position. She's kicking her little legs like a frog, and just

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-4323249124208108912010-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-17T00:00:04.554-07:00

It was on this day, September 17, 1787, that the Constitution of the United States was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates sent to represent the states at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. But this wasn't the end of the fight for the Constitution. According to article VII, the Constitution would not become binding until nine out of the thirteen states agreed to ratify the document. New

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-52924046247248342862010-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-16T00:00:01.394-07:00

Something she'll always remember!

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-30133690207324912712010-09-13T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:00:09.557-07:00

One of the best things about having a baby in the house is that I get to revisit all my favorite children's books. I still have many from my childhood, including The Four Little Kittens which features four kittens (surprisingly) who all figure out what they are going to grow up to be. Will they be an ally cat, a ships cat, a farm cat, or a little girls cat? Little Cottontail tells the tale of a

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-24858303829757838522010-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-10T00:00:06.502-07:00

Tomorrow is September 11, and who living in America during 2001 will ever forget where they were on that day, and how it felt to have our seemingly impenetrable boarders shattered.I was asleep in my dorm room at California Baptist University. My roommate's mom called her, woke her up, and told her to turn on the TV. The moment we did, we saw the plane crashing into the second tower. It was so

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-25491831980498308492010-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-09T00:00:00.705-07:00

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810185398899163.post-62636005411755868932010-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:002010-09-08T00:00:01.467-07:00

Laurel and Hardy first worked together in the silent short You Lucky Dog in 1921. But it wasn't until 1926 that they truly started to work together. Stan Laurel, whose given name was Arthur Stanley Jefferson was born in England on June 16, 1890. He never liked school and wanted to be an entertainer like his father. Laurel began his career in the theater and made his first trip to America on a

kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.com2