Christmas was Good ( a personal note)

Christmas was good--for once we satisfied the children, no tears, no
"I didn't get such and such," etc. But you know what? The most wonderful
materialistic Christmas doesn't satisfy the soul, does it? I think all the unwrapped presents actually emphasize the poverty to be found in seeking fulfillment from gifts and "stuff."

I have started to belatedly read my advent devotional (Calvin Miller) and it's like
SO obvious--leave Christ out, even when you are not consciously doing so--and the holiday leaves you longing for more. Returning to God's gift of His SON is really what this holiday is all about.

I'm still glad the kids were all happy with their gifts, but I want to look outwardly more during this time for now on. Think OUTside the box, outside our little family circle and close friends. Last year (and I'm sorry I didn't have
time to plan it in this year) I took all my kids with me and went to a local hospital and gave one of my books to the patients on one floor who were going to be there for Christmas (I did this on Christmas Eve day).
Nothing can beat the great feeling you get just from GIVING.

Do you ever feel like you just can't "afford" Christmas this year? I believe that t what I really can't afford is to forget the real giving. The giving to strangers, to those who can't repay me with thanks or gratitude or gifts. For now on, I want to make it one of our traditions. To visit a hospital or nursing home and give out a number of my latest book, or someone else's book, or just cheer and good will--to those who need a lift, a reminder that God loves them, even if they're in the hospital, and even though they're in there for Christmas.

Researching Christmas during the Regency was so much fun for me that I eventually wrote a whole book about it. (Regency House Christmas: The Definitive Guide to a
Remarkably Regency Yuletide!) I couldn't help it. The downside of having done this research, however, is that I cringe whenever I see a regency romance set during the holidays on the shelves of a bookstore. Most of them show big Christmas trees on the cover--wrong. Regency homes didn't always have a tree at all and if they did, it was a table-top one, not the big tall type the Victorians popularized.
The regency didn't have the commercialism, the huge number of presents, or Christmas cards, or outdoor caroling parties. ("Carolers" were usually "the waits," a special
town band, who got remuneration for their efforts.) Christmas was more centered around the church calendar, and decoration was mostly live greenery with berries, including mistletoe. So many differences! Was anything the same? Yes. Joy at the birth of the Saviour. I wish you a Merry Christmas. May it be happy, healthy, warm and wonderful. And for a special treat, enjoy a historical romance!

This Christmas, And Always!

Towards the end of the Regency, book sellers got wise to the fact that books make great gifts and developed a special compilation in an exquisite binding called, "The Keepsake." It was intended for women, had a beautiful, cloth-bound cover, and was a compendium of poems, short stories, illustrations, fashion, and essays--everything a woman would like, all beneath the covers of this special gift book. It sold so well for Christmas that it became an annual staple in bookshops, and a counterpart for men was even published. Sales, even then, decided what books would be supported by a publisher.

You don't have to be a book publisher to know that books make a great gift. And if you choose from the hundreds of new inspirational fiction books available at Christian Book or any other bookstore, you know you're giving adventure and romance, or suspense and chills, a mini-vacation, all in one economical gift! That's what I call a wise choice in these days of watching one's pennies. I love to give books as gifts--both fiction and non-fiction--just ask my kids! If I didn't get them books, they'd feel cheated!

Give a book or two this Christmas. Be sure to give books of the sort that you would like to support. Publishers today watch, just as they did, then.

Happy book giving!(And here's a tip for good value. Sign up for the online newsletter for BarnesandNoble.com and Borders.com and you'll get weekly coupons right in your inbox. Sign up at ChristianBook.com and you'll get weekly links to special sales and closeouts!)

Something Borrowed!

The following post is straight-from-the-blog of fellow author Megan DiMaria. We evidently think alike since I could have written it. Plus, we're both scheduled on the fun Christian Bookworm Reviews "Countdown" appearing on that site next month.
Hope you enjoy my borrowed post!


Yes, believe it or not, the holidays are coming. Christmas commercials are on TV, and that joyous season is in full swing in just about every retail store around.

I love Christmas and all that it means. Our Savior has come! Peace (in hearts) on Earth! Sharing love with those most dear to us!

This year I'm thrilled to be able to participate in a countdown to Christmas on the Christian Bookworm Reviews site. Each day a different author will share a special Christmas memory or a Christmas excerpt from their book.

If you stop by and leave a comment, you'll be eligible to win free books.

Here's a rundown of participating authors:
Day 1 – Cara Putnam
Day 2 – Lena Dooley
Day 3 – Susan Page Davis
Day 4 – Darlene Franklin
Day 5 – Tamela Hancock Murray
Day 6 – Megan DiMaria
Day 7 – Robyn Bayne
Day 8 – Rhonda (rcwriter)
Day 9 – Michelle Sutton
Day 10 – Marilynn Griffith
Day 11 – Vickie McDonough
Day 12 – Lynette Sowell
Day 13 – Robert Elmer
Day 14 – Joan Hochstetter
Day 15 – Linda Hargrove
Day 16 – Linore Rose Burkard
Day 17 – Missy Tippens
Day 18 – Tiffany Amber Miller
Day 19 – Dee Stewart
Day 20 – Sharon Ewell Foster
Day 21 – Robin Jones Gunn
Day 22 – Lauraine Snelling
Day 23 – Marcia Ramsland
Day 24 – Irene Brand

A Holiday Prayer

Thought I'd link to a sweet-sounding Christmas romance book for those who look for such things to enjoy during this, the "most wonderful time of the year."
It's called, A Holiday Prayer and looks like good clean fun with a romance to boot.

It's not a historical romance, but hey, I'm not prejudiced (even if this blog is primarily about Christmases 200 years ago). Old English Christmases are uniquely fun and offer great treats in reading of them, but we are living today, and I'm flexible!

Let me know if you get this book, how you liked it! Got a book to recommend? Send along your suggestions. Thanks, and stay tuned for more great recipes and quintessentially English Christmas posts, including many more fashion prints from the Regency.

PS: The contest is still going on! Just read a post or two and leave a comment and you're entered to win the entire Regency Christmas Book package!

It's Happening Now!

The Christmas Book Contest is LIVE! For the next three weeks I'll be giving away two more copies of the Regency Christmas Book package! (I have two winners already, names will be posted after I hear back from them.)

Leave a comment now! Look around and respond to one post--I'll check comments by date, and you'll be entered in the contest.

To see the huge Christmas package and all the bonus gifts, stop by the Christmas book page on my website: HERE . Have fun with a dash into the past of the holiday season.

Blessings,

Linore
PS: SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG AND YOU'LL BE ENTERED TWICE!

Got (19th Century) Comfort Food?

Today's post is an autumnal treat from a 19th century Food Group I'm in. Comfort Food in a snap, if you will. Pies like this are good not only during the fall, but right through to New Year's. It's easier than apple pie from scratch, but gives you the same feeling of Autumn or winter. (The fact that it's from an Ohio cookbook from the 19th century makes it especially fun for me, since I live in Ohio now.)

Here is the recipe for Apple Butter Custard Pie. Enjoy!

APPLE-BUTTER CUSTARD PIE.

Beat together four eggs, one tea-cup apple-butter, one of sugar, one level
table-spoon allspice, add one quart sweet milk and pinch of salt; bake in
three pies with an under-crust;(I suspect that a deep dish, one-crust shell, would do nicely.) and, by the way, never omit a pinch of salt in custard and lemon pie, and, in fact, many
kinds of fruit pies, such as green-apple, currant, gooseberry and pie-plant, are improved by it.

My suggestion is to bake this for 45-55 minutes at about 350F. and then test with a knife. This is how I'll be making it this weekend! I'll let you know how it turns out!


This recipe is from Buckeye Cookery, And Practical Housekeeping, the 1877
edition

(special thanks to Susan Odom for posting this to the list)
As the Season of Christmas gets closer, I'll be sharing more wonderful Regency era 19th century recipes.

Put Yourself in the Schedule

Have you noticed?
The season is coming, all right. My local stores are starting to fill up their Christmas aisles. My holiday senses are gearing up and getting ready! But are you feeling excited, like me, or are you dreading how quickly Christmas is approaching?

Gone are the days when I would dread the arrival of the holidays, with all its busyness and pressures. I look forward to Christmas all year, now, and you can, too.

How? Start by putting YOU in the schedule. When you anticipate relaxing times of soaking up the atmosphere and the spirit of Christmas, the busy hustle-and-bustle aspect fades away. At least long enough so that you can guarantee yourself and your family some real enjoyment.

How to do it? There are many ways. First off, however, just take the powerful move of SCHEDULING a "Do Nothing" night. Don't worry, it won't turn out to be a do nothing night, but scheduling it that way will ensure that it can be a "Do what you really want to do night." If you don't schedule it in, chances are something will come along--something you don't REALLY want to do--and fill it up. When all the weekends get filled up, either with "have to do's" or "should do's" (and we all know how easily that can happen), you won't have any time for "WANT to do's."

I'll talk lots more about how to enjoy the season, and lots of nineteenth century ideas will come into play. But for now, until next post, schedule a night or two (or three, if you're really brave) for "DO NOTHING" nights in December. They'll end up being the best nights of your holiday celebrations for the year.

Bringing in the Yule Log!

In olde England, a huge part of the excitement of Christmas was bringing in the Yule Log. This was an event which was anticipated by keeping a small figment of last year's Log, safely stowed away where it would be secure, to use when lighting the current year's (new) log. We are not talking about a small log like the ones you see on TV screens on Christmas Eve in the US (which is fine if you don't have a fireplace of your own). But the special Yule Log was HUGE--it went in the main fireplace, usually in the kitchen, or, in a parlour if the fireplace could fit it. Think partial tree trunk, here. The tree or log was carefully picked out ahead of time so that when the time came for it to be brought into the house, (no sooner than Christmas Eve)it would already have been cut and dry enough to light well.



This log was traditionally supposed to last not only throughout Christmas Eve, to usher in the holiday, but all through Christmas Day, too. It was used to heat up the festive drinks, such as nog and wassail; and it was used for cooking Christmas dinner. If the log lasted, all was fine and dandy; if not, it was considered bad luck! And a charred piece of it was also to be kept as the fire-starter for the following year's Christmas fire. Know any other facts about the Yule Log? Post a comment! Soon I'll be picking one comment each week and rewarding a free copy of the Christmas book to the commenter! Comments on all posts from October through December count!

Christmas 2008! Excitement Coming!

Almost every day my five year old asks me to show her how long it is until Christmas. I hold up my hands and flash ten fingers, and we count by tens, 'til I reach the approximate number. It looks like forever to her, but we adults know all too well, don't we, that it's just around the corner!

I usually start shopping in September, and because of this I never have to make Christmas-Eve runs to the store for last minute items. Christmas Eve is far too important a night to "spend" it--literally--shopping! It's the best atmospheric night of the year for either a quiet Yuletide night before a fire, with family, around the tree, or at a party with a group. However you choose to spend it, you should be enjoying the night. Scroll down this blog to get a simple "Christmas Scent" recipe, set it brewing on the stove or in a crock-pot and take a few minutes, or heck, a few hours, to soak in the ambience of Christmas Eve.

I'll be talking a lot more about wonderful ways to "return to what it's all about," so stay tuned! And I'm preparing some fabulous Christmas-themed giveaways to commenters, so subscribe today! You might just win a free copy of Regency House Christmas, too! (Five will be given away.)

Evening Dress December 1810

Christmas All Year

I love hearing from readers. Many have said that there is just so much crammed into this book (especially when you include all the bonus ebooks) that they couldn't take it all in at once. It reminded me that I should tell you, if you're a fan of the Regency or Christmas history, (especially an English Christmas), then Regency House Christmas: The Definitive Guide to a Remarkably Regency Yuletide! (which is loaded with facts, stories, pictures, poems and even food-- in the form of authentic recipes) can keep you up to your ears in Regency style all year.

When you get weary of the daily grind, or just want a mini-escape, remember that you have, right on your desktop or wherever you filed it away, an escape to Regency England awaiting you. Delve into the poetry one day; or choose one short story; or read about the Charitable giving of the time; or pick a "Collect" from the Book of Common Prayer; it may just speak to your heart, as it often did to Jane Austen's. Speaking of Jane, you may want to read one of her prayers aloud, or to yourself;
follow it up by making yourself a merry libation or a syllabub.

Nothing like dessert ("afters") Regency style!
Enjoy.
(What? Don't have a copy of the ebook, yet? What, I must ask, are you waiting for?
All of the bonuses are still included. Get your copy today! at my secure website .