Category: My Blog

Where Did French Peasants Get Their Shoes?

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That is a big question when writing about the 17th century. Habitants of rural France in 1650 had to use whatever was at hand, make what they needed, or barter their skills for goods. So, where did they get their shoes? As I researched their clothing for my novel, I found one type of shoe … Continue reading Where Did French Peasants Get Their Shoes?

Friday Finds – French Voyageurs

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Isle la Cache is a gem for history buffs. This is where I started to immerse myself in my French Canadian roots. Located on an island in the DesPlaines River, Isle La Cache was likely a rendezvous point for French voyageurs and their Indian trading partners.  The Will County Forest Preserve District maintains 107 acres, … Continue reading Friday Finds – French Voyageurs

Write as if You’re the Last Human Author on Earth

~ jeannemeeks ~ 1 Comment

Will AI take over the world? I don’t know, but for now, Chatgpt.com is my new best friend. We’ve become very familiar as I research French history, peasant life, clothing, food, etc etc for my new historical fiction novel.  We, as writers, know that we must not use AI to create our stories and novels. … Continue reading Write as if You’re the Last Human Author on Earth

Where the Wild Things Grow

~ jeannemeeks ~ 2 Comments

My research into how peasants and habitants supplement their diets by foraging made me want to try it myself.  Right in my backyard—in the wild marshy area—I discovered blackberries. I picked as many ripe berries as I could reach without getting trapped in brambles.  I have the scratches to prove it and will don long … Continue reading Where the Wild Things Grow

Time Travel Tuesday – What’s This??

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Every peasant woman in the seventeenth century would have been familiar with this household item. Need a clue? Read more: Laundry Day in 1650 Rural France: A Back-Breaking Chore In 1650s rural France, doing the laundry was a full-day affair. Without running water or soap as we know it, peasant women relied on rivers, streams, … Continue reading Time Travel Tuesday – What’s This??