French peasants in 1650 played a game similar to modern bowling. Skittles or nine-pin (quilles in French) was played outside a tavern or in a barn on hard-packed earth. The nine skittles were set up in a diamond or square pattern. The wooden ball and skittles were carved from hardwood – oak or beech. My … Continue reading Thursday Throwback
Tag: historical fiction
Throwback Thursday – Smokin’ Weed
My granddaughter found this photo in a family album. She thought we were pretty cool, until I told her it was a costume party. Ah, the good ole days. Peasants smoked weed, I mean, actual weeds like mullein, coltsfoot, nettle, rosemary, sage for medicinal purposes to clear the lungs, sharpen the mind, and protect against … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – Smokin’ Weed
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Time Travel Tuesday – A Sneak Preview
Here’s the first look at the opening of the prologue to my work-in-progress - an historical fiction novel. The question is — how does a young girl survive all this? 1639 was a bad time for Marie Rochon to be born on a simple farm in the Perche area in northwest France. The peasants of … Continue reading Time Travel Tuesday – A Sneak Preview
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Writer Wednesday – Excel at Organizing
Excel spreadsheet, that is. They will help improve your writing skills by keeping your thoughts organized and at your fingertips. I use them for several writing tasks: Character biographies- I use these faithfully–at least for my main characters–so I am consistent with their looks personalities. The title of the spreadsheet is “(book title) characters.” Within … Continue reading Writer Wednesday – Excel at Organizing
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Where Did French Peasants Get Their Shoes?
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?
Jeanne Meeks ~ Fiction Author 