Hello, readers!
Welcome to this week’s installment of First Sentence and Free Book Friday.
Sometimes as a writer, it’s not uncommon to research something that’s not all that important to the story, but it still matters. Like, in this case, beds. Maybe it’s because I’d seen some before in another research adventure, but at any rate, I started looking at various different styles they’d have during this time because if I had to describe the bedroom, I wanted it to be accurate. Not all beds during this time period looked like this, but I feel this is pretty close to what Ennis and Joetta would’ve slept on. Their homestead was very rural, they were farmers, and fancy wasn’t their thing. They would’ve wanted useful and practical.
Let’s be honest, the thought of crawling onto a comfy corn shuck mattress situated on ropes isn’t what I would necessarily call enjoyable. Practical – maybe. It makes you wonder how they slept, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Consider the luxurious choices we have readily available today. The variety of material blends for sheets, umpteen types of mattresses, pillows with feather, foam, or something else, thin, heavy, or weighted blankets, throws, quilts, comforters. We have sleep-aids! Melatonin, valerian root, and magnesium, (plus more). We have noise cancelers like fans, earplugs, white noise machines, masks, and a myriad of ways to stop snorers from snoring. And finally, we have central heating and air conditioning. We should be able to sleep, but . . . many of us are desperate for it.
The ability for the McBrides, or anyone living during this time to get a decent night’s sleep certainly had to do with their lifestyle. As yeoman, or subsistence farmers, the upkeep of their farms involved tough, physical labor. It was a necessity if they wanted to eat. In the heat, cold, rain, snow, no matter, it had to be done. Seasonally, there was plowing, hoeing, planting, picking, and canning and other types of food preservation to do throughout the growing/harvesting seasons. Daily there was water drawn (multiple times), wood chopped, and repairs to equipment, barns, fencing, the house. Clothes had to be made, washed, butter churned, bread/biscuits made, food cooked, the house kept up, and sewing. I’m sure I’m leaving several things out, but even this is exhausting to think about.
In addition, their circadian clock was in tune with sunrise, and sunset. They might sit for a while by lamplight to read or to sew, but they were frugal and wouldn’t waste the oil by allowing it to burn for hours. There were no distractions (devices!) to keep their attention. Might as well go to bed. I have to think when they finally turned in, they “slept like the dead,” as the old saying goes.????
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CHAPTER 3
It seemed to Joetta she had no more than shut her eyes when she awoke to the gray light of morning.
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BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!
This week you have a chance to win a signed copy of #TheMoonshinersDaughter. My publisher is repackaging most of my backlist titles. You’ve likely seen the new one for Moonshiner’s, but if not, here it is:
The copies I’m giving out for this year’s First Sentence/Free Book Fridays will have the original cover. (which I’ve heard from some of you that you like better!) Just so you know what to expect!
I’m what I’d call a “neat sleeper.” My covers stay put, they don’t get all tossed about, I love complete dark, (no tv!) a fan for that low ambient droning sort of noise, and one that doesn’t rattle or make other crazy noises! ????I’m a light sleeper and will wake up instantly if I hear “something” that doesn’t go along with what I expect in my “sleep environment.” ????
For a chance to win this week’s signed copy of #TheMoonshinersDaughter, tell me, are you the sort of person who can sleep anywhere, no matter what? Or, are you like me?
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PRE-ORDERS
Pre-orders gauge the interest and signal to the publisher readers are eager for an author’s work! Please consider pre-ordering because it really does help! If you’re holding out because you might win an ARC or a finished copy, remember you can always give away the extra as a gift to one of your reader friends. ????
Pre-order links for your convenience:
Kensington Publishing Corporation
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See you all next week!
I can sleep nearly anywhere and rarely have a problem falling asleep as long as it’s not too warm. Now staying asleep is a different matter!
Wow – like my hubby. He’s exactly the same, can sleep any old place, but can’t stay that way!
Good Morning ???? This was a great way to start the day! It is so funny that you noticed and talked about beds! I do this all the time when I am out touring historical sites, the Biltmore is a good example. I am 6’1″ so of course my first thought was…were they all midgets! ???? My Googling mission about this ended with not midgets, but our previous generations were for the most part much shorter than we are today. As for me, I still work off of the farmers clock, early to bed, early to rise. I am not a good nighttime reader because my e reader because my eyes are ready to close. And when they do I sleep pretty hard. A strong storm might wake me but a rainshower would not. There is no need for a TV but I have one for those sleepless spells that hit occasionally. Keep being your Amazing Researching Self and Have A Great Day ❤
The doorways were short too! We (my husband and I) hiked to the Caudle Cabin that’s in the Basin Cove area of the Smoky Mtns here in NC, and I’m 5’5″ and I had to DUCK to get in the door way. I think it was constructed like that for practical purposes, but it was awfully short. I’ve read that same thing about our ancestors – I think the average height for men at one point was like . . . 5’6″ or something.
A comfortable bed has become so important in my life. After 62 years, I think I finally found the “perfect mattress”:) I envy those that can’t sleep “just anywhere”!! I can honestly say that I sleep to the sound of the ocean waves – thanks to a sound machine on my nightstand!!:) And reading is what I love to do in bed. Ever since I retired 7 years ago, I have not gone to bed without a great book in my hands!!
I need a new mattress. What’s your recommendation???
I envy them too. But a lot like you, I love to read in bed, but I don’t last long!
I distinctly remember a bed in my grandpa’s bedroom having the ropes under the mattress. Being the inquisitive youngster, I would ask him many questions about the ropes. He would offer some unbelievable explanations, of which I believed, being the six year old nosey granddaughter. Whenever I was invited to spend the night with my grandparents, the last words of the evening from them were always, “Sleep tight!” They left out the bed bugs part! After Grandpa passed away, at the ripe age of 104, and the family was dismantling the bed, my mom finally explained the story of the ropes. Grandpa lived a long life, and somehow I think those ropes, and getting a good night’s sleep had something to do with it.
That’s so interesting. What happened to that bed? I had a twin bed when I was growing up that I NOW know was a Jenny Lind style. My brother had one too. Don’t you know I wish I had them both today. It sounds like your grandfather lived a wonderful life – 104!!!
As with most older homes and furnishings, an estate sale was held and someone bought Grandpa’s bed. I didn’t have space for it, but I did inherit Grandma’s chair! What a treasure!
Hello Donna. This is my first time actually commenting on your First Sentence Fridays. I sleep with a small nightlight and always have. I don’t have a fear of the dark, but I also don’t like to wake disoriented. I usually wake once or twice to utilize the bathroom, so I need to “see” where I’m going. I am like you as far as not being a messy sleeper. I also have two small dogs that sleep with me; one near the top of the bed, the other near my feet. I am a very light sleeper too. I’m also one of those who feels best with six to seven hours sleep. Eight hours of sleep make me feel sluggish; five or less hours and I’m feeling it.
I’m like you, covers straight, fan on, complete darkness, and windows open if weather allows
Hi Michelle K – yep! That’s the formula that works!
Hi Michele! I’m actually surprised at how many sleep similarly as I do. ???? Although . . . I couldn’t do a night light! For me 7 to 7.5 hours seems just right. And awwww on the pups sleeping with their mama!
I’m like you but I love having the windows open during the spring and summer nights. The small window fan on low helps too. I am asked by my partner to scratch their back every night, and I do, however, they get one or two light waves of the hand and I’m out. That puts me to sleep faster than anything. Just ask me to scratch your back, and since I’m a tactile human, I conk out. As a baby and toddler I would rub the silk border of my blanket and that would put me to sleep in an instant. There’s something comforting to me about softly moving – like being rocked. I am a light sleeper and per the sleep app I’ve tried a few times, confirms that it is so. Rockabye baby – because aren’t we all still innocent nascent beings when it comes to surrendering to sleep?
that’s funny about the back scratching. I liked having stuffed animals around me when I was small.
And yes, and it’s also kind of scary how vulnerable sleep makes us, you know???
Hi , I am a pretty neat sleeper also, but once I fall asleep , I am dead to the world, which is good , but also maybe not so good, especially if I am by myself, but the good thing is my pups little bed is in my bedroom and he is a very good watch doggie. Have a great day and a great weekend.
That is good you have a little alarm system by you since you sleep heavy once out! You have a great weekend, too!
nearly anywhere
Lucky!
The rusty springs dig into my back. I’m rolling toward my aunt on the other side of this pull out sleeper. This is not a sleeper. It’s a keep me awake all night staring out the cabin window into a bright light from the other cabin. Why is my niece crunching on potato chips in the adjacent kitchen. My sleep mask can’t hide these irritating conditions.
This was my experience in a cabin near Mountain City, Tennessee. After that. I went home and ordered a 4 inch memory foam pad for my perfectly fine bed. A good night’s sleep I’ve had ever since my ordeal.
???????????? Hilarious!
But let me also say, after a night like that, I would’ve been a grump-o-saurus. Ya know??? Btw, this came through as anonymous, so share your name!