Jo-Ann Roberts

My Favorite Things by Jo-Ann Roberts

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You probably know from many of my blog posts, my books, and author takeovers I’ve done, that quilts are my favorite things…and they are, most definitely!

However, there is a very close runner-up…I love making Italian cookies! Baked and decorated mainly for the holidays, I have wonderfully fond memories of helping my mother, grandmothers, and aunts baking cookies for weddings, bridal and baby showers, and significant anniversaries.

About two weeks prior to the occasion, my mother and my aunts would gather in the evenings at Aunt Cel’s or Aunt Bonnie’s or Aunt Bea’s (that’s my mom!) home to begin the marathon. Soon the house would be filled with the sweet smells of sugar, lemon, orange, and vanilla extracts. Bowls of raisins, dates, and nuts waited to be added to the doughs. Bags of confectioner’s sugar mixed with water or milk were turned into frostings and glazes and waited to be topped with colored sprinkles.

Of course, a tasting  ‘just to make sure they tasted right” was a highlight. And as luck would have it, there always seemed to be a handful of “oops” that somehow never quite made it into the trays.

Recently, I had the chance to indulge in this favorite activity when my grandson and his lovely fiancé got married in early August. Despite the downpours and the humidity, it was a lovely, intimate wedding with their immediate families and college friends.

In mid-July, I made several varieties of dough and froze them. Because I was on a deadline for “Olivia’s Odyssey” (Westward Homes and Hearts), I made one different cookie a night…I even drafted Papa Bob into helping! The morning before we left for the trip to Virginia, I made up the trays and found a cooler large enough to transport them.

It’s already the end of August. I’ve got two more books to write before the holiday baking season begins…wish me luck!!

                   

Neapolitan Cookies                                                          Cherry Ricotta Cookies

 

                     

Chocolate Mexican Wedding Bells                      Thumbprint Cookies (courtesy of Papa Bob)

 

                       

Lemon Poppy Seed & Orange Cranberry Biscotti                               Russian Teacakes

Italian Cookies (Taralle)                         Fig Cookies                             Scandinavian Almond Cookies

     

Before the wrapping…In a traditional Italian Wedding Tray they would have used Jordan Almonds symbolizing how the newlyweds will share everything equally and remain undivided, and Jordan almonds are often given five at a time. Each almond represents a quality guests wish for the couple getting married: health, fertility, wealth, longevity and happiness. I had to substitute Hershey Kisses as my grandson doesn’t like almonds… I sure hope Hershey Kisses have the same effect!

Final Products!

Cutters, Sleighs, and Carioles -By Jo-Ann Roberts

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Last November, my fellow Filly, Sarah Lamb, put out a call for authors to join a new series she was taking over for another author. The premise for the series, The Sleigh Ride, was straightforward…a sleigh would play a role in the romance.

In the fall of 2022, I was writing my first Christmas Quilt Brides book, Noelle. The hero discovers an old sleigh in Noelle’s barn. It had been a gift to her from her late husband. While it wasn’t the focus of the story, I still wanted the sleigh to be as authentic as possible.

So, on my first day of research, I discovered a sleigh and cutter were two different modes of winter transportation in the 18th and 19th century in America.
In the time before automobiles became popular, many people traveled by horse and buggy in the summer and by sleigh in the winter. Instead of having just one type of transportation in the winter months, people often had a couple of types for different purposes. 
 
Because cutters offered a cozier ride with the couple sitting close together, they were often used for courting. Just the right ingredient for snuggling up to a loved one on a snowy Christmas Eve! The cutter is built lower to the ground and requires more flexibility to ensure the jarring of the road does not break the structure.
The sleigh, though, is large enough to accommodate an entire family or a large group of friends. Sleighs were most often used to transport the family to church or another family member’s home. Some companies still use sleighs during the winter months to offer rides to visitors. The construction of the sleigh is sturdier and more rigid. Because the sleigh sits much higher than a cutter, the runners absorb more of the shock and protect the sleigh’s structure.
The Portland Cutter
The most popular sleigh in America was designed by Peter Kimball of Maine. With his sons, James and Charles, they championed the sleigh. The straight back offered more wind protection than the Albany sleigh, flat body panels and a goose-neck dash that protected passengers from snow kicked up by the horse. and was less expensive for carriage makers to create, and the simplicity appealed to the Puritan nature of the New England population.
 
The Portland was a lightweight sleigh made with speed in mind, and in fact these sleighs were often raced. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow even recorded going to watch sleigh races in Boston.
In 1876, Charles moved to New York to begin a partnership with Brewster & Company. The new Kimball-Brewster Sleigh was shown at the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia, the first official World’s Fair in the United States. 
 
Sleigh races were very popular in the U.S., and Portland Cutters were an early favorite. They gave way at the turn of the 20th century to specially made racing sleighs. BY 1910, a standard Portland Cutter could be purchased for $20. One ornate Portland Cutter built by Kimball and Clement was trimmed in “silk plush had silver mountings and cost $150.
The Albany Cutter (or Albany Sleigh)
 
In 1836, James Goold of Albany, New York developed a swell-sided cutter. The Albany body and runners were carefully steamed and bent into their unique shape. Known by a variety of names, the design was quickly copied by other sleigh makers. The Albany Cutter (or Albany Sleigh) is recognized as the second most popular sleigh type in America.
 
The curved body was a painter’s paradise. Rich colors were used to decorate the sleighs. Dark or light carmine (red), yellow, blue, even Scotch plaid and purple were used on the body. Trimming was often dark green or crimson. Yet, in 1878, it was reported that “it was formally the custom of sleigh-builders to employ a variety of fancy colors, stripes, and ornaments…but of late, plainness and simplicity have been preferred by city customers”.
       
Carioles

Although the Albany and Portland styles were manufactured in Canada during the same time as their American counterparts, a different type of sleigh, called a cariole, was often seen north of the friendly border. Gliding low to the ground instead of with 12-18″ high runners, the cariole looked similar to the old-world ones in countries like Russia where snowfall equaled that of Canada. You can see the style difference between the cariole and other sleighs of the time on this poster from the January 1899 issue of Harper’s New Monthly Magazine.

 

 

“It’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.”

 

***Upcoming Release***

He was the most stubborn and prideful man she’d ever met!
She was a busybody who stuck her nose in his business at every turn!
With Christmas on the horizon, Claire McAllister has far too much to do to entertain dreams of a husband and family. Even if she feels inclined to help Lincoln Wyse outwit his three mischievous young daughters, it’s impossible to imagine the handsome widower seeing her as anything but a scolding schoolteacher.

Even though the pretty schoolteacher never turned a favorable eye to him, Linc Wyse’s heart skipped a beat whenever she pinned him with her mesmerizing green eyes. Beautiful or not, Claire McAllister was a meddling spinster who placed judgments on him and his family.

Yet, neither one can imagine how three little, mischievous matchmakers and a magical Christmas Eve sleigh ride will open their eyes to love…or how the Lord will awaken their faith and hope.

The Stars and Stripes – A Symbol of Our Independence

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When we moved to a 55+ community in Connecticut in 2015, one of the first tasks we did was to install the Red, White, and Blue on our porch.

Immediately, we received a call from “the association”. According to the regulations, unless one or both of us were veterans, the flag must be removed. I won’t reveal what my husband’s response was, but though disappointed and upset, we complied with the regulation.

Fast forward to October 2018 in North Carolina…The day after the movers left, my husband tore through the moving boxes until he found our flag. With a new flagpole and tools in hand, he installed the flag.

The flag represents the unity of the United States. It serves as a reminder that despite our diverse backgrounds, we are all part of one nation. The stars and stripes symbolize the states coming together to form a cohesive whole. It also stands for individual freedom and self-expression. Each star represents a state, and each state has its unique identity. This celebrates the idea that within our unity, there’s room for individuality and diversity.

When we see the flag raised during moments of victory (like at the Olympics or after a military triumph), it becomes a symbol of success and achievement. It’s a way to honor those who have worked hard and overcome challenges.

 

 

 

Conversely, the flag is lowered to half-mast during times of mourning or loss. It pays tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for our country. The flag’s presence at military funerals is a solemn reminder of this sacrifice.

The flag has flown over battlefields, space missions, and historic events. It represents daring endeavors, courage, and the spirit of exploration. Chivalry, too, is reflected in the respect and honor we show toward the flag.

As a public school employee, I had the honor and privilege to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning of every school day for 37 years. For 2 or 3 minutes each day, my thoughts were not of cafeteria duty, parent conferences, bus duty, or lesson plans, but rather of lessons learned by those who fought to secure our freedoms. Still, today, I think of my immigrant grandparents who caught sight of Old Glory from a ship; of my father and uncles who fought in the European campaign in World War II to secure democracy for the world; of my son who put his advanced college plans on hold to join the U.S. Marines; and left his wife and baby son in 2003 to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Even today, despite the controversies and turmoil, the Stars and Stripes provide direction, a sense of purpose, and a shared identity. When we look at the flag, we’re reminded of our collective journey and the principles we hold dear.

 

Christmas Decor Crawl ~ Jo-Ann Roberts

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In our family, the Christmas holiday is full of delicious food and decking the halls. As native New Englanders, our decor reflects old-fashioned themed displays. Vintage St. Nicholas figurines, crocheted snowflake ornaments, Buffalo-plaid, greens, holly berries, and seed lights on our mantle.

So, get yourself a hot drink, slip into a cozy Christmas sweater, and put up your feet…and let the Christmas Decor Crawl begin!

Welcome to North Carolina!

As the real meaning of Christmas, the manger is the first decoration displayed. This year, my husband added the lights reminding us that He is the Light of the World and His presence is needed more than ever.

Here is the first of four trees…with its burlap-wrapped base, felt mittens and hearts ornaments, Buffalo-plaid ornaments, and clear twinkle lights, it greets our visitors in the foyer.

Here is our dining room with its Williamsburg centerpiece, greenery on the chandelier, and more Buffalo plaid stars and runner.

Welcome to the kitchen!

Tree #2 is our Williamsburg ornament tree. We have a yearly membership at Colonial Williamsburg, and each year they send us an ornament depicting one of the historic buildings in the town. In addition to MORE twinkle lights, there are miniature colonial men, women, and animal ornaments.

When our children were young, we gave them ornaments each Christmas with the intention that they would display them on their own trees. Which they did, but it left our living room (#3) tree woefully bare. So, for the next 25 years, we’ve been steadily adding ornaments. The ornaments are eclectic…snowflakes, icicles, wooden Santa, Red Sox, Jack Daniels, motorcycles, guitars reflect our interests. We’ve also added ornaments from places we’ve visited…Biltmore Castle, Monticello, Mt. Vernon, North Carolina’s Colonial Capital, New Bern, Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, and Gatlinburg.

On the wall outside my office is a quilted wall hanging I during my annual quilt week a few years ago.

A trio of St. Nicholas figurines in front of tree #4 guard the landing to the upstairs. Several, several years ago, we purchased these from my husband’s co-worker. She crafted these using old pieces of fur, velveteen bathrobes, pieces of moss, and berries and twigs from nature. She also names each figure and gives him a back story.

There you have it…a little glimpse into Christmas in the Carolinas. From our home to yours, Happy Holidays!