by Templa Melnick | May 5, 2014 | Templa's Trivia
Did you know that at one time, you could order an entire house from the Sears catalog? According to Sears Archives, in 1908, Sears issued its first specialty catalog for houses, Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans, featuring 44 styles ranging in price from $360–$2,890.
The first mail order was filled in 1908. Sears sold about 70,000 kit homes in 48 states through their mail-order Modern Homes program during the years of 1908 – 1940. Sears sold so many of these homes that they opened up their own mill in Cairo, Illinois in 1911.
Sears kit homes were shipped via boxcar and came with a 75-page instruction book. Each kit contained 10,000 – 30,000 pieces and the pieces were “marked to facilitate construction.” Yeah, right. All you had to do was unload it, schlep it to your building site, read that 75-page instruction book, figure out what went where, and put it together. Kind of like a giant 3-D puzzle. Or Lincoln Logs. But with a lot more sweat and potential for swearing.
Neighbors and friends usually helped build the house with a good old-fashioned roof raising party. Neighbor relationships have changed a little in this last century. I don’t even ask my neighbors to check my mail when I’m out of town.
Sears Kit Home – Maytown
Because my story takes place in 1904, my characters can’t live in an actual Sears kit house… the timing is just a little off. Nevertheless, this is the house that I pictured in my mind as the Johnson family home in Season of Forgiveness – but I added a second porch on the right side and flipped the kitchen to the other side of the building. That’s the beauty of writing fiction. It can be whatever I want it to be.
I can picture in my mind’s eye the porch littered with toys and seven rowdy boys slamming doors and racing up and down the steps. And of course, Emma’s roses would flourish beside the porch. I had a lot of fun creating this home in my story. I hope you enjoy it too.
by Templa Melnick | Apr 28, 2014 | Templa's Trivia
Front Cover
So, why a blog? Well, because after a lot of hard work and relentlessly following a crazy dream, my first novel is debuting in just a few short months! That’s right. I am a finally a real, honest to God author.
It seems to me that the reality of a fulfilled dream isn’t always quite what I envisioned from the fluffy, hot-air-balloon view of my imagination. So I’ll share the adventures of living MY dream with you here. It’s been a long time coming, and to be honest, I’ve almost given up more times 
than I can count. I’m incredibly thankful for my amazing husband and children for believing in me even when I stopped believing in myself. And for giving me the opportunity to make my dream become reality.
I will also share some of the random historical trivia that I dug up for my book. I find this stuff incredibly fascinating. Maybe a few of you will too. I can still dream, cant I?
by Templa Melnick | Apr 4, 2014 | Recipes
Emma’s Stew
Ingredients:
- 1-2 pounds of meat, cut into 2” cubes (venison, elk or beef)
- ½ cup flour
- salt and pepper
- ¼ cup oil
- 4 cups of water
- 2 onions, chopped
- ½ cup cream
- 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into 2” cubes
- 2 cups carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup corn (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup green beans (fresh if in season)
- (You can also add peas or other vegetables you have on hand)
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons beef bullion
- Optional: ¼ cup of uncooked barley
Directions:
Place flour and salt and pepper in a bowl and mix. Add meat chunks and coat evenly. In a large pot, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over low heat until the onion is transparent. Place the coated meat in the large pot. Brown the meat, turning with a wooden spoon until all sides are browned. Add a little more oil if needed. If there is excess oil when the meat is browned, drain it off.
Add the water and stir. Add all other ingredients except cream and cook over medium low heat until all ingredients are tender. (Approximately one to two hours.) Stir frequently. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cream just before serving.
Serves 4 – 6 people, or 3 of Emma’s boys.
by Templa Melnick | Apr 3, 2014 | Recipes
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 Tablespoons lard
- 1 Cup milk
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients. Cut in lard with a fork or a pastry cutter. Add milk and blend lightly. Roll to ½ “ thick. Cut with floured cutter.
Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes.
Note: Modern day – substitute Crisco for the lard
by Templa Melnick | Apr 2, 2014 | Recipes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Combine these ingredients.
Mix 1/3 cup oil and 2/3 cup milk together.
Add all at once to the dry ingredients and stir lightly to blend.
Place between sheets of wax paper to knead gently.
Roll to about ¾” thick.
Cut and place on baking sheet. If time allows, let them rest for 15 minutes.
Bake at 475 degrees for 10-12 minutes.