A few weeks ago, a group of writers from my local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers took a field trip to break up our usual schedule of monthly meetings inside a conference room—a chance to see and do something different and to get outside on a beautiful Minnesota summer day. This year we went to visit an historic house in Taylors Falls, a fun river town some 30-40 miles north of Minneapolis-St. Paul, where most of us live. Not every member of our chapter was interested in seeing an old house (though two speculative/fantasy writers did attend—I was impressed). But along with guests, friends, and family, there were 16 of us who toured the house together and then later went out for ice cream.
The Folsom House is the former home of a lumber magnate and politician, built in 1850 and full of original furnishings. Even though it is not from the specific time period or setting in which I write (early 1800s England) I think there is always something to learn and appreciate wherever we go.
Floors in Blueberry buttermilk paint.
Not sure what we were all looking at, but it must have been fascinating! 🙂
Our tour guide was enthusiastic and clearly loved having a group of note-taking, photo-snapping writers to talk to. We peppered him with questions and he obligingly showed us more of the collection and went into more detail than he normally would.
(I felt sorry for the family with a young child who happened to show up when we did and joined us for our tour. I think they would have preferred the shorter, less detailed version. :))
I’m sure we each took away something different from the day–a few choice morsels of research or interesting artifacts that stood out for us.
Here are a few that stood out for me:
A mustache cup—gents could drink coffee and tea without it soaking into their mustaches.
A hair saver and hair art—yes, people saved hair from their combs and brushes and then later had jewelry and art made from it.
Blueberry buttermilk paint—the floors were covered in the original paint made from these natural ingredients and still wearing well today.
Desk with mirror—to reflect and augment candle light.
Treasures (letters and newspaper clippings) still being discovered within the pages of old books—yes, that will find its way into a Klassen novel one day. 🙂
Along with the research, I enjoyed spending time with fellow writers. The day was even more fun because my summer intern (my first) joined us along with her parents. Anna is a college student and writer-in-the-making, who offered to help me do some research, etc. this summer. In fact, in two weeks we will have a guest post from Anna describing what it was like to work as an author’s assistant. Stop back to find out!
In the meantime… Been on any “field trips” lately? Visited anyplace new and interesting? Do share!
Latest posts by Julie Klassen (see all)
- Gifts for Readers…or You! - November 12, 2024
- Research Challenges & A New Release | Guest Post by Erica Vetsch - October 22, 2024
- Book News & Second Chances - October 8, 2024
Hi Julie. Enjoyed the day with you and the others. I, too, loved the mustache tea cup! Blessings
Wasn’t it a fun day? So glad you were there, Gail!
The place I was last week-end wasn’t the first time I was there, but the first time I have walked around and looked. Our family cooks in cast iron camp Dutch ovens and the last several years we have done a demo of what you can do with them at an event called Days of Yesteryear in Rochester, MN. The era you mentioned caught my eye since the land where this is held while currently owned by the Olmsted County Historical society, was homesteaded in the 1850’s. The barn was in good enough condition when they obtained the property in the 1950’s that they applied and it is on the national registry of historic buildings (you can learn a lot reading signs!). We weren’t dressed for the era or only using only equipment from the era but it is always a fun time, there was even a ball game played with 1850’s rules and uniforms played across the road from us.
Sounds like a fun event, MaryAnn. You ought to share your favorite Dutch oven recipe with us!
The challenge is to decide what is my favorite. In our group I guess I’m know for doing pies to some extent. I did a pizza monkey bread last Saturday that was a hit. The chocolate chip cookie cheesecake has been popular too. I’ll share the cheese cake since it is one that could be easily be done indoors in your oven.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Crust
25 crushed Chips Ahoy cookies
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
Filling
3 packages softened cream cheese
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream (8oz.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Cookie Dough
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips, divided
assorted flavors of chocolate ships for garnish
In a small bowl combine cookie crumbs and sugar; add melted butter and stir. Press into a well-greased 9 inch sping-form pam and set aside. In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese, and sugar until smooth, add eggs and beat until combined. Add sour cream and vanilla, stir until blended, pour over crust. In another mixing bowl, cream softened butter and both sugars until blended. Add water and vanilla, now slowly add the flour, then add 1 cup of the chocolate ships. Drop this doubh mixture by teaspoon (keep balls small) over the filling and push the “dough balls” down into the filling making sure it is completely covered. Bake at 350 degrees in a 12 in deep Dutch oven for 45-50 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes then run a knife around the edge of the pan to separate the chsssescake fromthe wall of the spring-form pan. Let cool for 1 hour then decorate the top with the remaining chocolate ships and garnish with melted other flavored ships. Let cool completely before serving.
If you are doing this in your home oven in a preheated oven the bake time would likely be slightly less.
Story to go with the first time I made this. Each December for the last several years my husband and I have provided the meal for some men who camp in a grocery store parking lot from Thursday morning to Saturday noon and collect food shelf and toys for a Christmas drive. As you might remember last December was on the chilly side. Fortunately my mother in law lives nearby as I had to mix it at her house to get the cream cheese and butter soft enough to mix. We were putting items in the cooler to try and keep them from freezing (it didn’t work, after a few minutes our veggies had frost on them). It’s a great event and fun to do though despite the weather some years.
How nice of you and your husband, and what a great-looking recipe. Yummers! Thanks, MaryAnn!
Writers are some of the nicest people around! What a fun field trip.
Yes, I love spending time with like-minded writers, Becky. Looking forward to spending time with more writers at ACFW next month!
Thanks for sharing your field trip!!!! Loved seeing what a moustache cup looks like. I’d read about them — think the first time was in the All of a Kind Family books when I was a kid. The sisters got together and bought their papa one. Ah blissful childhood reading memories. And how exciting to have a writer’s assistant — both for you and for her! Oh — and the desk with the mirror to augment the light. How cool is that? Those are the little details that really make a difference in historical novels.
Thanks, Kav. And thanks for sharing the sweet memory from a favorite childhood book of yours. I didn’t read those. Have a great week.
Last summer I toured Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, which was built around 1900. The family lived there in the same time frame as Downton Abbey, so it was fun seeing the similarities and differences (the Congdons were definitely more progressive than the Crowleys). We took the new extended tour, so I got to peek in the attic, which was a child’s dream (and, I suppose, a hoarder’s) – a huge, wonderful place to explore!
My husband has a mustache cup – given how bushy he’s become lately, I should pull it down so he remembers to make good use of it.
You’ve toured Glensheen, hm? I haven’t made it there yet, though we visit Duluth often. Being a Downton fan, I may have to move it higher on the wish list. And how fun that your husband has his own mustache cup!
Enjoyed your post and pics, Julie – thank you!! I love historic houses and especially enjoyed your comments about the pics you shared. If you’re ever in my home state of Kentucky – there are many homes on the national historic register and Louisville (a few miles from me) has one of the largest settings of Victorian architecture in the U.S..
Oh, sounds lovely, Bonnie! Would love to tour some Victorian houses in your neck of the woods someday.
P.S. Shared post!!
Thanks!
We also toured Glensheen last fall. An amazing home! So nice to hear the details of your historic tour, Julie.
Thanks, Cathy. And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Hi Julie! I very much enjoyed your post. You authors always seem to have so much fun and it’s great to share it with your readers.. makes us feel as if we were there with you.:)
I enjoyed reading and looking at the photos of the furnishings of The Folsom House. The writing desk particularly intrigued me, what an ingenious idea!
We returned from the UK a month ago but oh dear, I would have a hard task to single one out, we saw so many wonderful places but we did visit one place which we had never visited on previous trips.
Ballindalloch Castle (circa 1546) in the Spey Valley in Scotland, is the Highland home of the Lairds of Ballindalloch It is one of the few privately owned castles to have been lived in continuously by its original family. Certainly some history to be absorbed here!
The current Laird is a beautiful lady by the name of Clare Russell, who was in every way the perfect Hostess to our tour group. She made us feel totally at home, gave us a wonderful welcome and of course a very fascinating History lesson. After a sumptuous luncheon( I think she must have the best chefs in the world… the food was to die for) we toured the castle and the magnificent gardens. Clare is very much a family person and loves children so she has incorporated a playground including small cars and bikes to add to the children’s delight. I might add that for some members of our tour group the “bigger” kids enjoyed themselves too, mentioning no names of course! The cameras rolled ! LOL
The estate also comprises of farming and forestry, a wind farm, wild life sanctuary and the Ballindalloch golf course, just to name a few.
If you ever get the chance, I would certainly encourage you to visit this beautiful place. I’m sure it would easily inspire some thoughts for a future novel.::)