Courting Customs in America

I'm reading a book called "Courting Customs in America" and I as read, I am finding stuff that I want to remember so, I'm writing it in my blog. The following is the introduction to the book:

When the settlers first arrived on the shores off the new world, courting customs were simple and easy to follow. It would be later in American history that more complicated courting rituals would develop.

For many couples, courtship was devoted to disclosing personal faults and dissecting their reason for marriage. They considered romance and passion childish and unreliable motives for marriage and instead sought love that was more tender and rational.

Over time, the rituals of courtship changed and parental influence and involvement in the selection of their children's marriage partner visibly declined. Young women and Men were increasingly free to pick or reject a spouse with little parental interference. At the same time that courtship grew free, however, marriage became an increasingly difficult transition point, particularly for women, and more and more women elected not to marry at all.

Originally, laws were passed in this country that gave parents "the care and power ... for the disposing of their children in marriage." Through the changes in courtship customs and social attitudes, marriage became an option for women and not a necessity.

Through all of this, many colorful courtship customs developed. Many have since then become outdated or have simply "fallen out of custom." Still others survive to this very day ... For example: the offering of a ring from a man to a women to establish the beginning of the 'engagement' phase of their relationship.

The study of courtship customs always provide food for thought. What was courting like back then? How has it changed to this day in time?

I will write more as I read more of the book.

Update on the Case of the msising purse

I found my purse last Wednesday. It was ............ hanging on the bicycle rack that we have on the back of the trailer to haul our bikes around. Just thought that I would update y'all

The Case of the Missing Purse ~ By: Kate Kirkland

~Friday:August 13th, 2010~

This is the background story that I had to go through to get to: The Case of the Missing Purse ~Chapter 1~

It was clear when I left my house and then 5 miles down the road it started raining then it eased off and 10 min. down the road it started raining. It went on like that for awhile. I finally got on 231 South and it started pouring. Then it eased off but when I entered Florida it started pouring again. I was forced to slow down. It stopped raining windshield wipers off. Sunshine!!!!! Sped up!!!!! Pouring rain again. Something (or Someone) told me to slow down. About the time I did, I hydroplaned. If I had of been going the speed I had been going before I slowed down, I might of had a wreck.

~Chapter 2~

Still raining!!! Will this rain ever let up???

I slowed down to 45 mph on the country roads. I tell ya, those roads were just waiting for a wreck to happen. I was still hydroplaning and all I could do was just pray ... especially when I was approaching a bridge or something.

~Chapter 3~

10 miles from my friends house, it stopped raining and the sun came out!!! We visited and I played pool. Now, I never have played pool in my life and I told them that I had never played so, what did I do??? I upt and won 2 games!!! Seriously!!! I couldn't believe it!!! Then we had to drive 2 miles to their farm to get the 4 wheeler!!!!

~Chapter 4~

Farm girls to the rescue!!!!!!! The 4 wheeler was behind a hay wagon. We would have to move the hay before we could get to the 4 wheeler. My friend Rachel and I know how to drive a tractor. She (Rachael) cranked up the tractor. There was a bushhog (mower) that needed to be detached from the tractor so, we got it unhooked and hooked the tractor to the hay trailer. Rachel pulled it up enough to where she could get it (the 4 wheeler) out. She got it out and I backed the trailer back into place.

Then, the 4 wheeler was low on gas so, we hopped in my truck and went 2 miles down the road to the gas station and got gas in a gas tank. Then it was off to have fun. We went muddin' and exploring. We rode into Houston County (the county that Dothan is in) Alabama. I left about 5:00

~Chapter 5~ On my way home

I took my purse outta my truck to write a check for Rachel cause she got me soup and crackers for me when she was coming here cause I was sick. So, I wrote her the check, and put my purse back in my truck. I left Rachel's house going home a different way than I came. I went home 95 (aka River road. It also goes along the choctawahatchee(sp) River). I came home through Columbia and then on through Headland.

The Case of the Missing Purse:

I remember having my purse east of Columbia cause II reached over (from the drivers seat) to the passenger seat (which is where my purse was) to see if I had my glasses in there but, they weren't so, I continued driving. When I got to Headland, I thought about going by a cafe shop called Koinonia Cafe to get me a smoothie but, I didnt cause it was late and I didnt know if it would be open so, I just came home. When I got home, I got outta my truck (I cant remember if I had my purse with me) and I talked to my mom who was working on a flower bed (she cant remember if I had my purse either). Anyway, a little later, Daddy asked me to go with him to get corn outta the grain bin. I thought that I moved my purse from my truck and put it in the cow truck (the truck that we use to feed cows with). I've missed it since Friday morning. I'm praying that I find it soon.

In lieu (is that the proper word?) of losing my purse, I was walking outside in the rain and I asked God: "What are you teaching me by losing my purse?" God promptly told me: "Good things come to those who wait"!!!!! I suppose that God is going to teach me patience one way or another!!!

The Great American Farmer

Through the heartland of America he travels

Through the summers and winter snow and rain

With the golden grain a flowin' and the big combines a rollin' always moving with the harvest of our land.

Proud of living free and proud of this great country

As he looks out from beneath his sun tan brow

Reachin' out to feed the people of America, the world moving to the beat of his own country drum

He's everywhere in this great land. He holds the good earth in his hands

He's a friend. He's the great American farmer

(spoken)

You'll find him on the way to the field before the hot summer sun touches the morning and he'll still be out there with the last daylight, working that piece of ground that lives in his mind forever. Its a permanent part of his soul.

You'll find him pumping fuel into his tractor or settin' post for his electric fence to keep his cattle in and you'll find him cutting cane in Oklahoma, picking cotton in Texas, bailing hay in Indiana, New York and California. Cuttin wheat in Kansas and the Dakota's ,combining corn in Iowa, Nebraska and the Carolina's.

He's got dirt on his big calloused hands, sweat stains, straw hat and a heart as big as this big land that he works. He's got a a country girl for his wife and kids like everybody else. You'll find him in town visiting on a Saturday afternoon and sittin in church on Sunday morning

He listens to the world through his radio and TV and he's always at the mercy of the weather that guides his fortunes forever. He's humble and he loves his neighbors. He knows what friendship really means. He's a good man and he loves this great country of ours.

He knows the pride of standing at the end of the field and looking at the even furrows that move out to the end of the world watching that bumper crop stretch up to touch the sky. He knows the beauty of a soft gentle rain and how to break that top crust so that mother earth can enjoy a refreshing drink.

You'll find him sweating from the hot summer sun and the exhaust of his big 4-wheeler and sometimes you'll see him crying inside as he looks out at the hail stripped stalks that put his whole years work to death the night before he was to have reap the harvest of his dreams.

You'll find him leaning on the kitchen table late in the evening weary from the labors of the day. Happy that his farm is bedded down for another night. He's got dirt on his face and his hair is must, his shirt unbuttoned and his shoes off. A glass of ice tea in his hands and he is laying down a few soft words to his wife about the country, the politicians and next year.

You can count on him when the chips are down. His word is his bond and his honor

In the winter time, you'll find him out in the shed working on his tractor, combine or one way getting ready for the springtime and the long hard summer ahead.

He knows the excitement that comes from watching the yellow school bus kicking up dust as it moves down a country road with and load of happy kids and he lives knowing that his crop can burn up in the summer sun and his house can burn down on a winter night and help could never get there in time. You'll find him on a winter evening sitting by the fire with his hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee. Yes, he is more than a friend ... He's the great American farmer

(singing)

He takes time to thank the Lord on Sunday morning. He finds beauty in the gentle springtime rain. He believes in this great country and his neighbors and his friends and he knows just where America begins. He's everywhere in this great land. He holds the good earth in his hands.

He's a friend. He's the great American farmer.

He's a friend. He's the great American Farmer

He's a friend. He's the great American farmer