Tuesday Tidbits: SARAH WINCHESTER & THE 2,000 DOORS

Her mind was as mystifying as the chaotic house she built. Each labyrinth of halls, more baffling than the previous.

Sarah Lockwood Pardee was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1839. On September 30, 1862, Sarah married William Wirt Winchester the only son and heir of Oliver Winchester owner of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

William and Sarah had a daughter, Annie Pardee Winchester, born on July 12, 1866 who passed away only five and a half months later from marasmus. They had no other children. Upon her husband’s death in 1881, Sarah inherited $20 million dollars and nearly 50% of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company stock.

Grieving from the loss of her daughter and husband, Sarah visited a medium who recommended she move west and told her she needed to keep building to appease the spirits of the numerous people the Winchester rifle killed over the years. Sarah moved and bought a two-story, eight-room farmhouse in 1884 near San Jose, CA and began “remodeling”. She called her home Llanada Villa.

One of Sarah's Many Bedrooms

Construction continued around the clock seven days a week adding on and adding on and adding on. You could say that this was a renovation that got out of control.

Upon her death on September 5, 1922, the hammers and saws were laid down and the remodeling finally stopped.

By then, the normal farmhouse had grown into a sprawling mansion of confusion without rhyme or reason. In the end, the residence measured 24,000 square feet.

In that space, the eight rooms had multiplied into 160. There were:

~~47 staircase (some leading to dead ends)

~~47 fireplaces

~~17 chimneys

~~52 skylights (one of which is in the floor of a middle story)

~~13 bathrooms

~~9 kitchens

~~10,000 windows

~~2,000 doors (Watch your step. This second floor door goes nowhere.)

Maybe this door that leads nowhere was to confuse the ghosts. Perhaps, if one was to open this door from the inside, it would lead to Narnia.

Other doors opened up to a wall.

While I was driving to the library, I saw a house with a door to nowhere.

[PIC of Kingsgate house with a door to nowhere]

With all these additions, a network of rambling rooftops developed.

Sarah’s Llanada Villa became known as the Winchester Mystery House even before her death.

I haven’t had a chance to visit the Winchester Mystery House, but I really want to. It sounds so intriguing.

On the night of October 31, 1924, the famous magician Harry Houdini visited the house to debunk the claims of paranormal activity. By the time he left, he had more questions than answers and referred to it as “The Mystery House.”

In 2018, a movie was made of Sarah Winchester and her mystery house called Winchester, starring Helen Mirren.

The websites used in my research hinted at Sarah’s obsession for the constant building of this bizarre house was to appease the ghosts of the multitude of people who were killed by the Winchester Repeating Rifle. She believed those people haunted her hence the reason for the constant construction and so many doors. She had many of the doors nailed shut with thirteen nails each. Whether you believe in actual physical hauntings or you think it was all in her head, Sarah was a haunted soul.

Was she simply crazy? Or was she haunted by restless souls?

Now All 3 QUILTING CIRCLE Books are Available in Audio, as well as Kindle and paperback!

Book 1: THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT

A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/qaUG-sN6Y_k

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Widows-Plight-Audiobook/B088HJLH4J?qid=1607878778&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2EJ4RS5E9G3AJ55XJ6T1

FREE Preview: http://a.co/1riJfrA

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CV4XDLH/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_XaM.DbMKBGBG1

#TheWidowsPlight

 

Book 2: THE DAUGHTER’S PREDICAMENT (Placed 2nd in the Selah Awards)

As Isabelle’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. Can a patient love win her heart? Or will a forced marriage be the end of her romantic dreams?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fMWDBA4NFeo

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Daughters-Predicament-Audiobook/B08GD3DNRH?qid=1607878923&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=BFNBV5BDHHTPP1576QH8

FREE Preview: http://a.co/4UXlRN5

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQZVNWY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_WcM.DbRBRKVQ9

#TheDaughtersPredicament

Book 3: THE DAMSEL'S INTENT 

Can Nicole learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher? Nicole Waterby heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband, not realizing women don’t wear trousers or carry a gun. She has a lot to learn. 

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fqqq60WVZGk

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Damsels-Intent-Audiobook/B08PVXT28F?qid=1607878644&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=PTVMYSYX8MMHZ9P1W2DR

FREE Preview: https://a.co/7xbqxVk

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Damsels-Intent-Quilting-Circle-Book-ebook/dp/B089DTXDCN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=The+Damsel%27s+Intent&qid=1590863747&s=books&sr=1-2

#TheDamselsIntent #HistoricalRomance #FreeKU #KU #ChristianRomance

 

Book 4: THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET releases August 2021

When a fancy French lady steps off the train and into Deputy Montana’s arms, his simple life might not be enough anymore.

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her latest release is THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3). The Quilting Circle Book 4, The Dèbutante's Secret, will release August of 2021. Some of her other recent titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, Courting Her Amish Heart, The Widow’s Plight, Courting Her Secret Heart , “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , and Courting Her Prodigal Heart . 2019 titles include The Daughter's Predicament and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-six years and one cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

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Tuesday Tidbits: NEW YEAR—NEW HAIR—NEW MASKS

With the new year, I decided to cut my long hair for a new do. When I say “I decided to cut”, I do mean I cut my hair. That might terrify some, but I grew up in a beauty salon. My mom was a hairdresser—or beautician back in the day. I remember rolling around the shop on the front-desk stool at age four or five.
 

I have been cutting my bangs since I went off to college nearly four decades ago. Well, maybe that’s not quite accurate, but I don’t count the botch job I did on my bangs age at six or seven. At college, my regular hairdresser (Mom) was two hours away, so I would cut my own bangs. It’s not too difficult to do. I started cutting my husband’s hair while in college as well, before we were married. I also cut many other college students’ hair who asked me to. I continued to cut my husband’s hair to the military requirement and then cut all of children’s hair.
 

This time, when I decided to cut my own hair, I knew I wanted to do more than trim up my bangs. I wanted to take significant length off the back. Cutting the back of one’s own hair is tricky at best and foolish at worst. Since I wasn’t going super short, this tricky fool figured she’d give it a try. If it turned out terrible, I could always pull it back in clips or headbands until it grew out again.
 

One of the reason I wanted it shorter was because it was getting in the way even when I had it braided down my back. It would get caught under my elbow when trying to get up, escape over my shoulder into whatever liquid was before me, and even got singed on a hot burner.
 

I wanted it shorter and with a few layers in front to avoid these tragedies.
 

I accomplished my goal!

The four sections I cut measured nearly 14 inches to 16 inches. I plan to donate them to Lock of Love.
 

I’m pleased with the way it turned out. I can curl it or let it be natural.

Time for new masks.

Since Christmas is over, I wanted some less-holiday face masks but still wintery. I also wanted to try a little different style for one.
 

The first is the same style as the Christmas ones I made, but I added small darts at the nose and chin.

For the next one, I wanted to try something a little different. I’ve seen people with masks that are a tube.

The one on the left is a child’s one I cut part of the back out of so it wouldn’t be so tight. The other is an adult one. (I got them both at the Dollar Tree at different times.) I wondered if I could simulate that style with a sock mask.
A cut here and a cut there . . .
 

Yay! It worked.

 

Instead of the ear slits at the sides, I cut slits at the top and bottom to go over my head and around my neck. Now, I can have it around my neck and pull it up over my mouth and nose when I go into a store and pull it back down when I return to my car. Easy on and off. I did put in a nose dart. The sides on my cheeks stuck out, so I put in darts there as well.

For my third one, I took the cutoff foot of one sock, removed the toe portion, cut it into a mask, and sewed a nose dart. I took the toe piece, cut out a heart, and hand stitched that on. I purposely used uneven stitches for interest and character. I love it!
 

I’m all set for the next couple of months. I can change them and wash them often.

Come spring, I hope to find some flowery socks or ones with fairies. Perhaps I might have another idea. I’ll just have to wait and see.
=0)

Now All 3 QUILTING CIRCLE Books are Available in Audio, as well as Kindle and paperback!

Book 1: THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT

A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/qaUG-sN6Y_k

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Widows-Plight-Audiobook/B088HJLH4J?qid=1607878778&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2EJ4RS5E9G3AJ55XJ6T1

FREE Preview: http://a.co/1riJfrA

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CV4XDLH/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_XaM.DbMKBGBG1

#TheWidowsPlight

 

Book 2: THE DAUGHTER’S PREDICAMENT (Placed 2nd in the Selah Awards)

As Isabelle’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. Can a patient love win her heart? Or will a forced marriage be the end of her romantic dreams?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fMWDBA4NFeo

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Daughters-Predicament-Audiobook/B08GD3DNRH?qid=1607878923&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=BFNBV5BDHHTPP1576QH8

FREE Preview: http://a.co/4UXlRN5

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQZVNWY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_WcM.DbRBRKVQ9

#TheDaughtersPredicament

Book 3: THE DAMSEL'S INTENT 

Can Nicole learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher? Nicole Waterby heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband, not realizing women don’t wear trousers or carry a gun. She has a lot to learn. 

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fqqq60WVZGk

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Damsels-Intent-Audiobook/B08PVXT28F?qid=1607878644&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=PTVMYSYX8MMHZ9P1W2DR

FREE Preview: https://a.co/7xbqxVk

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Damsels-Intent-Quilting-Circle-Book-ebook/dp/B089DTXDCN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=The+Damsel%27s+Intent&qid=1590863747&s=books&sr=1-2

#TheDamselsIntent #HistoricalRomance #FreeKU #KU #ChristianRomance

 

Book 4: THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET releases August 2021

When a fancy French lady steps off the train and into Deputy Montana’s arms, his simple life might not be enough anymore.

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her latest release is THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3). The Quilting Circle Book 4, The Dèbutante's Secret, will release August of 2021. Some of her other recent titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, Courting Her Amish Heart, The Widow’s Plight, Courting Her Secret Heart , “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , and Courting Her Prodigal Heart . 2019 titles include The Daughter's Predicament and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-six years and one cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

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Tuesday Tidbits: 2021 WRITING GOALS

It’s time for me to set my 2021 goals. I won’t bore you with all of them, because they are many. I set not only big goals but small ones as well. Most of my goals are writing ones as I only have myself to keep me on task and on target.

Here we go!

~~ I will Finish Writing Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War Novel.
    

 

  The deadline for this novel is July 1, 2021, so I must finish it. I have 50k (really rough draft) of the 75-80k the completed novel needs to be. This is a historical romance WWII novel about a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). Peggy is a WASP ferrying military aircraft stateside. She overhears the plight of three soldiers held by rebels in a remote part of Cuba. When no mission is planned to retrieve them, Peggy and her gal pal pilots set out to rescue them against orders.

~~ I will Finish Writing Quilting Circle book 5, The Lady’s Mission.
 

    This novel is due to my publisher in the second half of 2021, so I must finish it. I have 5k of the 83-85k the completed novel needs to be. Last year, this novel was an alternate for one of my goals. I had it titled The Benefactress’s Mission but have changed it to The Lady’s Mission. That is so much easier to say.

 

~~ I will Read & Edit 1st-Cousin-Once-Removed Mary Linn’s Novel.
    I received a copy and permission to edit and publish this book written in the 90s by my 1st cousin once removed Mary Linn. She has since passed away and her sister, Sarah, had a copy of it sitting in her garage. Sarah didn’t want it to be discarded some years down the road when no one would know what it was or who wrote it. So, she passed it on to me to with it whatever I want. I haven’t read it yet, so I have no idea what the story is about. I think it will be a fun discovery.
 

~~ I will Participate in NaNoWriMo in November.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Each year in November, thousands of writers all over the world make a mad dash to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That’s a lot of words and there’s a bit of a holiday in there, but it can be done. I’ve won some years and haven’t others. Notice my goal says “participate” not win. If I write 50,000 words or less than 50,000 words, I can still meet this goal by participating. In 2020, I wrote the 50k rough words for my first goal, Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War. This sets me up for less stress to get it completed before the deadline.
    On a similar note, I also plan to participate in CampNaNoWriMo in April and July. By setting your own goal, those are low pressure and a lot of fun. A good way to get started with NaNoWriMo.
 

~~ I will Complete the ENGLISCHER COURTSHIP series proposal.
    This proposal has been up and down. I was about to start it and then life happened. I was going to start it again, but I couldn’t quite fit it into my writing schedule. Then last year, I reworked what little I had started and reworked the idea for a different publisher than I had originally thought it for. That publisher passed, so now I’m going to rework it to fit with the original publisher. I need to get this one completed in January. Depending on the exact deadline for The Lady’s Mission, I’ll see if book 1 in the Englischer Courtship series will be a good candidate to write for NaNoWriMo.

Two others I mentioned last year that I want to keep in the forefront of my mind are:
~~ I will Complete HHH Posts by the 10th of Each Month.

     I contribute to the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog (HHH) once a month. I’m usually working on my post right up until the deadline. It’s stressful waiting until the last minute. By pushing up the deadline by about a week, I’m hoping to not be so stressed. I did manage to schedule my post before the 10th a couple of times in 2020, and it was a lot less stressful. I’m hoping to do better this year.
 

~~ I will Post/Market 1 or More Books in FB Groups Each Week.
    I need to keep up with marketing. Marketing not something I like doing nor does it come easy.

~~One of my non-writing goals is, I will Walk 20 Minutes 3 Times a Week or More.
    I listed this one last year but want to continue to aim for this. As an author, I do a LOT of sitting. I keep telling myself, that I’ll walk, but before I know it, the sun has set and I’ve hardly moved. NOT GOOD. I chose 3 days a week, even though I want it to be more, because I figure that even on a busy week or if something else comes up, I can still succeed.

I hope you all are successful in meeting your goals in 2021. =0)

Now All 3 QUILTING CIRCLE Books are Available in Audio, as well as Kindle and paperback!

Book 1: THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT

A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/qaUG-sN6Y_k

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Widows-Plight-Audiobook/B088HJLH4J?qid=1607878778&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2EJ4RS5E9G3AJ55XJ6T1

FREE Preview: http://a.co/1riJfrA

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CV4XDLH/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_XaM.DbMKBGBG1

#TheWidowsPlight

 

Book 2: THE DAUGHTER’S PREDICAMENT (Placed 2nd in the Selah Awards)

As Isabelle’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. Can a patient love win her heart? Or will a forced marriage be the end of her romantic dreams?

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fMWDBA4NFeo

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Daughters-Predicament-Audiobook/B08GD3DNRH?qid=1607878923&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=BFNBV5BDHHTPP1576QH8

FREE Preview: http://a.co/4UXlRN5

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQZVNWY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_WcM.DbRBRKVQ9

#TheDaughtersPredicament

Book 3: THE DAMSEL'S INTENT 

Can Nicole learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher? Nicole Waterby heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband, not realizing women don’t wear trousers or carry a gun. She has a lot to learn. 

LISTEN to chapter 1 here: https://youtu.be/fqqq60WVZGk

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Damsels-Intent-Audiobook/B08PVXT28F?qid=1607878644&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=PTVMYSYX8MMHZ9P1W2DR

FREE Preview: https://a.co/7xbqxVk

FREE on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Damsels-Intent-Quilting-Circle-Book-ebook/dp/B089DTXDCN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=The+Damsel%27s+Intent&qid=1590863747&s=books&sr=1-2

#TheDamselsIntent #HistoricalRomance #FreeKU #KU #ChristianRomance

 

Book 4: THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET releases August 2021

When a fancy French lady steps off the train and into Deputy Montana’s arms, his simple life might not be enough anymore.

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her latest release is THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3). The Quilting Circle Book 4, The Dèbutante's Secret, will release August of 2021. Some of her other recent titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, Courting Her Amish Heart, The Widow’s Plight, Courting Her Secret Heart , “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , and Courting Her Prodigal Heart . 2019 titles include The Daughter's Predicament and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-six years and one cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

Newsletter  Blog   FB  FB Readers Group   Amazon   GoodReads   BookBub