Free Time

So it has been quite some time since I have written or posted.  It always seems as there is so little time to do the things we need to do, much less do things we want to do.  It has been a busy time for me.  I continue to teach, which always keeps me busy.  This winter, I am coaching 8th grade girls basketball, which I enjoy immensely, but adds to my business.  I am using all of my other spare time to work on the second book of my series, Be Strong and Steadfast.  I have been researching quite a bit about the civilians of Fredericksburg and how they were affected by the war.  It is incredible just how much their lives were altered by the comings and goings of the Union and Confederate armies.  I can't wait to have you all read about these trials and tribulations.

So while thinking about my lack of free time, I began thinking about how individuals during the Civil War spent their free time.  It varied greatly.  Soldiers would spend much time marching and drilling, but they did have some spare time.  They would write home, play cards, visit with one another, and sometimes drink and gamble.  Much of my research, however, has been on how the women spent their free time.

Some of the women rarely had free time.  If they did not have servants or slaves, they were taking care of the household, and in many cases, they were also taking care of their husband's jobs if the husband was fighting.  Women took over farms, businesses and completely took over care of the family.  They also had their own jobs to take care of.  In the days of the Civil War, things like cooking, laundry and mending took up much of a woman's time.  Her spare time may be spent reading or spending time with friends or families.  Many times, women would combine work and play, and have sewing circles and quilting bees, where they could work on their "to do list" and socialize at the same time.

Other women had a lot of spare time.  Women who had servants or slaves would have much more time to stroll through the garden, work on needlepoint projects, and visit with friends and families.  Many women who had servants or slaves did not even have to worry about their children, as they had a nurse to take care of them.

I plan on writing more about women during the Civil War at a later time.  However, I'm glad you were able to spend some spare time of your own to read this.  I appreciate all of the support from those who keep up with me.  I hope to have a full novel for you to read soon!  Enjoy your weekend.