Highlights of Scotland Part 2

Scotland is a justly proud nation, rich in history. In fact, in just three days we have seen two castles and one palace that were all built many centuries ago, much longer ago in time than the United States has even been a country. Today we took a free walking tour of Edinburgh and explored … Continue reading Highlights of Scotland Part 2 →

The Hot Topic of Immigration

Since the issue of immigration is much in the news these days, especially in the US, I thought it would be a good time to remind my dear readers about my well-reviewed novel Torn Between Worlds. (It has a score of 4.7 out of five on Amazon.) It’s about a 12-year-old Mexican named Isabel who … Continue reading The Hot Topic of Immigration →

Shoes of the Little Ones

I’m reposting this poem I wrote in August 2021 in remembrance of today’s 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Photo I took at Auschwitz My God. These are the shoes of children—Sandals, boots and leather footwear Worn by little ones with hopes and dreams for a bright future Innocent … Continue reading Shoes of the Little Ones →

Unlock Your Family Secrets: A Review of ‘Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree’

Hello dear readers. I am excited to share a new Goodreads review with you of my non-fiction book, Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree with Stories from its Branches. A well researched guide to tracing your family tree in which the author gives advice on how to search for information on your ancestors using online sites … Continue reading Unlock Your Family Secrets: A Review of ‘Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree’ →

Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Wows

USS Hornet aircraft carrier,docked in Alameda, California I know nothing about aircraft carriers but my husband is a military history and airplane geek and he wanted to visit the USS Hornet aircraft carrier while we were in Alameda as our son and his wife recently moved to this cute island below Oakland, California. If you … Continue reading Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Wows →

A Navy Corpsman’s Experience in Vietnam

“We are almost in North Vietnam. The name of the place I’m in is Khe Sahn. I am doing okay and feeling well so for heaven’s sake, don’t worry about me.” --Letter Donald wrote to his mother on January 25, 1968 Donald van der Schans was my first cousin. He was the only child of … Continue reading A Navy Corpsman’s Experience in Vietnam →

New Five Star Book Review of Torn Between Worlds: A Mexican Immigrant’s Journey to Find Herself

The Human Faces Behind the Headlines by Susan Pazera Reviewed on Amazon in the United States on November 29, 2023 Politically there's no hotter potato in the U.S. these days than immigration. It's easy to get caught up in the headlines and forget that there are real human beings involved, with hopes, aspirations, and dreams … Continue reading New Five Star Book Review of Torn Between Worlds: A Mexican Immigrant’s Journey to Find Herself →

Indie Weekend: Growing A Top-Notch Family Tree by Nancy Blodgett Klein

Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors with marketing. Marketing is probably the biggest task authors have, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this far and wide with your social media followers. Below please see my review of Growing A … Continue reading Indie Weekend: Growing A Top-Notch Family Tree by Nancy Blodgett Klein →

Do You Have a Gateway Ancestor?

Do you have a gateway ancestor? This is someone from your family tree who descends from royalty or nobility. Typically, this ancestor would have lived in Colonial America in the 1600s and would most likely have descended from aristocrats from England, Scotland or Ireland, to name a few of the main countries. While working on … Continue reading Do You Have a Gateway Ancestor? →

Ancestors Helping Slaves to Freedom

“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Martin Luther King Jr. The practice of genealogy can lead to feelings of profound pride in one's ancestors, especially for those who risked jail time and fines for helping others less … Continue reading Ancestors Helping Slaves to Freedom →