Blue by Joni Mitchell

What's your all-time favorite album? Blue by Joni Mitchell My all-time favorite album is Blue by Joni Mitchell. I first started listening to this album in 1974 when I began college. It is filled with sadness about different relationships the singer had but she shares her pain in such a poetic way. With the Christmas … Continue reading Blue by Joni Mitchell →

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? →

The Twelfth of Never

I miss my old life The one from before When I had a mother and father Who loved me Paid attention to me Encouraged me Accepted me Without conditions They are gone now I am an orphan Do other adults Miss their parents As much as I do? Every day I think of them And … Continue reading The Twelfth of Never →

Hate and Intolerance

What bothers you and why? Together Everyone Achieves More (Team) I am most bothered by people who are intolerant of those who are different from them. This character trait seems to have been the cause of most conflict both in the past and nowadays. Sunnis hating Shias, Whites hating Blacks, Christians hating Jews, Russians hating … Continue reading Hate and Intolerance →

King James IV of Scotland, a Man with Many Mistresses

King James IV of Scotland While working on my family tree on Ancestry, I discovered that my great-grandfather fourteen generations removed was King James IV of Scotland. This king really enjoyed the ladies and wanted to engage in sex with as many women as he could. One of his conquests was Marion Boyd, who gave … Continue reading King James IV of Scotland, a Man with Many Mistresses →

Five Star Review of Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree by Author Molly Ringle

https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Top-Notch-Family-Tree-Branches/dp/B0C91ZLN8M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y9DX0GI80O8E&keywords=nancy+blodgett+klein&qid=1689149673&sprefix=%2Caps%2C825&sr=8-1 For anyone who's an amateur at genealogy research, like me, this book is very helpful! Nancy has tons of experience tracking down ancestral records, and she lays out several of the best ways to use the available websites, census records, DNA tests, and other resources, along with very useful cautions about unreliable information. That's … Continue reading Five Star Review of Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree by Author Molly Ringle →

Book Review and Q&A, You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie by Darlene Foster

Originally posted on Bonnie Reads and Writes: Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors with marketing. Indie authors have to do it all, and … Indie Weekend: Book Review and Q&A, You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie by Darlene Foster

Five Star Review of Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree by Author Darlene Foster

https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Top-Notch-Family-Tree-Branches/dp/B0C91ZLN8M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AXFTNSMR3ML2&keywords=nancy+blodgett+klein&qid=1688406065&sprefix=Nancy+Blodgett+%2Caps%2C908&sr=8-1 Whether you are interested in genealogy or not, this is a fascinating read. I applaud author, Nancy Blodgett Klein, for her attention to detail and the research that has gone into compiling this book. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is the practical side of growing a family tree. In … Continue reading Five Star Review of Growing a Top-Notch Family Tree by Author Darlene Foster →

The Joy of Children

Describe one of your favorite moments. The birth of our first child Alex was a peak moment of my life. And when he was between one and two years old, one of my favorite moments was when I would come home from work and see his face light up. He was so thrilled to see … Continue reading The Joy of Children →

For a Very Special Friend

Threw a smooth small stone Into a vase of water On a flower-bedecked table Thinking of you And the life you threw away Gone now, but never forgotten Will I ever understand the darkness that destroyed your will to live?Perhaps someday… For now I am only sure of one thing I will always love you.