The Ancestral Pen

  Earlier this week, I went on a beautiful three-mile walk with my daughter, daughter-in-law, my granddaughter, and two dogs around Lake Pend Orille.  ____ Weekly Question I had someone write in about last week’s question and share that she’s looking for uplifting, lighter reads. I completely understand, especially with today’s climate and all the tension. I’ll be digging deep to create something that fits that need. I do read your emails, and that one has me thinking. So this week's question ties into my share above. Where do you most love to read? Is it a favorite chair, in bed, outside? Tell me about your reading spot. I've got to admit that I do a lot of listening to audio books while in the garden or out for a walk. It's the only way I fit in excecise and reading into my non-stop schedule. Yours Truly Button Two timelines intertwine across war and memory. In 1918 Ukraine, a young pacifist risks everything to keep her pregnant sister alive as violence closes in. Decades...

  Borrowed Light "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." - Leo Tolstoy I keep trying to remind myself to be patient, but I want so badly to finish this novella and get all of you started on my next series. The devil on my shoulder says, "hit send. Let them have it now." On the other shoulder the wiser old angel  says, "now why would you give the gift of a cake half-baked." So I'm choosing to listen to the angel and not give you a book half-baked. That being said, I do have the cover ready to tease you with. I'm doing a final read, and I hope to have it in Thursday's newsletter so stay tuned.  Now for your weekly question. I'm really curious about this one because I'm adding books to my TBR right now. I will be spending a lot of time in my garden over the coming months and what better way to pass the time gardening, than to listen to a good book, so please share some great reads to add to my TBR. What book have you recomm...

  Most of you like historical fiction, but this book is a little different. This one is non-fiction with a little creative flair to make it enjoyable to read. This is another story where I reached my 2x great-grandparents Jerry and Rachel Roe and couldn't find records to grow my tree further back in time. I didn't even have any suspicions or ideas about where to find the information. So this one remained unsolved for more than fifteen years until my mother did a DNA test for me. It wasn't long before a lovely lady, Rhonda, contacted me to say she was a cousin. She asked me a strange question: "Did your mom speak Romani, and were your mom and dad both gypsy?" I really did not know how to answer that, other than, "No, why?" As it turns out, we were descended from a long line of Romani ancestors who came to America in the mid-1800s to escape persecution in England, only to suffer the same fate here. But this time the families began to systematically assimil...

  I have had so many readers join my mailing list this month that I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. Those of you who have been with me over the last year, please bear with me. You have likely joined this list with one of two free books I offer:  A Mother's Last Gift  or  Until We Meet Again .  A Mother's Last Gift  kicked off the series based on my Woolsey ancestors. And yes, I said based on my ancestors.  This journey began twenty one years ago. It's hard to believe that my baby is now old enough to drink, which means I'm getting old, but so worth it when you become a Nana, but I digress. Anyway, twenty-one years ago we had two boys, and did not plan on having another child, but surprise I was pregnant again. When we crunched the numbers, it no longer made sense for me to keep working. Nearly my whole paycheck would go to daycare for three children.  I was bored. I was so use to working all my adult life that I didn't know what ...

  It's that time of year again. Though the nights are still cool and it's too early to plant in my garden, it's warm enough to start the remodel projects. I had a dear reader tell me that I shortchanged her on her Monday morning read, but after I showed her this picture and explained how full my weekend was, she understood. So today, while I should be working, I'm creating another newsletter to share what's going on with us. Remodel — need I say more? If you've ever lived in your home while remodeling, you'll get this. It's dust everywhere, constant trips to the hardware store, noise, piles of tools and supplies, and endless frustration. But don't despair. I won't forget about my loyal readers — I'll absolutely share the funny and horrifying moments with you so you can laugh or cry right along with me on this journey. Nothing will be predictable between now and fall, so be sure to open each email, because you never know what fun nugget will b...