Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine March 2021 by Mom’s Favorite Reads

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Mad as a March Hare by Sylva Fae ................................................................................................................. 8

Mom’s Favorite Reads Author — Cherime MacFarlane .................................. 54

What Was I Thinking? by Keith Guernsey ......................................................... 16 Nostalgia by Chantal Bellehumeur ...................................................................... 23

Genevieve by Maressa Mortimer ......................................................................... 42

Spring Flowers by Sylva Fae ................................................................................. 32 Scenic Trees by Melanie P. Smith ........................................................................ 46

Naught But Love by Stan Phillips ........................................................................ 15 Communication by Stan Phillips ......................................................................... 41 Man in Green by Stan Phillips ............................................................................. 65

World Cloud for Wellbeing by Shane (Age 9) .................................................. 22 A Trip to the Moon for Homework by Navya (Age 6) ..................................... 40

Where Did That Come From? by Wendy H. Jones ........................................... 12 Things to Celebrate in March by Poppy Flynn ................................................. 18 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss by Sylva Fae ............................................................. 34 Use Reiki to Enhance Psychic Abilities by Val Tobin ..................................... 38 Writing Your Own Story by John Greeves ......................................................... 44 Dignity for All by Father Ian Maher .................................................................... 48 Edwin Waugh History by Alan Southworth ...................................................... 52 Genealogy by Hannah Howe ................................................................................ 56 Europe by Book by Hannah Howe ...................................................................... 60 Women of Courage: Heroines of SOE by Hannah Howe ................................ 64 Celebrating Forests and Wildlife by Melanie P. Smith ................................... 66

Molte Grande Reviewed by Grant Leishman .................................................... 31 The Diary of Isabella M. Smugge Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones ................. 58

Laughter is the Best Medicine! by Hannah Howe ............................................ 14

Word Search by Mom’s Favorite Reads .............................................................. 50 Black to Move—Supplied by Chess.com ............................................................ 51 Puzzles by Paul Godding ....................................................................................... 59

Hot Rod Todd Coloring Pages ............................................................................... 62

20% OFF First Book Promotion with the Fussy Librarian ............................... 66 Connections eMagazine ......................................................................................... 67

Mad as a March Hare by Sylva Fae First Encounter We have a hare living in our woods – I know because I have made his acquaintance in the most inconvenient of circumstances….

Our woodland is just a peaceful getaway from real life and our campsite is just a space between the trees to pitch our tents – no mod cons, no fancy shelters, no running water, and no toilets! Should we need to ‘go’, we do as the woodland creatures do and find a quiet spot. It was in one of these personal moments when I first encountered our hare. I was crouched down, hidden by leafy ferns, my trousers round my ankles…I put my hand down to steady myself but instead of cool earth, my hand sunk into warm fur. For a second, but what felt like an eternity, my brain processed the fact that I was not alone and I was sharing my private moment with some (as yet unknown) creature, and a big one at that. Shock took over, I squealed, jumped and attempted to get away…. The creature obviously went through the same thought process, as it matched my squeal, leapt high in the air, then bounded off through the undergrowth. I watched the hare’s speedy, yet graceful, getaway, from my inconvenient face planted position. Having my trousers round my ankles had rather hampered my exit, unlike the hare who bolted the length of the bluebell bank in seconds. Although startled by the experience, I did feel honoured to have had a close encounter with such a majestic creature. I did some research and found that I’d accidentally disturbed the hare sleeping in a ‘form’ – a shallow depression in the ground that allows the hare to lie camouflaged amongst the foliage. Hares live above ground and don’t dig

burrows like their cousins the rabbits. As I discovered, when a hare is disturbed, it initially lies still, hoping to go undetected but if an enemy gets too close, it bolts at top speed. With its long hind legs and sleek body, it is built for speed and can get up to speeds of 40mph, making it Britain’s fastest land mammal. It makes its escape by outrunning pursuers, swerving fast and zigzagging through the countryside.

Dusk Hare I didn’t see the hare again for a long time, but my husband had many encounters with him. Like a hare, my husband is a solitary woodland wanderer. He potters, axe in hand, checking for wind-felled trees, collecting firewood and tinder, and generally getting some peace and quiet away from our noisy girls. Our hare probably recognises a kindred spirit, appearing at dusk to watch the antics of the human who shares his home. He sits, appearing calm, but poised to dart off. He watches from a safe distance then goes off on his nightly rounds, heading down to the field to graze.

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The females lead the dance, being the ones who choose a mate. Eager males follow the females, matching their twists and turns as they sprint away. Occasionally, they break to see off rival males, then continue the chase. Should the male get too close, the female stands on her hind legs, striking out with her forepaws. She forces the male to defend himself as they box, leaping and twisting in a chaotic courtship. Only males that can demonstrate tenacity and stamina will be permitted to mate.

My husband often gets lost in his own thoughts when he is wandering through the trees, or chopping logs. He’d often describe the sudden sensation of being watched, not a spooky feeling, just an awareness that he was being observed. If he turned around to look too quickly, he’d catch only the flash of something disappearing into the darkening undergrowth, but if he pretended not to notice, and slowly edged around, he would see the regal figure observing him. Even in the fading light, the hare’s silhouette is quite distinctive with its long, blacktipped ears, poised and listening.

Although their courtship antics are more visible as winter brightens into spring, earning them their title of March Hare, hares are fertile between February and September. They can have four litters of four leverets a year, which are raised by the females. This, together with the elaborate courtship displays, has earned them a place in folklore as icons of fertility.

Hares can mainly be seen at dawn and dusk when they leave their form to feed. They prefer a mixture of woodland and farmland as their home ground. Our little unruly woodland, surrounded by fields is therefore the perfect habitat for our dusk visitor.

Mad March Hare Hares have acquired a reputation for being mad, mostly due to their antics during the breeding season. The madness is a spectacle to behold, on a brightly moonlit March night as the hares race across fields, leaping and turning in mid-air to suddenly bolt in the opposite direction. Frequently, they meet raising up on their hind legs to ‘box’. It’s a chaotic dance but the madness has meaning. -9-

Eastern European legends tell of shape-shifting dragons, like Zmey turning into a hare, and the dragon Koschei the Deathless who has his strength hidden inside of a hare. Hares feature frequently in myths and folklore. Their speed, courtship rituals, magical shape shifting make them ideal characters to weave a story around. Whether portrayed as wily and mischievous or serene and wise, the hare is an enchanting creature of myth and legend.

Moon-Gazer The symbol of the moongazing hare is a familiar one; it dates back to ancient times and spans many cultures. The serene image, often depicted by artists, symbolises fertility. In some pagan cultures, moongazing hares were believed to bring abundance and fortune, and signal new beginnings and growth. In other cultures, the peaceful image was used to symbolise purity.

Hares in Literature There are several famous hares in children’s literature, and probably one of the earliest was Aesop’s fable of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’, in which the hare’s speed is a key feature of the story. Probably the most famous is Lewis Carroll’s March Hare from the ‘Alice In Wonderland’ stories – where the hare is depicted as a slightly mad and unpredictable character. Hares even feature in modern day books, like Ronesa Aveela’s, ‘Dragon Tales from Eastern Europe’, where hares play a part in dragon myths, adding to their mystical reputation. I have featured our hare in one of my stories already, and he is due to make an appearance in my current work-inprogress. I often draw inspiration from my woodland and its creatures and our hare deserves a story.

The ancient Egyptians believed that hares were linked to the cycle of the moon, which was viewed as masculine when waxing and feminine when waning. As such, hares were believed to be androgynous, shifting back and forth between genders with the changing of the moon. Since ancient times, many cultures have claimed to see an image of a rabbit or hare on the moon, which probably sparked many of the myths, including hares being a messenger for the moon deity and goddess of the spring, Ostara.

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A Hare’s Blessing glanced up to see my husband gesturing slightly, he put his finger to his lips and looked over to the tent. I followed his gaze to see our giant hare casually check out the tent. He then calmly ambled over to the campfire and paused, looking directly at us. He bowed his head, then quietly and confidently lolloped into the trees.

One thing that all the many myths and stories agree on, is that hares are special creatures, and seeing one is a good omen. I’m thankful that hares are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, allowing our resident hare to dwell safely in our little woodland paradise. Sadly, we’ve been unable to get to our woods of late (the dreaded lockdown) so we haven’t seen our hare for a while. Our last visit was a memorable one though.

His visit was a blessing. He was as at ease with us being there as we were with him. In that moment, a level of trust was shared and we felt uplifted by the experience. Any close contact with wild creatures is uplifting, but there is something otherworldly about hares. They have an air of magical serenity about them, so it’s no surprise they are intrinsically woven into ancient myths and legends.

I was sat on a log bench at the side of the campfire, whittling a spoon with my penknife. My husband was quietly knelt at the fire, building it ready to cook our evening meal. The children were off down the valley somewhere, their voices drifting in on the early evening breeze. All was quiet and peaceful. I

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator. Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/

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Where Did That Come From? by Wendy H. Jones As it’s a fresh new season – spring has sprung and there are signs of new hope and new growth – I thought I would give you some fresh insight into the mind of a writer. What on earth makes us tick and where do our crazy ideas come from? So, prepare for a whistle-stop tour inside the mind of a writer. Let’s start with someone everyone will know – Ernest Hemmingway. It is obvious from his books that Hemmingway absorbed inspiration from both his travels and life itself. His writing is a pastiche, not of other writers, but of his life and the circumstances in which he found himself. His travels took him all over the world – Paris, Toronto, Chicago, Spain, Cuba, Key West, and The Caribbean. His books are reflective of this as he absorbed the passion and intrigue that went on around him allowing him to shape the words he wrote. He also bought houses in several places and the one in Key West can still be visited today. An interesting fact is that Hemmingway had a white cat named Snow White which had six toes. The Ernest Hemmingway Home and Museum houses 40-50 six toed cats and they are thought to be descendants of Hemmingway’s original cat. I have visited and I can report the cats are free to roam at will. Anywhere.

My next author, or authors, are Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte. The sisters were raised and lived in the village of Haworth in Yorkshire where their father was the parson. Charlotte, of course, wrote Jane Eyre, whilst Emily’s most famous, in fact only, novel is Wuthering Heights. Living on the Yorkshire Moors the sisters drew inspiration from the wild and majestic landscape which surrounded them. Wuthering Heights also drew on elements of romanticism and the gothic tradition, allowing its author to pen a book which is still considered a masterpiece to this day. However, did you know that she initially used the pseudonym Ellis Bell to send her novels to publishers. This was so they would not know she was a woman. They say there have only been six books ever written and every other author writes their own version of those. Stephen King, one of the most wellknown contemporary horror writers certainly comes up with innovative ideas. Yet, it is said that he came up with the idea for the book It from reading Three Billy Goats Gruff. What? How did a simple fairy (or folk) tale turn into the classic of horror fiction that is It? As well as writing horror, King has also written fantasy after reading The Lord of the Rings. His - 12 -

books are also set locally in Maine, where lives, another example of inspiration being drawn from location. All I can say is I will be extremely careful if I ever visit Maine. Closer to home, Mary Shelley - the author of Frankenstein - started writing that novel during a ten month stay with the Baxter family of Dundee, Scotland. She has famously said that sitting under a tree on the Baxter estate, her imagination could fly free and her ability to write soared. I’m struggling to see how she went from beautiful countryside and lazy days uner a tree lead to Frankenstein but I’m jolly glad it did. Let’s hear it for Dundee.

My young adult books – The Fergus and Flora Mysteries – although contemporary, draw inspiration from real life historical events. Finally, my Bertie The Buffalo picture book series is based on the story of a baby water buffalo that went missing from a Buffalo Farm in Scotland. I kid you not.

So, to me. I am the author Wendy H. Jones and I write books set in Dundee. See, I told you there was a link. Where I get my inspiration is a trifle worrying as one of my series, The Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie Mysteries, is about serial killers. Do I draw my inspiration from my location - yes and no. Dundee is actually the murder capital of Scotland. Now, before you start worrying, that is per capita, and we don’t have that many murders. And we have not had a single serial killer. However, we do have old wynds, closes and tenement buildings which lend themselves beautifully to furtive fleeing figures and deadly deeds. I also write humorous mysteries – Cass Claymore Investigates - which are tongue in cheek and draw inspiration from the Scots ability to not take themselves too seriously.

So, I am sure you will agree that writers can get inspiration from anywhere, everywhere and everyone. We see something ordinary, store it in our mind, and at a later date it will emerge as something extraordinary - a fully formed novel. I have a tshirt that says, “Anything you say may be taken down and used in a book.” It’s true. You never know where a writer is lurking and what they might be plotting. I truly hope you have enjoyed this little trip inside the mind of a writer.

Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. As copy editor for Mom’s, she works hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/ - 13 -

Contributions by Hannah Howe Why did Cinderella get kicked off the baseball team? Because she ran away from the ball!

Golfer: Do you think my game is improving? Caddy: Yes, sir. You miss the ball much closer now.

What position does a ghost play in soccer? Ghoulie

The trouble with jogging is that by the time you realize you're not in shape for it, it's too far to walk back. How is baseball similar to a pancake? They both need a good batter.

My wrestler friend had triplets recently. She named her children ‘Niagara’, ‘Victoria’ and ‘The Hunt for the Red October’. In other words, two falls and one sub mission.

What’s brown, hard and long and very bad for your dental health? A swinging baseball bat.

I'm not good at sports, but I like parallel parking. Unlike sports, the worse you are at parallel parking, the more people you have rooting for you. - 14 -

Naught But Love by Stan Phillips

Then growing with confidence, it struts smiling as it fills your being with the entirety of it. Enveloping you with benign protection.

I offer naught but love. So take my infant love to your heart and see it grow warm and wondrous against your breast. Watch as First no more than an idea, A wish, It shifts and changes with the breath of you. Watch as it becomes anything you wish it to be.

My love is leaf laden treetops. It is the song of the birds. My love is autumn gold and green. It is new spring dawning. And old as the remembrance of time. It is unknown tomorrows, It is the innocence of angels. It is knowledge. It is the smile on the face of a child. It is tears.

My love. Soft it is, and soothing, Like the crooning of a dove. Mighty as snow capped mountains. Swift as the rushing tide And endless as the star studded sky.

So take my infant love and peer into the crystal heart of it to see strange, and half recalled visions swimming in the depths of it. And discover that it is you and I residing there.

So take my infant love, And feel it gentle upon your lips. Give it safety Give it succour. And watch it grow from transitory into eternity. See it grow like the widening ripples on the widest and wildest of seas. Observe how, shyly at first, it whispers, half heard, into your ear.

As it has always been, Always will be. That is the love I offer you. Naught but love Endless as the throb of the beating heart of the universe.

Stan Phillips is an 80 year old poet, musical podcast maker, part-time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up — but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/stan-phillips - 15 -

What Was I Thinking? by Keith Guernsey I was thinking that my life was descending into a rabbit hole of depression. It was late in 1995 and things couldn't have been any worse. My girlfriend of three years and I had split up. I just had my first brain surgery and although successful, it had left me deaf in my left ear. I was spending every weekend alone and lonely up at my lakefront condo. On top of that, I was rapidly becoming the laconic, New Hampshire version of Norm from Cheers. Trust me when I tell you that having everyone know your name is not all it's cracked up to be.

I was thinking it was time for a positive, constructive change. I got off my duff, said my goodbyes and walked out of that bar for the last time. I went to the corner store and grabbed a paper looking for some female companionship. Who knew the simple act of buying a newspaper would be the best, most important decision of my life? I turned to the personals and my eyes immediately focused on an ad that said "WWWF." I had no what that meant, but was intrigued enough to want to find out. I dialed the number and a nice, young lady on the other end of the line told it meant "Widowed White Female." I asked about the third W and she said it must have been a typo. I later learned it was for Wonderful. We talked for an hour, bonding over our mutual love of our families. We agreed to meet that Saturday night for dinner. She would later tell me that she picked a very public place in case I had any impure thoughts...I did! But I managed to keep them in check throughout the night. We met at Dunkin Donuts in Newburyport, chatted for a minute and then headed downtown for dinner. I drove us to Jacob Marley's and we had a terrific time. Dinner was superb, the wine was just right and the conversation was the best. It was a perfect evening.

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I drove her back to her car and we agreed to stay in touch. Unfortunately work and travel intruded and we weren't able to get back together until Labor Day weekend. She called me when I was up at the condo (and not at the bar!), and asked if I wanted some company. I said "sure, come on up" and she did! We had a weekend filled with lots of laughter, swimming, dinners out and lots of hot tubbing. The relationship took off from there and we were engaged shortly thereafter. In two weeks, Susan and I will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary and are more in love than ever!

For more, please visit us on the web at;

http://tinyurl.com/y6ut57ms Thanks, Keith thegurns2005@yahoo.com Twitter=@thegurns

Keith D. Guernsey is retired and living on Lake Lanier with his lovely wife Susan and Zoey, his four-footed daughter thegurns2005@yahoo.com Twitter=@thegurns https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Keith-D-Guernsey/e/B00PR51Q7Y

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Things to Celebrate in March by Poppy Flynn Every day of the month has some kind of official celebration and usually more than one! It might be big, it might be small…it might be wacky or downright bizarre! There are over 1500 National Days throughout the year, here’s just one observance of the many for each day in March 2021.

1,025,109. Put simply, grammar is a set of rules for understanding language. Understanding the system and the structure helps us to understand each other better. March 5th - Dress in Blue Day Celebrated annually on the first Friday in March, the idea behind this day is to learn about the causes of colon cancer and raise awareness by wearing blue. March 1st - Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 6th – White Chocolate Cheesecake Day

A day to celebrate all that creamy, nutty goodness.

Anyone for dessert?

March 2nd - Old Stuff Day

March 7th - National Cereal Day

Conversely, this is a day to try new things, break out of old routines. So, out with the old and in with the new.

Start your day off with a bowl of the world’s favourite breakfast.

March 3rd - I Want You to Be Happy Day Do something to make others happy and put a smile on someone else’s face. March 4th - National Grammar Day A day which encourages the use of correct grammar in both verbal and written language. There is some argument over the number of words in the English language. It’s estimated at around - 18 -

March 8th - National Proofreading Day Highlighting the value of proofreading our written work. Especially important to us authors. March 9th - National Barbie Day Did you know that Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was created by Ruth Handler and March 9th, 1959 is her birthday. March 10th - National Mario Day From dolls to computer games. This day celebrates the plumber Mario, who first appeared in the Donkey Kong game in 1981 and went on to bigger and better things with Nintendo. March 11th - Popcorn Lovers Day Celebrated on the second Thursday in March, what other excuse do you need to relax with a good movie? March 12th - Plant a Flower Day Spring is around the corner, so help it along by planting some seeds. March 13th - Open an Umbrella Indoors Day This day was set up as an experiment to test the way superstitions are handed down through the generations. The idea is that you open your umbrella indoors - something that is supposed to be unlucky - and analyse your day to see if there’s any truth in it. Go on, I dare you! March 14th - Write Down Your Story Day Of course, we’re all writers here, so telling stories is what we do, but today encourages everyone else to do the same. Tell your own story. You might be surprised at what comes out when you put pen to paper. March 15th - Dumbstruck Day Everyone has the right to be shocked, surprised or confused once in a while. Today you can do it without embarrassment. - 19 -

March 16th - National Panda Day Adored by many for their unique looks, Pandas are one of the world’s most endangered animals. Panda day is for spreading the word about the increasing efforts to protect and restore their habitat. March 17th - Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

If it’s St Patrick’s Day, it’s also Corned Beef and cabbage day. March 18th - Awkward Moments Day We all have them. Walking into a glass door, tripping over the curb, calling someone the wrong name. Laugh about them, tell stories about them and poke fun at yourself to get over the embarrassment. March 19th - Certified Nurses Day The last twelve months has brought home to all of us how important nurses are. Take a moment today to give thanks to those who take care of us when we’re ill.

March 20th - World Flour Day Today acknowledges the importance of this staple food in the daily diets of billions of people in every part of the world. Bread, pasta, cake, biscuits and cookies, pastry, tortillas and wraps. It can even be used to make modelling clay, polish copper and steel, make glue and paper-mache and deter bugs. March 21st - World Poetry Day

Enjoy some poetry today. You’ll find some within these pages. March 22nd - World Water Day Water - essential to life. But sadly, even in these modern times not everyone can enjoy clean water just by turning on a tap. The United Nations created World Water Day to draw attention to water related issues around the world and bring aide to those who truly need it.

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March 23rd - Near Miss Day

when you add eyes and a mouth, and a personality shines though.

We’ve probably all encountered a near miss somewhere in our life, but today commemorates the day that the massive asteroid, 4581 Asclepius, nearly hit the earth in 1989. March 24th - Chocolate Covered Raisin Day Pep up one of your five a day by smothering it in chocolate. Healthy? Probably not, but still delicious.

March 29th - Smoke and Mirrors Day Do you know any conjuring tricks? Today celebrates those magicians who enthral us with their sleight of hand and clever illusions.

March 25th - Tolkien Reading Day This is a day after my own heart. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is one of my favourite all time book series. If you haven’t read Tolkien, then discover him today.

March 30th - Virtual Vacation Day A day for reminding us to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate. I doubt when this day was created in 2016 anyone really realised the significance it would have during a pandemic when so many of us are in lockdown.

March 28th - Weed Appreciation Day You know what they say - a weed is just a flower that’s growing in the wrong place. And some of them are actually beneficial to our ecosystem, so take time to appreciate the humble weed today.

March 31st - National Crayon Day Open up that box of colours and let your imagination run wild.

March 26th - National Spinach Day

Monthly observances include Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Breast Cancer Awareness, Cookie Month, Domestic Violence Awareness, Diabetes Month and Vegetarian Month.

Guess what veg should be on your plate today. March 27th - National Scribble Day Encouraging children through art. Anyone can create a scribble, but it becomes some so much more

Poppy Flynn was born in Buckinghamshire, UK and moved to Wales at eight years old with parents who wanted to live the 'self-sufficiency' lifestyle. Today she still lives in rural Wales and is married with six children. Poppy's love of reading and writing stemmed from her parents' encouragement and the fact that they didn't have a television in the house. "When you're surrounded by fields, cows and sheep, no neighbors, no TV and the closest tiny village is four miles away, there's a certain limit to your options, but with books your adventures and your horizons are endless." Discover more about Poppy on Mom's Favorite Reads website:

https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/poppy-flynn - 21 -

Word Cloud for Wellbeing Submitted by Poppy Flynn Written by Shane Age 9

This is my word cloud for Wellbeing Week to express my feelings or a piece of music. The song is ‘Somewhere only we know.’ It reminds me of my baby sister who died, but Kacie is always part of our life. It’s good to remember her, even though it’s sad.

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Nostalgia by Chantal Bellehumeur On a cloudless Friday morning in July, Crystal Waters flew from Montreal to Toronto for an important business presentation. Rather than return home the same day, the short redhead decided to spend her weekend in the big city she often visited with her family as a child. Toronto had changed a lot since Crystal had been there twenty-four years ago. There were so many new high-rise buildings as well as new tourist attractions. She kind of missed the way the city used to be, yet figured it was probably her childhood she truly missed. She felt rather lost, but made the best of her short stay.

so she punched in the number and street name into the GPS App on her cell phone.

A woman’s robotic voice soon started giving Crystal directions which she followed.

As Crystal drove her rented dark blue Bonneville on the busy highway, listening to an oldies station on the radio, she smiled to herself. She remembered doing road trips with her parents and younger sister Melissa in the exact same type of car many years ago, and listening to the same genre of music that was now playing. Her father would drive while her mom held an unfolded paper map and gave out directions. Crystal and Melissa kept small plastic suitcases with things to occupy themselves with in the back seats. They usually had activity books with puzzles and coloring pages, but small toys too.

As she drove, Crystal thought about all the times her family had driven right by streets they were supposed to turn on during trips, and getting lost. Crystal really appreciated the GPS’s guidance. She could not live without it as it also informed her of nearby restaurants, gas stations, and other useful information. It took Crystal about an hour to arrive at the street she used to live on, and she did not get lost or worry about how to get back to her hotel afterwards.

Right before getting to the beginning of that street, Crystal passed by the grocery store she used to go to each weekend with her parents and remembered meeting the mascot of

The good memories inspired Crystal to drive by her childhood home in the suburb of Burlington. She had no idea how to get there, but she knew the address - 23 -

Tony the Tiger there during a promotional event Kellogg’s was holding. She had organized something similar at one of the Montreal malls not too long ago. The old Polaroid picture she had found of herself and Melissa with the giant mascot had given her the idea. The sight of the grocery store made Crystal also remember being part of the kid’s club and getting a free cookie each time she went to do groceries with her parents. “I wonder if they still do that,” she thought to herself. There was nothing like that at the grocery store she shopped at in Montreal. Of course, being thirty-three she was too old to join now, but her son could have benefited from it. Todd was eight years old and probably driving his father crazy right now. That boy wasn’t malicious or disobedient, but could not sit still and loved to talk. Crystal wondered what her loving husband and energetic son, whom she missed even though she also enjoyed being on her own, were up to as she continued driving towards her old home. The familiar neighborhood soon made her think of the past again. Crystal pictured herself as a child, riding her pink and white banana seat bicycle on the sidewalk. She imagined her old friends running around on the front lawns and going through the sprinklers that watered the grass.

The lyrics “You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell…” sung by Donna Summers was playing on the car radio when Crystal spotted her childhood best friend’s house, and she remembered ringing the next door neighbor's doorbell many times asking if Alycia could come out and play. Crystal and Alycia had been inseparable, and called themselves sisters. They played all sorts of makebelieve games together. The girls often played in Alycia’s yard. There was a brown wooden porch that started on the left side of the house and ended in the back yard, so the friends would often pretend the whole thing was a ship or their house. - 24 -

Crystal remembered walking on the painted boards of the porch and seeing a giant green insect on one of Alycia’s windows which turned out to be a praying mantis. The girls had screamed at the sight of it, but they were not as freaked out as when they had spotted a huge black and yellow spider in Alycia’s backyard. It was sitting in a bush with small yellow flowers. They spotted the arachnid from Crystal’s yard through the metal fence, and found it missing after they double dared each other to go take a closer look at it. Crystal shivered at the memory. She hated spiders.

and spend some quality time with her husband, who in exchange went to see broadways with her.

As Crystal sat in her stopped vehicle, looking out the window at Alycia’s old red brick house, she had a quick flash of what it looked like inside. Most of the walls were painted forest green and there were lots of ducks as decoration; duck wallpaper borders, wooden duck sculptures on display, duck placemats… Crystal had concluded that Alycia’s parents really loved ducks.

Crystal loved musicals, even as a child. She and Alycia sometimes did shows for their parents. They sang and danced to the popular Disney songs from the VHS movies they watched. Sometimes, Melissa or Alycia’s sibling joined in. Alycia had an annoying little brother named Adam who was quite a pest. He once put chewed gum in his sister’s thick black hair, and Alycia’s mom had to use peanut butter to get it out.

When Crystal would get invited to play inside Alycia’s home, the girls would go to the unfinished basement to play with the plastic kitchen set or the toys from a football shaped toy box.

Crystal liked Alycia’s mom and all the pretty shoes the woman owned. Sometimes, the girls would put them on their small feet and try to walk in them. At the time, they both could not wait to grow up and be able to wear high heels that fit them.

Alycia’s father was a professional football player; he played centre-back for the Hamilton Tigre Cats to be exact. That didn’t mean anything to Crystal at the time, but she remembered all the protective helmets and cleat running shoes hanging in the garage as well as jerseys hanging in the house now. She had gone to a few games with Alycia even if she wasn’t really interested in football, and always felt like there were a lot of people in the stadium. Crystal’s husband would have found her really lucky since he was a big football fan, but Crystal still did not care much for the game. As a child, she only went to the games because she liked eating hotdogs and giggling with Alycia. Now she simply watched football from time to time to try

Now Crystal had a big collection of fancy high heel shoes which she mainly wore at the office and during business meetings out of town, but they hurt her feet so Crystal loved taking them off at the end of a long day. She understood why her mother had not worn the few pairs she owned often. As a stay at home mom, there was really no need to wear those types of shoes on a daily basis like Alycia’s mom. She usually had flip flops or comfortable running shoes on her feet. When she bought boots, they always had a flat heal. Crystal’s mom liked to - 25 -

walk a lot. Alycia’s mom on the other hand took the car everywhere, even to bring the kids to the nearby park.

The digital clock on the car dashboard indicated that it was just passed two o’clock. After parking the car on the street, Crystal excitedly got out and pushed the button on her keychain to lock the door. She excitedly walked onto the gravel driveway where she used to play skipping rope long ago, and practically ran to the white front door. She stepped onto the small concrete porch her mother used to read on, sitting on a folding lawn chair. Crystal remembered reading there too once she started learning how at school. She had loved going to the public library with her mom and Melissa to select books, even though it was a long walk. She also liked signing up for the fun activities there, and entering their contests.

Chiquitita by Abba started playing on the car radio. Crystal remembered her mother blaring the song and singing out loud to it like she was doing a concert. It made her laugh now. She did the same with the songs she loved and her son often gave her weird looks; the exact same ones Crystal used to give her mom. Crystal took her attention off of Alycia’s old home and looked at the beige bricked house right beside it. She had seen the "For Sale" sign on the lawn a few minutes ago, but was just noticing the red open house announcement at the top. Visits were every Saturday afternoon from one to four. Her jaw dropped and she let out a small gasp. “I have to go in and take a look,” she thought.

She won a stuffed rabbit once and put it in the yard by the flower garden with a carrot. She forgot about it before going back in the house. It rained that night and the plush toy got soaked. Part of its fluffy white fur got all muddy too. Crystal had cried, but her mom put the rabbit in the wash and dryer with a load of laundry, and it was as good as new. It smelled really nice too. It always smelled good on the side of the house when Crystal’s mom did laundry. The house smelled good indoors when she baked or cooked dinner. Crystal remembered her mom making cookies before letting people visit the house when it was for sale. She and Melissa were always allowed to take some for the road before leaving when her parents’ real estate agent held open houses for them. Although Crystal had gone to open houses with her parents in the past, she wasn’t sure if she was supposed to ring the doorbell or just walk right into the house. She decided to ring, just in case. A tall olive-skinned woman with long black hair opened the door. “Hi,” she said with a pleasant smile. “Are you here for the open house?” - 26 -

Crystal thought the woman looked familiar. “Yes,” she responded with hesitation in her voice. She continued to stare at the woman without moving.

with the wooden coffee table and matching end tables. In the dining room, she could almost smell the wood of the dinning set, which included a large brown cabinet with glass windows where her mom used to store the fancy white and gold porcelain dishes used for special occasions.

“Well come in. My name is Alycia. I’m the real estate agent taking care of this property, so if you have any questions just call my name.” As Crystal heard the woman in front of her say her name, her heart started beating rapidly. Could it really be her childhood friend? She walked into her old home, wondering if she should tell Alycia who she was. Crystal thought it would be great to reconnect with her old friend, but she felt weird about being in the house without having any intention to buy it and didn’t want to divulge her secret in case the real estate agent wasn’t the same Alycia she once knew.

Crystal remembered sitting at the long table to eat. Kraft Dinner had been her and Melissa’s favorite lunch. They often ate the cheesy macaroni on weekends or during the summer days. Summer reminded Crystal of the ice cream her mother made using a machine, starting by crushing ice cubes in the garage, as well as her delicious homemade strawberry jam. They often used to eat in the yard at a picnic table crafted by her dad. He was a handyman and loved building things as well as doing home renovations.

Crystal finally found her words and politely thanked the agent who had just handed her a folder. She then began to look around. Crystal recognized the structure of the house, yet everything was different than how she remembered it.

Standing in the open kitchen, Crystal remembered being sick and having to take antibiotics once and hating the taste. Her father dumped a spoonful of the liquid into her orange juice so she would stop complaining.

Obviously, the furniture was not the same as when she lived there as a child, but renovations had been done too. The grey carpets in the living room and stairs leading to the second floor had been replaced by hardwood flooring, the brown flowery wallpaper in the dining room had been torn off to be replaced by beige paint, plus the kitchen counters and cupboards seemed new. There definitely wasn’t a spot designed for a microwave before.

Crystal looked at the modern metallic fridge and remembered her old white one. She had brought a frog inside the house to play with, and it had bounced away and hidden behind the fridge. They found it dead two days later in the downstairs area. The carpets there had now been replaced by wooden floors. Crystal could have tapped danced if her parents had done the change while they lived here. As a child, Crystal practiced her ballet and gymnastics here. It was also her and Melissa’s play area, and where the fake Christmas tree went up in December.

Despite all the changes, Crystal still felt nostalgic as she walked into each room. Crystal remembered practicing her piano lessons in the living room. Her parents kept their record player on a long wooden shelf beside the small black Yamaha piano her dad used to play on too. She pictured the hide a bed couch as well as the big red reclining chair that used to furnish the room along

Crystal remembered getting a lot of Barbie stuff from Santa. She and Melissa liked to play with the popular dolls as well as house. Their grandfather - 27 -

had built a kitchen set out of wood for them which was kept by their small craft table. The girls' artwork was plastered on the white walls. Now, beautiful framed landscape painting hung on the same walls. A bar with high stools stood where Crystal’s father’s big desk used to be, and a giant flat screen TV was located were the old tube television used to be.

face to face or mailed each other letters, Crystal had said." She had felt old then, but not as much as when she brought a Pac-Man game home saying she used to play it on her Atari and Todd didn't know what that was. Also, when he played the video game he said the graphics were really bad. How things changed... Alycia interrupted Crystal’s reverie by asking if she liked what she saw so far. Crystal felt a bit guilty for her intrusion and quickly nodded her head yes before going back up the stairs to take a look at the upper floor.

Crystal opened a door to what she remembered as being a storage area. Her family kept big boxes of peanut bags there and they would feed the squirrels when they took walks in High Park. There were other things in there too, but it was not a place for the kids to venture in. Now it would be okay because it was turned into a bathroom.

The bathroom was to the left just like she remembered. Her mother used to keep special bath beads of different colors and shapes in there, and sometimes Crystal was allowed to pick one to throw into her bath and relax.

Before Crystal’s dad got transferred to the Ottawa office, he had finished the basement. He made a workshop, a laundry room, and another room that would have become Crystal and Melissa’s playroom had they not been forced to sell the house and move. The current owners used it for the same thing. Crystal saw that there was a TV, DVD player, a Wii, as well as a computer for the kids. When Crystal was younger, she and Melissa had to share a television with the rest of the family, but it was fun to watch cartoons and comedies together. They only got a computer years after they had moved to Ottawa. That too had to be shared among four people. Now both she and her husband had laptops, plus their son had a desktop in his bedroom. The adults had iPads and Todd had an iPod plus a few different gaming counsels. There were a total of four televisions in the house. Crystal laughed at the memory of her son asking if there were phones when she was a child. “I am not that old!” was her response. Then she told him there were no cordless phones or cellphones, nor even the internet, and he asked how everyone managed to communicate. "We mainly socialized - 28 -

She now had to imagine the big white bird house her grandfather had built. It no longer stood on a thick stand in the corner of the yard. The flower garden was different too. The small conifers, as well as all the bushes with yellow flowers in them, had been replaced with lovely pink, red, and white rose bushes.

Crystal’s old bedroom was to the left. She used to have a double bed with a pink flowery comforter on it. Melissa’s room was across the hall. She only had a single bed and it had a green comforter with small white flowers on it. Crystal and Melissa’s parents slept in the master bedroom. The kids were not allowed in that room unless they were invited. Crystal remembered her father going on a lot of business trips and bringing back souvenirs. He usually distributed them directly from his suitcase in the bedroom. One time, he brought the girls back Russian Matryoshka dolls. Crystal still had hers.

The wooden deck her father built was still there, but a fancy patio set was in the place of the old picnic table. Crystal still remembered having breakfast and lunch there during the nice summer days. She missed that. As Crystal thought about her childhood, she heard Alycia tell the couple they could finish visiting the house on their own and to just call if they needed her.

“Feel free to take a look in the yard,” Alycia’s voice was heard. She was talking to a young couple who was looking at the house.

“You look rather familiar,” Alycia told Crystal as she moved towards her. Crystal blushed and told her who she was and why she was really here.

Crystal made her way downstairs and used the door in the kitchen to access the side yard herself. She was surprised to see that a high wooden fence divided the properties. There used to just be a short rise of concrete between the houses and she would walk or sit on it.

“Oh my goodness!” Alycia shouted. “I used to live next door,” she added pointing in the direction of her old house. “Do you remember me?”

Crystal saw that the metal gates around the yard had been changed to wooden ones. She peeped into the next yard. The metal swing set she played on with Alycia was gone. Her old yard now had a wooden play structure complete with a little playhouse she would have loved to own as a child. Back then, she used her imagination a lot.

“Of course I remember you! I was just thinking about our childhood before walking in here and wondered how you were. When I saw you, I thought you looked familiar but I wasn’t sure if it was really you. I mean, the last time we saw each other we were, what? Nine?” “Eight,” Alycia said at the same time as Crystal said nine. She was a year and a half younger than Crystal.

- 29 -

"I noticed that you appeared to be in a kind of daydream when you looked at the rooms. But not like you were trying to see how you might decorate the place or fit your furniture like other people who visit houses do, but rather like you were remembering something."

The women talked about the things they had done together as kids, and what they were up to these days. Alycia was married with three boys as bratty as her younger brother had been. He also got married and had two daughters. It was weird for Crystal to imagine little Adam all grown up and having a family.

"I was," Crystal admitted.

Alycia could not believe that Crystal’s sister Melissa, the little girl who used to run around the yard in diapers, became a lawyer. Crystal told Alycia about her husband and son, and about the marketing project she was working on at the moment.

"Well, it's good to see you," Alycia told Crystal.

"You too," Crystal responded. The two women hugged and agreed to grab a coffee together after the open house. Crystal stuck around her childhood home, reminiscing on the past, until Alycia was free.

“I am most likely going to come to town again soon,” she said. “We should get together again.” “That would be great,” Alycia responded cheerfully.

The women headed to a nearby restaurant which Crystal had never been to, and asked for coffees with a side order of fries.

After receiving the bill, which Crystal quickly took from the table and insisted on paying, the old friends exchanged cell numbers and e-mail addresses so that they could stay in touch. Technology had its perks.

“They make the best fries here,” Alycia said. Crystal was not sure any fries would taste as good as the ones she ate at the restaurant as a child when her mom took her to the Burlington Mall to shop or see a movie at the cinema, but she was proven wrong. Shortly after the large basket of fries arrived, she confirmed that the spicy crispy potatoes were amazing.

Chantal Bellehumeur is a Canadian author born in 1981. She has several published novels of various genres as well as numerous short stories, poems, and articles featured in compilation books, magazines, plus a local newspaper. She loves using her imagination and creativity.

Chantal used to act both on stage and for the camera. She met her husband Along with writing, Chantal loves doing arts and crafts. She’s developed a passion for painting which she finds therapeutic. As a volunteer for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, she also enjoys impersonating different superheroes for their yearly charity event. She suffers from Ulcerative Colitis, and has been using writing - 30 -

Molto Grande by Dick Franklin The answer to that question is a resounding no! Author Dick Franklin has succeeded in telling two disparate and linked story arcs about two young men seeking fulfilment and happiness in a harsh, unforgiving, seventeenth Century world and telling it beautifully. I was captivated by the stark differences between the lives of the aristocracy and the favoured few, when compared to the hand-tomouth existence of the poor serfs and peasants. The two main characters were beautifully rounded and filled out, as the story progressed. We watched them both come to manhood, wrestle with some great moral issues and ultimately make decisions based on the collective good, be that the tribe, the country, or the boys’ companions. The serendipities that abounded in this story were the key to its success. As Luca and Nicolo roamed the European countryside they were constantly coming into contact with people who were linked in some way to both the boys’ lives. This ensured a wonderful continuity and balance to the two, story arcs. An historical fiction that teaches us something about a world we knew little of before is a large part of the key to a successful tale. The music, that was such a key to the renaissance, is also a major part of this tale and my knowledge of it and of European geopolitical history of the time, was, in many ways, a side revelation, to the compelling story of these two boys. I absolutely adored this book and this author’s creative mind. I will definitely be looking for more from him and cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman Molto Grande by Dick Franklin, is a soaring, widesweeping novel set at the height of the European Renaissance, that traverses Italy, France and Spain. Nicolo and Luca Giordano’s family has been ravaged by the plague sweeping across Europe in 1693. Living in a tiny village near Rome, the two young boys have lost their mother and five siblings to the deadly scourge. Left to tend the vines in their small vineyard, they lease from the Count, are just their father and themselves. The two boys are “discovered” singing in the parish church by an emissary from Rome seeking young voices to turn into world-class castrato singers at the Rome Conservatoire. Prior to the boys’ departure for Rome, Luca’s voice begins to break and he is rejected as a possible castrato. Alone and lost, young Nicolo heads for the Rome conservatoire and the dreams of possible future fame and stardom as a great singer. For Luca and his father, tending the vines by themselves will be nigh on impossible and when an out-of-control burn-off kills Luca’s father and badly burns Luca, it appears all is lost for the family. Rescued from a well and tended back to health by a passing band of Romani (Gypsies), Luca begins his new life as part of a wandering itinerant band, a journey that will take them across France and ultimately to apparent sanctuary, near Madrid, Spain. Also headed eventually to Madrid will be Nicolo, now a renowned castrato who some say will be the greatest of all time. Will the brother’s paths ultimately cross again and will the reunion be filled with joy or fraught with danger? Molto Grande is one of those stories that can initially appear intimidating. At well over 260,000 words, it is a massive, sweeping work but the question is – was I ever bored at any time, reading it. - 31 -

Spring Flowers by Sylva Fae

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https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss by Sylva Fae Happy Birthday Dr Seuss! March the 2nd is Dr Seuss’s birthday and is a US reading celebration day. Although a US celebration, the quirky stories of Dr Seuss are celebrated by children the world over. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geissel was an American writer and illustrator of immensely popular books. His illustration style is instantly recognisable, and his books are known for their nonsense words, tongue-twister rhymes and unusual characters. Forty-five of his books were published, and many went on to become best-sellers, TV series and feature films.

7) The Cat in the Hat was written because Seuss found the ‘Dick and Jane’ stories of the time to be boring and uninspiring. He rightly believed that if the children were not engaged, they would not be compelled to repeat the words as they learnt to read. 8) Seuss’s editor made him a $50 bet that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 words. Not wanting to back down from a challenge, Seuss came up with ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, which uses exactly 50 words.

Ten Fun Facts 1) He often came up with ideas by doodling. 2) Seuss attributes his love of rhyme to his mother, because when he was little, she would make up rhymes based on pie flavours to entertain him.

9) Seuss’s phone number was only one digit different from a local fish shop. Seuss would sometimes send the caller a picture of the fish they ordered, rather than explain their error.

3) ‘Zoyce’ is the German pronunciation of ‘Seuss’ but readers would always pronounce it, ‘Soose’. Despite the error, Seuss liked that it rhymed with Mother Goose, so adopted the pronunciation.

10) In 2010, Life Books added Dr Seuss to their list of 100 People Who Changed the World.

4) Seuss kept a closet full of wacky hats and whenever he had writers block, he would put on a hat and the words would flow.

5) Seuss is known for inventing words. He is credited with inventing the word, ‘nerd’. It first appeared in, ‘If I Ran The Zoo’, in 1950. 6) Seuss’s licence plate was, ‘GRINCH’.

- 34 -

Memories of Seuss

Praise for Dr Seuss:

Our house is overflowing with children’s books, but as my girls have grown, many picture books have been passed on to younger children, to be replaced with chapter books. Just one shelf of favourite picture books remains, and of course there are some ragged, well-read copies of Dr Seuss books amongst them. It would spark a mixture of amusement and dread when my girls chose a Seuss for bedtime stories. Amusement, because I knew we’d all end up giggling together, but also the dread of tackling the tongue-twister rhymes after a long day – and heaven forbid I should get it wrong, or miss a bit out… my girls know every weird and wacky rhyme off by heart. My favourite to read aloud was Fox in Socks, and by the time I got to the Tweetle Beetles Battle, I had found my inner Seuss and become word perfect. My children’s favourite was The Cat In The Hat, loved for his naughtiness and his ability to clear up his messes just in the nick of time – I wish my Things 1, 2 and 3 possessed the same magical tidying abilities.

‘I used to read Dr Seuss to my daughter when she was little. I think I loved it as much as she did. The man was a genius.’ – Anthony Randall, author of Tales of Tucson

‘My siblings and I always loved “Hop on Pop”. We’d giggle every time we read it. At least we didn’t go hop on our pop, but I think that’s what made us giggle – the thought of doing that.’ – Ronesa Aveela, children’s author

‘My Dr Seuss memory was reading The Cat in The Hat over and over to my friend’s kids when I babysat. It's one of my favourite books. I was also delighted to eat at the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe in Dr Seuss Land at Universal Islands of Adventure in Florida.’ – Wendy H Jones, multi-genre author

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Celebrating Reading

Wendy H Jones – Bertie the Buffalo

As Dr Seuss’s birthday is also a national day of celebrating reading, it seems only fitting to celebrate some of Mom’s fabulous children’s authors. It’s difficult, but we have picked our favourite from the books we’ve written, and hope you enjoy them too.

Bertie the Buffalo is based on a true story of when a Water Buffalo escaped from a Buffalo Park in Fife, near Dundee, Scotland. A rhyming book about the adventures Bertie got up to and how he safely returned home, demonstrating how important each of us is no matter how insignificant we feel. Bertie felt that no one noticed him. But he didn't need to think that as we are all special. We are all a part of one big family.

Sylva Fae – Bea & Bee Bea loves tending the flowers in her little back yard but what she’d really like is a pet to care for. The yard is too small for a pet, or is it? When Bea finds Little Bee, she finds the perfect pet for her tiny garden. Can Bea convince Mummy to let her keep a pet bee?

Adrian Czarnecki – Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness This, the second book in the Adventures of Hot Rod Todd children's picture story books sees Hot Rod Todd and the pack getting an invitation to visit the UK to race. So, they decided to make it a family vacation with Wild Child Rock Star Merc taking them in his revolutionary eco friendly Tour Jet piloted by Captain Chinook. The pack decided to visit Loch Ness in Scotland and oh my, what ensues on that trip is 'out of this world'. As always with the pups there are thrills and spills, ups and downs, twists and turns but always, ALWAYS, the message is all about friends and friendship, caring about others without question, values and morals. Beautifully illustrated by Cameo Anderson, 'Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness is a children's picture-story book comprising full page colored illustrations with text that parents can read to their youngsters or, if at reading age or learning to read, youngsters can read and enjoy themselves.

Ronesa Aveela – The Miracle Stork

Rada knows little about her Bulgarian heritage because her family doesn't practice their customs. That changes when her grandmother comes to visit. On a trip to the zoo, Rada discovers more than animals. She learns that diversity is not something to be ashamed of. Her grandmother tells her about the traditions of their ancestors and the meaning of the martenitsi that she makes every spring. The Miracle Stork is a story about creating and maintaining traditions and customs to embrace who you are. In the tradition of family togetherness, Baba Treasure Chest stories are geared toward the entire family: Adults reading stories to children, families participating in activities, and children working together on coloring pages. - 36 -

Millie Slavidou – Sparky Sparky is a newly-hatched dragon with a problem: he can't breathe fire. Not wanting to stand out from all the other dragons, he leaves the nest and sets off on an adventurous journey to solve his problem. Finally, he meets Nicky, who is determined to help him on his quest to find the secret of fire.Will Sparky ever discover how to breathe fire? Penny Luker – Desdemona Desdemona is a lonely dragon, who lives by the sea, near the town of Wrex. She can be kind or mischievous, but when the hungry green dragon wants to eat her humans she finds the courage to stand up to him. In return she finds friendship.

Silviya Rankova – Fay the Maple Fairy and the Tree Doctor Alex was sleepily rubbing his eyes, reaching for his glasses, when he looked through the window and suddenly saw her again. The little maple fairy who was going to reveal very important news about the maple tree in the front yard. Alex was going to learn many new things about saving trees and their inhabitants. Mike Passafiume – Chunk-A-Monk The Big Black Skunk Splitter the skunk was different from all his little classmates. See how he deals with those differences and how you can too.

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Use Reiki to Enhance Psychic Abilities by Val Tobin When I first learned about Reiki and received my attunements in my Reiki Level I class, I was unprepared for the psychic boost it would give me, though our teacher told us that might happen. She said we might see auras if we didn’t have the ability before, and we would become more sensitive to energy. This new sensitivity would allow us to receive information about the client when giving Reiki. It also could open us up psychically when we received Reiki ourselves, even actively connecting to our Reiki and spirit guides.

Each Person’s Experience is Unique

There are four ways you can boost your psychic ability with Reiki. Three require attuning to it, while the fourth only requires receiving Reiki during a session.

Interestingly, my husband did not experience the detox symptoms, but he immediately could see auras in colour, which I could not until after my second set of attunements and another intense period of cleansing. There might be a correlation between ridding the body of impurities and opening up psychic abilities with Reiki attunements.

Receiving Reiki Attunements

When you receive Reiki attunements, regardless of the level you’re at, you’ll feel a shift in your energy. For some, it takes more time, but eventually, you’ll open up and become more sensitive to energy and more psychically aware. This may come after an adjustment period.

The attunement experience differs for each person. While the cleansing experience usually comes a few days after receiving the attunements, if at all, your experience immediately after receiving the attunements may be profound. While I felt almost nothing, others felt their hands get extremely hot.

When I received my first level attunements, our teacher warned the class that we might experience some side effects resembling those one might have when doing a cleanse or fast. This energetic cleansing might take the form of flu-like symptoms, headaches, etc., because you are cleansing on all levels, including the physical, as attunements remove blockages and awaken the healer within you.

In her book Essential Reiki Diane Stein describes the variety of feelings people might have after receiving attunements: “Each person receiving the Reiki attunement experiences something different. She may see colours, feel sensations, watch pictures of herself from past lives, connect with spirit guides, or be filled with bliss and joy” (Stein, 106).

I was glad she warned us of that, and that she shared her experience with us, specifically, that she’d suffered a severe headache after receiving her attunements. While I was grateful for the information and the heads up, I didn’t believe that I’d experience anything like that and waved it off. To my utter amazement, I experienced almost everything she described. When I recovered from that, using a combination of Reflexology and Reiki, I found I’d become more psychically sensitive.

While not everyone will experience these right away, the more you use Reiki, the more likely will you be to do so. While my hands didn’t get hot immediately, by the end of the class, the heat they generated when I started giving someone Reiki amazed me. One of the best ways to enhance your psychic energy is by regularly giving Reiki to yourself and others after you’ve been attuned to it. - 38 -

some psychic messages, though they might come during a dream. People frequently fall asleep when receiving Reiki, and some will have very interesting dreams when they do.

Giving Reiki and Reiki Attunements

Once you are attuned to Reiki, practicing it will not only benefit your client, but it will also benefit you. The more you use Reiki, the more you heal yourself. For this reason, Reiki practitioners are taught to give themselves Reiki every day. When you do this, you will also enhance your psychic abilities at the same time. You will find you’re not only better able to see auras, but you’ll connect more with your spirit guides.

When I give myself Reiki, I make a point of having a journal next to me where I can record whatever images or information comes to me. This journal doubles as my dream journal, so if any themes come up that overlap with what I receive during a Reiki session, I can spot them. Work with the dreams you receive during Reiki and the dreams you receive when you are in bed sleeping to help your psychic development.

If you become a Reiki Master/Teacher, you can also benefit from the Reiki energy passing through you when you give attunements. According to Stein, when she passes attunements, she feels her Reiki guides the most: “They stand behind me and direct the whole process, and I assume they also do this for every Reiki Master” (Stein, 107).

As an example, I gave Reiki once to a young woman who was pregnant. During the session, she said she saw a little girl who she was sure was the daughter she carried (she already knew she was having a girl). While I can’t verify that she really saw her daughter, the experience delighted her, and she was convinced she had glimpsed her child.

Some of my most vivid psychic experiences have occurred when I was giving Reiki to myself, to another during a full Reiki session, or to another through distance Reiki. Each experience with giving Reiki has strengthened and improved my psychic abilities, sometimes catching me by surprise. The first time I connected with someone’s departed loved one was while giving a client Reiki.

If you’re actively working on developing your psychic abilities, then Reiki can help you. Even if you aren’t interested in getting attuned to Reiki, you should consider at least receiving some Reiki to see how it makes you feel and what it can do for you. After that, you might decide to receive the attunements. Either way, it can open you up to a whole new dimension.

But if you are not attuned to Reiki, you can still benefit from its healing and spiritual power and improve your psychic abilities by receiving Reiki during a session.

References

Receiving Reiki

Image: Japanese Symbol for Reik – by Dreamage Stein, Diane. Essential Reiki, California: The Crossing Press, 1995. Disclaimer: The information presented here is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or health-care professional. Before beginning any health or diet program, consult your physician.

When you are receiving Reiki, it’s the perfect time to open up to psychic experiences. The Reiki energy itself unblocks and relaxes you, encouraging you to sink into that Alpha or even Theta state conducive to meditation. When in this state, you may receive

Val Tobin writes speculative fiction and searches the world over for the perfect butter tart. Her home is in Newmarket, Ontario, where she enjoys writing, reading, and talking about writing and reading. Discover more about Val on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/val-tobin

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A Trip to the Moon for Homework Submitted by Poppy Flynn Written by Navya Manchanda Age 6

Readers may remember Navya, the six-year-old from Massachusetts from our December edition in which we featured Navya and her love of creating jokes, which she then turned into a book (Simply Stupid, Silly Jokes for Kids) Well, now the little girl with a big love of books has gone a step further and has written a storybook, beautifully illustrated by Ayan Mansoori.

Join Ayla and her pet dog, Tina on an unusual adventure to the moon to complete Ayla's homework. But how does Ayla get to the moon? Does the trip help Ayla complete her homework or was going to the moon part of her homework? Is Ayla able to get back to the earth after her trip? Read this book to find out. Written by a young author, this book will not only take you and your kids on a celestial adventure, but also inspire your kids to write or follow any other passion they have.

Find A Trip to the Moon for Homework by Navya Manchanda on Amazon.

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Communication by Stan Phillips

Can any of us find enough words to truly reflect those vagrant thoughts that wander around our minds? Random dancing dreamlike butterfly images that come and go like meteors in the night sky. Or are we all fated to the frustration of never quite getting the point across, as our words are somehow corrupted on the journey from, fertile imagination, to floating thought, to fallible brain, to imperfect speech, to inattentive ear, where the sense of that which we try to express, is lost in the very act of its creation. And the thought that so eloquently burst into life in the depths of our being is corroded, like silver is tarnished by time, on its voyage from mind to mouth to ear.

And the recipient of that spoilt communication, the owner of said ear, is unable to comprehend what is spoken, so busy are they with their own thoughts, imaginations, and, as yet, unborn responses to understand whatever amazing, unique, never to be repeated revelations were shared in that unrepeatable moment. Yes. We stand or fall in our inability to understand each other. In our inability to understand ourselves. In our inability to truly express that which moves within our hearts. And, as we look around our troubled society, we realise what a shame it is. Keep on trying though. And be patient with each other as we learn along the way.

Genevieve by Maressa Mortimer The door opened, showing Genevieve Schooneglass, risking an early death on her shiny lilac heels, clashing with the aquamarine stockings. She smiled around the room, patting her fluffed-up hair down to make it look less like she had been the sole survivor of a localised hurricane. I groaned to myself, and shuffled sideways like a drunken crab, ‘til I was hidden by the tall plant in the corner, wondering how the thing had survived me feeding it vodka last week. I peeked past the leather leaf and stared at Genevieve. I couldn’t believe it. What mophead had invited her? Genevieve was laughing her silly laugh, seconds after entering the full room. It was going to be a long afternoon. “Hello,” she gushed, her pale eyes too wide, “How are you all?” Who talks like that?

pearls around her neck, head held high. I had visions of the string snapping, and Genevieve skidding along on her towering heels. “Jill darling...”

The two girls nearest to the door nodded, and Sally, who is kindness personified, even smiled and said, “Hello Genevieve, I hadn’t expected you here, but of course, you live quite close by.” Not quite true seeing that Genevieve would have had to walk all the way, and on those heels too. No wonder she was standing as if she could do with last week’s wasted vodka.

I released my breath, feeling I had survived a storm of some kind too. I decided that the safest place in the sunlit room would be at Sally’s side. Sally had had the Genevieve treatment already, and with at least 12 of us girls here, it would be a while before Genevieve would start on her second round. There would be a second round.

Genevieve laughed again, “Oh, yes dear, well, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s so important to make every effort to support friends and their social endearments... No, not endearments, now what’s the word I’m looking for,” and she giggled longer than ever, her powdered cheeks glowing, contrasting with the tint she had applied. “Oh, well, I meant effort, you know, social gettogethers. Although get-togethers are social already. Oh look, there’s Jill!” And Genevieve was off, tottering across the room, fingering those - 42 -

I had muttered an excuse, and slipped away, hearing her voice say, “Hello?” I had forced myself to look ahead, for her voice hadn’t had the usual long drawn loops and curls. I must admit, I did wonder too who would be brave enough to call Genevieve. This is the start of my very new book, The Cameo Sleuth. I will be bringing it out in stages, week by week, on my website, but wanted to share it with the lovely readers of Mom’s Favourite Reads first!

“It’s important that one works a room,” Genevieve had explained to me one day, “you know, speak to each person one by one. It makes people feel seen and appreciated.” I had nodded, not really listening. I was trying to devise a way of escape. “You see,” Genevieve had half-closed her eyes, which tended to turn my stomach. “You see, by talking to people individually it helps with their sense of indemnity.” All plans to escape screeched to a halt. Even Genevieve had recognised my expression, and she did her laugh, making escape feel necessary once more. “Oh, haha, I didn’t mean that, of course. I meant, individuality, internally...no no, well, I mean people realising they’re important on their own.” I wondered if being kind would be rewarded by being provided with a means of escape, so I said, “I think you meant the word identity. Well, it’s a lovely way of looking at conversations with friends. It’s very kind of you.” I had added, feeling my face warm up. There would be no escape now, not after fibbing. My kindness must have outweighed the rest of my comment, for Genevieve’s phone rang.

My name is Maressa Mortimer, and I’m Dutch. I live in the beautiful Cotswolds, England, with my husband who is a pastor. We have four (adopted) children. I’m a homeschool mum, so my writing has to be done in the evening, when peace and quiet descends on our house once more. I love exploring questions of faith using novels, as it helps me to see what faith looks like in daily life. My debut novel, Sapphire Beach, was published December 2019. My latest novel, Walled City, launched on December 5th and I’m nearing the first draft of its sequel! Visit my website www.vicarioushome.com to buy signed copies from the shop.

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Writing Your Own Life Story by John Greeves Everyone has a story to tell and writing often comes from personal experience. Never think you’ve led a humdrum life and therefore you have nothing to say. My lifetime has witnessed presidential assassinations, the first moon landing and I’ve been part of the baby boomer generation of the swinging sixties. These events and other provide a backcloth to my life, just as succeeding generations have their own key events which shape and give context to their lives.

Like everything else it’s where to start. The best advice is to cast away those nagging doubts and begin. All writers have different starting points, some prefer to be highly structured, drawing up lists, outlines and clear objectives for their writing (don’t let planning however, turn into avoidance activities). Such a typical outline might include birth, childhood memories, school days, teen years, young adult, marriage, career, middle years and retirement.

What everyone possesses is a rich nugget of possibility waiting to be mined. Themes such as childhood, family, dreams, journeys, love, tragedy, humour and obsession all spring to mind. I know my nephews, nieces and even grandchildren are always badgering me for stories about my life. If this is the same for you, then it’s time to write it down and put away the photo album. Writing your own life story is a relatively cheap pastime and has many benefits which may propel you towards other interests such as research, family history, computing, writers’ groups, photography and meeting other people.

Others may choose to avoid a linear approach, preferring instead to write about individual landmarks that focus on significant turning points, changing careers, grandparents, meeting your first love, making do and being happy; whatever is pivotal in your life. It might be later when you decide to fit these pieces together or it may be you decide to follow a single pathway. Everyone has special memories in their life. Use the phrase ‘I remember’ to evoke those poignant times. If writing seems hard, then concentrate on those individuals, which have impacted on your life. Put the person into a well-known context or link them to an incident to show their particular strengths or weaknesses. Be sure to record all

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those family stories, which often go back several generations. Research if need be. Look around you to see all those objects and photographs. It’s true, photographs tell a thousand words, but only if you write them down.

than telling me I couldn’t, he tackled a difficult situation in his own way. He told me I was free to go after I had stacked a very large field of hay bales. It seemed unattainable; especially with the late diminishing light. Obstinacy drove me on, the field was eventually stacked and my uncle conceded, I was now old enough to step outside my boyhood.

Remember to record, achievements and disappointments, moments of extreme happiness and joy, epiphanies, your fifteen minutes of fame and of course those deep emotional encounters, which seem even now, to be fading fast. Readers want more from your life story, than simple descriptions, they want to be able to inhabit your world, so you must give something of yourself. Facts and description won’t suffice alone, create that intimate world. Your writing doesn’t need to become self-indulgent, maudlin but try to make it meaningful and humanly engaging to draw the reader in.

It’s your responsibility to reach out to your readers and bring the world you knew alive to them. Use all your senses to explore the context of each event and be honest and open in your appraisal. A temptation exists when writing to find events losing direction and pages becoming muddied and swamped. Maintain a single focus and avoid the overwhelming deluge on the page. Decide in advance what you really want to say and keep to it. Ensure your writing is clear and simple, devoid of purple prose, that uses a natural voice and gives full expression to a very special life.

I once lived with an uncle, as a young adolescent I wanted to be out on the town on a Friday night. He had other ideas (considering me too young), rather

John Greeves originally hails from Lincolnshire. He believes in the power of poetry and writing to change people’s lives and the need for language to move and connect people to the modern world. Since retiring from Cardiff University, Greeves works as a freelance journalist who's interested in an eclectic range of topics.

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Scenic Trees by Melanie P. Smith https://melaniepsmith.com/about-the-author/photography/ https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/melanie-p-smith/

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Dignity for All by Father Ian Maher This story from Mark’s gospel of Jesus healing a deaf man who had a speech impediment, would certainly have caught the attention of his first century audience. It drove home the point that the signs anticipated by Isaiah were being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. In Isaiah 35.5-6 we read: ‘Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy...’ all that binds and oppresses humankind; all that prevents us from knowing the fullness of life to which God calls us. Imagine the difference that the encounter with Jesus meant to that man’s life. He would have been an outcast, pushed to the margins of society. Some would have regarded his deafness as punishment for his sin. We don’t know for sure, but the man’s circumstances may have forced him to be a beggar. Then, he encountered Jesus and his life changed for good. Mark records what happened vividly: ‘Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released and he spoke plainly’. Perhaps for the first time in his life, the man was treated by others as a person. In any event, his life would never be the same again.

This was part of a prophecy of renewal following the sadness of exile. Isaiah was declaring that God’s people would be rescued from oppression and that creation itself would celebrate. He continues:

We live in a society where the deaf and those with speech difficulties are not ostracised in the same way as they were in Jesus’ day. Employers and service providers have come a long way, and there is much to rejoice in with regard to progress over recent years through both education and legislation such as the Equality Act 2010.

‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (Isaiah 35.10).’ The healing of the deaf man by Jesus was a sign of the in-breaking of the long-anticipated Kingdom of God; a sign of Christ’s victory over - 48 -

citizens. The fact of the matter is that there are no such distinctions within the Kingdom of God: every person is precious and of equal worth. As is so often the case in the miracles of Jesus, the healing of the deaf and speech-impaired man points beyond itself to a greater truth: It is more than the fixing of a body, but the sign of God’s love breaking into the pain and disfigurement of a broken world. It is a pointer to that greater healing that will find its fulfilment when God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. Healing is something that all of us long for, regardless of whether our needs are visible. We are all broken people, even if that brokenness remains hidden.

Nevertheless, discrimination does still exist against people with disabilities. The playing field is far from level. We can see this, for example, in the continued lack of employment opportunities; in problems of accessibility; in communication difficulties. In so many different walks of life, people with disabilities remain considerably under-represented when viewed in the light of the whole population.

In the meantime, it is incumbent upon all of us who seek to follow Christ faithfully to ensure that we do everything in our power to make our society a more just and equitable place for all people; where the intrinsic value of every human being is afforded the respect and dignity it deserves.

There will, of course, be situations where a particular disability rules a person out; but in many cases I think two related negative factors come into play. The first, and most insidious, is the tendency to see a person’s disability first and the person second; the second factor is an unwillingness to commit sufficient resources to ensure that any disadvantage caused by a person’s disability is removed or alleviated. Disability then becomes as much a social construct as it is a physical or mental condition. Such failure of imagination can result in society excluding some rather than including all of its

I am a priest and minor canon at Sheffield Cathedral. My last post prior to retirement from stipendiary ministry was as the Multifaith Chaplaincy Coordinator and Anglican Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University, where I worked for 12 years. https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/ Twitter @IanMaher7 - 49 -

Word Search — March By Mom’s Favorite Reads

You can find the answers for this activity on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 50 -

Chess: Black to Move Supplied by Chess.Com

Supplied by https://chess.com the #1 chess website. Used with permission. For more chess puzzles please visit https://chess.com You can find answers for this activity on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 51 -

Edwin Waugh History by Alan Southworth Edwin Waugh was born in Rochdale, Lancashire in 1817, he was the son of a shoemaker and after some schooling, was apprenticed to a printer, Thomas Holden, at the age of twelve. Waugh read eagerly, and in 1847 became assistant secretary to the Lancashire Public School Association and went to work in Manchester. By 1860 he was able to become a full-time writer, but in 1881 he was in poor health and was granted a civil List pension of £90 p.a. Throughout his writing career, Waugh was passionate about Lancashire dialect and wrote and composed many poems, many of which were penned during his wanderings on the moors above his hometown. Here is one of my favourites:

Yon moorlan' hills are bloomin' wild At th' endin' o' July; Yon woodlan' cloofs, an valleys green,— The sweetest under th' sky; Yon dainty rindles, dancin' deawn Fro' th' meawntains into th' plain;— As soon as th' new moon rises, lads, I'm off to th' moors again!

I've Worn My Bits o' Shoon Away I've worn my bits o' shoon away, Wi' Rovin' up an' deawn, To see yon moorlan' valleys, an' Yon little country teawn: The dule tak' shoon an' stockin's too! My heart feels hutchin'-fain; An', if I trudge it bar-fuut, lads, I'll see yon teawn again!

There's hearty lads among yon hills, An' in yon country teawn; They'n far moor sense than prouder folk,— I'll uphold it for a creawn; They're wick an' warm at wark an' fun, Wherever they may go,— The primest breed o' Iads i'th world,— Good luck attend 'em o'!

It's what care I for cities grand,— We never shall agree; I'd rayther live where Th' layrock sings,— A country teawn for me! A country teawn, where one can meet Wi' friends an' neighbours known; Where one can lounge i'th market-place An' see the meadows mown. - 52 -

Last neet I laft the city thrung, An' climbed yon hillock green; An' turned my face to th' moorlan' hills, Wi' th' wayter i' my e'en; Wi' th' wayter wellin i' my e'en;— I'll bundle up, an go, An' I'll live an' dee i' my own countrie, Where the moorlan' breezes blow!

(The text and book image were taken from Waugh's Poems and Songs published by John Heywood and edited by George Milner.) Glossary for those unfamiliar with the Lancashire dialect: SHOON SHOES DEAWN DOWN HUTCHIN'-FAIN VERY WEARY BAR-FUT BARE FOOT LAYROCK LARK CLOOF WOODED RINDLE SMALL STREAM OR BROOK WARK WORK CREAWN CROWN I am a retired engineer and professional woodturner from Lancashire, England. I have an interest in all things wood, therefore, trees, mainly our indigenous native trees. I am a member of the woodland Trust and am a volunteer photographer for the trust. My interests are varied and include hillwalking, cycling and I was a Martial Arts student and instructor for over fifty years. I also play acoustic Guitar and ukulele, badly, I may add, my musical interests are also varied and range from English and Irish folk, through to Classical. I also have an interest in Lancashire dialect writing and poems. - 53 -

Mom’s Favorite Reads Author Cherime MacFarlane Cherime MacFarlane is an award-winning, bestselling, prolific multi-genre author. She has a broad range of interests that reflect her been there-done that life. I came to Alaska kicking and screaming in 1976, and I never want to leave. I cut firewood on shares for money to get through the winter. I swore I would not live above the Alaska Range because it was too cold there and wound up in the Copper River Basin where it got just a cold as Fairbanks. My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I wrote Scots dialect, I experienced hearing it as my in laws spoke. Each time my husband got on the phone to Scotland, after five seconds I could hardly understand a word. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie. I live in a cabin which is slowly being surrounded by the city and wish I were further out. My two cats and Husky Collie mix dog are happy in our little slice of heaven called Alaska. In the silence of winter dreams of people and places provide a rich pool of ideas to explore.

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For additional works, visit Mom’s Website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/ cherime-macfarlane/ - 55 -

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Genealogy by Hannah Howe remains that when Margaret moved away from Laleston to establish a family with her husband, Thomas, she named her home ‘Laleston House’.

Birth, marriage and death certificates are a great way to add details to our ancestors’ lives. Once you have established the names, locations and relevant dates of your ancestors from family knowledge, BMD indexes and the ten yearly census, you can consider ordering birth, marriage and death certificates.

On a marriage certificate you should find: • • • •

Birth certificates offer the following: • • • •

When and where a person was born. Father's name - when acknowledged. Mother's name. Father's occupation.

• • • •

The birth certificate of my great uncle, Edward Robert Jones, triggered a mystery - the name of Edward’s father was not listed. According to the family, Margaret, Edward’s mother, became pregnant while working as a maid at Laleston House, the manor house in the village of Laleston. Speculation centred on the owner of the house, and his adult son. Whatever the truth of this rumour the fact

The date that the marriage took place. The bride and groom’s full names. Their ages Status at marriage. i.e. widowed, divorced or single. Their profession. Their residence. The bride and groom’s fathers’ names. The bride and groom’s fathers’ occupations. Names of witnesses.

The marriage certificate of my 3 x great grandparents, William Howe and Mary Hopkin, revealed that they married on the 24 August 1850 at St James’ Church in Pyle with Mary’s sister, Margaret, and Catherine Lewis as the witnesses. William signed the marriage certificate with a cross, so he was not

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literate, while the date established that Mary was pregnant when she married William. Despite this ‘shotgun marriage’ William and Mary enjoyed a long union and when Mary died, William placed the following words on her gravestone, ‘To walk in honour to the land of peace. May the good lord return her soul to me.’

My ancestor, Mary Ann Howe, died on 25 January 1886 of ‘cardiac syncope’ or heart failure. Her brother, Hopkin, a Methodist Minister, was at her side. She died at Alexandria Road in Pontycymer, fourteen miles north of her home in Corneli. What was she doing there? Further research revealed that in 1882, the people of Pontycymer built the Bethel Methodist Chapel with modifications added in 1885. It seems highly likely that Hopkin was visiting the chapel, accompanied by his sister, Mary Ann. Mary Ann fell ill and was taken around the corner to a house in Alexandria Road where she died.

Finally, death certificates, which record the following: • • • • •

When and where a person died. Their age. Their occupation. The cause of death. Details of the informant.

A word of warning. Certificates can be expensive and are non-returnable, so before placing an order you need to do as much research as possible to ensure that you have identified the correct ancestor. If you are researching on a tight budget, there are other options, which we will explore in future articles.

While birth and marriage certificates offer joy and excitement, death certificates are sad. Nevertheless, they do provide genealogists with vital information.

Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann's War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah's books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audiobooks, and are being translated into ten languages. Discover more on Mom's Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe

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The Diary of Isabella M. Smugge by Ruth Leigh Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones It’s not often a book comes along that makes you laugh, cry, and take stock in a matter of just a few breaths. This debut novel by Ruth Leigh has done just that for me. This is chick lit with passion and a purpose, that purpose being to make you take a look at the way you live your life and the way you portray yourself on social media. It certainly made me take stock of the way I portray my life to others. We all know her name should be pronounced Smug but of course, Isabella herself pronounces it like the word Bruges. Isabella is a pretentious Instagram influencer whose every living moment is catalogued on social media. Her obsession to have the most followers, likes, and comments, means that everything she does, either alone or with her family, is driven by how it will look on social media. Every moment of their lives is capture on camera and shared with millions. At the beginning of the book, she is newly settled in a Georgian pile in the country, having left her life in London behind. She immediately sets to getting to know the neighbours, but this proves more difficult than she first imagines. Her life seems picture perfect, but we soon come to realise that there is more depth to Isabella than can be seen on the surface. As her life begins to unravel, she grows and develops and comes to realise the people around her are more than just an opportunity to diarise her life on Instagram. The more you read the more you come to understand and sympathise with her. My emotions were all over the place and I found myself hoping everything would turn out well for our heroine despite her being a grade A snob.

This book is absolutely fabulous, darlings. It makes you want to break out the champagne and your best crystal goblets whilst realising you should keep both feet very firmly fixed on the ground. It is one of the best books I have read this year and would highly recommend you read it. Now, should I share this on Instagram? Let me think about that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Isabella-MSmugge-ebook/dp/B08V5C2N1T/

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Paul’s Puzzles By Paul Godding The Main Challenge Using the numbers 2, 4 and 6 once each, together with + – × ÷, find the SIX target numbers from the following list that are mathematically possible to make: 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 The 7puzzle Challenge The playing board of the 7puzzle game is a 7by-7 grid of 49 different numbers, ranging from 2 up to 84. The 2nd & 6th rows contain the following fourteen numbers:

The Mathematically Possible Challenge Using 8, 9 and 10 once each, with + – × ÷ available, which is the ONLY number it is possible to make from the list below? 4

#4TimesTable

5 8 12 17 18 20 28 33 48 49 55 56 63 64

The Target Challenge

What is the sum of the cube numbers?

Can you arrive at 43 by inserting 4, 5, 8 and 9 into the gaps on each line?

The Lagrange Challenge

• • • • •

Lagrange’s Four-Square Theorem states that every positive integer can be made by adding up to four square numbers. For example, 7 can be made by 2²+1²+1²+1² (or 4+1+1+1). There are THREE ways of making 43 when using Lagrange’s Theorem. Can you find them?

◯×◯–◯÷◯ = 43 ◯²+◯×(◯–◯) = 43 (◯+◯)×◯–◯² = 43 (◯×√◯×√◯)–◯ = 43 (◯–√◯)×◯+◯ = 43

*** Solutions: http://7puzzleblog.com/answers/

Hello, my name is Paul Godding. I am a full-time professional private maths tutor based in the south-east of Wales who delivers face-to-face tuition locally as well as online tuition to students globally. It would be lovely to hear from you, so feel free to click paul@7puzzle.com if you wish to secure maths tuition for you or your child. Alternatively, you can ring/message/WhatsApp me from anywhere in the world:

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Europe by Book by Hannah Howe

The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko Spanning sixty tumultuous years of Ukrainian history, this multigenerational saga weaves a dramatic and intricate web of love, sex, friendship, and death. At its center: three women linked by the abandoned secrets of the past—secrets that refuse to remain hidden. While researching a story, journalist Daryna unearths a worn photograph of Olena Dovgan, a member of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army killed in 1947 by Stalin’s secret police. Intrigued, Daryna sets out to make a documentary about the extraordinary woman—and unwittingly opens a door to the past that will change the course of the future. For even as she delves into the secrets of Olena’s life, Daryna grapples with the suspicious death of a painter who just may be the latest victim of a corrupt political power play. From the dim days of World War II to the eve of Orange Revolution, The Museum of Abandoned Secrets is an “epic of enlightening force” that explores the enduring power of the dead over the living.

https://books2read.com/u/4XX0jL

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Beginner Belgium Cookbook: Deliciously Easy Belgium Recipes for the Whole Family by Stephanie Sharp Food in Belgium is influenced by Dutch and French cooking and is highly respected, Belgium has a variety of local specialties. Fresh produce such as games, endives and asparagus play a big role in Belgian cooking. Belgium borders the sea so Seafood plays a huge part also. Grey and brown prawns and mussels are very popular. High quality chocolate and a vast range of beers are also a specialty in Belgium. French fries are also famous in Belgium. Actually, they are Belgian fries that originated there. The fries are served with a range of sauces. Waffles, wow! We cannot forget waffles, made in a wide range of styles, served with exotic toppings. https://books2read.com/u/m2VYr1 Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann's War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah's books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audiobooks, and are being translated into ten languages. Discover more on Mom's Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe

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Coloring Page By Adrian Czarnecki Though I love dreaming up and putting together my Siberian Husky themed children’s illustrated picture story books, Adventures of Hot Rod Todd, I don’t think of myself as an ‘author’ or as a ‘writer’. ‘Story teller’ sounds better. My books are so dependent upon the illustrations. That’s where illustrator Cameo Anderson http:// www.cameoanderson.com/ comes in. Cameo really can see into my mind’s eye interpreting my often rambling page descriptions into works of art; there’s a saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” and with a children’s book that is so important and Cameo nails it every time and then some. So, for your enjoyment, here is a page from the Coloring Book featuring some of the characters and scenes from the books.

Coloring Book FREE PDF download available via website www.adventuresofhotrodtodd.com

Adrian S. Czarnecki is a semi-retired writer of Siberian Husky oriented children’s books based on an actual litter of 6 puppies born to his Dam Empress Maya and Sire Damien Czar on March 14th 2019. Born in Huddersfield, England, Adrian has travelled the world extensively pursuing careers in journalism, photography, PR / Marketing as well as print and sales. Adrian now lives in Idaho, USA with his wife Meta and their Siberian - 62 -

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Heroines of SOE by Hannah Howe

Peggy Knight Marguerite Diana Frances ‘Peggy’ Knight was born on 19 April 1920 in Paris. She was a member of the Women’s Transport Service before joining the SOE as a courier, a role mainly performed by women. The daughter of Captain Alfred Rex Knight and his Polish wife, the former Charlotte Beatrice Mary Ditkowski, Peggy was a perfect French speaker and this ability captured the SOE’s attention. On 11 April 1944, Peggy began her training. The SOE rushed her through the course in two weeks during which time she completed only one practice parachute jump from a static balloon instead of the customary three or four. After training, she landed in Vichy France under the code name Nicole to work for the highly compromised and deeply divided Donkeyman network.

Following D-Day, in June and July 1944, Peggy crossed the battle lines many times, carrying intelligence messages and gathering vital information. She did this by travelling vast distances on her bicycle. She also participated in an attack upon a nazi military convoy, firing her Sten submachine gun.

Later in 1944, Peggy narrowly escaped capture and execution when one of her colleagues betrayed her group of resistance fighters to the Nazis. One of thirty people, Peggy fought her way out of a forest through the encirclement. Roger Bardet, the man responsible for the betrayal, was later arrested, tried and sentenced to death as a collaborator. However, his sentence was commuted and ultimately he was released from prison in 1955. Her missions complete, Peggy left the SOE in November 1944. In December 1944, she married Sub -Lieutenant Eric Smith of the Royal Navy and gave birth to two sons within two years. Later, she told a local newspaper that her main concerns now were ‘getting enough soap during austerity to keep the family clean.’ Highly praised by her masters at the SOE for her bravery and commitment, Peggy settled down to a life of domesticity.

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The Man in Green by Stan Phillips A man of mischievous devilry. One who could love those who despised him, who mocked him for his strangeness. Who could respect those who disagreed with him. And who could forget his pain with laughter, and a tankard of ale.

He was the dwarf with a countenance of beauty. And he had journeyed from far away on stunted legs that carried him, filled with pain, along endless roads, and rutted fields.

Oh yes, the world would be grieving his passing yet. If the world could have stopped to really see him. Be aware of his existence. Accepted him for what he was. The pain racked nobility of Yuri, the dwarf with the countenance of beauty.

Strange lands, Strange languages had filled his life till he arrived, by chance, upon this bright and noisy fairground. He sat upon the grass, breathing heavily with the efforts of his travel. His sad eyes were set like sparkling gems, brilliant diamonds shining in the depths of his lined face. His beard, once black, was now ash grey, and an air of doomed sorrow hung about him as he placed his black cap upon his head, rose unsteadily and walked from the fair with the laughter and music echoing in his ears. Unseen Unheeded Unwanted He limped out of sight. Oh, if only they had seen him as he paused briefly there If only they could have explored the soul of him. For he was a man of wondrous character and wisdom.

Celebrating Forests and Wildlife by Melanie P. Smith

March 3rd & 21st

Each year, more than 13 million acres of forest are lost — roughly the size of England. The International Day of Forests was established to bring awareness, increase respect, and ensure forest preservation.

Cover design created to honor World Wildlife Day and International Day of Forests

World Wildlife Day (March 3rd)

In addition to resources like oxygen and wood, forests mean a healthy environment for all of us. They stabilize the climate, control atmospheric temperatures, protect watershed areas, and enrich the soil.

World Wildlife day was established on December 20, 2013 as a way to highlight forests, forest species, and the role these ecosystems play in sustaining life. Between 200 and 350 million people live adjacent to forested areas and depend on the wilderness for their livelihood. March 3rd is a way to celebrate the world’s wild animals and the planet.

President Roosevelt called the forests “the lungs of the earth”. Poets over the centuries have been inspired by their majestic beauty. And, everyday people take a simple walk in the woods looking for solace and peace, to calm their spirit, invigorate their senses, and drive away those winter blues. This March 21st, I hope you will get out and enjoy a forest near you. If you have a chance, take the time to educate the youth in your life. Teach them to love, respect, and enjoy these amazing treasures. We could all use a little calming inspiration in our life.

International Day of Forests (March 21st) When we write in a notebook, take medication, or even build a house we don’t always remember we owe all of this and more to the forests. This international holiday was established on November 28, 2012 to celebrate our planet.

We are excited to announce that Goylake Publishing has teamed-up with the Fussy Librarian and in partnership we are offering you 20% off your first book promotion with the Fussy Librarian. To qualify for this promotion, your book must be either permafree or listed free during a special offer.

In our experience, the Fussy Librarian is the best book promoter in the business. When we promote with him, our free books always reach the top five of Amazon’s genre charts, most often they reach the top three. We promote with the Fussy Librarian every month and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. Prices start from as low as $15, minus our special discount of 20%. Click here: https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake for full details. And, at the checkout, be sure to enter this code: goylake20 to claim your 20% discount. Thank you for your interest. And good luck with your promotion! - 66 -

The winter gloom is behind us and a new birth is just around the corner. The first magazine of the new year is always dedicated to spring, love, and new growth. I hope you will take a minute to check them out.

Brought to you by...

Marketing seems to be one of those areas that every author struggles with. It’s the same struggle companies world-wide have been dealing with for decades. How do I get my product in front of my target audience? Connections eMagazine can help. The publication is free to readers, bloggers and to authors looking for a little extra exposure. Visit our website for details. https://melaniepsmith.com/

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Connections eMagazine is a FREE quarterly publication founded by authors Melanie P. Smith and Rhoda D’Ettore. It is currently produced entirely by Editor, Melanie P. Smith. Over the years, the magazine has evolved and it now features promos, freebies, blog articles, and short stories in every issue.

Discover more about Connections eMagazine on their website here: https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine-landing/ - 67 -

Editor In Chief—Hannah Howe The Editor-in-Chief is the key figure in every publication. Hannah Howe works closely with the editorial staff to ensure the success of each publication. She is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann’s War Mystery Series and Saving Grace. Get to know more about Hannah, her projects and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe/

Executive Editor | Graphic Designer—Melanie P. Smith The Executive Editor / Graphic Designer is responsible for developing the layout and design of MFR eMagazine. She also works hard to create new covers each month that captures the essence of each publication. In addition to the editorial staff of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Melanie P. Smith also produces Connections eMagazine. She is a multi-genre author of Criminal Suspense, Police Procedural, Paranormal and Romance novels. Get to know more about Melanie, her projects, and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/melanie-p-smith/

Managing Editor, Art Director & Proofreader —Sylva Fae Our Managing Editor oversees the physical content of the magazine and coordinates the production schedule. She administers the day-to-day operations of the publication, manages submissions, sets realistic schedules and organizes each edition of the magazine. In addition, Sylva is is responsible for the amazing graphics that appear throughout the publication each month. She works hard to ensure the images capture the spirit and message our author's convey in their articles and stories. As proofreader, she works hard behind the scenes to catch formatting issues and typos. Sylva Fae is a mum of three, a fairy woodland owner, and an author of children’s books. Get to know more about Sylva and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/

Copy Editors / Proofreaders — Wendy H. Jones and Sheena MacLeod We have two Copy Editors that work hard to ensure content is appropriate for the magazine and free of grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. They also ensure good flow, style and consistency based on the authors country of origin. Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/

Sheena Macleod lectured at the University of Dundee, where she gained her PhD. She now lives in a seaside town in Scotland. Reign of the Marionettes is her first novel. She is currently working on two additional books: Tears of Strathnaver and Women of Courage—A Forgotten Figure—Frances Connolly. You can learn more about Sheena on her website: https://www.sheenas-books.co.uk/ - 68 -

Feature Editor—T.E, Hodden As Feature Editor T.E. Hodden works diligently to provide content that is interesting, informative and professional. He is a trained engineer and a life-long fan of comic books, Sci-Fi, myths, legends and history. Get to know more about TE Hodden on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/t-e-hodden/

Marketing Director—Grant Leishman Our Marketing Director, Grant Leishman, oversees marketing campaigns and social media engagement for our magazine. After an exciting career in accounting and journalism, he now focuses on his true calling—writing. Get to know more about Grant on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/grant-leishman/

Young Writer Content Editor—Poppy Flynn Poppy Flynn works hard each month to generate ideas, proofread submitted content, and provide stories, articles, poems and other pieces that are creative and relevant from young writers around the world. Get to know more about our Young Writer Content Editor on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/poppy-flynn/

General Content Writers Our Content Writers are freelance authors who contribute articles, short stories, etc. to the eMagazine on a regular basis. They work hard to make our magazine interesting and professional. Get to know our Content Writers on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: Val Tobin — https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/val-tobin/ Stan Phillips — https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/stan-phillips/ Father Ian Muher — https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/

Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine March 2021

Articles inside

Connections eMagazine

Man in Green by Stan Phillips

Women of Courage: Heroines of SOE by Hannah Howe

Puzzles by Paul Godding

Europe by Book by Hannah Howe

The Diary of Isabella M. Smugge Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

Genealogy by Hannah Howe

Edwin Waugh History by Alan Southworth

Black to Move Supplied by Chess.com

Dignity for All by Father Ian Maher

Writing Your Own Story by John Greeves

Use Reiki to Enhance Psychic Abilities by Val Tobin

A Trip to the Moon for Homework by Navya (Age 6

Communication by Stan Phillips

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss by Sylva Fae

Nostalgia by Chantal Bellehumeur

Things to Celebrate in March by Poppy Flynn

World Cloud for Wellbeing by Shane (Age 9

Molte Grande Reviewed by Grant Leishman

Naught But Love by Stan Phillips

Where Did That Come From? by Wendy H. Jones

What Was I Thinking? by Keith Guernsey

Mad as a March Hare