Political Warning & Recipes

 I am beinning this post on my birthday (Friday, the 19th), acknowledging that this is the one that tips me from being "old" to "ancient." A seer, perhaps—certainly I've seen a great deal of history flow past and, I hope, acquired a bit of wisdom along the way.

Due to recent dire events in Pennsylvania, I've been on a political moratorium this past week, biting my tongue on words I was poised to say before I saw blood running down the face of a candidate for the American Presidency. The result of a gun culture I abhor. The days of the Wild West should have been allowed an honorable death a century ago.

Today, I'm going to stick to the innocuous—a couple of tasty recipes before I gnash my teeth and plunge into the political fray.

 Gallery:

For pure fun, a video of my daughter Susie back when she was performing as Susie K, and her girls having a ball imitating Mom.

To view the video, https://www.facebook.com/1367214104/videos/10206825819748527 

 

Birthday-shopping at Sephora

 

Below, more funny than titillating - just keep reading.

 

 

  ~ * ~

Realizing I was so busy writing lately that I was sticking to same-old, same-old menus, I spent a bit of time going through lists I'd made of choice recipes in the past and came up with three I needed to resurrect. Below, the two I've enjoyed over the last couple of weeks. And, yes, they were worth the brief search of my "Good" file. (Actually, I'd marked the pork loin recipe, "Excellent!")

From Taste of Home's Back to School mini-mag, October 2015:

 

 ONION-APPLE PORK CHOPS

 Note:  Though perfect for a single like me, this recipe can easily be doubled.

 2 boneless pork loin chops (4 oz. ea.)

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium apple, peeled and thinly sliced

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Sprinkle chops with garlic salt and lemon pepper. In a large ovenproof skillet, brown chops in oil. Remove and keep warm.*

2.  In the same skillet, sauté apple and onion in drippings until tender. Stir in broth and syrup. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated. Return chops to pan.

3. Cover pan and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until thermometer reads 145°.

*Microwave, Power Level 1 will do it.

******

 From Taste of Home Quick & Light, 2014:

Note:  Since this recipe was printed, the size of tuna cans seems to have changed. I use two 4-oz. cans and increased the other ingredients to fit. [Or you can use one can and cut the other ingredients accordingly—except you'd waste a lot of artichoke hearts that way. They don't come in super-small.) Or . . . you can use three 4-oz. cans, which doubles the original recipe. There are plenty of artichoke hearts, even in the smallest jar.]

1 can (6 oz.) water-packed tuna, drained & flaked

1/3-1/2 cup coarsely chopped water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed & drained

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

½ cup shredded Mexican cheese, divided*

¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

1/8 teaspoon dried oregano

2 English muffins, split in half

In small bowl, combine tuna, artichokes, mayonnaise, ¼ cup cheese, lemon-pepper & oregano. Spread over English muffin halves.

Place on baking sheet.** Broil 4-6" from heat for 3-5 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; broil 1-2 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted.

*I use Kraft Pepperjack.

**I use a granite-ware broiler pan that hasn't aged a day in 30 years.

~ * ~

After having my first experience of being censored by Facebook on Saturday morning, I've chosen to feature the book that triggered a censorship battle with Amazon:  The Bastard Prince. Amazon was offended by the title; I countered that it was an accepted word for a child born to a couple who weren't married. After several go-rounds—I'd even gone as far as asking my cover artist to revise the title—Amazon gave in, okaying The Bastard Prince. 

[This morning's problem with Facebook? Evidently, their AI did not approve of my comment about a Trump rally, a comment I considered relatively mild and likely unintelligible to most of the audience, as it was aimed at those with some knowledge of WWII and the decade leading up to it. Sigh.]

The Bastard Prince is Book Three of the Blue Moon Rising series. Although this is K'kadi's book, he also appears in each book of the series and in the spin-off, The Crucible Kingdom.

 

 What to do with K'kadi Amund, the youngest of four royal children—the one who doesn't talk? The young man of almost twenty-one who can still lose himself in moments of beauty, or moments of disaster. "Unreliable" and "weird" are some of the kinder things said about him. So why does S'sorrokan, leader of the rebellion against the Regulon Empire, consider him one of his most vital assets? But even when K'kadi comes into his own and gets what was once his greatest desire, he discovers that growing up comes with a price.

Author's Note: The four books of the Blue Moon Rising series are a classic tale of rebellion against an evil Empire. But in addition to the usual variety of strong male characters—friend and foe—the stories feature multiple romances, brave and powerful female characters, and frequent female point of view. If you want romance (but not hot sex) with your adventure, these are the books for you. If you want only male derring-do and emotions turn you green, probably not.

 ~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)    

 

Straying into Politics

 [Next post - Saturday, July 20]

(currently in final edits for The Abandoned Daughter]

 

Below, the extended Reale family celebrating Susie's birthday. From Mama Grace and the birthday girl to Mike and his mother (seated across from each other); his father and brother to—way in the back—two of the grandgirls (Riley & Cousin Lionel, both working at The Capital Room), Cassidy's boyfriend, and last but never least, three generations of the girls' former nanny's family. Nanny Omaira; her daughter, Maria (assistant nanny); and back with my grandgirls, Maria's daughter, Camilla! Basically, representatives of a variety of cultures: Nebraska, New England & Florida's Central Gulf Coast, Argentina, Kansas City, and Colombia.

 

And just a few days later - the big holiday that couldn't have made it without Thomas Jefferson. This humorous view posted by our former Orlando friend, Terry Baber, who moved to the great Northwest umpteen years ago.

 

 That's all the fun, folks. Sigh.

Grace Note:  Authors are advised to never discuss politics, less they alienate some of their potential readers, but as the photo above proves, I'm getting along in years, enough so that I feel free to express myself about what may be one of the most significant elections in U. S. history. So from time to time between now and November, please bear with me expressing some strong personal views on what is happening in the good old U. S. of A.

Yes, Joe Biden is a great man. His soothing expertise was just what the country needed after the appallingly inept "reign" of Donald Trump. And Biden has done marvelous things. It puzzles me that so few seem able to recognize it. But the fact remains that I am among those who would prefer to see someone else head the Democratic ticket this fall. Below is a repeat of what I posted to Facebook a few days ago.

I remember when the candidate for President was not decided until each party's political convention. And there were some really exciting moments when it took a vast amount of maneuvering and multiple votes before the winner was declared. Not that Trump would ever loose his choke-hold on the Republicans long enough for anyone else to be considered, but I am all in favor of the Dems giving it a go. Alas, to win the national election, the Democratic Party needs more than a solid, forward-looking platform. It needs Charisma, Youth, Fresh Blood; a dynamic speaker who can grind Trump into the dust. Yes, I belong to the NEVER-TRUMP movement and will vote for the incumbent, if necessary. But as someone who is far older than Joe Biden but likes to think she has all her marbles, I know how much tireder I get, how fewer things I can accomplish now than when I was younger. Sorry, Joe, but it's time to go. Our country's future is at risk. We must ensure that a megalomaniac bent on dictatorship is never again allowed to "rule" the U S of A.

~ * ~

 This week's featured book:

 As far as I can recall, I have only one book that features politics, A Gamble on Love. I wrote this classic traditional Regency while living in Venice, FL, and the library there ordered in a book on "British politics before the reforms of 1825" from the UCF library in Orlando(!), or I never, ever could have written this book. Believe me, A Gamble on Love is as authentic a portrayal of politics at the time as I could make it. And there are some good Christmas scenes, if memory doesn't fail.

 Miss Aurelia Trevor has a problem. Until she reaches the age of twenty-five, she will have no control over her beloved Pevensey Park, and by that time her unscrupulous uncle will have run it into the ground. Marriage to someone other than her uncle's leering son is her only way out, but, one by one, she rejects the men on her list of suitors. In desperation, Aurelia does the unthinkable. She hires a solicitor to find her a husband strong enough to stand up to both her uncle and her cousin. And soon learns the truth of that old adage: Be careful what you wish for.

Thomas Lanning is a man of the City. Unlike Aurelia, who stands to inherit vast land and wealth, he has made his own place in the world. He is not at all tempted by the suggestion of marriage to an heiress, but other considerations, such as a power base for a seat in Parliament, tweak his interest. Plus an unexpected twinge of chivalry when he hears the full extent of Miss Trevor's difficulties with her uncle and his family.

Aurelia, who only wants to live in peace on her acres, finds she has acquired a ready-made family in Thomas's younger sister and brother, as well as a head-strong husband whose campaign for MP fills her household with a shockingly odd assortment of characters. It seems her marriage of convenience is fast becoming a marriage of inconvenience. Just how far will this strong-willed pair bend to accommodate each other? And will they do it before it's too late?

Reviews:

"Blair Bancroft's warm and tender [novel] boasts a great heroine in Aurelia: She's attractive, courageous, vulnerable and intelligent."
Robin Taylor, Romantic Times

"Reading how they gradually learn to like and eventually love each other is wonderful. Blair Bancroft is now definitely one of my favorite traditional Regency authors and this book is a prime example of why."
Nicole Hulst, Romance Junkies

"Set against a backdrop of rural politics (and a fascinating look at the early world of 'buying votes') this is a story that entrances, enlightens and endears."
Celia at A Romance Review

 ~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)    

The Gothic Novel - Breaking the Rules

My daughter posted this list to Facebook. I have no idea where she found it, but I thought my readers might appreciate it, especially the authors. (Though I'm inclined to break some of these rules too.)

And now . . . from my daughter's Smart phone . . .

 Susie had to work, so we arrived late at The Capital Room Bar's Burlesque Night, but not too late to have fun!

 

And from last night at Susie's birthday party at Texas Roadhouse . . .

 

 Susie and I have done drink selfies from Venice, FL to Venice, Italy—even at Dublin airport, as I recall. Though I think last night at Texas Roadhouse in Sanford was the noisiest setting I can recall.

 

THE GOTHIC NOVEL - BREAKING THE RULES

Warning:  Be wary of breaking the rules until you've written a good many books; even then, do it only if you're an indie author with no editor or marketing department to please! 

Why did I break so many rules while writing The Abandoned Daughter?

Except for the periods when I was writing Regency Romance for Signet, Contemporary Romance for Kensington, and, later, Regency Historicals for the Ellora Cave's non-erotic historical line, I have made an effort not to repeat myself—except, of course, for the obligatory HEA ending. When planning a book, I work at finding a different setting, a different plot, a different set of secondary characters. And I switch genres, from Gothics rife with things that go bump in the night to Regency Romance and Adventure with a dash of comedy, to Regency Historicals with some highly serious plots, and back to Contemporary Mystery, even a Medieval and a Steampunk! 

This variety pleases my need for something new and different, and, I hope, keeps me sharp. As well as satisfying my readers' hopes for a novel that isn't "same-old, same-old."

So, yes, after eleven Regency Gothics, I decided to break as many rules as I could while writing #12. (Jury still out on that one.) But this week, as I finished the draft of The Abandoned Daughter, it seemed a good time to look back and see which rules I broke and which I kept. So . . .

THE BROKEN RULES:

1.  Setting. As all Gothic aficionados know, an eerie setting is traditional:  a castle, a dilapidated mansion, maybe with a ghost or two.

The setting for The Abandoned Daughter is Bath, one of the most serene and beautiful cities in the realm. Bad things wouldn't dream of happening there.

2.  Hero. Heroes in Gothic novels are frequently unsympathetic, if not downright disbelieving of the heroine's fear that she is being threatened. On occasion, the so-called heroes are even suspected of being the villain wishing the heroine dead.

In The Abandoned Daughter, although the hero is seen by the heroine as a villain, she finds it impossible to believe he wants her dead. He does, in fact, become her Knight Errant, determined to save her from whatever danger stalks her.

3.  Point of View. Gothic novels are customarily told from the viewpoint of the heroine, isolating her from all hints of what is going on outside her immediate area. The Abandoned Daughter, however, uses multiple POVs, with little more than paragraphing to mark the switch.  (As Georgette Heyer did in her Regency novels, a practice that causes some NY editors to cringe.)                               

4.  Bodies.  Traditional Gothic novels are usually more Threat than the castle floor being strewn with bodies. Even if deaths are present, one or two is the customary max.

In The Abandoned Daughter the body count is high. Necessary to the plot twist mentioned below.

5.  Isolation.  Customarily, the heroine is afflicted by a feeling of isolation (one of the main reasons for telling the story in first person). The heroine in The Abandoned Daughter is positively surrounded by well-wishers and protectors.

6.  Plot Twist. In the final action scene in most Gothic novels, the hero demonstrates he is true blue by rescuing the heroine or the heroine miraculously saves herself,

In The Abandoned Daughter there is a plot twist I hope will come as a true surprise. (And no, I'm not telling!)

 

RULES KEPT:

1.  Heroine's lowly position.  Many Gothic novel heroines are governesses or companions. Although some Gothics feature married heroines, their marriages were often sparked by convenience rather than love or even affection. The husbands tend to be absent, indifferent, or even threatening; the female, seemingly powerless.

2.  Menace. A sense of Menace is a vital ingredient in a Gothic novel. The heroine must feel threatened—although calmer moments are allowed, leading both heroine and readers into thinking all might be well.

3.  Eerie Atmosphere. Ghosts, fog, wild moors are a Gothic novelist's favorite ploy. In The Abandoned Daughter, with Bath bisected by the River Avon, there was no doubt which eerie staple would be employed.

* * * * *

 I have undoubtedly missed a point or two, but you get the gist of it. It remains to be seen if readers will consider beautiful Bath as an acceptable Gothic setting. Hopefully, The Abandoned Daughter will debut in late July.

~ * ~

  Blair's Gothic novels, in order

(available from most online vendors)

 

 

Brides of Falconfell

The Mists of Moorhead Manor

The Demons of Fenley Marsh

The Welshman's Bride

Tangled Destinies

The Blackthorne Curse

The Ghosts of Rushton Court

Shadows Over Greystoke Grange

The Vicar's Daughter

The Secrets of Stonebridge Castle

Menace at Lincourt Manor

The Abandoned Daughter (July)

~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)    

 

Heart-warming Tale from WWII

  Next blog:  June 29, 2024

Borrowed from a friend's FB page

 The 80th anniversary celebrations of D-day reminded me of a story I haven't told in a while; if ever on this blog.

Background:

Although my husband's father and brother were Yale graduates—his brother (five years older)ended up writing press releases for Admiral Halsey, commander of the Pacific Fleet—Elliott, for a variety of reasons, including dyslexia and a wicked step-mother, went to work at Pratt & Whitney (Hartford, CT) after high school, soon earning an exorbitant hourly rate as a machinist. After Pearl Harbor, though exempt from the draft because of his job, he signed up for the Army. And, no surprise, ended up in an Ordnance Battalion. Ordnance are the mechanics who keep things running—tanks, trucks, armored personnel carriers, Jeeps, etc. 

Elliott refused OCS (Officer Candidate School) as all new officers were being sent to the Pacific and he wanted to see Europe. It wasn't long, however, before he was a Master Sergeant, right arm to the colonel of his Battalion. Before D-day, the battalion was stationed in Bath, UK, their primary function to ready tanks for the invasion. After the invasion, they coped with the constant battle to keep all vehicles moving; in particular, cannabalizing nearly destroyed tanks for parts to fix tanks that weren't as badly damaged. 

At the time of this story, the Battalion was well behind the lines in France, the fighting moving inexorably on towards Germany. Some thirty years later, my mother, the author, Wilma Pitchford Hays, recorded Elliott's "organ" story in detail in Guideposts, a religious magazine, but I've been through every drawer of our filing cabinets and cannot find a copy, so will have to settle for what I can remember. 

 

TALE OF THE MIRACULOUS RESTORATION OF 

AN ORGAN, SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE (1944)

In an effort to thwart the invasion, the German Army removed every road sign in France. All Elliott's Ordnance Battalion knew was that they were somewhere in France. (People were speaking French, and welcoming the Yanks in their midst!) One family even invited Elliott and a friend to dinner. Though neither the Americans nor the French spoke a word of the other's language, a good time was had by all. On the way back to camp, Elliott noticed a church and decided to try the door. (He had been playing organ or piano for services of every denomination since he joined up.)

The church was open; they found the organ. And discovered it could do nothing but wheeze. The two men left, but an idea had been born. The next evening, after their army day was done, they loaded up a bunch of tools and headed back to the village. Being winter, it was dark, the streets deserted. They entered the church and began to dismantle the organ, laying the pieces out on the pews. Then the restoration:  mending the mouse-eaten bellows, dusting, polishing; who knows what else? After that, the meticulous task of putting it all back together. The result:  a working organ. (As I recall, it was an ancient type that worked by pushing on foot pedals, no electricity involved.) 

During the entire time—pretty much all night—no one came in. The two men packed up, returned to camp without seeing a single soul. The next day, their orders came through, and the Battalion moved on. Elliott always ended his story with his hope that someday, while passing through France after the war, he would hear the tale of a French village that celebrated the miraculous restoration of their church's organ.

Postscript:

Elliott finally went to Yale on the GI bill, where he founded the Yale Audio-Visual Center with photos he took of cathedrals and artwork throughout Western Europe. His Ordnance Battalion had a reunion every year for decades. I suspect the Tale of the Restoration of the Organ may have been one of their most oft-repeated stories. Elliott was a Fellow of Branford College at Yale and was the first undergraduate bellringer, appointed only after showing a music book in which he had transcribed multiple hymns to fit Yale's ten bass bells. [Many years later, he was instrumental in Yale acquiring forty new bells to add to Harkness Tower's original ten. (He learned bell-ringing while stationed in Bath, UK.)] Elliott Hirsch Kone (1920-1998) was Jewish.

~ * ~

My respect for the men and women who defend their country and way of life is strong. Perhaps that is why so many of my Regency novels feature warriors who fought long and hard against Napoleon's attempts to be Emperor of Europe and the Mediterranean. Below, my Regency Warrior series, the illustration from the final book.

 

 In order:

The Sometime Bride

Tarleton's Wife

O'Rourke's Heiress*

Rogue's Destiny*

The Lady Takes a Risk

The Abominable Major

*The hero is a warrior, but not soldier.

 

Other Regency novels by BB, with connections

to the Napoleonic wars.

The Demons of Fenley Marsh

The Secrets of Stonebridge Castle 

And Freedom Fighters in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

The Blue Moon Rising Series

Rebel Princess

Sorcerer's Bride

The Bastard Prince

Royal Rebellion

~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)     

Cafloutis, cafloutis—what's a Cafloutis?

 

A different deer pic from Susan Coventry

Sadly, add "Amen."

 

WHAT'S A CAFLOUTIS?

 I have lived a great many years, more than I care to admit, but the word "cafloutis" never crossed my path until last week while reading recipes in the weekly Cooking section of The Orlando Sentinel. But here was a recipe was for:  "Raspberry Almond Cafloutis," and I love raspberries. Therefore, even though I'd sworn off collecting any more recipes, I succumbed to temptation, promptly baking it for Cassidy's graduation party, as there was no way I could ever eat something with two baskets of raspberries all by myself.

So what's a cafloutis? After sampling, I'd call it an "adult dessert." Healthy ingredients, not too sweet. For kids, you might want to sprinkle with powdered sugar, but frankly, a clafloutis—with the consistency of cheesecake but without the cheese—is a sophisticated taste more appealing to health-conscious grown-ups. 

Two of the people at the party asked for the recipe, so since I had it all typed up, I thought I'd share it with my readers. (I was fortunate enough to get PERFECT raspberries from the small Publix near me. Only one throw-away in each box.) [The photo, below, taken from the newspaper, is the best I could do. Too busy cooking & transporting to think of taking a photo of my own effort.]

 

RASPBERRY-ALMOND CAFLOUTIS

Special note: This is a dessert with more appeal to adults than to children (minimally sweet). Also, flavor is best if served at room temperature.

1 cup almond flour
½ cup sugar
3 large eggs
½ teaspoon almond extract
Pinch of salt
1¼ cups Half & Half
3 cups fresh raspberries (12 oz.)
Unsalted butter, for greasing pan
Powdered sugar to sprinkle on top (optional)

1. Heat oven to 375°.
2. Put almond flour, sugar, eggs, almond extract & salt into blender. Blend on medium speed for a minute or so, until well combined. Scrape the bowl as necessary.
3. Add Half & Half and blend again.
4. Butter a 10" round baking dish or cast iron skillet. Arrange raspberries over bottom of dish.
5. Pour batter over berries. Bake on TOP shelf of oven rack for 30-35 minutes,* until puffed and lightly browned on top. (A toothpick or knife inserted in center should come out clean.)
6. Cool clafoutis to room temperature. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar.** Serve in wedges, directly from pan.

*My cafloutis never did quite “set.” Perhaps because I used the next-to-top shelf. I took it out at somewhere between 35-40 minutes.

** I did not use powdered sugar - much too sweet for my taste.


FYI, clafoutis can be made ahead, refrigerated overnight. Just be sure to take it out several hours before serving.
 

For Floridians:  Almond flour is available at Publix under the Greenwise brand.

~ * ~

My featured book for this week is my only Young Adult and my only book with a Medieval setting. However, The Captive Heiress, should appeal to all those who enjoy History with a good dollop of Romance thrown in. Many of the characters are real—Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine; their sons, Richard and John (made famous by the legends of Robin Hood). Many of the events in the book are also true, including Eleanor's capture. This was an era when the castles of the weak were regularly seized by the strong, with the estates of orphans particularly vulnerable. Also:  the story about William Marshall as a hostage is true, his father's words verbatim, a tale that has resounded down through the ages. 

Even if you're a devotee of the Regency, I invite you to check out the turbulent times of the Twelfth Century. I think you'll find they have a familiar ring. (The Richard and John of the Robin Hood tales are children in this book.)

 

Of all my books, the most beautiful cover

Alecyn de Beauclaire, an orphaned heiress, is taken captive at age nine by the Earl of Rocheford who wants to enjoy the income from her estates. Her first friend in the strange new world at Castle Rocheford is Ranulf Mort à Mer, a descendant of Vikings and a penniless squire with no hope of ever being able to afford a horse and armor so he can become a knight. As the years go by, their friendship is unwavering, even when tested by the preaching of monks who declare that all women are evil and should be shunned.

When Alecyn is almost fourteen (a marriageable age in Medieval times) King Henry II makes Alecyn his ward. She is thrilled because she knows the king will want to keep her money for himself and, therefore, will not marry her off for several more years. Perhaps there is still time for Ranulf to become a knight and distinguish himself in battle.

In her position as companion to the royal children and songstress to the royal court, Alecyn learns not only the epic romance of chivalry, but the dark side of romance as she witnesses the love/hate relationship between the king and queen. Ranulf, meanwhile, learns to fight side by side with a new friend, William Marshall. But even Ranulf's eventual elevation to knighthood is not enough to qualify for the hand of an heiress to four fine estates.

Until, one day, Queen Eleanor goes for a hunt on her lands in the Aquitaine, and Ranulf and his friend, William Marshall, are among her escorts. Perhaps, just perhaps, if the three young people survive captivity by Eleanor's rebellious knights, they may have a future after all. But which young knight will King Henry choose for Alecyn?

Author's Note: The Captive Heiress was written as a painless way for people from nine to ninety to learn about Medieval times, particularly the tumultuous twelfth century. In addition to a look at the dramatic lives of King Henry and Eleanor, readers will catch a glimpse of the early days of their many children, including Richard and John who became famous through the Robin Hood legend. Another very important character is William Marshall, often called the greatest knight who ever lived. Please see the "Whatever Happened to . . ." section at the back of the book for the rest of the story of the many real characters in The Captive Heiress.

~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)