Delightfully Peculiar by Eileen O'Finlan

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I love to read all the blog posts by BWL authors, but I get a special jolt of “yippee!” when I open my email to find a post by Stuart R. West.  Stuart’s sense of humor is just so appealing to me. When I discovered he writes paranormal novels, one of my favorite genres, I had to give Peculiar County a try. I am so glad I did because I have not had such pure fun reading a novel in quite some time.

In Peculiar County, fifteen year old Dibby Caldwell, the daughter of the town’s mortician, is haunted by the ghost of a boy who won’t leave her alone until she discovers and reveals the true cause of his death. Dibby gets some help from James, the outcast, new boy in town. From everyone else, her father included, she finds nothing but hindrance, including some of the supernatural variety.

Every character in this book is unique – peculiar in their own way. Not necessarily in a bad way, though whether or not some are malicious is intentionally questionable. Yet no character is so over-the-top as to be unbelievable. That is, at least as long as the character lives in Peculiar County.

A lot of strange things go on in Peculiar County, but Dibby, a native to the county, takes them in stride. Her new friend, James, has a little trouble adapting so Dibby helps him understand that his new home isn’t quite the same as anywhere else.

What I found so delightful about this book was the author’s voice. West mixes eerie paranormal with a smattering of off-beat humor to perfection.  I don’t remember the last time a silly grin was plastered across my face for the endurance of an entire novel, but I’m pretty sure it was with this one. It’s not the reaction one usually has to a creepy, paranormal story. I must be a bit peculiar.

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One War Bride Memory

Left-Behind Bride

What about the War Brides?

Maggie Bension in the book shown was a (fictional) war bride/widow from Canada. Many other war brides came from overseas with their soldier husbands.





 

After WW1 54,000 civilians came to Canada with their soldier husbands and fathers. Although some War Brides and their children came from France and the Netherlands, most came from the UK. 

Not all War Brides were welcomed by their husband's families or communities. Many Canadian young women were anticipating finding husbands among the returning men and weren't pleased the men been "snapped up" by British women. Husbands were is short supply as 3 to 4 milliion ben were killed during the war years. (All countries.) @ 61,000 of those men were Canadians.

The young women shipped from overseas had no idea what Canada was like. They were unprepared for the open, vacant, unpopulated spaces of the Western Prairies and the crudities of life on a homestead. Many ended up in small villages so unlike home and with no other “bride” in town. Strangers alone in a strange land.

One such British bride ended up in my mother's home village of Sherbrook, Nova Scotia. My grandmother (Lena Harriet (Marshal) Ross) befriended her and they were the BFF's of the time. Unfortunately, I don't know the woman's name. But at some point, the English gal gave my mother one of the prize possessions she'd brought from England--a china tea cup and saucer made in the 1800's.

The delicate teacup came down through the family with the story and now is displayed my home. It is a reminder of the importance of friendships and reaching out to those around us. A memento of a difficult time in our history.

What family mementos do you have? And what is the story behind them?

Parsley by Rosemary Morris

Click on the cover to learn more about Rosemary Morris' books.

Parsley
I spend hours in solitary confinement writing romantic historical fiction and reading historical nonfiction to research my novels. After long periods of physical inactivity work in my organic garden. where I grow delicious produce, provides fresh air and exercise.
Parsley is one of my favourite beneficial and tasty herbs. It provides essential minerals including iron and calcium and the vitamins A and C. This herb acts as a valuable carminative, tonic, aperient and diuretic and has many uses in the kitchen. It is difficult to grow from seed, but plants bought from a garden centre or supermarket thrive planted as an attractive border along a garden bed, in a herb bed or in containers. If it is not allowed to self-seed parsley produces abundantly and survives the winter
In times past herbs were depended on for culinary flavour and for their medicinal properties far more than they are today. I am as passionate about their use in an age when fast food is popular as I am about writing historical fiction.
Parsley is one of my favourite low maintenance herbs. It acts as a valuable carminative, tonic, aperient and diuretic.
During the First World War, after dysentery soldiers frequently suffered from kidney problems for which parsley tea proved useful. This herb has many medical uses and is particularly helpful for women. According to my research and practical it stimulates the appetite, helps digestion and elimination, soothes the nerves and helps with premenstrual tension and bloating. Taken every day it is useful during the menopause.

Some Vegetarian Egg Free Recipes
Souper A La Bonne Femme
To promote women’s good health.
3 tablespoons butter.
6 tablespoons flour
1pint/600 ml full fat cow’s milk.
1 vegetable soup stock cube
Half cup single cream
100 grams/four ounces finely chopped parsley leaves.

Melt the butter stir in the flour. Slowly add and stir in the milk and water. Add the soup stock cube. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat. Add the cream and simmer the soup gently without it coming to the boil until it thickens. Before serving add the parsley, and salt and pepper if needed. Serve at once.

Parsley Sandwiches
Sliced wholemeal bread
Butter
Cream cheese
Finely chopped parsley leaves
Sea salt or table salt
Black pepper

Spread half the slices with butter and the other half with cream cheese. Sprinkle the cream cheese with parsley, salt and black pepper on the other half of the slices. Cover them with the buttered slices, Cut the sandwiches into quarters and serve



Parsley Butter
3 ounces/75 grams of butter.
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Sea salt or table salt and black pepper

Use cool, firm butter not taken straight out of the refrigerator. Mix the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Chill the parsley butter until it is firm.

* * *
Author’s Note. There are many recipes for parsley e.g. parsley dumplings, parsley tonic, fried parsley etc., to enjoy.



Novels by Rosemary Morris

Early 18th Century novels: Tangled Love, Far Beyond Rubies, The Captain and The Countess

Regency Novels False Pretences, Sunday’s Child, Monday’s Child, Tuesday’s Child, Wednesday’s Child and Thursday’s Child. Friday’s Child to be published this month.

Mediaeval Novel Yvonne Lady of Cassio. The Lovages of Cassio Book One



www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary