My Love of History

The bombing of Berlin was a horrific ordeal for German civilians. My mother-in-law Gerda Drews, who turns 98 years old on December 1, 2025, lived to tell her story.

Shopping for thrifted treasures is my favourite form of relaxation. Here are ten great finds that I enjoy every day, including this striped Hudson Bay trading blanket.

When I wanted to salvage a wrecked log cabin and bring it home, my husband thought I was off my rocker! Now it’s a charming addition to our acreage, and a perfect home for my favourite Canadiana collectables.

My mother’s hat collection gave me the idea to host a Fancy Hat Contest at the launch of my new historical novel, Finding Flora.

What homesteaders ate depended on what they could buy and bring with them, plus what they could harvest and kill. Some of the less fortunate were forced to give up their homesteads or starve to death.

Visiting the rebuilt Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Germany, was one of the most inspirational experiences of my life.

Four generations of my Indigenous roots are buried at St. Andrews-on-the-Red Anglican Church in this small community near Winnipeg, Manitoba. My brother Rob Florence and I visited their graves recently, paying homage to our joint Scottish-Cree heritage.

There’s a common misconception about what homesteaders wore, since women arriving on this continent at the turn of the century were more likely to dress in close-fitting dark skirts and high-necked blouses rather than the calico gowns and sunbonnets seen in Little House on the Prairie.

The historic Wallace Stegner House in Eastend, Saskatchewan is my home for the month of June, and this heritage home is just filled with charm and atmosphere.

I have two slender connections with the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, but both are very meaningful: my hometown library, and my new book.