Fran loved Kipling, Omar Khayyam, and A.A. Milne, (Winnie the Pooh), Robert Service and The Congo, by Vachel Linsay... Here's just a few of the poems she often recited - astonishingly, some completely by heart - and almost always accurately.

High Flight - John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Gunga Din - Rudyard Kipling

The Congo - Vachel Lynsay

"I used to believe in forever . . . but
forever was too good to be true."
Winnie the Pooh

"The atmospheric conditions have been very unfavourable lately,"
said Owl.
"The what?"
"It has been raining," explained Owl.
"Yes," said Christopher Robin. "It has."

Mom used to write us letters in mirror writing or "backwards letters" - she did this freehand without the aid of any mirror.  Here are a couple of fairly recent examples:

If you can't read it - go get a mirror..... or click here

If you can't read it - go get a mirror..... or click here