Goodreads Book Giveaway

Searching for Pi

by Bianca March

Giveaway ends March 14, 2022.

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at Goodreads.

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The post Save Some Pi on Pi Day appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

I appeared on TV Warren News on March 6, 2017. Watch me at this link (segment starts at 7:55) https://vimeo.com/album/2519144/video/207204843

An in-depth interview of me appeared on People & Money on CTTV (Clinton Township TV) on March 14, 2017, Pi Day. You can view it on the CTTV website here: http://96.66.15.183/Cablecast/public-site/index.html#/show/224?channel=2

Book Reader Magazine interviewed me online at http://bookreadermagazine.com/featured-author-bianca-march/

Read Write Club interviewed me online at http://www.readwriteclub.com/bianca-march/

Thank you to everyone who helped promote me and my book. It was such a joy to work with all of you. You made me feel like a star.

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Dianthus flowers

I have finally learned the true identity of this plant and want to share it with everyone. It is called a Dianthus.

I have decided to no longer post free weekly stories on my website BiancaMarch.com. Instead, I am planning on releasing short books for children as Kindle books on Amazon.com. This has been taking me a while because it requires me to learn digital painting, using a Wacom tablet and digital pen. I want to start drawing the Elementrees characters. This task is somewhat intimidating to me, so I have been kind of procrastinating it.

Also, I have been working on other projects and social events that have further delayed this goal of mine. When my new Kindle books come out, you will be the first to know.

Best wishes,

Bianca March

The post The Mystery Plant Revealed appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

Mystery flower bud. All photos by Bianca March.

Pete Moss walked around his backyard and investigated all the different kinds of budding plants. He snapped pictures of some budding trees, herbs, a fern, and flowers he could name for sure.

He found a one-inch tall peony flower bud. It was purplish-pink.

He found snowdrop flower linear leaves. He did not know which ones would grow to have purple or white flowers. He found irises near the snowdrops. They may grow to be blue, purple, or red. There was a fern bud nearby.

In one garden bed, he found wild garlic leaves, budding scallions, and a budding slender donut peach tree.

He visited the dogwood tree he hugged before. It now had budding white flowers. Behind this tree were budding daffodils in the corner of a bed of a row of Ace of Hearts miniature trees. The dogwood tree had an apricot tree for a neighbor on one side.

Parsley was in a corner where a toad usually visits in the late spring.

In his front yard were budding tulips—their flower color was unknown as of yet. Also, here he had two corners of hyacinths—pink, purple, and white, but their colors were secret at the moment.

There was a mystery flower budding in a planter under his bedroom window. Can you guess what these flowers are? There is a picture above. If he figures it out later, he’ll report back to you. He’ll have to find the same variety at the Home Depot—when they bring the flowers around Mother’s Day, May 8—to know for sure.

There are many more things budding in Pete Moss’s garden, but these are the buds he could name for sure now, so early in the Spring.

The post Look What’s Budding appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

It was the evening of Sunday, March 27. Tommy Tomorrow was holding on to the railing of Grandpa Joe’s backyard deck and looking up at the sky.

Grandpa Joe pointed to the waning gibbous moon and asked, “Do you see the man in the moon?”

“Yes, I see him,” Tommy answered, nodding. “He has a great smile.” Tommy turned and gave his grandpa a big smile.

“That’s true. He’s a jolly fellow,” Grandpa Joe said as he looked back at the moon. “So, did he give you a special message during the full moon lunar eclipse?”

“I think so,” Tommy said, bringing a thoughtful finger to his chin.

“Well, what was it this time?”

“It’s written all over his face,” Tommy said, pointing up at the man in the moon. “He said, ‘Don’t worry. Be happy.’ “

“Is that so?” Grandpa Joe said, straightening the brim of his hat.

“Yup,” Tommy said, looking back at the moon. “He wants me to take it easy because with a little thought and effort, I can achieve whatever I put my mind to.”

“The moon is a happy guy, isn’t he?” Grandpa Joe said, motioning toward the moon with his hand.

“Yes. The happiest! Especially when he’s almost full, you can see him smile so big,” Tommy said.

“I’m glad you can see the man in the moon… You know, some people can’t, no matter how hard they try.”

“It’s so obvious to me!” Tommy said surprised. “It’s the first thing I see.”

“Perhaps you’re looking more with your heart than your eyes.”

“Nah! My heart has no eyes! I see it with my real eyes. There are two eyes and a jolly smile right there,” Tommy said, tracing the moon’s face with his finger.

“Well, you don’t have to convince me. I see it, too.”

“Oh, good. Maybe the others just can’t connect the dots—or craters—like me and you.”

“I guess not. Some see a rabbit.”

“A rabbit!? That makes no sense!”

“Some see a lady.”

“No… It looks like a man’s face. You’re ruining it for me, Grandpa,” Tommy said, giving him an exasperated look.

“No two people look at the same object the same way,” Grandpa Joe said, nodding at the moon.

“That sounds kind of sad, Grandpa,” Tommy said, trying to see the rabbit and the lady, but he soon gave up.

“We may see almost the same things, but never exactly the same.”

“So sad, Grandpa. To not see the jolly man in the moon? So obvious to me and some people just can’t see it?!”

“Nope. Some can’t. Try as they might.”

“How can we help them?” Tommy said, passing his gaze between his grandpa and the moon.

“Well, you can tell people what you see, draw it out, write about him. Help them see through your eyes better.”

“Yeah, that’s a pretty good idea. Maybe I’ll work on that tomorrow.”

A silence fell between Grandpa Joe and Tommy as they took in the clear night sky, the stars, and the moon.

“I think you perfectly interpreted the special message from the moon. As your astrologer, I’m afraid I have nothing to add this time, except for giving you an A+. …Don’t worry, be happy. Take it easy and just keep doing your best… Yeah, that’s the ticket.”

“The ticket to where?”

“The ticket to the moon’s heart. Its message to you, straight from that jolly guy’s heart.”

“Does the moon really have a heart, Grandpa? I don’t think so.”

“It does if you want it to.”

“I’ll have to think more about that tomorrow.”

“Use your imagination, Tommy.”

“I can imagine almost anything. But some things are obvious. Like that old man in the moon’s happy face. He always makes me smile.”

“Me, too, Tommy. Me, too.”

Tommy and Grandpa Joe spent a few more minutes outside in the cold brisk night air. Then his parents called them both back inside. It was getting late, 9 p.m. Tommy had to go back home. He had school the next day.

The post The Man in the Moon appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

Lunar eclipse photo courtesy of carsus/pixabay.com

It was Sunday, March 20. Grandpa Joe was sitting in his rocking chair by the lit fireplace. Tommy Tomorrow and his parents were visiting.

Grandpa Joe motioned with his index finger for Tommy to approach him.

Tommy dutifully walked up to Grandpa Joe and sat before his rocking chair.

“So…” Grandpa Joe began. “Did you get your secret message from the eclipse?”

Tommy looked up to the right as he pressed his lips together and thought hard. He sat like this for several seconds. Then he looked at Grandpa Joe, like one adult to another, and said, “I think so, Grandpa.”

“Well, what is it?” Grandpa Joe asked impatiently.

“If I tell you, then it won’t be a secret anymore,” Tommy wisely answered.

“That’s true,” Grandpa Joe said. “But if you don’t tell me, I cannot advise you properly as your astrologer.” Grandpa Joe gave Tommy a wink.

Tommy felt he was being manipulated, but he couldn’t help wanting to know the insights from his astrologer grandfather. “Okay. That sounds like a pretty fair deal,” Tommy said. “The message was, look before you leap, but after you leap, you can still come back and leap again tomorrow.”

“Interesting analysis…” Grandpa Joe said, taking off his hat and bringing it to just below his chin. “And have you leaped so far?”

“Grandpa Joe, I’m in the 3rd grade. I leap everyday!” Tommy said. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and whispered, “I’ve been trying to leap to the moon.” Heaven forbid his parents should find out.

“So you haven’t made it to the…” Grandpa Joe said in a normal volume before he cupped a hand to the side of his mouth and whispered “…moon.”

Tommy shook his head, smiled big, and gave Grandpa Joe an answer he did not expect. “I’ve been there in my imagination many times now. I imagined it clearest after this last eclipse. …So its message was that I’m getting closer.”

“Well, that’s wonderful news!” Grandpa Joe said, putting his hat back on his head and rocking back hard in his chair. “You know, I think, as your astrologer, I can tell you your special message is, don’t give up on your dreams. Keep visualizing them and leaping after them better and wiser.”

Tommy looked down and started fiddling with his shoelaces as he said, “Yeah, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell.”

Grandpa Joe was still fully engaged in the conversation. “This Wednesday, March 23, there will be a full moon lunar eclipse.”

“There’s another one!” Tommy said suddenly looking up. Grandpa Joe had his attention again.

“Yes, they come in pairs—a solar and a lunar eclipse—at least twice a year.”

“Woah! That’s a lot!”

“Now you won’t be able to see this one from Rainbow Falls…”

“I’m used to that by now,” Tommy said rolling his eyes and exhaling.

“The moon will be below the horizon in Rainbow Falls when the eclipse occurs. But you want to know the good news?”

“What?”

“It’s always safe to look at the moon.”

“Thank goodness!” Tommy said. “I look at the moon all the time!”

“This one will be an unusual lunar eclipse because it will be what’s called a penumbral lunar eclipse. This means only the faintest part of the earth’s shadow will be visible on the moon. Most people who can observe this lunar eclipse won’t notice any difference at all.”

“Well, if I could’ve seen it, I bet you I could see the difference!” Tommy said, pointing his thumb to his chest.

“I bet you could,” Grandpa Joe agreed. “Now this one will come with a special message, too. Again, you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m an expert at figuring out these eclipses’ messages by now.”

“I’m sure you are, Tommy. I’m sure you are. I can’t wait to hear what this second message will be for you.”

“Me, too, Grandpa. After me and Bobby, you’ll be the third to know.”

“Well, I couldn’t ask for much more than that!” Grandpa Joe said as he patted Tommy on the back.

Tommy got up and walked over to play with the celestial globe on Grandpa Joe’s end table. He wanted to position things to hold the eclipses in his hands.

For more information on the March 23 penumbral lunar eclipse, visit this website http://earthsky.org/tonight/penumbral-lunar-eclipse-on-march-23

The post Decoding the Solar Eclipse’s Message appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

New moon solar eclipse picture courtesy of Pixabay.com

Grandpa Joe motioned for Tommy Tomorrow to approach him and sit near his rocking chair by the fireplace.

Grandpa Joe had retired a few years ago. He used to run the small grocery store in the country town of Buzzley. Now, in his retirement years, he was finally able to devote his life to his truest passion, Astrology.

“There’s a very special event happening in the stars on March 8,” Grandpa Joe told Tommy in a hushed tone, with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What is it, Grandpa?”

“It’s called an eclipse.”

“Oh, like when the moon covers the sun?”

“That’s right, Tommy, but sometimes, the earth’s shadow covers the sun from the moon.”

“Huh?”

“That’s called a full moon lunar eclipse. This Tuesday at exactly 8:54 p.m. your time, there will be a new moon solar eclipse…the one you’re more familiar with.”

“Do you think I will be able to see it, Grandpa?”

Grandpa Joe’s face suddenly turned to anger. “You are never ever to look at the sun!” he shouted, his hat rattling on his head. “It can make you blind! Or wear glasses before your time! You are never ever to look at the solar eclipse with your bare eyes, either. That’s the same thing! Promise me that, Tommy!”

“I promise, Grandpa. I promise,” Tommy said. Man, this old man is really losing it, he thought. “Geesh! Take it easy. I’m no idiot. I know that already!”

“It’s just that you have this wild sense of adventure in you, Tommy. I know a star when I see one.” He gave Tommy a wink as he settled down.

“Now this Tuesday, no one will be able to even view it from Rainbow Falls—I mean view it with shadow boxes or very special eye gear or very special cameras or telescopes—because that’s the only way to observe a solar eclipse. People can only very carefully, in a highly protected way, watch it mostly from Indonesia this time, but I swear on my hat, we’ll all feel it,” Grandpa Joe took off his hat and dusted it off as he looked in Tommy’s eyes. “Just give it some time, Tommy. Listen hard and really look at your life. The eclipse will have a special message just for you and I don’t want you to miss it.”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll figure out its message alright. Me and outer space are like this!” Tommy crossed his fingers to show Grandpa Joe just how tight he was with the stars.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Grandpa Joe said. “It looks like the stars are already talking with you.”

Tommy’s eyes brightened. He had one more question. “Oh, Grandpa Joe…where’s Indonesia?”

“I study the stars, not geography. Why don’t you grab a map and we’ll look it up together?”

The post The Eclipse’s Message appeared first on Bianca March's Elementrees®.

Sandwich courtesy of ClassroomClipart.com, edited in Photoshop.

Dr. Evol Smell lives in the scary house on Brush Street, the one with the unkept lawn, tattered roof covered in blue tarp, and peppered with dead brown trees, what used to be evergreen trees, around the backyard. He enjoys foiling Amy Lockhart’s and the Elementrees’ plans whenever he can. He especially loves to—as much as he can—keep them from the truth.

One day, he stepped out of his meanie van to put a complaint letter to the newspaper in the mailbox outside his local bank. He left the engine running. When he turned to go back to his van, he saw in all caps on his back window the words “WASH ME!” dry finger-painted through the caked on dirt.

I turn around for a few seconds and this is what happens! he thought. What buffoon could have done this?

The worst part was Murky Waters was in the van the whole time.

Dr. Evol ran inside his van and found Murky snoozing. “Murky! Wake up! My van has been vandalized,” he said in a rushed voice as he shook Murky awake.

“Dr. Evol… Vandalized?” Murky said in a groggy voice. “I fell asleep. So sorry. Do you want me to hunt them down, sir?”

“That will not be necessary. It appears they are sending me a dirty note. Look at my back window.”

“ ‘H SAW EM’ …” Murky said thoughtfully. “Someone named ‘H’ is saying he saw you.”

“It says ‘Wash Me’ you fool! You’re reading it backwards.”

“Oh, of course, sir. I see it now. Not a bad idea, must say.”

Dr. Evol opened his eyes wide and turned toward Murky. “You are to blame for this! As my assistant you are to keep my van clean and free of hoodlums. You failed at both today.”

“Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again. There is a car wash near the gas station. Want to go now?”

Following Murky’s navigation, Dr. Evol successfully pulled into the $2 Car Wash.

“I forgot an umbrella, sir,” Murky said before their van entered the car wash.

“You can borrow mine,” Dr. Evol said. “I always carry a spare.” They both opened up their umbrellas, even though they had little chance of getting wet from inside the van.

At the end of the car wash tunnel, Dr. Evol paid the towel driers $2. “Don’t expect a tip,” he told them as he gave one of them the money.

He parked his car before the vacuums and simply said, “You can vacuum now.”

“It is my pleasure, sir,” Murky said as he opened the door and flew out like a wild bird escaping a cage. He could finally breathe again, it was so smelly in the van. He vacuumed all around the inside of the van as Dr. Evol adjusted his position as needed.

“Very well, Murky. That is enough,” Dr. Evol said at one point.

Murky got back in the van and said, “I live to serve you, sir.”

“Yes, I know Murky. That is why I want to reward you.” Dr. Evol took half of a battered tuna sandwich out of a bag and handed it to Murky. Murky could now identify the smell: it was coming from that sandwich! “I insist you have half of my sandwich,” Dr. Evol said as Murky felt trapped.

“Oh, Dr. Evol, you are much too generous with me after I have so failed you.”

“I insist,” Dr. Evol repeated in a deep voice.

Murky’s eyes watered. “Your generosity brings me to tears, sir.” Murky’s face turned red and his mouth twisted into odd shapes. He closed his eyes, took a bite, and managed to hold it down. “I’ll save the rest for later,” Murky said as he quickly put it back in the bag and smiled at Dr. Evol. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’ve redeemed yourself, Murky. We can eat tuna again for lunch tomorrow.”

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