Fritz, Valerie E.: - Valerie E. Fritz has always appreciated the wisdom her mother shared with her about gardening over the years. It gave her mother great joy to plant, grow, and tend to a garden. When Valerie's own children began to share in that joy, she was inspired to write this book. She started it in 1992 and saved it on a floppy disk. By the time she came back to it, floppy disks were long gone, but the heart of the story remained-and Grandma's Blue Bucket was born.

In her spare time, Valerie loves going for long walks in nature, horseback riding on summer days, going to Farmers' Markets, cooking with fresh vegetables, baking bread, and spending time with family, friends, and her beautiful grandchildren. She lives in southern Alberta.