Read a Good Book lately?

Three great books to tell you about....
2 out of 3 are places I happen to have been lately. I think I am subconciously choosing books to recapture my travels.



"The Homecoming of Samuel Lake"
 by Jenny Wingfield

I found this book while shopping in Salida, Colorado in a little bookstore. It was on a shelf marked "owner's favorites" so I had to try it out....I wasn't dissapointed!


This book is set in rural Arkansas (not anywhere I happened to be this year) and it feels like it is around the late 1950's. This is Jenny Wingfield's first novel and she does a great job creating a family with characters you feel you might know. This book has humor, heartache, and suspense. This book reminded me of  "Rainwater" by Sandra Brown and as you may know that is one of my favorites.

"The Shoemaker's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani
This book has been my favorite read this year. I may be a little bias because as soon as I returned from Italy, I read it. It took me rght back. But it is truly a fantastic book. A beautiful love story and epic novel. I can't do it justice so I will let Adriana Trigiani herself tell you about it.

"On Folly Beach" by Karen White          

A 1940's love story set on the edge of America during war world II. It's connected to present day when Emmy Hamilton discovers "messages" written in the margins of books bought at an estate sale. Emmy is grieving from her own war loss, and so she moves to Folly to learn to let go and solve the 1940's mystery.  From the first chapter I was hooked. I can usually figure out the ending of a book about mid-way through...this one had me until the last turn of the page.

Hope you enjoy one or all of them...let me know!

Saving The Best for Last

Yes, yes I know....we are off on yet another vacation. I am the first to admit we have been excessively blessed this year with our travels. This last trip is our annual Grand Lake Adventure. We spend a glorious week right on the banks of Grand Lake in the little town of Grove.

 The "resort" we stay in is a quaint little campground of cinder block cabins circa 1950's. Two of the families we vacation with have been coming to this same "resort" for over 15 years. It has everything from a slappin' screen door to a green vinyl couch!

But it is tranquil, peaceful, and right on the water. By morning the mist rolls over the lake and by night the tree frogs came out to serenade. (I don't know what a tree frog is....that's what Dennis calls them. I think he is pulling my leg).

What makes it so special is....

There's a whole lot of silliness going on

Some really good eatin'

A little friendly competition!

Some more silliness

FAmily TiMe!!

Good friends, Rest, Fellowship, and Rejuvenation!!

So yes, I have been thousands of miles this year, but my Grand Lake time....

Is like saving the VERY BEST for last!

Mountain climbing and Ghost Towns

Now those of you who know me, know I'm not a high adventure kind of gal. Riding down hill on my bicycle without hitting the brakes is about as wild as I want to get. Even so, I am a good sport so I donned a helmet and went mountain climbing in an ATV with my man. Ulterior motive? Picture taking!

...uh yeah, not me in the picture and we will leave it at that.
Here are the pictures of the good stuff.

crystal clear mountain streams...

Well we bumped and bounced (wheee fun) over to a mining ghost town called St. Elmo. Now that was fun and interesting too. The town was built in the 1800's for mining. There are still a couple of buildings in good shape that have been turned into stores.  

 Now you have to admit I am a pretty good shopper when I can find quality merchandise like this in a ghost town....it's a talent!

 It was a little creepy. There was stuff in the buildings as though the people just walked away...

...but this little guy was pretty friendly! Hey wait a minute...I am adventurous. 

I fed a wild animal with my bare hands!!

On to the next great beyond....