Where has the time gone  -- summer is about half over and the days are already getting shorter.  Do you notice that it takes a long time to get to the longest day of the year and then someone with muscles pulls the curtain down   and in a hurry too.

I have a story – not a surprise.  This is about our tiny community becoming a “destination”!!!  Several years ago, a close friend of daughter’s decided he wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday at the farm.  For many years this man picked different places to celebrate his birthday (his family got over not having to have a birthday cake for him)   In the past he would fly to the cities along the eastern seaboard, head to the west coast and some years even went to France and the UK.  He also believes that to get to know and truly explore, you WALK areas to mix with the people and absorb the sights and sounds in full.  Sometimes he would meet friends, sometimes he explored alone – it was always an adventure.  Ergo, Wrentham seemed a rather strange spot to mark a milestone, but it was also a time to catch up after the Covid years made travel difficult .  The “day” arrived and it could not have been a nicer one – postcard beauty, with glorious weather and the crops waving gently in the breeze.  To make note of the location, a picture in front of the Wrentham sign was taken.  During the day many pictures were taken of the big sky, the fields, the meal – everything fresh from the garden, and finally a sunset second to none.  His friends always wait eagerly to see where the current birthday was celebrated, so when the pictures of Wrentham, the farm etc were posted, without exception the replies were -  “and where in the --- is Wrentham!!!”  Aah – fame without leaving the farm!

Between garden, grass, aphids and all sorts of other “happenings”, there is still a book on the go.  Again, I tried several new authors – and still have not met a book I haven’t liked!!!

The English Wife is written by Adrienne Chenn who was born in Newfoundland and now lives in the UK.  The main character, Ellie Burgess, and her sister, Dottie, grew up in Norwich during the war.  Ellie meets and Newfoundlander who is stationed in their area and when his tour of fortifying the beaches is over and he is sent to the continent to fight, they quickly get married while he is on a short leave.  He was missing in action for a long time but was actually taken prisoner and after the war was sent back to his home to recuperate from his injuries.  Ellie, along with their small son, becomes one of the English war brides to come to Canada to a new life with a man she really didn’t know that well.  They lived in a small outlying village in Newfoundland, not accepted by the mother-in-law, and not used to the harsh, primitive life.  This is a book that then fast forwards to Sept 11 and a plane diverted to Gander en route from UK to New York.  Ellie’s estranged niece, Sophie, is a passenger on the plane and on a whim decides to find her Aunt and stays with her until she can get to New York.  The story weaves the past and the present in chapters and comes with surprises.  It lets you feel what it is like “living on the rock” and the superstitions and traditions that are uniquely theirs.  Sophie ultimately realizes life in the fast lane in NYC is not what she wants.  Overall, just a really nice story – not sappy either.

Another one – The Foundling by Ann Leary.  This is a mid 20s (1920s that is) story about a young girl working in the office of a facility for feebleminded women of child bearing age.  It is pretty horrific how they were treated.  Mary was impressed with the director, Dr. Vogel and was so pleased to have the job.  However, soon the layers of deceit, corruption and abuse surfaced.  She accidentally finds a childhood friend, Lillian, is a resident there, and is being held against her will.  Mary made the decision to help Lillian escape and ultimately with the help of a friend, they were able to expose the facility and Dr. Vogel.  It was an upsetting, but so very interesting story.  From different things read over the years, these places did exist and women were locked up on almost a whim.  The author wrote this as she was looking into her family history and a relative (can’t remember offhand who) actually worked in the office in one of these facilities.  This is what made her decide to write this story.

Think Twice is Harlan Colben’s new one out.  Myron Bolitar and his friend Winn are at it again.  I have decided Winn is a much better person to have as a friend – he would be one scary enemy.  This is a story of murders with the suspect too clearly pinpointed.  When Myron gets involved things are not as they seem with a serial killer on the loose  and there is no  pattern for the victims.  The only common thread is innocent people are being framed.  I didn’t “see it coming” as usual, and since one can’t give up the ending, I can only say – careful who you pick as a partner!!!  I really like Myron’s parents – they remind me of the parents of a friend of daughters.  He says they are as easy to look after as herding cats.

The House at the Edge of Night by Christine banner.  This is a nice, light read – one you could read a little and put down and get back into easily.  It is the story of people on a small island off Italy.  In many ways time almost stood still there – the same traditions and ideals held for generations.  It is semi-centered around one family and covers the four generations running the little bar that is the gathering place for the locals.  For years, they were left alone and survived by fishing, but when a cave of old bones became an archeological site, this brought tourists and in some ways gave the place a little boost – and more problems too.  Many of the young people would leave to seek their fortunes, but a lot came back to enjoy the simpler life they grew up with.  It is a feel-good book – a nice change.

A while ago, someone called this “bit” a blog. - to me, that sounds like something that could stick to the sole of your shoe – like chewing gum.  No, this does not fit the criteria ( I did look up the meaning of blog)– it is just me stopping by with a story and a quick visit.

TTFN,

Beryl