141. The Lost Husband by Katherine Center

Audio

2013

304 pgs.
Adult CRF
Finished 11/13/2020
Goodreads rating: 3.85
My rating: 3.9
Setting: contemporary Texas

My comments: Don't like the title of this, it was misleading.  There were so many things I enjoyed about this story and just a few things that I didn't.  The protagonist went from an almost-whiny, afraid of everything kind of woman to a much braver, smarter one a little bit too rapidly.  She went from immediately wanting to scrub her hands after meeting O'Connor to never mentioning the original grumpy feeling for him again.  The big secret that her aunt and mother had kept from her, including the history of the "haunted house" wasn't such a big secret if she had had any kind of sense at all.  The frustration of having your child bullied over and over again and the helpless feeling that goes along with it were very real and written quite well.  And...I'm still not sure about Sunshine, the tabloid bimbo who is now a goth weirdo, close friend, confidant and coworker....I think Ms. Center wanted to create as many quirky characters as she possibly could.  It WAS good reading.  Not quite a 4.

Goodreads synopsis:  "Dear Libby, It occurs to me that you and your two children have been living with your mother for -- Dear Lord! -- two whole years, and I'm writing to see if you'd like to be rescued." The letter comes out of the blue, and just in time for Libby Moran, who, after the sudden death of her husband, Danny, went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape, a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids, and hitting the road.

Life on Aunt Jean's goat farm is both more wonderful and more mysterious than Libby could have imagined. Beyond the animals and the strenuous work, there is quiet, deep, country quiet. But there is also a shaggy, gruff (though purportedly handsome, under all that hair) farm manager with a tragic home life, a formerly famous feed-store clerk who claims she can contact Danny "on the other side," and the eccentric aunt Libby never really knew but who turns out to be exactly what she's been looking for. And despite everything she's lost, Libby soon realizes how much more she's found. Libby hasn't just traded one kind of crazy for another; she may actually have found the place to bring her little family, and herself, back to life.

A Short Stay in Williamsburg, Virginia

November 8 - 11, 2020

Photos below

Laura and I decided to take the kids down to Williamsburg back in August, but decided against it because of the pandemic.  We thought it would be less busy in November (it was) but still pleasant weather.  Were we ever right!  We had perfect weather, great accommodations at a Hampton Inn/Hilton (really clean) quite close to Colonial Williamsburg, and the opportunity to visit, if even for  short time, with one of my former fifth graders, Emily Doherty, who now has the dream job of being a docent/writer/presenter at Colonial Williamsburg.

We drove down on Sunday, arriving before dark to check in and find an outdoor venue to eat dinner.  We found the perfect place, a wonderful pizza place at the end of the mile-long central strip of Colonial Williamsburg, Mellow Marshmallow.  We enjoyed it so much that we decided to eat there again on Tuesday night.  Great food, wonderful wait staff, we loved it.

First thing Monday morning, we met up with Emily outside the Governor's Palace.  She hasn't changed one iota, what a sweetheart.  She even gifted us with free tickets for our two-day stay.  She says it's one of the perks of employment, and she hasn't had the opportunity to give many away this year!  

Our first "tour" was of the governor's palace, which was super enjoyable.  I spent a week here on a Teacher Education Opportunity back in 2001, and remembered some of the places here so fondly.  During that week we saw so much behind-the-scenes and gleaned a huge knowledge of how to share this incredible place with kids.  I remembered the entrance to the palace, full of swords, knives, and firearms.  Tristan sure enjoyed it!  

Even though inside touring was limited, small groups got to see a dozen or so of the authentic settings.  Docents were more than happy to answer questions, including those relating to working there.  We learned about blacksmithing, silversmithing, brickmaking, millinery, and the two different courts of law available to the residents of Williamsburg back in "the day."  It was laid-back, engrossing, and so much fun.  Both kids enjoyed it greatly.

We spent Monday morning and Tuesday morning at Williamsburg.

On Monday afternoon we went to Jamestown, one part of the Colonial National Historic Park "triangle."  Unfortunately, the movie and museum were (of course) closed, which lessened the information for the kids greatly.  Next time...

On Tuesday afternoon we headed to Yorktown.  Again, no museum or movie, but interesting.  Kids got to hike around both places, but Williamsburg was the super hit of this trip.

Mellow Mushroom

Just Arrived

We felt like we had the entire place to ourselves!

Fall in Colonial Williamsburg

Inside the courthouse

Masks the whole time, of course

Walkway bridge with benches at Jamestown.

Biden Wins! Harris Wins! America Wins!`

 I can't believe that PENNSYLVANIA has the last AND most important word!  I was watching MSNBC at about 11:27 when they called it, 3 1/2 long days after election day and four years after one of the biggest disappointments of my life!