Storm Periphery and a review!

Remember that "storm" we had a week ago Saturday?  Up here, we got about 3 1/2 inches.  They had predicted we'd get up to 12 inches.  Sort of a bust, but it made us hurry up and get things ready -- firewood, tune-up for the plow Jeep etc.  So that was good.  It wasn't good in Connecticut where my family and many friends live.  Or in Massachusetts where other friends live.

For the past 10 days, we've been on the periphery, watching what was/is happening to everyone.  On Monday, Paul drove out to Lee, Mass to lend our generator to Rob (his racing buddy).  No generators to be found in his area since the power outages were so widespread.  I've been watching my facebook page and email for all the postings from friends and family who have had no power and how they are handling it all.  It's been so frustrating to not really be able to help from so far away.  Except to offer a place to stay to my mom  and sister.  My mom took me up on it this past weekend, after a week of staying with her brother, then my sister, who also didn't have power but it was better to be together with no power. And one free night at the casino (to take showers and decompress!).  My sister decided to stick it out with no power.  She finally got power back yesterday (9 days later...).  My mom still doesn't have power.

I have to say, while I have an account on Facebook, I don't utilize it a lot for communicating, except occasionally and to post my blog.  But this week, it was so easy to see that it was a great way for people to stay connected (those who had cell phone service that is - yes, even the cell towers were down) and ask for/offer help.  The utility company in CT really seemed to have dropped the ball on the response and power is not expected to be back for everyone until this Wednesday.  It was so frustrating for me to hear the stories of days and days with not one sign of a utility truck or tree cutting truck.  No word when they'd be coming.  I can only imagine how it was for those actually living it for the past 10 days.  I think the light is being seen at the end of the tunnel (pardon the pun), though, and my fingers are crossed it will all be resolved very very soon.

On to my book review!  The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield is a book that I was referred to on another blog that I read, Yarn-a-go-go.  Rachel Herron (also an author - Wishes and Stitches: A Cypress Hollow Yarn (Cypress Hollow Yarns)) was told she HAD to read it.  She did and then passed along to her readers that we HAD to read it.  So, I did.

It was a wonderful book. Like the blog that referred me to this book, I don't want to tell too much and spoil some of the events, but I'm going do my best to tell you in other ways why it was a great book.  In a nutshell, a preacher and his family drive south for their annual summer visit to family but end up staying for a while due to certain circumstances.   Terrific writing, drawing you in right away to the story.  Lots of humor, hidden in unexpected places.  I found myself laughing out loud many times.   And while there are funny parts, there are also some sad, heartbreaking parts and some suspense.   We see many different relationships developing and evolve, between children and adults, as well as between adults.  The author is so good at describing the characters as well as the setting and atmosphere and again, it just draws you right in.  A real page turner - I couldn't put it down.  Loved. It.

If you think you might like it, you can purchase it here on Amazon for a pretty good price!:


Let me know if you read it and if you like it!!!!

P.S.  How do you like the blog so far?