Start Of Summer 2024

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Hi Friends here’s what we’ve been enjoying so far in Summer of 2024.

Our old fashioned swim club has lovely old trees to sit and while away the hours reading under. If the weather looks promising for the next day I go ahead and hang towels on the side galerie to dry.

During summer I like to gather some of my many shells and place them on the coffeetable or scatter on books. We’re not taking a beach vacation this summer instead we’re taking what my son is calling a “history trip”. So I don’t think I’ll be adding to my collection but, you never know! You can see I bring shells home with sand and choose not to wash them. I love to pick them up and smell the ocean.

I spent a delightful day in Doylestown, PA visiting the Moravian Tile & Pottery Works and enjoying lunch at The Doylestown Inn. Notice the plaque by the entrance - it’s the same one my husband I received as a wedding gift, just in slightly different colors.

Summer means sleepovers here in the Chalet!

We celebrated having a teenager in the house with our annual excursion to Lake Hopatcong, NJ for mini-golf at the Lake Hopatcong Golf Club and lunch at the Windlass and the birthday boy even won the trophy for the lowest score.

I took advantage of an extra 15% off of school supplies over the Holiday weekend at Target and now, my son is all set for September!

We’re able to view our local fireworks sitting on our lawn here at the Chalet!

If you’re still on the hunt for a few good summer reads - here are a few I’ve enjoyed over the years The Beach Club, Folly Beach, Summer Rental, The Vacationers, Big Summer, That Summer, One Italian Summer, Bad Summer People and my latest Seating Arrangements

I hope your summer is going awesomely! Be well and see you on the Gram!

3 Estate Sales

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Last month I visited 3 Estate Sales in the same day! Here’s a peek at what I saw and what came home to the Chalet!

You shouldn’t be surprised this book the 1985 book World’s Fair by E.L. Doctorow was the motivation for me to venture out that day. I saw it in a bookshelf image from the Estate Sale Company.

Here’s the first house.

The first house had so many lovely pieces: plates, china, art, the lamp with the lovely marbleized shade. The book I went for was still there and I found a Pringle of Scotland wool sweater.

The second house was just down the street.

The second house didn’t have many items but the cedar closet was filled with Christmas decor. Any ornament in this box was a dollar. Score! And of course I also found books!

The third house was a tent sale.

I didn’t find anything at this house but, I did stop to admire these stunning antique platters.

Here are my finds totaling $20.00. The Pringle of Scotland sweater, four wooden christmas ornaments, a learning book about Cities with overlay sheets inside showing the city today and 100 or more years ago, a lovely pictorial book about Switzerland, Art Through the Ages a college text book and of the book that started my journey World’s Fair.

Going off on my own and find a few treasures made for a delightful day. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing this again anytime soon - but Maybe!?! Til next time be well - wishing you a very Happy 4th of July! See you over on the Gram!

Do You Read Book Series?

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The idea of having to read this before you read that is not usually my cup of tea. But, there are a few series that changed my mind.

Recently I read the Beartown Series by Fredrik Backman. As a Hockey Mom I love the sport and so enjoyed being able to take a deep dive into a world I know a bit about. But, friends you don’t have to be into Hockey to enjoy these books; the characters are complex and deeply interesting.

Beartown: We enter a small forest town - where Hockey is omnipresent - we meet inhabitants who carefully share only select parts of themselves - they monitor who knows what - who they are to their parents, coach, children. The Son who can’t share who he loves, the Mother who wishes she’d shown her love, the Father who is unsure what to say. We see a community who is afraid. I listened to this book in 2-1/2days - a page turner - I found riveting characters and as a hockey parent I understood the ever present sport - because hockey is a lifestyle.

Us Against You: This 2nd volume in the Beartown series had me staying up late and like it’s predecessor I listened to it in 2-1/2days - another page turner. We find a new coach in Beartown but, the rivalry with Hed is even more frenzied. By the time the last game between them is played, a resident of Beartown will be dead and people in both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through - was any of it worth it?

The Winners: This 3rd and final volume in the Beartown series is the longest at 21hrs and 23 minutes. Fredrick Backman holds us in suspense for the first 3+hrs. as we wait for the identity of a Beartown resident who has died. We meet new characters who are woven in seamlessly who we care deeply for and old friends return. This novel made me cry more than once and at it’s end we will mourn for more than that single resident it’s the saddest of the series.

This series by E. Lockhart - We Were Liars and Family of Liars are gripping, surprising, sad and will stay with you. The story lines are serious and deal with death - so not for the faint of heart. But, Lockhart tells the story in such a unique way and as an avid reader when you come across a format you have not read before it makes an impression.

Family of Liars: I didn’t expect this is one of my top reads. It’s the prequel to We Were Liars. You must read We Were Liars before reading this. This second visit to the Sinclair family and their private Massachusetts island is illuminating. The story is shared by Caroline Lennox Taft Sinclair. Being a Sinclair means acting and never showing weakness. Welcome back to the Sinclair family. They were always liars.

This is the series by J.K.Rowling that almost everyone has read - and of course watched the films. Poor little sweet orphan Harry Potter surrounding by magic and danger. I have vivid memories of staying up late into the night reading.

I have a deep affinity for novels that take place at the turn of the 20th century - I love the Alienist and The Angel of Darkness both by Caleb Carr.

With summer here so many are looking suggestions. I recommend all and if you are interested in more book recommendations read: Get Your Read On!

Til next time be well and I’ll see you over on the Gram!