Did You Miss Me?

Wow...I have learned first hand just how much it takes to feel really responsible for my blog while away on a getaway!!!  I felt as though I had abandoned my little blog...I was seriously missing it and all of the blog posts that I wasn't reading from all of the other bloggers that I follow.  It was just a bit traumatic.  I could easily have taken my laptop with me...and as it was...I did use my husband's to post a review or two...but it was not the same.  We were at The Porches Inn...one of my most favorite places ever.  It is just quite a most unusual place...it is across the street from Mass MOCA...a huge contemporary art museum that has tons of things to see and do, including special movies and performers...they send a newsletter of all kinds of exciting things going on throughout the year.  It is in the Berkshires and there are lovely walking trails and hiking paths and mountains and skiing and actually we venture there just to chill out and read and walk and go to dinner.  It is a bit of a quirky town but it is absolutely magnetic...there is great local organic fresh and wonderful food at surrounding restaurants...we love to eat at this local place called The Hub...when we first get into town.  Other dinners are then more formal for us but still in a relaxed kind of way.   The Grammercy Bistro is one of our favorites...a martini and their grilled tuna is marvelous...we also shared fresh Cape oysters and green salads with Chevre and champagne vinagrette.   We actually ate there every night that we were there...one of our other most favorite places...Mezze...in Williamstown...a short town over...was closed due to moving to a new building...so sad...so we will eat there next time.  The Grammercy Bistro also moved from North Adams downtown to right inside MassMoca...right across from the Porches...you can even walk there if you want to.   There are tons of other quirky little places to explore...in Williamston and Bennington...both college towns...we continue to miss going to Ben and Jerry's...we get too busy and too relaxed to bother.  Anyway...the rooms at the Porches are wondrous...they describe it as "granny chic"...to me they are quirky and unique...absolutely fanstastic bathrooms...lots of great old furniture...huge king beds and lovely lovely sheets...comfy chairs...and all of the rooms are just a bit different...so far we have stayed in a suite, in a large room with an amazing bathroom...and this time a larger room with comfy chairs and yet another amazing bathroom...and our room this time had an attached porch which was lovely...you can go down to breakfast or you can have croissants and jam and coffee and fruit delivered to your room in a thermos and a galvanized lunch box every morning...a tribute to the mill town of North Adams.  The buildings of the Porches also at one time were mill housing...and they are now redone and connected in such a way as to make it seem as though you are in a small neighborhood or village...there is an awesome workout room and a year round pool and one of the best walking trails we have ever found.  It is about 15 miles long and follows an old railroad line...it meanders around lakes and through a little town and shady trees...we walk or bike it daily and love it.  This quirky quaint area is one of my favorite places ever.  You should really check it out.  We will be back there in a few months...

Finished Book Five And Without A Pause I am Into Book Six...

I am in awe of Rachel Caine and this series. Each book continues to maintain a high level of excitement and a total infusion into the life of the characters. I feel as though I know Claire Danvers even as her character strengthens and grows. I believe that Claire amazes herself as she struggle to find a cure for what is ailing the vampires of Morganville and maintain the lives of her friends and family. The town is in chaos…houses and buildings are burning and Claire remains strong and true. I am literally almost reading a book every other day and I have no favorites…just the compulsion to enjoy each book thoroughly as I am enmeshed totally in the lives of the key characters of Morganville. Bishop and Myrnin and Amelie and Oliver and Michael and Sam…are the vampires that again are key in this battle of strength and wits and magic. All of the elements in this book and within this series are in perfect harmony with just enough surprises to keep me reading with utter excitement. Whew!!!

Finishing Book Four And Moving On To Book Five...

Yikes...Feast Of Fools was wonderful...and I truly can't separate the books in this series right now...they are one continuing saga...Feast Of Fools brought to Morganville the most evil of all of the evil vampires...Bishop!!!  He is so awful and frightening and controlling and viperish and chilling that all of the other vampires fear him.   The Masquerade Ball is frightening...and I cannot even begin to tell you why...the entire book is so delicious that anything I say would be a spoiler!!!   So...let me try to  summarize...Claire is in the midst of all of the excitement yet again...Shane ( her roommate and love interest) is under the spell of an evil vampire seductress and even Michael...the youngest of all of the vampires...is not in control of himself when Bishop is around.   In spite of all of Amelie's ( Queen of Morganville and Clair's sometime protector) strength...the Ball is out of control.  Claire's parents have moved to Morganville and are now aware of the vampires and much to  Claire's surprise her parents are even at the ball.  Her mother is Bishop's personal guest.   Myrnin plays a key role in this book and like Claire...I have a love/hate feeling about him.  When he is normal and good Myrnin is delightful but when he is bad...wow...there is no mercy in him at all.  This series for me at this time is unstoppable.  It is a must read can't put down... until the last book is done.

My Dad Was A Soldier...

Hmmm...it is sad that I didn't really listen to my dad tell his soldier stories.  I know that he won a star or something and he was brave and it forever changed him from a boy to a man.  And now that he is gone...I found out... much to my surprise that my husband listened and loved all of his war stories and recently shared them with me...how bad was it that I was too preoccupied to listen to my dad...I am so sorry now...but my husband was sweet and kind and told me all the brave things that my father did.   So I am just going to say...Happy Memorial Day, Dad...I miss you so much!!!  Your country is forever proud of your bravery!!!