A Week in Winter

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was Mauve Binchy’s final novel. It was actually published after she died. I really enjoyed the first half of the book- the story of Chicky and those who helped her establish her hotel in Ireland. I wish the novel would have kept the focus on her and what happened in her life. I felt the second half of the book brought in way too many characters and the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying with many loose ends left unresolved. I kept expecting Walter or Mrs. Cassidy to come back into Chicky’s life or for her to find a new love. I guess I’ll have to tie the loose ends how I like them and make up my own ending in my mind. I do appreciate Ms. Binchy’s talent and will miss her delightful Irish stories.



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The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


97% Grace has a 100% beautiful baby boy and two troubling mysteries are solved successfully. All is well in Botswana again. It was the perfect calming read for me during a stressful time. This is the fourteenth book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and I have read them all. I have not tired of them yet, so I will keep reading these delightful books about truly good people.



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Staycation with the Camerons

 On Wednesday after our reunion, we headed up to do a stay at home vacation with the Camerons.  We met them at the aquarium in Draper.

We watched them feed the penguins.  

We watched the 4-d fishy movie.

Crossed the rope bridge

Frog

Macaw

Huge snake

And my favorite- stingrays

This room was awesome with a tunnel through the aquarium

We then went to Scheels

And rode the ferris wheel

We watched the diver clean the fish tank

We had dinner at Habit Burger and dessert at Rita's

Thursday morning, we went bowling

This contraption for the kids was awesome

That afternoon, we went to Adam's park in Logan

We had a picnic there.

After naps we played in Shonna and Blake's beautiful back yard.  It's like going to a park.
Blake built this wonderful playset.

Shonna is growing a fabulous garden.  She and Ken spent a lot of time out there discussing their mutual hobby.

Beautiful Hannah

We watched a storm roll in.  It was just a beautiful afternoon.

I love this picture of sweet Hannah.  There may be a photographer in me somewhere yet!

Shonna cooked beets and beet greens.  This little guy loves the beet greens with balsamic.

Ken always dried our girls' hair as they were growing up.  Now he's doing the granddaughters.

On Friday, we went to the Treehouse Children's Museum in Ogden.  It was such a fun day.

In every area, they had so many fun toys for the kids to play with.

These cows and horses trotted.

Summer theater workshop participants put on a show for us.  This is the boy who cried wolf.

The museum is located right across the street from the Ogden temple.

King for a day.

Lily and Grandpa exploring the huge map of Utah.

Hanging out in the Indian teepee.

Caleb in the Mongolian hut.

On Saturday, we went up Smithfield canyon to a beautiful campground.  

Then had a picnic back at the park.

Then Ken and I headed back home.  It was a fun time with the Camerons!