Our Anniversary Getaway: Part One Lewes

Last year with our move to Essex, we didn't even consider going away. This year, it's different. We did a lot of thinking about exactly what we wanted. Jeff's walking is limited, and we wanted to make sure we had an accessible bath. Then there's Jace; we needed a dog friendly place. 

After making reservations for three nights in Ocean City--more on that in a later post--we decided we needed more time. I originally was looking at Dewey Beach, but had trouble finding a place. Dewey Beach is known as being dog friendly, but not on the dates we would be there. We ended up in Homes2Suite Hilton, listed as Lewes/Rehoboth Beach. It was a pretty nice place, but not in a prime location. 

We left late Sunday morning and drove directly to Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton for a late lunch. I wish the food menu were more robust, but it was still a nice lunch. 

Brewery lunches were a theme of our time in Lewes. We visited Crooked Hammock Brewery the next day, and later Big Oyster Brewery. We loved this place. Although we had liked Crooked Hammock, we wished we had lunched at Big Oyster. Jeff did have some oysters with his beer. We talked to a couple who came over to meet Jace. 

The next day as we drove to Ocean City, we stopped at Ocean View Brewing Company We lucked out that the entrees were half-price and also delicious. 

We also drove through Lewes Beach and the downtown shopping area. I did some shopping. I was looking for a wooden crane/heron/egret that I could put out on the balcony. No luck. I would have gone to the antique mart, but parking was difficult. 

On to Ocean City.

Book 15: The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

I had never heard of this book nor the author who was a prolific writer. Essex Library had several of Connolly's books on its shelves. I picked this one as an homage to the iconic Nancy Drew story. (Iconic is chronically over used; but The Hidden Staircase is iconic at least to me.)

Kate Hamilton has returned to her home town of Asheboro, Maryland, to restore it to its Victorian heyday. Kate starts with the Barton mansion at the edge of town. She plans to modernize the kitchen, but a secret staircase complete with a body from the 1800's is found in the kitchen. 

But, that's not all. Soon another body is found--a man who was part of Kate's renovation team. 

I enjoyed reading this book--it kept me interested. I may have enjoyed it more if I had read the series in order--this was the third in the Victorian Village series and the last based on Connolly's death in 2020. 

One thing I noticed is Connolly's use of visual cues for the reader. I remember using characters that smoked often to break up dialogue. One thing that didn't work was a character talking through a mouthful of French fries. That was distracting.

Still I may read more of Connolly's books.

Coming Back to the Blog

I don't understand why I haven't been blogging--a severe case of blogger's and/or writer's block, I guess. I can't name anything specific. 

But, I don't want to deal with that now. I want to do a quick catch-up. Jeff and I had a nice getaway for our anniversary: two nights in Lewes, Delaware and three in Ocean City, Maryland. The next week, we celebrated Jeff's birthday. We visited some restaurants that have become our favorites. I'm back in a reading mode and loving it. 

Last Sunday was our one-year anniversary in Essex. Every day I'm thankful we moved here. It's been a slow process, but we're meeting more people and dogs. Can dogs be the gateway to friends? It certainly worked that way at Taylor Farm dog park.  

Watching the baseball playoffs. Only had an ephemeral hope that the Mets could participate this season. (That was just a dream some of us had--apologies to Joni Mitchell for California.) I don't have any strong "root-for" feeling for any of the teams, but I'm leaning to Brewers, White Sox and/or Rays. Mostly I don't want Yankees (done) and Dodgers. 

More to come.

Welcome Fall

Yesterday was the first day of fall. Appropriately, it was chilly, and I wore pants for the first time in months. As I write this, I'm wearing sweatpants. It was like someone flipped a switch and temperatures plunged with the new season. 

Things will warm up starting with Jeff's birthday. This is my favorite time of the year.

Book 14: Royal Witches Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England by Gemma Hollman

I found this book through a library search for Elizabeth Woodville. Hollman examines the stores of four English royal women suspected of witchcraft.

The first woman is Joan of Navarre, who came to England as the second wife to Henry IV. After Henry IV's death, Joan was accused of plotting the death of  King Henry V.  This gave Henry V the excuse to confine Joan in order to access her riches to finance his ongoing battles with the French. Joan was never tried and Henry V ensured that Joan was comfortable in her confinement. Before he died, he released Joan and returned her property.

The next woman Hollman studies is Eleanor Cobham. She had been living a fairy tale life. She and husband Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester were a true love match. Gloucester was the uncle to the boy king Henry VI, and  heir to the English throne. But Humphrey's great power brought him strong enemies. It was easy to accuse Eleanor of witchcraft. Eleanor was imprisoned, her marriage to Humphrey was annulled, and Humphrey was ruined. They never saw each other again.

The last section of the book focuses on mother-daughter Jacquetta of Luxembourg and Elizabeth Woodville. I only heard of Jacquetta as Elizabeth's mother. How did I miss that she was part of the royal family in Luxembourg. She married John, Duke of Bedford, brother to Humphrey. Duke of Gloucester (Eleanor Cobham's husband) and uncle to the young King Henry VI. 

Within a year of the Duke of Bedford's death, Jacquetta scandalized England by marrying the lowly knight Richard Woodville. Despite some lean years, Richard became a respected soldier and Jacquetta eventually grew close to Henry VI's wife, Margaret of Anjou. 

When Elizabeth Woodville married King Edward IV, the Woodvilles flipped from supporting the Lancaster cause to supporting the Yorkists. The Kingmaker, Richard Neville, had been disgraced by the marriage; he had been negotiating marriage for Edward to a French princess. Neville's rebellion ended in failure, but not before he murdered Queen Elizabeth's father and brother and had Jacquetta accused of witchcraft. After the triumphal return of Edward IV, Jacquetta ensured that a judgement of innocent against witchcraft was entered into the records. 

As Queen, Elizabeth Woodville was never officially accused of witchcraft, but rumors swirled around her ever since she secretly married Edward IV. The rumors live in the literature; I'm thinking specifically of Philippa Gregory.

All  four women were related and have interacted with other. Eleanor and Jacquetta married Joan's stepsons.  Each experienced accusations of witchcraft and worse for Eleanor. It was too easy to make accusations of  witchcraft against women; they were vulnerable despite her social status. Cynical men counted on that.

Second Re-read: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

I borrowed this book from Norwalk Library in 2019 and bought my own copy in 2023. I knew I'd reread it one day, and now's the time. 

Jeff and I recently watched the series on Hulu and liked it. But I realized that I had forgotten many of the details. Of course, many details differ between the novel and the series. There are new characters and new developments. I don't have any problems with the changes. 

Now, I want to rewatch the series. The Mets season will still be over--that will give me some time.  

Another Reason to Love...

September. 

I look at September as a month of opportunity. I like these ideas. While I don't pressure myself much about New Year's resolutions, September goals are easier. 

My main goal: return to a writing routine.