Emotional females, an exceptional son, and all things Vik


Friday morning, Keith surprised us by doing something totally out of character. He took us on a spur-of-the-moment day trip to Ontanagon in the Upper Peninsula (UP for short) of Michigan. Normally there is lots of snow by now, but we're having a "warm" November so trips like this are possible.


Anna: Shining sun and yet there was fog. Freezing water, but warm (ish) air. All in all a perfect day to stop everything and explore. I liked the bakery and walking by Lake Superior. Watching Erica fall in the lake was an unexpected bonus.
Amy: I thought today would be a normal day of school. But no, it's not. I woke up like normal and went downstairs this morning and started to paint when all of a sudden Dad said, "Girls, let's GO!"
Lani: Today was really fun. For November it was great weather and NO SNOW. I really enjoyed walking on the beach, writing my name in the sand, and watching the waves, and most of all collecting glass. I didn't mind riding in the car so long because I had some old comics to read. All in all, it's been the funnest day of November.
I'm amazed at my girls' thermostats. I'm wearing a shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, hat, and gloves. They are barefoot, playing in the water.





Kylemore Abbey
One of the many stone fences that dot the countryside
Killary Fjord
Lough Nafoeey
It is said that there are 365 islands in this lake, one for every day of the year


On the beautiful island of Nantucket, salt and roses scent the air, waves sparkle over hidden currents, and a storm-tossed soul seeks safe harbor.
When Samantha Owen's estranged stepfather dies, she inherits his cottage in Nantucket--a place she left years ago, never planning to return. As a single mom, Sam can't afford to pass up on a financial windfall like ocean-front property. So she travels home to fix up the house and sell it . . . never suspecting that Landon Reed still lives two doors down. As their long-dormant romance begins to bud again, Sam must face the fact that Landon still doesn't know why she left the island. Will the secrets she's hidden all these years tear them apart . . . or is Landon's love really as unconditional as he claims?
Surrender Bay is the first book in the Nantucket Love Story Series. Each book in the series is a stand alones. The other two books are A Convenient Groom and Seaside Letters. I've read A Convenient Groom and liked it, but not as much as Surrender Bay. Seaside Letters just came out and I'm hoping to get it on interlibrary loan. Until then, maybe I'll reread Surrender Bay again.
