Elections, Books, and Painting the House

 

This past election was probably one of the most exciting elections I've experienced in my soon to be 76 years.  It was extremely important to send a HUGE message to the trump cult that he is NOT what we want for this country.  He said vote as if I'm on ballot, and boy did we.  So many firsts for women, people of color, and LGBTQ, and the Hugh Blue Wave was awesome.  When I saw the results the following morning, I felt like it was Christmas Morning.  Things won't be resolved over night, as there so much to fix and repair; but for the first time in 2 years, I feel hopeful.

Demon Cooperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is rated 4.46 on Goodreads, I gave it a 4.  It'a Goodreads Choice Award, NYTimes top 100 book list, and on Oprah's book Club list.  It's a coming of age for Demon with many challenges from living in a poor Appalachia area, to bad schools, and little adult guidance.  I enjoyed the book, but found I was constantly waiting to yell at the characters to not do xyz, or to do xyz.  Lots of bad choices seem to make up the story line. 

Fleeing France by Alan Hlad is rated 4.25 on Goodreads, I gave it a 5.  This novel takes place during WWII, 1940 centering around an unlikely character, an American night club singer who leaves the states to join France in the fight.  She's an ambulance driver facing all kinds of danger after the fall of Dunkirk.  Highly recommend this book.  Danger, romance, and history, Enjoy!

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is rated 3.94 on Goodreads, I gave it a 5.  It's a story of 2 sisters trying to maintain the family farm during WWII, facing difficulties like seeing German U-Boats of the coast.  Family stories come to life in a painting class.  Yes, it's a beachy book; but also some fascinating history.  I didn't know there was a military training base on the island until reading this book.  Put it on your list.

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood is rated 3.80 on Goodreads.  I gave it a 3, because 4 seemed to high; but I really enjoyed it.  It's a Goodreads Choice Award winner, and was listed as the favorite romance book in 2025.  It takes place in Taormina, Sicily a place I've been lucky enough to travel to.  Pretty sexy book, as 38 year old Conor and 23 years old Maya come to grips with their romance.

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham.  Rated 3.66 on Goodreads, I gave it a 3.75.  It's a Goodreads Choice Award Winner.  Takes place in a New England Boarding School.  Lots of action, most of which isn't believable to my way of thinking; but fun non the less.  Spicy, sexy, wildly inappropriate.  Think reading this could keep some parents from letting the children enroll.  This is the first book Elin has written where she moved away from Cape Code in her books, and I believe the first book she wrote with her daughter.

A couple of before pictures.  Lots of prep was needed, thus the scraping.  The house is 70+ years old.

 

After the painting was done.  We went a couple of shades darker with the gray, and a bit brighter on the white for nice contrast and did the garage door in black instead of the same color as the house.

Been away from blogging a bit as we were touring Portugal, and when we got back I got sick.  Overly tired I think from the touring and got a virus from all the people we were around on the tour, the airports etc.  First blog post about the trip is here.  AND day 2 is HERE