Book Review: The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

This book is centered on Lulu Mayfield, a woman trying to mold herself into the perfect 1950s housewife.

Based on that sentence alone, we kind of know where this story is headed.  What woman can be "the" perfect housewife?

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in Lulu suspects something darker lurks behind the woman's constant smile.  And perhaps it does, but maybe that's not her fault, could her husband have had something to do with the distant smile?

As the story progresses Lulu's so-called perfect facade starts to crack.  And others, including her husband are beginning to notice.  And Lulu begins to worry what her husband might do to her to "fix" her.

Hysteria was actually a common medical diagnosis for women in the 1950s and the treatments could be as simple as drugging the woman or they could involve more invasive and inhuman treatments.  A real concern for some women at the time.

This book, billed as a domestic drama, was so heart wrenching and the writing so evocative.  And I think it will resonate with a good majority of women (particularly) mothers, as we have all experienced the "expectations" of us - whether or not we give a damn about the expectations - we know they are there.  And those "expectations" back in the 1950s were far higher than they are today.

Occasionally, I am a Ditz

 Y'all...I am a logical person, a rational person, a generally sane person (oh hush, I have my moments) and a fairly intelligent person.

And then there are moments, like last week, when I am reminded that occasionally I am a ditzy person.

As most of you know, I like to do jigsaw puzzles. I generally have one going most of the time.  I buy my puzzles based on the picture - not necessarily by the brand which, as you may remember, has caused a problem on at least one occasion.  Thank goodness, that issue has reoccurred...yet.

At any rate, one day last week as I was sifting through the pieces of my puzzle my eye was caught by the letters on the back of the pieces.  This is nothing new as I've noticed letters on the back of other puzzle pieces before - but never thought much about it.  Maybe I thought they just spelled the brand of the puzzle or maybe the name of the puzzle.  I don't know.

But on that day, something "clicked" and I looked more closely at those letters.

It was only then that it dawned on me.  Those letters signfy the sections of the puzzle.  A is the top left section and so on.  Which turns out to be REALLY helpful when there are repeating themes/colors in the entire puzzle.

Why am I admitting this ditziness publicly on the internet...where it will be a testament to my sheer inability to notice what is right in front of me FOREVER?

Because, I can't be the only one.  Right?!

Tuesday is Coming

 Y'all.  I just looked at the calendar and panicked.  Not over gifts (well, except for the two that still haven't arrived) or the stocking stuffers.  That, shockingly enough is well in hand this year.  Although, as a side rant, Etsy Seller - do NOT create a shipping label on the 16th and not ship the damn package!  As of today, the item still has NOT shipped.  At this point, I'm not expecting this item to show up on time.

No, I am in a panic over the baking and candy making.  I just pulled all the frozen cookie dough out to thaw and figure I will be non-stop baking and candy making between now and Tuesday.  In addition, to cleaning like a crazy woman before Tuesday.

Why am I in a panic over getting all this done prior to Tuesday, you ask?

We can blame The Husband.  He decided, on a whim, that we should have a few of the neighbors over for drinks and appetizers on Tuesday and just informed me of this yesterday after already mentioning it to said neighbors first - but apparently, it didn't sink in for me that we were staring down the end of the week until today.

So, in addition to all the baking, candy making, cleaning, and deciding on Christmas Eve dinner dessert, I now probably need to come up with an appetizer all by Tuesday.

Which is (counts on fingers) five days from now.

I could be mad at him but really, it's my own fault.  I've been living in my head for the past few months and hadn't realized that Christmas - and all the attendant "events" - was right around the corner.

And here we are.  *sigh*

What's causing you angst or panic right about now?

A Reminder to be Grateful...Every Day

 Before I begin this particular tale - one that started off with my heart in my throat - you should know that The Husband works part-time for a local bank.  And in the course of his duties, he drives the bank's van; which is wrapped with the bank's name and logo and logo colors prominently displayed.  The van is a bright and eye-catchingly blue.

Today is one of the days that he was working this week.  He usually gets there around 8 am and is on the road around 9 am.

I determined that I needed to go the the library today since we are hosting the kids tomorrow in lieu of Thanksgiving; as they are spending that day with her parents.

Right before I left the house, I received two separate calls from The Husband that I, assumed, were pocket dials as he never responded when I said hello.  As I headed out of the house I noticed the time was right about 9 am and I wondered briefly if I would spot The Husband out in the wild.  It's always funny to me, when I see him out and about in the bank van, because he is so very visible in that bright blue van and I am invisible in my gray RAV4.  So basically, I can see him but he has no idea I'm two cars behind him.

As I neared the on-ramp to the highway, I noticed a plethora of fire engines and cop cars ahead.  Oh great, an accident.  I made the snap decision to get into the next lane to go a little further up to make a u-turn since the on-ramp on this side of the road was blocked.

As I made the u-turn and came back toward the intersection, I glanced over and saw the bank van on the side of the road.  From where I was, I couldn't safely get over to the left lanes to turn into the service station to see what was going on.  I had to turn onto the on-ramp.  Once I was safely on the highway, I immediately called him to see what was going on.  As you might imagine, my heart was racing and my imagination was in overdrive.  An accident?  The van hadn't looked damaged from my vantage point.  A medical emergency?   

He picked up immediately, to my great relief.  There had been an accident and, by some miracle, both he and the woman who pulled out in front of him were safe.  I immediately navigated to the next off-ramp to turn around.

When I got to the aforementioned service station, I could clearly see that the van was severely damaged and the other car (which I hadn't been able to see for all the traffic earlier).  It was a pretty nasty accident and both The Husband and the woman were very rattled.  The woman apologized to me, when she heard me say to The Husband that it was terrifying to be driving by and see my husband on the side of the road surrounded by emergency vehicles.  She clearly knew she had caused this accident, but I was not in the frame of mind to place blame.  I was just extremely grateful that everyone was okay.

And after The Husband later described to me exactly what had happened - how these two vehicles during rush hour traffic were the only two vehicles affected was miraculous.  Somehow, after his van hit her SUV, her vehicle was pushed across three lanes of traffic and landed in the median - yet, didn't hit another vehicle.  How when he swerved to avoid t-boning her car (which may well have ended up with her severely injured or worse), he didn't hit any other cars.  The only explanation was a miracle.

We were recently discussing all the bad things going on right now and The Husband was wondering what the lesson in all this bad luck must be.  And just the evening, I revisited the topic and told him that the lesson was to be grateful - because no matter how shitty things might be right now for us, there is still a lot to be grateful for - and that is the Thanksgiving lesson we are going with today.

Book Review: The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

 Ok y'all, I may have found another author to love.

This book was an excellent mystery/thriller/suspense (pick your adjective).  I loved reading this novel.  So much so, that as soon as I finished it, I headed to the library this morning to pick up whatever other titles they had (I'm currently a little more than halfway through Reckless Girls and can already also readily recommed that book as well).

From Goodreads, the premise of the book:

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will—and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.

Y'all, this book kept me engaged and turning those pages as fast as I could.  And a few revelations that make you go, "OH!"  I highly recommend this book (as well as the one that I'm not even finished with yet!)

My Only Post (Probably) About CBWC

 I love seeing all the photos y'all are posting for the Cool Bloggers Walking Club hosted by Elisabeth.  And wanted to join in on the fun but seeing as I get up ridiculously early and get out to walk when it's still pretty much dark, I don't have many photos to share.  But here are a few that I've been able to snap either as the sun is coming up or, on days like today, when I've slept in a bit and got a late start

The best part about getting out so early?
Watching dawn break.

I just happened to look up and caught
these clouds reflecting the dawn

Why my walks have been so "crunchy" lately

A perfect specimen

NC Fall in all it's glory.

Seeing as I am still looking for work one would think I'd go out later - but no.  This is something I prefer to get - not "done" with because I do enjoy my walks (even if it is the same route over and over at the local park) - done early enough in the day that I don't feel like my whole day has been wasted or bifurcated.  I go early enough to come home, get showered, dressed and ready for the rest of the day without feeling like I've got a late start.  If I'm lucky, I've walked, showered, dressed, etc. and good to go by 8:30 am.

Now, when the cold comes - and it's coming, I can feel it in my bones without having to look at the calendar, I have a walking pad on standby.  I know it won't be the same as walking outside but I won't have the excuse "it's TOO COLD to walk."  And I'm hoping my recent obsession with audiobooks will offset that.

So even if I'm not posting weekly about CBWC - know that I'm out there walking with you.  But most likely, I'm walking in the dark.

*****

And before you ask, no I'm not uncomfortable walking alone in the wee morning dark.  Shockingly enough, there are plenty of others (regulars I see often) out there stumbling around in the dark that makes it feel quite safe.

Audiobook Review: All Her Little Lies by Becca Day

 First of all...y'all!  I never considered myself as someone who could "do" audiobooks.  I always figured I'd get distracted and quit paying attention.

Then I started taking daily walks.  At first, I would just listen to music; which was fine.  But it did not stop my mind from going into all kinds of areas that I really don't need to go to during these very trying times.

So I finally caved and downloaded the Libby app.  And I can tell you, I was hooked from the first book I listened to while walking.  HOOKED I tell you!  Those walks?  Went by in a flash and I then found myself looking for reasons to drive somewhere more than five minutes away to get another chapter or two in.

And then I hit on All Her Little Lies by Becca Day; a psychological thriller that grabbed my attention from the moment I hit play.

The basic premise of the book is this:  Would you lie to protect the person you love the most?

Even if it involved a murder?  There were several twists in this story - one which jumped out to me almost immediately but there were a couple I didn't see coming at all.

I'm sure you can locate an actual physical copy out there in the wild, if audiobooks aren't your thing (are you sure though?  I thought I was) but if you are looking for something to grab your interest and keep you guessing while you are walking or folding laundry look no further than this book.  It will not disappoint.

I Think I Went Semi-Viral on Threads About, Of All Things, Laundry

 Well, I guess I should correct that to "semi-viral for ME."  Below is verbatim what I posted...

Just put the husband's wallet through the wash.  He asked me if I checked the pockets.
I reminded him, again, that I do not.
That it is my belief that emptying pockets is the responsibility of the person
who was wearing the pockets.

As of right now there are 3.7k likes and 363 responses!!  Oops, now up to 397.

The majority of the responses are in agreement.  Of course, there are a few that are not in agreement (people saying things like, that is part of doing laundry (no, it is NOT), or that we should do these little kindnesses for our loved ones (believe me, I do.  And doing his laundry IS a kindness) or mentioning children and crayons - yes, I agree when mine was small I DID check his pockets...) but in my mind a grown adult needs to be responsible for their own things.

It goes without saying that any cash that comes through the laundry is MINE; it's called a laundry tax.  Luckily for my husband, he rarely has cash on hand.

By far, the GREATEST response I've had so far was from @feycrafter_guildmistress,

"With great pockets comes great responsibility.  

SIR are you aware most clothes for women

don't have this luxury?!  RUDE."

So what say you, my fellow doers of laundry.  Who is responsible for checking the pockets?  

Going Retro...

 Hi!  Yes, I'm still here.  I know I have been absent from the blog-o-sphere for quite some time.  Let's just put it down to the soul sucking process of looking for (and being denied) work and leave it at that.  But if any of you hear of anything remote send it my way please - because at this point I'm actually considering an Only Fans page for something innocuous and random. *sigh*

But back to the post at hand...

A few days ago, I read something somewhere (no, I have no idea where or in what context) that mentioned Upside Down Pineapple cake.  And I thought to myself, I haven't had, heard of, or seen one since I was a mere child.

Do certain foods come in and out of fashion?  I'm guessing they must if I haven't thought about this treat in a million years.  It's weird what stands the test of time (pound cake, anyone) and what doesn't.  So, I decided to make one.

I pulled out my trusty Better Homes & Garden New Cookbook (that my mother misguidedly gave me when I got married; thinking I'd actually use it to make meals.  Hahahaha - we all know how THAT turned out) thinking surely it would have this old fashioned recipe.  And, of course, it does.

So, I set out to make this cake.  And, if I do say so myself, it turned out pretty well.

I will also state, unequivocally, maraschino cherries are disgusting.  And now I have a practically full jar waiting to expire in thee years in my refrigerator. *sigh*

I had a bite (minus the cherry) before I sent it to it's new home (one of my neighbors) and it's actually pretty tasty and moist.  Will it become part of my usual rotation of cakes?  No, probably not.  While good, I didn't consider it be amazing.

But in the interest of sharing, I figured I'd give you the recipe in the event that you want to relieve your childhood too.

1 8oz can of pineapple slices (good luck with that, I could only find a 24 oz can).

2 tablespoons butter (I prefer unsalted)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Maraschino cherries, halved (If I do make this again, I'd probably just leave them out as they are only good for color)

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Drain pineapple, reserve liquid.  Halve slices (oops. I skipped that part and used whole).  Melt butter in a 9 in round cake pan.  Stir in brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the reserved pineapple juice.  Add water to remaining liquid to make 2/3 cups.  Arrange pineapple and cherries in the pan.  Combine flour, baking power and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Beat shortening about 30 seconds.  Add granulated sugar, beat till well combined.  Add egg and vanilla, beat 1 minute.  Add dry ingredients and the 2/3 cup liquid alternately to beaten mixture, beating after each addition.  Spread in pan.  Bake for about 40 minutes.  Cool for 5 minutes; invert onto a plate.

So, tell me, what random food/dessert was part of your childhood that you never see or hear about anymore?  

Book Review: Aunt Sookie & Me by Michael Scott Garvin

 I know, I do have a penchant for thrillers and psychological dramas in my novels.  I freely admit that.

But, I also love a Southern Gothic novel like nobody's business.

With every Southern Gothic novel you are guaranteed a whole host of outlandish characters, a town where everyone knows everyone and, presumably, their business.  And, generally - at least the ones I've read recently they usually take place during turbulent times.

And that is exactly what you get with Aunt Sookie & Me a sordid tale of scandalous southern belle by Michael Scott Garvin.

In this novel we are introduced to Poppy Wainwright and her outrageous, ancient Aunt Sookie.

After Poppy's beloved grandmother - who was raising her - dies, Poppy is put on a Greyhound bus and is sent to live with Sookie.  Sookie is technically not her aunt as she was the sister of the grandmother - but, as it is in the south, she gets the moniker anyway.

Told through the eyes of Poppy - hilarity, insanity and heartbreak ensues. All political correctness is buried alongside the dead body planted in the family's vegetable garden.  And if all that weren't enough, there is a goat that has free rein of the dilapidated, grand old house.

I raced through this book I enjoyed it so much.  I will definitely be seeking out other novels by this author.  I would definitely recommend.