Book Review: The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould

 

The Shop Down the Lane (Letters from Lancaster County): (A Sweet Contemporary Amish Letter Writing Enemies to Lovers Romance) 

                               by Leslie Gould

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community's simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, a former Amishman turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub--a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a bird watchers' circle letter under an alias. But unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they've found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?

My Review:

The Shop Down the Lane was one I would have delighted to walk into and been able to talk to Louis.  I could imagine the bird houses that filled the shop and the woods in the back of the shop filled with different birds.  Always a lover of birds, I now want to bird watch even more.

The twists and turns of different romances were there, with Lois and Moses failed one from years ago at the forefront. A good lesson in the book for me was that no one really knows what the other is going through and for that matter has been through. It's amazing what we can assume of each other.

I curled up on the couch one morning to read this book and stayed that way most of the day. I didn't stop till the last page was read.  Wonderful wonderful read!  

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

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What's Going On...

 

Hi Guys, 

Just a quick note to tell you where I've been and what's going on.  I have a bad back as many of you know for the past year and I have decided to try something besides physical therapy.  Physical therapy helped me walk better but not far without pain.  So, I decided to go to the chiropractor.  This took a lot because I had heard so much all my life against them but I put all bad thoughts aside and went in.  I hope it helps.

It's going to be awhile I think before I feel better in my back again constantly.  I don't think I should sit at the computer too long so that's why I've not been here.   I think of everyone all the time but I know sitting and typing is not the best thing to do for now.  Someday soon this will be a bad memory....I'll say remember the year of the bad back...and I'll be typing up a storm.   I believe it will happen!  

Thinking of all of you!

Vickie

Book Review: THe Innocent Rebel: A Young American Revoluntionar War Adventure (Young American Adventures Book 1 by J.E. Ribbey

 

The Innocent Rebel: A Young American Revolutionary War Adventure (Young American Adventures Book 1) 

                                    by J.E. Ribbey

My name is Mercy Young, I’m 12 years old, and up until a couple days ago, my life has been pretty uneventful. But it’s 1775 and I live in Lexington, which apparently God Almighty has deemed fit to be the birthplace of a revolution!

My papa was one of the men from town who went to confront the Red Coats (British Soldiers), who marched onto our town green and demanded that we submit ourselves to their rule. There was a terrible battle and papa was taken captive.

My mama passed away a few years ago, and with no one else to look after us, my brothers and I have decided that the only sensible thing to do is set off to Boston and fetch papa back. We don’t know what lies ahead, and this awful war has only just begun, but if I was captured and alone, I’d want to know someone was coming for me.

Even as the cannons drum in the distance, I feel a mixture of fear and excitement at the adventure that awaits us. Slipping out into the cool April night, I can feel it – there’s no turning back now.

Historically accurate fiction is one of the best ways to teach students about our amazing history and we’re proud to join authors such as Joe Giorello (Great Battles for Boys), Lauren Tarshis (I Survived), and Esther Forbes (Johnny Tremain) in this important endeavor. From gritty battles to the daily struggle for survival, to comical adventures in the woods, your family will live it all along with the Young siblings! 

My Review:

I was drawn to this book not only with thoughts to read it to my grandkids but I wanted to read it myself.  It sounded like an adventure that I wanted to hear about.  It was!  

I marveled at how brave the children were as they heard the battles raging but stayed determined to find out where there father was, not knowing how they themselves would survive. 

I so respect people who stepped in along the way to help the children.  They were such caring strangers.

I also loved the lessons they learned in survival.  Children as they read this will be amazed and want to learn more I'm sure.

Just a warning the first book is good but the story doesn't end..there are more books and I'm sure you will want to see what happens to Mercy and her family!  

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

The Mistake We Made on Our Raised Beds 3/15/25!

Back in January of last year (2024) we bought these two wooden boxes for $10 a piece thinking we could use them for raised beds. I don't know guys but they said they would be great in the garden.  We fell for it and we were excited for the deal.   The thoughts of the extra room to grow things excited us as well.

Well, not much grew in them this past season and the wood just swelled and then eventually came apart.  We knew it was time to let them go.   We found a good deal on steel raised beds that were approximately the same size but we needed a little extra help to get the old ones out.  So, when the grandson wanted to earn $30.00 I told him,  I know just the job! 

Yesterday was the perfect 70 degree day to do it.

The old dirt was put in a wheelbarrow.  Then, husband and grandson threw the wooden beds upside down in to the main garden to wait till garbage day.  Then we put the new ones down and put in all the old dirt plus more to fill them up.  

It was quite the heavy lifting and after it was done the grandson ran away.  I told him I have more jobs but he didn't seem interested.  ha ha but he will.  He just needs time to recover.  Money talks!

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

 

Getting ready for Gardening Season!

 It's cold here today but the sun is shining.  Now what do you do when it's too cold to work outside but you want to garden...you bring it inside! 

I bought two of these raised beds to replace the wooden boxes we bought last year.  Those wooden boxes we had were not made for raised beds LOL.  They are basically are rotting.  Luckily we only paid $10 a piece for them (2).

We have decided these will hold the flowers that I plant for pollination and something pretty.  That will leave more space in the garden for vegetables.  They will be placed in front of the green house.  I'll show pictures when it warms up and we do that work.

Even though a million jobs are swirling in my mind...I can only do one two at a time. 

I've started peppers and marigolds and I hope to start my tomatoes on Monday.  

What's going on in your garden so far this year?  I hope everyone is starting a little something to help with the groceries.

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Saving Money on Cleaning Supplies!

 With the rising cost of groceries I hope you might consider some of the ways I save money every week.  Oh I watch those coupons and sales but saving money on cleaning supplies helps me put those dollars back into food.

I cut my SOS pads in half.. saves money and rust on the sink!  

I'm also making dish scrubbies ahead for the year.  So far I've made 10 for my stockpile.  I like to do this in the winter (gardening in the summer).

Every week I also make Dawn Dish Soap and Foaming Hand Soap.  This little chore is done on Saturday of every week.  Just takes a minute and I save big $$$.  

***You can use the cheaper brand of dish detergent also for the Spray bottle.  It works.

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  My thred up link is also a refer a friend link.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Our Snow Lifes 2/22/25!

We are still frozen here in but there is a warm up coming this next week yeah!   Here are some pictures of our frozen home in Michigan.

When the sun comes out it can leave some pretty shadows on the snow.  I try to look for the beauty.  It works sometimes.

We bring in a lot of water and dirt in the porch.  I let the rug dry out on the grill all day and night to get the water out.  Just now, I put it frozen in the dryer but man the whole dryer was bouncing around. Husband did not approve. Now it's thawing out on a stool and we will go from there.

We've had some big icicles but we try and knock them down when we see them.  

There are footprints in the snow of wild animals about..They circle the chicken coop but they are very secure. They are there in the summer too but it freaks me out when I see the tracks in the winter.  

Sometimes I have nightmares about forgetting to shut the chicken coop door.  I make myself wait till morning to go check on them.  Crazy I know.

That's all I know ...we are surviving this winter the best we can.  Thanks for dropping by.  

What's going on where you are?  

 Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  My thred up link is also a refer a friend link.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.