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Greenville, 2024

Arriving late on a Monday, we spent 5 days in Greenville, SC on the final leg of our trip. As was the case in Jekyll, the “super” El Nino, dampened our weather a bit this year. However, we still managed two 20+ mile bike rides, some running, walking and a swim for exercise. The downtown Residence Inn had a very nice work out facilities and the hotel overall was extremely well maintained and managed.

Greenville, in my opinion, has one of the nicest downtowns that I’ve been to. It’s very well integrated with its natural surroundings, has paths throughout, is well maintained, is growing at a controlled pace (very well planned), and is a very walkable, new mid-size city with plenty of restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues.

View of the new Marriott Grand Bohemian Lodge in downtown Greenville, SC
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Jekyll Island and Georgia – 2024

Jekyll Island has become a familiar second home for DAK as a peaceful and warm break from the grey and cold Michigan winters. This marks our fourth consecutive year enjoying the “splendid isolation” of this island.

Once again, we stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn. This year in the exact same ocean front suite as last year (Room 102). The weather was a little cooler than usual due to a “super” El Nino across the country this winter. But we still managed to get a couple of days in the ocean and/or heated pool. On the literal bright side, it was usually sunny and made for good running and biking conditions relative to Michigan winters (certainly no snow or ice to contend with).

We made it our goal this year to focus on a healthy lifestyle while here. This included “plant forward” eating, daily exercise (usually running, bicycling, weightlifting, and walking), daily mental stimulation (various games and reading).

One of many beautiful ocean sunrises - View from our patio
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Hilton Head – 2024

We managed to shorten another Michigan winter by driving to Hilton Head Island as the first stop on our journey to winter sunshine. Albeit this winter’s super El Nino dampened the temperatures a little bit. This marked our first time back to Hilton Head Island since 2014.

We stayed at Marriott’s Surf Watch (vacation club) in a 2,000 sq. ft., two bedrooms, two bath condo with an ocean view. The condo came with a fully equipped kitchen and laundry room. It really had everything you could need. This may have been the nicest Marriott property we have ever stayed in. 

The oceanfront property had 5 pools (one indoor) plenty of activities (exercise facility w/ sauna, bocci ball, corn hole, fuse ball, horseshoes, club houses, restaurants/bars, games/tournaments, live music, beer tastings, light dinners/snacks, etc). The grounds were excellently maintained.

Our 2 bedroom, 2 bath Oceanview Condo at Marriott's Surf Watch was incredible!
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Merry Christmas 2023

Finally getting around to posting some pictures of the house decorated this year.  The color was green and brown with grapevine or twigs scattered.  I ordered most of the grapevine through Michael’s and the ornaments are old and not able to be linked.  

Forgive me for the poor quality of the photos,  they were taken  taken by my phone and it has been so gray  in Michigan it was tough to get enough light in the house.  

We hope you had a wonderful holiday with lots of family time!

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The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan

Author: Gilly Macmillan

Genre: Psychological suspense

Pages: 336

Setting: England

Tone/Mood: Suspenseful

Subject headings: Lottery winners, married, Life-changing events, death of a spouse.

Married thirty-something couple, Nicole and Tom win the lottery and decide to leave their old lives behind and begin a new life in a new home in a new town.  As Nicole is out of town one day, Tom turns up dead.  Nicole, beside herself, doesn’t know if Tom died in a tragic accident or if he was murdered?    Ever since they won the lottery their lives have changed and people who used to be their friends are now treating them differently and trying to get a piece of the winnings.  The police are involved and are interviewing neighbors and friends to see who knows anything abut Toms deaths.

Karen’s thoughts:  

This book was so good I read it in record time.  Each chapter was like peeling the skin off an onion-getting closer and closer to the truth.  Honestly, if you like suspense and a great “Whodunit” type of story…this one is your next read. 🙂  Book clubs will love it.  

This title is available in your public library! 

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None of This is True written by Lisa Jewell

Author: Lisa Jewell

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 384

Setting: London suburbs 

Tone/Mood: Suspenseful

Subject headings: Podcasting, Interviews, Deception, Murder Investigation

Alix, a podcaster and celebrating her 45th birthday in a pub, meets Josie who is at the same pub also celebrating her 45Th birthday.  In the bathroom on a chance meeting they discover that both women were born on the same day in the same year and at the same hospital. A few days later, at another chance meeting, Josie convinces Alix to create a podcast about the two of them and call it Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin. Alix is intrigued and looking for a new podcast topic- she agrees to interview Josie as her birthday twin.

Episode One begins with Josie telling her life story.  She begins the podcast with details about her youth and about her relationship with her single mother, she also discusses her relationship with her husband-how they met and how she feels he “groomed” her as he was 40 years old and she a mere 13-year-old.  He bought her expensive gifts, treated her as an adult- he even took her to a bar.  He made her feel special. She figures in today’s world it would be classified as child abuse- he took advantage of her and her youth. 

Episodes later, Josie reveals she wants to take her life back.  She begins to disclose secrets she has kept about her husband and his treatment to their daughters. She downright calls her husband a pedophile.   Alix is both interested and repulsed by the stories Josie is weaving.  She continues the podcast even though she knows she getting in too deep.

Karen’s thoughts: Amazing book! As a phycological thriller this book does not disappoint!  It’s fast pace and twisted plot will make you want to continue reading. Book clubs will devour this one.  

NOTE! The podcast featured in this novel was turned into a real podcast which you can listen to. Here is the link: https://www.penguin.co.uk/lisa-jewell-birthday-twin-podcast

This book is available at your public library!