Hi friends! Flo came and took September away from us here in the Carolinas and now I feel a month behind! LOL! Although, I do like the feeling of starting a new month – it feels like a good time to get organized and reset a little….and leave the past month behind!
Aside from running from a hurricane and restoring our lives, jobs, and town back to normal after the storm, the highlights of September include: the three evacu-cation days we spent in Winston-Salem.
It would have been awesome if we evacuated to England, but funnily enough we found this bit of England right at our hotel in Winston-Salem!!
But we had plenty of neat things to check out in Winston-Salem, such as Old Salem, which is a living history museum like Sturbridge Village/Williamsburg. Unfortunately though, all the buildings were closed due to the expected hurricane, but we enjoyed the scenery.
❤️❤️❤️
We also found some delectable chocolates at Black Mountain Chocolate Factory… 😋 There are many more places (and dear people!!) we want to see in Winston-Salem so we will definitely try and get back there soon!
Before and after Flo found us enjoying the beach, which is a lot emptier now that the summer vacation season has come to a close.
And we will keep visiting our beaches even though it is now October!!
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Want to know what Austenesque fun I’m getting into this month?
…here is what’s on this month’s
Austenesque Agenda:
~ TO REVIEW ~
~ TO READ AND REVIEW ~
trying to catch up a little!!
~ FEATURED AUTHORS VISITING THIS MONTH ~
Jessie Lewis – October 8th
Victoria Kincaid – October 12th
~~~
Looks like I have some more reviews than author visits at the moment! Which is maybe okay because I’ve gotten behind on my reading!
What are you looking forward to this month?
Hi Meredith, the photographs are lovely of where you evacuated too. My daughter went to Salem when she was in the States last year but the one near Boston. Looking forward to all your wonderful reviews.
Thank you, Michelle! It was a nice way to make the most of being evacuated, I’m glad we went to a place that is new and interesting! 🙂
Hope you are doing well!!
P.S. I am glad you and Mr. Bingley were safe too during Flo and everyone else too in lovely Wilmington
Aww, thank you! I’m very grateful for all that was spared from the storm, our town has grown very dear to us!
Dearest Meredith!! It was so awful to see Flo coming your way, and I’m so glad you and Mr B stayed safe, and your beautiful Netherfield was undamaged!!
Wow, talking about silver linings, Old Salem looks so gorgeous! What a beautiful place to shelter from Flo, and those sweet goodies look delish!
I’m so glad you’re back safe and sound, that you put your nook back together, and that you’re going to read and review all those books! I loved Don Jacobson’s ‘Kitty and the Belle Epoque’, his Bennet Wardrobe series are fantastic, Caitlin’s book took my breath away – wow, WHAT a beginning, and what a story! – and I can’t wait to see what you think of the Rational Creatures! I haven’t read any of the others yet, but I must say that an angry Jane Bennet sounds like great fun. About time sweet Jane started fighting back! Hell hath no fury and all that 🙂
Yes, it seems like Flo had a target on us! I can’t remember ever being in the line of fire like that before!
Winston-Salem was so great! There is a nice repurposed industrial vibe to the town and I loved the historic bits but also the funky and artistic parts. I do regret we couldn’t visit any of the state parks because they were already closed so I told Mr. Bingley we are definitely coming back!!
This month’s line up is indeed wonderful! I am sharing my review Don Jacobson’s story tomorrow and I am in the midst of Caitlin’s right now – such a wonderful month already! Can’t wait to read some more!
I love the pictures! Makes me want to visit Winston-Salem for I love history. So proud you and Mr. Bingley, and your lovely house, went through Florence without much difficulty. Have been out of pocket of late but hope to get back to writing my next story soon. I think it is a blessing that you are getting to read more. 🙂
I think you would love Winston-Salem, it is such an interesting place! I hope your muse behaves! 🙂 Glad to hear you are writing!
Gorgeous photos as usual Meredith. Love the old building, it’s a shame you couldn’t go in but those chocolates, cookies and doughnuts look like ample compensation 🙂 🙂
I hope that’s the first and last time you need to evacuate especially now you have reinstated Netherfield Nook.
Thank you, my friend! 🙂 It would have been fun to go in the buildings…especially as I found a bookstore and bakery…definitely my favorite kind of stores! I find myself missing those chocolates almost daily…they were heavenly! 😉
You and me both…I hope we have no more weather concerns for a long while…schools were out over 3 weeks!
I love the pics of Winston Salem with its old houses that seem like “The house of the seven gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. And the cookies, WOW, they seem so delicious! 😉
I´m glad about your agenda because I´m curious about Kitty Bennet and the Belle Epoque, it sounds so charming!. This month I´m reading “The unexpected Miss Bennet” by Patrice Sarath, I remember you recommended it some years ago and I´m really enjoying this novel with Mary being the protagonist. I´m witnessing her transformation and I love it.
I hope your October will be pleasant and sweet as Flo left your country 😉
The houses and building are so charming, I am so glad they are being kept in good condition and serving as part of a living museum. 🙂
So glad you like the agenda for this month – my review for Kitty Bennet and the Belle Époque will post tomorrow. 🙂 Oh yay! I absolutely adored that story and am so glad you are enjoying it!
Happy reading this month!
So good to have an update from you Meredith! Glad you’re gradually getting back to normal. Of the books you’ve listed I especially want to read ‘Rational Creatures’. I’m definitely going to make room in my reading list for that! Another great one which I have read is ‘The Events at Branxbourne’. Caitlin Williams is an amazing author and I loved that book. Happy reading!
Love the photographs. Looks like you have some great books to read. So glad you survived Florence OK and that you can still enjoy the beach.
Our 26th anniversary is later this month. Reading more books, of course.
denise
This is going to be an exciting month—for me anyway. Can’t wait to read your thoughts on #Rational Creatures, Caitlin Williams’ “The Events at Branxbourne” and Leigh Dreyer’s “The Best Laid Flight Plans”. I also loved Lona Manning’s “A Marriage Of Attachment” while Victoria Kincaid’s and Joy King’s are still on my long list to-be-read. I always enjoy your thoughtful reviews! And that photo of you next to the tiny library in the Rational Creatures tank is def one of my favorites— so glad you weathered the storm well!
Loved all of your photos!! And here, too, in San Diego, some of the best beach weather is in October and April/May, well before the rest of the county decides to flock to the coast! 😉
You have some great books in your TBR pile; I’m most excited about A Marriage of Attachment since I adored A Contrary Wind so much! I’m usually in the minority in loving Mansfield Park so much, but I really enjoyed this slightly different take on my favorite Austen heroine, Fanny. I’m also intrigued by Caitlin’s The Events at Branxbourne…and that cover!! I love it!!
Have a lovely month!! And after the time-consuming interruption of Flo, it’s no wonder you had so little reading time in September! Give yourself a break and just enjoy the lovely books slated for this month! 😀
Looking forward to your reviews!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
So glad you are back home and all is well. Loved the photos… say hello to Mr. Bingley.
Well you wont soon forget the month of September! So glad you are home now safe and sound. At least you kept your spirits up with sightseeing! Loved your photos and it still looks nice a warm on the beach! Looking forward to your review on ‘The Exile’ which I loved. I also read and loved ‘A Marriage of Attachment’, ‘The Events at Branxbourne’ and ‘Friends and Enemies’. I’m looking forward to reading ‘Rational Creatures’, ‘The Best Laid Plans’ and ‘When Jane Got Married’ along with so many others! Time…I need time!
I would imagine that it would be hard to get back into step after something like that, but glad you and your home weathered it all safely.
Oh, I’m tickled to see our #RationalCreatures and Jessie on your agenda. Leigh’s and Victoria’s books look fab. I’ve got Caitlin, Lona, and Joy’s books on the future reads stack already. So tough to stay on top of that stack. LOL
Have a great October, Meredith!
Leave it to you, Meredith, to turn a hurricane into an occasion for an impromptu vacation! Way to make lemons into lemonade. 😀 Seriously, I’m just glad you and Mr. Bingley came through unscathed!
Hi Meredith, glad you are back to normal. Organization … what every teacher needs. Love the lineup of reviews as I’ve only read three of your listed books. Looking forward to more. Jen
Evacu-cation. Okay, that’s a new one to me! Dark humor too. Love your pics, You two cuties. I too would love to see Winston-Salem. Oh……those cookies!!! I am in love with the idea of an English phone booth anything, but a little library? Off the charts neat.
Your agenda, unlike the end-of-month line up of new books out (because of it’s dread reminder of how time flies,) always makes me feel excited. Another great agenda this month. I’m looking forward to Jessie Lewis’s visit, and Victoria Kincaid’s visit and her new book. I’ve seen so much buzz about Rational Creatures so I’m eager for that review, as I am ALL of the reviews really. I’ve already read Caitlin’s book and it’s going to be a reread favorite. Don Jacobson’s Bennet Wardrobe story arc moves along beautifully with Kitty, it’s epic and I’m eager to see what you think of it. I’m looking forward to Lona Manning’s book, and I can’t believe this, I have Joy’s book and I haven’t read it yet (what?? shock! I love her work.) Joy’s my next read so I’ll be primed for your review.
Loved your pics. Glad you are safe and sound.