. After reading No Angel (see below) I couldn’t wait to start the 2nd book. A friend said to me that she liked #2 better than the first one, and I think I agree. It carries on the saga of this gentrified family in the publishing business in WWII era England. There are wartime injuries, even deaths as the family spreads out some (France and America), but it’s still about the London-based core family group that get themselves into trouble at several junctures. Loved this one. Do read them in order, though.
. No, not that Homer, but Homer, the blind cat. It’s a charming, funny, sweet, riveting book that any animal lover should read. We haven’t owned cats for decades, but I enjoy reading about them even if I don’t have one. Homer was a tiny kitten when found, with a dangerous eye infection. The vet who saved him had to remove his eyes, so the little kitten never knew sight. He’s adopted by a patient gal who is a writer already, and I can imagine that little Homer almost wrote the book himself. He’s very brave, willing to take risks – she almost loses him once. If you love animals, you’ve got to read this. I found it at Costco, but it’s also cheap at Amazon in paperback.
by Sarah McCoy. A really really interesting story. About WWII but told from the side of loyal German Hitler-loving citizens. The kind of local people who could be your neighbors, who were very nationalistic and truly believed Hitler was leading them to a better future. I’ve never read anything with a German perspective. The book isn’t political. In a way it’s a type of chick lit (which is why I didn’t suggest my DH read it) as it’s got a moderate amount of romance in it. The entire book is enveloped in the story of the family, who live in Garmisch (a place I’ve visited twice), who own a bakery. Mostly it’s about one of the bakery owner’s daughters. One daughter goes to a 
– by Erik Larson (hard copy) – wow, what a book. In all the literary fiction I’ve read about Nazi Germany, I’d never read that much about what it was like living in Berlin leading up to Hitler’s demonic rampages. This biography is about America’s ambassador to Germany from 1933-37, William Dodd. An academician, Dodd was probably unsuited to the job, yet he brought a kind of humility and clarity to the unrest. Accompanied by his wife and two adult children, they assimilated into the gay life of diplomacy. Dodd was not liked by his counterparts at home, yet he had the ear and appointment specifically because of Roosevelt, but only after 5 other career diplomats turned down the job. Dodd took his position very seriously, hoping that he’d make time to write a book he had worked on for much of his life (a detailed history of the American South). With no internet, no commercial jets and little but old fashioned typewriters or often written by hand, communiques sailed back and forth in diplomatic pouches. Dodd originally was lenient with Hitler, wanting to believe the hype Hitler broadcast. In time, though, he came to realize that Hitler had an insidious master plan. Dodd’s vivacious and beautiful daughter dated all manner of diplomats, Nazis and Russians, and very few Americans. She leaned left. Very far left, to the point of socialism. She had affairs – very inappropriate ones (says me), which undermined her father’s role (yet he seemed oblivious). This book is a real picture of the day to day life back then, well written, well researched and riveting. The Ambassador never did finish his book. But this book – well, everyone should read it. Erik Larson is the famous author of 
– by Willa Cather (on my Kindle) – what a joy to read. I’ve been a big fan of Cather’s writing most of my adult life, although I’ve not read all of her books. She had such a gift of words – such an ability to write a liquid picture – a conjurer of time and place that just doesn’t happen anymore in today’s writing world. The story revolves around a young girl (yes, it’s a coming of age novel) the daughter of a minister in the Midwest who has a musical gift. Her mentors help her to go to Chicago to study. Thea, the heroine here, is a very serious and studious young woman and not given to joy in life. She struggles with loneliness, yet seems to have no ability to reach out of her box to find friends or companionship. As with any young person who moves to a new place for work or study, there is that soulful pull from “home.” Does she give in? I’m not telling. A very good read.
– by Penny Vincenzi (hard copy from the library) – when two friends of mine recommended this book I knew I needed to read it. It’s not new (2004), but it is part of a trilogy by this English author. And I just refused to pay the very high Kindle price so that’s why I visited my local library and found it on the shelf. Vincenzi writes about the day-to-day lives of English gentry, and since I’m addicted to Downton Abbey these days, it sounded like a natural to read this book. It chronicles the lives of this particular family including marriages, births, affairs and chicanery, with their lovely home as the surround, the life style of the then-rich-and-famous, formal dinners. See? Downton Abbey. The difference is that there’s not much in this book about the servants, the below-stairs family. It takes place during the same pre-WWI era (1910′s). Prominent in the story is the book publishing business the family maintains (and with difficulty during the war years run by the two women left at home). Now I need to find the next in the series. If you enjoy family sagas, this one is a gem.
(Stacy Schiff); 
; and 
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. . . you arrive in the room, go into the bathroom and find Molton Brown products on the sink. Maybe a couple of other times in my life have I stayed at a hotel where Molton Brown was offered, but never so many different ones. I’m a fan of the products – they’re made in England – and likely that’s where I was first introduced to them. Here in the U.S. the stuff is pricey. Last summer when we took a trip to England, I stocked up on the body lotion, which comes in multiple scents. I love them. My skin likes them. We left behind the mouthwash and the shower gel. Dave took the shampoo and conditioner. AND he took the body lotion until I squawked about it.
So, now, down to the point. Here’s where we were:
The Broadmoor. Does that look idyllic, or what? Makes me think it’s a modern castle on a lake in Switzerland. But no, it’s right here in the U.S. of A. On the foothills side (west) of Colorado Springs. And it’s a huge complex. Yet, despite the fact that they do conventions, and have a huge parking garage buried underground a block away, once you’re happily settled in, you’d hardly know there could be several hundred people staying here. You see, there are numerous hotel buildings – meaning you can stay in several of the different buildings which range from rooms, to suites to apartments to houses. Here in the picture above, I was standing on the west side of the famous Broadmoor lake looking back toward the main building side, although that structure you see isn’t the main building. But do note the pretty arched bridge. There’s a paved walkway all around the lake with a few well situated benches for sunshine or shade. Our room was on the ground floor just behind the big tall tree on the far right of the photo. We had a tiny, little terrace surrounded in shrubs. Mostly it was too hot to sit out there, though.
There’s our room with Dave standing in an anteroom that faces the lake. The décor was lovely. The room was very roomy. The bathroom (around to the left in the photos), was large and luxurious with both a shower and jacuzzi tub. We had a nice, big television, a desk (behind Dave) and two small desk-type chairs.
If there was any complaint, it’s that there was just one comfortable chair in the room, which meant if we spent time in the room relaxing, the other of us was either lying on the bed or seated uncomfortably in one of the small straight chairs.
So here’s a collage of photos from the Broadmoor.
(1) Walking out of the main building at lake level, they have a very large patio with big and small tables, some with umbrellas. We sat out there for a few hours reading.
Waitresses are available to bring beverages if you want them.
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(2) On the other side of the lake is one of the fine dining restaurants (they have 3 fine dining and several others that could be called family friendly).
This one was Charles Court, and we were sitting outside on the terrace there, overlooking the lake.
If I turned around 180° I’d have the view you saw up toward the top of the post.
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Lastly, there’s another photo looking up at one of the lower mountains. Everywhere you turned there was a lovely view.
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And all the bathroom towels had the beautiful big B monogram. They were ever-so puffy and fluffy and white.
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I think this may be my favorite shot of the hotel. With the drooping trees framing the photo.
There’s no question we want to return to the hotel. It’s just a matter of when. Staying at The Broadmoor was on my “bucket list.” I’ve wanted to stay there ever since I lived in Denver back in the 1960’s. I’d read about it – never visited it – and yearned to actually stay there. This isn’t your down-the-street Best Western, if you get my drift. It’s for a special occasion. We talked with people who were there for a week (wow, would that bill be expensive). We got a summer special rate, which made it still more expensive than almost any hotel where we’ve ever stayed before. (An aside, I think the most expensive hotel we’ve ever stayed – in a room with a view – was on the Isle of Capri, and it was over $400 per night. And it was lovely.) But, The Broadmoor was really nice. I wanted to buy something with the logo on it, but couldn’t find anything I thought I’d actually use. There are several stores within the hotel, including one with kitchen stuff. That store carried a nice collection of McKenzie-Childs furniture, dishes and accessories. I’m enamored with their black and white check line, and wanted to buy one of the cup and saucer sets, but since I drink (usually) just one espresso cup of coffee per day, it made no sense whatsoever for me to buy a large enamelware coffee mug and saucer. Which would languish on a cupboard shelf somewhere and rarely get used. Besides, it wasn’t a Broadmoor mug. I’d just have remembered that that’s where I bought it!
So, if you’re ever looking for a special place, to celebrate a special occasion, think about The Broadmoor. Or if you’re vacationing in the area, include it in your itinerary. Do plan to stay at least two nights so you can spend the in between day enjoying the surroundings. We had their famous Sunday brunch (it was amazing). But do go there. Someday.
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