I stumbled onto this series of books quite by accident when I checked out and read "A Blue and Gray Christmas" by Joan Medlicott. I enjoyed the story and went in search of the rest of the series. So far, I have read the first and second books in the series, and am currently reading the third. Here are descriptions of the books I have read:
A Blue and Gray ChristmasIn this stunning holiday story, a cache of Civil War-era letters and diaries sweeps the ladies of Covington up into a dramatic and heartwarming historical saga that inspires them to plan an unforgettable Christmas for two families forever changed by war.
When a rusty old tin box is unearthed at the Covington Homestead, longtime housemates Grace, Amelia, and Hannah discover that it contains letters and diaries written by two Civil War soldiers, one Union and one Confederate.
The friends are captivated by the drama revealed. The soldiers were found dying on a nearby battlefi eld by an old woman. She nursed them back to health, hiding them from bounty hunters seeking deserters. At the end of the war the men chose to stay in Covington, caring for their rescuer as she grew frail. But while their lives were rich, they still felt homesick and guilty for never contacting the families they'd left behind.
Christmas is coming, and the letters inspire Amelia with a generous impulse. What if she and her friends were to fi nd the two soldiers' descendants and invite them to Covington to meet? What better holiday gift could there be than the truth about these two heroic men and their dramatic shared fate? With little time left, the ladies spring into action to track down the men's families in Connecticut and the Carolinas, and to make preparations in Covington for their most memorable, most historic Christmas yet.
The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love (Book 1)
The three widowed 60-something women who lend "golden girl" power to Medlicott's episodic debut would be very much at home in Jan Karon's Mitford. Amelia, Hannah and Grace all live in a Pennsylvania boardinghouse, unhappily confronting the insults and injuries involved in aging. When Amelia inherits a deteriorating farmhouse in Covington, N.C., the three decide to move in together, gearing up to rehabilitate both the farmhouse and their lives. Although their alternately neglectful and overprotective grown children are disgruntled at their mothers' unconventional new lifestyle, the women find the time to become themselves, enjoying a combination of companionship and independence. Between gardening, cooking and exploring photography, the spunky trio jointly weather many trials and adventures including flood, fire, a claim on their property and romance. Medlicott's penchant for detailing local sights as minutely as a tourist map, coupled with the slow-lane pace, may be too warm and cozy for those accustomed to more action, and events that are surprising to the characters may be mundane to more sophisticated readers. But Medlicott's idea is a winner: women in their twilight years finding alternatives to large group homes or living alone. Solving an all-too-common housing dilemma, the three ladies inspire by forming a community in which they thrive and find new careers and loves, all with dignity and autonomy.
The Gardens of Covington (Book 2)The "ladies" return in Medlicott's gracefully written sequel to The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love. The three seventyish friends, who live together in a North Carolina farmhouse, are busy growing and learning through life's experiences. Stalwart Hannah, who is still involved in her plant nursery business, rallies the town's forces to combat a ruthless developer and save the area's natural beauty. Sweet, soft Grace and beau Bob open a tearoom together (Bob's son Russell and grandson Tyler are major players in this story). And dreamy Amelia falls hard for a scoundrel who is sure to hurt her. Two weddings figure prominently Russell remarries after much family conflict, and an elderly friend marries an old codger. The story ends happily with disputed land being given as a gift (and saved from development) for transformation into the Gardens of Covington
Tuesday morning, we parked in the free parking lot near the Jefferson Memorial and hopped a Tourmobile bus--bought a two day pass. We could get on or off at any of their bus stops--buses stopped every 25 minutes or so. Our first stop of the day was Arlington National Cemetery.
We took the bus tour through the cemetery--saw the tombstones and wreaths,
we got off the bus at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We were too late for the changing of the guard, but got to watch this guard on his round.
We got back to the Visitor's Center and I asked at the window where my Great-Uncle's grave was located. I couldn't remember what year he died--thought it was the early '70s--the information lady was able to find him with just his name, his wife's name, and the approximate year of burial. She marked the location on a map for me--fortunately, it wasn't far from the Visitor's Center. We hurried over to the spot (hoping not to miss the next bus into Washington) and found Uncle Carl's grave. It is in Section 36, grave number 2210.
