And Running the Old Country Store Pretty Much Led to One Calamity After Another

This is a terrific read! Colossal failure told in an entertaining, funny, laugh until you cry kind of way. As much as we are hopeful for smooth transitions as we move through life sometimes it just doesn't happen. Ellen brings you along on her very bumpy journey and it is hysterical. If you have ever wondered what it is like to live in a small town in Vermont this will give you a hint - absolutely hysterical!

Mud Season, a fun read, appeals to most everyone, but especially those folks with Vermont heritage. My grandparents lived in a nearby town, Cavendish, Vermont, so I was trying to picture this small village of Dorset with what I knew about Cavendish. I like Stimson's sense of humor...especially her cute footnotes!

This is a blatant grab for money plan and simple. The story line is a continous whine interspersed with childish idiocy. I read the preview and thought perhaps the other bad reviews were wrong; only after contributing my hard earned money to the continuation of this authors clearly uneeded gene pool did I discover how right those bad reviews were. I truly believe the few good reviews were probably contributed by people who might find themselves in the position to have to financially support the author and family if this book fails....DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS.

This book was heartwarming and hilarious. It made me laugh out loud and was a quick fun read. The narrator is fearless and self-deprecating and makes me want to read more! I'd recommend this book to anyone thinking fondly of the country or maybe contemplating a stop at the life store.

I bought this for the cover, title, and book jacket copy. But those turned out to be the best parts. Here is a self absorbed woman, who behaves badly toward her neighbors, community, and others and mistakes this mean behavior for humor. I've never read a memoir that seems bent on making you dislike the author so much. Does she know she comes across as arrogant, occasionally cruel, and not funny? The writing is good, simple, no fuss, but the character is just not someone you want to read about. If she's really as selfish as the book makes her out to be, no wonder her community hates her, which she mentions about 20 times; okay, we got it already.

What I liked most about the book was her unassuming humour. This book is very funny! I feel like I got an honest look at who she is and I admire her perseverance and her outlook on life through all the entertaining challenges she encountered by moving to Vermont. Can't wait for her next book!

As a homesteader myself and an avid reader of books in this genre, Stimson book is absolutely hilarious! A must read for anyone who raises animals, owns a business, or who has dreams of a "postcard life." I look forward to hearing more of the story!

NEGATIVE one million stars! The only reason I gave it one star was because it won't let you post a review without checking off at least one.

I have spent a lot of time in Vermont over the past 30 years, and am planning to move there next year. I'm REALLY glad I made that decision BEFORE I read this book!!! This is, without question, one of the most depressing books I have ever read! The only reason I finished it was to see if it got better! (It didn't.)

Clearly, Ms. Stimson put NO thought into moving to VT (um, how WERE you planning on supporting yourselves? How could you decide to renovate a 100+ year old house and NOT expect it to cost a fortune?! How could you buy a store with NO retail experience, NO research into what WAS working, then change everything, piss off the locals - aka CUSTOMERS- and then be surprised when it failed horribly?!). And, gee, I wonder from where her older son inherited his ADHD....hey, let's buy a store, let's get chickens, let's get lambs, let's think about getting a cow -- all with NO idea how to do any of it! Is it REALLY that surprising that so many people "loathed" you, and you had to close the store, at great financial loss?! Clearly, you know how to acquire books, and perhaps read them, but you have NO common sense! Ms. Stimson, your husband is a saint for putting up with your insanity. I wish you good luck. You'll need it.

NEGATIVE one million stars! The only reason I gave it one star was because it won't let you post a review without checking off at least one.

I have spent a lot of time in Vermont over the past 30 years, and am planning to move there next year. I'm REALLY glad I made that decision BEFORE I read this book!!! This is, without question, one of the most depressing books I have ever read! The only reason I finished it was to see if it got better! (It didn't.)

Clearly, Ms. Stimson put NO thought into moving to VT (um, how WERE you planning on supporting yourselves? How could you decide to renovate a 100+ year old house and NOT expect it to cost a fortune?! How could you buy a store with NO retail experience, NO research into what WAS working, then change everything, piss off the locals - aka CUSTOMERS- and then be surprised when it failed horribly?!). And, gee, I wonder from where her older son inherited his ADHD....hey, let's buy a store, let's get chickens, let's get lambs, let's think about getting a cow -- all with NO idea how to do any of it! Is it REALLY that surprising that so many people "loathed" you, and you had to close the store, at great financial loss?! Clearly, you know how to acquire books, and perhaps read them, but you have NO common sense! Ms. Stimson, your husband is a saint for putting up with your insanity. I wish you good luck. You'll need it.