Margaret Jane Eden

Nail Soup Margaret Jane Eden

"That's nail soup, Janie. It will give you all the iron you need. Go ahead and eat up. We have work to do!"



And there really is work to do. Jane Eden's dad was once a successful farmer, construction-company owner, and church builder, and he tore right through Middle Tennessee successfully for more than half a century. But then her brother's accidental death changed everything. And her dad started eating strange food, building odd contraptions to save money, and hoarding. He simply refused to let go of anything from old fast-food containers to unfixable bull dozers and archaic devices of every kind. He brought it all home to the farm by the truckload.




Louis Hinkle built a small empire and an entire house by himself in his late 70s. Yet, organizing his collection and planning for his old age is beyond him. After her mom's death, Jane discovers their once beautiful country property is now piled high with everything from heavy equipment to hospital X-ray machines. Inside the house isn't much better. With a long list of medical issues, dad's become a danger to himself and others, and something must be done! Reluctantly, Jane steps forward to rescue dad. She compels him to move to assisted living and get the medical help he needs. And, with a crew-and a revolver strapped to her hip-she races to clean up the acreage for auction, while fending off wily thieves, would-be crooked buyers, and her dad's old business enemies. With each tattered piece of junk she turns over, she rediscovers memories, like lost treasures, of ridiculous, funny, scary childhood adventures with dad that include Sunday church, holidays, construction near-misses, and more. All are lessons in how far her dad will go to save, to earn a buck, to put food on the table, and maybe even help his kids go to college.