Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Today’s Prompt:  Books with Handwriting on the Cover (Or fonts that look like handwriting. Titles, subtitles, covers with letters on them, etc.)

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden

Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon

Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero

Grounding: Finding Home in a Garden by Lulah Ellender

Books, Iced Coffee, and a Side of Dragons by Amanda Lovelace

Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolen

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

I can’t wait to see what you all chose!

Hello everyone!! I just stepped outside to water the plants and it is gorgeous out there! Although it will be a bit hotter today than I like, it is nice to have warm and sun.

So, I haven’t written one of these in a while! It looks like my last one was May 14th. Since then we have done a few things, and one big one, Wyatt’s surgery. We will start there.

Wyatt had his surgery last week at Mott Michigan Medicine, and they did such a great job taking care of him. He is at the age now though where he understands surgery and after his last one, he was pretty anxious and reluctant, which broke my heart. I hate that he has had to have all of these surgeries already. This was like number 12 or 13 and he is only 11. However, he had the staff rolling with laughter in pre-op because he is a funny kid and likes to make people laugh. The surgery went well, and was about 90 minutes or so. After surgery was rough for a few days, but he seems to be back to my Wyatt now. I took him to therapy yesterday and his PT cleared him for all physical activities to his pain tolerance. I won’t feel relaxed for a while yet, but that is because I am his mum.

Afterwards we went shopping for crickets for our lizards and Carl the tarantula, and the pet store we stopped at had an ice cream place right next store. I felt little man deserved some ice cream after the past week, so we popped over. I only ordered each of us a single scoop since dinner wasn’t too far off, but the guy working I guess didn’t feel like that was enough, as he added a few scoops to each of ours for free. Wyatt’s was fully loaded and overflowing, and he was one happy kid!

Speaking of ice cream, do you all have Superman ice cream in your state? Or blue moon? I read the other day that those were just Michigan flavors and that seemed crazy.

We have been consuming lots of delicious treats the past few weeks honestly. Lol. A few weeks ago, I helped out with the social media for a local bookshop owner who was putting on a book festival. (She did a great job, and if you are in Michigan try to stop by The Wandering Librarian bookstore in Monroe!) We had a great time meeting the authors, of course shopping for books and other items because that was going to happen of course, and obviously posting to social media. Wyatt and Billy went with me because we were leaving right after baseball, and it was fun to share that event with them! One of the perks that I got was a free dirty soda it was delicious. I had not had one before and now I feel like I need to find a place closer to me so I can have it again. Although, it is probably good there is not one! I shared it with Billy and Wyatt of course, and then we stopped for cookies at a bakery on the way home. Billy ran in and picked up four different cookies, and we split them over the course of four days, which took Willpower with a capital W.

Wyatt and I also have spent some time accumulating books from thrift stores, garage sales, and little free library hopping.

Max seems pretty excited about this stack too! I think we gathered some great books, and half of these were even free at a garage sale! A few of them made it onto Wyatt’s summer reading list (which is flexible and I am sure will absolutely change).

I also spotted this stack of strawberry Corelle plates while thrifting, although I did not buy them. I wanted to though, they feel so nostalgic to me! My grandma had Corelle plates when I was a kid. I have heard they are non-breakable, is that true? I will probably keep thinking about these darn it. I really don’t need more plates no matter how cute though.

The other day when Wyatt and I went to the library, the big front porch was open for the summer. We have been waiting because we (I) love to sit out there. In fact I am hoping for some time alone here and there over the summer to go by myself and read there with an iced coffee. Anyway, this time it was me and Wyatt and as soon as we stepped onto the porch the big door slammed shut and we were locked out of the library! I joked to Wyatt that at least we were in a nice shady spot with lots of books! We hung out there for a bit then I called the front desk to let them know we needed “rescuing”. Lol.

I like to sit here and imagine what it would have been like to sit there before the city was all built up around it. This is the old house part of the library, we also have a new annex. The annex was built in the 1970s but they very recently renovated it. I am not a fan of the new renovations though, at least not yet. It is really cold and sterile and gray. I can see how it makes the space more functional, but it is lacking the warmth it used to have. Maybe we just all need to live in the space more to make it feel that way, considering the way it used to look was the way that it looked my entire life.

And I have to hurry off now, Wyatt has an appointment and I just noticed the time. We are both still in our pajamas and we need to leave in 30 minutes!! LOL.

I hope you all have a great day, and do something that makes you smile!

Hello everyone! It is time for my three book round up of mini-reviews! This grouping of books could really describe me as a reader; cozy, fantastical, nostalgic. And it includes my favorite book that I read in May, The Faraway Inn!

Let’s start with that one.

First, I love this cover. Second, I loved this book. It is different than Durst’s Spellshop series, but still has that cozy, whimsical feel. This one is YA, and revolves around Calisa, who is a high schooler. It is summer break and she just had a bad breakup with her long time boyfriend, and wants an escape. So her moms send her to aunt’s inn in Vermont, which they describe as magical, but not magical in the magic sense, if you get my drift. However, Calisa arrives and the place is barely standing, it is so run down. She immediately bumps into a handsome young man about her age, and learns that he is the groundskeeper’s son, and that he has been holding down the fort single handedly really while his dad is out of town. She also learns that her aunt is not enthused she is there. She sets out to prove herself by putting the Inn back together, bit by bit. I love to watch people organize and clean on YouTube, and I found that even reading about it was relaxing and satisfying to me. Lol. Calisa also soon finds out that there is more than meets the eye to The Faraway Inn, and that there just might be some magic left after all.

I loved the characters, the Inn, the whole story. It was a five star read for me.

Next, we have Jane of Lantern Hill. I would rank this on near the bottom of the L.M. Montgomery list of books that I have read, but that does not mean that it was bad or that I didn’t like it. It still had all the wonderful nature writing and a strong female protagonist that we have all grown to love about Montgomery. Jane Victoria learns that her father, whom she has believed is dead, is very much alive. Although her grandmother might wish he was, or considers him so. Jane has grown up as Victoria, a formal name for her formal life that she has never felt she fit into. When she finally meets her dad, and lives with him for an enchanted summer on PEI, or the Island, she finds herself and develops all the confidence that was just brewing under the surface. My only complaint about this book is that both of her parents seem to be under the thumb of a domineering family figure in their life, her father less so but he is still blind to the manipulative nature of that character, and I don’t feel like there was any sort of…comeuppance is the word I am thinking but that is not the right one. There is no reckoning, no resolution. I didn’t like that they were sort of wimpy, and that Jane was more adult than her parents.

Other than that, I loved this book. Ok, one more exception. Of course the cats. Watch out, there are a few triggers with cats in this one but they are quick.

Four stars.

Now let’s move on to Bridge to Terabithia. Spoiler alert if you don’t know what happens in this book.

My niece, Mermaid Girl, and I were talking about books the other day, and she told me that this is her favorite book. She also asked me if I had read it. I mentioned the other day that I have avoided this book like, 40 years, because of how sad it seemed to me. So I had to tell her that no I hadn’t read it. She asked me if I would, so that we could discuss it, and of course I said yes. How could I not? I immediately ordered a copy on Pango and read it when it arrived. And yes, it was terribly sad! Not just the big event sad, but the overall poverty and sadness that emanates from the supporting characters most of the time, the beat downess by life of Jess’ parents, the standoffishness of Jess’ dad towards him. And I think that was my favorite part in the book, the interactions between Jess and his dad, AFTER Leslie dies. The small gestures between them, his dad resting his hand briefly on his shoulder, and then this passage.

“His father stroked his hair without speaking. Jess grew quiet. They both watched the water. Finally his father said, ‘Hell, ain’t it'” and I felt this scene to my core. My own father is an emotional guy, not afraid to show his feelings but I did grow up in an era where a lot of dads didn’t. They weren’t hard men, but it was difficult or not done. So this moment seemed huge.

This book was just very well-written as well. Katherine Paterson is gifted and can transport you in just a few words. I also loved this part.

“It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength.”

What a hopeful way to look at such a tragedy.

And just an FYI, Katherine Paterson is still alive at 93.

Four and half stars.

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Prompt: Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read

Most of these today are books that I probably should have read in childhood, but didn’t. Then I never read them, ever. I started wondering what books I missed out on as a kid after I read Heidi in April. That was one I didn’t read in childhood, but absolutely loved it when I finally did read it. Some of these are books that I absolutely should have read by now; I am pretty well read when it comes to the classics, unless the classics are children’s books!

Please don’t yell at me! LOL.

Daddy-Long Legs || What Katy Did || Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (this one is actually on my summer TBR though)

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe || A Wrinkle in Time || The Trumpet of the Swan

I know, I know, I know.

Bridge to Terabithia || A Little Princess || Caddie Woodlawn

On Sunday, my 10 year old niece informed me that Bridge to Terabithia is her favorite book, and asked me, her aunt who reads all the time, if I had read it. I was ashamed to tell her that I had not. So I promptly ordered it off of Pango and I am reading it when it gets here. She is excited because then we can talk about it. I am excited for that too!

Peter Pan

I love every single Peter Pan movie I have ever watched. I love this story – although, I have never read the book, so do I love the story? I really need to read it. I own it, I just need to do it. Maybe this winter I will finally do it!

I am looking forward to seeing what you have all never read as well!

Hello everyone! Happy June 1! How did we get here already?

As much as I didn’t like having Wyatt’s surgery, I am happy that it is over now and we still have the whole summer ahead of us. Our Frog and Toad summer! He is still healing but everyday is so much better than the day before.

May was in general, a very crazy month. It was a month of new starts, like Little League, and of wrapping things up, like Blackbirds and school (for the most part). We had long school days as I was trying to get us to certain points before ending school for six weeks, then all of his home therapy which also had added exercises and work. Plus Little League twice a week! It was just a really busy month, ending with his surgery. But despite the crazy, it was a pretty good month.

So let’s see. What did I read in May?

I read six books, with one squeaking in there right at the end. I only read one nonfiction book this month, but I did manage a translated fiction book, so I added to my total books in both the Nonfiction Challenge and Books in Translation Challenge in May! These were sort of all over the place in terms of genre, but I seem to read that way.

And for those that like statistics, here are a few! I read books set in four different countries, with settings in rural England, rural Ireland, rural Virginia, rural Vermont, rural Canada, and finally Los Angeles, California. Lol. I read 1,625 pages, and 6 genres.

My favorite read of May was The Faraway Inn. I just love Sarah Beth Durst and her worlds. I feel like this one was good for my frame of mind at the time too. I love to watch people clean and this book talked a lot about straightening and cleaning and fixing up, and I found it really calming. That was not the intention I am sure but that is something I personally took from it.

I am a cohost with Lisa at Boondock Ramblings, who thought of the monthly bookish linkup A Good Book and a Cup of Tea for all things book, not just books read or reviews, but bookstore visits or author visits or whatever else bookish you can think of!

We have decided we will be featuring our favorite posts from the month here. I do read all the posts even if I don’t comment. I only like to comment from my actual laptop and not from my phone, which is a problem sometimes when I read the post on my phone. ( I am working on more time to read and comment though. )

I enjoyed everyone’s posts, but these were my favorites:

From My Children’s Book Cabinet – Catweazle from Cat at Cat’s Wire

May Books from Gail at Is This Mutton?

6 Standout Books I Recommend This Month from Lisa at Lisa Notes

You can link up with us here for June!

It was an enjoyable month of tv and movie watching. I love all of these shows, and honestly Brokenwood and Beyond Paradise are probably two of my favorite shows. I am so bummed they have such short seasons!!

Anaconda was a weird but fun choice, and I love Paul Rudd and Jack Black so it was a win. But Matilda was my favorite. I love this movie, especially the ending. Billy and I kept saying that Miss Trunchbull was so familiar to us but we could not place her. So I looked it up and she played Laura Thyme in the British mystery show Rosemary and Thyme! She just looked and acted so differently we couldn’t put it together.

And for some non-book related faves this month….

Caturdays Cute and Cozy Coloring Book With Cattitude

I had my first tomato and cheese sandwich of the season yesterday! I had it on toasted sourdough with a bit of green chile aioli and it was delicious.

Good weather, good enough to start gardening. Finally!!!

Thrifting

Little Free Library hopping

And of course we had lots of fun times, some mentioned above. We went to a book fest, we ate delicious adorable cookies, we started seeds, we crafted. It was busy but there were also lots of slow good Frog and Toad moments in between.

I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

I am linking up with Deb at Readerbuzz,  Kathryn at Book Date, and  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Hello everyone! Well, Wyatt had his surgery! He came home same day and is doing well. In fact he is sitting next to me right now giggling away because he put something on tv that he knows makes me crazy. That little crazy kid. He is still in pain but he is doing better everyday.

Books:

I had a hard time getting into anything for a bit, but then I picked up an L.M. Montgomery book and that did the trick.

I liked this one, although it is not my favorite. I felt like Jane was more mature and practical than her parents, which sort of annoyed me. I have some things to say about this one, and I will this week when I post a few book reviews.

The other week Mermaid Girl told me that Bridge to Terabithia is her favorite book and asked if I had read it. I told her no, and she asked me to read it so we could talk about it. I have been avoiding this book all of my life because I know it is sad, but for her, I will read it. Sigh. I started it last night and the writing is very transportive, and I found myself sucked right in. I am also starting Dungeon Crawler Carl.

I also picked up a few books from the library yesterday, and two of my nonfiction holds came in. Together they make me look like I might be a bit dangerous!

I flipped through the Agatha Christie book a bit yesterday and I am looking forward to actually reading it, as it is part cookbook, and also talks about “their context in Christie’s life and times, and the roles they play in the source works.” In true Erin fashion I am sure I will pick a Christie book to read and then make one of the dishes, or maybe even two! There is a recipe for the perfect cup of coffee in there, and I have to say I am curious. I also started The League of Lady Poisoners and it is better than I had thought it would be honestly. They are both good to just pick up and read a bit from here and there, so I will be slow reading them both.

Screens:

More YouTube than shows right now, although Billy and I are watching The Other Bennett Sister together. I love it. I love Mary and her aunt and I have so much empathy for Mary’s character that sometimes it is painful to watch but that is because they have made her so real, both the writers and the actress. It is fantastic.

I am also watching a lot of YouTube with my son who has been laid up. He has to watch some of my picks too sometimes lol, and he is such a sweet kid that he doesn’t usually complain. We have been watching a lot of Rebecca’s Literary Wanderings, and I love her channel. I feel a kinship to her reading choices, and sometimes I watch and I am like “Hey! I was just going to blog about these books/activities too!” Lol.

We have also been watching Real Vintage Doll House. She left her job and is trying her hand at full time creating so she can always be counted on to have new content.

In-Betweens:

Really, nothing except Wyatt’s surgery this past week. I did work on my disability representation database and it is going well. Billy is going to convert it to a web page for me soon, as right now it is just a spreadsheet. I do have it posted but it is only in its beginning form. I have either been reading or doing work on my laptop next to Wyatt most of the time, and we have both gotten lots of cat cuddles.

Around the Internets:

Lisa of Boondock Ramblings and I host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea.  This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!). Each link party will be open for a month. You can find that link up for this month here.

And I think that is it from me today! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

I am linking up with Deb at Readerbuzz,  Kathryn at Book Date, and  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Hello everyone! I am having a hard time reading these past few days. Wyatt has surgery this coming Wednesday, and I can’t seem to focus. This always happens when I anxious. He had a big surgery last July, where he had his hips put back into their sockets, and metal put in to hold it in place. He also had tendon lengthening surgery at the same time. It was a very difficult time but now we are at the final piece of it – having the hardware removed. He can’t have it in place forever since he is still growing. I wish he didn’t have to go through any of this again though. I probably won’t be posting here for a few days, after tomorrow.

Books:

This is one of the books that I was most excited about this year, so you can imagine my delight when I won it from Lisa Loves Literature. I thought it the most perfect little summertime cozy read. I think it sort of appealed to the part of my brain right now that is seeking calm and satisfaction from cleaning and straightening, since the main character is doing exactly those things to her aunt’s inn. Lol. Review soon.

I tried to read a few different books after I finished this one, but I can’t get into anything. I think I need a nonfiction read for right now, so I have placed a few holds at the library, including the book The Smallest of Joys. While I am waiting I am going to try Jane of Lantern Hill. It’s not nonfiction but the writing style might stop my anxious brain from wandering. Plus it is L.M. Montgomery and I love her.

Screens:

Billy and I have been watching a mix of things. We watched Beyond Paradise, which I love and always wish the seasons were longer. They are done too soon! We also finally started The Other Bennett Sister and I love it, although sometimes my secondhand embarrassment and empathy kick in and it is hard for me to watch in parts.

We also watched Matilda with Wyatt yesterday. What a good movie that is. Everyone plays their part perfectly, and I love Matilda and Lavender and Miss Honey. I also loved Miss Honey’s cottage. It is so cute.

I posted a few times last week as well.

A Frog and Toad Inspired Summer

Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy Mystery Furry Companions

And just a reminder:

Lisa of Boondock Ramblings and I host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea.  This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!). Each link party will be open for a month. You can find that link up for this month here.

In-Betweens:

I need to do a coffee catchup post! I am trying to narrow down what to write about here and I can’t!

Wyatt and I have been working on our Summer TBR lists. His is all chosen; mine however is like 50 books long and that is beyond realistic for me. Lol. I might have a summer reading idea list or something instead. A big pool of books to choose from. Why are there so many good books out there?

We did the teensiest bit of gardening the other day! Wyatt and I went to the nursery and picked out flowers to put around our Little Free Library, and it looks so welcoming and happy. Wyatt picked out some yellow pansies and snapdragons because he wanted some dragon flowers, and I picked out the lilies.

I know one is a Stella d’Orio, and I think the other is Happy Returns. Nothing special but I like the names of things like daylilies and roses.

And that is it from me today! I hope that whatever you do today you d something that makes you smile!

Hello everyone!

Summer is coming, and this summer we want to have a Frog and Toad inspired summer! Nostalgic. Whimsical..slow and cozy. Full of books and berries and cake and picnics, fireflies and stars. Swimming, gardening, and just filling ourselves up with all the simple joys that summer has to offer.

I have spent my morning with Wyatt, making plans, although if the plans don’t work out, we are flexible. I do have a bit of Toad in me though, and I am a list maker.

I was looking at hipcamp sites, and places to rent canoes. I have promised Billy I would go on a family camping trip and eventually I need to actually do it. I am planning nights of stargazing and watching fireflies in our yard. I think we will go pick blueberries, and make jam, and bake lots of blueberry pancakes and have them with lots of fresh maple syrup. And picnics! Our family, and Frog and Toad, love a picnic! We have a special spot that we go, under a trio of shady trees, where the breeze blows off the water and keeps us cool even on the hottest days. We take our books and art supplies, listen to birds, kick off our shoes and sometimes one of us will just lay down and close our eyes, listening to the sound of the birds or the music from cars driving by, down the hill from where we sit. These days are always so drowsy, and Wyatt is happy to paint and draw the afternoon away and we are happy to let him. He is surrounded by sun and birds and flowers, fresh air. We don’t need to spend every minute on the run to the next big thing. We want to teach him to enjoy the small things too, these quiet moments.

I hope to do lots of reading, whether inside or out, and board games on Saturday nights with my brother and his kids. Afternoons picking books at the library to emerge with a giant bookstack, that we can hurry home and start reading. Swimming at my in-laws in the evening, and taking a tired boy home to bed. Movies outside on the garage wall with friends.

We are slowly planting our garden, and are thinking about pesto and turkey sandwiches, tomato and cheese sandwiches, made from tomato and basil from our garden, all on homemade sourdough bread. Fresh picked flowers in small vases scattered around the house. We planted some flowers already, all yellow lilies and pansies, and some snapdragons too, because Wyatt wanted dragon flowers, in the space around the Little Free Library. Then we added some gnomes while we were at it, because it just felt like a space gnomes would like too. Maybe we will turn the apple tree into a fairy tree, or…a goblin tree. Save the fairies for the stump in the back garden.

Of course we will meet friends for ice cream, the kids all sitting in the back of the car, carefree, happy. And we need strawberry shortcake with homemade shortcake. I want to make moth sugar, and plant milkweed again. And parades! This is parade and festival season. I think Frog and Toad would approve of that. And then there is a block party at Greenfield Village one day, and strawberry days another.

And even if we don’t do all this, or even half of it, I just want a summer that feels like a summer I would have had as a kid. Without a ton of technology. With more emphasis on small simple moments. Like I said, nostalgic, whimsical. Like a summer Frog and Toad would approve of.

And that is it from me today. I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Prompt: Favorite Secondary/Minor Characters

Today is all about honoring those fun favorite secondary/minor characters. So I decided to do the furry companions in cozy mysteries!

Huckleberry, a cute little pug, from the Farm to Table Mysteries by Amanda Flower

Oliver, a corgi who can talk to his owner, in the Chatty Corgi series by Jennifer Hawkins

Yeti, a fluffy white kitty who gets her own chapters in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries by Diane Kelly

Charles, the library cat from the Lighthouse Library series by Eva Gates

Dash, another corgi, from the Enchanted Garden series by Bailey Cattrell (I love corgis!)

Bugsy, a goat from the Zen Goat Mystery series by Janna Rollins

Towser, Lugs, and Sonsie from the Hamish Macbeth books by M.C. Beaton

Fifi (who shows up a few books in) the purebred poodle from the Campers and Criminals Mysteries by Tonya Kappes

Eddie, the cat who usually finds the bodies from the Bookmobile Mystery series by Laurie Cass (and this reminded me I want to read more of these!)

Emerson, the tuxedo cat from the Magical Bookshop series by Amanda Flower AND a bonus!

Another Violet character I could have added to my list for last week’s Top Ten Tuesday!

And that is it from me today! I will be by on Wednesday to comment on your posts since my son has physical therapy and Little League on Tuesdays now! Lol.

I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!