I am linking up with Deb at Readerbuzz, Kathryn at Book Date, and Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
Hello everyone! I am finally taking a moment after a crazy morning of kitten wrangling and not enough coffee.
If you read here pretty regularly, then you know that my husband surprised me with a kitten for Christmas! We couldn’t bring it home until this weekend though, as she was too young to leave her mom at Christmas. So on Friday night, we brought home two kittens, Mabel (orange) and Mouse! We decided that it was better to adopt Mabel and one of her littermates so they could occupy each other and save Miso from a lot of their kitten antics.
You can read more about it all in my Coffee Catch Up from yesterday if you want!
Books:
I finished up The Lady on Esplanade, which was pretty good. There were some aspects that sort of bothered me but the story itself was solid. I am also still enjoying my slow read of Stillmeadow and Sugarbridge. So much so that I joined a Pen Pal exchange for adults through the Analog Life Project I signed up for! I have a new snail mail pal, a woman in The Netherlands. I think I am going to make letter writing a part of week, for my new pen pal friend and also, just to my other in real life friends and online friends. I think it would be fun.
I also started the book While the Earth Holds Its Breath, and goodness I am loving it. I love Moat’s writing style and going on this journey with her. It is interesting to me, mainly because I already love winter, so reading about someone training themself to love it is fascinating.
Screens:
As for screens, Billy and I have been binging Stranger Things, and we finally finished the series last night. It was a great final episode. It was nuts to see them so tiny and little in flashbacks from the beginning and now the actors are all new adults. It was just really well done. I think tonight we are going to watch a movie but I am not sure which one yet. We may even watch two, since today is in the negative temps here.
The In-Betweens:
I already told you about the kittens, and other than that, it has been a pretty slow week. Other than Wyatt’s wheelchair completely losing a wheel while I was pushing it!
It was very scary for a minute, and I am so thankful that I was actually pushing him with both hands when it happened. We were walking through the parking lot to our car after physical therapy when it happened, and if I wouldn’t have had hold of both handles it scares me to think what would have happened to him. I stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to do, trying not to alarm him more than he already was, because he was scared. I ended up leaving the wheel where it was, then wheeling him to the car on one wheel, just holding up the other side myself. However, to load him I had to gently rest the chair on the ground in that weird off balance pose which really freaked him out but then I reminded him I would never let him fall and he calmed down. After we were all loaded back into the car, I drove to my FIL and he got the wheel back on solid enough to get Wyatt in the house, then Billy fixed it the rest of the way. It was quite the adventure, which ended much better than it could have.
Posted Last Week:
Saturday Morning Coffee Catch Up- Kitten Update
Around the Internets:
Just a reminder that Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I co-host A Good Book and a Cup of Tea monthly which is for any and all bookish posts. And as I am typing this I realize I didn’t post any January information yet! I will rectify that today!
And I have decided to retire my idea of Soup and Story Saturday. I can’t figure out quite how to run it so I will shelve that idea, but still eat soup.
And that is it from me today! I hope that today you do something that makes you smile! I know too, that the world is very heavy right now, with a lot happening. So the small things we do, like just getting a special coffee drink (my current favorite is the matcha latte with vanilla syrup 1 pump and oatmilk from Starbucks), finding a moment to settle down and read, a long walk outside, are all so important to keep our mental health.
And now, just a few pics from the camera!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
Yikes that is scary! Glad you were able to get him safely in the car and have people with skills to help mend the wheelchair. We’re tucked inside today as we get more snow. I’m thinking it might be a fun day to make cards and maybe even a scrapbook page or two.
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I hope that you had some fun creative time yesterday, and kept warm! It is absolutely freezing here the next few days!!
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I’m glad Billy was able to fix Wyatt’s chair. I have never had a penpal…weird, right? We haven’t started Stranger Things. I want to go back and watch a couple episodes from the last season. I finished the book about the Indigenous Peoples who lost all their electricity, cell service, and I’m still thinking about it. So much to unpack there.
Have a wonderful winter week, Erin!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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I wish we had done a bit of a rewatch, I couldn’t remember some things and kept asking Billy questions. Lol.
My neighbor growing up was from England, and she gave me her grandniece’s address for us to write each other. It was fun! She actually sent me books a few times!
That book was intense. I really thought it did give the reader quite a bit to think about. I had tabbed a quote early in the book, that was about the MC and how he wanted to always do the right thing, even when faced with bad people or something like that. When I went through the tabs when I was done reading I was glad to see that he had stood by his convictions.
You too Marsha! Is it as cold for you as it is here for us?
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Your kittens are cute. I am allergic to cats, but I do think they are cute. Yay for a pen pal, I hope you enjoy it so much!! Have a great week.
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Thanks Cindy! I hope that you are doing well, I have been thinking about you.
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Thanks Erin! My bloodwork was better today than last week, so improving 🙂
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I am glad to hear that!
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You kittens are cute and beautiful! Oh my goodness about Wyatt’s wheelchair – I’m glad you were both spared from injury. I must say I love the positivity of your blog. It’s one I really look forward to reading.
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Aw thank you Jodie!!! That is so sweet!!
And these kittens are so crazy. They crack us up!!
That wheelchair situation was so shocking. I have never ever heard of that happening! The company is coming out next Tuesday for a different reason so I am going to have them just look it over while they are here.
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Wow those kittens are adorable. All the world needs a kitten right now. Sorry to hear about the wheelchair problem. Yikes that would be alarming. Glad it can be fixed.
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You know, that might actually solve everything!! Kittens really do make you feel better. I can’t get over how tiny they are right now. I haven’t been near a kitten in a very long time! And thank you.
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Oh my goodness look at those two sweet kitten babies!!
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Lol! They are so silly!!
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The kittens are so cute.
I still can’t believe that thing with the wheelchair either! That was crazy and I am so glad nothing horrible happened!
I love that letter writing and anolog project. I wish I had signed up for it too! My sister-in-law is part of a penpal project and loves it.
It’s such a good idea. I love the idea of writing letters and then having to wait for the response. It gives us something to look forward to and it’s such a treat when it finally comes.
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Thanks Lisa. It was really a situation at first!
It is so fun so far. I am looking forward to writing some letters! I think Wyatt and I will be writing letters on Tuesdays – I guess that will be our correspondence day, and I will do it in the morning so I can feel like a titled lady in England. And yes that is just what I think too!
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Your new kittens are adorable! They will keep you all busy while you are staying inside to avoid the cold.
I’m glad the wheelchair could be easily fixed and that no one was hurt.
Wishing you a happy reading week
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They have been such a fun addition to our family. And yes, plenty of entertainment while we can’t go outside. Right now we can get frostbite in ten minutes if we go outside uncovered for that long!
Thanks Shelley!
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The wheelchair issue was a total fright. I’m grateful that Billy could fix it but it had to be a terrible moment for yu and Wyatt.
And on a different note, I love the cover on the Helen Moat book!
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Thank you Jeanie! And that book is lovely, very quiet and thoughtful.
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I just looked up that book Stillmeadow at Sugarbridge and wow, that sounds so good. I was born in Chester Pennsylvania and grew up outside Philly, I need this book! If you ever want a letter or card, I write all the time. Have always been a letter writer and so, if interested email me your address – tmculbertson @ gmail .com
The kitttens are so adorable. We ahven;t owned a cat in ages but we do have a neighbor cat who comes over and hangs out with Loki.
Glad Billy could fix the wheelchair, that must have been scary to have the wheel off in the parking lot. Didn’t anyone offer to assist you?
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You definitely need this book then! It is such a calming read.
I will email! That sounds fun, thank you!
I have never had a kitten before and now we have two! I used to volunteer with an animal rescue and at the shelter for years, and adopted older cats. This is fun!
No they didn’t. Two people walked by and didn’t say anything. I guess I could have asked too but I wasn’t thinking right I guess.
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I would have absolutely offered assistance to anyone with that situation!
That book is on my wish list now.
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I’m imagining how much fun your house is with two new kittens. I’m a little envious.
While the Earth Holds Its Breath sounds like a perfect book for you where you live!
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They are goofballs and bringing us a lot of joy right now. My Miso girl is still getting used to the fact that they are here. We are doing things very slowly and I think that will be the best thing in the end.
It really is! And this week is soooo cold! We were told to be careful and cover up when we go out, we could get frostbite on exposed skin in ten minutes today and tomorrow!
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Your kittens are absolutely adorable! Wise to get two, I think. Oh gosh, losing the wheel off Wyatt’s wheelchair must have been so alarming! I’m glad that neither of you sustained any injuries.
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It was a good decision! I had a few people advise it and I am glad that I listened. They keep each other company and it is easier to keep them separated from Miso too, because of that.
And thank you, it really was!
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That wheelchair incident sounds scary, Erin. So glad it worked out and the chair is fixed. The kittens are super adorable! Smart idea to get a pair. We have loved watching Travis and Dwight grow together. My girls loved Stranger Things. I haven’t started Karen White’s new series yet. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your week!
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2026/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-mailbox_01363821565.html
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It was a situation for a minute for sure! And thank you. They are bringing us a lot of laughs right now. And I am so glad that we did too!
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OMG, I can’t imagine how scary it must have been!
But you kept your cool, and “wheeling him to the car on one wheel”, wow, you are truly amazing.
And these kittens are so adorable!
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It was scary! I had a moment of panic, but then Wyatt was really scared, and I didn’t blame him, and I needed to get him calm. Poor kid.
And thank you! They are keeping us sane during this horrible cold snap.
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So happy to hear no one was hurt with the wheel coming off and that it was fixable! Those kittens are so adorable! I think it was a good idea to get two, litter mates, as cats to get lonely and look at them cuddled up together! Their antics sure brighten a day, and boy do we need that with all the scary things going on in the news! I love eating soup in the winter, too. Casseroles and crockpot dinners are also favorites during the cold.
I’m curious about the niggles you had with the Karen White book. I read the first two and have this one from my library right now, but I haven’t had a chance to pick it up. The romance is on the messy side, which doesn’t thrill me, but the series has been entertaining. Have a great week and stay warm, Erin!
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Thank you! It was so crazy and shocking!!
And thank you! I am so glad that we got two, too. I think it will really help Miso too, so these guys play with each other and not bug her too much. Lol. And yes, they are definitely helping our mental health. I recommend two kittens per household!
That is exactly the issue. The romance is messy, and didn’t get any better this time around. It just seemed so much more a part of the story this time too. However, I do still like the series. This romance issue needs a resolution though!
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I was worried about that! I hate messy romance situations and the fact that it’s still unresolved is frustrating. I think I’ll wait on picking it up.
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Oh no! You and Wyatt had a wild time of it in that parking lot! Glad everything worked out and you both got to the car safely.
Those kittens!!!! I’m so glad you took two of them. So cute!!!!
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It was so crazy! I am relieved as well, but now I am a bit nervous about the wheelchair just breaking randomly like that!
These kittens are giving us life during these cold days and nights!! And Miso too of course.
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I used to have a French penpal – I met her on holiday and we corresponded for a good while. She used to send me really weird stationery and little crocheted mats her mum made. The wheelchair thing was scary, thank goodness you could hold it steady.
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