Books, Screens, and In-Betweens

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized

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

Hello everyone. It has really been a tough two weeks around here. I shared on here the other day that my mom had a stroke and it has been very emotional and stressful and scary. She is now out of the hospital and in more long term care. She is actually better physically than she is emotionally? I am not sure how to describe it. I did read that this is common for people who have suffered a stroke, so we are just making our way through things day by day. She is also sleeping a lot, and I think she is in a sort of healing cocoon. When we sleep our brains heal and I think that is some part of what is going on. Plus, she does need rest, she went through a huge ordeal and was in the hospital for almost a week. She also had surgery for blood clots. It’s been a lot for her but everyday I see mini improvements, inchstones.

Books:

I haven’t read too much. I am still working on the book I started a few weeks ago, although I am enjoying it. I just keep falling asleep pretty fast at night. Lol.

I hope to finish it in the next day or two, and when I do I am going to start this one!

I thought it would be fun to get a photo with all three of my cats, but you can guess how that went. LOL. Max stuck around though.

Screens:

Nothing too exciting here either. When I am upset I want familiar shows, so we watched old episodes of Brokenwood.

In-Betweens:

I have been so grateful to all my friends for the support they have been given me this past week or so. My in person friends and also my online community. I also have gotten a few letters from pen pals this week that have brought a smile to my face. Thank you to Tina for the happy mail – Wyatt and I are excited to start the seeds soon! Yesterday I set up a small table next to my mom’s bed while she slept and wrote a few letters back to my pen pals, and it was a very therapeutic and calming activity.

I an hoping to be back in this space more this week as well. I am trying to establish a new routine to accommodate some of the changes in our lives for the moment. I just work better when I have a plan and order. I haven’t had one and things are just a mess here. No planned dinners have led to my family eating more fast food and junk than I like, the house is cluttered, things have just fallen by the wayside, even with my husband doing all he can to help. I have been a bit of survival mode, even with Wyatt’s homeschool, focusing on reading and math only and his home therapy routine. So I am working on a plan for the week.

Tuesday is going to be a nightmare friends. Send good vibes! Lol. It’s not really that bad, but between Wyatt and my mom I have three appointments one right after another with just enough time to drive to them all in between!! Not any appointments I am particularly worried about, it’s just the actual scheduling of them.

Around the Internets:

I have shared some posts in the past two weeks:

Little Life Updates

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy Mysteries with a Gardening Theme

Also, just a reminder as well that Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I have a link up for anything bookish! You can find it here!

And that is it from me today! Whatever you do today, try to do something that makes you smile!

30 thoughts on “Books, Screens, and In-Betweens”

  2. marsha57's avatar marsha57

    I honestly don’t know how you do it, Erin! You have quite a bit of stamina is all I can think. My house is a mess, and we have a home health care nurse coming Tuesday. I don’t even care. I also have several commitments at the museum that I can’t get out of so the boys are coming to dad sit. I know they’ll do fine, but I know I’ll be a nervous wreck until I get home. Hope your week is a good one, and I’ll be praying for your mom and all of you.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

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    1. I hope you are doing well, I think about you guys a lot right now! I know how hard all of that can be. I hope you are getting enough help.

      Some days I am not sure either! LOL. I do allow myself a good flop on the bed when my energy starts to wane. And don’t worry about your house right now Marsha, it will get clean. Just make sure you are taking care of your husband and yourself!!!

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  3. You are a superwoman , and you don’t recognize it because you are pulled in so many directions right now…but you are handling it. I have sympathy for you on the appointments back to back. Been there, no fun.

    I like how you phrased that about your mom – in a healing cocoon. Hopefully the long term care will see her improving daily. I know it’s stressful.

    Love the photo of Max with your book and as we have had cats in the past, getting them to pose for a photo as you want it is near impossible, lol. Glad I could send some cheer when you needed it. xo

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    1. Aw thank you Tina. And those appointments were so crazy and long but we did it! I am still tired this morning, I swear. LOL. I had a phone call from someone else that wanted to have a meeting yesterday, that would have been number four, and I told my brother I couldn’t do it. Thankfully he did it.

      It’s so stressful. She is doing ok though, and is comfortable and that is good.

      Thank you! I told him he was a good boy for sticking around while Miso and Mouse took off on me. Lol.

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  4. Sorry to hear about your mother. My life has been busy, but not with anything like that right now. Keeping your family in my thoughts. I’m glad she is out and recovering. I know that when my mom is sick I am stressed and worried and my brain will only let me watch my comfort shows. I’m worried about my mom all the time these days though with random visits to the ER and so I can understand how you are doing. I hope this week goes easier for you and that she continues to recover.

    https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2026/03/15/weekly-wrap-up-march-15th-2026/

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    1. Thank you Lisa. And I am sorry to hear that you are going through some different things with your mother too. They need to stop worrying us! Lol. That is how I am, I can only watch something I consider a comfort show too. I hope that things get easier for you as well.

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  5. Joanne's avatar Joanne

    You really are juggling so much right now! Sending you virtual hugs and all the best wishes I can. I hope all the appointments go well and everyone is running on time. Try to give yourself as much grace as you can; it might not be the best food but your family has been fed, it might not be the lovely, in-depth schoolwork you planned but learning is happening.. I know that’s not much consolation but you can’t be everywhere doing everything for everybody.

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  9. You have so much going on, it can be excused to eat a bit of junk for now. I pray your mom can heal some more. What a crazy journey it has been for her and all of you.

    I just can’t believe you aren’t reading more, though? I mean…what have you had … a family crisis to figure out?! Sheesh! (obviously you recognize my normal sarcasm).

    You know I’m praying for you all and glad you can find some down time to relax at least a little.

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  11. Boy, Erin, that’s rugged. And today, I think, is your bad Tuesday, so holding you in my heart all day and hope you make all those appointments and that the results of them are positive. I can see where just the emotional shock of being “the person who had the stroke” can really affect your moon, even when your physical shape is improving. Adding to it your other stresses with school and Wyatt and appointments — well, that’s a lot for anyone to handle. So, please, please, try to carve out a little time every day just for you. Recharge the batteries as much as you can.

    The Mystical Cat Shelter sounds like a wonderful book and I’ll look forward to your review. Love Max!

    (And a week or two of junk food isn’t that bad when you are normally spot on with it. Do what’s easiest for you.)

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    1. Thank you Jeanie! We made it through all the appointments! I am still tired today, I swear. Lol. Today I plan on taking it a little easier at least.

      I think that is a lot of it, coming to terms with knowing she had a stroke. She had one at 15 years old too, well an aneurysm, and I know she is thinking about that as well. Her thinking is muddled and I think she is sorting through it all right now and that is ok.

      It is really good so far!! And the kittens have been such a joy right now, and a source of comfort. Billy laughs because when I lay down I usually end up with two or three cats laying near me. Lol.

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