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!
Pam Ferris was also in “Call the Midwife” in the first six or seven seasons. Then she “died.” I love “Beyond Paradise!”
I do too! I love Humphrey and Martha, and all the people at the station. I love the setting and just all of it. I also like that not every episode is a murder.
She seems like she has been in a lot!!
Thank you for featuring my post about Catweazle! You should have a look at him on YouTube if you find the time, especially the first series.
My favorite read in May was Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes. It gave me a different view of Greek myths.
I need to look him up. I was so intrigued by him!!!
Ooo I just googled that book and it sounds amazing. I am reading a book called The League of Lady Poisoners right now, and while these women murderers, the author also frames at times had little personal agency or any way to escape a situation, etc. She does not obviously condone murder and neither do I, but it shows that sometimes there was more to the story. It is interesting.
I’m glad Wyatt is on the mend! I love seeing different LFLs, I want to start my own and these two are giving me ideas😁
Thanks Tammy! I think you will love having one if you start one!
So glad you liked my May books post! Thank you. June should be wonderful for you now that Wyatt has had the surgery. And I remember Catweazle!
I am feeling so relieved that it is over. Phew.
I need to look Catweazle up on YouTube!
I love reading books where they show exactly how something was set up and run, so I can understand you liking that aspect of The Faraway Inn!
My mind likes a process I guess! Lol.
I’m glad you enjoyed The Faraway Inn! I honestly think if I hadn’t had so many review books on my schedule, I might have been able to keep going, but I just couldn’t make myself keep going with other books I’d actually requested sitting and waiting to be read. It’s good that Wyatt’s surgery is over and that he’s getting better day by day! Here’s hoping June goes great for him and you have lots of fun this month too!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2026/06/01/the-looooong-and-the-short-of-it-may-2026-wrap-up-post-and-looking-forward-to-june/
I think some books it depends on when you are reading them, the frame of mind you are in, and like you said time constraints. This one was different than her other books if you have read those, but I still liked it. 🙂 I can’t tell you how excited I was to see that one on the list of books to choose from! Lol.
And thank you!!
OK, between you, Lisa, and Cat, I am going to have to do a book review! Maybe, I’ll get one done this weekend! I did just finish an intriguing book (not the one I told you about on Instagram, though). I absolutely love “Mathilda!” It’s one of those movies I can watch over and over again and still love it. I think I’ve seen Miss Trunchbull in something else, too, but I can’t recall what it was. I’m glad Wyatt’s surgery is over and, apparently, went well. I hope the whole summer is one of fun, relaxation, and Frog and Toad moments!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Lol! You can just do mini-reviews even if you want! That is what I usually do. And I need to get over to your blog and catch up!
I love Matilda! I totally agree. I can see why as an educator too, that you would love it! I could see you as a Miss Honey kind of teacher. 🙂
His surgery did go well. He had some rough days but he is feeling better now thank goodness. And thank you! I hope you do as well!
i love that you always write such a warm and positive blog. It;s a pleasure to visit. Glad Wyatt’s surgery is done, that must be a relief for you all.
Looks like good reading and watching at your place. Love that mug!
Thank you so much Tina! I am so relieved about it. And he got the all clear from his PT the other day too so that is great news! He can get back to doing his normal things.
I love this mug too! I am always drawn to these stoneware mugs from the 60s (?) when I spot them.
What a great reading month! I read many different genres too. The only one I completely avoid is romance. I also like Brokenwood and Beyond Paradise, and agree that the seasons are too short.
I’m so glad to hear that Wyatt is healing and feeling better 🙂 ! A Frog and Toad summer sounds incredible and I hope you both have the best time. I need to read the Faraway Inn, I loved the first book in that series and I’m definitely planning on continuing it! I’m curious about Three Bags Full and really want to see the movie too. And oh my gosh Bridge to Terabithia destroyed me in grade 7 or 8 when it was assigned in school! Great book( & actually movie too) but never touching them again haha.
I recently joined your Good Book & Cup of Tea linky for the first time and plan to join in when I can 🙂 ! I really love that Matilda movie what a fun childhood throwback! And those kitties are adorable 😻.