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

Hello everyone! It is a rainy morning here this morning, and I have to say, I am loving it. I needed a good rainy day. I am so ready for fall, and fall weather, and most importantly, fall clothes. We are going to Louisville pretty soon, and I know the weather there is going to be thick. Lol. I feel once I get home from there, I am declaring autumn over my own tiny domain. We will be back to school this week, then our trip, then.. fall.

Books:

I missed reading by the archive date on the Books, Iced Coffee and a Side of Dragons book I wanted to read but I will keep it on my TBR. I am still getting used to NetGalley again! I did finish Sunflower Season though.

Sunflower Season was pretty cute, although I did have to skip through some parts! There are some trigger warnings for this one – mainly loss of a parent. Because I really needed a book like that right now. Sigh. I just skipped a bunch of pages until I felt like I was past all of it. I will do a review this week.

This week, hmm. What shall I read?

I am embarking on a quest of reading short little classics this fall, that are slightly edgy, like Lolly Willowes, all the way to scary like Algernon Blackwood and The Wendigo. I am starting with Lolly and there a million editions out there. I picked this one because of that cat. No other reason. And Twig’s Traveling Tomes has been on my radar and I was so excited to get it from NetGalley!

Screens:

We finished up Tales From the Green Valley which is a bummer since I love it. But, lucky for me there are all the farms still to rewatch again if I need to. I think though we are going to start the new Anna Pigeon show. Has anyone watched that? I used to read the books all the time and I am curious about the show.

We are also planning on watching 9 to 5 starring, of course Dolly Parton. That was a blow wasn’t it? I love Dolly for so many reasons – her joy, her music, her compassion and humanitarianism. I feel like she was a real light in this world, and she will be missed. I have always loved the quote of hers, “If you see someone without a smile, give ’em yours!”

And just as sad was the loss of Tim Curry, at least to me. I love Tim Curry. Since our annual rewatch of Clue is coming up, we will be revisiting his work as well. I also learned that he passed on the same day as Dolly, and a gentleman even in death, his people didn’t release the news until the next day so that Dolly could have her day.

Last week I posted a few times:

Cozy Read for the Non-Spooky Reader

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Places I Have Visited

Fall Reads for Cozy Fantasy Readers

And remember, I am cohosts with Lisa at Boondock Ramblings and Cat at Cat’s Wire, of the linkup A Good Book and a Cup of Tea for all things books -not just books read or reviews, but bookstore visits or author visits or whatever else bookish you can think of! You can find the link up for August here!

In-Betweens:

Warning, this is not the happiest in-betweens I have shared. But life is life, right?

It’s been really a very intense busy week. I am honestly exhausted and looking forward to decompressing if possible today. I spent all week doing rough things. I spent three days at my mom’s apartment, getting it packed up, things donated, and of course bringing things home. I found myself not able to part with the strangest things, like an old pair of her shoes. They are beat to hell but I couldn’t get rid of them. I had to pack them up and bring them here. Billy has been so good, and not complained once about all the bags and boxes of my mom’s stuff I have stuffed our already small house with. But, a month was not long enough for me to say goodbye to all of it, and he is very supportive.

Then, the day before Wyatt was supposed to get his wheelchair growth kit, the place called and cancelled the appointment, telling me the seat hadn’t come in. Guys, we have been waiting a YEAR for this growth kit, and he was already too big for his chair when it was ordered. His feet could no longer rest on the foot plate, but hung over the edge. His legs brushed the sides of the wheels, his seatbelt was tight, his knees practically to his chest. Needless to say, after being as understanding as I could be for a year, I went absolutely bananas (without yelling of course). Instead I took to the internet, and emailed the CEO of the manufacturer and the customer service dept of the manufacturer, asking them what the deal was, and if the problem was on their end, or with the DME supplier. I told them how long Wyatt has been waiting, the whole situation. The CEO immediately forwarded the email to quality assurance, and the manager of quality assurance immediately emailed me. They also reached out to the DME and filed a complaint. I had also in the meantime called Wyatt’s therapist, who made a call too. And weirdly, lo and behold, they found a seat that would work for Wyatt until his actual seat came in. I mean, we should still not be waiting for this seat to come in after a freaking year, but at least the kid is sitting way more comfortably. He is so happy too. Sometimes a mom has to go bonkers. And just saying, some good friends chimed in too – like Lisa who could be a professional at lodging a complaint. She left a comment on the DME facebook page that was very pointed and sharp and well written.

I also did have a girls night! We alllll needed it. My friend Jill’s stepdad who was really her Dad, just not by blood, passed away two weeks after my mom, and then Kelly’s daughter was leaving for college (she moved in to her dorm yesterday) and we all had some big feelings! It was nice to have some time with my friends, and we are planning a girls trip to Shipshewana for the day this fall.

I did have a laugh over what I brought with me. A chocolate Aldi cake, which was what we used to eat every book club for years, a High Life which I didn’t drink as Kelly had wine, and a yogurt container full of sourdough starter to give to Kelly’s husband. Lol.

And with that I will say goodbye for now. I hope that you do something today that makes you smile, and like Dolly says, if you see someone without one, give them yours!