Comfy Cozy Cinema: Rear Window

On October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized21 Comments

Hello everyone!! Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are back to watching and sharing about comfy cozy (and sometimes, chilling) movies for the fall season. Feel free to join in with us!! Our link will be live for a whole week after we post about a movie. You can find Lisa’s post here.

Also -we have a winner for our Comfy Cozy Care Package! I will be posting the winner as well as an important update about next week’s movie at the end of this post.

This week’s movie is Rear Window starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly.

The summary: When professional photographer J.B. “Jeff” Jeffries (James Stewart) is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with watching the private dramas of his neighbors play out across the courtyard. When he suspects a salesman may have murdered his nagging wife, Jeffries enlists the help of his glamorous socialite girlfriend (Grace Kelly) to investigate the highly suspicious chain of events… Events that ultimately lead to one of the most memorable and gripping endings in all of film history. (from Amazon)

Billy and I absolutely loved this movie! We were glued to the screen the entire time, except for the moments I had to cover my eyes because I was nervous (and one time because I was sad).

I think had I been Jeff in this situation, I would have totally been doing the same thing, watching the neighbors. I mean, it was pretty fascinating. A bit creepy I guess, but at the same time, there was so much to see out there. It was like a tiny little bit of life, played out large, with so many personalities. I loved how it was like snippets of all these lives, and the stories and imaginings they had about the inhabitants. And then the ending! Not just with Jeff and Lisa, but it was really cool to see how the stories ended for all the people he had been watching. It was just so many mini-stories laid out, and I loved it.

The main story itself, where Jeff begins to have suspicions plays out perfectly. As events transpire, I think it unfolds exactly as it should. There was nothing too crazy, and it reminded me on some level of Only Murders in the Building, which seems like it may have been a little inspired by Rear Window in some ways.

Hitchcock was seriously a master at his craft. The scenes he sets up, the feelings they invoke, the tension, the fear that can be created by the sound of a door clanging.. some scenes were so simple yet could send shivers down your spine.

I loved all the main characters in this movie, especially James Stewart and Grace Kelly. They both played their characters so believably that I began to just imagine that is how they really are. I totally could buy Grace Kelly as high society but with a twist- in fact I thought her character was so charming. And Stewart, while older, didn’t seem too old, even though there are twenty-one years between their ages. Sometimes in older movies it can be a bit ick but I didn’t get that too much in this one.

This year was also the 70th anniversary of this film so happy anniversary Rear Window!

Overall, I loved this movie. It is an old classic that I should have watched much sooner in my life than this!

If you have watched along with us, and want to share your link, please feel free. We would love it!

Ok – so let’s talk about next week’s movie. We were originally going to watch a movie I chose, Murder by Death. I chose it because I read that it was funny and because it has Maggie Smith in it but I didn’t do much research on it other than that. However, after doing some reading it looks like it could be considered problematic so we are going to scrap that one and trade it for Dial M for Murder instead. It is probably not a bad movie, but a movie that didn’t meet the goal of what was trying to be achieved – it was actually trying to shine a light on racism and homophobia, and no one mentions the ableism but I think I read that is in there too, that was prevalent in Hollywood and the world, but instead just looks like it is in fact all of those things itself. Anyway, we decided to watch Dial M for Murder for Comfy Cozy Cinema, since we are trying to be cozy and snug with this fun movie watching challenge. I think both of us plan on watching Murder by Death at some point though, whether it is together or just on our own.

For the week of Halloween, we are leaving it as a wild card, although Lisa and I are watching Practical Magic. Should I have a midnight margarita?

And now, our winner of the Comfy Cozy Care Package is Yvonne! Thank you to everyone who entered!

You can read Lisa’s post here.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Was Assigned to Read in School

On October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized45 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s prompt is: Books I Was Assigned to Read in School

This is a fun look back at high school and college!

The Jungle and Animal Farm were both assigned in high school and they both were pretty mind-blowing to my 16 year old self. The Jungle actually turned me into a vegetarian, from like 18 until recently. So it is safe to say it made a huge impact on me!

Frankenstein was a college read, and probably one of my favorites. I absolutely loved it, and found it so very sad as well, the loneliness of the monster.

The Great Gatsby took me to wild parties, the glitz and glam of the roaring twenties, dancing, and what looks like freedom and happiness. But the reader begins to see through this to the classism and lack of compassion and caring. It is still a favorite classic of mine. I am going to stop saying this because I feel like I will just keep repeating myself.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is an amazing book where we watch the main character learn to find herself and her voice. And the book that made me terrified of rabies. Plus there is a character named Tea Cake which I loved when I first read it in college. His character was not the greatest but his name was.

Beloved is a story that haunts you, and I am not trying to make a joke. I think this book and story is one that stays with you, the trauma and fear of the characters in a world of slavery that drives people to do things they would not do under normal circumstances.

Annie on My Mind is a book I read way back when in college, in my children’s lit class. It stands out as the very first LGTBQ book I have ever read, and also because it introduced the Cloisters to me.

The Metamorphosis by Kafka is one I feel like I read in high school and in college, and I liked it both times. It was so crazy but it is possibly the only existential book I really understood in school.

In high school I was introduced to The Canterbury Tales, and I just loved them. I loved discovering all the characters stories. Another one I should go back and reread.

I had to take sooo many Shakespeare classes in school, and of all the plays that I read, Hamlet was my favorite.

And that wraps it up for me today! What were you assigned in school that stood out to you?

My Sunday-Monday Post

On October 13, 2024October 13, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized39 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone!! Last week we spent time with Billy’s aunt who is in from out of town. She lives in NC and the last time that she saw Wyatt he was a teeny tiny baby! It was really good to see her and we need to make sure it is not another ten years before we see her again.

Read Last Week:

Last week, I read Berries & Bones by James Stephans and Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina; I also finished listening to The Pumpkin Spice Cafe.

I absolutely loved Sisters of the Lost Nation and could not put it down. I was sucked in immediately, and Billy stopped me once from flipping to the back to read the ending. It was excellent. It was part horror, but horror based upon Indigenous lore, and also mystery/thriller. It also highlights the crisis surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Berries & Bones was …different? I both loved it and thought it was weird. Old Bear and his cozy den was described so perfectly and I wanted to move in with him and drink his tea and eat his pies. However he goes on a mushroom hunt one late fall afternoon and all sorts of things befall him, and the story starts to feel like a fairy tale quest, complete with otherworldly creatures. And, it ends on a cliffhanger!

I finally finished listening to The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I enjoyed it, it was very cute and fluffy and had big time fall vibes, but I also felt like the MMC’s (male main characters) issues that were the wedge that could potentially keep the two apart sort of dragged out too long. I was rolling my eyes at him near the end of the book, like come on dude get over it. As far as spice, there was definitely some spice, not closed door. It is hard for me to rank romance since I don’t read too much of it, but I would say I enjoyed Haunted Ever After more.

Reading This Week:

I am in love with the cover of A Dark and Secret Magic. It just looks so fall! Like perfectly fall.

Listening:

Wyatt is learning about dinosaurs in science right now, and it has been a big reminder that I have not actually thought too much about them beyond the Jurassic Park movies since I was in 3rd/4th grade. I thought this book sounded really interesting and I am looking forward to starting my listen.

Posted:

Weekend Getaway Part 1 – Bookstores and Bakeries

Weekend Getaway Part 2 – All Aboard and An Art Museum

Comfy Cozy Cinema – Blithe Spirit

September Reading Wrap Up

Watching:

Billy and I are watching the television show What We Do in the Shadows which is hysterical. We are also watching The Pottery Throw Down most nights, which is also amazing in a much different way.

As for movies, we are halfwayish through our Comfy Cozy Cinema lineup that we buddy watch with Lisa from Boondock Ramblings. Our movie last week was Blithe Spirit, which elicited some interesting responses. Our movie this week is Rear Window, and I am super excited to watch it tonight. It is supposed to be a rainy day and night and I think it will be the perfect movie to watch. Deb from Readerbuzz and Cat from Catwire are watching along with us some weeks and it has been a lot of fun! If you want, watch and post along with us! Or just watch along and comment with us on our posts. We are considering a watch party in November for Chocolat, where we will all tune in at home at the same time and chat during the movie on Discord.

Speaking of Comfy Cozy Cinema, there are only a few days left to enter our Comfy Cozy Care Package giveaway! We are giving away a package that contains tea, chocolate, a cute fall mug, stickers, a soft cozy blanket, a signed copy of Lisa’s 1st Gladwynn Grant book, a copy of a fall poetry anthology that I put together, two journals, as well as a few little surprises! You can enter here!

And that is it for me this rainy morning! Stay safe everyone, and try to do something that makes you smile today!

Comfy Cozy Cinema: Blithe Spirit (1945)

On October 10, 2024October 10, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized12 Comments

This week’s feature: Blithe Spirit, starring Rex Harrison, Kay Hammond, Constance Cummings, and Margaret Rutherford. Blithe Spirit is based on the play written by Noel Coward.

As the name suggests, this movie does not take itself seriously. It is silly and frivolous and cavalier, with some interesting characters. Apparently, Coward had been wanting to write a comedy with ghosts for a while, but since it was wartime he wanted to make sure that the characters were unsympathetic, as that would be too sad.

The plot: “To get background for a new book, author Charles Condomine (Sir Rex Harrison) and his second wife Ruth (Constance Cummings) light-heartedly arrange for local mystic Madame Arcati (Dame Margaret Rutherford) to give a séance. The unfortunate result is that Charles’ first wife Elvira (Kay Hammond) returns from beyond the grave to make his life something of a misery. Ruth too gets increasingly irritated with her supernatural rival, but Madame Arcati is at her wit’s end as to how to sort things out.”

I think that he succeeded in creating a comedic play centering around ghosts without a sympathetic character in the bunch. Charles is the very definition of blithe, cheerfully indifferent to the goings on around him. He takes it all in stride, and yes, at times is very callous. When the ghost of Elvira comes back to haunt Charles and Ruth, he is nonplussed, even after Ruth goes through many different stages of annoyance and irritation and even worry. At first she thinks he is just being a jerk and making it all up, and even insulting her when he is talking to Elvira, which he believes she should understand even though she can’t see Elvira, then she moves on to concern that something is wrong with him, and then once Elvira proves her ghostliness to Ruth, she is at first shocked then annoyed that Elvira is hanging around, disrupting her marriage, which Charles could care less about.

Spoiler alert: Ruth also dies, and becomes a ghost. At first, Charles is just “blithely” going about his evening, getting his drink, sinking into his snug little chair by the fire. I am guessing he believes that things will be peaceful now that he is just home with his ghost wife – until his second ghost wife blows through the door.

Madame Arcati is the spiritual medium, and a bit crackers, and she tries to help Charles return the two women back “home”. After what feels like forever, to Charles and the viewer as well, Madame Arcati hits on the reason why she can’t get the spirits to leave.

Madam Arcati – let’s talk about this character for a second because for me she kind of stole the show with her crazy performance. I think she really went for it, embracing this sort or crazy, zany medium. I think she fully embraced the quirkiness of this role, and probably had a lot of fun with it. She was a kook, but she did have some cozy scenes, with shots showing her in her snug home, sitting in the window studying her books while the weather went wild around her outside.

This role has been played by three Dames, all heavy hitters – Rutherford, Angela Landsbury, and most recently, Judi Dench. Billy and I have actually seen the 2020 version starring Dan Stevens and Dame Judi, and while we thought that version was ok, the 1945 version was better.

Billy and I were impressed by the quality of the 1945 special effects. They were obviously not anything like ours, but we thought for the time they were really well done. What was especially neat was Elvira. According to a comment on IMDB, “Writer and director Sir David Lean and cinematographer Ronald Neame decided not to use double exposure to create Elvira’s ghostly appearances. Instead, Lean created an enormous set that allowed Kay Hammond to move freely in each shot. Hammond wore fluorescent green clothes, make-up, and a wig, with bright red lipstick and fingernail polish. Each time she moved, a special light would be directed on her, allowing her figure to glow even in dimly-lit scenes and giving her an otherworldly appearance.” I think it worked pretty well, as she did stand out t in the scenes she was in, and sometimes did appear very ethereal, and it would have looked fantastic in black and white.

Overall, this movie was a bit of a silly ghost movie, not sad, not spooky, just silly.

You can find this movie on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Hulu to watch streaming for a fee. You might also be able to find it at the library.

You can find Lisa’s post here, and Deb’s here!

If you have watched along with us, and want to share your link, please feel free. We would love it!

Our next movie is Rear Window, starring James Stewart. I picked both Blithe Spirit and Rear Window, and I had no idea when I picked Rear Window that this year is the 70th anniversary of the movie. So that is a neat little extra!

Also, don’t forget to enter our Comfy Cozy Care Package Giveaway! You can enter here!

Comfy Cozy Cinema: Kiki’s Delivery Service

On October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized8 Comments

This week’s movie is Kiki’s Delivery Service, which is a Studio Ghibli production. It is not my favorite one (that is Arietty, then When Marnie was Here) but it is pretty cute. And I love little Jiji, her cat.

We picked a great night to watch. The day was rainy, the evening was rainy. We had ramen bowls full of chicken and noodles and miso broth and veggies, and it was delicious. Then we settled in to watch Kiki, all super snug.

Kiki is a little witch in training. The movie begins with Kiki leaving home on her own, to find a city for her and Jiji to live in while she goes through her year of training. The viewer knows immediately that Kiki is maybe not the most smooth of witches, as she bumbles into trees and ricochets all over as she shoots off into the air on her broom, with Jiji hanging on for dear life.

One thing I love about this movie is such a small little detail – Kiki’s radio. She has it with her and plays it so often, whether she is at home or on her broom, and for some reason, I just really like that. She lays in bed listening to it, it is next to her while she is cleaning, it hangs from her broom, it is just a cute detail.

Kiki is from what looks like a rural village, and she moves to the much larger city of Koriko, which is modeled after a combination of major cities around the world – Stockholm, Milan, San Francisco, Lisbon, Paris, etc. It has all the energy of an actual city, with bustling busy streets, heavy traffic, but still manages to maintain a level of beauty and coziness, with cobbles and flowers and quaint little shops, like the bakery where Kiki finds herself living and working.

Kiki slowly begins to make a little life for herself. She makes friends with Osono, the bakery owner and her husband, and lives with Jiji in their spare attic bedroom. She also becomes friends with Tombo, an idealistic young man with a passion for aviation, an older woman I think they call Madame, and Ursula, an artist who lives in a cabin in the forest, and is friends with crows (that look like magpies to me).

On the surface, this little sweet cartoon is just that. Kiki’s journey, making friends and a community for herself, starting her little delivery service, becoming who she is meant to be. But it also has a message of not giving up, to not quit when we fail, because failure is part of life. We try, sometimes we fail, and then we pick ourselves back up and try again. Kiki’s friend Tombo wants to fly so badly that he invents a crazy flying machine powered by bicycle and willpower. It crashes and fails its first time out, but at the end, we see him flying out over the sea with Kiki on her broom next to him. He did not quit.

Kiki finds herself in a similar situation, feeling down and not quite herself and perhaps, even losing her magic. She is burned out after working so hard, because Kiki is a very hard worker. She is polite and kind and goes out of her way to help others sometimes, on top of her responsible work ethic. Ursula sees how Kiki is struggling when she makes a surprise visit to town, and invites Kiki to come back to the cabin with her to spend the night. The two have a few heart to hearts, and Ursula tells her that it is ok to have these moments, and that every artist, every person needs to find their own inspiration.

Ursula: Trusting your spirit! Yes, yes! That’s exactly what I’m talking about. That same spirit is what makes me paint and makes your friend bake. But we each need to find our own inspiration, Kiki. Sometimes it’s not easy.

The scenes at the cabin are so cozy and perfect to me, and have such an attention to detail. The way Ursula looks down at her drink, swirls it around a bit as she considers what she is saying, that gesture is just so real. I also love this sort of hint at the healing powers found in simplicity and in nature.

Ok, I can’t talk about this movie without talking about Jiji the cat! I just love this little character. He has his own distinct personality and I simply adore him.

This movie is just so cozy and sweet and full of goodness. Friendship and found family and art and creativity – I just love it. There are actually a few different versions out there, including two different English language versions, a 1998 version and a 2010 version. I watched the 1998. There is also of course the Japanese language version that is the original.

You can find this movie on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Hulu to watch streaming for a fee. You might also be able to find it at the library.

If you have watched along with us, and want to share your link, please feel free. We would love it!

Up next is the 1945 version of Blithe Spirit!

Also, don’t forget to enter our Comfy Cozy Care Package Giveaway! You can enter here!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Read or Avoided Because of the Hype

On October 1, 2024September 29, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized59 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Hello everyone! Today’s topic is books I read or avoided because of the hype. I am writing this without thinking much about this time; I am curious now if I will end up with more books or more books avoided!

If I ended up not liking a book you love, I am sorry! I usually do not say anything on my blog at all about books I don’t like – I just don’t mention them at all after I read them. It’s just how I like to do things. I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings!

Status: Read

Verdict: Loved it!

I remember when this came out everyone was going mad over it, and I was so upset because I could not get a copy from the library quickly. There were just a million requests for it. My dad ended up buying it for me and surprising me with it! I was very grateful because I ended up loving it. Like the main character, I also have bits of nature scattered all around my house, that we have collected on our adventures. I loved everything about this story.

Status: Read, but I avoided it for a year first!

Verdict: Loved it!

I don’t have much to add to this other than I wish I had read it sooner!

Status: Avoided

I know, I know. Everyone has read this book but me I think. I keep thinking I need to read it, but then, I just don’t. Should I read it?

Status: Avoided

I really don’t know why I am being so contrary with this one. If you read it, what did you think? It seems pretty universally loved!

Status: Read

Verdict: Loved it – but only after I listened to the audio

I live in Michigan and this book was in my face wherever I went. I couldn’t avoid it, but then as a Michigander I couldn’t resist it either. I started it, and I had a difficult time with it until I listened to the audio, which was read by Meryl Streep. She really brought this to life for me.

Status: Currently Listening

Verdict: Pending

So far I am having a hard time getting all the comparisons to Gilmore Girls out of my head! I think once I can stop mentally comparing this book to the show as I listen, I will enjoy it more, because it has all the things I love in a book!

Status: Read

Verdict: I liked it!

I am going to talk about the series as a whole here, not just this book, even though I did not finish the series. I did really enjoy the books that I did read though. I especially loved the character Rhys.

Status: Read

Verdict: Loved it!

This was one of those books I was like ohmygoshIlovethisbook! It is so good, and I am so glad that I listened to the hype and read it. It was one of my very favorites that I read that year.

Status: Read

Verdict: Loved it!

This was one that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on! I loved it.

Status: Read

Verdict: Loved it!

Sigh. I loved this story. I had not read a Sanderson book before, and I am so glad that this one was one that I did read. It is a very enchanting tale!

And it looks like when I did read these hyped books, I enjoyed them and even loved them! That makes me feel I should go back and read some that I have avoided.

I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to say!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On September 29, 2024September 29, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized28 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! It’s been slow around here, which was fine by me. I hope though that everyone who had to face down Helene has minimal damage. She was fierce looking.

Read Last Week:

Last week I read The Girl in White which was actually a little spooky for a kids book! This one was spookier than the other I have read by Currie, What Lives in the Woods. It was a good read for the season (without actually being too scary).

I also started Twilight Garden on Friday morning. I had forgotten I wanted to read this until I saw it on Rebecca’s TBR! Darn it. My TBR is just too crazy. Like everyone’s is, I am sure. Lol.

Reading This Week:

I will finish up The Twilight Garden, and then start another from my list. Right now I am not sure which direction I will pivot, but I feel I am leaning towards light and easy. Perhaps Berries and Bones, it look so deliciously fall. I also plan on starting The Whisperwicks, which is my book club book for the Patreon group I am part of for Alexandra Roselyn.

We are going away this weekend and so I hope to have some good reading time. It’s like that old saying though, “No one is more optimistic than a mother who takes books on the family vacation”.

I am also listening to an audiobook while I embroider. Right now I am listening to The Pumpkin Spice Cafe to see what all the hype is about. It has been compared to Stars Hollow and the Gilmore Girls which I love and have watched a million times over – and unpopular opinion coming, but I am not too excited about this book so far. It is too much like Gilmore Girls. I haven’t listened to much but it seems more like it is really just Lorelai Gilmore all over but this time she runs a cafe. The character talks a lot and talks fast, she drinks a lot of coffee – I don’t know. I guess I wanted the feel and or even a reimagining, but this is too on the nose. Does that make sense?

Posted Last Week:

A Few Whimsical Halloween Picks

Comfy Cozy Cinema: Ladies in Lavender

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Watching:

We are busily watching our Comfy Cozy Cinema movies; last week was Ladies in Lavender, and tonight’s feature is Kiki’s Delivery Service. Comfy Cozy Cinema is something Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I started together and every year is so much fun! You are all invited to watch and post along with us.

Billy and I are also watching What We Do in the Shadows, as well as The Great Pottery Throwdown.

Also – I wanted to add that Lisa and I will be posting about our Comfy Cozy Care Package giveaway on Wednesday! We have lots of goodies we will be sending to someone to get all cozy with this fall!

And that is about it from here! I hope you are all doing well!

My Sunday/Monday Post!

On September 22, 2024September 21, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized32 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! I missed last Sundays posting because we took Wyatt to a Detroit Tigers baseball game – and he even got to meet one of the players! It was a very fun Sunday! Then Wyatt and I both came down with a cold and were feeling pretty gross most of the week, so we did a lot of laying around and resting. I think we needed it, we were pretty run down from the whirlwind of activity we have been swept up in.

Read Last Week and the Week Before:

Haunt Sweet Home was a short little read, and not scary at all. It was more of a..coming of age story, I guess in a way, and it sort of made me sad. Haunted Ever After was a fun, easy read and it was perfect for this past week. And The Full Moon Coffee Shop was a bit weird honestly. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite.

Reading This Week:

This week I need to catch up on things I let slide last week, but as I am still sort of gross, I am taking things slowly. I think this book will be perfect for the week I am hoping for! Just something easy.

Posted Last Week:

Cozy Fall Reads (Not Spooky!)

Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Comfy Cozy Cinema: Somewhere in Time

Watching:

Well, Billy and I have been pretty obsessively watching The Great Pottery Throw Down. I knew I would probably really love this one the best. I love all things pottery and my MIL is a potter as well, so I am pretty familiar with the process. I love seeing what everyone designs, and I love when the judge and British Potter Keith Brymer Smith cries. He just gets so overwhelmed with the beauty of the art that he can’t help it. I saw that there is a book about him, called Boy in a China Shop that I may have to read.

We also are watching our Comfy Cozy Cinema movies every Sunday! Comfy Cozy Cinema is something that Lisa and I started last year. We share a bunch of movie ideas to watch “together” and then post about them on Thursday mornings. This week’s movie is Ladies in Lavender starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, if you want to join us in watching! We are thinking of having a watch party soon with whoever wants to join in as well – maybe in October or November. And we will be announcing our Comfy Cozy Care Package giveaway soon as well, so stayed tuned for that!

And that is it from me this morning! I hope you all have had a happy and safe weekend.

Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On September 18, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized21 Comments

Hello everyone! This might be a long post today, so you may want to put the kettle on or refill your cup, and settle in. I just have so much to share! We have had the final culminations of a lot of big projects, plus some other fun (and not so fun!) things going on as well. Well, you will see.

First up – the ramp!!! Billy and a bunch of our friends and family have been working hard all summer to build this ramp for Wyatt, and on Saturday, they came so close to it being completely done. It is for the most part, done. It is useable and complete – we just need railings for our own wild child to be out there. I don’t need this kid zooming off the side! However, it is done and can be used with supervision and assistance right now. This was such a huge and major accomplishment, and I am so thankful to all of the people who contributed and to Billy of course for having the ability and knowledge and talent to do it.

Please ignore the state of the rest of our yard. It was very neglected this summer while this was happening. The ramp is very long, to accommodate the pitch dropping at the appropriate rate. The other option would have been lots of bends and turns and Billy thought this would be a better way for kiddo. Since it is so long though, we added an extra few feet to make the deck part wider and we are turning that into an outdoor play spot for Wyatt, complete with a wheel up painting easel that one of our friends is making him! This is going to be such a huge thing for Wyatt. He can get out into his own backyard, play, have some independence. I am feeling so grateful for this gift!

So that was Billy’s project done – I had one of my own that I had been working on all summer. Cub Scouts! I have to say getting this pack up and running from scratch was more complex than I had anticipated – but it was 100% worth it. More than worth it actually, especially after seeing all the kids, our scouts, playing together and having such a good time at our first meeting. Yep, we had our first meeting! It was just big smiles, on kids and on parents, and that warmed my heart. The kids learned about some of the pack laws and the oath, we gave them their t-shirts and handbooks, they made a keychain lanyard with a bead for every quality (a scout is kind, etc), and they played a get to know each other game, that was low pressure. Instead of being forced to speak or come up with something on the spot, which would have been hard for some of our kiddos, we gave them all paddles that said “Me too!” and when someone named something they liked, like spaghetti or books, they would raise their paddles! It was a good way to show them how they are the same. Also, Wild Child was there and having her own good time, racing around the church social hall. You can see her little head there, next to Wyatt and his grandma.

I mentioned that not all of our happenings were happy! Somewhere in between scouts and home, Wyatt managed to get stung by something. He never said anything or cried, so we didn’t know. At around noon the next day though, I looked down at his hand, which was super red and swollen, and about passed out. We ended up taking him to the ER since he had cellulitis last year. The doctor did not think it was cellulitis, he thought that it was just the normal reaction to a sting, but did prescribe antibiotics just in case, along with zyrtec and hydrocortisone cream. The next day his hand looked perfect – just in time to meet the Detroit Tigers!

Our scouts had the opportunity to meet the Tigers, in a “Kids Take the Field” event! One of our parents arranged it, and it was so cool. The kids were able to go on the field, meet a player, get their game ball, and their names were even up on the scoreboard, in the positions that they were in. It was really cool! Wyatt got to meet the catcher, and hang out at home plate. It was really amazing opportunity, and something they will never forget!

It was his first MLB game too; I told him not many people get to go on the field and meet a player their first time there!

Our last few weeks have been a whirlwind and now Wyatt is dealing with a cold, which has not been fun. Rest will do us both good! Then it will be back to a full school day and our fall activities!

And that is it from me today! Whatever you do today, do something that makes you smile – even if it is just taking five minutes to yourself to relax.

Cozy Fall Reads (Not Spooky!)

On September 16, 2024August 14, 2025 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized9 Comments

Hi everyone! So last week I posted my own personal Autumn TBR (which is gigantic and I will never read all of those books), but most of the books I like to read around this time of year are scary or witchy or spooky, and not everyone likes that. And honestly, I will probably burn out on it if I read even half of the books I have listed in my TBR. Knowing that about myself, I had a back up list of books to switch in as needed. I mean, I am sure there will be times I don’t want to be creeped out and just want something utterly fall but also…comfy. Or as Joanne said it perfectly – “I want cozy fall books about hayrides, and leaf peeping, warm drinks and special treats… sort of Hallmark movie but set in fall!”

And I get that too. Like I could live that vibe everyday from September until December ( or all year, let’s be honest). So, I went looking for more. I had a few in reserve, but not a ton. It seems if you want this feel, there are a lot of cozy mystery or cute little rom-coms, but I did find a few others as well. So this list is kind of like when you go to the orchard and are presented with different types of apples, you know? Macintosh (my favorite), Granny Smith, Honeycrisp..the list goes on and on. Some are better for baking, some for eating, some are tart, some are sweet, but hopefully something for everyone.

Romance:

This Laurie Gilmore series is all the rage right now. I see it everywhere!! Apparently it is supposed to feel like Stars Hollow – and peep that author’s name! If I read correctly, it is a pen name and is mimicking the Lorelai Gilmore character name. I have heard this is a very steamy series so keep that in mind if that is not something you really enjoy in your books.

Given Our History || Awkward in October

Given Our History is a book I spotted in a video on Liv’s Library, and it is all fall academic vibes, something I totally love. I am pretty sure I am picking this one up at some point in time. Awkward in October appeals to me as well, but I am awkward no matter the month. It is all New England in autumn, with a fixer upper house. I am here for it!

Falling in Love || Autumn at Apple Hill

I have to admit, the puppies on the cover sold me on Falling Inn Love. And so did the mention of an Inn. I have a thing for certain settings, and hotels/inns are one of my go-tos. Plus the FMC looks like she has glasses and so do I, so, there. Autumn at Apple Hill is as Hallmark as you can get – the book was made into a Hallmark movie!

Just to note – I do not know the pumpkin “spice” level of these books as I have not read any of them yet.

Mystery:

Well-Offed in Vermont || Put Out to Pasture || The Spook in the Stacks

I have had Well-Offed in Vermont on my list forever and ever. I just love that cover! As for Put Out to Pasture and The Spook in the Stacks, I really enjoyed them both. I am a big fan of both of those series, the Farm to Table series by Amanda Flower and The Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. Both of these books give that autumnal vibe without involving anything supernatural or too scary!

Cold Clay || Berries and Bones

I mean, it’s me. Of course I am going to include books with animal protagonists. I am all about an anthropomorphic book. I have read the first in the Shady Hollow series and thought it was so cute! I really need to read this second book, which is set in the fall. Maybe this fall I will get to it. And while I am at it, I should read Berries and Bones which was on my fall TBR last year as well… there are just too many books out there. I love this cover, it makes me feel all super fall and like I need to eat lots of pancakes and drink a big Vermont steamer.

The Rest:

Crow Talk || Autumn

These two are contemporary, literary fiction books, that are a bit more serious than the previous genre books above. I think they both sound absolutely fantastic.

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living || The Simplicity of Cider

Ok, so The City Baker is technically a romance, but this just seems to have a different feel to it than the others. And it sounds phenomenal. I have read The Simplicity of Cider, and it was wonderful. It is magical realism, which is a favorite of mine, and I felt like it was just such a heartwarming read about cider and orchards and family.

The Cider Revival || Pumpkinheads

I have read both of these and loved them, though they are obviously very different! The Cider Revival is a nonfiction book about the history of apples and orchards and cider, and it was so interesting! I highly recommend it. Pumpkinheads is a YA graphic novel that is set in pumpkin patch/orchard, one of those that has everything, and is more like a mini-festival or amusement park even! It has young love and uncertainty, and all the autumn feels you could ever want.

Now, it’s time to cozy up and read! Will any of these make your list this year?