It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Hello everyone! Last week was pretty nondescript around here – it was just busy with a lot of just life things which were not super exciting. I barely even got a chance to read.
I did read one book!
It was cute, but not…I am not sure. It was cute. I love the concept of a baby dragon cafe in a cozy fantasy, but it was not the best written book I have read in this genre. Perhaps the author is still finding her voice. I am willing to give this series another chance with the second book, which comes out I think next week, although I probably won’t be reading it for a while, since I will be moving on to my fall TBR!
This week:
My goal is to finish these two books this next week or so, to finish up my summer reading.
What have we been watching? Hmm. Not much. Billy worked a lot this past week because of some big project they had to finish, and I hate watching shows without him honestly. So I watched a lot of YouTube at night. I should do a big round up of YouTubers I like soon, maybe. I am actually getting closer to the idea of starting my own, but I am having a hard time deciding on what all I want to do with it, and I don’t think I have the right equipment. That is something I am going to explore this fall.
And that is it from me today. Not the most exciting update! I hope that whatever you do today you do something that makes you smile!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Hello everyone! It was a pretty good week around here. I have been catching up on a lot of projects and work that I haven’t had time for, and it feels good to get those things done. We also had the grand opening for Wyatt’s Little Free Library last Sunday! He was so excited and proud!
As far as reading goes, I started Pat of Silver Bush and it was slow going at first to get into it. I had a hard time with reading Judy Plum’s dialect and it was just distracting me and I would read about two pages and put the book down. I finally was able to settle down with it yesterday and now I am on a roll. I love how Pat is such a little homebody.
I will be continuing to read this, and when I finish I have this one all lined up.
This wasn’t on my August TBR but I found it while at the library and I thought the cover looked so happy I had to pick it up.
Billy and I finished up Season 3 of Dark Winds and it was amazing. That show is so well done. I already can’t wait until Season 4. We also watched Death Valley, which I really enjoyed, and we just started watching Nautilus. Nautilus is like the perfect amount of cheese and action. It reminds us both of Firefly for some reason.
And that is it from around here! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Hello everyone! It was a pretty good week last week, with a good doctor’s visit for Wyatt. Today I have to mega clean the house, and then later my nieces and brother and SIL are coming over to hang out. I am looking forward to seeing them!
Read Last Week:
I read Seacrow Island, which I absolutely loved, and I also read another in the Campers and Criminals series. Seacrow Island made me want to find an island in the Baltic Sea to summer on with my family. It put me in mind of The Penderwicks and also of Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink in some ways.
Reading This Week:
This week I feel like reading something a bit weird, but also wanting to finish up a few I had started earlier this summer. I will be reading Chlorine, hopefully finishing Otter Country, and then making some headway into Pat of Silver Bush.
We finished up The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down, and watched a few episodes of Brokenwood that we have already seen. I would like to start from the very beginning again so I might have to do that on my own. Not sure I can get Billy to commit to that. We also watched The Haunted Mansion, and a movie called Finding You, which was yes, a bit cheeseball, but I absolutely loved it for how Hallmark it felt. Sometimes you just need that, and last night I definitely needed it. Plus it had Saoirse-Monica Jackson in it and I love her. It actually could have had more of her in it honestly. The setting itself was absolutely gorgeous, a small coastal town in Ireland.
Around the Interwebs:
I am planning on catching up on commenting on blogs this week! It’s my big blog goal. I am all about catching up around here. And while I do that, I am also thinking about fall and fall movie watching. And Comfy Cozy Cinema!
And I think that is it from me today! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!
Hello everyone! I have already had at least two cups of coffee, and taken a journey to the hospital with Wyatt and am back home again. We had an early morning appointment today for his surgery follow up. We had to get up at 6 am, but it was worth it because it was a good appointment!
Traffic was awful so we got there right at his appointment time – not ideal. I called from valet parking to say that we were there and on our way up – I was so afraid they would cancel our appointment! We made it up only a few minutes after his appointment time and they sent us right to X-Ray. From there, we went to the appointment with his surgeon. I really like his surgeon, he is very soft spoken. I also think he is very amused by my jokester son, and slightly amused by my hovering, worried momness. He looked at the x-rays, he looked at Wyatt’s legs and incisions, and gave us great news. Wyatt can stop wearing the braces and wedge pillow during the day! He now only has to wear it at night, and he can also use his regular wheelchair. He no longer needs to keep his legs straight out all day long. What a relief! Billy and I walked out of there feeling so much better about things! Wyatt’s braces were causing superficial sores on the backs of his legs, so I am so happy that we can take those things off for a while. Wyatt is currently sitting happily in his chair, watching tv. His job is still to spend the next month healing, and then we go back to see the doctor again. Then hopefully we get the clearance for PT.
That is my most important and best news, obviously. We also stopped at the gift store so Wyatt could get a sticker to add to his water bottle, which he was very excited about.
In other news, we are getting closer to Wyatt’s little free library getting done. All we have left is to put shingles on it, and plant it! I am thinking about having a little Grand Opening, and leave gift bags inside as Book Worm Starter Kits for kids. The only thing is, what should I put in there? Bookmarks for sure, gummy worms, what else? I am not at top form over here, and I am having a hard time coming up with ideas! I need a little help. Lol.
We are still reading a lot over here. I have been reading my books, and of course, going through stacks of books with Wyatt as well. I can’t just have him watch tv all day, even if he wanted to. And some days I think he would be happy with that. Lol. The first week I definitely let him, but as he started to feel better, we broke it up with activities and reading. Wyatt has been so blessed with people who have sent him gifts to keep him occupied, as well as videos to cheer him up, and all sorts of well wishes! Billy and I were also overwhelmed with gratitude about all the help we have received as well. Everyone has been so kind to our family, and we are so thankful.
I don’t really have too much to add, so I am going to just share some photos I have taken, and say goodbye for now. Thanks again everyone for all of your kind words and well wishes and gifts and videos! I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!
This week’s prompt: Books Set in/Take Place During X (Pick a place, time, era, etc. Examples: Books set in Europe/Italy/Australia/Chicago, books set in Regency England, books that take place during the 1900s, books set in imaginary worlds/post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds, books set on the ocean, books set it castles, books that take place during WW2, etc.)
So, a few years ago I read a book that changed my reading. I picked up the book, What You Are Looking for is in the Library, and I loved it. I was hooked. I needed all the cozy fiction/translated/healing fiction. I am so happy that I read a book outside my comfort zone because now it is a favorite genre for me. These titles are a mix of books I have read and books on my TBR for this year. These are all set in Japan, but some of the others that I have read were set in Korea. It was hard to choose the setting for this post!
The Kamogowa Food Detectives made me so hungry. The descriptions of the food, the memories that accompanied these dishes, made this book such a delight to read.
What You Are Looking for is in the Library is still one of my favorites. I could revisit this one over and over again.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop was… interesting. It was not my favorite of these but it was definitely unique!
The Easy Life in Kamusari is a gentle easy read set in the mountains. I loved this little mountain village and its inhabitants.
Butter is completely different and I still haven’t read it. It sounds crazy and is based on a true story! It is “about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case”. It is on my fall TBR list.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was another slow, gentle read. And I learned there is a whole area of Tokyo that is known as Book Town that has hundreds of bookstores!
These four are the tops of my list for this genre right now, with The Convenience Store by the Sea as the next up. I have a hold request in for it and I am waiting – hopefully this week! After that Dinner at the Night Library sounds fantastic for fall.
And that is it from me today! I look forward to visiting your posts all week and seeing what you all chose!
Hello everyone! We need all the coffee over here these days. It’s been a learning experience and a challenge for a bit, but we might be sort of settling down. Hopefully. Fingers crossed and all the prayers at least.
It’s been one week since Wyatt’s surgery, and the first couple of days, as expected, were the most difficult. He is doing better; things are still tough but he is more himself the past few days. Coloring, drawing, smiling and laughing. I can’t tell you how much I missed seeing his smile and hearing his laugh! Right now he is drawing and laughing and singing loud and I love it. His energy level, again as expected, is much lower than normal but it is good to see him regaining bits of himself.
We have been so blessed for such supportive friends and family, who have really been amazing, sending things to help Wyatt, to keep him busy, to make him smile. They have also sent food and well wishes, and Billy and I feel so overwhelmed and grateful by the kindness we have been shown. These gestures have made a hard time easier. We have also gotten so many messages of support and prayer for which I am also grateful. I am so appreciative of the love people are showing my kiddo. He still has a long way to go, and it is helpful to know that so many people love him, care about him, and are pulling for him. Thank you everyone for all of your gestures and messages of support. They mean a lot.
In the down times, I have been working on a new embroidery project, listening to audiobooks, and reading. I have learned I can only read books that are pretty fluffy, not too complex, are entertaining, and quick – and I am making my way through the Campers and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes. I think I have read three since the surgery now? I am heading to the library to return the ones I have and to pick up my new holds today. I also have been reading Nightmare of a Trip.
My new embroidery project is cute too! I am working on it super slowly, but I have two more from the same creator so if I do finish it before the month is up, I have some waiting in the wings.
We had a few really good days too, before surgery that I wasn’t able to share. The best being working on Wyatt’s little free library! We decided we are going to name it Wyatt’s Sunshine Little Free Library, and it is going to be painted blue and yellow. We did start painting it – well, Wyatt and my dad started primering it the day before surgery. My dad was a house painter when I was little and he was going to college, and he takes it super seriously. I loved him passing on his skills to Wyatt, who did a great job. He even got the thumbs up from my dad, which is tough! Then when Billy got home from work, Wyatt and Billy painted the door. We are hoping to finish it up in the next week or two as Wyatt begins to feel better.
I am really excited to set it up. It is huge, Billy being Billy made an enormous version, and it will have space for kids books on the bottom, where Wyatt can reach, adult books on the top, and in the middle, space for whatever else I feel like making it that week. Rocks, seeds, mugs – I am getting excited and Wyatt is too.
Something else we have been doing – ordering odd and strange things. So far we have ordered Oxy-Clean washing machine cleaner, an At-At walker fish tank decoration, and a floating betta hide. Our little menagerie has been so soothing for all of us and I guess I wanted to decorate something.
Billy also bought a water filtration system and installed it yesterday, but that wasn’t an odd purchase but unfortunately a necessary one, as it is has come out that our city’s water is crap, and “poses an immediate health risk.” Our city has its own water and electricity, and while I still love that we produce our own power the water situation is scary. The city is telling us that it is fine, but I am opting for safety instead of blind faith here. So Billy put the filtration system in, and now we feel a little better. If the city is right and it is fine, its still no harm done in having one.
And I feel like I am rambling sort of assorted and random things, so I am cutting this off here. I probably need more coffee. Have a good one everyone!
I’ve been doing mini book reviews after every three books read, but today, I am writing this after two. I am anxious to get my thoughts out about The God of the Woods and I am reading so slowly right now! So two it is.
Let’s start with Dark Waters by Katherine Arden.
I love this middle grade series by Katherine Arden, the author who wrote The Bear and the Nightingale. It seems crazy to me that the same author wrote both of these series. They are just so different! This is the third book in the series, and takes place on the infamous Lake Champlain this time. The trio of friends has to face lake monsters, ghosts, and shipwrecks this time around, and the ending was a surprise. The next book should be a good one, and in video game talk, the one where they meet the “boss.”
It was a great spooky middle grade to read at the beginning of summer!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is amazing. This book is written from multiple viewpoints, and multiple timelines, each focusing on the disappearance of a child from the Van Laar family at their summer camp. On some level, this book is about the power of rich men, men in power, the women in their lives, and how they mistreat them. But this book is also very woman-driven, with smart, savvy, brave women making their way in the world. Underneath all the surface, this book is also about mothers- good mothers, bad mothers, overprotective mothers, neglectful mothers, and substitute mothers. Mothers who have lost their way and mothers who have lost children. It is also a story of privilege and the working class, power and the powerless.
This book is a chunk, and has so many different points of view and so many stories, that it feels almost impossible to write a cohesive review that encompasses all the plotlines and characters – or it is beyond my abilities, at least.
It dives right in, not with a bang but a squeak, or, lack of squeak, of the all important screen door of a campground cabin. Here we meet Louise, who quickly learns that one of her campers is missing – and of course, it is Barbara. Barbara, the misunderstood, intelligent, clever, confident, punk rock daughter of none other than the Van Laars themselves, the owners of the campground. The parents who lost their other child, Bear, almost a decade before, in the same woods. From here the story unfolds, and the time is fluid, and skips around, stirring up these characters and their stories, with something new floating to the surface with each perspective.
I absolutely loved this book, with one small exception that kept it from being perfect in my eyes. This didn’t prevent this book from being my favorite read of the year so far, because it definitely is. I am not one to throw something completely out because of one small defect. What is that expression? Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater? I can reject that one small bit because the rest of this book was outstanding.
I hate that I keep dancing around this part in my review but there is no way I can discuss it. The only way I could come up with, if you want to know and want to discuss it with me, is to record a small spoiler video and post it here. I have never done anything like this before, so please bear with me. This is an unlisted video on YouTube, but you can comment on there after watching. So, again, watch only if you don’t care about a major major spoiler or if you have already read the book. (that is my suggestion, read the book first).
Ok this video. Please excuse how I look and sound, lol. I did this in one take, no editing. I am running out of time before the surgery and I wanted to get this post up. I was very nervous, and things are not YouTube perfect. Lol. I really thought my voice sounded funny – I am not used to my own voice I guess. I also have this weird eyebrow thing going on too, please know my eyebrows are not like that. However, I did think this was fun, and I liked being able to connect with you guys on a different level, and have a different way for us to discuss spoilers without being here on the blog. You should be able to leave comments there as well. I am going to work on this whole video aspect and improve it but I figured, you have to start somewhere!
I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!
The past few weeks have felt more like the summers I had growing up. Slower. Simpler. Small joys. And I am not complaining – and Wyatt wasn’t either.
First though, I want to brag about my little Scouts for a minute. Last Saturday morning we assembled to pack lunches at the church to hand out to people who needed them, and the kids did such a great job. I was proud of my Scouts! Only half of our pack could make it, it is summertime after all, but the three of the kids who did worked so well together and packed 120 lunches! The kids who weren’t able to make it are going to fill some blessing boxes on their own, which is just as important.
Later that evening, we got together for ice cream with friends. Wyatt’s and mine! Just a summer night, scoops of ice cream, stories, and laughter, sitting outside at the tables behind the ice cream parlor.
When the weather cooperates, when it is not too swampy out or extreme heat, we have been enjoying the outdoors. You know, let me amend that. I decided it was a good idea to take Wyatt on a hike through the woods on a very muggy day. It was beautiful out, the water was sparkling, the birds were singing, Wyatt kept telling me how happy he was, and I was sweating profusely while pushing a child and a wheelchair through the woods. It was a good time although I looked like a wet tomato at the end. Wyatt was in charge of holding my phone and recording the birds on Merlin and we would stop occasionally just to record a spot that had lots of bird chatter. I plopped down under a tree at the end and told Wyatt we were going to enjoy the shade and breeze and take a minute. While we were enjoying this moment, a man walking by told me that we were sitting under his favorite tree, with a little smile on his face. I agreed, it was a really great tree, with giant roots all over the ground, wide and strong with lots of shade branches and leaves. And I loved that idea of a favorite tree! Do any of you have a favorite tree? I don’t know if I do, but I might need one.
While we were out sweating in the woods, Billy was at a friend’s house building Wyatt a Little Free Library! I use the term “little” loosely, as it is actually quite big. Like almost as tall as me. Taller than Wyatt for sure. It is awesome and Wyatt is extremely excited to get it set up. Billy is actually working on it right now, putting the final touches on it while I type this.
I have been spending mornings outside on our deck, drinking coffee, reading, working, while Wyatt plays or draws out there with me. I also usually wander about poking at all of our flowers, checking on the caterpillars (who are slowly disappearing, even before full size – I think the birds have spotted them too), and I found a chrysalis! Some silly caterpillar had formed its chrysalis on the grill, and since it was a black swallowtail chrysalis, I gently removed it and relocated it, and also the only remaining caterpillar, to a butterfly enclosure. I decided I would protect the last little baby ‘pillar from the birds.
We haven’t been outside all the time though. It’s been more hot than not. When my dad visited the other day we decided a shopping trip to Target was in order to stay cool yet get out of the house. I also wanted to see if there were any Camp Snoopy notebooks there, since Wyatt loves Camp Snoopy. I had seen a post online that there were, but we didn’t find them. However, we did find a bunch of other things! All three of us had a really good time honestly. We spent some time in the dollar spot, oooing at all the things there we could buy – tiny colorful plates with summer fruits on them, card keepers for flash cards and playing cards, a little metal lunch box with clasps that says “Happy Camper”, fun mugs. My dad and I each picked out a mug – mine is a pastel purpley color with clouds on it, and my dad chose a yellow one with a handle that looks like a banana. Wyatt wanted the Happy Camper tin so we picked that up too, and it now houses his markers. My dad and Wyatt each got some shorts and shirts, I grabbed a new nail polish color. We just wandered around looking at everything and picking stuff up. It was good time!
Also, at the urging of my friend Kelly, who I had drinks with the other night in her yard, I ordered a few new embroidery kits to do during Wyatt’s recovery. I am glad she convinced me, it will probably be the best distraction for me, and the most relaxing too. I have oodles of books to read but I will probably be doing more reading with Wyatt than I will for me. I tend to not be able to read as much when I am anxious, but I can embroider. I picked out a set of three, that are hygge themed and they are really cute!
Then yesterday we got together with my whole extended family for the fourth. It also marked the 100th Independence Day since my grandfather’s family, the Keedys, came to America! My cousin has a big party every year, and it is so nice to just hang out near the pool, chat with family, eat and drink, and listen to the bops in the background. He has a gorgeous house and yard, and the kids go wild in the pool, and so do the dads. It was a typical super muggy day in the midwest, so even if we weren’t swimming we were poolside, legs and feet dangling into the water, getting splashed by children, mostly Wyatt. I was so happy that I decided to take a second dress with me, since I ended up getting soaked at one point when I chased my littlest niece down to give her mom a break for a second. We were a happy, motley crew and I think I smiled and laughed all day. We came home and all crashed hard.
This is my favorite photo from this past week or so…
And with that, I will sign off for now. I hope that whatever you all do today that you do something that makes you smile!
I decided on doing books with a salty, watery theme for this post. I am feeling the coastal vibes and this spring and summer I have been picking up books here and there that are in that vein. This list will be both books I have read and books on my TBR.
I loved both House of Salt and Sorrows and The Wicked Deep! They were excellent and I would read them again if my TBR wasn’t so long. All the Murmuring Bones is one I have not read but looks fantastic.
I have all three of these on my hopefuls for summer but I will only get to one of these. I am not sure which one will be the winner! If you have read these, let me know your vote!
I got to ten way too fast. I have so many more!! For my last few though, I chose two that I have read, and two on my list. The Lamplighter and Tidepool are lingering on my TBR, waiting for their time to be read.
Wait for What Will Come is one of my very favorite Barbara Michaels books! It takes place in a crumbling old home on the cliffs of Cornwall, and I reread it at least once a year. Barbara Michaels is one of my comfort authors.
Malamander is a middle grade I read for the first time this year, and it was so atmospheric. I felt like I was in a Scooby Doo episode, or in Innsmuth, or somewhere equally creepy and coastal. I absolutely loved it.
And I still can’t believe how quickly this post went together. I may have to do a part two!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Hello everyone! I hope you had a good week! We took it pretty easy around here last week, between the heat wave and just needing a slow down. It was nice to be summertime lazy with Wyatt.
We have been amassing books for his post-surgery recovery, and I feel like we have a good start! Wyatt is pretty into dragons now and his reading material reflects that… lol.
What I Am Reading:
This is my current slow read. I am reading it now, but I read nonfiction sooo slowly for some reason. So I am going to have to add in some fiction while I am reading it. I am really enjoying it, and learning a lot more about British books about Otters than I could have imagined, specifically Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell. I had never heard of this book or movie, but it is one of the books that Darlington read that formed her lifelong love of otters.
It also seems like the perfect time to start Pat of Silver Bush. I am looking forward to retreating into the world of L.M. Montgomery again.
Billy and I finished season 1 of Yellowjackets and are pressing pause on it until fall. We are loving it though.
We have been watching Sirens with Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore, and it is really good! I also love seeing the shots of the interior design in this show. Everything is like a visual feast. I loooove Simone’s bedroom, and I love Peter’s study. The interior also serves to reflect the secrets of the show, the tone, the weirdness. This article explains it a bit. Anyway, the cool coastal interiors are perfect for summer tv watching.
When we finish this up, I think we are going to start the new season of Dark Winds.
Wyatt’s been watching a lot of cartoons on Apple TV+ mainly Frog and Toad and Camp Snoopy. I have to admit I like when he watches these because I enjoy them too.
Online Things Happening:
Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are still hosting our Drop In Crafternoons once a month. Lisa and I have been hosting crafternoons for fellow bloggers on Zoom since January, and it has been so fun. It is nice to meet the person behind the blog, hear their voices, and share more stories – all while we work on whatever craft we choose! There is no right or wrong activity, you don’t even need to craft if you don’t want to. Just hang out, that is fine too! I need to update the dates for this – hopefully I get to that today.
I am also participating in 10, 15, 20 Books of Summer which is hosted by Emma over at Words and Peace, and Annabel at Annabookbel. I am glad that one of the “rules” is that we are allowed to switch up the books from our list at anytime, because I have already done that a few times since the beginning of June. I hope to post a few reviews this week! I went with 10 books but who knows? Maybe I will hit 15!
And that is it for me today! I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 