We visited Cumberland Island last Easter without knowing much about it. Between the beaches, the abandoned mansions, and the wild horses it was like stepping into a novel. I‘m now on a mission to learn as much as I can about it. This nonfiction book was a good starting place to learn about some of the history, gossip, and scandals.

I started cleaning up some of my gardens this morning while listening to the tagged book. I know it‘s too early but I can never help myself!

He can‘t put a tariff on joy. Let‘s do this.

1) walking by the river
2) found my cat sitting in a way too small basket in the sun room
3) sun is starting to come up when I go to work early in the morning
4) signs of spring
5) enjoying the lights of old town while picking up my daughter

Have a good weekend everyone.

I absolutely adored this book. A coming of age story about a possible alien born right around the same year I was? Yes, please. This is the second audiobook in a row that I‘ve listened to where I wanted to buy a paper copy so I can underline all of the parts I loved. This is now my pick for #TOB2025 and likely to be a favorite this year.

It took me a while to get through this book about the massacre of Nepal‘s Royal family in 2001, but I ended up liking it. I still have a lot of questions about what happened, but the authors did a good job of setting the scene as best they could. I read a lot of mountaineering books so it was good to get a different sense of the country‘s recent history. #FoodAndLit #Nepal

This audiobook hit just right this weekend. It‘s a set of interconnected short stories each read by a different narrator. Next I want to read the paper version and take notes on how they all relate. I loved the New England settings and the pace of the stories. Really good.

Reading + tea + cheesecake + Jimmy Buffet = #hyggehour

I‘m taking the cold snap today personally.

First porch reading session 2025

Strong opening line for the latest #HashtagBrigade read might make up for the wonky chapters that make it hard to read on schedule. #BoringKindleCover

Happy birthday @Mimi28 from these two who say the best seat in the house is in the freshly folded laundry

And from LibraryThing my top 12 reads from February.

This month‘s reading wrap up from StoryGraph. All of my top books were kind of depressing. Next month I vow to read something happy.

I was excited to see Michael Crichton had a pirate book because I love listening to his audiobooks when I walk. Unfortunately this one didn‘t gel with me. Oh well. #BookedInTime @Cuilin

This was a kind of textbook/workbook about privilege, power, and empowerment. Nothing new here, but it is good to have it all in one place. #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1) warm days and signs of spring
2) my son was able to attend a life changing retreat at school (he‘s been doing the laundry unasked since he came back!)
3) kitchen water issues almost fixed - got a new dishwasher finally!
4) cats everywhere always making me laugh
5) physical therapy finally starting to work- feeling in my hand for the first time in months

Happy Friday everyone!

This was a fun retelling of Sense and Sensibility if murder was involved. #JaneAustenThenAndNow @Crinoline_Laphroaig

If you‘re reading this for insights on the Apollo 13 mission don‘t. However if you want fun stories about astronaut training from a guy with a laid back attitude this is worth a read. I loved the stories about the different places they traveled to study geology before going to the moon. I also appreciated his thoughts about climate change at the end too.

Lana Lee is about to go on a romantic vacation with her boyfriend when she has to stop and solve a murder. The descriptions of food in this series are as good as the mysteries. #ThematicCozies @julieclair

#HyggeHour - I‘m catching up on my daily trees then reading some more about Apollo 13. Mint tea is my beverage of choice. There‘s a lot going on this week but it‘s going to be warmer so we have that going for us. Can‘t wait to feel some sunshine on my face.

Starting my climb up #MtCookbook with homemade tortillas from the Farmhouse cookbook. Not bad for my first attempt.

I hit a wall and just can‘t bring myself to be productive right now. Second breakfast it is!

My March #BookspinBingo list
The Pod Laline Paull
The Book of Hope Jae Goodall
Untamed Will Harlan
There Is No Ethan Anna Akbari
Bright-Sided Barbara Ehrenreich
The Stand
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Brave Hearted Katie Hickman
The Woman in White Wilkie Collins
The Handmaid‘s Tale Margaret Atwood

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The brownies I made kind of fell apart so I‘m eating them with ice cream. Happy Friday all!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) more snow
2) successful trip to Lancaster, PA for a field hockey tournament with my daughter
3) cats definitely up to something but caught in the act
4) winter skies
5) getting back in the meal prep habit. Our fruit salads looked pretty. (Taste good too.)

Happy Friday all! I hope you have a restful weekend.

This was a ton of fun and I can‘t wait to read more about Tommy and Tupence. As usual I thought I figured it out but was no where close. Looking forward to discussing this next week. #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3 @Librarybelle

It really is amazing how close to reality this book is. I‘ve read it before but I was glad to read it again with #WithTheBanned @Jadams89

I had the 1940 version on my shelf for next month. Looking forward to seeing what Nancy does next. #NancyDrewBR

I wanted to get a lot of reading done this weekend at my daughter‘s tournament but it didn‘t work out that way. I did manage to finish two books though: The Clue of the Tapping Heels and Show Don‘t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. I‘m glad there‘s still one weekend left in the month to hopefully get back on track. Thanks for hosting @ShananigansReads

I requested this ARC from Net Galley because it has a follow up to Prep, one of my favorite books of my early adulthood. I enjoyed all of the stories though. They were very Sittenfeld, so if you like this author you‘ll probably enjoy them too. This book comes out next week.

I like this one, but they really need to leave Bess alone! Looking forward to discussing tomorrow @Librarybelle

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) it snowed again
2) most of the snow melted the next day
3) microgreens are starting to sprout
4) made two jars of soup for delicious lunch all week
5) cats sleeping in weird positions

I finally finished this for #JaneAustenThenAndNow

I forgot how funny this book was. I‘m looking forward to reading some of the modern retellings this month.

This was a soft pick. I‘ve known way too many people like George to give it more than 3 stars, but I didn‘t hate the book. Like someone else said I think there were books in the long list that did the details of every day life better. #TOB25

My daughter claimed not to know Robert Frost* so I took tonight‘s walk as an opportunity to introduce her.

*It‘s also possible she was trying to shut me down so I didn‘t embarrass her by reciting Robert Frost on our walk.

Oh man. George recommending books he never read. I can see why people say this is funny. But it‘s kind of we have to laugh so we don‘t cry funny, you know? #TOB2025

A good #hyggehour tonight. Cinnamon rolls and the first 50 pages of the tagged book. Nepal has a fascinating history. I‘m glad we‘re visiting it for #FoodAndLit this month.

This book was more a collection of vignettes than a story, and I think it‘s probably better suited to reading all at once than a chapter a day. I could see myself reading it by the lake on a summer day not really caring about the lack of story line, just enjoying the strong sense of time. But to discuss as a group as if any of it fit together? Nah. #ItsNotYouItsMe #ButMaybeItsYou #HashtagBrigade

Thank you @BarkingMadRead Truly heroic this one.

A short book in translation about book censorship. It gets a pick from me, but I‘m glad it was short because it‘s all just been a lot lately.

I guess if all I‘m up for is books about cats solving mysteries I shouldn‘t be reading #TOB short list titles 😂

On to George!

The alternative is resistance, but you‘re too busy reading novels.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) re-teaching myself to crochet
2) I‘ve been logging my reading on Library Thing for 10+ years now and I love looking back on what I read (this was Feb 2015)
3) Took some PTO to visit the new pandas
4) my green rain boots
5) yummy snacks- grilled cheese on homemade bread, popcorn for lunch, sugar cookies shaped like groundhogs

A group of crochet enthusiasts get together to craft, fight racism, and support each other in Australia. I needed something straightforward with a happy ending this week.

Starting this one tonight @BarkingMadRead - here‘s my #boringkindlecover

I figure I‘ll read a short story or two in between other things throughout the month. I thought I had read this as a teen, but maybe not. We‘ll see.

The Valentines are coming in ❤️❤️❤️

I picked this book for complete escapism and easy reading, and it did deliver that. However the story line felt forced (really? Your sorority sister you haven‘t seen in 40 years shows up with her entire extended family and you just let them stay?) and the ending was kind of bonkers. Can‘t give it a pick, but also will probably read more of the series next time I‘m in a similar mood.

I made dal bhat for dinner tonight. It was really good and easy. I just threw it all in the crockpot this morning before work. This will be on repeat for sure. #FoodAndLit #Nepal

Let the #hyggehour begin! I have cranberry pomegranate tea and cookies shaped like groundhogs. It looks like work might finally calm down this week so this Sunday isn‘t as scary as they usually are. Maybe by this time next week I will have finally finished Sense And Sensibility??

Mailed my Valentines Day cards today! Here‘s hoping they make it!

#caturday reading

#BookSpinBingo for January- finished my bookspin and bailed on my doublespin. I‘m going to try and finish the rest of these in February.

Of the 17 books I read in January these were the top twelve. If I had to pick a word to sum up my January reads I would say “interesting”.