Happiest of New Years team #XMasChaCha

December was way more busy than I expected and I couldn‘t participate as much as I wanted in #WinterGames2024

My points for the second half were 3,880 for a grand total of 8,745.

Many thanks to our fearless leader @StayCurious

Well @Texreader I came close, but didn‘t quite get there. 4 bingos for 80 points in #ChristmasAtoZ. Looking forward to the 2025 challenge.

My #boringkindlecover for this month‘s #hashtagbrigade read. Not gonna lie I got nervous when I saw a 17 minute chapter to start but it was mostly about food so it was fine.

My 2024 reading. Highlights for me were doing some deep dives for #FoodAndLit, reading all of the Station Eleven books in a row over a couples of weeks for #AuthorAMonth, reading around the world for #ReadingAfrica #ReadingAsia #ReadingTheAmericas and #ReadingOceania (none of which I have completed so I‘ll still be going in 2025), the hilarity of #HashtagBrigade, #CampLitsy, and numerous other challenges that have made my reading life so rich.

December was not the best reading month. I read a decent number of books, but reading time had to be patched together from little slivers of time. I‘m hoping for a calmer January with more control over my schedule.

#12BooksOfChristmas August @Andrew65

I didn‘t have any 5 star reads in August so I‘ll go with this informative book I read out of desperation for #FoodAndLit

All the stars to Litsy Challenges and their hosts because of all the books I read that would have never been on my radar otherwise.

#FoodAndLit #Finland

I enjoyed this dystopian crime novel about a man searching for his wife in Helsinki. In the days before Christmas the world is falling apart, climate change is a done deal, and the police don‘t have the resources to look for a missing woman. A quick read, perfect for holiday reading when you don‘t want to think too hard.

#12DaysOfReading July @Andrew65

This book was perfect summer reading. Looking at the cover I almost feel like I‘m sitting on my porch soaking up the heat of July.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

June was such a great reading month! Margo was my top read, but I had to add in honorable mentions for Butter, Challenger, and The Postcard

I love a good book of short stories around the holidays. When everything is busy and there are voices everywhere they‘re great for dipping in and out of.

These stories were fun and whimsical, and in a happy accident some were holiday related. My favorite was How Good King Wenceslas Went Pop for the DJ‘s Feast of Stephen.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

A very cozy and cute #hyggehour tonight. Guests went to bed early, and I‘m finishing up a book of short stories while the cats scamper about. We had a very warm day today, but storms rolled in tonight and brought the seasonal weather back with them. Back to work tomorrow but that‘s okay.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

To me the official kick off to summer reading season is when Emily Henry puts out a new book. That‘s why Funny Story was my favorite May read.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

It seems like people either loved or hated this one. I loved reading it, and I loved spending an hour talking about it with my brother later. Great book.

#12BooksOf2024 @Andrew65 March 2024
I thought this book was very informative. It doesn‘t seem like Nuns would have a lot of influence in the Catholic Church but I loved the ways they found to fight for social justice.

It‘s the last weekend of 2024! Time for one last Readathon! I personally don‘t ever want to see another cookie as long as I live, so will be replacing my sugar with carrots and grapefruit. Everyone is welcome! Make your own goals!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) I love a stuffed stocking more than any other present ever and my family gets that
2) first field hockey tournament done
3) excellent Christmas salad from a dinner guest
4) almost a bit of snow on Christmas Eve
5) a house full of cats and dogs

Happy Friday everyone!

I got my first #bookspin of 2025 done! I‘m trying to read more nonfiction next year.

One last book for #FoodAndLit #Canada

I got on an Anne of Green Gables kick last month and wanted to fit one last one in this year.

#XMasChaCha #ReadOutTheBooks

Holidays and long visits from in laws can be a bit overwhelming to me, but love it when random dogs crawl into my lap while I‘m reading and start to snore.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

I would have never read this if it weren‘t for #ReadingOceania24

I really think everyone should read this book about a refugee family. It really cuts through a lot of the politics and shows the human side of the issue. One of those books that I‘m not sure why more people aren‘t talking about it.

Lesson learned: no more catnip toys in Daisy‘s stocking. I hope you all have a great day. I‘m going on strike a little bit and letting others take over for me today. There are 7 people here all over the age of 13 and it‘s time some of them learned there is no such thing as Santa 😂

#12booksof2024 @Andrew65

I think the introduction of SA Cosby to my reading life is one of the best things Litsy has done for me. I love his books, including this one, my favorite read from January.

There‘s still 10 minutes left of Christmas Eve and I‘m finally sitting down to open my swap present. Thank you so much @BookwormAHN This book looks great and I‘ll have a nice little chocolate stash for the new year. Thanks for hosting @MaleficentBookDragon

For my bookworm daughter. Do you think she‘ll guess what it is?

One last quiet hour in my kitchen before guests arrive for two weeks. This might be as close as I can get to #hyggehour

I‘ll take it!

Catching up on Udolpho at an indoor field hockey tournament today.

I‘m still working on #FoodAndLit Canada. Pearly Everlasting is about a girl who rescues her brother who just happens to be a bear. It was a good listen! Set in New Brunswick during the Great Depression- it would have made a great family road trip audiobook.

Look what came today @BookwormAHN @MaleficentBookDragon

I love love love to re-read favorite books. These are my favorite re-reads from 2024.

In no particular order these are my 5 star reads from 2024 (so far.)

I wanted to read more non fiction this year so I‘m happy to see a handful of those titles on my list.

This doesn‘t include re-reads which I‘ll do next.

It‘s already time for the #SnickerDoodleSpirit #Readathon

Make your own goals, eat or make some treats, share your pictures. I‘m looking forward to it!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) I accidentally took today off instead of next Monday but I‘m not mad- I‘m off when everybody else is working and I should have a quiet day on Monday
2) fresh fruit
3) practicing field hockey in the rain with my daughter
4) cat cuddles while watching Charlie Brown
5) working at the library when my house got too loud

Stay sane this week everyone!

Does anyone know if I can send my cards to Canada from the US now?

This was my most anticipated read for #WinterGames2024. I listened to the entire audiobook yesterday when I was working and cleaning and preparing for a million things only a small portion of which I actually care about. This book is filled with so much optimism though it was impossible to be in a bad mood. This is a hug in book form. #MidWeekMuddle @TheAromaofBooks

This is the second time I‘ve read this and I find it oddly touching. I think it‘s a family of 4 wives and 28 kids but I kind of lost track.

“Sons of beekeepers!”

This book is full of the best swear replacements I‘ve heard in a long time.

Busy day today but first things first- my total for the first half of #WinterGames2024 is 4,865.

#XMasChaCha @StayCurious

(I didn‘t total up BINGOs or word search points. I‘ll do that at the end.)

It took me a while to get through this weird little book, but I did like it. In the face of a weird fog/plague/catastrophe the main character does her best to care for her mother, her ex husband, and the little boy placed in her care. #ToBLonglist but not #ToBShortlist I‘m surprised by that.

The mystery in this one didn‘t reveal itself until halfway through, there were some really questionable medical situations going on, and it seemed like Christmas was just stuck in there to make the title work, BUT there were kittens so that redeemed the book for me.

I read this earlier today for the Nancy Drew Buddy Read. I always like when Nancy‘s adventures involve a boat and this one had a boat plus a fake identity so that was fun. I enjoyed this one more than the last couple.

Happy Friday!
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1) brought my daughter (aka my broke bestie) out shopping and to get her nails done after a very stressful week for her. I‘m glad some problems are so easily fixed still.
2) cats at Christmas
3) spectacular sunsets all week
4) my city goes way out with lights this time of year
5) finally got holders for my advent candles so caught up on lighting them
Enjoy the weekend everyone! We earned it!

It‘s almost Friday the 13th where I am, so time for another Readathon! Eat or bake some cookies or other treats (if you want) and make your own reading goals. It‘s the holiday season! Anything goes!
I plan on making frosted oatmeal cookies and listening to many audiobooks, but first there‘s a little matter of my work holiday party to attend. It‘s Friday the 13th. What could go wrong?
Everyone is welcome!
#OatmealEscape #WinterGames2024

@AllDebooks I didn‘t get out until sunset tonight, but I did get out! My favorite walking route is my block. It‘s exactly a half mile per lap, and I love seeing what everyone has going on in their yards and what their dogs are doing. #Naturalitsy #MidWinterSolace

I liked the message of this book but found the reading part so boring 😴😴

Just not for me I guess.
#ToB

This steampunk Nutcracker retelling was perfect listening for baking and cleaning. I thoroughly enjoyed it. #WinterGames #XmasChaCha

Starting my hygge hour a bit late tonight, but I‘m finally in the kitchen with my book and a snack. I‘m feeling good, but also starting to get a bit worried about everything I need to get done this week. #hyggehour #MidWinterSolace

My first batch of cookies for the season made while listening to the tagged. I mostly froze the dough for later, but had to bake a few for us. My favorites are the Finnish Cardamom Cookies - perfect for pairing with coffee or tea. Links to the recipes in the comments. #FoodAndLit #GingerbreadJourneys #XmasChaCha #WinterGames2024 #ChristmasCardReadathon

Taking a break from a busy day with this #AuthorAMonth Terry Pratchett. I love short stories this time of year.

I picked this randomly from Everand and really enjoyed it. Lucky bonus that it‘s number 9 in the series so I get to go back to the beginning. #WinterGames #XmasChaCha @StayCurious

#GingerBreadJourney Readathon starts today! Everyone welcome, cookies optional 🍪