I loved this book. I was expecting something like The Memory Police, but instead I got a coming of age story about a girl who goes to live with wealthy relatives for a year. Written in a light way even though it touches on some dark topics, this book was easy to read and perfect for cold winter mornings when you just can‘t face getting up yet.

No ah ha moments for me in this one, but it was still interesting and entertaining. Unfortunately it did not solve my annoyance with certain co-workers.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

A good week this week but I didn‘t take a lot of pictures.

1) My son got his license- no more rush hour trips to the gym for me
2) Two separate snow events with another on the way meant a lot of outdoor time including snowshoeing which I love
3) A successful field hockey tournament for my daughter
4) seeing foxes playing in the snow last night
5) work has been productive this week

Happy Friday!

The whole family trecked up to York, PA for a field hockey tournament, and made it home just in time for my hygge hour. I‘m nervous that everyone at work will be back tomorrow, but relieved that the snow storm is going to have us telecommuting a little bit longer. Not a single flake has fallen yet, but both kids already know they don‘t have school. I‘m recommitting to my practice of mint tea and an hour of nonfiction before bed. Plus pie tonight😃

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

My best read in December was a re-read. Love this book.

Read this a little early for #ChristiesCapers because the library wants it back.

I was positive I had figured it out but of course I hadn‘t. Christie really hits her stride right from the start.

#12BooksOfChristmas November @Andrew65

I think November was my best reading month of the year so it was hard to pick. This book stuck with me the most though- and I never would have read it if it weren‘t for #FoodAndLit #Canada

Yes I will be using #FoodAndLit #Netherlands as my excuse for eating stroopwafels all month.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) visits from dogs
2) visiting a nature preserve with my parents
3) new beds for the kiddos
4) cleaning out closets with my helpers
5) fireworks + Christmas lights from my porch make it worth staying up until midnight once a year

Also I have no idea what day it is so thanks for the reminder 😂

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

A great book for spooky season. I was getting impatient for the last season of Stranger Things and this scratched my itch.

A re-read for me, but perfectly timed for when it‘s cold and the wind is howling. This is the book that started my love affair with high altitude climbing stories and it still holds up almost 30 years after publication.

Yet another book from the #TOBLonglist that I think should have been on the shortlist.

This was my first read of the year, and I loved it! It seemed so true to me- working a job with very little power doing what you can to create any change at all. Highly recommend.

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

I read this on one of those stormy September days when the first hints of fall started showing themselves. It was perfect. As for the story itself it would ruin the surprise if I said anything more than I think you should read it.

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.)