#5JoysFriday @DebInHawaii

-We got sleet/snow on Tuesday and was out of work on Wednesday!
-Wednesday morning made deconstructed egg tacos with leftover taco meat
-Watched Super Bowl (go Chiefs!) and now it's baseball time (Go Cardinals)!
-Food day Thursday/Friday at work-I made this amazing Cherry Cream Cheese Chocolate Cake.
-Making plans for a staycation next week!

It's been a great week!

#WeekendForecast and #BookReport

Technically, I finished a book last Sunday but included that book in the previous wrap up.

I have been reading on my chunky book-about 20-25 pages a day at lunch (about 35-40 minutes). I have hit the limit of renewals at the library and may have to purchase this one cause I do want to keep at it.

Tomorrow, I am going to sit with my coffee and read a few kids books. It's imperative I switch things up, bookwise.

Well this is an interesting mix of books for #ReadYourKindle!

I think my focus will be on “Engraved on the Eye“ but they all look good!

Thanks, @CBee!

I'm in medieval England and Normandy this week (and next week and probably the week after 😭). I am enjoying this but, man, this is taking me a while to read!

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

I did not touch my Penman book this weekend.

“How to Keep House While Drowning“ was absolutely amazing. I feel seen-this book is written not only for those with ADHD, but those struggling with depression, anxiety, and daily pain. This is one of those books I want a copy of!

I bailed on the “Silence“ book. I laid it down and did everything but pick it up on Saturday-back it goes.

#weeklyforecast
#bookreport

Mini readathon for the next two days... Actually just Sat/Sun mornings. My chunkster will be set aside and I'm going to enjoy these books. Happy weekend!

Been a while since I've done a #5JoysFriday post!

That Texas size cinnamon role was acquired (and brought home!) from a local diner.
The days are going to get longer-the darkest is behind us!
Salsa Verde Chicken tacos-yum!
Foggy nights.
A great app called PicDiary that let's you keep a visual diary.

@DebinHawaii

I am really enjoying this book even though I am reading it so slowly.

Mini readathon this weekend to conquer some of the books that have come in and I can't renew!

#FirstLineFriday
@ShyBookOwl

Finished the Louis L'Amour book-I loved it. Great overview of L'Amour's work but also the authenticity that L'Amour put into his books. Recommended for Western fans.
One Winter Up North was a cute book about camping up north in the Boundary Waters in the winter. Recommended.
Still working on Penman. Enjoying it just a chunky book.
Next weekend, as a break from medieval England, will by the hygge book.
#weeklyforecast #bookreport

Decided to go with the tagged book for #Roll100 @PuddleJumper

No. 60 was something that looked good in a secondhand bookstore.
No. 42 is on a romance list that I have yet to get to.
No. 82 is a chunky boi...I've seen the newer film made of it-do want to get to the book. Just not after another chunky book.

Forgot to post yesterday! For some reason can't concentrate on the Penman novel so it's off to the west.
Really enjoyed the Le Guin book and looking forward to the hygge book next weekend.
#bookreport #weeklyforecast

Love this quote on writing!

Started this chunkster last night... Okay, read 6 pages our of 759 pages. I think I'm going to enjoy this one!

I am loving this series and catching murders along with Embla Nystrom in Sweden.

I have one more book in this series and then there's no more. In fact, it doesn't appear Helene Tursten has published anything since 2021.

If you enjoy not-so-violent but not-quite-cozy series and/or Nordic mystery-give this series a shot!

I spent a delightful hour absorbed into this book on Sunday afternoon.

You see, #hyggehourreadathon doesn't work for me at 8 pm as that's when I'm shuffling off to bed and can't concentrate anymore.

But I can sit and dip into a small book on the weekend that's a quick read.

This was good but ultimately, forgettable. I read this one because my word of the year is stillness. Decent intro but still looking for more on this topic.

Got out this morning/afternoon and did some errands and gassed the car up. Supposed to turn really cold although we may miss the winter precipitation.
Delving into my book set in Sweden at this time of the year. Happy reading this weekend!

Definitely going to get to the tagged book. But all of these selections look good!

Thanks #CBee for #ReadYourKindle

So, #bookspin will by my #Roll100 pick (tagged) and my #doublespin will be one of my perpetual challenges that I'm working on. Typically, I would grab the next L'Amour or King book and read that but I have the above in transit from out of state. So, delving into the world of Louis L'Amour's books is close enough!

Thanks, @AromaOfBooks for #Bingo!

I try to select a fairly quick, one-day read that's positive, inspiring, or poetic for the first day of the new year. A book to clean the palate from the past year and start fresh with positive energy.

I thinking having the book and dipping into it once in a while or over a month would be a better idea that reading in a day. I rate this as a meh read.

However, I am inspired to start looking for my own little pieces of hope.

And that's a wrap on my reading year of 2024!
My goal was 50-so yay on surpassing that!

Next year (2025) I will set my goal to 12 books to allow me the space and time to conquer some larger books or books that just need a bit more time to enjoy.

In reading at least, 2024 was a good year! Here's to a fantastic 2025!

Here's my #Roll100, @Puddlejumper!

I'm going to read the red book about writing. Not really in the mood, yet, for horror and I've read the Steinbeck.

Excited to see what else ends up on my January TBR!

I've been quiet here lately for a myriad of reasons but I'm still escaping into books.

Today my goal is this: just keep breathing. Big breaths to calm my system. Just keep breathing.

October was a good month! All of these were sold reads and most were part of a series.

Looking forward to November!

If only the weather in Oklahoma would reflect that we're getting into November! It's been 90s and 80s-where's my 60s and 70s?

My #bookspin for November, @TheAromaOfBooks!

Library book is for the list of books to read in Libby or the Kindle Unlimited books on my Kindle.

This was a super cute kids book about sheep dressing up and trick or treating.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Okay, yes, I'm obsessed with Supernatural. “Monster Movie“ was shot in b/w and a homage to the old monster movies.

And by the way, Dean looks as fantastic in b/w as in color!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

I love this series! Alex is a favorite character and her friends range from fae to a reaper called Death. So much fun!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Look, I know this one has been posted today, but this is the first thing I thought of when I saw today's prompt. I love Supernatural and quote it often, so this is today's scarecrow scene.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Jamming out to Black Magic Woman by Santana-perfect for today's #wickedwhisper!

https://youtu.be/FF1gbewg6Y4?si=6AmQnmqqbw5UAg0S

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

This is book 2 in the Laurel Snow mysteries.

As much as I enjoyed this, I can tell you it's not the best mystery ever. It's a popcorn mystery that's good at clearing the palate. Enjoyable and I'll pick up the third book in the series, but not compelling enough to really recommend it.

I suspect my four stars are more enjoying the scenery and location. It's fun. Sometimes that's all you need.

Love this writing advice from Mark Twain!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

A murder case that involves dinosaur bones!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Nothing like your town's history of ghosts-this was cool because the locations are local, and for the most part, available to visit!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Loved this book-the sequel not so much.

Great Christmas story!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

This is me trying to explain the plot of this book 😂

Seriously though, this book has a lot of moving pieces handled deftly by a first time author. If you enjoy Mark Greaney's Grey Man series or similar “dad thrillers“ this would be a great addition to your TBR list!

This also works for #BookSpinBingo for book published pre-2024.

@TheAromaOfBooks

I feel like this here lately, as I'm trying to figure out what the next part of my life looks like.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

It would be chilling to be stuck in the arctic with a shape shifting alien.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

On Halloween, when we were kids, my family would go to my grandma's in a small town. We'd have chili and corn dogs and then go trick or treating.

Afterwards, we would sit down on the carpet and dump out our candy to see what we got. Later it was put in a large yellow container to eat out of-each sibling had their own bowl. Very fond memories.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott in a shoot 'em up Western.

This movie was the first thing I thought of with today's prompt!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

This was a dark book-Israel Keyes would hit kill kits across the US. He would fly in, rent a car, and pick up his kit and a victim.

Utterly terrifying serial killer.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

I've seen the movie but have yet to read the book...too many books not enough time!

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

The incomparable Miss Nina Simone doing “I Put A Spell On You,“

https://youtu.be/Ba1DUOLlkdo?si=h-xULYKlfcWwV1Mc

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

I could just hear Little Ann and Old Dan howling in the book.

Of course, I did my own howling at the end.

#Wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Did you know there are 7 body farms in the US? These are acreage that universities own and the archeology students study human decomposition. This knowledge helps forensic anthropologists and crime scene investigators with cases.

Freeman Ranch is one of those body farms and is located in Texas.

#themoreyouknow

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Did you know that in the movie “Argo“, Ben Affleck played Tony Mendez?

In real life, Mendez was a master of disguise during his career in the CIA. I just wonder what stories he can't tell because those stories have got to be another blockbuster movie or two!

#Wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

My #ReadYourKindle subjects were: First Picks, Christmas, Christmas, Romance.

So here's my four titles. I do have to admit it's a bit odd to have Christmas books in the middle of spooky season!

#CBee

#truestory

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

This book is gruesome, terrifying, and nightmare inducing.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Pumpkin bread! This is my absolute favorite recipe for pumpkin bread and is made at least once (on September 1st!) a season. It makes a lot-so be prepared to share!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/6820/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs