#haikuhive

Max was always my favorite. 🤎🐾🤎

#5JoysFriday
@Debinhawaii 💙🤍🩵

Better late than never.
1. Finished physical therapy on my shoulder. Still have a ways to go, but I can exercise it on my own now. 💪🏻
2. Nyaker's ginger snaps from Sweden. I get these for Matt every year for his birthday. 🍪
3. Matt. He had a birthday this week, too. 💙
4&5. Kate & Pip, my two couch potatoes. Pip's still having grand mals, and we're still trying to figure out her meds. Been a tough two weeks.

#haikuhive

Mr. 101 and Mr. 10 Below at their best. 💙💚♥️

Santa calls in sick.
Miser brothers throw a fit––
cut the funky climate change.

Ahh, the 70s. 🕺🪩🕺

#midwintersolstice
@Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit

I reread this one every year on the solstice. 💙

#haikuaday #haikuhive

When I need the absolute cheeriest holiday movie, I to to ELF. 💚🧝♥️

“The best way to spread
Christmas cheer“ is to happily
watch ELF on repeat.

#TTT @dabbe

Having seen this movie a lot, that explains my best score ever! 🤣

In reading 25 Surprising Facts about this movie, here are three I didn't know:
1. HA was a Guinness record holder for 25 years (most $ made on opening weekend).
2. Robert De Niro turned down the Joe Pesci part.
3. Pesci's role (Harry Lime) is the same name as Orson Welles's role in THE THIRD MAN, a fabulous movie. https://tinyurl.com/4rndcy3v

Thank you @wildwoodreads! My #JolabokaflodSwap arrived safely!📗🍫 The tough part is waiting to open it! 🤩🤗😍

#JolabokaflodSwap

And thanks again, @MaleficentBookDragon, for organizing this lovely swap. ♥️🩶💚

#holidayhumor @Texreader

What a lovely card and ornament, @TheLudicReader. 😍 Thank you, dear friend. And of course, I haven't read any of your top 20 books; you've made my TBR even longer! I look forward to your picks every year. 🩶🩵🤍

I can't believe you painted this gorgeous bookmark, @Liseworks! It's L 🩵VELY! Thanks for making my Litsy life so much brighter! 🩶🩵🤍

And thank you for these lovely cards, @mimi28 and @jenniferw88. Mine are on their way! 🩶🩵🤍

And even more #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @Born.A.Reader and @BookwormAHN! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

More #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @TheBookHippie and @lauraisntwilder! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

And now for some #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @Amiable and @BookishMarginalia! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

And even more winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @PaperbackPirate and @bookwormjillk! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

Even more winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @Chrissyreadit and @skygoddess1! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

More winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @kspenmoll and @Karisa! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

Just sharing the joy of receiving these lovely cards. Thank you so much, @CrowCAH and @Texreader! Merry Winter Solstice! 🩶🩵🤍

Look what arrived, @Catiewithac! I'm going to try to wait until Christmas to open it. Thank you so much for thinking of me (P.S. something's on its way to you, too!). I am beyond lucky to have found you on Litsy. Merry Christmas to you and Abby, my dear friend. 🩶🩵🤍

#TTT #TakeThreeThursday @dabbe

Another quick and fun quiz today. Share anything you'd like: your score, the things you knew/didn't know/guessed at, favorite holiday movies ... I'd love to see/hear any of it. Please be sure to tag me!

Link to today's quiz: https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/home-alone-trivia

All are welcome to play. Tagging a few to get us started. 🎄♥️🎄

#weirdwordwednesday @CBee
#allusions

This allusion is a weird one that you don't hear of very often.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

A fun “long“ short story by the indomitable Agatha Christie. I adored teaching this to my freshmen as their first introduction to Ms. Christie.

Stolen rubies hide
inside the Christmas pudding––
Poirot's on the case.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Such a lovely story. ♥️💙💚

“It's fruitcake weather!“
Two hearts share their last Christmas––
Their kites fly through the sky.

#middlegrademonday @Karisimo @daisey

I taught middle school from 1994-2005, so my choices skew towards books between the 1970s -1990s). Three favorites that don't incorporate a holiday per se but definitely encompass winter:
•The tagged: DOGSONG: my favorite by Gary Paulsen.
•HATCHET: Also by Gary Paulsen. Love and miss that man.
•JULIE OF THE WOLVES: By Jean Craighead George. We must have a woman hero for “Pete“'s sake! 😀

Quick question:
Is there someone at @LitsyEvents I can email re: a spreadsheet I created? ♥️💙💚

#mondaymood @Deblovestoread

I'm not just sad by the murder of the genius Rob Reiner and his artistic wife. I am ENRAGED by this ignoramus's reply. It is beyond despicable. It is psychologically sick and heinous. Every single person who voted for this maniacal, delusional narcissist as our president needs to take a good, long look in the mirror at yourself. Because how you can live with your choice is beyond me. The asshole is PURE EVIL. #ranttime

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Going to watch this one tonight. ♥️💙💚

#haikuaday #haikuhive

Another favorite. If you've never seen the narration of this lovely book by Meryl Streep with music by George Winston, here's a link below. It's not the best rendition, but it's the only one I could find. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs9YdlWD5ZU&t=139s

Worn fur, seams undone––
The boy's love makes him real at last ...
able to freely run.

#goodnewssunday @Deblovestoread

Article links:
1. https://tinyurl.com/ej4fdvsx
2. https://tinyurl.com/dkf4wzzu
3. https://tinyurl.com/ynj6byks

Have a good week, everyone. 💚💙♥️

#weeklyfavorites @Read4life ♥️💙💚

I couldn't resist finishing both of these year-long reads that were started back in January! 💙🩵💙 them both.

#Naturalisty @Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit

I couldn't resist finishing today. A nature-writing book organized into short daily entries, each focusing on a tree species or tree-related theme, the format encourages readers to notice trees as part of everyday life, blending ecology, cultural history, and seasonal observation. Beer‘s clear, engaging prose makes the book accessible to a wide audience, ... ⬇️

#haikuaday #haikuhive

To my knowledge, this is the only story in the SH canon that takes place during the holidays, and it's a true (wait for it) ... gem. 💎💎💎 #noplacelikeholmes #foreversherlocked #thelitsyirregulars

You inspired me today, @Bookwomble! 🫂

Goose commits a crime,
Hat and Holmes silently judge––
Merry theft-mas, solved.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

A fave by a favorite author. 💛🤎💛

Hair and watch laid down,
love trades treasures for the other––
empty hands, full hearts.

My #JolabokaflodSwap is on its way, @MaleficentBookDragon! Thanks for putting together everyone's favorite swap of the year! ♥️💙💚

#TTT @dabbe #takethreethursday

I guessed on a few, so I'm thrilled with my score! Three of my favorite holiday songs:
1. “Christmastime is Here“: not from a movie, but a tv show--the best holiday one ever! (A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, of course!)
2. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas“: written for the movie MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and sung by the incomparable Judy Garland.
3. “Silver and Gold“ by Burl Ives: another tv show (RUDOLPH).

#haikuhive #haikuaday

All matches are lit––
as the grandmother's soft hands
take her to heaven.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Seen by love and faith,
not by eyes or measuring––
Yes, Virginia. Yes.

💚💙♥️

#TTT #TakeThreeThursday @dabbe

Another quick and fun quiz today. Share anything you'd like: your score, the things you knew/didn't know/guessed at, favorite holiday songs ... I'd love to see/hear any of it. Please be sure to tag me!

Link to today's quiz: https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/name-holiday-movie-by-soundtrack

All are welcome to play. 🎄♥️🎄

#weirdwordwednesday @CBee

#WDNCW #WeDoNotCareWednesday @dabbe

We do not care that we sent you a little holiday gift, texted you to look for it, and then you never even responded that you got it. Being the Nervous Nellie that we are, we then texted AGAIN, and only then did we get a “Oh yeah“ kind of response. No, our feelings weren't hurt in the least. No wonder we're spending Christmas at home with just the pups. #tistheseason

Sometimes I really do wonder, “Why bother?“

#tuesdaytunes @TieDyeDude
#haikuhive #haikuaday

IMHO, no better holiday albums exists. I have had it continually on repeat since Thanksgiving. Mr. Guaraldi and Charles Shulz were beyond daring with this jazz album. And kudos to the OLD CBS who said “okay“ to this production, sixty years ago ... the year I was born. 💚💙♥️

Feet tiptap through snow,
Peanuts dance on jazzy tiptoes--
Winter swings in time.

#readlesmis @TheBookHippie

First published in 1862, LES MIS is one of the most ambitious and influential novels in world literature that explores poverty, justice, and redemption in post-revolutionary France. The story centers on Jean Valjean, a former prisoner who rebuilds his life through compassion, while being relentlessly pursued by the rigid Inspector Javert. ⬇️

#ChunksterChallenge2025 @Amiable ♥️💙💚

Clocking in at 1302 pages (not including the extra 100+ pages of notes), this baby is finished! #huzzah!

#holidayhumor @Texreader

Look what just came, @AmyG! (my Kindle's covering our addresses). Thank you so much, dear friend. I'm waiting until 12/25 to open. Something from Santa's coming your way soon! ♥️💙💚

#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

Another L🎄VERLY card! Thank you, @BookwormAHN! ♥️💙💚

#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie
#holidayhumor @Texreader

I forgot to take a picture, but the cards went out today! ♥️💚💙

#haikuhive #haikuaday #haikureview

I was lucky enough to see the musical on Broadway in the early 80s. From that point on, I always aspired to read it. Tried two times and failed miserably ... until the #readlesmis group and @TheBookHippie. As much as I adored the musical, the book, of course, is better. I snot-nosed cried my way through to the end. 💙🇫🇷♥️

One year to finish.
No words can do it justice--
Except “Vive la France!“

#mondaymood @Deblovestoread

Yep. 💙✊🏻💙

#middlegrademonday @Karisimo @Daisey

Love the book and movie. Interesting to note: Valentine Davies wrote the screenplay in 1947 for the movie starring Natalie Wood and also wrote the novella at the same time; both were released together. ♥️💙💚