#Read2025

Glad I finally read this one (even better that it came with yummy chocolate as my #jolabokaflodswap) even better. It was a very unique story set in Seattle where a zombie apocalypse occur & our MC, S.T., a semi-domesticated crow who loves humans (mofos) fights for survival with his best friend, a bloodhound named Dennis. It‘s not perfect & slogged a bit but it made me laugh, cry (especially hard at one part 😭), & appreciate Seattle.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

A mellow NYE day so far, picked up groceries & reading snacks, holds from the library & an Rx. Stopped for ramen with a few chapters of my final 2025 book. Eating long noodles on NYE is supposed to be lucky & bring longevity & a fresh start to 2026. 🍜 I‘ll take I‘ll the luck I can get!

New Year Noodle

Long noodles mean luck,
Cutting hardship from the past,
Welcoming the new

Happy New Year‘s Eve & New Year everyone! 🎊

#12BooksOf2025

Another semi-difficult choice for July as I also read & loved Death of the Author & I Who Have Not Known Men, but this #CampLitsy2025 pick really had my heart. ❤️❤️❤️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Two days of work felt like a week & I‘m happy to have the next two days off. It inspired today‘s haiku.

Two days, long enough
To remember how to rest
The new year beckons

#Read2025

Finished the audiobook yesterday & while I didn‘t love this one as much as The Change (the dark humor was less), I still really enjoyed it. The narration of the audiobook was excellent & once we got through the characters‘ backgrounds & stories, I was caught up in the story. For some reason, I was midway through the book before I realized it was set in the same place as The Change & I liked revisiting some of the characters. I do ⬇️

Joining in the #Welcome2026Readthon officially in 90 minutes when work ends. 😉

Hoping to close out my 3 in-progress books (I‘m almost done with the #2 & midway through The Fifth Season for #SheSaid ) by tomorrow afternoon & then The Ordeals will be my crossover NYE/Day book with Cold Wire #CholeGongReadAlong & H&S #AuldLangSpine & #AuthorAMonth2026 what I start first for 2026. 📚🎊📚

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished Sunday for #BobWhiteBuddies I kinda sorta remember this one from my childhood. A bikeathon through the preserve to raise money for the high school art program that stops at Mrs. Vanderpoel‘s for her cookies & Mr. Maypenny‘s for hunter‘s stew? Sign me up! Trixie & the gang (with Di & Dan along for most of it) have to also solve a potential counterfeit ring & figure out who wants to stop the fundraiser. I liked ⬇️

#12Booksof2025

I tossed & turned on whether to pick this one or Wild Dark Shore for June but Starter Villain was such a delightfully unique surprise (& my first from Scalzi) & it made me laugh a lot, so it gets the win.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by this photo & the beauty of clouds.

Cloud Collector

I collect cloud views
Puffy dots of latte foam
Cushioning my soul

#MajicMonday

I‘ve celebrated the past several years by getting the #OUABC Up All Night box & starting the book NYE & finishing it New Year‘s Day. The tagged book is this year‘s & it comes with gifts to open along the way, so it makes it fun. I get favorite snacks & shut my house down so I don‘t breathe in firecracker smoke. 😷

For 2026, my word is “Light” to look for the light, be the light for others & just be lighter in this dark world.🕯️

#12BooksFor2025

Would I have predicted a non-fiction book about Tuberculosis would have been my top book in May? (Another great reading month.) No, but this one got me in the heart & I keep recommending it to people.

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

My #HyggeHour tonight will be spent with Trixie & the Bob-Whites for #BobWhiteBuddies

On the couch, drinking a Peppermint Bark Hint Water & noshing on some of my #Jolabokaflod chocolates from @JamieArc (thanks again!)

Mood is sad that 6 days of PTO flew by & tomorrow is Monday but relieved that it‘s another short week with 2 days work, 2 off, 1 day work, then the weekend.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Yes, I did spend literal hours getting my internet working this weekend so to avoid a tech appointment tomorrow, simply because I hate making awkward small talk when people fix stuff at my house. But me & my new customer service chat buddy Saron, finally got ‘er done.

Here‘s my haiku about it. 😉😂

Introvert Logic

Hours spent chatting
With customer service reps
No tech visit, please!

#12Booksof2025

Another tough month to choose a favorite, but I‘ll go with this one because the audiobook had me captivated.

#Read2025

Finished this morning for #SundayBuddyRead this is not a book that I normally would choose or even knew anything about but I found myself caught up in it. The writing is bleak & beautiful & a lot unfolds in 160 pages. I found myself both frustrated with & rooting for our unnamed narrator, a young Native American man, living on the res in Montana. Of course the usual careful research & discussions led by Christine made it come to life.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Just this for today‘s haiku.

Quiet can be good
It does not ask the questions
That have no answers

#12Booksof2025

March was a good reading month too but I‘ll give it to this one, excellent historical fiction & a compelling story.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku was inspired by my Friday, mid-morning hangout at the coffee shop reading my ARC of a new book of a favorite series, not out until February. It was quiet, slow & pretty perfect.

A Perfect Friday

Hot coffee, soft bread,
Long-awaited series book,
Nothing else needed.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Snuck this cozy in to fill my last #OUABC 40-Book Challenge prompt “Mass Market Paperback” as I picked it up for 50 cents at the library book store. First in the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries, I liked it fine, so it gets a soft pick. The usual small Southern town with too many characters to keep good track of, book club made of multiple generations & a hot sheriff love interest. I might read another or I might not.

#Read2025

This one has been on my TBR & I needed a short book to fill a Goodreads “Favorite Fiction” prompt so while it wouldn‘t be a typical December read for me, I went for it. It‘s somewhat depressing but the writing is beautiful & it‘s well worth the read.

#Read2025 #MonthlyNonFiction

Read as my second #Roll100 December pick #73 Any Memoir/Biography & to fill a prompt in my Goodreads challenge. I wanted to like this book for it to be funnier & more about actual cults. I just didn‘t get it or like it, especially the audiobook. I didn‘t know this comedian so I tried watching her special on Netflix & it didn‘t help me find her less annoying. I sped through the last third for the sake of the prompt.

#Read2025

A decent quick-listen thriller set in a private chalet in the Alps during the Christmas holiday. (Note to self, never go on a private holiday ski trip with rich acquaintances—it never ends well!) The narration was good & while a bit predictable, it was a good book to run holiday errands to & also it was free on Audible.

Happy Boxing Day & #5JoysFriday! I‘m ensconced at the coffee shop on this Friday midday, happy not to be working & here are my joys:

1. Probably my biggest joy this week was indulging in a Monday overnight in a nice hotel with harbor views, room service & big soft king bed. Restful renewal joy.💙

2. I finished my OUABC 40-Book Challenge (+ all my Goodreads & Amazon challenges). A joyful feeling & free book coming.📚

3. This cute, personalized⬇️

#12BooksOf2025

Some great books in February too, but this non-fiction one was an unexpected favorite. I found myself totally caught up in it. 🪶

It‘s already Friday for some of you & that means it‘s time for #5JoysFriday where we take a pause to think about those 5 things big or small that brought us joy this week. 💛💛💛

To join in simply make your post, use the #5JoysFriday tag & tag me & anyone else you want to invite to the joy party. Use the background if/as you like.

Everyone is welcome to feel & spread the joy! 💚🤗❤️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by this photo I took of boats in the harbor & the one with a mast lighted like a tree. Christmas & joy in general can be found all around us.

Among tied-up boats
One small tree lights up the night
Joy docks anywhere

Happy Holidays to all! 💚🎄❤️

#Read2025

Finished yesterday for #ChildrensClassicRead2025 Thus was a sweet book that was a great read for the season. I liked the family & found family themes, along with hope, giving & the abundance of nature. It made me want to have maple syrup on snow.

#Read2025

Completed for #AuthorAMonth December #NoraRoberts I read Robert‘s books back in the day, but it‘s been literal decades, so I went to Libby to find a standalone & this one came in first. I enjoyed it, mainly the Appalachians setting, characters & the mystery/thriller aspects. Overall not bad, a good don‘t-have-to-think-too-hard about-it book & I may read the other book when my hold comes in. With this one, I have read all 12 authors! 🎊

#12BooksOf2025. Thank you @TheEllieMo for continuing this fun tradition!

I read some great books in January 2025 but I think this one was my favorite for its blend of books, humor & pathos. 💙📚💙

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive #WeirdWord #weirdwordwednesday

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the joy found in a tiny soft warm cookie 🍪 handed out by my server at brunch today “for the holidays.” I love the word Lagniappe:

“Lagniappe is a word used in Louisiana to refer to a free giveaway or a small gift added to a purchase or experience as a little something extra.”

Lagniappe

Joy in the small things
Warm peppermint chocolate chip
Gifted after brunch

Thank you so much @JamieArc for a perfect #JolabokaflodSwap box! I‘m excited to finally read this book & WOW to all the🍫 One of my favorite things is trying different “local” chocolates & you really came through! I already sampled a Michigan Mint, the name of the Yooper Bar is awesome & I love Sanders Sea Salt Caramels! Is there really such a thing as too much chocolate?

Much appreciated as I settle in for a quiet #Jolabokaflod tonight.🍫🎄⬇️

I went to the restaurant attached to one of my local grocery stores & had brunch with my favorite Mexican Street Avocado Toast (hard to see with the over easy eggs on top) & side chicken sausage. Now back home relaxing & getting ready to open gifts on the phone with my friend & then #Jolabokaflod this evening. 🍫📚

Wishing everyone who celebrates a Happy Christmas Eve & if you don‘t celebrate, Happy Wednesday! I hope you find peace in the day.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I have not been writing my daily haikus but I did a thing & got a ridiculously low Kama'āina rate on a hotel room last night & treated myself, kicking off my holiday PTO with some pampering, room service dinner & reading. My view of sunset over the harbor was worth the price of admission alone & inspired this haiku.

Harbor View

Boats gently bobbing
Sun settles into the sea
The calm settles me

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHoyrReadthon

Spending my #HyggeHour reading the tagged book for #ChildrensClassicRead2025 while listening to holiday movies in the background.

Drinking a Hint Spiced Pear water because I need to hydrate & eating some of the Mambo Magic Sticks my colleague gave me because I always hoard the mango ones in meetings.

Mood is good because while tomorrow is going to be a very busy day, I have the rest of the week off. 🙏🏼💚❤️💚

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last weekend for #EBBR & as usual, I didn‘t review it right after I read it & forgot most of it but I did solve a few. I do remember typing sentence (high school typing class) & the rattling dollar but I missed several of these as the solutions were really odd tiny details. I don‘t really remember this one from childhood, but, it still gets a soft pick for nostalgia‘s sake.

I had yesterday off & I am still late to the #5JoysFriday party. 🤦🏻‍♀️ But I say there is no time limit on joy so here goes:

1. Having Friday off & then Tuesday-Friday next week is a big joy. It‘s been a tough work year & I need the break. 💛

2. Receiving Litsy card swap mail brings me joy.💌 I‘m sorry that mine were mailed out late but they should reach most before the end of the year.

3. I‘ve been watching a holiday movie per night & ⬇️

#Read2025

I‘ve only read Joe Hill‘s stories before because I have a hard time sticking to big books. So why did I read this one? A strong recommendation by a Silent Book Club “friend” who loves horror & the fact that I wanted to get the Audible “Mount Everest” badge for listening to “a title that is longer than 20 hours.” I ended up really liking it & thought the narrator & cast made it entertaining & most of the time flew by as I listened ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished earlier in the week for #FictionalTraveler December #HomeForTheHolidays theme

Set in a Christmas-y small town in Oregon (still feels like home to me), the MC, bakery owner, Cinnamon Peters, finds a body in the woods behind her bakery & it‘s a judge of the local Gingerbread Competition & someone seems to be trying to frame her for the murder. This was a fine holiday cozy & I would read another from the series.

Can I just tell you how happy I am that tomorrow is Friday & I have the day off?! It also means it‘s about that time to share those 5 things (big or small) that brought you joy this week. A week where we need a big boost of it.

To join in, make your post & tag it with #5JoysFriday & then tag me & anyone you want to share some joy with.

Everyone is welcome to join in!

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

#Jolabokaflod

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

For tonight‘s #HyggeHour I‘m reading the 11th Encyclopedia Brown book for #EBBR & then probably starting the pictured cozy for #FictionalTraveler

I‘m on the couch drinking holiday herbal tea & eating a local chocolate bar with lilikoi & coconut.

Mood is fine. It will be a busy but short week with a trip to Hilo & a 3-day weekend & I‘m happy about that.

#Read2025

I read this for a challenge prompt & quite enjoyed this novella about a group of robots who band together to take over a noodle shop in 2064 post-apocalyptic San Francisco. Cozy & sweet, it also explores some deeper themes.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished this paranormal cozy mystery for #ThematicCozies December #Holiday & it was just okay for me. I think it‘s a spinoff from another series so it felt like I was dropped in the middle of the backstory rather than being a first book & there were also a few too many characters for my taste. I didn‘t hate it but don‘t know if I‘d bother to read another when better cozies are out there.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last weekend for #NancyDrewBR this one involves pottery, stolen Chinese vases & artifacts, missing Chinese nationals & the hunt for a kaolin clay pit (River Heights continues to have it all). Nancy gets knocked out so our Nancy Noggin Knockout counter #NNK moves to 12/26. 🤕 I look forward to discussing it with the group tomorrow.

#Read2025

Read this while standing in line at the post office yesterday & thought it was a good, quick read. Not that Christmasy-besides the play on the title & that it‘s Christmas time but that‘s okay. Free with First Reads & Audible Originals.

It was a long & busy week so I‘m late with my #5JoysFriday post but here we go:

1. I ate some delicious food this week. Pineapple upside down cake in Hilo, the most amazing lamb & crab cake for our board meeting dinner. Total mouth joy.

2. We sell these dill pickle peanuts in our branch retail locations & my coworker gave me 2 cans. Pickle joy!🥒💚

3. Got my hair cut yesterday (joy!) after the board meeting & stopped at B&N & picked up my ⬇️

Went to the post office 30 minutes before it opened this morning & waited & read standing in line. I was second in line & by the time 9 AM hit, the lobby line pictured had more than doubled. But it was worth the wait as once it opened I was out in 5 minutes & got my mainland packages out (shown peeking out under my purse).

My #jolabokaflodswap package is on its way & it‘s supposed to arrive around 12/19. 🤗🎁📚🍫

Hi Friends, it‘s Friday. I‘m in a board meeting all day & it‘s been a week. 😵‍💫 But still, there‘s joy & it‘s time to share those 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week. 💛💛💛

To join in, make your post & tag it with #5JoysFriday & tag me & anyone else you want to share the joy with. 💛🤗💛

EVERYONE is welcome!

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Starting my #HyggeHour soon as I‘m not sure how long I‘ll stay awake. I‘m behind on my weekly reading challenges but I feel more like some effortless Nancy for #NancyDrewBR

I‘m on the couch with a cup of throat tea & no snack tonight, listening to my favorite very mellow holiday playlist.

My mood is tired & not ready for tomorrow or the week which includes a Hilo overnight & a board meeting.😵‍💫

#Read2025

My first December #Roll100 pick finished, #26 Any Backlist . I have been slowly working my way through T.Kingfisher‘s backlist the last couple of years, liking both her brand of creepy horror & retellings. This one was a bit of a slow burn for me but I enjoyed it. It was more creepy than scary & left some questions unanswered at the end but I enjoyed it. How can you not like a setting that‘s a museum/curiosity shop in a small town? 😱