This was a fun Valentine's Day! We didn't make any special plans but ended up eating dinner together and exchanging a few gifts. The picture is what we gave my 7yo. We gave my 1yo a soft, pastel, crocheted snake and a shirt that says, "This princess can save herself." I gave my husband some flowers, a box of chocolates, and a pair of nice socks. And he gave me some chocolate covered strawberries and made me a margarita and steak. ? True love!

My department at work is throwing the March birthday party for my building, and we've decided to do a Dr. Seuss theme! Should be fun. Starting a little "research" for creative snack inspiration, because I found Pinterest to be a little overwhelming. What Seuss-themed treat would you like to eat?

I just discovered this podcast with author Marlon James and his editor, Jake Morrissey! It's so good, and as a lover and critic of classic literature, I really appreciate their discussions of old books they love, old books they appreciate, old books they hate, misguided choices by authors...etc. etc. If you listen to podcasts, try it out!

Had a little time to read yesterday at lunch, which feels so rare now, unfortunately. Skeets's poetry is harsh but beautiful. I find his word choices so fascinating but haven't been able to read more than a few pages at a time because it's so intense.

I won't be expecting much of myself, but hoping to get back in the habit of signing in here regularly. And my youngest is turning one-year-old tomorrow! Where does the time go?

Every year I make a schultüte for my son when he starts school and fill it with additional fun school and art supplies for him to use at home. He's so into Harry Potter right now, so I made a HP themed one this year! I included the new wand we're putting in the cone in this picture. My husband made it with wood and epoxy. I think both things turned out well. (Disclaimer: I'm not German, and I don't follow the tradition of this exactly.)

I finally finished this graphic novel trilogy! This was a solid ending to an enjoyable run. The premise is a girl who wakes up in a cemetery only remembering that someone tried to kill her and dumped her body there. This series didn't quite play out as I expected. The art on this one was missing something from the other two, and the second one felt like it drifted a bit, but still good. For people who like suspense and gns with actual storylines!

I'm still a bit behind in the "keeping up with things" department. But I'm reading this book with daily pages on classical music this year. I'm behind, but today I listened to this beautiful, melancholy piece and wanted to share it with you.

Burton-Hill says, "Here is Schumann, getting his private anguish down on paper...saving himself, yes, but in the process of the music being received by us...and processed and felt and loved, saving us too."

Thanks to @Dragonfairykats for the tag! Trying to get back in the swing of things.
1. Feeding the littlest one baby cereal for the first time without her spitting it up all over me or having a blow-out! 😆
2. Out of the places I've been so far? Germany!
3. If I have to choose, apple pie. Or better yet, peach!
4. Sure! Tirwd thinking about a Cub Scout Event, but hopefully it won't be that exhausting.
5. Will do!
@howjessreads #friyayintro

Recently, I've been mourning the loss of an amazing girl I used to know. It's been 8 years or so since I last saw her, and she was only 16 when she killed herself. Such a beautiful, musical, and rambunctious soul. My grief reminded me that working with kids gives me the chance to make a difference in someone's life. It also made me realize how much, even as an introvert, I crave connection with others. And now I'm back on Litsy. I missed you all.

I'm slowly but surely catching up with all of my follows and comments here, which is why I haven't really been "on." But I'm here! And I'm reading the current #ShakespeareReadalong This is a reread for me, and so far, I'm still loving it!
@GingerAntics @merelybookish

I stumbled across this interesting opinion piece on Book Riot and thought my fellow #ShakespeareReadalong buds would be interested!:

https://bookriot.com/2019/03/25/shakespeare-adaptations-suck

I actually like a lot of Shakespeare film adaptations, but I definitely agree that it's a different experience than seeing a performance in person.
@GingerAntics @merelybookish

He's been able to read this for quite a while, but now he's starting to develop different voices for characters when he reads aloud! I love it! 😍 #raisingreaders

Today is my husband's first day back at work from paternity leave and my baby's first day at daycare. We're doing some trial days to work out the kinks before I go back to work. So...mall walk and coffee with a friend, and then a much-needed naptime! Using this for my Store Sign Square on #LitsyWalkers Bingo!
@kaye
I'm reading in bits and pieces but not consistently yet...I promise to try and make more actual book posts soon!

It was so nice outside today! My boys did some yard work and cleared the garden, and then I took the kids for a walk. My first long postpartum walk; I'm exhausted, but in a good way. I forgot to take a picture, but I'm counting this for #LitsyWalkers Bingo, because you know we ended up at a playground. 😆
(Tagging a devotional I'm currently reading with my mom. Not sure how I feel about it yet.)
@kaye

I'm way behind on all my reading, but I thought all of you would appreciate her new onesie! (She's one-month-old and over ten pounds now; it's so wild!)

Got out of the house and ran a few errands with the babe tonight! I finished early and had some time to sit in the car reading while waiting for my husband and oldest to finish with Cub Scouts. Youngest slept the whole time.

Started this ARC last night and breezed through the first 100 pages, which is fast for me. So far, this is a really interesting reflection from Mulgrew on her parents, family, and childhood. It reminds me a little of Then Again by Diane Keaton--not because their lives were the same, but because the style of writing forms its own kind of subgenre in the family memoir vein. Looking forward to the rest of this book!

I may be stuck here for a while. 😆😍 Impromptu reading and cuddling time! The dishes can wait!
#priorities

I had a busier weekend than expected and only ended up with 7 hours, but it was still fun! Made a little progress on 5 different books, including Act I of this play. It was a bit confusing, but I enjoyed the wordplay, as usual. Curious to see what Prince Henry will do after this. Could go anywhere!
#24B4Monday #ShakespeareReadalong
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @GingerAntics @merelybookish

Look what came in finally from the library! Read a few scenes before bed, and I'm at 5 hours total so far. I definitely won't make it to 24, but maybe I could double what I have and hit 10 tomorrow. 🤷‍♀️ It's been fun either way. And hopefully I can finish Acts 1 & 2 of this to catch up! #24B4Monday #ShakespeareReadalong
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @GingerAntics @merelybookish

I've been busy with family stuff all day and only have 48 more minutes of reading from this morning, when I pulled this book out for a bit. This section really resonated with me. #24B4Monday
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

I'm playing catch-up on my daily reading in Year of Wonder right now, and one of the composers featured is Florence Price! Perfect for the #24B4Monday Black History Month theme. She was an amazing musical pioneer--an African-American single mother who beat all the odds to make beautiful music that interwove classical, blues, and spiritual styles. It's slow-going, but I'm 3 hours in!
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Started reading this one some time back with my mom and sister, but I had trouble getting into it for some reason. Trying again on audio this time while I do a little housework. 2 1/2 hours!
#24B4Monday #audiocleaning
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Mary's starting to open up and make a few friends! I'm remembering why I loved this book now, and the baby seems to be enjoying it more. 1 1/2 hours so far! #24B4Monday #raisingreaders
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Alright, I'm going to try and do this! Pretty sure I won't make it to 24 hours (because kids...responsibility...Cub Scouts), but at least I'll get some reading done! Since my main goal right now is to catch up on my challenges and finish some books, I doubt my reads will fit the theme, but we'll see!
#24B4Monday
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

First "night out" away from the new babe tonight to see Jasper Fforde with a friend. He's so funny and a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades. Also, for those who are interested, the main character of this book is non-binary--or, at least, of unspecified gender identity. Other fans have said he pulls it off really well. I love what I've read of his so far and look forward to reading this newest book as well.

This is my monthly "nature read" for 2019. A little different to have one set in my home state this time!

Started reading this classic on Serial Reader to my newest little munchkin while she eats. She hasn't decided if she likes it or not, but I can't blame her. I forgot what a brat Mary is at the beginning!
#raisingreaders

Watched this documentary this morning! I had to get it through Interlibrary Loan, but it was worth the wait. What a poignant biography and commentary on farming versus change for the sake of "progress." Really good!

I like books where the couple helps each other to grow as individuals. This is just one of my favorites.

Orange roses and wildflowers

Both! But mostly chocolate.

Little late, but oh well. Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Thanks for the tag, @Dragon ! I'll tag my Shakespeare girls, @GingerAntics and @merelybookish
#HelloThursday @wanderinglynn

"Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Okay, so these aren't "poison'd entrails;" I'm sanitizing baby bottles. But I still feel a little witchy watching the boiling water. ??‍♀️

This was a seemingly simple but very unique somewhat autobiographical graphic novel. The art is great--kind of comic-style but also almost photographic with the background at times. This book is partially a love story between people and places but really more about rediscovering oneself after growth and tragedy. And there's some suspension of disbelief required at the end. Overall, an interesting and enjoyable break from the typical graphic novel.

Introducing...Rosalind Irene! She was born at 8:27 Tuesday morning, 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 in long! Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. It went relatively smoothly, and our little firecracker is finally here!
#earthchildrenareweird

(The tagged book is a graphic novel I received as an eARC a while back and let expire accidentally. Finally getting to it now via interlibrary loan.)

We read my Mini's favorite Dr. Seuss book last night in preparation for his last day as an only child! Going in to the hospital to be induced tonight. I'll see you on the other side. Wish me luck! 🙈
#earthchildrenareweird

Act 5: These are the two most visually contrasting casts I could find pictures of online; I thought it was fun to compare! Even though I wasn't happy with how some things panned out, this Act felt more like Shakespeare than the last for some reason. Maybe it's that classic Shakespearean wrap-up at the end of every comedy? Feste is tickling the dragon with Malvolio's wounded pride. I'm still not sure how I feel about Orsino.
#ShakespeareReadalong

@TheBookHippie You are so sweet, thank you! I can't wait to read these to my little munchkins. I love my Litsy buds! 💗💗💗

My little munchkin finally has a bigger bookcase, so we unpacked four boxes of books that have been sitting in his room for a year. He was so excited to rediscover his loves, he parked in bed with a few of them and read away! 😍
#earthchildrenareweird

I finally patched my little books read record with some book tape. The fake leather on the binding has been chipping for a while. So, now I'm going through it and remembering old loves. I'm also trying to add them to my Litsy ratings, but I'm still in 2001 right now. 😅 It's slow-going!

As promised, here is a complete list of everything we've read so far for the #ShakespeareReadalong ! I know not all of you were here for all of these, since we started with about five people and this covers the last year plus two or three months. Hard to believe we've been going for that long! Anyway, you all are amazing. And our next play will be (drum roll, please)...Henry IV Part 1, brought to you by the lovely @GingerAntics in February!

Today's reading plans! I might also fit some audio booking in, since I need to finish hanging baby clothes, do laundry, and pack a hospital bag...

Act IV: aka The Shortest Shakespeare Act Ever, I think! (a non-traditional Feste pictured above)
This one was meant to be a transitional Act, as it doesn't have much to stand on its own. Sebastian (kind of a jerk), Olivia (desperate at this point), Malvolio (I feel bad for him now--no one deserves to be locked up in the dark for a prank), and Feste (who's always mixed up in everything) stood out to me. How about you?
#ShakespeareReadalong

I promised myself I would do something productive today, so I'm sorting and washing baby clothes. Listening to the Naxos audio version of Twelfth Night while I work. There aren't as many versions of this to compare as some of the others we've read; I was surprised!
#ShakespeareReadalong
@GingerAntics @merelybookish

I stepped away from this one for a bit but am coming back to it now. Not sure if I have time to finish before the little one comes, but knowledge makes me feel better about my aches and pains!
#earthchildrenareweird

Finally starting this one! A friend gave it to me for Christmas, so now there's extra pressure. 😆

I am in love with Ocean
lifting her thousands of white hats
in the chop of the storm,
or lying smooth and blue, the
loveliest bed in the world.
In the personal life, there is
always grief more than enough,
a heart-load for each of us
on the dusty road. I suppose
there is a reason for this, so I will be
patient, acquiescent. But I will live
nowhere except here, by Ocean, trusting
equally in all the blast and welcome
of her sorrowless, salt self.

Act 3: And the case of mistaken identity begins in earnest! Poor Antonio! I'm not completely sure why he went looking for Sebastian when he said he'd wait at the inn, but whatever. I still feel bad for him. That last scene also shows us an interesting contrast in Sir Toby's character, I think. When an actual challenge presents itself, he rises to the occasion. And he really dislikes Viola for denying assistance to Antonio. 🤔
#ShakespeareReadalong

Act 2! Enter: Sebastian. Briefly. The first scene struck me as so odd, especially Antonio's obsessive devotion. I'm a little curious what Sebastian did to earn that kind of dedication. And I was not a big fan of Duke Orsino in this Act. He says a lot about men not loving as long as women, but supposedly they're capable of much stronger love? 🙄 And then he dismisses Viola's argument completely. How did you feel about Act 2?
#ShakespeareReadalong

I decided to listen to another kid's chapter book while I #audioclean in preparation for the little one. This was a fun, little, one-hour romp from one wild scenario to the next. Great for kids or adults! And it all starts when the dad goes down to the corner store for some milk...

It's been...five years(?) since I read the first one, but you don't really need to in order to read this. It would give you context for the characters, but the story is almost completely separate from Willy Wonka's factory. The narration on this one was great. I enjoyed the story as well, but it felt a little more disjointed than the first book. I can see how it probably inspired Douglas Adams in HGttG. Overall, a fun little book. First of 2019!