WEEKLY UPDATES: SAVORING THE MOMENTS…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

Our week was hot…again.  But we’re still in the lower triple digits, for which I’m grateful.  I’ll take hot days when the AC is working and when I have a stack of tempting books.  All three of the books I read and reviewed were pretty good; two were great and one was just okay.  (Mostly because the outcome was disappointing).

Today I have “taken to the beach” (figuratively speaking) with the review book I’m reading.  I can almost feel the cool breezes as I mix it up with the characters.  More on the book later!

On Monday, I had a nice lunch with an old friend/former colleague; it was great to linger in the restaurant, the exact opposite of our hurried lunches back in our working years.   Long lunches are the opportunity to catch up, commiserate about the state of the world, and share the tidbits of our lives.

On Hulu, I finished Season II of The Handmaid’s Tale.  It will be another long wait for the third season.  Today I watched two Amazon Prime movies:  Submission, starring Stanley Tucci and Kyra Sedgwick; and Chappaquiddick, starring Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne.

I was scheduled to see my hair stylist (daughter) on Friday, but she texted that she is in the midst of packing for their move later this month…and then, sadly, she shared that they had to say goodbye to their dog Kaiser.  He had been ill…and there was no hope.  Goodbye, Old Boy!

On that note, let’s grab another cup of coffee…and check out last week’s details:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Musings…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “Left:  A Love Story”

A Week of Engaging Books…

Coffee Chat:  Reading, Ranting, & Viewing…

Thursday Sparks:  A Book about a Woman and a Trial…

Friday Sparks:  Savoring the Moments…

Bookish Friday:  “The Other Wife”

Review:  Believe Me (e-book), by J. P. Delaney – (NG-7/24)Review:  Tangerine (e-book), by Christine ManganReview:  The Ever After (e-book), by Sarah Pekkanen

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox!  I did download three purchased e-books…

Clock Dance (e-book), by Anne Tyler

The Date (e-book), by Louise Jensen

Without a Doubt (e-book), by Marcia Clark

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WHAT’S NEXT?

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, I’ve “taken to the beach” in my current read. 

Castaway Cottage, by Joanne DeMaio, reunites the beloved Stony Point crew for a surprising summer by the sea, one that will leave you wanting more with the friends by the shore.

***

Then…The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  Last weekend, I spent some time reading and savoring this chocolate dessert…with a cup of Irish Coffee.

***

75 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: SAVORING THE MOMENTS…”

  2. Susie | Novel Visits

    I’d have liked to hear Anne Tyler talk about Clock Dance, too. I just finished it this morning and have to say that I wasn’t wowed by it. I’ve loved so many of her stories, but in this couldn’t get past the meek personality of her main character.

    Have a lovely week. It’s hot where I live, too, but not triple digits!

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    1. Thanks, Susie, but so many of her characters are meek and they are definitely ordinary. These qualities set them apart, IMO. But I’ll have to read it and see what my thoughts are. Enjoy your week.

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  3. Far too hot! I love Irish coffee. Yum yum but I only have it rarely. Silly me. I still have to read a Anne Tyler book seemingly from Susie’s viewpoint this maybe is not the one to start with! What one do you think might introduce me nicely?

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn; so many of the characters in Tyler’s books are quirky, or maybe even meek…and those characteristics don’t bother me, since there are many interesting aspects to them, IMO. But…one of my favorites is The Accidental Tourist, which was also made into a movie with Kathleen Turner, William Hurt and Geena Davis. I’ve seen the movie so many times, so I can definitely recommend several interesting characters. Quirky, but not necessarily meek.

      Breathing Lessons is also a good one; it won a Pulitzer in 1989, and was made into a movie with Joanne Woodward and James Garner, mid-nineties.

      So…many to pick from. I also loved A Spool of Blue Thread.

      Enjoy!

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      1. Thanks Laurel-Rain, I will most certainly use this list to pick one from. I get a little nervous I think because I for some reason have labelled her “literary fiction” and so avoided. But will most certainly dip in and it has to be 2018!

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  4. Patty

    Can a week be busy and still be relaxing? I felt good…I walked…I read…I got my nails done…tonight we are prepping to go out to dinner. We are trying out a brand new restaurant…called…Verbena….I just now finished Her Pretty Face and started Subway Girls…which feels as though it’s going to be delightful? Hopefully! Have a lovely weekend!

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  5. Nice to relax with an old friend or colleague and not have to rush! And sorry to hear about your daughter’s dog. 😦

    Triple digits- yikes. I would have such a hard time w/ that! It’s almost hard to enjoy summer now, sometimes, the way it gets so hot. I’m already pining for fall lolol.

    I need to read the new Ware book. And your dessert looks delicious as always!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Greg, and I do luxuriate in the leisure of my days…I guess I can say I’ve earned them, after my thirty year career…LOL.

      Triple digits are worse when they get up into 110 and above…we’ve had some days like that, but not this year so far. Knock wood.

      I am looking forward to the newest Ware book. Enjoy your week!

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  8. It’s really cool that you have a beach where you live! We live in a sadly beach-free place. So I’m stuck in the apartment xD and no AC! Although we’ve been having good weather so that hasn’t been bothering me.
    Sorry I haven’t been visiting lately! Some incredibly busy weeks. I hope next week treats you well 🙂

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  9. nualacharlie

    I wish I still lived that close to the beach, here it’s a 20-minute drive or so. My folks do live within sight of a lovely beach though. I read a few Anne Tyler books decades ago but the last one I tried to read left me flat (Digging to America) so much so I never really started it properly.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Charlie; I live a couple of hours from the beach. I was speaking metaphorically about “taking to the beach,” since the book I’m reading makes me feel as though I’m there.

      Enjoy your week!

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  11. Jenea

    Sorry to hear about Kaiser, gorgeous boy.

    The Handmaid’s Tale is one that has been sitting on my watchlist for a while now, hopefully I will get to watch it soon. Enjoy the new books Laurel!

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  12. I can’t wait to read the new Anne Tyler book. I have the Ruth Ware book in my stack, but I’m reading Paris books in July. I still have time to get to some beach reads in August and September…summer lasts a long time here on the Texas Gulf Coast.

    Enjoy your week!

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  13. Yvonne

    You always have the best desserts and the best books. I love beach reads during this time of year and Joanne Demaio’s books look perfect. Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne, and I do love DeMaio’s books. When I finally picked up this book, I knew I would sink into it and love it…but beforehand, I was reluctant. It is a paperback, and I now realize that I prefer reading on my Kindle!

      But then as I lose myself in the beautiful story and great characters, I forget about that part.

      Enjoy your week!

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  14. StackingMy BookShelves

    I am sorry to hear about your daughters dog. So sad. I know how that is. I love my doggies. I love your dessert pictures. You make me want to stop by my nearest restaurant and grab one myself! I also had an appointment for my hair stylist on Friday and put it off till the 3rd. I wanted my hair to be ok for my sisters memorial in August. Can you believe it’s almost August? WOW, time is flying by. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Mary, and I can’t believe it’s almost August either! Two of my grown kids and a daughter-in-law have birthdays in August. It’s been three years since I visited my youngest son and DIL at their home on the beach…and celebrated their birthdays with them in their home.

      Yes, sad about the dog…and I feel guilty that I didn’t enjoy him jumping on me. LOL.

      I hope to get my hair done week after next, as my daughter will be in the middle of moving very soon!

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    1. Thanks, Nicci, I agree that the loss of furry ones is hard. I’ll never forget losing my daughter’s first dog when she was still just in her twenties, and how we had drinks afterwards in memoriam.

      Enjoy your reading and your books!

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  17. Angelica Joy

    I always love your food pics, always makes me hungry 😋

    So sorry about your daughter’s dog, I recently lost my 14 year old and the grief is quite overwhelming, you don’t realise the part they play in life till they’re gone.

    Angelica @ Paperback Princess

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  18. I love long lunches with good friends. So sorry your daughter had to say goodbye to her dog. I’ve done that a couple of times and while it’s alway the right thing to do, it’s so very difficult. I hope you love your new books. The Tyler book is on my wish list. Have a lovely week!

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    1. Thanks, Mary, I’ve always loved the long lunches, especially post-retirement. No ticking clock to interrupt.

      My daughter has said goodbye to two dogs. It is never easy.

      I am enjoying my reading; hope you have a great week, too.

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  21. I prefer staying in the AC. My daughter loves the beach and has moved an hour away so that she is two blocks from the beach now. They enjoy the pool or beach on weekends.
    It sounds like you had a good week of visit and reading time. Sorry to hear about the loss of the dog. That is always a sad thing for a family.
    You dessert looks yummy as always. Happy Reading!

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    1. Thanks, Martha, I do love the beach, but I don’t get there very often. My youngest son lives two blocks from the beach, but they are way up on the northern end of the state…such a long drive.

      Yes, we will miss the dog…and then we will remember our times with him.

      Enjoy your week!

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  23. I should know better than to read your blog when feeling peckish – I’m going to have to track down something nice to eat now…:). Glad the temperature is ‘only’ in the lower three digits – we have been nudging high seventies/low eighties and without any form of air-conditioning, it is even too hot for me when trying to teach in a sauna-like classroom. I hope you have a good week and I’m sorry to hear of your daughter’s loss – it is always traumatic to lose a beloved family pet.

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    1. Thanks, Sarah, and I do know that even lower temperatures are horrendous without AC. When I was a kid, we had high temperatures and no AC. I think we had an evaporative cooler…(we called it a swamp cooler!), and they don’t work well when it’s in the 100s. We used to run through the sprinklers…we didn’t have a swimming pool, either. LOL.

      I hope you feel more comfortable this week. Enjoy your reading and finding something good to eat.

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      1. Thank you, Laurel. Mostly I’m very happy with this hot spell – but yesterday sitting in a crowded village hall with all the blinds and windows shut became a tad stifling… As for your childhood – oh my goodness! I should imagine everyone DREADED the summer!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Barb, the dog will be missed…he was always a bit too rambunctious for me, but I enjoyed his attitude.

      Lunch with my friend was a delight…and now I have to find something equally fun for this week. Enjoy your books and your week!

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  26. Kathy Martin

    Sounds like you had a nice week. Our weather was in the high 80s mostly last week which was warm enough for me. This week we’re expecting high 70s which will be nice for our reunion activities and make many of my classmates wonder why they left Duluth. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I hope you enjoy your reunion. I’ve never been to any of mine!

      Your weather sounds nice….and while I frequently complain about the heat, I could actually move to the coast, right?

      Have a great week!

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  28. I have read Clice Dance the the Ruth Ware book. Both were good. Sorry to hear about your daughter’s dog. So sad. We had to put one of our dogs down a couple months ago and I still miss her every day. Enjoy all your books and have a great week.

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  29. I am so glad it doesn’t get that hot around here most of the time. Thank God for AC. So sorry to hear about the dog. Losing a pet is never easy.

    The Death of Mrs. Westaway is on my wish list. Love the cover on it too.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you have a blessed week.

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  30. samantha1020

    I’ve got The death of Mrs Westaway checked out from the library and am looking forward to reading it! I’m also excited to check out your thoughts on Tangerine as that one is high up in my TBR list! Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

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