WEEKLY UPDATES: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS…

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.

 

With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas just ahead, 2020 is finally winding down!  This past week was a time of remembering past celebrations, through photos and chats with friends/family via video and text messages.  I only read two books again, but both were great, and one was a NetGalley ARC.  I wrote seven blog posts.

My laptop was my friend as I viewed shows and movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime, from The Undoing, which has one more episode; Season 4 of The Crown, to Season II of Virgin River, and Hillbilly Elegy, a movie based on the book, which I read in 2016.

Yesterday I hung out in my apartment all day and recovered from the very tasty Thanksgiving meal of Thursday, served in our dining room.  Here is a view of the space that seems completely empty, since I arrived before anyone else…and we sit one to a table.

All week, I enjoyed breakfast in my apartment, beginning with my coffee ground from beans.  Let’s caffeinate and take a closer look at my week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “I Was Told It Would Get Easier”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Book Releases…

WWW Post…

Digging Into Newer Books…

Coffee Chat:  Gratitude…

Bookish Friday:  “Take It Back”

Sunday Potpourri:  Adding Familiar Tidbits…

Review:  I’ll Be Seeing You, by Elizabeth BergReview:  Take It Back, by Kia Abdullah – (NG-12/8/20)

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox.  I did download one e-book.

The Girl in the Mirror, by Rose Carlyle

Written with the chilling, twisty suspense of The Wife Between Us and Something in the Water, a seductive debut thriller about greed, lust, secrets, and deadly lies involving identical twin sisters.

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CURRENTLY READING:

I Was Told It Would Get Easier, by Abbi Waxman

Out of Her Mind, by T. R. Ragan

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That was my week.  Here is a glimpse of my Thanksgiving dinner:

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63 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS…”

  1. There are so many good shows on Netflix at the moment it is tempting for me not to read so much, plus we have summer sport too. I don’t know how in the USA you all manage at this time of year with Thanksgiving at Christmas so close together.

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn, and my extensive viewing on Netflix and Prime has definitely changed my reading habits, but so far, I have managed a couple of books a week and enjoyed them.

      I cannot even imagine having a normal life again! Are we just settling for Pandemic life? I guess it is good not to mourn what we can’t have or do…and just find peace in the acceptance. Until things change.

      Enjoy your week!

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  2. Izabel Brekilien

    Ground coffee beans, I can almost smell them from here… You seem to have had a very relaxed and enjoyable week, that’s good. Here, we’re having an autumnal weather for the first day of the month. Have a great week 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Izabel, I just made my final pot of coffee with the beans I have…and now must order more! Funny how my accidental purchase of beans that one week turned into a new habit.

      I hope you enjoy that lovely weather and your books.

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  3. Mareli Thalwitzer

    Your Thanksgiving meal looks delicious! So glad you got spoiled.

    I saw Season 2 of Virgin River is out. Guess what I’m watching this week while hubby is away!

    You got some great books and as always, you are reading some awesome ones that I also want!

    Have a good week and enjoy those books.

    Elza Reads

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    1. Thanks, Mareli, it felt wonderful having such a great meal, all set up with linens, mimosas, etc.

      I hope you love the new season of Virgin River as much as I did! But now we have to wait for Season III! LOL

      I just started watching Rebecca on Netflix.

      Enjoy your books and your week.

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  5. I’m glad they made a real effort with the Thanksgiving meal – and real ground coffee does give off the most heavenly smell… Thank goodness for all our screens and technology so that we are able to keep in touch with families! I hope the coming week is a good one, Laurel:)

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    1. Thanks, Sarah, it has been such a blessing to have our technology during these challenging times! And I was impressed with how the staff went all out with the meal and the settings.

      It almost makes up for the absence of family. Sigh.

      Enjoy your week and your books.

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      1. Thank you, Laurel – it’s good that the staff did make the extra effort – so difficult not to be able to see the family right now:((.

        I hope you have a good week’s reading and watching, Laurel.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Gayathri, at this point in time, after eight months locked down from the outside world, our “new normal” almost feels like a real normal. Being safe is definitely the goal.

      Enjoy your week ahead…and the upcoming Christmas season.

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  7. While you weren’t able to see your family, it sounds like you still really made the best of Thanksgiving: remembering previous celebration, looking at photos, chatting with family and stuffing yourself silly with tasty food! 😊 Take care and happy reading in the coming week. 🙂

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  8. Hey Laurel, I’m glad you had a chance to look into past Thanksgivings. I haven’t noticed your comments lately. I’ve been using my blogspot blog and not my wordpress as it shows in this comment section. I’m still getting used to the wordpress.

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  9. Looks like you had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner! There are so many great offerings for streaming right now. I didn’t have a chance to watch over the weekend but can’t wait to watch season two of VR. One of my sisters binged and said it was really good! I think, since I’ve read the entire series, I can wait a few days, lol. I think I’ll watch The Crown (finally) this winter. Looking forward to your review of the Waxman book. Have a good week!

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    1. Thanks, Mary, and I hope you have a great week. So glad you have shows to binge-watch. Virgin River was so good that I watched it all yesterday.

      Enjoy your week…and The Crown.

      I should spend more time with books this week.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Laura, and I kept watching Virgin River until there were no more episodes! Wow, the ending…I can’t wait for another season. But I guess we have to wait.

      Enjoy your viewing…and I liked The Crown despite any errors in details.

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  11. Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving! Ours was low key too but nice. and I’m so glad Christmas season is here! I feel like I need some festive holiday cheer- I think we all do!

    Watched Enola Homes last night and it was pretty good!

    Hope you are having a good weekend, and have a good week ahead.

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  12. I’m glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving meal 🙂
    The Girl in the Mirror is one of the 16 books I still need to read before the end of the year!
    I literally just finished watching Season 2 of Virgin River. I have Sugar Rush Christmas now on while I continue hopping.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  14. You had a great week, I think. I am happy to see that you read and enjoyed an Elizabeth Berg novel as one of the two books you read this week. I need to look for her books. I used to read everything she wrote.

    I like the look of I Was Told It Would Get Easier. I wonder if I can find that one, too.

    Great Thanksgiving meal. Wine, too!

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  15. The Crown S4 – loved it, especially the episode about which child is your favorite? I thought the season ended in a strange place. When do we get S5??? LOL They just don’t make these shows fast enough. Ha ha.

    The Undoing – I just watched all the episodes that are out last night and can’t wait for tonight’s episode. I saw a blurb about “based on the book…” but didn’t catch the title. Have you read whatever book it’s based on? Recommend it? Plan to read it?

    Hillbilly – I read the book several years ago, too and don’t remember much about it. Did you think the movie was good compared to the book? I do plan to watch it.

    Your Thanksgiving dinner looked tasty! I’ve decided I don’t want the usual turkey dinner take two for Christmas this year and am trying to come up with something simple yet tasty.

    Wondering if 2020 is just COVID Pandemic Year One. Year One of how many???? Just kidding. I’m sure they’ll have a vaccination for us soon. I will NOT, however, be first in line to get one. Let me see what happens to people after they get it and then I’ll decide.

    Have a great week!

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    1. The book on which The Undoing is based is called You Should Have Known, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I have had the book for several years and had not yet read it, but after watching the first episode of The Undoing, I immediately brought it forward. And read it. I did enjoy it, but for whatever reason, had set it aside when I first bought it.

      I read Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, and it was a well-written book, but I actually enjoyed the movie more. Probably because nonfiction seems to lend itself better to visual images, for me.

      I feel the same way you do about the vaccine, Jinjer. There are too many negative possibilities, IMO, especially since the quick development of the vaccine has become so politicized.

      Enjoy your week.

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  16. Mae Sander

    It’s amazing how people adapted Thanksgiving to work in the current situation of limited gatherings. Your dinner looked good.

    be well… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  18. I understand why they are doing one person per table but that doesn’t sound like a festive Thanksgiving. I guess I would be fine as long as I had a book to keep me company while I ate and the meal did look fantastic. It is just amazing how different things are this year. It has been so long since I really found a show that I enjoyed. I usually just let either my husband or daughter take control of the remote. Have a great week!

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  19. Anne Bennett

    Your Thanksgiving dinner looked very yummy and I’m glad you with company even if you had to sit by yourself. This coronavirus thing is getting very old.

    I am just emerging from my politic hangover and looking toward 2021 with hope. My Sunday Post

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  26. Nice dinner but sort of sad to have to sit one to a table. Hubby and I had dinner alone – we missed the kids/grandkids but it was still nice too.
    I Was Told It Would Get Easier looks like a good one.
    Enjoy your movies and Happy Reading!

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  27. Cheryl Malandrinos

    Your dinner looks yummy. I’m glad you are able to get out of your apartment from time to time.

    I’ve been watching the TV show my nephew developed for Netflix, Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas. I love Christmas, so it’s a perfect show for me.

    Eager to hear what you think of I Was Told it Would Get Easier. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  30. Susan

    We are enjoying The Crown Season 4 and probably don’t have many episodes left. I’d like to watch The Undoing … which looks nice & crazy. I thought Hillbilly Elegy was sort of a downer movie (so I probably liked the book better for whatever reason) though I thought the actors all did a great job …. it was just too much (of a downer) perhaps during these times. We need happiness! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Yes, Susan, I think that Hillbilly Elegy reminded me too much of those who voted for you-know-who. When I read the book, I wanted to understand what drove those who joined his team, but now I am just so over it! I watched the movie because of Glenn Close and Amy Adams. LOL

      I wonder how many more seasons will be available in The Crown?

      Enjoy your week, too.

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