WEEKLY UPDATES: GOOD BOOKS, GOOD BUYS, & HAPPY HOUR!

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.

It is time for another Weekly Update!  How did this week fly by so fast?  Yes, I say that every week.  I did finish reading and reviewing three books, though, and I’m halfway through a fourth one.  Five blog posts seemingly flew out of my fingertips and onto my blogs.  I also created a new blog header for Snow Sparks…and here it is.  I featured a close-up of my two little Madeline Hatter dolls.  Check out two versions:  one of my laptop view, and the other of the “header.”

Creating blog headers is fun for me, but it is also a time-consuming task.  I must have worked on it for a couple of hours, trying out different photos, etc.

So…now, back to other activities.  I’ve started going to Happy Hour on Friday nights in the dining hall…something I avoided for a while.  I’m not sure why.  Oh, yeah, some of the music was not to my taste, but lately, it has improved!  Also, our little treats now include some cocktails.  Last night brought Mudslides.  LOL

My other activities this week included boot shopping, which I featured on my Coffee Chat post.  Check it out.

Now let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at the week.

 

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Good Girl, Bad Girl”

Coffee Chat:  Books, Dolls, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “The Heart Goes Last”

Friday Sparks:  Blog Stuff, Books, Etc.

Saturday Sparks:  Spotlighting My Spaces…

Review:  Lifelines, by Heidi Diehl – Amazon Vine ReviewReview:  The Lying Room, by Nicci FrenchReview:  Inside Out, by Demi Moore

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  But I did download one e-book.

One Little Secret, by Cate Holahan

Everyone has a secret. For some, it’s worth dying to protect. For others, it’s worth killing.

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CURRENTLY READING:

Good Girl, Bad Girl, by Michael Robotham

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That was my week. What did yours look like?  Oh, and here comes one of my favorite desserts from this week.  The pound cake was covered with berries!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: THE GOOD & THE BAD OF MY WEEK…

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.

Another great week has passed, with three books read and reviewed and six blog posts written.  I also enjoyed a hair styling on Friday.  What I am not enjoying this week are the antics of my laptop, with my cursor leaping crazily from one spot to another, and none of my efforts are paying off.  Sigh.

Meanwhile…I’m happy to have had some time on the weekends to catch up on movies and shows that are streaming on Prime and Netflix.  Last Sunday I enjoyed viewing Blonde, a movie based on a book of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates.

On Netflix, there are several shows with additional episodes to watch, so I’ll keep busy with those.

Let’s take a closer look at my week…but first, grab some coffee or tea.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Coffee, Books, & Movies…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Lying Room”

Tuesday Potpourri: Additions…and Losses…

Reading:  For Rainy Days, Mondays, & Hump Days…

Coffee Chat:  Ramblings…

Bookish Friday:  “What Happens in Paradise”

Review:  The Testaments, by Margaret AtwoodReview:  The Grammarians, by Cathleen SchineReview:  The Nanny, by Gilly Macmillan

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books came in my mailbox! One, a purchase, and the other, a review book.  I also downloaded two e-books.

The Life of John F. Kennedy:  America’s Reluctant Prince, by Steven M. Gilion

 

Lifelines, by Heidi Diehl (Amazon Vine Review)

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Downloads:

What Happens in Paradise, by Elin Hilderbrand

Good Girl, Bad Girl, by Michael Robotham

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CURRENTLY READING:

Lifelines, by Heidi Diehl

The Lying Room, by Nicci French

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  This delicious cranberry apple tart came with dinner this week.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: REVISITING THE PAST & LOOKING AHEAD…

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.

 

Where did the week go?  Here we are in October, and I can almost smell the turkey roasting in the oven for Thanksgiving!  I certainly hope my surgery is behind me by then.  It is tentatively scheduled for early November, in Oakland.

This week was full of appointments and shopping trips…but I did manage to read and review two books, and I wrote seven blog posts.  Yes, I got a little carried away with looking back in my archives and revisiting some old ones.  My blog makeovers continued, too, including this blog’s header and background.

I’m ready to grab another cup of coffee…join me for a Cup of Joe.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Curling up in Nostalgic Moments…

Snippets from the Past…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Dutch House”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Eagerly Adding to My Shelves…

Coffee Chat:  Searching My Archives…

Goodbye to September…

Bookish Friday:  “The Grammarians”

Review:  The Murder List, by Hank Phillippi RyanReview:  Twenty-One Truths About Love, by Matthew Dicks – (NG-10-15)

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INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in the mailbox…and I downloaded three e-books.

A Game for All the Family, by Sophie Hannah

Downloads:

Takes One to Know One, by Susan Isaacs

The Lying Room, by Nicci French

The Heart Goes Last, by Margaret Atwood

***

CURRENTLY READING:  I am loving The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood…halfway finished.

I have several other books patiently waiting on my TBR…so my mood will dictate what I read next.

My NetGalley ARCs are all finished until January.  Yay!

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?   Today’s dessert is one I thoroughly enjoyed:  Cheesecake, with a small glass of wine (since it was Wine Wednesday in the residence…LOL).

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WEEKLY UPDATES: A BUSY WEEK…

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.

***

What a busy week!  It seemingly flew by, and while I did read and review two books and write five blog posts, I also kept to my scheduled appointments.  Some were doctor/dental appointments, and some were fun (mani-pedi and lunch out with my granddaughter). On the side, I revamped the look of some of my blogs.  Like conducting my personal “bloggiesta,” since there has been no official event in quite a while.  This site has had its makeover, along with several others.

My Amazon packages continue to arrive as I just keep “adding to my carts.”  Soon I will finally have everything I need.  LOL

I’m back on my morning coffee, so let’s grab a cup and take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Revamping My Pages…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Murder List”

Tuesday Potpourri:  A Day To Celebrate

Coffee Chat:  A Busy Week…

Bookish Friday:  “The Testaments”

Review:  Without a Doubt, by Marcia ClarkReview:  The Stranger Inside, by Lisa Unger

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books came in my mailbox…and I downloaded one e-book.

Queen Meryl, by Erin Carlson

Inside Out, by Demi Moore

Download:

The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett

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Currently Reading:  The Murder List, by Hank Phillippi Ryan.

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  Check out my delicious dessert from this week:  Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with a Scoop of Ice Cream.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: ANOTHER WEEK & MORE PLANS…

 

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.

 

As the week comes to an ending, I am happily ensconced in my little apartment, pleased with the two books I read and reviewed, and with six blog posts behind me.  I also have a stocked fridge again…and plans for the week ahead.  On Wednesday I have a routine dental appointment scheduled, and my Thursday takes me back to the hospital for another scan.  After speaking to the Oakland doctor last night, we’ve decided on reviewing them and all my other records on 10/2, at which time we’ll talk about a possible surgery ahead…in the Bay Area.  Could I finally put this medical issue in my rear view mirror?

Just for fun, I changed up another of my blogs:  Curl up and Read…

I’m off coffee today, as I had some issues yesterday…but I am eagerly anticipating my favorite caffeinated drink in the days ahead.  Let’s enjoy some virtual coffee and take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  “Vegging Out,” Etc.

Monday Potpourri:  Whimsical Moments…

Tuesday Potpourri:  Delightful New Books…

Hump Day Reading in September…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Nanny”

Coffee Chat:  Looking Back…and Planning Ahead…

Review:  The Favorite Daughter, by Patti Callahan HenryReview:  Seven Letters, by J. P. Monninger – (NG-10/8/19)

INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in the mailbox!  I also downloaded two e-books.

Ladies Who Punch, by Ramin Setoodeh

***

The Stranger Inside, by Lisa Unger

“A darkly thrilling tale of survival and obsession. Lisa Unger never disappoints.” —Riley Sager, bestselling author of Lock Every Door

Even good people are drawn to do evil things…

***

Elevator Pitch, by Linwood Barclay

***

CURRENTLY READING: 

I am reading (and loving) Without a Doubt, by Marcia Clark…it has been resting comfortably on my Kindle since July 2018.

***

That was my week…what did yours look like?  Tonight I’m sharing our surprise dessert from the dining room:  Cherry Pie with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: MY WEEK SLID BY…

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.

 

Another week slid by when I wasn’t looking.  My head has been buried in my books…and I read and reviewed three.  I was also alert to the knocking on my door with a staff person leaving still another Amazon package.  Am I obsessed?  Or do I just love the idea of my current shopping routine?  A little of both.  I received books, some ordinary items that I used to buy in the supermarket or drug store, and I’ve also ordered clothes.  Yes, shirts or tops, usually.

My evenings have kept me glued to the TV,  binge-watching the Mary Tyler Moore show on Amazon Prime, lost in the 70s.  While I vividly recall the characters and many of the situations, the episodes feel almost new.  As if I haven’t seen them before.  That’s because I hadn’t watched them over and over like I’ve done with other shows.  I loved Mary and Rhoda’s apartments in that quaint old house, though, and the TV station and newsroom.

 

 

 

 

 

So…let’s look closer at my week, while enjoying another cup of coffee:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  A Splash of Color, Etc.

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Favorite Daughter”

Coffee Chat:  Nesting, Binge-Watching, Etc.

Review:  The Last Widow, by Karin SlaughterReview:  Lady in the Lake, by Laura LippmanReview:  Nanaville, by Anna Quindlen

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books came in the mailbox (Amazon deliveries!), and I downloaded three e-books:

Home Sweet Home:  A Journey Through Mary’s Dream Home, by Mary Engelbreit

Nanaville:  Adventures in Grandparenting, by Anna Quindlen

***

Downloads:

The Testaments:  The Sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

The Nanny, by Gilly Macmillan

The Murder List, by Hank Phillippi Ryan

***

CURRENTLY READING:

I’m enjoying The Favorite Daughter, by Patti Callahan Henry

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop at Water’s End, here is a lush, heart-wrenching novel about the power of memory, the meaning of family, and learning to forgive.

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Here is a glimpse of my New Normal, with healthy breakfast choices.  I loved the egg white veggie casserole in the left corner.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: GOOD BOOKS…

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.

 

 

Another week has slipped by, and while I only read and reviewed two books, I am halfway finished with a third.  I also wrote five blog posts.  On Tuesday, I had my “purple” refreshed, so I’m feeling energized.

As I spend more time on the computer, my “click to buy” action has increased, but I justify the purchases by saying that, if not ordering on Amazon, I would have to pay for a Lyft ride to a store.  LOL.  It’s more fun to see the packages arrive. 

I just had several cups of coffee in the dining room.  Join me with another cup, and let’s take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

August Bites the Dust!  Hello, September…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Seven Letters”

Hump Day Potpourri:  Books, Tidbits, Etc.

Coffee Chat:  Waiting for Fall…

Bookish Friday:  “Secrets of the Tulip Sisters”

Review:  My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding, by Wendy WaxReview:  California Girls, by Susan Mallery

***

INCOMING BOOKS: 

Empty mailbox!  I did download one e-book.

The Grammerians, by Cathleen Schine

A playful and joyful celebration of the interplay of language and life. A dazzling comedy of sisterly and linguistic manners, a revelation of the delights and stresses of intimacy…

***

CURRENTLY READING:

The Last Widow, by Karin Slaughter

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like? I had no special treats this week, so I pulled this one out of my files….great memories of apple pie!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, BLOGGING, & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL…

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.

 

What a great week!  It started out with tedious medical tests that turned out well…and then it all improved significantly.  I read and reviewed three books and wrote four blog posts.  On Thursday night, I had a fabulous time at the “Elvis show” here…

On Friday, I spent the day with my granddaughter Fiona, running errands and having a delightful lunch at one of my favorite places.

Now let’s take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “29  Seconds”

Looking at My Reading Progress for 2019…

Coffee Chat:  A Good Week So Far…

Bookish Friday:  “My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding”

Review:  The Long Call, by Ann Cleeves – NG- 9/3Review:  The Perfect Son, by Lauren NorthReview:  29 Seconds, by T. M. Logan – NG-9/10

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox…but I downloaded one e-book.

The Favorite Daughter, by Patti Callahan Henry

***

CURRENTLY READING:  Since I have finished my NetGalley ARCs for September, I grabbed a relatively new book off my stack:

My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding, by Wendy Wax

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Since fall is coming soon, I am dreaming about treats I’ve enjoyed in the past…like pumpkin pie!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: SOME PAMPERING & SOME READING/BLOGGING…

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.

 

Another good reading and blogging week…three books read and reviewed, and five blog posts written.  Today I woke up to a day of pampering, beginning with a mani and a hairstyling at my daughter’s salon.  A mimosa kept me hydrated while I awaited my turn for the styling wands.

 

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT MY WEEK:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Killman Creek”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Happy Reading…

Renovating My Blogs…and My Shelves…

Coffee Chat:  More Settling In…

Bookish Friday:  “The Last Widow”

Review:  Object of My Affection, by Stephen McCauleyReview:  Good Luck with That, by Kristan HigginsReview:  Best Beach Ever, by Wendy Wax

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INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in my mailbox…and another came via NetGalley:

Old Baggage, by Lissa Evans

The Look-Alike, by Erica Spindler – (NG-1/28/20)

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Purchased Downloads:

The Last Widow, by Karin Slaughter

My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding, by Wendy Wax

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CURRENTLY READING:

The Long Call, by Ann Cleeves (NG – 9/3)

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  No sweet desserts this week, but I found this lovely Red Velvet Cake from the past…

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WEEKLY UPDATES: ANOTHER ENGAGING WEEK…

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.

Here we are, halfway through August, and my reading and blogging are almost up to normal.  I read and reviewed three books, and I’m halfway through a fourth one. I wrote four posts.  I had no doctor appointments, but did need to go downtown for a business matter.  On Friday, my #2 son came for dinner on his way to Sacramento…and will come back through on Sunday.  I’m eating some yogurt as I type this, since my granddaughter just took me to the grocery store.  I didn’t feel like going to the dining room, so for those times, I needed to stock up on the items that I can enjoy here.

It’s too late in the day for coffee, but in anticipation of my first cup tomorrow morning, let’s take a peek at some…and at my blog details.  The photo below is a nice reminder of my previous residence…I do miss it.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Long Call”

Tuesday Potpourri:  New & Eagerly Anticipated Books

Coffee Chat:  Reorganizing My Topsy-Turvy Life…

Bookish Friday:  “Good Luck with That”

Review:  The Comforts of Home, by Susan HillReview:  My Ex-Life, by Stephen McCauleyReview:  Telephone Line, by Julie Mulhern (Country Club Murders #9)

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INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in my mailbox…and I received one NetGalley ARC.  I also downloaded three e-books.

At Home in the World, by Joyce Maynard, a book that somehow slipped away from me during the move…so I had to replace it.  It is definitely a  reread kind of memoir.

Synopsis:  In the spring of 1972, Joyce Maynard, a freshman at Yale, published a cover story in The New York Times Magazine about life in the sixties. Among the many letters of praise, offers for writing assignments, and request for interviews was a one-page letter from the famously reclusive author, J.D. Salinger.

Don’t Go Away Sad is the story of a girl who loved and lived with J.D. Salinger, and the woman she became. A crucial turning point in Joyce Maynard’s life occurred when her own daughter turned eighteen–the age Maynard was when Salinger first approached her. Breaking a twenty-five year silence, Joyce Maynard addresses her relationship with Salinger for the first time, as well as the complicated , troubled and yet creative nature of her youth and family. She vividly describes the details of the times and her life with the finesse of a natural storyteller.

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Big Lies in a Small Town, by Diane Chamberlain – NG – 1/14/20

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Downloads:

The Perfect Son, by Lauren North

Telephone Line, by Julie Mulhern (#9 – Country Club Murders)

The Object of My Affection, by Stephen McCauley

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I’m halfway through The Object of My Affection...and then will tackle some September NetGalley ARCs.

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Last night, I enjoyed a delicious meal of salmon with family.

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