WEEKLY UPDATES: A NEW NORMAL?

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 January half over, I am still feeling the intensity of last year and all that it brought.  In fact, some of it has carried over into this New Year, and I hate that!  But…maybe we can begin to create our New Normal.

I had my first vaccination!  The next one comes in three weeks or so.  Hopefully.  There have been mutterings of shortages.  Why am I not surprised?Meanwhile, I am reading and blogging.  Two books, both great, and seven blog posts.  I also enjoyed some shows and movies, like the pilot of Call Your Mother, on Hulu.

Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Pretty Little Wife”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Book Love…

Wednesday Reading…

Another Book to “Dust Off”

2021 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

Ignite Your Sparks:  Fueled by Hope…

Bookish Friday: “Rachel to the Rescue”

Review:  The Wrong Family, by Tarryn FisherReview:  The Love Story of Missy Carmichael, by Beth Morrey

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox!  I did download two e-books…

Rachel to the Rescue, by Elinor Lipman

Blood Orange, by Harriet Tyce

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CURRENTLY READING:  The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  May the next week and onward bring peace and calm.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: INTENSE 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 week! Intensity, worry, and questions about what happens next have kept me tied up in knots…but then I turn to my books, movies, and shows. Those activities do help. I read and reviewed two great books and wrote seven blog posts.

I enjoyed my First Book of the Year read, and then grabbed a book that resonated with me during these times in which we live.

I watched a movie that took me completely out of the situation:  a new Woody Allen film on Amazon Prime, and I could totally forget (almost) all the events of the week.  A Rainy Day in New York was not spectacular, but it was definitely distracting.

Let’s take a closer peek at the week while sipping some coffee.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Bookish New Year Tasks…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Shelter in Place”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Obsessions…

Hump Day Reading…

Another Rediscovered Book…

Coffee Chat:  Stress Activities…

Bookish Friday:  “The Wife Upstairs”

Review:  Piece of My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke – First Book of the YearReview:  Shelter in Place, by David Leavitt

INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox…but I downloaded four e-books!

The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins

All the Colors of Night, by Jayne Ann Krentz

Single Mother, by Samantha Hayes

The Push, by Ashley Audrain

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CURRENTLY READING:  The Wrong Family, by Tarryn Fisher

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That was my week.  Let’s hope for a calmer one ahead!  I have no treats to display this week…but I will be dreaming of good movies and books.  My Mini-Me (Bitmoji) is feeling no pain.

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COFFEE CHAT: STRESS ACTIVITIES…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

On the day after the frightening events of yesterday, January 6, I am still stunned, although not really surprised, either.  We all knew that insurrection was bound to happen when #45 sent so many messages to his followers, urging them on.  Now I wonder:  will there be ANY consequences?

On the brighter side, two new Georgia senators promise changes ahead.

• I am trying to follow my One Word of HOPE…and take it all a day at a time, too.
• I am reading an interesting book:  Shelter in Place, by David Leavitt, in which the characters are hoping to recover from what they consider the greatest political catastrophe of their lives: the 2016 Presidential Election.   An interesting “time capsule” moment, in view of recent events.
• I wonder how things would have transpired if that event had not happened at all?
• Meanwhile, moving along, I finished reading and reviewing my First Book of 2021:  Piece of My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke.
• On January 5, my youngest grandson turned 18!  Imagine that.  I still remember him fondly with his head of curly hair…Because of Covid, I wasn’t able to see him on his birthday…sigh.

• What lies ahead for us?  Other than reading and blogging, I am trying to survive each day, alert, and without burying my head in the sand about the potential hazards, both from the virus and from the political environment.
• I did love watching the latest episode of This Is Us.  I still love that show, after all these years.
• A new movie is now on Netflix:  Pieces of a Woman, a film that promises to be heart wrenching.

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My favorite activities when I am stressed:  books and viewing.  What do you look forward to during stressful times?

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WEEKLY UPDATES: BRIMMING WITH HOPE…

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.

This morning, as I sip my coffee, I ponder the anticipation of a new and better year ahead.  We can always hope, right?  And HOPE is my One Word for the year.

A great reading week brought three books reviewed, and I began reading my First Book of the Year. I went a little nuts with the blogging, totaling nine posts.

My viewing has included some Prime movies, like Spinster and The Nest.

I am eagerly trying to find a show on one of the outlets, something I can settle into and binge.  Any ideas?

Yesterday I cleared my space, settling my Christmas stuff into the under-the-bed storage bins.  It didn’t take long, as my decorations were minimal.

Yesterday I opened the bottle of Champagne my daughter brought a few days ago, and made a couple of mimosas.  Happy New Year!

Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at the week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Arrangement”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Books for the Last Tuesday of the Year…

WWW:  A Week of Reading…

Hump Day Serendipity:  Past Treasures…

Plumbing the Depths…

First Book of Year Event:  2021

Monthly Wrap-Up:  Year’s End…

Bookish Friday:  “Piece of My Heart”

One Word:  Hope…

Review:  The Last Wife, by Karen HamiltonReview:  The Lies You Told, by Harriet TyceReview:  The Arrangement, by Robyn Harding

INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty Physical Mailbox!  But I downloaded three e-books.

The Wrong Family, by Tarryn Fisher

Pretty Little Wife, by Darby Kane

Shelter in Place, by David Leavitt

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CURRENTLY READING:  My First Book of the Year:  Piece of My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke

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That was my very hopeful week, as I prepared to say goodbye to my least favorite year:  2020!  In the dining room, we had some delicious treats, like this cheesecake on New Year’s Eve:

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WEEKLY UPDATES: FINALLY SAYING GOODBYE TO 2020…

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.

I hope all those who celebrate the holidays are enjoying them, despite their limitations.  Here we had a lovely Christmas lunch, although I ate things I shouldn’t have eaten.  I will show a photo of my “sinful” dessert later.

I only read and reviewed two books this week, but I enjoyed them both.  Mostly I blogged, created new blog headers (again!), and created a new look for my Bitmoji Mini-Me. (Note the new “hairstyle” on the image above).

Today I will be Skyping with my son and daughter-in-law who live in Prague.  I always enjoy these visits, which sometimes last for an hour and a half!

On Christmas Eve, my daughter arrived for a “socially distanced” visit.  She brought Champagne and Margarita mix for me to enjoy later!  Here is an unmasked photo…six feet away, of course.

Meanwhile, don’t forget that next week is our First Book of the Year event!

As we eagerly await moving on from 2020, let’s enjoy more of what we can do…and in the meantime, grab some coffee (or tea or a mimosa!), and chat.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Behind the Red Door”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Nesting Amongst My Books…

Hump Day Reading…

Dusting Off an Older Book…

Coffee Chat:  Merry Christmas!

Bookish Friday:  “This Is How It Always Is”

Friday Sparks:  A Doll Story…

Review:  Cruel Winter, by Sheila ConnollyReview:  Behind the Red Door, by Megan Collins

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  I did download one e-book.

Home Fires, by Fiona Lowe

For fans of Liane Moriarty comes a story of a community in crisis from best-selling Australian author Fiona Lowe.

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CURRENTLY READING:  The Last Wife, by Karen Hamilton

Two women. A dying wish. And a web of lies that will bring their world crashing down.

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  As we count down to the New Year, let’s enjoy each day…and perhaps have something sweet.  This was the dessert from our Christmas lunch:  Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: COUNTDOWN TO 2021…

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 another week comes to an end, with the New Year ready to greet us, I am enjoying each day as much as I can.  In these challenging times, there is that elusive feeling of “a light at the end of the tunnel.” I am also planning ahead for new reading and blogging, even as I finish up my books for this year.  The First Book of the New Year is waiting on my nightstand.

I have read and reviewed three books this week, one of which finalized my work on the Nonfiction Reading Challenge.

My blog headers are undergoing some changes, including the one here.  I use PicMonkey to create them, and because there is a “New PicMonkey” to deal with, I had to figure out how to work through that process.  I have been practicing all week.  Below, note how 2021 is CRUSHING 2020.

My viewing has included some shows on HBO Max, including The Flight Attendant and Let Them All Talk.

Let’s grab something caffeinated and take a closer look:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Push”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Curling up with My Books…

Hump Day Reading…

Cozying up with a Rediscovered Mystery…

Bookish Friday:  “Dirt”

Friday Potpourri:  Obsessions…

Review:  Clear My Name, by Paula DalyReview:  Rodham, by Curtis SittenfeldReview:  Dirt, by Mary Marantz

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  I did download two e-books.

Behind the Red Door, by Megan Collins

The Last Wife, by Karen Hamilton

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CURRENTLY READING:  I have picked up a book from my backlog, one that is part of a series I enjoy:

Cruel Winter, by Sheila Connolly

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Here is a piece of Cherry Pie that I enjoyed this week:

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COFFEE CHAT: GOODBYE, DOLDRUMS…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

As I sip my morning coffee, which is tasting better and better these days, I am feeling more hopeful.  Despite the news some days, and despite the outrage and bitterness that still lurks everywhere.  A light at the end of the tunnel?

Meanwhile, I have discovered HBO Max and I’m loving several shows.

• First I found The Flight Attendant, based on Chris Bohjalian’s book which I loved a few years ago.
• Then, today, comes a movie with some of my favorite stars:  Let Them All Talk, with Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Diane Wiest, et al.
• I do love how a great book or movie can pull me out of the doldrums.  I had a great reading week so far, with three read and reviewed!  Currently, I am reading Goodnight Beautiful, by Aimee Molloy, and loving it.
• This new sweater arrived in the mailbox a few days ago, and it is warm and cozy.  That’s not a photo of me wearing it, though, lol.  I am too shy to ask someone to take a photo, and my selfies only work on face shots.

• How is it Thursday already?  I cannot believe the passage of time right now, but I heard someone say that there is actually something real about how that works, the older we get.  Hmm.
• I am a little sick of Christmas shows and movies, though; they have been playing on Hallmark since July, so I am ready to move on!
• But…I did enjoy reading the Christmas Shopaholic book this week.
• And, in other news, First Book of the Year 2021 has been launched:

• My pick for the event arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago.  More on that later!

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Enjoy your week and your books, and stay safe and sane!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: GREAT MOMENTS…

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.

How are we moving so quickly through 2020?  I am quite happy about it, of course, as I think it is safe to say this has been the worst year ever!  The one good thing about a year like this one, however, is that we can immerse ourselves in books, movies, and our introverted moments.

This week I read and reviewed three books, which is not a lot, but more than in recent weeks.  And I wrote eight blog posts.

Let’s grab a favorite caffeine beverage and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Monthly Wrap-Up

Monday Sparks:  Launching a New Week…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Girl in the Mirror”

Tuesday Potpourri:  More Books…

Bookish Wednesday…

Backlog Book…

Bookish Friday:  “The Lies You Told”

Bookish Thoughts…

Review:  Out of Her Mind, by T. R. RaganReview:  I Was Told It Would Get Easier, by Abbi WaxmanReview:  Open House, by Katie Sise

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books arrived in my physical mailbox…and I downloaded three e-books…

Clear My Name, by Paula Daly

A Promised Land, by Barack Obama

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Downloads:

Open House, by Katie Sise (Free Prime)

Dirt, by Mary Marantz

The Lies You Told, by Harriet Tyce

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CURRENTLY READING:

Christmas Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella

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That was my week, with Christmas coming very soon.  What did your week look like?  Here is one of my treats this week.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: HOLIDAYS 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.

 

Greetings, Bloggers!  Another week closer to the end of 2020!  While I spent most of the week reading one book—and it was a good one!—I finally finished a second one today!  A few blog posts kept me connected, but I also spent a lot of time binge-watching shows/movies on Netflix and Prime.  I hope to finally start the new season of The Crown this week.

As the Thanksgiving holidays approach, I have mixed feelings.  We thought we would get to celebrate with family and friends, but this residence put a kibosh on that plan.   They are bringing in some treats for the holiday meal, however, including mimosas and a dessert bar.

Now let’s grab something caffeinated…and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “I’ll Be Seeing You”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish Magic…

Dusting Off Another Neglected Book…

Bookish Friday:  “A Well-Behaved Woman”

Review:  “The Lost and Found Bookshop,” by Susan WiggsReview:  “Don’t Make a Sound,” by T. R. Ragan

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books arrived in my physical mailbox, and I downloaded one e-book.

Flying the Nest, by Rachael Johns

Piece of My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

Download:

Goodnight Beautiful, by Aimee Molloy

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CURRENTLY READING:  My e-ARC that will be released on December 8:

Take It Back, by Kia Abdullah

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  A couple of months ago, I enjoyed this apple pie a la mode…and I’m dreaming of more of this treat in the holiday seasons ahead.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: READING & BINGE-WATCHING…

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 did your week look like?  I was glued to the TV and social media for most of it, hoping that the delusions of #45 are quashed and do not erase our positive feelings about the outcome.  There will be no final resolution for a while, I suspect, so I am burying myself in books, but mostly binging on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.  Happily, I am loving old shows, like Private Practice, and looking forward to a new season of The Crown on Netflix.

I finally finished my second book of the week…and I am hoping the upcoming week will be more productive.

I just finished ordering more provisions from Instacart and loving the Coconut/Pineapple Haagen Daz ice cream that is now in my freezer.

Yesterday, I had a great visit with my #2 son (left), who lives in LA.  First he had lunch with my daughter and youngest grandson…and then he joined me in our very socially distanced dining room for an hour-long visit.  Afterwards, he left some goodies for me, including a couple of bottles of wine.

I would have enjoyed joining them, but my residence is still very restrictive.  Sigh.

So…onward and upward.  Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Next Wife”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Book Releases…

Bookish Wednesday…

Another Buried Treasure…

Bookish Friday:  “The Book of Two Ways”

Review:  Finding Mrs. Ford, by Deborah Goodrich RoyceReview:  The Next Wife, by Liz Lawler

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INCOMING BOOKS:

One book arrived in my physical mailbox…and I downloaded two e-books.

Blue Monday, by Nicci French (purchased for reread)

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Downloads:

Don’t Make a Sound, by T. R. Ragan

Out of Her Mind, by T. R. Ragan

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CURRENTLY READING:

Another bookish read:  The Lost and Found Bookshop, by Susan Wiggs

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That was my week.  Despite all the stress and uncertainty, I had some enjoyable reads and some great binge-watching.  Plus…a delicious dessert of Red Velvet Cake again…

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