WEEKLY UPDATES: SPINNING MY WHEELS…

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, almost finished with July, and the week sped by like most of the weeks lately.  In fact, if the Pandemic would end this quickly, wouldn’t that be great? Reading and blogging have definitely helped me keep my mind away from the horrific events of 2020, and that has worked primarily because of the distractions of those activities.  I finished my third book of the week today, and it was my final NetGalley ARC for July.  But on the heels of that one come two books in early August (the 4th and the 11th).  So the stress continues.  When in this kind of situation, I ask myself “how did this happen?”  Usually it involves being unable to pass up a good book.

I will work harder to prevent that in the future!

Meanwhile, I have found time for shows on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. I finished (and loved!) the second season of In the Dark.

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

***

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Summer Deal”

Bookish Delights…

Bookish Wednesday…

Plumbing the Depths of My TBR…

Bookish Friday:  “Girls of Summer”

Coffee Chat:  One Step Forward, Another Step Back…

Review:  The Girl from Widow Hills, by Megan MirandaReview:  The Safe Place, by Anna DownesReview:  Playing Nice, by J P Delaney – (NG-7/28/20)

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

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

He Started It, by Samantha Downing

The Lost and Found Bookshop, by Susan Wiggs

***

CURRENTLY READING:

The Request, by David Bell

 

Then I plan to start on my August ARCs.

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Here is one of my recent meals in the apartment, tuna salad with a dinner roll, and a glass of wine from my bottle.  The dining room offers sweet wine that is not very satisfying.  LOL.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, VIEWING, & 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.

 

Happy Fourth of July to those living in the states.  I am not sure what we can actually celebrate this year, with all that is happening in the world…and especially in a country that is so far behind flattening the curve that it seems like an impossible task.

But…we have to move forward, a day at a time, and take steps in our own communities to improve things.

For the rest of you, I hope you are all staying safe and doing better!

Meanwhile, I did enjoy my reading this week.  I just finished my third book, and that one was special, in that it was one of my backlog books from 2017.  I also read one of my NetGalley ARCs, a 7/7 release. 

I have continued enjoying my viewing:  Netflix, with Tales of the City; Amazon Prime, and assorted movies, including some old favorites; and Hulu, where I found nothing at all.

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

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Girl from Widow Hills”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Books & Bookish Things…

Goodbye to June!

It’s Hump Day!  What Are You Reading?

Searching My Backlog…

Coffee Chat:  A Cozy Breakfast & a Little Whining…

Happy Friday:  Adjusting Our Attitudes…

Bookish Friday:  “The Swap”

Review:  The Golden Cage, by Camilla Lackberg – (NG – 7/7/20)Review:  The House Guest, by Mark EdwardsReview:  Dead Letters, by Caite Dolan-Leach***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Three books arrived in my mailbox…and I downloaded three e-books.

The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett

True to Form, by Elizabeth Berg

Talk Before Sleep, by Elizabeth Berg (reread)

***

Downloads: 

The Request, by David Bell

Friends & Strangers, by J. Courtney Sullivan

The House Guest, by Mark Edwards

***

CURRENTLY READING;

The Half Sister, by Sandie Jones

***

Next I need to focus on the rest of my July ARCs:

What You Wish For, by Katherine Center (7/14/20)

Playing Nice, by J. P. Delaney – (7/28/20)

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Below, check out my dinner, with red wine, served on my new rustic tray.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: A GREAT WEEK FOR 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 great week for reading!  Four books, read and reviewed, each as great as the last one.  Blog posts seemed to grow on their own, ending up with seven of them.  Viewing movies and shows on Hulu, Prime, and Netflix are keeping me happy when I’m not reading…and Marcella, Season 3 on Netflix, starts on Sunday.

The alternating days in the dining room are working out better than when we went every day.  I am liking a slow movement back to whatever the “new normal” will be.

As I write this post, I keep noticing the message in the sidebar that says “the Block Editor is ready when you are.”  I am taking that to mean it is optional.  I definitely don’t want to use it!

Let’s take a closer look at my week…and maybe you would like to be caffeinated, so here goes:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Remain Silent”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Books & Moments…

Hump Day Potpourri:  Reinventing My Space…

Hump Day Reading…

Another Book from the Backlog…

Bookish Friday:  “You Can’t Catch Me”

Coffee Chat:  Reading, Purging, & Living in the Moment

Review:  The Flatshare, by Beth O’LearyReview:  This Is How I Lied, by Heather GudenkaufReview: The Closer You Get, by Mary TorjussenReview:  A Week at the Shore, by Barbara Delinsky

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in my physical mailbox…and I downloaded 3 e-books:

This Is Big, by Marisa Meltzer

You Can’t Catch Me, by Catherine McKenzie

Stranger in the Lake, by Kimberly Belle

Swan Song, by Lisa Alther

***

CURRENTLY READING:  Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown

Two wildly different women—one a grifter, the other an heiress—are brought together by the scam of a lifetime in a page-turner from the New York Times bestselling author of Watch Me Disappear.

***

That was my week. What did yours look like?   Since we no longer get to go out to restaurants, I scroll through photos of my favorites from previously normal times.  Here I was enjoying lunch with my granddaughter Fiona.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: PLODDING ALONG…

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 week was a slog.  I ended up reading and reviewing three books, and two of them were review ARCs.  But I was still reading the third one until after dinner tonight. However, I did spend more than two hours on Skype with my eldest son and DIL in Prague.  That was time well spent.  We had the video feature on, so we could see faces and surroundings.  Video chatting is a recurring thing these days of “sheltering in place.”  On Monday I’m scheduled to have a video chat with my doctor, since we didn’t have the annual physical due to The Virus.

Movies were great.  I saw The Lost Husband on Amazon Prime, based on the Katherine Center book.  I started watching Normal People on Hulu and also took in a rather depressing flick on Prime starring Naomi Watts called The Wolf Hour.  Earlier I began viewing Notes on a Scandal, a movie starring Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench.  I actually once owned the DVD…but we all know what happened to many of my books and movies.  LOL.

While I did enjoy my books, they felt too much like work…I shouldn’t read two ARCs in the same week.  I have one more to read for May.  Perhaps I need to pass on more review books for a while if they feel like a job.  Something to ponder.

I did spend some time changing up my blogs…headers, etc.  I know that I am avoiding things when I start doing that. 

So…that was my week. Let’s have some tea or coffee and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

What a Difference a Year Makes…

Tuesday Potpourri:  Treasuring the Bounty…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “On Ocean Boulevard”

Hump Day Reading…

Wrapping up April…

Scrounging Around in my TBR:  Books from the Backlog

Bookish Friday:  “Pretty Things”

Rainy Days…and Fridays…

Review:  The New Girl, by Harriet Walker-NG-5/19Review:  The New Husband, by D. J. PalmerReview:  On Ocean Boulevard, by Mary Alice Monroe -NG-5/19

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

One paperback book came in my mailbox to replace another “lost” one…and I downloaded two new e-books.

Looking for Me, by Beth Hoffman

Downloads:

Have You Seen Me?, by Kate White

The Sweeney Sisters, by Lian Dolan

***

That was my week, and it felt exhausting!  There were some fun things, however,  including this cute little handbag that came today from Amazon:

What did your week look like?

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: ONE DAY AT A TIME…

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 had a good week of reading, viewing, and visiting blogs.  I read and reviewed three books, wrote  seven posts, and skipped around between Hulu and Amazon Prime for some movies.  Like Apple Tree Yard, based on a book I read a few years ago.  And We Were the Mulvaneys, based on a Joyce Carol Oates book.  I’ve watched it before, but I am in the mood for revisiting old favorites.

On Hulu, I’m up to date on Mrs. America, which definitely reminds me of the 70s and the ERA bracelets we once wore.  We all hated Phyllis Schlafly, lol.

My mug collection is growing.  Here are a few on my desk.  You might also notice my little VW bug paperweight:

Yes, I am a little OCD.

So…let’s grab some more coffee (here’s a favorite photo of another collectible mug, one that, sadly, didn’t make the move!) and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Interior Thoughts…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The New Girl”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Treasures for the Shelves…

It’s Hump Day!  What Have You Been Reading?

Books from the Backlog:  Deep Diving in the Shelves…

Coffee Chat:  Reading, Blogging, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “The New Husband”

Review:  Mrs., by Caitlin MacyReview:  Something She’s Not Telling Us, by Darcey BellReview:  Redhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  But I downloaded three e-books.

Little Secrets, by Jennifer Hillier

Truths I Never Told You, by Kelly Rimmer

Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown

***

CURRENTLY READING:

The New Girl, by Harriet Walker – A NetGalley ARC for a 5/19 book release…

“This debut thriller reads like The Devil Wears Prada meets Single White Female. I couldn’t put it down.”—Catherine Steadman, author of Something in the Water and Mr. Nobody

She’s borrowed your life. But what if she decides to keep it?

***

That was my week, and overall, it was a good one.  As long as we forget the fact that we are living in scary times.  But we only have to take one day at a time…and read!  And watch movies and shows.  I did enjoy this lunch the other day:  turkey, stuffing, and strawberry/rhubarb pie.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: TRYING TO STAY SANE…

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 of sheltering in place.  Reading slacked off a bit, and I finished only two books in all.  I wrote six blog posts, which usually happens when I read less.  I spent some time changing up my blogs (including this one), from themes to headers. 

I also enjoyed some new online shows and movies, continuing with Little Fires Everywhere and The Good Fight, and adding Mrs. America, on Hulu, to the mix.  The Good Fight will be on hiatus for a couple of weeks to catch up on filming.  I suspect that this will be happening more as the shut down continues.

Back and forth I go with the fear and anxiety, but what increases it for me is how 45 is in a rush to open things up, which seems worrisome, since there are not enough tests to show us who else might be asymptomatic, thus tilting the numbers.  Sigh.

The best way for me to handle things is to avoid those who lie about what is happening, and also the news outlets that incite fear and panic.  A tricky balance.

So…off to do more reading and viewing.  Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at the week .

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Monday Morning Creativity…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Redhead by the Side of the Road”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Surprises All Around…

Hump Day Treasures…

Books from the Backlog:  Trolling My Book Pages…

Bookish Friday:  “Big Summer”

Review:  Separation Anxiety, by Laura ZigmanReview:  Safe House, by Jo Jakeman

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

One book came in my mailbox from Amazon…and I downloaded one e-book.

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael, by Beth Morrey

Download:

The New Husband, by D.J. Palmer

***

CURRENTLY READING:  After participating in Books from the Backlog this week, I started reading a book that has been hiding out on my Kindle for more than two years!

Mrs., by Caitlin Macy

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Since I can’t go out and eat or have cocktails these days, I relish the FaceTime moments with family.  My daughter and I had a conversation, and she sent Easter leftovers to me.  My youngest son also did a video chat with me, and Fiona and I enjoyed some conversations this week…she also shopped for me on Monday.  She even brought a bottle of wine!

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: REJUVENATION…

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.

A week of lockdown has had some good moments.  More reading, of course (three books read and reviewed), and some good viewing on Hulu.  I finished the three available episodes of Little Fires Everywhere.  Plus, as with most bookish people, my alone time is rejuvenating.

With meals delivered to my apartment, I am looking around and changing a few things…again. The bookshelves that were in my entry way were problematic when staff kept coming in, sometimes two or three at a time, and some of them bumped into the bookshelves, disrupting my nice arrangement!  So here is what I did today:  I moved the shelves to a corner across the room…completely opposite from the entry way.

I hope to continue enjoying this solitude, with more reading; it helps ward off the anxiety over the virus.  I have also learned to avoid the White House briefings everyday, which do nothing to make me feel better.

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

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Been There, Married That”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Books & More Books…

Coffee Chat:  Our “New Normal”

Bookish Friday:  “Cross Her Heart”

Saturday Potpourri:  Coping…

Review:  The Other Mrs., by Mary KubicaReview:  Eight Perfect Murders, by Peter SwansonReview:  The Missing Sister, by Elle Marr

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox!  But I did purchase a download.

Cross Her Heart, by Melinda Leigh ( Bree Taggert -#1)

***

CURRENTLY READING: 

And They Called It Camelot, by Stephanie Marie Thornton

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Check out my Saturday morning breakfast on a tray: Simple, but something I can eat at the computer.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, BLOGGING, & VIEWING…

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!  I’ve been reading from my print volumes, in addition to one e-book, just so I can add physical books to my shelves.  Yes, my library is growing. I have a few more books on three of the shelves, mixed in with photos.  Some of the books I ordered and received this week were ones I had previously owned…and lost in the move.  Sigh.

I read and reviewed three books this week and wrote five blog posts…yes, fewer posts than in previous weeks.  I’m trying to balance things out. 

I’m viewing Season 6 of Grace & Frankie and have seen nine of the thirteen episodes.  Savoring them, since I don’t want the season to be over too soon.

I’ve done some blog changes…headers and some little images to showcase “my thoughts” in my reviews.  Like these:  On the left, for this blog’s reviews; for Serendipity, check out the one on the right; then take a peek at the ones left and right at the bottom…for Curl up and Read and Rainy Days and Mondays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So…now I’m ready to grab more coffee…and then we’ll take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Shelter Mountain”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish Love…

Serendipitous Hump Day…

Coffee Chat:  Adventures in the Interior, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “The Country Guesthouse”

Review:  Regretting You, by Colleen HooverReview:  The Daughter, by Jane ShemiltReview:  No Place Like Home, by Rebecca Muddiman

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Two books arrived in my physical mailbox…and two came via email from NetGalley.

NetGalley:

The Night Swim, by Megan Goldin – NG – 8/4/20

The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian – NG-3/17/20

***

In My Physical Mailbox: Books I once owned…and bought again

The Good Mother, by Sue Miller

For Love, by Sue Miller

***

CURRENTLY READING:

Shelter Mountain, by Robyn Carr

Plus…I will continue reading hardcover/paperback books, including America’s Reluctant Prince, by Steven M. Gillon

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like? This week, we had strawberry/rhubarb pie again.  Yum!

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: ANTICIPATING GOOD DAYS 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.

 

 

Last week was so chaotic that I planned to cocoon with books and movies this week.  However, there were errands to run, voting to do, and on Wednesday, I met a friend for coffee.  Then I finally immersed myself in books and binge-watching Brothers & Sisters until I finished all five seasons.  As a result of this fixation, which felt like becoming part of the Walker family, I only read and reviewed two books.  And now my eyes are so tired that I can barely type!  Through all of my reading and viewing, I managed to savor the results of the election. 

Since Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, I’ve been planning for that occasion, and enjoying the anticipation.

Let’s grab some more coffee, which I need desperately, and chat about the details of my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Glitches, Changes, Moments…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “Heaven Adjacent”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Errands, Voting, & Books To Love…

Hump Day Reading:  Slogging Along…

Coffee Chat:  What a Week!

Friday Chat:  Holidays, Friends, Family…

Bookish Friday:  “Nine Perfect Strangers”

Review:  In Her Bones (e-book), by Kate MorettiReview:  The Island House (e-book), by Nancy Thayer

***

INCOMING BOOKS – (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon):

Empty physical mailbox…but I received one NetGalley ARC, and downloaded one e-book.

The Escape Room (e-book), by Megan Goldin – (NG-8/6/19)

Downloaded Purchase:

You Don’t Own Me (e-book, Under Suspicion Novel), by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke

***

WHAT’S NEXT:

Still Reading:  What Happened, by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Started Reading:

Her Pretty Face (e-book), by Robyn Harding

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like? In between errands, I enjoyed this soup with a margarita.

 

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, VIEWING, & OUTINGS…

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.

 

 

My week was a nice blend of outings, reading, and blogging.  I read and reviewed three books, and they were all so engaging that the pages seemed to fly by.  I did some of my reading with coffee at Barnes & Noble…a relaxing place to hang out.  On Thursday night, my granddaughter Fiona and I had dinner and drinks at The Cheesecake Factory.  Yes, she is now “of age.”

On Amazon Prime Videos, I watched all of Goliath’s Season II.  Captivated!  This weekend, I hope to find more to view there…and on Netflix.

The Summer Mini-Bloggiesta started yesterday…and goes through Sunday.  Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far:  Rainy Days & Mondays – Starting Line.

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

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Family, Reading, & Blogging…

Tuesday Potpourri:  New Books, Review Books, Etc.

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “Bring Her Home”

My Hump Day Reading…

Coffee Chat:  From Dark Thoughts to Lighter Moments…

Bookish Friday:  “Surprise Me”

Review:  Before & Again (e-book), by Barbara Delinsky – (NG-6/26)Review:  Educated (e-book), by Tara Westover – (Library Book)Review:  Bring Her Home (e-book), by David Bell (My TBR Shelves)

***

INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox!  I did receive one NetGalley review book; one library book; and three purchased downloads.

Sister of Mine (e-book), by Laurie Petrou – (NG – 8/7)

The Family Gathering (e-book, Sullivan’s Crossing), by Robyn Carr – (Library Book)

 

***

Purchased Downloads:

The Perfect Couple (e-book), by Elin Hilderbrand

The Lost for Words Bookshop (e-book), by Stephanie Butland

Heaven Adjacent (e-book), by Catherine Ryan Hyde

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  Surprise Me (e-book), by Sophie Kinsella (Library Book)

 

***

And then…some of my other review books, like Castaway Cottage, by Joanne DeMaio.

***

That was my week…a lovely balance of reading, viewing, and outings.  Here’s a glimpse of my drinks and dinner with Fiona.  I had Shepherd’s Pie with my Bloody Orange Margarita.  I brought half of my dinner home in a box for the next day.

***