I‘m finally ready to admit summer is over (in my heart- I know it‘s not official.) Fall card swap cards are up, and I may even open a can of pumpkin tomorrow. My cards are out as well and should start arriving soon. Thanks for hosting @TheBookHippie

Nancy is giving some 👀

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) Daisy Cat has taken to my husband‘s chair and glares at him every morning until he goes to work
2) fockey games and xcountry meets galore this week
3) the full moon was beautiful
4) finally started watching Wednesday
5) spider web shaped waffles

Happy Friday!

A sad book on a sad day. I‘m glad I read it though. Like any other big, sad, emotional event I didn‘t really have my facts straight. Rivlin is a good writer and I‘ll read more of his books in the future.

I finally made it to the Bolivian bakery near my PT office for a little treat/research for #FoodAndLit

I got two cheese empanadas and coconut bread. I haven‘t tried the bread yet but love the empanada.

I got this beauty out from the library for this month‘s #HashtagBrigade read. It looks like it could tell some tales!

Taking my hygge hour early tonight so that I can go to bed early. Eating cereal for dinner (Which I love- that‘s not a complaint.) and doing my best to make a dent in the tagged for my work book club. #HyggeHour

Sunday fun day

I enjoyed these short stories even though I thought the ones at the beginning were stronger than the novella at the end. (I read Rules of Civility too long ago to really remember it so maybe that would have helped.) Either way this was an enjoyable enough audiobook to listen to while I went through my days.

After a string of gorgeous days during the work week the humidity we know and love has come back for the weekend 😂 My scheme today is to work in the yard for the length of one short story in the Towles book then rest in the shade while I read one chapter from the Katrina book.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Friday always takes a long time to come on short weeks, am I right?

1) volunteered to staff a water table at a festival with my daughter so people could avoid single use plastic. We were rewarded when we played BINGO after and she won $38.
2) street tacos from a food truck were delicious
3) We‘ve seen the same deer two weeks in a row while hiking.
4) pumpkins arriving
5) Fockey and xcountry in full swing. Go cards!

Bad news: my 5:45 am bus either didn‘t come or came early.

Good news: Looks like I‘m about to see a spectacular sunrise out the window of this train

Happy Thursday all!

We do not care that we forgot to go to the store like we usually do on Wednesday. We thought it was Tuesday. #WDNCW

#SummersEndReadathon stats: finished The View from Lake Como and There‘s Always This Year, and started Big Beautiful Life and Katrina.

Thanks to everyone who joined- I loved seeing your updates! Let‘s do it again in a couple of weeks!

Having my #hyggehour tonight since the holiday made it feel like Sunday. Catching up on The Age of Innocence then reading a book about hurricane Katrina for book club. Not a cozy happy read, but informative. My drink is watermelon/lime/mint purée mixed with seltzer water.

My top 12 reads from August. August was a long month. Some of these books- it feels like I read them 15 years ago. Bring on September!

I wanted to hit the ground running today and get EVERYTHING done, but there are certain rules about what you can get done when a cat lays on your lap. #SummersEndReadathon it is.

I was so happy to have a new Trigiani book to keep me company this week. I‘ve been reading her books forever, and they don‘t disappoint. In this one Jess, the youngest in a large family, finally learns to reach for what she wants rather than what she‘s expected to do. #EndofSummerReadathon

Quick #SummersEndReadathon post while I wait for my tea to steep. Thursday and Friday were exhausting so I didn‘t read or post much but now it‘s Saturday and I‘m back, baby!

🔥 I caught up with The Age of the Innocence
🇮🇹 I‘m committed to finishing The View From Lake Como today before the library takes it back
🐌 Getting what I need to work on snail mail and fall card swaps. (Not reading but reading adjacent)

I got my #BookSpin list together! Seemed like I was early but then the calendar said September is Monday 😱 I‘ll tag the books in the comments below. @TheAromaofBooks

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) Hadn‘t seen Not My Cat in a while so was happy to find him sleeping on the porch yesterday
2) nice hike with the husband
3) made a brownie recipe @TheBookHippie shared last week
4) my son shuns all the senior stuff so I‘m happy to live vicariously through the kids who park in my neighborhood
5) baby butterfly growing on my porch wall 🦋

#SummersEnd #Readathon starts tomorrow! Here‘s my stack. I‘ve already started the two novels so it‘s definitely possible I get through these.

After a deadly flu wipes out most of the human population Hig is just trying to survive in Colorado. Peter Heller‘s books are usually hit or miss for me. I‘ll keep trying but unfortunately this one was mostly a miss. The love story was super clinical and I just didn‘t really care about the characters.

Supposed to go to a thing tonight. Maybe it will rain so I can stay home and read?

We do not care that you believe my husband is working and I am doing nothing. News flash it‘s 2025 and working from home is working. If my husband contacted you about installing a screen door you need to talk to him. I have no idea about what kind of arrangements he made with you for a discount in exchange for leaving a review for your business. Leave me alone. #WDNCW @dabbe

We also do not care that we are on Litsy and not working at the moment.

Announcing the #SummersEnd Readathon coming this weekend! Love it or hate it summer is coming to an end (here in the northern hemisphere at least.) Let‘s wave it goodbye with a Readathon! No pressure- make you own goals. I‘m tagging those who expressed interest, but all are welcome. Can‘t wait to see what you all have planned!

Pic from earlier today because I‘m starting #hyggehour off early by lounging in bed immediately after dinner. Haven‘t decided yet if I‘m coming down with a cold or just tired. I‘m starting the tagged- bought it to read over Memorial Day; just starting now. Looking forward to the cold front coming in this week. I also have been re-arranging my books which is a fun project.

This isn‘t a new series, but it‘s new to me. I‘m so excited to dive into an long series set in the National Parks.

Enjoying some strawberry basil lemonade and a mystery/thriller. I love quiet Saturday afternoons.

So much fun reading about dinosaurs this month with #Naturalitsy

Weirdly my favorite parts were not about the dinosaurs but about the ferns and the appendix where the author explained the thought process behind each chapter. I wish this was available for every book!

I started this on kindle years ago but gave up. I tried it again on audio for book club and it was okay. I couldn‘t stop thinking about the man‘s son who he left alone and grieving. Low pick.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

I don‘t know where last week went. Can anyone find it for me?

1) Field hockey season started last night. Love to watch the girls play.
2) Hanging out with my cats
3) beneficial bugs in the yard
4) meal prep makes the week much easier
5) hearing the marching band practice when I walk home in the afternoon

Hang in there everyone!

Took a little field trip at lunch to renew my DC library card. I‘m good for another 3 years. So grateful for reciprocal agreements.

I did not see any crime on my walk, but I did see way too many empty storefronts. It‘s been a tough year for people who live here. So I did my part and bought a delicious Italian sub.

Anyone interested in an end of August Readathon? I‘m thinking 4 days from August 29-September 1st. No pressure, make your own goals. Let me know!

Autumn Comfort Swap is in the mail @thebacklistbook

Our mailman got transferred a month ago and since then we haven‘t really been getting mail. Things seem to have evened out recently though and I‘ve been getting little treats in the mail every day. Thank @maich @Butterfinger these made my day!

I wanted a story from this book, but really it was interconnected vignettes featuring various generations of a California family from the 70‘s to around 2018. Once I got used to the format I enjoyed this book, but my personal preference would have been a focus on one of the characters. Still I loved Huneven‘s last book “Search” and I will continue to read what she writes.

@AmyG thank you so much! This went on a little walk about and just arrived today 😂

Such nostalgia in this book. I remember reading it around 7th grade and feeling like the worst thing that could happen to me in school was scoliosis. Those were the days. This book is obviously very dated but Judy Blume talks about accepting people with differences in a way that doesn‘t hammer you over the head with it and that‘s what makes her great. Deenie‘s mom and her obsession with modeling also reminded me of modern day travel sports moms.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

So much is going on. I‘m looking for joy in the little things.

1) we found a box of antique linens when we were clearing out storage. I‘m trying to bring them back to life.
2) kids made me a nice birthday table
3) beautiful skies this week
4) I have a baby pumpkin!
5) figs are starting to ripen

Hang in there everyone! Love and hugs to you all!

Look what my son bought me for my birthday! He‘s officially my favorite!

AITAH?

I, Nancy (f18, titan hair), was trying to solve a mystery with my friend George (f18) when she fell in a weird salt pond and got wet. I told her to go in a random building and strip while I dried her clothes in the sun. While her clothes were drying I got distracted by some whelk shells. Of course a boy chose that moment to steal her clothes and she was left naked in the woods. I think I am pretty and clever but George is mad. AITAH?

Thank you @TheBookHippie for recommending this book of Hemingway‘s short stories. I read them last week during our Northern Michigan mini break and enjoyed them!

So glad to be back in my routine and for #hyggehour ! Catching up on my journal, reading a bit, and just being.

#FiveJoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) visited my college with my hs senior son and he actually liked it (he‘s not been too into the college search until now.) This was a huge surprise and joy! I don‘t care where he goes or even if he goes but seeing him with some direction is great.
2) Hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes with the kiddos
3) a brief visit in N Michigan between obligations
4) finally hanging up some things in my office
5) tadpole turned to frog

Oh man this was stressful. Can‘t wait to talk about it on Saturday. #CampLitsy

Not the greatest addition to the series. Something about Charlie and Diesel being in Ireland instead of home in Mississippi. I got this ARC from NetGalley.

We took a few days to get away just the four of us in between family obligations. I must have read too much Nancy Drew because right away I found a hidden passage and a skeleton key. My son went down to explore and sadly just found a water heater not missing jewelry or a treasure map. Oh well.

An interesting look at the intersection of rest, capitalism and white supremacy. I liked this. #SheRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

#ThematicCozies #July

There‘s a big fair in town and of course Meg is in charge of almost everything and trying to solve a murder and poultry theft at the same time. These books make no sense but are still fun to read.