#5joysFriday @DebinHawaii Thank you for the tag @Kshakal
I mean to do better with photos this week, I didn‘t:(
1. Two lunch dates with each of my longest work besties
2. Online book event
3. Always crafting
4. Puzzles with Kevin, he is very helpful
5. Morning coffee and exciting ARC‘s
Tagging @dabbe @JenReadsAlot @BethM

Excellent speaker tonight. If you enjoy hearing an author‘s perspective I encourage you to enjoy the Girlfriend‘s Bookclub on Facebook. It‘s fun to read the books and then see, or hear, behind the curtain. There are wonderful guest authors and compelling questions. I‘m impressed with what is offered in this group and it‘s free - and from my couch. The Lion Women of Tehran was an excellent and rich story of enduring friendship. 5 ⭐️

🤣

Kevin says stay warm Wisconsin as we head into double-digit below zero wind chills this week 🥶

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii Thank you for the tag @Kshakal
I am woefully bad a taking photos but had a joy filled week…
1. Finished knit socks
2. Went to my first ever Bunco party where I only knew the host. I not only did not die, I had fun!
3. Great gathering with old work friends
4. Gifted yarn from a friend spun from his own sheep‘s wool. 🤯
5. Made sour dough bread and used it to make rosemary croutons for potato soup from Carolina Gelen

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Thank you for the tag!

1. Hmm, the forced slow down of it and a walk on a snowy trail when I can.
2. The Sugar Queen, hits all the winter feels. I‘m about ready for a re-read of this one!

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @dabbe @AmyG

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Yoga at a new studio with a friend
2. Fun day out with dad and husband
3. Breakfast with my girls
4. A new ARC!! ❤️ Katherine Center
5. Always the 4-legged family

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @dabbe

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Kshakal
1. Absolutely! I worked in corrections for 32 years, I had to, right?! 😊 and I truly do, people change, motives are confused, perspective changes.
2. How the Light Gets In. The main character gets a second chance with her kids.

#12Booksof2024 @Andrew65
❤️🎄My favorite reads for December that were not holiday books. 4 ⭐️ for each.

#12booksof2024 @Andrew65 late to the party but my favorite September read ❤️📚I didn‘t know what to expect and it‘s a crazy story. A woman takes over a hotel for a wedding, but an unexpected guest gets a room and ends up being the life of the party - the opposite of her plan.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView
1. A new planner
2. Adrienne‘s yearly yoga challenge, shorter but sweet.
3. Finished my temperature blanket. Just details to finish up.
4. New book and a “book club” with some like minded friends.
5. Cadbury mini eggs (already?!)
6. Lunch with a long time work buddy ❤️

This seemed perfect for this nebulous time between Christmas and New Years. And I thought of you @dabbe

Tagged my most favorite of 2024, I waited 16 years for this prequel. ❤️📚 🐕

#Two4Tuesay @TheSpineView and thank you for the tag!

1. I think I‘ll set a goal of 100 books this year. I am curious what retirement will look like and will it mean more time for books? 🤔

2. I‘m looking forward to the John Boyne element series, I broke down and ordered the first one. It‘s not readily available in the US. I think I‘ll check with my interlibrary loan hook up to see what magic could happen.

@JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @BethM

I‘m enjoying this charmer. A nice way to start the day. Happy Saturday!

#5JoysFriday
@DebinHawaii
1. My girls ❤️
2. Crafting
3. Baking
4. Snowshoeing
5. Nature

This was very apt to finish up last night. I‘m thoroughly enjoying the hush. 🤫 #midwintersolace #litsolace #naturalitsy @TheBookHippie @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit

I‘m not usually a whodunnit reader, but this was cute and fun! Last holiday book in the can, back to some regularly scheduled reading. 🎄📚❤️❄️

#Jolabokaflod - continuing the tradition. The youngest..always will be the youngest no matter how old she gets. I was even included this year with a book sent to my kindle 📚❤️🎄my husband - the ghastly non-reader - got a book of Grinch Hershey kisses. Though double chocolate - not a terrible consequence.

Merry Christmas Littens! 🎄📚

My husband literally does not like cats - he was one of those neglected children who didn‘t get to have pets…but Kevin can‘t stop hoping. You know how cats sleaze around those who hate them? Yep, Kevin is king sleaze and his holiday wish was granted. 🎄 a single touch for 2024.

It‘s a Midwest Christmas! Brandy slush is chilling in the snowbank. 🍹 🎄

#5JoyFriday @DebinHawaii Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView
1. Coffee and reading in front of the tree every a.m.
2. Neighborly strategizing to try to get the Amazon truck out of our ditch. Driver Keenan is a great kid!
3. Shoveling the whole thing 💪🏻
4. College kid pick up and guitar center stop
5. Finding the perfect gag for the nephew.
Bonus - all of my handknit socks. Each has a memory wrapped in it. 🧦 🎄⭐️

@TheSpineView @Kshakal

1. Sitting with my coffee in front of the Christmas tree each morning.

2. Her sass.

#Two4Tuesday

#5JoysFriday
1. Dinner with the family
2. Continued retirement celebration with friends who were with me 30 years
3. A long coffee talk with @Jenreads (we should have taken a selfie!)
4. Impromptu visit to college kid
5. November temperature circles
6. Bonus #6 for 6 mile hike
Thank you @DebinHawaii @Kshakal

1. The Beach! I just hate winter and it‘s coming for us soon in WI. 🏖️
2. Tagged

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Kshakal

#5JoysFriday Retirement edition
1. So many humbling moments of kindness 🥹
2. Lunch and chat with my work partner 🌮
3. 31 years of memories and stories with great people
4. Charcuterie and flowers
5. A very full ❤️

@DebinHawaii - thanks for the tag @TheSpineView @Kshakal

1. I enjoy turning my tree lights on in the early morning and enjoying my coffee in peace. Stuffing stockings is a favorite with my nuclear snd origin fams.
2. Tagged - buddy read with #naturalitsy #midwintersolace ❄️
@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday Thanks for the tag @Kshakal

Advent knitting. A stripe a day…should be manageable right?! 🤞🏻🎉

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. Trail run/walk
2. Annual 🦃 day 5k with husband and college kid
3. Laying under the tree
4. A successful Thanksgiving
5. All the feels this week, from melancholy to exciting things…❤️. Thanks for the tag @Kshakal

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
1. This is so hard…so many. I always enjoy The Best of You by Foo Fighters.
2. I‘ll be Home for Christmas

Tagging @Kshakal @JenReadsAlot @BethM

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii Thank you @Kshakal
1. Hiking a new segment of the trail
2. Got my holiday lights out
3. A new project
4. A new round of strength training
5. Kind word from a coworker
6. Helping a friend
So many good but simple things! Happy weekend everyone! Please pause and consider yourself tagged ❤️

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
1. In many things yes; I like to control the flow and know what to expect. Sometimes plans implode and make for a good time!!
2. Be ready when the Luck Happens, the Ina Garten memoir pretty much is about plans going to the wayside, and her biz turned out pretty amazing! “How easy is that?!”
@Kshakal @JenReadsAlot @BethM

Took a zoom class with Edible Madison using their cool kit.

Holiday trash #3 is shaping up to be a good story so far! 🎄

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. College kid home to regroup 🍌
2. Excellent apple pie bars 🍎
3. Holiday trash reads 🎄
4. Napping with Kevin 🐈‍⬛
5. October temp circles done and attached! ⭕️
6. Two family dinners in one week! 😘

Thanks for the tag @Kshakal all please join, I‘m late to the party!
5.

This was a little predictable like any good Rom-Com, but also a good story with likable characters and plenty of 🌶️!

#TLT Thanksgiving Desserts - if I overachieve at anything, it might be sweets and dessert. I have tried 70 out of 100 of the desserts.
The ones I‘ve hated got more of a reaction 😂 and like @AmyG they were jello based! That said my aunt makes a wonderful raspberry cream cheese layered beauty with jello that I am going to try to recreate for my family to bring some magic to this Thanksgiving. I am curious about Cherry Coke Salad? Tagging All!

#whatsnewwednesday @TieDyeDude @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Read4life
I handed in my retirement application - so I see more time to respond to some #litsylove after Dec 6! 🎉

Author talks always bring more depth to the book. Glad I listened in to Chris Whitaker, he is an interesting man.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
1. Definitely stripes, I tend to love a good stripe.
2. Yes, several, the tagged book for one 📚

Tagging @Kshakal @JenReadsAlot @BethM

It‘s holiday trash season for me! 🎄 This was more raunchy than any holiday romance I‘ve read, so beware if that is not your thing, that said, the story line was pretty good. I might not continue the series all the same. It seems i prefer more yearn and a little less graphic sex in seasonal books 🫣🤣

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. My husband‘s birthday and the overpriced steak of his dreams
2. Coffee with @JenReadsAlot with my new sweatshirt and attracting other democracy lovers.
3. September temperature circles
4. Kevin‘s fluffy hinder
5. Signed my retirement application
6. Honoring my mom with my dad and sister. ❤️
@Kshakal - thank you!!

Even during the darkest, hardest week there was plenty to be joyful about.

1. A rainy or chilly day, under a blanket, in between naps, surrounded by the pets.
2. Holiday Trash because tis the season and truly, after this week, the lighter the better.
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @BethM

1. A rainy or chilly day, under a blanket, in between naps, surrounded by the pets.
2. Holiday Trash because tis the season and truly, after this week, the lighter the better.
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @BethM

1. Sunsets, I‘m more of a night person, but an aspiring morning person.
2. Inclusivity, magical realism, island life.

@TheSpineView Thanks for the tag @Kshakal
#Two4Tuesday

#sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern The tagged book feels less fiction all the time 🤦🏼‍♀️

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Husband‘s birthday, and surprise appearance from college kid.
2. Trip to the Capital for 🧀
3. Another wonderful hike
Thank you for the tag @Kshakal
4. Trauma bonding with coworkers
5. Christmas book kick off with Geri 🎄

@Texreader says it‘s Cat Day!! This picture taken by my daughter made me laugh out loud. I feel like Kevin needs to have the song “Macho Man” by the Village People on for his theme, posturing like a thug. He is normally slightly less ornery looking.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Kshakal

1. I‘m not but I did buy a creepy cat mask at the dollar store…just in case. I love Halloween, it‘s my husband‘s birthday and was my mom‘s favorite, she always dressed up to Trick or Treat with us when I was a kid.
2. I haven‘t read anything too scary in a while. I generally like King and Koontz level scary.