My #5JoysFriday list this week. TBH it wasn‘t a great week overall again & some of my joys may look familiar as I haven‘t had much chance to vary where my simple joys come from.🤷🏻‍♀️

1. I took a wellness day today & have Monday off for Labor Day, so it‘s a much needed 4-day weekend.🗓️

2. I made today peaceful overall-staying off of the news & social media, getting my haircut, eating what I wanted & doing what I wanted, including a nap. 💛

⬇️

A much needed wellness day off from work. Started with a haircut & now reading in the Barnes & Noble cafe before I try to do a little wallet damage & run my mall errands.

Breakfast is a slice of the artichoke quiche & the Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. I did get the $5 book special because it says Fall & the back cover says “Lucy Kane Hates Pumpkin Spice Lattes” Me too, Lucy, me too! 😉

Thanks everyone for starting #5JoysFriday this week without a prompt! I truly meant to post last night but fell asleep.😵

Anyway, as usual, EVERYONE is welcome to share 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week. Use the #5JoysFriday tag on your post & tag me and/or anyone you want to share our joy party with. You can use the background any way you like or use your own.💛

Happy Friday! I took a wellness day & will post my joys later!

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I wrote this haiku yesterday after watching the news. Part of me is angry, most of me is just tired and incredibly sad. 💔

Another dark day
Sense lost in a broken world
I can‘t stop the tears

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

So I thought this week would be easier but work is still kicking my butt & I‘m three days behind in haikus. This one for Tuesday is inspired by the picture I took waiting for takeoff to Hilo last week.

Awaiting Flight

View from a runway
Stillness before the ascent
Sky awaits its wings 🛫☁️✈️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the sliver of moon I saw in the sky last night as I was taking my trash out. So delicate and beautiful in the night sky🌙 (Note: not my picture but the closest I found online.)

barest sliver of
waxing crescent moon clothed in
the black velvet night 🌙

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending tonight‘s #HyggeHour back with Trixie & the gang to finish the second half of Book 16 for #BobWhiteBuddies.

On my couch, drinking this flavored iced tea & enjoying a couple snack sized Take 5 bars I purloined from a dish at the board meeting last week.🍫🦹They are one of my favorite candy bars.

Mood is fine. I could use another weekend day but my workweek, while busy,should be at least a bit calmer.

#Read2025

Reread for #AuthorAMonth August #JudyBlume TBH, I wanted to reread Are You There God, It‘s Me, Margaret, especially since this one is the #ChildrensClassicRead2025 pick for September, but I‘m cheap & this one was available from the library in Ebook or audio, so I went ahead with it. It‘s also my #Roll100 pick for August (#41 Any Reread.) It all came back to me while listening & I cringed & winced my way through, being mad & annoyed ⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the spotted dove cooing & singing this morning. (I borrowed this picture). Not native to Hawaii, the spotted dove was introduced from Asia in the 1800s.

Morning Sounds

The spotted dove coos
A soft plaintive melody
Outside my window

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

This is Thursday‘s haiku-just a little late. I was able to run out at lunch Thursday to get my favorite poke bowl. So fresh & so good it “broke da mouth” as they say in Hawaii.

Ono in a Bowl

Cold poke, warm rice
Fresh sea, crunch, and flavors burst
Broke da mouth fo‘ sure

The week was a total blur as they are when I‘m prepping & presenting for a board meeting which I “get” to do 3 times a year. Still, there were some joyful moments for my day-late #5JoysFriday post.

1. The sunrises from my planes this week. If you look closely at the bottom photo, you can see Waikiki to Diamond head. Scenery joy! 🖼️

2. Also day trip related, neighbor island upgrades always give me joy & I had 3 of 4 segments this week.

⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

This is yesterday‘s haiku, or rather last night‘s. I stopped to watch the twilight fade into night on my way home from the airport. (Then I promptly went home & fell asleep!) I‘ve always loved the word “gloaming.” 🌅

In the gloaming hour
Soft waves mirror fading light
Sky melts into sea

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I still owe a couple of days of backup haikus(in progress) but here is today‘s, written this morning & inspired by taking myself to breakfast with a view after a long tough week. Off now for a quick trip around the makers market & errands.

Saturday morning
Full bowl, purple skies in glass
Possibilities…

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I still owe a haiku for yesterday but today‘s haiku is inspired by today‘s commute to Hilo for our board meeting. It‘s been a looong work month, but I‘m hanging in & at least I get 90 minutes of airplane time today to finish the tagged book for #CampLitsy25

Friday‘s traveler
Coffee very much needed
She‘s running on fumes…

How is Friday nearly upon us once more?! This month is just flying by. You know what that means though-it‘s time to share this 5 things, big or small, that brought you joy this week. 💛💛💛

Tag your post with #5JoysFriday then tag me & anyone else you want to invite to the joy party. Use the background if & however you like.

EVERYONE is welcome to share the joy! 💛🤗💛

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Watching the canoe clubs practice padding as the sun sets is very zen & relaxing for me & inspired yesterday‘s (I‘m behind) haiku:

stillness in the bay,
paddle blades kiss ocean waves
mana flows through calm

Note: In Hawaiian culture, mana refers to a spiritual energy or power believed to exist in all living things, objects, and places.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

This is yesterday‘s haiku but I had a delayed flight last night & pretty much slept from the time I got home & had a crazy schedule today too. Traveled to Hilo with my colleague & got us both breakfast plus picked up egg bites for another colleague. It was not cheap…but it came with much “Alohas” 😉🌺

Commuter morning
Coffee and breakfast for two
Traded my kidney…

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today was a day. A really long day & it inspired today‘s haiku.

Frizzled frazzled day
Meetings, slides, and pounding head
I‘ve lost my sparkle 🧨

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending tonight‘s #HyggeHoyr with Trixie & the gang for #BobWhiteBudfies August. Drinking ice water & eating a few peanut butter & jelly M&Ms for my chocolate fix.

Mood is fine. Not at all excited that it‘s Monday already & I have 2 day trips to Hilo this week. 😬😵‍💫 The weekends go way too fast.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last week for #EBBR & I had to return it to the library already, so as usual I can‘t remember which I solved & which I didn‘t. I do know I solved the alarm clock one⏰ & the one with the camping kidnapping, but otherwise?🤷🏻‍♀️ I do have to say that you by now the police should stop listening to Bugs Meany when he tries to blame EB & just take Bugs to juvenile detention already.🙄 Anyway, they are fun to read.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

I never posted my review for this one, read last month for #EBBR & of course by now I have forgotten the cases & the ones I didn‘t solve. (I didn‘t solve! I think there were a couple.) 🤷🏻‍♀️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by a recent sunset & the beauty of the clouds & sea.

Clouds of pink and grey
Drift above the quiet sea
Sky and water merge

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by me running errands & going through the drive through for coffee. The white pibble/mix in the car ahead of me was excitedly (yet still patiently) waiting for his pup cup. I grabbed my phone late but you can see his head between the arm & tail light if you look close. It made me smile to see how happy he was.🐶💛

White pit waits, head out
Drive-thru dreams of whipped delight
Pup cup joy ahead

My #5JoysFriday post is a tad late again but here it is:

1. The view from my hotel in Hilo never fails to bring me zen & joy.🙏🏼💛

2. My free “welcome” drink in the hotel bar labeled a “Paradise Punch”—it was fruity, refreshing & joyful.🍹

3. The mushroom-bacon burger with crispy fries that I had for dinner in the hotel bar was cooked perfectly, delicious & joyful.🍔😋

4. Vanilla ice cream with warm fudge sauce for dessert at one of my ⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I survived silent book club last night! (See yesterday‘s haiku post.) while not entirely silent—there were intros & photos & small talk, I did manage to read 2 stories in the tagged book & get farther ahead in my ebook for #CampLitsy2025
It also inspired this haiku:

Comfort zone encroached
Silent club not so silent
Gold star earned last night🌟

I also received a bookmark & cute sticker. The people were nice. I‘d go back.

And it‘s Friday again & time to post those 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week.

Everyone is welcome to join in! Simply make your post & tag it with #5JoysFriday then tag me & anyone else you want to share the joy with.💛🤗💛

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Okay, I‘m an introvert & get anxiety in unknown social settings but I keep hearing about silent book clubs so I‘m giving it a try tonight, inspiring today‘s haiku.

Beyond comfort‘s edge
Butterflies begin to stir
Silent book club night

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Cloudy sunrise & morning today in Hilo but I still had coffee on my balcony with the Merlin app who in a happy coincidence, listed my bird of the day as Red Junglefowl then identified its crow (what I would have called an ordinary rooster!)🐓inspiring today‘s haiku.

Oh Red Junglefowl
Merlin sings your name at dawn—
I just hear rooster

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

A really long day Hilo full of meetings with more of the same tomorrow but I did get to sit on my hotel balcony & watch the day drift into night before dinner. It was very relaxing & now I must sleep.

View From My Hotel Balcony

Twilight, Hilo Bay
Cruise ship glides, the mynahs call
Meetings drift away

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Yesterday I was looking up at clouds from my skylight & they looked like they had tails or tentacles & that reminded me a bit of jellyfish & inspired today‘s daily haiku. (The photo doesn‘t capture it that well so use your imagination!)☁️🪼😉

Skylight glimpse of clouds
Wispy tendrils drift downward
Sky-borne jellyfish

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

My #HyggeHour tonight is spending time solving mysteries with Encyclopedia Brown for #EBBR & then reading more of The Small & the Mighty for #SheSaid. I‘m drinking this fun iced tea (white tea, honey, white grape & lavender) because it‘s so humid & snacking on this pineapple custard pastry.

Mood is quiet & sad that it‘s Monday tomorrow & another crazy work week with an overnight to Hilo.

I remain so behind on reviews for both June & July but I thought I‘d get my July recap up finally. I finished 15 books (including 3 I had in progress from June) which I think given work lately is good. I did read & love both #CampLitsy2025 selections but was not good about the discussions which has continued this month. I also finished books for #AuthorAMonth #SheSaid #SundayBuddyRead #NancyDrewBR #BobWhiteBuddies #EBBR #ThematicCozies ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last week for #NancyDrewBR I kinda, sorta remember this one from my childhood. This one involves a missing dancer & just a few weeks to go to find her & get the “castle” & money left to her by the business tycoon who loved her (which will help her sister & niece as well.) Without saying too much, this one has a little Cinderella vibe to it & some serious dangers for Nancy. Slight spoiler for the Nancy Noggin ⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

My morning included running an errand & while I was out, I grabbed a takeout breakfast & sat at the nearby boat dock reading, sharing my scrambled eggs with a cattle egret, contemplating my life choices & writing today‘s haiku.

Sunday Boat Dock Sojourn

Small waves kiss the shore
Breakfast with a white egret
Sunday zen settles

My late #5JoysFriday post. July-August is filled with meetings, trips to Hilo & stress, but there are still small joys:💛

1. Pringles Mingles Dill Pickle & Ranch crisps are my newest pickle 🥒obsession. Lots of mouth joy!😋

2. The Blackened Ahi Cesar Salad I had for lunch at a meeting last week was so ono-super fresh & full of joyful flavor!🥗💚

3. Out of my 4 Hilo flight segments this week, I got upgrades on 3 ✈️🩵 plus extra reading time.
⬇️

It‘s been a long & crazy workweek (workweeks) & thus a while since I‘ve posted a #HaikuADay with #HaukuHive. Took a lunch break today to sit outside read & relax—the inspiration for my haiku.

Birds and voices weave
Fresh poke, warm sun, soft breeze
Peaceful reading lunch

Ah, friends, Friday is upon us again in another insanely busy week.😵‍💫I‘m headed to Hilo tomorrow for meetings for the second time this week.

I hope you join in & share a #5JoysFriday post with the 5 things (big or small) that brought you joy this week. Use the #5JoysFriday tag & tag me in your post-along with anyone else you‘d like to share the joy with. As usual, ALL are welcome! 🤗 #💛

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour with Nancy Drew for #NancyDrewBR & ice water & an apple-cinnamon turnover.🍎

Mood is tired, the weekend went by quickly & I‘m behind on so much. I‘m not ready for Monday & another busy week with 2 Hilo trips for meetings. 😵‍💫

Very late on my #5JoysFriday post & haven‘t been around the last couple of days. Catching up on sleep & went to a funeral & gathering for a friend‘s mom yesterday, then came home & slept, but better late than never.

1. That the tsunami warning ended with minimal issues or damages to the islands. We got lucky again.💙

2. Was almost too busy & stressed to go to an HR Director roundtable Thursday but ended up glad I did both for the discussion ⬇️

Tomorrow is Friday & August. Where did the time go?! Insane day at work & sadly, still finishing slides to present tomorrow at a business review in Hilo.😵‍💫 But, I thought I‘d get the #5JoysFriday festivities started. All are welcome to join in!💛

To take part, make a post with 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week. Tag it with #5JoysFriday & tag me & anyone else you want to share joy with. Use the background if & how you like.🤗

#Read2025

Finished for June‘s #AuthorAMonth & #FictionalTraveler #Water
Thanks to @Soubhiville I read it on SerialReader which I think helped me with its short sections. It has some beautiful writing but not enough plot & too much stream-of-consciousness for me & was hard to keep track of. I got behind in A Room of One‘s Own on SerialReader & I may try to finish it tonight but I don‘t know that I will read more Woolf unless pushed to do so. 😉

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the Tsunami Warning yesterday (see previous post) which was downgraded to Advisory last night & that Advisory was just canceled this morning. We got lucky. It‘s already back to business as usual & work is crazy, so…

The morning after
The sea has mostly settled
Work is still storming…

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by a tsunami warning which unlike last weekend‘s watch, means evacuations for coastal areas. I‘m on the cusp of the evacuation zone & after checking in with neighbors, I‘m staying put. First wave was supposed to hit Kauai at 7:10 pm, then Oahu at 7:17 pm. It‘s now 7:45 pm & they say it‘s still coming so we have some time to wait.😳

Tsunami redux
Just beyond the warning line
Calm, but not at peace

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished Sunday for July‘s #BobWhiteBuddies this one (#15) & Trixie & the gang are visiting Mark Twain country—St. Louis & the Mississippi River when mysterious papers left in her hotel room by the previous occupant soon have her & the Bob-Whites mixed up in some very dangerous dealings. This one I remembered a lot of—probably because Trixie gets in over her head. Also I get very frustrated when the group splits up ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Since I‘m way behind on June reviews, I‘m posting June‘s book review of book 14 before I post this. month‘s for #BobWhiteBuddies
While I thought this was a fine book in the series & liked the Williamsburg, Virginia setting this wasn‘t one I reread much growing up for some reason.🤷🏻‍♀️ Trixie finds a letter alluding to an emerald necklace while cleaning her attic & the Bob-Whites are off to find the treasure.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Had to drive across the island this morning to go to one of our branches for work & meetings. I was struck by the weather from rain to sun, then rinse & repeat. I also saw 2 rainbows. That & my audiobook made for a good commute & inspired this haiku. (Although it‘s where I was commuting, it‘s not my photo because I was driving… on the freeway.)😉

Island morning hums
Rain and sun take turns to dance
Rainbows grace the road

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour finishing up this Trixie Belden book I started last week for #BobWhiteBuddies along with a lilikoi bar & sparkling water (it‘s warm & humid tonight). Also watching Legally Blonde because I need something fluffy to watch.

Mood is fine. Not really looking forward to Monday & another crazy week. (How is it almost August?)

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

I‘m trying to catch up on my reviews for June 🤦🏻‍♀️ & this book (the 21st in the Bakeshop Mystery series) was my June pick for #FictionalTraveler #APlaceYoudLikeToVisit (it‘s set in Costa Rico) & it was also a June #Roll100 pick: Any Mystery & an #ARC from the publisher.

An enjoyable entry into the series with Jules & Carlos going to Costa Rica to visit a former colleague‘s family coffee plantation & taking Andy ⬇️

#Read2025

I am so very behind on my reviews for June & now July 😩 but I finished this one last night for #SundayBuddyRead & as expected, I loved it. Stacey Lee is probably my favorite author of historical YA & this is the 4th book we‘ve read with her. She creates characters that I love & root for & teaches me about history from underrepresented perspectives, all while telling an exciting & engrossing story. Do things usually work out at least ⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Ending my week-long daily haiku theme about the days of my week with Sunday which I am making as low effort as possible. Pajamas all day & no “have tos” in sight. Gathering peace & strength for a busy week ahead.

Sunday in p.j.s
Leftovers, low effort day
Laziness, well done