Somehow I can get to the library embarrassingly early and still sit behind a big furry hat. (It is zero degrees so I‘ll give the lady a pass)That said, it was about the conversation with the author, Nickolas Butler - which was so powerful, vulnerable and just plain cool. He is such a regular guy, I love his work.

🤣💕🐛

#sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern

Sometimes reading magazines or doing what the tagged book implies, read easy breezy romance, can help me clear the deck to get out of the slump. 📚

Kevin missed me! (And he loves this blanket) Happy Caturday! 🐈

#5JoysFriday
1. The views
2. Safe flights all around. Lots of family traveling.
3. Simple entertainment - bingo, cards, puzzles and laying around in the sun 🏝️
4. My mother-in-law‘s cooking and hosting
5. Lots of walks, rest and reading - rested to face the rest of winter in WI 🥶
@DebinHawaii Thank you!! Tagging @JenReadsAlot @dabbe @Kshakal

Happy Valentine‘s Y‘all! 💕

❤️💕🩷🛍️ 📚

Finished the Atmosphere ARC, so good! I am also knitting a hat for return to the tundra for a serendipitously named Astronomy knit along.

At my in-laws condo in FL. A perfect spot to enjoy this book, Water by the water. Not a breezy read but so good. I love Boyne and look forward to getting the other three in this series. Do not look forward to going back to snow in a few days - but I‘ve heard there‘s no place like home.

#mentalgealthmonday @Kshakal - thank you for the tag❤️

1. I‘m feeling good, on vacation but also looking forward to going home
2. Walking, breath work, yoga, knitting and always reading
3. This. That we need to keep talking about it.

@DebinHawaii @Kshakal #5JoysFriday

1. Water 🏝️
2. Nostalgia on Sanibel Island
3. Paying homage to Gene‘s Books 😢
4. Dinner in Tampa with an old friend
5. College kid joining us mid-vacay

Pub day!! Love this local-to-me author, and the book is a delight, a slow and steady rekindling.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Long overdue lunch with a college friend
2. Successful sourdough with farmers market apple pie jelly
3. Warm temps in WI!
4. A zoom with my x-country knitting friends
5. Library staff holiday party to confirm I cannot golf
Pre-joy - I visiting my college kid today for lunch and supply shopping. 🛍️

@Kshakal @JenReadsAlot @dabbe @AmyG

🧁 📚 💤

Enjoying this so far. 👽 Narrator Will Patton is always so good.

#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 31 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! 🎄