What I'm Reading: "March"

As someone who loved Little Women and spent a short time in her early life wishing she could be Jo March, even for just one day - I was excited to finally read March by Geraldine Brooks. (Yes, I know it  won the Pulitzer Prize way back in 2006, but if you could see my TBR list, you would understand why it took me so long to get around to this)

March follows the father of the "Little Women" during the time he is absent from the original classic tale. It brings to life the previously untold story of his service as a chaplain in the Union army, as well as the back story of how he and Marmee met and fell in love. 

I feel that it's an interesting story. Good, but not great. It took me a while to get into the story as well as the characters. Papa March and Marmee are not exactly the kindly, understanding, loving characters we know from Little Women.  Mr. March is a bit self-centered for my taste.  But that very flaw is a big part of what drives his actions and the plot. My feelings about this book swung wildly from frustration to being completely enthralled.

March is also not an easy read.  Ms. Brooks doesn't paint a sugar-coated picture about the horrors of war, battlefield hospitals, or slavery. If you are sensitive to violence or brutality, you may want to give it a pass.

If you are looking for another Little Women, this isn't it.  If you are looking for a well-written alternate story to that childhood classic - pick up a copy of March.

⭐⭐⭐

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Children's Blizzard

 Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.  I would even go so far as to say it is my absolute favorite.  I enjoy seeing history come to life in a work of fiction.  And I love it, even more, when a novel introduces me to a historical event that I knew little to nothing about before I opened the novel.  This was the case with The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin.  

"The New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife reveals a little-known story of courage on the prairie: the freak blizzard that struck the Great Plains, threatening the lives of hundreds of immigrant homesteaders--especially their children.

The morning of January 12, 1888, was unusually mild, following a long cold spell, warm enough for the homesteaders of the Dakota territory to venture out again, and for their children to return to school without their heavy coats--leaving them unprepared when disaster struck. At just the hour when most prairie schools were letting out for the day, a terrifying, fast-moving blizzard struck without warning. Schoolteachers as young as sixteen were suddenly faced with life and death decisions: keep the children inside, risk freezing to death when fuel ran out, or send them home, praying they wouldn't get lost in the storm?

Based on actual oral histories of survivors, the novel follows the stories of Raina and Gerda Olsen, two sisters, both schoolteachers--one who becomes a hero of the storm, and one who finds herself ostracized in the aftermath. It's also the story of Anette Pedersen, a servant girl whose miraculous survival serves as a turning point in her life and touches the heart of Gavin Woodson, a newspaperman seeking redemption. It is Woodson and others like him who wrote the embellished news stories that lured immigrants across the sea to settle a pitiless land. Boosters needed immigrants to settle territories into states, and they didn't care what lies they told them to get them there--or whose land it originally was.

At its heart, this is a story of courage, of children forced to grow up too soon, tied to the land because of their parents' choices. It is a story of love taking root in the hard prairie ground, and of families being torn asunder by a ferocious storm that is little remembered today--because so many of its victims were immigrants to this country."  (synopsis courtesy Goodreads.com )

The Children's Blizzard, or Schoolhouse Blizzard, hit the Great Plains on January 12, 1888.  The days preceding had been brutally cold, but this morning dawned pleasant and mild.  As a result, many left their homes without their usual heavy winter clothing and coats - leaving them unprepared for the storm that would unexpectantly arrive during the late afternoon.  The blizzard suddenly began just as children were being released from school for the day.  Teachers (many of them still teenagers themselves) faced the life or death decision of whether to send out into the storm or try to wait it out in school houses ill-prepared to provide shelter through such a vicious storm.  Hundreds were caught out in the storm. It is a riveting and tragic story.  

Unfortunately, I found many of the main characters lacking in dimension and unlikable.  While well written, the story drags in several places, especially when focusing on the non-relevant personal dramas of the characters rather than the storm and its aftermath.  However, if you press through those portions of the novel, it is an interesting - although sad - story.

⭐⭐⭐

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Quiet Girl

Have you ever read a book that was just completely messed up and insane - but in all the right ways?  For me, that book was The Quiet Girl by S. F. Kosa.

"When Alex arrives in Provincetown to patch things up with his new wife, he finds an empty wine glass in the sink, her wedding ring on the desk, and a string of questions in her wake. The police believe that Alex's wife simply left, his marriage crumbling before it truly began. But what Alex finds in their empty cottage points him toward a different reality:

His wife has always carried a secret. And now she's disappeared.

In his hunt for the truth, Alex comes across Layla, a young woman with information to share, who may hold the key to everything his wife has kept hidden. A girl without a clear recollection of her own past. A strange, quiet girl whose memories may break them all.

To find his wife, Alex must face what Layla has forgotten. And the consequences are anything but quiet." (description via GoodReads.com)

A lot was going on in this novel.  I mean, a lot!  For the first third of the book or so, I couldn't figure out what was going on.  OK, that's not true.  I knew exactly what was going on.  I just couldn't figure out how the two narratives were related.  Once that was cleared up,  I still found myself thinking "Wait... WHAT is going on here??" every few pages.  

I could have done without the entire portion involving Alex's work and the drama going on there.  I'm not sure what the point was or how it added to the story in any way.  For me, it just added a lot of unnecessary extra goings-on that distracted me from the main storyline and could have been left out.  

All in all,  there was plenty of suspense and twists to keep me guessing right up until the very end. Another case of "stayed up too late to finish this book". 

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Plot

I have read a lot of good books this year.  I guess perhaps a year of quarantine was good for authors and for getting the creative juices flowing.  But, I am going to say that in my opinion, The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is one of the best of the entire bunch.  

"Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he's teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what's left of his self-respect; he hasn't written--let alone published--anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn't need Jake's help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then... he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker's first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that--a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker's predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised, and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his "sure thing" of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?" (description via goodreads.com)

I enjoyed this novel so much!!  

It was unique and refreshing.  It brought up a lot of thoughtful internal debates with myself about intellectual property, the theft of ideas, and plagiarism.  I loved the characters.  And maybe I also sort of hated them.  But those are some of my favorite kinds of characters, the ones you love and hate all at the same time. 

Maybe I was slow to get on the train, but I did NOT see the twist coming in this one.  Which, usually I have at least some sort of an idea or at least a guess.

This story kept me awake late into the night while reading it.  And stayed in my thoughts for days after.  I still find myself thinking about parts of it.  I am quick to name it if anyone is brave enough to ask me for a book recommendation.  And it has me adding more of the author's works to my To Be Read list.

What I'm Reading Wednesday: We Begin at the End

If you're looking for a feel-good, happy ending sort of book, We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker isn't it.  However, if you're in the mood for a novel filled to the brim with loss, remorse, revenge, redemption, and love -  then you've found it!

"Walk has never left the coastal California town where he grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he’s still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released.

Duchess is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Her mother, Star, grew up with Walk and Vincent. Walk is in overdrive trying to protect them, but Vincent and Star seem bent on sliding deeper into self-destruction. Star always burned bright, but recently that light has dimmed, leaving Duchess to parent not only her mother but her five-year-old brother. At school the other kids make fun of Duchess—her clothes are torn, her hair a mess. But let them throw their sticks because she’ll throw stones. Rules are for other people. She’s just trying to survive and keep her family together.

A fortysomething-year-old sheriff and a thirteen-year-old girl may not seem to have a lot in common. But they both have come to expect that people will disappoint you, loved ones will leave you, and if you open your heart it will be broken. So when trouble arrives with Vincent King, Walk and Duchess find they will be unable to do anything but usher it in, arms wide closed"  (synopsis via Goodreads.com)

I'm still not sure how I felt about this book.  It was an intricate and compelling story.  But, it is also incredibly sad. 

There were many characters, and sometimes it could feel like a bit much to keep them all straight and figure out what was going on with who and what part they might be playing in the main storyline.  Duchess is a 13-year-old girl, forced to grow up and take on far too much responsibility at a very early age, leaving her angry and closed off from others. Her mother, Star, is a woman lost and unable to take care of herself or her two children.  Walk is the chief of police who seems bound and determined to take care of everyone except himself.  Vincent is constantly going to extraordinary lengths to punish himself for a horrible mistake from his youth.  And that's just a few of the players in this tragic tale.

This novel had my emotions in a twist.  I was as angry as Duchess as I read one page, and then as full of hope as Walk on the next.  And sometimes I was just confused. 

Although it starts slow, and a more than a bit confusing at times - once it starts rolling, it's a novel well worth the time. 

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Nature of Fragile Things

I featured this book last Wednesday on my Instagram, but I didn't get around to writing a blog post for it, so... here ya go!:  The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner 

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops a deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.  

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear. (Description courtesy GoodReads)

This was a good story. Well written. Set against an interesting historical event.  I know that so many people really love this book.  And while I enjoyed it, overall it fell a little flat for me.  My problem is that I can't quite put my finger on why exactly that is the case. With the exception of Sophie, none of the other characters ever really came to life in my imagination, feeling more like bland stereotypical background characters.  Perhaps it's because I was hoping for more from the scenes involving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and it's aftermath.  Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace to fully enjoy the novel.  (shrug)

Please, don't get me wrong... It's a very good novel.  A nice distraction. And I don't regret reading it.  But, it just fell a little short of expectations for me.  

What I'm Reading Wednesday: When the Stars Go Dark

 Honestly, if you asked me - I would probably say that I don't care for thrillers.  Yet, I always read a few each year and almost always end up enjoying them.  So... take that for what it is.   One fine example of this is my most recent read:  When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain.  

Anna Hart is a missing persons detective in San Francisco. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna's childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever.

As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. The most difficult lessons of her life have given her insight into how victims come into contact with violent predators. As Anna becomes obsessed with the missing girl, she must accept that true courage means getting out of her own way and learning to let others in.

Weaving together actual cases of missing persons, trauma theory, and a hint of the metaphysical, this propulsive and deeply affecting novel tells a story of fate, necessary redemption, and what it takes, when the worst happens, to reclaim our lives--and our faith in one another. (Description from GoodReads)

I have very much enjoyed Paula McLain's novels of historical fiction that I read but was a little hesitant to read this mystery/suspense novel. 

After personal tragedy shakes up the life of Anna Hart, a detective who specializes in finding missing children,  she flees to the small town where she found comfort from her troubled childhood with her loving and supportive (and now deceased) foster parents.  When she arrives, she finds that a young girl has recently disappeared and quickly becomes tangled up in the investigation.

When the Stars Go Dark expertly combines the fictional tale of the search for a missing girl in northern California with references to real-life missing person cases from the same time period, such as the disappearance of Polly Klaas.

I founded the story a little slow to start.  It took me a while to get through about the first third of the book.  But once it got rolling, I didn't want to put it down.

My one warning about this book is that if you are sensitive to books that contain child abuse/neglect, murder and/or violence, or sexual assault - give this one a pass.  

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Out of sight, out of mind. We've all heard the expression.  But imagine truly living this to the extreme.  Imagine that as soon as you were out of someone's eyesight they completely forgot about you.  That's the case for the title character in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. (description via GoodReads.com)

It is fascinating to follow along as Addie learns to navigate a world where no one remembers her once they leave the room, or fall asleep.  Making it impossible to make friends, get a job, or even rent a room for the night.  I ached for her in parts and felt frustration at her for some of the choices she makes along the way.

There were a few details of the story that kind of made me pause.  For instance, Addie can spend an entire day with someone - drinking coffee or at a bar - but no one ever had to go to the bathroom or anything else that would cause them to leave her for all that time?  Ok... (shrug).  It's not a big thing, and easily forgotten. (kind of like Addie herself)

Over the centuries, Addie's focus becomes finding a way to leave her mark on the world.  To tell her stories. And in a way, deep down, isn't that what we all want?

All in all, it's an interesting premise for a novel and I enjoyed the read. 

 

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Transforming Your Thought Life

If I had to guess, I would think that most (all?) of us probably feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts from time to time.  Guilt, anxiety, fear, guilt, regret, anger... the list goes on and on.  What's a person to do?

Perhaps the answer can be found in the book I  finished reading this week:  Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation In Focus by Sarah Geringer. 

Thousands of thoughts fly through our minds every day, many of them negative. And Satan knows how susceptible we are to these negative thoughts that leave us frustrated and feeling defeated. However, the time-honored practice of Christian meditation can help us find victory in these spiritual battles.

Transforming Your Thought Life offers guided meditations and personal examples that will help you train your mind to stay grounded in God’s Word. Each chapter examines a particular kind of negative thought pattern and provides key Bible verses and prayers for standing strong against it. Day by day, as you hide God’s Word in your heart and mind, you will move closer to the heart and mind of God. (Description via Goodreads.com)

I've spoken before about how as we have repeated thoughts, it creates and strengthens neural connections in the brain, making it easier and easier to have those thoughts in the future. (See HERE) The Bible says much the same thing in Romans 12:2 when it tells us to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind".

In Transforming Your Thought Life, Ms. Geringer divides many common types of negative thought into individual chapters and discusses ways to meditate on the truths found in Scripture in order to transform our mind - spiritually and physiologically. Along with practical tips, advice, and personal stories - She also provides a list of passages from Scripture which relate to each topic that can then be used to meditate throughout your day. 

Whether you choose to read the entire text or select chapters relating to which negative thoughts you are struggling with, this book is a good read for the Christian wanting to overcome negative thought patterns.

What are you reading this week?  

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Lost Apothecary

At the end of last week I was able to pickup two books I had on hold at the library.  The timing was perfect because I had just finished The Four Winds.  And I was excited to get these books, since they were two I expected to be waiting on for a while!

This week I am reading The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.  Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive . (Description from Goodreads.com)

This is the debut novel by Ms Penner.  

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and so far this novel is no exception. I usually know I've picked a winner when I find myself wanting to learn more about the historical period, events, or people referenced in the story.  I'm only about a third of the way into The Lost Apothecary, and I've already googled about a dozen things I wanted to know more about! That's a good sign.

The story switches back and forth between 1790s London to the current day.  I know some people don't care for multiple points of view, but in most cases it doesn't bother me. Especially since the narratives are divided by chapter.

What are you reading this week?

Currently... February 2020

The month of love has arrived!  The stores are bursting with hearts, flowers, candies and all the rest of the Valentine's Day trimmings.  Love is definitely in the air.   I hope you feel it.  Whether you have a significant other or not.  From your family, your friends, yourself.  And always from God.  

If you're looking for some inspiration this Valentine's Day, be sure to check out Romancing Him: The 14 Day Marriage Challenge or A Date A Month  - two of my favorite ideas I have come up with in recent years for my valentine (aka: The Man of the House). 

Working On:  Creating weekly and daily schedules that work for my life.  Also have some ideas for upcoming blog posts that I am pretty excited about!

Reading:  Finishing "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern and getting ready to start "Tidelands" by Philippa Gregory.  I am mid-read on both 168 Hours and The Fringe Hours.  Unfortunately both were due before I completed them and since there were holds I could not renew.  Now I have them on hold so I can (hopefully) complete them soon. Until then, I am reading "Hallelujah Anyway" by Anne Lamott.

Loving:  Still loving my sweet little dachshund puppy, Max.  I have to admit it - he's a spoiled brat at this point.  It's all mostly my fault, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.   But c'mon... look at that face!

Celebrating: Valentine's day is the only thing I can think of that's coming up this month.  Birthdays,  anniversaries,  etc seem to come in clusters for our family.  Next month will be a busier one.  Oh, wait... I almost forgot - one of my brother in laws' has a birthday this month.  Oops!

Wanting/Needing:  Sleep!  Having a new puppy who likes to stay up past my bed time playing, and gets up early wanting to go outside has put a hurt on my previous sleep schedule.  I am not getting as much rest as I need.  There are many afternoons when I sit down to write or read or work on my Etsy shop and instead I end up taking a nap with Max.

Dreaming About:  Going back to Disney in 2021.  Can't wait!!


February Goals:

1.  Lose 5 pounds
2.  Drink 75 ounces of water per day (I have been very slack about my water lately)
3.  Etsy shop sales increase 20% over January
4.  List at least 5 new items in Etsy shop
5.  Prepare graphics for March Thankful blog posts
6.  Schedule Sunday Inspiration blog posts for March

What do you have planned for February?

Currently... January 2020

Happy New Year, y'all!!   I don't know about you, but for me there's something extra special about a January 1st that brings not just a new year - but a whole new decade.  I am so excited to see what 2020 has in store, as well as what the next ten years hold for me!

Working On:  I'm making plans and setting goals based on my One Word for 2020, which is "Intentional" (we'll unpack that in an upcoming post)

Reading:  The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam.  Next up I have The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and The Fringe Hours by Jessica N Turner checkout from the library and ready to go.

One of the things I received for Christmas was a book light.  I do most of my reading these days on the Kindle.  Nothing wrong with that!  The digital books from my public library are so easy to access and no late fees.  But I would like to get back to reading more physical books.  However, I don't like having my lamp on when I read before falling asleep.  I'm looking forward to using my new light for this purpose.

Loving:  My new dachshund puppy, Max.   I'm not gonna lie - I'm a little bit obsessed with him!  I can't help it.  He is the cutest little thing.  I adore his little face and his stubborn little personality.  He makes me laugh every day.

Celebrating:  No birthdays or holidays this month.  But my youngest sister is coming to visit me this month.  That's worth celebrating!

Wanting/Needing:  I have let my healthy eating slide during the holidays and it is time to get back on the program.  Fortunately, I didn't gain back much weight.  But, I know that if I don't get it under control now the pounds will keep creeping up.  Time to get back on track! 

Dreaming About:  Snow.  I love a snow day.  But we've had mild temperatures so far this winter.  Even the few days that there was snow in the area, I never saw a flake here at the house.  Hopefully I'll get to see a little of the white stuff soon.

January Goals:

1. Weight dropped below the next decade mark
2. Scheduled a trip to Texas for the spring
3. Attended a Knit/Crochet group
4. Wrote 1 newsletter email for Etsy shop
5. Received 20 new orders
6. Scheduled Pinterest posts for Etsy shop to publish during Jan & Feb
7. Scheduled February Thankful posts for blog
8. Scheduled February Sunday posts for blog
9. Scheduled Pinterest posts for blog

What does the beginning of the year look like for you?

Currently... November 2019

Today, I have officially been walking the planet for an entire half of a century.  Fifty.  That number has me feeling a little shell-shocked.  I'm not all freaked out about getting older (like I did when I turned thirty).  I'm just finding it hard to believe that meany years have come and gone.  It certainly doesn't feel as if it has been that long. So much of that time has been amazing.  Some of it was pretty good.  And a tiny little bit has been down right rotten.  But every single moment has brought me to where I am today.  And I like this season of life - a LOT!

Reading:  The Testaments by Margaret Atwood and Everybody, Always by Bob Goff.  Just started the first one, so no opinion on that.  Enjoying Everybody, Always immensely!  On the "To Be Read" list for this month are The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff and Tidelands by Philippa Gregory.

Celebrating:  My birthday is just the first of our celebrations in November!  The Man of the House and I will celebrate our 27th anniversary on the 21st.  And of course there's Thanksgiving at the end of the month.

Working On:  Purging some of my clothing.  It is a wonderful feeling to have pants that no longer fit because they are too big - instead of too small!  Even my fitted yoga pants are now more of a loose fit.

Wanting:  To continue losing weight throughout the holiday season; or at the very least, maintain the weight loss that I have achieved so far

Needing:  Some cute, comfy, inexpensive leggings.  Rather than having to buy new clothes every couple of months as I lose weight, I have a few dresses and tunics that I can wear with leggings and sweaters to get me through the winter.  I figure it's much less expensive to replace leggings than jeans, etc.

Making:  Big plans for my Etsy shop next year

Feeling:  Pretty darn good!  I'm so happy to finally feel as if I have control over my weight.  I'm now closer to my goal weight than my start weight.  I'm seeing and feeling physical changes.

Enjoying:  Wearing all my somewhat-too-big-jeans before they get so big that I can't wear them anymore.  I haven't tried on my favorite jeans, which were too small before - but that's happening soon!  (fingers crossed)

Anticipating:  The Man of the House and I have planned a trip up to Cleveland.  We're going to the Football Hall of Fame, a Browns football game and the Rock n Roll Hall of fame.  And maybe a few other things that catch our fancy along the drive.

That's what November looks like for me.  What are you up to this month?

Currently... October 2019

Right now, it feels more like July.  But the calendar says October.  So, I'm going to go with that and trust that the temperatures will start too cool down very soon and feel a little more seasonal.  I think autumn has been cancelled and we're all just going to wake up one morning to discover that we've gone straight from summer to winter.  I know that some of you have already experienced this and are now digging out of several feet of snow!

Reading:  Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.  I'm finding it tedious.  I want to like it.  Really I do.  There are bright spots where I start to believe the story is starting to pick up.  Then it starts to get slow and monotonous again.  I don't care for Pip or most of the people he comes in contact with.  Miss Havisham is the only character that holds any interest for me at this point, and we see disappointingly little of her.

Celebrating:  It's a HUGE month for celebrating around here.  First we have the Man of the House's birthday.  Then, after over a year of planning and anticipation - the Female Offspring's wedding happens this month!!

Working On:  Etsy shop orders and wedding preparations

Enjoying:  All the trappings of Autumn. Pumpkin spice coffee, fall decorations, comfort food in the crockpot and the scent of fall candles.

Wanting:  To find some good books about time management, especially those working at home.  Any suggestions?

Needing:  Some new clothes.  Thanks to my continuing weight loss, my pants are all now too big and starting to get to the point where just tightening my belt isn't going to do the trick anymore.  I don't want to go buy a whole new wardrobe while I'm still in the process of losing weight. My solution may be to purchase a few swing dresses that I can wear with tights or leggings and top with a sweater if needed to get me through the cooler months.

Making:  Some changes to my daily schedule and my current system for blogging as well as scheduling my promotions for my Etsy shop on social media

Feeling:  Tired.  I have been trying to go to bed by 9:30 PM and start my day by 6 in the morning.  I'm getting up as planned; however, even though I go to bed early - I am not able to fall asleep until 10:30 or 11:00.  This leaves me feeling pretty tired in the later afternoon and always makes me think that this is the night I'll fall asleep easily.  Which doesn't happen.

Anticipating:  Several things...  The top of the list is probably when my youngest sister comes to visit for the Female Offspring's wedding.  I haven't seen her for over a year and miss her so much!  The leaves have started to change and I can hardly wait until the full colorful display appears.  Oh, and I have a pretty big milestone birthday coming up on the first of next month. 

That's where the beginning of October finds me.  What are you up to this month?

Currently... December 2018

Holy jingle bells, Batman - It's December!  That time of year when the whole world feels as if it's wrapped up in Ho-Ho-Ho's and shopping and decorating and eating much and being merry and being busy.  I pray that during the hustle and bustle of the season each and every one of you takes time to pause and soak in the joy of this season while remembering the true meaning behind Christmas.

Reading:  I finally arrived back at the top of the wait list so that I can complete Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleves.  Next up in the queue is The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.

Working On:  Trying to get my home, my business, and myself ready for Christmas.  One thing keeps distracting me from the next and somehow none of it seems to be getting done!

Enjoying:  The season.  I love Christmas time.  The giving.  The shopping.  The foods.  The music.  The lights.  The "ugly" sweaters.  Joy to the World.  Peace on earth.  Good will toward men.

Anticipating:  The new year.  I love that feeling of new beginnings.  All the hope and promise of the new year.  The goals to be made and dreams to be chased.  It's the same kind of feeling I get in the spring as the weather starts to turn warmer and things begin to bloom.  And again when it's back to school season.

Wanting:  This to be the best Christmas ever!  But, I pretty much want that every single year.  So... nothing new there!

Needing:  To find some good spiritual, devotional, and/or personal enrichment books to study in the coming year.  I'm especially interested in ones that focus on joy and happiness.  Any suggestion?

Feeling:  Obviously, I'm pretty excited about the holidays.  I'm also feeling a little bittersweet.  As much as I love the Christmas season, I'm also a little sad to face another Christmas without my sisters around. And the Man of the House told me that for the first time ever his company is not inviting spouses and families to their Christmas luncheon, which is disappointing.  Especially since it's the only Christmas party sort of thing I attend in the years since I stopped working outside the home.  So, that's a bummer.  But I don't want to let any negative feelings overcome all the good and beautiful feelings of Christmas!

What are you up to this December?

Currently... November 2018

Welcome, November!  It's the biggest month of the year for me.  It kicked off with my birthday yesterday, which will quickly be followed by our anniversary, Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas season craziness.  Are you ready?  Because I am NOT!!

Reading:  I'm close to finishing A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler.  Which has not been my best read of the year so far.  Next up on my queue is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

I took forever getting around to starting Girl, Wash Your Face last month.  But I am finally into it and it is so good so far! I was a little concerned starting that it might not be applicable at this season of my life, but I was happily wrong.

Working On:  Learning all the ins and outside of my waves and curls.  I'm trying to start figuring out techniques and products bring out their best.  It's a challenge.  Some days things go very well.  Other days is a limp, flat, frizzy mess.

Enjoying:  See "Working On"...    It can be frustrating and challenging.  But it's also interesting  and sometimes kind of fun!

Anticipating:  The next year of my life. I refuse to wrap up my 40's moping about something as silly as age.  Instead, I want to enjoy every minute of it and face 50 with a big ol' grin on my face.  More on that next week!

Wanting:  Hmmm... is it odd that at the moment I can't think of a single thing that I want!?  I'm sure if I thought about it long enough I could probably come up with an entire list.  But right now I am drawing a complete blank.

Needing:  To get a little better with my time management.  There are so many things I need and want to do.  I often find myself getting distracted by one thing when I should be working on something else.

Feeling:  So very grateful for the 49 years I have lived on this earth, so far.  For the most part, they have been good.  I have been very blessed.

So... what are you up to this November?

Currently... July 2018

Happy July y'all!  Do you have fun celebrations planned for the 4th today?  I'm the big party pooper whose plans include avoiding the heat and the crowds.  It might seem lame to you, but I guess I'm just a home body.

Reading: I received a copy of A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  It's a historical fiction novel based on the life of Alva Smith Vanderbilt. I just started it last night, so I don't have an opinion to share about it yet. I'm also reading  More: Find Your Personal Calling and Live Life to the Fullest Measure by Todd Wilson, which is so good!

Enjoying:  Spending a couple of afternoons a week with the grand kid.  He is such a funny, interesting little boy.  We've enjoyed watching cartoons, sharing snacks, and playing Legos together. 

Working On:  Some ideas for new Christmas themed items for my Etsy shop.  Even though it's only July, it's time to start planning ahead for the busy holiday season and get busy crocheting

Anticipating:  Our vacation later this summer!  It will be here before we know it.  I am really looking forward to taking the grand kid to Disney World.  And spending time with my baby sister and her family while we're there.

Wanting: A good source for simple, but effective, exercises and healthy meal ideas that isn't too complicated and doesn't cost an arm and a leg

Needing:  A cute and comfortable pair of casual shoes with some good support for all the walking we'll be doing on vacation.  Suggestions welcome!

Feeling:  As if I want to pluck my eyes out!  My allergies haven't bothered my eyes this much in several years.  I don't know what the difference might be - but this year I am an itchy, red, watery mess.  The circles under my eyes are so dark and puffy that some mornings I look as if I have been in a fight. So, if you should see me and I look as if I am crying or abused - it is just allergies. 

What about you?  What are you reading, enjoying, anticipating, wanting, needing and/or feeling at the beginning of July?