Books I Read in June & July 2024

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One of my July reads.

These summaries of my June and July reading list should get me up to date for the time being. Excessive gardening and hanging out with family are keeping me busy. Life is good!

Gladiolus amongst cleome leaves.

June 2024

  1. The Twilight Garden-Sara Nisha Adams

Winston is a depressed loner. He finds solace in his overgrown London garden. He begins working to bring the garden under control and someone mysteriously slips old newspaper clippings about his garden through the mail slot. The garden was once enjoyed by the community and maintained by two friends who lived in the adjoining terrace houses. The book moves back and forth between the two friends and Winston’s present day relationship with the garden and his new neighbors. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion.

2. An Irish Country Childhood-Marrie Walsh (Non-fiction)

Short snippets the author recalls from her childhood growing up in the countryside of Mayo County, Ireland. Refreshing tales from an earlier time.

3. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone-Sarah Graves

Another murder mystery centered around Jake and Ellie’s bakery The Chocolate Moose in Eastport, Maine. This book is particularly fun because a lot of it takes place on the water. And there are multiple shark encounters!

4. The Book Club Hotel-Sarah Morgan

Three women who became friends in their college days meet every year to vacation and for book club of the year’s agreed upon book. The friends are there for each other throughout the year as needed but this is their special time away. This year’s get away is at a New England B & B type hotel run by a widow named Hattie, and her young daughter. Some unexpected problems turn into blessings in disguise for all of them.

Magazines:  Real Simple, Cottages and Bungalows

July 2024

  1. The Frozen River-Ariel Lawhon

The story takes place in 1789 Maine. Martha Ballard is a midwife and medical provider in a Maine territory by the Kenneth River. Things center around the body of a local man pulled from the ice of the river. Was the man hanged for the rape of a townswoman? Martha was called to examine the woman, her friend, in a professional capacity not long after the incident. A faction of local men question whether there was a rape, or even if the man was murdered. The story is laced with Martha assisting in births, court proceedings and so on. Some things seem to stay the same across centuries as the legal system questions women of the community about circumstances regarding their bodies.

2. Camino Ghosts-John Grisham

Bruce Cable is back in this third book of the series. So is his friend Mercer Mann who is newly married. The story, however, centers around Ms. Lovely Jackson, the last of a line of people descending from slaves who gained freedom when washed ashore during shipwrecks and living on Dark Isle. Lovely claims ownership of the island as the last survivor of her people. A large conglomerate contests this as they want the right to develop and build resorts. Things are complicated by the rumor of ghosts, said to cause the death of any white man who comes to the island. An interesting tale.

3. Up-Island Harbor-Jean Stone

Maddie Clarke received a letter informing her that she has inherited her grandmother’s property on Martha’s Vineyard after her recent death at age 89. The only problem is, Maddie thought her grandmother died over 30 years ago. When she goes to the island, she discovers that she has Native American ancestry that she knew nothing about. Accidents befall Maddie and her stay is extended as she makes friends and uncovers secrets. A seaside story with a more serious tone.

4. Hiking & Backpacking-Buck Tilton (Non-fiction)

Tips and advice from a veteran backpacker who has hiked and camped on multiple continents. I’m always looking for advice that will make hiking easier.

5. Crow Talk-Eileen Garvin

The story switches back and forth between two main characters. One is a graduate student, Frankie, specializing in ornithology. She is spending time at the family’s cottage while trying to get her life on track after the death of her father and the fiasco surrounding her master’s thesis. The second character, Annie, has a five year old son who stopped speaking a year ago. Amid the death of a friend, her son’s issues, and her ambitious in-laws, she is struggling. The two are brought together by a baby crow that Frankie is nursing back to health. The book was slow paced for a long time but I’m glad I stuck with it.

6. Cozy White Cottage Create Your Own Cozy-Liz Marie Galvan (Non-fiction)

Examples of how the author organizes and lives her own life. Has ideas to apply to your own life along with lists, charts, and suggestions. Very basic information.

7. Keep It Zesty-Edy Massih (Cookbook)

A cookbook of Lebanese cuisine. Maybe of these recipes look interesting and tasty. Nice pictures too. I am unlikely to make most of these recipes because I would have to invest in new spices and ingredients.

Magazines:  Real Simple, Country Living, Garden Fresh Recipes, Cuisine at Home, Summer Favorites Recipes, Best Salad Recipes

Books I Read in May 2024

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A wonderful selection I found at the library!

I had no idea I was so far behind on publishing my reading lists! I can only attribute it to how busy we have been. Or maybe poor memory. We have been building a 12 x 16 ft. storage shed! Who knew I could lift my half of a 12 foot framed wall onto the prepared floor base? Certainly not me. My husband designed the shed and is the brains of the operation. I help lift things, run for tools and more boards, etc. Several days during construction have reached 90 degrees and I am NOT a fan of heat. I tried to keep my whining to a minimum and we are now under roof. The worst is over. Famous last words. I have learned a lot and surprised myself with some of the things I was able to do. All those hours watching my dad when I was a kid and handing him tools have paid off. I’ll share a photo of the shed some other time. Maybe when it’s all done. For now, here is my list of books read way back in May.

  1. Good Housekeeping, Organize Your Life (Non-fiction)

Usually, I’m disappointed by organization books, but not this one. It has some realistic ideas for regular people. I love a good idea on how to make my things look organized and less like junk.

2. Noon-Meike Peters (Cookbook)

These are recipes so simple; you can easily make them for lunch hence the name of the book. Each recipe is beautiful in the accompanying photo and indeed easy to prepare. There are food combinations that I never thought to put together, and they do sound delicious. I will be trying some new meals soon!

3. Mrs. Pargeter’s Patio-Simon Brett

A British mystery written in classic style. Mrs. Pargeter finds a skeleton with a bullet hole in the head when a stone in her patio cracks in half. This leads to her trying to find out why it is there and how it happened. She uses her deceased husband’s little black book of helpful people to handle the task. Mrs. Pargeter never catches on to the fact that all of these men are criminals with different specialties as was her husband. A comic murder mystery.

4. One Summer, America, 1927-Bill Bryson (Non-fiction)

This book took me the better part of two months to read. I did read other books at the same time. There was a lot of information to digest. Everything from the various flights of Lindbergh and other pilots of the day to baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Prohibition, various gangsters, nazis, and anarchists are presented, and we’re given a look into their personal lives. Bryson puts a personal spin on the characters to keep things interesting while we learn about history. I learned a lot so it’s definitely worth reading. 660 pages not including the 90 pages of index and references.

5. The Ikaria Way-Diane Kochilas (Cookbook)

A nice book with some good recipes. Lots of dishes similar to what I throw together in my kitchen. The photos of the area are beautiful and it’s worth checking out this book simply for them. I enjoy reading about the longevity of the Ikarians who are in one of the Blue Zones where many people live longer than average.

6. You Are My Sunshine-Sean Dietrich (Non-fiction)

The author’s wife cajoles him into undertaking a long bike ride across The Great Allegheny Passage and the C & O Canal Towpath. One major obstacle-Sean is afraid of bicycles, so his ride is an adult sized trike. Just one of many hilarious obstacles that the couple overcame on their journey. The author also has a blog and podcast-Sean of the South.

Magazines:   Cuisine at Home (2), Country Cottage, Cottages and Bungalows, Cottage Journal

An Expanding World

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View from my lounge chair.

Summer is the season when my world seems to expand. In so many ways, both good and bad. On the good side, our living area increases. Our patio becomes an extension of our home, and we spend time there, reading, relaxing, drinking a cup of coffee, and occasionally entertaining friends and family. The bad side about my world becoming bigger is the increased work. Weeding, planting, maintaining, and watering. Oh, the watering! It has been exceptionally dry here for so early in the season and I kept putting off watering in the hopes of getting rain. I spent two hours catching up on watering. I’m happy when the growing season starts and I’m also happy when it ends. I guess this is a good balance because it affords me the chance to appreciate each one.

Cassius the greyhound.

This is a place outside where I can take all the dogs with me to relax. (Or while I work in this area too!) All five of our dogs stay confined with the fences. No longer so when I put our dogs in the fenced pasture. Our newest addition and smallest dog, PeeWee can escape the pasture. I’m not sure where he gets out, but he has come running to me a couple times when I am doing yard work and am out of his sight. Apparently, my being out of his range of view is unacceptable. I don’t like to put the dogs in their crates for the amount of time that I spend working outside every day, so I have begun tying PeeWee out on a nylon coated, wire line near wherever I am working. I do have to move him around a little, so he always has shade, but we have a lot of trees, so this is not much of an inconvenience.

PeeWee and Claire enjoying the shade.

Our dogs all love the patio. It gives them a chance to enjoy the outdoors while hanging out with their people. They are trained to stay out of the flowerbeds, even when they see me working in them. They have an opportunity to be in sun or shade and usually move back and forth. They see the fountain as the world’s largest water bowl, even though they have their own in a shady corner. (I don’t leave them unattended in case they fall in although so far this has never happened.) Some of the dogs amuse themselves by watching and chasing chipmunks. Claire will stare at the rock pile for minutes on end. I don’t usually see them, but she knows they’re in there. Even 14 year old Shelby lays on a cool corner of the patio between the raised sandstone beds and lifts her head to give me her beautiful smile from time to time. Being deaf now, she also is keeping tabs on my location to make sure we aren’t going inside. A brief wave of my hand will have her getting up and heading toward the door.

Zinnia

Here is one of the flowers from a recent trip to a greenhouse for annuals. We have many perennials and plants that self-seed. We also plant annuals for variety and to make sure there is always something in bloom. I took my nieces with me the last time I went plant shopping and the zinnia was their pick. I wanted them to be able to participate and have fun too. One of them is attending an afternoon gardening camp soon. How cool is that?!

Variegated begonia

I love all things variegated! If a plant has multi-colored flowers or leaves, it’s likely to go in my basket. Weigelias, roses, petunias, it doesn’t matter. This tendency must be related to my busy mind. It carries over everywhere. I like dogs and cats that are spotted, brindled, and multi-colored. I like food that has many ingredients. My brother is fond of saying I don’t want any food, especially ice cream, unless it has five things in its name. I must admit this is true. I don’t see this variety as a bad thing. It prevents boredom and keeps my mind busy. I like my mind to be stimulated. That’s why my reading is so diverse too. I will read non-fiction, fiction, and memoirs on many subjects although I do admit being partial to mysteries. If you ask me at any point in time, what I am thinking about, the answer will rarely be “nothing”.

Sitting on the futon, staring at the sky.

Sitting on the futon and staring at the sky through the grape arbor always produces dreamy thoughts and inspires new ideas. Alas, this usually results in more work. But we only live this life once so we must make the most of it. May your life be inspired too, my friends!

Books I Read in April 2024

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Still reading!

I started with the photo of this Bill Bryson book because I have been reading it for about a month. I am just past the halfway point. It is taking me quite a while as I usually have a non-fiction and a fiction book going at the same time. Not to mention the fact that the book is 661 pages long! Some parts are a little slow, but overall I am really enjoying it. I am certainly learning a lot. And so, on to the rest of my list.

  1. The Watchmaker’s Hand-Jeffrey Deaver

A Lincoln Rhyme novel with his wife Amelia Sachs. Books in this series are hard to put down because I want to know what happens next! Rhyme is a one-time police investigator, now a quadriplegic, with a razor-sharp mind. His police officer wife walks the crime scenes and others on the force do more of the legwork. They are once again up against an old adversary, The Watchmaker. One giant construction crane has fallen, and more are promised to come down, endangering residents of the city. Solving the crime quickly is of utmost importance.

2. The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho

This story reminds me of a fable or a fairy tale. A young shepherd boy sets out on a journey to find his Personal Legend and make his fortune. He encounters all sorts of people, both good and bad, plus a lovely young maiden. He learns much along the way before completing his quest.

3. Kamala Harris:  History-Making US Vice President-James Roland (Non-fiction)

A timeline and summary of Harris’ career and political accomplishments to date. An informative little book, 60 pages. She overcame many obstacles to get where she is. She is a determined woman.

4. The Bright Spot-Jill Shalvis

Luna Wright has just inherited half of the farm she’s been managing. She’s also just learned that the owner was her biological grandfather. The other fifty percent was inherited by a suit-wearing, hottie named Jameson. While taking care of the rescue animals and day to day disasters, Luna must come to terms with the relationships in her life, both old and new. I don’t think Shalvis has ever written a bad book and this one does not disappoint.

5. Joyfull-Radhi Devlukia-Shetty (Cookbook)

I enjoyed this book. The recipes have ingredients that I don’t have and would be difficult to find. If I made any of the recipes, it would be with adjustments. They do sound delicious. The book also discusses and gives examples of an Ayurvedic lifestyle. I wouldn’t switch to it but I could see implementing a few things. The concept is certainly interesting. The book is worth checking out for this alone.

6. Fatal First Edition-Jenn McKinlay

This cozy mystery series is one of my favorites. Lindsey Norris, along with her husband, is returning by train from an out of state library convention when murder occurs. Don’t worry, they make it back to Briar Creek so her friends can get in on the case. The train passengers are stranded by a huge snowstorm and then Lindsey’s husband Sully goes missing. There’s lots of excitement for all before the case is solved.

Magazines:  Food and Wine, Yankee

Books I Read in March 2024 (with Solar Eclipse photo!)

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Solar Eclipse, Ravenna, Ohio
Solar Eclipse, Ravenna, Ohio, April 8, 2024, at 3:00 pm.

Hello, friends! Just wanted to share this photo from the solar eclipse we experienced on Monday. We went over to my mother-in-law’s house to share the experience and make it more festive. Some people who live one street over made it into a party. When the eclipse reached totality, everyone yelled and cheered. It was a momentous thing to see.

And now, on to my book list for the month of March, short though it is.

  1. Njuta:  The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment- Niki Brantmark (Non-fiction)

This refers to savoring the moment from the Swedish perspective. There are chapters suggesting how to do this at home, at work, outdoor, for special occasions, etc. Basically, learn how to “take time to smell the roses”.

2. Come Rain or Come Shine-Jan Karon

This is the first book I have read from the Mitford series. The series has been around for years and seems to maintain popularity, so I thought I should give it a try. The story centers around two high school sweethearts tying the knot. The husband just graduated from veterinary school and is taking over the local practice as the old vet retires. The two also get word that the boy they applied to adopt from a poor situation is on his way. He arrives in time to take part in the wedding. They are surrounded by family, friends, and community as they prepare for the big day. A tale about family and community, sometimes one and the same. I found the book to be a little too “goody two shoes” for my taste, but if you are looking for an uplifting story, this may be it.

3. Oodles and Oodles of Vegan Noodles-Cheynese Khachame (Cookbook)

The first half of this book has recipes for cold noodle soups and cold noodle salads which aren’t really my thing. Although, the recipes in the second half look delicious, they require several items per recipe that I don’t have, and I consider myself to have a fairly well stocked kitchen.

4. The Twelve Months of Christmas-Sheila Roberts

Molly, Sunny, and Arianna all have lousy Christmas’. The three become friends and decide Christmas needs to be celebrated each month of the year to spread joy and make up for their rotten holidays. Family and friends become involved in the celebrations and the friendships grow after some rocky times. Almost makes me want to try it myself even though I enjoyed my Christmas. More socializing and celebrating is a good thing.

5. Landlines-Raynor Winn (Non-fiction)

Winn and her husband walk across England and Scotland and back again. Over 1,000 miles. Impressive in itself, but even more so because Winn’s husband suffers from a degenerative brain disease. They undertake this journey in the hopes that he will improve as happened last time they undertook a long distance hike. This is the author’s third book about her hiking adventures. I feel her pain and see the beauty as she and husband Moth take to the trails. The tale is inspiring as they persevere.

Magazines:  The Nature Conservancy, AARP, Country Living, Midwest Living, Food & Wine

Life Moves On

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I was out lunching recently with two former coworkers. As you may or may not remember, I retired about four years ago. One of the ladies has gone on to another job, and the other still works for my former employer. I worked with one for many years and the other for only about 3 or 4 years. Doesn’t matter. We are all friends who enjoy seeing each other and doing things together. We are three very different people. That doesn’t matter either. We care and appreciate each other, support and cheer each other on. We all need such friends. And it’s even better when they know us and like us anyway!

During my career I earned and maintained three professional certifications that allowed me to operate Class I Drinking Water Treatment Plants, Class III Wastewater Treatment Plants, and do laboratory testing for such plants. These are not easy licenses to get and require many hours of experience and study in addition to continuing education every year. I recently let the last one expire. The cost of maintaining them was too much when I wasn’t using them. My friend that I have known for decades, asked how I felt when I let them expire. The question alone, tells me that she gets it. My response was, “I felt sad”. For one, I worked hard to get those certifications. I would have to take the state tests again if I wanted to be re-licensed. The second and for me, more important issue is that by letting them expire, I am acknowledging that this part of my life is over.

For the longest time after retirement, I still felt that part of my identity was who I had been at my job. I suppose this is what happens when you work at the same place for 32 years. It has only been recently that I felt brave enough to let all of that go. I am still the same person as I was then, even without the licenses. I reached a point where I felt like I couldn’t move on while I was still holding onto this part of my past. And so, I let the licenses go. I am unlikely to work in the water treatment industry again. That is ok. Thirty-two years of working with water and wastewater is enough. There are lots of other things out there, and it’s time to move on. Even though I haven’t been using those certifications, they were taking up space in my head. While I was still grasping onto them as a safety net, I didn’t feel free to take up something new. And now I can.

I think we are all like that without realizing it. Just because we aren’t using or thinking about something doesn’t mean it’s not occupying space in our brains. This is the basis of what some therapies are built on. Memories and experiences that are not forefront in our minds affect how we feel and what we do. Some things have to be dealt with and come to terms with before we can move on.

What my new path will be, is yet to be determined. There are so many things to do. I feel like I should try them all. Where do my strengths and passions lie? Writing, painting, craft sales, dog training, more gardening? I’m even looking into canine massage to see if that is something I would like to do. And I can decide to work on multiple things. I am my own boss now and if I want to paint in the morning and do something else in the afternoon, no one is going to tell me otherwise. Ok, maybe the dogs will protest when it is time for a walk!

I suspect many people go through the feelings that I have experienced. I had no idea that it would take me so long to get where I am though. Well, now I have arrived. I am curious to see where the rest of life takes me. Onward!

Books I Read in February 2024

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book
A fun book!
  1. Unleashed Holiday-Victoria Schade

I’ve been looking for this book ever since it came out in the fall. Dog trainer Chelsea Higgins is not happy when her old nemesis and former love interest Andrew locates his new gym right next to her business. She agrees to a job training Andrew’s mother’s goats. Chelsea also ends up helping Andrew train his deaf boxer and adopts an unruly Boston Terrier. We are amused by the many run ins between them all.

2. The Road to Little Dribbling-Bill Bryson (Non-fiction)

This is the sequel to Notes from a Small Island. The author moved from the United States to Britain years ago and has become a dual citizen. His descriptions of the country and his experiences are informative, and at times hilarious.

3. How to be Wildflower-Katie Daisy (Illustrated)

This is a book of gorgeous paintings by Katie Daisy with famous quotes and a bit of commentary from her. I used to buy her planners when I was working because they are so beautiful.

4. Housebroke-Jaci Burton

Hazel is living in her friend’s house with her five foster dogs, after said friend moved to the opposite coast. Hazel is surprised when renovator Lincoln Kennedy shows up, because her friend forgot to tell her the house was sold. Being a good guy, Lincoln lets Hazel, and the dogs stay in the guest house. They have all kinds of fun antics, but what will happen when it’s time for Linc to flip the house? A fun book.

5. House Cat-Paul Barbera (Non-fiction)

A cute book combining decorating and cats. We see photos of people’s interiors and meet their cats. Most of the homes are in New York, so not all my style, but still… cats!

6. A Lighthouse Christmas-Jenny Hale

Mia returns to the lighthouse where she grew up, after her grandmother’s death. She, and her mother and sister are readying it for sale to pay off debts. None of them really wants to sell it. Things are complicated when the real estate agent is good looking and nice too. Then there’s Mia’s estranged husband who wants her back. An enjoyable book.

Magazines:  Yankee, Down East, Best Friends

You may have noticed that a couple of these are Christmas books and Christmas is long over. I always enjoy a good Christmas book. I see no reason to relegate Christmas magic to December. A little bit of magic is good at any time of year.

All the fiction books were fun, it’s your pick! I enjoyed the book by Bill Bryson, and I suspect it would be especially fun as an audio book to take advantage of any British accents. I will be looking for more of Bryson’s books on a future trip to the library.

I hope all of my Ohio friends are safe and warm after yesterday’s little snowstorm. Our temperatures had been in the 60’s which resulted in me doing yard work. Yesterday we had several inches of snow, and winds. Today, it’s back to the 50’s, and 60’s in the days following. This is Ohio. We are not surprised.

Progression of a Flowerbed

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Flowerbed on south side of patio.

Gardening starts early if you want good results. The first photo is from today, March 5th. And it is after I spent about an hour each of the past two days cutting dead stalks and flowers from last year. Ok, that’s not quite true because I got distracted today and decided that Claire needed a trim since her fur was so long it caught leaves when we were hiking and dragged on the ground. But we were out there for an hour each day and most of it was spent gardening!

The other two pictures are of the same flowerbed from June 14th of last year. What a transformation three months can make! Most of those plants are perennials, but don’t underestimate the work involved. There is still transplanting, splitting of plants, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, and mulching to be done. And did I mention the weeding, lol? During the summer I dead head and prune my roses about every two weeks. This seems to give the best results.

Our patio garden is completely fenced, so the dogs can come with me while I garden here. Otherwise, I would never get any work done. Cassius the greyhound naps on the patio furniture. The others usually lay on the cold flagstones in the shade, or under the Dawn Redwood. Although Claire is a busy girl and spends time watching the rock pile for chipmunks to chase. All of the dogs learn quickly to stay out of the flowerbeds. I will have to teach PeeWee, our newest addition, this skill. He learns quickly and I don’t anticipate a problem. He is only two and will almost certainly help Claire chase chipmunks.

The pictures of the beds in bloom almost make me ready for the flurry of gardening to come. But not quite. I am still resting. That’s why everything has its season.

    My Experience Using a Hiking Pole for the First Time

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    On our way home from a hike today.

    It was 60 degrees here today. Quite a beautiful day for February. We took the opportunity to hike a trail that tends to be muddy.

    I received a gift of hiking poles for my birthday this year. Thanks to my brother who knows me well! This is the first time I’ve used them, as we’ve been sticking to paved surfaces and easy hikes during the previous icy and wintry weather. Actually, I used one pole today. I held the dogs’ leashes in one hand and the hiking pole in the other. It worked out well since I normally hold both leashes in one hand 75% of the time anyway.

    We started on one of the bridle trails at West Branch State Park. In my experience, horse trails are muddy a good bit of the time. After all, horses hooves are essentially shovels at the end of their legs. And horses are heavy, so the ground gets compacted. This portion of the trail was muddy and slick, but thankfully flat. The poles helped! When I slipped, they gave me better balance. I wasn’t tensing to keep my balance nearly as often.

    About half a mile out, the Buckeye Trail crossed our path and we turned onto that. Most of the mud cleared up, but the trail started going up and down hills and winding around. At some places it became narrow. What I call bunny trails. This is where the hiking pole got really useful. I felt much more stable going uphill on a narrow path. Usually, I feel like I’m going to tumble down the hill if I’m not careful. I switched hands with the pole and leashes here for better balance. Going downhill was better too as the pole took some pressure off my knees which tend to hurt when hiking on grades.

    We had a couple shallow stream crossings and I was able to keep my balance better and let the pole absorb stress rather than my knees when balancing on the logs in the water. I think the added confidence may increase my hiking speed slightly too. I am a slow hiker, so every bit helps.

    And lastly, I found an unintended use for the poles! When Zekie stops directly in front of me to sniff something, I can tap him with the pole to get him moving again. This works much better than my previous method of trying to push him away from apparently tantalizing odors with the side of my foot.

    When I walk dogs, Claire is to stay on the right and Zekie’s assigned spot is on the left. This keeps leashes from getting tangled and wound around each other or trees on the trailside. They are pretty good about staying in their spots but occasionally try to switch. I found that rather than a verbal correction, I can just physically guide them back to their place with pressure from the pole. It didn’t seem to phase them at all. They just corrected their positions without even slowing down. Kind of like a herding staff.

    The last portion of our hike to get back to the car was along the campground road. I just shortened the pole to its shortened storage length and attached it to my pack with a carabiner and an elastic loop. It worked great.

    My experience trying the hiking pole was a success and I foresee getting a lot of use out of them. I hope you were able to get outside and enjoy some beautiful weather too!

    Books I Read in December 2023 and January 2024

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    Claire during a winter snow.

    I thought I would share pictures that inspire me to stay indoors and read as I share my lists of books read. And with this post, I will be up to date on sharing my reading progress! I didn’t complete many books in January. I’m not quite sure why. Must have been too much television and too many magazines.

    Books Read in December 2023:

    1. The Bone Hacker-Kathy Reichs

    Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, travels to the Turks and Caicos Islands on this unexpected case. Bones are found on the island, and everything is hush hush because it would be bad for tourism. Tempe uncovers evidence that is leading to the killers, but will she solve the case in time?

    2. The Milkweed Lands-Eric Lee-Mader (Non-fiction)

    This book has lovely illustrations to go along with the text. Very informative with information about various insects and animals, life stages, and much more.

    3. Pretty Pastel Style-Selina Lake (Non-fiction)

    This is about decorating in pastel colors. It covers every room in the house, plus workspaces and outdoor spaces. The pictures are gorgeous.

    4. A Simple Act of Gratitude-John Kralik (Non-fiction)

    The author decides to see if he can change his less than happy life by being more grateful. He undertakes a year plus of writing 365 thank you notes. This book was not fast paced or full of exciting stories. I kept with it because I thought I would obtain value from reading it, and I did. There are lessons to be learned about the difference simple, kind acts can make.

    5. Botanical Style-Selina Lake (Non-fiction)

    A design and style book with beautiful photographs. There are some simple projects included too.

    6. The Land of Lost Things-John Connolly

    This is a dark fairy tale that begins and ends in our world. I enjoyed the story of Ceres who falls through a hole in a tree and comes out in another world. She must fight off all sorts of evil creatures to return home to care for her daughter. I did not realize this is the second book in a series, but it stands alone so that was ok. I will read the first book (The Book of Lost Things) sometime because I enjoyed this fantasy world.

    7. Treacle Walker-Alan Garner

    This is a short little book with another story that I would call a fairy tale. I found the story to be confusing and hard to follow. I understood enough to get something out of the tale though.

    Magazines:  Entertain & Celebrate Christmas, HGTV The Christmas Idea Book, Hobby Farms, Cottages & Bungalows

    Zekie Bear during the winter snow.

    Books Read in January 2024:

    1. The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp-Leonie Swann

    I had a bit of trouble following the plot because some of the characters suffer from forgetfulness and dementia. A group of elderly folks live together in a house rather than going into residential care. They all have responsibilities and look out for each other. This works well until the murdered bodies start appearing. They must solve the crimes to stay safe and continue living in their home. The plot took some unexpected turns that kept me reading once I got past the slow start.

    2. The Edge of Maine-Geoffrey Wolff (Non-fiction)

    A National Geographic Directions book. The author talks about his experiences sailing the coast of Maine, peppered with local lore and history. Some stories are more interesting than others. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

    3. Dead Mountain-Preston & Child

    This is the first book I have read by these authors, and I will be reading more. FBI agent Corrie Swanson calls in her friend, archaeologist Nora Kelly to work on a case. Nine hikers disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago and the case was never solved. Two more bodies were recently found, and the two women work together to try to solve the case. There are numerous twists and turns as new information is discovered.

    Magazines:  Cottages & Bungalows, Christmas Joy, Woman’s Day (2), Good Housekeeping (2), Food & Wine

    No one of these books really stood out to me among the others, although several were good. If you want a thriller that will keep you reading, go with Dead Mountain. Otherwise, it just depends on your mood. I find that I like different books at different times. And I am often reading two simultaneously. I usually have a fiction book and a non-fiction one that I am working on. My mood and how quiet the house is decide which one I will pick up.

    Grab a book and a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy!

    Four of our dogs enjoying the snow.