January Blah

This is the time of year where people start getting sick and tired of winter. I feel like we haven’t really had winter since any snow we got was gone the next day. Today the wind has just blown and blown. Wind is the one thing I really don’t care for. I did get out and got my grocery shopping and other errands done. But basically I have felt Blah all day. I’m in between books and don’t want to go shopping. It’s not even the money: I don’t want more stuff in my house. 

So I guess I’ll fall back on the same old and do a puzzle, watch a movie, read a book, drink some cocoa. I mean, I’ve even already exercised today so I can’t even tell myself I should be doing that. Maybe the tv will drown out some of the wind. 

Snow Day!

Almost exactly a year ago I posted a picture of me sitting in my library and when I found myself in the same spot today, I had to take another picture. 

I have been waiting for a wet weekend to do a little shelving project in my library and today we finally got some snow. So I went through a couple shelves and got a stack of books to purge and then rearranged the shelves. Then after lunch I sat down with a mug of cocoa and finished my book. 

I went to my aunt’s funeral yesterday. It’s just that part of life I am in, I guess. My cousin said some really nice things about how lucky we are to have these types of connections that we get to grieve. Not that it’s easy but how wonderful is life because we love people enough to grieve when they are gone.

As for the new year, it came with no fanfare at all. I was only awake because my cough was keeping me up. I didn’t even think of resolutions or new beginnings and I simply don’t care. There is a lot I’m looking forward to, but it’s also just another year gone by and another one starting. 

Best Books of 2024

Wow, 2024 has been a year, and not one that I want to repeat! I think it turned into a year of comfort reading and I like that. Comfort is one of the great things about reading. Looking back at my goals from last year, this year was supposed to be a “free for all” year so I guess I succeeded. I think I had hoped to read a few more of the books I already own and I’m not sure I did that, but whatever. 

I read a respectable 80 books. My top genres are Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Historical Romance, Romantic, and Historical Mystery. Then a tie for 5th place between Contemporary Romance and Nonfiction. I read 9 nonfiction books this year, which is a record for me. And 15 books by Georgette Heyer, which is why historical romance is so high. I definitely found comfort in her books this year. They are just so charming and feel-good. I’m a big fan. Other stats: 68% of the books were paper vs 32% electronic, and 60% were purchased vs 40% borrowed.

So here are my favorites for the year in the order I read them. 

Jane & Edward - Melodie Edwards

This retelling of Jane Eyre really hit the spot.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands - Heather Fawcett

Emily drives me a little crazy but I found this series this year and really loved it. Bought the first 2 books and am waiting for the final early next year. 

The Talisman Ring - Georgette Heyer

A hilarious farce. Heyer does the comedy of manners so well. 

The Blond Identity - Ally Carter

This one may not be great literature but it was light and funny and I read it when I really needed that. 

When Among Crows - Veronica Roth

A very interesting urban fantasy. It’s a novella with a completely fleshed out world and I would love to read more of. 

The Toll-Gate - Georgette Heyer

Another really fun book. I’ve already re-read it as well. 

The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst

Cozy, low angst and just a feel good book all the way around. It has cottages, mer-people, unicorns and magic in it. 

One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns - Rachel Gillig

I don’t follow booktok and generally stay away from books hyped that way, but saw them on GR and downloaded them from Kindle Unlimited and read them on vacation. Not without flaws, but I haven’t been so sucked into a fantasy for a long time. 

The Witchwood Knot - Olivia Atwater

A delicious dark fairy tale. I read 2 of Atwater’s fairy tales this year and can’t wait for more. 

Life on Svalbard - Cecilia Blomdahl

This one is such a fun look at life in a small remote northern city. The pictures are fantastic and you can tell the author really loves it there. Makes me want to pack up my life and move there as well….or at least travel somewhere fun. 

Full Speed to a Crash Landing - Beth Revis

I do love a good space romp and this one delivered. I’m making myself borrow the series from the library, but I may cave and buy them when book 3 comes out next year.

I’ve decided to have fun with my reading goal for 2025. I have 8 bookshelves in my library and on every single one of them I see books I haven’t read. So the goal is to pick a book I haven’t read from every bookshelf. If I get really ambitious, I’m going to try for every single shelf on the 8, but we’ll see. There are actually individual shelves where I have read all the books. LOL

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! 

I didn’t mean to be up early, but I’ve had this cough that makes sleeping hard. Some mornings are worth getting up for. I watched it rain for a minute then went to take a shower. Then I opened my blinds to find the snow coming down. It’s one of my favorite things. It’s turned into a “wintery mix” so probably won’t lay much more, but I’ll take it. 

I turned on my Christmas tree lights and put a fireplace on the tv and opened my presents. I don’t truly mind being alone and had fun with my family last night. It’s going to be a rest day watching movies and reading. Truly I’m grateful for my blessings, including this beautiful Christmas day. 

Christmas Eve

It's hard to believe that we're to the end of the year again. I had my family over on Sunday for cookies and we played games. Later today we will be getting together for our family Christmas celebration. I'm looking forward to it. Tomorrow I plan to spend the day in my pajamas, watching movies and reading. My brother invited me to his house and I thanked him because it was nice of him, but the being alone part doesn't bother me. Christmas has been quiet for years with just me and mom and Amy, and then me and mom after the twins came. I even have a couple presents under the tree (and I don't know what all of them are!) so I'll get to open a present or two. Funny how that isn't important to me as I'm getting older. But on the other hand, I wanted something for myself under the tree since mom isn't around to give me things I don't need. :) I found another silly kitchen timer in the back of a kitchen drawer. I'm keeping it, even though I never use the things. 

My sister made popcorn cake this year. She didn't have the Bundt pan so she put them in muffin tins, which is a fantastic idea. They didn't taste quite like mom's but the flavor is definitely there and eating one kind of made the day for me. I have 2 more wrapped up waiting for tomorrow. 

I miss mom and it's still going to be a good holiday with the family. 

It's Coming Fast

One more full week of work until Christmas and New Year’s and the year winds to a close. It’s not a year I want to repeat so I hope that next year will be a little better. It will be different of course, but hopefully I continue to heal and grow. 

I ended up having a really nice weekend, all things considered. I spent some time with my brother’s kids and at home I read and baked and made caramel. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bother with neighbor gifts this year, but something a guy said in church made me think I should do it. So I did. 

Recent events also had me meditating and taking a good look at my life and I have to admit I’ve grown complacent about a lot of things and I’m letting more things happen to me and passively accepting them. It’s time to make a course correction. I know myself and I know I will probably fall back into some old habits but maybe I can continue to make small changes and see it faster when I get off course. 

I’m hopeful. I think that’s a good way to celebrate Christmas and start the new year. 

 

Foggy Night

It’s pretty foggy (or should I say misty?) out there. We actually have a fog warning for low visibility. The past 2 days driving into work in the morning were very foggy driving by Willard Bay. I do have to admit I don’t love to drive in it. But tonight I went outside and just stood there so soak it in, in the dark. My neighborhood is quiet and while it’s not super thick here, it’s just enough to be a cozy winter night. I really wish we would get some snow or even rain. We need the water.  

I’ve one Christmas present left to buy. And I bought myself some stuff and some of it is even under the tree. I figured I needed something to look forward to. I also decided to get myself a stack of books with my bonus. Books that I either wanted or have read and loved and want to own. There are 2 more books I’m debating buying. Then I need to be done. 

I also signed myself up for another trip next year. This time it will be in December and I’ll be going to some Christmas markets in counties I’ve never been to. I was debating but then I saw the trip was almost full so I hurried and signed up. I definitely want to go. One of the countries is Luxembourg, which I’ve never truly considered but now think it will be so much fun. This tour also has some chocolate making on the agenda. 

So I have things to look forward to next year. For now I’m going to just enjoy this foggy night.