Oct 262022
Oct 222022
Outside…
High is expected to be 84°, low is expected to be 62°
Current Books…
Audio: Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Print: BAKE: My Best Ever Recipes for the Classics by Paul Hollywood
Reviewed Last Week…
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Review(s) Coming Up…
Vicki by Dianne Partridge
Watching…
Picking from this list 40 Classic Halloween Movies to Watch for a Scary Evening In
My regular weekly shows
In The Kitchen…
3 Ingredient Easy Meatloaf
Juicy Baked Pork Chops, applesauce, fried green beans
Crock Pot Chicken And Rice
Crock Pot Cheesy Taco Dogs
New To Me Stuff:
The Original Fasta Pasta I saw Kristen Hampton review this on FB and since I don’t like waiting so long to boil spaghetti on the stove I thought I’d buy one and see if I liked it. Well…I LOVE IT! Takes just a few minutes for the pasta to get done!
Today’s To Do List…
Work in the morning and then nothing planned
Looking forward to…
Having Mon. Tues. & Wed. off
Question Of The Week…
What is your favorite Halloween movie?
A Favorite Bible Verse…
The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him.
Deuteronomy 28:9
From the camera…
Why do cats like to sit in everything?
Oct 212022
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write.
When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen’s The Devil’s Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he’s outraged.
Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story.
But who?
Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal’s office to protest the censorship… but her response doesn’t take them seriously.
So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself.
Mac’s about to see the power of letting them out.
In Attack of the Black Rectangles, acclaimed author Amy Sarig King shows all the ways truth can be hard… but still worth fighting for.
Thoughts
I loved this book more than I thought I would. The book deals with the thoughts and actions of kids who find a book in the school library that has black rectangles blocking out words that someone finds offensive.
Mac and two of his friends think blocking out words is ridiculous because they are in the 6th grade after all. They decide to confront their teacher and Mac even writes the author to tell her what someone did to her books and is very surprised when she writes him back.
This book is about so much more than censorship, it’s about friends, family, and doing what you think is right even if it’s not easy. I think no book should ever be censored. If a book has words or subjects that I’m not comfortable reading, I just don’t read it, it’s not my place to keep someone else from reading it.
I loved the relationships of Mac and his friends, their courage, and their strength for doing what they thought was right. Also, the parts about Mac’s grandfather were a great addition to the story and added a lighter, funny aspect to the book.
I first saw this book at Helen’s Book Blog
Oct 162022
Outside…
High is expected to be 89°, low is expected to be 67°
Currently Reading…
Audio: Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Kindle: I decided to wait until Dec. to read Small Things Like These because it takes place near Christmas so now I’m reading Vicki by Dianne Partridge
Reviewed Last Week…
None, my blog was messed up. I’ve been having a lot of hacker issues and the format was a mess. Thankfully my 2 sons fixed it.
Review(s) Coming Up…
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Watching…
I watched Two Tickets to Paradise and Under The Autumn Moon and LOVED both of them
In The Kitchen…
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Peanut Butter Chicken
Crock Pot Cheesy Taco Dogs
2 Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Chops
New To Me Stuff:
Nothing other than books
Today’s To Do List…
Laundry, Cook, Blog, FB, TV
A Favorite Bible Verse…
This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty
Haggai 2:6-7
From the camera…
Oct 082022
Outside…
High is expected to be 88°, low is expected to be 63°
Currently Reading…
Audio: Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout
I listened to Oh William! in ’21 but it was one of the 5 books I didn’t review. I need to review it before Lucy By The Sea
Print: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Reviews Up Next…
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Watching…
I’ve loved every Hallmark movie I’ve ever watched so I’ve been watching their movies, as well as my regular shows
In The Kitchen…
I only made 3 of the 6 recipes I had planned for last week because we had leftovers so I’ll make the other 3 this week which are:
Easy Crock Pot Peppered Beef Tips & Air Fryer Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Chicken Bacon Ranch Bowl I saw at Tina’s blog
Fried Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes & Corn, Applesauce
New To Me Stuff:
Car Cup Holder
Hanging Pendant Light for over the desk in my bedroom
Today’s To Do List…
Work until about 11:30 and then home to read, watch tv or whatever pops into my head
Looking forward to…
Going somewhere for a few days even if it’s nearby, just have to pick a place
A Favorite Bible Verse…
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:10
From the camera…
Oct 022022
Outside…
Right now it’s early and is 62°, high is expected to be 86°
Currently Reading…
Audio: Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King, which I saw at Helen’s blog
Kindle: Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood: A Humorous Memoir by Tom Purcell
Print: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan which I saw @ Diane’s blog
Reviewed Last Week…
Nowhere For Very Long: The Unexpected Road To An Unconventional Life by Brianna Madia
Watching…
Last night I watched Hocus Pocus 2 and it was so good!
Relative Race
The Amazing Race
Survivor
In The Kitchen This Week…
Easy Crock Pot Peppered Beef Tips & Air Fryer Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Chicken Bacon Ranch Bowl I saw at Tina’s blog
Fried Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes & Corn, Applesauce
Taco Salad
Fish w/fries and coleslaw
Hot Dogs w/either Chow Chow or Hot Dog Sauce, Pea Salad & Deviled Eggs
New To Me Stuff:
I got a few new water bottles, that’s all I can think of
Today’s To Do List…
No work so my main things today will be reading & watching some movies I added yesterday
Looking forward to…
Cooler weather & taking Oct. 22, 23 & 24 off!
Question Of The Week…
If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? I’d go to Jerusalem first, then Ireland/Scotland
A Favorite Bible Verse…
Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8
From the camera…
I spent some time at the local park the other day
There were some dogs but I didn’t take photos of them, next time!
Sep 302022
Nowhere For Very Long: The Unexpected Road To An Unconventional Life by Brianna Madia
A woman defined by motion, Brianna Madia bought a beat-up bright orange van, filled it with her two dogs Bucket and Dagwood, and headed into the canyons of Utah with her husband. Nowhere for Very Long is her deeply felt, immaculately told story of exploration—of the world outside and the spirit within.
However, pursuing a life of intention isn’t always what it seems. In fact, at times it was downright boring, exhausting, and even desperate—when Bertha overheated and she was forced to pull over on a lonely stretch of South Dakota highway; when the weather was bitterly cold and her water jugs froze beneath her as she slept in the parking lot of her office; when she worried about money, her marriage, and the looming question mark of her future. But Brianna was committed to living a life true to herself, come what may, and that made all the difference.
Nowhere for Very Long is the true story of a woman learning and unlearning, from backroads to breakdowns, from married to solo, and finally, from lost to found to lost again…this time, on purpose.
Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I started going camping when I was growing up and my husband and I bought an old school bus in the early 90’s and converted it into a motor home. It was beautiful. I looked for the photos but can’t find them. Must be in a box of other things I haven’t found, hopefully I will soon.
This story kept my attention right from the start. There was a lot of adventure and scary moments that I was thinking “why in the world are they/she doing that?”
There is so much adventure and also some sadness that I can’t mention or it will spoil a major part of the book.
If you like this kind of book, I highly recommend it!
Sep 132022
The Littlest Library Poppy Alexander
A heartwarming literary-themed novel about a woman who turns an ordinary red phone box into the littlest library in England and brings together a struggling town.
A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life…
Jess Metcalf is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, Jess’ life is turned upside down.
Determined to pick up the pieces, Jess decides it’s time for a new beginning. Unable to part with her grandmother’s cherished books, she packs them all up and moves to a tiny cottage in the English countryside. To her surprise, Jess discovers that she’s now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community—using her grandmother’s collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England.
It’s not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their literary magic—bringing the villagers together… and managing to draw Jess’ grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell.
Maybe it’s finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home? But will she be able to take the leap?
Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book! I liked that although Jess was afraid of change and life without her grandmother, she decided to make a change anyway. I loved reading about the relationships with the friends she made, the good and the bad. I love learning how the littlest library came about, and when the library was threatened to be closed I was eager to find out if would stay open.
Jess had a great relationship with Aidan’s young daughter from the time they met. As for her dad and Jess, it was rough from the start. As they started to loose some of the tension between them, along comes his ex-wife to complicate it even more. I wondered if it would work out in the end.
The book is narrated by Karen Cass who did a great job. Very easy to listen to!
The book gave me all kinds of feels and now I want to read her other books:
25 Days Till Christmas
12 Days Of Christmas
Sep 082022
On the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner
Publisher: She Writes Press, (September 6, 2022)
Category: Memoir, Dysfunctional Families, Mental Wellness
Tour dates: September 6, 2022-October 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647422257
Available in Print and ebook, 256 pages
Description On the Ledge by Amy Turner
In 1957, when Amy Turner was four years old, her father had to be talked down from a hotel ledge by a priest. The story of his attempted suicide received nationwide press coverage, and he spent months in a psychiatric facility before returning home. From then on, Amy constantly worried about him for reasons she didn’t yet fully understand, triggering a pattern of hypervigilance that would plague her into adulthood.
In 2010, fifty-five years after her father’s attempted suicide, Amy—now a wife, mother, and lawyer-turned-schoolteacher—is convinced she’s dealt with all the psychological reverberations of her childhood. Then she steps into a crosswalk and is mowed down by a pickup truck—an accident that nearly kills her, and that ultimately propels her on a remarkable emotional journey. With the help of Chinese Medicine, Somatic Experiencing, and serendipities that might be attributed to grace, Amy first unravels the trauma of her own brush with death and then, unexpectedly, heals the childhood trauma buried far deeper.
Poignant and intimate, On the Ledge is Amy’s insightful and surprisingly humorous chronicle of coming to terms with herself and her parents as the distinct, vulnerable individuals they are. Perhaps more meaningfully, it offers proof that no matter how far along you are in life, it’s never too late to find yourself.
Thoughts
This book caught my attention right from the start and gave me all kinds of emotions. It’s a very personal look at the authors life from a very young age when her father attempted suicide. I can’t imagine my family and I having to go through that, especially going through it at the age of four. The incident also puts her family on an emotional journey. Years later the author had her own brush with death when she was hit by a truck. As she goes thru a few different types of therapies, she starts to heal.
This book is very sad at times and at other times it is funny. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. I loved the writing style of the author and the flow. It was like sitting next to someone and listening to them talk. I didn’t want to put the book down until I read the last word.
I would definitely read more from this author.
Advance Praise On the Ledge by Amy Turner
“. . . an intriguing memoir . . . that many readers will find relatable. . . . A frank and engaging portrait of one family’s struggles with mental illness.”—Kirkus Reviews
“In lyrical and vivid prose, Amy Turner reckons with her family secrets and how they dug their roots deep into her psyche. With trauma as the inciting force, Turner courageously comes to terms with her past and present, showing us how choosing to lean into the scars can reveal paths forward. On the Ledge is a compelling read, told with grace, vulnerability, and depth.”—Rachel Michelberg, author of Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver
“This remarkable story of a woman’s journey toward healing after a random, shocking accident takes us back in time into the home of an unusual family and the seminal event that shaped them all. In peeling back layers of trauma and revisiting key moments from her past, Turner comes to a new understanding of what it means to be a daughter, a mother, a woman, and a seeker of truth. This is a riveting story of courage and redemption. And dare I say that parts of it are very, very funny?”—Hope Edelman, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Motherless Daughters and The AfterGrief
“On the Ledge is an extraordinary memoir of the way trauma harms both body and soul. Amy Turner’s near-miss with death at the age of fifty-seven propels her on a journey back through family history, leading to a new understanding of how her father’s attempted suicide and her mother’s determination to ‘move on’ has shaped—and limited—her since the age of four. Inspirational and beautifully told.”—Susan Scarf Merrell, author of Shirley: A Novel, now a major motion picture
“Absorbing, direct, humorous, horrific, On the Ledge explores the edge of madness as an artful memoir that also addresses two growing contemporary concerns: suicide and addiction. Timely, significant, well written, this is a courageous and engaging account, neither didactic nor sentimental, that belongs on school shelves as well as in the home.”
—Joan Baum, host of NPR’s Baum on Books
About Amy Turner
Amy Turner was born in Bronxville, New York, and is a graduate of Boston University, with a degree in political science, and of New York Law School, with a Juris Doctor Degree. After practicing law (rather unhappily) for twenty-two years, she finally found the courage to change careers at forty-eight and become a (very happy) seventh grade social studies teacher.
A long-time meditator and avid reader who loves to swim and bike, Amy lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Ed, to whom she’s been married for forty years. They have two sons. On the Ledge is Amy’s first book.
Website: https://www.amyturnerauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyturnerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyTurnerWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyturner2000/
Pre-Order On the Ledge by Amy Turner
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Indiebound
Giveaway On the Ledge by Amy Turner
This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on October 5, 2022 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Sep 012022
The Beach Trap by Ali Brady
Narrated by Brittany Pressley
When 12-year-olds Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at Camp Chickawah, they have an instant connection. But everything falls apart when they learn they’re not just best friends—they’re also half sisters. Confused and betrayed, the girls break off all contact.
Fifteen years later, when their father dies suddenly, Kat and Blake discover he’s left them a joint inheritance: the family beach house in Destin, Florida. The two sisters are immediately at odds. Blake, who has recently been demoted from regular nanny to dog nanny, wants to sell the house, while social media influencer Kat is desperate to hold on to the place where she lived so many happy memories.
Kat and Blake reluctantly join forces to renovate the dilapidated house, with the understanding that Kat will try to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. The women clash as Blake’s renovation plans conflict with Kat’s creative vision; meanwhile, each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance. As the weeks pass, the two women realize the most difficult project they face this summer will be coming to grips with their shared past—and learning how to become sisters.
Thoughts
As soon as I saw the cover of this book I knew I wanted to listen to it. Then I read the synopsis and knew it would jump to the top of my tbr list as soon as I finished my current book.
This was a 5* for me. I loved it. The girls first met at a summer camp and it reminded me of the times spent with my Girl Scout Troop, I loved every minute of those times. Kat and Blake became the best of friends right away. They felt like sisters. Then Kat learns that her dad is coming to pick her up because of a death in the family and both girls learn that they’re more than “feel like sisters”, and all contact is broken off.
They meet again 15 yrs. later when their father dies and leaves each of them 1/2 of the family beach house.
Both girls are still hurt and angry. Kat is more so because she doesn’t think Blake deserves any part of the house. So much goes on with these two and then you add in boys they each start seeing and things go from bad to worse.
I liked both girls but Blake was my favorite. Kat had an attitude problem that really aggravated me at times. She was also always jumping to conclusions that were way off. Then at the end things happened that made them very close again. This book is very good and I would definitely read more from this author.
Brittany Pressley did a great job with the narration.
FYI: There are some scenes in the book that weren’t for me but you can fast forward through them.