June 2019 Wrap-up

June TBR Pile (21/33):

Book of the Month Club: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Girly Book Club: The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (reread)
Friend Book Club: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter ✓
Random TBR Pick: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Ebook: Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor
Series Pick: Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey ✓
Monthly Keyword (Woman): The Woman in Black by Susan Hill ✓
Nonfiction: From Scratch by Allen Salkin
Nonfiction: City of Light by Rupert Christiansen ✓
Nonfiction: Cities by Monica L. Smith ✓
Comic: Lumberjanes Vol. 3 ✓
Comic: Lumberjanes Vol. 4 ✓
Comic: The Umbrella Academy Vol. 2 ✓
Science Fiction: Perihelion Summer by Greg Egan ✓
Science Fiction: Alien: Echo by Mira Grant
Science Fiction: If, Then by Kate Hope Day ✓
Horror: Secrets of the Greek Revival by Eva Pohler ✓
Mystery: The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
Romance: The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
Romance: Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Romance: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren ✓
Romance: Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith ✓
Historical Fiction: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ✓
Creativity: Craftfulness by Rosemary Davidson ✓
Creativity: My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel
Short Stories: Toil and Trouble
Young Adult: Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Added: Coffin Hill Vol. 1 ✓
Added: Coffin Hill Vol. 2 ✓
Added: Coffin Hill Vol. 3 ✓
Added: The Huntress by Kate Quinn ✓
Added: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey ✓
Added: Zoo Nebraska by Carson Vaughan ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 5587 pages
Pages Remaining: 602,848 pages

Current Read - Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books bought/received (0)

July TBR Pile:

Book of the Month Club: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Girly Book Club: Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Friend Book Club: Furious Hours by Casey Cep
UnRead Shelf Pick: ???
Random TBR Pick: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Random TBR Pick: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
Ebook: Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor
Alphabet Soup: Only Ever Her by Marybeth Whalen
Monthly Keyword (Lake): The Lake House by Kate Morton
Monthly Motif (Through the Years): The Gown by Jennifer Robson
Fantasy: Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
Comic: The Walking Dead Vol. 31
Comic: Lumberjanes Vol. 5
Comic: Lumberjanes Vol. 6
Comic: Lumberjanes Vol. 7
Comic: Lumberjanes Unicorn Power
Science Fiction: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Science Fiction: Recursion by Blake Crouch
Mystery: The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
Horror: The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones
Romance: The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
Romance: Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Romance: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
Historical Fiction: The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes
Historical Fiction: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Thriller: The River by Peter Heller
Creativity: My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel

Movies watched

Captain Marvel - Finally!!! So so amazing. Definitely need to rewatch.
They Shall Not Grow Old - A depressing and yet amazing documentary about WWI.

TV Shows watched

Good Omens - Fantastic! Perfect casting and great translation of Pratchett and Gaiman’s humor. Loved every minute!
Archer: 1999 - So glad this one is back! Last season of Archer…
Elementary S7 - Last season… still love Jonny Lee Miller.

Comments - Very decent showing for June’s reading. Unfortunately there were a lot of library books and a lot of lackluster reads. Here’s hoping for some better quality reading for July.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Title: Fix Her Up

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Avon 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Literary Escapes - New York; Romance

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World... whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite.

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there's Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her...

Ooof… This was not good. The more I sit on this book, I angrier I get at the book. I feel duped. I feel angry at the patriarchy that perpetuates dysfunctional relationships. I am confused (but not really) by the fact that this was written by a woman. I am turned off by the sex scenes (and I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of erotica). The more I thought about this book, the more stars I knocked off of my rating.

Amongst all of this crap, there were a few good items. I loved the growth of relationship between sisters Georgie and Bethany and friend Rosie. I loved the creation and growth of the Just Us League. I wanted an entire book focused on those relationships.

But instead, we get a deeply problematic romance. I’m not going to get into all the details, but let me say that I was icked out by the power dynamics, the actual sex, repeated use of “baby girl,” keeping secrets, playing games, overprotective brothers, dismissive family, and the need for a clothing makeover focused on tight and short. Checking out other reviews on GoodReads, I realize that I’m not completely alone in my disappointment and anger. Thinking that this author is going on my “do not read” list.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Perihelion Summer by Greg Egan

Title: Perihelion Summer

Author: Greg Egan

Publisher: Tor.com 2019

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 216

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Popsugar - Fave Previous Prompt; Dancing with Fantasy and SciFi - Novella

Taraxippus is coming: a black hole one tenth the mass of the sun is about to enter the solar system.

Matt and his friends are taking no chances. They board a mobile aquaculture rig, the Mandjet, self-sustaining in food, power and fresh water, and decide to sit out the encounter off-shore. As Taraxippus draws nearer, new observations throw the original predictions for its trajectory into doubt, and by the time it leaves the solar system, the conditions of life across the globe will be changed forever.

Interesting world issue. Satisfactory threat level. But… this book feels like more of an outline of a boo versus a complete volume. The characters were not well developed. The characters’s motivations were unclear at many points in the story. And the ending was completely unfinished. I was really into the book for the first half, impatient to find out what Taraxippus’s close call to Earth would do the next year. A bit of a disappointment to me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

Title: The Huntress

Author: Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 560

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Astrology Term; Women Authors; Historical Fiction

Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive.

Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it.

Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.

To be honest, this one is not as good as The Alice Network. But if I had read it before The Alice Network or at least without reading the other, I would have really enjoyed this book. As it is, I thought the latest from Kate Quinn was good and a compelling story. It just doesn’t have the big gut punches of her previous work. The terror over confronting the Huntress just wasn’t there. I think most people figured out the identity of the Huntress within the first few pages. It’s not a big secret, which makes the confrontation lackluster. We just don’t get the big emotional upheaval. And I wasn’t a huge fan of the romances featured. They just didn’t feel that real. I did love the storyline featuring the Night Witches and Nina is a great character.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Zoo Nebraska by Carson Vaughan

Title: Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of the American Dream

Author: Carson Vaughan

Publisher: Little A 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 266

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

Royal, Nebraska, population eighty-one—where the church, high school, and post office each stand abandoned, monuments to a Great Plains town that never flourished. But for nearly twenty years, they had a zoo, seven acres that rose from local peculiarity to key tourist attraction to devastating tragedy. And it all began with one man’s outsize vision.

When Dick Haskin’s plans to assist primatologist Dian Fossey in Rwanda were cut short by her murder, Dick’s devotion to primates didn’t die with her. He returned to his hometown with Reuben, an adolescent chimp, in the bed of a pickup truck and transformed a trailer home into the Midwest Primate Center. As the tourist trade multiplied, so did the inhabitants of what would become Zoo Nebraska, the unlikeliest boon to Royal’s economy in generations and, eventually, the source of a power struggle that would lead to the tragic implosion of Dick Haskin’s dream.

While this is an interesting story, I feel like the execution just depressed me. The various narratives from the parties involved left me confused and annoyed. No one seemed willing to take any responsibility for their actions. And the chimpanzees paid the ultimate price. I came away from this book really not liking anyone involved. Beyond the actual story, there were times that I was confused by the writing style. Not really a fan.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

We need to work in an ice cream parlor visit, but our days are a bit crazy right now.
I have a backlog of magazines to read this month.
My mint plant is flourishing and I’m so excited.
Thinking I need to try a new dinner recipe soon.
Maybe set up a playdate for Arthur?
Oh Hannah B! When are you going to admit that Luke is just a trash baby?

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Title: The Woman in Black

Author: Susan Hill

Publisher: 1983

Genre: Horror

Pages: 163

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Horror; Monthly Keyword - Woman; Horror

Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow’s house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black. Psychologically terrifying and deliciously eerie, The Woman in Black is a remarkable thriller of the first rate.

Finally got around to reading this one. I had seen the movie version featuring Daniel Radcliffe, but found it wanting. Too many ridiculous scenes. Thankfully the book was much better than the movie. We get a novella in the style of a traditional gothic story featuring lots of atmosphere, a creepy house, and towns people with secrets. I definitely got chills during the scene where Arthur hears the pony and wagon lose the path. Creepy creepy! I would have a liked to have had a few more appearances by the woman in black. But overall, a very enjoyable ghost story.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer TBR

Let's see how I did with my Spring TBR (2/10): Ooof! I did not have a good showing this past season.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi
Booknotes by Brian Lamb
Dark Matter by Black Crouch
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness ✓
Horrostor by Grady Hendrix
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Stephan Brusatte
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco ✓
Another Romance Series

Summer TBR: Since I had such a bad showing from my spring list, I’m going to carry over most of the unread titles to my summer list.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi
Booknotes by Brian Lamb
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Horrostore by Grady Hendrix
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Stephan Brusatte
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Columbine by Dave Cullen
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Two Her Royal Spyness volumes

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Title: The Alice Network

Author: Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 560

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Recommended by a Celebrity; Alphabet Soup - Q; Historical Fiction

1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.

After hearing so many friends yell at me for not reading this book, I picked it up and tore through the pages in just a few days. This is a gripping novel of spies in WWI and WWII. I was along for every twist and turn along the journey. I was worried that Charlotte’s story was going to be boring compared with Eve’s. But thankfully, Charlotte grew a lot in these 500 pages and become her own woman with a connection to Eve’s history. At times it was hard to read about the awful things down to some of the characters, but realize that these kinds of atrocities happened all the time during the wars (and even now, I know). Getting to the last page, I was satisfied with the ending of the story, but lingered, not wanting to leave the characters. Definite must read! Make sure to read the author’s note to find out what was historically accurate and what was embellished or made up for the book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Bastille "Joy"

Another hit from Bastille

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Title: The Unhoneymooners

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Women Authors; Romance

Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion . . . she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.

Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.

Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is . . . Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.

Oh my goodness, I seriously loved this book so much. It was everything I needed in a romantic comedy. I immediately fell for the main characters. Olive and Ethan have amazing chemistry. I loved their banter throughout the first half of the book. And then we get to the romance portion of the book and I really fell for them. I sped through this book so quickly. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I was completely along for the ride and so thankful for the conclusion. So great!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #17

On my bedside table: The Huntress by Kate Quinn; Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

On my TV: We finally moved on to Season 2 of Game of Thrones. I forgot just how many sex scenes are in the early seasons of this show. Goodness!

Listening to: Lots and lots of podcasts. I finally subscribed to The Indicator and Throughline from NPR. Both podcasts appeal to my interest in history. The episode of Throughline about Evangelicals in politics was very informative and yet very depressing.

On the menu:

Monday - Grilled Cheese Day. The adults are probably going to have Honey Peach White Cheddar.
Tuesday - Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup; Tacos
Wednesday - Sesame Chicken
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Chicken Pot Pie
Saturday - Pesto Stuffed Shells
Sunday - Ranch Cheddar Chicken

On my to do list: Lots of house chores. Beyond that, I’m hoping to get to the DMV this week and we need to schedule Nick’s school final.

Happening this week: Arthur has summer camp at the zoo this week. He signed up for the desert week.

Monday - Q at the zoo, Sonic lunch?, grocery shopping
Tuesday - Ice cream stop, Alex Yu-Gi-Oh, Me book club
Wednesday - Q at the zoo, Alex Yu-Gi-Oh
Thursday - Mini Golfing day
Friday - Old Market, North O day with visit to General Crook House and Hollywood Candy
Saturday - Card class day
Sunday - Nothing so far, thank goodness!

What I am creating: Not much of anything. We’re having issues with our printer so I can’t work on the memory planner or Project Life pages. And I’m having a bit of creative deficiency when it comes to making cards. Part of the problem may be the temperature in the office (where my craft supplies are). It’s so darn hot in there!

My simple pleasures: Cool breezes, reading

What I’m planning: The twins return to Indiana. We’re working on dates and what needs to be done for school next year.

Looking around the house: We need to do a big wipe-down, vacuum, sweep this week.

Looking forward to: Mini golfing at Pirate Putt. Arthur is obsessed. Just hoping to go with Q as he just causes issues right now. 2 year olds are not good at mini golfing.

From the camera: Chase and Rubble went for rides in the school buses.

Coffin Hill Vol. 3

Title: Coffin Hill Vol. 3: Haunted Houses

Author: Caitlin Kittredge, Inaki Miranda

Publisher: Vertigo 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Eve Coffin is released from jail to go home again...and there's something in Coffin Hill awaiting her with open arms. Ghosts are abroad in the town, and one in particular has her sights set on Eve - and on a bloody chain of events the Coffin family set in motion almost three hundred years ago. When the bones of a young girl are found after decades buried in the Coffin Hill woods, Eve and Officer Wilcox attempt to solve the cold case, discovering that the ghosts, the bones and the darkest secrets of Coffin Hill are all connected...and all pose a grave danger to Eve and her loved ones. COFFIN HILL VOL. 3 collects issues #14-20.

Definitely a satisfying conclusion to this series. I really fell back into the creepy creepy story surrounding the coffin witch. This series is not for those affected by gore, but I really enjoyed the visceral nature of the cels. And Eve is the best flawed protagonist. Great setup and payoff.

Next up on the TBR pile:

NE-SD Road Trip Day #5

A few weeks ago, I had an idea to go one a two day road trip out to west Nebraska and back using the Nebraska Passport program as a guidebook. J chimed in questioning how much farther it would be to visit Mount Rushmore. Umm… like another 5 hours driving. This conversation continued and evolved into a 5 day, 4 night road trip through Nebraska, up to the Mount Rushmore area, back through South Dakota, and down hone. After deciding on a big plan, I got to work finding lots of optional activities and sites to see. I’m huge into weird roadside attractions and offbeat sites and made sure to include a ton in my planning. We just got back from our trip this weekend and now it’s time to document our trip. I plan on doing a mini scrapbook album with pictures and ephemera, but first I’m going to document our travels here.

Day #5: Sioux Falls, SD to Home

Stop #1: Des Plaines Zoo, Sioux Falls, SD - With our Omaha Zoo membership, we got 50% off admission here. It’s a nice little zoo although J and both remarked on the lack of planning when it came to walking paths. Lots of dead ends and views behind the scenes. We probably would have stayed longer but it was ridiculously hot so we moved on.

Stop #2: Falls Park, Sioux Falls, SD - We passed through SF on our way to California 7 years ago, but didn’t stop at the falls. Very impressive sight! Even with the flood damage evident. We made sure to get a pic of Arthur right at the edge of the water.

Stop #3: Bank robbed by the Dillinger Gang, Sioux Falls, SD - I popped out of the van to check out this historical marker. Fascinating story!

Stop #4: Lunch at Cherry Creek Grill, Sioux Falls, SD - No pictures. Not amazing, but decent bar food.

Stop #5: Ice Cream at Stensland Family Farms, Sioux Falls, SD - J immediately spied this option on the itinerary and made sure we stopped. Such incredibly good ice cream!!! We each got something interesting and delicious: Tobe - Lemon Poppyseed Scoop, J - Wake Up Call (coffee) Scoop and Key Lime Scoop, Arthur and Quentin - How Now Brown Cow (chocolate), Nick - Salted Caramel Pecan, Alex - Udder Me Mint Chip.

Stop #6: Marker at the corner of Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota - Had to check out this random marker and stand in three states at once!

Stop #7: Sergeant Floyd River Museum, Sioux City, IA - This dry-docked boat has become a welcome center and museum to boating along the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The real Sergeant Floyd was the only member of that expedition to die during the years exploring the west. Great little museum!

Stop #8: Mural of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Tekamah, NE - Once last random roadside attraction on our trip.

And we made it back home! Such a great road trip! I wonder what we will do next summer?

Summer Bucket List 2019

It’s hot, the twins are here, and we’re right in the middle of our summer! Let’s get to our summer bucket list:

Read 50 books
Have an appetizer night
Tie Dye Shirts
Weekend trip to the Cosmosphere
Try 3 ice cream places
Go on 5 picnics
Visit an outdoor cinema
Make s’mores
Go to 3 movies
Make sangria
Find and complete a new puzzle
Visit 2 other library branches
Complete the summer reading program
Visit Mahoney State Park
Check out Pirate Putt and Medieval Putt
Visit 5 Nebraska Passport spots
Try a new food truck
Go on a brewery tour/tasting
Run through the sprinklers/splash pad
Ride a Ferris Wheel
Go to a concert (indoor or outdoor)
Go tanking
Try 2 new-to-me restaurants
Visit Hollywood Candy in Old Market
Complete a series

Next up on the TBR pile:

Spring Bucket List Update Finish Line

Spring is done and we’re on to summer. I ended up completing 13/25 activities. A very respectable number this past season.

Read 50 books ✓
Eat at 3 new-to-me restaurants ✓
- Zios - Good family pizza
- Brasa (Minneapolis) - Loved this restaurant! I got the pulled chicken and gravy with a side of rice and beans and collard greens.
- Sushi Train (Minneapolis) - Super fun sushi place with good rolls.
Attend two theater performances
- Dragons Love Tacos @ The Rose
Make fun cupcakes
Create an Easter Egg Hunt ✓
Make a planter for the front porch ✓
Find two good parks
Host a cookout
Have fun at OnStage! ✓
Tie Dye Shirts with the boys
Check out three new museum/zoos ✓
- SAC Museum in Ashland — We do enjoy our Air and Space museums!
- Joslyn Art Museum — We went for storytime, but did check out the galleries while there.
- Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines — Fun zoo on our way to Indiana!
Check out The Makery
Create a spring Spotify playlist
Buy a sprinkler for the yard
Smoothie month
Mini golf family night ✓ - We visited Prehistoric Putt and had a great time! Next time we’ll have to check out Pirate Putt in Council Bluffs.
Make a rain gauge ✓
Buy and fly a kite
Go berry picking ✓ - The little boys and I went strawberry picking at the beginning of June. We had a great time and picked over 3 pounds of berries.
Sign Arthur up for summer camps ✓
Find a Farmer’s Market
Make a trip to Peacetree for root beer and beer ✓ - The boys and I stopped at the new Des Moines store on the way back from Indiana.
Go on a hike ✓ - We’ve gone on a few short hikes this past month.
Visit Old Market ✓
Redo my hair

Next up on the TBR pile:

Coffin Hill Vol. 2

Title: Coffin Hill Vol. 2: Dark Endeavors

Author: Caitlin Kittredge, Inaki Miranda

Publisher: Vertigo 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Years after a night in the woods gone awry, Eve returns to Coffin Hill, only to discover the darkness that she unleashed ten years ago that fateful night was never fully contained. It continues to seep through the town, cursing the soul of this sleepy Massachusetts hollow, spilling secrets and enacting its revenge.

Set against the haunted backdrop of New England, COFFIN HILL explores what people will do for power and retribution. Noted novelist Caitlin Kittredge, author of the Black London series, brings a smart, mesmerizing style to comics. Artist Inaki Miranda (FABLES) brings his dynamic storytelling to COFFIN HILL, following an acclaimed run on FAIREST. Collects COFFIN HILL #8-14.

A continuation of this very creepy creepy story. We get more backstory, even an interlude involve Ellie. Just like the first volume, the art is just gorgeous and scary as hell. I can’t wait to finish this series in volume 3.

Next up on the TBR pile:

NE-SD Road Trip Day #4

A few weeks ago, I had an idea to go one a two day road trip out to west Nebraska and back using the Nebraska Passport program as a guidebook. J chimed in questioning how much farther it would be to visit Mount Rushmore. Umm… like another 5 hours driving. This conversation continued and evolved into a 5 day, 4 night road trip through Nebraska, up to the Mount Rushmore area, back through South Dakota, and down hone. After deciding on a big plan, I got to work finding lots of optional activities and sites to see. I’m huge into weird roadside attractions and offbeat sites and made sure to include a ton in my planning. We just got back from our trip this weekend and now it’s time to document our trip. I plan on doing a mini scrapbook album with pictures and ephemera, but first I’m going to document our travels here.

Day #4: Rapid City, SD to Sioux Falls, SD

Stop #1: Wall Drug, Wall, SD - If we are going to be in South Dakota, you have to go to Wall Drug! I made sure to get pictures of all the kids riding the jackalope (Q’s pic is on J’s camera right now). Alex and I went hunting for a carved jackalope which we sadly did not find. We bought fudge, strawberry jalapeno jam, and bison jerky. And generally marveled at the ridiculousness. On our way out, I made sure to take a detour to see the 80 foot dinosaur by the highway.

Stop #2: Minuteman Missile Site Delta-09 - We had wanted to do a tour of a decommissioned minuteman missile site, but ran into two problems: 1) Q would not be able to go on the tour (ladders) 2) All tours were booked for the day we were going to be there. Beyond the tour, there is also a visitor center and a separate silo scattered along I-90. We opted for the silo for our stop. There was an audio tour to learn more about the site. Instead, I listened to a volunteer talk about the site with some other families. We got to peer into a silo with a dummy missile in it and read the informational signs. J took an amazing panoramic photo of the nothingness surrounding the site. Hidden gem!

Stop #3: Prairie Dogs, Phillip, SD - Right off of 90, on the way to the Badlands National Park (and scenic loop drive), there is this great random attraction. You can buy peanuts from the store and feed real prairie dogs in a field. We didn’t buy any food, but did watch other families feed the animals. Arthur was super excited to get down low and check them out.

Stop #4: Original 1880 Town, Murdo, SD - J and stopped at this Wild West Town on our way through SD to CA 7 years ago. We had to take the kids! It was weird to go when there were actually people in the town. Last time, we went in April and it was a ghost town. This time, we grabbed lunch at the 50s Diner on the train cars and headed into the town to explore. They’ve added a few little things, but it’s mainly the same.

Stop #5: Dignity of Earth and Sky, Oacoma, SD - This beautiful statue is a recent addition (2016) to the area. The craftsmanship of this piece was breathtaking. I loved how the panels on her back reflected sunlight from the Missouri River. We also admired the view of the river before heading out. (Note for travelers: this is located at a rest stop / scenic view area right off of I-90)

Stop #6: Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD - Of course we had to stop here! They’ve added a few interesting displays in the lobby since I was last here.

Stop #7: Jackalope, Mitchell, SD - On our way out of town, we made sure to stop and get pictures on this jackalope.

And then we were off to Sioux Falls for dinner (at Granite City) and on to our hotel for the night.

City of Light by Rupert Christiansen

Title: City of Light: The Making of Modern Paris

Author: Rupert Christiansen

Publisher: Basic Books 2018

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Nonfiction Bingo - Set Outside North America

In 1853, French emperor Louis Napoleon inaugurated a vast and ambitious program of public works in Paris, directed by Georges-Eugène Haussmann, the prefect of the Seine. Haussmann transformed the old medieval city of squalid slums and disease-ridden alleyways into a "City of Light" characterized by wide boulevards, apartment blocks, parks, squares and public monuments, new rail stations and department stores, and a new system of public sanitation. City of Light charts this fifteen-year project of urban renewal which--despite the interruptions of war, revolution, corruption, and bankruptcy--set a template for nineteenth and early twentieth-century urban planning and created the enduring landscape of modern Paris now so famous around the globe.

Random library pick that I took with me on our road trip. I enjoyed this slim volume more than I thought I would. I love following the story of the creation of modern Paris. Urban planning is one of those weird niche interests that I really reading about. This definitely scratched that itch for me. I learned a ton about French political history throughout the 1800s (not my area of history) and more about architecture. Very slim, yet very accessible volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

NE-SD Road Trip Day #3

A few weeks ago, I had an idea to go one a two day road trip out to west Nebraska and back using the Nebraska Passport program as a guidebook. J chimed in questioning how much farther it would be to visit Mount Rushmore. Umm… like another 5 hours driving. This conversation continued and evolved into a 5 day, 4 night road trip through Nebraska, up to the Mount Rushmore area, back through South Dakota, and down hone. After deciding on a big plan, I got to work finding lots of optional activities and sites to see. I’m huge into weird roadside attractions and offbeat sites and made sure to include a ton in my planning. We just got back from our trip this weekend and now it’s time to document our trip. I plan on doing a mini scrapbook album with pictures and ephemera, but first I’m going to document our travels here.