W37: Climbing the frog at the zoo
W38: Sitting with Q
W39: Making music at a birthday party
W40: Pirate party day!
W41: Riding the train on his birthday
W42: Painting a pumpkin while dressed as Captain Kirk
W43: Enjoying the crazy slides!
W44: Serving Q at the taco truck
W45: On our way to an activity!
Next up on the TBR pile:
As I look outside my window: It's super dark out. Bed time almost...
Right now I am: Watching Star Trek: Discovery. There are moments that I really enjoy, but then others are just argh.
Thinking and pondering: What to put on my December TBR and movies list? Trying to start packing for Christmas trip to Indiana...
On my bedside table: Bonk by Mary Roach; Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell
On my tv this week: Star Trek: Discovery; Stranger Things S2
Listening to: Lots and lots of podcasts from this week. I listened to The Simple Show, Pod Save America, It's Been a Minute, Up First, and NPR Politics.
On the menu for this week:
On my to do list: So many craft projects, so little time. I need to prioritize some of the projects. Also, I need to take care of some house chores and start to do a big destash of the house and specifically the craft room.
Happening this week:
What I am creating: Working on some random craft projects. Right now I'm trying to finish Christmas cards and some leftover card kits.
My simple pleasures: Hot tea, good books, comfy bed, rainy nights
Looking around the house: I need to get started on a big house destash. There's just too much clutter around right now. I think I should start in the boys' room.
From the camera: Argh! I haven't updated my photos for the entire week. Need to get on that.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Omega Days
Author: John Campbell
Publisher: Berkley 2013
Genre: Horror
Pages: 360
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: New to Me
San Francisco, California. Father Xavier Church has spent his life ministering to unfortunate souls, but he has never witnessed horror like this. After he forsakes his vows in the most heartrending of ways, he watches helplessly as a zombie nun takes a bite out of a fellow priest’s face…
University of California, Berkeley. Skye Dennison is moving into her college dorm for the first time, simultaneously excited to be leaving the nest and terrified to be on her own. When her mother and father are eaten alive in front of her, she realizes the terror has just begun…
Alameda, California. Angie West made millions off her family’s reality gun show on the History Channel. But after she is cornered by the swarming undead, her knowledge of heavy artillery is called into play like never before…
I had checked this out a few months back, but ran out of time to read it and had to return it to the library. For Halloween, the librarians put up a special display and it was just sitting there calling my name. So I grabbed it, sat down and read this in two days. Campbell pushes you right into the madness and doesn't stop until the last page. And even then there's a cliffhanger... I thoroughly enjoyed this zombie book. It won't land on my Top 10 list for the year, but I am defiitely going to keep reading this series.
Omega Days:
Next up on the TBR pile:
Overall we really enjoyed Spiderman: Homecoming.
She is amazing.
These kids are adorable...
Love this mash-up!!!
Intrigued...
Next up on the TBR pile:
Alright, I'm getting on board with the seasonal bucket lists. As autumn begins on September 22nd, I thought it would be a great starting line. I know that fall lasts until the winter solstice, but as soon as December 1st hits, I'm all about Christmas. So I'm going to run my fall bucket list until November 30th. I've thought about the things that scream fall to me and created my list.
My current completion 15/35 42.9%
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow 2013
Genre: Fantasty
Pages: 181
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Someone I admire
A brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys.
This bewitching and harrowing tale of mystery and survival, and memory and magic, makes the impossible all too real...
I first read and reviewed this novel in September 2013. Upon rereading my review, I think everything I said still holds true so I am going to reprint it here today. "I love how all of Gaiman's books and stories start out fairly normal. You think you're in the world we know. But then, a few pages or a few chapters in, something happens that is not normal. Something appears to throw off our balance. And we find ourselves in a world not quite like ours. This story is no exception. The first chapter lulls you into a sense of normalcy and then bam! you're thrown into something completely different. I loved this little novel about a boy's adventures with "other" things. Since it is told in flashback, I can even imagine the man sitting beside the pond recollecting long forgotten memories of childhood. It's such a peaceful and yet disturbing moment. And as with all Gaiman stories, I could not predict the ending. I had no idea what was going to happen. That made the story all the more fascinating and engaging. Overall, a short but powerful piece.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Next up on the TBR pile:
As I look outside my window: The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the leaves are different colors. Perfect fall day.
Right now I am: Finishing my breakfast of fried egg on avocado toast and coffee. I'm trying to eat a more filling breakfast instead of just a bagel.
Thinking and pondering: Which delayed craft project should I tackle first? So many to choose from.
On my bedside table: Bonk by Mary Roach; In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell; The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
On my tv this week: We finished S2 of Supernatural, caught up on The Good Place S2, watched a few episodes of Full Frontal, and almost finished Stranger Things S2.
Listening to: Lots of podcasts this week. I especially enjoyed The Guilty Feminist's "Weinstein Culture."
On the menu for this week:
On my to do list: I need to reorganize my craft area (it's a crazy mess after Christmas card making). I also need to do some more cleaning of the house, especially the living room. I got about halfway through the boys's toys cleanout last week. Need to finish that off. And tons of little tasks here and there.
Happening t his week:
What I am creating: I only have one of four stamp club projects finished for Saturday's meeting. I know at least one more design I'm going to make, just need to collect the kits. And I want to make a non-Christmas card but haven't decided on the stamp set. Plus the 3D project.
My simple pleasures: Apple cider and bourbon, caramel apple hot tea, pumpkin bread. Still in fall mode over here!
Looking around the house: Kitchen and dining are in great shape. Just need to concentrate on the living and play room.
From the camera: From the little trick or treater!
Next up on the TBR pile:
Let’s check in on October's goals and my progress.
November's Goals:
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Hexes and Hemlines (Witchcraft Mystery #3)
Author: Juliet Blackwell
Publisher: Obsidian 2011
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 314
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a name - X
Lily gets called away from her vintage clothing store to give police a witch's take on how the leader of a rationalist society could be murdered, surrounded by superstitions he discredited.
Evidence points to dark witchcraft. Lily's determined to use magic of her own to find the murderer, before everyone's luck runs out.
Another great volume in this oh-so-fun series. I loved getting to know Lily even more and see her get more comfortable in her newly adopted hometown. And oh my the secrets that are starting to come out. Each volume we get just a bit more of what is going on behind the scenes. I love how Blackwell teases out some clues and hints about the larger paranormal world in the Bay Area. This one was super fun. I loved the new incarnation of the Thirteenth Club. Great subject matter!
Witchcraft Mystery
Next upon the TBR pile:
Pages Read: 244 (A Cast Off Coven)
Pages Read Total: 3606
Books Read: 1
Books Read Total: 12
Comments: I killed it this month! Usually readathons don't work well for me because of the unpredictability of my weeks. Stretching this one to a month helped me not get upset over a single day that included no reading. I more than made up for it other days.
Goals:
TBR Pile (my original scary reads for the month):
Next up on the TBR pile:
