Sunday Salon – 12/29

Sunday Salon – 12/29

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: I hope everyone who celebrates had a Merry Christmas. We had a wonderful few days with family and friends, lots of food, and presents. We also went down to see the Nutcracker Village and it actually wasn't too cold, which was nice. We had already taken a peak at the Gingerbread Village earlier in the week. I think Amber and I might learn how to make a gingerbread house over the summer and enter it into the contest next year. We're thinking of doing a series of witches' houses and starting with Strega Nona for next Christmas. She's pretty well-known right and the spaghetti pot should make her recognizable. Reading: I didn't post anything this week, mostly because I was doing other things. I did finish The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen, which I really enjoyed. I'll try to write some comments later this...
Read More
Sunday Salon – 12/22

Sunday Salon – 12/22

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: My mom and I went to a paint and sip on Friday. This is a not great photo of my painting. Amber came home on Saturday. She's going to be spending January at home painting. Reading: The Classics Club Spin landed on 13, which means I'll be reading Orlando by Virginia Woolf. I don't own a copy, so now I have to decide which edition to get. Any suggestions? All the books/novellas I posted about this week were Christmas stories: A Rumpole Christmas by John MortimerApple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne LindseyThe Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope WardCadaver on Candy Cane Lane by Leighann DobbsGrievance in Gingerbread Alley by Leighann Dobbs Playing: We played Wingspan on Friday. David won by a fair amount, but it's a fun game all about birds. It's a light engine builder at heart, and I really enjoy the theme and the bird cards. Looking...
Read More
Sunday Salon – 12/15

Sunday Salon – 12/15

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: We went to Oberlin's Art Walk Friday. The first three photos are a few of Amber's paintings and then there are some of the show in general. Reading: I've been reading Christmas stories. What's your favorite Christmassy book? This week's posts: The Christmas Egg by Mary KellyThe Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories edited by Martin EdwardsAn Ale of Two Cities by Sarah FoxThe Ghost of Christmas Past by Angie Fox Looking forward to: Amber will come home Saturday. It will be nice to have her around for a while. I think Mom and I are going to do a Paint and Sip on Friday, which should be fun. ...
Read More
Sunday Salon – 12/8

Sunday Salon – 12/8

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Christmas Spirit Readathon Wrap-up Thanks again to Michelle at Seasons of Reading for hosting the Christmas Spirit Readathon which wrapped up this evening. Books I finished: Lord James Harrington and the Christmas Mystery by Lynn Florkiewicz Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox Christmas at the Chateau by Lorraine Wilson The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories edited by Martin Edward Started, but haven't finished: Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne LindseyThe Ghost of Christmas Past by Angie Fox Week’s Highlight: David and I went to the Penguins Hockey game on Friday. It was fun and the Pens won, which was nice too. Playing: We played Dead Man's Cabal this week. It's a fun game, not too tough but a bit unusual. I'm not usually a zombie fan, but I enjoy this one. I lost pretty badly though. Looking forward to: Friday will be Art Walk at...
Read More
Sunday Salon – 12/1

Sunday Salon – 12/1

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Thankfully Reading Wrap-up Thanks again to Jenn for hosting the Thankfully Reading Weekend. I didn't get as much reading done as I'd hoped too, but that's because I spent a lot of time hanging out with family and friends. I did finish Lord James Harrington and the Christmas Mystery. I read a couple of stories in The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories and started An Ale of Two Cities. I finished several squares on Deb's Bingo Card. Technically I didn't get Bingo, but I think it still counts. I listened to an audiobook, read a recipe, read under the covers and when it was dark outside, and I ate a healthy snack (brownies are healthy, right)? Week’s Highlight: Amber was home and we went to my mom's for Thanksgiving. Watching: We saw Knives Out yesterday. I loved it. Playing: We played Scythe a couple of times this weekend....
Read More
Sunday Salon – 10/20

Sunday Salon – 10/20

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: Amber's home for the week! We also went to a friend's wedding reception. We had a nice time and the venue was really perfect for them. Reading: I posted a few reviews this week: Art in the Blood by Bonnie MacBirdDouble Indemnity by James M. CainUnquiet Spirits by Bonnie MacBird I've been looking at my reading challenges for the year. I've completed the Cloak and Dagger Challenge and should probably do a wrap-up post. I'm one book behind on both the Back to the Classics and Nonfiction Challenges. I'm in the middle of The Last Castle, which will count toward nonfiction. And just started The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith on audio, which will count as a classic from the Americas for Back to the Classics. I should think about Christmassy books that would fit. Next year, I'll be taking over the Cloak and Dagger...
Read More