Rainy Day Ramblings

The Sunday Post 277th Edition

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend! I have to say that the groundhog definitely lied. At the beginning of February, we were experiencing mild temps, but then we got hit with snow, ice and lots of rain. Our temps for February are below normal, we are in the forties. Still, it is getting better. We are seeing more and more sun breaks, and the forest in my backyard is starting to come alive. I can feel the change in the air, so I know that spring is on the way. 

With the promise of spring, I am finally getting my mojo back. I was much more motivated this week. I wrote nine reviews this week. I was way behind, now I am caught up. I have been working like a fiend, and as a result, I have most of March prepped and ready to go. What a relief. 

This past week, I read Parkland Speaks, it is the book written by the students and staff from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas School in Florida, the scene of the horrendous Valentine’s Day shooting last year. This was an emotional, powerful, moving and sad book. I urge you to read it if you get a chance. My hope is that those students will continue to push for change and fight for gun control so we can all feel safer about our schools. I will have the review up on the blog in the next week or so. 

Anyway, let’s talk about blog stuff. This past week on the blog I featured:

Monday: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

Tell Me Something Tuesday: How Much Will You Pay?

Wednesday: Review:Audiobook Review: Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover

Thursday: Review: The Guests on South Battery by Karen White

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review: 

 

Next week: 

Monday: Audiobook Review: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Keeping the TBR Pile in Check

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus

Thursday: Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Friday: Friday Forecast

That’s a wrap from Oregon. Enjoy your weekend!

The Sunday Post 276th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend. Hope you guys had a good week. I still have been off my game, and my motivation has been severely lacking. Luckily, I finally got with it this past few days and got back to blogging. It made me feel better to get caught up. This winter has kicked me in the behind hard core. I am more than ready for spring. Unfortunately, after mild weather in December and January, February decided to bring winter’s wrath to the Northwest. Seattle got hammered with snow, and we fared a bit better here in Portland, but we still saw snow, ice and lots and lots of rain. The skies are dreary gray and it has been gloomy. We have also seen the coldest temps this month that we have seen all winter. I am relieved though because I know that it is almost March, and better weather is on the way. Just have to hold tight and get through the last of winter. 

Thanks to all of you who continued to visit my blog while I was off the blogosphere for a few days. Your comments are always much appreciated. 

I am catching up and returning comments and writing backlogged reviews. I hate when I get behind. 

Here’s hoping that you are all surviving winter. We will make it to spring. 

 

Alright, let’s see what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Review: The Proposal by Jasmine Gullory

 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Recent Favorite Romantic Reads

Wednesday: Review Cowboy Brave by Carolyn Brown

 

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review: 

 

Next up:

Monday: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

Tell Me Something Tuesday: How Much Will You Pay?

Wednesday: Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Thursday: Review: The Guests on South Battery by Karen White

Friday: Friday Forecast

That’s it from Oregon. Stay warm, stay safe and be happy!

 

 

That’s it from Oregon. Stay warm, stay safe and be happy!

That’s it from Oregon. Stay warm, stay safe and be happy!

The Sunday Post 275th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend! It is finally February. Thank goodness. I saw this meme recently, and after this January, I totally think it applies.

I am so happy that January is finally in the rear view mirror. It was a long month. I am glad it’s February and that we are inching closer and closer to Spring. I can’t complain too much about our weather here in Portland over the past week. We had several days with sunshine and warmish temps. Unlike so many of you who suffered through the Polar Vortex. I grew up in Idaho, and I have experienced cold temps like that. I am glad that I don’t have to go through that anymore. Portland may get a lot of rain in the winter, but our temps are usually pretty mild. We might get a couple of snow storms a year, but usually nothing major. We might even get a light dusting this weekend, who knows. I just know that Spring isn’t too far off now. We can get there. 

 

Are you watching the Super Bowl this Sunday? We always watch. My husband and I love football. I am not really invested in it though as I am tired of the Patriots always winning, and I don’t think the Rams will beat them. Either way, we will have fun and enjoy the game. 

 

I haven’t been reading as much lately, nothing seems to be grabbing my attention. I am hoping that will change. I have been stitching quite a bit, and I am working on a big piece. This is Phoenix Rising so far. 

 

Anyway, thanks for all your well wishes. I am beating those winter blues and finally feeling better. I hope you are all beating those pesky blues as well. 

 

Alright, here is what went down on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: Rule by Ellen Goodlett

 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: What things turn you off in a book blurb (courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

 

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

Thursday: Audiobook Review: The Elizas by Sara Shepherd

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

 

Received for review:

 

Next up:

Monday: Review: Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Compton

 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Blogging Misconceptions

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Love a la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm

 

Thursday: Review: The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

That’s it from Oregon. Stay warm, stay safe and be happy!

The Sunday Post 274th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

It’s the weekend and we have sunshine today in Oregon. Seeing the sun does wonders for my mood. January has not been a good month for me. Last week, I had to take a couple of days for mental health days. I am feeling better now. Hopefully, the worst of the winter blues is behind me. At least, January is almost over and we have warmer, drier weather in the forecast. I hope you are all hanging in there! 

For all of you out there who are federal workers and feeling the pains of the government shutdown, my heart goes out to you. Let's hope this ends soon! 

Let’s see what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Reckoning by John Grisham

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Beating the Winter Blues

 

 

 

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

Thursday: Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Friday: Friday Forecast

 

 

 

 

 

Received for review:

 

Next week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: Rule by Ellen Goodlett

 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: What things turn you off in a book blurb (courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

 

 

 

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

Thursday: Audiobook Review: The Elizas by Sara Shepherd

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

 

 

 

 

That’s the report from Oregon. Go out and have a great weekend and be kind to one another. 

The Sunday Post 272nd Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy first weekend of 2019. How did the first week of the New Year go for you? We are still on Winter Break here in Oregon, so things haven’t settled into a normal routine for us. I am more than ready for the kids to head back to school on Monday. The break seems like it has been incredibly long this time around, I think because there was more time on the back end, after the holidays. The kids are tired of being cooped up, and I think they are ready to settle back into a normal schedule. I am! 

I at least managed to get back into my exercise routine, and I have been trying to blog this week. Things will be better next week as everything settles down. 

I hope you all are finding a good rhythm for your 2019. Be positive, have hope and be brave. We will get through these turbulent times and things will get better. 

Here is to a new year, and lots of good books. 

Here is what happened on the blog part of last week:

Monday-Tuesday New Year break.

Wednesday: Review: Eat, Pray, Die by Chelsea Field

Thursday: Audiobook Review: My Favorite Half Night Stand by Christina Lauren

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review:

 

Next week on the blog:

Monday: The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Words to Live By

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: The Winters by Lisa Gabriele

 

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Fruit of a Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

Okay, that’s a wrap. Get out and enjoy your weekend, or stay in and snuggle up with a good book or two. 

 

The Sunday Post 271st Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Another week has slipped by. I can’t believe we are only about ten days away from the big day. I spent a lot of time chasing around getting things done this week. It was a huge relief to get the three cross stitches I made for my sister in law and two nieces ironed, stretched and pinned ready to put into a frame. They are going to Idaho, so I had to mail them to my sister, and she will get them into the frames since it would cost me and arm and a leg to mail three framed pictures. I even survived a trip to the post office. I am so glad that is taken care of!  Here are the pictures:

This coming week will be all about the gift wrapping as the kids will be out of school on Friday. I need to have everything wrapped and organized. We won’t be putting any of the gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve as the two monsters would like have a heyday ripping open the presents. I hate to say this, but I will be glad to take the Christmas tree down on December 26th. The kitties won’t leave it alone!

I also finished up the annual Christmas ornaments for my kids, my nieces and nephews. They are a lot of work every year, but it is so fun to see their faces on the tree each year. These are this year’s ornaments:

I am almost to the finish line. My goal is to have everything pretty much wrapped up by next Friday so we can rest and relax before the big day. What about you all, how are you doing with the holiday crunch?

Next week will be my last week of blogging until 2019. My blog goes on break starting on the 22nd. I am going to use the time off to reenergize for next year and plan ahead. Luckily, I have already gotten almost all of my reviews written and posted for January, so I can definitely kick back a bit. 

 

Okay, I hope you are all staying sane and getting through the last of the holiday craze. 

Here is what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Book Disappointments of 2018

Wednesday: Novella Reviews: Naughty but Nice by Donna Kauffman and Christmas on Cape Cod by Nan Rossister

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie MaComber

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review:

 

Next week on the blog:

Monday: Review: A Christmas Date by Camilla Isley

 

Tuesday: Best of 2018

Wednesday: Review: Holiday Kisses Anthology

 

Thursday: Audiobook Review: One Day in December by 

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

Two other things to note before I sign off, be sure to enter my Midwinter’s Giveaway Hop, and if you are still looking to buy books for the holidays, you can grab a great promo code on Amazon. Buy $20.00 of books and receive $5.00 off. Click here for details.

 

Have a lovely weekend, be kind to others and yourself and remember to relax and try and enjoy the holiday season. 

And because resistance is futile.... here is my stitching buddy:

The Sunday Post 270th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend. How did you do during the first week of December? I am feeling the stress of the holidays. I hate to sound like a grinch, but why do the holidays have to be so chaotic and stressful? This is supposed to be a time of joy and peace, and instead I find myself chasing around trying to get gifts for everyone. If it wasn't for my kids, I would likely do away with a lot of the hassle. I just want to spend some quiet time with my family. That's all I need. Honestly! This is what the holidays should be about:

This week was okay, some ups and downs. I had to take Akira to the vet, she had a bout of kitten diarrhea. Nothing serious but best to be careful and not let it get out of hand. I got her on some medicine and she is doing fine. She seems to have a sensitive tummy. 

Speaking of my cats..... I hesitated about posting this, but it bothered me so much during the week that I want to say something. I received a rather snide comment on my blog last week regarding my pictures of my kittens. Basically the reader criticized me for having my Bengals, accusing me of spending money on my cats instead of helping cats that are in need. First, I only post the pics because I want to spread happiness. I love happy things like kitties, puppies and babies, and I didn't post the pictures to offend anyone. Second, even though I did not get my kittens from the shelter, I did get my dog from the shelter. I am a big animal proponent, and I always do what I can to help animals in need. I donate each and every time I am at the pet store or when someone asks for a donation for pets. I make donations to animal charities, and if I see an animal in need, I stop to help. One time, my kids and I found a malnourished pregnant cat in our backyard, we took her to a vet and got her help. She had her kittens and they were all adopted. I am sorry to the reader who was offended by my pictures, I applaud you for your efforts to help cats, and I will gladly send you a case of pet food if you so desire, drop me an email. 

Okay... enough said.... I just wanted to get that off my chest. There is so much negativity out there, and I hated having it directed at me. I am all about kindness, so if it the pictures of my kittens bother you all, I won't post them.

Let's see what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Series I Plan to Continue

Wednesday: Review: Cowboy Honor by Carolyn Brown

Thursday: Review: Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review:

Freebie Alert:

Next week on the blog:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Book Disappointments of 2018

Wednesday: Novella Reviews: Naughty but Nice by Donna Kauffman and Christmas on Cape Cod by Nan Rossister

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie MaComber

Friday: Friday Forecast

I wanted to leave you on a happy note, so here is another picture of my adorable new nephew safe in daddy's arms. Have a lovely weekend.

The Sunday Post 269th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend. Can you believe it is the first of December? We are entering into the final month of 2018. I am already feeling the holiday crunch as I try and get all the holiday stuff done. Every year, I cut back a little more. I just want to enjoy the season and spend some quiet time with my family. We did have a lovely few days here at home for Thanksgiving. We holed up and skipped the shopping and chaos. It was so relaxing. We got the Christmas stuff up. I had to leave some stuff put away as I have the two little monsters. If our Christmas tree survives the season, I will be grateful. It is their favorite toy right now. Luckily, all the ornaments are wooden so nothing is breakable. Still they dislodge two or three every day. They have climbed it a time or two, but now that the newness is sort of wearing off, they spend most of their time playing beneath it. We aren't going to put any presents under it until the last minute. Sigh... they are so adorable though. 

Niko causing chaos in the tree!

Here they are waiting to play in the sink: Bengals love water and the love playing in it!

I have happy news! I have a brand new nephew. Aidrick Brant arrived last Friday. He is healthy and absolutely beautiful. I hear he loves to snuggle. I am wanting to go to Idaho ASAP to meet him.....

I think big brother Breckin is doing okay having a brother..... It has only been a week though. 

I did get a lot of blogging done this week as I fell behind. I wrote seven reviews and finished Friday Forecasts through the first of January and Tell Me Something Tuesdays through January. I am building up a cushion because I know things will get busy at the end of the month. 

Let's see what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do You Procrastinate Writing Reviews?

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Deliliah S. Dawson

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review: Nothing!

Next week on the blog:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Series I Plan to Continue

Wednesday: Review: Cowboy Honor by Carolyn Brown

Thursday: Review: Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

Friday: Friday Forecast

Have a lovely weekend! If you are in Portland, Oregon this weekend don't forget to check out the annual Holiday Ale Fest. A great time! 

The Sunday Post 268th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Happy weekend! How did your week go? I had a busy week, but I was able to spend some time catching up on the blog. I wrote some reviews, returned lots of comments, but I am still not caught up. I am hoping to catch up and possibly get ahead in the next couple of weeks before the holidays ramp up. 

Speaking of holidays, I can’t believe next week is Thanksgiving! I never appreciated Thanksgiving as a kid, but as an adult, it has become one of my favorite holidays. I love being able to spend a couple of relaxing days with my family here at home. We will be alone this year, which is fine. We will cook up a small meal, watch some movies and footballs, decorate and relax. I am looking forward to it. 

I am so not ready for the holidays. I am already starting to feel the stress! Ugh!

Let’s not talk about the holidays, instead lets move on to blog stuff. 

This is what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Why Should You Comment?

   

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Friday: Friday Forecast 

Received for review:

Next up:

Monday: Audiobook Review: The Exes Revenge by Jo Jakeman

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: What Are You Thankful For?

    

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen 

 

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Friday: Friday Forecast

 

That’s it from Oregon! Go out and have a fantastic week.

The Sunday Post 267th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

We survived the week. I am so glad that the election is over so all the political ads and drama will go away. Even my two kids knew all the measures on the ballot here in Oregon and Washington since they have been subjected to a constant barrage of political brainwashing for months. Let's hope for peace, reconciliation and more kindness in the world. There isn't enough. My hugs to all of you. Be happy, be safe be kind.

I have not done any blogging this week. It has been a crazy week. I hope to catch up a little in the next couple of days. Thanks for all your support even though I was absent most of the week. Next week will be better.

Here is what happened on the blog last week:

Monday: Review: Gone Hunting by Cecy Robson

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: How Do You Make New Blog Friends?

   

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

Thursday: Review: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

Friday: Friday Forecast

 

Received for review:

No new books!

Next week:

Monday: Audiobook Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Why Should You Comment?

   

Wednesday: Audiobook Review: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Thursday: Audiobook Review: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Friday: Friday Forecast 

Have a terrific weekend wherever you are!