Sunday Bookends: Trying to beat the heat, reading a mix of genres, and old mystery shows

On June 23, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, Sunday Bookends, Sunday Salon9 Comments

It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

As I wrote in my post yesterday, we have been in the middle of the heat wave like a lot of our country. Yesterday we visited my parents and found out Dad had been able to work on the pool and we could go for a swim.

So, Little Miss and I jumped in for a couple of hours, during which time I was reminded how out of shape I am and that my knee I smashed up three weeks ago is not completely healed yet. It is, however, much, much better.

On our way home a storm started to move in and this time, unlike Friday, the storm was an actual storm and dropped some rain on us and dropped the temps down into normal range for summer in Pennsylvania. It looks like we will have nicer temps this week. I never thought I’d be glad to see highs of 81 in the forecast.

High temps make me very sick so I hide inside a lot in the summer. Usually even seeing a high of 80 makes me antsy but the horrible heat showed me that 80 isn’t that bad after all.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor

The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight

Return To Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (reading with Little Miss)

I set Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery aside for now but will get back to it.

Lord Edgware Dies: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

I listened to the majority of this on Audible and really enjoyed it. I really wanted to know the ending, though, so before bed last night I opened the book on my kindle since I can read faster that the narrator could read. I think I will go back and listen to the ending on Audible simply because I liked the narrator (David Colacci) so much.

The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene

Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett

Dandelion Cottage by Carol Watson Rankin

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

What We watched/are Watching

I’ve been watching the old 1970s Nancy Drew/Hard Boys show on YouTube, but I think it is also streaming on the Roku Channel.

The Husband made me watch a rerun of Jake And The Fat Man. I’m slightly scarred from it, but also the person who uploaded it to YouTube didn’t finish the episode, so I am traumatized and victimized because I don’t know how the episode ended – though they pretty much had their man already.

I made The Husband watch a movie of Diagnosis Murder that we found on YouTube after I saw a clip of the show earlier this week. I never watched it when it was on the air and I think I know why. The show stars Dick VanDyke and his son Barry and it’s okay but there are some seriously ridiculous elements to it. It is more of a cozy mystery show than anything hard hitting so I guess it is okay to have some ridiculousness.

I’m not sure I will watch more episodes.

I also watched a lot of Just A Few Acres Farm this past week and really enjoyed it. It was so wonderfully relaxing.

What I’m Writing

Gladwynn Grant Shakes The Family Tree – the third book in my cozy mystery series, which will release in autumn. If you’re not signed up for my newsletter, you might want to do so because I will be offering sneak peeks and actual chapters of the book later this summer.

I am also getting ready to release a Christian fiction romance in August – Cassie, which is part of the Apron Strings Book series .. written by 11 different authors. You can pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1VW9TVK

You can find out where to buy all of my books here: https://lisahoweler.com/my-books-2/

Last week on the blog I shared:

What I’m Listening To

I just finished listening to Around the World in 80 Days on audio, as I mentioned above, and really enjoyed it.

I am also listening to Matthew West because I have been anxious and his music calms me down. In the beginning of June, I drove my son somewhere and said to myself on the way back that I really wanted to listen to Matthew. I said it to myself. I didn’t get the songs ready to play before I pulled out yet.

My mind was just swirling with worries. I had my phone in my hand but hadn’t found the album yet in my music library. Suddenly music started playing and when I looked at my phone it was Matthew West. It was a crazy moment and I think God was like, “you need this, and I can’t wait around for you to do it.”

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Top Ten Tuesday: My (Loosely) Planned Summer Reading List

On June 18, 2024June 17, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, everyday musings19 Comments

|| Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. ||

This week we were asked to list the books on our Summer 2024 To-Read List.

I actually have a list this year but whether I stick with it remains to be seen.

I also want to add some lighter books to this mix so if you have any suggestions let me know.

I have more than 10 books on my summer reading list but I’m going to just list 10. It doesn’t mean I’ll only read these, but I’d like to read these at some point this summer.

This list is in no particular order and, as always, is subject to change. It’s actually already changed in the last week. Ha!

Lord Edgware Dies: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie (already started and enjoying)

2. The Clue of The Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene

3. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott (a late edition)

4. Dandelion Cottage by Carol Watson Rankin

5. Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett

6. The Cross County Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini

6. Trouble Shooter by Louis L’Amour

7. The Bobbsey Twins On Blueberry Island by Laura Lee Hope

9. An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey

10. The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight

Additional books I’m reading or will, most likely read, A Sentence to Death by Anthony Horowitz (already started), Summer By The Tides by Denise Hunter, Return to Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (already in the middle of this with Little Miss and it’s a perfect summer read), and The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene.

Since I am a mood reader, I am sure some of these books will get pushed back to fall or winter.

Do you have any books you hope to read this summer?

Sunday Bookends: I need to wear bubble wrap and books and stuff…

On June 8, 2024June 10, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends17 Comments

It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays (yes I did post this on Saturday night this week), I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

Yesterday I shared in my Saturday blog post that I was in the ER on Monday. I am doing fine now and long story short is my heart felt like it was flipping/skipping for more than 12 hours but because I’ve had this feeling off and on for years (and been checked for it), I delayed going. As it has been in the past, I was told my heart was fine. I don’t know why the skipping feeling was happening and kept happening over and over again and the doctor who was there didn’t either but by Thursday it had stopped for the most part and by Friday it was all the way gone.

I am now thinking it was related to a muscle twitch in my chest caused by – well, who knows. A possible autoimmune condition and just the fact I am over weight (just started an exercise plan and a new way of eating so maybe I strained something)? Who knows.

If you want to read more about my weird and stressful week, you can catch up on that post.

Today, though, I will share that after all of that, I was carrying in groceries yesterday, tripped over a curb in our sidewalk, went flying, and injured my knee. Yesterday I spent half the day with it propped up and frozen veggies on it.

This is where I would like to announce that I will be encasing myself in bubble wrap for the foreseeable future but I really don’t know if that is practical or financially wise.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Currently:

The Real James Herriot by Jim Wight

and

Death At A Scottish Christmas

and

The Women of Wyntons by Donna Mumma (I forgot I had started this one! Whoops! It is for a book tour and it’s good so far.)

So I started the Jim Wight biography of his father Alf (James Herriott is his pen name), but decided it was a little bit dry. I still want to read it but I feel like I’ll need a bit to break up the slower pace, which is why I started Death At a Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connolly. It turns out it was just what I needed to have a little bit of a fun read in addition to more of a educational read.

Just Finished:

I finished The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson, a fun romantic comedy last week. It comes out June 25. I am behind on reviews, but hope to have one up for this soon. It was a silly, sweet book with a few parts that started to drag but then picked right back up again. I would recommend it for romance fans. I don’t read a lot of romance books but when I do I like Sharon’s, ones by Bethany Turner, and others by Becky Wade.

Soon to be read:

A Line To Kill by Anthony Horowitz

An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliff

LIttle Miss and I are reading Return to Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright.

The Boy is reading a War Hammer book that I forgot the name of (he’s at a friend’s house and I don’t want to bug him and ask).

The Husband is reading With A Mind to Kill by Anthony Horowitz

What We watched/are Watching

I watched the last two episodes of the fourth season of All Creatures Great and Small on Thursday and Friday and had a good cry, which was a nice release after the week I had.

I also watched some episodes of The Dick VanDyke Show this week.

Last night The Husband and I watched The Rockford Files.

What I’m Writing

I am working on book three of the Gladwynn Grant Mysteries. I can’t wait to share it with you! I’m having fun!

What I’m Listening to

I am listening to Around the World in 80 Days on Audible. Yes, I’ve been listening to it a long time but I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and listen to it. I am really enjoying it and I would have given up and just read the book except I am really enjoying the narrator.

Photos from Last Week

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Nice weather, I really don’t like social media, and juggling a few books this week

On June 2, 2024June 2, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends8 Comments

It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

Yesterday Little Miss had a friend over and it was a somewhat busy day of running through sprinklers, jumping on trampolines, and making snacks.

Today I am taking my time deciding what to do since I didn’t have a great night of sleep. Whatever I do I am grateful to have a nice, cool, and sunny day to do it in.

In my post yesterday I mentioned that I have started a YouTube Shorts channel and a paid Substack. Today I started thinking about how much of a bad idea that was. *snort laugh*. I hate social media. What was I thinking?!

So, they are there and I do plan to post some interesting stuff on Substack, but I do not plan to get obsessed with YouTube because I just don’t have time. I waste too much time on social media as it is.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Currently:

The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene

The Women of Wyntons by Donna Muma

The Real James Herriott by Jim Wight

Just Finished:

The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson (romantic comedy)

Up next:

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

What We watched/are Watching

The kids have been making their way through all the Harry Potter films so I’ve been sort of watching with them even though I’m not that interested in Harry Potter. These last films are super depressing in parts with team members just dying left and right without much time to mourn them. My son says that is how the books were too.

Last night I watched Dead Reckoning with Humphrey Bogart and Lizabeth Scott with The Boy. We did not enjoy it.

Tonight The Husband and I are watching the season 4 premiere (finally) of The Chosen.

What I’m Writing

I am working on Gladwynn Grant Shakes the Family Tree and on edits for Cassie. Still. Yes.

Last week on the blog I shared:

What I’m Listening To

I am still listening to Around the World in 80 Days and I would love to finish it this week.

As for music, I am really enjoying Anne Wilson’s new album. Here is a sample of it:

Photos from Last Week

Blog Posts I Enjoyed This Past Week

I am behind on collecting blog posts for this feature but I plan to work on this this summer because I have been reading some really interesting blog posts lately.
Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Children’s books, ARCs, and working on future books

On May 26, 2024May 26, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn everyday musings, Sunday Bookends12 Comments

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

Catch up on my week in yesterday’s post!

Saturday Afternoon Chat: beautiful weather, trampolines, and cottonwood trees

What I/we’ve been Reading

Currently:

The Women of Wyntons by Donna Muma (ARC)

The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene (Another fluff read by “Carolyn Keene” this week.)

The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson (A romantic comedy – much needed, though there is some seriousness thrown in so I’m reading it sort of slowly.)

Just Finished:

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

I almost abandoned this one because of how odd it was when I first started but then I had to find out what happened with the Slater family – who are so mean to the Boyler family. If you’re not familiar with this one it is about farming families in Florida in the early 20^th century. Their accents are, I guess, very authentic. Or mocking. Not sure which, but I think they are meant to be authentic. (I know they are meant to be authentic. I’m teasing a bit here.)

It honestly had a lot of disturbing stuff in it so I don’t think this will be a book I’ll read over and over. The librarian at our local library said this one had sentimental meaning for her like the Little House books but I don’t remember neighbors poisoning the Ingalls’ mule like the neighbors in this book did. Yikes. It did have a good ending, but I would not call this a “cozy read.”

It was, however, an interesting one.

Abandoned: I planned to start a new book by author Maddie Day and then found out that she is a cozy mystery writer who pushes politics in her books. No thanks. I read to escape from all that – not to have it shoved at me in books that are meant to be fun. And, by the way, I don’t want politics even if it is politics I “agree with.”

Soon to be read:

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of my Father by Jim Wight

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

The Boy and I are reading Around the World in 80 Days Together.

Little Miss and I are reading Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes.

The Husband is reading . .. oops. Forgot to ask him and he’s laying down for a nap. I’ll let you know next week.

What We watched/are Watching

It was a mixed bag of things on tap to watch this week. I watched an episode of Dick VanDyke, one of the old Carol Burnett Show, a couple of YouTube videos from Just A Few Acres Farm and I think that’s about it. I read and wrote more this week than watched things.
What I’m Writing

This week on the blog I shared:

I am still working on corrections to Cassie and on writing the third book in the Gladwynn Grant Mysteries.

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Lots of mysteries and warm temps coming up

On May 19, 2024May 19, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends14 Comments

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

I rambled about what’s been occurring in my post yesterday if you want to read that.

Today I have to drive 45 minutes one way to pick up The Boy from his friend’s house and then we will have lunch at my parents afterward. Then I’m bringing him home to mow our lawn which is crazy high from all the rain we have been having.

The temps are supposed to be hotter this week which I am not actually looking forward to because I don’t enjoy the heat and our AC isn’t ready to go yet. We have to install an extra pipe into the window and set up this whole contraption because we have odd vertical windows. It’s a whole process.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Just Finished:

The Mysterious Affair At Styles (The first book in the Hercule Poirot series) by Agatha Christie.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Do the New You by Steven Furtick

Operation Restoration by Kari Trumbo

This week I read that The Secret Garden was written by Burnett after her son died of tuberculosis. This helped me appreciate the book more because I just finished it for the first time with my daughter and I didn’t like the ending. I didn’t hate it but I wanted more. Now that I know the story behind the book I like the ending more because for Frances Colin being able to walk and be alive – like her son couldn’t be – was all she needed us to know.

To be started today or tomorrow:

The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson (a romance)

And

Murder At the Rusty Anchor by Maddie Day

Soon to be read (or eventually at this point):

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of my Father by Jim Wight

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

Lost Coast Literary by Ellie Alexander

The Husband is reading London Rules by Mick Herron

The Boy just finished listening to 1984 by George Orwell (nope, I didn’t make him), is almost done with Horus Rising and is also listening to Around The World in 80 Days.

What We watched/are Watching

This week I watched episodes of Newhart, Midsomer Murders, and Brokenwood Mysteries – some with The Husband and some alone.

What I’m Writing

This week on the blog I shared:

What I’m Listening To

I am still listening to Around the World in 80 Days.

Photos from Last Week

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Finishing up and starting cozy mysteries, working on the latest Gladwynn book, and that’s about it.

On May 12, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends14 Comments

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Currently:

I am reading Operation Restoration by Kari Trumbo, and will finish it this week.

It is pretty good but not necessarily what I enjoy reading right now. I am reading it for Clean Fiction Magazine, though, and I’m glad to have been introduced to the author.

I also just started The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Little Miss and I are almost done with The Secret Garden and I am listening to Around the World in 80 Days with The Boy.

Just Finished:

I just finished Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey and enjoyed it – even if I thought the end dragged a bit.

I plan to have a full review next week.

Soon to be read:

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

Lost Coast Literary by Ellie Alexander

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight

What We watched/are Watching

I enjoyed watching a couple episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford this week because the scenery and cinematography is always so pretty.

I watched an episode of Poirot without my husband, which was weird because we always watch it together. He was at work, though.

Last night we watched the 2010 version of True Grit.

What I’m Writing

I am working on the third book in my Gladwynn Grant Mysteries. Books one and two are available on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. They will be available on Barnes and Noble June 1^st and will be in ebook on Kobo at that time too.

I am also working on correcting Cassie, which you can pre-order here. Cassie is the eighth book in the Apron String Book series, which is being written by eleven authors. You can learn more about them here.

This week on the blog I shared:

Photos from Last Week

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Under pressure – sinuses that is – lots of cozy mystery love, and lovely warm days

On May 5, 2024May 5, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends15 Comments

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

Yesterday I woke up with insane sinus pressure. More than I have had in a long time. It hurt so bad I couldn’t smile or show much emotion so I think my family thought I was mad at them all day. I had to keep explaining about how bad it hurt and that it wasn’t them. This time anyhow. Ha!

I don’t know if it is an actual sinus infection or if it is just because of allergies, the temperature drop yesterday and the rain today. Whatever it is, it stinks, but hopefully it will clear up later this week.

Little Miss had a couple of friends over and they played all around outside, briefly at the playground, and inside. After they went home we watched the movie Migration as a family.

Today, if I can get off this couch after I finish this blog post, we will have lunch at my parents. If not I will just sit here and whine for the rest of the day while sipping tea.

What I/we’ve been Reading

Currently:

Apple Cider Slaying by Jennifer Anne Lindsey

Description:

Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny’s beloved twenty-five-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it’s struggling. That’s why they’re trying to drum up business with the “First Annual Christmas at the Orchard,” a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike—until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny’s long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder . . .

I’m also reading The Secret Garden which I am reading aloud to Little Miss.

Just Finished:

Murder Barks Twice by Jennifer Hawkins (will have a review up soon).

I was surprised to find the audiobook for this available for free on Amazon this week when I went to purchase a copy of a book for a friend. I downloaded it and it helped me get through it a little faster as I listened to it while driving to pick up groceries on Friday and yesterday while puttering around the house with the aforementioned sinus pressure. Most of the time I read it though because I found the narrator a little annoying. She made every character sound afraid no matter what they were saying. It was weird. I read the last few chapters instead of listening to it.

Soon to be read:

Operation Restoration by Kari Trumbo

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

Lost Coast Literary by Ellie Alexander

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight

What We watched/are Watching

This week I watched Booktubers, as they are called, and mainly those who read cozy mysteries. I gleaned a lot of book suggestions from those videos.

I didn’t watch other shows except for an episode of Midsomer Murders with The Husband because it was nice out and I mainly read a book outside on the back porch.
What I’m Writing

I’m working on book three of the Gladwynn Grant Mystery series – Gladwynn Grant Shakes the Family Tree.

What I’m Listening to

I am listening to Around the World in 80 Days on Audible.

I do not like the song Angels by Sarah McClaulin (spelling) at all since it has been so overplayed, but just heard a version by David Phelps and liked it a lot more with his arrangement.

Photos from Last Week

Blog Posts I Enjoyed This Past Week

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.

Sunday Bookends: Broken down cars, ruined afternoons, sunny days coming, and lots of cozy mysteries

On April 28, 2024April 28, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Sunday Bookends20 Comments

This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.

What’s Been Occurring

I wrote about what’s been occurring yesterday in my Saturday Afternoon Chat post, which I’ve now added a link up to for anyone who shares weekly updates.

Right before I hit post on that post, everything I wrote about having a relaxing Saturday afternoon was blown to smithereens when my husband called to tell me he was parked along the road because smoke and flames had been pouring from his right front tire while he was on his way to work 45 minutes away. He had gotten about 20 minutes away when he called me. He had to call 911 and I came back to edit that this will most likely not be an easy fix, sadly. It looks like a major injury to the truck my daughter has named Methuselah after an alligator character on a kid’s radio drama that we listen to.

My dad and I drove up so The Husband could take a car and continue on to work and then Dad and I waited for the tow truck. It was a cold, rainy, and windy day and I was glad that we didn’t have to wait long. Sadly, though, my relaxing afternoon was gone.

At least I was able to see a pretty view while I waited. The building below is where my son goes to school.

I was able to salvage some of the day by going home and watching a movie with The Boy. He groaned when I made him watch The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth, but he started to like it after a half hour or so. I mean, he played a game on his phone through most of it so he sort of paid attention. He did, however, tell me this movie choice was a reason why I never get to pick movies for movie nights.

What I/we’ve been Reading

I’ve been reading a lot of cozy mysteries and have a lot on my upcoming reading lists.

Currently:

Murder Always Barks Twice by Jennifer Hawkins

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

Listening to Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne with The Boy

Reading The Secret Garden with Little Miss

Just Finished:

The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun

The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene

Soon/Eventually to be read:

The Women of Wyntons by Donna Mumma

The Real James Herriott: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight

Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey

Death At A Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly

What We watched/are Watching

Last week The Boy and I watched Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings.

He and his sister also watched the first Harry Potter movie and I watched a little with them.

Last night, as I mentioned, we watched The King’s Speech.

I also watched an episode of All Creatures Great and Small this past week.

I found a new vlogger who I really enjoy and have enjoyed her book recommendations:

What I’m Writing

Cassie is with my editor and I’ve started on book three in the Gladwynn Grant Mystery series. The title is Gladwynn Grant Shook the Family Tree and I am excited to tell you all about it more in the future.

What I’m Listening to

I am listening to Around the World in 80 Days. Music wise I’ve been listening to Ellie Holcomb lately.

Photos from Last Week

I don’t have a ton of photos from last week but here are a few:

Now it’s your turn

Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.