Books

 I have been reading quite a bit...when Far Guy first got sick I wanted to do quiet things so he could rest. 

I had some Debbie Macomber books as part of the Rose Harbor Series.  I read the two previous books in the series last Summer.

It was light reading...a bit of fluff. 

I now have 59 books on my list and the books are stacked up under the TV.  My goal is to get it under 50 books.  It doesn't help that my Sister was trying to get rid of three big bags of books...I took one bag and selected a few to donate to our local little library.   I have not added the ones I kept to read to my total yet....she said sticking her head in the sand. 

Presently I am reading a Sanda Dallas book The Diary of Mattie Spenser that is a very enjoyable read.

Oh yes Jen gave me a book...The Day of The Bonanza it is about the Bonanza Farms in North Dakota. I have not counted that one either. 

Far Guy is napping often and resting...I am encouraging him to stay upright more.  He has lots of sleep to get caught up on after being in the hospital.

What's Cooking?  I rescued a chicken hotdish from the freezer, then I made green beans that Far Guy will eat and peaches from the freezer. 

Man Green Beans

Fry up some bacon until it is crisp then cut it into small pieces.  Drain most of the grease out of the pan then add a can of french style green beans and about a tablespoon plus of vinegar.  My Mom used to make it with fried onions in with the bacon...I do not. 

Minnesota weather:  It rained several times in the afternoon on July 4th.  High 77F or 25C  Low was 62F or 17C.

Far Side

Book Club 2026: June

 This month we read a novel by Mary Lawson called Crow Lake. 

It takes place in the 1950's in Northern Ontario Canada.  It was a good book, I give it an 8 out of 10. 

The author was born and raised in the farming community in Ontario.  All the gals enjoyed the book.

Onto the next book!  I have 63 books waiting in the wings to be read...I stack them in the TV cabinet and shut the doors.   I really should have less than 50 to be read...I need to work on that and should not be allowed to buy more books unless it is a reading emergency. 

Jen listens to books as she works on craft projects and even as she cleans house.   The ear thingys hurt my delicate ears...so I would much rather curl up and read a real book. 

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Book Club 2026: April

 We read a Stephen King book called Revival.  

I give the book a 7 out of 10.   Usually he writes better and has you wondering and on the edge of your seat...not his time.  I guess I expected more.

Most of the gals felt the same way...a little disappointed.

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In between Snow and a book

 Some of our snow has taken on a dingy brownish color...snow and good old North Dakota soil makes the snow look yucky.

Here you can see the strip of dirty snow. 

I ventured out for my PT appointment, Andy was up at o'dark thirty shoveling and snow blowing.  I came back after my appointment and got Far Guy to drop me off at the grocery store door and pick me up again...much better than walking across an icy parking lot.

I finished an in between book. It is a Sandra Dallas book called Little Souls.  It is historical fiction. It takes place in Denver Colorado during the Spanish Flu epidemic.  I give it a 7...mostly because I think sexual abuse can be in a book but I do not want it to fuel the whole book.  I would have written it differently...but you all probably guessed that already. 

Four medical appointments this week, my one is done...Far Guy has three to go. We must travel to appointments in Fargo on Wednesday so we hope for no stormy weather. 

Progress continues on the photo album project...I am on 1994.  

Supper is Tacos, Far Guy's Chili Cheese Dip, fruit and some Rice Krispie bars that I just finished making!

Minnesota Weather:  High 3 F or 16C  Low was -11F or -24C   Wind Chills were in the -40's.

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Book Club: January 2026

 I enjoyed the recent book club read.  I give it a 9 out of a 10.  It is historical fiction that takes place in the early 1950's in Washington DC.   Kate Quinn wrote The Briar Club.

All of the gals at book club enjoyed the book.

Thursday was a quiet day around here, I did some laundry and cleaned out two drawers in the kitchen. 

I made supper...some of those small rock lobsters and steak along with some crispy tater rounds and coleslaw.  Andy is off to a Vex Robotics tournament...he doesn't like any kind of fish or seafood....so we had it in his absence.

Minnesota weather; High 37F or 3C Low was 10F or -12C eh! We are in a Winter weather advisory until Friday evening...snow and wind.

I continue to work on the big sort of photographs for albums. I hope to finish in the next week maybe two....by February 1st for sure!  I have updated 3 out of 5 of the Grands albums. 

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In between book

 I started this book back in the Spring...April I think.  Jen gave me the book and said "It is best read in snippets here and there."   So that was my approach.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig.

I give the book a 7 out of 10 on my reading scale.  It was a very different read for me, however the last 20 pages were page turners.  

The book is full of different thoughts on life.  My favorite being...

"Reading helps you live lives beyond the one you are inside.  It turns our single-room mental shack into a mansion."

Now onto the next book...perhaps another in between book before I start the next book club read.  I got a Thrift Books order last week:)

We are in a blizzard warning.  Lots of time for puzzles and reading.  

Far Side

Book Club: November 2025

 This month for Book Club we read Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas.

I enjoyed it very much!  It is historical fiction set in the Civil War from a young bride's view that she writes in letters to her sister.  I give it a nine out of a ten.  Parts of it I would have written differently...but that is just me being judgy. 

All of the gals in the book club liked it...it was one of my suggestions. So far I have liked all the Sandra Dallas books I have read.  Persian Pickle Club, Westering Women and true sisters all were excellent reads. 

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Book Club 2025: October

 The book for this month was  Kristin Lavransdatter:1 The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset.  It is Historical Fiction that takes place in 14th Century Norway. 

This book is the first book in a trilogy.  So naturally when I found all three books I bought them all in anticipation of a really good read.

Uffda.  It was a slow forced read that I did not enjoy.  I give it a 4 out of a possible 10.  Everyone else seemed to really like it and they all plan to read the series.  Not me...one of the gals said she was not able to find the books so I dropped them all off in her mail box yesterday.  That is one way to clear books out of this house!!!

Usually I like Historical Fiction....so this book was a disappointment.

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Little Library

 We stopped by to see the new Little Library.  It is really cute!  These gals are quite the carpenters and painters!!

I looked at the books but didn't take any.   Next time I will take a book to swap.

I might even have some bookmarks to share:)

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Book Club 2025: August

 Yesterday was once a year in person book club meeting.  I did not attend.  I sent my regrets and a score of 7 out of 10 for The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski. 

I enjoyed the book.  It was a good read. 

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Book Club 2025 : May

 I missed last months Book Club because we were traveling to a Doctor's appointment.

April's read was a mystery called Still Life by Lousie Penny, the book takes place in Canada.  I give it a 7 maybe...I usually don't read mysteries.   All the gals liked it.

May's read takes place in Minnesota.  A story well written although there were many characters to keep track of...there were some very memorable characters which include a young man in high school.  I gave the book a 9 out of a 10.  I think I will try to read something else by this author.  Lorna Landvik wrote Chronicles of a Radical Hag. Everyone enjoyed the book. 

Now I will begin reading something totally different by Debbie Macomber...the Rose Harbor Series before I read the really heavy depressing but uplifting June Book Club read...I have read it before and have heard the Author speak. 

Read on!  Oh yes I ordered a few more books. Read 3 ordered some more...total is now 58.  I should be good for a while.  I order my books through Thrift Books because they have free shipping and occasionally I get a free book. 

BTW my book club is all wives of Veterans and it is virtual, it is headed by one of the VA Social Workers...we also have time to share about crafts we are working on. 

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Books and other "stuff"

 I finally made a list of the books that I have in the house to read.  I am only 52 books behind....but at least I know which books I have hidden away...just in case.  I had to order a few books for upcoming book club books.  That is what prompted the making of the list. 

We took it easy on Tuesday...because Monday was a busy day.  We made Jambalaya, salad and flat bread for supper guests.  Far Guy was the cook and I was the sous chef/dishwasher/bread baker.  Teamwork!  Tuesday morning we both said we are getting too old for cooking.  However Jambalaya freezes well and we froze some up for the summer...it will make a great side dish or main dish with a salad and fruit for the summer days we don't want to cook.  Far Guy follows the Cajun Ninja recipe for Jambalaya on You Tube. 

The flat bread was really good and made the whole house smell great!  No it is not perfectly formed but it tasted perfectly great! 

Supper on Tuesday was chicken thighs with skin removed in the crock pot with pineapple juice and soy sauce...salad and peaches. Easy cooking!

I have had a post it note floating around my desk space for a bit...it says...  

"Being popular on facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" 

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Book Club X 2

 Book Club in February read Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini.  I give it 8 stars out of 10, it was a very good Historical Fiction book, based on many things that actually happened. 

Book Club in March was The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar.  I give it a 9 out of a 10 because I really enjoyed the book!  It is also Historical Fiction.

I just finished another book that Jen left for me to read,  Far Guy is reading it now...fun to have discussion with him about books. 

We did the usual Thursday things, I accompanied Far Guy to his infusion.  I picked up some fruit and eggs from Aldi and we went out to lupper.  Maddie came by and did some household chores and Noah took Sadie for a walk.  In the afternoon, I put my feet up in the Movie Room and began to watch Territory on Netflix...so far I am enjoying it(while crocheting)! 

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Book Club 2025: January

 This month we read Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.

I gave the book a 8.5 out of a 10.   It is a non fiction book based on facts.  The subject matter should have been in a High School United States History Class...but I do not recall that it was. 

Most of the gals in book club appreciated the book...not enjoyed...because the subject matter was a tad gruesome at times. 

The yarn in the photo is very dark...a new project I am working on...actually I am working on two different crochet patterns for the same thing and we will see how it all turns out. 

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Book Club:November

 I picked the book for book club this month.  I read it previously and enjoyed it very much...in fact I enjoyed it the second time I read it too!  I give it a 9 1/2 out of 10.  It is a fun read.

James Patterson and Tad Safran wrote The Twelve Topsy- Tervy, Very Messy Days of Christmas

It is a good book that may inspire you to begin Christmas preparations. ( I could use a big kick in the butt to get me going on the Christmas cards)

All of the gals at book club enjoyed the book. 

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Book Club: September

 We read The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.

I liked the book as did the other ladies in the book club.  I give it a 9 plus...not a perfect 10.   It is another historical fiction read.  

What have you read lately?  Anything good that you care to recommend? 

I still order books from Thrift Books...I still like to hold a book in my hand even though I have many books on my Kindle.   I usually pass the books along after I have read them or donate them.

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Inbetween

 I read true sisters by Sandra Dallas.  It is historical fiction.  It is based on the Martin Companies Mormon Handcart Journey in 1856.    I give it an 8 out of a 10.  The conditions the settlers faced were very difficult.  Basically they walked 1,300 miles.  

This was my inbetween book club read.  It is heavy on the Mormon religion from a women's perspective.

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Book Club : July

 Book Club happened yesterday.  We read All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

I give it a 8.5 out of 10.   It was a good read...a different kind of read for me.  I guess that is what Book Club is about, it gets you to read some books that you may not read on your own. 

Netflix is featuring the book as a series...four parts I think.  I fell asleep during it on two attempts because I knew what would happen next...as far as I could see it was following the book closely.   I am not sure I will visit the movie again...

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Weekend Book

 I read this book over the weekend.  It was great, I give it a 9 out of 10. 

Our daughter Jen recommended it to me last Spring.  She was right I enjoyed it very much. 

This was not a book club read, it was an extra read. 

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Book Club 2024: June

 We read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

It was a great read I give it a nine out of a ten.  I enjoyed it very much...especially the dog named six thirty.  All of the women enjoyed the book.

Onto the next book! 

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