My son & I picked it up today, & fell into the rabbit wholeheartedly into the rabbit hole of contemporary composer Eric Whitacre.We listened to his rendition of Lux Aurumque,or Light and Gold,based on a poem by the poet Edward Esce.Whitacre said of this poem: [whose] “genuine,elegant simplicity…[means] “A simple approach was essential to the success of the work, and I waited patiently for the tight harmonies to shimmer and glow.”His chorus shines.

It‘s after midnight- my coughing kept both me & my husband up,so to be fair, I came downstairs to sleep. Made hot cinnamon milk, which I am sipping with a ginger-man cookie.

Singing & dancing as I listen to @dabbe Holiday Music! Great to slice & dice to!

Inspired me to post mine. Warning: some songs repeat!

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/christmas/pl.u-06oxpzaIoXZP84

#Fridayhappyreadinghour
Warm apple juice with my book. Happy Friday everyone!
Please add @guinsgirlreads to our group!
@mcctrish
@TheBookHippie
@Aims42
@Tamra
@dabbe
@melissajayne
@CatherineCook
@Ruthiella
@BarbaraBB

Bruno finds a highly successful businesswoman apparently dead by suicide in her car.Case closed.Still,he has his suspicions.Meanwhile,there‘s a movement to usurp him from his job as Chief of Police.Never one to bow to a pressure,Bruno continues his inquiry.During this process he meets a love interest.Featured is the usual emphasis on growing & scavenging for food,on farm to table meals with friends,on sunrise horse back riding,& hiking with dogs.

#5JoysFriday

1) Em hugging the warm radiator this morning.
2) Poe on his last night at home. We said goodbye to him this past Wednesday.😢
3) a stop at Starbucks this morning with Husband & son.
4) Our first snow! 5) Coffee, always

#DashingThruDecember #day4 #holidayfilm

Watching this movie is a Christmas tradition in our house.🎄🎅🏻🧑🏻‍🎄

I am so enjoying Julie Bird, the amateur sleuth in this cozy. Series #8 #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt6 #setduringwinterinsnow

Excited about this list from my #AuldLangSpine match @Sharpeipup Thanks do much for hosting this another year @monalyisha

While this uplifting,gem of a novel is about the effect of books on people,mostly it is about the friendship that blossoms between Carl, an elderly book walker book walker a Schascha, a precocious 10-year-old girl. Together, they walk the streets at night to deliver books curated by Carl to shut-ins.Themes include the magic of reading,the power books to unite people & form friendships, & the power of books to create community.#10BeforetheEnd

Anyone relate to this quote?!!!! 📚📚📚📚

#DashingThruDecember #day1 #green #day2 #iceSkating

A day home.Snow/freezing rain expected.I was surprised! I have to laugh when I think of all of you in states with heavy snowfall,because today we expect 3-4 inches.Snow supposed to start falling at 10:00. We have no walkers in our district due to lack of sidewalks.Thus, it becomes a busing issue & at times the bus company‘s call. No complaints here; I woke at the same time I always do.It‘s been quiet, contemplative.☕️📚🙏🏻

#MondayMood
A joyful mood.
~Came back to work completely “rested”.
~ Starting literature circles with grade 9; such fun “book shopping” today.
~Did not pay attention to the news with the exception of student chatter: “Bet we”ll have tomorrow off!” “Snow and rain predicted”. “School will be cancelled.” “maybe not.” “What do you think?” Etc. all day
~ #ChristmasCrime Challenge - reading holiday books!
~ Book mail today!

December Hopefuls.
#thesundaybuddyread #ALinleyMysteryNovel #chrismasCrimeChallenge #prompt1 #redcover #rudolph #ChristieCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3 #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt6 #snowflake #setinwinter #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt5 #adventcalendar #shortstories #advent #PoeticConversation #NF #NF#advent #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt8 #GrinchScrooge #HardboiledNoir #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt2 #Angel #cozymystery

Off to bed to enjoy #hyggehour with everyone! #hyggehourreadathon
Em & Poe get all toasty on the bedroom radiator.

#weeklyforecast
A mix of non-fiction, contemporary mysteries, a historical mystery, literary fiction.

November Stats:
~3 #NF #memoir
~ 9 historical mysteries;
~ 4 present day mysteries
Total read: 16 books

I am definitely a mystery addict!

#weeklyfavorites
3 for #NFNovember, all very different fabulous highly recommended reads!
1fiction, mystery with an a unforeseen, shocking (for me) ending.

Such fun to get book mail today from Thrift books that has passed through Aerogare de Luxembourg!

#beautybreak
This evening‘s sunset across the street to the left of my house.

#BookReport #November23to29 #2025
Finished the first 4 books: #sundaybuddyread #TLI #PasticheBR #ABrunoChiefofPoliceNovel #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #RailwayDetectiveBook15 #prompt7 #setontransport

Currently reading: #NFNovember #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt4
#lockedroommystery #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt6 #setinsnow #audiobook

Next week I predict my reading will slow down as I will be back to work after a 5 day Thanksgiving holiday!

#FridayHappyReadingHour
After sharing a smorgasbord of cheeses, meats, fruit & wine with my family,I retreated to my office to read & sip. 🧀🍷 Enjoying our traditional Beaujolais Nouveau😀


Happy friday reading everyone!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain
#ChristmasCrimeChallenge ❄️❄️ #6 #setinwinterduringsnow #ThelitsyIrregulars #TLI #PasticheBR #NFNovemer

During early Puritan America until the end of the 18th century, “ bundling”, a custom in which couples were “ bundled” separately in cloths & permitted to spend nights together in bed, parental approval was common. It was thought that this practice would create lasting relationships & ultimately marriage.
I am having so@much fun learning about the sexual mores & practices in 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. #NFNovember #TodayILearned #NFN

Afternoon reading with Em-cat & coffee. 🐾☕️
#NFNovember

#5JoysFriday

1) watching Macy‘s parade with Family. Love the new Mario float.
2) holiday signage in Tariffville celebrating Autumn and the coming Christmas season
3) Thanksgiving dinner.
4) My husband enjoying his Thanksgiving. His cranberry sauce was yum!
5) Poe & Em snuggled together. We do not know how long we will have Poe, so every day is precious.💛

Special 6th joy: Litsy & Littens! 💛💛💛

Joining in this #SnowyDecemberReadathon hosted by @LiseWorks
How about it Littens?!
Maybe it will bring snow to CT.! ❄️☃️

#TTT #moodboard
@dabbe
‘
1) turkey! 2017
2)In late 1970s- In college- at my parents with my 7 sibs
3) Sisters! 2019
4) kitties! 2020
5) apple pie 2021
6) my porch 2022
7) dinner 2023
8) Macy‘s Parade 2024
9) Emmy visits the dinner table 2025

Mood of deep gratitude 🍗🦃
Denise, What a delightful idea to spotlight this day.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Starting our day with the tradition of watching the Macy Thanksgiving Parade! 🦃 Emmy has joined us.

#WDNCW
We do not care that this was supposed to be a relaxing day off from work for me, but I ended up going to the grocery store four times for various forgotten but necessary Thanksgiving items.

I do care that it was 60 degrees so grocery runs were in a shirt- no outer garment! I do care that my husband rewarded me by ordering out for dinner. ❤️

Today‘s read. #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #freechoice #8

#beautybreak #sunrise #porchlife

Today‘s early morning greeting. 💛

#ChristmasCrimeChallenge #RailwayDetectiveBook15
Set against the backdrop of snow & Christmas cheer in 1860, England.Frank Rodman,boiler smith for Swindon locomotive works is found dead,his headless body displayed publicly in a malicious& malevolent way. Scotland Yard Railway DI Colbeck is sent to solve this crime.In doing so he‘s confronted with many possible suspects & contradictions.Meanwhile,his boss is kidnapped while attending an army ⬇️

#gratitude
Matisse “…radiated a serenity that I found very moving..

#beautybreak #gratitude
Drove the 4 miles to work this morning with the sunrise greeting me up in the hills. It was captivating, ribbons of pinks, salmons, purples, blues.By the time I arrived at work, this scene is what greeted me. We are at lower ground at the HS, at the bottom of the hills so the sunrise loses some of its luster. Started my work day full of gratitude.

#bookreport #weeklyforecast
Finished books: #memoir #mystery #ALinleyNovel #RedmondandHayesMystery #audiobook

Currently Reading: #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #TheLitsyIrregulars #TLI #PaticheBR #sundaybuddyread #audiobook #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #ReadYourKindle

My wake up coffee, cinnamon croissant, & a book. #10BeforetheEnd
Enjoy your Sunday everyone!💕

Emmy approves of tonight‘s read. #TheLitsyIrregulars #TLI #PasticheBR

Just finished Ken Burn‘s American Revolution documentary- as with all his work, it was magnificent.

#beautybreak

Sun setting over the cemetery across the street from me.

A vivid,lyrical memoir of the author‘s nomadic,early family life in post war England.They have lived with the Roma,in abandoned huts by hops fields,in working class city neighborhoods.But her true love is the open country with its natural bounty.Her memoir is an immersion into the natural world, revealing her deep visceral connection to it.The title is taken from her father‘s motto when life gets tough:”This time next year will be laughing.”

“Sometimes I‘d sit for so long at the base of a favorite tree that I thought I could feel it growing along my spine,…”(224).

Such a luscious read!

Although a little slow in the beginning, this is a clever mystery with a huge twist - I was totally duped! #10BeforetheEnd

Coffee, a maple donut, & Gilot. Perfect to wake up with!

#5JoysFriday —on Saturday!

1) Lifeskills class at MS/HS cooked a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Yum!
2). Poe
3) Ken Burns‘s American Revolution, both book and PBS show.
4).sunrise Friday morning.
5). Stewarts Chocolates-to die for-from my sister. Demolished in 4 days!

#FridayHappyReadingHour

Reading the tagged book,an easy read,with my buddies 🐾.I have resorted to caffeinated coke in an effort to keep myself up for tonight‘s UConn v Michigan Women‘s basketball game.🏀 Happy Friday evening everyone!

At about 30% in I bailed- just stupid. #readyourkindle

#WDNCW
we do not care that I was up in the wee hours last night and ordered tons of “cute” bookmarks & stickers which I don‘t need & now have to return.We do not care that we have to set mouse traps all over the laundry room where there is a new mouse population explosion-only Emmy gets them now but she has few teeth so she is not successful that often.We have an old house with red stone foundation-easy access.

Bedtime reading. Finished A Banquet of Consequences (E.George) tonight so on to lighter fare.

Another captivating read in this Victorian murder series.During a séance, a suspicious death occurs, shocking everyone in attendance. When DI Daniel Haze is called to the murder site, he discovers his wife is there, so consequently she is a suspect.As he & Redmond follow clues leading them through a circuitous route,Haze is anxious to prove his wife‘s innocence.What they uncover is totally unexpected. #audiobook #ARedmondandHazeMystery #book6