It‘s a date night this Friday evening! Mr. S and I usually go out, but tonight I wanted to stay in & cook one of his favorites: homemade beef and ricotta meatballs, in tomato and basil sauce with warm flatbread. I‘ve been listening to an audiobook, whilst cooking, enjoying the last of the sunlight before it dipped below the horizon. The food‘s hot, so we‘ll eat, and then cuddle up on the couch, and watch a movie, his pick this time around. 🎥🍿

It‘s a three day weekend, & I‘m looking forward to a little R&R & LOTS of reading time! Memorial Day weekend is the kick off to summer for me. The local outdoor swimming pool re-opens, BBQ‘s & summer parties commence & the temp. starts to soar. I recently finished a Georgette Heyer (Frederica) that left me with a twinkle in my eye & a smile on my face, so I‘ve been enjoying this in-depth guide to the world of Heyer & the Regency era.

Another week down & going strong! 💪🏼 We had rain every single day this week, so my outdoor activity, came inside. Hopefully being outdoors can resume soon, I‘ve missed my neighbourhood rounds. 🏃🏽‍♀️

My point tracking is WAY off, I haven‘t kept track of Litsy Love, etc. So, going forth, I‘m not going to worry about tracking points. I signed up to be more active and have fun, which I am! Hopefully that‘s okay!?
#BFC #BookFitnessChallenge

I‘ve had flowers & bees on the mind, maybe because of the verdant beauty that‘s been rampant this month. I stumbled across these purple blooms Veronica spicata (Spiked Speedwell) at Trader Joe‘s the other day - they made me think of fuzzy bumblebees and meadows scattered with wildflowers. This whimsical daydream led to an attempt to watercolor one of my favorite creatures, the honey bee. 🐝

1. I usually map out somewhat of a monthly TBR, this will include buddy reads, book club picks and readalongs. I also add a few mood reads to my list too.
2. I don‘t usually travel via bus or train, but if I did, yes!
3. Social media, other hobbies, being an adult. 🙄
4. Tea ☕️🍃
5. Anyone who‘d like to participate, feel free to join in!

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

Thank you for the tag! @Cathythoughts

It‘s been a beautiful spring day, sunny with a few wispy clouds, and a chance of rain. I woke up this morning and decided to mix things up, so I worked from a favourite café (sneaking in a few chapters of my current reads in between emails). After work and a few errands, I‘m back home, with paints, brushes and creamy watercolour paper. ??
#persephonebooks

A quiet, relaxing Saturday afternoon. The birds are singing in the trees, I‘m listening to the latest album by Ludovico Einaudi and catching up on a few tasks at hand: snail mail for #LitsyLove and #JB, journaling and making my way through my current reads. I love days like this - they fill me with a quiet peace and a sense of restoration.

I had a fantastic first week for #BFC #BookFitnessChallenge. I met all my goals and surpassed a few. I thought about up‘ing one or two of my goals, but decided I would keep them the same. I want to fulfill them each week, and if I pass them, that‘s great! 👍🏼

2/6 Books Read
377 mins. exercise
36,392 steps/17.83 miles
448 oz. water

Posts: 3
Litsy Love: 29 (will do better on the next week!)

Starting Points: 22
Week 1 Points: 35
Total Points: 57

Busy day, so I‘m just sitting down for a late lunch! Leftover homemade turkey and veggie chilli, with half an 🥑, it‘s so good! I‘m also cracking open my next read, all about the Romanov dynasty and a woman who claims to be the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia. I‘ve always been fascinated by the imperial family and their tragic story, so this one sounds fascinating! After lunch, I‘m taking a walk around the neighbourhood for #BookFitnessChallenge.

Today‘s been absolutely wonderful! A lie in this morning, breakfast with this charming novel, and then I spent the afternoon practicing watercolour painting. I‘ve been meaning to pick this back up again, and finally did it. I‘m quite rusty, (please don‘t judge my poor attempt, at free hand 🙈), but I know after a few tutorials, my technique (and confidence) will return. 🖼 I‘m in desperate need of new brushes too!

#artsandcrafts #georgetteheyer

Happy with today‘s results for #BFC. Busy day, but still managed to make all my goals. 61% through my first audiobook, and hit my fitness, walking, food and water goals for the day. I just found out I had two more audiobook holds become available via Libby, so I‘d better get moving to get them read before they‘re due! 🏃🏽‍♀️

#BookFitnessChallenge

I‘m steadily making my way through these four books during the lovely month of May (and oh! how it‘s been lovely)! I have a few other books I‘d also like to read, hovering just out of sight, but my focus will be on these four until one or two are wrapped up.

#monteinmay19 #seasonbythebook #maytbr #shelfie #bookstack

Started out strong earlier this year w/ #LitsyWalkers, but fell behind a bit. This challenge seems the perfect way to get back to it! 💪🏼

Book Goals 📖:
6 books including at least 2 audiobooks.
Fitness Goals:
🏃🏽‍♀️At least 15 mins. a day, 5 days a week. 2 miles daily tracked via Apple Watch.
💧A min. of 64 oz. of water daily.
🥗 Balanced meals each day (lean protein, complex carb & veggie/fruit).

@wanderinglynn #BookFitnessChallenge

I spent a large portion of my Sunday afternoon reading this heartbreaking book. Today, I‘m planning on finishing it. With a significant weather alert for today: high winds, lashing rain and warnings to stay indoors - it‘s the perfect excuse to curl up with a book!

This book is absolutely heart-wrenching, so I did put it aside yesterday. For the rest of the day I remained quite emotional & couldn‘t stop thinking about what I had read. #lilacgirls

Elizabeth Goudge has been a firm favourite of mine for awhile. I particularly adore Goudge‘s delightful way of describing nature, and her keen observation and tenderness for the complexities of mankind. With themes of renewal, growth and redemption, ‘The Scent of Water‘ will be the perfect spring read. Now, I‘m off to read a couple of chapters, and treat myself to a freshly baked blueberry tea scone.

#elizabethgoudge

The month of May is underway, and I‘m looking forward to a read-along for ‘The Count of Monte Cristo‘ by Alexandre Dumas. This thick tome has been on my reading list for years, so it will be a pleasure to FINALLY crack it open! I‘m co-hosting the read-along over on IG, if you‘d like more details or to join in (please do!), click the link below:

https://instagram.com/p/Bw-CBtbnZsd/

#monteinmay19.

A weekend getaway is underway. Good food, an adorable café & the quirkiest bookshop have been on the list of stops. Today, we‘re headed to a vintage market at the local fairgrounds. I think we might make another stop at the café before we head home, so I can keep reading Alexander McCall Smith‘s latest, ‘The Department of Sensitive Crimes‘. I love several of his other series, and so far this doesn‘t disappoint!

It‘s a beautiful spring day. Low 70‘s, a cooling breeze and an egg shell blue sky. I‘m out on a mid-morning jaunt with my love. A stop at a favourite café for raspberry lemon scones and lattes. We both brought our books, so I think we‘ll stay and read for a bit. Afterwards, we‘re headed to a garden show. My green thumb has been itching, and I‘m ready to plant a few green beauties before the end of the month. ?

#booksandcoffee

My reading set up this lovely spring evening. It‘s been a busy day, so settling in a bit later than usual. Normally I enjoy cooking dinner, but tonight calls for take out. While Mr. S runs to pick it up, I‘m catching up on a little reading time. We‘ll be catching up on Game of Thrones, and Killing Eve, this evening. We‘ve been so excited for both of these series to start up again! Anyone else excited for these two? Happy evening, dear readers.

I'm quite far behind on the #MaeveBinchyBuddyRead, so the #readathon this weekend has been kismet! I managed to read a large chunk (over half way through this 900 page book), and even though I want to read a bit more tonight, I think it's almost time to call it a night. My snack of choice while reading this evening, a rooibos tea (already drunk) and Australian strawberry licorice.

#deweys24hourreadathon #deweysapril #deweysreadathon

‘A Haven on Orchard Lane‘ by Lawana Blackwell, caught my eye, whilst perusing the local library shelves. Set in Victorian times, the book follows a former stage actress, Charlotte Ward. Facing desperate circumstances, Charlotte‘s estranged daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother‘s rescue, whisking her away to a cottage in a quiet coastal village. I‘ve read that this book is part Gaskell, part Lark Rise to Candleford. Both of which, I adore!

It‘s so nice to get back to a reading schedule! It‘s a beautiful afternoon, quiet, and balmy. I‘m spread out on the dining table with four books I‘m currently working on. A candle is flickering in the background and I‘m sipping on a gorgeous green tea called, ‘Bergamot Bliss‘ - the citrus note from the bergamot is divine! I‘m currently immersed in this dense biography about LM Montgomery. It‘s a lot to process, but I‘m enjoying it! #nonfiction

It‘s been a hot minute! My brother visited from Germany, so it‘s been a fun-filled 2 1/2 weeks with his cute little family. We had a blast but I‘m exhausted! 😩 My little introverted nature has kicked into overdrive & all I want to do is retreat & read.

Right before they came, an unexpected & delightful package arrived in the post, which included the book & postcard pictured. Thank you @Jas16 for the lovely surprise! #JB #justbecause

Up next on my March TBR, ‘The Guest Book‘ by Sarah Blake. The story weaves between the 1930‘s, 50‘s and the present, tracing past mistakes and betrayals that ripple down through a family for three generations. I love a good intrigue, so I can‘t wait to start this!

The book isn‘t out until May, but I‘m hosting a giveaway on IG this week for an advanced copy! If you‘d like to enter, please see the link below:
https://instagram.com/p/Bu_3yfKHmKS/

Some of my very favourite flowers have arrived with the new season - french anemone & ranunculus. It was with sheer joy, I hemmed & hawed over each bright bunch, settling finally on a beautiful coral for the ranunculus & cheery raspberry for the anemone. They are happily residing on a little side table next to my reading chair. Another seasonal joy, a fresh issue of @foxedquarterly has just arrived on the stoop. #foxedquarterly #slightlyfoxed

I recently read my first Binchy & oh how I adored it! Sometimes books come into our lives at just the right moment & this was one of them. It was comfort food for the soul, & the perfect book to curl up w/ on a cold winter day. Binchy writes w/ a simplicity that‘s brilliant, & her characters! I absolutely fell in love w/ several in the novel, & feel like they‘ve become friends. Don‘t you just love when that happens w/ a book! #MaeveBinchyBuddyRead

It‘s World Book Day, so to celebrate, I‘m taking the afternoon off. I‘ll be tucked up in my favourite reading chair, a bouquet of tulips (last of their bloom) on the side table, with a pot of tea, and treating myself to a slice of fudgy chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts (soon to go in the oven). How are you celebrating this festive day for book lovers? #WorldBookDay2019 #WorldBookDay

I usually try to fit in one or two non-fictions in my monthly TBR. This month, I‘m finally getting to the tagged book. It‘s been lingering on my shelf for over a year, & was supposed to be a buddy read with a dear friend last January. Needless to say, it‘s now been plucked from the shelf, dusted off & cracked open. I‘m enjoying this coming of age, food memoir, by a strong & resilient woman who grew up in Communist Russia during the 1960‘s & 70‘s.

A late night, cosy reading session. Rain has turned to snow, so I‘m tucked up with my book, notes & a mug of frothy hot chocolate. Since I read all over the place, I love to keep my current reading materials in a portable tote. I couldn‘t pass up this adorable hand stamped project bag featuring Rifle Paper Co. Alice in Wonderland fabric & aptly named, “Cats In A Bookshop”. It comfortably fits a paperback novel, journal, Kindle & plenty of pens.

A library hold came in unexpectedly, it‘s a bit kismet, since today‘s plans were cancelled due to the weather. So, I‘m curled up on the couch, with a cup of tea (Tower of London by Harney & Sons), buttered toast, and this light-hearted historical romance. I do enjoy a feel good romance on occasion, so I‘m looking forward to this one. It has pretty good reviews - I saw it on someone‘s IG feed, who raved about it, so I thought I‘d give it a try!

A good month of reading (a little lower than usual), but, I enjoyed everything I read. I read quite a bit by mood in February - winter = comfort/cosy reads. I have several buddy reads & bookclub reads I‘ve obligated myself to read each month, so being able to fill in the gaps with a book chosen at whim always makes my reading experience better. I also managed an audiobook and a half for #LitsyWalkers. #februarystats #februarywrapup #bookstats

It‘s definitely a good day when @theboxwalla show‘s up on your doorstep. February‘s box included literary works from Israel (Judas), & from Pakistan (The Woman‘s Courtyard). Both sound memorable & moving & are excellent choices if you‘re looking to read more translated works or diverse reads. If you‘d like to know more about this book subscription, I‘ve included a link below:

https://www.theboxwalla.com/

#booksubscription #worldliterature

I am an avid lover of fresh blooms. I try to fill my apartment with a cheery bunch as often as possible & a fragrant bouquet, is the best gift & makes me smile with sheer delight. Because of this love for flora, I have several gardening & floral books residing on my bookshelves. I‘m so pleased to add this beauty to my collection. I‘ve had a quick flip through, it‘s stunning! I can‘t wait to take a quiet moment, to sit with a pot of tea & peruse.

Mr. S & I usually make a weekend date to explore a new spot - yesterday we went to a new café. Since we were in the neighbourhood, I casually mentioned stopping at a favourite local bookstore. It‘s very Harry Potter-ish - rooms connected by narrow corridors, nooks & crannies stuffed full of books, & a hidden staircase that leads to the mystery section. Of course, I found a few books that had to come home with me, so I‘ll share what I bought soon!

I‘ve been nursing a pressure headache all day, so it was a half day of work for me. After an afternoon nap (always seems to help with headaches), I‘m settled in with a cup of darjeeling tea with fresh lemon slices, and another delightful novel by one of my all time favourite authors, L. M. Montgomery. Anne will always be my kindred spirit, but Montgomery‘s lesser known heroines, such as Jane and Marigold have a special place in my heart as well.

Sometimes Monday‘s can be truly lovely, (especially when it‘s a part of a three day weekend). I have an afternoon appointment, but the rest of the day, is full of possibilities. I have a few short stories by Katherine Anne Porter to read for my book club next week, this is my first foray, but I‘ve heard so many amazing things about her writing. Have you heard of her? Any favourites from the collection?

My favourite type of weekend. It‘s moody & overcast, so Mr. S & I are hanging out at our favourite cafe. Extra hot lattes, freshly baked quiche & our books. I just started ‘Underground Railroad‘, it‘s been lingering on my shelf for far too long. I‘m about 20% into the novel & have found it quite mesmerising. I know some have criticised the overuse of language, prose & the lack of character development, but I‘m completely invested thus far.

It‘s a bitterly cold evening, and I‘m ready for some much needed downtime. Today was incredibly productive - a full ‘to do‘ list checked off. On a cold winter day, I always want something warm and comforting to eat, so tonight I made homemade tomato basil soup and a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich. My evening plans? Enjoying a piping hot meal, watching ‘Desk Set‘ starring Katharine Hepburn and reading this week‘s section for #BOTMBuddyRead.

We‘re snowed in today, so I‘m sneaking in a few chapters in between work emails and watching an episode or two of Miss Marple. I‘m not very far along in, ‘Miss Buncle‘s Book‘, but I absolutely love it so far. After reading ‘Mrs Tim of the Regiment‘ last month for a buddy read, I‘ve been on a D. E. Stevenson kick. She‘s such a light hearted and brilliant writer and the perfect read for a snow day.

What a whirlwind of a day! We‘ve had torrential rain the last few days & snow scheduled all week, so after work today, I had several errands to run before we‘re snowed in. I‘m finally home, dinner is cooked (teriyaki chicken, bok choy, cashews & coconut rice) & I‘m settled in for the night w/ a book. I was running around like a madwoman & forgot to take pictures, but I did fulfill my walk for the day. 🏃🏽‍♀️

#LitsyWalkers

It was a manic week, so a laid back weekend full of nothing was definitely in order. Today, I‘ve been catching up on #BOTMBuddyRead & pottering around the kitchen. It‘s been chilly & windy all day (I think I just heard rain), so Mr. S & I are indulging in grilled steak, roasted potatoes, snap peas & freshly baked cookies for dessert. We usually attend/host a #SuperBowl party, but this year we decided against it.

#LitsyPartyOfOne #readathon

I finished up the #24in48 with a little over 17 hours read. I had a busier weekend than planned so I‘m very happy with the results. I was able to finish two books, listened to a large chunk of an audiobook & I‘m halfway through two more books, including ‘The Glass Ocean‘ pictured above. It was fun to take this readathon at a more leisurely pace & I actually think I might stay up for one more hour & keep reading - I‘m right at an intriguing part!

After a full day, I‘m glad to be home and settling in for the evening. I have some catching up do to, for the #24in48, but I managed to finish one book and I‘m about halfway through another. For breaks, I‘ll be responding back to three lovely letters, that arrived in the post today. Thank you, @kaye @phatsallylee @Morr_Books for the warm welcome and beautiful snail mail - each made me smile. ✍🏼🐛💌

#jb #readathon #snailmail

Today has been my favourite type of day. Up before the birds, reading, snuggled on the couch. A hot shower, & then off to brunch & a few errands. Mr. S & I happened upon a new patisserie the other day (unfortunately closed) & decided we needed to come back & investigate. We‘re tucked up, with our respective reads, quiche, French Onion soup & piping hot lattes. We‘ve been eyeing their array of jewelled desserts - now, what to choose...

#24in48

It‘s time for a stretch, another cup of tea & switching up books. I‘m reading ‘Nervous Conditions‘ for my irl book club, which meets next week. I‘m about half way through & finding the writing & story absolutely captivating. It‘s easy to see why this is highly rated & reminds me greatly of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s writing style. It‘s well worth the read, & I think will spark a lively discussion next week at book club.

#24in48 #readathon

A very early start to this Saturday morning. Sleep is eluding me, so I decided I‘d crack on with #24in48. What your book starts with, is the challenge for hour six. I switched over to my Kindle, & started, ‘The Library Book‘. I‘m enjoying it so far, Orlean has such a way with words and makes the tragedy of the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire come alive. I particularly liked this quote, she chose for the dedication. This reader would agree!

Another readathon weekend! This will be my third time joining!! The last two times, I did make the 24 hour goal, but I decided this round, I‘ll read as much as possible, but not put the pressure on, like I usually do. Pictured are the books I‘m currently reading - two for bookclubs and the other for fun. I do have books lined up after these three, but they‘re on my Kindle.

#24in48 #24in48readathon #readathon

It‘s a quiet Friday evening for me. Watching new TV episodes, a pot of tea (Harney & Sons Victorian London Fog), and of course reading. Mr. S always laughs at how I spread out whilst reading - books, book journal, pens, highlighters (see picture above for reference). All that‘s missing is the hot beverage that‘s usually nearby. What are some of your reading essentials?

Fred (my manaTEA tea infuser) and I are reading in bed today. It seems I‘ve been hit with the ague, so it‘s a full box of tissues, ginger tangerine tea and a fat novel. I‘ve also been enjoying a rewatch of a favourite British TV comedy, ‘As Time Goes By‘. Even though it‘s a bit older, it‘s a goodie, and I recently saw that PBS is still showing an episode or two after 10PM. It‘s up there with ‘Vicar of Dibley‘ and ‘Keeping Up Appearances‘.

Getting out today for #LitsyWalkers was a struggle, but I did it! 👟 I felt run down and achey (think I‘m getting a cold), upon waking. The temp. dipped during the night, & it‘s been grey & foggy with the threat of snow all day. But, I was determined to not miss a day! So, I bundled up, put in headphones & got out there. It was crisp & spitting snow half way through, but I absolutely enjoyed myself & the chapters I listened to in the tagged book.