#WDNCW @dabbe

We do not care if we took a nap today. The air conditioning was broken at the library I part time at. It was 85 INSIDE! A regular, and not generally creepy, fella said “you‘re hot!” And we laughed. I was tired after all the sweating while joking about being dewy, because I wasn‘t. 🥵🤣😴

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

I look forward to looking back each Friday and seeing others‘ joy popping up here. ❤️🥰
1. Lots of walks despite the heat
2. Kevin
3. Making solstice flower wreaths and attending a sound bath and meditation with a friend - silly fun
4. A purple cone flower I replanted from my mom‘s garden has returned! 💪🏻
5. Strawberry Spoon Cake from NYT easy & delicious!!

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @dabbe

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Kindness, follow through, honesty
2. Maybe now, my 50‘s. I try to believe there is something good about now after listening to my dad say nothing good happens after …insert every year after 30. No glass half full for him and it‘s tiresome.
3. Stuck in the Middle by Stealer‘s Wheel. Every decade has had some version of “clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right” lol!

#chatterday @AllDebooks

It‘s dangerously hot in WI so I took a walk early then we‘ve mostly been inside, napping, reading, playing cards and up next - a movie. I sometimes enjoy a down low day.

Listening to A Forty Year kiss to prep for the author‘s visit to our library next month mostly because, gah, love the author. Meanwhile while walking in 90 degree heat in WI, I heard his great and cozy description of “toasty”. Auspicious! 🥵 I‘m toasty but NOT cozy. lol

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. Cubs game at Wrigley with my favorite person
2. Strawberry picking with my favorite husband
3. Fun evening with favorite youngest child
4. Custard at my favorite KOPPS!
5. Rhubarb pie with a harvest from my favorite mom‘s garden.
6. Bonus Popcorn with Pascal - favorite actor - he is JOY!

Tagging all! Have a joy filled weekend!!! 🎉❤️🐻⚾️ 🍓🍦🍿

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Games! I have always loved games. Favorite indoor would have been rummy with grandma. Or Monopoly with a girlfriend - literal marathons! Outdoor was epic Hide go Seek on the farm with my cousins…we could go all day! Or kickball, 4-Square, Frisbee (recently resuscitated by my college kid, yay!) or Chinese jump rope.
2. The Boxcar Children, early spotlight on social problems.

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @dabbe

#weekendreads Thank you for the tag @JenReadsAlot

Easter egg! Dr. Patel from This Much I know is True is back. I loved her gentleness with Thomas and Dominic Birdsey, I really appreciate when characters are resurrected in subsequent books ❤️❤️ it has been awhile so I had to confirm with a Google search lol.

#5JoysFriday @TheSpineView
The day late edition

1. A rhubarb peach strawberry pie from scratch that got a thumbs up from the critics ❤️ from my mom‘s rhubarb patch
2. First in line for the hold for the newest Wally Lamb book - already a gut punch in the first pages.
3. The racing sausages
4. Leo‘s smiles
5. Seeing former co-workers in tough circumstances, good to see people show up.❤️❤️

Thank you @Kshakal - any other late birds?! Join along!

Phrase of the day - “quit your job book” - a fellow coworker at the library was talking about leaving off at a tense moment and the director said this is a quit your job book! I totally agreed!! And sewed my lips shut, I enjoyed this so much!

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Tagged
2. It depends - if it‘s an automatic author could be stand alone, if it is series I want to have and loan out, I may pre-order. I try not to buy books often anymore. Edited to add - I forgot I preordered The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb on audible - I couldn‘t wait though I‘m close to the top of the hold list. 🤦🏼‍♀️😃

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @BethM
Thanks for the tag @Kshakal

#chatterday @AllDebooks

Enjoying my morning Nespresso thinking about cleaning because my in-laws are coming for dinner and cards. I‘m 50% looking forward to seeing them. Hoping to up my percentage as the day goes on 🤣🤞🏻

Tagging:
@dabbe @TheSpineView @Kshakal

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. A great bike ride
2. Leo, though hiding from thunder here
3. Mammogram
4. Peonies popping
5. Frisbee with the college kid

Bonus - Physical therapy!
Thank you for the tag @Kshakal - I‘m a bit late, tagging any other late comers?!

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Give people the benefit of the doubt, be kind, be helpful, volunteer, smile first.
2. 🤪🤓😜
3. My friend Geri ❤️

Thanks for the tags @Kshakal

Tagging @dabbe @BethM @JenReadsAlot

1. Definitely!
2. Little House in the Big Woods, a difficult and also simple time in history to visit.

#Two4Tuesday thank you for the tags @TheSpineView and @Kshakal

I found this brief book intriguing but I feel limited on who to recommend it to. Do you know that feeling? I liked this book but can‘t put my finger on exactly why…Divided into two parts - same characters different roles. I enjoyed the author‘s writing style and her choice of words such as sanguine and pique, words I want to eat they are so delicious. I won‘t say more as it is a #camplitsy pick but I cannot wait to discuss.

Great night for #hyggehourreadathon - on the deck starting #camplitsy book. 📕 made a nice dinner for the family before and felt relaxed during and after my reading session.

@AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit

#chatterday @AllDebooks

Sunny day in WI today - I hope to weed my flower beds while listening to the latest Stephen King. I think I will start the next #sundaybuddyread later as well, had so much fun last month with that. Have a great Saturday!!

Chat? @TheSpineView @AmyG

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. The fur babies
2. Coffee with @JenReadsAlot where we again don‘t take a selfie - tag!
3. Hike with a friend
4. Dubai chocolate - at last - procured at TJ‘s
5. No solid plans for the weekend 🎉

Tagging @Kshakal @BethM @KLyn1

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Josie …because the Outfield said she‘s “on a vacation far away” - which sounds great! But also the name of the main character in The Sugar Queen. 😊

2. Fozzy, Rugby and Leo are my pups. Best cat ever - Ernest. But also Jasper, Coco, Dudley and so many more.

3. Josie 🥰

Thank you for the tag @Kshakal All please play!

#camplitsy - reposting so I can remember!

#Two4Tuesay Tgank you for the tag @TheSpineView

1. Tagged! An ARC memoir by Jeff Hiller I enjoyed. I realized I had a lot of 3 ⭐️ / middle of the road reads for May when I looked back.

2. Never Flinch by Stephen King came out today and my preorder audio is waiting for me. I won‘t get to it until June. I always look forward to a new King book!!

Tagging @JenReadsAlot @Kshakal @dabbe

3.5 stars - a raw tale of the next steps in sobriety beyond jail, when the risks are extra real.

#5JoysFriday Thank you for the tag @DebinHawaii @TheSpineView

1. Birthday week cake
2. My little family
3. A birthday greeting from my favorite local author solicited by a library friend …🤭
4. A wonderful hike with a friend
5. Two lunch dates.

Strangely my joys remind me I‘m not all introvert, I find joy in people too 🤣

Tagging @Kshakal @BethM @AmyG

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. When people are kind to each other and lift one another up I feel inspired to put that into the world. We need all of that we can get.

2. Cecil in The Heart‘s Invisible Furies; Kunta Kinte in Roots - for the depths of their strength

Thank you for the tag @Kshakal
Tagging @BethM @JenReadsAlot @dabbe

#mentalhealthmonday @Kerrbearlib

1. A day late but I was feeling good, spent the day with an old friend waxing poetic about this and that was so uplifting.

2. I am edgy from some nerve pain so I‘m going to try to listen more and not engage in negative talk while I let the medication and PT start to do its work. Lots of deep breathing.

Enjoying the sun and my #sundaybuddyread. I‘m all caught up so switching to an audio in an effort to avoid reading ahead. 🙈

#chatterday @AllDebooks - Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView

Celebrating my birthday today with ice, heat, painkillers and cake! Nerve pain from something in my back. But also reading my #sundaybuddyread in the sunshine for the win! As things calm down I may even run to town to get chocolate and cheese. 🎉

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. Leo
2. Rhubarb
3. E-bike
4. Vacation dreams
5. A new sewing project

Bonus - the doctor getting me in right away to start treating (hopefully just) a pinched nerve and possibly saving me from the asylum. IYKYK 🤣

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1. Trixie Beldon, Paddington Bear, The Boxcar Children and The Runaway Pancake. 🥞

2. Nestor the long eared donkey 🫏

3. Broken country 5 ⭐️

Thank you for the tag @Kshakal

Anyone? I‘d live to hear about childhood favorites!

Me, making my own fun at the library today. Had to wrap books and could not resist.

@TheSpinecrackersBookClub #Two4Tuesday

1. I just read and enjoyed Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy…only yo learn after this was nominated for #CampLitsy I own another of hers on my shelf that I have not read - Migrations.

2. Tagged

Thanks for the tags @TheSpineView and @Kshakal

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. A fun buddy read, I‘m trying to follow the chapter “rules”!
2. The show Shrinking has my husband and I laughing to tears, IYKYK what Gabby is doing here.
3. Lunch with Highschool friends where one remembered to tell us he got engaged - in December - which led to week long razzing!
4. A great dog groom! At last!
5. Borrowed an e-bike from Trek, made it 16 miles dressed like a hobo!

@Kshakal thanks for the tag!!

If you liked Somebody Somewhere (I absolutely did) Mr. Hiller really is Joel. I could hear him giggle as I read his funny stories. So very likable but also, it wasn‘t easy for him to get here. Such a decent human. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView @Kshakal
1. I bought was Summer at Tiffany for the #sundaybuddyread
2. I do like to do reviews occasionally, especially when a book hits me. I do them at NetGalley to get ARC :) and also will do them on GR, add them to Amazon for NetGalley books, mention best loved books on Instagram. I love spreading book joy as much as possible. 📚

#Two4Tuesday Thank you for the tags @TheSpineView @Kshakal

1. Laying down at bedtime, sitting outside during a nice summer day
2. Tagged - I love the deadpan of Nate Bargatze, so far not disappointed.

@AllDebooks #chatterday

I think I‘m going to recover from my shingles shot by reading a birthday month buddy read (tagged) and knitting. I was feeling great until 2am 😝 But a crummy night sleep is better than shingles.

Tagging @TheSpineView @dabbe @Eggs if you care to join 😊

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Sent #litsylove
2. Fur babies
3. Passed my biometrics with flying colors 🎉
4. Dinner with old friends - who are engaged ❤️
5. Started running a bit again and did not die, so far 🤣

@Eggs #WondrousWednesday

1. Definitely, iron-y water takes me to grandma‘s. I‘d love another hug from gram.

2. Often music jogs my memory. I recall hearing Jackie Blue in the gold Pontiac GTO on the way to the beach with my mom. I might have been 3 or 4. I have so many music memories with my mom. I‘m grateful for those songs and the memories wrapped in them. ❤️

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView @Kshakal

1. Yes, probably about 500. I stopped really collecting years ago, I try to give then away often or leave them in little libraries. Now working a little in a library I can donate them there. I keep trying to cull the herd…but so many favorites!

2. So many good reads this month. Tagged the best but Wild Dark Shore and Great Big Beautiful Life both get honorable mention.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Kshakal

#Chatterday @AllDebooks

Yardwork lies ahead….but it‘s also national indie bookstore day and there is one nearby I‘d like to check out.

I have to recommend my new coffee creamer. So good.

Tagging @dabbe @AmyG @TheSpineView

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. First read in the hammock for the year
2. Lots of walks
3. A good lemonade with the college kid.
4. When a coworker tells you about a new coffee creamer.
5. 9th Litversary today 🎉 📕
Bonus - first pedicure of the year with a friend 💅

thank you for the tag @DebinHawaii and @Kshakal
All please play!

@Eggs #WondrousWednesday

1. Leo the rescue Aussie/corgi and Kevin, my daughter‘s rescue cat. They are the 4th dog and 4th cat in 31 years of marriage. Leo is the most intuitive little fur friend I‘ve ever had. Kevin is a cat in every way 🤣

2. I like animal books that aren‘t sad. Old Yeller nearly broke me as a child.

3. I love All Creatures Great and Small, the book and amazing PBS series.

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

1. I do, just a little or I‘ll get extra if I am going somewhere that offers a discount for cash.

2. Jay Gatsby, and most definitely.

Moody sock and a broody read. Very good, suspenseful, characters you want to root for.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. A fun handmade card from a friend
2. Kevin is sassy
3. Daily book coffee picture exchange with a friend
4. S‘more sundae treat with my daughter
5. A local book club with themed SNACKS (and wine)! I look very naughty for some reason. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Tagging @Kshakal @JenReadsAlot @BethM

@dabbe #tlt

Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView

1. I have had 5 5🌟 reads so far in 2025, which is amazing! I finished the tagged today on audio and was absolutely drawn in.

2. I moved Orbital back to my to-read, I was excited by others on my TBR, but I do think I‘ll get back to Orbital at some point. No absolute DNF for 2025 yet - that‘s a win!

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Thank you for the tag @Kshakal

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Thank you for the tag @Kshakal

1. Nope
2. Grieving