tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566080809797059352024-02-18T22:28:14.960-08:00Kandid KatieRandom thoughts and mutterings of a woman reinventing herselfKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-82567174881346297222023-04-15T12:08:00.000-07:002023-04-15T12:08:03.996-07:00Camp NaNoWriMo Update<p>It's not going well. I have writer's block. I've plotted and planned and plotted and planned, and I just can't get any actual book text onto the page. I've only written poetry for National Poetry Month about half the days, too. It doesn't matter how much I want to write, as soon as I put hands on keyboard (or hit the voice-to-text button), I freeze.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnHIyNohJcUnc1Uo4asAVCdf3Mb8tE-Z7L5YHsfk8qNOdA932Qpijl7oX1n7APHV-OCp9U22WeGmnhwRsTU_t4YYPIMRRoNjoelwKzMxvYrm8Q0WOFFheGOsd-8dijyoa0lqw1xfWbrZkL4d43PUOujsuJapYMBJRFXUfxOYOVu6wUOPGqwsWebMk/s1080/WritersBlock.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1080" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnHIyNohJcUnc1Uo4asAVCdf3Mb8tE-Z7L5YHsfk8qNOdA932Qpijl7oX1n7APHV-OCp9U22WeGmnhwRsTU_t4YYPIMRRoNjoelwKzMxvYrm8Q0WOFFheGOsd-8dijyoa0lqw1xfWbrZkL4d43PUOujsuJapYMBJRFXUfxOYOVu6wUOPGqwsWebMk/s320/WritersBlock.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've tried visualizing. I've tried ritualizing. I've tried freewriting and prompts and exercising. I've changed location. I've changed direction. I've brainstormed. I've doodled. I've watched others for inspiration.<p></p><p>On the upside, my house is getting very clean. My computer is more organized. I've been diligently doing all the lowest-priority tasks on my list.</p><p>Procrastination is a--</p><p>I haven't even had the sense about me to put out my weekly reading posts. I'm a wreck.</p><p>But it's going to be okay. Every artist has dry spells. I know what's most likely behind mine, and I'm working on it. The brain is a fabulous liar, for better or worse.</p><p>For now, I'm going to keep going, and whatever gets on the page gets on the page.</p><p>Raise your pen with me to toast the artist's struggle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRGBNSV92Bg3pxiviju28-mKqGE5Hui2LLDPJM1tJbYgQYkbH32P3TxMtY0d2zx1DNGf0I_spOKuBndJiHDjtkZSJ6rJyb2tJS_2x_pXNij9QMuTVrJCKlhlFPs2euTrCWgKceyj_ll89K8vbIN9ynYuatKGQVoom0m_sfno7F8onHCD6I4LPqO2a/s1080/WritingUtensils.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRGBNSV92Bg3pxiviju28-mKqGE5Hui2LLDPJM1tJbYgQYkbH32P3TxMtY0d2zx1DNGf0I_spOKuBndJiHDjtkZSJ6rJyb2tJS_2x_pXNij9QMuTVrJCKlhlFPs2euTrCWgKceyj_ll89K8vbIN9ynYuatKGQVoom0m_sfno7F8onHCD6I4LPqO2a/s320/WritingUtensils.png" width="320" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-70325839483724819412023-03-22T06:49:00.000-07:002023-03-22T06:49:10.901-07:00I made a Linktree!<p>I made a Linktree to have all my most-important links in one place. Linktree is mostly for social media and its limited bio sizes. There is a subscribe button at the top, as well as a share button, in case you feel so inclined.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="goog_1339439954"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="1124" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7PP8OL22rVy_IiPaHxmCwIhaHUyeLq_cbYs_akt12adgmKRRziYUUMF8KQjdBEn3ZHg1ZxkUtp-TXxbM5mYNy5z0FK0eQRV9mq9LO33X9RXJpTV2HdipfroyrJpdAWNWFFRn0MIYATOyr7_5jsz7FQpTsDqNz3Nent1iKTnK-2e8RMUZTvJHJydW/w254-h640/LinktreeImage.jpeg" width="254" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/bookboundwithkatie">https://linktr.ee/bookboundwithkatie</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-1577892887881583962023-03-20T03:14:00.039-07:002023-03-20T05:15:36.278-07:00Books I enjoyed this week 13-19 March 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TAmcRSlJVz-KatXD1yaaowkFdd2Z6QMgU_DjJDSz7P6WcHUFJYLjeWhoq06W0MaCbJl441YS60Uf61IbHnxe9SxPs_9teKt5MipbBwbNPZf96PvFVHG7nBOIIHNkNvXLp8KfPgPiXlKvypgMJ7ILpcu-pPvn4zSbSOJddUEPd8Y6FfnQXRmnwcKT/s1533/TheresaBoyintheGirlsBathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TAmcRSlJVz-KatXD1yaaowkFdd2Z6QMgU_DjJDSz7P6WcHUFJYLjeWhoq06W0MaCbJl441YS60Uf61IbHnxe9SxPs_9teKt5MipbBwbNPZf96PvFVHG7nBOIIHNkNvXLp8KfPgPiXlKvypgMJ7ILpcu-pPvn4zSbSOJddUEPd8Y6FfnQXRmnwcKT/s320/TheresaBoyintheGirlsBathroom.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom</h3><p></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236056.There_s_a_Boy_in_the_Girls_Bathroom" target="_blank">There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar</a> has been making the rounds on social media lately because of the title. I wanted to read it again because I didn’t remember it from more than thirty years ago, and I wanted to be prepared in the event someone waves it around as if it has anything to do with trans rights or transphobia. (Spoiler: it doesn't.) Or I thought I didn’t remember it. It turns out I do remember part of it, in particular one line that comes to me every single time I’m in a public restroom with a stranger! It’s funny how these things stick with you. The book is a redemption story of a boy who just can’t seem to help being bad. The second half of the book is especially wonderful, with an emotional ending.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmJhnkQeE9nSDAPh8rgm7jN7IWnNcCtn5Fps7tfNJvSY7JLPNJrip-uvb16_JjKAZmjKG3nThwdCgxXgFxTw8in4zYNAUgbp9aMu4F6KbLCajfeTlk9LLAStEdTMTJrjoaRRkOnpJ3KfMYf2XtFCRHYESf_0l4bDQZuVPIl9WcxB5pjHnGT2hgFXX/s2417/WeAreTotallyNormal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2417" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmJhnkQeE9nSDAPh8rgm7jN7IWnNcCtn5Fps7tfNJvSY7JLPNJrip-uvb16_JjKAZmjKG3nThwdCgxXgFxTw8in4zYNAUgbp9aMu4F6KbLCajfeTlk9LLAStEdTMTJrjoaRRkOnpJ3KfMYf2XtFCRHYESf_0l4bDQZuVPIl9WcxB5pjHnGT2hgFXX/s320/WeAreTotallyNormal.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">We Are Totally Normal</h3><p></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39297951-we-are-totally-normal" target="_blank">We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia</a> is a book about high school teenagers and their social lives. There is a good amount of LGBT+ representation, and it is handled as the totally normal thing it is (not intentionally quoting the title). There is a presence of descriptive sex, which I skipped over at my teen’s request. The main character has issues with sex that are not often talked about, and I think it’s good that it was represented here, though I wish it had been discussed more, especially to make it clear everything was fully consensual. There wasn’t any violation here, just people sometimes doing things they didn’t necessarily want to, but not with coercion or anything like that. Typical teen-brain decision making, I’d say. It wasn’t our favorite book, but it was not a bad book. I didn’t rate it down just because it wasn’t my cup of tea.</p><p><br /></p><p>This was a light reading week because I had a lot on my plate, like getting ready for the St. Patrick's Day parade in my town. I did read a couple more books in one of the mystery series, but nothing new to report. I'm still ahead of schedule on my reading goal.</p><p><br /></p><p>How are you doing on your reading goals this year? Is the excitement of the new year waning, or are you getting into a groove now that the holidays are far behind us, and the days are getting longer?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-44759113449233647612023-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:002023-03-17T14:10:26.274-07:00St. Patrick's Day 2023 in Ireland<p>Saint Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland, and his feast day is March 17, as I'm sure you know. If you live in the United States, you probably think of garish outfits and green foods and drinks and a lot of partying. It's not terribly different here, though I don't recall any green foods besides pastries. In fact, the costumes here are better, and nobody is embarrassed about donning even the most ridiculous pieces. Plus, it's a bank holiday!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_cWZJzYuz1aoQO1pyO4aOxY27p4N1lWj3kAyENHHXXZHfA7yCCg21tZfFRtj01-2C1MxnJXM6ZzcveJZM9ALITLaNkMww7a_2igLBVc5ecGdvFKexYvtauV-4K_3MtBpsO4JLfPxxLkQ2DrBinwk4ZlazIq13zF5DSuSxnuiW7l3tYhMqET1aiML/s4032/IMG_2572%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_cWZJzYuz1aoQO1pyO4aOxY27p4N1lWj3kAyENHHXXZHfA7yCCg21tZfFRtj01-2C1MxnJXM6ZzcveJZM9ALITLaNkMww7a_2igLBVc5ecGdvFKexYvtauV-4K_3MtBpsO4JLfPxxLkQ2DrBinwk4ZlazIq13zF5DSuSxnuiW7l3tYhMqET1aiML/s320/IMG_2572%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />My favorite costumes are the Saint Patrick costumes, with their tall bishop's hats and robes and often even a staff. You see every possibly shape of hat here in the colors of the Ireland flag, and many hats have attached red hair. A lot of people wear fake beards, mustaches and even eyebrows in that festive copper hue. Faces are painted, hair is dyed, shamrocks abound (but NEVER a four-leaf clover here!), and everyone pulls out their brightest green, white, and orange.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPCNk2YN6LPkpshZhwvvwAeyWol1WI61GGs83wwROunEzo4fQtCFhTcR72BzKq9BCtr2Syr8sAfAgkYUgrsr1caGhl_DuUkPd4NgPEshDlRbzgM5NZ212ARuxbV4T0TF2C8Ytdr7lOo-UssiJyTTigxn1cogAVLnoF3HUKfSSQuqk9Gg9xYqW44j7/s3524/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3524" data-original-width="2643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPCNk2YN6LPkpshZhwvvwAeyWol1WI61GGs83wwROunEzo4fQtCFhTcR72BzKq9BCtr2Syr8sAfAgkYUgrsr1caGhl_DuUkPd4NgPEshDlRbzgM5NZ212ARuxbV4T0TF2C8Ytdr7lOo-UssiJyTTigxn1cogAVLnoF3HUKfSSQuqk9Gg9xYqW44j7/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z_NWDjmrozre2OmE9hrZFGH62kfCIMTUCJjWjhZief7XFt1_c22wTmBrN1yxgOi_J1AYEn6tZqi7CtfEziDkbnjGrCk0hN2bLbEzZ_-9j8x2MfQrM6_Qo2CgKJM7LzkAeYfIU1jmcME8cDQysJNL_cDj2b4HRl6pqO0QQlre9diChBbHLCD0qoB9/s3156/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3156" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z_NWDjmrozre2OmE9hrZFGH62kfCIMTUCJjWjhZief7XFt1_c22wTmBrN1yxgOi_J1AYEn6tZqi7CtfEziDkbnjGrCk0hN2bLbEzZ_-9j8x2MfQrM6_Qo2CgKJM7LzkAeYfIU1jmcME8cDQysJNL_cDj2b4HRl6pqO0QQlre9diChBbHLCD0qoB9/s320/IMG_2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've heard of a clown car, but never a leprechaun car</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBbel2MHgHIW2dqv2A1UkRcLzBnhoiZ0V7zVKR3unrj3adByh9GSsmoNz2lpXdiM1L9X50HsLdGGuKlz1E3ELCxlYEYWNYnvLoScUs01Y_VRDbVfuRrJIcz2Jhv8TrlSXyJm2_umMfA49TUDtZEuDbNRocLWsS0AL04wCgWiHC1JVKOkGpQrexH6I/s3331/IMG_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2102" data-original-width="3331" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBbel2MHgHIW2dqv2A1UkRcLzBnhoiZ0V7zVKR3unrj3adByh9GSsmoNz2lpXdiM1L9X50HsLdGGuKlz1E3ELCxlYEYWNYnvLoScUs01Y_VRDbVfuRrJIcz2Jhv8TrlSXyJm2_umMfA49TUDtZEuDbNRocLWsS0AL04wCgWiHC1JVKOkGpQrexH6I/s320/IMG_2541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tractor pulling a castle</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WHk7goTyGD3b_Pli9Kh-RKUzSNORLBhWCHHiCz5gqL2XcNU_eZgBDPCRFuYygaS7d2sjKF18Ni8qAOAZf5Q9G7f4ZxXdP-QxtrXGWhB80t7RgEB8msVWLgj7JT8FmO-o4717O3fXs4Be96dDDU_ptq7lJQbOkJvwrksnLNpkBzZ3MAkMx6eXRB_Z/s3655/IMG_2445%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3655" data-original-width="2741" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WHk7goTyGD3b_Pli9Kh-RKUzSNORLBhWCHHiCz5gqL2XcNU_eZgBDPCRFuYygaS7d2sjKF18Ni8qAOAZf5Q9G7f4ZxXdP-QxtrXGWhB80t7RgEB8msVWLgj7JT8FmO-o4717O3fXs4Be96dDDU_ptq7lJQbOkJvwrksnLNpkBzZ3MAkMx6eXRB_Z/s320/IMG_2445%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywdOfxhpKol0EYk9tsbZEEQ-jHg9CYZi806UDSHIR0R2IIkIIQJFZ6G8-tSc2y0MhMOq2GsQyeS62Z7pvot4wqG-eWiu5McTt_ZPmgboB4Z8qFqOiZfnTKIn7KFWFfpjTrGVuu9cJckK3YgYHGQ4lzq6AQYY6os8T75Fgvm7xpuQM2iBUI58eJF2F/s4032/IMG_2512%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywdOfxhpKol0EYk9tsbZEEQ-jHg9CYZi806UDSHIR0R2IIkIIQJFZ6G8-tSc2y0MhMOq2GsQyeS62Z7pvot4wqG-eWiu5McTt_ZPmgboB4Z8qFqOiZfnTKIn7KFWFfpjTrGVuu9cJckK3YgYHGQ4lzq6AQYY6os8T75Fgvm7xpuQM2iBUI58eJF2F/s320/IMG_2512%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I shared <a href="https://kandidkatie.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-year-in-ireland.html" target="_blank">some pictures</a> from the 2022 St. Patrick's Day parade in my town last year. This year I marched in it! Well, my daughter's sewing school marched, and I accompanied. We were near the front, so all the spectators were very energetic as we passed. We missed the bagpipes because they were too close behind us, but we got to see the rest of the parade as we wound our way through the crowd to our waiting family.<p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lrqJMrg6Vn-2K1xiX8qHUrqajfLHXf9EH8XCBiJ1fRiroKSATwdXvbIKkDG7833Eh8q7Zdu0fRgknjPApV8A2itfTvZ-3CHRxm7dN1A3dC4feKvHAfp8I4DmFU85IU4FkW__u-HGo_5165gZAMNYLXPs_REgjwkBYYOPPTOBoUHFlH6IcNn3riN_/s3655/IMG_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3655" data-original-width="2644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lrqJMrg6Vn-2K1xiX8qHUrqajfLHXf9EH8XCBiJ1fRiroKSATwdXvbIKkDG7833Eh8q7Zdu0fRgknjPApV8A2itfTvZ-3CHRxm7dN1A3dC4feKvHAfp8I4DmFU85IU4FkW__u-HGo_5165gZAMNYLXPs_REgjwkBYYOPPTOBoUHFlH6IcNn3riN_/s320/IMG_2490.JPG" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagpipes</td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you get the chance to spend St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, don't pass it up. There are parades all over the country (you could even watch more than one!), and everything is swathed in vibrant decorations. Yes, it's busy, but it's so much fun!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOlBBoWPJlz2Z9x7xcvst9fW8ORitaxwrIY2s_9sbYAE6elqli8Nhiq-WBZtr2ORtnBTMXd-byvb4tLcJl2S9yMUOqD1w6hSE6cRPKAohYpqq7KTlUcq9jFKNO9aXPcSkrVA_tDSNvprkAe74VeJcKEMOnlK_C89pvE1AuQhIuOmMqlf5I1EIistI/s3324/IMG_2491.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3324" data-original-width="2493" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOlBBoWPJlz2Z9x7xcvst9fW8ORitaxwrIY2s_9sbYAE6elqli8Nhiq-WBZtr2ORtnBTMXd-byvb4tLcJl2S9yMUOqD1w6hSE6cRPKAohYpqq7KTlUcq9jFKNO9aXPcSkrVA_tDSNvprkAe74VeJcKEMOnlK_C89pvE1AuQhIuOmMqlf5I1EIistI/s320/IMG_2491.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-27789313597453731312023-03-16T13:32:00.018-07:002023-03-16T13:39:23.285-07:00A Year in Ireland<p>Today marks the anniversary of the day we moved to Ireland (well, the day we arrived in Ireland; we started our journey the day before). I have so much to say about the last year, but as I went back through my photos, I just wanted to reflect on those first days.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5X8bml0FkyiAqkymaJit2Ou1Wr_b1CbxeWTf4TnRkdsLvRDuCTs6VkJL1ftAXvlMlY5Vo0ON558AnhKjlFKKcaD_ixp2mIFSU0u5Efjo2oaWk9ZEhg-3gw97klwWzU8O-A0WpFOz5ZLGLn8Yp7nnmZpi2yYHzrYc3toMNf4quiAahgh0JFYiAjIk/s4032/IMG_4474.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5X8bml0FkyiAqkymaJit2Ou1Wr_b1CbxeWTf4TnRkdsLvRDuCTs6VkJL1ftAXvlMlY5Vo0ON558AnhKjlFKKcaD_ixp2mIFSU0u5Efjo2oaWk9ZEhg-3gw97klwWzU8O-A0WpFOz5ZLGLn8Yp7nnmZpi2yYHzrYc3toMNf4quiAahgh0JFYiAjIk/s320/IMG_4474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Since we arrived in Ireland on March 16, our introduction to our new home was quite chaotic and festive. We arrived at our house after 10pm, ordered Domino’s pizza delivery for midnight (it was the only place open), made our beds, and crashed. The next morning we went to the grocery store before the roads closed down, and then we walked up to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in our town. What a welcome to Ireland!<p></p><p>Please enjoy these photos from those first few weeks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0cDPNKEbE8zkYTb4LOcdw-4FouJECcUCDWPkGehyRA8uZ6T4whpc0JlnhejAryNogyezySqlBSixkqUdh8ZXvMHIeF40yQxRJvxUOshz5Jw4t6IqQFWhMXdRoijDUaL37Objp_n-jPKmTRvZFLX_vQoPithzIT3885wcoDN9BtbixHnKzxG7yQX8/s2783/0B0B738F-0F37-4296-A2AB-53DFFFA90206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="2783" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0cDPNKEbE8zkYTb4LOcdw-4FouJECcUCDWPkGehyRA8uZ6T4whpc0JlnhejAryNogyezySqlBSixkqUdh8ZXvMHIeF40yQxRJvxUOshz5Jw4t6IqQFWhMXdRoijDUaL37Objp_n-jPKmTRvZFLX_vQoPithzIT3885wcoDN9BtbixHnKzxG7yQX8/s320/0B0B738F-0F37-4296-A2AB-53DFFFA90206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGUcUz2t-h12Ex7XGmQSKlVGwHhjgtvxMawDNhzZmnriHUvxeBLHB5-LdEY3B-oQJyedpcORqqfoUVEElB0rzO3HsF_leiDDS1DxoNPxWfhuwGRGZP7QiE0D97b-wgj4wukm8xwJoT-aXGd2UGSc9-938E-CmKhuOd6HqDPWVQUgIapSJRoOSNwTa/s320/IMG_4042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf56qo28RNDCutOYxlwfGrLrhSoaW1m4RIilwNPpspo--RF7lfpnstPniJpgFUnMmyuLkTJanp63qlPV_zbc4iXUvijU5HLcZSNenV7JWoTbJEpZylQAzF1up4lwbvixJsROr10P3FDPuRfwosyqOCrTIonK-CbFg_0DWIXe2v4jNUibBXtcWITi8/s3520/IMG_4108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf56qo28RNDCutOYxlwfGrLrhSoaW1m4RIilwNPpspo--RF7lfpnstPniJpgFUnMmyuLkTJanp63qlPV_zbc4iXUvijU5HLcZSNenV7JWoTbJEpZylQAzF1up4lwbvixJsROr10P3FDPuRfwosyqOCrTIonK-CbFg_0DWIXe2v4jNUibBXtcWITi8/s320/IMG_4108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvkQ49CEQ2n_vdLjoGmfAsAvTgk6dxv2v0uXR0wkEgH0_dnt1uO0B5bfJzKNFnuFsEOfwwlQc_936uX0wWdmqEXXhlH01PjQjZUdoSveW32lGGzP_z0fQe43nOj5hvSlZZTcV7J3QdcfbZCCuD7Yg6c3eaVV-IoruozcYc7ohp--JLBydQ4LGxRIC/s3520/IMG_4180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvkQ49CEQ2n_vdLjoGmfAsAvTgk6dxv2v0uXR0wkEgH0_dnt1uO0B5bfJzKNFnuFsEOfwwlQc_936uX0wWdmqEXXhlH01PjQjZUdoSveW32lGGzP_z0fQe43nOj5hvSlZZTcV7J3QdcfbZCCuD7Yg6c3eaVV-IoruozcYc7ohp--JLBydQ4LGxRIC/s320/IMG_4180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo83RMenaY6bRVh2I0MMCb5FOvS5FmNKrMO8zKqe0pTAdSds5nOnCFZgqFkdJJgs5bDAKg8BpeDNuy8L0gzOGJOlzyZlZhXtuvHg0eELv3SjIubg9WUYyBVXJTtwWw2z98-Eft67x3WN42wXQNWxZf-mtzaFthcdq6KQw91SZF4j9oENh2JptAseI/s3520/IMG_4441.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo83RMenaY6bRVh2I0MMCb5FOvS5FmNKrMO8zKqe0pTAdSds5nOnCFZgqFkdJJgs5bDAKg8BpeDNuy8L0gzOGJOlzyZlZhXtuvHg0eELv3SjIubg9WUYyBVXJTtwWw2z98-Eft67x3WN42wXQNWxZf-mtzaFthcdq6KQw91SZF4j9oENh2JptAseI/s320/IMG_4441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb7uee7vPjKnFKHRVcSg-GkaoiBx4oYnu236Z0wWRrjbX_vmxzmXicn-VHbZsFCzGkZOjT5af53CCJGQ2hJHgV6fK9aCQKRKkvKJC9hN50gZaYR8G_RasjZ9PrFbR6HK0rny532SDgILNDYGrgjXsJnjbXeHhrHsq-Rd4O3SDqwfZyBM7Rq3qhmDI/s2711/04AA34ED-1676-4537-AA77-C4C3049F637A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2711" data-original-width="2711" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb7uee7vPjKnFKHRVcSg-GkaoiBx4oYnu236Z0wWRrjbX_vmxzmXicn-VHbZsFCzGkZOjT5af53CCJGQ2hJHgV6fK9aCQKRKkvKJC9hN50gZaYR8G_RasjZ9PrFbR6HK0rny532SDgILNDYGrgjXsJnjbXeHhrHsq-Rd4O3SDqwfZyBM7Rq3qhmDI/s320/04AA34ED-1676-4537-AA77-C4C3049F637A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European robin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iPvhEbL0yhQSgjZ9heJlPCdqHQaS9D7Vc7mQnB9YqnrCNg-_UOKMxKGj2lEmNAeKudKfxgm1ByYUbTZKCKA_sIXTHh7ttgmSl7l3JNYxCCx2SK6RD8lzmThuaj73oGdLe5s2cEgVqQa8_0eQRq8N3oegtVi1RkAxS5GveTDna1Nks32MS9te-3Tj/s1440/5A2718BA-6C93-412A-9C5E-D9285F3FF81F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iPvhEbL0yhQSgjZ9heJlPCdqHQaS9D7Vc7mQnB9YqnrCNg-_UOKMxKGj2lEmNAeKudKfxgm1ByYUbTZKCKA_sIXTHh7ttgmSl7l3JNYxCCx2SK6RD8lzmThuaj73oGdLe5s2cEgVqQa8_0eQRq8N3oegtVi1RkAxS5GveTDna1Nks32MS9te-3Tj/s320/5A2718BA-6C93-412A-9C5E-D9285F3FF81F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHik8YF5In4BjCh2FQUk-xsTRqFtsCDaaPMVJtiFIpUs9gKADGqePSUvBW68oByyw2b-Dr-jZqsWqcesP6LmUfqaWuBwzi9GbuDsxBPBCwOkdQ95w0_3E24TwE15J7G6jf7IGzGzzo7KR6v74MHxFQwQUG38cfB-17B95FEIyOwqZD38MEprHoAh4d/s4032/6EB3F5C6-AE4B-4ACB-8727-FD37DD28DD8A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHik8YF5In4BjCh2FQUk-xsTRqFtsCDaaPMVJtiFIpUs9gKADGqePSUvBW68oByyw2b-Dr-jZqsWqcesP6LmUfqaWuBwzi9GbuDsxBPBCwOkdQ95w0_3E24TwE15J7G6jf7IGzGzzo7KR6v74MHxFQwQUG38cfB-17B95FEIyOwqZD38MEprHoAh4d/s320/6EB3F5C6-AE4B-4ACB-8727-FD37DD28DD8A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8fkpji8tEgVsOCId3Drumh_JwOl5ZCTq84wPOdPzerts2Hxn1Giex2JcDZp1FAaHvtSxRoflwHeAIMytEvzIC0h73Z-LrMfni77rNhO229CTeXrFmW5SXBPogWYPXW6M8-cdWJ1RfygNPGiH-LdhgSxfI80eazfIdmBoJmvbTwN_B06DEjHdpNjp/s3684/7E49463C-7573-4D85-BAA2-65D401C1DFDE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3684" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8fkpji8tEgVsOCId3Drumh_JwOl5ZCTq84wPOdPzerts2Hxn1Giex2JcDZp1FAaHvtSxRoflwHeAIMytEvzIC0h73Z-LrMfni77rNhO229CTeXrFmW5SXBPogWYPXW6M8-cdWJ1RfygNPGiH-LdhgSxfI80eazfIdmBoJmvbTwN_B06DEjHdpNjp/s320/7E49463C-7573-4D85-BAA2-65D401C1DFDE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAvtY3wMT2M4BO4HqHDVrzp4OctED1t3KQwFsvbWWELKxdf4_HPAlCAJ-hxYq-Q1dvLY2lCl3FkvUmRt30ljUoYoqfWuzxRKCIGqqvOCbVbKHcwggRJTSy7T4f5c1BFZn8KeG2HxRbzG6ovNzu1ZkL15adDzGVfqVOJc94Q8fbe2T95mmwuGVF5Tc/s1440/7EA91A79-2132-4A89-A884-B34371E6793A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAvtY3wMT2M4BO4HqHDVrzp4OctED1t3KQwFsvbWWELKxdf4_HPAlCAJ-hxYq-Q1dvLY2lCl3FkvUmRt30ljUoYoqfWuzxRKCIGqqvOCbVbKHcwggRJTSy7T4f5c1BFZn8KeG2HxRbzG6ovNzu1ZkL15adDzGVfqVOJc94Q8fbe2T95mmwuGVF5Tc/s320/7EA91A79-2132-4A89-A884-B34371E6793A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18th Century Spa, Leixlip</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUDQCnQaVIxLOYQCwioirb6ixG2dpOI7Raq6GyJ5up8r_ontSYSWbyvhW1KGoYonzjGW-CZ06mOI0YmU3-tVcGnBFrxEZ6ldM01zZrRrWWIYbG8JhMPK3b2xOWOyvuoS81LNVo5MZaoIojHFNpHuNW_pUk9SSd9oSq5FfoNSa1fzaeyPgNuPU8oQO/s3446/8A551745-842B-4802-BF29-7150A8CACED8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3446" data-original-width="3446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUDQCnQaVIxLOYQCwioirb6ixG2dpOI7Raq6GyJ5up8r_ontSYSWbyvhW1KGoYonzjGW-CZ06mOI0YmU3-tVcGnBFrxEZ6ldM01zZrRrWWIYbG8JhMPK3b2xOWOyvuoS81LNVo5MZaoIojHFNpHuNW_pUk9SSd9oSq5FfoNSa1fzaeyPgNuPU8oQO/s320/8A551745-842B-4802-BF29-7150A8CACED8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqr4deReVZuVIZBnzhGJPXXXFgDmNI8aZchUNcTjSUuE7VisRvX6S0yurVQedYDMnX6yNiFSTptPcUfzf5XV7KzglFFCN0r_GpZVwv7dp5ud2vZndDt40Mh4xyAt-uiNF7nSLDa2mrEJwxncJ3hZf1Ia4-FUTeM0rlnQ8UwmZQLdPV1GLusMruSLf/s1440/11E68705-3EF5-4C93-812A-E4612F55BDCA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqr4deReVZuVIZBnzhGJPXXXFgDmNI8aZchUNcTjSUuE7VisRvX6S0yurVQedYDMnX6yNiFSTptPcUfzf5XV7KzglFFCN0r_GpZVwv7dp5ud2vZndDt40Mh4xyAt-uiNF7nSLDa2mrEJwxncJ3hZf1Ia4-FUTeM0rlnQ8UwmZQLdPV1GLusMruSLf/s320/11E68705-3EF5-4C93-812A-E4612F55BDCA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUtNBKVO4Iw5qNpQb_g74vHe8eTRlnEM4OZj7ImOEBspvXofS9lrn8aYXvARCFONaLgxghJecNzts-L-XpINBx-Cehp4APBy2ZnfcugR1EHX0T30zJuYCT545pDyz05R7ZLfHY1JTy1Uwcv4WPWb6KYvNmNEnINrjflzT2Qq_hAvyC3I5lIarE2d9/s1800/42B25C72-26B3-4C5D-B9FC-5A7A2C6E26F3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUtNBKVO4Iw5qNpQb_g74vHe8eTRlnEM4OZj7ImOEBspvXofS9lrn8aYXvARCFONaLgxghJecNzts-L-XpINBx-Cehp4APBy2ZnfcugR1EHX0T30zJuYCT545pDyz05R7ZLfHY1JTy1Uwcv4WPWb6KYvNmNEnINrjflzT2Qq_hAvyC3I5lIarE2d9/s320/42B25C72-26B3-4C5D-B9FC-5A7A2C6E26F3.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maynooth Castle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TTrh98gdRxkj2X9E_IQca_nBPPHh9knexY_1biOnZsFmsZo8yondj86Xd2x-PDlMJC58AoFD-fCidk2yGay-Sv4V0V8Pvsij8pwKzA1GnZVhV1o3EN_guRSMkEt4Ezx_9QNnjRKAynKXdCOgX7cVCQM6HQaVAXEErfrtZBru2TY5ukiXttglsS6u/s1440/56D19E5D-31AE-4F9C-BEFD-8CD98B67C5F6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TTrh98gdRxkj2X9E_IQca_nBPPHh9knexY_1biOnZsFmsZo8yondj86Xd2x-PDlMJC58AoFD-fCidk2yGay-Sv4V0V8Pvsij8pwKzA1GnZVhV1o3EN_guRSMkEt4Ezx_9QNnjRKAynKXdCOgX7cVCQM6HQaVAXEErfrtZBru2TY5ukiXttglsS6u/s320/56D19E5D-31AE-4F9C-BEFD-8CD98B67C5F6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGghS3b94leJ8tktPzFbPxzhGDXLKArBJ-YLH8N8x0ysbA9OODIOwWRQ-9fT-CbR-LvYUALGIFL4pz9k3t-6BsK1ucKbW9yUbYz8Fs9M6z3RB_DLOPScOgxBpL8P18nSEeL48ux0-Dw90e8EEhUNeoqgIuaGIy45noWlebKTVJdegnhG2SjsutGSJw/s2008/68F8779E-7962-4082-9A55-1F8993CCA2DE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2008" data-original-width="2008" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGghS3b94leJ8tktPzFbPxzhGDXLKArBJ-YLH8N8x0ysbA9OODIOwWRQ-9fT-CbR-LvYUALGIFL4pz9k3t-6BsK1ucKbW9yUbYz8Fs9M6z3RB_DLOPScOgxBpL8P18nSEeL48ux0-Dw90e8EEhUNeoqgIuaGIy45noWlebKTVJdegnhG2SjsutGSJw/s320/68F8779E-7962-4082-9A55-1F8993CCA2DE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep everywhere (but not as much as Scotland!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R4OjgI_avAFOp3NVM-Z91Ko7uwBTCOkt3dkjYFtaKMACauZtQZVGqnFXKw835qUz3jm2_SRVSx4s5ap5DDBvTWRC-yU3GbiYNeociFydvecp0EhHwkwytOT7_K1zzRA-WOtddRAsaeDAPHBDaEEytWLeS5qQEK6DyNX3PsrTQxME3nXCVsI1Nrk/s4032/085E7889-60F1-478E-9AEC-A288AD531F88.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R4OjgI_avAFOp3NVM-Z91Ko7uwBTCOkt3dkjYFtaKMACauZtQZVGqnFXKw835qUz3jm2_SRVSx4s5ap5DDBvTWRC-yU3GbiYNeociFydvecp0EhHwkwytOT7_K1zzRA-WOtddRAsaeDAPHBDaEEytWLeS5qQEK6DyNX3PsrTQxME3nXCVsI1Nrk/s320/085E7889-60F1-478E-9AEC-A288AD531F88.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many holy wells of Saint Brigid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7NjumnUmLIEN1XyoqHRYuOVNT4IgOzBB-ZcSMZUM6v3Ajt80TLtUCjq3ni7UyMyDC11dOhgEdk6NNJvHWdFwuTciUzz2KMhP1uWcaJEWo7DaehY_bU4DvkZTHKmv-prkNHOydwVRgFHXZWRHX5TI1sXu100ddmqcuQwljvlayuerfnzM6r0JT1y_/s2727/90BA493B-63C0-4E33-AA28-BE6ACB1D9FC1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2727" data-original-width="2727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7NjumnUmLIEN1XyoqHRYuOVNT4IgOzBB-ZcSMZUM6v3Ajt80TLtUCjq3ni7UyMyDC11dOhgEdk6NNJvHWdFwuTciUzz2KMhP1uWcaJEWo7DaehY_bU4DvkZTHKmv-prkNHOydwVRgFHXZWRHX5TI1sXu100ddmqcuQwljvlayuerfnzM6r0JT1y_/s320/90BA493B-63C0-4E33-AA28-BE6ACB1D9FC1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRMwGc9XowVxjdRl068nCNmY61TPWpjLXNCxmbRjJ4PErhGGDcX9GR0jafdOkj4lKVUC9Ri0EdRfc_VRsNAoQnpZ-NsT7FYhjXGccy4MxEsSf4oaD6gDkknISzL64St8266gPIUavuHnH45L7xHyvlXl-ZmDPKKvzyYercAocV5u6iWnXXyUn4Va5/s1200/333E648B-EF75-49C5-BEE4-4DB8CD0C0F61.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRMwGc9XowVxjdRl068nCNmY61TPWpjLXNCxmbRjJ4PErhGGDcX9GR0jafdOkj4lKVUC9Ri0EdRfc_VRsNAoQnpZ-NsT7FYhjXGccy4MxEsSf4oaD6gDkknISzL64St8266gPIUavuHnH45L7xHyvlXl-ZmDPKKvzyYercAocV5u6iWnXXyUn4Va5/s320/333E648B-EF75-49C5-BEE4-4DB8CD0C0F61.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louisa Bridge, Leixlip</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF5z1LA9HPKX-ZEgDu1A4kYuynd51K-T0dv9QiK7jLvEeXQfY6MCJhgNIlf6n2yzjvFaKeaHBoqMjcVeLa5r3WSX5bfE026mtMhplLfz6p3cJGhWI-DbVShtyCr3OXPRBGS1pREHonX_OTvWk4WnzLSpqFsUz-UnY8lnHshcP35KR_ggVeLQe2c9m/s1440/795A80D3-006B-49E4-B9BB-D72C695E6FA3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF5z1LA9HPKX-ZEgDu1A4kYuynd51K-T0dv9QiK7jLvEeXQfY6MCJhgNIlf6n2yzjvFaKeaHBoqMjcVeLa5r3WSX5bfE026mtMhplLfz6p3cJGhWI-DbVShtyCr3OXPRBGS1pREHonX_OTvWk4WnzLSpqFsUz-UnY8lnHshcP35KR_ggVeLQe2c9m/s320/795A80D3-006B-49E4-B9BB-D72C695E6FA3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful Barn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTF0g4AuQzO2-OZVqaKszv36gS5PCwMBhOjaq9jBXFD_wQyymOdY5Hq5yt9a_0l93kiNTnYuzVmxreaz5zVLFfBzPIm-2Gixo-ZpB7xX1gAFDUOe8Ibr7KefNm3RZ-EJQeikiigbwVqVyeXiut68Eo09Y8yBiITwemX2JU02a6-v0KA8qHfQmgEKEY/s2071/935CE226-DACF-4A97-861A-E79BDF8DB9E0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2071" data-original-width="2071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTF0g4AuQzO2-OZVqaKszv36gS5PCwMBhOjaq9jBXFD_wQyymOdY5Hq5yt9a_0l93kiNTnYuzVmxreaz5zVLFfBzPIm-2Gixo-ZpB7xX1gAFDUOe8Ibr7KefNm3RZ-EJQeikiigbwVqVyeXiut68Eo09Y8yBiITwemX2JU02a6-v0KA8qHfQmgEKEY/s320/935CE226-DACF-4A97-861A-E79BDF8DB9E0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYxe2EdWw5npYnNPFqG7LtjNTdkvBz5vFFEyWNMKbOD-LlD3FY9hhuQZEQbQo5UhTLVoaj92W4AjIRPYSeKkbByNJOoF3AYn2gS7UanN6n4QUC4PQ9bxE3bwBGe9GgLO8vbYmzTVYXqi9U5NrP7KKdfzpthZW_q7PgaTlZyBoDzquwepWfke6B1cU/s1440/331632B9-555A-4CA1-A651-17515FEAFBDF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYxe2EdWw5npYnNPFqG7LtjNTdkvBz5vFFEyWNMKbOD-LlD3FY9hhuQZEQbQo5UhTLVoaj92W4AjIRPYSeKkbByNJOoF3AYn2gS7UanN6n4QUC4PQ9bxE3bwBGe9GgLO8vbYmzTVYXqi9U5NrP7KKdfzpthZW_q7PgaTlZyBoDzquwepWfke6B1cU/s320/331632B9-555A-4CA1-A651-17515FEAFBDF.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful Barn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYXHtYW9xdCReS5qNwy0NmjFx2O2Tj7Ez8PD7WUbSUHirYUN8E5lws_t5Pxn_4Y2xWKvelgspjw86owEyQWSlTXsg9L_P4Kyx4JKH-sgdNWK676eUppJxrzaSL9uFXETZf2sg3bI__35iR6X24kvLgjgaAEZaug8qbcNREmdyXBpTBCOmZS-3LsLF/s3714/A2FE56EC-AF31-491B-839D-B924D0EBB52E.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3714" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYXHtYW9xdCReS5qNwy0NmjFx2O2Tj7Ez8PD7WUbSUHirYUN8E5lws_t5Pxn_4Y2xWKvelgspjw86owEyQWSlTXsg9L_P4Kyx4JKH-sgdNWK676eUppJxrzaSL9uFXETZf2sg3bI__35iR6X24kvLgjgaAEZaug8qbcNREmdyXBpTBCOmZS-3LsLF/s320/A2FE56EC-AF31-491B-839D-B924D0EBB52E.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO MANY CHOCOLATE EGGS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba0JPydyov0tSf67D4FgKbCgqVonzB44BldD3PGEkFT9G35kIu9IT4OqjDElMCJ3T86175Rq-vu40V1cC--QkK9eJ5exectu7rZwi3p4T0ustHHrDrj_UsbKQCcD3xGogJrdKKBmMPTvbP4ZwQP-kmTcNu4_wjz28yjSmAjaE0_LStfSwD7BYLSY0/s1440/A5CF88F8-9FA6-4793-8DDE-9116D88526E3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba0JPydyov0tSf67D4FgKbCgqVonzB44BldD3PGEkFT9G35kIu9IT4OqjDElMCJ3T86175Rq-vu40V1cC--QkK9eJ5exectu7rZwi3p4T0ustHHrDrj_UsbKQCcD3xGogJrdKKBmMPTvbP4ZwQP-kmTcNu4_wjz28yjSmAjaE0_LStfSwD7BYLSY0/s320/A5CF88F8-9FA6-4793-8DDE-9116D88526E3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhG_jNZSKJCRXJMqBOd2SwPJZUUcTKWBosyG10a9pf8scJ4q5xoGwgDiAFk5JLiK0EoIoCsq4tFOUvV1JqlANNXxUg0D6EHRwfQRKxAkXSXv6dReW1dF9_2Z96ZkTmYnybPn5yauVKnYZo7OUWyc_6hmt-hckzpes1bfyHyH7SI5kNB6UVab6cSZG/s2807/A60B197F-1CFC-4E98-B12F-9F00F71EBFE2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhG_jNZSKJCRXJMqBOd2SwPJZUUcTKWBosyG10a9pf8scJ4q5xoGwgDiAFk5JLiK0EoIoCsq4tFOUvV1JqlANNXxUg0D6EHRwfQRKxAkXSXv6dReW1dF9_2Z96ZkTmYnybPn5yauVKnYZo7OUWyc_6hmt-hckzpes1bfyHyH7SI5kNB6UVab6cSZG/s320/A60B197F-1CFC-4E98-B12F-9F00F71EBFE2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grave of Arthur Guinness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE8KRfVqirNwrZwRkKNmCsmKvQdOLxUKJpq3HpUXdD4iy2My0LRisnx0-gXAMQptv_Qq_SYGchrVfXR66Df2STGUSZokzngBccdrs1OzXccSZTOZ1NuILpy6STrfTrtkfmHomQNHvSPATHuQTH1eZ1R1X9njvfJ31v79R535Y6yIV4Ia32t2yKA0-/s1800/B2D91D24-1D87-4763-BC5E-178FFA05D477.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE8KRfVqirNwrZwRkKNmCsmKvQdOLxUKJpq3HpUXdD4iy2My0LRisnx0-gXAMQptv_Qq_SYGchrVfXR66Df2STGUSZokzngBccdrs1OzXccSZTOZ1NuILpy6STrfTrtkfmHomQNHvSPATHuQTH1eZ1R1X9njvfJ31v79R535Y6yIV4Ia32t2yKA0-/s320/B2D91D24-1D87-4763-BC5E-178FFA05D477.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clondalkin Round Tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnHonOPQ2HlNNS62KKialmFkeQzmhphJSC9h4iqdGdwOv7Bel5Iz_ixJ9_kkAAFOZiaFMu62QI2eJu4zsS7X-BmeLEHqgUCtQLH9GuAkEDZBvZnzlHPRMzUON6Wt6AEKCC8OtpVSwoicDc_inphvirFxZRakRI40_xOdNIV2mdY71WILSBAuKfQEr/s1440/BD8FF8BF-3D99-4F42-B5D6-3D72D557D230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnHonOPQ2HlNNS62KKialmFkeQzmhphJSC9h4iqdGdwOv7Bel5Iz_ixJ9_kkAAFOZiaFMu62QI2eJu4zsS7X-BmeLEHqgUCtQLH9GuAkEDZBvZnzlHPRMzUON6Wt6AEKCC8OtpVSwoicDc_inphvirFxZRakRI40_xOdNIV2mdY71WILSBAuKfQEr/s320/BD8FF8BF-3D99-4F42-B5D6-3D72D557D230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2YaxGnuoOlIQ-bgTFnNXBoIrY6H7r87eOEAE8sZiJYG_a8Bj_cip0tXIzG5d4XiOmd3paAQtipow7s4pvm7KKovInwSdfhrgxP7iz7RxtUQL410yAHtCy_sbxHzfKRNBVsPY7laDpTd42IA6VjBO0Swl0uasg7Ipn1Gmvo5EY6jpbIze9hSz1mdL/s1440/E356CAB6-EBA8-4206-98FD-C189AC72B637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2YaxGnuoOlIQ-bgTFnNXBoIrY6H7r87eOEAE8sZiJYG_a8Bj_cip0tXIzG5d4XiOmd3paAQtipow7s4pvm7KKovInwSdfhrgxP7iz7RxtUQL410yAHtCy_sbxHzfKRNBVsPY7laDpTd42IA6VjBO0Swl0uasg7Ipn1Gmvo5EY6jpbIze9hSz1mdL/s320/E356CAB6-EBA8-4206-98FD-C189AC72B637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSyWCwD1UhTVHvMexjFDxSraAtm-ZIfzXMSjkYosWzPMiJ9Xz25r2jsCIKmmm8Kw1T3XwbuH6kpI413fNBQ5o6KjqT1KXBkzvxg1TEZiTMGh8xij2alGfS_naJxMJrVmK5Ax9cwhYsLW0gfEUXJM79AKpLRbtffjbCOzKPlKA8UbW4ZvkNcIHwiLv/s3780/EB4414A8-723D-4ED5-B1B6-320EBAA14690.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSyWCwD1UhTVHvMexjFDxSraAtm-ZIfzXMSjkYosWzPMiJ9Xz25r2jsCIKmmm8Kw1T3XwbuH6kpI413fNBQ5o6KjqT1KXBkzvxg1TEZiTMGh8xij2alGfS_naJxMJrVmK5Ax9cwhYsLW0gfEUXJM79AKpLRbtffjbCOzKPlKA8UbW4ZvkNcIHwiLv/s320/EB4414A8-723D-4ED5-B1B6-320EBAA14690.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oughterard Round Tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX0cibg3HToSyigLB5hgMFGJuhXoh-AaNqnijcIKM1q9dy0nXO_khjOf-vBUCNckIvxGPnnyhs341YIsUcVLfNLdwIRvq2PCCNgFIgnj8EseAY0mi4Gd6mSQ4F9RSHtI5XsLyefzceurMNomjP7s_0Q6-ksnCTmL_FxWsPggN7Fv38ucWnE5wDuHz/s1125/ECE51827-D6C7-4C8A-A2AF-CEC148B5EF37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX0cibg3HToSyigLB5hgMFGJuhXoh-AaNqnijcIKM1q9dy0nXO_khjOf-vBUCNckIvxGPnnyhs341YIsUcVLfNLdwIRvq2PCCNgFIgnj8EseAY0mi4Gd6mSQ4F9RSHtI5XsLyefzceurMNomjP7s_0Q6-ksnCTmL_FxWsPggN7Fv38ucWnE5wDuHz/s320/ECE51827-D6C7-4C8A-A2AF-CEC148B5EF37.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJfPvlPZS6tRRCiBOmV7h-UmFziJot78nmeBTMEVrObKkyJQ-qZ6NYuFPgfcGYi1_Vz0XrwGj1pY2eGEnKQc17E-T1VdXFJhNH2AT2pj9_sSmgTjDi0kKlVBT-TvwvtQHO86d9h8rJ1jNfy-890sj6p-aJrdR93BBX6ULuOKcEVJVZ1ndItHN1Fc3/s3780/F71DB308-AEAE-43B7-AD0B-4895F3D9300B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJfPvlPZS6tRRCiBOmV7h-UmFziJot78nmeBTMEVrObKkyJQ-qZ6NYuFPgfcGYi1_Vz0XrwGj1pY2eGEnKQc17E-T1VdXFJhNH2AT2pj9_sSmgTjDi0kKlVBT-TvwvtQHO86d9h8rJ1jNfy-890sj6p-aJrdR93BBX6ULuOKcEVJVZ1ndItHN1Fc3/s320/F71DB308-AEAE-43B7-AD0B-4895F3D9300B.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ46WGsY686x9iE77WOR_DUFbixIY_9knJuC7yqPpHUm1IyYyBMdfvIbOjMBX0UqF8ACft0QzvGVWzOcp0gGPJfXyduzX9iBnnfTo7LLdaou5RKq_gp0FtFbWGfw1J1KlTzej6eoggtArmt3Bu4InU-G08CcfpqgqLCyloYvZRQyOJqKGUZIrR-5K/s1800/F91B10B8-68C1-4CA2-B5D6-B0880AE7453A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ46WGsY686x9iE77WOR_DUFbixIY_9knJuC7yqPpHUm1IyYyBMdfvIbOjMBX0UqF8ACft0QzvGVWzOcp0gGPJfXyduzX9iBnnfTo7LLdaou5RKq_gp0FtFbWGfw1J1KlTzej6eoggtArmt3Bu4InU-G08CcfpqgqLCyloYvZRQyOJqKGUZIrR-5K/s320/F91B10B8-68C1-4CA2-B5D6-B0880AE7453A.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFq-QJYGWBKCINLQVrhacTTe8Q8FiTRg_ZRHJldcimeSJFgLNPDku8R2r4jLfO5_FP1uzbYD_1SgYs3BlcHoyjaZqX4CMPSfQZc91hLK_UXdkSV366IF4T44R2KEAw5wntdGIkvaI1O5YX5z_V0iJQ4C4YctNBD9CO6-q_MTdglYpKxGz7TWpJaZv/s1200/F26662C0-CC41-4C72-88F6-25C9CB644C6F.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFq-QJYGWBKCINLQVrhacTTe8Q8FiTRg_ZRHJldcimeSJFgLNPDku8R2r4jLfO5_FP1uzbYD_1SgYs3BlcHoyjaZqX4CMPSfQZc91hLK_UXdkSV366IF4T44R2KEAw5wntdGIkvaI1O5YX5z_V0iJQ4C4YctNBD9CO6-q_MTdglYpKxGz7TWpJaZv/s320/F26662C0-CC41-4C72-88F6-25C9CB644C6F.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maynooth University</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRPaCM4L6J9-W813f0nMpOUwJ8SGGVdZVZ0GpCSJ0sEPysArMeZaI0ZR5ZYNC2z9RrNyq1BcLkZ8ZkXy69nHVMk1yC8CHpVCp5Lg5wQDio_UoiAiUj30JLlJF2ZzLNZ0ut6wUGDTKRE2A0NsDJH4vy0eZjvF1NnugpY34a2qF9EnkhSHQ0C3jU2zQ/s2962/FB48F11B-8A04-45D7-8BBE-35F14A33765F.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2962" data-original-width="2962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRPaCM4L6J9-W813f0nMpOUwJ8SGGVdZVZ0GpCSJ0sEPysArMeZaI0ZR5ZYNC2z9RrNyq1BcLkZ8ZkXy69nHVMk1yC8CHpVCp5Lg5wQDio_UoiAiUj30JLlJF2ZzLNZ0ut6wUGDTKRE2A0NsDJH4vy0eZjvF1NnugpY34a2qF9EnkhSHQ0C3jU2zQ/s320/FB48F11B-8A04-45D7-8BBE-35F14A33765F.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oughterard Cemetery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaBX1cgotAzUhcq1YapSBwwNYwpg9G1WJ7YyBtDuX7oe1gWAYbgdRpjFF1cBFjRXTlMRqUWph_54SCIUEs6J-sF8mOsWd1M2JglZOotLgY8ED7xhL0_6yEh8sxwd58rs_a70JIanAMrrOJ4y9-t3FmbrrFcE65GYkQ-kQRAGutn7S6B-VOYI75DQR/s4032/IMG_4545.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaBX1cgotAzUhcq1YapSBwwNYwpg9G1WJ7YyBtDuX7oe1gWAYbgdRpjFF1cBFjRXTlMRqUWph_54SCIUEs6J-sF8mOsWd1M2JglZOotLgY8ED7xhL0_6yEh8sxwd58rs_a70JIanAMrrOJ4y9-t3FmbrrFcE65GYkQ-kQRAGutn7S6B-VOYI75DQR/s320/IMG_4545.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioRmFmhfhDFHtBqe06eYx2j4a7cct0asjSmOgDmvmWhnGczlSkC86UYfAfbI6Nbxa4UYXYAjEldJuFMk7YYIdMFUA5eI15ZolKvmonYWNNeyQC6qEX7us_8uD4E4IWmUOudXXq3NZllwtXw2XiZVPYHEavVB0JrgQ2qvrkp6jDXsgsHrbjWuUlFu1/s5184/IMG_7075.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioRmFmhfhDFHtBqe06eYx2j4a7cct0asjSmOgDmvmWhnGczlSkC86UYfAfbI6Nbxa4UYXYAjEldJuFMk7YYIdMFUA5eI15ZolKvmonYWNNeyQC6qEX7us_8uD4E4IWmUOudXXq3NZllwtXw2XiZVPYHEavVB0JrgQ2qvrkp6jDXsgsHrbjWuUlFu1/s320/IMG_7075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rook</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-82772506666974024742023-03-13T03:52:00.059-07:002023-03-13T03:59:50.026-07:00Books I enjoyed this week 6-12 March 2023<p>This week was a light reading week because we had a lot of family things happening. I did finish a few more books in the various cozy mystery series I'm reading, and I started a new one!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42sH7Qy72IEh-uYz_IG8Li6GkAYtfaxvElHIKyp2WLHl7ywUShZ84mtSNW9kOBkEDJ7D_wQFgFMy4lWpahPFNWLIm-auz51Q16lyPzW7yoAOjGh9LeQUgb-LNL20WtqdN2Op1C3G2YyEzS5svxPqLZ45fw1t55KoptWHOqMTFWiMDQZwCWa9YLKIA/s1230/CupcakeBakeryMystery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1230" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42sH7Qy72IEh-uYz_IG8Li6GkAYtfaxvElHIKyp2WLHl7ywUShZ84mtSNW9kOBkEDJ7D_wQFgFMy4lWpahPFNWLIm-auz51Q16lyPzW7yoAOjGh9LeQUgb-LNL20WtqdN2Op1C3G2YyEzS5svxPqLZ45fw1t55KoptWHOqMTFWiMDQZwCWa9YLKIA/s320/CupcakeBakeryMystery.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sprinkle with Murder and Buttercream Bump Off</h3><p></p><p>The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/47302-cupcake-bakery-mystery" target="_blank">Cupcake Bakery Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay</a> is set in Scottsdale, Arizona, my home town. I was a little worried when I learned that, but the author clearly knows the Phoenix valley area and culture very well. She made several references that only someone who's lived in the valley for many years would know, and I didn't pick up on any errors, which was a relief. I don't want to lose faith in a story just because an author doesn't know the area (says the author who wrote a story set in a part of England to which she's never been). These cozy mysteries are on the shorter side, but they are just as fun as the other series I love and don't feel rushed or abridged. I really liked the first two, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6633516-sprinkle-with-murder" target="_blank">Sprinkle with Murder</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8302909-buttercream-bump-off" target="_blank">Buttercream Bump Off</a>, and I will be continuing the series.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxhz1u-EYntJqS_Iov3WSPrU2GVrvlspPuSotVQ8ycarYQAZqjM0hYRrIZGzUSOuWZ8HZ5A-P0TQhulkAygShNGyO4E_3_h-SyE86txIrczXyCcqGsO8d2yx1PK-uZsQH2-vOiCou1PwloAO7M7iIvRG8mRQPVKZn-4k5RVRL0a51PDI-MvdLPoZy/s2267/TheApprentices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxhz1u-EYntJqS_Iov3WSPrU2GVrvlspPuSotVQ8ycarYQAZqjM0hYRrIZGzUSOuWZ8HZ5A-P0TQhulkAygShNGyO4E_3_h-SyE86txIrczXyCcqGsO8d2yx1PK-uZsQH2-vOiCou1PwloAO7M7iIvRG8mRQPVKZn-4k5RVRL0a51PDI-MvdLPoZy/s320/TheApprentices.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Apprentices</h3><p></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101156-the-apprentices" target="_blank">The Apprentices by Maile Meloy</a> is the second book in the series <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/111001-the-apothecary" target="_blank">The Apothecary</a>. I actually wasn't going to continue the series but forgot when I checked out this book. This book did not hold my interest as well as the first. If you like the fantastical elements in the first book, then this books is for you. It really took off with those. I don't know what my problem is with these books, and I do legitimately recommend them. I apologize if that's confusing. LOL</p><p><br /></p><p>That's it for this week, besides the other series through which I'm still journeying. I'm getting antsy to talk to you about a book I'm reading with my 13-year-old, but I will be brave and save it for when we're finished. Are there any books that you just couldn't wait to talk about while you were reading them?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-77908736042280058182023-03-06T02:59:00.001-08:002023-03-06T02:59:35.358-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 27 February - 5 March 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFePxyJB3ghjUL3iooohN7_x7zYt-cSnVVfDi0u_zl6sLUtnMmwGDSxq65L9m-YgJwTvt2d1vdjcaDU5R6XXn_IIknTjOkKa2hIQwO8LM4Br5mRGhO70qF8ADGe8JG7yaOYCjbEbm9CR5VYhnvTV-l9u1FjJhge3TPBmA3Fx8KrgZ1YpspgkMi9U-1/s520/LifesJourneyAccordingto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFePxyJB3ghjUL3iooohN7_x7zYt-cSnVVfDi0u_zl6sLUtnMmwGDSxq65L9m-YgJwTvt2d1vdjcaDU5R6XXn_IIknTjOkKa2hIQwO8LM4Br5mRGhO70qF8ADGe8JG7yaOYCjbEbm9CR5VYhnvTV-l9u1FjJhge3TPBmA3Fx8KrgZ1YpspgkMi9U-1/s320/LifesJourneyAccordingto.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18921031-life-s-journeys-according-to-mister-rogers" target="_blank">Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way by Fred Rogers</a> starts with a forward by his wife, allowing a a little glimpse into his life. The book was a quick read, with most entries being quite short. I so appreciate Mister Rogers’ views on life, his childlike inclinations and his unconditional love and empathy. I always learn something from him.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxS3IWla3etEwavZ645rH-NBiba59IoXeP_No3hYtTir-FJ6lcU1KvTM33oAbET3BXKFRhAGR7wNmkkrZWFf09NA3qv9SRJ0AJB0KdkD1cp4AufESef5OdWQx9t92A6uve5AK7mZadwZgfaVptYWPbG0MoAzipkx4z1hRrcFN38ENKS0i_7gz8nBC/s1988/FeelsLikeFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxS3IWla3etEwavZ645rH-NBiba59IoXeP_No3hYtTir-FJ6lcU1KvTM33oAbET3BXKFRhAGR7wNmkkrZWFf09NA3qv9SRJ0AJB0KdkD1cp4AufESef5OdWQx9t92A6uve5AK7mZadwZgfaVptYWPbG0MoAzipkx4z1hRrcFN38ENKS0i_7gz8nBC/s320/FeelsLikeFamily.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br />Feels Like Family</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/352557.Feels_Like_Family" target="_blank">Feels Like Family</a> is the third book in the series <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53024-the-sweet-magnolias" target="_blank">The Sweet Magnolias by Sherryl Woods</a>. I am really enjoying these books. They’re positive and real and not preachy, and they’re quite humorous.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMObzWyoB9ZH4dw8mpR4fmsz-HjqNGXJR5r2Ahdmc79Q2bCbV0jOQsfB2FNYEfy_W1K9qdJMOsV8rTB6VErBcsTJJ0Z0HEYkl5CpAq96Xos_BAl-s8Kvq5qfsXcTjNjslRxmPnRRzF8d2NY8-uXw_GNNSiMT7364ZtARabesw4tNzgHU8TIFMLX59y/s2550/TheBurningPages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMObzWyoB9ZH4dw8mpR4fmsz-HjqNGXJR5r2Ahdmc79Q2bCbV0jOQsfB2FNYEfy_W1K9qdJMOsV8rTB6VErBcsTJJ0Z0HEYkl5CpAq96Xos_BAl-s8Kvq5qfsXcTjNjslRxmPnRRzF8d2NY8-uXw_GNNSiMT7364ZtARabesw4tNzgHU8TIFMLX59y/s320/TheBurningPages.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />The Burning Pages</h3><p>I said I wasn’t going to talk about these cozy mysteries anymore unless I had something to say, and I do have something to say about <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693347-the-burning-pages" target="_blank">The Burning Pages by Paige Shelton</a>. I was sad when I thought <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/174075-scottish-bookshop-mystery" target="_blank">this series</a> was over, but then I saw that there is an eighth book on its way. I really liked the family elements of the last two books. I feel like this series is really coming into its own, and I hope the author keeps it going for a while!</p><p><br /></p><p>I haven't been reading as much lately because I've been focused on writing. What do you love to do besides read?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-34539502640319047242023-03-03T07:55:00.001-08:002023-03-03T07:55:43.850-08:00Making adjustments<p>Working for yourself can be a challenge and a blessing at the same time. While I can do my work at the best times for me and for my family, I also have no accountability. For someone like me, who has a hard time getting things done if I don't feel like it and/or don't have a hard deadline, it's easy to slip into complacency.</p><p></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>I have plenty of time.</i> </blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>I can work on it later.</i> </blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>I've already done most of it.</i></blockquote><p>I always mean well, and I'm not lazy. I'm just a wherever-the-wind-takes-me sort of person. It's easy to lose perspective and momentum. Add the unpredictability of life to that, and things get, well, unpredictable.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbi1eSCmZ3MHaDi6xrSfMCwFGbgcAyKbrPErl4TqigAczhcrPcmK1H8nV46IPM33rHRY3WYZmDfRi11jSQc21bhfe9IsepNzQTJbfle2SBFtzIzihsUXLNI4hZGogvGWtcN0s-eIZNWQrj-4U63PfP_XNTXQdHNbGQJz7r1LA0eaUsYH-qffQnL1f/s1800/Baddog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbi1eSCmZ3MHaDi6xrSfMCwFGbgcAyKbrPErl4TqigAczhcrPcmK1H8nV46IPM33rHRY3WYZmDfRi11jSQc21bhfe9IsepNzQTJbfle2SBFtzIzihsUXLNI4hZGogvGWtcN0s-eIZNWQrj-4U63PfP_XNTXQdHNbGQJz7r1LA0eaUsYH-qffQnL1f/s320/Baddog.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I found an old drafted post about Camp NaNoWriMo April 2019, in which I had to adjust my expectations because of a hospital stay.<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>I disappeared in April, didn’t I? I was distracted by Camp NaNoWriMo, a fun, informal challenge by NaNoWriMo, a writing challenge in November, National Novel Writing Month (hence the name). I had a self-set goal to write 40,000 words, and I was on pace until my son was hospitalized because his finger tried to explode (not literally, but impressive nonetheless), and I lost my momentum. I ended up lowering my goal by half to accommodate the two weeks I was wrapped up in hospital stay and doctor visits (and scheduling, which can take as long as the appointment...). I met it! Only about half of that was one book. The rest was story starts, creative writing prompts and a couple of poems. It was both very easy and very hard. Some days I knocked out 3000 to 4000 words in a couple hours. Other days I struggle to even hit 1000. Some days were zero days. For never having a writing routine before, I feel really good about what I accomplished.</i></p><p><i>There’s another camp in July, and I definitely plan on participating. The inspiration, motivation, resources, and friendships I found during the April camp are irreplaceable. It also brought me closer to a friend I’ve had for years because we were able to bond over our mutual interest. I will definitely be recommending her book when she’s ready. It’s fantastic!</i></p></blockquote><p>For a completely different reason, I had to change my expectations for NaNoWriMo 2022.</p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>Day 11: Today I had to make one of those decisions that hurt. I had to scrap my novel. It just was not going to work the way it was going. I haven’t totally abandoned it, though. I may try to fix it later, or I may scrap it for parts. For now, it’s in the drawer. I decided to become a #nanorebel and not write a novel this month. Instead, I am going to work on short stories. If I only hit my par each day, I will have a new short story every 1 to 4 days. I’m kind of excited to see what I can do. The story I started today may or may not have a ghost goat in it.</i></p><p><i>Day 21: So…life happened. I couldn’t do what needed done, and I had to take a break. But it’s not over yet. There are more days and more words to write.</i></p></blockquote><p>NaNoWriMo isn't the only time I've had to shift my expectations, of course. In February, I ran into technical issues, and then allergies took me out, and I had to abandon all of my blog plans for three weeks. I felt like a failure, showing "once again" that I just can't stick with it, and only six weeks into the year.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXQideoXmz3O54NQqfC7GHDTCOHrsiywgK_i6fkj-PsjfTjv5lO0HvQT4NgOgzQ3B0RwrKCCdGSXaT45vG5msNyP2mAqoQu1i0utjoV7tVZxEux1484lStckR0yWZtUDjAeaWEG5-AuJWKtlOyq1kixGyiIlKn304XWcQ4wvBX5e32IirtWhPOz4u/s4032/IMG_9309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXQideoXmz3O54NQqfC7GHDTCOHrsiywgK_i6fkj-PsjfTjv5lO0HvQT4NgOgzQ3B0RwrKCCdGSXaT45vG5msNyP2mAqoQu1i0utjoV7tVZxEux1484lStckR0yWZtUDjAeaWEG5-AuJWKtlOyq1kixGyiIlKn304XWcQ4wvBX5e32IirtWhPOz4u/s320/IMG_9309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />But then I rallied. I pulled up my blog schedule and began rearranging. (Thank goodness for digital calendars with a click-and-drag function instead of erasers and whiteout.) I changed my schedule for regular posts to better accommodate the unpredictability of life. As a bonus, they line up better with my physical planner. I had to rethink a few posts, and one I pushed off entirely until next year. I didn't want to set myself up for failure, so I pushed out some plans (by a lot) to give myself some grace.<p></p><p>As I looked at my beautiful new calendar, even better than it was, I started to feel bad about empty February again. But this time I wasn't going to let myself go to the dark place. I'd venture than most of my very-small audience did not notice the missing posts. I still had content each week, which is better than the last ten years!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAi60kjEo9F2LGwKUEaEM4lPJ336AC8sFuadI5TxcU5qErzwOchUg9sIyPdpJFi_FMjVAZdOnqCvXs952RlUMDTJ59GmoiGogyJ4CYLibQ-NWOSN6z2t3IsWGzO4iOjkKLDYXArPBpaDMZUirc7Nt3KRSeXR3LRctGqsf5HMIVBR4FvVuVG37_5sF/s1800/Spiral.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAi60kjEo9F2LGwKUEaEM4lPJ336AC8sFuadI5TxcU5qErzwOchUg9sIyPdpJFi_FMjVAZdOnqCvXs952RlUMDTJ59GmoiGogyJ4CYLibQ-NWOSN6z2t3IsWGzO4iOjkKLDYXArPBpaDMZUirc7Nt3KRSeXR3LRctGqsf5HMIVBR4FvVuVG37_5sF/s320/Spiral.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Growth isn't linear. Oftentimes progress isn't either. Personal development is more like an outward spiral. Time and again you find yourself in the same place, but you have more knowledge and more experience. I like to use the saying "two steps forward, one step back" to remind myself that progress is still progress. I've also had the same mantra for more than two decades: Every little bit counts.<p></p><p>I've trained myself in a new habit. When I'm feeling down about my lack of consistency, I look at what I did accomplish and how it compares to last attempts. Almost every time I did far better. I've also taught myself to look at cutting my losses as making the right decision instead of giving up or failing.</p><p>This was all a long way of saying I gave myself grace this week. I changed my expectations again, and I actually ended up in a better situation this time.</p><p>Give yourself grace, too, when you need it.</p><p></p><p></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-29080972751228977602023-02-28T11:16:00.001-08:002023-02-28T11:16:00.167-08:00February Review and Planning for March<p>It's cliché, but I can't believe February is already gone. Everyone says January lasts forever, but it didn't for me, and February was a blink. It was just winter solstice, and now I'm planning for the equinox! Daffodils are everywhere, snowdrops have appeared like magic, and the willow tree is covered in tiny spring-green leaves. Slow down!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTTwQFDqY4-lWj611wRoVFRKiq52AqKsLEtTwhoPyampzVJeqZZeKID6nuYIrozHDs1v4NiWAxtunPsrPPMmxbtZmdzulSdJet_li5R5mKMHIF01IYxck8Tg85WtS_zGHCxxBdpMKBwbPbl-gBjVCCVwc9WgOdD7HIieFPzM_YGWDQMpSIqw_pu2z/s3659/IMG_8543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="3659" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTTwQFDqY4-lWj611wRoVFRKiq52AqKsLEtTwhoPyampzVJeqZZeKID6nuYIrozHDs1v4NiWAxtunPsrPPMmxbtZmdzulSdJet_li5R5mKMHIF01IYxck8Tg85WtS_zGHCxxBdpMKBwbPbl-gBjVCCVwc9WgOdD7HIieFPzM_YGWDQMpSIqw_pu2z/s320/IMG_8543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>February was not the productive month I'd hoped. I ended up completely beaten down by allergies and couldn't even concentrate enough to get out my blog posts. My goal had been to finally take care of the tasks I've been rolling over for months, and I did make progress, though they're not done.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaKW9gNW5Fb9V61WW2QthYq31zUhppUJbqrBAzMh9vyzv4FG59yvNddFlUSzpnjhOdZQNEjQcIPGDj6sBixjISn5g1uPSHK56flxjdLY8wxpVHawv-yYPj_GXiUvac0LzSkgjaqamVqncjUjGJOec2MZrw37_PL25IA2cTlRkwcnoQvojB8YqYkXa/s4032/IMG_8542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaKW9gNW5Fb9V61WW2QthYq31zUhppUJbqrBAzMh9vyzv4FG59yvNddFlUSzpnjhOdZQNEjQcIPGDj6sBixjISn5g1uPSHK56flxjdLY8wxpVHawv-yYPj_GXiUvac0LzSkgjaqamVqncjUjGJOec2MZrw37_PL25IA2cTlRkwcnoQvojB8YqYkXa/s320/IMG_8542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I successfully completed a workout challenge put on by MapMyRun, and I feel good about that. Most of their challenges are measured by distance or workouts, and with all my walking, I have no problem finished them. This one was specific to gym or gym-style workouts, and I had to push myself to get them done. But I did!<p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaziv4aHeVLSpdjH0ySjoHh8gmSpCO7f2omSmiBXz3fnCSVgYub-133Z1sh-0D2hXGHKkq6kUgFI3vf9ZFrXoDSkLt5EGplPVE7IYP4rcVK5FvJ31vC_ZW4oxDrIjx8prHxRn69sGOxgKAtfzTt1BFgn5sEI-JFmw3qwDG_NAEEVKYngBjLPy5yBNk/s4032/IMG_8541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaziv4aHeVLSpdjH0ySjoHh8gmSpCO7f2omSmiBXz3fnCSVgYub-133Z1sh-0D2hXGHKkq6kUgFI3vf9ZFrXoDSkLt5EGplPVE7IYP4rcVK5FvJ31vC_ZW4oxDrIjx8prHxRn69sGOxgKAtfzTt1BFgn5sEI-JFmw3qwDG_NAEEVKYngBjLPy5yBNk/s320/IMG_8541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I didn't finish the <a href="https://youtu.be/Nm0xOrOii_8" target="_blank">Polarthon reading challenge put on by Jadeyraereads</a>, but I will finish all the books I chose. I really stretched myself to find books to meet the challenge, books I might never have seen otherwise!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6yERo0rMklGty7Ruq3j4BaO59y1yN8zRi50uvPxvM_n8QE3fM61mPLNDVfURPpCXXY7kMHKrJr7bdL8VVwaWI07mGQJd3shixLc_H6YKgBj1LAlFhg2XnDthwZauIOynOpWyWOIJQdaUaUYVK9JlQaGZ-rh6SpUCGcR42eC_32CkwuaL3fYSYqhx/s4032/IMG_8540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2547" data-original-width="4032" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6yERo0rMklGty7Ruq3j4BaO59y1yN8zRi50uvPxvM_n8QE3fM61mPLNDVfURPpCXXY7kMHKrJr7bdL8VVwaWI07mGQJd3shixLc_H6YKgBj1LAlFhg2XnDthwZauIOynOpWyWOIJQdaUaUYVK9JlQaGZ-rh6SpUCGcR42eC_32CkwuaL3fYSYqhx/s320/IMG_8540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Looking forward into March and April, I have a lot on my plate. Goal number one is making sure my number three kid has a fabulous birthday this month. It's pretty much all planned, but there are always last-minute tasks, like the cake. I am prepping for Camp NaNoWriMo in April, and that brings with it getting as much April stuff off my plate as I can. So goal number two is finishing and scheduling all the non-NaNo (and weekly reading) April blog posts. Third, I have to do a not-insignificant amount of travel planning to do that cannot wait. Finally, I absolutely have to finish all the outstanding tasks I've been putting off. The longer I wait, the more work they'll be to complete!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHygdhP2yEihMR_PFcdy1QJroGf8Adw1EUpuiVmiE0CJbcfM9F4ICbo-h0bgco0wrJrPDL04Zj82h2MKd1o4dJNfxhfBizM9fqlY--JQJYKb4FAbO46K0I-p4X0CPRw3VUG5zVXhy_kf9xt5ruaI8yf7EqDhntSC_qhFltrDd9HVNoh__CQN5fKBp/s3780/IMG_8544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="2921" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHygdhP2yEihMR_PFcdy1QJroGf8Adw1EUpuiVmiE0CJbcfM9F4ICbo-h0bgco0wrJrPDL04Zj82h2MKd1o4dJNfxhfBizM9fqlY--JQJYKb4FAbO46K0I-p4X0CPRw3VUG5zVXhy_kf9xt5ruaI8yf7EqDhntSC_qhFltrDd9HVNoh__CQN5fKBp/s320/IMG_8544.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><p>How did you do in February? Do you have anything exciting planned for March?</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-3801079845702109452023-02-28T07:27:00.001-08:002023-02-28T07:27:57.726-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 19-26 February 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVniyRFbEpbWamIqMMdy1sWnc0hZm9omEnxWMJUegjNFnIgOToxRGCgjJhyYL9wKSs2Vn72JmCed9gRh4jhoswH9QyietOHHp_s-TNZeAB5X1t66aD2IOTxRdpNywQ7ZUE1gjpX_HlM5guAGhPgv6jmC0YuLIC6ZGlS2F0YUfKCThrRoFCUomJhi0/s1015/DorianGray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVniyRFbEpbWamIqMMdy1sWnc0hZm9omEnxWMJUegjNFnIgOToxRGCgjJhyYL9wKSs2Vn72JmCed9gRh4jhoswH9QyietOHHp_s-TNZeAB5X1t66aD2IOTxRdpNywQ7ZUE1gjpX_HlM5guAGhPgv6jmC0YuLIC6ZGlS2F0YUfKCThrRoFCUomJhi0/s320/DorianGray.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br />The Picture of Dorian Gray</h3><p>I finally finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1857397.The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray" target="_blank">The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde</a>. So many people rave about it, but it was hard for me to get through. It was a great story, just fantastical enough, and maybe I would’ve been more interested if I didn’t already know what happens. I do recommend it, though.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMfbD1ERxezchjf0S4ho7tnbu3VDGsppZQXCBsfvWJq9ddMTX9TCzfpRRxfuJJLHUdzB17a4XyCeRSlOodnmoBrEE6qlWXgz47OEsp6QRDOrzDSFvlJ86pYBa3xjOIsXQGu00GtfOutD-cF2jvehAWQ1Y5g3nYSNgxgaZ95-0t8B2e40CuMnoJ4m4/s1600/GreenglassHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1059" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMfbD1ERxezchjf0S4ho7tnbu3VDGsppZQXCBsfvWJq9ddMTX9TCzfpRRxfuJJLHUdzB17a4XyCeRSlOodnmoBrEE6qlWXgz47OEsp6QRDOrzDSFvlJ86pYBa3xjOIsXQGu00GtfOutD-cF2jvehAWQ1Y5g3nYSNgxgaZ95-0t8B2e40CuMnoJ4m4/s320/GreenglassHouse.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Greenglass House</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18222716-greenglass-house" target="_blank">Greenglass House by Kate Milford</a> pulled me right through, desiring to find out what came next. Who doesn’t love a tale about a mysterious map, hidden clues, and stories that have more than a few grains of truth in them? I did not see the final twist coming, either. Praise aside, I’m not sure I’ll continue <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/176106-greenglass-house" target="_blank">the series.</a> I liked the book, but right now I don’t feel compelled to read the next book. I might change my mind.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx69m6A1kiy4Uw9y64kAs7yRY5lonZqwIYVaSbbQLJd6TTkQu2WTBtA_ljvDwj47u5YmiJXZ8hTDTcYf4pOu-gNEDyKvPYNDeBG8sHiSQjko_QaBCM2bKf3X6dd6OcoClcc2EEygmeigwdxmiIYrHLQIdqh6JKhSaC0xMvUsBzjScUhsv029EUVLD/s430/NorthChild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx69m6A1kiy4Uw9y64kAs7yRY5lonZqwIYVaSbbQLJd6TTkQu2WTBtA_ljvDwj47u5YmiJXZ8hTDTcYf4pOu-gNEDyKvPYNDeBG8sHiSQjko_QaBCM2bKf3X6dd6OcoClcc2EEygmeigwdxmiIYrHLQIdqh6JKhSaC0xMvUsBzjScUhsv029EUVLD/s320/NorthChild.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br />North Child</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/294967.North_Child" target="_blank">North Child by Edith Pattou</a> was well-done and very interesting. I do recommend it if you like mythology and/or fairy tales. That said, it’s rare for me to start a series and not continue it if I liked the first book, but this is the second time this week I have decided I might not continue <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/217993-east" target="_blank">the series</a>. Only time will tell. Note: I found this book under the title East, but in other places, it’s called North Child.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx7hdg9C30sMHhowmOOzb2Fugz6J0cNtbu9i-9zlF2nL7RVb6WQfifhweQFDtA_vc8uvmBdYT57HdOitbvnco_rTIDfpmMZaisNdhmxN6aJziqHmbwMzlt8OOZGp3IPpW_0pZg6rDXe636sw7ywgH3Inm3gtbcLdfJhrAaBDk__pnyqMdi6YYe5Vq/s2550/Moxie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx7hdg9C30sMHhowmOOzb2Fugz6J0cNtbu9i-9zlF2nL7RVb6WQfifhweQFDtA_vc8uvmBdYT57HdOitbvnco_rTIDfpmMZaisNdhmxN6aJziqHmbwMzlt8OOZGp3IPpW_0pZg6rDXe636sw7ywgH3Inm3gtbcLdfJhrAaBDk__pnyqMdi6YYe5Vq/s320/Moxie.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Moxie </h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33163378-moxie" target="_blank">Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu</a> was excellent. I had high hopes because I loved the movie on Netflix. I think I liked the movie better, but this is still a five-star from me. I may even reread it in the future, just as I have re-watched the movie multiple times!</p><p><br /></p><p>I've stopped talking about the cozy mystery series I've been reading for a while because I don't have anything new to say. If I do, I will. I will, however, be sure to introduce any new series I start!</p><p><br /></p><p>What are your favorite series?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-65062894193267046552023-02-24T07:44:00.001-08:002023-02-24T07:44:25.801-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 12-18 February 2023<h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-Rkoxom6ufebmYTPiXyw3E5PoqwaLbG3Ou3ca4r0W7k4NFzy0_w1I6bMnee3PqhNUUSKH9g9B8fUcmzDH22Tk_5xiVVtm2yjkZdiyb48deJO5lqzHRMzpBFW6gaONKH_vwhHOzp2NcbpazYjzV8QHGYydEgOtxJ3P6DNANBkEHc0o6pwnibcb2Dh/s1812/TheStolenHeir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-Rkoxom6ufebmYTPiXyw3E5PoqwaLbG3Ou3ca4r0W7k4NFzy0_w1I6bMnee3PqhNUUSKH9g9B8fUcmzDH22Tk_5xiVVtm2yjkZdiyb48deJO5lqzHRMzpBFW6gaONKH_vwhHOzp2NcbpazYjzV8QHGYydEgOtxJ3P6DNANBkEHc0o6pwnibcb2Dh/s320/TheStolenHeir.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />The Stolen Heir</h3><h3><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61198118-the-stolen-heir" target="_blank">The Stolen Heir by Holly Black</a> is one of the more-anticipated reads of 2023. The first of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/344339-the-stolen-heir-duology" target="_blank">Stolen Heir Duology</a> was a very different perspective than the other Elfhame stories, so it was a nice change but also that comforting familiarity. I definitely recommend the book as part of the Elfhame world, but I recommend reading the other stories first.</p></h3><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFwGMTHNF1EkdVyr_kWg0GNUypJ55RZX_pikhkE0mht4bZjeI1PEmEOeYbOzFumWcsOmPsNiN1B-OisoAskAnbytKQw8uZNvbstfXAkDACVCqLQjirHwZ6o0awVL8BDKK56UFx9RqO8i0gQPQpK_jKj_OVO-ypfxUNOYc1-lmVfbEFAhQKAr_6ucj/s1524/OfChivalryandRevenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFwGMTHNF1EkdVyr_kWg0GNUypJ55RZX_pikhkE0mht4bZjeI1PEmEOeYbOzFumWcsOmPsNiN1B-OisoAskAnbytKQw8uZNvbstfXAkDACVCqLQjirHwZ6o0awVL8BDKK56UFx9RqO8i0gQPQpK_jKj_OVO-ypfxUNOYc1-lmVfbEFAhQKAr_6ucj/s320/OfChivalryandRevenge.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />Of Chivalry and Revenge</h3><h3><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76625454-of-chivalry-and-revenge" target="_blank">Of Chivalry and Revenge by Celeste Baxendell</a> was a surprise.<span class="notion-enable-hover" data-token-index="1" style="font-weight: 600;"> </span>I received an advanced reader copy of this book that was officially released on Valentine’s Day this year. I didn’t know this was a King Arthur story when I set out to read it, which is extra funny because I’m on a King Arthur kick right now. I love King Arthur stories. This one was quite a different perspective, and I liked it. Everything about the book was unexpected, and I read it all in one go! I loved the significance of fabric in the story. That’s not something a lot of authors work with.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bD8FlMkuifPURVzaMfn8OQldFeEaxjm-1L0tqm1tNHBcj1VN2LkC0TDsLD4O7mEozWrj4Tiw37_fhdzVaecjSpHqdXjobKcweBuo1cDvzE8e4ndIj8cPJeOMylWUJ_g9G3t2i6bW3U7BACBzJ34mGBtx0qwZ6xe4wkGagoatq_-sfbJY7Hr9TQBr/s2550/LochNessPapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bD8FlMkuifPURVzaMfn8OQldFeEaxjm-1L0tqm1tNHBcj1VN2LkC0TDsLD4O7mEozWrj4Tiw37_fhdzVaecjSpHqdXjobKcweBuo1cDvzE8e4ndIj8cPJeOMylWUJ_g9G3t2i6bW3U7BACBzJ34mGBtx0qwZ6xe4wkGagoatq_-sfbJY7Hr9TQBr/s320/LochNessPapers.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />The Loch Ness Papers</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39863425-the-loch-ness-papers" target="_blank">The Loch Ness Papers</a> is the fourth book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/174075-scottish-bookshop-mystery" target="_blank">Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton</a>. This one was so fun! We get to know her family, we spend time with Nessie, we make new friends.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XWs-L2hQocdrdT_JaXQEW99yWKzVMRvMkV6o1wLiCeN36PTxzOfZx1cvYSUcNFp9QWcUyU3Yfl-0bHpDSCEYX4VYgSAj0jCWJkDpSMYrdtOBcnDMDCLP8PDJdJBedB_bGm0P_Ttx-_rtO6c2ELC-HmNXX53b7or_Fe_5OhJ670IC2sYnSQcPeMPi/s2325/DoubleFudge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2325" data-original-width="1519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XWs-L2hQocdrdT_JaXQEW99yWKzVMRvMkV6o1wLiCeN36PTxzOfZx1cvYSUcNFp9QWcUyU3Yfl-0bHpDSCEYX4VYgSAj0jCWJkDpSMYrdtOBcnDMDCLP8PDJdJBedB_bGm0P_Ttx-_rtO6c2ELC-HmNXX53b7or_Fe_5OhJ670IC2sYnSQcPeMPi/s320/DoubleFudge.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />Double Fudge</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80672.Double_Fudge" target="_blank">Double Fudge</a> is the fifth and final book in the beloved <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/50683-fudge" target="_blank">Fudge series by Judy Blume</a>. I was pleasantly surprised by the updating of this series. It was seamless! The technology and pop culture references were brought up to date without changing the feel of the stories and would go completely unnoticed if you didn't have the memories of having these books read to you in elementary school in the 80s.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR9deMFvqQw6hwqbZbdjcbE4rYDRMlzymOokwqhq9pj-2QeZUrxGMV_asDRO01tcWGmTXXN9GsSezo0Fy51_BU9qqe1puLh4yoY5D3ob8KaRgkz0_5Fd-qrKSvMS9JY-fjRKlsrSilCJODyc6ENQoGmcyx0Zgo6hVveroqFvHTiJkEeatDpomFwLt/s475/WinniethePooh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR9deMFvqQw6hwqbZbdjcbE4rYDRMlzymOokwqhq9pj-2QeZUrxGMV_asDRO01tcWGmTXXN9GsSezo0Fy51_BU9qqe1puLh4yoY5D3ob8KaRgkz0_5Fd-qrKSvMS9JY-fjRKlsrSilCJODyc6ENQoGmcyx0Zgo6hVveroqFvHTiJkEeatDpomFwLt/s320/WinniethePooh.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />Winnie the Pooh</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99107.Winnie_the_Pooh" target="_blank">Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne</a> is the first book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/87815-winnie-the-pooh" target="_blank">classic series</a>. My mom read the books to me more than 30 years ago, but I didn’t remember any of them. My seven-year-old became obsessed with Winnie the Pooh about a year ago, and we’ve watched all the movies and most of one of the series so far. This summer we’re traveling to the Hundred Acre Wood in southern England for his birthday. Naturally, we had to read the books. I didn’t pick up on the humor as a child. I laughed so much! I love the seemingly-random capitalization for emphasis. Even the narrator jokes about the sometimes-strange grammar. I loved it ardently, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I will definitely reread this book in the future, just for me!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrpKfNhCxH9N1yPncH-K2jW0tmH1f8qHyYDmSObnQy3n2Dhly9kOT7htgQElxyTlsOJhO7lgQq1QxV7j0YFwfhaVf4JVMJKWunSH5HM5qrFPhFAwbC8OHRAu-1Vx0sPq_ni9de1yjSTPTP5n4Z_jq8rPNTgRJw_Xq3g6scSAvI_nO3CmRGPvi-BH-/s2409/EpicLoveStory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2409" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrpKfNhCxH9N1yPncH-K2jW0tmH1f8qHyYDmSObnQy3n2Dhly9kOT7htgQElxyTlsOJhO7lgQq1QxV7j0YFwfhaVf4JVMJKWunSH5HM5qrFPhFAwbC8OHRAu-1Vx0sPq_ni9de1yjSTPTP5n4Z_jq8rPNTgRJw_Xq3g6scSAvI_nO3CmRGPvi-BH-/s320/EpicLoveStory.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story</h3><p>I chose <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38719089-this-is-kind-of-an-epic-love-story" target="_blank">This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender</a> to read with my 15-year-old because we’d loved Felix Ever After. Overall, we really liked the book. We laughed at the sarcasm, and we were inspired by the characters. We did struggle with the descriptive sex talk; my teen chooses to not expose himself to that kind of media, so I had to skim and skip at times. It was very sex-positive, though, and I am definitely not saying anything bad about it. It was just unexpected. Overall, I think the book is a great demonstration of the fluidity of sexuality, of consent, and of communication, good and bad. Plus, it shows teens working hard and achieving their goals, just like in Felix Ever After. Oh, and did I mention that, in addition to the already-diverse collection of characters, it features a deaf character? Talk about representation!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanKMpzr8PEmVk0T9J_okYuicVJGZSYJjM6c_clYcW31haZWYVi4hH9CfRRY7u7hC-M2TPBFj1ywAWtfjpHSQ4tvud6tKEjeWce2dYGNFaaKzdnK15sHHQQH8hQkTrzbM-FV_1IrF-edUsZn3-yi-VLoIjT8NmIdhECo1oQkRIn11ne_gaA9VMNBlA/s2025/BookplateSpecial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="1256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanKMpzr8PEmVk0T9J_okYuicVJGZSYJjM6c_clYcW31haZWYVi4hH9CfRRY7u7hC-M2TPBFj1ywAWtfjpHSQ4tvud6tKEjeWce2dYGNFaaKzdnK15sHHQQH8hQkTrzbM-FV_1IrF-edUsZn3-yi-VLoIjT8NmIdhECo1oQkRIn11ne_gaA9VMNBlA/s320/BookplateSpecial.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />Bookplate Special</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6443402-bookplate-special" target="_blank">Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett</a> is another of my beloved cozy mysteries, the third in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/45327-booktown-mystery" target="_blank">Booktown Mystery series</a>. I really do love the characters and their relationships in this particular series. And the cat is so sassy. The main character was a little snobbish in this one, but I’m hoping it’s a one-off. I’ve already checked out the next one!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aicADRYztPAXXd7Rh90AavCi5nYpg34JghM6lXisPQm87TD-Lb_C-kPF_mgs-hUOJu9wAYysRAPFaw0JqY4fNX84742RK85Niol080vR-q615X3Wp9QA2ZR3bdsFrJu2UMjcC-k_88UhCUv-gkdpXFJc6hcwkYbKH26UgI-t6hMgaBoTQtzrycwA/s500/TheApothecary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aicADRYztPAXXd7Rh90AavCi5nYpg34JghM6lXisPQm87TD-Lb_C-kPF_mgs-hUOJu9wAYysRAPFaw0JqY4fNX84742RK85Niol080vR-q615X3Wp9QA2ZR3bdsFrJu2UMjcC-k_88UhCUv-gkdpXFJc6hcwkYbKH26UgI-t6hMgaBoTQtzrycwA/s320/TheApothecary.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Apothecary</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10481268-the-apothecary" target="_blank">The Apothecary by Maile Meloy</a> is the first book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/111001-the-apothecary" target="_blank">series by the same name</a>. I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. Other than current events, the setting of the book was timeless. The “magic” was ancient. The children were children. The language was nondescript. Most of the magic seemed plausible, though I have to admit the part that wasn’t pulled me out of the story a bit, but that’s just a me problem, not a book problem. While I can’t pinpoint anything specific that drew me into the book, I read it straight through. I just kept wanting to know what came next! I will probably continue the series after I whittle down my current library haul.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXkX8ZOFQug7HLNBgk8tLtdOb44K6traSP6wdG87FZHTc7j6QiaPugGC3lmvns7LNKfvAdIDNGpzlruxINDA3VXL89_tcfuYtWSt5xPxJJb-pCzX6rvEXbarKv391ANCxMuxnxJhYgufkzwsp7k581fKzLaRBYI10kaowoAGO6k7gMnYZj2wM382v/s2560/CallUsWhatWeCarry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXkX8ZOFQug7HLNBgk8tLtdOb44K6traSP6wdG87FZHTc7j6QiaPugGC3lmvns7LNKfvAdIDNGpzlruxINDA3VXL89_tcfuYtWSt5xPxJJb-pCzX6rvEXbarKv391ANCxMuxnxJhYgufkzwsp7k581fKzLaRBYI10kaowoAGO6k7gMnYZj2wM382v/s320/CallUsWhatWeCarry.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Call Us What We Carry</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56804007-call-us-what-we-carry" target="_blank">Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman</a> was even more than I’d hoped it would be. What a talented poet! There are a lot of great facts scattered through also. I can’t say anything about it but that everyone should read it.</p><p><br /></p><p>It feels good to finish off books you started a while ago, doesn't it? I finished two of those this week. What did you finish this week, old or new?</p><p><br /></p><p>As always, if you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-13454729249987169372023-02-12T13:38:00.004-08:002023-02-12T13:38:55.827-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 5-11 February 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn53fYkihadAJje92ltZpzYYJMhrTYqLU-JwQ_pbYx4WzyESbHyCFIFp2-2Mq5DwPSvahL0y3FmKNUO6syP7LbCPzfWUhtiaRk-7_fD_Vgiv3arG5EmVytkbFKT0aBJr30PBy2e76ZL7LaGgX2oytyGIaWhLhxxjdsuTKLWN_L9I99UBltpzhc1fVY/s500/ThePaleBlueEye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn53fYkihadAJje92ltZpzYYJMhrTYqLU-JwQ_pbYx4WzyESbHyCFIFp2-2Mq5DwPSvahL0y3FmKNUO6syP7LbCPzfWUhtiaRk-7_fD_Vgiv3arG5EmVytkbFKT0aBJr30PBy2e76ZL7LaGgX2oytyGIaWhLhxxjdsuTKLWN_L9I99UBltpzhc1fVY/s320/ThePaleBlueEye.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />The Pale Blue Eye</h3><p>I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/110076.The_Pale_Blue_Eye" target="_blank">The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard</a> because my husband wanted to watch the Netflix adaptation. The Poe angle had me intrigued, and I prefer reading stories before watching them. Let me start by saying I told my husband to go ahead and watch it without me. When Christian Bale is not playing the creepy character, you know the show is gonna be weird. That said, the book was well-written, and I love a good historical fiction story. I do recommend it if gore is not an issue for you, but it is Creepy with a capital C.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PSz8Gb8W9QW-o8zO_wr2WC443lmNK6tUqWkZJ_-sMvXkqY8TYS0saOqWqK5hOzjYFbzq-9GvtNVq7_VlsAVTEVxQF6aTIxnk-bOw_2ucb9uKtNGNhFh_dKPfQW2V5Qvpp6rrm5I_aP37aGxMR7k-3L-gfOMwwEDTY2xgi_0FdSjzOcd86KpK09Ym/s1988/StealingHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PSz8Gb8W9QW-o8zO_wr2WC443lmNK6tUqWkZJ_-sMvXkqY8TYS0saOqWqK5hOzjYFbzq-9GvtNVq7_VlsAVTEVxQF6aTIxnk-bOw_2ucb9uKtNGNhFh_dKPfQW2V5Qvpp6rrm5I_aP37aGxMR7k-3L-gfOMwwEDTY2xgi_0FdSjzOcd86KpK09Ym/s320/StealingHome.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br />Stealing Home</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156608.Stealing_Home" target="_blank">Stealing Home</a> is the first book in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53024-the-sweet-magnolias" target="_blank">Sherryl Woods' series The Sweet Magnolias</a>. I watched the Netflix series before realizing it was first a book series. I want to read all the books before the next season is released next month. So far the series is very true to the books, or at least this first one. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYCNkX9HvA0UtsJRuzHw7EZX-YDjU4xLJHyYSFddGmUEllktXADj5WvgrUsEn9a6b_prqP-tdpojdIJGz6pBMLFuL3kOhVCDVWu-tju31l6w4xFrr-0G16LxQk17jHmDhsaPN_bR0wrcTeJxa4zPAAB8MyOZiwUHPXGBgZEfrjuGphqRzAfBefn1Q/s1360/TheRoyalWe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYCNkX9HvA0UtsJRuzHw7EZX-YDjU4xLJHyYSFddGmUEllktXADj5WvgrUsEn9a6b_prqP-tdpojdIJGz6pBMLFuL3kOhVCDVWu-tju31l6w4xFrr-0G16LxQk17jHmDhsaPN_bR0wrcTeJxa4zPAAB8MyOZiwUHPXGBgZEfrjuGphqRzAfBefn1Q/s320/TheRoyalWe.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br />The Royal We</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22875451-the-royal-we" target="_blank">The Royal We</a> is the first book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/256783-royal-we" target="_blank">Royal We series by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan</a>. There were a lot of similarities between this and the current royal family, especially comparing it to the docuseries about Harry and Megan, though there were similarities to both brothers and their wives. I believe I saw someone else say this was Kate Middleton fanfiction, and I would agree with that. The book was well done, but it didn’t wow me, and I’m not sure I will continue with this series. It was a very long book for what it was.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQH9TcEPaTnm3DIdTQRrMPwKzMKiShOxjLlCKKE_YMmoyJujG7IfAoJssr3Faw2jzba7ksg2OhKLuuQG-2Px20ldWbQyWKiYogGKGF6N67eE54e_jA6nnDI3kMoj6GhEMyN6_yVGkFCbtCi2QBkAAzpo2Up4by98u3rtBeu013S5bANevS7bG0iHIm/s285/BookmarkedforDeath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="200" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQH9TcEPaTnm3DIdTQRrMPwKzMKiShOxjLlCKKE_YMmoyJujG7IfAoJssr3Faw2jzba7ksg2OhKLuuQG-2Px20ldWbQyWKiYogGKGF6N67eE54e_jA6nnDI3kMoj6GhEMyN6_yVGkFCbtCi2QBkAAzpo2Up4by98u3rtBeu013S5bANevS7bG0iHIm/s1600/BookmarkedforDeath.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Bookmarked for Death</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3712764-bookmarked-for-death" target="_blank">Bookmarked for Death</a> is the second book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/45327-booktown-mystery" target="_blank">Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett</a>. These cozy mystery book store series are all starting to blend together. Maybe I should read one at a time! I really am enjoying this genre, though. I just feel bad for all these people who seem to have attracted murder to their towns!</p><p><br /></p><p>What did you read this week?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-29928332939114323732023-02-10T06:22:00.007-08:002023-02-10T06:44:33.356-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 29 January - 4 February 2023<h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyUaz-NlBOzskw-3rCirPQ117ZgR4eZ_HwqRwGf3WaPu_uoce5FQDXz7zJ24d95OJbDTrXo2_lvJN4nBm4xVJU35shlUUj3v7zp26PwoQcGcYsPHCJHJZq9HqLbUdxlCEg70CyqvbnwY9EmVdctixAxPJbkYL-dNfKwsc44Acd7pFlfIu4mY-2VSS/s1545/DontCallMeSweetheart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyUaz-NlBOzskw-3rCirPQ117ZgR4eZ_HwqRwGf3WaPu_uoce5FQDXz7zJ24d95OJbDTrXo2_lvJN4nBm4xVJU35shlUUj3v7zp26PwoQcGcYsPHCJHJZq9HqLbUdxlCEg70CyqvbnwY9EmVdctixAxPJbkYL-dNfKwsc44Acd7pFlfIu4mY-2VSS/s320/DontCallMeSweetheart.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Don't Call Me Sweetheart</span></span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60285975-don-t-call-me-sweetheart" target="_blank">Don't Call Me Sweetheart by Codi Gary</a> is the first book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/197648-something-borrowed" target="_blank">Something Borrowed series</a>. I loved A Cat Café Christmas and wanted to try more books by Codi Gary. I did not like this one as much (admittedly, the bar was very high), but I will read the next book and see how I feel.</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjqbOmzeRz88NR-Lwp_iATqWf_wzzqsec2IMCrQkWq5UPwbaGw6Z8lBFp7E_s7w2rZkKupvLJCyUBzNEfiht_AfACL3dNVji1iZ5AXsQH5swZQsw2YP63u2U1XmEQqLgnw59qtOl6nXa0ZzEp-1F1eRKAo01t0he03fTnL-hrfmkkVdU6BRjyxlf1/s2028/EmbroideredTruths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="1244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjqbOmzeRz88NR-Lwp_iATqWf_wzzqsec2IMCrQkWq5UPwbaGw6Z8lBFp7E_s7w2rZkKupvLJCyUBzNEfiht_AfACL3dNVji1iZ5AXsQH5swZQsw2YP63u2U1XmEQqLgnw59qtOl6nXa0ZzEp-1F1eRKAo01t0he03fTnL-hrfmkkVdU6BRjyxlf1/s320/EmbroideredTruths.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br />Embroidered Truths</span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/367053.Embroidered_Truths" target="_blank">Embroidered Truths</a> is the ninth book in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40926-a-needlecraft-mystery" target="_blank">A Needlecraft Mystery series by Monica Ferris</a>. R-word. Homophobia, though it doesn’t go unchecked by the MC. Mild racism, though for once it was actually addressed, unlike the rest of the prolific casual racism. Mention of SA. I feel invested in these books, but the ignorance is really wearing on me.</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7fNXZOe8p-rLXBZYltbhHhmcZm_lxDj20cRFKxwjLo668OB8802huagrPFbS6Iy-HVxV6AN6x0DrlD1bjXsyJKqkrpdNGs1Z9P6PdxPbrmJK0okMlnhlHeXkaMcVoQebJSDi-JHPL51zsEMZQLErhQ74OwhjuSdKCOhHH9gghxG1yBeEXY7Cx3oU/s1640/ASweetMessSeries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1640" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7fNXZOe8p-rLXBZYltbhHhmcZm_lxDj20cRFKxwjLo668OB8802huagrPFbS6Iy-HVxV6AN6x0DrlD1bjXsyJKqkrpdNGs1Z9P6PdxPbrmJK0okMlnhlHeXkaMcVoQebJSDi-JHPL51zsEMZQLErhQ74OwhjuSdKCOhHH9gghxG1yBeEXY7Cx3oU/w548-h262/ASweetMessSeries.png" width="548" /></a></div><br />A Sweet Mess, The Dating Dare, and Booked on a Feeling</span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51164758-a-sweet-mess" target="_blank">A Sweet Mess</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860357-the-dating-dare" target="_blank">The Dating Dare</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58724787-booked-on-a-feeling" target="_blank">Booked on a Feeling</a>, the series <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/298905-a-sweet-mess" target="_blank">A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee</a>. The first book in this series was very cute. I read it because I'd found the third one in a library search, so of course I had to start at the beginning. They were predictable, as expected, but they were fun, and I would happily read another one if it came out.</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsBW5qwXfRvOqoq8GQvi_CDtYEusPmluiW4yRBvPIS4sHleWif4U95OxePqr-9kIUExmC9unZRz8l92Gs2DzfAAZq-ujmK0qS0rYPt0ioqYMpm0ajylJAk4YwHZiSspHii6tP994BPc1XzgLuUrlgmD9SCBnQRaWrTOYG9p0p87Z52rSlqxElHj12/s1748/AttractionandChristmasEve.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1748" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsBW5qwXfRvOqoq8GQvi_CDtYEusPmluiW4yRBvPIS4sHleWif4U95OxePqr-9kIUExmC9unZRz8l92Gs2DzfAAZq-ujmK0qS0rYPt0ioqYMpm0ajylJAk4YwHZiSspHii6tP994BPc1XzgLuUrlgmD9SCBnQRaWrTOYG9p0p87Z52rSlqxElHj12/w391-h278/AttractionandChristmasEve.png" width="391" /></a></div><br />The Attraction Distraction and It Happened One Christmas Eve</span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60705666-the-attraction-distraction" target="_blank">The Attraction Distraction</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62076473-it-happened-one-christmas-eve" target="_blank">It Happened One Christmas Eve</a> are the second and third books in the series <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/340074-a-museum-of-literature-romance" target="_blank">A Museum of Literature Romance by Jenn McKinlay</a>. I loved the first one. The second one was just okay, but the third one was entertaining. They are short, funny romances.</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu1sk6je_0nBx7FGQ9_YCaIrjrIWU93aPRfSpCUUKz6pgBKCP3c7hHEZ6Tzy71CKaOySqAXgnUZpbIN8mz6hXveyWBM1iJ7d270hOZPA2_e5Pt852Ft9SvinR-hzLBtNpl9HemjrvCG2BuDgWTS3p6Kn58Zqz_nmDVemnpJwHQ9hO20gopT96iKK7/s2560/MurderisBinding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu1sk6je_0nBx7FGQ9_YCaIrjrIWU93aPRfSpCUUKz6pgBKCP3c7hHEZ6Tzy71CKaOySqAXgnUZpbIN8mz6hXveyWBM1iJ7d270hOZPA2_e5Pt852Ft9SvinR-hzLBtNpl9HemjrvCG2BuDgWTS3p6Kn58Zqz_nmDVemnpJwHQ9hO20gopT96iKK7/s320/MurderisBinding.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br />Murder is Binding</span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2586724-murder-is-binding" target="_blank">Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett</a> is the first in the </span><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/45327-booktown-mystery" target="_blank">Booktown Mystery series</a>. I told you I read a lot of these. I love the idea of Booktown. Can I visit? A few uses of the r-word, SA trigger warning. Otherwise decent bookstore-based murder mystery. I will continue the series. I liked the characters, and I will keep reading!</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJDpsy6MDXVUgZVfCW8WeKPby3Mx39_QQPMuh8P7Zct3Q7iF_D39BuAQKx61wY405YMG-K0lvZQt_SnENc7AeKGCusFJpbbqJGAoGn_XCTgHbTgOt1H-g0aUNry9Ph7z24RAp4S-yqWU7gAsKs3DQLO-54NmPsaEwBBjDrtQbh1Y6XEz-hGbBNhkU/s750/TheMysteriousBenedictSocietyThePerilousJourney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJDpsy6MDXVUgZVfCW8WeKPby3Mx39_QQPMuh8P7Zct3Q7iF_D39BuAQKx61wY405YMG-K0lvZQt_SnENc7AeKGCusFJpbbqJGAoGn_XCTgHbTgOt1H-g0aUNry9Ph7z24RAp4S-yqWU7gAsKs3DQLO-54NmPsaEwBBjDrtQbh1Y6XEz-hGbBNhkU/s320/TheMysteriousBenedictSocietyThePerilousJourney.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey</span></h3><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2159225.The_Mysterious_Benedict_Society_and_the_Perilous_Journey" target="_blank">The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey</a> is the second book in </span><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40996-the-mysterious-benedict-society" target="_blank">Trenton Lee Stewart's </a></span><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40996-the-mysterious-benedict-society" target="_blank">The Mysterious Benedict Society series</a>. This one was not as good as the first one, but I really like the kids. I will probably continue with the series, especially since I found what I think is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13152282-the-extraordinary-education-of-nicholas-benedict" target="_blank">a prequel</a> that really has me interested.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are your comfort books? Do you have a genre you turn to when you want to get lost in a book?</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Lora, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Lora, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-60223185344013583172023-02-08T07:37:00.002-08:002023-02-08T07:37:57.448-08:00Technical Difficulties<p>I'm having some formatting difficulties with Blogger right now, so all my posts are delayed. I will get them posted as soon as I get this figured out!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv2w4KTzawlMdLoJCUXE14QDBxFCvJv7TgjDgcm4_A8G8hgGdpChiu1TmQQvleWFfys3qMU85WbFrBII4y3ou0_dtqsxY_-4GIl-Bm98vSySJheMm_I8_fUKQn-1Kc2WgF4Vvv4dRjkGQOL4M6qKOMnKALG1RXGSRSvdlWGkUVJikuEQDAizpGkYI/s788/OOP%20LITTLE%20KNOT%20HERE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv2w4KTzawlMdLoJCUXE14QDBxFCvJv7TgjDgcm4_A8G8hgGdpChiu1TmQQvleWFfys3qMU85WbFrBII4y3ou0_dtqsxY_-4GIl-Bm98vSySJheMm_I8_fUKQn-1Kc2WgF4Vvv4dRjkGQOL4M6qKOMnKALG1RXGSRSvdlWGkUVJikuEQDAizpGkYI/s320/OOP%20LITTLE%20KNOT%20HERE.png" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-86208324706224436802023-01-31T09:27:00.001-08:002023-01-31T09:27:21.240-08:00January Review and Planning for February<p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes you plan a month and then you do something completely different. That’s what happened to me this month. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I gave myself a pass because January is a chaotic birthday month, so being productive is a challenge, and sometimes you just need to prioritize the things that revitalize you over productivity.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_cBu7Wg3cHZ37Ar6I-MNEL_4TnjCWFh-cDyBiNohVFxUwLlGV9sccWn45Ys7fDDAYjTvBoS4Iy0cI2iUp4P-xtlqd0jzvJHWuZDpFiyR5CPmRaKx0J4i6fU7hrPvhxBGqZcwhyuoMqWFeMDtQUoGDkEYaJB6UIiL1HGEKQkBMzmmNMkldKXU0Of-/s3826/IMG_5426a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2531" data-original-width="3826" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_cBu7Wg3cHZ37Ar6I-MNEL_4TnjCWFh-cDyBiNohVFxUwLlGV9sccWn45Ys7fDDAYjTvBoS4Iy0cI2iUp4P-xtlqd0jzvJHWuZDpFiyR5CPmRaKx0J4i6fU7hrPvhxBGqZcwhyuoMqWFeMDtQUoGDkEYaJB6UIiL1HGEKQkBMzmmNMkldKXU0Of-/s320/IMG_5426a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">January Review</h3><p>January was very productive, though not in the way as I had planned. I went into January with very little to do because I knew I would feel the letdown from the holidays being over, and we had two family birthdays this month. I only had three monthly goals for January, but I let myself off the hook for two of them.</p><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I ended up being exceptionally productive, however, just not in any way I could’ve foreseen. I decided to create an actual system for something I’ve been wanting to do and just haphazardly throwing stones at. I also created and re-did systems for other goals and tracking. All of this system management has made me more productive on those habits and goals!</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_UNmRYktJdanRQYq28y-e3XHQULY400H3VFFwZ2HkQj_D6L-WfHiwDnEheTS4cpP9K_g88ypVNB9gWanDUmd5E36E7e1OisczU0qy894-nnmOyk-nAgV8bDAGAGVxjlEMc9_gB-BXqOJ_nIoryqT-sZnfR4KY3XZiBySzpMFrHghaMknFv5dd91f/s2962/IMG_5443b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2962" data-original-width="2962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_UNmRYktJdanRQYq28y-e3XHQULY400H3VFFwZ2HkQj_D6L-WfHiwDnEheTS4cpP9K_g88ypVNB9gWanDUmd5E36E7e1OisczU0qy894-nnmOyk-nAgV8bDAGAGVxjlEMc9_gB-BXqOJ_nIoryqT-sZnfR4KY3XZiBySzpMFrHghaMknFv5dd91f/s320/IMG_5443b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />February Planning</span></h3><p><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When I gave myself that pass in January, I realized my monthly goals have been the same for months. Not only that, but I’m only focusing on the same couple of areas for months at a time, and I’m not really making progress on other goals. </span>I decided to try something different for February. It’s not generally the best practice to try to work on all of your goals all of the time, habits aside, but I have a tendency to take that belief too far and never create action steps for some goals. This month I decided to create an action step for each yearly goal just to shake things up.</p><p><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I always try to find ways to work my goals into routines I already have because trying to add something else is usually the quickest way for me to fail. For example, for two of the new goals, I simply set reading goals; I will read books that will better inform me about the topics. Since I already read more than a book a day, I’m not adding anything, simply being intentional about the choices I make. I did add one thing to my plate, but I set the bar very low to ease into it. I have no idea if it’s something I will be able to maintain, so it’s just an experiment this month.
</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM81_n9KgAYWBJwdbFKkvZRFqZvGgc1ZCmsi9W2ShW2QGSbbNS-1lArwyHt_IqnjVgUqFoP-SU-kUlYnKxj2oZz-6H_x3FfCA6GWEkyUvwyUTYE_9r9rzD37zEfDWkzvIcCTldysWrHx1zbRvuhPePJa9TxvLZY2suqZtG9cJnJBp3zBvT798OgLP/s3024/IMG_5420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM81_n9KgAYWBJwdbFKkvZRFqZvGgc1ZCmsi9W2ShW2QGSbbNS-1lArwyHt_IqnjVgUqFoP-SU-kUlYnKxj2oZz-6H_x3FfCA6GWEkyUvwyUTYE_9r9rzD37zEfDWkzvIcCTldysWrHx1zbRvuhPePJa9TxvLZY2suqZtG9cJnJBp3zBvT798OgLP/s320/IMG_5420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Other Thoughts</span></h3><p><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I have done some other brainstorming inspired by YouTuber Kate Cavanaugh. <a href="https://youtu.be/oDY7-Mcs6hw" target="_blank">She did a video</a> about trying to live her ideal author day, and I decided to write down what my ideal author day would look like and see what I can do about making my days look like that. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So far I have not adhered to my ideal schedule even once, but it’s only been a short while since I wrote it down. I’m not looking for perfection, just progress.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I made a change in how I view my productivity, and so far it is proving very positive. I decided that I will not adhere to my daily productivity goals or schedule any work for myself on the weekends. If there’s something I want to do, I will do it, but I will not set myself up to have something to do on Saturday and Sunday. I am really feeling calm and much less stressed about my to-do list by intentionally leaving Saturday and Sunday open.
</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs3s4YOkS2tpNcnBVLnClDMkmdG38-TiKRy1s57ZtnJ6MU1ROdcOK2RNhQQf60tdgz3xL8-WwUBeBSyGJ0Wr93zl769Tm7Hf8eXsKMhdZe6aGFbXOtjh2uy_ZyMDCW9p29CWPuIvrUpQBxrfWR__dItPMBReHS1Mm9Whtl1SCvM_RDPc5MlyFhlJP/s4032/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs3s4YOkS2tpNcnBVLnClDMkmdG38-TiKRy1s57ZtnJ6MU1ROdcOK2RNhQQf60tdgz3xL8-WwUBeBSyGJ0Wr93zl769Tm7Hf8eXsKMhdZe6aGFbXOtjh2uy_ZyMDCW9p29CWPuIvrUpQBxrfWR__dItPMBReHS1Mm9Whtl1SCvM_RDPc5MlyFhlJP/s320/IMG_5428.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Wrap-Up</span></h3><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So I guess January was a month of figuring it out. I like that I am someone who is always learning and evolving because I'm a lot easier on myself than I used to be when I thought I had to pick something and stick with it. I already have ideas of changes I'm looking to make for March, but I'm not going to rush into anything. One step at a time.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span data-tt="{"paragraphStyle":{"alignment":4}}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">How did you do in January? Are you making any changes for February? What kind of goals do you like to set? What works for you?</span></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-83739063565181936672023-01-29T02:40:00.001-08:002023-01-29T02:40:32.494-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 22-28 January 2023<h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9YzcPiVcf0sMHgGx4SsYjQ7EZkikutRHFT9h-Eqby4_Z27wvB0tHl7rIBcjvtYlpRhwPS8K2JJYKmVmbPEbAVNeQJqEpNNMbG42EvULT8ImFfPXdYOtnghWJmVMjKVgd5AAzGUf6XG9GWA7Pt3fpx5Tu0tlXklwVCdknIOcYg3tav-Ve8GxKx9xF/s2475/FromBadtoCursed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9YzcPiVcf0sMHgGx4SsYjQ7EZkikutRHFT9h-Eqby4_Z27wvB0tHl7rIBcjvtYlpRhwPS8K2JJYKmVmbPEbAVNeQJqEpNNMbG42EvULT8ImFfPXdYOtnghWJmVMjKVgd5AAzGUf6XG9GWA7Pt3fpx5Tu0tlXklwVCdknIOcYg3tav-Ve8GxKx9xF/s320/FromBadtoCursed.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />From Bad to Cursed</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59029652-from-bad-to-cursed" target="_blank">From Bad to Cursed</a> is the second book in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/320957-the-witches-of-thistle-grove" target="_blank">The Witches of Thistle Grove series by Lana Harper</a>. There is a little bit of adult content, but the focus of the story is magic and mystery with a sprinkling of family expectations and obligations and following your heart.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn214hOwcHutVGP3XQCQECamfd7KD_Zne_B7F9brQr78bBLTGApe_0w9ByEYdhJoNnYD7Y3OZFufvxjQ4vpaw6Xela1t2aQEuwMYO1b4pEMxKd8-2dO6oLLuZ-dg4nssW6a_EeIbtPmmtddtOmZzRXrg1YRcg_ayFeMmRWNlm8ne9MJGX5crX7xWBU/s2025/ByHookorByCrook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="1250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn214hOwcHutVGP3XQCQECamfd7KD_Zne_B7F9brQr78bBLTGApe_0w9ByEYdhJoNnYD7Y3OZFufvxjQ4vpaw6Xela1t2aQEuwMYO1b4pEMxKd8-2dO6oLLuZ-dg4nssW6a_EeIbtPmmtddtOmZzRXrg1YRcg_ayFeMmRWNlm8ne9MJGX5crX7xWBU/s320/ByHookorByCrook.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />By Hook or by Crook</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5709037-by-hook-or-by-crook" target="_blank">By Hook or by Crook</a> is the third book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/45568-crochet-mystery" target="_blank">Crochet Mystery series by Betty Hechtman</a>. These books are entertaining. Every story has a mystery, and every story contains dialogue about the featured crochet style and its history. There's so much going on.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLkg23Y8SsJXAaBT9i5io2ZUoMw3ZsKD9Vh6UQRLhes06P3cXR3Yd7lS9JzR6Akbss8GAvJuMtU7dyfZYzZDqPqONvTAIp6EMuQjTG0LA-0gMQNiWzqW-8SgdpOsLkzTr5By6nhUO8OFWNnHT_jxGGoW154dyncT0w7bVLuno0mscl5gFM-h1PtQu/s940/Cutwork_CrewelYule.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="940" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLkg23Y8SsJXAaBT9i5io2ZUoMw3ZsKD9Vh6UQRLhes06P3cXR3Yd7lS9JzR6Akbss8GAvJuMtU7dyfZYzZDqPqONvTAIp6EMuQjTG0LA-0gMQNiWzqW-8SgdpOsLkzTr5By6nhUO8OFWNnHT_jxGGoW154dyncT0w7bVLuno0mscl5gFM-h1PtQu/w350-h264/Cutwork_CrewelYule.png" width="350" /></a></div><br />Cutwork and Crewel Yule</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/367054.Cutwork" target="_blank">Cutwork</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/295152.Crewel_Yule" target="_blank">Crewel Yule</a> are the seventh and eighth books in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40926-a-needlecraft-mystery" target="_blank">A Needlecraft Mystery series by Monica Ferris</a>. You must know by now that I enjoy these books. The fighting between different needleworkers is amusing - when it's not deadly.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC_9lfKTwQExyegPhqjLEiIqy5TEixr7KeLyQJsMJNGZ6ZTslI9ZDGa7alZEqSJbsLCEmYQzzZqoCDKi2Y0jBQep-N0ROyu4v0Ej0GeJx_R4GsP2nDIOrrda5kHdqL1S4pMPz3WMLrilWI3wi5uMiYHnaddG0QEryTpXhCRZXOVFnXpfNnzC_iAHU/s500/ACatCafeChristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC_9lfKTwQExyegPhqjLEiIqy5TEixr7KeLyQJsMJNGZ6ZTslI9ZDGa7alZEqSJbsLCEmYQzzZqoCDKi2Y0jBQep-N0ROyu4v0Ej0GeJx_R4GsP2nDIOrrda5kHdqL1S4pMPz3WMLrilWI3wi5uMiYHnaddG0QEryTpXhCRZXOVFnXpfNnzC_iAHU/s320/ACatCafeChristmas.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />A Cat Café Christmas</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61597533-a-cat-caf-christmas" target="_blank">A Cat Café Christmas by Codi Gary</a> was so good. It wasn't particularly Christmassy, but it was cozy, as long as you don't hate cats. I'm marking it a favorite! I will be reading more by Codi Gary.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYIKZ-b2RvZObtUnqtkPEkVa-r7pisPtfqxfnVnqm-KgUlJoyC9bCPjRT0B6gzhjur96dwRtowIZU24EV_Lu66fqn6HmJpuv_HN1l_Xc-cCrXHR75GAnECFz9q0meA9SojeNbiYNclslv1fCEHVSePRMEWPeHOvxl0nBeYEyDbj8igOkB4_SurUq1/s2550/LostBooksandOldBones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYIKZ-b2RvZObtUnqtkPEkVa-r7pisPtfqxfnVnqm-KgUlJoyC9bCPjRT0B6gzhjur96dwRtowIZU24EV_Lu66fqn6HmJpuv_HN1l_Xc-cCrXHR75GAnECFz9q0meA9SojeNbiYNclslv1fCEHVSePRMEWPeHOvxl0nBeYEyDbj8igOkB4_SurUq1/s320/LostBooksandOldBones.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Lost Books and Old Bones</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34953105-lost-books-and-old-bones" target="_blank">Lost Books and Old Bones</a> is the third book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/174075-scottish-bookshop-mystery" target="_blank">Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton</a>. I am enjoying these books a lot. The mysteries have a lot going on, and the bookish voices are really fun. And who doesn't like a warehouse of treasures?</p><p><br /></p><p>Did you read anything fun this week?</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-35382910362527184692023-01-27T06:29:00.003-08:002023-01-27T06:29:57.904-08:00The earth is waking up<p>In the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer. Here in Ireland's temperate climate, spring flowers have popped out of the ground all of a sudden, a sign of spring to come. Evergreen trees are starting to show new tips. Hazel catkins are bright and fluffy, and the female flowers are getting ready to open. I love these seasons of rapid change. It's exhilarating to know you're catching a glimpse of something so temporary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLrtzfxFDY5xQdJG08UpdUu4ojCYHNznarGrYrK3KvNlTollOEF1fHiQD2q_JetIJ2ramQQKIJjP7bX8GWfdAjYvl_soQI_Juqwey6dmCJeIxnbItQUxBvWDXk9P9Jt5xcAhIS1JnAlakETAAOlB4uR9fURcF2MJbz8F0SjHYVzbBx_zGw8UP0G2M/s2883/IMG_4450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2883" data-original-width="2665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLrtzfxFDY5xQdJG08UpdUu4ojCYHNznarGrYrK3KvNlTollOEF1fHiQD2q_JetIJ2ramQQKIJjP7bX8GWfdAjYvl_soQI_Juqwey6dmCJeIxnbItQUxBvWDXk9P9Jt5xcAhIS1JnAlakETAAOlB4uR9fURcF2MJbz8F0SjHYVzbBx_zGw8UP0G2M/s320/IMG_4450.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WGyb0qNHFDCObm4nIO2MhpPi-GsJtF0raYUBQ_NWOwRAWkH0OKeZiKFgNTnAQ5KsOIz7Ixvmh1UIAWEHTXX2Qb3TIBP9ZMR9BK_esL-8ioRhknKgIB0vdq2c2Rw9439qzJ_K-npNjDdg3SwjJskCUR4b-SfnWP76dxjMkoe6Er_l5J6wrl8XLrpr/s2137/IMG_4528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2137" data-original-width="2114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WGyb0qNHFDCObm4nIO2MhpPi-GsJtF0raYUBQ_NWOwRAWkH0OKeZiKFgNTnAQ5KsOIz7Ixvmh1UIAWEHTXX2Qb3TIBP9ZMR9BK_esL-8ioRhknKgIB0vdq2c2Rw9439qzJ_K-npNjDdg3SwjJskCUR4b-SfnWP76dxjMkoe6Er_l5J6wrl8XLrpr/s320/IMG_4528.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-bW68apZKNR7ry3d2CZ995aEUU3IrjyuSKaWPO9TJNiMr5bR4gZKJbX3YDZFm_mZLK8jpzC6vZM7_EF8cveaA9Qk1H5iOxtu_ehTeo5q5UcvVIOU5dZrBeW0XEDx8pzQWCKkVSxHbvKGX5M6X7qFoDp8h3HfWxL84CdHPCKCAKU1MISpgZGdXNA0/s3024/IMG_4545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-bW68apZKNR7ry3d2CZ995aEUU3IrjyuSKaWPO9TJNiMr5bR4gZKJbX3YDZFm_mZLK8jpzC6vZM7_EF8cveaA9Qk1H5iOxtu_ehTeo5q5UcvVIOU5dZrBeW0XEDx8pzQWCKkVSxHbvKGX5M6X7qFoDp8h3HfWxL84CdHPCKCAKU1MISpgZGdXNA0/s320/IMG_4545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_m8rrvudxapNLtponJYasj-b_oxGbYv7KPAJpHP561QTb3zCx0mCj31JFzrtNrPH51s1MDTjX4Yz7N7CLlfAH8knmqH41pJ6jHO0FuLSMek_iPcgZjfXn33mGnaMnbrObhRALzcc1Pu08XOFeplsgV109G3nvJW8oiNRdz_rIF3f9YM0f_YI_O7z/s2768/IMG_4796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="2504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_m8rrvudxapNLtponJYasj-b_oxGbYv7KPAJpHP561QTb3zCx0mCj31JFzrtNrPH51s1MDTjX4Yz7N7CLlfAH8knmqH41pJ6jHO0FuLSMek_iPcgZjfXn33mGnaMnbrObhRALzcc1Pu08XOFeplsgV109G3nvJW8oiNRdz_rIF3f9YM0f_YI_O7z/s320/IMG_4796.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPA0KAGJhDoWKVHSe6KffoBxwuNuf1pcqGLycW72mjmgymcz0O-twxcFNPSuVX4pM4qxQuETdXPAirGrJRGf_9ZUJvR6Jk7gYDyxtWTe0T3YQRpxpxzM9d_wBcUBtlutVoR-6cnRt5-jD-qC7HuLh64WFSGi2La5SdZQ0x7SaV8lesaXiICzfuRF2/s2160/IMG_4561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPA0KAGJhDoWKVHSe6KffoBxwuNuf1pcqGLycW72mjmgymcz0O-twxcFNPSuVX4pM4qxQuETdXPAirGrJRGf_9ZUJvR6Jk7gYDyxtWTe0T3YQRpxpxzM9d_wBcUBtlutVoR-6cnRt5-jD-qC7HuLh64WFSGi2La5SdZQ0x7SaV8lesaXiICzfuRF2/s320/IMG_4561.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiNCV3JAG8Zmf5wWzBmZhWmvEHhVkS7anZ2u34zx_dj_yET4xNJ3a-eQAtDNh63SU7o-K2-DmH7yPrdAl-4NR-_5h2kSW9LQH9vFjvWWBv68mcJtn8b2TToqXO5fXJrpmJ7nQPYpvRPKy1UKoTPyUJyw8jrDYzqtk7W9OLF9PzPY_8uSkvVF5622S/s3056/IMG_4644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiNCV3JAG8Zmf5wWzBmZhWmvEHhVkS7anZ2u34zx_dj_yET4xNJ3a-eQAtDNh63SU7o-K2-DmH7yPrdAl-4NR-_5h2kSW9LQH9vFjvWWBv68mcJtn8b2TToqXO5fXJrpmJ7nQPYpvRPKy1UKoTPyUJyw8jrDYzqtk7W9OLF9PzPY_8uSkvVF5622S/s320/IMG_4644.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-70299529731548708712023-01-22T07:34:00.184-08:002023-01-22T07:34:00.178-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 15-21 January 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw679P7FzjXLEx73ZdEM25bMfgZF4_KfxCOJv4OoreG7SFxX_b2k69DvM4kRuBDq5TXp_edeM6bKjbaF428gFmN3zPu8Vmjpav87KfVSi5JgrPDPjvwsohju7yQm0NU8klZOkaSJ488-RlwvhhwddhsAjPwdd4E5C7U2xRT4rWyGTt8dtJVnyfCvh/s2026/DeadMenDontCrochet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="1252" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw679P7FzjXLEx73ZdEM25bMfgZF4_KfxCOJv4OoreG7SFxX_b2k69DvM4kRuBDq5TXp_edeM6bKjbaF428gFmN3zPu8Vmjpav87KfVSi5JgrPDPjvwsohju7yQm0NU8klZOkaSJ488-RlwvhhwddhsAjPwdd4E5C7U2xRT4rWyGTt8dtJVnyfCvh/w182-h294/DeadMenDontCrochet.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><br />Dead Men Don't Crochet</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/45568-crochet-mystery" target="_blank">Dead Men Don't Crochet from the Crochet Mystery Series by Betty Hechtman</a> is the second book in the series. <a href="https://kandidkatie.blogspot.com/2023/01/books-i-enjoyed-this-week-8-14-january.html" target="_blank">I read the first book last week</a>. I love the bickering and pettiness in these stories. They're fun and light cozy mysteries.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIlzSZwSanCO24ck9xTpXrziTDPAxIESfEidStrwJdecePUv5HSzT4os35xcV5AUE3G-lVfKm6q4qZZvaHNzbOP8uLw_XVf0jqir4bvLxY5mBlG_ElLIy_PgtLcHmaP8aGEPfIWDW3BSO9oGM4E3m7nDEjHReKvTIdPQ1BJTG9raMABeIpVv5ik3X/s1640/ANeedlecraftMysterySeries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1640" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIlzSZwSanCO24ck9xTpXrziTDPAxIESfEidStrwJdecePUv5HSzT4os35xcV5AUE3G-lVfKm6q4qZZvaHNzbOP8uLw_XVf0jqir4bvLxY5mBlG_ElLIy_PgtLcHmaP8aGEPfIWDW3BSO9oGM4E3m7nDEjHReKvTIdPQ1BJTG9raMABeIpVv5ik3X/w560-h210/ANeedlecraftMysterySeries.png" width="560" /></a></div><br />A Needlecraft Mystery Series</h3><p>This week I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40926-a-needlecraft-mystery" target="_blank">A Stitch in Time (#3), Unraveled Sleeve (#4)</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40926-a-needlecraft-mystery" target="_blank">,</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/367055.A_Murderous_Yarn" target="_blank">A Murderous Yarn (#5)</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/367056.Hanging_by_a_Thread" target="_blank">Hanging by a Thread (#6)</a> from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40926-a-needlecraft-mystery" target="_blank">A Needlecraft Mystery Series by Monica Ferris</a>. I'm really enjoying the humor and banter in these books. I admit the language isn't always the most conscientious, and the main character can be ignorant and annoying at times. However, I really am into this series now. If you like cozy mysteries and discussion of needle crafts, you'll like this series.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd61W1NhJmR7EaOl4MpUdO98dFcZaszrxYlYJZZPkbhdu0frKGBdjudn8fOK73WI5BWCND0kcqGSnpDqnT0VViYs_7JGk_bYYSFtAVf9l2CVJQvZPRfgi_x6m2eByxT5Pp4LtRQG615dDyD6T2JNyLuw8OFP4CmPLy8gCeCojCrwGSrgN2ZxQ9x2f/s1658/OfBooksandBagpipes_AChristmasTartan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1658" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd61W1NhJmR7EaOl4MpUdO98dFcZaszrxYlYJZZPkbhdu0frKGBdjudn8fOK73WI5BWCND0kcqGSnpDqnT0VViYs_7JGk_bYYSFtAVf9l2CVJQvZPRfgi_x6m2eByxT5Pp4LtRQG615dDyD6T2JNyLuw8OFP4CmPLy8gCeCojCrwGSrgN2ZxQ9x2f/s320/OfBooksandBagpipes_AChristmasTartan.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Of Books and Bagpipes and A Christmas Tartan</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939077-of-books-and-bagpipes" target="_blank">Of Books and Bagpipes by Paige Shelton</a> is the second book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/174075-scottish-bookshop-mystery" target="_blank">Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series</a>. I'd somehow completely forgotten about starting this series in the autumn, but thankfully the author put a note in her Christmas book that it takes place after the second book in the series, so I quickly checked it out to read before reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31558191-a-christmas-tartan" target="_blank">A Christmas Tartan: A Scottish Bookshop Mini-Mystery (#2.5)</a>. I forgot how much I'd enjoyed the first book until I got into the second one. I've also been to Edinburgh since reading the first one, and I love being better able to visualize the setting. While yes, these contain violent crimes, the topic is handled gently, and these books are definitely cozy mysteries.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6E0t2S1PV5dACRcoo2EtOZGJUFuu1kznR0g4a4V_8-ooSJhSIvM3QdgOENO6jeCwOzv4YORHVnZsQgT2NORdtDeSK7GeaRaub-o6w8T0KdTbCpRnCNIjJhh9XieizxLYmwsL6EFwZDehwTBo3MJlhzKiIXDz1xZQ5CNqL4fCLUZOk_z-SVX193GC/s500/FeminismIsforEverybody.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="317" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6E0t2S1PV5dACRcoo2EtOZGJUFuu1kznR0g4a4V_8-ooSJhSIvM3QdgOENO6jeCwOzv4YORHVnZsQgT2NORdtDeSK7GeaRaub-o6w8T0KdTbCpRnCNIjJhh9XieizxLYmwsL6EFwZDehwTBo3MJlhzKiIXDz1xZQ5CNqL4fCLUZOk_z-SVX193GC/w188-h297/FeminismIsforEverybody.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br />Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168484.Feminism_Is_for_Everybody" target="_blank">Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks</a> is one that's been on my list for a while, and I finally got my backside in gear and read it. I listened to the audiobook while I followed along in and highlighted the ebook. Overall, this book is fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone. There is great discussion about most of the varied facets of feminism, such as class and race. My only complaints were a strong emphasis on the gender binary and a complete lack of inclusion of trans people of any gender. Had this book been written before 2000, I could maybe see it, and I recognize that the 2000s were kind of a gray area for these things, but I expect it would’ve come up in the decades of work the author did in this topic. I wonder if it was deliberately omitted to make the book more palatable for a wide audience, but I hope not. It was a quick read full of hearty content and written for the masses, not just academia. This book is a gift of knowledge from an intelligent and passionate activist.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAmUVGZAQNGpduU4vn1ZcdOy6-GHUno9EA2pUcfURM7xoyz5UHraEO2hPvgHsZXzCfSUSfk42Ulp8PXa49zEM8YSvQof17popnvbhwaTCR2a0v9GhT4qeLbvKsouwDIW-58lsMZZBckhz9WSPPYUju_JUsInYBHyyC6elS6pzLW41qPosOlf6eVHi/s2560/SmallTownBigMagic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1706" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAmUVGZAQNGpduU4vn1ZcdOy6-GHUno9EA2pUcfURM7xoyz5UHraEO2hPvgHsZXzCfSUSfk42Ulp8PXa49zEM8YSvQof17popnvbhwaTCR2a0v9GhT4qeLbvKsouwDIW-58lsMZZBckhz9WSPPYUju_JUsInYBHyyC6elS6pzLW41qPosOlf6eVHi/w193-h290/SmallTownBigMagic.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><br />Small Town, Big Magic</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59952170-small-town-big-magic?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=10oldAyjcl&rank=1" target="_blank">Small Town, Big Magic (Witchlore #1) by Hazel Beck</a> was just released this past August. I saved it for New Years because the cover felt very New Yearsy to me. That's a good reason, right? It has nothing to do with New Years, to be clear. I didn't know what to expect from this book, so it was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the witchy politics in it, and the romance was fun (and not graphic). The ending was a little saccharine, but overall I enjoyed it, and I don't want to wait over half a year for the sequel!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxkDEDNIrxx7pMA55vLCaGYEU2DP-1HlIeAh0ngcgK5fQoMc7-RGp2MEtJxXnmjteRzISGfbJ8RSazj38ayeHb4v5hOD0vwgYdR9VxEnzpKWXgleTu-pwGZ4mgzsBfeKWOkSODhl-2PAwIriKLU6jBMhlkVqjm7Af0u6MVNpiChY9LXiX_OOvKKnl/s2337/StoneofKuromori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2337" data-original-width="1522" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxkDEDNIrxx7pMA55vLCaGYEU2DP-1HlIeAh0ngcgK5fQoMc7-RGp2MEtJxXnmjteRzISGfbJ8RSazj38ayeHb4v5hOD0vwgYdR9VxEnzpKWXgleTu-pwGZ4mgzsBfeKWOkSODhl-2PAwIriKLU6jBMhlkVqjm7Af0u6MVNpiChY9LXiX_OOvKKnl/w192-h295/StoneofKuromori.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />The Stone of Kuromori</h3><p>My 13-year-old and I finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29776020-the-stone-of-kuromori" target="_blank">The Stone of Kuromori by Jason Rohan</a>, the third and final book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/171877-sword-of-kuromori" target="_blank">Sword of Kuromori series</a>. This series was really fun, and we learned a lot about Japanese mythology and folklore. The books did not shy away from the topic of death, and there was a lot of humor throughout. We enjoyed it a lot.</p><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">What books did you read this week?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-91027811606777802922023-01-21T01:18:00.147-08:002023-01-21T01:18:00.181-08:00I've been published!<p>It’s been a month since the anthology containing my short story was published. My very first success came just weeks after beginning my author journey in earnest. I was lucky to have success so quickly, but rather than get complacent, I have been nurturing the confidence my success gifted me. I'm sure this is just the first post like this I will have the joy to create.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzD5ZXLV6AwMK6PdiN3Dym12tGp1Pn-jD0PrcnQq-m2D51x1SimOOesWwT5zn-YZDbe1fvOj5L3LBKQZRPTgWHc3GQxzU3ClYmxUm4jwQtahAb0LgVz0vkSGJz6kPMtMR5IytdJtXScsDcJSTW0GQK8oLryrgPxZZHARMqzXYxC5bqEjXAUa0taC/s3975/WinterofWonderFauna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3975" data-original-width="2500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzD5ZXLV6AwMK6PdiN3Dym12tGp1Pn-jD0PrcnQq-m2D51x1SimOOesWwT5zn-YZDbe1fvOj5L3LBKQZRPTgWHc3GQxzU3ClYmxUm4jwQtahAb0LgVz0vkSGJz6kPMtMR5IytdJtXScsDcJSTW0GQK8oLryrgPxZZHARMqzXYxC5bqEjXAUa0taC/s320/WinterofWonderFauna.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br />My story started out as an idea I had to get out before I could sleep. I didn't know what I would do with it, but I had a solid intro for a story typed into my phone. When I saw the call for submissions from <a href="https://www.cloakedpress.com/" target="_blank">Cloaked Press</a>, I immediately thought of the story start I'd tucked away some weeks before. I reread it, pleased it was actually decent (sometimes what we think is wonderful before bed is a horror in the morning). I got straight to work turning that idea into a short story, a writing style in which I don't normally feel comfortable because I have so much to say.<p></p><p>The due date was only a few short days away, but this story practically wrote itself. I had only my children as beta readers and sounding boards, and I must have read the story out loud to myself more than a hundred times. Finally, with the deadline right in front of me, I launched my story in an email and hoped for the best.</p><p>Honestly, I felt really good, both about my chances and about what I'd accomplished. I'd done my research and gotten a good feel for the publication. I wrote a short story in a couple of days, and I was proud of it. I put my intentions out into the universe, and I waited.</p><p>I only had to wait just over a month to get the email that made me laugh, cry, jump up and down, and cheer. I ran around the house telling my kids, and I told my closest friends, but I was afraid to tell anyone else until I felt I had something more concrete. (Imposter syndrome is real, people.)</p><p>Finally the publication preorder was posted on Amazon. Now I could scream from the rooftops. I was being published. In an actual book. That people could buy. This was amazing.</p><p>I was excited to have a story in the world that people objectively judged as good. I wasn't really afraid of my friends and loved ones reading it because if they didn't like it, it wasn't for them. Obviously someone thought it was good enough to pay to print. This was a huge grown-up moment for me that only took me 42 years to get to.</p><p>As it turns out, I've heard only positive feedback. I get a lot of "How on earth did you come up with that idea?" and similar questions, without any sarcasm. (And believe me, there are plenty of people who would let me know if they were unimpressed.) If anyone didn't like it, they're keeping it to themselves.</p><p>If they did decide to share, would I be upset? I legitimately think I wouldn't. I am really proud of my story and even prouder of my accomplishment. Now, if Amazon UK would just get it together and let me buy the paperback version like all the other Amazon sites, I'd be thrilled. I want to hold my story in print! Until then, I'm happy looking at the Kindle version and saying, "That's me!"</p><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzD5ZXLV6AwMK6PdiN3Dym12tGp1Pn-jD0PrcnQq-m2D51x1SimOOesWwT5zn-YZDbe1fvOj5L3LBKQZRPTgWHc3GQxzU3ClYmxUm4jwQtahAb0LgVz0vkSGJz6kPMtMR5IytdJtXScsDcJSTW0GQK8oLryrgPxZZHARMqzXYxC5bqEjXAUa0taC/s3975/WinterofWonderFauna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3975" data-original-width="2500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzD5ZXLV6AwMK6PdiN3Dym12tGp1Pn-jD0PrcnQq-m2D51x1SimOOesWwT5zn-YZDbe1fvOj5L3LBKQZRPTgWHc3GQxzU3ClYmxUm4jwQtahAb0LgVz0vkSGJz6kPMtMR5IytdJtXScsDcJSTW0GQK8oLryrgPxZZHARMqzXYxC5bqEjXAUa0taC/s320/WinterofWonderFauna.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Winter Of Wonder: Fauna</div></h3><h3><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63251931-winter-of-wonder" target="_blank">Winter Of Wonder: Fauna, an anthology of short stories from Cloaked Press</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">Do you like short stories? Have you ever been published? Share your favorites and your successes!</p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">To purchase the anthology from Amazon, click on the link for your Amazon site.*</p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><a href="https://a.co/d/9i8mOaO">Amazon US</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/5Mse9sB" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/8P09fGb" target="_blank">Amazon Spain</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/8tQtEfu" target="_blank">Amazon Germany</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.asia/d/8ZGKtTh" target="_blank">Amazon Australia</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">*I don't receive any money from the purchase of the anthology, but all of the stories are worth a read!</p></h3>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-68395900023028136522023-01-19T13:06:00.000-08:002023-01-19T13:06:03.650-08:00Travels to Northern Ireland<p>So far we've made two visits to Northern Ireland, not counting driving through to get to the ferry terminal for our holiday in Scotland. The first was an overnight stay for Gabe's seventh birthday last July. The second was a day trip for Aiden's birthday this month. There is so much to see and do in such a small country that I'm sure we'll visit more, but here are the highlights from our travels so far.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyS0B1CFatHgqASVWpgGQnBr55z_NeCE_R7EzexPbTIN_24zMm9g9suAupdktR4B2d-Q07ZxRkATdKVRVKLn7D6ERjMCBLErk6U2AjjfV2hUt6IIkQ6t1n38A7ZXKs-1cSY9mIa9kiNtFfhFm1lr-ob8-BoBOcz_Mx8dTbArpYZtHurCm7G5spAYO/s2202/IMG_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="2202" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyS0B1CFatHgqASVWpgGQnBr55z_NeCE_R7EzexPbTIN_24zMm9g9suAupdktR4B2d-Q07ZxRkATdKVRVKLn7D6ERjMCBLErk6U2AjjfV2hUt6IIkQ6t1n38A7ZXKs-1cSY9mIa9kiNtFfhFm1lr-ob8-BoBOcz_Mx8dTbArpYZtHurCm7G5spAYO/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Birthday in Belfast</h3><p>Gabe wanted to go to a natural history museum or a planetarium for his birthday, followed by mini golf, bowling, and jumping. The museums in Dublin are still closed (though part of the natural history museum reopened in August), so I looked into options in Northern Ireland. There is a planetarium in Armagh in the southern part of the country, but we decided to stick to Belfast for the birthday festivities.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8oSFcwLsJAHNHbORGtaHP8ad30RG3HDJiZTIvp6Q3TphNX5aWpJcygokYK7vH_XE5XoQ9_luja3TKhGvzgXpZ_qg1_4sDW6v0UOa40X8878rPnU8JRz_CrPUlCAgqUTMpMd9ywHUP6ZFe0esqyxLm_MIbKTZjQik_1oa3mTFQRAHA1dqMtAdDJqr/s4032/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8oSFcwLsJAHNHbORGtaHP8ad30RG3HDJiZTIvp6Q3TphNX5aWpJcygokYK7vH_XE5XoQ9_luja3TKhGvzgXpZ_qg1_4sDW6v0UOa40X8878rPnU8JRz_CrPUlCAgqUTMpMd9ywHUP6ZFe0esqyxLm_MIbKTZjQik_1oa3mTFQRAHA1dqMtAdDJqr/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62SgnKBjMXTWmsPd8CVAb3_tkzv77Y7ylXV-oj68bWx1oXMuPmNGHXE-9l0NOA743adgR7wNZxpS3IX0iT71u3GNoIc-vMY8vUpTbgDBoWIjVPu-iluQCANSDETRV7lDHqiO9BlDO58LytdsJ3cV1KVe1r9w-EXi7zoPMuzgCgS9CblwY7UwPxfy4/s2950/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="2950" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62SgnKBjMXTWmsPd8CVAb3_tkzv77Y7ylXV-oj68bWx1oXMuPmNGHXE-9l0NOA743adgR7wNZxpS3IX0iT71u3GNoIc-vMY8vUpTbgDBoWIjVPu-iluQCANSDETRV7lDHqiO9BlDO58LytdsJ3cV1KVe1r9w-EXi7zoPMuzgCgS9CblwY7UwPxfy4/s320/IMG_2562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />We went to the <a href="https://www.ulstermuseum.org/" target="_blank">Ulster Museum</a> first for our natural history. I could go back to that museum over and over. There was so much to do and, like so many museums in Europe, admission was free (though it's worth any donation!). The dinosaur portion that Gabe wanted most was very small, but the Elements section was amazing.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXD9oR04eFtCNLSkx8j4mpYKNjixKKBqzmKQ16GosCteN1J4ZJyNDlVdpMqeHHLq-YqxaF6rdRAFI5K3MUC8TE4uCbOkKIWbP7n_4LbLWz1VgcJFyYRQQ5RzS9HJNFcCTpqG8T_tpnL0CnBUIXWd3ICTRI3HLYkFEWmpnPoSikOBhBfJwHqdvW5va/s3776/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3776" data-original-width="2833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXD9oR04eFtCNLSkx8j4mpYKNjixKKBqzmKQ16GosCteN1J4ZJyNDlVdpMqeHHLq-YqxaF6rdRAFI5K3MUC8TE4uCbOkKIWbP7n_4LbLWz1VgcJFyYRQQ5RzS9HJNFcCTpqG8T_tpnL0CnBUIXWd3ICTRI3HLYkFEWmpnPoSikOBhBfJwHqdvW5va/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLELtlxs9g-by18byzUiPndAEkJlCiVk4xmMN16CbWT6Qp955Pnqgt4v4bbABlemzoRa_kDEsblqUQGUMPGWwFjWiCEhUdCqlEECdyGEeuP7i0QWck0_PTmeLnnLU_YPoAP0tf22C-4XfZztDjzkWkKmu2gwCOUYylid5xv7LKB-8SvpKWF_bOE5Mr/s3943/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2956" data-original-width="3943" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLELtlxs9g-by18byzUiPndAEkJlCiVk4xmMN16CbWT6Qp955Pnqgt4v4bbABlemzoRa_kDEsblqUQGUMPGWwFjWiCEhUdCqlEECdyGEeuP7i0QWck0_PTmeLnnLU_YPoAP0tf22C-4XfZztDjzkWkKmu2gwCOUYylid5xv7LKB-8SvpKWF_bOE5Mr/s320/IMG_2583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVch8OtKZ8K-VWEY4o8AJLpui-cTB56L7iVf5WyRCqNUcvZ8sJxxfEEgxMtfJABUgHKgrZRx3Eq8poaly5xwNPahOO02CDyJwZItj09VVJKun2fE7sPtrxjCGnQ9cDta9uSf2xBG7URdKVn4yBGbjdAHqziwFJyalrWFSp7eiBwvEMrR5tjWz5OkE7/s3830/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3830" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVch8OtKZ8K-VWEY4o8AJLpui-cTB56L7iVf5WyRCqNUcvZ8sJxxfEEgxMtfJABUgHKgrZRx3Eq8poaly5xwNPahOO02CDyJwZItj09VVJKun2fE7sPtrxjCGnQ9cDta9uSf2xBG7URdKVn4yBGbjdAHqziwFJyalrWFSp7eiBwvEMrR5tjWz5OkE7/s320/IMG_2597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrHgMYM7l1sMwcmgf7YubHSTQa45DOxuSN3yRVZ3K360jHdaA_08Wz9NIQ4Gz4q_zc2shL1hbJO5EYS0-g8I5azmfIvliBOWOHcA13AMzy4JyXP9SMHAuHnPZZFAvGxJWyew-CTwGzr6YoC__5pppHQvVFecaI5NrVo6ODJuK-OpEa2X_c1wo_HkI/s4032/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrHgMYM7l1sMwcmgf7YubHSTQa45DOxuSN3yRVZ3K360jHdaA_08Wz9NIQ4Gz4q_zc2shL1hbJO5EYS0-g8I5azmfIvliBOWOHcA13AMzy4JyXP9SMHAuHnPZZFAvGxJWyew-CTwGzr6YoC__5pppHQvVFecaI5NrVo6ODJuK-OpEa2X_c1wo_HkI/s320/IMG_2610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />We didn't spend too long at the museum because we had to get to the play portion of the day. There is a chain of entertainment centers here called <a href="https://air-tastic.com/" target="_blank">Airtastic</a>. While mostly similar, there are some differences between the locations. As luck would have it, the Belfast location had all three activities Gabe wanted: mini golf, bowling, and inflatables for jumping. He wanted his theme to be space and dinosaurs, and the mini golf just happened to be space themed. How perfect!<p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OvazLHGnOfFD9nrL-ZewYjegiJRoqVCI-rAU1C7QR5tGXuuJ_3Ps4Kwo03XxUvv8frfZqYrL6-p02EqfXlZKVqgIxtpKLwQwyCJ6MBDOyaPJ6-WbhB5OORIO7cs8XMlE0FRYWGkZPmz0MZZ3n3i7UlD_OeW__YRJLvXvMNx7WkuFz36wwpZiiA0H/s4032/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OvazLHGnOfFD9nrL-ZewYjegiJRoqVCI-rAU1C7QR5tGXuuJ_3Ps4Kwo03XxUvv8frfZqYrL6-p02EqfXlZKVqgIxtpKLwQwyCJ6MBDOyaPJ6-WbhB5OORIO7cs8XMlE0FRYWGkZPmz0MZZ3n3i7UlD_OeW__YRJLvXvMNx7WkuFz36wwpZiiA0H/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx7kDipTmXSOz_8RAPA81sf7Abui4NS_kHI0lgSXSunQ4EpUL_yhcNKXGftmJToCfscwYCsChPltDFV8rFFCPqKbEu-k445tGc0_KBPIWYH4uOVkuo8YEiEfqQjI5CT2x3w3rwK8rAQmiYGZFiBanfpPU16cgHcTMpTdvyP0b4dQSkXmMw9dI_3o_/s4032/IMG_3150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx7kDipTmXSOz_8RAPA81sf7Abui4NS_kHI0lgSXSunQ4EpUL_yhcNKXGftmJToCfscwYCsChPltDFV8rFFCPqKbEu-k445tGc0_KBPIWYH4uOVkuo8YEiEfqQjI5CT2x3w3rwK8rAQmiYGZFiBanfpPU16cgHcTMpTdvyP0b4dQSkXmMw9dI_3o_/s320/IMG_3150.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXWYePorQVgnPC7ZQQM6Zjeh5qOw-MeOaLtLKFO6P_n3RFVBSKsLWjw5LjnyQHx4jmHn9C6TxjsZEia1ni14qqsyKpLEom-j2m9BL5_bUF1HvvqdsH_pQ9hNm2TXqFQEghoxnH0l5KcV3wY1DfJUHwKyCE7bUPVQyRvobL0JXys4ly9JCuC4pLWk3/s3520/IMG_3080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXWYePorQVgnPC7ZQQM6Zjeh5qOw-MeOaLtLKFO6P_n3RFVBSKsLWjw5LjnyQHx4jmHn9C6TxjsZEia1ni14qqsyKpLEom-j2m9BL5_bUF1HvvqdsH_pQ9hNm2TXqFQEghoxnH0l5KcV3wY1DfJUHwKyCE7bUPVQyRvobL0JXys4ly9JCuC4pLWk3/s320/IMG_3080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3ipLLg7ggfRepVmuho0S_j9bEWGqoXC3rB4x9QBx-f30tENNxcqML5Rr_NnqJOBi3h7T8HB85gsmPT6gdYhDR561nY9b3L2FvV43wWrKKBcqQ1Rzw_CTSvJATYbQ90BquztO94n9-5HVEjYxIVkDAtHataBSE3XzzApLB-VoS5EmgqBsnlzj-MAW/s3377/IMG_3202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3377" data-original-width="2533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3ipLLg7ggfRepVmuho0S_j9bEWGqoXC3rB4x9QBx-f30tENNxcqML5Rr_NnqJOBi3h7T8HB85gsmPT6gdYhDR561nY9b3L2FvV43wWrKKBcqQ1Rzw_CTSvJATYbQ90BquztO94n9-5HVEjYxIVkDAtHataBSE3XzzApLB-VoS5EmgqBsnlzj-MAW/s320/IMG_3202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Castles, Giants, and Hedges, Oh My!</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Sunday we drove to the north coast. Our first stop was <a href="https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/dunluce-castle-p675011" target="_blank">Dunluce Castle</a>, beautiful ruins situated right on the edges of gorgeous cliffs. The castle was a filming site for Game of Thrones, but it's worth a visit on its own merit. Some of the drop-offs were downright terrifying, and anyone can see how this castle demanded respect from its visitors.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RZYx6LZSDCURBftJ4ginUZI_ELRhgNSFpu-qxZpVRvOeZeVJo0mmnp2tuwlqMAkMy-zVc_zPIOAnMViiNQtE_2fjyixbMQjvcr9QZyqF8b5GGkzhdNP6WYSlDQrgztaymqHDvHm3ovZYblTHZygi8wOc-7uJxUGvBYTJPJ636Mz8bQw5N4Dapko/s2596/IMG_3578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1947" data-original-width="2596" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RZYx6LZSDCURBftJ4ginUZI_ELRhgNSFpu-qxZpVRvOeZeVJo0mmnp2tuwlqMAkMy-zVc_zPIOAnMViiNQtE_2fjyixbMQjvcr9QZyqF8b5GGkzhdNP6WYSlDQrgztaymqHDvHm3ovZYblTHZygi8wOc-7uJxUGvBYTJPJ636Mz8bQw5N4Dapko/s320/IMG_3578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAxH8HKp2P1CtoUtlstJEvoETI_TfOK2-Lv8th0HKc5khInh_O40iIxj1h9q327mosuhylsZeBl_iBZQEYHlfzdKsKJf3faEEp_vpzRWJL9WVApmjOF6cHDxVFbrc2qbtpZn-phtoa3MVhyew2xS4zRaWC8sldRtwMDAXUMVPiGzUCEmdZhHSSXVL/s4032/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAxH8HKp2P1CtoUtlstJEvoETI_TfOK2-Lv8th0HKc5khInh_O40iIxj1h9q327mosuhylsZeBl_iBZQEYHlfzdKsKJf3faEEp_vpzRWJL9WVApmjOF6cHDxVFbrc2qbtpZn-phtoa3MVhyew2xS4zRaWC8sldRtwMDAXUMVPiGzUCEmdZhHSSXVL/s320/IMG_3629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />From Dunluce Castle, we drove a few minutes along the coast to <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/giants-causeway" target="_blank">Giant's Causeway</a>. I was a bit disenchanted when we viewed the amazing rock formations along with dozens and dozens of strangers, but a friend who stayed nearby later that same month assures me the site is much less busy first thing in the morning, so do with that information what you will. If you plan on visiting the visitor center and/or parking on site, you need to make reservations online; they cannot take payment on site. The visitor center was neat, and my family enjoyed the audio tour, but it is not necessary to enjoy the causeway, especially if you didn't drive yourself.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim2EVIiZz3pdtdVqCuhq4ZzUqAoPPopiEbmfi9jRKSCOrOaba80cs5KRt4jWqpucrQe7bAPQnuVb0bPzoHBnJz9Hkf21u8ydjS4pNyJo-iZT6bG2w6EAUKfSOPx-7s_fSl6Hm0Jq6mv43zuOLxwmDPTYL4y_gZMccz_EDuU6Iffr7JwoDexlhpkw5/s3831/IMG_4341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3831" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim2EVIiZz3pdtdVqCuhq4ZzUqAoPPopiEbmfi9jRKSCOrOaba80cs5KRt4jWqpucrQe7bAPQnuVb0bPzoHBnJz9Hkf21u8ydjS4pNyJo-iZT6bG2w6EAUKfSOPx-7s_fSl6Hm0Jq6mv43zuOLxwmDPTYL4y_gZMccz_EDuU6Iffr7JwoDexlhpkw5/s320/IMG_4341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlnM7huUvhe_DVWskYXhzS6GC9q6vs-TT8v9jfamJXPuW4OVBr3iRD1hhedNOD6CaeN2qNadtugJsiCo4-S9-sE2RihnVwMqy-5WR5SKcbSyoBo6_lfGrD-YDUxVJ8juKYMfnJgZKYviX4GW8q94MOjxWqOoygF7n851zF77vy7OZ0BBgzFq1vhel/s3981/IMG_4496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="3981" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlnM7huUvhe_DVWskYXhzS6GC9q6vs-TT8v9jfamJXPuW4OVBr3iRD1hhedNOD6CaeN2qNadtugJsiCo4-S9-sE2RihnVwMqy-5WR5SKcbSyoBo6_lfGrD-YDUxVJ8juKYMfnJgZKYviX4GW8q94MOjxWqOoygF7n851zF77vy7OZ0BBgzFq1vhel/s320/IMG_4496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It is a decent walk from the visitor center to the causeway, but there are points of interest along the way, particularly if you are doing the audio tour, but there is a shuttle if you are okay waiting (sometimes the line was long). If you are unsteady on your feet, do not climb out on the rocks. I got stuck getting down because my legs chose that moment to go weak. I made it down eventually, and I don't regret going up, but learn from my experience. There is a fantastic hike and a couple cliff walks, one of which stays at the top, if stairs aren't your friend. Stairs aren't my friend, but I made it all the way up and don't regret it, even if it was stressful. Overall, the area is beautiful and magical, and the folklore that accompanies it enhances the experience. The site is definitely worth the stop, but plan ahead.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47BueTz3ubTJ2N5CSVHBIoFuflA1i7IL3ddN6Pgf4IndW3pPQlMPbDL3myJ9Nfoc1xA_RZgW4r2Vstk2xGbjKBjMcfNVTA26F5zXY9OhyHJLzk89Ma98Kt6iWVDCrlXknRc-RFFitPVndIEk4G7ccmDElzLPsKpJFMPcX4NdFCZvVGamq56QtYngF/s4032/IMG_4780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47BueTz3ubTJ2N5CSVHBIoFuflA1i7IL3ddN6Pgf4IndW3pPQlMPbDL3myJ9Nfoc1xA_RZgW4r2Vstk2xGbjKBjMcfNVTA26F5zXY9OhyHJLzk89Ma98Kt6iWVDCrlXknRc-RFFitPVndIEk4G7ccmDElzLPsKpJFMPcX4NdFCZvVGamq56QtYngF/s320/IMG_4780.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Before we returned to Ireland, we stopped at another popular film and photography site, <a href="https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/the-dark-hedges-p703291" target="_blank">The Dark Hedges</a>. Oh, how I wish it had been foggy when we went! This is another site that attracts a lot of visitors, in large part because it is a Game of Thrones filming site. Local traffic is allowed on the road, but that doesn't stop tourists from spoiling the view with their vehicles if they feel like it. We were lucky and found ourselves behind a photographer who had blocked off the path temporarily for his photos. A dozen of us stood behind him taking advantage of the clear path to capture our own pictures. The hedges are not so mysterious on a clear, bright day, but it is a gorgeous site, and I would love to go back.<p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GhuJgFWz6DmQFF6_8thrA8uULz0d3sr33gKomhnjrc_I3y1QeH1BanIVitoL3oL-YXXJDgLplsaXtCI91yyoMItm4CD5ICSprvwZX9S0G5eIJ8VHmKGTDkiyVmvfFlAaaYl9PFuq75fa632CzGdJ8UJWG1-NBIfKLijAboCoDavEUy0PGWKXtYup/s4032/IMG_5073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GhuJgFWz6DmQFF6_8thrA8uULz0d3sr33gKomhnjrc_I3y1QeH1BanIVitoL3oL-YXXJDgLplsaXtCI91yyoMItm4CD5ICSprvwZX9S0G5eIJ8VHmKGTDkiyVmvfFlAaaYl9PFuq75fa632CzGdJ8UJWG1-NBIfKLijAboCoDavEUy0PGWKXtYup/s320/IMG_5073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Finally, the Planetarium</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Aiden also wanted to go to a planetarium for his birthday, so we finally made it to the <a href="https://www.armagh.space/" target="_blank">Armagh Observatory and Planetarium</a>. This is a fantastic place. We have been to a lot of planetariums, and this is one of my absolute favorites. The exhibit hall is very small, but the exhibits are extremely well done. There is a sensory room that I have an overwhelming urge to recreate in my own home.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQR68fZ0oSYufu6DGCLZo-nCVAOKu-gBO4CeD9YxhMnTTDWBfyKvzXTKg9_tO-fffT9P7UQZqJvT2oefyE-2ur5M2TMUOOPcj8jNLR_9UVR-85LEG4AJvXd21C6oIQyyXPGS6ssshcaXG2eoAFpG-Smxchai4vSfKUhVcjqaf_-FV6XsxWTHeG5TU/s4032/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQR68fZ0oSYufu6DGCLZo-nCVAOKu-gBO4CeD9YxhMnTTDWBfyKvzXTKg9_tO-fffT9P7UQZqJvT2oefyE-2ur5M2TMUOOPcj8jNLR_9UVR-85LEG4AJvXd21C6oIQyyXPGS6ssshcaXG2eoAFpG-Smxchai4vSfKUhVcjqaf_-FV6XsxWTHeG5TU/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The planetarium show we saw was so great. Not only was the cinematography fantastic, but the information was incredibly educational, and it didn't talk down to the audience. Unlike every other planetarium I've been in, the seats were all facing the same direction. Usually, the seats are situated in the round. I imagine the seats closer to the front don't make for the most awe-inspiring viewing experience, so try to sit near the back.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekyhLjncL_p5WCL3rEXQjOjSR_I9jhJK73hwImcjEyuWGa9oPAT_WT3suDOYyLoUyPr9EDEs2KFKjToSA-SFZ0Yf_BelsnLudfv_jsg8uESczclqbgnL6jBKxRA-plb2PVKK7DNj8vwhIkmQek_ZkHm7b1Y7UPp488_XRbabv58E8mpMi7eW9935y/s4032/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekyhLjncL_p5WCL3rEXQjOjSR_I9jhJK73hwImcjEyuWGa9oPAT_WT3suDOYyLoUyPr9EDEs2KFKjToSA-SFZ0Yf_BelsnLudfv_jsg8uESczclqbgnL6jBKxRA-plb2PVKK7DNj8vwhIkmQek_ZkHm7b1Y7UPp488_XRbabv58E8mpMi7eW9935y/s320/IMG_3514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The observatory grounds are pretty and fairly extensive. There are educational elements, like a solar system walk. There is also a short forest path. We want to go back in warmer weather and spend a lot more time exploring outside. Armagh is probably the prettiest town I've seen yet in Northern Ireland, and I'd like to explore a bit more as well.<p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkVXFugbplWurIwz4Cy-rw0o1vWiDxb4kFFy-2PtDg4WQ0yidOUJP5o1NeMyM8_1UeNVZXrHQO89HDrgzoxyelWJHvJrwUAKsgC1d3XV_XyVBDeZ4x2hRugfjjjbgCgIQ3NzjYCs9GeKnP6z2R8twFlYTgaL0UmIGk2jReK0p28y_GA8iLEq_Kmpk/s3802/IMG_3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2852" data-original-width="3802" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkVXFugbplWurIwz4Cy-rw0o1vWiDxb4kFFy-2PtDg4WQ0yidOUJP5o1NeMyM8_1UeNVZXrHQO89HDrgzoxyelWJHvJrwUAKsgC1d3XV_XyVBDeZ4x2hRugfjjjbgCgIQ3NzjYCs9GeKnP6z2R8twFlYTgaL0UmIGk2jReK0p28y_GA8iLEq_Kmpk/s320/IMG_3506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Northern Ireland</h3><p style="text-align: left;">I admit I judged Northern Ireland harshly during our first trip, but I cannot deny that it hosts many treasures, natural and manmade. There is so much more I want to see in that little country, and I have no excuses, since it is just the two of us Irelands on this island.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Have you been to Northern Ireland? Are there any Northern Ireland destinations on your bucket list?</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-40942383431371191082023-01-18T06:49:00.002-08:002023-01-21T11:23:58.149-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 8-14 January 2023<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yFBoZ1vqhpTPx24fw3E_-SlhUoL7uYWTYlppFgV0EvzXap6nLAqcPTWHO8_loL0HBklioWAQ8lKOWucb3LEZmmleWW4EHq_dkqmsf4GzLJw_vliajTEA4RGn2IxJvAfQLY8x2AELxUXNptigO1lQgTxDhQM5fo7XHcZZNiKCDgLTOwjJ5zfCwy1H/s2560/BookLovers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1701" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yFBoZ1vqhpTPx24fw3E_-SlhUoL7uYWTYlppFgV0EvzXap6nLAqcPTWHO8_loL0HBklioWAQ8lKOWucb3LEZmmleWW4EHq_dkqmsf4GzLJw_vliajTEA4RGn2IxJvAfQLY8x2AELxUXNptigO1lQgTxDhQM5fo7XHcZZNiKCDgLTOwjJ5zfCwy1H/s320/BookLovers.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Book Lovers</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58690308-book-lovers" target="_blank">Book Lovers by Emily Henry</a> was excellent. I laughed so much. I cried so hard. It's a new addition to my favorites list!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuW6ygP5UQ9YZvnyLmUamjDTNQJfc1oRtiWs5TQKfF9K1OvpiCpINuQZ2Ewk2SJCiHovGcwTzkyO5gKGjBkpXo4m9MQSd5wmQtgzJh7pSKOiTM75STS6jmjJwaD19ulGFOUl162vqmynoznapdAGjrKzX43QY2iOxDckSGAGtMtIL_iKGBPUFY__e/s1842/Felix.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1842" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuW6ygP5UQ9YZvnyLmUamjDTNQJfc1oRtiWs5TQKfF9K1OvpiCpINuQZ2Ewk2SJCiHovGcwTzkyO5gKGjBkpXo4m9MQSd5wmQtgzJh7pSKOiTM75STS6jmjJwaD19ulGFOUl162vqmynoznapdAGjrKzX43QY2iOxDckSGAGtMtIL_iKGBPUFY__e/s320/Felix.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />Felix Ever After</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48849624-felix-ever-after" target="_blank">Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender</a> was very good. I loved the discussions about representation and Felix’s art journey. If you plan to buy this book, the paperback has gorgeous flower illustrations on the fore edge!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad9iehMh7XDANMMT0nrGM7Jvtg8l4W1h5NrM9zkQE_Kh4xoYfrKzUriIVwnjFnZLfZbSp9lDzPaTr6A6ky1kOmd2bfmoXtgzf6ZSnuuHTSeEFdSk03buxtV0bF6ZKvbfyyy4v6TkqODoLofE3r6lUWP5vfv_1vPuINFxb17gYkscTLkSLJD1IbUbh/s2026/Hooked.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad9iehMh7XDANMMT0nrGM7Jvtg8l4W1h5NrM9zkQE_Kh4xoYfrKzUriIVwnjFnZLfZbSp9lDzPaTr6A6ky1kOmd2bfmoXtgzf6ZSnuuHTSeEFdSk03buxtV0bF6ZKvbfyyy4v6TkqODoLofE3r6lUWP5vfv_1vPuINFxb17gYkscTLkSLJD1IbUbh/s320/Hooked.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br />Hooked on Murder</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2933901-hooked-on-murder" target="_blank">Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman</a> was not my favorite, but enjoyable enough that I will continue the series. Content warning: there were a couple culturally-insensitive colloquialisms. There was really fun fighting between crocheters and knitters.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrBx1EvN9tj8P-JXSn5tlKskU8urf6t1ihIwX_W84EiTfIV6nfg7QXzGnAp1xZUEEHWqy4EwVEtfdKRfQqntBZjPeT30oXH1FiIdaX11lzZotE2c8SL7TTLIPlm1b4JZHEzWZCVVGYMKKUKW70gmWYrT6Cw2rGxejeW2mySc7KrsbPRevQDv5Lnze/s2396/Moonshyne.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2396" data-original-width="1599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrBx1EvN9tj8P-JXSn5tlKskU8urf6t1ihIwX_W84EiTfIV6nfg7QXzGnAp1xZUEEHWqy4EwVEtfdKRfQqntBZjPeT30oXH1FiIdaX11lzZotE2c8SL7TTLIPlm1b4JZHEzWZCVVGYMKKUKW70gmWYrT6Cw2rGxejeW2mySc7KrsbPRevQDv5Lnze/s320/Moonshyne.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />The Witches of Moonshyne Manor</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60421214-the-witches-of-moonshyne-manor" target="_blank">The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais</a> was an engaging story about aging witches, a la Golden Girls. While there were many mentions of sex magic, it was not graphic. There was LGBT+ representation as well. I recommend it.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI05wX4BbFAfMzDMe2TffJWm_0zqE1Ta0IVphe-v6Dy-DjoPSa_PrgSF3DD3nS43SMAfW1jtYNWQPsWZH6xhcRBEvO5PxDhgZEX1AUQQzDA3EGqOpRa7gsZGz4KqrWPPetWKYoF0x1savmbnjktiEqJRjiHW-UWAWXrHCRtPA-NwuZLQIw-NsEl6Gj/s2335/TheMysteriousBenedictSociety.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2335" data-original-width="1520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI05wX4BbFAfMzDMe2TffJWm_0zqE1Ta0IVphe-v6Dy-DjoPSa_PrgSF3DD3nS43SMAfW1jtYNWQPsWZH6xhcRBEvO5PxDhgZEX1AUQQzDA3EGqOpRa7gsZGz4KqrWPPetWKYoF0x1savmbnjktiEqJRjiHW-UWAWXrHCRtPA-NwuZLQIw-NsEl6Gj/s320/TheMysteriousBenedictSociety.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />The Mysterious Benedict Society</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40605329-the-mysterious-benedict-society" target="_blank">The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart</a> kept the mystery coming. I checked it out because of the Disney+ production. It has vibes from a number of popular books and movies, and I think it would appeal to a wide audience.</p><p><br /></p><p>What did you enjoy reading this week?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-86690825244037377972023-01-13T09:59:00.002-08:002023-01-13T15:33:05.137-08:002022 Travels - England's Christmas Markets<p>Have you ever wondered what goes on at those quaint European Christmas markets? Here is a little sample of that cozy Christmas ambience before the season gets too far behind us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheVKStf24vbwrMTYZY2cdLzLFLVtKLrWDPEuQCIgqx-lUkXb2sExJrApKL1hQ33E95V9VIgPCDdAuUR-tdodVw_pNh_ARR3zwx1Ouy7Cqgx6ybQMT8Wuw9EZzAeMEdQrUEJTlx-iMV9_C6Bk8CeHohWoFxANLtfMJqr39S1KigJzCblBsRjeWLYym/s4032/YorkChestnuts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheVKStf24vbwrMTYZY2cdLzLFLVtKLrWDPEuQCIgqx-lUkXb2sExJrApKL1hQ33E95V9VIgPCDdAuUR-tdodVw_pNh_ARR3zwx1Ouy7Cqgx6ybQMT8Wuw9EZzAeMEdQrUEJTlx-iMV9_C6Bk8CeHohWoFxANLtfMJqr39S1KigJzCblBsRjeWLYym/s320/YorkChestnuts.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I'd never been to a proper Christmas market before we moved to Europe, but we were fortunate to visit three English Christmas markets in December. I ranked the three markets we attended based on my personal feelings, but I'd recommend all of them!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Manchester Christmas Markets</h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ezjTQbeOyVvbkvu6uVkFrC4xVpyhWPrzLkjZvQy4ebcHeUhyk5nl5MJiQ5D2sgVVHzTczkwxZ7SCjXLL1hyVuIUi7Am7dyTmaow4sRXGj3kNF7svIz_-kPuJrMfndGD3daNumeuO6JsYtVTU4yebAaD70JBTKGYjb4iXMBH5CdjDi0pqBS2D3Yn/s3288/MCR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3288" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ezjTQbeOyVvbkvu6uVkFrC4xVpyhWPrzLkjZvQy4ebcHeUhyk5nl5MJiQ5D2sgVVHzTczkwxZ7SCjXLL1hyVuIUi7Am7dyTmaow4sRXGj3kNF7svIz_-kPuJrMfndGD3daNumeuO6JsYtVTU4yebAaD70JBTKGYjb4iXMBH5CdjDi0pqBS2D3Yn/s320/MCR.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />In third place is Manchester Christmas Markets. This market had my favorite booth selection of the three. However, the market was too spaced out; we missed a whole section! The lights display was pretty sad overall and far away from the rest of the fair, but the light creations were well done. There was no music! There were buskers, and I liked the buskers, but the festival should have had its own music, even if it was piped. Overall, while it was the least festive, the Manchester Christmas Markets had the most going on.<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HQAFV6QuwHolPgF2-v8ZrUxByzzFlZ-FzUrbR_TOw3kh582rKNh8bm2Q79e9Jtyy8tA-UjVczEaZeexIPHTPVc9HJ_kwJLCg2QzKaSdhd3aSLyunU3DtFze_xVEPAYHYA5I9AcdZXF7Lu4KE6II_g-yAgUu-G0QkhUjZdwSjK8r1o5TOsnMKFHVy/s2619/ManchesterBooth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2619" data-original-width="2619" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HQAFV6QuwHolPgF2-v8ZrUxByzzFlZ-FzUrbR_TOw3kh582rKNh8bm2Q79e9Jtyy8tA-UjVczEaZeexIPHTPVc9HJ_kwJLCg2QzKaSdhd3aSLyunU3DtFze_xVEPAYHYA5I9AcdZXF7Lu4KE6II_g-yAgUu-G0QkhUjZdwSjK8r1o5TOsnMKFHVy/s320/ManchesterBooth.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YeNiTXphe4cxGdvxxaxxeIjKxP4_AcdZbS1o4sl8AYrPsfH6cBmNsORlWH23-XWVCIka_PaKoukFWXqsxpQzFvPsRuIM60rQKu5s2ExCxViPs3uIY0mQTbQf_PTFUf_Mvt6UTvS-ZcCNDaSy8tEMsWZKZ_ESImIuOXEbVbCG5V-szPShdyYdK6DF/s3024/ManchesterBeeLights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YeNiTXphe4cxGdvxxaxxeIjKxP4_AcdZbS1o4sl8AYrPsfH6cBmNsORlWH23-XWVCIka_PaKoukFWXqsxpQzFvPsRuIM60rQKu5s2ExCxViPs3uIY0mQTbQf_PTFUf_Mvt6UTvS-ZcCNDaSy8tEMsWZKZ_ESImIuOXEbVbCG5V-szPShdyYdK6DF/s320/ManchesterBeeLights.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMgdiyodM4tgz-1QIW-BPML0T5Fsz_ly5PAbDQDtosmC42ccOKxGBcnfmJr7sWMaczUHuIsRuX3QoBJL1i9GLlNjqT5EGnDLFroKZfsbz_Vbj8JwD4HbDaICYSUJWDzp9eR4Y35h1bYmnGRig9-0t1jnM_3lR2c_o0MxCDhF7kd_2x46jf_-izLg/s3340/ManchesterToffeeVodka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3340" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMgdiyodM4tgz-1QIW-BPML0T5Fsz_ly5PAbDQDtosmC42ccOKxGBcnfmJr7sWMaczUHuIsRuX3QoBJL1i9GLlNjqT5EGnDLFroKZfsbz_Vbj8JwD4HbDaICYSUJWDzp9eR4Y35h1bYmnGRig9-0t1jnM_3lR2c_o0MxCDhF7kd_2x46jf_-izLg/s320/ManchesterToffeeVodka.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IbNBPIPycMz6Wo2bCb3w-zcP6bWSTsgQt70jViwlmvCqcvaZhMrQgsrdI0pVfOq5qlqz1J7lO1C6SIS2vBqz894WGkOimmbwgxi7TzHgvW_OK37lDJVzf15erSpwdhijqjx-POOe-FUQ9wdhrqUuK8Rpql_e8PohDt8LoKODf8sgPQTpy6a4OV8J/s3364/ManchesterTree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3364" data-original-width="2244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IbNBPIPycMz6Wo2bCb3w-zcP6bWSTsgQt70jViwlmvCqcvaZhMrQgsrdI0pVfOq5qlqz1J7lO1C6SIS2vBqz894WGkOimmbwgxi7TzHgvW_OK37lDJVzf15erSpwdhijqjx-POOe-FUQ9wdhrqUuK8Rpql_e8PohDt8LoKODf8sgPQTpy6a4OV8J/s320/ManchesterTree.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVDwbDchDpsbmWlHN5clGc63m3o9U5z9r06fPV4QTKl-X68GkmeSkzV03mnex4chzsZ61kMAPbHKR_KtsJBKNVCim4ZKHaXMXg1EZLvF5YvRI3eRv-tK4lg8hyRYOcRirtgFAwxq-6BoWrjHMLhm8mkAkA0vDc7NB32bVF_hekvnVOv1yXpuUAD46/s2462/ManchesterWitch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2462" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVDwbDchDpsbmWlHN5clGc63m3o9U5z9r06fPV4QTKl-X68GkmeSkzV03mnex4chzsZ61kMAPbHKR_KtsJBKNVCim4ZKHaXMXg1EZLvF5YvRI3eRv-tK4lg8hyRYOcRirtgFAwxq-6BoWrjHMLhm8mkAkA0vDc7NB32bVF_hekvnVOv1yXpuUAD46/s320/ManchesterWitch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Harrogate Christmas Fayre</h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjwEyNt2z0MXLaEfNZZVFXAui1q7xTelVE6mgNEGr_4CcLj-tVLqS3gNyfpp-1kh9rPjbhKKboZVrt9_RybsISsYqDnc6Bh2JzEalg5-OctzBbjwioY0MJevsmjio2h_s__oRHCEUUA312o-D66_wPZMIp7shkUwQygNVcZlQOtcQU9WstdOwbzRX/s3024/HarrogateWheelLights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjwEyNt2z0MXLaEfNZZVFXAui1q7xTelVE6mgNEGr_4CcLj-tVLqS3gNyfpp-1kh9rPjbhKKboZVrt9_RybsISsYqDnc6Bh2JzEalg5-OctzBbjwioY0MJevsmjio2h_s__oRHCEUUA312o-D66_wPZMIp7shkUwQygNVcZlQOtcQU9WstdOwbzRX/s320/HarrogateWheelLights.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />In second place is the Harrogate Christmas Fayre. Although the booths were good, there were not very many. Granted, that helped the fair be well-consolidated. The lights were just okay, but they were more scattered around the fair, which was nice. They had piped music, at least starting at sunset. The shops were much more integrated into the fair, with local businesses indicated on the official map. We did not ride on the Ferris wheel, but just the sight of it made me happy. The overall atmosphere was much more festive than Manchester. The best part of the Harrogate Christmas Fayre was the Twisted Potatoes, a spiral-cut fried potato on a skewer. YUM.<p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh_EOuNZ-a2ULlwDXGtytqKSaTULzJVpEIvece4XNh_5eShyXb__Fq0-5BHZVFq097SPdrl4cL9BvvpY6cZ9D6VTiX6FlAfDkw3P5KK2DCvybuteK0JzpqSPpGSZd5wvCm7Pg2u_zm7mjZzqc3H1xJlmaipxTIiowN_FozFK3Gpi2WPQQUWxXg338/s3482/HarrogateMulledWine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3482" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh_EOuNZ-a2ULlwDXGtytqKSaTULzJVpEIvece4XNh_5eShyXb__Fq0-5BHZVFq097SPdrl4cL9BvvpY6cZ9D6VTiX6FlAfDkw3P5KK2DCvybuteK0JzpqSPpGSZd5wvCm7Pg2u_zm7mjZzqc3H1xJlmaipxTIiowN_FozFK3Gpi2WPQQUWxXg338/s320/HarrogateMulledWine.png" width="276" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUmysBEfPzKef3kIBsQyATCMPp9z-MUGValBnBFWRcxuu4DeS0RwHhDdwqU45TwXOGcysFYkTHicKsvyV3GBBnNk-fKqtRQpI690Xsbs9nmy2Gx1gDqkUfXjDcRDgNDCXZAkZd7nQxZTTGtH_CnrsQmYIZbFgkWkIOBzjLVkDRUkQ3P3KjP-JwABS/s2202/HarrogatePotatoesWheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUmysBEfPzKef3kIBsQyATCMPp9z-MUGValBnBFWRcxuu4DeS0RwHhDdwqU45TwXOGcysFYkTHicKsvyV3GBBnNk-fKqtRQpI690Xsbs9nmy2Gx1gDqkUfXjDcRDgNDCXZAkZd7nQxZTTGtH_CnrsQmYIZbFgkWkIOBzjLVkDRUkQ3P3KjP-JwABS/s320/HarrogatePotatoesWheel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3uaz0AsQgqeTmQBK9aihf5lQWXioJNAbf6UYVVW5OwAMo5t5Mys1s5zNAhvFr1ErllJI64PV0LOMNWS4NMpgkxxWcEOhpssAqzVvQEECCdGiUuwLbhmBJDpzApiTDrL_3r10iR5FGe9z_1307Mjoo7Ff9wA1smpaUnE-uJpM-E2IjKeKPoOovakc/s4032/HarrogateStars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3uaz0AsQgqeTmQBK9aihf5lQWXioJNAbf6UYVVW5OwAMo5t5Mys1s5zNAhvFr1ErllJI64PV0LOMNWS4NMpgkxxWcEOhpssAqzVvQEECCdGiUuwLbhmBJDpzApiTDrL_3r10iR5FGe9z_1307Mjoo7Ff9wA1smpaUnE-uJpM-E2IjKeKPoOovakc/s320/HarrogateStars.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQLlh9ROsLbLU02Xvo3-JyyL2NqvOUk9GUzPyxeQgMFnlhmk2nfRoMXnW8QsHM5HTZEEeQiCggQL2JTIc7abqDq0aVg-mxq02zn2WMrSN9Ng8BqKYLKl9UXznIGu9d46HEnUHiCh7uwziF6c0Fb0DSZQg4JDaVQDy363kl9MxMM28ErFoTRK14_ot/s3595/HarrogatePotatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3595" data-original-width="2826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQLlh9ROsLbLU02Xvo3-JyyL2NqvOUk9GUzPyxeQgMFnlhmk2nfRoMXnW8QsHM5HTZEEeQiCggQL2JTIc7abqDq0aVg-mxq02zn2WMrSN9Ng8BqKYLKl9UXznIGu9d46HEnUHiCh7uwziF6c0Fb0DSZQg4JDaVQDy363kl9MxMM28ErFoTRK14_ot/s320/HarrogatePotatoes.JPG" width="252" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafMXjILztkUGdAVBDNiVfs7TTOoIe4FAbdIaPAeSGyaBS47uWeiCPgF2IxhrBpgAVsmnwkpMTZnFBal5OO6qQJMsZG1jwAHWzl1PreMC4DqZIQiWngzmMokCYaqoM6jcSHYN4PrSrYrlvPN_V_SNhBdKAUVkPGAC5wfGZiHT3CHrigmhjNduOZb1v/s3024/HarrogateWheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafMXjILztkUGdAVBDNiVfs7TTOoIe4FAbdIaPAeSGyaBS47uWeiCPgF2IxhrBpgAVsmnwkpMTZnFBal5OO6qQJMsZG1jwAHWzl1PreMC4DqZIQiWngzmMokCYaqoM6jcSHYN4PrSrYrlvPN_V_SNhBdKAUVkPGAC5wfGZiHT3CHrigmhjNduOZb1v/s320/HarrogateWheel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />York St. Nicholas Fayre</h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQARJzeYJMmKXqTivEPWtOXK1JFUV0gYFPksCzALXvAsAhhAdlWTygf2RqcLHhAmBGOz6-z3CQ2hK-9x2XM_4ndz0RbmXoJwh8R_VD8R1Tv_tYvNKbhRzvF94ELpSHjrwsQClWQWFXxmyO_iyOgv__ViV8zwNLLNPHugd5h3KPVJ3awFJI3w1wQz5Q/s1579/YorkNeon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1579" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQARJzeYJMmKXqTivEPWtOXK1JFUV0gYFPksCzALXvAsAhhAdlWTygf2RqcLHhAmBGOz6-z3CQ2hK-9x2XM_4ndz0RbmXoJwh8R_VD8R1Tv_tYvNKbhRzvF94ELpSHjrwsQClWQWFXxmyO_iyOgv__ViV8zwNLLNPHugd5h3KPVJ3awFJI3w1wQz5Q/s320/YorkNeon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />In first place is the York St. Nicholas Fayre, the original reason I planned the trip where and when I did. The fair was a good size and had a lot of the same booths as Manchester. There were a lot of lights. There was piped music throughout that was coordinated with the bulk of the lights! THERE WAS A ROASTED CHESTNUT CART. He only took cash, so I had to walk over a mile round-trip to get cash from my husband, who was back at the car with the little kids, but I made the walk because I was getting those chestnuts! The only complaint I had was the stores surrounding the fair didn't stay open with the fair, closing between 5 and 7, and we missed out on a lot that we were going to get back to after doing a lap around the fair. Overall, the spirit of the York St. Nicholas Fayre was a giant party!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n18dd_BI4-65oGxQZlPUEbNkdQmxR3mgJ3LzQaEypjrtzlY3-Ezb6o4A7aqALm5tBM1L7ssJvCjsq1hTvOU3ukUb5j97QtE1oZf-6b61pYVXzOtKZQpd3SU-gnGTXKxTBGl9h_3H65IhlxH8Zls-YuTtD5SACCvzmJUt4eVMAfzgRmcFPynlOo0o/s4032/YorkLights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2463" data-original-width="4032" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n18dd_BI4-65oGxQZlPUEbNkdQmxR3mgJ3LzQaEypjrtzlY3-Ezb6o4A7aqALm5tBM1L7ssJvCjsq1hTvOU3ukUb5j97QtE1oZf-6b61pYVXzOtKZQpd3SU-gnGTXKxTBGl9h_3H65IhlxH8Zls-YuTtD5SACCvzmJUt4eVMAfzgRmcFPynlOo0o/s320/YorkLights.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk38LLH_xbe2preWuU5ASU8mGniXnZ1zxtRIj5iP4PqRWvyNGm1BOlQao6i1KxVXMzWKRcDtvYWTO96Z0fZOjM-2cOepqECe12IyGCzNjzgT6798jXs6we3yfR8NPgcQk1qZT8nLx3HiNAXWb3iNZcHF03VmXTtjhx36i9Q26IynvJvy3Ayc2B9V5/s2799/YorkCider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2799" data-original-width="2494" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk38LLH_xbe2preWuU5ASU8mGniXnZ1zxtRIj5iP4PqRWvyNGm1BOlQao6i1KxVXMzWKRcDtvYWTO96Z0fZOjM-2cOepqECe12IyGCzNjzgT6798jXs6we3yfR8NPgcQk1qZT8nLx3HiNAXWb3iNZcHF03VmXTtjhx36i9Q26IynvJvy3Ayc2B9V5/s320/YorkCider.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wtE1e4I4hdxzxXaSfXvJzD4ENWmMmAjjv6pzlUM_VNW7MEWwU9fjm5oUWtmL3FdmbuEW8MXkennc-tyZwqejI5SDTF16uWS9slI5JKB30BPO2IZnhm4dCwICuchp5bwJwSp2Av7Y2syg-hmBV8TIMrNSjuSFifEsqvGOCBStrypXFzCkQSZdA3py/s3370/YorkCarousel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2438" data-original-width="3370" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wtE1e4I4hdxzxXaSfXvJzD4ENWmMmAjjv6pzlUM_VNW7MEWwU9fjm5oUWtmL3FdmbuEW8MXkennc-tyZwqejI5SDTF16uWS9slI5JKB30BPO2IZnhm4dCwICuchp5bwJwSp2Av7Y2syg-hmBV8TIMrNSjuSFifEsqvGOCBStrypXFzCkQSZdA3py/s320/YorkCarousel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJCA19qheS51hvMBJCju0g3i6iG4S1Wm2lHTLc4-J1D293mo6Y0mywXN73ibtNwhJmq6AQOwLbW4OjLDkmokjMkvtCu5vh2aJ4wU3sI-2YNMRu9thMPJvI83IjjQ_NSC9uYgyUuDBYHoOd-ZA9I6yP6arWa618zWfVx8wtM5WdukncO9HpCB-puEb/s3282/YorkShamblesMarket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3282" data-original-width="2926" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJCA19qheS51hvMBJCju0g3i6iG4S1Wm2lHTLc4-J1D293mo6Y0mywXN73ibtNwhJmq6AQOwLbW4OjLDkmokjMkvtCu5vh2aJ4wU3sI-2YNMRu9thMPJvI83IjjQ_NSC9uYgyUuDBYHoOd-ZA9I6yP6arWa618zWfVx8wtM5WdukncO9HpCB-puEb/s320/YorkShamblesMarket.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQXYPI47JCHNb4oOd3-PIu5v5R2LMotXBfeqafxXQY2hSSDtwfX4u7IpBL291ilQni2k2K7YsjIq9gPKVdvvUB7rXIed9vlB7YWsBFh1jGheBFSaUe_BUFxhaMSqlB_HqYT3UD9QLTDkvwWLXmi9OJEXvjwmckRrNs6QbwWiiry1Cq-ly8qF25lgV/s4000/YorkSausages.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQXYPI47JCHNb4oOd3-PIu5v5R2LMotXBfeqafxXQY2hSSDtwfX4u7IpBL291ilQni2k2K7YsjIq9gPKVdvvUB7rXIed9vlB7YWsBFh1jGheBFSaUe_BUFxhaMSqlB_HqYT3UD9QLTDkvwWLXmi9OJEXvjwmckRrNs6QbwWiiry1Cq-ly8qF25lgV/s320/YorkSausages.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />My experience at the Christmas markets was magical and festive, and I will definitely be seeking out more markets next Christmas. Even though the Christmas season has passed, I feel that holiday warmth whenever I look at the pictures. I'm glad I wrote about the experience at the time, because the details would be eluding me now; there was so much to see!<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Have you ever been to a Christmas market? I'd love to hear about it!</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-17151754465533499422023-01-08T05:03:00.153-08:002023-01-21T11:24:37.274-08:00Books I enjoyed this week 1-7 January 2023<p>I read so many books that I shudder at the thought of creating individual posts reviewing them, but I though a quick weekly recap might be a fun idea.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwifwhvxOJY6JTC3ND3R1ougDs0rJjRl4maUSWIwRQnSwpepHdK84FA0Frf2zGdE8Uou1C6lM0Wlzu4sEYi05WpDPHXe0mpkRtrwFoZjvbazSkzNDE6UH1zHWvzEq6jpdNXHKw2hDjf7cDwXwOEnnhaoBrj06EGiXdnFSgxMckHks7u8dHMHAstZrZ/s2475/TheHolidaySwap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwifwhvxOJY6JTC3ND3R1ougDs0rJjRl4maUSWIwRQnSwpepHdK84FA0Frf2zGdE8Uou1C6lM0Wlzu4sEYi05WpDPHXe0mpkRtrwFoZjvbazSkzNDE6UH1zHWvzEq6jpdNXHKw2hDjf7cDwXwOEnnhaoBrj06EGiXdnFSgxMckHks7u8dHMHAstZrZ/s320/TheHolidaySwap.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Holiday Swap</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54238730-the-holiday-swap" target="_blank">The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox</a> was recommended a lot on BookTube and Bookstagram. I actually bought it last Christmas, but it arrived well after the holiday, so I saved it for this year. It was cute and predictable. I kept picturing characters from The Princess Switch instead of the characters from the book because there were so many common elements, but it was an enjoyable and cozy Christmas story, hair color aside.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5i1rU6uRgB5-gTkCmH_cQ_0mY0BmWkhBT0ywWx5E9TXwtnGigevpmBNR0LmDqkwtW4Wwzdaw7m-cd5W4BQbW3rH58BaDtw7-3cga5h1C8gIGU-VncvbCatqQhMmIEm0VqTUnMiWJLAlJc4eOOFCNpNobtnBwYq5dedjKb9qppqUSXD2B2TzttbzBB/s1979/NoelStreet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5i1rU6uRgB5-gTkCmH_cQ_0mY0BmWkhBT0ywWx5E9TXwtnGigevpmBNR0LmDqkwtW4Wwzdaw7m-cd5W4BQbW3rH58BaDtw7-3cga5h1C8gIGU-VncvbCatqQhMmIEm0VqTUnMiWJLAlJc4eOOFCNpNobtnBwYq5dedjKb9qppqUSXD2B2TzttbzBB/s320/NoelStreet.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />Noel Street</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44451900-noel-street" target="_blank">Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans</a> is the third book in <i>The Noel Collection</i>. I read the first two and the fourth last Christmas. Since Netflix released the first book as a movie this Christmas season, I was prompted to finish the series. The first book in the series was my favorite. This one was not very Christmassy, which was a disappointment. However, it was not as predictable as I originally thought, and I liked the ending.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZJ7LS_lN5u0Uuq3LAgSLSTwGgKClKB36iJkLQmrgnRzxdT8ehVYcncE5FcnDU9EIG2-zvgDDxhIllxfxZvVGN5rsbYMVCxgL6yU5mB15hr_J1cagDZ0CAlfIamZvsFlMnzLvSqd7G3Nc7K3wIyzBRxcP5gixEW6KuzaWRIVKuClSGMjGkD3oGUgg/s1640/RosieHopkins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1640" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZJ7LS_lN5u0Uuq3LAgSLSTwGgKClKB36iJkLQmrgnRzxdT8ehVYcncE5FcnDU9EIG2-zvgDDxhIllxfxZvVGN5rsbYMVCxgL6yU5mB15hr_J1cagDZ0CAlfIamZvsFlMnzLvSqd7G3Nc7K3wIyzBRxcP5gixEW6KuzaWRIVKuClSGMjGkD3oGUgg/w591-h277/RosieHopkins.png" width="591" /></a></div><br />Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams Series</h3><p>The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/115355-rosie-hopkins-sweet-shop" target="_blank">Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams Series by Jenny Colgan</a> is a cute series about how life sometimes just happens to you and keeps on going, for better or worse. In Rosie's case, it was mostly for the better. Rosie may seem like she is a victim of the tides, but she can definitely hold her own. Through the interconnectedness of a small town and the realities of human biology, these books are often a beautiful mess of life, love, heartbreak, and the family that we create.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ88TtdGPpiTgEyNYCswoJqvRezwLG7j7xPUWCLJddsxn-Xko-Bu6A_05vgKvuqsXGS_ki4ySuQNLrl8AkjrTNv08XbYJpttXLMerxx_re9gp-8diKCJIjZoj7v-2SUsqdBuOQTIfHxLSguGXBgDrcjGOolXpXrsjrkA0HLoy_XZRa1-DnhzIL7Qz/s2550/SteepedtoDeath.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ88TtdGPpiTgEyNYCswoJqvRezwLG7j7xPUWCLJddsxn-Xko-Bu6A_05vgKvuqsXGS_ki4ySuQNLrl8AkjrTNv08XbYJpttXLMerxx_re9gp-8diKCJIjZoj7v-2SUsqdBuOQTIfHxLSguGXBgDrcjGOolXpXrsjrkA0HLoy_XZRa1-DnhzIL7Qz/s320/SteepedtoDeath.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />Steeped to Death</h3><div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60066681-steeped-to-death" target="_blank">Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue</a> just came out this past autumn and promises to be just the first in a series. It was technically a cozy mystery, but the fantastical flair that was handled pleasantly casually made it a little different from other cozy mysteries. The cat, though a small character, in both size and presence, lent quite a lot of warmth to the story. The teas had my mouth watering. And, finally, the bookstore made me want a bookstore of my own, as these books always do. I recommend this read and look forward to more books in the series!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHtqFaqr0_ZInJGF3opaTzMGX0MPfptMNQ0urm76mtC5_7u41z_jugWEo6lht4UNu8wTaHDOTajgFrwIRY4Ts5owcDOHbfUSKESs6cxQgOouacxMzVvsUEBneG8RmY44TINSUzUt43I4S-rX8Hn32s8aPmKHGfYD9QK2iP8d267J4lKTVbYy-zjyn/s2303/NorthernLightsLodge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHtqFaqr0_ZInJGF3opaTzMGX0MPfptMNQ0urm76mtC5_7u41z_jugWEo6lht4UNu8wTaHDOTajgFrwIRY4Ts5owcDOHbfUSKESs6cxQgOouacxMzVvsUEBneG8RmY44TINSUzUt43I4S-rX8Hn32s8aPmKHGfYD9QK2iP8d267J4lKTVbYy-zjyn/s320/NorthernLightsLodge.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />The Northern Lights Lodge</h3></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41017382-the-northern-lights-lodge" target="_blank">The Northern Lights Lodge by Julie Caplin</a> is the fourth in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/307487-romantic-escapes" target="_blank"><i>Romantic Escapes </i>series</a> and my favorite so far, a cozy winter romance. It did end up having one graphic sex scene, but that’s way less than most of the romances I’ve read recently. (Apparently there is no longer any separation between romance and "romance," which has made for some interesting library finds.) It was different from the others in the series. It started out slow but picked up quickly and became one of the more enjoyable ones. It’s boisterous - I was laughing out loud. At one point, there was a detailed description of the women getting ready for the hot springs and how the lack of modesty, for lack of a better word, in the culture shocked the main character. It was hilarious. I highly recommend this book if you want a cozy winter romance because it was very entertaining and had a lot going on, but was not a heavy book. You can tell the author enjoyed writing it. This one takes place in October or November to December. It’s not a Christmas book, which was perfect for reading after Christmas because it’s wintry but not Christmassy.</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What have you read recently that you enjoyed?</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br />If you'd like to see everything I'm reading, you can find me on Goodreads at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-85116754814138522532023-01-05T03:22:00.015-08:002023-01-05T05:48:47.943-08:00Favorite Books of 2022<p>I read over 200 books every year, but only a few of those make my favorites list. So you know I must <i>really </i>love a book to give it such a distinction. Out of the 282 books I read last year, only five made the list.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdNyNrTH-0F4vKC2swhnhP9WatFp4nQwdbL2VOGlDVdIPTLSJ6mFfcXhuPRVp3pomsBmOhXcDG88zdcIWfW0nwNpj9rg6WCWj2Q3zLzsM9TdoRZ7W9qbKS6kpMpLr6xmxyFKytzQ-_47t1rVdf6pRdwNrqbGctDzZT1XsMH_y0PFixbX5sYXkur3h/s2560/Fahrenheit451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdNyNrTH-0F4vKC2swhnhP9WatFp4nQwdbL2VOGlDVdIPTLSJ6mFfcXhuPRVp3pomsBmOhXcDG88zdcIWfW0nwNpj9rg6WCWj2Q3zLzsM9TdoRZ7W9qbKS6kpMpLr6xmxyFKytzQ-_47t1rVdf6pRdwNrqbGctDzZT1XsMH_y0PFixbX5sYXkur3h/s320/Fahrenheit451.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Fahrenheit 451</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119787.Fahrenheit_451" target="_blank">Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury</a> instantly became one of my all-time favorites when I first read it in high school. I've read it at least five times; I lost count somewhere. It's been at least 15 years if not over two decades since I last read it. This year I listened to the audiobook for the first time. It took me a while to get into it, which seemed strange, since I knew it was a favorite. However, when my brain finally engaged with the book, I loved it even more than I remembered. I got a lot more out of it. I don't know if I processed it differently because it was an audiobook, or if age and maturity lent a new perspective, probably the latter, maybe both. It's been three decades since I first read it. I remember being fascinated in the 1990s that so much of the book had already become reality, and it continues to become closer and closer.</p><p>There are many reasons to read Fahrenheit 451, like warnings about the potential effects of technology on our brains and the risks of banning free thought. However, I read it for the humanity. I love the relationships and the revelations the characters experience. I love that it carries a message of hope. Most of all, I love that it's a love story about books and reading. It's not a terribly long book, and it always reads particularly quickly for me. I really recommend it to everyone because it's such a unique book that appeals to a variety of genres.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJAuJ7EHmUNH1EeZB7faHP4HHQuQ15fSmWglx6H8B3bv2B_axRp8OuzceiZ23OIo7WLPPXc9A80XNMFzgzc_VHmRdqmIeFIPEP91oWbifp04A6UAM7qYmNSXITruYhl0c62Lx1iB9IRMsohG3mGC7OLd6LV2UQyHb14v5yKbiel00jtVnaNkL0NlM/s2560/IfWeWereVillains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJAuJ7EHmUNH1EeZB7faHP4HHQuQ15fSmWglx6H8B3bv2B_axRp8OuzceiZ23OIo7WLPPXc9A80XNMFzgzc_VHmRdqmIeFIPEP91oWbifp04A6UAM7qYmNSXITruYhl0c62Lx1iB9IRMsohG3mGC7OLd6LV2UQyHb14v5yKbiel00jtVnaNkL0NlM/s320/IfWeWereVillains.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br />If We Were Villains</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30319086-if-we-were-villains" target="_blank">If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio</a> was on my list for a while. I don't know why I put off reading it, but it became the perfect book for a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjKxIdqO-aN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">Spooky Book Bingo</a> challenge I completed in October - I needed a book with a skull on the cover. It wasn't a particularly spooky book - the skull was a Shakespeare reference, but it had major academia vibes, so it was a perfect autumn read.</p><p>I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't guess the ending. I really had no idea what was going on for the entire book, but in the best way. I loved the humor and the Shakespeare references and quotes all throughout. I was a music and academics kid in high school, so I related to the school culture. I enjoyed that ability to relate, but I don't think it's essential to enjoy the book. It's not a short book, but it's not at all what you expect, and it pulls you right through. I highly recommend it for any season.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCcYX6hDwdWUZjs1yo7a7RE06I4L6uDw0P_hoIQsIXGhQZv3Dw_9kfD4am6u07c7OGqlTxCxcYlmt2YOABsMw9Vyxd0MdNx9VmDg33Ug8Chdl4rF1TmbGJVwS5jBNsCbid92ol8O2HsjyRCPrV7XiFyuoOq2moXwO2Mo7y6Cra83LHfIj8n1mJ_Ad/s1975/Pumpkinheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1975" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCcYX6hDwdWUZjs1yo7a7RE06I4L6uDw0P_hoIQsIXGhQZv3Dw_9kfD4am6u07c7OGqlTxCxcYlmt2YOABsMw9Vyxd0MdNx9VmDg33Ug8Chdl4rF1TmbGJVwS5jBNsCbid92ol8O2HsjyRCPrV7XiFyuoOq2moXwO2Mo7y6Cra83LHfIj8n1mJ_Ad/s320/Pumpkinheads.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br />Pumpkinheads</h3><p>I stretched myself trying <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45427760-pumpkinheads" target="_blank">Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks</a>. I do not like graphic novels, but this came so highly recommended on BookTube that I gave it a go. It was excellent, and I will read it again. I am going to buy it for my home library as soon as the bookstores get it back in stock! Not only was it very funny, there was LGBT+ representation, and the autumn ambience was *chef’s kiss*. I must know where I can find a pumpkin patch like that!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpluSMMZt3UZ1f0TzRfCJSesqfceEq6axk4nemOLZSvE1FRlvJTBpXMXiEFlR0vQR3Dl5BOeSCLD-UzaLpgJ1FC6czc8d1Wr27oFjCEjr1E2CLLJI4G6xFAkXeFQV9TeP-gCoOkfClMxeuh_n3szsV4LqKnp_bR4dbp4Lm-lee6VC5BaFtaJsji2MF/s2475/NottheWitchYouWed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpluSMMZt3UZ1f0TzRfCJSesqfceEq6axk4nemOLZSvE1FRlvJTBpXMXiEFlR0vQR3Dl5BOeSCLD-UzaLpgJ1FC6czc8d1Wr27oFjCEjr1E2CLLJI4G6xFAkXeFQV9TeP-gCoOkfClMxeuh_n3szsV4LqKnp_bR4dbp4Lm-lee6VC5BaFtaJsji2MF/s320/NottheWitchYouWed.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />Not the Witch You Wed</h3><p>I had a good feeling I'd like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693468-not-the-witch-you-wed" target="_blank">Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher</a>, but I had no idea it would be one of my favorite books ever. I love the natural presence of the magical society. The jokes are great. The young people are fighting for a better way. There’s so much to love about this book. Fair warning, there is language, though well-used, and graphic sex. However, I absolutely loved this book!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExiDHRWgVoeGEbHlt9R_EYFXkNAXJrhmlVHMiDnsamyKBQxdCFNdHEvEpP_thjHj60pcACMPY9Sg6zcusSC18o_bKTqnJ8Im-CgpVnjIPyNJ8i-PPhu8Rqf-F1_c8cpk9hUJRW2Y4msMFeMjje1eJqhSYlCBYKOqIZ5aLnUUXpckDWlfZjPNKdTGM/s1475/NineLivesofChristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExiDHRWgVoeGEbHlt9R_EYFXkNAXJrhmlVHMiDnsamyKBQxdCFNdHEvEpP_thjHj60pcACMPY9Sg6zcusSC18o_bKTqnJ8Im-CgpVnjIPyNJ8i-PPhu8Rqf-F1_c8cpk9hUJRW2Y4msMFeMjje1eJqhSYlCBYKOqIZ5aLnUUXpckDWlfZjPNKdTGM/s320/NineLivesofChristmas.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br />The Nine Lives of Christmas</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12219867-the-nine-lives-of-christmas" target="_blank">The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts</a> was a complete surprise. I was looking for available holiday or Christmas books on the library website. This looked cute and cozy, so I checked it out. Oh my gosh I loved it. What a treasure I unearthed! The story is told by the three main characters, one of whom is a cat. AND IT IS SO WELL DONE.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Looking forward to 2023</h3><p>Every year I look forward to continuing consuming books like oxygen. Reading is my favorite way to occupy my brain. While my TBR (to-be read list) grows far faster than I could possibly every finish it, I still look for recommendations every chance I get. What were your favorite books of 2022? What are your all-time favorites? I really do want to know!</p><p>To see what I'm reading, visit <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers" target="_blank">my Goodreads profile</a>:</p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/ktlasers</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656608080979705935.post-63009253224839664772023-01-02T15:13:00.000-08:002023-01-04T07:52:36.681-08:00Planning and Goal Setting for 2023<p>There’s something so satisfying in setting up a planning system and goals for the next year. It’s like back-to-school for grown ups. I finished mine in the eleventh hour (or 31st day of the 12th month, as it were). Some years take more work than others, and some years I choose to put in more work. This year I left behind some old reliables and tried some completely new tools.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>First, the planning system</b></h3><p>How you do your planning is entirely personal. You have to consider every aspect of your life, from practical considerations, like commuting, to psychological considerations, such as ADHD, to emotional considerations, like colors. There is no one-size-fits-all planning approach, and sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to find what works for you.</p><p>I had to work for my system this year. For the last handful of years, I have used a couple of different systems that were fabulous and really helped me grow and develop in so many ways. This year, however, I’ve run into some snags, so I had to dig deep and go my own way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMrsn5ruSnWunWjB-ArTLr6BhgZdGlQ_cmkS8lTYkVt0tsyvHE6YH0U5AQ0TcaT9pktbt-uWVAPIRGXkhAwFGOrbqHajhrlRtM2_izfX0Y7IXTaQcSabNTc9a-P2vl8dyYFCdUyrPv6ATlVUu3mX8aCQy1z14mcdOROPlctbw_bDBJn2JoQPlqZdZ/s3023/AF0A3EDA-9116-4C33-A124-6F1303C7E362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMrsn5ruSnWunWjB-ArTLr6BhgZdGlQ_cmkS8lTYkVt0tsyvHE6YH0U5AQ0TcaT9pktbt-uWVAPIRGXkhAwFGOrbqHajhrlRtM2_izfX0Y7IXTaQcSabNTc9a-P2vl8dyYFCdUyrPv6ATlVUu3mX8aCQy1z14mcdOROPlctbw_bDBJn2JoQPlqZdZ/s320/AF0A3EDA-9116-4C33-A124-6F1303C7E362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I used the <a href="https://dragontreeapothecary.com/collections/rituals-for-living-dreambook" target="_blank">Dragontree Dreambook and Planner</a> for years. I adored it and the company that made it, and the community of users was wonderful. It really stretched how I thought about goals and dreams and, subsequently, how I made plans to achieve those. I loved that it was relatively small, small enough to put in a purse, anyway, and there was a lot of room to mark it up.</p><p>One of the things I wished were different about it was I wanted more scribble space. There is some in there, but I was really turning the book into a scrapbook as time went on. I ended up taping in extra pages, which was fine as long as I didn’t need an extra page every week! I decided to try the digital version, printing it out and putting it in a binder so I could add pages. I ended up quitting that system after a few months. It was just too cumbersome. I also outgrew the planning prompts. Following the same map year after year loses some of its impact. I had some thinking to do.</p><p>I decided to try the <a href="https://cultivatewhatmatters.com/collections/powersheets" target="_blank">One-Year Powersheets Goal Planner from Cultivate What Matters</a>. I had previously used their 90-Day Powersheets and really liked them. I’d almost purchased the one-year planner after those, but I found the Dreambook and decided to try it out. So last year was my first go with the one-year Powersheets planner. I loved the planner, but I didn’t use most of it. I did all of the goal prep work at the beginning of the year and got a lot out of it. It was very similar to the way the Dreambook and Planner does goal prep work, but slightly different, and the nuance of the Powersheets combined with my years using the Dreambook really helped me set better goals.</p><p>My favorite part of the Powersheets planning system was the monthly-specific goals and all of the color coding for goals. That is something that I have taken away from the Cultivate What Matters planner system and will use for the foreseeable future in any planner system I purchase or set up for myself. It really helps to have the intention of setting small goals each month that work toward your big goals.</p><p>I didn’t like how large the planner was, though. I ended up purchasing a small wire-bound planner from a box store to use for managing my day-to-day activities and tasks. Just as I set up my Powersheets every month with stickers and intentions for the month, each week I set up my small planner. The two books were my planning tag team.</p><p>Since I'm living in Ireland this year, I can't order either planner or most of the popular planners out there - or won’t because of shipping costs and customs fees, so this year I just got another little planner. I’ve found that I can do most of the Powersheets and Dreambook work on my own in the little planner, and I refer back to both when I am doing goal prep work and seasonal life reviews. If I want to do any journaling during goal prep or reviews, I do it in a small paper journal that I buy in bulk and completely wreck with stickers and stamps and sketches and scribbles and anything else I want. The best part of my new system is that both books - the planner and the journal - are small and portable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XuEPJTtrnvBteXzoNRJ5TxIzB5VepYOzR45HtsViCBwIumy24Oiirz_eyH0yM3CLKG8WU3eQ5ezKn3ddXdCGei5yvk9h-_ZyVFFHJAQRYD_itYEMp3WEYTdnzppW2dvxXz__whm2L80AyaW9mKBunQkD9rQX3TqrXYoGa37TJkLrklFfIffB0ZHq/s3024/3D1252EB-4B0F-4F88-9A8E-56814B94F756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XuEPJTtrnvBteXzoNRJ5TxIzB5VepYOzR45HtsViCBwIumy24Oiirz_eyH0yM3CLKG8WU3eQ5ezKn3ddXdCGei5yvk9h-_ZyVFFHJAQRYD_itYEMp3WEYTdnzppW2dvxXz__whm2L80AyaW9mKBunQkD9rQX3TqrXYoGa37TJkLrklFfIffB0ZHq/s320/3D1252EB-4B0F-4F88-9A8E-56814B94F756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Would I recommend the Dreambook and Planner or the Powersheets planner? Absolutely. They are both wonderful products, albeit not friendly to every budget. Both have great customer service and community groups on Facebook. Both companies have YouTube channels with videos about using the products. Powersheets has a leg up here, however, because so many users share their experiences online, especially on YouTube. That increases the sense of community and can be great inspiration.</p><p>Which one I would recommend would be totally personal. The Powersheets system is more prescriptive, so that can be good if you are very analytical or need step-by-step hand-holding, as we all do sometimes. The Dreambook does guide you well, but the whole system is more holistic than prescriptive. Both systems break the process down into similar life areas, both have quarterly check-ins with a numerical scale, both help you break down your big goals and dreams into manageable action steps, and, best of all, both encourage you to think beyond the to-do list, beyond this year, beyond measurable goals, and beyond your biggest dreams.</p><p>Whew. That was a sentence.</p><p>I am also using the <a href="https://www.notion.so/product" target="_blank">Notion app</a> to organize my life this year. I have a page to track all of my yearly goals, and each goal has its own page. For each goal, I documented the type of goal, what the goal looks like, a big goal, and a follow-up goal, in case I reach the goal early, where applicable. I also listed the how and why for each goal: Methods/Steps, How it will be measured, What else I will get from pursuing this goal (e.g. reduced symptoms, writing material, improved spiritual practice), Additional thoughts (e.g. I have no control over getting published, but I do have control over practice, work, editing, and submissions!), and Action ideas (monthly/weekly/daily).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SS7e2UN9KhzroXh-F_b-0Zq07b_-DBM8TCsJ1Un2MoRKVhNDkxflfAtpf0nS-bwJm-nA4ZY6lEjZFpzXTnkaK9wMvspquRl0GolNdK5roXMWraroFrKawUZbQF3A8c4dfLRFmuhKX66JAhOj5ELIcOkSRMzm_zrob6UM9KKuDVK9U4abPxdmO0k5/s1640/YearlyGoalsBlur.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SS7e2UN9KhzroXh-F_b-0Zq07b_-DBM8TCsJ1Un2MoRKVhNDkxflfAtpf0nS-bwJm-nA4ZY6lEjZFpzXTnkaK9wMvspquRl0GolNdK5roXMWraroFrKawUZbQF3A8c4dfLRFmuhKX66JAhOj5ELIcOkSRMzm_zrob6UM9KKuDVK9U4abPxdmO0k5/w503-h283/YearlyGoalsBlur.png" width="503" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally, I set up quarterly reviews with the following questions:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">What worked</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">What didn’t work</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">Biggest success</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">Biggest obstacle</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">What I learned</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">What I will take forward</p></blockquote></blockquote><p>I also have a database with all of my monthly goals for the year, and I set up a view for the current month's goals on my Notion home page. I have a lot more pages to support my system, but these are the main planning pages.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Now, how I created my goals</h3><p>I have taken the 1-year, 3-year, 10-year approach from the Dreambook and the life-area approach from the Powersheets and mashed them into a messy mind map. I love mind maps. Ever since I learned about them in elementary school, I have used them for so many things. My favorite part is when I’ve written out all my goals and all the little steps I can think of to achieve them and then I draw the lines between everything that is connected and can immediately see what should take priority. (For what it’s worth, I’m a huge geek, and I also Pareto-analyze the heck out of my life on the regular. And I love spreadsheets.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLVwJmmWUpQTrQpjSGjSXqGfwnURbgztJT17vHR86iFY-eZRCvVqXfYcwfO20U6h4AEGiZilCRhSxW9EqEw-vWifLX5wg4DwbR-zDNlfabVw63M5y_tkUKdESDjbUDr4yliF8gUyIzX1UERfeEP-3u4Tv3m7Bu56jHunTTFmQQejUaXA-reSSbpD0/s2331/AD705C1C-4C90-4F9F-9A5A-B97B407C810D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="2331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLVwJmmWUpQTrQpjSGjSXqGfwnURbgztJT17vHR86iFY-eZRCvVqXfYcwfO20U6h4AEGiZilCRhSxW9EqEw-vWifLX5wg4DwbR-zDNlfabVw63M5y_tkUKdESDjbUDr4yliF8gUyIzX1UERfeEP-3u4Tv3m7Bu56jHunTTFmQQejUaXA-reSSbpD0/s320/AD705C1C-4C90-4F9F-9A5A-B97B407C810D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I don’t set a goal for each area of my life, and some of my goals greatly overlap. I do not settle on a goal until I have fully thought out how I might approach the goal over the next year. I have been known to defer goals, even though the goal seems perfect on paper, because life would prevent me from making worthwhile progress right now, like while I’m living abroad. I have also changed goals temporarily to accommodate my life at the moment. Three of my goals this year are specific to where I’m living. I would not have them, at least in the form they’re in, if I were living in the states. For example, my big dream of seeing the world was changed to “See Europe,” since I’m living here, and it’s so accessible.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Finally, the goals</h3><p>In the interest of privacy, I will not be sharing an exhaustive list of my goals and plans for 2023. However, I am very proud of my planning and thought it might inspire some of you. Additionally, it might give you a peek into my brain.</p><p>My first goal is health-related and has been rolling over for a while. Achieving good health can be like peeling an onion: just when you fix one problem, you discover another one. I don’t feel bad carrying over the same goal for all these years. Nor do I think I have made any sort of misjudgment in setting the goal, as some "experts" might argue. The goal is completely achievable in the time-frame prescribed. However, until we find the reason or reasons I remain unhealthy, the start of said time-frame remains a mystery. So the goal gets pushed. Yet it remains because I am working toward it continuously. Don’t be afraid to set the big, unknown goals, because the steps you take toward achieving them advance you no matter what pace you are going.</p><p>My second goal, which has also rolled over, is not technically measurable. However, I have set smaller, measurable goals that show me I’m achieving the big dream goal. The goal is to build a writing career. I decided to measure it in different ways. I set small, medium, and big goals for each category. Income is the most obvious way of measuring career success. It’s not always the best way, though. If you’re trying to make a living, then it’s a necessary metric and can be used to make important decisions about your path. However, you can also measure the success of a career using other metrics, such as reaching a level on the corporate ladder or, in my case, getting published. I have tasted the success of having a short story published, so this metric excites me far more than income right now.</p><p>I have a couple of goals that are open-ended and related to learning. I have set up a self-guided education plan with a variety of learning methods represented, like field trips (yes, grown ups go on field trips, too), nonfiction books, historical fiction books, and online courses. These goals overlap a lot with my goal to travel Europe.</p><p>I have a total of eight goals this year. Some of my goals may seem vague and immeasurable. Regardless of whether you create daily tick boxes in a bullet journal or buy an expensive planner system or just carry around a discount-store wire notebook, the key is to keep checking in on your goals, making sure they’re still applicable, and continuing to take actions to achieve them. As long as you are doing this, your planning will advance you toward your goals and dreams. Goal setting isn’t passive, and goal achieving is even less so.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF2Tyf_HHManQYakMnGNjJE5Aj4hMHSeMgSH1gqf325-VwXHo4cIKkbJujZL_u6S62IqIGgxwZg9tG8jVM-WODs59iyxQU42U1yi9Xe5RCzt_T1Zys0SFqCVsChrbN-Sgms6UkM7pkQmiaQ-LnzedmMJnD0bbEmf3bUD7bkiVmz0fdf7o2DFJYPjU/s1800/479D2924-BA9A-46B5-ACA5-EC40C9D12E9A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF2Tyf_HHManQYakMnGNjJE5Aj4hMHSeMgSH1gqf325-VwXHo4cIKkbJujZL_u6S62IqIGgxwZg9tG8jVM-WODs59iyxQU42U1yi9Xe5RCzt_T1Zys0SFqCVsChrbN-Sgms6UkM7pkQmiaQ-LnzedmMJnD0bbEmf3bUD7bkiVmz0fdf7o2DFJYPjU/s320/479D2924-BA9A-46B5-ACA5-EC40C9D12E9A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">In conclusion, I’m a nerd</h3><p>Did I totally just nerd-out about planning and goal setting? Yes, yes I did. I’ve always loved planners and planning and goal setting, but I’ve actually been making real progress these last few years, so my enthusiasm has grown exponentially.</p><p>Over the years, I've tried many tools and bits and bobs to make planning more fun and personal. But the bottom line is I know for a fact that the work I’m doing here will produce results, and quickly, in some cases. There’s nothing more motivating in goal work than seeing the fruits of your labor.</p><p>Stickers don’t hurt, though.</p><p>Happy planning!</p><div><span data-canva-clipboard="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"></span></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076285842577603900noreply@blogger.com0