Yup - Rained Out - This and That Saturday

Well, nobody wants to hear this, but more rain. Drizzly for yesterday's walk to start though the sun did come out later. Today, I got rained out and returned home. I think that might be the end of it for a while. Thankfully. We've lots of flooding in the lower areas of town. Luckily, we live on a hill, and things are holding up pretty well though the garden is a sopping mess. 

As I said, I didn't last long on the walk this morning. I came home when the rain started. Husband and I ended up going to a shop he wanted to go for to get a tool he needed, and we stopped at a thrift store. I did find a nice book, but I forgot to take a photo so that will have to be another post. 

When I came home, I tidied up a bit and did some listing, but weekends are for fun things, so I did a bit of this and that - a bit of reading, a bit of stitching, a bit of photography and listened to an audio book. Not a bad afternoon, quite relaxing

This is a book I picked up at a charity shop. A little bit of an interesting read, but it's more about curating a lifestyle than anything. It was fun to look at and a lot cheaper than a magazine! It's gone back into the donate pile. 

Not a long listen, but it was fun and easy

I'm still plodding along on this cross stitch. I hadn't done any on it for a while as the bit I'm on is rather boring, but I will complete it. I only have the backstitch to do now (I finished a bit more after this photo was taken)

I'm trying some flat lay photography. This was one I took with my phone. I want to try something a bit different from what I usually do. 

How is your weekend going? Any projects or plans in the works? 

Lazy Saturday

It was still snowing a bit when I got up this morning, so I had husband drop me off for a walk. He came back home and raked the snow from the roof and then cleared off the driveway and the pavement in front of our house. We are responsible for keeping it clear. It was pretty cold out, but I enjoyed being outside, all bundled up, and seeing a few peeks of blue skies between snow showers. 

The beavers are managing to keep a bit of water open. They were out and about again this morning. It was amazing to watch one as it banged into the edges of the open water to break up the ice. The photos above are about the extent of the blue skies I saw. By the time I left the snow was coming down again. We're in for some more tomorrow. Sigh. 

I was pretty lazy when I got home. I did sort out a few things, put away a few bits that haven't been put away.  And then I just stopped, looked around at the stuff and couldn't work out how to get started decluttering again. I did manage to read through some magazines by my chair. I also managed to sort out 12 books to donate. I suppose that's something. I'll just have to keep trying. Every little helps. 

I was going to post an update on watching my budget, but I feel that's going to be a bust this month. Son is moving and we said we would help with expenses and some new-to-him furniture. That's obviously going to be a ding in finances, BUT I am going to plod on with watching other areas of spending. Not sure how that's going to go. Sigh. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! 

Monday

I always find it a bit of a struggle to get back into the normal routine when I'm coming back from a holiday, even a mini-break. I got up early, went for a walk with my friend, ran a couple of errands, came home started wash and tried to tidy up the house again. 

I've been having a lot of cramps in my legs again. I'm not sure if it's the heat or sitting for a long time in the car. I've been trying to drink lots of water, but drinking lots of water then requires lots of trips to the loo. I'm hoping the walk today helped.

Tomorrow will start with a walk, some housework and then, because I don't have to go anywhere else I want to get going on some more sorting. I was rather pleased last week when I sorted out another 16 books! There are still many, many more to go, but I do think I'm getting a handle on the book hoarding. I have even managed to curtail any book buying. I admit to buying a couple at the thrift shop, but I haven't bought any new ones for a while - even though the authors I like have come out with more. I tell myself they will still be there when I have room for them OR they are on sale for my kindle. 

I wish it was a little cooler so I could go up in the craft room. I might pop up for a little bit and do maybe thirty minutes of sorting and then move onto something else. It's not like there isn't anything else that needs sorting! I do want to go through my wardrobe again as I'm sure there are a few things I haven't worn, and I'd like to get rid. I find myself wearing the same comfortable things over and over and there are some bits I haven't worn for a while and don't see myself wearing. I'd like to get at least two boxes of donations for this month. 

Do you have decluttering goals for July? Is it an ongoing process or do you like to do a huge declutter in one go? 

Back tomorrow

Book Decluttering

Not a post about my day, but about the book decluttering. Again. I have too many books. I know that I do. I am beginning to feel a little hemmed in by them. I must say, at this point they are on bookshelves, in cupboards, drawers - you get the picture - what I'm really saying is they aren't cluttering the floor or tables, but I want to free up some storage for other things. That means getting rid of some books. I just find it tough. A lot of them are like old friends, or some friends I'd like to get to know one day. Reading is a solace. I don't remember a time when I didn't read a lot. It's a love I got from Mum as she really enjoyed reading too. It was something we always talked about in our weekly Skype sessions. We'd show one another the books we were reading. I'd bring some to her when I visited, and she saved some for me to read when I went to see her. 

Reading is just something I love to do. I do have a Kindle and I have books on there, but reading from that just isn't the same as holding a book. Books are also my go-to thing to shop for when I'm feeling down. I have been doing a lot better at not buying a bunch of new books (well, new-to-me as most I purchase used). So now it's a matter of getting rid of some of the ones I have. 

This week I have managed a grand total of (insert drum roll here) ....35!

They include books I have on Kindle (groan), books I've read and I can let go of, books I haven't read and don't seem to interest me and duplicates (yes I have those too!). 

I hope to keep going sorting through them this one before letting go of some of the ones that mean more!

Here's the pics 

Now I need to box them up before I change my mind!!

Spent last night on the sofa. Sigh. Husband was snoring away quite happily and no amount of nudging would get him to move. I wear earplugs to bed and when he snores loudly I can hear him even though the earplugs block out most noise. If I end up on the sofa again tonight he's going to give me a break and sleep downstairs tomorrow night. I'm hoping he just won't snore. The sofa makes my back ache. I woke up grumpy. I don't take daytime naps as (unless I just sit and fall asleep doing something) they just make me grumpier. 

I went out for my morning walk. It wasn't bright and sunny today. Very cloudy, but quite at Asylum Lake. After my walk I ran some errands. I was trying to shop for some gifts but didn't find a lot. I am just at the point where I am going to do online shopping. I hate walking around and around and not finding what I'm looking for. Even if I have to order and pick up it's easier than trying to find it myself!

I did pick up a couple of things for the dice game we play at daughter's Christmas. I also picked up this (Day 333 Things That Make Me Smile) for myself

I love Hedgehogs (who doesn't?) and this is something you can put in the microwave and heats up. It was $5 and I thought it would be good to warm up my hands in the winter time. It's just the right size! If my hands get cold I have trouble getting warm at all. Hopefully this will help!

I also stopped in The Dollar Tree again. I gave into temptation and ended up buying some books from there. Quite pleased with them!

When I got home I actually sorted through the cupboard and boxed up the items I want to get rid of. So, something checked off the list. There are still things I might get rid of in there, but still pondering them. 

Midweek - books and things

Son didn't go to work today. He was a little stiff and sore. His job is quite physical, so he was worried about having to crawl around and the pain it would cause. It's quite uncomfortable with work trousers on too! He did go back to the clinic and had his burns checked. He has to go back again tomorrow. He is going back to work though and will go to the clinic late in the morning. I suppose they have to be really carefully that the burns aren't infected. Apparently, son says he has one large blister that hasn't burst yet (yuck!). 

My arm is a bit better today. I thought I was going to back to normal, but later in the afternoon I had another moment when I didn't feel well, achy, shivery. I took some more pain pills and felt better after a little while. I'm hoping that's the last of it. 

I ran some errands today. No walk. It was rainy most of the morning and overall dull. I decided to run the errands I had to do and had a little look around in a couple of shops. I gave in and bought a few books at the dollar store. 

They had quite a few, but these were the ones that caught my attention. I stopped at the bookshop and bought...nothing! I was really pleased, but there wasn't really anything I wanted.

I finished my 97th book of the year today - only 3 more to reach my goal of the year! I really enjoyed this one. I have read Pieces of Her and (I think) I've watched it on Netflix. I didn't realise that this one followed on from that book. I borrowed it from the library as I really enjoy reading her books. It took me a moment (and checking on Amazon) to realise that this book did follow on from that one and then it began to make more sense! I got through it pretty quickly as I really wanted to know what happened next! 

My Day 299 Phone Photo Things That Make Me Smile was a visitor to our garden. When I got up this morning and looked out of the window there was a mama and a young male deer outside. After I had put out some birdseed on the feeder table this guy came up to visit!

He was a little cautious of me, but didn't run away when I took several photos of him (with my phone and with my camera!)

Crafts and Books and Everyday

Hoping for some good sleep tonight. Husband had a long day at work yesterday - 12 hours plus travel time - and was understandably tired at the end of the day. Once in bed he was out like a rock and snoring like a...well, I'm not quite sure what snores as loudly as he did last night! I had my earplugs in and I could still hear him quite loudly. I tried discretely nudging him but it didn't work and, after about forty minutes, I ended up on the sofa. The sleep was not good. He had another long day today. I am hoping the snoring is not so bad tonight. I fear I might be disappointed. Sigh. 

I got a couple of household jobs off my list, things that I'd been putting off. I also managed to get up in the craft room for a bit today. I didn't get a lot done, but I did make a start on another mini album and I put together a couple of Halloween toppers that will go on cards. The photo is the Things That Make Me Smile for today (day 265)

I thought I'd also mention a fail. I gave in and bought a couple of books at The Dollar Tree yesterday. I went in for a couple of things, but got distracted by the books. They look like a couple of easy reads

Today was definitely cooler and there was a touch of Autumn in the air. I kept the windows closed all day to keep the heat in the house. It was sunny, but there was a wind too. Tonight the temperature is supposed to drop to 40F/4C - a chilly night to be sure! The window in the bedroom is closed and the blanket has been pulled over the bed in case it is needed. 

I will have to be sure to bundle up for the walk in the morning!  Tomorrow is middle son's birthday so after my walk I have to go out and pick up a couple of things. I am hoping the roads cooperate (lol). The main road up the top of the street is coming to the end (hopefully) of a long project (it's been only open one way since April) and they are now repaving the whole thing. The sign says expect long delays. Sigh. There are roadworks everywhere. As I tried to get home from the shops the other day the road I usually go down was closed and the detour had a lane closed. I am trying to think where I can shop where the travel will be easier!

I'm off to bed hoping for some sleep!

Book Declutter - yes or no?

 Did I do it? Have I managed to declutter some books? 

(This is where, if my blog had sounds, there would be a drum roll). 

Yes...some...sort of.

I'm quite pleased with what I've managed. 

To say that I have a lot of books is an understatement. I love books. I have a Kindle, but it's not quite the same thing (not to mention I accidentally stepped on it the other day as it was beside my chair and I cracked the screen - sigh). I enjoy holding a real book in my hands. I like thumbing over the pages. I like bookmarks too - funny ones, inspiring ones, ones I bought at places I've been too. 

BUT enough is enough. I am determined to get rid of some. I managed to get rid of 32 yesterday and over 20 today! I am going to call that a win. These are ones sort-of easily parted with. I have a few series ones that I am going to list on Ebay for a while. If they don't sell I shall be letting them go. I have contacted the local community centre to see if they are accepting books. If they don't they are going to the charity shop along with a few other bits I've decluttered from around the house. I'm also going to check what books on my shelves I do have on my Kindle. If I have duplicates I am letting the 'real' ones go. I tend to buy books on Kindle when they have a deal on them so I probably have duplicates on my bookshelves. 

I want to at least go through the books once before tackling the craft room which will be a project in itself!

Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 83/365

Smiling because it does actually feel good to just let them go!

Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 84/365

It has been raining for days on end. There was a brief moment this afternoon when the sun came through. Then it started raining again...now it has changed over to snow. Sigh. I think Mother Nature has forgotten that it's supposed to be Spring. I know that the saying is 'in like a lion, out like a lamb' but I think it's been mixed up lol.

Another Day - books

Eileen - daughter isn't quite sure when she is going home. She has to work on Thursday but brought her work computer with her. She will probably go back after the weekend. I'm really appreciative that her new husband is so supportive of her spending time with me. He knew how tough this year has been for all of us. I know it's not easy to be away from your family in tough times and I'm glad he understands that too. He is such a great guy!

What a horrible dreary day! It started with all kinds of weather - snow, ice, rain and thunderstorms! Sadly there was no sun to follow. It was drizzly, dreary and foggy most of the day. The thunderstorms actually woke me up!

I went for a quick walk before daughter really got moving today. My oldest son is home from work on holiday this week and he was nice enough to look after the dogs while daughter and I went out and had a little look around. We didn't find a lot. I did splurge on some new books. The bookshop had a really good deal on hardcover books. I got some money for Christmas so treated myself. 

One of the books I got was this one. It's quite interesting and has been on my wish list for a while. I am looking forward to reading it. 

Speaking of books I completed my challege of 100 books in 2021! I was sure I wasn't going to complete the challenge. I didn't keep track of a lot of what I read so I'm glad to be have recorded as many books as I did. I am going to participate in the challenge again next year. I like having the books I've read recorded somewhere and Goodreads is really easy to do. 

2021 READING CHALLENGE

2021

READING

CHALLENGE

Congrats!

You have read 108 books of your goal of 100!

108/100 (108%)

View Challenge

 

I think tonight will be an early night. I am quite tired and am having trouble keeping my eyes open!

Book Buying Fail and Snow Already?

Well, (hanging my head in shame) I bought two books this week. It has been a long while since I bought any books - new or used - so I won't be too hard on myself! One is a new release by an author I enjoy reading and the other was from the dollar shop. I am going to get back to sorting more out and I do have several out ready to read next. I am almost at my goal for the year. I had planned on reading at least 100 books. I am at 93. 

Snow? Already? Not me. It was pretty frosty here in Michigan this morning, but no snow where we are yet. My daughter in Minnesota had her first snowfall this morning. Brrr. I am not ready for that. The wind is blowing here and I'm pretty sure it won't be long until all the lovely colourful leaves fall. I am not looking forward to it. Autumn is the last burst of colour here - nature in all its glory - and then we are on to the grey, dull days of winter. I would like the leaves to hang on for a little longer as there are still places I'd like to go to photograph.

This was taken on my walk this morning with my phone. It's definitely looking a lot like Autumn!

What are you up to for the weekend? I'm hoping to get out tomorrow and photograph somewhere nearby. The weather doesn't look too bad - there will be a frost again in the morning but it's supposed to be dry. Sunday doesn't look so good weather-wise. I'll also Skype Mum again tomorrow. Other than that I may spend the afternoon in my craft room. I am in the mood to do some Autumn paper creations. 

Thanks for reading and for commenting! I really do appreciate it. 

Decluttering Encouragement please - books

Ack so I got started. I've cleared out two boxes of books which I feel is really good, but there are so many everywhere - yikes. I was working on a particularly tall bookcase, cleared out a whole box (probably 12 x 12 x 12) full of books but the bookcase still looks the same!!! It's still full. It looks as though I haven't got rid of any books. Obviously that means some more need to go. Sigh. I really want to move onto some more that I know I can get rid of. It just seems so overwhelming!!! I know I just have to keep going because any progress is some progress and closer to the home I want.

This is the bookshelf after. I don't have a picture of before. Sigh. This is just one bookcase. It just seems overwhelming.

What tips do you have when you're feeling discouraged? How do you decide what to get rid of?

Thanks for the input.

A Week of Things That Make Me Happy

I've decided to take a week to look for/share things that make me happy. I'm trying to look on the bright side and cheer myself up a little. I'll try to share each day but we know how good I am at that lol.

I've done a couple things that I've been meaning to do. I ordered Magnesium and will start taking tomorrow to see if it helps with the leg cramps. Getting good sleep certainly would help my mood a bit I think. I have also ordered some dress tape - you know, the stuff that holds down fabric so you don't flash anything. No. I've not ordered a fancy dress to go somewhere lovely. I read on one of my photography groups that one of the ladies uses this tape to tape down her mask to her nose so that her glasses don't fog up when she's taking photos. I'm hoping this will help with the panicking of wearing the mask which leads to fogged up glasses, which then starts this whole heavy breathing and panicking thing.

The first thing on my list and was really easy to choose is books. They make me happy. I love to read. I always have. I can't remember a time when I didn't love to read. Books have been my companions through tough times, happy times and sad times. Reading a book takes you to places and times that you can only dream of.  A good story can make you happy, sad, can make you laugh and cry. I've been reading a lot recently. I'm certainly making a dent in the numerous books I have in the house.

I don't like shopping much but give me a good bookshop and I can spend ages in there. There used to be a lovely used bookshop in town. It wasn't very big but you could get lost in the bookshelves and all the books piled from ceiling to floor (and on the floor!). I was quite sad when it closed down. I remember the one in Ipswich when I was growing up. It was a shop that sold new books but there was so many. It was housed in a place called The Ancient House which, as it sounds is a very old building (laughs). It was built in the 15th century. When I was a child it was a bookshop with lots of little rooms with glorious windows and beamed ceilings and doorways. I found a photo (not mine) and have posted below.

Sadly it's no longer a bookshop but is a Lakeland shop that sells (apparently) kitchenware. I can't bring myself to go inside though I probably should on one visit.

Anyway, you can see why it would be a lovely place to spend a bit of time with a book. I remember sitting on the floor in the small room that housed the young adult fiction. It wasn't a very big room as I think it was still a new genre.

So books - yes, they make me happy. Even writing this brings a smile to my face. What makes you happy? I know we can all use a reminder of looking for good things even when we're feeling down.

A Good Book and another Mini Album Make

I've just finished another book. I've pledged through Goodreads to read 100 books this year and am well on track for my goal. This is another by Kristin Higgins. It's what my Mum would call a woman's book - a little family story mixed with a little romance. I liked the characters in this one. There were a mix of ages and they all seemed realistic. I was reading a book the other day and some of the characters were going on about their mother and how she was and the author made her sound like she was in her seventies - turns out she was fifty-six!!! I groaned out loud at that one. I'm fifty and I couldn't recognise myself at all in this 'old' woman as she was described.

I finished another of the cereal box mini-albums. I have only one more left to do and it's about half done. I quite like how this one worked out. I have to work out what I'm going to put in them now.

I've got a new stitching piece to work on too. I had most of what I needed to do it and I have ordered a couple of threads (speciality) that I didn't have. Usually I would probably just make do but this is a special piece for my sister and I want it to be just right.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Plodding on into Another Week

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. Spring was definitely in the air and then I'm not sure what quite happened. Today we've had everything - sun, cloudy, wind, rain and snow. Brrr… My heating is on full force again today whereas on Sunday I had the windows open. I suppose it's a sign of spring. I did go for a walk today. It's the one little bit of my day where I do go outside so I'm making the most of it. 

I really need to start making lists. I have big plans for the day and before I realise it the day is over and I haven't done a lot of anything! There are projects sitting waiting to be done and I just can't seem to get up the energy. I think if I just write a few things down it will be easier to get them done.  I did go to the shops today. I'm not sure what is up with the margarine. There was absolutely no spreadable butter/margarine available at all. It must be the latest 'thing' to buy. There was some toilet paper. I left it alone as we have enough on hand. I had a bit of a laugh as there was one small section taped off in the shop - the gardening area. Apparently this is considered non-essential so cannot be sold. I'm not sure why this area was 'picked' on as everything else - clothes, toys, books, crafts, you name it - was for sale.  I had to snap a photo of the sign - just because. 

I had gone over there for some bird suet - which I was able to buy lol. Those poor birds have to be fed! I had ordered our bigger packs of bird food where I usually go to get them - as it is open - but instead of going inside I had hubby pick it up at their drive thru (they have one usually but this is the first time we've tried it). He said there were lots of people in the queue buying - yes - you've guessed it gardening items that they had ordered for pick up.

I have finished another book - there is quite a pile to be donated when this is all over and the library bookshop is open again. I have bought a couple of new ones, but I do miss the bookshop - both the one in town and the library book shop. I miss just looking around browsing at the covers and reading the backs. 

This is the second book I've read by this author (I think the other one is listed in my this-month's books I've read). I haven't read any by her before but I think she's written quite a few. They are set in southern USA and I think they are what is called southern women's fiction.  Mum would call them family stories. I really enjoyed this one. I found the story and the characters interesting. I shall be adding her to my look-for books. 

This is the description

Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs’ weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman.

It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She’s having a baby boy—an unexpected but not unhappy development in the thirty-eight year-old’s life. But before Leia can break the news of her impending single-motherhood (including the fact that her baby is biracial) to her conventional, Southern family, her step-sister Rachel’s marriage implodes. Worse, she learns her beloved ninety-year-old grandmother, Birchie, is losing her mind, and she’s been hiding her dementia with the help of Wattie, her best friend since girlhood.

Leia returns to Alabama to put her grandmother’s affairs in order, clean out the big Victorian that has been in the Birch family for generations, and tell her family that she’s pregnant. Yet just when Leia thinks she’s got it all under control, she learns that illness is not the only thing Birchie’s been hiding. Tucked in the attic is a dangerous secret with roots that reach all the way back to the Civil War. Its exposure threatens the family’s freedom and future, and it will change everything about how Leia sees herself and her sister, her son and his missing father, and the world she thinks she knows.

I hope everyone is having a good week! Have you been reading more? What  have you been reading? 

Thank you for the kind messages on the last post. I think it's a bunch of things just all coming together at once. I have decided that I will try to look for at least something that makes me smile each day. On Instagram I follow a hashtag #101thingsthatmakemesmile. I am going to try to keep that in mind.

Anyway the rest of the week has flown by. It's Friday again. I was looking forward to going out on our usual Sunday jaunt, but it looks like rain, a soggy day all round Michigan (at least the parts we can get to in a few hours!). Perhaps I shall make sure and do something crafty - haven't done any of that for a while! We will be seeing our middle son on Sunday afternoon. His birthday is on Monday when he will turn 28. Yikes! Where did those years go?

I did go to the library today. I made sure to go before the book shop in the basement opened so that I wouldn't even be tempted to buy books. I had several books to pick up from my not-shopping-spree from the week before. I think there are three more on hold - hopefully no-one will return them for a while as I have more than enough to read.

I did return two books that I had read, but I still have two more that I picked up last week. I shall have to start reading faster!

Yesterday while I was out walking I spotted a little chipmunk in the park. It was up quite high in the bushes. I couldn't help watching as it tried to eat the little buds on the bush. I could have stood watching for ages. They are such funny little animals. The ones in my garden are coming closer and closer each day trying to get peanuts. I shared a photo of it on Instagram but thought I'd share a different one here as it certainly made me smile today when I was looking through the photos I took yesterday.

Books and funny animals - that's enough to make anyone smile! Hope you have a good weekend.

A Long Way from Norfolk

Regarding the last post - I think they are really cute. We've just given up on them coming into the garden. One today was there at after twelve in the day, munching away on the birdseed while looking at me.

Bless: there are (of course) a stack of books by my chair, some knitting (not that it's been picked up in a while), some magazines and my diary/notebook. The pile is a little tidier than it had been but not by a lot!

I did go to the library the other day to pick up the books I had ordered during my non-shopping spree. I also managed to drop off two bags filled with books for donation to the library bookshop. I also had a look around while I was there (how could I not?) and found this book staring at me from the shelf.

How could I not pick it up? I thought at first it meant Norfolk in Virginia but when I picked it up and began to look at it I found it was a bird diary of a man who lived in Norfolk England in the beginning of the 1900s. What a great find! For those of you who aren't from England, Norfolk is the next county over from Suffolk - where I'm originally from. I couldn't believe it! How strange that a book such as that would end up in our library bookshop here in Kalamazoo, Michigan - a very long way from England. I couldn't just leave it there. I really find books like this interesting. It is in diary form and tells of the birds this man saw on his walks. There are some wonderful illustrations including along with the sightings.

On another note I finished one of the books I borrowed from the library.

I really enjoyed this book! It made me laugh and cry. This is the blurb to go along with the book.

Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect. 

It was a really good read. I am definitely going to look for more of books from this author. This might even be one I'll order for Mum for Christmas. 

I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend. I'm not sure what we're going to be up to - it depends a little on the weather!

A Little More Decluttering

Son is borrowing my car for a few days so I'll be close to home and probably be going crazy by the end of the week. There are a couple of things I'd like to get done, so we'll see how I go. Usually I end up with lots of plans that don't usually end up happening. One thing I wanted to get done was finish putting away the majority of winter clothes and getting out warmer weather clothes. I had sorted through some a little while ago, but it was still pretty chilly and I'd kept out quite a few jumpers. The weather is starting to warm up so I wanted to make it easier to get to the tee shirts and smaller socks - yah! can put away most of the wooly ones (though I kept a few handy for camping lol). I 'discovered' a couple of nighties I'd bought last year that I'd forgotten about so I got rid of my holey (really comfortable) one as well as some odd socks (the washing machine monster must have eaten the matching ones). I also found up a couple of items for donation - 3 shirts I no longer wear, 1 pair capris, a jacket and a dress of daughters. I'm probably not the only one, but there are certain things I really like to wear so I'm trying to let go of those things that I don't wear so often or feel sort of blah about. No point hanging onto them. Getting rid of clothes is a lot easier for me than books, probably as I don't particularly care for them.

And onto the books.... I didn't post yesterday, so I'm doing two lots for today. These are going in the 'donate to library bookshop' bag. There are actually four of them. I have decided that I won't be reading them so hopefully someone else will enjoy.

I got some crafting done too. I'm actually feel quite productive, though lazy in the exercise way as no walk.

June 1st - Book Decluttering

It's been a rainy sort of day here in Michigan. Warm, but stormy and rainy. We were lucky enough to make it out for a little walk around the lake at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. There were cygnets born to a couple of swans and we were lucky enough to see them! So cute!

They seemed to hide once more people came out. They must have been really young as they had trouble standing and seemed to stumble as though they couldn't find their feet or weren't quite sure how they worked. 

I talked with Mum -  no Skype today. She had to have her modem changed and the man who came to do it must not have added the code to her computer as she can't get it to go online at all. My sister has been on holiday, but next she goes to Mum's we're hoping she'll take a look at it and add the security code for the modem. 

As today is the beginning of June (rabbits rabbits!) I took 12 photos for my A Year with my Camera group. On the first Saturday of each month we're supposed to take a photo an hour. I don't always manage one an hour but I took twelve that I have to sort out, edit and put in a collage. Also as it is the first of the month I had to sort out a book to declutter. It isn't as easy as it sounds - at least not for me. I won't tell you how many I looked through before I managed to find not just one book but two! Wahoo! I'm pretty sure if not for this challenge I wouldn't get rid of these two as I still would like to read, but realistically I've had them for a while so -  my thinking is - that if I haven't read them yet I probably should let them go to someone who would like to read them. I am hearing the Frozen song 'let it go' in my head as I type this. 

Cold & Snowy Start to the Week

This has to be winter's last hooray....at least that's what my husband is saying! The snow and cold has returned to cheer in the start of a new week. Sigh. I stayed in yesterday and it looks like I'll be inside today. It is supposed to 'warm' up by the weekend. By warm up I mean about 4c rather than -13c lol. Anything has to be better than this cold.

Anyway...enough moaning about the weather. I did get quite productive yesterday. I sorted through some things and made some big decisions regarding books. I am taking a deep breath and letting some of them go. Sounds silly, but it's quite difficult. I have too many though. I have decided that if I haven't read them and they've been in the house a while, or I won't reread in a reasonable amount of time I will be getting rid of them. I'm sure it will be quite a slow process, but I have decided that I want some of the space back. Besides, I am coming to the conclusion that, even if I did nothing but read for the next few months, I wouldn't get through the ones I have and there are new ones coming out all the time!

I read quite a lot, especially when it's this time of year. I pulled out a few books I want to read this month. There will be more, but these are on my must-leave-the-house lot.

When I took this photo I'd already started one and have since finished it lol. I do have to report that 11 books have been sent to paperbackswap.com members and another 16 have been put in the bag to donate to the library! I have also sold a few rubber stamp sets on a swap site and a few items on Ebay. I am quite pleased with what I have let go of during the last few days. I think that being inside the house makes me rethink what is important and what I would like to see around me.

I also started a new cowl project yesterday. I pulled out some yarn I had and got stuck in. The yarn is quite squishy and soft, but a pain to work with as it is loosely woven and splits easily. Still, it is some I had on hand and will now be put to use!

Happy Pancake Day! I remember when we were children I always loved this day. Mum made us pancakes with lemon and sugar. I always went light on the lemon and heavy on the sugar lol.

Thanks for all the good thoughts for Mum. I've been in regular contact with Sister who says it seems maybe she is on the mend. She was trying to eat yesterday. Sister will be seeing her today and updating me later. It's a worry when I'm so far away. There is no popping in with some goodies or a chat when she's feeling poorly.

I hope everyone has a good Tuesday! What are you up to today?

Crafty Books - Christmas??!

I've been sorting through my things a bit today. I must admit I brought back far more than I thought when I packed it. When it was all unloaded - yikes! I do admit to going a little crazy. One of my favourite places to shop when back in England is The Works. There are so many great books at really good prices, both fiction and non-fiction. The one in Ipswich also carries quite a few crafty goodies. There were so many books I could have picked up. I know they are a little heavy though so tried to be good and not bring too many back. I wish there was somewhere like it here in the US.

These are the craft books I ended up buying.

There were so many more I COULD have bought. These were priced between one and three pounds! Now that I'm back I have to put them to some use.

It's still fairly early - though this year is whizzing by - but I'm starting to think of Christmas. I know I need to think about what I'm going to make. Christmas cards are a given, but what about crafty gifts? I don't tend to make a lot of them, usually only for people who I know will appreciate them. I'd be interested in finding out what others make for the holidays - if anything. Are you already thinking of the holidays? Or, like me, do you tend to be last minute?