Sunday, December 8, 2024

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Dec 9



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.    

Welcome back to Monday! Hope you had a nice week. Mine was filled with appointments, a disappointing new desk, cooking, and self-care.

Last week, I decided to have a massage to help deal with my back. The osteoporosis has worsened a bit, so the doctor has me on some new medicine, I'm working on increasing exercise time, and I figured a massage would be a good idea. Also had my hair colored and nails done to prepare for the holiday gala this coming Saturday. 

The new standing desk arrived, but the poor guy had a heck of a time assembling it. The desk isn't right, and I can't use it. Working on returning it. Made a nice chicken with vegetables in the crockpot on Saturday, along with homemade bread. Decorations are slowly going up. Won two items in a charity auction that I am eager to pick up. 

Here are a few photos from my week:


Our first snowfall of the season came Wednesday evening into Thursday late morning. 



Theo had a vet appointment, which makes him highly anxious. He hoped to escape through the window. 


Travis reminding me that the balcony tree still is not up. I'm trying, Travis. 

Did a bit of reading during the week. No writing, though. 

I finished this one Sunday and started the next and final book in the Love Comes Softly series. 




My review of this one appears on Goodreads. You can read it here or check in with my blog on December 11th. 


My first chapter review of this one will appear on December 18th. 


I am continuing with this devotional. The artwork is stunning! 


I'm not quite sure what to make of this children's picture book. The artwork is lovely. It's the book that makes no sense. This is supposed to be 15 stories of animals helping Santa on Christmas. While reading it on Tuesday, I discovered it is more like 15 synopses. There is no storytelling, simply a page outlining  what each story is supposed to be about. No dialogue. No character interaction. It's just bizarre. 


On Audible, I'm listening to these two.




Thanks to Kathy at Inside of a Dog, I signed up for Chirp. Loving it so far. I grabbed a bunch of deals the other day. 


I have a special hardcover collector's edition of eight books by Alcott that includes Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys, and many of her other well-known books. I am sure these Christmas stories will be wonderful. 


I actually have the printed book of Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories. It's part of my AOGG collection. I used to read the series once a year, but I haven't done that in a while. 


Listening to this collection of Christmas stories lately. 



The following are the books I am looking to read before starting any new ones.








Upcoming events:
  • Jingles by D.F. Jones - December 11 (Review)
  • Scandalous in Huntington Beach by Melody Deblois - Dec 18 (First Chapter Review - TBC)



You can read the latest Christmas news at the Christmas Year Round blog. You can find that blog at https://christmasyearroundccm.blogspot.com. This week's news is about unique light displays in New England--one place about 15 minutes from us made the list, Christmas movies filmed or set in North Carolina, and 'Christmas in the Country.' 

I am heading into my busiest real estate week of December, so my computer time will be limited. Hoping to check in with all later today. Enjoy your week!

16 comments:

shelleyrae @ book'd out said...

I’m sorry the desk didn’t work out, my daughter bought herself one recently and is enjoying it
You have quite the reading list, enjoy!

Marg said...

I have a sit stand desk. When I go back to work I will have to remember to actually stand occasionally! Hope you are able to get yours either fixed or replaced

Have a great week!

Kathy Martin said...

I'm glad you are enjoying Chirp. Their daily emails are often very tempting. We have snow too (my brother is out shoveling off the deck right now). Sorry to her the new desk isn't working out. Come see me week here. Happy reading!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

Santa's Magical Animal Helpers sounds more like a book proposal than a finished book. Your place looks like paradise with all the snow.

Kathryn T said...

Hope the massage left you feeling a bit better and relaxed. The snow looks very pretty through the window.

Cindy said...

Sorry about the standing desk, hope you are able to get it sorted out soon. Have a great week!

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Thanks. Hopefully, we can replace it soon. Thanks for visiting.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Thanks, Marg. Great to see you here.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

The emails are for sure, Kathy. I'm doing my best not to add anything else until I've listened to the ones I downloaded.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Agreed, Deb. I really hoped for more. We loved the snow. Thanks for visiting.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

It did. Thanks, Kathryn.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Thanks, Cindy. It will all work out. Appreciate you stopping by.

Yvonne said...

I'm sorry about the desk. I hope you get it worked out. Have a great week!

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Thanks, Yvonne. Great to see you here today.

Jen at Introverted Reader said...

Travis does not look amused at this delay. Does he climb your trees? My childhood cat climbed every tree we ever got. She, ahem, liked to eat, a lot, so she always knocked them over. My dad finally had to figure out a way to anchor the tree to the wall so they would at least stay standing because there was no way we could find to keep her out.

Your week of self care sounds delightful! The standing desk return does not sound fun.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Travis and Dwight used to the climb the old tree, but the new one won't hold them. Very disappointing because Dwight used to sleep in the tree.

Thanks for visiting, Jen. Hope you had a nice week.