Trans-Pecos Territory of West Texas, 1874 Only the army would think a place like this worth defending. Priscilla Hutchens clamped her teeth together to keep them from rattling right out of her head. Grabbing the wagon bow, she sought to find an ancho as the converted military ambulance jounced up a slight rise.
It is raining, raining, raining!
With a chance of snow!
On my breakfast plate:
Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
As I look around the house::::
The siding on the addition is ALMOST done. The sliding glass doors have been installed and we got a large delivery of insulation to start working on indoors. So excited to be able to see the somewhat in sight :)
On today's to do list::::
Work 8am-2:30PM
Pick up the girls from school
Make Supper
Blog
Happening this week::::
Monday.... See above.
Tuesday... Off, groceries, exercise, laundry, Parade Wednesday... Work 8am-2L30pm, exercise, schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting. Thursday... Off, exercise, Menu and Grocery List, laundry Friday... Work 8am-2:30pm, Weigh-in, exercise
Saturday... Housework Sunday... Church, Exercise, Youth Group
Currently reading::::
I really haven't been reading much of anything the past few weeks, but hopefully that will change this week.
On the TV::::
We had family movie night and watched the new Wonder Woman movie.
I've also been watching some HGTV and Beach Bargain Hunters.
I'm planning on sitting down and watching the new Hallmark Christmas movie, "Marry Me At Christmas" that is DVR'd.
Listening to:
On the menu this week::::
Monday - Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Apples Tuesday - Hot Dogs, Mac-n-Cheese, Broccoli, fruit cocktail Wednesday - Ham, Fried Potatoes, Corn, Oranges Thursday - Chili, Corn Bread, Pears Friday - Pizza Saturday - Ham, Bow Ties and Green Beans, Peaches Sunday - Dinner at Church
What I am creating at the moment::::
I've actually been crocheting lately! I know, I'm getting my crojo back!
I'm working on a top-secret Christmas present at the moment. I'll show pictures when I can :)
Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)
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I mentioned on the blog that I've been having some issues with that pesky Anxiety/Depression. Add to the mix: a sinus infection and bronchitis and I've been pretty miserable. (Don't worry! I'm being treated on all fronts!)
My smiles this week are going to be all about:
KONA MAE
There is just something so comforting about a sweet animal, especially a puppy :)
As you can see, she's taken a liking to our bed!
Resting with Daddy :)
Taking over :)
She's ready for her close-up :)
Middle of the night snuggles :)
Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!
Native American beauty Sunny Westcott is not one to let her hair down. But her friend Aubrey manages to drag her to Pendleton, Oregon, and the pair arrives just as the hundredth annual Pendleton Round-Up begins. Sunny is surprised by how much she enjoys watching the rodeo, riding horseback, and getting to know Aubrey's family--particularly a handsome cowboy named Cody.
Pendleton is also home to the Umatilla reservation where Sunny's ancestors once lived, and the trip gives her the chance to do some digging into her family's history--a topic she knows next to nothing about. But will Sunny like what she finds? And how will skeletons from the past compete with the current drama unfolding in Cody's own family?
My Thoughts:
I, in general, have loved the LOVE FINDS YOU IN series because with each one, I learn so much about history, cultures and different places that I'll probably never see.
This book had all that.
But...the romance left a lot to be desired.
Seven-eighths of the book was about Sunny learning about her heritage, which was great. However, the romance was VERY rushed.
We're talking about Sunny and Cody spending one afternoon together, if that and then all of a sudden they are in love! A bit unrealistic for me.
So, great story for the history and culture but not so much in the romance department.
Johnny Paynter flees Denver to escape being hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. At his brother’s ranch in Texas, where he thought he could take refuge, he finds his brother, Mark—dead. Taking advantage of his strong resemblance to his brother, Johnny assumes Mark’s identity.
Soon Johnny discovers that Mark had been corresponding with a widow named Sally in St. Louis, and she’s en route to be a mail-order bride to Mark. Seeing no other option, Johnny makes a fateful decision to go through with the wedding, posing as his brother. But Sally has secrets she's hiding, too.
How will a marriage survive with so much deception?
My Thoughts:
This review won't be long because I hate writing negative reviews :(
I have to be honest and tell you that I just didn't care much for this book.
There was so much potential, but I just didn't care bit for the characters. To me, they were just so wishy-washy.
I actually had to make myself finish the book so I can try to catch up on my Goodreads challenge :(
Anna 1944 Hunger twisted Anna McKenna's belly as she follow the deer track, leading the blood bay colt behind her. She didn't know where she was, and many days of walking hadn't lessened her fear that someone followed her. Every sound in the forest made her heart leap into her throat. Were they looking for her, the relatives who'd taken her in, claiming to want to give her a home? Would she starve to death before she found her way back to civilization? Would someone manage to take Shiloh's Star from her no matter how far she traveled?
I'm dealing with some Depression/Anxiety lately. I've been to the doctor and am tweaking my meds. I'd appreciate your prayers and good thoughts :)
The weather outside is::::
Well, we had some fall-like weather for a few days but it is supposed to heat back up. Crazy weather!
On my breakfast plate:
Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
As I look around the house::::
The hubby took vacation this week to have some good, solid time working on the addition. Between him having the time and my Dad's expertise on building, I'm hoping a lot gets accomplished this week. They're going to be working on the siding. After that gets done, it is just the inside finishing. I'm starting to see the light! It is very faint, but I see it! lol
The hubby also has made a rule that since my mother and I do all the cooking, the girls HAVE to do the dishes every night after supper or they don't get allowance. It has been a rocky start...
On today's to do list::::
Work 8am-11am
Exercise
Pick up the girls from school
Make Supper
Blog
WW tracking
Call vet for appt for puppy
Happening this week::::
Monday.... See above.
Tuesday... Work 8am-1pm, exercise, laundry Wednesday... Work 8am-1p,, exercise, schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting. Thursday... Work8am-1pm, exercise, Menu and Grocery List Friday... Off Work, Weigh-in, exercise, Groceries, Family Movie Night!
Saturday... Laundry, exercise, housework Sunday... Church, Exercise, Youth Group
Currently reading::::
I took a break from reading this week. I just couldn't focus or settle on what book to read. (See above about depression/anxiety). I've gotten quite a few books to add to the shelf this week though and decided to pick on of them to read next.
I love Robin Lee Hatcher's writing but haven't read anything by her for a while. I have this whole series, so I think this book is what I will try to read next.
On the TV::::
We finally had a Family Movie Night! The hubby picked up Wonder Woman and the new Transformers movie from the Redbox after work on Friday. Even though we went to see Wonder Woman in the theater, it was decided that we would watch it first. It is very entertaining to see such a strong female lead. Great movie, even if a bit cheesy now and then :)
Listening to:
I'm loving this song!
On the menu this week::::
Monday - BBQ Ribs, pierogis, corn, applesauce Tuesday - Chicken, Stuffing, green beans, peaches Wednesday - Pork Chops, alfredo noodles, peas, oranges Thursday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli, pears Friday - Pizza Saturday - Fish Fillets, homemade shells and cheese Sunday - Dinner at Church
What I am creating at the moment::::
I actually picked up my crochet hook and yarn this weekend! It has been a while. I'm just working on some granny square blocks. Something nice and easy and therapeutic.
Whether you've got 100 (or more) pounds to lose or just 5. Whether you've been weighing in for years or just starting. Whether you do Weight Watchers or some other diet or exercise program. Whether you are 65 or 25. I'd love, love, love to have your support and friendship in this constant struggle which is weight loss/healthy living.
So please leave a comment with a link to your fitness/healthy living/weigh-in post and let us be each other's accountability.
Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.
Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.
But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.
Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.
As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?
My Thoughts:
By now, you should know how much I love Denise Hunter's books. I just posted a review for Dancing With Fireflies a few weeks ago. I was really excited to find another book by this author hiding on my TBR shelf.
Here's where I made my mistake...
This is the 3rd book in the Summer Harbor Series. I haven't read the first 2 books yet and I definitely think that learning more about the Callahans and their family dynamics would have made this a 5 star book for me.
However, I truly did enjoy Just a Kiss. I just think I would have REALLY enjoyed it if I'd read the books leading up to it.
Also, the theme was a lot similar to Dancing with Fireflies. The hero having been in love with the leading lady for years without her knowing and just thinking of him as a friend or honorary family member.
Having said ALL that, I still have the first 2 books of the series on my wishlist and can't wait to get my hands on them :)
1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.
5 = not too shabby :)
When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!)
This summer. I always print off the map when we take a road trip.
back east, down south, out west, up north
Choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.
Out west. The book I'm reading takes place out west.
2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Is that typical?
Listening. I answer the phone a lot at work so that is mostly listening. I also listen to my kids bicker at one another quite frequently.
Describe your yesterday in one word.
Sleepy.
3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?
Probably power. I let my fan run all day and all night long... I guess I could turn it off in the morning...
4. Did your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.
We didn't really take big family vacations. We were more the day trip family. I remember visiting a fort nearby and learning about the history. I love history!
5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?
My hair. I keep getting it cut and then wanting it long. It is a never-ending cycle with me.
Paris, France September 1719 There it was again. Suddenly wide awake, Julianne covered her ears. Straw crunched beneath her, needling her skin through the ticking as she inched away from the dark stone wall and closer to the warm body beside her. The bedding, like the damp air forever clinging to her skin, reeked of wasted dumped into the creek beside the prison. On the nights when it was not her turn to sleep by the wall, elbows and knees of bedfellows on either side jabbed her ribs and spine. But it was the screaming that bothered Julianne the most.
This weekend was busy and full of Homecoming festivities. Kaylee didn't win Homecoming Queen but one of her good friends did so she wasn't upset. Overall, it was a great weekend :)
The weather outside is::::
It is raining! We really need the rain.
On my breakfast plate:
Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
As I look around the house::::
The roof on the entire house is DONE! I'm glad to be moving on to other projects. The siding on the addition will be next.
The excavator came and did the back-fill around the footer and other areas that had to be torn up to build the addition. We'll need to throw some grass seed soon so it can start growing.
On today's to do list::::
Work 8am-11am
Exercise
Pick up the girls from school
Make Supper
Blog
WW tracking
Pick up Puppy!
Happening this week::::
Monday.... See above.
Tuesday... Work 8am-1pm, exercise, laundry Wednesday... Work 8am-1p,, exercise, schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting. Thursday... Work8am-1pm, exercise, Menu and Grocery List Friday... Off Work, Weigh-in, exercise, Groceries, Family Movie Night!
Saturday... Laundry, exercise, housework Sunday... Church, Exercise, Youth Group
Currently reading::::
I just finished When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren and LOVED it! I love everything she writes. Next up is The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green. I don't think I've ever read anything by this author so I'm looking forward to reading it!
On the TV::::
I watched a bit of a Hallmark Movie that I don't even remember the name of . Other than that, no TV. Friday Night is scheduled for a Family Movie Night, though :)
Listening to:
On the menu this week::::
Monday - Cheeseburgers, homemade fries, peas, oranges Tuesday - Chicken Biscuit Bake, Corn, Peaches Wednesday - Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, broccoli, pears Thursday - Ham Pot Pie, Cole Slaw, Green Beans, Baked Apples Friday - Pizza Saturday - Grilled Cheese and Soup Sunday - Dinner at Church
