Thursday, January 30, 2025

My Weekly Bookishness ~ 1/30/2025


All things bookish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I Read:
~~~~~~~~~~

What I'm Reading:


This book is the February 2025 selection for the Good for the Soul Women's Book Club over on FB and Instagram.  (We're actually reading this book as a read-a-long and chatting about each week's passage on Saturdays.)  It is such a great group and we have the best conversations about books through Zoom.  There's still time to join in!  

Blurb:

Is your quest to love yourself more actually making you miserable?

We're told that the key to happiness is self-love. Instagram influencers, mommy bloggers, self-help gurus, and even Christian teachers promise that if we learn to love ourselves, we'll be successful, secure, and complete. But the promise doesn't deliver. Instead of feeling fulfilled, our pursuit of self-love traps us in an exhausting as we strive for self-acceptance, we become addicted to self-improvement.

The truth is we can't find satisfaction inside ourselves because we are the problem. We struggle with feelings of inadequacy because we are inadequate. Alone, we are not good enough, smart enough, or beautiful enough. We're not enough--period. And that's okay, because God is.

The answer to our insufficiency and insecurity isn't self-love, but God's love. In Jesus, we're offered a way out of our toxic culture of self-love and into a joyful life of relying on him for wisdom, satisfaction, and purpose. We don't have to wonder what it's all about anymore. This is it.

This book isn't about battling your not-enoughness; it's about embracing it. Allie Beth Stuckey, a Christian, conservative new mom, found herself at the dead end of self-love, and she wants to help you combat the false teachings and self-destructive mindsets that got her there. In this book, she uncovers the myths popularized by our culture of trendy narcissism, reveals where they manifest in politics and the church, and dismantles them with biblical truth and practical wisdom.

~~~~~~~~~~~

What I'll (Probably) Read Next:


Blurb:

Miss Clara Marie Stanton's family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren't insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society's prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.

~~~~~~~~

Book Haul:


   ~~~~~~~~~~

Book Blogger Hop:

Q.  Have you ever asked yourself, "Why did I buy this book?" (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)  

A.   Of course!  Hasn't every reader?

That is what an unhaul is for :)

~~~~~~~~~~

Bookishly Yours,


Linking up to: 

   

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/



Book Review ~ The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ 1/30/2025


~~~~~~~~~~~~




Title:   "The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Series:  The Librarian of Boone's Hollow Book 1
Format:  AudioBook
Narrator:  Kate Forbes
Length:  12 hours 32 minutes
Date Published:  October 13, 2020
Publisher:   Recorded Book Inc.
Stars: *****

 Blurb:

During the Great Depression, Addie Cowherd dreams of being a novelist and offering readers the escape that books gave her during her tragic childhood. When her adoptive father loses his job, she is forced to leave college and take the only employment she can find--delivering books on horseback to poor coal mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

The small community of Boone's Hollow is suspicious of outsiders and steeped in superstitions that leave Addie feeling rejected and indignant. Although she finds an unexpected friend in an elderly outcast, the other horseback librarians scorn her determination to befriend Nanny Fay.

Emmett Tharp grew up in the tiny mountain hamlet where most men either work in the coal mine or run moonshine. He's the first in the community to earn a college degree, and he has big dreams, but witnesses the Depression robbing many young men of their future.

Then someone sets out to sabotage the library program, going so far as to destroy Addie's novel in progress. Will the saboteur chase Addie and the other librarians away, or will knowledge emerge victorious over prejudice? Is Emmett the local ally that Addie needs--and might their friendship lead to something more?

Inspired by the real WPA program that sent librarians on horseback to deliver books to hill families in Kentucky, Kim Vogel Sawyer immersed herself in Appalachian history to tell this captivating story.

My Thoughts:

Where to begin?

I guess I'll start by saying that this was my first ever audiobook!  I never ever thought I'd be an audiobook-er but I think I'm hooked!  I can only hope that all narrators are as good as Kate Forbes.  I enjoyed her voice(s) immensely.

I don't know that I would have picked this book up by myself, but it was the January selection for the "Good for the Soul Women's Book Club".  (We actually JUST got done with our Zoom book discussion about 30 minutes ago.)  I'll even admit that I didn't vote for this book in the selection process.  However, I'm so glad it won out!

I honestly don't know where to start reviewing this story so I'll just jump in.

AMAZING!

At first, though, I was a bit hesitant because the story seemed to be unfolding rather slowly.  As I continued on, I can now see that it was necessary so that the main picture could evolve.

I would say that there were actually 4 main characters in this book.  Emmett, Addie, Bettina, and Nanny Fay.  Nanny Fay was actually my favorite character in the whole book!  She was so wise and full of faith and trust in the LORD even after her rather hard life story.

The main theme of this book was not romance, at least in my opinion.  (In fact, there was very little romance until the Epilogue.  Definitely a slow burn kind of book.)  Instead it was about relationships.  And I loved it!

It was so interesting to read bout the library initiative during the Great Depression.  Books open a person up to a whole world that otherwise would have never been experienced and I feel like "The Librarian of Boone's Hollow' did just that for me.

Kim Vogel Sawyer masterfully wove a community of characters that will stay with me for quite some time.  

Onto the next book :)


~~~~~~~

P.S.

I decided to make a fun game for myself out of the 2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge.  Instead of seeing how many books I can read for each prompt, I'm going to see how many prompts I can fill with each book I read/listen to.

"The Librarian of Boone's Hollow" by Kim Vogel Sawyer fills the following prompts:

1.  Mode of Transportation  - Mule
2.  Bookish Elements - Books
3.  Silhouette or Shadow - Silhouette of horse and rider
4.  Proper Noun in the title or design - Boone's Hollow

That brings the tally to:

4  

prompts filled in just one book!

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday~ 1/27/2025


Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello and Happy Monday!!!!!

And just like that we're on the last Monday of January 2025.

February is going to be bitter-sweet for me.  Yes, we've (almost) made it through January, but on Sunday, February 2nd my little Groundhog Baby turns 18 years old!  Where have the years gone?  The hubby and I will have our 25th dating anniversary in March, Kaylee turns 24 in June and Laken is days away from being 18.  Our little family is grown up and I'm feeling a bit emotional thinking about it...so...

Let's get this show on the road :)

The weather outside is:

A touch warmer than last week.  Actually, a lot warmer than last week...lol!  Schools in our area were either closed or delayed for 3 days last week due to the cold temperatures.  Well, I guess I should say schools were "virtual".



On today's to-do list:

**I'm typing this on Sunday afternoon/evening (for reference).**

I work 10a-5p.  Other than that it should be a fairly normal day of trying to get back into the routine of the week.

Happening this week:

I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10a-5p.

Wednesday is my SIL, Kelly's, birthday.  Any ideas what I can give to her as a birthday gift?

Thursday evening is zoom meeting night for the Good for the Soul Women's Book Club.  I have a whole post about our February 2025 book selection, you can check that out HERE.  But first, I have to finish listening to January's book!

Saturday, we'll be celebrating Laken's birth.  We're thinking of getting dressed up and taking her out to a nice restaurant in the evening.

Sunday, we'll be celebrating Laken's birthday.  I'm not sure what we'll do on her actual birthday other than have cake at Church for her.  Any good ideas?

Currently reading:

I wrote on Friday's "My Weekly Bookishness" post that I've finally discovered listening to audio-books.  "The Librarian of Boone's Hollow" by Kim Vogel Sawyer is my first ever audio-book.  It is the January 2025 book club selection and as I mentioned above, I need to finish it before 8pm on Thursday.  I only have a few more hours to listen to so I "think" I'll make it.  


Listening to:

"Oh Death" by MercyMe debuted on KLOVE radio a few days ago and they played it every hour at the top of the hour.  I love it!  Let me know what you think.  Enjoy :)


Watching:

NFL Championship games.  By the time you read this it will probably be decided what teams will be playing in the Super Bowl.  At this point, 5:06pm on Sunday, it isn't looking good for my nephew's team the Commanders.  They are down 15-27.

The hubby has recommended that I catch up on the past 2 seasons of "Reacher" so that I can watch season 3 with him when it airs.  I've 2 episodes in and look forward to watching more.

In the Kitchen:

I haven't spent much time in the kitchen creating this past week but Laken and Nate made Cookie Monster Cookies.  They, of course, were blue :)

In the Craft Basket:

I've been working away in my "off" time on items for the Spring Fling Vendor show happening in the beginning of April.  Last week I completed all 16 Mabel Chickens that I wanted to get made.  4 Gray Loaf Cats.  1 Ivory Loaf Cat.  And 1 Yellow Peep Bunny.  Shown below are the Ivory Loaf Cat and the Yellow Peep Bunny.  

Let me know what you think of the Peep.  Should I make more as it will be a Spring Fling show a few weeks before Easter.  Or should I just make yellow, green and purple Leggy Frogs?



Picture(s) from the Camera






Prayer Requests

~Winter traveling safety.

~I need to get into a good routine of work, home and self-care.  I've been a bit scattered lately and need to find my self-discipline again.  Pray for me as I work on this.  (continued)

~As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all school/college kids.  (continued)

~Our Country, our Leaders.  (continued)


Bible Verse

"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."

James 4:10

Have a great week!

Colletta

Good for the Soul Women's Book Club ~ February 2025 Selection

Prairie, the fearless leader of the Good for the Soul Women's Book Club, has announced that we are going to have a read-a-long for our February 2025 Book Club Selection!

The book we'll be reading is "You're Not Enough (and that's okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey.


~~~~~~

BLURB:

From one of the sharpest Christian voices of her generation and host of the podcast Relatable comes a framework for escaping our culture of trendy narcissism—and embracing God instead. 

We're told that the key to happiness is self-love. Instagram influencers, mommy bloggers, self-help gurus, and even Christian teachers promise that if we learn to love ourselves, we'll be successful, secure, and complete. But the promise doesn't deliver. Instead of feeling fulfilled, our pursuit of self-love traps us in an exhausting cycle: as we strive for self-acceptance, we become addicted to self-improvement.

The truth is we can't find satisfaction inside ourselves because 
we are the problem. We struggle with feelings of inadequacy because we are inadequate. Alone, we are not good enough, smart enough, or beautiful enough. We're not enough--period. And that's okay, because God is.

The answer to our insufficiency and insecurity isn't self-love, but God's love. In Jesus, we're offered a way out of our toxic culture of self-love and into a joyful life of relying on him for wisdom, satisfaction, and purpose. We don't have to wonder what it's all about anymore. This is it.

This book isn't about battling your not-enoughness; it's about embracing it. Allie Beth Stuckey, a Christian, conservative new mom, found herself at the dead end of self-love, and she wants to help you combat the false teachings and self-destructive mindsets that got her there. In this book, she uncovers the myths popularized by our self-obsessed culture, reveals where they manifest in politics and the church, and dismantles them with biblical truth and practical wisdom.

~~~~~~~~~

There were three options for ordering this book:  hardcopy (actually hardcover), Kindle and audio.  This time I decided to order the hardcopy.  I anticipate wanting to really mark this book up with notes as we discuss each week in our Facebook chat.  My copy should arrive January 30th, so just in time to get started :)

Prairie even made us a schedule for the read-a-long!


I hope you'll come check out the Book Club and maybe even decide to join in!

Colletta

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

My Weekly Bookishness ~ 1/23/2025


All things bookish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I Read:

I haven't finished a book in ages.  However, I recently (think:  this week) discovered that I do indeed enjoy listening to audiobooks!  Well, so far, audiobook (singular).  I signed up for Audible for $.99 for 3 months and I intend to put it to good use!

I'm loving it because I can get immersed in a story while still being crafty and working on items for the Spring Fling vendor show I signed up for that is coming the first week of April.

I'm looking forward to being able to share more here very soon!

~~~~~~~~~~

What I'm Reading:


I'm really excited to listen to this book!  It is the January selection for the Good for the Soul Women's Book Club over on FB and Instagram.  It is such a great group and we have the best conversations about books through Zoom.  There's still time to join in!  

Blurb:

During the Great Depression, Addie Cowherd dreams of being a novelist and offering readers the escape that books gave her during her tragic childhood. When her adoptive father loses his job, she is forced to leave college and take the only employment she can find--delivering books on horseback to poor coal mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

The small community of Boone's Hollow is suspicious of outsiders and steeped in superstitions that leave Addie feeling rejected and indignant. Although she finds an unexpected friend in an elderly outcast, the other horseback librarians scorn her determination to befriend Nanny Fay.

Emmett Tharp grew up in the tiny mountain hamlet where most men either work in the coal mine or run moonshine. He's the first in the community to earn a college degree, and he has big dreams, but witnesses the Depression robbing many young men of their future.

Then someone sets out to sabotage the library program, going so far as to destroy Addie's novel in progress. Will the saboteur chase Addie and the other librarians away, or will knowledge emerge victorious over prejudice? Is Emmett the local ally that Addie needs--and might their friendship lead to something more?

~~~~~~~~~~~

What I'll (Probably) Read Next:


I've had this book on my Kindle for a few months but when I went to actually read the book there was a problem downloading it.  So I downloaded the audiobook.  I can NOT wait to get to listen to it!

Blurb:

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other without any time passing. She has one conscious mind but two very different lives and bodies.

In colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an undesirable English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe further complicates matters and forces her to make sacrifices she never imagined.

On her twenty-first birthday, Libby must choose one path and forfeit the other forever--but how can she possibly choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

~~~~~~~~

Book Haul:





   ~~~~~~~~~~

Book Blogger Hop:

Q.  What books do you look to for inspiration at the start of the year or to motivate you to make positive changes in your life? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)  

A.   The obvious, main book I look to for inspiration is the Bible.  In the past, I've done the "read-through-the-Bible-in-a-Year".  This typically started at the beginning of the year and is a major goal.

In other reading, I'm usually just looking for a book that I will get captivated by enough to finish and not DNF it.

Every once in a while, I will read a non-fiction self-help/self-care/organizational book but those are few and far between.

~~~~~~~~~~

Bookishly Yours,


Linking up to: 

   

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/



Sunday, January 19, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 1/20/25


Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello and Happy Monday!!!!!

I know it is only slightly past the midway point of January, but I am so over this Winter stuff.  I long for at least a little bit of a reprieve.  I'm not usually one to wish the time away but I am so ready for Spring!

Let's get this show on the road :)

The weather outside is:

Today:


This week:  bitterly cold...


On today's to-do list:

**I'm typing this on Sunday afternoon/evening (for reference).**

No work for me or school for Laken Monday.  Thank you, Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr!  I'm especially thankful not to have to worry about traveling to work/School in the morning.  However, the hubby still has work tonight (Sunday night).  I'm not really thrilled about him driving in this snowy mess, but he is not one to call off work often especially for weather.

Happening this week:

I work Wednesday and Friday 10a-5p.

Tuesday Laken has an eye appointment in the afternoon.  If you recall, I had an eye appointment last Thursday.  It is so strange because I was fully expecting to have to order bifocal/progressive glasses this year as it is getting harder and harder to read find print.  Instead, my eye Dr. took my contact prescription down two notches!  I have to say that it IS much easier to read fine print but long distances are a bit fuzzy.  She also gave me a pair of contacts that are only one notch lower than my normal prescription strength to try.  I have to let her know which strength I am more comfortable with before ordering my contacts for the year.  Has anyone else had this experience and how did it work for you?

On Thursday, we are traveling to WVU to tour.  It is approximately two hours away (maybe a little less).  Laken was approved for an educational field trip so she doesn't have to go to school that day.  So that means:  no school Monday, I expect a virtual day for her on Tuesday due to the cold temperatures, Wednesday could go either way virtual or no school, Thursday is the field trip and there is no school on Friday (pre-planned day off for the district).   Crazy week!

Currently reading:

I tried to start reading "When the Day Comes" by Gabrielle Meyer but it wouldn't load on my Kindle!  Instead I "started" reading "Pride and Precipitation" by Heather Horrocks.  I've read ONE chapter all week!  I really want to read at least one chapter a day before bed.  Maybe even 30 minutes a day.  I haven't been participating in YouTube Reading Sprints lately, but would like to get back into that to get some reading in.


Listening to:

My Aunt Donna sang this song Sunday morning in Church.  I really  listened to the words and wow!  Each and every one of us was and is on His mind.  Always!  Enjoy :)


Watching:

We had a Family Game Time at Kaylee and Shawn's on Saturday afternoon/evening.  We had the football playoff games on in the background.  It was the KC Chiefs and the Houston Texans.  KC won.  Blah!

Later, after we got home the Commanders (Redskins) and the Lions were playing.  My nephew LOVES the Commanders, so I was glad for him that they won.

Right now the Eagles and the Chargers are playing but it is a SNOWY mess in Philadelphia.  It looks like the Eagles are going to win.

Other than football, we finished Season 1 of Cross on Prime.  What a wild ride that show was!  Again, please be aware if you decide to watch it that there is a lot of inappropriate (and unnecessary) language and some scenes.

In the Kitchen:

Kaylee and I ended up making the Stuffed Shells for supper Saturday.  I haven't had the opportunity to cook with her much since she got married and I must say that I was impressed with how much she has progressed in her cooking skills.  Shawn in a good cook also but we gave him the night off :)

In the Craft Basket:

I've been working away in my "off" time on items for the Spring Fling Vendor show happening in the beginning of April.  Last week I showed you a Speckled Mabel Chicken.  I completed 8 speckled and almost completed 1 white chicken.  I also made a gray Load Cat.  I love the pattern and think they are super cute.  I'm just not sure about the whiskers.  In a way, I think a cat NEEDS whiskers.  In another way, they kinda look funky.  What do you think?




Picture(s) from the Camera


Such a pretty sky a few days ago!


My view while making Sunday lunch!

Prayer Requests

~Winter traveling safety.  Especially the hubby for work tonight, Nate as he travels back to college at WVU and our trip to WVU on Thursday.

~I need to get into a good routine of work, home and self-care.  I've been a bit scattered lately and need to find my self-discipline again.  Pray for me as I work on this.  (continued)

~As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all school/college kids.  (continued)

~Our Country, our Leaders.  (continued)


Bible Verse

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 7:12

Have a great week!

Colletta