Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.
**Mailbox Monday is now hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.
What a week! There were some fabulous books, there was a little blogging, and I had numerous errands around the neighborhood, since it is the time of the month for stocking up on things. A nice lunch mid-week…and then, exciting news from Berlin. My eldest son and his wife are flying over on July 3, to visit with us! Yay! The photo, below, is an older one of the two of them. Since he is a photographer professionally, he is seldom photographed…funny how that works. And, of course, he has to joke around in front of the camera.
They will arrive in LA first, and then work their way up here. Suddenly I have the urge to clean the house and get everything ready!
Meanwhile, I did a little blogging.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Books & Bookstores- Nostalgic Moments
Tuesday Potpourri: Excerpts from “The New Neighbor”
Eagerly Awaiting: “We Never Asked for Wings”
Bookish Fridays: Excerpts from “The House of Memories”
Celebrating Family: Saturday Snapshots
Review: A Week at the Lake, by Wendy Wax (Review Book)
Review: Before We Met (e-book), by Lucie Whitehouse
Review: The Neighbors (e-book), by Ania Ahlborn
Review: The New Neighbor (e-book), by Leah Stewart (NetGalley)
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INCOMING BOOKS (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon):
I received ONE review book from NetGalley, and purchased two books: one download and one from Barnes & Noble.
(Addendum: On Saturday, I received a book from Amazon Vine)
Freedom’s Child, by Jax Miller
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Ana of California (e-book), by Andi Teran (NetGalley)
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Once Upon a Time There Was You (e-book), by Elizabeth Berg (Purchased for reread)
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Catching Air, by Sarah Pekkanen (Purchased from B & N)
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WHAT’S UP NEXT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Currently Reading: Ana of California (e-book), by Andi Teran (NetGalley)
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Those Secrets We Keep, by Emily Liebert (Vine)
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Blood Red, by Wendy Corsi Staub (Vine)
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That’s my week…I know that I’ll be busy getting ready for my European house guests (can you tell I’m excited?), so I don’t know how much reading I’ll get done.
Today I plan to keep binge-watching on Netflix. For the past couple of days, I’ve been watching Bloodline, with Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Kyle Chandler, Chloe Sevigny, etc.
Lots of drama within a family, the Rayburns, who run a hotel in the Florida Keys. Would you say that I am addicted? This always happens for me with these Netflix shows.
Enjoy your week…and I’m off to drink more coffee, too.
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Blood Red look interesting. Happy Reading Laurel. Enjoy your son’s visit 🙂
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I agree, and I am so excited about the upcoming visit! It has been EIGHT years since we’ve seen him (other than in photos or on Skype). Thanks for stopping by, Daniela.
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I’ve seen Ana from California before but I couldn’t remember where.. haha! I hope you enjoy your books! Happy reading!
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Thanks, Inah, I saw it here and there on blogs, and then requested it from NetGalley.
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YAY! How awesome that your son and his wife are coming for a visit! I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time together, Laurel-Rain 🙂
Your new books look good, I’m especially curious about Catching Air.
Enjoy your weekend and happy reading 🙂
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Thanks, Lexxie, it has been far too long since the eldest has been here for a visit…so excited. Glad you could stop by, and I am looking forward to Catching Air, too.
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I haven’t read any of these but happy reading! I want to watch “Bloodlines” but I haven’t had time yet.
Tsuki’s STS
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I just finished Season I of Bloodline….loved it, and it ended with a cliffhanger, so there had better be a Season II!
Thanks for stopping by, Tsuki, and enjoy your reading.
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How exciting for you – enjoy the preparations for their stay. Some great looking books as usual too this week…
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Thanks, Cleopatra, and as my office, with my stacks, is the guest room, there will be no shortage of reading material for my guests…LOL
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Congrats on your son coming home- awesome! I bet you can’t wait. 🙂 And Netflix- I love binging there, I can lose hours… LOL.
Ana of California looks good.
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Thanks, Greg, and I just finished Season I of Bloodline….and there is no Season II yet….I’ll be anxiously awaiting it.
I am enjoying Ana of California.
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Great haul this week!! All of these books are new to me, but I hope you enjoy them. I totally understand the Netflix addiction. I have been working my way through 5 seasons of Hawaii Five-0. I’m also watching Vampire Diaries. Enjoy the time with your family this week!!
Thanks for stopping by my STS!!
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I think I could never watch everything I want to watch on Netflix…the shows are endless…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Jacque, and enjoy your week.
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Great haul this week! I have been hearing many good things about Ana of California.
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
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Thanks, Krystianna, and I’ve been hearing good things, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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I like the premise for Ana of California. Hope it turns out good. Loved the Bloodline series. By the time you get to the last episode I found my feelings for each character very different from what I felt at the start of the season.
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Oh, yes, I found my feelings changed about the characters in Bloodline, too. Thanks for stopping by, vvb, and I am enjoying Ana of California.
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There is nothing like the thought of visitors to get me up and cleaning out the house! I expect we are all the same. Enjoy any reading you do get done and family visit which is extra special.
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Yes, after eight years, at long last, they are coming. The last time my son was here, I lived in the foothills and had a house, with a separate guesthouse. That was more conducive to guests, but I’m glad I moved back into the city. Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn…and I don’t enjoy house cleaning unless I am expecting guests. Then I speed through it all…LOL
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Wow, a lot happening in your world. I hope the visit from your son goes well. (And I’m sure it will!)
A few books there which look interesting and I’m intrigued by Bloodline which I’ve never heard of. We now have Netflix here in Australia but I haven’t got into it yet.
Deb
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Thanks, Deborah, and while he doesn’t come often, when he does, he usually sticks around for a few months. I hope that is the case now, too. Enjoy your week.
Hope you find something on Netflix to fully engage you…I chose Bloodline because of Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard starring in it. And because it’s about family.
I also loved Grace and Frankie, with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Now I am back to watching House of Cards…just finished Season 1.
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Once Upon A Time there Was You looks good How exciting that your son and daughter-in-law are coming..you must be so excited. Enjoy watching Bloodline today 🙂
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Thanks, Kimba, and I stayed glued to Bloodline until I finished that Season 1…now I can’t wait for Season II, which will come….when? Who knows. House of Cards is another one I’m watching.
I am definitely excited about my son and DIL….it’s like waiting for Christmas, though; a whole week now before they’re here!
I remember enjoying Once Upon a Time There Was You…but it’s been a while, and that cover made me eager to relive it.
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I hope you have fun with your son and daughter in law. It is strange how photographers are never have their pictures taken. I love the cover of ANA OF CALIFORNIA. Have a great week.
Megan @ http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk
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Yes, I guess the photographers are not in control when they are IN the picture…it makes them nervous…LOL.
Looking forward to seeing them…and I probably won’t get much reading done once they’re here.
Thanks for stopping by, Megan.
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I love the cover on the Elizabeth Berg book.
I hope you have a lot of fun with your son and Daughter in law.
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Thanks, Steph, I love that cover, too, and I’m definitely excited about the upcoming visit. Enjoy your week.
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ENJOY the visit with your son.
I still haven’t read anything from Elizabeth Berg…I need to.
Looks like you had a good week.
This “Rainy Days” blog is perfect for Pittsburgh…it has been raining non-stop all week and the temperatures have dropped. We were in the 90’s and now freezing in the rain and 60’s, but better than snow and winter. 🙂
Elizabeth
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Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth, and while I love all of Berg’s books, I hope you start with some of the earlier ones…like Open House. Or The Art of Mending. Enjoy….and I plan to savor the visit.
I have heard it’s raining in your parts….hope you stay dry and your power stays on.
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I really want to see Bloodline, alas no Netflix but hopefully will eventually turn up on my digital tv box soon!
Heather @ Random Redheaded Ramblings
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Oh, so sad about no Netflix for you….I don’t know how I managed without it, but that’s what we do. I wish I had the Hallmark channel on my line-up, but we don’t, and I’m always hearing about great movies I want to see. But now I realize those movies are on YouTube, and I can get that with my Blu-Ray…so off to check it out.
Thanks for visiting, Heather, and enjoy your week.
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I think I’m the only person on the planet who doesn’t have Netflix. I might have to look into that because I love Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard!!
I’m so excited for you to have your son and his wife home!!!! I hope you have a fantastic visit… enjoy!!!!
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Thanks, Kristin, I do love my Netflix…and I’m very excited by my upcoming visitors! Yay! It has been too long (eight years!).
Enjoy your week….and I’m glad you could stop by.
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Blood Red looks really good. I hope you have a great time with family!
sherry @ fundinmental Sherry’s Shelves
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Thanks, Sherry, me too…and every time I think I have everything in order, I think of something else. Lists! Glad you could visit, and enjoy your week.
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I am always excited when any of my sons visit and they don’t live as far away as yours. I know you will enjoy every minute of their visit.
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Oh, definitely, Jo…and my daughter is already clamoring for her time with Big Bro, her favorite brother. She has a nice, big house and a swimming pool…LOL. Seductive, right? But I told her we can share, and she can have us all over. I think she bought it.
Thanks for stopping by.
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What wonderful news about your son and daughter-in-law’s visit! And your new books look scrumptious. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Lark, I am very excited about the books…and my special visitors! Yay!
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I was just thinking about rereading Elizabeth Berg this week. When I was writing my Pages From the Past Post on 1999, it turned out she was my most read author that year. Don’t think I’ve read her at all in the last 8 or 10 years.
Sounds like you will have an extra special long holiday weekend ahead – enjoy!
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I really love her books, JoAnn….and I know I had a copy of one of her older ones, and one of my favorites, Open House. Can’t find it! I may have purged it when I moved here. I am tempted to download it….
I have her newest one, The Dream Lover, but it’s a departure from her usual style and I’m worried that I will be disappointed.
Thanks for stopping by, and I am super-excited about my holiday weekend visitors…and they will be staying around for a while. We plan to head up north to visit my youngest son, and my second son is on his way here around the weekend, too.
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Looks like you had a very productive week. That’s exciting when they come home to visit! It’s funny my mom was a professional photographer and she was always behind the camera. I’m not familiar with these new books but several of them look interesting. Thanks so much for sharing and have a great week. My Sunday Post
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Thanks, Mandy, glad you could stop by, and I am definitely excited about my visitors….and my new books.
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I used to read every Elizabeth Berg, hot off the press, but I’ve missed several in a row now. Let’s see what you think (or re-think, I suppose, since this is a reread).
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/06/sunday-salon-my-week-in-books.html
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Yes, I remember loving it, Deb, although some readers didn’t. But then again, those readers were not really Berg fans from way back.
I have acquired her newer ones, but some of the older ones are my favorites. Thanks for stopping by.
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Laurel hope you enjoy your time with your son and daughter-in-law, what a nice surprise. Enjoy 😉
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Definitely, Angelica. I knew they were coming in the next few months, but then the surprise of the July 3 arrival put me into excitement mode. Thanks for stopping by.
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Enjoy your visit with your son and his wife! I’m sure you’re counting the days. I haven’t watched Bloodlines yet but it does look so good. I love the look of the Elizabeth Berg. I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever read anything by her or if she’s just one of those that I’ve always felt like I should read. Have a great week!
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Thanks for visiting, Katherine, and I think I’ve read most of Berg’s books, but the cover on this one made me stop and wonder. As I read the blurb, I realized I had read it, but it was a while ago.
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I always like how you say you did a little blogging and then link to 10 blog posts. 😉 I think that’s more than a little but that’s just me :).
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Ha-ha…Yes, you are right…It is more than a little…Maybe I’m being ironic…LOL
Thanks for stopping by, Bryan, and enjoy your week.
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Some interesting sounding books but think I’d pick Those Secrets We Keep if I had to choose.
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I am eager to read that one, Emma…getting ready to start it now. Thanks for stopping by.
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Catching Air and Secrets sounds like great picks. Hope you enjoy and have a great upcoming week and 4th of July!
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I agree….before blogging, I had never read either of these authors. I love how I am discovering “new favorites” through blogs.
Thanks for visiting, Brandleigh.
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My week was a lot like yours. Have a wonderful holiday weekend with your family. I have a brother coming down this week and my mother is too. We’ll all be getting together at my sister’s in Florida for funnin and sunnin!
My Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/06/28/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-115-and-the-sunday-post/
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Isn’t it fun to get together with family, especially those who live far away? Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and enjoy.
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Your books look wonderful! I hope you enjoy them and have a great week!
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Thanks, Yvonne, I do plan to enjoy them all…and the week. Glad you could stop by.
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You must be so excited about your visitors and the fact that you don’t have long to wait is great. Nice haul too. Enjoy 🙂
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Thanks, Trish, it feels long overdue, but now the countdown will be rapid. Glad you could stop by.
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Yummy books…I have a few of those and have read a few of those….but family coming! How exciting! But…wait a minute…will you have to actually cook?
Oh my!
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Ha-ha….I might be able to sidestep that issue, since the last time my son visited, he did all the cooking…or we had takeout. Also, my daughter is eager to “strut her stuff,” doing dinners, etc.
My kitchen is too tiny for much cooking, though…we may have to eat out a lot.
Thanks for stopping by, Patty, and enjoy your week.
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Have a great visit with your family! How exciting!
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Thanks, Jen, I plan to enjoy the visit!
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It looks like you had a fantastic week! I hope you enjoy all your new books!
Tracy @ Cornerfolds
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Thanks, Tracy, I hope you have a great week, too.
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Awesome week you had! Glad your son is coming home! Here’s my Sunday Post:
https://rabbitearsblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/the-sunday-post-meme-12/
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Thanks, “Rabbit Ears,” glad you could visit, and I am definitely happy about my son coming to visit. Enjoy your week.
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Thanks!
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Lots of great reading there. I too have had a little Netflix binge recently – it’s relatively new for us here in Australia, that’s my excuse (and I’m sticking to it!). Have a wonderful time with your family!
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Thanks for visiting, Jo, and I have had Netflix a while…and I’m still addicted! LOL. There is something so wonderful about being able to watch a show from start to finish. Enjoy your week, and I plan to enjoy my family.
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Hope you have a lovely visit with your son and daughter-in-law! Ana of California and The Secrets We Keep look great to me. Happy reading 🙂
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Thanks, Lucy, I am excited about the visit….and the books, too. Finished Ana of California and enjoyed it. Now I am reading Those Secrets We Keep and Blood Red, going back and forth. I don’t often do that.
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Catching Air has been on my TBR list for a while. I just need time to read for myself instead of review books, you know? Have a wonderful time with your son and his wife, Laurel.
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Thanks, Mary, and I am going to cut back a little on review books, as I have so many books on Pippa that I want to read…sooner rather than later. I am looking forward to Craig and Gabi coming for a visit!
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I know you’re excited to see your son and daughter-in-law! What a wonderful holiday treat for you!! I’m really looking forward to Ana of California.
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Thanks, Kathy, I completely agree about how exciting this will be. There are many family events over the weekend, with another son coming through with his three kids, too; and to top it off, Fiona is spending time with me this week, getting ready to go off to college.
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A Week At The Lake is one I want to look at soon! Looks like another good week Laurel 🙂
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I’m definitely looking forward to it, Sheila. Thanks for stopping by.
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Happy reading this week!
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Thanks, Serena, hope the same for you!
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I hope you have an amazing visit with your son and his wife. I know you must be so excited!
Enjoy your new books!
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I am very excited about the upcoming visit, Vicki…it has been too long, and Skype is not quite the same as a real visit. Thanks for stopping by.
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Like your mailbox. Is that Elizabeth Berg title a new one? I see you’re rereading it. I’ve never never seen this title. I can tell your all excited about your son and wife coming to visit from Berlin. I think all photographers are nice and gentle people. Hope time flies for you.
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Thanks, Hattie, and the Berg book is an older one, but I felt the urge to reread it. And yes, I am very excited about my son and DIL coming to visit!
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Cleaning is so overrated. Hope your visit goes well. We’re on vacation right now, so I didn’t post today. Looks like you’ve got some great reading material–especially Catching Air.
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Oh, I know, Cheryl…I have mixed feelings about it, but always seem to do it before guests arrive…LOL. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve been curious about Ana of California, I hope you are enjoying it! Enjoy your new books!
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I couldn’t put it down, Kay, so it’s finished. Review is on An Interior Journey.
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Yay, not long til you see your family, what a great surprise! Like everyone, Ana of California looks awesome to me!
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It will be like a long overdue Christmas, or something; I am so excited I can’t see straight…LOL.
Thanks for stopping by, Sam.
Ana of California was delightful…I reviewed it on An Interior Journey.
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Nice book week. . . but more exciting than books is a visit with your son!
In the days before cameras in phones, I was always the event photographer and rarely got into any photos. I used to take a selfie in a mirror to prove I was there!
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Ha-ha…yes, that’s a photographer, all right. I am very excited about the upcoming visit…it has been too long! Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.
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Oh I had not heard of the Bloodline series. Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek?! Ok I’m in. I just tried an episode of True Detective which is a bit spooky. I will tentatively see if I will continue more of the series hmm. Many good shows! I look forward to hear what you think of Ana of California.
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I enjoyed Ana of California, and reviewed it on An Interior Journey. I thought it would be my cup of tea because of the foster care issues, and it was.
Bloodline was so good that I watched all of Season I and can’t wait for the next one.
Thanks for stopping by, Susan…I haven’t watched True Detective yet….
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