WEEKLY UPDATES: LOTS OF RAIN & A BIT OF SUNSHINE…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

picmonkey-image-february-updates

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 hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

Good morning, and welcome to another weekend of chatting about books and blogging.  My week was pitiful, as I only finished reading and reviewing TWO books, but both qualified for the reading challenge…now totaling 18 books read and reviewed.

I spent some time watching Scandal on Netflix, and also saw a movie based on a book I’d enjoyed:  American Pastoral. (That one was On Demand).

On Friday, I was a bit bored and not wanting to read any more…so I created some new blog headers for my Serendipity site…and changed them about three times…LOL.  Here’s what I ended up with:

 

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We’ve had a lot of rain, but Monday started out with a sunny day, which my granddaughter and I celebrated with lunch and shopping.  She was visiting for the week from her training program in San Jose.  Every time I see her, she has a “new look.”  Ouch, right?

 

fionas-new-look-framed

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I had errands to run and a tax appointment with my accountant…which ended better than expected.  So, what a relief!

After my appointment, I relaxed into an early dinner at Marie Callender’s.  Chicken Pot Pie and Caesar Salad…and a book.

 

dinner-at-maries-framed

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON MY BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Routines & Changes….

Monday Potpourri:  Exciting New Read!

Let’s Curl up with “The Trophy Child”

Hump Day Serendipity:  Luxuriating in Books…

Hump Day Potpourri:  Books, Food, & Fun…

Coffee Chat:  A Morning of Books, Taxes, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “Right Behind You”

Serendipitous Moments:  Blog Headers, Decor, & Nostalgia…

Weekend Potpourri:  Creative Changes…

Review:  My Husband’s Wife (e-book), by Jane Corrycropped-again-5Review:  The Vanishing Year (e-book), by Kate Moretticropped-again-5

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

I received one review book in my mailbox…and downloaded a review book from NetGalley. Then I purchased THREE  FOUR downloads…I couldn’t resist.

How Will I Know You?, by Jessica Treadway (Amazon Vine)

 

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One Perfect Lie (e-book), by Lisa Scottoline (NetGalley – 4/11/17)

 

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Downloads I Purchased:

Vivian in Red (e-book), by Kristina Riggle

 

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Heartbreak Hotel (e-book, An Alex Delaware Novel), by Jonathan Kellerman

 

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Eeny Meeney (e-book, Helen Grace #1), by M. J. Arlidge

 

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And…one I almost forgot about!

The Good Daughter (e-book), by Alexandra Burt

 

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WHAT’S UP NEXT?

Currently Reading:  Right Behind You (e-book), by Lisa Gardner

 

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Then…maybe these, or wherever my mood takes me….

The Trophy Child (e-book), by Paula Daly (NetGalley – 3/7)

 

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Rainy Day Women (e-book), by Kay Kendall

 

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That was my week….what did yours look like?  Let’s share a Cup of Joe…and perhaps a mimosa.

 

coffeemimosa-morning

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88 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: LOTS OF RAIN & A BIT OF SUNSHINE…”

  1. Ha love your granddaughters new look although think I’ll pass on getting the same! Two books is still great although I know for you on the low side. Nice to see so many incoming books and the thing is…. you do get to them!! Always nice to dabble with blog headers!

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn, I do love dabbling with those blog headers…and as for my granddaughter, she is a constant surprise, with changes every time I see her.

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for stopping by. Yes, two books is pretty good, especially since whole days were spent doing other things.

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    1. Thanks, Katherine, I’m a big fan of chicken pot pie, too…and another item I love there, which they don’t have right now, is Shepherd’s pie.

      I am always amazed at what my granddaughter does next….and I am beginning to think the “eye candy” is just stick-on, as I don’t think she would have piercings that close to her eyes. I hope. I haven’t seen her in person since that photo.

      I have loved the look of the Helen Grace series since I first noticed it. Enjoy your week!

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  5. Greg Hill

    I like the new header- looks very sun room-ish. Love rooms like that! And glad you got some time with your granddaughter! She’s braver than me… 🙂

    Can’t WAIT to see what you think of How Will I Know You? And Right Behind You Too?

    Chicken pot pie. Yum!!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Greg, I love a sun room look, too…window seats and sun rooms are things I wish for. I once had window seats in my house, which I sold ten years ago..and I miss them.

      I am enjoying Right Behind You, and I’m thinking that How Will I Know You? will be a page turner, too.

      Enjoy your week…and I’m also thinking about how delicious the chicken pot pie was!

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  6. Oh wow, so many books there I love this week Laurel. The new Scottoline, Kellerman and Paula Daly! I have book envy.

    And I’m trying to work out if they’re piercings near your granddaughter’s eyes or just stick on things?!

    And (on that note) I feel old and dull!

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    1. Thanks, Deborah, I love all of those authors…cannot wait for their new releases each year, and sometimes they go longer than a year.

      As for the “piercings,” I am guessing stick-on, as I hope she wouldn’t pierce herself that close to her eyes. She didn’t have them Monday when I saw her….and I know she loves to freak out the “oldsters.”

      If you feel old, imagine how I feel? LOL.

      Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Ronyell, and I waited all this time (until Netflix) to watch Scandal, and I think it was mainly because I don’t like the actor who portrays POTUS on the show…(Tony Goldwyn). (He killed Patrick Swayze’s character on Ghost…LOL.) And he often plays seedy characters.

      But now I am focusing on the other characters…and the story.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks, Maureen, I think I am finally satisfied with that header, but it sure took a lot of trial runs with other images.

      I am a big fan of Chicken Pot Pie, as you can probably tell…I almost always order it at Marie Callender’s. But I think if I made it, I wouldn’t like it much. I am so out of practice with cooking, having done very minimal and simple cooking in the past few years (cooking for one).

      Thanks for visiting!

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  11. It has certainly been a busy week, bookwise with you, Laurel. Your granddaughter’s new look is certainly eye-catching. I’m assuming those red dots in the corner of her eyes are glued on and NOT piercings? However it’s done, she is certainly a stunning girl. Always lovely to get a chance to spend time with grandchildren, do you see her often? Hope this coming week is also a good one – I cannot believe the speed at which 2017 is zipping by!

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    1. Yes, I’m pretty sure they are glued on….I saw her on Monday, and she didn’t have them…plus, I don’t think she would pierce that close to her eyes! Hopefully… LOL.

      Thanks for stopping by, Sarah, and she does have fun creating outrageous new looks…and then sometimes she really goes the other way and has no makeup at all.

      I don’t see any of them as much as I did when they were small…but now they are very interesting.

      Enjoy your week!

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      1. Yes, it is wonderful to watch their personalities emerging. I’m aware as my grandchildren are getting older, I’m not so needed.
        A relief they are glued on – but it does create a very original look! I’m guessing she is something of a force of nature when she whirls in… Have a great week!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, yes, “a force of nature” is the perfect description of her…her mother, who has three boys in addition to Fiona, describes her as her “loudest” child. LOL.

        I agree that grandchildren are amazing as they grow up, even though I sometimes think wistfully of their baby days….

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    1. I am loving it, Emma, just as I enjoy all of her books (the ones I’ve read, anyway). Usually I seem to read the D. D. Warren series, but I’m enjoying Quincy and Rainey.

      I’ve been sidetracked by other things this week, so even though I started the book on Thursday, I’m only halfway finished. And I am excited about Eeny Meeny, and love the other titles, too, like Pop Goes the Weasel.

      Thanks for visiting…and have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. I’m noticing those ups and downs already, Grace….sigh. I guess I’ll just plow ahead.

      I am also excited about my new books. I hope you enjoy your week, too, and I am dreaming about the Chicken Pot Pie again!

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  17. I feel like the girl in your header looking out at the rain. It has been very rainy here in Portland again. I have really got to read something by Lisa Gardner. I am glad you got to spend time with your granddaughter.

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    1. Thanks, Heidi, we’ve had our fill of rain lately, although we had a really nice sunny day on Monday. Enjoy your week, and I hope you pick up a Lisa Gardner book soon. My granddaughter is my pal, and I especially like it when we get a whole weekend together, which we haven’t had in a while. But kids do grow up.

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    1. Thanks, A. J., and my grandmother would be like I am….accepting. She was a great ally, and I am trying to emulate her.

      Most of these “looks” last for a short while, and then they move on.

      Enjoy your week and your books, too.

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    1. I also enjoyed time with my grandmother…she was my greatest ally when I was young. I think it’s important, since the parents’ role as disciplinarian often leads to closed-off communication.

      Thanks for visiting, Laura, and I’m eager to read Vivian in Red.

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  22. Sorry to hear is was a slow week for you reading wise. I hope that it improves for you this week.It looks like you have some great incoming books, many have caught my eye as usual… Vivan in Red, How Will I Know You, Eeeny Meeny, Right Behind You and One Perfect Lie. I have a couple of those sitting on my TBR list. I hope you have a lovely week,
    Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Amanda, and I downloaded another book, too, that I forgot to put in the original post. It is added now: The Good Daughter, by Alexandra Burt. I’ve been eager to get my hands on it.

      The others are also books I’ve been awaiting.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. I found out those glittery things by her eyes were not piercings! What a relief. She posted a new photo…and even showed her hair, which is looking cute, though short.

      How Will I Know You is one I’ve been curious about, since I enjoyed the author’s book Lacy Eye…which was actually kind of creepy, now that I think about it. LOL.

      Thanks for visiting, Mary…I was also scared of having my ears pierced…and I was a few years older than she is when I had it done.

      Enjoy your week!

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  26. Beth F

    Now I have a craving for chicken pot pie! Ha! Lots of good thrillers in this post … always fun to read. Your granddaughter looks so put together! Whether it’d be my look or not, I’m impressed.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Candace, and the thing about my granddaughter is that she has so many looks, and some of them are even conventional…sort of. She enjoys changing things up.

      I am always in the mood for chicken pot pie, but I’m going to try to stay away from it this week…we’ll see how well I do with that.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, I agree that it’s fun to see who she’ll be next. Some of her “looks” are a little scary and ghoulish…but mostly she tries to tone things down for family outings. Unless she wants to startle someone, like one of her brothers who is a little conservative. LOL.

      Holding my breath would describe my feelings coming up on tax season, and I was definitely relieved not to owe more.

      Enjoy your week!

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  29. Oh, it sounds like you’ve had a delightful week! I can relate to your struggle with downloading/buying ALL THE BOOKS; it’s tough, right? 🙂 How’s the new Lisa Gardner, for you? Hope this week is a good one, too!

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  30. You have such an informative post, filled with photographs, life events, and books received! I feel like I caught a glimpse into your life with all its beautiful scenes and enticing choices of titles to read.

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  34. I’m staid and boring – and a coward. I was never brave enough to get my ears pierced like my friends. Lovely to see your granddaughter doing her own thing.

    Looks like you have lots of interesting books to tempt you this week. Enjoy!

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  36. The Cue Card

    Oh I despise tax time, but maybe it’ll be easier this year? I hope for both of us, it is! Is the movie American Pastoral worth renting? I’ve seen it listed. Or should I just read Roth’s book of it? It seems like you have a lot of new books, enjoy your reading this week!

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    1. I read Roth’s book, and I liked it enough to risk renting the movie…glad I did. Now I wonder if it will show up on Netflix at some point.

      Thanks for stopping by, Susan, and the looming tax time always ruins the holidays for me, knowing the season is right around the corner.

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    1. Next week, she will have a different look. In fact, I found another look shortly after this one, without the eye candy and with her hair showing. She shaved it a while ago, but it has grown out and looks cute.

      Thanks for visiting, Martha, and enjoy your reading, too.

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  40. I am way behind on watching Scandal. I used to keep up with the show, but kind of let it fall by the wayside. It got so crazy, but it is a bit addicting.

    Ouch, is right! I don’t think I’ve seen piercings that close to the eyes before. I’m so out of date on all the new trends. It sounds like you had a nice visit with your granddaughter.

    Yum! I love Marie Callendar’s cornbread and potato cheese soup. It’s been forever since I was last at the restaurant.

    I hope you have a wonderful week, Laurel-Rain!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Wendy, and, as it turns out, those are glue-on, not piercings. Thankfully!

      I love the potato cheese soup, too, and now I’ll probably obsess about it until I get over there again…LOL.

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.

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