A week to Christmas? Egads! I’d be really panicked if it was a usual year–big dinner to plan. Family arriving from around the country. And getting those last minute gifts done. But this year? Just trying to finish two knitting projects. That’s it.

We all have people we miss seeing, and at Christmastime, no less, it is harder. But I take a deep breath–one of any number I’ve taken over the last 10 months and remind myself, this shall pass. And on the other side is next year. With high hopes for the blessings of family and friends around my … Read more »

So this week has been one of time to write. A bit of baking. And that quiet sense of waiting that happens just before the rush of the holidays begins next week. I like to dip my toe into the holidays before it turns into a rush and I have few things this week to ease you into that and happy mayhem.

One

Let the Christmas cookie recipe exchange commence! The first one I am sharing with you is an old family recipe, Chocolate Cookie Bars. My mom always made these at Christmastime and occasionally when we’d talk her … Read more »

Don’t we all need some wonderful things to curl into right now?

Call it distractions, call it self-care, call it soothing, but I am all about finding the things that make me feel contentedly at home.

Books, baking, and a few shows to binge while knitting. Join me where it’s cozy.

One

Yes, I am breaking my own rules and wading into Christmas prior to Thanksgiving. (I so envy Canada that they celebrate Thanksgiving in October and then can dive into Christmas!) But I was thinking, who’s up for a Cookie Recipe Exchange? I’m going to look into how we … Read more »

Yikes! I usually draft this up Thursday afternoon and have it all ready to go bright and early Friday morning. But yesterday afternoon was so beautiful, I ended up enjoying a sunny afternoon instead. So you are getting the late version.

One

I can’t believe the fifth book in Sherry Thomas’s wonderful Lady Sherlock series, Murder on Cold Street, comes out next week.

October 6 if you don’t want to miss a moment of Charlotte’s escapades. Can you tell I’ve got a bit of Holmes thing going lately?

Haven’t read the series? Start with A Study in Scarlet Women… Read more »

As I look out the window at nothing but smoke, my heart goes out to everyone affected by the wildfires on the West Coast. Prayers going out for rain and relief.

That, and four day weeks throw me. What? It’s Friday already? Hence, this is a little late this morning.

So let’s get going with something to lighten our hearts.

One

A few weeks ago, I told you I was diving into A Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff. Since then, I’ve read all four books in the series. I have been binge reading. Leave me alone reading. Staying up … Read more »

This week just flew by. I completely lost track of the days and now, here it is Friday. And since I am neck deep in canning peaches and pickles, (not in the same jar, I promise!) let’s get straight to it:

One

My husband and I finished the Second Season of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix last night. We are huge fans. I loved Season One so much, I think I’ve watched it like three times–there is so many details that are just so subtle, it really does require a second viewing.

At least, that is what I tell myself.… Read more »

Here we go again! Another week and another Friday. And I am in a whirlwind.

I start off on a big adventure tomorrow–I’m helping my college son move back to Chicago. We will be driving from Seattle to Chicago, via Butte, Montana, Casper, Wyoming, and Lincoln, Nebraska, before we roll into Chicago.

You can follow along on our bubble adventures across the west and into the great midwest on my Facebook and my Instagram accounts. Wave at us if we are motoring through your neck of the woods.

And don’t worry, we have face masks and Clorox wipes I recently … Read more »

Hello my dear friends! This has been a hard week. In the ways that just shake you. More on that later.

Instead, let’s first share some things to make your weekend a little more special, adventurous and sweet.

One

What to read? Why not try an oldy but a goody.

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer.

If you’ve never read Georgette, now is the perfect time to curl up with her delightful Regencies and bask in her extraordinary wit and sublime romance. I adore The Grand Sophy–it is always the Heyer book I recommend people read first. But my favorite … Read more »

It’s Friday! Hurrah. We made it through another week. I hope your days have been bright and you have a weekend ahead full of things that make you smile.

Here are five things that have me grinning.

(One)

Mark your calendars: The Australian Romance Readers are putting on a virtual reader’s conference, A Romantic Rendezvous: Locked Down, August 1-2. So if you’ve ever wanted to go to a reader’s conference or go to Australia, here’s your chance–all from the comfort of your own home.

Take a look at the schedule, but just know I am not going to … Read more »

Yikes! I absolutely forgot to send anything out last week. But in my defense, I had picked 50 lbs of strawberries and was, well, rather up to my ears in making jam. We now have all the jam. And strawberry preserves. Syrup. And sauce. LOL.

So that leads to me the first thing on my list this week. Which, no surprise, is food.

One

Dutch Babies. Which is a deceptive title, because they should be called really big popovers that pretend to be pancakes and happen to go well with . . . you guessed it, strawberries. I love … Read more »