Hello everyone! I hope you've had a joyful, peaceful holiday time while I've been on my break. Merry Christmas belatedly to all who have celebrated. I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging and thought I would check in and say 'hi'.
We hosted my husband's family for Christmas Day and it went pretty well. I've been battling a laryngitis/sinus thing for a week and I'm still not over it. However, the hubby stepped up and was amazing in doing all those last minute things - like baking cookies and picking up ham and turkey, making dressing, even setting tables and hosting pretty much solo. I was in the background croaking and blowing my nose. Honestly, my husband is really the best.
I've been reading pretty steadily, although the usual holiday doldrums came in that regard. What is it about busy times that makes it so hard to settle to reading? Anyway, I'm in the midst of a quilting mystery series that I'm having a good time with at the moment. I'm on book #3, Quilt As You Go, which features a Civil War reenactment and quilt patterns from that era. I don't sew or quilt, but I've always wished I did. Reading about it is my compromise. This series is set in Washington State and so I'm enjoying the descriptions of the scenery as well. I'll probably write about the series as a whole at a later date.
I'm listening to Asta's Book, written by Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell). My mystery group is having a Rendell/Vine reading month for January and I'm planning on listening to two of her books. I read this one years ago and remember liking it. It has a slow start, but that suits me right now. Any book that includes a mystery and a diary is OK by me.
I'll return later this week to share my December Bookish Nostalgia and also, if I get it put together, my 2015 'Best Of' list. Next week, I'm planning on getting back to normal in a lot of areas and, hopefully, this sinus thing will be gone by then. I have been reading your blog posts, although not commenting much at all. That will change a bit, the commenting part, and I'm looking forward to 2016 and talking books and life with all of you. I've had a good break, but have missed the chatter and book talk. Ready to go again??
Glad you are back Kay. I'm looking forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jill! I appreciate it.
DeleteWelcome back! So sorry you are battling a sinus thing though.
ReplyDeleteYay for the Hub stepping in to help with the festivities! Sounds like you had a very nice Christmas.
Yes, Christmas was nice and the sinus/cold thing will eventually go away. Our odd weather isn't helping.
DeleteWelcome back, Kay, and hope your recovery is quick! Belated Merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm hoping for a quick (and it hasn't been quick enough) recovery too. We have tickets to see the new Star Wars movie on Wednesday. I need to be better!! LOL
DeleteBelated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! And I'm crossing my fingers for a quicker recovery. This week definitely. :-)
Deletethe hubby stepped up and was amazing in doing all those last minute things - like baking cookies and picking up ham and turkey, making dressing, even setting tables and hosting pretty much solo.
ReplyDeleteWow!! I think my hubby would be capable of setting the table. The rest? He'd suggest we just order something to bring in from our local market that prepares holiday meals. :)
I'm glad you're back and I look forward, as always, to your reviews and general news. I hope you're feeling better soon. We're enjoying the Oregon coast, although it's pretty chilly and damp right now. Still. Not nearly as cold and damp as Lincoln!!
Love your header!
Thanks, Les! I hope you guys enjoy Oregon this trip. The weather will be milder than in NE, I'm sure. Our weather is beyond odd. It was almost 80 yesterday and now it's sleeting outside. And the tornadoes. Amy is OK?
DeleteWe're having a great time and the weather isn't too bad. A little bit of rain mixed with sunshine. Pretty much perfect! Yes, very scary about those tornadoes, especially the one in Garland. It was about 30 miles from where Amy lives, but she's in Hawaii and probably didn't even know about it. ;)
DeleteI'm glad your Christmas went so well. It's good to have you back.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy! Hoping you are getting some rest. I'm sure you were busy, busy before Xmas.
DeleteNice to have you back, Kay! I'm really looking forward to a fun reading year in 2016 and it sounds like you are too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cath! Yes, I'm hoping for a great reading time in 2016.
DeleteWhat a great hubby you have! I hope you're feeling better very soon, Kay.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. I'm doing an experiment this morning by cutting back on my medicine. All good so far. Think I might be over the hump.
DeleteNice to hear from you. Welcome back. I hope you had a great break. Your husband stepping up, is great medicine for the soul. I hope you are feeling better soon and hope you have a great 2016!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good wishes, Pat! I appreciate it. Looking forward to lots of fun reading and chatting in 2016.
DeleteIt's good to hear from you, Kay! I'm glad you're coming back and hope you're feeling 100% better soon. Your hubby is definitely a keeper :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnn. Yes, I'm looking forward to talking books again. Now I just need to get a couple of posts put together for later this week.
DeleteHope you're feeling better soon, Kay. The book you're reading with the quilt patterns sounds interesting. Which patterns are included? My mother-in-law did a lot of quilting years ago, and among the patterns she used, my favorites were double wedding ring and log cabin.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally. I seem to be doing better today. Hoping this illness is on its way out the door. So, actually, there aren't patterns included really. There is a lot of talk about the quilting and description. I love the double wedding pattern. I've read a bunch of Earlene Fowler's mystery series books and the names are always quilt patterns. Clever.
DeleteThe laryngitis/sinus thing sounds horrible and your husband is wonderful to take care of so much of the preparation for Christmas. I look forward to more posts from you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tracy. I'm looking forward to getting back into sharing about my reading as well. :-)
DeleteKay! I'm glad to see you! Sounds like you had a nice Christmas despite the coughing and sniffling. Definitely sound like your husband saved the day! I haven't read Ruth Rendell is forever though I used to love her. I do remember her books having slower starts.
ReplyDeleteHey there, Katherine. Thanks and yes, Christmas was nice even with the coughing. I really couldn't remember anything about Asta's Book, which I had read years ago. I am enjoying it so far. Decided to listen to it and the slowness of the story hasn't bothered me that way. I'm hoping to get another one in as well - can't remember the name right now. I think Rendell was an author that I kept meaning to try, but just never did after that first book. If I like the ones I'm going to read, there are a lot more to try.
DeleteI hope you are feeling better soon, Kay. Being sick during the holidays is a real bummer. I am glad your husband was such a big help. We had Christmas at our house this year, and surprisingly, no one was sick (although my daughter is fighting a cough).
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy New Year, Kay.
Thank you kindly, Miss Wendy! Glad you guys made it without sickness. Sadly, Christmas sickness, of the respiratory kind, is not unknown for me at all. Bad allergies at this time of year and there always seem to be complications. Happy New Year to you and yours!!
DeleteWell you are listening to one of my favourite books of all time, I can't tell you how many times I've read Asta's Book although not for a while now, maybe time for a re-read! Good to have you back and I look forward to hearing more bookish news from you.
ReplyDeleteIt was popular a bunch of years ago, right? I think I read it in the days where I went to the library and just trolled up and down the aisles looking for good stuff. I'm enjoying it!
DeleteWhat a great hubby ... hope you're feeling 100% soon, no fun being sick at such a busy, festive time. Looking forward to your 'Best Of' post, I'm working on mine too. Have a great week and happy reading :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Yes, the sickness seems to be passing, very slowly. Hope your 2016 is filled with fun and books!
DeleteHey Kay!
ReplyDelete(Ha, ha, I made a rhyme. How many times have you heard THAT one? You know I have too!!)
So glad your sweet husband helped out so much when you were ill. Hope you have a happy new year!!
Thank you, Kay! Um, yes, I've heard it a time or two. LOL
DeleteI hope you can kick that sinus thing! Hope you have a great New Year's celebration. Looking forward to your favorite list.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It seems to be lessening somewhat. We'll see. These things seem to take forever. Hope 2016 is a great year for you!
DeleteKay it's so great to see you blogging again! Glad to hear you guys had a wonderful Christmas even if you are a bit under the weather. Hopefully back to normal soon! Here's to a great 2016!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iliana! Same to you - I like the idea of lots of reading in 2016 - right? LOL
DeleteWelcome back! I need help getting back into this blogging thing. Ugh! I need a blogging muse. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diana! I know it's hard to step it up again after being away. Does it help that I miss your reviews? LOL
DeleteYay, I'm so glad you're back! I miss you when you're gone :) Bummer that you've been sick. We've had a nasty bug going around our area, too -- my whole family had it a couple of weeks before Christmas. Hopefully, you'll be feeling all better soon.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Thanks, Susan. Yes, I usually have at least one sick event per winter. Guess this is it or hope this is the only one. I'm getting better, little by little. I have no patience with my recovery time. LOL
DeleteWelcome back, Kay! I hope you are feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your 2015 "Best of" list! :-)
Thanks, Melody. 'Best of' will show up tomorrow. :-)
DeleteI am so happy you came back! And I thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. Blogging offers something no other communication on the internet does - it is like reading a letter from a friend, with pictures and links. I love it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I just have to be OK with stepping away occasionally.
DeleteDoesn't it seem like that's the way it goes - you plan on a big event and then get sick? Glad to hear your husband so capably stepped up. Hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing better although it is taking me forever to shake the sinus congestion and then the cough. Sigh.
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