Hey there, book friends! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the good things about spring wherever you live. I had said I hoped to be a little more present here on my blog, but that has been a bit tough. Not from bad things, but we've had some family stuff and will continue to have that in upcoming days. My in-laws are going to be moving into senior housing in a few weeks and we will be helping them get that accomplished. It does take some time and effort to sort out what needs to stay and go and go away - right? My folks have been gone for many years, but I remember that time of assisting them. We are glad that they have decided on their own that the transition time is here (they are in their 90's).
So, my reading has been a bit off (still - sigh!) and I know that one day I'll get my mind a bit more settled. I keep sitting down to read and then thinking of something else that needs to be noted down or whatever, jumping up, and doing that instead. Ha! I did read 7 books in April, but several of them were re-reads. I'm hoping to attend at least two book groups in May. And other than those, I'm thinking of just putting a 'pause' on my TBR and turning to my 'comfort' reads. What are they? Well, I'll share a link here from a post I did a few years ago about my favorite 'comfort reads'.
If you take a look at that post and have read any of those books, please tell me what you thought about them. Or just tell me what would qualify as 'comfort reads' for you. I'll try to get around to all your blogs and comment as I can, but I'm suspecting that it will be a few weeks before I can get more regular here. Take care, everyone! I put a favorite 'morning light' picture above and will add another at the end. Happy reading!!
As I mentioned in a reply to your comment on my blog, I'm glad your in-laws have made this decision. It will give you and Hayden some peace of mind, right? I hope your reading begins to pick up again as we head into the summer months. I know the feeling of sitting down to read and getting distracted by my To Do list. I feel as if I'm constantly adding to it, trying to get my ducks in a row before we leave on our RV trip next week. & books in April is quite good, though, Kay! Re-reading does bring comfort, doesn't it? I need to pick one from my shelf to re-read this month. Maybe I'll go with Writers & Lovers before I read Heart the Love (Lily King). We'll see...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous morning light photos! The trees and hills tend to block my morning view of the sun, but we sure did get some gorgeous sunsets!
Take good care, my friend.
Thanks for the kind words, Les! Hope you and Rod have a fun trip. And, yes, my reading has improved this week. ;-)
DeleteBless you, I totally understand about thinking of things to do and jumping up to make notes to do them! I am sure you are such a help to your in laws! Just wanted to say that Hayley Mills had her 80th birthday recently and it reminded me that her autobiography might have been the last book that Nan read. It was the last one she posted about. I read it and really liked it a lot. I thought of Nan the whole time I was reading it. So, when you can, please read it too and let me know if you like it as much as I do. It is "Forever Young".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion about Hayley Mills, Kay. I do remember that Nan had read that one maybe as her last book. I'll try to put it on my list. Have a good week and thanks for the kind words!
DeleteIt's amazing that your in laws are both still around in their 90s and moving house. Good luck with all the sorting and organising, Kay. Beautiful morning light photos.
ReplyDeleteI like your list of comfort reads. I'll look up that Nora Roberts series. I have book 3 of her Inheritance trilogy to read soon and although the series is quite spooky, it is a comfort read for me. Harry Potter too, although I haven't reread the books in a while, my daughter and her husband and I have been rewatching all of the movies. They were staying last weekend and we finsished with the 2 Deathly Hallows films. I now want to rewatch the Lord of the Rings movies after rereading The Fellowship and loving it. A real comfort read author for me is Georgette Heyer, I absolutely wallow in her books and plan to reread more this year. I would also include Terry Pratchett, T.E. Kinsey and Damien Boyd. I comfort read a lot and sometimes wonder if I ought to be more adventurous.... nah! ;-p
Cath, thanks for the sweet thoughts. And also thanks for the 'comfort reads' suggestions. I can always use more of those - ha!
DeleteGood luck with all the packing and moving or your in-laws! It is a lot to have to do that...so many memories to deal with and decisions to make. At least they're choosing it; it's so much worse when it's you making the hard decision to move them out of their house. And I hope you can get back to reading soon.
ReplyDeleteLark, thanks for the nice thoughts. Yes, it's hard for them to decide what to keep, what to not keep. It's been a few years since I helped my own parents with these things. And, yes, my reading has been better this week - yay!
DeleteHey there, I totally get that life gets in the way of blogging. I have just been so darn busy with other things. The Otter Pup prob only has a few days with me. I called for an in-home visit to make her comfortable and they are on vacation! Work has been an absolute nightmare but the in-laws. I lost my FIL and then my MIL moved to a really super nice assisted living place. That place was like a resort! She HATED it. After one month, she demanded to go back to her home which was all taken apart because it was for sale! OH my, that is a rough season. I hope your in-laws have a better time with it.
ReplyDeleteTi, thank you for stopping by and also thanks for your nice thoughts about helping my in-laws. It is hard and though I do have a bit of experience with it from my own folks, it's always different with each family. Wanted to say that I'm sending big hugs to you about your sweet Otter Pup. Take care, sweet friend. Know it is so hard....
DeleteI went through the past 7 years of helping my mom move to assisted living and then her passing a year ago. Comfort reading helped me immensely during that time. I hope your in-laws do well during this transition. As hard as it is, it's a good decision for all involved. I'll keep you all in my thoughts, Kay.
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Mary, thanks for the kinds words. Yes, it is hard for people to transition, but we are glad they have decided to do this before it became absolutely necessary. And it is a good decision. Helped my folks with all this several years ago and they have been gone for quite a while. I miss them still, but it was time for them to leave this life. Hope you have a good week, Mary!
DeleteYes, I've been busy with my dad and his wife after she broke her hip a few months back. She seems to really be recovering well. It's wonderful that your in-laws chose to transition on their own.
ReplyDeleteGlad your Dad's wife is recovering after her broken hip. Know that has been worrying for you. Yes, it has been a relief that they finally decided to transition to the senior living place. It will take a bit of time, but it will happen - ha!
DeleteI really think if my grandparents would have moved into an independent/assisted living facility years before they did that they would have a number of happier years. The community aspect is so important as well as the assisted part. I went back and looked at your comfort reading list and we have several in common. I love The Crying Child and it's one I haven't read in awhile. The Nora Roberts trilogy is also such a good one. I want to do some rereading soon. I could use some cozy fun reading about now.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, thanks for stopping by and telling me about your comfort read thoughts. Yes, I think that the community angle of the senior living is quite important for many. They get pretty isolated. Our working with the in-law's continues, but we are making progress. Yay!
DeleteMy siblings and I helped our parents move out of the home they had lived in for 50 years back in November. It was tough for a lot of reasons, but I'm also glad that my elderly parents decided on the move themselves, even though it's been really hard for them. It was past time and they're in a much safer situation now, but still, it can be a really difficult transition.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge re-reader of comfort books or anything else, but HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE would definitely qualify as a comfort read for me. It's always a magical read for me no matter how many times I revisit it!
Susan, it often is a very complicated situation, but like you, we have been happy that they made the decision themselves. The decisions have been progressing as have the 'what to do with this?' issues - ha! And thank you for sharing a 'comfort read'. It's been a long time since I reread the Harry Potter stories. Might be a good summer project. :-)
DeletePretty skies & pictures. I can understand you have a lot on your mind these days ... with settling family and getting things done. Wishing you well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan! Yes, lots to help out with, but it's a good thing and I think it will be the right move for them. :-)
DeleteI think my mother would be much happier (once she moved) in Independent Living but I called the place I thought she'd like best the other day and there is an 8 year waiting list! Not helpful for someone 88! I am glad your in-laws are making the move and hope everyone is being sympathetic about the things they want to keep even if there is limited space.
ReplyDeleteWow! An 8-year waiting list??? Crazy! Our area does have a lot of older senior people and there are also a lot of 'senior living' choices. Yes, we are trying to be sympathetic, but it's a little bit of a challenge. Ha! Especially about her clothes and shoes. She likes all of them (and believe me, she has a lot of them!!!). Thanks for stopping by!
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