The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
OMG. I am just so glad to be home. And now scrambling to catch up. For weeks, I have had trouble getting ebooks read because I get up earlier to try to do things and then can’t manage to read at bedtime; I just fall asleep. I have many eARCs which I am 60% through and abandon to keep up with others. That has to change.
I started the week in Iowa. Brrrr. I took my daughter to the airport and headed south. Lulu and I had 2 more days with about 12 hours in the car. She was a trooper but geez, she is a bed hog. I don’t let her sleep with me at home but I couldn’t put her in the crate after she was in the crate or anxious in the car. I barely got everything in the car but I did.
Two things were happening in Iowa. One was an event with a museum opening for the company my Dad built with his cousins. So many family members from all over the country and people who worked at the company who are old friends, and townspeople were there. Then my Mom’s house sold last week so we were going through everything and deciding what to sell, what to ship and what to put in the car to take home. I got a dresser my daughter wanted, a plant stand, and a mirror. The rest of the things were pictures and papers, and a couple quilts. No one else was interested in the quilts – weird. My daughter noticed them, and she also was happy to take all Mom’s jewelry (not anything valuable). My daughter makes jewelry and so she was very excited to have them to wear or repurpose.
My daughter did not have an easy trip. She flew Raleigh to Chicago last Friday and that flight was delayed. So she missed her flight from Chicago to Waterloo. She tried to go rewrite her ticket and then went standby to Cedar Rapids and was the only one who didn’t make standby. She was so overwhelmed and exhausted after a full day of classes and stranded at 11:30pm. She was such a trooper though, found a hotel and took an Uber there. I was still driving to Waterloo with my niece I picked up in Indianapolis after her optometry classes ended.
I had to pick up my daughter at the airport last Saturday, so I missed the main events at the museum. We went over to see it and some people were still there. But that gave us only about an hour to go through things at Mom’s house instead of a few hours. It’s my childhood home and I barely had time to walk through or look at anything. Lack of time forced us to be efficient and it’s done. My brother talked about taking everything left to storage and me coming up in December to help him go through it. I told him it would cost me another couple thousand dollars to come up there either drive or fly and rent a car, so put the papers in boxes and ship them here, it’s cheaper and NC would be warmer. I asked him when I was driving Sunday how many boxes of papers he was sending. ONE. A big box but I am SO glad I made the decision to not go there for sorting. He lives in FL and can fly here for cheap and stay in my guest room and I’m a great cook.
Tuesday was a gorgeous day at home. Almost 80 but it’s mostly nice 60-70s now (about 20C). I wrote reviews, did laundry, tried to catch up on emails and a little visiting. I had to unload the car, and get out the garbage /recycle, along with other household chores. Wednesday we made it to quilting. My daughter wanted to make the Christmas tree skirt pattern Bonnie has but this week and next will be working on the charity quilts and receiving blankets. I finally put one of the receiving blankets together as a sample. Now I just need to put together the squares I have already cut into kits for next week. Thursday, I rented a U-haul and picked up the sofa and big chair, so all the upholstery is complete! Friday, I continued to restock fresh groceries, cook some things, and work my way through writing reviews and handling emails. Saturday was dog training and a few errands.
I’m still very tired and working on catchup. Every day, I’d like to go to bed rather than cook dinner. I’m enjoying the cooler weather and hope I’ll feel more energy after being home a few more days.
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. These are the exciting ARCs I received this week (If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry):
Thank you so much Social Butterfly PR,
(If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry)
NOTHING.
Now the really scary one. This is all the Kindle and Audible freebies I grabbed this past week. You can see why I need to do Thrifty Thursday to be sure I read a few at least one each month.
I really meant to cut back on freebies BUT they are free so I guess that won’t be happening.
I’m not including things like reviews posted or upcoming as they are always in the right sidebar. And, my challenge status is also there.
If you like this and want to see me do the Sunday post, as often as I can manage, leave me a comment and let me know.
Anne
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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- Hunting the Truth by Kathleen Donnelly @KatK9writer @CarinaPress - September 24, 2023
- Sunday Post – 24 September 2023 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - September 24, 2023
- The Traitor by Ava Glass @AvaGlassBooks #Ballantine@randomhouse - September 21, 2023
Anne, I got exhausted just reading about your week! But, I loved that it was filled with family? Lulu looks so cute in your bed (forbidden, I know) and your upholstery redo looks great.
Thanks for sharing your great week!
Thank you, yes I am so tired and glad to be home. That’s the hotel bed; she isn’t allowed in my bedroom at home but sometimes naps with my daughter in hers. I’m happy with the upholstery. It’s all old stuff but I like it.
I am exhausted after reading your post about your last week *smile* Wow, don´t know if I would have had the energy to deal with everything you´ve had to deal with. I completelly understand that you are tired every evening. Getting up early to get more done is something I did for a few years too. Not anymore. Your Lulu looks cute. Thank you for sharing the pictures with us. I hope your next week will be a bit better. Happy reading.
Thank you! I’m sure this week will be better because we are home. We have today and Tuesday at home, the rest is all pretty normal stuff. Normal is good.
Ha, Your little/big trip to Iowa was like my trip to Duluth. Instead of sharing a bed with a daughter, I shared it with a sister and the person person in the other room was doing who knows what’….all I could hear was them getting out of the bed multiple times- it made my head spin. Some people’s night time habits..sighs. I’m glad for the connection to your journey..thanks.
Traveling is full of new and odd experiences which is both good and bad. It snowed in Iowa so I was glad I brought along our MN coats.
Whaaaaat? I want that cutie-pie doggie in bed with me every night! Ohmygosh look at that face!!!!
Glad you’re back home after an exhausting, whirlwind of a trip!
Yes Lulu is irresistible! She would totally want to be in your bed. Everyone seems to love her wherever we go. But part of our job as responsible parents is making sure she has good manners. She is not too fond of long, 12 hour car rides for days in a row and she’s not certain about elevators either.
whew, i’m tired just hearing about your adventure. hope you have a great week
Thank you. It’s good to be home and have the chance to get things fixed up here.
WOW what a week. I’m tired just hearing about your adventures. ^_^
Hope this week is better and you can read. Have a wonderful week!
Yes I’m happy to say I am home now and plan to stay home for awhile now so I can get things together. Once school is out in early December, we will really have some time. Maybe we will finally get to the “local” zoo after living here 4.5 years.
Wow Anne, it sounds like you had a rough week. I am sorry, but glad you are hope. Wishing you a quiet, peaceful week!
Thank you. Of course I have LOTS I want to do this week but I am going to pace myself.
Wow, I’m exhausted just reading about your week! No wonder you’ve been falling asleep instead of reading, I would be too. But at least it sounds like you’ve made major progress on lots of projects – not to mention the efficiency with which you handled going through your mom’s house. I’m sure it was hard to not have more time in your childhood home, but maybe not having time to get too nostalgic worked out in your favor? Maybe.
I hope you get a chance to slow down, breathe, and read a bit more this week 🙂
Thank you. It was such a short time but over the years Mom has downsized stuff to us so there wasn’t that much left to go through. I was glad my daughter found the quilts and a couple other things. I just didn’t have time to really look at everything. So yes, I think it was better probably. I really hope for a quieter week. We aren’t getting so much done today and my daughter has some big projects due for her classes this week.
Well, that was quite the trip. Great job getting it all done from a quick visit at the museum to going through your mom’s home and then catching up at home. Hopefully, you’ll get back in sync now that you’re home. Your furnishings look fab.
Have a good week, Anne!
Thank you. We are so, so happy to be home for awhile now.
Wow.. Sounds like a crazy week! I hope you’re able to rest and read a little now!
Have a great week and happy reading!
Thank you! I hope the reading goes better if I can stop falling asleep at dinnertime. I am on track for this week so I think I’m over the worst of it.
Glad you all are home safe! That sounds exhausting!
It was exhausting. 4 long days of driving for maybe 6 hours there all together. But it had to happen and we got what we needed finished.
It sounds like the trip to Iowa was stressful and tiring. I’m sorry about that. I’m glad you’re back home and I hope you get caught up on sleep and everything else you need to get done. And good luck getting books finished. I know it’s hard when you have lots of books to read. I’m glad your upholstery is done and you’ve got it back in your home. It looks great.
I hope you have a great week, Anne!
Thank you! It’s great to be home and starting to catchup. I do have my emails down to manageable amounts now which always helps.
What a journey and how harrowing all round. No wonder you’re shattered! The furniture looks fabulous – what a lovely looking room. And your little dog is a real trooper, I can see why you let her share your bed in the hotel:). I hope the coming week is a peaceful, relaxing one for you and your daughter, Anne.
Thank you. I hope we do better with a normalish week. We’re both feeling a bit under the weather today so we are not being too energetic. Lulu is happy to be home too. She’s such a joy for us.
Yes, travel delays are the worst and leave you so exhausted! Glad it’s over for your daughter and for me! My flight home was much better. Then unpacking and catching up takes up a bunch of time. Glad to hear you convinced your brother to come to your house instead of traveling again. Much easier. We’ve been having nice fall weather here, too, but unfortunately we’re back in the 90s this week! I guess global warming is really screwing us. Hope you get some rest and nice reading, Anne! 🙂
Thank you! My daughter’s flight back was all as scheduled and her layover in Chicago was long enough to do all her homework. I at least was able to listen to lots of audiobooks. Lulu seems to like audiobooks but is not that happy about long car rides. I’m especially glad I convinced my brother since it is only ONE box. It would have been ridiculous to spend all that money/time to go for ONE box.
Sounds like an exhausting trip! I’m sorry you had so little time to go through your childhood home and sort out your mom’s things. That’s hard. I hope you get some good rest this week, and a chance to catch your breath.
I know what you mean about starting books and abandoning them partway through. I didn’t used to do that much; now I’ve got about 8 or 10 books in various stages of hibernation. Part of it is that I used to flip through a book to decide if I wanted to read it; if I wasn’t drawn in, I didn’t start the book. I don’t really have that option with ARCs, so I put more of them aside partly-finished, at least for a while.
I thought the 4 days driving would be fun with listening to audiobooks. But I was worried about Lulu being anxious and road construction stuff, so it was less fun than some road trips.
I was really, really glad my daughter was able to look at things at Mom’s house since I didn’t seem to be able to get through everything.
It does get busy when we are involved with our kids and our parents. I get it. I’m there and believe me, I fall asleep five minutes after I start reading my book in bed!
Being in the middle sure keeps us busy! Going to bed earlier doesn’t seem to help either.
Thrifty Thursday sounds like such a good idea. I may join in this next week, because I am such a sucker for all those Freebie Fridays posts that feature a ton of free books.
Have a great week!
Thank you! I came up with the idea to force myself to read some of those freebies I get and it’s been good for me. I hope you can join in sometimes. I do it once a month so it’s not like it’s every week.
I’m exhausted just reading your post. Sounds like it all went well even though there were a few snags. I’m having a horrible reading month. It seems I can’t pick up a good book! I’m starting Magic Shifts tonight and I know I will enjoy that one. Hope you and your daughter (and pup) have a wonderful week!
Thank you! Sorry to be such a downer. I am glad to be home and energized by all the things I want to do this week. I’m working away after a more relaxed day on Sunday.
It seems you all made the best of the inconveniences of the week, hopefully you’ll have some time to relax this week on your newly upholstered Lounge.
Wishing you a great reading week
Thank you! We do what we can. Some days definitely work out better than others.
No wonder you are so exhausted. We could both use some me time:)
YES! I plan on it. I have plenty of fun things I want to do on my days off but it is most fun when I don’t have even required fun projects. I love this receiving blanket project but it is a time commitment. We’ve been going to dog training on Saturdays and as much as we love it, I’m glad it’s the last week because we need 2 days unscheduled in a row.
I got lucky and didn’t have to work today so after 7 months I finally got two days in a row off!
That is awesome!!!!!
It is amazing how much room a dog can take up in a bed! I started letting my dogs in the bed earlier this year and am kind of regretting the decision because they are bed hogs! The puppy is in a crate but the other two dogs are all over the place. Your trip is exhausting to just think about. Hopefully, you get caught up on your rest soon. Your house is looking great! I hope you have a great week!
Thank you. She is a tiny dog but she plops right into the middle of the bed or patio swing. She only has her spot on the sofa which has a cover. She’s not allowed on the chairs or loveseat. It’s going well. Pretty much wherever you are she wants to be on you. lol I really want a 2 day unscheduled weekend after dog training is complete this Saturday.
Wow, that all sounds so exhausting. I really hope this week is much calmer and more restful for you!
Me too. Thank you!
Your daughter really has no luck with flights Anne! Now on a whole other note your dog is such a cutie on that bed 🙂 And your living room looks so great!
Thank you! We have much to be happy about and Lulu is certainly part of it. We are slowing getting things settled.
aww Lulu is too cute. And wow, you’ve had a busy week! I dislike flying myself, I feel like some inconvenience always happens. I am sorry you missed the main events at the museum, there’s never enough hours in one day.
Enjoy our week and your books!
Thank you! We just graduated dog training today and she was such a star! She always wants to please and is crazy smart. Traveling always involves compromises and being adaptable. I’m looking forward to this weekend at home.
Sounds like a good trip despite the hiccups. My folks sold my childhood home about 13 years ago, and we went through something similar. I was there for a week to help them prep for an estate sale. It’s exhausting. Hope the week ahead is a good one.
Luckily, Mom was not as much a keeper of things as my Dad was so we’ve all been going through things for 25 years.(Dad was 80 but he would be 106 now). So there was much less left. My brother often went through things when he visited. Since he lived farther away, he had longer trips there and I was closer so I tended to have shorter trips. So the sorting was short and fast. It was the crazy things about travel which were exhausting. I finally feel more normal and back to work on things around here.
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