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, and showcase books and things we have received.
Stacking The Shelves is also a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Marlene from Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
Sunday I continued my working on blog posts, reviews and visiting. I forgot to mention last week – my daughter had her first paper for communications and got 100/100!! Monday was our long day with classes, errands, and a medical appointment. I listened to a really great audio book but still fell asleep in the parked car for a few minutes. Tuesday was physical therapy and the report was good, so now she only has to go every other week! I was following up with giveaway winners, catching up on reading, laundry and menu planning. I started hanging the photos in the dining room.
Wednesday, another round of classes. My daughter had another paper due, so no quilting. I went to get my grandmother’s clock fixed up and more errands while she had classes. Thursday was a rainy, relaxed day at home. I worked on reading, posts and tried a bit to catch up on emails. It is so easy to get behind on blog post emails! I really try but I get a LOT of them. I’m having to resort to commenting only if I actually have something to say. I’m finding it important to do menu planning so that I make balanced meals and we actually eat something other than junk food.
Friday was the usual errands but included a trip to Penzeys to get some of their latest deals. I love trying different ones of their spices and it’s easiest when they go on sale. It was sunny and nice for all the errands. Planted in September, after many nights of 20F/ -7C weather, the rebel broccoli soldiers forward. There are about 6 new little heads. I finally got around to visiting a bunch of blog posts. We didn’t do anything exciting, just relaxed.
Saturday, I wrote some reviews. I handled some more emails. I listened to an audiobook. I made homemade pizza for dinner. I tired to figure out how to put additional art work on the dining room wall.
I look forward to this week with no physical therapy appointment, we have all day Tuesday and Thursday open! Tomorrow I start reading, with Carole, the second in the Nora Roberts trilogy, Of Blood and Bone.
Has anybody gone on a cruise or trip to Alaska?
It’s the only state we’ve never visited so we are planning it as our summer trip. Do you have any recommendations on cruises, places in Alaska to stay or see or eat? We’ve also never been on a cruise but that seems to be a good possible way to visit. Do they have decent gluten-free cruise food? I have lots of air miles with American, does anyone know if their travel group is good?
If you have any tips for me, please comment.
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 to Sourcebooks Casablanca, MacMillan/ Tor-Forge, Berkley, Harlequin Audio, and Tantor Audio.
(If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry)
I bought this anthology to support firefighters and wildlife which has stories by some authors I enjoy. There’s another one which has stories about firefighters. I also got the latest Krewe of Hunters for $4 at Chirp. I’m at the beginning of the series but who doesn’t love Luke Daniels?
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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some great looking books. i have never been to alaska but i think it would be a great trip
Well I think we will like the outdoors and the natural beauty, possibly even see some wild animals. I lived in Minnesota many years and enjoyed the natural parks and forests there.
Congratulations to your daughter on the 100/100 for her paper! And yay for a break from physical therapy next week, that will be so nice ?.
I have never been to Alaska, but I have been on several cruises. I’ve been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean – I think royal Caribbean is more adult and relaxing, carnival is more geared towards activities and fun. Personally I enjoyed both differently. It’s been at least 9 years since I went on a cruise so things may have changed, but I know it was the best type of vacation back then. Franky and his side of the family are on a cruise right now and seem to be having a blast. I don’t know about gluten free options, as they weren’t as aware of gluten back then. But they were great about vegetarian and vegan options so I suspect they would be good at gluten too. Food is kind of a big deal on cruises lol.
Have a great week Anne!
Thank you! I suspect you are right about food on cruises. How do you know if you are getting a reasonable deal on a cruise? There are so many different ones. Did you use a travel agent?
That’s awesome your daughter got a perfect score on her test. Sounds like you had a full week. Neat you got some spices when they’re on sale, I buy a lot of my spice sin larger bags at an Asian grocery store usually. And your broccoli plants seem to be doing well. Enjoy your new books and have a great week!
Thank you. I love trying the different spices. I can’t believe how well the broccoli is doing! It’s almost time for spring planting, only another month I think.
Great job on your daughter’s paper! I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska and I’ve never been on a cruise. Sounds like a fun way to go.
Thanks for trying to help. I think it might be easier than finding different hotels and places to eat. I know they have some day trips sometimes too.
Nice book haul. I also picked up Starbreaker by Amanda Bouchet. Have a great week!
Thanks. I really loved Nightchaser or Shade anyway. lol
I’ve never been on an Alaskan cruise, but some of my family members have, and they all loved their cruises! I agree that it’s the most practical way to visit the state. I’m sure that the cruises have gluten-free meal options since it’s such a common dietary restriction these days.
I hope I will figure it out. I figure it is more relaxing to be in one room the whole (week) and not have to do too much effort on where to eat. I think if it’s the right time of year, there are whales, too.
It sounds like you had a pretty good week. And how awesome your daughter did so good on her first paper.
Your new books look great. I love Amanda Bouchet.
Have a great week and happy reading.
yes, it was a pretty good week. I am grateful to get some really amazing books!
Well done to your daughter on her paper score and I’m glad to hear that her PT has gone so well!
I’ve started only commenting when I have something to say too but I wish there was a way to let people know I’ve been by and have read what they’ve written, you know? It’s nice knowing that someone is reading your posts even if they don’t comment… I hope you have a good week, Anne!
That’s why I leave the LIKE button on my posts. I do that if I don’t have any comment. The other thing I do is share the post on Twitter. At least then, I hope they know I am reading even if I don’t have a comment. Sometimes if I am tired and it is a genre I just don’t read though I won’t do either.
Yay for her 100 on the communications paper and yay for a steady week of getting things done. I love that you’re planning a trip to Alaska. I want to go some day, too.
Have a good week, Ann!
Thanks. I think it is a different kind of vacation. We will see if I get it figured out.
Oh a cruise to Alaska! That sounds great! I haven’t been, but I have been on a Caribbean cruise. Cruises are great but check into the food options for sure. I wasn’t gluten free when I went, but with all the buffets and such, I would want to know if there was a conscious effort into gluten free choices.
Have a great week!
yes definitely I will want to check. We ate out last week and they told her it was gluten-free and then came back and said it wasn’t. She had eaten it and was having diarrhea before we left the restaurant and pretty much all week off and on. So it does matter. Buffets can be tough with cross contamination I expect.
Congrats on your daughter scoring 100! That’s awesome.
Nice group of ARCs. Wish I was current in the D. D. Warren series. I wanted that one? Have a great week, Anne!
The thing is she is always anxious and always does well. The only reason I mention this one is that it was a paper and writing them is her nemesis. Spelling is problem for many in the Fosse family. It skipped me but many others have issues.
I’m current on DD Warren and have the latest from the library.
Congrats to your daughter!
I’ve never been on a cruise, although my daughter has gone several times…just to Mexico, though.
Enjoy your books and your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I thought about Mexico. She’s taking Spanish. But Alaska is the only state left for us so I’m trying to figure that out first.
Oh, you got some amazing ARCs! Enjoy 🙂
A trip to Alaska also sounds amazing. I have no suggestions but I hope when you go that you have a fantastic time.
Thank you! I’ll try to post some pics and write a few tips once I learn about it.
Congratulations to your daughter on getting 100% for her paper – that’s an awesome mark. Glad you get a week with a bit of a break from physical therapy, though it sounds as if you are prevailing with getting settled in. I hope the coming week is a good one, Anne:)
Thank you. I hope to feel more like forging ahead after a bit of a break this weekend.
Congrats to your daughter on her paper and yay for the good news on the PT front. I’ve never tried to grow my own vegetables but your little broccoli heads have me very tempted to try my hand at gardening.
Those buggers are very persistent! You have to watch spinach and lettuce because if you have rabbits they will eat it all. Deer are the worst though. In Minnesota, they ate the flowers, everything. Squirrels didn’t eat the tomatoes; they just took a bite out of them and then threw them around the yard! And we never got any snow peas because when my daughter was about 8, she picked and ate them all in the garden! So it does take some planning and effort. I looked it up today and the cool crops like broccoli, spinach, lettuces, bush beans, snow peas can all be planted late February so I can start trying to find seeds or plants anytime I think. The peppers, tomatoes, basil and rosemary have to wait until late April.
I’ve been on an Alaska cruise! I went when I was a teenager, so a LONG time ago. I honestly didn’t like the boat and was seasick the whole time. I ended up skipping most of the meals. My only tip is to make time to wander around the towns. Exploring on my own was the best part of the trip. Have a great week!
We’ve never cruised but I want to try it. It’s easier I think than changing hotels and driving hours every day unless we get sick. Thanks for sharing.
We went on a cruise 2 years ago and loved it. There is so much food, it’s impressive. And yeah, there are gluten free options since there’s literally every kind of food available. We haven’t been to Alaska but it is on my list too. At this point, I’m just waiting for my younger one to be couple more years older before we plan a trip to Alaska. If you do decide to go, I’ll be excited to read all about your planning!
Have a great week!
Thank you! I am just trying to figure out what cruise lines go there and learn about what deals are available. I am going to call one of the places I have a ton of points to see if what they offer.
Yay for your daughter’s hard work being rewarded!
I meal plan for the week ahead every Friday.. it’s the only way I can make sure we all get fed 🙂
I’ve never been on a cruise, though it’s on my bucket list.
Wishing you a great reading week
Thank you. I try to meal plan in advance but it is hard. If my daughter isn’t feeling well and sleeps through dinnertime then I hate to cook a big meal for just me, so things get shuffled sometimes.
Well done to your daughter on her paper! I’ve heard of Penzey’s seasonings but have never tried them. And I never knew they had storefronts. Interesting. I’ve never been to Alaska but I know two people who have taken Alaskan cruises and loved it. Both came back with glowing reviews of the whole experience. I hope you get some good tips/info.
Thank you. Penzeys looks expensive but if you do their deals (they have many) you can get them and try lots of them inexpensively and they are excellent quality. I have gone to the store here in Raleigh and also ordered online (Wisconsin). The big deals are most often Wed or Thur – Sunday. But sometimes they carry over to Monday, or extend, but you can’t count on it.
Do you know how long a cruise they did or what cruise line? I’m thinking 7 days and looking into cruise lines.
Congrats to your daughter!!!!
Thanks I was so excited for her. I hope with affirmation that she does well eventually she won’t be quite as anxious. But it’s probably unlikely.
I really loved The Third to Die, hope you do too! I hear cruising to see Alaska is one of the best ways to see it. I hear mosquitoes are prohibitive at certain times of the year, like they’re the size of hummingbirds, so you may want to check out times when they’re at their worst. I don’t fly American very often, I fly a lot of other airlines. I can only remember once and I though the leg room wasn’t very good, and I’m short: 5’2″. But it’s been a long time and each plane is different, too.
Thanks so much for the input on cruising. I am planning to start Third to Die on audio today.
Sounds like another great week. I’m late visiting once again. My grandfather was hospitalized last week and to make a long story short, my Uncle is worthless and I end up handling most of Gpa’s affairs so it kept me hopping. He’s doing better but in rehab now. He’ll be 99 in the Spring so I’m know physically he’s wearing down. But he has tons of spunk so we’ll see.
Congrats on your daughter’s perfect score. That’s awesome! I bet you are glad to lose a least a few appointments. I read and reviewed The Third to Die last week for a blog tour and loved it. Very promising new series!
Thank you. I hope your grandpa does well. My mom is 92. She’s in a nursing home since she broke her hip a couple years ago. But she needed some help. My brother does more since he is an empty nester, has a spouse and paid vacation time. And I have a daughter with medical issues. She was just going into a wheelchair the same week Mom broke her hip.
I’m just starting Third to Die today. It’s in a genre for which I am in the mood.
Congrats to your daughter!!
And Alaska, how awesome! I would love to go there one day. 🙂 That Australia book looks interesting, I will have to see if they are still promoting it for a fundraiser.
Thank you. I’m not getting far on my research yet. I have other things I want to do. If only I could just do everything and not have to set priorities.