Sunday Post – 6 September 2020 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality @Tynga

Posted September 6, 2020 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Sunday Post / 57 Comments

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 got up and my daughter was still up at 11am.  She has been having gastro issues and we are working through solutions with her doctor. It keeps her up at night.  Lulu had no night time at all, but she has finally starting sleeping in the bed under my desk I got 3 or 4 weeks ago!!  I think it is because I got her a blanket yesterday.  Now she knows it is her space.  My “desk” is really a table combined with 2 other tables for crafting.   I have been reorganizing my desk top and just moved my paper shredder and things are just so much better now!

COYER Book Club was a small but compatible group and we had a great chat. There is great leadership in this group which is always trying to help and include more people, so they make little adjustments continually to improve things.      I have been thinking about what to do for next year’s Read-along.  I may do a poll to see which series you are most likely to join me in reading.

My Kindle Unlimited I’ve had on a 6 month deal which I thought ended August 31 but it ended the 30th. I planned to cancel and see if I might get a new deal but it looks like I have another month.  I love the service and there are many books I want to read. But since I only read 1 or maybe 2 a month $9.99 is too much. Without a deal, I might be better off buying those books.

Monday, I decided right away I needed to get organized.  It looks like we will continue having a bit better weather through Tuesday so I’ll mow then. I wrote reviews and since I finished a book and audio, decided what to read next.  I’d like to get ahead on some things; we will see. I made a list of things I want to read this month and well, it’s too long to be realistic.  It finally started raining in the late afternoon and now it will be too wet to mow Tuesday.   I did get lots of fabric cut for the quilt. I sewed 2 more face masks and mended a T-shirt whose seams were falling apart.

Tuesday, I got a BJs Instacart order with everything I ordered. Then I took my daughter over to school to pick up her pin and tassels for the honor society.  She was happy to find out her online meetings for it would be Wednesdays at noon which was her preferred time.  Since it was too wet to mow, I did some weeding and bush trimming. I also read my oldest eARC on Netgalley. It was a fantasy book I got in 2014. I’m sure I read a bit then and didn’t like it and I still don’t like it but I finished it.  Now my oldest ARC there is 2019.

Wednesday was hot again and I took my daughter to a doctor appt, so I got in some audiobook time.  At night, there was a Keith Urban fan experience streaming for his new album so I watched     it.   Thursday was even more hot, like 96 (35C) but the heat index was 109 (43C).  Finally on Friday, the wind shifted to the north. And it’s going to stay from the north for the next week with temps around 80 and low humidity!!!!  I went to do pickup at Home Depot and the pharmacy.  I came home and tried to do a bunch of computer work so the next day I could do yard work.  I want to get back to sewing too.  I finally finished all my challenge linkups for August. My daughter tried some new leave-in conditioner for her hair and liked it.

Saturday it was cooler as predicted with a nice breeze.  I did some watering and weeding. I unloaded the garden soil and rocks I got at Home Depot. I put the rocks under the bay window where weeds grow, after pulling the weeds. I mowed the lawn.  Sunday I hope to do some weedkiller spraying.   I noticed that our orchid has 5 blossoms now with a bud for a 6th blossom. At night, I did more post setups, while listening to a new audiobook.   I’ve started September off with a bang – I’ve read 6 books in the first 5 days!


 

Some thought it would be helpful to know in advance when the next post will be so you can plan for it and link up a freebie review of your own.  The next date will be Thursday, September 24th.

 


Things I Learned This Week:

OK  if I’m asking for help, I’m also going to share the cool things I learn. You may already know them but hopefully it will help someone.

Angela – thanks so much! Recopying the code from Netgalley did work to fix the icons.  It’s weird because the code looked just the same but there must have been minor changes.

 


August Reading:  I had another good reading month.  I managed to read 29 books. Audiobooks continue to help me read more. Some count for more than one challenge.  I listened to 15 audiobooks, read  5 library books,  22 COYER reads,   and  4 books which I already own.

All Library books (including ones not reviewed on the blog)  2020 Library Love Challenge


Bookish Resolutions update:   I haven’t seemed to be able to break down my goals into tasks very well this year, so I just do what I can.  I would really love to do some Blog ahead this next month for 2021 so we will see if I can do some.   I read less library books this month,  and tried to catch up more on my ARCs.   I created post shells as I got ARCs. I did setup and finish the Library Love emails for the rest of 2020.  Angela and I have come up with some new ideas about the 2021 emails.

I did manage to read 4 books I own (goal is 3 per month):

  • Dog with a Bone by Hailey Edwards
  • Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
  • Heir of the Dog by Hailey Edwards
  • The Eighth Sister by Rober Dugoni (audio)

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):

         

                   

 

 

Thanks so much to Brilliance Audio,  Thomas & Mercer, Berkley, AceRoc,  and Simon Audio.                      

(If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry)

       

I forgot to include Emerald Blaze last week because I pre-ordered, of course.

 

 

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.

I love getting comments and connecting with you!  I hope everyone is safe and well.

VOTE!

Anne

 

 

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Posted September 6, 2020 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Sunday Post / 57 Comments


57 responses to “Sunday Post – 6 September 2020

  1. Oh wow – busy week for you, Anne. I’m glad you’re getting things organized, and also that it’s cooling down a bit for you. It’s gotten cooler here, too, and I sleep so much better when it isn’t stifling at night.
    Is that Jim Butcher ARC for a Dresden Files novel? I’m a bit behind with that series, but I love it. I should make the decision to catch up 🙂
    Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.

    Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms recently posted: Weekend Wrap-up #323 – School in Full Swing
    • Well I don’t always intend to read so fast. Today my computer went off on a 4 hour tangent of loading updates so I read a book. I could have listened to an audiobook while working on the quilting but I always like to watch the screen a bit and I thought it would be done soon. UGH. Lulu loves blankets, all blankets.

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: A Dance with Fate by Juliet Marillier
  2. I hope your daughter soon feels better, Anne – I always feel tired after reading your Sunday Post, you are such a hive of activity! Yet, another impressive number of books you’ve read during August. I hope the coming week is a good one:).

    • Thank you! I will tell you my post doesn’t cover even half of the stuff I do and need to do. So I guess I shouldn’t feel like I’m so lazy and not getting anything done? It’s all the daily chores which take up a lot of time but aren’t worth mentioning, but must be done. At least I can listen to audiobooks for most of them. But there’s the specialized stuff like bill paying and investments and researching things about insurance where I need to keep my wits. This morning before the stupid computer decided to do 4 hours of updates, I was looking up the North Carolina election site and reading all the rules for mail-in voting.

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: ICYMI: Haunted by Kay Hooper
  3. Your orchid looks beautiful! I love the picture of her. Do I sound stupid when I admit that I admire your daughters long hair? It looks so fantastic. I wish I could wear mine that long. No chance *smile* the growing stopps right underneath my shoulder blades *sigh*. You sound very busy as always and I am glad that temperatures seem to cool down. Our weather here is a mix of sun, rain, clowds and blue sky. One day very warm, the next cooler. Happy reading and stay safe and well.

    Vi @Inkvotary recently posted: Weekly Book Wrap-Up #129 – Movement
    • Thank you! The weather is near perfect now. My hair is almost as long, but I was donating hair for the last 15 years. I’ll have to wear it down and post a picture sometime. It’s strange because in high school I had very short hair, like a boy, and I was in sports. But since college I have worn it long. I mostly french braid it now which is better for working and riding the Harley.

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: September 2020 Library Love Challenge Link Up & Giveaway
  4. That’s great Lulu found her place to sleep now you got her a blanket. What a cute picture! We finally had some cooler weather here which has been nice. I hope it cools down soon where your live. Your daughter has nice long hair, mine is slightly shorter than that at the moment as it becomes hard to manage when it’s too long, but I do love long hair. Sounds like you had a good reading month in August. Nice haul you got this week! I enjoyed that Susan Kaye Quinn series of which you got a book this week. Have a great week!

      • I am glad to hear that :). I hope you’ll enjoy the Susan Kaye Quinn book. I also keep my hair in a braid most of the time. It’s the easiest way to keep it out of the way.

  5. Aren’t you loving the lower humidity weather? I hope you get some quality outdoor time this week.

    We seem to have chosen some of the same books this week. I’m going to hold out for the audio of Heartbreak Bay. And, I’m so looking forward to the Dugoni audiobook.

    Have a wonderful week, Anne?

    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café recently posted: Saturdays at the Café
    • Between Instacart and Walmart pickup and an Amazon monthly order, I get what we need plus some things we just want. It is harder sometimes, and more expensive to get some gluten-free stuff. We finally got the protein cream cheese we like from Aldis today that has been out of stock for a couple weeks. Thank you! I am loving the cooler temps!

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: ICYMI: Haunted by Kay Hooper
  6. I get to a point where I have to reorganize an area before my brain can calm down and I can occupy that space productively so I get the need to organize you desk/craft area better. Sounds like you used your time inside out of the heat well. Congrats to your daughter for earning her tassel with the honor society and Lulu for finally getting some sleep in her little bed. 🙂 Way to go doing your own blog ahead to make the new year go smoother for your blogging and for nailing that hold out old review arc. My oldest are 2020s, but that only changed because I hit the arcs hard this summer. Great job on your monthly reading.

    Hopefully this next week and the rest of September will keep going well, Anne!

    Sophia recently posted: Sunday Post - 6 September 2020
    • Thank you Sophia! Lulu has 4 beds. 2 on each floor and the 2 upstairs are both in our office craft room, one by my desk and one be my daughters. She also spends a lot of time on the big sofa downstairs but it’s the only furniture where she is allowed to sit, not the love seat or chairs. She’s really good about it too. Thank you! It was a pretty productive week until today when the computer decided to do a 4+ hour update. Have a lovely week!

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: September 2020 Library Love Challenge Link Up & Giveaway
  7. I’m glad Lulu is finally getting some sleep! Poor pup doesn’t know what to do with your daughter up all night and you all day ?

    I’m glad you were able to join us for book club again this month – it was a fun chat. Hopefully surveying everyone will give a chance for more people to participate.

    I might be able to join you in this months Thrifty Thursday… Depends on if I can squeeze a freebie in. Everything I’m reading for my challenges this month are either library, arc, or borrowed.

    I hope you have a great week!

    • Poor Lulu just has to sleep when she can. Well I ended up reading my freebie today – and it was great- because my computer decided to do a 4+ hour update. UGH. I kept thinking it would finish so I just sat there reading. It’s a good thing we have the holiday tomorrow. Happy Labor Day! I am looking forward to Hounded but I am going to wait until closer to the date this time! Have a great week!

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: A Dance with Fate by Juliet Marillier
  8. I hope your daughter feels better now Anne! And since homeworking , my dog is sleeping on a chair beside me 😉 have a great Sunday!

  9. I have become impressed with some of the titles within the KU subscription lately. Amazon has definitely improved upon that. I hope you end up grabbing the titles you want to.

  10. Sounds like you got so much accomplished and are doing great with your reading. 6 books in 5 days is terrific. I hope your daughter feels better, her hair looks nice and so long. I’m growing mine out also and use leave in condition for my curls.
    The orchid is beautiful. Happy reading this week!

    • Well the hot is not so bad, it’s the muggy. And really we don’t have any worse humidity than it was in Minnesota. So generally the weather here is great. It was perfect this long weekend but more rainy days ahead. With as much as you work, if you get another dog I’d go for the 1-2 year old that is already trained like we did. Unless you like training. My daughter taught Lulu tricks but my daughter is not consistent enough for potty training.

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima
  11. Your orchid is gorgeous, Anne! I loved reading your updates. It really has been hot and the weekend has been so lovely by comparison! You may look for something at Lowes or Walmart called “Weed and Feed” and they may make it for the time of grass you have planted. It will kill the weeds while fertilizing the actual grass. Make sure to check the time of year it goes out though because I think it may not go out in the fall. Ugh! Grass and weeds!

    • Thank you yes! I have Ortho Weed killer which doesn’t kill the grass and I have Preen Weed and Feed but I realize you don’t want to stimulate a ton of new growth in the fall only to have it freeze. That’s a spring thing. Although grass planting or sod is good in Sept as it has time to establish before freezing normally. This long weekend has been perfect. This spring was like that though; we had 3-4 months of absolutely great weather. I really like where I live now. It’s never really cold compared to Minnesota, and there’s only about 8-9 weeks of heat but it isn’t always humid. I’m gearing up for the 3rd growing season with broccoli, spinach and lettuce. We had broccoli last year until January. Have a wonderful week Jennifer!

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: Audio: Warping Minds & Other Misdemeanors by Annette Marie
  12. It sounds like a busy week! Congrats on knocking off that oldest ARC from NetGalley. I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I read one of the older books on my list. I really need to get caught up with the Dresden Files. It is amazing that you have been able to read so much at the start of this month. Good for you! I hope that you have a wonderful week!

    • Thank you Carole! I am trying to get things more organized and up-to-date because that feels good. It also feels like I have a bit more control or that it is something I can control. Everything else is just I have to wait it out. These first 3 days this week have felt like I am in quicksand for one reason or another. Things conspired to keep me from tasks but I have to remember sometimes the things which delay me are also things which need doing. I just want to do it all and I definitely want to read it all! I’m so glad to have you around again.

      Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: See Her Die by Melinda Leigh
  13. Your daughter’s hair looks pretty. Hope she gets her stomach issues fixed. Sorry to hear she’s not feeling well.

    I bought the e-book and audio version of Emerald Blaze, too. Forgot to list that, but I listened to it and loved it. Must check out the new Mary Burton.

  14. Hooray for cooler weather! It was brutally hot her last week with temps in the high 90’s and heat indexes hovering at 110. Ugh. Thankfully it’s cooler this week here, too, and upper 80’s is so much more livable. (And our A/C gets a little break instead of running nonstop!) That’s awesome that you’ve already read so many books this month. You’re off to a great start! 🙂

  15. vvb

    Love the color of your orchid. Ooo, the new Ruth Ware – enjoy. Hope things get better with your daughter’s gastro.

  16. Jen

    I really want to try C. Neill’s new series, but decided to pass. I have so many books on my plate right now and I made myself not request the audio/book. I look forward to reading your review.