Holiday Ho Ho Ho Readathon - Holiday Fun!

Jennifer @ Bawdy Book Blog and Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer adore holiday themed books.   So grab your pile of holiday themed books and sign-up to join us November 6th to 11th for a holiday themed read-a-thon, filled with challenges, good cheer and maybe some Figgy pudding! The challenges will be festive and give you a chance to win some holiday cheer for yourself!  Join for one day, just the weekend or the entire event. Read as many holiday related books from your YA, NA and Adult collections as you can.  Participating in challenges, spreading the news, following hosts and reading will all earn you entries for the grand prize- a twenty dollar gift-card from B&N or Amazon to fill your stocking with!

It happens to me every six months - I am left with the doldrums after Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

and I begin to search the web for the next readathon of any kind.  I ran across this Ho Ho Ho

Holiday Readathon that begins November 6-11.  Five days to read Christmas themed books!

So - I jumped right on this - I'm looking at my calendar for that week and will keep the RAT in mind. I'm also planning a trip to the library in a few weeks to select my Christmas reads, but 

I can give you some inside information:  I will be reading a favorite of mine - The Best Christmas

Pageant Ever! and I'm setting out some of my kids's favorites and plan to reread some of them. 

Maybe I'll get creative and find some little ones to read to!!

 

Won't you find your holiday spirit and join us in the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Readathon?

Mid-Event - 12 more hours to go!!

1. What are you reading right now?  Return to Me by Lynn Austin - Good!!

2. How many books have you read so far? None - but two magazine articles - some Bible scripture and 3 chapters of Return to Me.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  I want to continue with my novel - I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I'm enjoying it!  

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?   Mostly self-made interruptions - of course the puppy - but she has been really good and spent a lot of outdoors time today.  So glad it was a beautiful day here in North Central Kansas.  I had to prepare to teach Preschool-2nd grade Sunday School class tomorrow - it required more time and supplies than I had dreamed . . . But I'm enjoying my day soooooo much that any part of the RAT I get to do is just a blessing!  I have enjoyed the challenges - and so now tonight I plan to stay up as long as I can and check out some of the blogs!

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?   No surprises new today but I'm still like a little kid with the whole thing - and I will hate for it to end!

Here's to 12 more hours!  

SHOWIN' IT OFF

One of the fun parts of the readathon is the mini-challenges so graciously provided by so many readers!

Kay @ Dead Book Darling is hosting this hour's challenge to show off your favorite, most valuable or most interesting books:  "The unique, signed or simply dear-to-your-heart editions that you’d grab if there were a fire."  

I went down stairs to take a picture of my Janette Oke collection of Christian pioneer stories called Women of the West series and discovered a surprise:

I read these back in the l980's and I was always transformed to the simpler ways of keeping house that our dear pioneer women lived through.  The Calling Of Emily Evans holds the spot of my favorite ever book.  

Then  . . .  as I passed by the "children's book shelf" I thought Oh My - - - that's where some of my real favs are!!!

Key to the Treasure was the first book I ever received in my childhood book club that mom let me join. A new book every month or so.  Always loved The Bobbsye Twins, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys as a young girl - read them all with my BFF Dee back then.  The 1960's.  Key to the Treasure was the first book I ever bought.

The next book goes back to my childhood really - The Real Mother Goose - - - we three girls had this book and I'm not sure if this is that book or if I bought one for my own kids - - - I believe that this belongs to my kids.  My kids did not appreciate this book the way that I did . . . I poured over page after page of nursery rhymes . . . was enthralled with them!  Kids now days don't do nursery rhymes do they??

The Curious Little Kitten was my daughter Casey's favorite read to me book - - - I still remember without peaking today that the little kitten tried and tried to get over the fence in her back yard - - - and when she eventually did - - - a big dog was on the other side!  The Animals Christmas Eve and Big Birds Red Book were my favorites to read to the kids.  And lastly, Benji, The Fastest Dog in the West was my son Todd's favorite book to check out at the library.  In fact, we would return it . . . look through all the books . . . and he would recheck out Benji every time.  Must have had a nice librarian who understood boys and their dogs!

This was a fun challenge - sometimes I regret not spending more time reading to my kids - but when I reflect at the four shelf book case full of kids's books - and especially going right to these favorites - I'm reminded - hey I didn't do so bad!!

Happy Reading of YOUR old favs!

COFFEE, TEA OR ME!

Into hour #2 of the Dewey's 24 hour Readathon and the challenge is:

Do you prefer coffee or tea when snuggled up reading?

Coffee for me please - black - and in a Christmas mug!

That's my second cup and it's time for breakfast as well!

Enjoy the readathon friends!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is on . . .

One of my four favorite days of the year!!!   Spring Readathon - Christmas Eve - New Year's Eve - and today - Fall Readathon!  

I love to read the warm up posts and see how different readers prepare for the big weekend of reading fun!  I especially like to compare notes with my sister Tami at Just One More Thing who introduced me to the readathon a couple years back.  

I enjoy spending the week before the RAT doing a little extra housework and laundry so I can be guilt-free on Saturday at 7 a.m.   

I also made a trip to the grocery store to pick up some healthy snacks and some items to prepare some meals the easy way - - - I have a roast with vegetables planned for Sunday - - - and some chicken to roast today for lunch.  The hubs will be working and may not make it home for lunch so I can always resort to mac and cheese as well.  Another option I chose is to put together an oriental coleslaw salad and call it good!     Snacks consist of apples with peanut butter or sugar free caramel - - - or plain to share with our new puppy as a snack!  I also have a cucumber and some dip if I choose and bananas and some mixed fruit as well.   So - - - food - - - check.

My reading choices are all contained in this picture - 

My sister and I have a book club - and she has chosen Return to Me as our October book - so that is my main focus for the day.  The book is written by Lynn Austin.   It is a different read for both of us - an old testament true story put in novel form - I can't wait to start!  As you can see - I have my Bible ready for early morning devotions and prayer time.  And - I hesitated to add these magazines to my reading list because I wasn't sure it was part of the "rules" for RAT . . . but I'm risking it . . . I  actually "borrowed" these from my drs. offiice - - - while visiting there this week I found good articles in each one and decided to see if they were up for loan.  Time magazine and a guide to taking back your kitchen . . . Agingcare.com talks about caregivers and Alzheimer's Disease . . . Real Simple Magazine has 76 greatest organizing tips of all time, Halloween DIY ideas and 18 easy fall meals . . . and WebMD just looked like a good resource on health, beauty, fitness, and family.    Please feel free to reprimand me if mags are not appropriate reading material for the RAT!  :)

Next preparation item was to find a charger for the Ipad that I am writing this post on right now!  It seems that grams left her charger in the motel room last weekend - - - so after a few phone calls and a rather impatient wait at the local phone store I was set!  

Lastly, and most interesting, is that I will be reading with a puppy in the house.  This will prove to be a challenge I'm afraid.   Hubs is having a busy season at work and so can't relieve me of my duties with the new doggie - but the weather looks promising and the fenced in back yard looks inviting - so Libby will spend some quality time outdoors with her big brother Roy.  

Well 7 hours still start time so I will get this post ready to go at 7 a.m. and I will see you all back for coffee and some great fun with books and challenges and snacks and . . . 

How did you plan for the RAT?

                       Roy and Libby

50 IS the New 50 . . .

On a recent revamp of my sisters/I book club - T & T Book Club - I went first with the selection pick for September.  In honor of our quest to do things better in the second half of life - (after 50) I chose a book written by Suzanne Braun Levine.

With chapter titles like  - "Nothing changes if nothing changes . . . No is not a four letter word . . . Age is not a disease . . . and You DO know what you want to do with the rest of your lives . . . " I was excited to jump on this book and find out that many women out there are feeling the same way I am with this over 50 lifestyle.  

I was sadly disappointed - - - with her every now and again referral to the "F" word I was just turned off.  I honestly felt like the chapters grew longer and longer and said nothing . . . I would find a couple sentences and I'd get hopeful - oh here we go . . . but then . . . more mixed up content.   My sister did enjoy a few chapters - especially the one on saying NO - and we can all use help with this.  But that has not been my problem at any part of my life - is saying no to others - - - I don't do much of what I don't want to do . . . and I don't normally feel guilted into doing something that I really don't choose to do.  

Sorry Suzanne Braun Levine . . . although you did touch on a few good points . . . most of your outlook on life and family and marriage kinda well annoyed me.  

I shall move on to the next book on our T & T reading list - - - Tami has challenged us both with an interesting read that brings the old testament stories to life!  I'm excited!  

Someone wise has said . . . "Life is too short to read bad books . . . "   I did . . . and wish I hadn't.  

How much is that doggie in the window . . .?

My mom used to sing that song to us girls when we were little . . .

     How much is that doggie in the window?  

     The one with the waggley tail . . . 

     How much is that doggie in the window?

     I do hope that doggies for sale!

As you know - we have had two dogs - Roy the big gray dog and his side kick the Boston Terrier. We lost Dodger earlier this summer due to an illness and have had a new puppy for one week and two days now.    So I am completely qualified to answer the question  . . how much is that doggie in the window . . . 

Other than the downpayment and remaining cost upon pick up . . . Having a new puppy costs:

A new bag of healthy - grain free - puppy chow - just for starters . . . 

 

A food and water dish - oh wait - two actually - because the first little inexpensive one was way to

     easy to be pushed around the room and spilled - - - so a heavy set was called for.

Small collar and of course a personalized name tag including our name, address and phone #.

Safe playthings and chew toys for puppies - - - Nylabone recommended!

And Also having a puppy costs:

     a few hours of sleep - - - I find myself somewhat drowsy at my desk in the afternoon!

     ENERGY!  I said to hubs, "Man the kids must have really helped with the previous pets!"

     He kindly reminded me, "And you were just 40".  Thank you for that.

     The satisfaction that our new carpet is free of any accidental happenings . .  

     Time . . . household chores take twice as long when you are keeping your eye on a

     house-training-in-process puppy.   Mopping has now become a game I guess . . . although

     it was not my idea!    Add in daily walks, time spent "outside" waiting,  and hours  playing 

     and I have found my "spare time" has disappeared.  

Yes - the doggie in the window has a price . . . and I am writing this post mostly because of the differences I have noticed in starting over having a new puppy without "real children" at home to entertain!  It HAS made a difference.     So as I have made it through one week of new "motherhood", I have certainly realized I don't move as fast - and as pain-free as before.

I also gave some thought as to "why" I wanted to do the puppy thing again.   Dog #1 was all for the kids - especially the oldest, a boy who had begged for a dog for years - to the point that he pretended he was one!  Dog #2 was to replace the empty nest when our youngest left home.  Someone for me to take care of . . . I did take great care of Dog #2 (all BT's remember).  and so why now?  I'm very comfortable with my empty nest now and so "why go to the work of another puppy?" I have been asked.  Here is what I think:  Dog #3 is me saying - "hey - I can still do this!"  Time is marching on - - - I wasn't ready to say that there wouldn't be anymore house dogs in my life - - - ever - - - and as much as I love the idea of adopting a needy puppy - we were also nervous about it - - -.I believe there is something in having a dog that is special to me because I didn't have one growing up at home.  I believed that dogs were diggers and chewers and stealers if allowed to roam.    Then I was given a large outdoor dog to care for - what a challenge for me . . . and it has gone great for the most part.  I began to think of myself as a dog person.  And I liked it.  I love the quote that suggests dogs bring out the best in a person.  We will love this girl and she will break our "old hearts" some day down the road when we have to say goodbye - so for whatever the reason we got her . . . she's here to stay and will some day be another great companion!

So as we start week #2 with our latest adventure . . . after a not so good Monday morning  . . .

                                                                                          

Just kidding Just kidding!