Mamie's 2022 Madness

I love this photo taken about 15 years ago. All four of our kids with four of their best friends - taken in Savannah while on summer vacation. (Birdy is on the far left, Rae is the tallest in the middle, and Abby and Daniel are on the far right)

I'm Mamie. I have BIG love for books and movies, cooking, making lists, wine, snark, and shenanigans. I try to get into trouble as often as possible, and I am very good at it, so I often succeed.

I live in the Deep South of the US - Georgia. I'm an Indiana transplant, so after nine years I am still adjusting to the hell-like temps heat and humidity. I have been married to my best friend for thirty years, and we have four grown children - all in their twenties, at least until March. We share our space with a trio of remarkable cats - Mercy, Mischief and Mayhem. That last one is excellent at living up to his name. I have been on LT for ten years, and it has been full of fabulous. I am looking forward to further shared adventures (and misadventures!) in my reading journey.

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January Reads:
1. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - recommended by Richard
2. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for an eighth year, let’s see what she hits me with this time.

1. Mindful Drinking by Rosamund Dean

The List: (this is a list of LT book bullets from this year)
1. Ballad for Sophie by Felipe Melo (GN) - Mary
2. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix - Jennifer
3. Evil Things by Katja Ivar - Judy
4. Wordslut by Amanda Montell - Micky
5. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin - Anne over on Mary's thread
6. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs - VivienneR
7. These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett - Stasia

This should do it - next one's yours!

Welcome back for another year!

>6 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Such a lovely topper!

Thank you, Shelley!

>1 Crazymamie: That's just wonderful!

Happy new thread!

Susan, thank you!

New thread orisons, Mamie me lurve.

>12 richardderus: Thank you, kindly, BigDaddy!

Looking forward to following along with your shenanigans, I mean, reading in 2022, Mamie!

>14 bell7: Ha! You are welcome to follow both, Mary.

Dropping in to make sure I have you starred for the next year.

Hi, Mamie!

Oh, I *love* that topper! Such a great photo!

>16 Helenliz: I am thrilled to receive a star, Helen. Can't wait to see what the New Year brings.

>17 scaifea: Hello, Amber! Thanks. That topper is one of my favorite photos.

Love the photo, Mamie!!

>19 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!

Dropping in to star your thread.

I can see why that photo is one of your favourites Mamie, it's adorable.

Lovely photo up top, Mamie. I'm going to do my best to make the rounds this year.

>21 fairywings: Thank you, Adrienne! Lovely to see you here.

>22 ursula: Thanks, Ursula! I fell off the threads last year, so I'm going to try my best to keep up this year. Good luck to both of us!

ed!!

>24 Berly: *grin*

I *finally* finished setting goals for 2022 and doing the threadkeeping on my intro. I am inordinately pleased about Briarley, and about getting Cove into its throne as my 6-stars-of-five read of the year. Such a perfect Plague-Year read.

>26 richardderus: Hooray! I will have to come check it out. You already hit me with Cove earlier in the year - did you pick it as your top read of 2021?

>27 Crazymamie: Yeup! There were several very near misses but none of them had the sheer unforgettable passion of Cove.

Yeah, he sucked me in and I have my copy coming next week. : )

Hi ya! Ready to get into mischief with you Mamie!

Hello, Mamie! Love the topper. Can't wait to see what you read and how you get in trouble this year.

Great photo at the top Mamie. And live the cat names.

>28 richardderus: I don't know if I can pick just one - I'll probably have several.

>29 Berly: He is very dangerous to the pocketbook.

>30 AuntieClio: Hello, Stephanie! Most excellent!

>31 ffortsa: Hello, Judy! Thanks for the topper love. I'm am ready for 2022, so I'm thankful it's just around the corner.

>32 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline! The cats bring us great joy. And amusement.


Mischief on top, Mayhem in the middle, and Mercy

>34 Crazymamie: So cute.

Love the topper pic, Mamie and the one of the furry family in >34 Crazymamie:. I'm along for the ride in 2022, just hope the road isn't as bumpy as it was in 2021!

>35 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you!

>36 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Yes! My sentiments exactly concerning 2022. Please, let it be so, or as Picard would say:

Dipping my toes into the 2022 group now that I've set up my own thread :)

I love your topper photo and that the DD is coming back for another year. So it resets every year, or do you keep a list of my recs from years past somewhere? It seems only fitting that I am starting off the new year with a BB I took, in part, from you.

Happy new year!

>38 katiekrug: Hello there, Katie! Thanks for the topper love. A keep a list - you have your own category collection in my library, so all the titles that have made your DD over the years are in there whether I won them or not. The list on my thread is just the list from the current year.

Happy New Year!

*edited to change category to collection

>1 Crazymamie: Excellent topper! Got you starred!

>40 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita!

This group always helps me to read; welcome back, Mamie. Love to all at the Pecan Paradisio.

>42 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

Happy New Thread, Mamie! Happy New Year! I also love the topper! What a great shot. I look forward to spending another year following your reading life and I am hoping we can do a couple more shared reads, here and there.

Happy New Year, Mamie!

>44 msf59: Thank you, Mark! Happy New Year! Glad you love the topper. I would love to do a couple of shared reads here and there.

>45 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! Happy New Year to you!

Somehow, I do not know how, I've passed the hundred-post hurdle. On the 31st.

Huh.

*smooch*y new year!

>47 richardderus: I am not shocked. *smooch*y new year to you!

.

Last night we watched the newest Emma. I should start by saying that Emma is my least favorite Austen creation so far, but I do have big love for Mr. Knightly. Anyway, we thought it was charming. After that we started Anna Karenina - the one with Kiera Knightley. It's really weird. We did not finish it, but I loved Matthew McFaydenin it. The hair! The mustache!



On the reading front, I listened to some more of Project Hail Mary, which is brilliant and full of humor - doubting I will get this finished before midnight, but we'll see. I'm currently also working on:

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..

>49 Crazymamie: Omg you're right about the hair and mustache! Ha! I love him.

>50 scaifea: We died laughing the first time he appeared onscreen. I said, Look, it's Mr. Darcy gone rogue! Me, too, with the love - I have loved him in everything I have seen him in.

>49 Crazymamie: Lovely reading you've got going on there! The Year of Lear intrigues me, so I'll be eager to learn your thinks about it.

Lovely therapy session over, and a new year full of 'em comin' up.

>51 Crazymamie: Have you watched MI-5? He's *amazing* in that. Also, he's not on screen much in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, but when he is he's amazing, so I recommend that one if you haven't seen it.

>52 richardderus: Richard, it's very good so far.

Therapy session?

>53 scaifea: Yes! We love him in that. And agreed about The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. I am wanting to see him in Howards End.

>54 Crazymamie: Oh, heavens yes! I have weekly therapy sessions. A lot of the time it's the only chance I have during the week to really get into it with someone who cares as much about politics as I do and has similar opinions and ideas.

Today we discussed the looming disaster re: voting rights. We're both absolutely appalled that this wasn't the very first legislative priority!

>55 richardderus: Most excellent!

Happy New Year and New thread! Love the cat picture in >34 Crazymamie:

>57 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda! Glad you love the cat photo - I love that one, too.

>49 Crazymamie: I loved Project Hail Mary so much! Andy Weir has a brilliant way of helping me understand the science.

Happy New Year Mamie!

Happy reading in 2022, Mamie!

>59 AuntieClio: SO good! I just have two hours left, but we are getting ready to eat a bunch of stuff from the freezer and watch movies, so...

>60 SandDune: Thank you, Rhian! Happy New Year to you!

>61 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>49 Crazymamie: I see you are reading Snow. I am reading My Name is Red by Pamuk--I've never read him before. Have you? Hope you are enjoying Hench!

>63 Berly: Nope. I have not read him before.

Hench is really fun. I had originally planned to finish it before the year was out, but will not make it in time, so it will be one of my first finished reads for 2022.

Checking in on the new thread, Mamie, for the new year!

BTW - the board gaming thread is now up for whenever you want to pop in: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338127

Have a great year of reading!

Happy New Year Mamie!

>2 Crazymamie: >49 Crazymamie: Kidnapped huh? I have never read it! (of course, the same could be said for many, many books)

Happy New Year Mamie!

Morning, Mamie! Happy New Year. We have a snowstorm heading our way. We could get 6-8 inches. I am sure glad I don't work anymore.

>65 alcottacre: So lovely to see you here, Stasia! Thanks so much for that link to the boardgames thread.

>66 quondame: Thanks, Susan! Thanks a fun image.

>67 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori. Hoping your year of reading is also full of joy.

Happy New Year and happy first thread of 2022, Mamie!

>34 Crazymamie: Excellent pic of the kitties.

>49 Crazymamie: Sigh. Emma is the only Austen I’ve never finished. I’ve seen one of the movies, but don’t remember which one.

>68 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan! Happy New Year to you! I loved Treasure Island, and since the prompt for the British Author Challenge this north is to read a children's book, and this one was on my shelves, I picked it up. Funny thing is that I guess I read it in 2014, or so my notes say, but I don't remember it at all. It's and excellent start, so I am surprised I don't remember reading it before.

>69 jayde1599: Thank you, Jess!

>70 msf59: Morning, Mark! Our first morning of the New Year - here we go again, my friend! I am jealous of your snowstorm - hoping you don't need to go anywhere and can just watch it fall. I completely understand your retirement happiness - now you don't have to worry about trudging through it to deliver the mail.

>72 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you! Happy New Year to you! Glad you like the photo of the kitties - they love to sit in that window and watch the birds at the feeders.

I still have Northhanger Abbey and Mansfield Park to go - I am wanting to get to at least one of them this year.

Hey Mamie! Starring it up again for another year! Lovely topper
Hope you have great reads in 2022!

>75 vikzen: Hello, Victoria! Thank you for those kind words and good wishes.

We had a quiet New Year's Eve. We had started watching Jumangi - the newer one with the Rock and Jack Black, and our plan was to watch it and then the sequel. Abby started feeling a lot of pain about halfway through, so she had to move upstairs and go to bed, and we decided to wait until she could finish with us. We have seen it before - Jack Black totally cracks me up as Bethany. Anyway, then we decided to just hang out together and each do our own thing, which means I got to finish Project Hail Mary, which I LOVED. It's so good, and the audio is full of fabulous. After I finished my audiobook, Rae and I were the only ones left up, so we watched the Bones episode from season one that is set in New Orleans after Katrina. We have watched this one many times because we love the conversation comparing Catholicism and Voodoo. Especially where Booth says that his religion doesn't make zombies, and Brennan replies that Jesus rose from the dead. "Jesus is not a zombie," Booth replies. Cracks us up every time.

Today Kaitlyn is working, so Daniel is coming over and we are all going to watch the newest Bond film together - I can't wait!

On the reading front, I read a bit more in Snow in the wee small hours of the morning.

Happy New Year, Mamie. I love the photo at the top!

I hope 2022 is a good one for you.

>78 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! I'm hoping 2022 is much better for all of us.

Fingers crossed. :)

Happy new year, Mamie! Oooo, I'm glad you enjoyed Project Hail Mary, that's one I'm looking to read soonish.
Enjoy, Bond...James Bond :0)

>81 Crazymamie: Happy New Year, Lynda! I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary - it gets the full five stars from me.

Love Bond! Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond, so I will be sad not to see him in any more. Also love his name as I have my own Daniel Craig. *Grin*

Happy New Year, Mamie! So glad you loved Project Hail Mary. Definitely one of my favorites in 2021 as well.

>84 bell7: Happy New Year, Mary! It's also going to make my list of favorites - hoping to put that together later today.

Happy new year, Mamie.

Your NYE sounds nice and quiet, but I'm sorry about Abby's pain.

I really liked that adaptation of Emma. I saw it in a theater in NYC with my BFF in February 2020 - the last time I was in a movie theater!

Happy new year, Mamie! I hope it's filled with good books!

>86 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie! Happy New Year! Abby has fallen on the stairs today, so it is not good. Please keep her in your thoughts.

That adaptation of Emma was absolutely charming, I thought. I can't even remember the last time I was in the theater. YIKEs!

>87 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie! Happy New Year! I like how you think.

>88 Crazymamie: - Oh, poor thing. Sending good mojo southward pronto!

>88 Crazymamie: Oh no...poor Abby, this is a damnable turn of events. CRPS begone! Away with you to GOP Headquarters!

I'm really not surprised that you enjoyed Ryland Grace's journey so much. I was so very moved by his Big Decision...understood exactly why he chose what he chose and was still just...moved.

Better-Sunday vibes. Saturday can go float.

Happy New Year from me n Miss Po!

>89 katiekrug: Most appreciated, Katie.

>90 richardderus: Oh! That would be so wonderful. Make it so, Number One!

Me, too, with the moving. I teared up at parts of it. SO well done.

Thanks for the Sunday wishes. Daniel is bringing takeaway for lunch today, so there is that.

>91 sibylline: AW! Thank you, Lucy! Miss Po is looking most elegant. Happy New Year to you!

Happy New Year, Mamie. I'm looking forward to the shenanigans to begin over here!

Project Hail Mary was one of the last books I read in 2021 and it was my No. 2 book of the year. So good, even for this science-phobe. I also loved The Martian by Weir.

>93 Donna828: Hello there, Donna! So lovely to see you here! You have come to the right place for shenanigans - pull up a seat.

I also loved The Martian. I was just telling Daniel that he needs to listen to Project Hail Mary - he mostly does audiobooks, and the audio was so full of fabulous.

Best wishes to Abby. Not the way to start off the year. : (

But James Bond is! : ) Happy Ne Year to you and yours.

>95 Berly: Very pretty! Thank you, Kim. Abby is currently trying to take a nap, so I'm hoping she can zone out for awhile.

Agreed about Bond! Daniel is helping to put a new tv app in Abby's room (she is napping in our bedroom), and then we are going to watch the movie.

Happy New Year, my friend!

Hi, I'm new to the "talk" part of this site. I've being logging books for several years. I'm following because duh the love of books, cats, and getting into trouble! I now have 4 cats just recently. They are all under the age of 2. So it's been a breakable Christmas. ha ha

Happy Bew Year, Mamie! What cool photo of the kids & their pals up top. I can see why you treasure it. Someone was alert with the camera!

Great to see Ballad for Sophie up there. Good for Mary for nudging you. I loved that one, too.

I need to get to Project Hail Mary. I’ve seen a lot of comments that it’s as good as his stelkar (groan) first one.

Far as I can see, I've failed to punch in. Sorry. Sorry sorry.

I loved Kidnapped. Stevenson wrote so many excellent yarns. I note you are reading Snow, the one by the Turkish Nobelist Orhan Pamuk. I got a copy of it just recently, around the time I read that he'd pissed off Erdogan, who now wants to toss him behind bars. Is it (Snow) good? Maybe I'd read it with you.

>97 Samqua: Welcome, Carol! Sounds like you will fit right in. Four cats under the age if two!! You win! Oh, dear for the breakable Christmas - hopefully nothing major. Thanks so much for stopping in.

>98 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! The topper love is happy making. I just got the BB from Mary today - she works fast, doesn't she?!

Yes, please do get to Project Hail Mary - I loved it just as much as The Martian, and I didn't think he could do that again.

>99 weird_O: Where have you been, Oh Weird One?! Now we can get started. This place wouldn't be the same without you.

It's so...um...weird because I have Kidnapped logged as being read back in 2014, but I have no recollection of it. Is my memory that bad, or did I mess up my records somehow? And it's so good, hit seems like I would not forget it. Oh, well. I'm really liking Snow so far, but I am not very far in - please, do join me. It's be fun - we can compare notes and stuff.

Happy new year Mamie.

Northanger Abbey is my least favourite Austen, I got my re-read out of the way last year. I like the newest Emma movie just fine, but I prefer the one with Johnny Miller as Mr Knightly.

>101 fairywings: Thank you, Adrienne! Northanger Abbey is one I still need to get to - hopefully sometime this year. I will have to watch the version of Emma that you mention - the one we watched the other night was the first movie version of it that I have seen. I should se how many I can find and watch to do a comparison while it's still fresh in my head.

We loved this one!

Happy New Year, Mamie! My husband received Project Hail Mary as a gift and he hasn't been able to put it down! He was looking for something that would jump start his reading again.

Our family just watched the two newer Jumanji films recently - how fun! And I do love Emma. Mostly for Mr. Knightley, I suspect:)

>104 AMQS: Happy New Year, Anne! That is an excellent book to jumpstart one's reading!

I have seen the first of the newer Jumanji movies, but not the second one. My daughters have seen both and enjoyed them. And yes - Mr. Knightley is my favorite part of Emma, too.

2021 in Review:

I read 118 books. Only 10 of these were non-fiction. I want to improve that number in 2022. 65 were written by female authors. 59 of the authors were new to me - best new author was Claire Fuller; I read three by her in quick succession. 19 were classics. 22 of them were audiobooks. 14 were translations - I also want to improve this number. 17 were GNs. 9 were rereads - this is low for me as I love to reread.

Here are my favorites of the year:

Top 5 Fiction:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (5 stars)
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones (5 stars)
Winter Flowers by Angélique Villeneuve, translated by Adriana Hunter (5 stars)
Still Life by Sarah Winman, narrated by Sarah Winman (5 stars)
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter (5 stars)

Top 5 Non-fiction:
Mary's Monster by Lita Judge (5 stars)
The Man With the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters by Ian Fleming, edited by Fergus Fleming, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt (5 stars)
The Window Seat: Notes from a Life in Motion by Aminatta Forna (4.5 stars)
Medieval People by Eileen Powers (4.25 stars)
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion (4.25 stars)

Audiobook:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, narrated by Juliette Stevenson
The Man With the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters by Ian Fleming, edited by Fergus Fleming, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt (5 stars)
A Room With a View by E. M. Forster, narrated by Rebecca Hall (5 stars)
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter (5 stars)
Still Life by Sarah Winman, narrated by Sarah Winman (5 stars)
The Weirdies by Michael Buckley, narrated by Kate Winslet (5 stars)

GN:
Mary's Monster by Lita Judge (5 stars)
Descender Volumes 1-6 by Jeff Lemire (Author), Dustin Nguyen (Artist) (5 stars)

Honorable Mention:
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (4.5 stars)
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller (4.5 stars)
West by Carys Davies (4.5 stars)

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. I love your best of list. So glad to see Still Life on there. I never did get to Project Hail Mary. I think I will do that as an audio at some point. I also want to get to My Heart is a Chainsaw sometime this year. And hooray for Mary's Monster. Such a good one.

>107 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday. Definitely do Project Hail Mary as an audio - it's full of fabulous, and you would not get the same experience in print. Trust me. My Heart is a Chainsaw is excellent, and there is going to be a sequel!! Most exciting.

Excellent list there, Mamie. I'm thinking I hit you with a couple of those, which is only fair, considering how many you pepper me with!

Morning, Mamie! How's the weather there? We were warm and windy yesterday and spent the last half of the day under a tornado watch. Now we're under a winter storm warning. It could make for an interesting pre-Tuesday commute.

>109 Helenliz: Helen, you definitely did your fair share of the book bulleting last year. Well done!

>110 cbl_tn: Morning, Carrie! The weather is hot and steamy - we were 85F yesterday. Today we are going to 78F, which is better, but it is SO humid (83% humidity). So currently gross. We have storms moving in today, though, and tomorrow is supposed to be a high of 56F. Crossing my fingers and hoping we get it even though that sudden temperature change will probably give me a headache.

Morning, Mamie! Nice wrap-up of your 2021 reading. I should maybe do that. Or at least throw together a list of favorites....

>112 katiekrug: Morning, Katie. Thank you. Yes, do please throw together a list of your favorites at least.

‘Morning, Mamie!

>77 Crazymamie: Sorry Abby was in a lot of pain New Year’s Eve.

>83 Crazymamie: I was going to add Project Hail Mary to my wish list, but when I looked I see that I added it in May. Lots of people were talking about it then, apparently.

>88 Crazymamie: Oh no! Prayers and good wishes on their way.

>106 Crazymamie: Congrats on 118 books. Good goals for 2022, too. I’ve now added My Heart is a Chainsaw to my wish list.

I hope that Abby's doing better today, poor darlin'.

>114 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Abby is doing much better today. Thank you for the prayers and good wishes for her - most appreciated.

I think you will love Hail Mary when you get to it.

Thank you - I was very pleased with my 2021 reading. I would love to read 150 books in 2022 - that would be a lifetime high for me.

My Heart is a Chainsaw was a BB from Richard. It's am homage to all those 80s horror movies that we watched in high school, but it's so much more than that. Really well done.

>113 Crazymamie: - I did!

>116 katiekrug: I was just perusing it! Most appreciated.

Your wish is my command... *grin*

>118 katiekrug: I am honored.

Oh no! I'm just now seeing your post about Abby's fall! I'm glad she's feeling better, though. Gentle hugs all around.

>120 scaifea: It was most unfortunate, Amber, but she is better today. Thanks for those gentle hugs. Most appreciated. Today Craig has put up another railing on the other side of the stairway, so we are hoping that will help - sometimes her legs don't work very well when she is having a bad day, and sometimes she has balance issues. We had gotten the railings several days ago, but Craig had to cut and stain them, so they were not ready to go up until today.

>121 Crazymamie: As long as she's improving after the bad times. And may I warble the praises of the Acorn chairlift? Brilliant things.

>106 Crazymamie: I'm so pleased that three of your fiction top-five choices are books I loved too. It feels very validating. *preens*

Sunday *smooch*

>122 richardderus: Hello, BigDaddy! She is so much better today but still in pain. We thought about a stairlift, but she cannot take any kind of vibration - it sends her arm off, so no stairlift for now. But thank you - I am making a note of it.

Preen away! What is the third one - I know My Heart is. Chainsaw and Project Hail Mary?

*smooch back*

Ooh I am so sorry about Abby. I am glad she's feeling better.

Your year-end list is terrific! I have been struck by Still Life before, but I am glad to see you enjoyed it on audio! I adored North and South read by Juliet Stevenson some years ago - probably time for a reread/listen.

Part of our Christmas celebration was late because my mom was ill. We had a terrible wind on the 30th - you probably read about the fires near Boulder - and while we were not in danger from the fires, we did lose a great tree, and my mom lost power all day. She and my brother & family took refuge at our house and we finally opened presents. Stelios received Project Hail Mary and absolutely devoured it!

>123 Crazymamie: I've always felt North and South is underpraised around there parts...there really ought to be an annual Gaskellfest and a North and South Day during it.

Wives and Daughters maybe not quite so much...humid, cloying stuff...but most of her work is genuinely incisive!

Mmmday's almost back, you know. I'm using retail therapy to avoid her leg-traps. Nasty piece of work...but I hope you'll make a habit of posting inducements to visit bookeries on the Booksale thread because, honestly, don't we all need a supply of cudgels to thwack that rotten Mmmday with?

>124 AMQS: Thank you, Anne.

Still Life is full of fabulous on audio - Winman narrated it herself, and she does an excellent job. I was surprised by how much I loved North and South - I am wanting to read something else by her this year. Juliet Stevenson is one of my favorites - I will listen to almost anything she narrates.

I did read about those fires. Scary. Glad you finally got to finally got to open presents, but I am sad about your tree. Project Hail Mary was just SO good. I told the kids that it was just as good as The Martian, and they gave me The Look, but it's true. I think the audiobook elevates the story, so if you read it, I hope you indulge in the audio.

>125 richardderus: Yes! It's full of fabulous. the only other one by her I have read is Cranford, but Roberta says I need to get to Mary Barton.

I will check out that thread next.

Dear Mamie, happy new reading year! May it be filled with a vast choice of fun, thrilling and enlightning books!

>128 PersephonesLibrary: Thank you, Käthe! What a lovely wish. Wishing the same for you.

I love your best reads list, Mamie. Winter Flowers is on the top of my pile. I appreciate the comments on the audiobooks as well; I've started to listen to them.

>130 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Winter Flowers was so good. I'm so happy that Charlotte covered that one on her thread last year because I never would have found it on my own. And audiobooks are da Bomb - love them.

See that you Pearl-Ruled Red Clocks, Mamie and I am toying with doing the same.

Sorry to see that Abby had a tumble but relieved that she is feeling better. Give her a gentle hug for you pal in Kuala Lumpur.

>132 PaulCranswick: Paul, I did. Totally not what I am in the mood for, and to be honest, I don't know if it would ever work for me. Too much ick.

Will do with Abby. Thank you.

North and South is one of my favourite books. Glad you loved it too.

>134 fairywings: It was wonderful, Adrienne. One I will read again. And I also loved the miniseries featuring Richard Armitage.

>135 Crazymamie: oh yes me too, It almost beats the Pride and Prejudice mini series

>136 fairywings: Oh, I love that one, too! My favorite version of Pride and Prejudice, though, is the movie with Kiera Knightley and Matthew MacFayden - we actually just watched that movie again tonight for about the hundredth time, and it was just as full of fabulous as ever. I love...I love...I love that movie.


Be still my heart.

Happy New Year, Mamie! Wishing you a great year of reading in 2022.

>102 Crazymamie: Mamie, I am reading all of Austen this year. Let me know if you are interested in a shared read and I will gladly read along with you when I am ready for that one. First up for me is Sense and Sensibilty this month. I am reading the novels in publication order, so I figure I will get to Northanger Abbey sometime around September, reading 1 book every 2 months.

>106 Crazymamie: Thanks for posting your list, Mamie!

>137 Crazymamie: What I love about the movie version is how they show the awakenings to their feelings for each other, like the way Darcy feels the tingle in his hand when he helps Elizabeth into the coach. And yeah Mathew MacFayden.

Yes, that's it exactly.

Hi Mamie! Thanks for the help over on my thread.

I love that photo of the four kids with their best friends. What a great idea for a shot.

I'll never keep up but I'm hoping to be more present on LT this year. In any case, I'm dropping off my star and I'll swing by as I am able.

Happy New Year to you, my friend!!

>138 harrygbutler: Happy New Year, Harry! So great to see you! Thanks for those good wishes - same to you.

>139 alcottacre: Will do, Stasia. I want to read both Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey this year. I might also reread Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice.

>142 EBT1002: Hello, Ellen! Wonderful to see you here! And you are welcome. - those sideways phots are slightly crazy making, aren't they?

Thanks for the topper love. I was horrible at keeping up with the threads last year, so I am also hoping to be more present.

Happy New Year - may it be full of fabulous!

>133 Crazymamie: Just the description of Red Clocks screamed 'Too much ick' to me.

>137 Crazymamie: omg the hand flex!! *swoons*

(At first I mistyped that as *sweens* and honestly? that works, too.)

Anyway, morning, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie. I had a great time hanging out with Jackson yesterday and getting to watch a rare Bears win. A good day. Very cold here today, so no trails for me. I might join you on those Austen titles. I have not read either.

>137 Crazymamie: I love that version of P&P as well. I took my daughters to see it in the theater. Kate, my oldest, was 12 and it inspired a lifelong love of Austen and a flurry of creative writing. She ultimately majored in English and writes for a living, all thanks to Jane Austen.

>145 scaifea: YES to the hand flex. Such a great moment.

>144 karenmarie: Karen, it was just not for me right now. Normally I love dystopian stuff, but this was making cringe.

>145 scaifea: *belly laugh* Right?! Morning, Amber!

>146 msf59: Morning, Mark! You finally got your Jackson visit - hooray for that! And a win for the Bears (which means a loss for Rae's Giants, but we shall not dwell). It's actually going to be cold here today as well - for Georgia, that is. Only going to 54F today. You are more than welcome to join me on those Austen titles when I get to them.

>147 lauralkeet: That is a very cool story, Laura! Thanks for sharing it. My daughters love that movie as well. We all love Austen, and we have different favorites except for Abby and I. In case you're wondering:

Abby/Mamie - Pride and Prejudice
Rae - Emma
Birdy - Persuasion

And that hand flex. *sigh*

*edited because I missed Karen the first time - sorry, Karen!

"I love...I love...I love that movie."

I see what you did there ;-)

Yes to the hand flex, and yes to Birdy's love of Persuasion, which is also my favorite.

I know you're not on Instagram but for anyone who is - there is a great P&P-stan account: excellent_boiled_potatoes.

Last night after Pride and Prejudice, we watched The Dig. I thought it was so well done. I thought the main character's older son looked so familiar, and it turns out he played Mr. Knightley in the version of Emma we watched the other night.

On the reading front, as discussed above, I decided to ditch The Red Clocks. I am a mood reader, and this was just not working for me. It's just too dark and hopeless for me right now, and there is a lot of ick. On audio, I started Kim, narrated by Madhav Sharma, and so far I am liking it. I listened to the first two chapters. Then I started Fun Home, which is a GN - reading this on my Kindle Fire. Reading this for the American Authors Challenge, and I can see why it has gotten so much buzz. In the wee small hours I read some more from Hench. I'm closing in on the end of this one, and it's been a fun ride. It fits the January prompt over in the Category Challenge SFFKIT - A villain or morally grey main character.

Today at the Pecan Paradisio we will be working on moving all of the furniture out of the living room and giving it a Big Clean. Our new furniture is being delivered tomorrow!!! Can't wait. And in the meantime, it means that a lot of Christmas is getting put away, so hooray for that. Craig likes to leave it up through most of January, but I don't - we usually leave it up every year because it makes him so happy, and it is a small ask, but this year at least the living room needs to be cleared in order to make it easier for the furniture delivery.

>149 katiekrug: *grin* Birdy and I are going to reread Persuasion together and then watch the movie again - the one with Ciaran Hinds - LOVE him!



Oh, man! You are making me wish I was on Instagram, but I don't do any social media except for LT. I will have to have Daniel look it up for me because he is on there. And I LOVE that account name!! Too funny.

Yay for new furniture! I'm so happy you're getting the bling undone early for your new arrival, too.

*smooch* on principle

>152 richardderus: Thank you, kindly, good sir! Getting all the Christmas packed away is so freeing. I mean, it's not clutter, but I just really want less stuff out.

*smooch back*

>137 Crazymamie: Downloading Pride and Prejudice for later today!!

>153 Crazymamie: The Tree is down, mostly because I don't want pine needles everywhere. And I am starting to pack a few thing up. I do love all the fun and color of the decorations though so some of it is staying until next weekend.

>149 katiekrug: now following Excellent Boiled Potatoes on Instagram, thanks Katie. What a brilliant name too.

>150 Crazymamie: I loved The Dig, Mamie. With two of my fave actors playing the lead roles, what's not to like? I don't think I spotted the Emma connection, so thanks for that.

>155 lauralkeet: - You're welcome, Laura! I think I found the account through SparkNotes' account. That's another fun one...

>150 Crazymamie: - I keep meaning to watch The Dig! Thanks for the reminder, Mamie.

>154 Berly: *happy dance*

My Dickens houses, the garland on the staircase and some other stuff is still up. We mainly just took down what was in the living room. I love the color and the twinkle lights, but my mind is craving less stimulus. It will be good to have one room that is less busy.

>155 lauralkeet: It was so good, Laura, I am going to watch it again at some point. And you are welcome - I had to look him up because I knew I had seen him somewhere else, but my brain wasn't making the connection for me.

>156 katiekrug: Welcome, Katie!

Hi, Mamie. Northanger Abbey is a hoot. I had no idea it was funny when I first picked it up. I found myself laughing before I knew it. It’s a spoof, but it’s also Austen, with that beautiful writing.

I want to watch that Anya Taylor Joy Emma. The Jonnie Lee Miller one has been my favorite.
I like Still Life a lot, too. Mark and Caroline tipped me off to it, and it made a mighty fine last read of ‘21.

Five stars for Mary’s Monsters- yes! I think you tipped me off to that one.

Lovely to see the lovely The Summer Book in your Honorable Mentions. The late Ellie Moses (mirrordrum) pushed me to read that one.

>150 Crazymamie: I loved The Dig, it was very well done.

>151 Crazymamie: Also my favourite version of Persuasion, because well Ciaran Hinds. Then newer version is nice but it's missing some vital scenes.

>156 katiekrug: I follow sparknotes on twitter (when I bother to look anyway), boiled potatoes sounds fun.

>143 Crazymamie: I will be reading Pride and Prejudice in March, I think. I will let you know when I start a new Austen to see if you want to do a share read. Sound OK?

>150 Crazymamie: I am also reading both Kim - a little over 3 chapters in - and Hench right now, Mamie. We will have to compare notes when we are done!

>158 jnwelch: Good to know, Joe! I am excited to finally read the last two Austen's that I have. I know there was a tutored thread for it a few years back, too, so I will seek that.

I think you will like the newest Emma. It's charming and fun. I need to watch the other versions so that I can have a definitive favorite. I read Still Life with Mark - everything I have read by Inman has been good, so you should check out Tin Man and When God Was a Rabbit if you haven't read those.

I did tip you off - good memory. Mary's Monster was so full of fabulous. One I know I will read again.

OH! I love that Ellie pushed you to read The Summer Book. I think of her all the time, and she is greatly missed by me.

>159 fairywings: Hooray for The Dig. I already want to watch it again.

I have BIG love for Ciaran Hinds. He is excellent in everything I have seen featuring him. This is reminding me that I need to get back to The Terror - is there not a touchstone for the mini-series? This one:



I loved the book!

>160 alcottacre: Stasia, that sounds perfect. Thank you for offering.

Amazing! Yes, we will have to compare notes.

>164 cbl_tn: I love Ciaran Hinds as well! The adaptation of Persuasion that he stars in is probably my favorite Austen adaptation.

I've started rewatching some of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes TV adaptations. Ciaran Hinds was in the first one I watched!

>162 Crazymamie: Wait, how did I not know this? What streaming service is it on?

>162 Crazymamie: I will have to look into that.

HI Mamie! I absolutely love your topper photo of the kids. It’s so sweet!

I also liked your best of list. Project Hail Mary and Still Life are both on my short list. I’m considering reading North and South some time.

We watched The Dig a few months ago and loved it. No Time to Die was great! We watched (for the first time) Spectre the night before.

I glad to learn that I need not trouble myself to look for Red Clocks. But I'm still in the market for Mary's Monster. For the AAC.

>162 Crazymamie: He is a fine actor Mamie, I've been lucky enough to see him n stage a few times over the years.

>164 cbl_tn: I like him in Persuasion too Carrie.

>164 cbl_tn: Carrie, I'll have to look for that episode! He is also in a season of Shetland - season three, I think.

>165 drneutron: Jim, Birdy bought it for me - I know you can purchase it through Amazon Prime video, but I'm not sure if it is available for streaming for "free" elsewhere. It's excellent so far. Back to say that I think Hulu has it!

>166 fairywings: Only if you like suspense/horror. The book was SO good.

>167 Copperskye: Thank you, Joanne! I do hope you give North and South a try - I think you would like it. I started listening and just fell into the story.

I think Spectre is the weakest of the Daniel Craig Bond films, but they are all so good that really that is splitting hairs.

>168 weird_O: I think you would love Mary's Monster, Oh Weird One. It's full of fabulous. And perfect choice for the AAC. I am reading Fun Home for that.

>169 Caroline_McElwee: Lucky you, Caroline - I would love to see him on stage. *sigh*

Morning, Mamie! I forgot about The Dig. I remember RD warbling about it. It is still on Netflix, right? I am glad you are enjoying Hench, although I am not surprised.

Morning, Mamie! We are finally getting some cold weather, but, alas, no snow :( It's currently 19F out there, and I think The Wayne and I are in an undeclared stand-off as to who will be taking the dog out.

Morning, Mamie!

>173 katiekrug: Same here: cold but no snow. *SIGH*

>174 scaifea: - It's really unacceptable. *sniff*

Hi again, Mamie!

>175 katiekrug: Agreed. (Although I'm happy with the cold part.)

*waves at Mamie*

How's Abby doing today?

Last night we re-watched the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer - it's a favorite here at the Pecan Paradisio. (We have not watched the show through to the end yet, so please no spoilers for how the series ends). The kids put the CD of the music soundtrack for this one in my stocking, which was awesomsauce. (A huge thanks to Amber for mentioning that there was a CD) After that we each did our own thing - I finished up Hench, which I have been reading on my Kindle. Today is our furniture delivery!!! It's scheduled between 12:30 and 2:30pm - I am very excited. Yesterday we got everything moved out of the living room and gave it a Big Clean, so it is ready and waiting.

On the reading front, as I mentioned I finished up Hench - it was good, but the ending surprised me. Not sure what I was expecting, but it felt like it ended abruptly, and I am wondering if there is a sequel planned.

I have mentioned elsewhere that as a family we have made a New Year's resolution to transition to a healthier diet. We want to go vegetarian on the weekdays - we are not planning on doing this all at once but in steps, and Rae may or may not participate. Last night we got takeaway from a favorite burger joint, and I am pleased to say that four of us ordered a vegetarian wrap with a side of black beans. It was excellent - it was a meatless Philly - sautéed mushrooms, onions, green peppers with spinach, tomatoes, Monterey Jack, & House dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla. Next time I want it without the House dressing. The black beans were most yum, and I don't know what they did to them but they had a lovely amount of heat that paired perfectly with the wrap.

>172 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yep - The Dig is on Netflix, and you will love it. I finished up Hench last night, so now I will need a new insomnia book.

>173 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! It's cold for Georgia this morning - currently 36F. Sorry about the lack of snow. Perhaps rock, paper, scissors for the dog outing?

>174 scaifea:, >175 katiekrug:, >176 scaifea: Yeah, no snow here, either. Which is also unacceptable, but Georgia would have no idea what to do with it if it did appear.

*waves back at Amber* Abby is doing slightly better but is still in a lot of pain - she plans on staying upstairs today. Her hand and arm are doing this weird thing where the ligaments move out of place and then back in again. It's actually slightly freaky to see, and very painful for her. She was able to walk up and down the stairs, which is good - some days she cannot do stairs. Thanks so much for asking.

>177 Crazymamie: Oh YAY for the Buffy Musical!! So, SO well done, that one.



ETA: Oh gosh. Abby. I think about her off and on all day these days. *hugs all around*

>179 scaifea: That is one of our favorite parts because way back when the kids were teenagers, Daniel told his friends that Abby was afraid of bunnies and it ended up being this whole thing - they totally believed him because teenage boys, and Abby was a bit put out because they kept bringing it up.

Yeah, Abby. It means a lot that she has been in your thoughts. It a rough road. Her neurologist says she doesn't need to come back unless she has new symptoms, so basically, they've done all they can for her. She is completely in the hands of the pain management clinic now, but at least that office is so great and her doctor is full of fabulous. There is no cure, so basically it's all about managing the pain and trying to stay as active as possible. She has good days, and bad days and horrible days. We just do the best we can, and she has been awesome through it all.

>178 Crazymamie: Oh, Abby...that is such a rough way to navigate life, with a body you can't rely on behaving itself.

*smooch* for your strong young woman facing so much

>177 Crazymamie: Yay for the musicals! That and "Hush" were the best episodes of the series IMO.

Have yourself a merry little Tuesday, Mamie me lurve.

'Smorning, Mamie. We can see the sun. That's an improvement. Chores this morning, then reading in the afternoon. Tata.

>181 richardderus: Right. It's so not great. *smooch back*

Oh! "Hush" was another great episode.

Thank you for those good wishes. Tuesday merriment to you, dear one.

>182 weird_O: Morning, Bill! I would love not to see the sun. I would dearly love a week of not seeing the sun - why must it spend all of its time when me when there are others like you that are thrilled when it makes an appearance?

May the chores go quickly and smoothly, and may the reading be full of fabulous, Oh Weird One.

SO, I forgot to mention that when Craig took his car to his APPOINTMENT to get new tires, at 8am no less on a Sunday, the place was closed up tight with a note on the door that read: Closed due to unforeseen circumstances. Um... Apparently they had several 8am appointments, and no one had been called. My carlessness continues as Craig and Rae are back to work today. In my car. *sob*

>177 Crazymamie: - The Wayne always "doctors" our black beans to make them tastier. I'll have to ask him exactly what he uses...

>184 Crazymamie: - Annoying!

>185 katiekrug: Yes, and then report back, please.

Indeed. Mamie was not amused. And now it is Tuesday, and he still has not heard from them.

>184 Crazymamie: Oh. Well, they've lost quite a lot of business not making the extra effort to call people.

I'm sorry you're still carless. In Car Culture, that is a misery.

>187 richardderus: Yep. I don't actually go out a lot, but I like to know that I can.

Here's a funny to those of us of a certain age. Birdy was just telling me about this new series that she thinks looks great. "It features Selena Gomez and these two old guys who used to be comedians, and there is a murder and it turns out that the murderer has to be one of the tenants." She then shows me the trailer. The two old guys who used to be comedians are Steve Martin and Martin Short. Heh. The name of the series is Only Murders in the Building. And it does look fun.

>189 Crazymamie: I've heard good things about that series, Mamie, and watched a couple interviews with the cast when it was first released. But we haven't actually watched it. I do love Steve Martin and Martin Short though.

It's on Hulu, which we don't have, so we won't be watching it anytime soon, but ti does look good, I agree. What cracked me up was that Birdy described Steve Martin and Martin Short as " these two old guys who used to be comedians". I said, actually, they still are comedians and gave her The Look over the top of my glasses.

>191 Crazymamie: ...but they *are* old guys, said the other old guy. Who would still *kill* to be as cool as Steve Martin.

>192 richardderus: Old guys she didn't know the names of. I am not arguing the old part, although 70s is not as old as it used to be and they both still look great.

>193 Crazymamie: Still, they give proof that "only the good die young" which accords nicely with my desire not to expire.

>194 richardderus: And mine.

>189 Crazymamie: Ha! Well, Tomm and I have watched it and it is amazing. You’ll love it, I suspect.

>196 scaifea: I think I would love it, too, based on the trailer. Plus I love Martin and Short.

What Amber said. It's delightful.

The Martin/Short series is on my Hulu watch list. I saw them perform live together a few years ago, and it was HIGH-larious.

PS: The Wayne says he mostly just puts some cumin in the black beans to jazz them up, and maybe some ancho powder if he thinks of it.

>198 rosalita: Hello, Julia! We don't have Hulu, but I'm sure that eventually we'll be able to see it.

>199 katiekrug: Yep, they are great together.

Oh, thanks for that!

>178 Crazymamie: Mamie, I’m sorry that Abby is still in pain. I know that you are suffering along with her. It’s such a helpless feeling when someone you love is hurting.

The “old guys who used to be comedians” made me smile.

Hi Mamie!

>150 Crazymamie: Bill and I loved that movie when we watched it last year.

>177 Crazymamie: Jenna and I love the musical episode and I bought each of us the CD of the soundtrack many years ago. Anytime one of us says anything close to “I’ve got a theory”, we burst into song!

>178 Crazymamie: I’m sorry Abby’s staying upstairs today because of pain. MORE prayers and healing thoughts to her.

>179 scaifea: ♪ ♪ Bunnies, Bunnies, it must be bunnies!
.... Or maybe midgets? ♪ ♪

>184 Crazymamie: and >186 Crazymamie: When they aren’t there to take your money you know something’s wrong. I'm sorry you're carless.

I do hope the furniture arrives today...

>202 Donna828: Thank you, Donna. It really is a helpless feeling - I want so badly to fix it.

Birdy cracks me up on a regular basis, but usually it is with her snark. When I saw who it was she was talking about, I hooted.

>203 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! The Dig was really good. A quiet movie, but very moving.

You are how I found out about the musical episode in the first place way back when we were talking Buffy on your thread. I had not gotten to that episode yet, but now I have and it has quickly become a favorite.

The tire place is still closed, so now Craig is having Sam's Club place an order. It's kind of crazy.

The furniture is here!! It's just as comfy as I had hoped - we love it already. Now we just need an area rug and some pillows.

>103 Crazymamie: Glad you liked Bond's latest, Mamie. Who's the guy in the middle of the poster? He reminds me of, I think his name is Malek aka the guy who played Freddie Mercury. Hope Abby's ok
Hurray for furniture arrival!

Hurray for the new furniture!! So now when I come here, not only do I get book bullets, but also TV shows!! (Thank you!) I re-watched Pride and Prejudice last night (loved it) and I have to look up "Only Murders in the Building" and "The Terror." I already knew about the Bond movie. ; )

Also, just got a note from Amherst College, my alma mater, about a new book you might like...The Weekday Vegetarians: 100 Recipes and a Real-Life Plan for Eating Less Meat. : )

Yay for the new furniture! Pictures soon?

>205 Carmenere: Yep, Lynda - it's Rami Malek. He's the villain in the latest Bond movie. Thank you in regards to Abby.

We love the new furniture! I will try to remember to post a photo tomorrow.

>206 Berly: Thanks, Kim! We are very exciting to finally have comfortable seating for all of us here in the living room. We like the chair so much we might get another one.

I am happy to hit you with book, tv, movie...bullets. What ever I can think of, Heh.

>207 Berly: Great thinking, but I already have that cookbook - it's what gave me the idea to do vegetarian 5 says a week in the first place. I have not yet made any of the recipes in it - just read about how she came up with the idea and how she implemented it.

>208 richardderus: Yes, soon. I have one photo I took while it was still bright outside. I can share that and try to get a better one tomorrow. We still need to get an area rug, an ottoman, and a few pillows.

As I mentioned before, we went with a neutral color so that we can change an area rug and pillow and accessories whenever we feel like it. They are all the exact same color - it's just the lighting that makes one couch look lighter.

The few furniture is absolutely gorgeous, Mamie. As is the entire room. So much light! And so clean! Impressive, that.

>210 Crazymamie: Those do look comfortable. Here, have a bolster cover!

>177 Crazymamie: Oh man! I used to love that Tv series as a young teen.

>210 Crazymamie: Excellent furniture choice! looking quite snazzy.

>210 Crazymamie: How satisfying. It looks even better than you told us it would!

...or is that just The Big Clean...?

>210 Crazymamie: Lovely. Comfy too I bet.

Oh I LOVE the new furniture, Mamie!!

Also, is that a bag of chocolates or Cheetos on the side table? I need to know these kinds of things.

Your new furniture looks great! And the room looks lovely and open and beautiful.

I cracked up too at your story about Only Murders in the Building, but have to confess my own knowledge of the three actors shows I'm squarely in between your and Birdy's generations - I recognize Steve Martin from movies I saw as a kid/teen, I know who Selena Gomez is because my youngest sister watched Disney stuff with her in it, and I have only a hazy knowledge of who Martin Short is in that I recognize the name but I'm not familiar iwht his work.

I hope you're able to get your car back soon.

>211 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura! Yes that room has southern facing windows, and we get a ton of light even with the blinds mostly closed - now you know why I say the sunlight down here is slightly exhausting to me. We did a Big Clean of the room when we had all the furniture out, and we could get to everything, so now it so shiny.

>212 quondame: Susan, they are SO comfy. I especially like the deep seated ones. And thanks for that link!! That's just the type of thing I am looking for to add a pop of color.

>213 figsfromthistle: Anita, I started watching Buffy when my kids were teens, and we all love it.

Thank you for the compliments about the furniture - we are very pleased with our purchase.

>214 richardderus: Thank you, Richard! It fits th room nicely - we might actually order another chair. It's hard to get a picture of the whole room because it is pretty big. And haha! I think the Big Clean made a large contribution to the looking good.

>215 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline! Yes, it is very comfy. And I love how it looks - the fabric has a lovely stripy appearance that doesn't show in the photo.

>216 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber! You made me laugh about the goodie bag - your radar is working it is full of sugar - Birdy's bag of mini Reeses Cups from her Christmas stocking. I'm actually surprised that she has some left.

'Morning, Mamie, and happy Wednesday to you!

I love the furniture, and am interested in how you're going to accessorize with rug and throw pillows.

>219 Crazymamie: Aha! I was going to guess Reese's cups! *polishes nails on shirt*

Morning, Mamie. Happy Wednesday. The furniture looks gorgeous. An arctic blast is blowing in here today, so it will keep me off the trails for a few days. I should be seeing Jackson Thursday and Friday though. Poor Sue will have to wait for the weekend. She is bummed.

Have you ever watched the TV series, This is Us? It is entering it's sixth and final season and we are finally getting around to it. It has been wonderful. The writing and acting is great.

>217 bell7: Thank you, Mary! This house really is full of gorgeous - it's my favorite house of all the ones we have owned. On days when the heat or the sun of the Deep South are getting on my nerves, I take a deep breath and think, but this house. And that view of the pecan trees. It always feels like a gift, and I feel lucky to get too live here for just a moment in time.

When I was a teen, I loved SNL, and that is how I got to know Steve Martin. Martin Short has long been a favorite of mine. Selena Gomez I only know through the kids. Heh.

Me, too, with the car. Craig has ordered the tires, so now we wait for them to come in.

>189 Crazymamie: Haha I love those kind of descriptions ... they make me feel a million years old.

We watched Only Murders in the Building and those two old former comedians held their own with Selena Gomez!

Seriously though, it was fun.

>220 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Wednesday! Glad you love the furniture - me, too! Some of the furniture in the room adds pops of color, too, but you can't see them in that photo. Our nesting tables are a really pretty sage green and yellow. We have a red media console that backs up to the one sofa, and a bookcase in the southwest corner of the room that we use as a media console that is robin's egg blue. After we have the room completely finished, I will try to get some photos from different angles so that you can see it all.

>221 scaifea: You still got it, Sister!

>222 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday. Thank you. Sorry about your arctic blast - we are going to 65F today. Poor Sue.

I have seen some of This is Us, and it's very well done. I agree that the writing and acting is great.

>224 ursula: Hello, Ursula! Yep. Me, too. It started way back when my nephew asked me who James Taylor was and I just blinked at him for a few moments because I couldn't believe he had never heard of him before. This was back when Rae and Daniel were still babies.

I am really wanting to see Only Murders in the Building. *sob*

>210 Crazymamie: - The furniture looks great! We have one of those deep-seated chairs and I adore it.

>226 Crazymamie: Maybe Hulu offers a free trial where you could binge-watch Only Murders and then cancel?

>227 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I gave the chair a test run yesterday, and it was just what I have been looking for in a reading chair. I can totally curl up in it.

>228 rosalita: I need to check into that, Julia! Good thinking.

What Julia said. Streaming services are usually pretty easy to cancel, so even if it's not free, they probably have a really low introductory rate, so you could sign up and then cancel.

We have Hulu and like it well enough. We'll probably be upgrading to Hulu + Live TV and getting rid of SlingTV. We have issues getting the local broadcast channels, and for a while, Sling was the only option, but there's very little worth watching on it now that so many channels are migrating to their own platforms.

>231 katiekrug: I will look into it, Oh Wise One. We currently have HBO Max, which was a family Christmas gift, Amazon Prime (which I actually have for the free shipping, but now you also get the digital streaming which we love), BritBox, Apple TV (this is a free 3 month trial that came with my phone) and Disney Plus (Rae pays for this). So, I need more streaming like I need a hole in the head, but I would like to watch that particular show. We are dumping our cable as soon as football is over.

>231 katiekrug: Totally agree — the ease with which you can cancel/restart streaming services is such an improvement over cable! I feel like I've tried all the Live TV streaming services over the years, from Sling to PlayStation Vue (which did not require use of a PlayStation wtf) to Hulu. I'm now on my second stint with YouTube TV, mostly because I find their user interface much easier to navigate and they have a great cloud DVR. If only I didn't like live sports and news, I would ditch live TV entirely, but at least it's easy enough to use.

>232 Crazymamie: - You can get all the main football channels through other means which is great.

We have, um, a LOT of streaming services because we are bad about cancelling things. But also because we are very slow to watch things and then new seasons come out. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.

Off the top of my head:
Netflix
Amazon Prime
Sling
Hulu
HBO Max
Paramount+
Discovery+
AppleTV

And I am wanting to get Peacock, because they have Bravo and I need my Top Chef and Project Runway fixes :-P

>233 rosalita: - Yes! As noted above, we have a stupid amount of services, so probably aren't saving any money by not having cable or satellite, but I feel like I have more control over things and cancelling/changing are never an ordeal. That is so worth it to me.

>234 katiekrug: What do you watch on Discovery+ that you recommend? I have been tempted to get Disney+ just to watch the Beatles documentary, and it's offered in a bundle with Discovery+ and ESPN+ but I don't feel a need for ESPN+ and I'm unfamiliar with what Discovery+ has.

Otherwise in addition to YouTube TV, I also have Netflix, Apple TV+, non-live Hulu, AcornTV and PBS Passport. I ditched Amazon Prime because I never remembered I had it and the user interface is hot garbage imo. YTTV usually offers a month preview of HBO Max every year, so I try to save up and binge-watch stuff during those 30 days. It would be easier if they didn't have so many good shows!

>236 rosalita: - I sometimes like to put on HGTV or Food Network for background noise while I'm doing other things. Honestly, I think we might pull the plug on that one, in addition to Sling.

I need to look into PBS Passport, because we can't get PBS for some weird reason.

And I forgot - we also have Disney+ because TW wanted to watch The Mandalorian...

>231 katiekrug:, >230 Crazymamie:, >228 rosalita: They do. I used that to binge-watch 11/22/63 (I loved it) and then Rob did one for Only Murders (we enjoyed it; he's very amused at the descriptions of "the old guys").

*smooch* for a delightful Humpday.

>234 katiekrug: Peacock is free if you're willing to watch ads (Brave New World was better than I'd expected but not great).

>233 rosalita: That is weird about the PlayStation Vue.

>234 katiekrug: That is good to know, Katie. I was wondering about that.

Netflix! I forgot about Netflix - we have that and have had it for years - totally worth the money.

>235 katiekrug: Yes, and also no commercials. I would rather pay for specifically what I want.

>236 rosalita: Julia, "hot garbage" made me laugh!

>238 richardderus: Most excellent. Thanks, BigDaddy!

>239 richardderus: Ads are crazy making for me. I put up with them for football, but not much else. But I will file that away just in case I am desperate to watch something there.

>237 katiekrug: You need PBS Passport because the new season of All Creatures Great and Small is coming in March! Get it now and you can watch the first season to catch up. ;-)

>242 rosalita: - I'll see what I can do, Julia! It doesn't really interest me much - it seems sort of hokey. What am I missing?

60 posts in a single day. Oh my.

Nice furniture. I like the openness of your house. But sorry: Georgia.

I saw Steve Martin at Lafayette College way back in his White Suit days. Before he appeared in any movies, maybe even before appearing on SNL.

Keep on keepin' on, you Crazy you.

>243 katiekrug: nothing. Seen odd episodes of both versions, can't see the attraction in either. *grumpy icon required*

>210 Crazymamie: Noice. A few cushions to change that up will work a treat. The two sofas really do look different colours.

It's pseudo M-day here, first day back at work after over 2 weeks off. I remembered my password, so I'm counting that a win.

The only streaming I do is BBC i-player in the ironing room. I don't always get to watch all the TV I do record, I don't need to add any more to it! Although the husband does sometimes complain that I seem to record BBC4 all evening - some days he's not far off the truth!

>243 katiekrug: what ^^^>245 Helenliz: said. Twee twee twee twee all the way to the Home Counties.

PBS is supposed to be taxpayer supported. Why is it I'm paying for it, again?

>244 weird_O: Well, we ar a chatty bunch, and I did get new furniture, so...

I am well aware of the fatal flaw in my home's location. Sadly, I cannot take the house with me when we move (after Craig retires). Thank you for the kind words about my home - we love the openness - it's one of the things we were looking for in a house. Our last one was very old, and the kitchen was completely enclosed, so we wanted a change.

How fun about Steve Martin!

I will do my best to keep on keepin' on, Oh Weird One.

>245 Helenliz: Yep, Helen. The sofa that looks lighter is not - it's just a trick of the light. This room gets so much light that we had to move the bookcase because the sun was fading the spines of my books. I am so not happy about that.

Hooray for remembering the password! Hoping work goes quickly and smoothly for you.

I never record anything because I would never get around to watching it before I forgot about it. We definitely get our money's worth out of the streaming services that we do subscribe to, and I love finding new things to watch.

>246 richardderus: *smooch*

>245 Helenliz: and >246 richardderus: - Okay, but let's let someone who likes it have a go!I can be convinced.

All this streaming talk reminds me: is anyone else super excited for the new series The Gilded Age on HBO Max (about late 19th c. NYC)? I believe it premiers this month. And it has Christine Baranski, whom I adore.

ETA: Sorry for the hijack, Mamie.

>237 katiekrug: I'm finding less and less to love about Food Network and HGTV. Food Network seems to be stuck on two or three contest shows. I miss the shows like Barefoot Contessa that they relegate to a super early Saturday morning spot. Even though I'm usually up, I'm not awake enough to think about turning on the TV that early. Instead, we get non-stop "Beat Bobby Flay" or "Chopped" or "Grocery Games." I'm tired of those shows. HGTV isn't much better. I think the networks were better when they were based in Knoxville instead of New York.

>249 katiekrug: Let's see if you get any takers. I know nothing.

...is anyone else super excited for the new series The Gilded Age on HBO Max Me, me, me!!!!

Hijack away. I love you guys!!

>250 thornton37814: I have to say that I love "Chopped". I have not watched any HGTV or Food Network in a long time, so I feel like I cannot comment on their current trends.

I read the All Creatures Great and Smallbooks and absolutely loved them. Can't get into the filmed version though.

>252 RebaRelishesReading: Hello, Reba! I have not read either of those.

>250 thornton37814: - I agree about the HGTV and Food Network broadcasts, but I never watch that. The streaming service (Discovery+) has all the back seasons of episodes of a lot of the good shows, which is what I'll put on in the background or when I want something mindless.

>251 Crazymamie: - Excellent! Can't wait to chat about TGA :)

>254 katiekrug: *grin*

>250 thornton37814:, >251 Crazymamie: and >254 katiekrug: - I should add that I do love Chopped, as well.

I think most of the actual cooking-cooking shows are now on Cooking Channel.

>210 Crazymamie: That looks extremely comfy, Mamie!
I'm thinking of going with light khaki walls with navy loveseat and a lighter, maybe a fun patterned accent chair. I'm going inexpensive this time so I don't need to feel like I have to own the furniture for 20 years to get my money out of it. haha.

>256 katiekrug: Cooking Channel? Clearly I have fallen into ignorance about current cable tv. Seriously, all we use our cable for is sports.

>257 Carmenere: Every piece is very comfy, Lynda. I wanted some well built but comfy basic pieces that would last us for a while.

Your vision sounds fun. We have patterned chairs in our beverage room that are lovely and another patterned one in the bedroom that we love - we went with inexpensive pieces on those and have been happy with them, but none of them are chairs that I want to curl up in and read for hours, so...

>243 katiekrug: Probably nothing — if you don't like it, you don't like it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>259 rosalita: - I just don't know anything about it, other than that there are lambs? Maybe? I have a vague recollection of an old book cover :-P

>259 rosalita:, >260 katiekrug: You two are cracking me up.

>260 katiekrug: This whole exchange has reminded me of one of Charlie's favorite picture books when he was little, which I think your own Charlie (I'm remembering his name correctly, I hope!) would probably love to have his Aunt Katie read to him:

>262 scaifea: - Making a note of it! And yes, he's a Charlie :)

>262 scaifea: That looks like something Daniel would have loved as well.

>263 katiekrug: >264 Crazymamie: It's *hilarious* - the whole book is laid out as if a kiddo received a cutesy book about a bunny's birthday and draws and writes over every page to make his own weird and funny story.

>265 scaifea: I love that!

>266 Crazymamie: - +1.

>250 thornton37814: Back when I was stuck in a nasty depression, I sat on the couch and watched 30 Minute Meals, Barefoot Contessa, Food 911, Paula's Party, Molto Mario, Iron Chef, Good Eats, Emeril Live, and doubtless others while I made yards of finger cord from craft yarn.

>256 katiekrug: Cooking Channel!?! Maybe I will have to get hearing aids and watch a bit of boob tube. I do miss non contest food shows.

>268 quondame: Susan, you have taken me back in time - I have not heard the expression "boob tube" since my third and fourth grade teacher Mrs. Sherbundy used it All The Time. Too funny!

Love the new furniture!

I've tried various streaming services, and I've finally found a selection that works for me. I have Amazon Prime, Acorn, and BritBox, plus Frndly for live TV. And an antenna for local broadcast channels.

Hi Mamie! I've added the folowing to my TBR list.
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix - Jennifer
and
Evil Things by Katja Ivar - Judy

I love your opening image! What a delight. It brings spontaneous smiles.

Hi Mamie - your new furniture is beautiful! I hope you'll post again when you have area rugs, etc. We redid our landscaping last summer which we love, and came in very handy when we moved our large family Christmas celebration from my mom's house to our patio to be COVID-cautious. Our next big project will be redoing our family room. Two kids plus pets and the carpet is beyond gross. We need new floors - thinking of hardwood - and new furniture. I hope to use yours as inspiration when we finally get to it!

>207 Berly: Kim, I put this on hold at my library. This is 2 BBs I'm involved in today on threads that aren't mine by LTers who are not writing in their own thread!

Re: All Creatures... I have never seen either the newer versions or the older ones, but I have listened to all of the books narrated by Christopher Timothy, who plays James Herriot in the older version. Oh, and I love them! They are also outstanding family audiobooks for long car trips, and made the long and unbearably boring drive through eastern Colorado and across the entire state of Kansas bearable more than once!

>262 scaifea: My students LOVED Battle Bunny when it was published and was a Colorado Children's Book Award nominee. But funny enough, it was my first book complaint from a parent. She actually thought a student had vandalized the book, and as there are bombs, etc drawn into the book, was wondering about the safety of the school given this blatant bomb threat. She actually sent her email to my principal, who knew nothing about it. When I explained to the mother that no, the book was published that way on purpose and a little bit about the story and the idea she said "yes, that's what my son said, but I didn't believe him." Ah, parents.

>272 AMQS: Oh my. Parents. *eye roll* As far as I'm concerned, Mac Barnett can do no wrong.

Morning, Mamie!!

>270 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie! Some day I am going to subscribe to Acorn and watch All the Things.

>271 Whisper1: Hello, Linda! Lovely to see you here! I love that you added books from my list of book bullets - well done! And thank you concerning the topper. It's a favorite of mine.

>272 AMQS: Hello, Anne! Thank you. I will post another photo once we get it all sorted. It'll be fun figuring out just what we want. Hooray for your newly landscaped patio area coming to the rescue. Our floors here are hardwood - oak. I would have gone with cherry if I had been picking it out, but the oak was here when we bought the house, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I have not tried any recipes from that cookbook yet, but I learned some stuff just reading through the opening comments. I'm looking forward to figuring out what vegetarian meals work for us.

I have not read or listened to or watched All Creatures, but you make me want to seek out the audio.

Oh, dear about Battle Bunny. Of course she complained before investigating for herself. I used to volunteer at the elementary school library (grades 3-5), and it always amazed me what restrictions some parents put on their kids' reading. Mind boggling, and it always made me sad.

>273 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I will join you in that eye roll.

Last night Rae and I watched a couple episodes of Cold Case - we used to watch this on tv all the time when they would have marathons of it, and we always liked the show. We have never seen it anywhere for either streaming or purchase, but HBO Max has it, so WHOOT!

On the reading front, not much got done yesterday. I listened to a bit of Kim and read some of The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 - this one is really interesting so far. Hoping to make actual progress with my current reads today. Also, I forgot to mention that I finished Fun Home - this is just as good as everyone says it is, and I thought it was well done.

Today Abby is having a good day. *happy dance* Not much planned but laundry and reading and some cleaning. Still no car for me, so... I have done 5 days straight of vegetarian, so I am feeling good about that. Sticking to it today also. I am thinking our five days of vegetarian will be Sunday through Thursday, so that way we can still do our traditional Friday Mexican takeaway without stressing anyone out. As some of you know I have been doing 30 days of no alcohol and no caffeine - I have just 4 days (counting today) left. Call me crazy, but I am thinking of adding the caffeine back in and going another 30 days with no alcohol. I have been doing intermittent fasting, and I have started losing weight, so I don't want to mess it up.

>276 Crazymamie: - Weird. I have a dim memory of Cold Case, and that blonde woman looks very familiar. I am going to have to go look it up and refresh my memory...

I don't think you're weird about another 30 days without alcohol. I'm reading Mindful Drinking, and it doesn't advocate for abstinence (though that's great if one wants to go that route) but stresses the importance of alcohol-free days. And the author includes a plan for a 30 day abstinence period as a kind of jump-start to a new approach towards drinking. I am going to attempt it. Sometime. Soon. Ish. But I have moderated a lot - the holidays got a little out of hand, and I was having multiple drinks every day. I now plan when I will have a drink (trivia night, happy hour night, etc) and otherwise sticking to seltzer.

>277 katiekrug: We are watching from the beginning because of course we are, but the later episodes are much better than the earlier ones.

I was just commenting on this over on your thread. I am not wanting abstinence, but I do want to cut back. I love having a glass of wine while preparing dinner or while watching the moon rise, and that is how I want to view it - a treat. An indulgence. My problem is that I also love having a glass in the evening while watching tv. And then I want a snack with it, and then another glass of wine, so it's kind of like if you give a mouse a cookie. I want to eliminate the evening routine, which is working right now with the intermittent fasting because all I have in the evening while watching tv is water. Plus, I need to be nicer to my liver.

>278 Crazymamie: - +1 to all of that. And that's basically the message of the book (which is currently on sale for Kindle for $1.99, FYI) - it should be a treat, not a habit.

The author is British, so some of the references and things reflect that, but I've found a lot to ponder in it.

>279 katiekrug: Thanks for that - I'll just add the book to your DD and snag it now.

>277 katiekrug: that's partly why I don't ever do dry January - I don't drink enough to feel that I want or need to stop entirely. In a usual week I'll only drink alcohol on 2, maybe 3 nights, and the most is when we share a bottle of wine with Sunday dinner.

Intermittent fasting is great if it fits your life. I lost a load doing it first time round. Then lockdown hit and I AM getting back to the exercise and the eating more healthily. AND NOT SNACKING. Although that will be easier once I've finished the packet of biscuits that's in the pantry...

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday. Only 5F here. Brrrr...Sue usually watches Jackson on Thursdays mornings. She is definitely feeling better but wants to wait a few more days. I have a doctor's appointment and then I will head over there and help out. Most likely until sometime in the afternoon. I sure ain't complaining.

>281 Helenliz: I totally get that, Helen - sounds like you are good, and I wouldn't do dry January if I were you either.

My intermittent fasting works for me but does not really work with Craig's schedule. I like to be done with calories by 4pm, which is before Craig gets home from work. That is really the only downside, but Craig and I can eat together on Fridays when he works half days or on the weekend. I really need to lose the weight, so that has to take precedence. I hear you about those biscuits.

>282 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday. Only 5F is cold! Bundle up, baby! Good for Sue to wait a few more days just to be safe. Nice of you to step in for her - I know what a sacrifice it is for you. *grin*

‘Morning, Mamie! I hope Abby has a good day today. She’s on my mind a lot.

>225 Crazymamie: Does your cell phone’s camera have a panorama mode? If it does, you might have some fun with it zooming around the room.

>232 Crazymamie: We have Amazon Prime and Jenna shares her Netflix with us. >234 katiekrug: Katie’s list reminded that we have the cheapest Peacock subscription, too. We keep making noises about getting into the “use the introductory rate to watch specific things and then cancel” mode but haven’t taken the plunge yet. We also have Spectrum’s Platinum cable package because it’s a requirement for our 50-household wifi agreement.

1. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - recommended by Richard (4 stars)

Richard's review of this one made me snap it up in a Kindle deal, and I was not disappointed. Very fun, and I loved a morally gray character as the protagonist. There has been a lot of talk about this one lately, so I will leave it at that.



2. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (4 stars)

This is a GN, which I read now because it fits the AAC theme. It's a memoir of the author's life growing up with a disinterested mom and a dad who was hostile and abusive but who also shared her love of reading. The dad also has a secret that will change how she views him. I thought she did an excellent job of sharing how conflicted her emotions are when examining her dad's life and its impact on her. She loves him but he was not a nice person. I liked that the book doesn't really draw conclusions, just kind of puts it out there for consumption. I was glad that I had recently read Proust - Swann's Way comes up as does Ulysses and Collette. I loved the way that what she was reading shaped her thoughts. Anyway, if you do GNs, this one is highly recommended.

>285 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I appreciate your keeping Abby in your thoughts. She is having a good day today.

I will have to check into that, Karen - it might. Thanks for the idea.

I love finding out which streaming services everyone chooses and what they are watching!

I need to look at our cable agreement and see if we have anything like that - I am hoping not.

Hiya Mamie! This is clearly not the crowd to tell that I've lost 10lb too much and need to pack some back on. Bad things happen to ppl who reveal that they need to chub up, I'm told.

So I'll just merrily meander off to the salty-snacks aisle....

Oh, and you finished Hench! I'm not a whit surprised that you enjoyed it. Too much fun for you not to!

>288 richardderus: Hello, BigDaddy! Nope - this is always a place to share whatever is on your mind. I am here for you whatever your woes or your joys. Rae also needs to gain weight - this is a constant struggle for her. Not weighing enough is just as troublesome as weighing too much.

Please to eat some salty snack for me!

>289 richardderus: I did indeed, so thank you! DO you think there is a sequel planned? The abruptness of the ending has made me hope.

>290 Crazymamie: I hope like hell there's a sequel planned! She does not talk about her writing plans publicly, apparently, though I'd LOVE to know!

>292 Crazymamie: Me, too!

She *does* have stellar taste in drinkware:

I went looking at her Twitter feed to see if anything accidentally slipped out. This was the result...no book news.

>293 richardderus: This made me laugh out loud!!! There would have to be inappropriate touching in order for me to pour from it, but how very funny!

Baba Yaga does Crystal...heh!

*giggle*

Too much to remember to comment on here!

Abby. I knew nothing about this, absent as I have been.

Furniture: Beautiful and kudos to you for getting it together to get the new! I've ordered fabric to re-cover some old favourites (really well made so not replaceable, worth the expense) but since the fabric comes from China, goes to NC, then finally comes here, it'll still be awhile, I expect. If I'm lucky it's been made and is en route to CA by now.

I love coming here for ideas about what to watch on the teev. I'd lost track of the Steve Martin, Short -- gotta watch that. And I sympathize with everyone about all the endless channels one has to sign up for. I do need to do the Passport for PBS.

Loved North and South too. I think they did the book on Masterpiece as well, I have an ancient memory of it.

Reading about the Austen films just makes me want to crawl under a quilt with a bowl of popcorn and watch them all.

I'm sure I've missed or forgotten half the things that interested me as I read along, but oh well.

>297 sibylline: Hello, Lucy! Lovely to see you here!

Abby has been dealing with CRPs for about two years now - took us a bit to get a diagnosis, so it has been a journey.

We love the new furniture, so thank you. Hoping your new fabric arrives in a timely fashion - most exciting. Will you do the work yourself? I would have no idea how to do that, but my newest daughter (Daniels's wife) has mad skills in that department.

Me, too, with the love of everyone sharing what they are watching. I have found lots of great stuff that way.

I will have to look for other versions of North and South - I love making comparisons.

Hoping you do crawl under the covers with that bowl of popcorn - it's an excellent idea.

Thanks so much for stopping in - made my day.

>163 Crazymamie: Good! I will pencil it in. I am looking forward to it.

>178 Crazymamie: It seems like Abby cannot catch a break unless it is a bad one. I am hoping she is doing better today!

>210 Crazymamie: Oo, nice!

>286 Crazymamie: I am currently reading Hench and enjoying it! Fun Home is already in the BlackHole or I would add it again.

>299 alcottacre: Excellent, Stasia!

Abby is having a good day today. *smile*

Glad you like the new furniture.

Looks like I cannot hit you with a BB today, but I will keep trying.

>300 Crazymamie: Well, one of the BBs that you hit me with earlier came in today. Does that help make up for it?

>301 alcottacre: Yes, ma'am!

>302 Crazymamie: Well, good.

Gorgeous living room AND furniture, Mamie! Yay!

>281 Helenliz: - ..eating more healthily. AND NOT SNACKING. Although that will be easier once I've finished the packet of biscuits that's in the pantry...

Oh, I hear you on that one! lol!

>304 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley!