Katie's Reading Room - Part 1

CURRENTLY READING
(Audio) (Kindle) (Kindle)

Hello, friends! Glad to have you joining me on another year’s reading (and life) journey.

For anyone new to my thread, I’m Katie: reader, wine drinker, food appreciator, shenanigan-ator, and non-sufferer of fools. I live outside New York City with my husband, "The" Wayne, our cat, Leonard, and our dog, Nuala/Noodles. Last year, I left my job in association management to explore life as a domestic goddess. I hope to do some writing, too, but that requires discipline and motivation, neither of which has ever made a permanent home with me…

My reading varies widely - I love genre fiction (romance and crime), contemporary and historical fiction, and narrative nonfiction. I try to balance my reading in all these areas. I also use my thread as a bit of a life journal, which mostly means I talk about what I’m cooking, eating, drinking, watching, doing, and avoiding doing.

Thanks for being here!

Books Completed

Books Off My Shelf: 2
Books Off My Kindle:
Books from Audible/Chirp:
Library Loans (print/e-books/audios): 1

January
3. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness by Peter Kuper (4 stars)
2. Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty (4 stars)
1. Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys (3.5 stars)

My Ratings (revised, once again, as I continue the fruitless search for the perfect scale...)

2 stars = Whyyyyyy?
3 stars = Eh, ok.
4 stars = Definitely worth the time.
5 stars = Perfect *for me*

(Anything below 2 stars is unlikely to be finished)

I'm assuming you're open for business since you posted a link? If not, I have just gotten into my first trouble of the New Year and it isn't even here yet. Look at me being a trend setter.

>3 Crazymamie: - You are not in trouble! I should have made it clear I was done posting :)

Thanks for being my first visitor! I was going to offer you some wine, but I think you are currently abstaining, so how about some cake?

Did someone say cake?

>4 katiekrug: Yes! to cake! Today is Day 20 of abstaining, so I only have ten more days to go. *happy dance* Bad timing around the holidays, but I could not pass up the 5 day start that the stomach flu gave me, so...

>7 Crazymamie: - Totally understandable. I'm cheering you on (with a wine glass in hand, but still....)!

>8 katiekrug: That works for me!

>6 katiekrug: *belly laugh*

Happy first thread of 2022, Katie. How goes life as a lady of leisure? Take advantage while you can, it doesn't last long, or at least it didn't in my case.

I wish to announce that I am among those present, and am in need of cake (carrot, or italian cream) in order not to expire from combined starvation and jealousy.

Happy new thread, Katie. I will also happily take cake ;)

Happy new thread! We’re being classy with Manhattans tonight… 😀

Happy new thread!

I vow to be more active this year and pop in more often. Save me a slice of cake ;)

Happy new year and new thread. I like cake, so I'm making myself right at home. I have coffee to go with it.

I will be around! Especially if there's cake.

Did someone say cake? Yes please.
I also look forward to book chatter and snark on a variety of topics.

This group always helps me to read; welcome back, Katie.

>6 katiekrug: *SNORK!!*

>9 Crazymamie: - *grin*

>10 Familyhistorian: - It's all good, Meg. I'm very proficient at saying no to things and being generally lazy, so.... :)

>11 richardderus: - Carrot cake it is, as I am a relatively new convert to it!

>12 bell7: - I better get baking...

>13 drneutron: - Ooooh, with pinkies raised?!!?

>14 figsfromthistle:, >15 Helenliz:, and >16 ursula: - CAKE FOR ALL!

>17 lauralkeet: - Snark? Moi?

>18 PaulCranswick: - Good advice, Paul.

>19 scaifea: - I couldn't resist...

I may need to run to the store and buy a cake. I know I started it, but y'all are evil!

I wrote a whole update post and then realized I'm IN THE WRONG YEAR, so I've cut and pasted it into my 2021 thread.

>21 katiekrug: Ha!! That meme's delicious. (Wordplay mos' def' intentional.)

Gadzooks. It's almost 1952, I mean 2022!, out there. Why is it we're re-fighting for voting rights again...?

>20 katiekrug: That gif should be your way of contributing to the annual new year thread spamming...

"I've cut and pasted it into my 2021 thread." WHICH I just x'd out, figuring you were done with new stuff there... More cake, please.

>22 richardderus: - The more things change.... *heavy sigh*

>23 scaifea: - *glares at Amber*

>24 laytonwoman3rd: - Here you go, Linda! I wouldn't want you to miss out on a single moment of my very exciting life - ha!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/337231#7698028

And I'll get right on that cake...

The answer to cake is always yes.

>21 katiekrug: I love this!

Happy new thread and new year!

I am in need of a cake--husband's birthday is today. I suppose pictures won't do.

Here I am a day late as usual - is there any cake left?

Happy New Year's Katie, we are having a quiet one with just the two of us and a couple of bottles of wine.

Hi Katie, I'm coming in out of the shadows and saying Happy New Year and yay, for more cake. If you like coconut then lamingtons are really yum.

>26 Crazymamie: - Yes.

>27 AnneDC: - Probably not. Are you baking him one or leaving it to the professionals?

>28 DeltaQueen50: - Sounds like our NYE plans are pretty similar, Judy.

Yes, there is always cake.

>29 avatiakh: - Thanks, Kerry. So pretty!

The lentil soup is almost done, the falafel "dough" is in the fridge, the dining room table is cleared off, and now it's time for a beverage. The Wayne wants to walk down to our favorite walkable restaurant with a bar, so off we go...

Happy New Year, Katie! Have a great holiday with The Wayne. Looking forward to following you on another bookish year.

Happy New Year Katie!

Happy reading in 2022, Katie!

Now back to lurking, as I do most of the year ;-)

>30 katiekrug: I've left it to the last minute so...professionals are not an option, but we're not at home, so baking is complicated too. We were opting for cake mix but I just scored an ice cream cake at the grocery store (chocolate chip cookie dough) which will make everyone happy. I brought candles from home--the extent of my advance preparation.

Happy new year, Katie! Looking forward to your report on the falafel.

Hope your New Year's Eve outing is tons of fun and wishing you a safe, healthy, happy 2022. (also hoping we get cake for dessert tonight after that photo...)

Have a great year of reading!

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

>4 katiekrug: Oh my. Chocolate cake. I wonder if I have all the ingredients in the house to make one?

Heya, dropping off a star. Happy reading!

Delurking to say Happy New Year! Happy Reading

Morning, Katie! How was the falafel?

Happy New Year, Katie.

>32 msf59: - Thanks, Mark!

>33 SandDune: - Thanks, Rhian!

>34 FAMeulstee: - Nice to see you, Anita :)

>35 AnneDC: - I'm impressed you remembered to bring candles! Well done, you.

>36 MickyFine: - Happy new year, Micky. And about that falafel...

>37 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba. We had a nice time. But there was no cake involved, sadly.

>38 thornton37814: - Thanks, Lori!

>39 karenmarie: - Thank you, Karen. I hope I'm not in trouble for tempting you into baking a cake...

>40 vikzen: - Same to you, Vic!

>41 jayde1599: - Happy new year, Jess. Feel free to de-lurk whenever you want :)

>42 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! Funny story about the falafel...

>43 BLBera: - And to you, Beth!

To answer Micky and Mamie, the falafel...... is still in dough form sitting in the fridge. We went out for our adult beverage(s) and got tempted into the happy hour pizza special (they do an amazing bar pie there), so when we got home, I put the soup away and decided to do the falafel the next day (today). So stay tuned...

We did, however, enjoy some p-i-bs around 9:30 while we watched Trading Places (which remains excellent). Then we watched some Golden Girls, for obvious reasons. We managed to make it past midnight, but then I was awake from about 4:30 to 6:30. Gross. I finally got back to sleep and didn't get up until about 9:00.

Not much on the agenda, except I REALLY need to start a book. I think I'm in an actual slump, which rarely happens to me. But I've read nothing but magazines since Christmas Eve. I was going to make North and South my first read of the year, but think I need to get my groove back with something a little more mindless. Will have to see what grabs my interest...

Happy new year to all my friends! I'd post this on all your threads individually, but, um, no.

>46 katiekrug: Ha! Love the graphic. Your evening sounds fun. Opting for pizza is always a win in my book.

Good luck with picking out your book - may it get you over your slump.

" I'd post this on all your threads individually, but, um, no." Some of us thank you for that! ;>)

>46 katiekrug: Ha! And a happy new year to you too.

Hope the book slump passes quickly.

>47 Crazymamie: - I've narrowed the book down to a thriller - something propulsive. Now which one...?

>48 laytonwoman3rd: - And some of "us" remain oblivious. But whatever. Seems like a lot less glitter this year, at least :)

>49 Helenliz: - Thank you, Helen. It'd better or I'll be kicked out of the group!

Happy New Year, Katie! I hope your year is filled with great reading.

I'll be kicked out of the group

Hah! You’re not that lucky…

>51 cbl_tn: - Thanks, Carrie! Happy new year to you, too.

>52 drneutron: - "I wouldn't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member...."

*grin*

I always enjoy this End of the Year meme:

Describe yourself: Loud Mouth

Describe how you feel: I’m Not Scared

Describe where you currently live: The House of Mirth

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: A Kingdom of Dreams

Your favorite form of transportation is: The Only Plane in the Sky

Your favorite food is: The Strawberry Hearts Diner

Your favorite time of day is: Darkside

Your best friend is: Comfort & Joy

You and your friends are: Difficult Women

What’s the weather like: Shit, Actually

You fear: Lord the One You Love is Sick

What is the best advice you have to give: Eat Cake. Be Brave

Thought for the day: Wish You Were Here

What is life for you: Against the Loveless World

How you would like to die: No Mark Upon Her

Your soul’s present condition: Becoming

What was 2021 like for you? The Crucible

What do you want from 2022? Blessings

>54 katiekrug: Oh, that's a really, really good one: What is life for you: Against the Loveless World

They're all creative but that's just *chef's kiss*

It could not get danker or more glunky out there. I'm not best pleased. I'm perfectly delighted that Rob and I spent hours giggling at bad old sci-fi (we watched On the Beach and Day of the Triffids and Forbidden Planet together) but I'm unamused by climate change's crummy, sticky atmo at the mo.

I loathe the slumps when they happen. I'll venture to suggest something that could help this one disintegrate: The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us by Meg Lowman

>55 richardderus: - I always love filling in the blanks :)

Lovely that you had some Rob-time!

I think I've determined to read the Hillary Clinton-Louise Penny thriller. I got it in a Kindle sale a few days ago...

So the new year has started off with a minor kitchen fire. Very minor, thank goodness! I really hope this is not indicative of how the rest of the year will go....

I had taken a pot of soup off the burner, The Wayne didn't realize the burner was still lit, a plastic bag was put on top of it, and then there was nasty burning smell and flames. Yeesh.

>57 katiekrug: Banish and begone to the omenry of that event which we shall not name or reference again.

>58 richardderus: - Make it so.

>57 katiekrug: oh noes!
At least 2022 can get better from here on in.

I've been thinking about what, if any, goals I have for this new reading year. I am going to try to keep it simple, but I find it does help me to have some ambitions...

I will attempt to once again complete the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge (it's a Goodreads thing, and they do the prompts in order, but I'll just fill them in as I can...).

I've also begun keeping track of which winners of the Women's Prize I've read. There are 17 I haven't, so I will try to read at least 3 this year, I think.

And I'll dip my toes into various challenges when the mood strikes - TIOLI, AAC, various KITs and CATs in the Category Challenge group. But I'm not making an elaborate spreadsheet to plan everything this year. It ended up stressing me out last year.

When I create my next thread, I'll include opening posts to track my modest goals.

>60 Helenliz: - The problem is, it could also get worse! *bites nails*

>62 katiekrug: No. It May NOT.

>61 katiekrug: Quite sensible.

Domestic Goddess (LOL), I am wishing you lots of great books in 2022! I tried to choose my favorite response to your End of the Year Meme, but I can't! There are just too many good ones. : )

A fire?! OMG. But so easy for that to happen. We have a griddle on our cooktop and have accidentally cooked non-food things a few times. No fires, but that's just luck.

>54 katiekrug: Great meme answers.

Hi Katie, and Happy New Year! Oh my, a kitchen fire? The way you described what happened I imagine it still smells nasty. Two years ago my oven flamed out of this life on New Years Eve. I had to do an emergency dinner at my neighbor's house, and cooked New Years Brunch on the grill (including a cake, thank you very much. I felt so pioneer-y problem solvey!)

>63 richardderus: - From your lips....

>64 Berly: - Thanks, Kim. Happy new year.

>65 lauralkeet: - "Fire" might be an exagerration. There were some flames...

I could totally see us doing the same thing with a griddle!

>66 thornton37814: - Thanks, Lori.

>67 AMQS: - I might have made it sound like a bigger deal than it was, Anne :) The smell dissipated quickly, and now I just need to get some melted plastic off the burner.

Impressive improvisation with that brunch! I would have just gone out to a restaurant.

Morning, all. Much of my day yesterday (afternoon, into the evening) was spent playing Twilight Struggle with The Wayne. It's a Cold War strategic board game, that takes FOREVER to set up and play. And at least an hour to explain the rules... But he loves it, and once I get into it, it's fun. I lost twice - boo. We had mojo pork taco bowls for dinner, and then I read for a bit, while he played on his computer. I ended up picking up Henrietta's War to jump-start my reading, and it seems to be working. It's nice and short and written in letters, so moves quickly... I should have my first completed book of the year this afternoon!

Today, I want to pick up and tidy a bit, and do some meal planning. There is also football, of course. Unsure what we'll be doing for dinner - I wouldn't mind some Thai takeaway....

Morning, Katie! I have not heard of Twilight Struggle. Have you two played Settlers of Catan? We love that one. Complicated the first time, but once you have the rules down, it's really fun.

Mojo pork taco bowls sound most yum.

Top Reads of 2021
(in no particular order)

Matrix by Lauren Groff
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Siracusa by Delia Ephron
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
Dodgers by Bill Beverly
Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin
Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
What is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman

Honorable Mentions
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burns
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Lord the One You Love is Sick by Kasey Thornton
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

Lifetime Achievement Award
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
(This will always get 5 stars from me, and I read it every year)

Top 5 Audios
I don't think I would have liked these as much in print...

The Weirdies by Michael Buckley
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Normal People by Sally Rooney
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
Enter the Aardvark by Jessica Anthony

>70 Crazymamie: - Hi Mamie! We have not played SoC together, but I know TW has with a gaming group he used to go to in Dallas. I don't have a lot of patience for super-complicated games. Or at least not usually. Yesterday was an exception, and I think I shocked TW when I agreed to a second game :)

The taco bowls were good, but the pork didn't come out as yummy as usual and we are not sure why...

>71 katiekrug: Nice. I love the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Isn't it amazing how the narration can elevate a book?

We learned to play SoC because it was Daniel's favorite game, and now we all love it. It's hard to find games that all of us can play together because we are a large number.

Bummer about the pork. Next time.

I knew it was a risk to wait until today to make my mark on your thread. But I persevered!
I love that you described your home as The House of Mirth, for the title, I assume!

Happy 2020 to you and TW. Maybe when the current emergency subsides we can meet again.

eta: I knew I made this mistake somewhere or other. 2022

Morning, Katie!

Ooof, I'm so surprised I haven't started a kitchen fire yet; I'm constantly leaving burners on.

>73 Crazymamie: - I was rather pleased about thinking of the LAA, to be honest :) I'll have to ask TW if we have SoC and maybe give it a try. We have lots of games we never play - maybe there's a NY resolution in there...

Yeah, I don't know what happened to the pork. Same cut, same prep, same ingredients, etc. It just was kind of bland (well, not bland but the flavor wasn't as intense as usual) and seemed fattier/oilier. Maybe just a bad cut?

>74 ffortsa: - Hi Judy! Yes, I used House of Mirth because we laugh a lot. Nothing to do with the book itself :) And yes to getting together when all this *waves vaguely in the germ-ridden air* abates a bit!

>75 scaifea: - I have a major fear of fires, so I was more freaked out than the situation warranted....

Hi Katie!

>45 katiekrug: You are not in trouble – in fact, you sent me on a mission. I’ve created a spreadsheet of common kitchen condiments/baking ingredients and listed their sodium content per whatever unit makes sense. I then applied those facts to my favorite cake recipe, and it turns out that with frosting made with real salted butter, the cake is 2,949 mg of sodium, and 1 piece (12 pieces per cake, generous cake cutter that I am) is 246 mg sodium. Totally doable! Thank you. I can start managing my standard recipes and eliminating/changing the ones that are too sodium-heavy.

>46 katiekrug: I love the graphic. And, oh, so true, at least for me. Good luck getting over the slump.

>57 katiekrug: Glad it was minor. Somehow or another I left a plastic bag on a hot burner a couple of weeks ago and it took a razor blade and about 20 minutes to get it all off. Bill was a combination of amused and not amused.

>61 katiekrug: Stress-free reading year, aye! Reading’s supposed to be fun, not onerous.

>68 katiekrug: See my response above – for me the razor blade worked.

>69 katiekrug: Amazingly, I have that on my shelves. I love epistolary novels and have added a tag to remind me to read it this year.

Happy New Year, Katie!

Matrix was a ‘21 favorite for me, too, and probably the book I recommended most often. The Book Thief would’ve been a favorite if I’d read it last year. It’s a perennial favorite in our house.

Looking forward to another year of talking about our reading and the rest of our lives.

>76 katiekrug: Yes, I would guess it was the meat and not you since you have made it before.

Wow! Your thread has everything, Katie.

>46 katiekrug: Love it! So true.

Glad the fire was minor.

Love your best reads list. That's one of my favorite things to look at when I visit new threads. It's amazing how many lists Unsettled Ground is on.

>71 katiekrug: Wonderful writers, terrific stories; yeah, that's a good Best-of list.

Yes, that's a great best-of list. I think The Book Thief is a top-5 read for me. I need to read it again, but would need to prepare emotionally.

>77 karenmarie: - Well then I'm glad I could help, Karen!

>78 jnwelch: - Hi Joe! Nice to see you over here.

>79 Crazymamie: - You are probably right.

>80 BLBera: - We aim to please, Beth!

I also noticed Unsettled Ground on lots of people's lists. I probably wouldn't have read it if not for the positive comments of so many 75ers.

>81 richardderus: - Thank you kindly!

>82 AMQS: - Thanks, Anne. I'm glad I finally got around to The Book Thief.

I finally made the air fryer falafel this afternoon. It needs a bit of work, but the flavor was decent. Here it is as part of our lunch/snacking platter.

PS - Football stoopid.

>71 katiekrug: Thanks for the list, Katie! I love reading everyone's year end "Best of" lists.

Happy New Year!

>84 katiekrug: It all looks quite tasty. I'd happily chow down on that. *stares mournfully at the peanut butter jar being scraped as a snack*

>85 katiekrug: Agreed.

>46 katiekrug: Trading places is an excellent movie. A classic I enjoy watching every year.

>54 katiekrug: I will take your best advice!

I actually think North and South would make an excellent, although probably long, audio book. I loved the audio of Wives and Daughters narrated by Josephine Bailey. I got a lot of baking done with that one.

Hi Katie. I hope you're out of your reading funk. I suppose we all experience them now and then, but I know when it happens to me I'm completely befuddled.

I plan to binge watch some Golden Girls when we return to civilization. She almost made it to 100, that grand ol' dame!

Anyway, I'm dropping off my star and wishing you and yours a wonderful new year!

>85 katiekrug: I was decidedly not impressed by football today, I admit. I'm almost glad I'll be working next Sunday, I won't be able to watch even if I wanted to.

Happy 2022, Katie!

>54 katiekrug: Love your best advice answer.

Nice favorites list! I’ve had A Burning on my tbr list since it first came out. I need to get to it.

>90 ELiz_M: North and South is an outstanding audiobook! I've seen it on a couple of threads and now feel the need to reread. My family also loves the BBC adaptation. My daughters describe it as a grittier Pride and Prejudice with a social conscience.

Happy New Year Katie! I got an air fryer for Christmas. Apparently I'm finally at an age where my kids can't think of anything else so they get me kitchen appliances🤷‍♀️They also gave me a very fancy coffee machine when all I drink is one cup of coffee in the morning. I don't see myself using a frother lol. Anyway, I'll now have a greater appreciation of your air fryer recipes.

>90 ELiz_M: What Anne said. I just listened to North and South last year narrated by Juliet Stevenson, and it was full of fabulous.

Katie, we watched Pride and Prejudice again tonight, and it made me think of you since I know you love it as much as I do.

>86 alcottacre: - Happy new year to you, too, Stasia!

>87 richardderus: - It was yummy and helped clean some stuff out of the fridge :)

>88 Crazymamie: - *fist bump*

>89 figsfromthistle: - It holds up really well, doesn't it?

>90 ELiz_M: - LIZ! (Note to self: see if Liz has a thread in Club Read...) I have issues with long audio books. I get kind of bored, no matter how good the book is. I think it's because it takes me forever to get through audios, so anything over about 10 hours just hangs around too long.

Baked anything fun lately? I still dream about that white chocolate biscotti you sent us after the flood.

>91 EBT1002: - Hi Ellen! I finished a book this morning, so hopefully things are turning around. I've been re-jiggering my daily routine and need to be more intentional about finding reading time (or not wasting it).

Happy new year to you, too!

>92 bell7: - I would like to forget this whole season, except for the game we went to :)

Sadly, The Wayne's Dolphins lost even worse than the Giants did. And they had been on a 7-game winning streak with a (slim) chance at the playoffs.

>93 Copperskye: - Hi Joanne! A Burning is SO GOOD. I hope you get to it soon.

>94 AMQS: - I am determined to get to North & South this month, Anne. Hmmm, maybe I should do audio and print for it...

>95 brenzi: - Happy new year, Bonnie. I used my air fryer yesterday and realized I hadn't taken it out of the cupboard in MONTHS. Oops. It is handy for some things, but I use my Instant Pot more... That said, most of the air fryer recipes I've tried have come from skinnytaste.com, so you might peruse that site.

>96 Crazymamie: - I'm honored, Mamie! Such a near-perfect adaptation in my opinion.

Happy Monday-After-the-Holidays, friends! Today is the kind of day where I am really glad I am not working anymore. (With apologies to The Wayne, who is not a happy camper.)

Let's see - football was a disaster at Casa Krug yesterday. We consoled ourselves with Thai takeaway and a bottle of wine, so yay for that. And we watched some Ted Lasso episodes, which are always good. We are nearing the end of season 2 and will have to wait (im)patiently for season 3 to drop, hopefully late summer. (Which reminds me: for any Bridgerton fans out there who didn't hear: the 2nd season is dropping March 25. I *may* have it noted on my calendar, with a day of bingeing planned...)

I finished Henrietta's War with my coffee this morning, so hopefully the slump is a thing of the past.

Today's agenda includes cleaning up my desk, which is a disaster, laundry, and updating my task list with exciting entries about vet appointments and electricians and the like. Woot?

Leftovers for lunch AND dinner. Yawn.

Morning, Katie! Thai takeaway and a good bottle of wine is an excellent consolation prize - good thinking. I really miss the Thai place we used to eat at in Muncie.

I have started watching Ted Lasso on your recommendation, and you were right - I love it. OH! And thanks for that note about when the next season of Bridgerton drops.

>99 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! I so love our go-to Thai place. Delicious and fresh. Fun fact: The Wayne and I had our first date at a Thai place :)

I'm so glad you love Ted Lasso! It gets better and better. The last episode we watched last night was kind of weird, but I read a re-cap of it on npr.com that noted it was an extra episode that they had to kind of shoe-horn in. Anyway, I love every single character on the show. Ted may actually be my least favorite because the others are SO good, but I love him, too.

And YAY! for Bridgerton.

It's good that Henrietta's War seems to have smooshed the slump. Hope springs eternal that the next read will be even better.

...is it weird that I'm enjoying a German YA fantasy series...?

Hope it's a decent Monday for you, Katie.

We got a new Apple TV for Christmas so we've got 3 free months of Apple TV+. I know so many people who love Ted Lasso but I'm not a sports person so I'm not sure I'll try it. I do want to give Schmigadoon a go though. Meta- musical comedy is definitely my jam.

>101 richardderus: - Not weird at all! Unless it is told in verse?!?!

>102 MickyFine: - Not bad so far, Micky. I am full of energy, which I am trying to take advantage of to get some stuff done :D

Ted Lasso isn't really about sports. Yes, there are references, but it's not essential to "get" them to enjoy the show, because it's so much more. I recommend giving it a few episodes. If nothing else, it'll make you want to visit London again.

And THANK YOU for the reminder about Schmigadoon. I adore Alan Cumming. It had fallen off my radar because I first heard about it before we got AppleTV.

So apparently, The Wayne has today off and didn't know it. Ha! That was a nice surprise for him. He was already in "work mode" as he called it, so he'll put in a few hours to get things in a good state to really jump back into work tomorrow. Silly man. How does one NOT KNOW what days one has off? Boggles my mind...

>104 katiekrug: That *is* strange. I can't even!

>103 katiekrug: It is not, blessedly, told in verse. *shudder* The Inkheart lady wrote a Brothers Grimm fanfic and I'm surprised by how okay I am with that.

>98 katiekrug: I loved Henrietta's War.

'Damn Hitler'
'Hear, hear!.. And God bless the King.'
'And the Queen'
'And the Queen, God bless her! And the little Princesses.'
'Absent friends!'
'And the Americans.'
'The Americans...Good luck to them.'
'And the Choles and Pecks.'
'The POLES and CZECHS, and all our other allies'
'I feel better.'
'That was the idea.'

>105 richardderus: - Fan-fic can be so dicey. I'm glad it's a good one for you.

>106 laytonwoman3rd: - It's charming, Linda. And yes, I chuckled over that passage :) I've pulled down the "sequel" and put it on my book cart to remind myself to read it when I need that sort of undemanding but amusing book.

Ted Lasso is the best! I watched Season 1 4 times--separately with each of my kids who also loved it, and we watched Season 2 immediately when it dropped. I forgot what it's like to watch something in real time where you have to wait a week for a new episode!

>108 AnneDC: - I love it to bits, Anne. I am planning a re-watch once we are done with Season 2 and are waiting for the next. NPR does great re-caps of each episode with interesting insights that I've been enjoying. They helped explain the bizarre episode we watched last night: 'Beard After Hours.'

>97 katiekrug: print + audio might not be a bad way to go, Katie, and it is long. I've done that a few times before. When I am not commuting (school breaks, remote learning) it is hard to listen to audiobooks. And I get 100% of my audiobooks through the library, so I can't necessarily "keep" them for as long as I need to.

>110 AMQS: - My audio time is way down since we moved up here to NJ and I was working from home and now not even that. I listen when I'm in the car, but that's mostly running errands, so a lot of short spurts, and when I am doing mindless things around the house like chopping vegetables or folding laundry. I really need to get back to regular long walks...

>98 katiekrug: Hooray for the slump being a thing of the past! I hate those things.

I have Henrietta's War here to read, so I cannot wait to see what you think of it.

>112 alcottacre: - Give me a few minutes and then see below, Stasia...

Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys

Subtitled "News from the Home Front 1939-1942," this is a series of letters written by Henrietta (a thinly veiled version of the author, if I understand correctly) to a childhood friend serving in the war. Some are funny, some bittersweet, some boring - but taken together, they present a charming portrait of life on the Devon coast in the early years of the war. The gentle humor and quiet pace of the book were exactly what I needed to get me out of a reading slump.

3.5 stars

I've downloaded the e-book of Gun Street Girl from the library, and will switch from the audio version to that. I just haven't had enough audio time to do a crime novel justice... So now to figure out a new audio!

>98 katiekrug: Ooh! Thanks for the Bridgerton update. Can't wait! I have to take a look at Ted Lasso...

Sorry about the football, but nice compensation plan. ; )

>104 katiekrug: LOL. A surprise day off. Can't complain.

>115 katiekrug: Especially a Sean Duffy one — too many twists and turns to remember in a scattered reading experience, I think. Hope you like this one as much (or more) as I did.

>117 rosalita: A Julia sighting!!! *happy dance* Hello, Julia!! You have been greatly missed.

*waves at Katie* You know I love Sean Duffy on audio, but I get what you are saying.

>116 Berly: - Hey Kim! I think you'd love Ted Lasso. Of course, I think everyone would love Ted Lasso :D

>117 rosalita: - Yeah, audio for a cozy works okay, but I should have known better. It is very good so far!

>118 Crazymamie: - The audio was really well done, but I just need longer stretches with it than I have.

Your activities here are dizzying, at least to me. Trying to keep up is disrupting my bread labor, meaning doing the things that I need to do. I did open the spackle I bought (months ago) to patch up the wall that'll be hidden (mostly) behind the bookcase that'll (supposedly) be built. The spackle is purple! Huh. Apparently, it changes color as it dries, letting you know when it is dry. A fix in search of a problem.

Air fryers. Instapots. I got a crockpot for Christmas. By accident, I also got three or four meals from Hello Fresh.

I am reading, too.

>114 katiekrug: Ope, adding that one to the list!

>120 weird_O: - Sounds like you are keeping busy, Bill. And yay for a new crock pot. We canceled our HelloFresh subscription a while back, but only because it had served its purpose while I was still working. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it.

>121 scaifea: - Oooh, I feel like I rarely get you with the BBs, Amber. It's a banner day!

Henrietta's War sounds good, Katie. You've already finished one!

Happy New Year, Katie!

>123 BLBera: - It was an interesting look at a particular time and place for sure, Beth.

>124 kidzdoc: - Happy new year, Darryl. Thanks for visiting!

Where is Katie and what have you done with her?!?! I had SUCH a productive day yesterday - I was full of energy and motivation and I got several things done which have been hanging over my head. Alien invasion? Personality transplant? Don't know, don't care. It was great. I hope I can carry it over into today :)

My desk is organized and dust-free (*faints*), all my laundry is done, meals are planned, kitchen is cleaned, task list updated and COLOR-CODED, floors vacuumed, etc. etc. etc. Today, I need to go to the grocery store, make some phone calls (ugh, but I'm hoping all this energy and motivation will carry me through), and work on a new gym routine to go over with Julian on Friday. Other than that, I'll be futzing around the house and reading.

For dinner last night, I resurrected the mojo pork and "fixed" it. I heated it up, drained off the liquid, and put it in a wide saute pan to dry it out a bit. It worked! We had very tasty taco bowls with shredded lettuce, black beans, onions, and cheese. After dinner, we watched some 'Chopped' because I love that show and we hadn't watched in a while, and then The Wayne went to play on his computer and I watched the first episode of 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' which is pretty dumb but also addictive.

In books, I'm really enjoying Gun Street Girl and I started an anthology of 3 romance novellas on audio called I Loved You First.

Hi, Katie! How is the Domestic Goddess doing? Living the life? Mindful Drinking? I do that from time to time.
😄

>127 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! I'm doing well and keeping busy :)

Re: Mindful Drinking - I figured after the booze-soaked holidays with the in-laws, I could do with a little moderation!

>128 katiekrug: We had a booze-soaked holiday at our place, too, enough that taking a break isn't even difficult.

Have a great day, Katie!

>129 lauralkeet: - Agreed. It hasn't been hard at all.

>126 katiekrug: That...that...is, um...it's unusual to see such a practical tornado touch down around you. What a difference it makes not having a job to vampire out your energy.

Happy "go-outside-in-this-cold?!" to you and Nuala as you walk yourselves out of being ice-blocks.

Morning, Katie! You are already off to the races, I see. Good work. The last time that happened to me, I was on steroids for my tooth. We got a lot done yesterday, so I am looking forward to a little bit of the lazy today.

>131 richardderus: - I know, right? And I've done a lot this morning, too! I wonder how long this will last?

Heh. The Wayne took Nuala out. Sucker.

>132 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! This morning, I've made ALL my phone calls (there were only 4 but still...), cooked some chicken breasts in the IP with leftover mojo marinade, emptied the dishwasher, and I'm about to head to the store. It's a nice feeling to be productive in the morning; I plan to be super lazy this afternoon :D

The store was a nightmare. It was like Idiots' Day Out or something - people blocking aisles, inching along sooooo sloooooowlllly, being completely oblivious to others around them. Bah! I got what I needed, though, and I've prepped everything I wanted to prep - mostly vegetables for snacking and some hard boiled eggs in the IP. I made a delicious tuna salad with dill and green onion for lunch and stuffed it in half a whole wheat pita with bibb lettuce. It totally hit the spot. I was going to wash sheets today, but I think that will wait for tomorrow.

/exciting chore update

>134 katiekrug: 'Idiots' Day Out" Ha! Is Tuesday senior citizens' day at your supermarkets? I don't know how widespread that is, but here senior citizens get a discount on Tuesdays at the grocery store. One NEVER goes on Tuesday, not even for the discount, which is 5%, because the aisles are full of motorized carts, little short people who can't see, and helpless old men who don't know how to shop. I can say all this, 'cause I'm a Senior Citizen myself, you see. Nevertheless, I did a curbside pick-up yesterday, and the parking lot was full of idiots. So maybe it's just an after-the-holidays phenomenon that will abate.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: - That might be it, Linda. The crowd did seem to skew older... I've been on Tuesdays before and it was okay, but I think I went in the afternoon. I'll have to make a note for next week!

Sounds like you had an excellently productive day and can now have a guilt-free lazy one. That's how that works, right?

Huzzah for all the productivity. I hope the afternoon was as relaxed as you'd hoped.

>137 bell7: and >138 MickyFine: - Thanks, Mary and Micky! It was pretty great, especially the lazy at the end of it :)

Chilly and grey here this morning. Apparently, there is a lot of black ice on the roads, so I'm glad I have nowhere to go. The Wayne just put down some ice melt on our walkway and sidewalk. But still no actual snow. Maybe over night tonight. My in-laws down in Virginia have lost their power, thanks to the heavy, wet snow they got. They are near Fredericksburg, along I-95, where it was shut down for hours with people stuck in their cars overnight. Crazy...

To Do:
- read
- think about writing
- research fence companies
- research electricians

Menu:
- yogurt for breakfast
- tuna salad with cucumber slices and chickpeas for lunch
- pork tenderloin, Moroccan couscous, and smoky slaw for dinner

Books:
- Gun Street Girl (I could conceivably finish it with some concentrated reading today)
- I Loved You First (almost finished with the first of 3 stories)
- Mindful Drinking (I'm reading one chapter a day and taking notes)

Viewing:
- 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' (two episodes; it's ridiculous but has a soapy, addictive allure for me...)

Oh, and this was fun. Our little town got a write-up in The New York Times!
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/realestate/bloomfield-nj-walkable-suburb.html...

Mmm, cucumber on tuna. I discovered this combo when I went to Pret in London and was surprised by how much I liked it. Of course, almost anything tastes amazing on one of their baguettes.

Tunacumber is a good flavor combo indeed, esp. w/dill in the mix. Although a delicious variant is to use Green Goddess dressing mix in your tuna salad, leaving all else as before.

Me, I'm a weirdo, I like to add pickled beets to it, too.

Rain now. Ick!

Afternoon, Katie! Sorry about our in-laws. Bummer.

I have not tried tuna salad with cucumber, so sounds like I need to get on that.

>142 richardderus: Daniel and Kaitlyn gave me some spices for Christmas, and one of them is Green Goddess from Trader Joe's - she said she likes to put it on top of avocado toast. I was wondering what else I might use it in.

>141 MickyFine: - I love Pret. I was thrilled when they made it over here. My favorite one was in Penn Station in NYC, and it had a bar! Be still my heart. I could have my favorite egg mayonnaise with a glass of sauvignon blanc :)

>142 richardderus: - I also like some nice fresh raw red onion with my tuna salad, but the red onions at the grocery store have been so sad lately.

Drizzly here too. Nuala wants to go pee, so out I go to brave the elements...

>143 Crazymamie: - It's a great combo, Mamie!

Green Goddess dressing is very big. I don't think I've ever had it though. RD knows all!

>144 katiekrug: Here, too with the red onion sadness.

I have never had Green Goddess dressing.

RD loves Green Goddess since 1964. It's a wonderful way to bring out the tarragonish umami enhancing yumness of yogurt, crême fraiche, mayo, sour cream...whichever one, or combo, one chooses to use...adding a fresh flavor to bases like lettuce or tuna.

>146 richardderus: Well thanks for that. Good to know.

hm. no Green Goddess experience for me either. Maybe it will be something Jim and I will both like.

The tuna with chickpeas and cucumber sounds great. I need to vary my menu a bit, so thanks. And if you keep posting your daily menu, I might even slipstream behind. I think we have an HF pork tenderloin in the fridge for tonight.

And yes, Bloomfield looks lovely, short commute, green, etc. If we ever move from here...

>145 Crazymamie: - Weird about the red onions, no? All the others seem fine.

>146 richardderus:, >147 Crazymamie: - RD needs his own culinary show...

>148 ffortsa: - You should be able to find it pretty easily at the market, Judy.

I ended up not having chickpeas with the tuna salad because I forgot I had hard boiled eggs yesterday, so I had one of those instead. I found myself wishing I had some radish to go along with it.



(You may be able to tell I have a thing for fresh cracked black pepper...)

I made the tuna with fat-free Greek yogurt and lots of fresh dill. I had a green onion on hand so added that, but it's not contributing much. Slacker.

I like talking about food and posting what I'm cooking/making/unpackaging. I get inspiration when others do it, too. So HINT HINT to everyone. Heh.

My only advice re: a potential move to Bloomfield is to avoid the rivers!

Something you are well-advised to try on your hard-boileds: Long pepper. The combination of its weird almost-sweet note with egg's sulfuric overtone and tuna's umami-sweetness is *chef's kiss*

It's expensive to procure...I've never spent less than $10 for some...but it lasts a long, long time because a little goes a long way and (stored in glass with air-tight seals) its potency is long-lasting.

May I just say: poaching eggs in the IP with water you've pre-infused with a catkin of long pepper...!!!

>150 richardderus: - Ha! When I first read long peppers, I was imagining the ubiquitous long hots people put on subs here. Thanks for the link! I definitely want to find some and give it a try.

>150 richardderus: I had never heard of long pepper before - so interesting! Like Katie, I want to try it.

Long pepper sounds great. I suspect I can find it in the Indian groceries in the east 20s here in Manhattan.

>152 Crazymamie: - I learn something new every day here on LT!

>153 ffortsa: - Even the 'burbs have Indian and various Asian markets, too, Judy!

>155 Crazymamie: Me, too.

>98 katiekrug: I added Henrietta’s War to my TBR list. Glad to see that you found just the book to get you out of your slump!

Karen O.

>109 katiekrug: We are huge Ted Lasso fans, at least twice all the way through, and the Carol of the Bells (Christmas episode) a few more times!
And what you say about the “Beard After Hours” makes such sense—it was a strange one, but a good one.

Karen O

>144 katiekrug: I was googling to see if Pret had put a toe into Canada and was bowled over when I saw an article that said they're partnering with A&W to do some popups in Canada. What even? How does Pret partner with A&W?! That said, now I just cross my fingers that not all the pop-ups are in Toronto... :P

>155 Crazymamie: - You're talking to yourself again, dear. :)

>156 klobrien2: - Hope you like it, Karen!

>157 klobrien2: - What a trip that episode was, eh?

>158 MickyFine: - Y'all still have A&Ws? They are pretty rare here, at least in the areas I've lived. There is actually a Pret in the Delaware Visitors Center we often stop at on our way down to see the in-laws. I feel like maybe being in a road-side rest stop is the restaurant equivalent of jumping the shark?

>159 katiekrug: Happens all the time. *blinks*

Hi Katie, I think I have Henrietta's War on my Kindle Where all books go to die.

>114 katiekrug: I have owned this one for years, but have yet to read it. I really need to remedy that in the new year.

>159 katiekrug: Delaware Visitors Center
Now known as the Biden Welcome Center! The name was changed either after the 2020 election or after his inauguration, not sure which. We noticed it on a trip down I-95 in January or February last year.

I didn't realize there was a Prêt there though. At the time we stopped, some of the restaurants weren't open. But we were just there for coffee and the restroom.

>158 MickyFine:, >159 katiekrug: Around here A & W is under the same roof as Long John Silver's. *shudders* Neither root beer nor fish 'n' chips will ever be the same.

>133 katiekrug: Good on you, being the Domestic Goddess. I too did laundry and a little grocery shopping. Unlike Linda >135 laytonwoman3rd:, I really am a Senior Citizen. Also unlike Linda, I haven't crossed the threshold of any grocery before noon, so I haven't encountered my fellow seniors putzing around.

>140 katiekrug: I kinda thought you lived in Bloomfield. I dated a girl who lived there. (Sheesh. Probably before you were born.) I only visited her once there.

>164 laytonwoman3rd: Ooooh, Long John Silver's! *sigh* I love the stuff, but - and this is shocking on so many levels, I know - it never loves me back.

Morning, Katie!

>160 Crazymamie: - Same, to be honest.

>161 brenzi: - Snort. I know that feeling about the Kindle, Bonnie!

>162 alcottacre: - It's a quick read, Stasia. You could polish it off in a day.

>163 lauralkeet: - I was wondering when the name was changed. Or if it had always been that and I just never noticed (entirely possible!).

Pret is in the far back right corner. Just FYI :)

>164 laytonwoman3rd: - Yep, I've seen the two together a couple of times, but there certainly aren't a lot of them. There was a stand-alone A&W near where we used to go on Cape Cod.

>165 weird_O: - Hi Bill. Glad you haven't had to witness the putzing around. It's infuriating ;-)

Bloomfield only has nice girls, so I'm sure your old gf was one.

>166 scaifea: - I'm shocked that fast food seafood makes one ill. Shocked.

Morning, Katie! We had one of those combo A&W and Long John Silver's here but sadly, it is closed now. We also love Long John Silvers, but I never get any seafood from there. I just can't do seafood. I do like fish and chips, but I am very picky about it.

Morning, all. I had a lovely sleep last night, and it was SO hard to crawl out from under the covers... But here I am, with coffee at hand as reward. We are supposed to get snow overnight tonight - up to 4"! I am child-like excited at the prospect :)

To Do
- Call eye place (The Wayne's glasses broke AGAIN. This time within 72 hours of getting them. Grrr.)
- Laundry (I'm doing laundry two days a week instead of my usual one because (a) I have the time and (b) it's so much less overwhelming that way.
- Research fence companies and electricians (I didn't get this done yesterday)
- Read

Menu
- Breakfast: yogurt or Kodiak waffle with peanut butter
- Lunch: fridge raid, so probably some cucumber, carrots, hummus, and turkey slices
- Dinner: uncertain; I may have virtual happy hour, in which case it will be some sort of delivery, but otherwise it will be Get Your Own (h/t to Mamie) and I'll probably have leftover lentil soup.

Books
- I didn't quite finish Gun Street Girl yesterday - I have 50 pages left, I think, so that will definitely get done today
- Mindful Drinking continues to be interesting and important (to me). Yesterday, I read the chapter dealing with all the terrible things booze does to you. I knew some of it but a lot was new.
- My romance collection on audio (I Loved You First) continues to be enjoyable.

Viewing
- None yesterday

>168 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie!

I didn't know LJS had anything other than fish!

I am also very picky about my fish and chips, which I love. The pub we go to for trivia sometimes has amazing fish and chips and other times it's very meh. There is an Irish pub close by and oddly, their version is AWFUL. *shudder* When The Wayne and I were in London in 2019, I had fish and chips at least once a day. Could not get enough of it, and it was always good. *sigh*

>170 katiekrug: They have chicken. I have yet to find really good fish and chips here, which is a sadness.

I hope you get your snow. Crossing my fingers for you.

I am completely honored by the tip of the hat!

I am interested in your final thoughts on Mindful Drinking. I am actually thinking of going another 30 days after my first set is up.

>171 Crazymamie: - Ha! I was just over at your place talking about MD and your additional 30 days...

Sigh. Just as I was thinking about upping my alcohol intake.

Katie, if TW is prone to breaking his glasses, he might want to look for a brand named Lindberg. They are from Denmark, and may not suit him in terms of style, but they are very light and seemingly indestructible. I bought them quite a few years ago, and aside from having to replace the nose-pieces now and then, they have survived a long, long time. Others who wear them have recognized mine and agree. Not cheap, and I had to wait for the color I wanted, but they last.

Hi Katie!

>126 katiekrug: I’m impressed with your day and your taco bowls.

>134 katiekrug: When I think of all the hard-boiled eggs I’ve had to pry out of their shells over the decades compared to how easily they peel when made in the IP, I could weep.

>149 katiekrug: Ah, Katie peels cucumbers, too! Cucumber peel is disgusting.

>169 katiekrug: Sorry about TW’s glasses. I need to remember to make the IP yogurt that I’ve been planning on making for mumbledy-mumble days… Fair Life whole milk, a bit of Chobani plain Greek Yogurt as a starter. And, 🤞 for the snow.

>173 ffortsa: - I'll make a note of that brand, Judy. We have a fully funded FSA since it's the new year, so the cost isn't much of an issue. He really wants rimless glasses, but he has a big head, and I think without a frame, too much pressure is placed on the ear pieces. Anyway, I don't like the rimless on him, so I'm hoping he gets something nerd-sexy :)

>174 karenmarie: - Morning, Karen! Taco bowls are the easiest, most satisfying thing to make, IMO. And I like that the ingredients can be mixed up and changed out so they don't get boring.

I am so with you about the IP eggs and ease of peeling. It was a game changer for me :)

I don't always peel cucumbers, tbh.It depends on how thick the skin is. Often, I peel them partially for the striped effect.

I used to follow an IP group on Facebook and they were all into making their own yogurt. It never really appealed to me and seemed like more effort than it was worth - I'll be curious to hear what you think of the process.

I love fish. Fish, sadly, does not agree with me. This started about three years ago and hasn't abated in the time since.

*waaahhh*

But there are worse things than that to be unable to partake of.

Happy VHH if that's where the day goes, Katie.

LJS's fish is sometimes OK...but there is the risk of sogginess. And the fries...best not mentioned. I do enjoy the hushpuppies and their fried clams. I have had excellent fish and chips at a local (local to where my MIL lives) called Bandit's Roadhouse, and it truly spoiled me for any fast food version.

I think you need a new wine decanter.

>167 katiekrug: We're driving to DC on Saturday (weather permitting) and am thrilled to hear about the Pret in Delaware!

>176 richardderus: - Oh, that's too bad about fish. I loves it, but The Wayne doesn't so I usually only get it at restaurants. He has indicated he is amenable to trying some at home, so we'll see...

>177 laytonwoman3rd: - Fish is just not something I would get at a fast food place. Is Bandit's close to you?

>178 richardderus: - Oh, most definitely.

>179 vivians: - Happy to help make that drive more bearable in any way!

>180 katiekrug: No, Bandit's is an hour and a half away.*is sad*

>181 laytonwoman3rd: - Oh, bummer.

>159 katiekrug: The A&W chain is still alive and well up here in the North. There's at least half a dozen within easy driving distance of my house.

>183 MickyFine: - Now I want a root beer float for some reason... Can't imagine why...

I found this list interesting.

https://bookriot.com/most-influential-romance-novels/

>184 katiekrug: LOL. I have no clue. *grin*

I have a fondness for A&W as my mom still has Christmas decorations with the A&W bear that were gifted to my brother and I when we were very young and have gone on the tree most years. Mine has the bear skiing and my brother's has it snowboarding.

>185 katiekrug: Very interesting list, thanks for sharing. I've heard of a good chunk of them and I'm surprised that it's got a Lisa Kleypas novel on there I haven't read yet. :P

>169 katiekrug: I am child-like excited at the prospect :)

I would be too! All we are getting is cold down here, no snow.

>184 katiekrug: I always want a root beer float. But A & W is too sweet for me.

>185 katiekrug: I don't read a lot of romances anymore (though you've pointed me toward several good ones, including The Kiss Quotient on this list), but seeing Janet Dailey's name brought back all the time I spent breathlessly devouring her Calder series set in the Wild West of Montana. I'm sure they are hopelessly dated by now, but as a junior high/high school student? Sigh.

Hey Katie, over on Reba's thread there was discussion of a Chicken Enchilada Soup. Is there a recipe? One that does not require an Instant Pot? It sounds yum.

>185 katiekrug: Anyone who's seriously contending that explicit sex appeared with Ms. Woodiwiss needs to read Gordon Merrick's goodies! Not just explicit...explicit and GAY! And he was utterly unafraid of dangling the keys to his romans à clef in front of some serious closet doors (eg, Now Let's Talk About Music is all about Leonard Bernstein).

Still annoyed there's no Hallmark Hall of Haggery for us boys. What a wonderful, lush, suds-up-the-hoopla year of films Merrick's books would make!

>186 MickyFine: - Oh, that's a good Kleypas, Micky! Add it to the list asap!

>187 alcottacre: - Good ol' North Texas. You'll probably just get ice if you get any precipitation... :-P

>188 laytonwoman3rd: - I haven't had a root beer float or even plain root beer in ages so really can't speak to the varieties of root beer...

>189 rosalita: - I know I read at least one Calder book, Julia. I was interested in the note on the list about Dailey having plagiarized Nora Roberts at some point. That was news to me.

>190 lauralkeet: - I've always made it in the IP, Laura, and was going to give you the link to the recipe and just tell you to use thawed/fresh chicken and do it on the stove top, but conveniently, the recipe has both IP and crock pot instructions :) Here you go: https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-chicken-enchilada-soup/#FwsVlYx0tf3IZxOH.0...

ETA: I add a lot more seasoning than is called for because we like things punchy. Just FYI if you prefer a stronger flavor, too...

>191 richardderus: - There's always something to nitpick with these sorts of lists :)

>192 katiekrug: excellent, thank you Katie!

>193 lauralkeet: - You're welcome! It's a favorite of ours (and of Reba's, apparently).

Thanks for the Bridgerton news, Katie.

It's Friday!!!! Happy weekend!

Morning, Katie! We made it to Friday!

Hi Katie!

>185 katiekrug: Although I read fewer romances than in the past, I’ve read 6 on that list. And, I’ve got 47 books on my shelves tagged ‘tbr’ and ‘romance’.

Woke up to a winter wonderland!

>199 katiekrug: Happy making! Look how gorgeous!

>195 Familyhistorian: - You're welcome, Meg!

>196 figsfromthistle: - Happy weekend to you, too!

>197 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! *happy dance*

>198 karenmarie: - It was a fun list to peruse and read the blurbs for.

>200 Crazymamie: - Right?!?! It's perfect because (a) it's just the right amount - about 4" - pretty and covers everything but reasonably easy to deal with; and (b) it's dry and light rather than wet and heavy, so shoveling was a breeze.

>192 katiekrug: Yeah, I remember vaguely reading something about Nora Roberts being plagiarized a few years ago, but I had no memory that it was Janet Dailey who was the culprit. I actually don't think I've ever read any Nora Roberts, come to think of it.

Dang it, Katie! I want your snow!!

*sigh*

Morning, all! We were supposed to start back at the gym today after the holiday break, but The Wayne forgot to set the alarm, and there was no way we'd be able to make it when we also had to dig the car out, feed and walk the dog, etc. So I canceled with Julian. And that turned out to be good, because our street still isn't plowed! We could probably bust through, but I'd prefer not to, so now I don't even have to feel bad about not going to the gym because it is Not My Fault. And I shoveled, so there's some cardio right there :D

Virtual happy hour last night was fun, and it didn't go too long so I was able to get some reading in. Today should be fairly quiet, though we do have an electrician coming by to give us an estimate on some work The Wayne has finally decided he doesn't have time to do (praise jeebus).

To Do
- errands (grocery store, library), assuming the plow ever comes by
- electrician estimate

Menu
- Breakfast: Kodiak waffle and peanut butter
- Lunch: soup
- Dinner: frozen pizza and salad. It's Friday, duh.

Books
I finished Gun Street Girl (so good!) and have started the graphic novel of one of my favorite books, Heart of Darkness. I didn't read anything in Mindful Drinking - I think it's approaching the section on abstaining for 30 days, and I don't want to go there - ha! My romance audio is still pretty good, just haven't had much listening time. I might start a jigsaw puzzle today...

Viewing
Nothing yesterday.

>203 rosalita: - Interesting. Well, apparently only non-discerning readers read Nora Roberts so you can pat yourself on the back for never having read any ;-)

>204 scaifea: - I'd share if I could!

>205 katiekrug: Oh, the Weather Goddess deserves a sacrifice for being so very good to you. Making your gymlessness guilt-free?! Major plus.

>199 katiekrug: Make that a parking lot and the trees into SUVs and that was my view this morning.

Lovely weekend-ahead's reads!

>207 richardderus: - Snow makes everything pretty, no matter what it covers - cars, trees, garbage cans.... :)

The town plow finally did our street and I have now dug out the end of the driveway so I can run errands. But it's lunchtime and I hate running errands at lunchtime because everyone is out doing the same. So I'll wait a bit, I think. My grocery list is a bit long, as I'm trying two new recipes in the next few days... Wish me luck!

>192 katiekrug:, >194 katiekrug: Definitely a favorite in this house! I make it i a crock pot with thawed chicken and it works just fine. Hubby and I both love it. Had it when BFF was visiting and now she makes it all of the time. We use avocado, grated cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips for toppings.

Love snow - right up to the point I have to drive in it. It does look lovely though.

>210 RebaRelishesReading: - I'm so pleased you like it, Reba. I just love how easy it is.

>211 Helenliz: - It warmed up relatively quickly and the roads were no problem by the time I had to go out. So now I can just sit back and admire it :)

The grocery store was almost a failure. It looked like they hadn't gotten some deliveries or something. The produce section, especially, was not great. I managed to find two leeks. I needed 2 pounds. So I guess I'll be going in search of leeks tomorrow. And the red potatoes were terrible. I finally just bought a bag of those steam in bag ones. Anyway, I managed to get what I need but it wasn't pretty. On the upside, there weren't a ton of people there, so yay for that!

I think I'll settle in with my book while I wait for the electrician. Once he's come and gone, I'm going to make some cake mix cookies, which I've never tried. I bought chocolate cake mix and peanut butter chips. What could go wrong?

>213 katiekrug: Oh dang, I'm sorry the grocery trip was pretty much a bust. That makes me inordinately angry when it happens to me. But yay to cake mix cookies! They're so delicious, and I love the idea of PB chips in them!

>213 katiekrug: I bought chocolate cake mix and peanut butter chips. What could go wrong? Not a lot, they're pretty uniformly successful. Yum!

>214 scaifea: - Thanks for the sympathy. I'm sure the cookies will make me feel better :)

>215 richardderus: - Yeah, I figure even if I somehow manage to screw them up, it's chocolate and peanut butter so still tasty no matter what.

The electrician hasn't shown up and hasn't called or texted. He was supposed to be here at 3:00pm. So I guess I know who I'm NOT hiring. GRRRR.

>217 katiekrug: Oh, BARF.

And yeah, those cookies are gonna be good no matter what.

Hi Katie. I wanted to make my presence known before you start a new thread. It looks like I got here just in time for cookies!

Your winter wonderland is so pretty. We got an inch of snow yesterday and school has been canceled for two days. 🤷🏼‍♀️

It looks like I need to read Last Night at the Lobster. I haven’t read a Stewart O’Nan book that I haven’t loved so it won’t be a hardship. Onto the list it goes.

>218 scaifea: - He called about 10 minutes ago and said, "I wanted to be sure I didn't miss an appointment with you today." Whaaaaaaat??? I said, "You did, you were supposed to be here at 3:00." But because I am SUCH a nice person, I will still let him give me an estimate, so he's coming on Monday. And now I am off to make cookies (after I respond to Donna)!

>219 Donna828: - Hi Donna! It's great to see you back on the threads. Two days off from school for an inch of snow? That's cray-cray.

And yes, do read LNatL. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Glad you finally got your snow, Katie. :)

Between the pandemic, the supply chain, and, most recently, the fire and flooding in BC (which has affected both supply AND supply chain) grocery shopping has been a slightly more unpredictable adventure for us the last couple years. I've been unable to find marjoram for a few trips (we're not in dire need but when we run low/out of a spice in the pantry, I try and replace it immediately) and I cannot get plain Cheerios (I'm very picky about my Cheerios and multigrain or honey nut are not acceptable substitutes).

>221 MickyFine: ...is it just me or is the phrase I'm very picky about my Cheerios really, really hilariously hysterically shout-with-laughter funny?

>220 katiekrug: You are a model of saintly restraint.

Do NOT give him the job.

>221 MickyFine: - Thanks, Micky!

It's so funny what's not available, isn't it? Today, the store had signs up in the freezer section about ice cream novelties being in short supply. In the middle of winter!

>222 richardderus: - We likely own't hire him but I am bad at being outright mean to people, even when justified.

Anyone want a cookie?

>224 katiekrug: Woot!! Yes, please! I'll trade you one of mine...

Those look amazing!

>192 katiekrug: I certainly hope not! Ice makes idiots even out of the most sane drivers around these parts.

>224 katiekrug: Um, no, but thank you for asking.

Happy Friday, Katie!

>225 richardderus: - You can have two for being so enthusiastic!

>226 scaifea: - I'd love to get my mitts on one of your chocolate chip ones. I know when I attempt to make them, they won't be nearly as good as yours.

>227 alcottacre: - Yes, I well remember the drivers down there in snow and ice. Don't miss it a bit!

Me me me...

>223 katiekrug: I am bad at being outright mean to people, even when justified

That seems like a positive character trait, Katie! It's not the same, but I switched my insurance to get a lower rate, and when I called the agent's office to cancel, she answered the phone herself. I was so flustered I made up some ridiculous lie about never leaving the house anymore and selling my car. I just can't stand having to cancel service/fire people even when it's needed.

>222 richardderus: I'm weird. I know.

>224 katiekrug: Oooh, yes please.

I could manage a cookie, thank you.
I could also scoff the lot in one sitting - no self control when it comes to sweet treats.

Happy Saturday, Katie. Thanks for the reminder about Taft, over on Stasia's thread. I have been meaning to get to that one. I have Run on shelf but have heard very little about that one. These Precious Days has been very good.

>229 weird_O: - *grin*

>230 rosalita: - That is totally something I would do, Julia! I decided to give this guy another shot because I think he is trying to build his business, and I do my best to support small local businesses. So hopefully Miguel gets his act together and wows me on Monday :)

>231 MickyFine: - This may be my new go-to cookie, as it was stupidly easy and there are so many combinations one can do. I might try spice cake mix next...

>232 Helenliz: - Well, there are plenty, Helen, so I'll just reserve a stack for you.

>233 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! I haven't read Run yet, either. Nor Commonwealth or The Dutch House or any of her nonfiction. I have some work to do!

ETA: I also haven't read The Patron Saint of Liars or The Magician's Assistant! Yikes.

Sunshiney morning, all! It's nippy here, and of course, The Wayne likes to sleep with a window cracked, so our bedroom was FREEZING this morning. It was hard to get out of bed, even though I was well-rested and wide awake. I am headed out to the library this morning to pick up a hold and to a small green grocer's shop in town where I hope to find some leeks. Conveniently, it is right next to a great little cafe that makes excellent spiced chai lattes, so......

Other than that, I need to do some tidying up. We are planning on an early dinner out at a restaurant we love that has happy hour on the weekends.

To Do:
- errands
- tidying
- reading

Menu:
- Breakfast: chai latte and scone
- Lunch: lentil soup
- Dinner: tbd at M.E.A.L.

Books:
- I finished the graphic novel of Heart of Darkness yesterday and started a contemporary romance
- I'll read another chapter in Mindful Drinking today
- I'm on the last story in the romance collection I've been listening to

Viewing:
- Nothing for me, though I did sit and read on the couch while TW watched 'The Expanse.' I kind of wished I'd gotten into it from the beginning because it looks good. Oh well, there is a lot I want to watch, and I rarely actually do. We are doing our streaming services audit this weekend, to see what we want to cut.

Ooof, I love a good spiced chai latte. Delicious.

My mom makes cake mix cookies a lot and spice cake mix ones are my dad's favorite! For me, it's lemon (but I think I may have to try your chocolate with pb chips combo soon...).

>236 scaifea: - The real test of them will be how they are NOT warm out of the oven :) DO you or your mom put anything in the spice or lemon ones?

>237 katiekrug: My mom sometimes frosts the spice ones with cream cheese frosting, although I prefer them plain (my dad likes the frosting), and the lemon ones get powdered sugar coated before baking, but they would also be good just plain.

Not warm from the oven cookies can always be dunked...

>238 scaifea: - I zapped one in the microwave for 15 seconds and it made it warm (obvs) and a little chewy. Delish! And such a healthy breakfast!

>239 katiekrug: *SNORK!* I had a couple of giant cookies with my coffee this morning as breakfast, too. #twins

MEAL's menu looks lovely! I'd love some lamb. I wouldn't love the ER trip that would follow. But the whole menu has so much good, solid fare that you don't look to be able to go wrong.

The Expanse is one of the rarest of the rare: The show does the story better than the books. Thank goodness Bezos ponied up for it! They're doing the first six of the nine books and, mirabile dictu, that's exactly the right decision since seven through nine jump decades in time from the first six. It ain't goin' nowhere, so you can start it any old time...or never.

Happy frosty sunshine!

>240 scaifea: - I guess i'll have to forego my scone with the chai latte later this morning... Or not.

>241 richardderus: - We usually get a few things off the happy hour menu, which includes a really yummy chicken app, a scaled down mac and cheese, blistered shishito peppers... And everything is $5. Can't beat it.

Interesting about the books vs the show. TW had expressed interest in the books, but I'll let him know what you said.

Morning, Katie! Cake mix cookies? How does this happen?

Craig and I love watching Expanse. I have only read the first book, but I liked it.

Hi Katie!

>199 katiekrug: Gorgeous pic, yay for the snow. >202 katiekrug: The perfect type of snow, the perfect amount.

>213 katiekrug: Sorry the grocery store experience was less than stellar. Our grocery store is not predictable any more although I do have to say that they almost always have things I hear about other stores not having. I hope you didn’t jinx the cookies by your “What could go wrong?” *smile*

>220 katiekrug: Makes me appreciate my most recent experience with our plumber – yes, we have a plumber! – because when I called, his wife gave me an estimate and he called when he finished the appointment before us and arrived when he said he would, within about 15 minutes of the original estimate. And this time he didn’t try to invite us to church. AND because the problem was so easily fixed he only charged us for the call, not any additional time.

>221 MickyFine: I’m picky about Cheerios, too, but only like multigrain.

>223 katiekrug: Just wait – he’ll be the lowest bidder and have the best rep. And THEN what do you do?

>224 katiekrug: Good job! You didn't jinx them. They look yummy.

>239 katiekrug: I had a cinnamon raisin scone and coffee for brekkie.

>243 Crazymamie: - THIS is how cake mix cookies happen :)

The Wayne was thrilled to discover he was 2 episodes behind, so he watched them both last night while I read and made occasional non-sensical comments.

>244 karenmarie: - Morning, Karen! We have a plumber, too. Joe, who I would give my first-born to, if I had one. Joe did a TON for us after the flood and I will love him forever.

I ended up not getting the latte and scone because the line was long, and I didn't want to wait in the cold.

Errands are done. And the green grocer had leeks! And they are beautiful and not sad looking like at the supermarket. I really need to make that place my first stop for produce... I also bought some red onions because they were GORGEOUS, and a loaf of sourdough bread to have with our soup and pasta this week.

Our library is no longer allowing browsing. You go through the front doors, and there is a table in front of the next set of doors and a librarian is behind it to help you. I handed over my card, she got my hold, and I was on my way. I totally understand why they are doing it, but I did miss browsing the new book shelves. Ah, well - needs must.

Hooray for the green grocer - I wish we had something like that here. Sorry the line was to long and so you didn't get your chai and scone.

No browsing at the library - that is a sadness, Browsing is my favorite part.

Thanks for the link about the cake mix cookies - I am off to check it out!

>245 katiekrug: - I love that little store but don't go often because (a) it's at the other end of town so a bit out of the way; and (2) they just stock what is fresh, which is great, unless you need specific things. I'm glad I lucked out with the leeks today.

I hope you like the cookies. They are SO good when they are warm - I am microwaving them now that they aren't just out of the oven.

>248 katiekrug: Would they accept your call, "do you have six pounds of cipolline?" or whatever, so you can limit your trips to those that will produce produce for your food?

In other news, All Creatures Great and Small has another two seasons' episodes guaranteed. Apparently the twitzytwee little marvy has touched the hearts of millions.

I would deffo recommend The Wayne read Leviathan Wakes. The way the story's told is not to my taste but there are some very interesting hints for events to come that I think it would enhance his viewing pleasure to know were already planned.

>249 richardderus: - Yes, but that would involve making a phone call, which... ew. I did consider it this time, but since I was headed to the library anyway, and that got me halfway there, I figured I'd just chance it and go on in.

I'll mention LW to TW (heh). Thanks!