Curioussquared's Books and More in 2026

Hello everyone! I'm Natalie. I have participated in the challenge on and off over my 15+ years on LT, and consistently over the past several years.

I'm located in the Seattle area, where I live with my husband and dogs. I do most of my reading curled up on the couch with my retired racing greyhounds Otter and Kermit and new addition borzoi puppy Goose, or listening to audiobooks while doing chores and walking the dogs.

I read mostly fiction, with a heavy emphasis on fantasy and sci-fi, romance, YA fiction, general fiction/literature, a scattered mystery here and there, and the occasional non-fiction title.

2025 was an awful year for me in terms of personal life, some of which I've shared here and some of which I haven't, and I'm entering 2026 with pretty low energy. I'm keeping my reading goals simple this year: 100 books, and focus on books off my shelf. Ideally, I'll read at least 26 books off my shelf (for 2026), but I'm not really focusing on the precise numbers, just want to keep making progress on the endless TBR.

Here's a photo of Tim and me with all three dogs :)

Books I rated 5 stars in 2025, not including rereads

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke
On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino
Conclave by Robert Harris
Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde
Knife by Salman Rushdie
I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Game of Courts by Victoria Goddard

Books read in 2026

January
1. Pictures of You by Emma Grey (library)
2. The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos (off my shelf)
3. Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nacosta (library)
4. Olive and the Dragon by Victoria Goddard (library)
5. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (off my shelf)
6. The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett (reread)
7. Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonham-Young (library)
8. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 2 by Beth Brower (library)

February
9. A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James (library)
10. Silverborn by Jessica Townsend (off my shelf)
11. Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (off my shelf)
12. Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb (reread)
13. Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope (library)
14. Golden Fool by Robin Hobb (reread)
15. Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum (library)
16. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 3 by Beth Brower (library)

March
17. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (library)
18. Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb (reread)
19. Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse (library)
20. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 4 by Beth Brower (library)
21. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (library)
22. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (off my shelf)
23. First-Time Caller by BK Borison (library)
24. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 5 by Beth Brower (library)

Books read in 2026

April
25. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (off my shelf)
26. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (library)
27. The Charismatic Emerald by Suzanne E. Zitzer (off my shelf, friend's manuscript)
28. Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (off my shelf)
29. Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman (off my shelf)
30. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (off my shelf)
31. Jade War by Fonda Lee (off my shelf)
32. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (off my shelf)

May
33. Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen (off my shelf)
34. City of Dragons by Robin Hobb (off my shelf)
35. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 6 by Beth Brower (library)
36. Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (library)
37. The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (off my shelf)
38. Platform Decay by Martha Wells (off my shelf)
39. The Name Game by Beth O'Leary (library)
40. Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher (off my shelf)
41. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (off my shelf)

June

Books read in 2026

July

August

September

Books read in 2026

October

November

December

Welcome to my thread for 2026!

Happy to see you here Natalie, and I hope 2026 is kinder to you.

>8 katiekrug: Thanks Katie! Me, too.

Happy new year, Natalie! Dropping off my star.

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, Natalie xx

Happy reading in 2026, Natalie! I hope this year is kinder and better to you. 🤗

Welcome back, Natalie!

Hello Natalie! Lovely photo of the family and all the dogs in their jammies! Happy New Year and may it be a peaceful one and full of simple joys. Good reading!

Congratulations on a great reading year!! Looking forward to your updates! ⭐

Happy new Year, Natalie!
Goose here reminds me of Salem when I pick him up, lol.
I manifest a better year for you in 2026; less drama, more time with the dogs.

Happy New Year, Natalie! Tell the dogs I love their PJs.

Happy New Year and Happy New Reading!

>10 bell7: >11 PaulCranswick: >12 libraryperilous: >13 drneutron: >14 elorin: >15 yolklor: >16 Ravenwoodwitch: >17 norabelle414: >18 ocgreg34:

Thanks Beth, Paul, Diana, Jim, Robyn, Lor, Angela, and Nora for the new year's wishes! ETA and Greg!

Happy Monday!

Yesterday we had make-up Christmas with my family since the flu took a lot of people out on actual Christmas. It was nice to see everyone, exchange gifts, and feast on paella. My 8-year-old cousin has been really into reading lately (mostly Harry Potter and Wings of Fire) and I got her a couple of books to start her on some new authors: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, The Wee Free Men, and Ella Enchanted. I hope she loves them! I also wanted to get her Dealing with Dragons and Dragon Slippers since she's into dragons right now, but the bookstore I was at didn't have them.

I'm back to work today, boo. Technically I was working over the past week, but nothing was going on so I didn't do much. The break was really nice. I also need to tidy my disaster of a house for the cleaners, who are coming tomorrow. Dinner will probably be takeout as we need to hit the grocery store and it's not happening today.

Currently reading: Slowly making my way through The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos in print. I'm enjoying it, but I've been finding it hard to read much of it at a time. Listening to Picture of You on audio and will probably make some progress while tidying later today. Reading a friend's manuscript, called The Charismatic Emerald, on Kindle, and it's decent so far.

Currently watching: Finished Heated Rivalry and loved it. Watched the first episode of Pluribus with Tim and did not enjoy it so he's watching that on his own now. Enjoying a Parks and Rec rewatch; I think I'm on season 4 now.

Currently playing: I finally achieved Perfection in my second Stardew save! It took me until the end of year 4 but I wasn't really grinding for it for a while. Will probably take a break from Stardew now; maybe go back to Tiny Bookshop.

>1 curioussquared: what a cute pic! All the matching coats 🙂

Happy reading!

>20 curioussquared: Ahh, Storm of Echoes... let me know your thoughts!! I'm due for a reread, I binge-read all 4 books and started to get lost towards the end, so the reveals didn't have the "oomph" they should've. : ( My fault. I think I had too much fun in Babel and didn't want to leave.

How is Tiny Bookshop?? I'm very interested but worried about longevity and replay value. Last new game I played was Date Everything, had a lot of fun! Mostly playing FFXIV right now, though.

>1 curioussquared: A very Happy New Thread to you, and a belated Happy New Year. I do hope 2026 is much kinder to you than 2025 was, and that it brings you nothing but wonderful books and happiness.

Happy new year! Hope 2026 is better for you.

>20 curioussquared: Those are great picks for your 8yo cousin!

You might think about giving Pluribus a second episode - I found the rest of the series to be very different from the first episode. I'm so glad you loved Heated Rivalry! I've watched it ...uh...at least 3 times now.

>21 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

>22 yolklor: It's definitely an easy series to get lost in! Such a complex world. I'm enjoying it and have about 200 pages left to go.

I binged a bunch of Tiny Bookshop a few months ago and enjoyed it a lot but then got sucked back into Stardew. I think it can get a little old if you aren't playing anything else but I do find it enjoyable and relaxing, and there are enough little quests to keep it interesting. I haven't heard of Date Everything, I'll have to check it out!

>23 clamairy: Thank you Clam!

>24 Kyler_Marie: Thanks Kyler!

>25 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora! I'm excited she's such a big reader right now. Whenever she comes over to my house she disappears into my library, usually poring over my illustrated HP books. Part of me loves that she loves HP since it was such a big part of my childhood, but JK Rowling's awfulness ruined the series for me as an adult, so I'm looking for other stuff to get her into.

Tim already binged the rest of Pluribus without me so I doubt I'll watch it, but thanks for the suggestion! The concept as a whole kind of stressed me out so I didn't feel like I needed to see it. Heated Rivalry is much more my speed right now :) I haven't felt the need to rewatch yet but I've been enjoying a lot of the press tour content on TikTok. Hudson and Connor are perfect and I still can't believe Connor learned Russian well enough to fool everyone, even native Russian speakers, into thinking he was Russian.

Oh your greyhounds! Oh your beautiful home! Your thread topper is happy-making. If only your news was, too. I sincerely hope that 2026 is a wonderful year for you, Natalie.

(not my photo - we had a quiet New Year's Eve in, with both boys at home)

I'm dropping by to wish you and yours all the very best for 2026. Happy New Year and happy new thread Natalie!

For some reason I thought Goose is a greyhound, not a borzoi. Here's hoping the 2026 brings less drama and more joy to you and your family.

>20 curioussquared: One of the greatest vicarious pleasures in my life, Natalie, is the joy of seeing my kids enjoy reading. My son prefers audiobooks but he loves non-fiction and literary fiction (especially from the 19th C). I enjoyed him staying with me the last few weeks and discussing what books he likes and why.

A little late to the party but I've finally made it to your new thread. I am, of course, wishing you a much kinder 2026.

All great choices for your niece. I also got one of my niblings Nevermoor for Christmas. I also picked up Inkheart for another nibling and I'm crossing my fingers they like them (our Christmas was also delayed due to illness and we're having it this weekend).

>27 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! Good to see you :)

>28 humouress: Thank you Nina!

>29 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I've been loving sharing books with my younger cousins and am looking forward to making my kids readers, too.

>30 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Ooh, Inkheart is a good one, too. I hope they enjoy your picks!

Happy Sunday! Busy as usual over here with work and dogs. We've been watching an extra dog this week while my aunt and uncle are in San Francisco. Laurel (better known as Lolo) is a very sweet Bernese/St. Bernard mix and she and Goose have been having a great time spending all week outside while the greyhounds lounge indoors. What a difference a shaggy coat makes :)

Tim has had an awful cold all week so I have been assiduously avoiding him. So far I seem to have dodged it but he's still feeling crappy so I'm hoping I continue to stay well. I did have a killer headache that started Wednesday night and totally took me out Thursday, and finally abated on Friday morning. Not fun.

My reading is still slow but still going. I finally finished my first book of the year (only took me ten days 😵‍💫) and I'm hoping to finish my second one today or tomorrow.

Currently reading: Finished Pictures of You on audio and moved on to Morning Glory Milking Farm... it's what it sounds like, lol. I have about 100 pages left in The Storm of Echoes in print and am really hoping to finish that one soon. Still reading The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle but I might take a break because my hold on Olive and the Dragon came in.

Currently watching: Mostly continuing my Parks and Rec rewatch, but also finished S5 of Taskmaster.

Currently playing: Some Tiny Bookshop!

1 book read: Pictures of You by Emma Grey

Evie wakes up in the hospital to the news that she's been in a car crash and her husband Oliver is dead. The only problem? She doesn't remember a husband Oliver. She doesn't remember anything about her life since she was 16 years old. She has a phone, but her best friend Brie and her parents' numbers aren't in it. Overwhelmed and desperate, she flees Oliver's funeral in what she thinks is an Uber -- but it's not an Uber, it's driven by a man named Drew, who used to know her and might hold the key to her past.

Not my usual fare, kind of a romance/mystery, this was recommended by a BookToker I like and I ended up having a good time with it. It gets a little farfetched at points but the story was twisty and kept me guessing the whole time. 4 stars.

>2 curioussquared: I went back and added my 5-star reads of 2025, if anyone is curious.

>32 curioussquared: RE: Morning Glory Milking Farm... oh no

>34 curioussquared: I am, thank you!

>35 norabelle414: Yeah... I got curious... it's honestly a lot of fun so far!

Happy Wednesday!

Finally getting Christmas taken down around here. Like I said, low energy, lol. Now I just need Tim to chop up the tree for yard waste once he's fully over his cold -- he's finally on the mend but not 100% yet.

My dad had hernia surgery this morning and everything went well and he is in recovery. My mom hasn't seen him yet but hopefully soon.

I love pretty much everything about the house we moved into in late 2024, but the one thing I really hate is the laundry room. The house is three stories, with bedrooms on the top floor, and the laundry is all the way in the basement in the furnace room. It's far away, the machines are crammed in with the furnace, and it's not functional -- there's no room for staging or folding or hanging. So, we're getting some quotes on remodeling the third floor hall bathroom to convert the stand-up shower into a tub with shower and to add a washer/dryer in that room. We'll be taking over some closet space to do it and will need to find an alternative solution for linen storage, but I think it will be worth it to have the washer/dryer upstairs. And the layout I'm thinking of will include a countertop for folding, some upper cabinet storage, and some hanging space. So functional!! Just waiting on one more quote before we make our decision and we'll probably start the project in February. I can't wait!

Currently reading: Finally finished The Storm of Echoes and moved on to The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store in print. I got it for my dad for Christmas and he's reading it now, so we'll have a little mini book club. Still listening to Morning Glory Milking Farm on audio and haven't made any progress in The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle.

Currently watching: More Parks and Rec.

I'm jealous of your new laundry room. I don't have the three stories to haul everything up and down, but the washer and dryer are in a space with no room for cabinets or a folding counter. Sigh.

I hope you enjoy The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store - I liked it a lot.

Man... I feel your pain. The apartment we moved into November is an attic space on the third floor of an antique house broken into 3 rentals. 3 sets of stairs for every furnishing... I fear the day we move out.
Your laundry room project sounds exciting! It'll be so worthwhile for a forever home. (And yippee on Storm of Echoes !! How did you feel about the plot wrapup?)

>38 katiekrug: I am so excited. The other day I needed to do laundry and just couldn't face the stairs, lol. Should be a major upgrade! So far so good on The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

>39 yolklor: Oof, that's rough. Our stairs luckily are pretty modern and wide so moving stuff up and down wasn't horrible. I'll be picturing you doing the Friends "Pivot!" dance. Yes, the laundry room should be a major upgrade! I'll post a review of Storm of Echoes soon. Honestly, it got too convoluted for me at the end. It might have been my issue since I read the books kind of far apart.

>40 curioussquared: I don't think it's just you... when I read all 4 in succession, I also thought the last book was a mind-boggling exposition dump. I appreciated how we returned to a lot of beloved characters, but I started getting really twisted up about the whole Ophelia identity and mirror/black hole world type deal and felt like it was shoehorned in. I feel like her character was already strong enough as-is... you're tempting me to re-read and deliberate now that I know the twist.

>37 curioussquared: I love Parks and Rec! Good luck with your laundry project. Our laundry machines are in our basement and we don't have access to it from our first floor, so we have to go outside and enter the basement from our backyard if we ever want to do laundry. It would be so nice to have them near the primary bedroom! One concern about bringing machines upstairs is that they are heavy and they can leak. Make sure that your house can structurally handle the weight of the full washing machine and I recommend an impervious or sealed floor so that if there is a leak it doesn't seep into the cracks of the house and cause damage on all the lower floors as well. (I have some experience with house leaks causing major damage and it is not fun.)

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store has been on lots of "best of" lists, so I hope you enjoy it!

>41 yolklor: OK, good to know! The last 100 pages felt like I was being hit over the head with plot twists, lol. The whole Elizabeth is Eulalia thing felt like it came out of left field. Maybe I missed some hints? I was a little disappointed.

>42 Kyler_Marie: Thanks Kyler! Oof, that's a pain to go into the backyard to do laundry, especially in rainy Seattle :). Our house is relatively modern (built in 1990) and there actually used to be laundry machines on the 3rd floor, so I'm not concerned about putting new ones in. At some point that laundry room was converted into a 3rd bedroom that Tim currently uses as his office. Luckily we're pretty sure there are still hookups in the wall where we plan to install them (it looks like they just capped them off and then covered the holes in the wall with panels) so it should be relatively easy to install new ones.

Happy new-ish thread and year! Just getting caught up; love the picture with the dogs, and good luck with the laundry room project.

Adding my best wishes for the laundry project. When you were initially discussing your house layout (before I got to the chosen solution), my brain was all "laundry chute???" I feel like my burning desire for a laundry chute or dumb waiter is entirely due to reading Harriet the Spy as a kiddo.

>44 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi!

>45 MickyFine: I would totally do a laundry chute but they are actually against code here due to the possibility of kids falling down them/getting stuck 😬 otherwise that would be sweet 😂 A dumbwaiter would also be awesome and probably less dangerous?!? Maybe???

Well, we got both quotes back and one is wildly lower than I expected and one is quite a bit higher 😂 the low one is from a guy we have worked with before who I think chronically underbids his projects, but even if his estimate doubles or triples it would still be lower than the other one, so we will probably just go with with him and expect the cost to inflate somewhat. I like his work, I just think he's bad at estimating. The other guy also does great work and I think his estimates are much more accurate but I think he's just a little more expensive due to experience, etc.

>45 MickyFine: I find it a bit funny that you talk about a "burning desire" because one of the major reasons that modern homes don't have laundry chutes is that it can act like a chimney and provide a pathway for fires to spread. I have a laundry chute and it is great.

>47 Kyler_Marie: Lol! I guess that's the other reason they're not allowed anymore.

>37 curioussquared: (>45 MickyFine: ) I was going to say that I visited my cousin last year and they’ve recently renovated their house to include a basement where they have a set-up for laundry and they’ve put in a dumb-waiter to get the clothes up and down; but then I read that you don’t have the space you want downstairs. Mind you, I suppose the furnace room is great for getting clothes to dry faster.

Best wishes to your dad for a speedy recovery.

>46 curioussquared: >47 Kyler_Marie: Those are both very logical reasons for them to be against code. I live in a split level so my dreams of a dumbwaiter are unlikely to be fulfilled.

Glad to hear you're making progress on the project and hoping construction isn't too disruptive for you.

>49 humouress: You would think the furnace room would be helpful but it's honestly not much warmer in there than anywhere else, and it's so cramped there's nowhere to hang clothes anyway. And thank you, my dad is much better! Surgery was laparoscopic so he is already pretty much recovered.

>50 MickyFine: Thanks Micky!

>51 curioussquared: Good to hear the positive news on your Dad, Natalie.

>52 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>1 curioussquared: Nice pic! I love the dog coats, lol.

>2 curioussquared: Thanks for the list, Natalie. I will have to check out those that I have not already read.

>33 curioussquared: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation!

Happy to hear that your dad is doing well. I hope he continues to improve!

Happy Wednesday!

It's been a fairly quiet week. Tim is finally well so my best friend came over over the weekend after I hadn't seen her in like a month, so that was great. The dogs were very happy to see their auntie.

Goose is getting sillier and sweeter. He loves to climb on you with no regard for his size and just lie on top of your whole body. It's a lot of love. He is also a criminal who will steal food and trash and take it outside to his lair in the bushes. It's annoying but also hilarious. Don't leave anything out you care about! The other day I found a BOOK in the grass 😶 I need to be more careful. Luckily it hadn't rained and he hadn't chewed on it.

I have a bunch of work to get done today so need to get down to business. (This probably means I'll be back later to write reviews because I'm a procrastinator.)

Tim and I finally got our own cell phone plan (we are really adults now) and now I have a shiny new Pixel 10 Pro. Loving it so far!

Currently reading: Still working on and enjoying The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store in print, started The Shepherd's Crown on audio, and no progress in The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle. Just haven't been reaching for the Kindle lately.

Currently watching: My best friend and I watched People We Meet on Vacation and enjoyed it! I think going into it remembering very little about the book was the way to go. Still working on my Parks and Rec rewatch.

>55 curioussquared: Glad your dad and Tim are both doing well!

Tall dogs can be such menaces! My brother's dog is very tall (he's a golden doodle but he's not "breed standard" so he's much taller than you would expect) and they have to store all of their bananas, bread, etc. inside the microwave because he will steal absolutely anything that is on the counter. Thankfully he doesn't have a lair to take anything to, he just leaves it in the middle of the living room. When I went over earlier this week I found a chewed up empty milk container and a (formerly) full tube of toothpaste. Oops!

>56 norabelle414: Glad we're not the only ones with a criminal dog 😂 I was used to tall but lazy dogs in greyhounds. Borzoi appear to be a whole different animal :)

2 books read:

3 books read: Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta

Violet is a typical down-on-her luck millennial, drowning in grad school debt and unable to find a job in her chosen field. Her mom is constantly pressuring her to move home and live above the garage and it's looking like she might have to take her up on her offer unless she finds work soon. Enter the job posting from Morning Glory Milking Farm advertising a post for a Milking Technician. It pays well! And has benefits and PTO! Violet's willing to try anything at this point for health insurance... even when she learns exactly what she'll be milking.

The concept of this book is pretty hilarious, but honestly, the reason it's been successful is it's actually pretty well written, loving descriptions of minotaur handjobs aside. The romance between the main characters is well done, and I especially enjoyed learning about the town of Cambric Creek, where monsters and humans live in harmony, including mothmen, ethical vampires, and other various mythical creatures. Honestly, I'll probably read the next book in the series, too. (I think it's about a mothman 😂). 4 stars.

4 books read: Olive and the Dragon by Victoria Goddard

Olive Greenwing has always been connected to the Woods Noirell, and has the mysterious gift to see all a person's possible futures based on the choices they make in their life. Because of this, she has shielded her son Jemis from the Woods and the magic within, because his future is uncertain. As Jemis approaches the age of 10, the Woods summon Olive, and this time, she must answer their call.

A lovely prequel from Goddard as always. Olive's journey into the Woods reminds me of other lyrical, dreamy fantasy like LOTR or Patria McKillip. 4 stars.

>55 curioussquared: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was my top book of the year when I read it. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Thanks Lori! I'm reading it slowly and savoring it.

Oh, Goose *shake my head.*

Pets are as wonderful as they are frustrating at times. Glad your dad is doing well, and that Tim is feeling better.
(FYI Salem still can't be trusted around string, or anything that resembles hair. He tried to eat the ribbon off my roomate's shawl. The stuff that helps it hang, you know?)

Sweet Goose : ) He's a voracious reader, lol.
I can't believe I have to add Milking Farm to my TBR now. But if it's good it's good!!

>63 Ravenwoodwitch: Goose's latest adventure was yesterday stealing a bottle of Zoloft 😩 It didn't seem like he ate any and we found most of the pills, but didn't know how many were in the bottle and 6+ would be toxic for him, so to the emergency vet we went. He got to puke a bunch and eat some activated charcoal. He is fine. This dog....

>64 yolklor: Lol. For my own sake I hope he becomes less of a reader! Milking Farm was a lot of fun and I hope it works for you too :)

>65 curioussquared: Oh no! I'm glad he is okay! Dogs love to get into things. My pup stole some raisin bread from a small child last summer and had to be hospitalized for two days. He was ultimately fine, but I was glad to have pet insurance to cover the cost.

>65 curioussquared: oh Goose! Glad he's fine but how scary! May he mature into less adventurousness! Lots of energy for enduring the puppy years. From someone who also is adding the Milking Farm to my TBR...

>65 curioussquared: Oh gods, that poor dog and poor you I'm so sorry, lol.
Animal ER's are hell in a waiting room. I'm glad he's okay and I hope your day wasn't hours long.

>66 Kyler_Marie: Ugh, raisin bread! I know grapes/raisins are toxic but it's one of those things you wouldn't think would cause so much damage. Goose is fine after his ordeal, thankfully. I think we'll hit our pet insurance deductible with this latest expense... Pet insurance is definitely one of those expenses that doesn't seem worth it until it is. Our dog who passed in 2023 had a year of serious health expenses before he passed including two surgeries, a few weeks of hospital stays, oral chemo medication and monthly cancer checkups, and various other supportive treatments like acupuncture and laser therapy. I think the insurance ended up paying us about 30k in the end.

>67 elorin: Thanks, Robyn! I really hope he mellows out on the stealing stuff... I talked to his breeder and some of the people who own his littermates and it appears all the puppies from the litter are horrible thieves, lol, so he's not alone. It's in the genes, clearly. I hope you enjoy Milking Farm!

>68 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela! The one bright side is we have recently found a new-to-us ER vet and they are FANTASTIC. Fast, nice, competent, and affordable. They're a little further away than some other options (about 25 mins) but I'd rather drive a little bit further and wait way less time in the waiting room. So Tim was only there with Goose about 2 hours total including any waiting and treatment before he was discharged. A miracle!

I finished a few books!

5 books read:

6 books read:

Happy Wednesday!

Not too much going on here. I will admit to being just a little bit jealous of everyone's snow. Meanwhile in Seattle it has been unseasonably sunny and dry.

We're getting closer to choosing a contractor for our bathroom remodel -- just waiting on some estimates from a couple electricians. Then comes the fun part where my mom and I go shopping and choose all the materials and fixtures.

We have decided to enter Goose in an upcoming dog show in March. My mom shows her Irish Wolfhound and offered to show Goose as well, so I figure we'll give it a shot :) He has his first conformation class tomorrow to start to learn about what he'll need to do in the ring. He is extremely stubborn so I'm not convinced he'll be the best show dog, but it should be fun to watch and we'll get to see a lot of other gorgeous dogs! (If you've seen Best in Show... it's really not far off, from what I've personally observed 😂)

Currently reading: Finished a few books and am now working on Silverborn in print. On audio, I think I'm going to tackle Out on a Limb next as I'm in the mood for a romance.

Currently watching: Continuing my Parks and Rec rewatch. Tim and I watched the first episode of the final Stranger Things season but haven't made more progress. Looking forward to the Bridgerton drop tomorrow.

>70 curioussquared: I've had this on and off my TBR multiple times, since I thought it might be depressing content. Your review makes it sound really worth it!

>73 libraryperilous: There is definitely some dark stuff in there, particularly TW attempted rape of a child by a known pedophile, but it is brief, averted, and not the main focus at all. But I would say the overall tone is hopeful with an emphasis on kindness, and the ending is happy.

I also loved The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

I'm mildly excited about the new Bridgerton season. I really didn't like the last one, so I'm hoping it redeems itself :) And I do love me some Benedict.

>75 katiekrug: I liked parts of the last season but it wasn't my favorite. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton was one of my least favorites of the books, though, whereas I really liked Benedict's book, so I'm hoping this season hits the spot!

Hey Natalie.
Saw this and thought of your pack. Not the same animals I know but figured you'd get a laugh.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YvUXp9FL3yE

>77 Ravenwoodwitch: Lol, I love cleolonglegs!! Thanks for sharing 😊 Goose prefers to wake me up by sticking his snoot in my neck and then climbing his whole body directly on top of my torso 😂

Oh boy, silly Goose:) We were warned when we adopted Whistler that he was a counter surfer and we had just sort of assumed all dogs tall enough were. He was a thief, though, and we had to be careful. One memorable one was an entire UNOPENED, SEALED bottle of chocolate syrup. THAT was a mess, and a panicked call to the vet had the vet mostly unconcerned, funny enough. The worst for Whistler was a pound of dried klusky noodles. That was a rough night.

>79 AMQS: Omg, Whistler!! Such a naughty boy. All of my greyhounds have been opportunistic counter surfers, with Otter as the worst. Like, if you leave something delicious on the table or the edge of the counter unattended, yes, they'll take it. Otter's biggest steals have been a stick of butter, an entire pork tenderloin, and some slices of Easter ham (as it was being carved). But Goose doesn't need opportunities -- he makes his own opportunities, lol. And the greyhounds never jump on the counters, unlike Goose. The entire kitchen island is not safe.

Happy Monday! I had a nice weekend. Friday I worked and then binged the first half of the new Bridgerton episodes, Saturday Goose had training class and then I watched more Bridgerton, and Sunday Tim and I went to meet our friends' new baby (she is adorable) and then I went to my in-laws' house to go through some Christmas decorations they're getting rid of. I didn't take too much but did take some ornaments and a few more decorations.

I had a doctor appointment this morning and got some reading done in the waiting room. I also treated myself to a fancy latte and a ham and cheese croissant before the appointment, so all in all a good morning. Since they I've helped my mom with some wedding planning stuff, done some work, and had my weekly therapy session, so it's been a busy day. My best friend is coming over to hang out tonight.

Currently reading: Still working on Silverborn in print, but got some audio listening done and finished Out on a Limb and The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vol. 2 before January ended -- reviews coming soon. New audiobook is A Five-Letter Word for Love. Still working on The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle.

Currently watching: Finished the new Bridgerton episodes and I'm really enjoying the season so far! I think it helps that Benedict and Sophie's story is a lot more straightforward than Colin and Penelope's. This season is a classic Cinderella tale. Last season they had to change a ton of the book because the viewers already knew Penelope was Lady Whistledown. I also hate how Quinn presents Penelope as losing a little weight and changing clothes and Colin suddenly finds her attractive -- I enjoy friends to lovers but don't buy it in their case. So anyway, I think there were just a lot more pitfalls for the writers last season and this one has been a lot easier to just sit back and enjoy.. Also watching more Parks and Rec : Ben and Leslie just got engaged *squee* and All Creatures Great and Small with my best friend. Oh, and we've watched the first two episodes of the Agatha Christie miniseries The Seven Dials on Netflix, which is fine so far.

I still have the 4th episode of Bridgerton to watch, but I am also enjoying it more than last season. My biggest problem with S3 was that I didn't like either lead - they were never my favorite characters in the books but were fine, but Luke Newton especially just did nothing for me. I don't think he's a great actor and I just found him cringe-y (still do, the little bits he's been in this season). Obviously I will withold judgment until the whole season has dropped and I've seen it, but I have a feeling S2 will remain my favorite...

>82 katiekrug: Same here re: S2. I just loved Anthony and Kate's chemistry. That one might be my favorite of the books, too.

>70 curioussquared: This was such a good book!

>84 ocgreg34: Hi Greg! I really enjoyed it :)

7 books read: Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

Win was born with a limb difference -- her right hand is smaller with less formed fingers, but it's never held her back. When she meets a handsome leg amputee named Bo at her best friends' Halloween party, and they're both dressed as pirates, the two hit it off and spend the night together. But Win doesn't feel ready for a real relationship after the hit her self confidence took from her ex, even though she REALLY likes Bo, so she made it clear from the beginning that their night together would be just that -- one night. But when one night turns into a positive pregnancy test, Win and Bo must navigate a future they never planned for that might just turn out to be the best thing for both of them.

I'm not normally one for the accidental pregnancy trope, but this book is just so gosh darn cute! You can't help but fall for Win and Bo -- they're both sweet, kind, selfless people and it's a delight to watch them fall in love over the course of Win's pregnancy. And I absolutely love that the author has the same limb difference as Win and was inspired to write the book after having her own child and worrying that her hand would make her a less capable mother. Hannah Bonam-Young is quickly becoming an auto-read romance author for me. 5 stars.

8 books read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 2 by Beth Brower

In the continued adventures of Emma M. Lion, our heroine wing-womans her cousin Arabella, gets to know the tenant next door, and even acquires a part-time cat.

This was just as fun as the first volume -- Emma's voice is delightful and I love her strange little part of London. 4 stars.

>86 curioussquared: I have this one in my Libby for later list (my work library currently has it as an always available audiobook) so I'm glad to see you liked it. If the narrator isn't my jam, I'll definitely give it a whirl in print.

>87 curioussquared: I just finished Volume 2 today. Aren't they fun? They're terrific on audio.

>88 MickyFine: I hope you like it, Micky!

>89 AMQS: So much fun, Anne! I need to get to vol. 3 soon.

Oops, I disappeared again unintentionally. Nothing bad, just busy!

Let's see, since my last post... We had some friends over to watch the Superbowl. Normally I'm not into football, and I'm still not really, but it's fun when your home team is playing, plus I had to tune in for my love Benito. The halftime show was incredible and I've had Ricky Martin's rendition of Lo Que Le Paso A Hawaii stuck in my head ever since. True to our nature, our Superbowl party had more canine guests than humans -- we had three friends come over, so five humans, but were watching our friends' Great Dane and Cavalier King Charles spaniel and then our friends brought their pitbull mix over. Goose was having the time of his life.

Otherwise, nothing too exciting happening! Work, hanging out with friends, etc.

Currently reading: Since my last post, I've finished A Five Letter Word for Love on audio, and Silverborn, Flirting Lessons, and Fool's Errand in print. I haven't read Fool's Errand since probably 2007 and Robin Hobb sucked me into her world again, so I of course immediately moved on to Golden Fool today. I'm getting close to the end of Daughter of the Merciful Deep on audio, which is my IRL book club's book this month, and have read a little more of The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle.

Currently watching: Lots of stuff! Let's see. With my best friend, we're caught up on All Creatures Great and Small, and we started watching My Lady Jane (lots of fun) and the new season of Love Is Blind (chaos as usual). With Tim, we finally finished S1 of Severance (yes, we last watched an episode in April; I blame Tim because this show stresses him out, lol), and we watched the first episode of Bad Sisters which I think will be right up our alley. By myself, I continued my Parks and Rec rewatch and started Finding Her Edge.

Goose and his bestie Lucy plotting how to break into the kitchen to steal the Superbowl snacks


Moose the majestic Great Dane


A rare event -- Kermit and Goose cuddling! Goose is wary.


Goose enjoying the wind his cheek flaps on the way back from obedience class


Rolly the Cav -- I have never really wanted a small dog but this living teddy bear might have convinced me


My happy Otter ❤️

>92 curioussquared: I love them all so much! Goose is getting enormous already, with that Borzoi snoot!

(Also, I want a Great Dane so badly, but they are So Big.)

>93 foggidawn: Goose is HUGE. He's taller than Otter, at least when you take his coat into account, and weighs just ~10 lbs less than the Greyhounds at 8.5 months. He's very tall but so skinny he's practically 2D -- he has a lot of filling out to do, still.

Moose the Great Dane is the sweetest boy but he is 6 years old and an old man. Also, my house is covered in slobber since his visit, lol. I've loved my family's Irish Wolfhounds but I just don't think I can personally own a dog for whom 6-8 is a normal lifespan.

>95 curioussquared: Yeah, that's the other reason. :-(

Puppers! I love all the photos. We acknowledged the Superbowl by not going out to eat at a sports bar and that was about it. We have been babysitting the neighbor's dog and the boys seem to like playing with her, but only for a few hours at a time. When she stayed overnight this weekend they were obviously ready to say goodbye and glad to see her go by the time she left.
I have some Robin Hobb, but I stalled out reading the series waiting to buy the next volume and never got back to it. Thanks for the nudge.

Love all the dog photos!

>70 curioussquared: Yeah, I thought that one was terrific too. I am so glad to see that you liked it as well, Natalie.

>71 curioussquared: While I did not get on with the Discworld books despite repeated attempts, I did like the Tiffany Aching subseries. I really need to get them all read at some point. Thanks for the reminder!

>92 curioussquared: What great pics of the dogs! Their personalities shine through.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Natalie!

>97 elorin: That would normally be how I acknowledge the Superbowl, Robyn :) Or by going to Costco during it! Emptiest Costco ever. Start with Assassin's Apprentice for Robin Hobb, then read the Liveship Traders books, then the Tawny Man trilogy that I'm reading now. There are some things that only become clear/make sense if you read them in order, which I am only just now realizing since I read them out of order as a teen! She's the kind of author who expects her readers to be smart and figure things out for themselves, which I like.

>98 katiekrug: Thanks Katie!

>99 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia! Discworld can be tricky and there are some books in the series that I'll never read again and some that are always favorite rereads. Tiffany Aching is definitely up there and The Shepherd's Crown wrecked me this time.

9 books read: A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James

Emily is in her late 20s and still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. Her friends are all married or successful (or both) and she's stuck working a dead-end job as a receptionist at an auto shop on Prince Edward Island. She doesn't have any local friends, and even her retired parents have more of a life than she does. Her one comfort is her Wordle streak, which is rapidly approaching 365 days. When the grumpy mechanic at work helps her with Wordle one day, she might just need to reevaluate the people and community around her.

A cute romance novel. I enjoyed the small-town aspect and Emily's growth and eventual settling into herself. 3.75 stars.

Happy Tuesday!

Mostly the usual stuff going on with work. We picked a contractor for the bathroom remodel and I'm working on getting materials together. I've ordered a vanity and a bathtub and picked some shower tile and floor tile pending Tim's approval. I really need to choose and order shower fixtures so the plumber can get all the plumbing rough-in installed once the demo is done; that will happen probably the first week of the project so is a priority. Also need to connect with the contractor because Tim and I measured out my ideal layout which has the washer and dryer side by side with a removable countertop over them and the space might be just a tad too small unless we get super small laundry machines -- they would fit, but one of the machine doors would probably open into the vanity 😕 So I want to have him give his professional opinion on whether there's a way to make the layout work. If not, we'll have to stack the washer/dryer which is not my preference but at least we'd still have machines upstairs. And we'll need to make the decision relatively soon because it'll affect where they install the washer/dryer hookups. So many things to consider!

I had a fairly busy weekend -- on Friday we had dinner at my grandpa's house to celebrate my late grandmother's birthday. It was overall nice to have everyone together if a little sad as well. Saturday Goose had puppy class and then I had a couple of friends over for a game night. We had Mexican food and played two rounds of Sagrada. On Sunday another friend brought over his two kids (5 and 3) and they hung out at our place for a bit before we went and got pancake breakfast, which was delicious. It was very cute to watch Goose with the kids -- he loved them and followed them everywhere, and then settled down with them on the family room floor while they played with Tim's old Knex that we unearthed.

Currently reading: This week I finished Daughter of the Merciful Deep on audio and my reread of Golden Fool in print. I'm almost done listening to Love, Off the Record and have just started my reread of Fool's Fate. Just a little progress made in The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle.

Currently watching: More Love Is Blind with my friend and more Finding Her Edge on my own. I'm not sure that Tim and I actually watched anything together this week. He's been watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on his own.

10 books read:

11 books read:

12 books read:

Hello hello, Natalie!
I'm here for the dog pictures; So many beautiful babies in one place.

>103 curioussquared: >105 curioussquared: Five star reads are always worth checking out! Thanks for the reviews and recommendations, Natalie.

>107 alcottacre: Of course! Start with the first books in the series, though, for both of them :)

>106 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks Angela! All I do is take photos of my dogs so I might as well share them :)

Happy Wednesday!

Busy as usual with work and life. Last Thursday my mom and I went to a plumbing showroom and were able to get all the plumbing fixtures I needed for the bathroom picked out, so that's good. In the evening my mom and I took Goose to conformation class and one of his breeders came, too, with her 5 month old puppy who was adorable.

Friday I worked and then my friend came over and we had dinner and watched some TV. Saturday was busy -- Goose had his final puppy elementary obedience class, then I went to book club at my friend's house, and then I stayed for dinner and Tim came over for dinner, too. Sunday I lazed around and watched TV until I had to tidy up the house before Tim's sister and her boyfriend came over for dinner.

Monday and Tuesday were full of work and also some organizing -- my built-in bookshelves are almost ready to be installed so I need to clear out the book room in preparation!! Exciting but daunting, lol. But it did push me to go through the four final moving boxes that have just been sitting around in a corner so I can shove the old bookshelves in that corner instead, so that's something!

Currently reading: Still working on Fool's Fate in print. Listening, I finished Love, Off the Record, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 3, and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, and am now working on Mirrored Heavens. No progress this week on The Charismatic Emerald.

Currently watching: Caught up with LIB and ready to watch the wedding episode(s?) tonight with my friend. Also squeezed in watching Bridgerton S4 pt 2 over my busy weekend. I really enjoyed this season overall! Also finished watching Finding Her Edge S1, watched a little Parks and Rec, and an episode of Outrageous last night.

Dog story of the week: Yesterday I was walking the greyhounds and Goose around our neighborhood. A kid (probably 11 or so?) pulled up next to me on a motorized scooter, smiled and nodded, and confidently declared, "Wow! Three dobermans!"

...Nice try, I guess? Lol.

>111 curioussquared: I'm imagining that this kid lives in a world where there are only two kinds of dogs: big dogs=Dobermans, and small dogs=chihuahuas.

>112 foggidawn: Right? I probably would have forgiven it with Otter and Kermit; they are at least smooth-coated and vaguely doberman colored, but thinking Goose is a doberman is quite the stretch 😂

Puppy free to a good home!!!

Nooooo Goose how could you????

>114 curioussquared: - Oh, dear.

>115 norabelle414: >116 katiekrug: His criminal activity continues. Luckily I was able to replace the book with a good condition copy of the same edition for not too dear a price. My copy was an ex-library copy anyway that was rather worse for wear. Still concerning to me to have a dog who likes ripping up books!!

13 books read: Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

Jane Edwards lost her voice when she was eleven and hasn't spoken since when her sister's beau Rob was accused of harming a white woman and sentenced to death. Luckily, she gets by in her Black town of Awenasa with sign language and writing messages. When the county government threatens to destroy Awenasa by building a dam that would flood the area, Jane is determined to find a way to save the town. And when a stranger who looks like Rob shows up in town, Jane starts to wonder if she might have help from unexpected places.

This was my IRL book club pick and while I loved the concept -- I had never heard of the real-life drowned Black towns before -- the execution didn't really work for me. It's possible that was because I had very different expectations going in -- it seemed like it was a normal historical fiction book until halfway through when it became full-on fantasy. I also had issues with the way the plot was executed -- everything felt very easy and happened with little resistance. Overall, 3 stars -- interesting but just not all the way there.

14 books read:

>114 curioussquared: Ohhh nooooo. Glad it was replaceable!

>114 curioussquared:

NIGHTMAREEEE
i'm glad you found a swift replacement! maybe the old copy can be saved for crafting scraps LOL.

I love all the pictures! :)

>114 curioussquared: oh my!

>114 curioussquared: Goose, no!!!

>108 curioussquared: Thanks for the heads up, Natalie. I got books 1 and 2 of the Robin Hobb series in today :)

>114 curioussquared: I have the same problem - only it a kitten named Ilan. . .

Thanks for all the sympathy, everyone! No more books have been harmed since The Incident... but I have been careful not to leave them out in attractive places.

Happy Thursday!

Over the weekend we went to Cape Disappointment (it was not a disappointment) on the WA coast with Tim's family and a bunch of his family friends from his elementary school. We stayed in the old lighthouse keepers' quarters and it was a really nice little getaway. We hung out, did some puzzles, I got some reading in, and did a little light hiking. On the way there we stopped at the borzoi breeder we got Goose from and visited with her and her current singleton puppy. The puppy has acquired some internet fame because he was conceived by artificial insemination with what was supposed to be borzoi semen, but there was a mix-up aaaand the puppy is half English Cocker Spaniel. The breeder has been breeding for 30+ years and nothing like this has ever happened to her before. Everyone is curious to see what he grows up like. All I know is he's awfully cute. We also got to see two of Goose's siblings and his mom and we might borrow his brother for a few days at some point so they can have fun together.

Photo of the little abomination:


This is a big weekend: I might be getting my new built-in bookshelves installed, depending on weather! My mom and grandpa helped me move all the books and existing shelves out yesterday. Hooray for new shelves and book organizing ahead!

Our bathroom project is due to start next Wednesday. Changes are afoot! The contractor will stop by over the weekend and we'll finalize the layout. I really want to have the washer and dryer side-by-side with a removable wooden countertop over them for folding space, but they might need to be stacked to fit which would mean less counter space. Oh well, at least we'll have laundry upstairs whatever happens.

It's been rainy and stormy here in the Seattle area and I have beef stew in the crockpot for dinner tonight which feels very cozy. Luckily I don't have to go anywhere today :)

Currently reading: Finished Fool's Fate in print and moved on to Onyx Storm. Listening to Mirrored Heavens on audio and have made a little progress in The Charismatic Emerald on Kindle.

Currently watching: Some Outlander (mid S5) and Outrageous on my own. Love Is Blind, All Creatures Great and Small, and My Lady Jane with my best friend. An episode of Fallout S2 with Tim. I might let him finish that one on his own -- I like the humor but it might just be too gory for me.

>127 curioussquared: I'm cackling at the insemination mix-up. How did they figure it out??

>128 norabelle414: It's pretty ridiculous! The breeder thought something was a little off from the moment he was born and a couple weeks of growth confirmed there was basically no way the puppy was full borzoi, so she did a DNA test.

Well mix up or no, that's one cute puppy.

Wishing you all the luck with the renovations and hoping the dogs don't find it too stressful.

Heh. That's an adorable little abomination you got there.

And ACK, the book; Natalie I'm so sorry. Glad you got it replaced but that had to be so heartbreaking in the moment.

>130 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! The dogs are usually pretty good with having contractors in the house. The biggest issue will probably be keeping Goose away from the new humans because he wants to be friends with everyone.

>131 Ravenwoodwitch: I was definitely frustrated with him, lol. Luckily it was replaceable. He's just a puppy and it's hard for him to tell the difference between approved paper to shred and non-approved paper to shred. I probably would have been more annoyed had I not already finished reading it!

Bookshelf installation is in progress and should be finished today! I'm already completely obsessed.

>133 curioussquared: That looks awesome! If you're getting a ladder to go with them I'm going to be super envious!

And the finished product!! Can't wait to start moving my books in.

>134 MickyFine: No ladder right now but I might add one later!

>135 curioussquared: Gorgeous! Can't wait to see them filled with books!

>135 curioussquared: Beautiful!

>135 curioussquared: - *stares with jealousy-green eyes*

Please do post another photo once they are filled!

Fantastic shelves! They did a great job.

Thanks, everyone! I'm so obsessed with them. They look very grey in the photos but the actual color has a lot more green in it and I absolutely love it. Starting to move a few books in here and there but it'll be a process!

Finishing up my February reviews...



15 books read: Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum

Eowyn "Wyn" has a vision for how her freshman year of college will go -- she's going to make friends and land the coveted reporter spot on the school paper, all while getting great grades. Unfortunately, things aren't off to a great start -- she's successfully nabbed one of the grunt spots on the paper, but she shares the position with Three, a jerk of a guy who keeps beating her to the best stories -- and there's only one reporter position available at the end of the semester. Plus, her roommate is super weird, her suitemates don't seem to like her that much, and she's at a loss for how to make other friends. Can she navigate the awkwardness and still salvage her freshman year?

This started out way too cringey but got a lot cuter after the first 25% or so. IMO Wyn went too far with some of her earlier actions in the rivalry with Three that made it difficult for me to believe that they would be where they ended up in the end. But I did enjoy the listen. 3.5 stars.

16 books read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 3 by Beth Brower

In volume 3 of her journals, Emma must team up with hateful Cousin Archibald to score tickets to the mysterious St. Crispian's production of Julius Caesar. She also continues her friendship with her tenant, discovers Emerson, and falls in with a group of young men known as the Reprobates 10.

These journals continue to be simply delightful. Brower has created such a fun little world and I'm loving discovering more and more of it. 4 stars.

I've been keeping a secret! After way too much IVF, we're expecting a baby boy this July. Yes, this is why my reading has suffered so much starting in December. Hard to read much when you feel like puking all the time!

>144 curioussquared: CONGRATULATIONS! That's amazing news, so happy for you!

>144 curioussquared: Congratulations! That's awesome! Please don't name your kiddo Three. ;)

Congratulations! From a few casual remarks you've made, I did wonder if you weren't expecting 🙂 Lucky boy to be born into such a great family!

Congratulations! Many healthy wishes to mama and baby!

many congratulations!! may your journey be well worth the wait!!

I'm so very pleased for you and Tim and wishing you all the best!

>144 curioussquared: CONGRATULATIONS! That is so exciting!

Natalie, I am so very, very excited for you and Tim! Congratulations, may the puking ease soon, and best wishes for a healthy mother and baby!

Thank you so much everyone! We're very excited. We'll see how much reading I get done in the second half of the year 😂

>146 libraryperilous: You will be glad to know Three is not on the shortlist of names, lol
>147 katiekrug: Yeah, we were keeping it mostly under wraps but I sort of stopped caring after a while :)
>152 aktakukac: Thank you Rachel! I'm 22 weeks and puking and food aversions have finally totally subsided. Now I'm in that nice in-between stage where I like food again, I'm not too big yet, and I can feel baby kicking but not hard enough that it's uncomfortable. Enjoying the second tri energy while it lasts!

Congratulations! So excited for you!

>133 curioussquared: what a dream! Love the Color as well!

>144 curioussquared: congratulations 🥳 what a great/unique name

>156 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita! Wilder is our last name 😊 First name is still TBD.

Congrats, Natalie!!! How do the dogs feel about getting a new sibling?

>158 norabelle414: Thanks Nora! TBD on dog reactions. I am sure they will all be a little jealous and probably warm up around the time the baby starts solids ;)

>159 curioussquared: The high chair years tend to solidify dogs' fondness for babies, I've noticed!

>160 foggidawn: So weird how that happens! 😉

17 books read: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

Vanessa has been working as a personal assistant for Aiden Graves, the legendary Wall of Winnipeg football player, for two years now and has finally worked up the courage to quit now that she has enough savings and her graphic design business is taking off. Aiden treats her fairly, but he's moody, has never shown any sign that he likes or appreciates her, and the job is thankless. But then she gets the surprise of lifetime when Aiden shows up at her door begging her to come back -- this time with a twist.

This is possibly the ultimate in slow-burn romance -- a full 18 hours of build-up and honestly, I loved every second. I'm not a huge sports romance devotee but I definitely enjoyed this one. 18 hours is very long for a romance, but the slow burn was done really well and it was kind of nice to have a romance where the author is able to devote so much time to building up the relationship. 4.5 stars.

18 books read:

>162 curioussquared: - I like (good, well-written) sports romances, so this one has been on my list. TBH, the length had deterred me because I get impatient with romances, but I think this one might work for me.

>164 katiekrug: I hope you like it, Katie!

19 books read: Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book 3 spoilers ahead!

Serapio is the Carrion King, ruler of Tova. But there are many who still oppose him, and a new prophecy he must contend with. Meanwhile, Xiala fights to save the Teek, and Naranpa works to connect with her powers and reunite with Iktan.

I read the second book just a few months ago but diving into this one, I felt lost among all the characters again. I think 5 POVs is just too many for me -- I'm more of a 3 POV max kinda gal. But once I settled into the characters and story again, the plot moved quickly and got very intense and very violent very fast. It took me until about halfway through to be truly invested, but I definitely was by the end. Overall, a creative trilogy with a unique setting and world. I'm not sure the ending was fully deserved for such a violent trilogy, but I enjoyed it anyway. 4 stars.

20 books read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 4 by Beth Brower

In volume 4 of her journals, Emma ends up unwillingly at a most inappropriate dancing hall, deepens her friendship with Islington, Niall, and Young Hawkes, and attends her dear friend Maxwell's belated funeral.

Just as good as the previous books, with more zany characters and hijinks. Maxwell's funeral and the events surrounding it were quite moving -- a different side to Brower's writing. 4 stars.

21 books read: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

When her friend and mentor dies and unexpectedly leaves her his Great Dane, a writer living in Brooklyn must learn to navigate life (and her pet-free apartment) with an enormous dog as they both grieve a dear friend.

My dad heard about this book on NPR at some point and told me he was going to buy it for my mom just because of the large dog character. I don't think he ever did, which is probably a good thing because I don't think this is up her alley at all. Yes, Apollo the Great Dane features heavily and is a wonderful character in his own right, but this book is more a reflection on grief than anything else, an intimate conversation between the writer and her lost loved one. I don't know if "enjoy" is the right word for this one, but I thought it was very well done. 4 stars.

>168 curioussquared: This happened to me with Edeet Revell's The Cat. A lovely novel, but much heavier than expected, despite knowing grief was the topic.

>169 libraryperilous: Sounds similar! I was glad it was short, 6 hours on audio.

22 books read:

Happy Monday! Things are good over here.

Last weekend we took Goose to make his dog show debut. He did... okay, lol, which is about what I expected. He won some ribbons by default (best male puppy (out of 1) and second place among 2 male borzoi, lol).

After the show we stopped by his breeder's house and picked up Goose's littermate Malcolm to come over for a to our house for a week or so to get him a little more socialized and entertain Goose. He has been here for a little over a week now and he is a total love. More cuddly than Goose and a little more sensitive but they are thick as thieves and spend all day wrestling, then napping, then playing tug, then napping, then more wrestling. Goose is having the time of his life and Malcolm has settled in perfectly.

I think the breeder saw how much fun he was having at our house and how much we love having him around because she offered to let us keep him for good, just with her as a co-owner so he can still be entered in shows in the bred by exhibitor category. I feel like we're insane to consider getting a fourth dog 4 months before I have a baby but I genuinely think it might be easier to have two puppies than one? Usually Goose wakes up in the morning and just spends 3 hours looking for things to destroy. Now he and Malcolm just spend that time playing and wearing each other out, and then they're quiet the rest of the day with very minimal naughtiness.

So... are we crazy? Yes. Are we now a four dog household? ....Possibly. We're giving it a few more weeks.

Reading: Getting close to the end of Onyx Storm (would really love be finish this soon...) and First-Time Caller. Slowly plodding my way through The Charismatic Emerald soon. My friend asked for feedback and my feedback will definitely be to cut down on the training montage portion in the middle.

Watching: Best friend and I finished the season of All Creatures Great and Small. Tim and I binged S2 of Deadloch.

Goose being a good boy with my mom in the ring

Goose and his by-default ribbons 😂

The pack

Thick as thieves

Sounds like you've got another dog! Malcolm seems like a good fit, if he keeps Goose worn out and docile!

>174 curioussquared: - I love this photo. Goose is all, "I did that!"

>172 curioussquared: You are crazy! How do you handle so many canines!? They are so cute thought so I can't blame you. What a joy to have so much love in your house.

>177 foggidawn: I hope so, Foggi! We're giving it a little bit before we fully commit, but so far he's bringing us (and especially Goose) a lot of joy and not really more work.

>178 katiekrug: He is very proud of his achievements!

>179 Kyler_Marie: Definitely a little crazy 😜 It helps that we're both home most of the time, and we have a lot of similarly dog-obsessed family nearby who are happy to help when we need it. Plus, the greyhounds are so easy, they're like less work than one dog combined, lol.

Four dogs!! I'm in favor of it. I bet the greyhounds are too...someone else for Goose to pester. Do you have to keep his name?

>176 curioussquared: so darling! they look so funny, like little twins with different eyebrows. what a big happy family!

>181 norabelle414: The greyhounds are definitely in favor of it. They get more undisturbed sleeping time. Otter also much prefers playing with both puppies than with Goose one-on-one, so he's actually been playing more since Malcolm came over. Not sure if we HAVE to keep his name but we probably will. The litter theme was interstellar, and their registered names are sci-fi spaceships and original call names were the spaceship captains. Goose's registered name is Normandy and his call name was Joker, which is apparently the ship and captain from Mass Effect which I have never played. Malcolm's registered name is Serenity so he is of course named after Malcolm Reynolds. I love Firefly so I'm less inclined to want to change it.

Hilariously Malcolm was actually on my longlist of baby names, but since acquiring this dog I've learned that nobody can spell it!! Everybody misses the second L and it drives me insane, so it's probably good that it's just my dog's name and not my kid's name 😂 And also good to know about myself that it would drive me crazy for my kid to have a name that is constantly misspelled.

>182 yolklor: Thanks Lor!! Somebody said they remind them of the twins from The Shining in that photo and it cracked me up :D "Come play with us, mother..."

Squeezed an audiobook in yesterday to keep up my streak of 8 books a month this year, lol. Still not as much as I read normally but I am reading a good number of chunksters.

Wishing you all the best as you make your decision about becoming a four-dog household. Delighted that Malcolm is fitting in with the pack well.

>185 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! I think we have pretty much decided to keep him at this point. He is fitting in great and is so, so sweet. We took him to family Easter to socialize him with other dogs a bit more and he did really well.

Hello Natalie!
>135 curioussquared: 😍
My jealousy is unspeakable.

>144 curioussquared: *High-pitched shriek of joy*
CONGRATULATIONS! Omg, that's wonderful!

>153 curioussquared: My sister-in-laws both had a similar experience, I'm told. You're a trooper, Natalie, and may your favorite foods be with you again.

>172 curioussquared: I'd use the word 'ambitious' before crazy. It's a lot to take on in your situation. But it may also help? It would give Goose something comfortable and a partner to cling to when the, uh, "small, noisy human" enters the picture.
I'd be overwhelmed, but you know yourself best. Maybe you could handle it?

>187 Ravenwoodwitch: Hi Angela! Thanks for the congratulations. We are really excited!

Happy Tuesday! It's been a while since I checked in. Overall I'm feeling good -- still in that nice second trimester stage and enjoying eating and moving around without being too huge. Working hard to get the nursery into shape. My family is throwing a baby shower in about a month and invitations went out last week, so I had to get the registry in order. I don't need anybody to buy us stuff and tried to communicate that gifts aren't expected in the invitation, but I know people like to buy things for new arrivals so I tried to populate it with things we'll really use.

The bathroom remodel is proceeding and the contractor is installing tile this week. I am counting down the days until we have laundry upstairs!

We have officially committed to keeping Malcolm ❤️ He is a total love and he and Goose are best friends, and Kermit and Otter took to him quickly, too. He feels like he was meant to be here. He was actually our pick of the litter when we met all the puppies -- it just took him a little longer to find his way home! I think Goose has been less destructive and less inclined toward resource guarding since Malcolm arrived. The two of them do occasionally get into trouble together (they've ripped up a couple of fleece blankets and dish towels, among other things) but overall they seem to keep each other busy.

Had a busy weekend -- some friends came over Saturday morning for brunch and board games. We had breakfast sandwiches and scones and played a round of Mysterium. Two of them are powerlifters and one is about 6'5 and very strong so along with Tim I put them all to work moving a queen bed out of the nursery upstairs into the basement and moving our new glider and dresser into the nursery. It worked out great 😂 Saturday evening my best friend came over and we watched most of First Wives Club, which neither of us had seen before, but didn't finish it before she headed home.

Early Sunday morning we found out one of our friends' dogs had been missing for about 12 hours. Tim ran out at 6am to help look for her and put up signs. Luckily she was found around noon!

While Tim was out looking for Lucy, I noticed that Goose was acting very strangely. He was not running around and wrestling with Malcolm like usual, but instead lying listlessly on the couch and would barely move or eat high-value treats. Malcolm kept trying to get him to play but he wasn't responding. He did eventually get up to go outside and pee but he was moving slowly and almost stiffly. So, I took him to the emergency vet. He had a fever but several hours and diagnostic tests later (and dollars $$$) his fever had resolved on its own and they hadn't found any cause for it. He has been improving daily and is almost back to his old self today -- we're still keeping an eye on him but it seems like it was just a fluke.

Currently reading: Since the last time I posted, I finished First-Time Caller, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vol. 5, Onyx Storm, Lord of Scoundrels, The Charismatic Emerald, and Dragon Haven, so clearly I owe some reviews. Now I'm reading Bringing Up Bebe on Kindle and Jade War on audio, and planning to start The Rose Code in print soon.

>189 curioussquared: A new dog and soon a new baby. You're an ambitious girlie and I approve.
Like I said on my thread, I'm so sorry that Goose got sick like that. What I wouldn't give for that 'talk to animals' spell from Baldur's Gate 3 some days.
"What did you eat and why are you sick?"

>190 Ravenwoodwitch: I think my motto for 2026 is "what's life without a little chaos?" Lol. That is the worst part of when an animal is sick. At least with kids they're able to tell you when something's wrong and where it hurts after a few years :(

I finished moving my books into the new library shelves and got my desk set up! All my read books fit nicely with room to spare, but I'm going to have to have a separate space for unread books. I also weeded about ~50-70 books to donate.

Malcolm showing off the library space. I'd like to replace the current chair with a bigger one, and get a more cohesive rug. Many dog beds, of course.

>192 curioussquared: Nice! Congratulations on the new shelves, Natalie!

>192 curioussquared: So beautiful. Both the shelves and the dog.
I'm curious; how often do you re-read books? Back when I was reading more often, I found myself re-reading once in awhile, but almost always seeking new stuff.

>192 curioussquared: Ooh, lovely! Books and dogs -- my dream library!

The new library looks great! As does Malcolm :)

>194 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks Angela! How often I reread depends, but I do a fair amount. I definitely have comfort books that I revisit more often than others. And then I usually decide whether or not to keep a book after reading based on whether or not I think I'd like to revisit in the future. For the past year or two I've been rereading quite a bit as life has been stressful in other ways, and I like to seek familiar stories during those times. I imagine I'll reread a lot when baby is here (and as I get to share my favorite books with him!).

>195 foggidawn: Mine too, Foggi 😊 I don't usually have four dogs in there with me as Kermit prefers to stay upstairs, but three is common when I'm working at my desk.

>196 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

23 books read: First-Time Caller by B. K. Borison

Lucie is doing fine. She lives next door to her platonic life partner (her ex-boyfriend) and his husband and they have a happy little family co-parenting their 12 year-old daughter. She's been alone romantically for a long time, but she's kind of just done with that part of her life, even though she's only 30. But then one night she catches her daughter talking on the phone with a much older man -- who turns out to be Aiden Valentine, host of Baltimore's romance hotline radio show, and Maya called in because she was worried about her mom's love life. When Lucie's subsequent conversation with Aiden goes viral, the radio station invites Lucie to come on the show for a while so they can find her a match.

Obviously inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, a premise I really enjoy. I liked a lot of things about this book but something failed to make me love it. I loved Lucie's little family and Maya's character, and the slow-burn as Lucie and Aiden got to know each other on the show, but it felt... a little too predictable, maybe? And Aiden started to annoy me in the second half. 3.75 stars.

Trying to catch up here. Love the doggie pics, and the pup with questionable parentage! And now I have some very serious Bookcase Envy. :o)

Wow, that’s an awesome space!

>199 clamairy: >200 drneutron: Thanks, Clam and Jim!

24 books read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 5 by Beth Brower

In this entry, Emma accompanies Jack to fulfill one of the favors she owes him and spends a happy Christmas with Niall, Islington, and Young Hawkes.

Just as enjoyable as the previous volumes -- Emma never disappoints. 4 stars.

25 books read:

>203 curioussquared: I pre-ordered this one, but I haven't read it yet. I heard it ended on a cliffhanger, so I figured I'd just hang on until the next book comes out. I'll probably need to reread the earlier books by then, or at least read a comprehensive summary.

>204 foggidawn: Yep, I preordered it too and only just now got around to it. I actually did find and read a comprehensive summary of Iron Flame before diving into this one and it just didn't really help, lol.

26 books read: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Sebastian Ballister, Marquess of Dain, was raised to believe he was devilish and unlovable, and that's who he is as an adult -- fearsome, feared, and respected. When Jessica Trent walks into his life and dazzles him, he can't believe that any world exists in which she would love him -- so he does his best to scare her away. But when she matches him in every way, the two end up tied together, neither willing to back down -- and Sebastian may meet his match.

This is a classic of the historical romance genre and I had a good time with it! Typical tropes -- sort of a Beauty and the Beast riff -- monstrous male protagonist must connect with his inner goodness and grow to find happiness, done really well. I absolutely loved the intro scene in the antique shop and Jessica's overall wit and self-awareness. 4 stars.

>192 curioussquared: Lovely!

Have a wonderful weekend, Natalie.

>207 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

It's been a while since I checked in. The past few weeks have been good! We are nearing the end of our bathroom remodel and I'll post pics when done. The new washer/dryer is being delivered today and I am ridiculously excited, lol. I've been putting off doing laundry until I can do it upstairs!

Last weekend we went up to Tim's family's beach house with his sister and her partner. We all had a great time including all four dogs. Tim's birthday was on Sunday and we had cake on Saturday night and a few presents. I got him the new James S. A. Corey book and a replica of Sting from The Hobbit and he was very excited about that. I saw a thread on Reddit that suggested that every man secretly wants a sword but would never buy himself one and I think that might be correct.

Pregnancy is still going well. I am on the cusp of the third trimester and starting to feel Large. A little scary knowing that I am only going to get Larger. Baby is supposed to be about 2 lbs right now and I feel like his kicks are already starting to switch from cute to "ouch!" so I imagine some discomfort is in my future, lol.

My family is throwing a shower for us in a couple weeks and gifts have started to arrive, and we've also been ordering stuff for the nursery. It's right across from the bathroom remodel, though, so we haven't really built any of it yet, just thrown boxes and random baby outfits and gear in there. 13 weeks left so I guess we'd better start getting our crap together...

Currently reading: Since I last posted I've finished Bringing Up Bebe, The Rose Code, and Jade War. I'm a little over halfway through Holy Terrors and will start The Dutch House on audio soon as I'm hosting book club on Sunday and that was my pick, so I should probably read it...

Some recent pics of the dogs having fun at the beach and at home.

>209 curioussquared: Yay for the reno being nearly done! That's so exciting.

Looks like you've had some good reads recently.

Oh Natalie, catching up with your thread has been THE BEST!! I am so thrilled for you. Congratulations!!

I saw the confusion about the name Wilder a bit upthread and see that it is your last name. I have TWO students named Wilder if you can believe it - first names.

>103 curioussquared: I just got Silverborn recently - what a wait that was! Hopefully not so long for the next one. Trying to decide if I want to read the other three again first. I wouldn't attempt it until summer.

>111 curioussquared: Funny story about thinking your dogs were dobermans - I can sort of see that with greyhounds as they are sleek. When the girls were younger the three of us took Whistler out for a walk and a couple of kids approached us and asked if it was a kangaroo. LOL

>162 curioussquared: you got me with Wall of Winnipeg & Me. Looks like a good one. Fortunately I already had >168 curioussquared: on the list.

>192 curioussquared: WOW! That looks amazing, with the perfect doggie accessory of course!

So happy for you!!

>211 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! Can't wait to do some laundry tonight :D

>212 AMQS: Thank you so much, Anne! We're very excited :) I have seen that Wilder is a popular first name lately, but didn't realize it had been popular for long enough that it's trendy in elementary school students! Name trends are so fascinating to me.

>213 curioussquared: I think that naming the baby Wilder Wilder is definitely the way to go. ;-)

>213 curioussquared:, >214 foggidawn: My husband's full name is Stylianos Stylianou, so you could go for Wilder Wilder and call it Greek:)

>214 foggidawn: Lol! Might as well make Wilder the middle name as well at that point. Or something totally random. Wilder Steve Wilder.

>215 AMQS: Hmm, my Bolivian family does identify very strongly with the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding... we're not Greek, but that family is 100% our family. We own a restaurant and everything. I love the scene where they're introducing the cousins and they're all named Nick (and Nicky) 😂

>216 curioussquared: LOL. That's not too uncommon given how Greeks name their kids, and how large families used to be. We love that movie, too. But actual Greeks and Cypriots (from Greece/Cyprus) are a little baffled by it and a bit aghast that Greeks in other places act like that. I think that whatever makes you (insert cultural identity) is amplified when not living in the homeland because maybe the traditions feel more important when you're from home. I don't know if I'm explaining that right. There certainly is still a lot of Greekness - people always spit on the girls when they were little because if you admire a thing you then need to ward off the evil eye - but I remember Stelios's cousin (that would be Socrates Socratous) showing us pictures from his university experience in England and there were endless photos of Greeks in restaurants smashing plates. Which I have never, ever experienced in Greece or Cyprus, even after living there.

About Malcolm - congratulations! You'll have your hands full, but you already know that. When I was pregnant with Callia a name we both really loved was Semele. Rhymes with Emily. But I did picture a lifetime of saying exactly that, and as it turns out, Callia was hard enough for people to hear/spell/pronounce! I have had Malcolms as students before and I currently have a Lincoln. Funny enough, I have to pay attention when I spell my nephew's name (Falcon) and NOT put another L before the N. We'll all be so very happy to learn your little one's name whatever you decide, and it will be absolutely perfect!

Oops - LT went down momentarily as I was posting and I ended u pwith a duplicate post. I'll use it to say happy Wednesday!

>217 AMQS: That makes sense about actual Greeks being a little confused by the movie. Since we're not Greek, my family identifies more with the non-cultural parts -- the huge family gatherings and the way everyone is always up in everyone else's business 😂 When I got married I was mostly able to control the wedding, but at one point my mom informed me my grandma had sent out some invitations to people I didn't even know who she wanted to invite without even asking me and I was like, well, at least she didn't take it upon herself to order invitations stamped with the Bolivian flag 😂 Tim's family is much smaller and Scandinavian and he has mostly adapted but can still get a little overwhelmed by the size and length of the family gatherings sometimes.

The good thing about the big fat Bolivian family is that we have so many people waiting in the wings to help us with both baby and dog care, so the prospect of a 4th dog and new baby is less intimidating than it could be. We have a name that has been the top contender for a few months now and I'm almost ready to commit, but just want to do a little more searching before 100% deciding.

Stelios really misses the huge family gatherings, that's for sure, and I do regret sometimes that we didn't raise our girls in Cyprus with lots of cousins around.

I know some people wait to name the baby until the baby is here - I've even heard something like "well he didn't look like an Archibald at all so.." I am just so excited for you💖

I like Wilder Bob Wilder for the baby's name... ;-)

>220 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! I think we are creeping up toward being 95% committed to the name we like. We've been doing a little more looking and so far nothing else has popped out at us in the same way.

I've been thinking about cousins lately -- I grew up with tons of cousins fairly close in age to me. My baby won't have any cousins anytime soon -- my brother is single, Tim's sister doesn't want kids, and all my first or second cousins who live in the area either don't want kids or are nowhere near being ready. So it will be interesting to have that difference in upbringing. I do have a cousin in CA who has a baby boy due a few weeks before us, so that will be fun when we can get them together, but it won't be the same.

>221 katiekrug: It has a certain ring to it, Katie ;)

27 books read: The Charismatic Emerald by Suzanne E. Zitzer

When Princess Sharra is unexpectedly elevated to Queen Sharra after her sister's mysterious death, she's not sure how to inspire the same loyalty among her subjects as her sister. When she receives an invitation to learn about her talent for magic -- "navidry" in this universe -- she decides to leave her throne for a year and leave her late sister's husband behind as her regent. But her regent is not to be trusted, and soon Sharra must reckon not only with the harm she may have unwittingly done to her kingdom but also the warring forces within her.

This was a friend's manuscript I agreed to read and provide feedback on. There were some enjoyable aspects and the bones of a good story. It was much too long for a debut novel, especially since I think it would probably be classed as YA, and definitely some pacing issues, but overall a good start. 3 stars.

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35 books read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 6 by Beth Brower

Volume 6 of Emma's journals starts with a 12th night masquerade and continues with appearances from favorites -- Hawkes, Islington, and Niall, of course -- and not so favorites -- Aunt Eugenia, Cousin Archibald, and Emma's new employer, a wealthy merchant's wife for whom she is acting disastrously as a personal secretary.

I think this is my favorite volume yet, not least because of the ending -- Reader, I squealed. Looking forward to volume 7! 4.5 stars.

Omg, I'm caught up on reviews for the first time in ages! It feels good.

What's been going on here:

Over the weekend we celebrated my 9-year-old cousin's birthday. I got her Wundersmith, The Mystwick School of Musicraft, and The Midnight Orchestra as well as some Wings of Fire plushie keychains, and all seemed to be a hit.

On Sunday I hosted book club at my house. It was gorgeous out (in the 70s!) so we sat on the deck. We read The Dutch House which we were all mostly positive about but a little underwhelmed by -- see my review. My friends surprised me with a mini book club baby shower and gifted me lots of books for forthcoming baby boy, as well as a cake. It was very sweet! I need to start cataloguing all my picture books.

Lots of prep for baby shower the weekend after next. It'll be at my house but my family is doing most of the work. My mom is helping me get the nursery in order so people can peek at it if they want. The bathroom is 95% done so I have space to move around again upstairs!

Today we need to bathe Malcolm and clip his nails in advance of his big road trip with his breeders to the Borzoi National Specialty Show in Nebraska. We, especially Goose, will miss him very much while he's gone!

Still feeling pretty good pregnancy-wise. Officially in the third trimester! T-minus ~12 weeks to go! Feels like a long time and also no time at all. We have some other home projects that ideally we'd finish pre-baby so we're starting to get those going.

Currently reading: Working on The Queen of Nothing in print, The Name Game on Kindle, and Murder by Memory on audio.

Currently watching: Honestly, not much? Some Parisian Agency with Tim. My best friend is coming over tonight and we might start The Other Bennett Sister.

>232 curioussquared: Still feeling pretty good pregnancy-wise. Officially in the third trimester! T-minus ~12 weeks to go! Congratulations, Natalie! I suspected but did not know for sure.

Have a wonderful weekend! Take care of yourself!

>233 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia! We are very excited :)

I've started cataloguing all the picture books I have and that my aunts have dropped off at my house so I can keep track of the baby's library. I used the LT app's barcode scanner for the first time and omg! So useful and easy. Still learning things about LT 20 years later :)

>235 curioussquared: I didn't know a thing about a barcode scanner, Natalie. Gosh that would have saved me some time!

>236 PaulCranswick: Right, Paul? Would have been helpful when I was initially cataloguing my library, but then, I didn't own a smartphone in 2007!

I haven't checked in here in a while! It's been a busy few weeks.

Last week was crazy with preparation for our baby shower on Saturday. Lots of cleaning, decorating, and prep with help from my mom and family. It all came together for a delightful Go, Dog. Go!-themed celebration. We are so lucky to have so many family members and friends waiting impatiently to meet our baby boy.

This week we've been recovering from the party and prepping for our annual camping trip with Tim's family and friends in Eastern WA. We leave tomorrow morning and come back Monday. We weren't sure if we'd make it this year given I'll be 31 weeks pregnant but we're going to go and take it easy. I'll be sleeping in my in-laws' vintage trailer so not on the ground, fortunately. My mom will stay with the dogs -- I think the borzoi would enjoy a camping trip, but we're keeping it easy this year.

Malcolm got home from the Borzoi National Specialty Dog Show on Tuesday and unfortunately seems to have developed kennel cough :( he's on meds and feeling fine, very excited to be home. Hopefully the other dogs don't catch it.

Do you like my hat?

>238 curioussquared: Delighted to hear the baby shower was grand for everyone.

Wishing you well for camping with the bump!

>238 curioussquared: Oh no! I hope Malcolm gets better quickly!

>238 curioussquared: I hope you have a great camping trip, Natalie, and that Malcolm is well by the time you get home!

In case you haven't seen it and you have spare time this weekend, Ballard is having a book crawl.

https://www.myballard.com/2026/05/08/ballard-bookstores-team-up-for-inaugural-ba...

>238 curioussquared: Omg, Go, Dog, Go! is such a fantastic baby shower theme!

Thanks, all, for keeping my thread warm! Camping was a success and I was pretty comfy the whole time aside from some sciatic pain activated by sitting on the hard lake dock and some heartburn, but that's par for the course these days. We lucked out with gorgeous weather and I even finished a few books. The dogs had a good time with my mom and Malcolm hasn't been coughing at all! Now back to real life and working, boo.

>243 Kyler_Marie: I would totally have gone to this if I were in town, Kyler!
>244 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora! My mom and aunts had a lot of fun decorating. One of my favorite kids' books.

The other big update from last week: we bought a new car! We sold my trusty Honda Fit to some family members and I am now officially a minivan mom. It's the only way we'll be able to transport four large dogs and a baby 😂

>246 curioussquared: So the big question is-Did you take the new van camping with you or get it after you returned? Assuming you took it with you, is it extremely dirty now!? Inquiring minds must know.

>247 Kyler_Marie: We bought the van last week, but didn't pick it up until last night on our way home from Eastern WA :) So it's still pristine, but our CRV is in dire need of a wash...

>248 curioussquared: I'm glad your new vehicle can stay feeling new for a little while before the dogs and kid add their personal touches to it.

Congrats on the new wheels! Do you name your cars and if so what are you calling the van? 😊

>249 Kyler_Marie: Thanks Kyler! I'm sure those personal touches will come sooner rather than later 😂

>250 MickyFine: Thanks Micky 😊 we don't usually name our cars, but Tim has been calling this one the hot rod because of the color, lol.

Hiya Natalie!
Gosh, I can hardly believe you're gonna be a Mom soon (and I can only imagine how that realization is hitting you!)
But I'm excited for you, and it's so sweet to see everyone come together to help you and Tim.
I feel you on the bathroom remodel, as we're having one done where I live. Having strangers trapse through my house and grind/cut/demolish things has been the most uncomfortable experience of my life.

>251 curioussquared: Snort! That's actually pretty delightful. I hope it sticks.

>252 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela! I definitely had a moment today where I was like oh god, in a few days I will be having a baby NEXT MONTH... we're getting close 😬 Sorry the remodel has been uncomfortable for you. Luckily the contractor we used has done a bunch of projects for us and our family and has become a friend, so it's less uncomfortable. But still very nice to have the house to ourselves again!

>253 MickyFine: We'll see :D