Happy Sunday! I am writing this while nestled in my new favorite place in the house, my library. Jim and his friend finally got around to installing the shelves yesterday. I added the books last night, and this morning Jim and I rearranged the desk. Other than needing some bookish prints on the walls, it is perfect. Just perfect.
The Midwest struck again with odd and extreme weather this past week. On Monday it was over 60 degrees. By Friday night, we were hunkered down for the first major snowstorm of the season. We ended up getting about a foot throughout Friday night. It is pretty, but I think the fact that it has been so unseasonably warm up until it snowed made it a much crueler shock to the system. To add insult to injury, we are supposed to be back up into the 50s by Thanksgiving Day. Ah, the Midwest and its ever-changing weather.
Last weekend, Connor and his girlfriend ran in a 5k hosted by Jim’s company. Jim, Connor, and Holly ran it last year. This year, Jim was part of the committee who ran the event and Holly had dance class, so we convinced Connor’s girlfriend to participate. It’s a good thing she said yes because she ended up getting second place among the women, missing out on first place by one second! Connor won the event for the men this year, coming in well over a minute before the second-place finisher. I know they had a lot of fun, but winning cash prizes for placing made it even better.
Thanksgiving weekend is next weekend, and I am formally declaring my intentions to participate in the Thankfully Reading Weekend event hosted by Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelves. I detest shopping during the holiday season, so I can think of no better way of spending the weekend other than hibernating at home with books. After this past fall season, I know we all are looking forward to a long, quiet weekend, and this is really the perfect way to enjoy it. Won’t you join us?
It was a crazy week at work, but I still managed to post my weekly reading summary, Fabulous Friday and What’s For Dinner. I also shared my thoughts on ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King as a re-read and the fabulous City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg. About the Hallberg novel, I have to give a shout-out to editor Melissa Danaczko. I was within 50 pages of finishing the novel when my e-galley expired and archived at the same time. I was so upset, I went to Twitter to express it. She not only read my tweet but got in touch with me and offered to hook me up with another electronic copy so that I could finish it. Within 24 hours, I was back to reading the story and reveling in each glorious sentence. I am so glad too because it is just an amazing book. I seriously love social media and being a book blogger connected to so many awesome people who are willing to help each other out.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday staying warm and relaxing. I will be sitting here enjoying the view from my glorious office/library. Have a great week, everyone!
Thanks so cool that you got another e-copy of City on Fire. I like when neat things like that come through — in times of frustration. Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving.
I am so grateful to the editor. I wasn’t hoping for anything when I put it out there, just lamenting my fate and resigning myself to having to wait until I could get to a finished copy. It was just so amazing that she read my comment and responded to it in the manner she did. It is just reason number 70 billion I love the book community.
Your new library looks fantastic! A weekend of reading sounds perfect to me. I hate shopping and have no desire to go out in that madness.
So cool that they both placed in the 5K, and that Connor won!
Our weather here has been really bizarre, too, although no snow yet, which I’m really thankful for. I’m not ready to drive in it. Unless it wants to hit this weekend while I’m home, cozy on the couch. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Thanks, Brandie! I suspect it will be my favorite spot in the house and the room I will be spending most of my time this weekend.
I had to drive in the snow on Saturday to take Holly to dance. I made sure I didn’t leave on Sunday though. I don’t think anyone was mentally ready for the snow. It was just too much too fast coming off some really warm-for-November temperatures.
Happy Thanksgiving, girl!
You know, I lived in SW Wisconsin for about five years, and we never once had snow this early during that time, especially not a foot’s worth! I also remember the spring being much more changeable in terms of weather than the fall. Of course, it’s been a decade since we moved away from WI, and I know weather patterns have changed drastically…it’s just weird hearing about this from WI!
Also, I need to go find finished pics of your shelves. I got sick and pretty much dropped off social media for most of the weekend, so I saw the empty ones but nothing after that.
Two years ago, we had snow before Halloween and the ground stayed covered in snow until April. Last year, we had snow in November, but we also were hit with our first blast of sub-zero temperatures. This year, we had an abnormally warm November with the weird, record-breaking snow storm. Snow in November is not unusual. A foot of snow at one time in November definitely is, especially when it occurs in southern Wisconsin and not the northern portions of the state.
Did you see the pics? I can post them again if you want.
I did see them – I managed to scroll back through the last couple days of my insta-feed and found them. It’s gorgeous!! Makes me lust after a library.
Oh, I’m glad you saw them. It has become my pride and joy in the house.
What a great experience with Melissa! That’s awesome!
It definitely was. I have a girl crush on her now because she was so awesome about the whole thing!
I SO wish I could participate in Thankfully Reading. This year we’re driving down to Austin to spend the day with David’s family, and neither of us is looking terrible forward to it.
I understand completely having done the same thing one too many times with both my family and my husband’s. This year, we both said we were going to be selfish. So we are.
I love the photos of your library you shared on Instagram. It’s just gorgeous! I can’t wait to be in a house we own so I can have a wall of bookshelves. That’s the dream 🙂
Thanks, Kim! We have been married for over 18 years, and I just now got a wall of bookshelves. Of course this means we can never move, but it is worth it.