Sunday Salon – Book Journey

Morning Meanderings… Final to Banned Book Week and 6 Months

Published on October 4, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

This is the post that should have been yesterday however with the book sale… my overextended schedule this past week and my inability to sleep through the night – I did not get it posted. I did not forget – just had to let it go for a bit. 🙂

Soooooo. with that…

Here is the final day of banned book week post. Let me just say, what a week. I am bummed it hit during our Fall Book Sale as I had no time to really dig into the books or the posts. Thank goodness for all of you who grabbed the banned book week banner and waved it high. Here are the final day thoughts on banned book week from wonderful readers:

Laurel at An Interior Journey shares her thoughts on the banned book, Forever by Judy Blume. I was a huge Judy Blume fan growing up!

Kai at A Fiction State of Mind talks about the trending Magna books and their tendency to be banned as well as her thoughts on the book The Color Of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa.

I do hope you will check out their posts as someone this week will have a picture within their post and if you find that post (AND comment on the post) and email me (journeythroughbooks@gmail.com) to tell me who’s post you found it on you will go into a special drawing for…

This mug will be shipped directly to one of our commenters on the Banned Book Post you find THIS picture on:

**Important note** A few of you have emailed me with your responses of where you found the above picture and something I did not anticipate is that some of the blog posts this weeks used the above logo in their posts which is not the giveaway one. Look closely at the picture – it will be the one above which has a frame and my website on it. Sorry about any confusion – I will be more creative next year 🙂

Thank you to all who participated in banned book week! Please check out my posts of earlier this week and catch up on the great reads and giveaways. I will announce our winner for the Banned Book Cup tonight with Its Monday What Are You Reading so you still have time to look for the image hiding in one of the banned book week posts as described above.

Real quick – here is what has come in the house in the past two weeks as bookish! I am not going to link them as I usually do as I have so much going on today just trying to catch up on a weeks worth of not being around. Laundry and canning are on the itinerary as well as white chicken chili, and I need a new audio 🙂 Later today watch for my thoughts on the Banned Book Gone With The Wind. It is also 6 months today since Justin’s accident. Unbelievable. It has been the hardest 6 months of my life and I can not imagine what the next 6 months will hold. I am indeed a broken mess of a person just trying to find a new normal that I can accept. Thank you as always for being a part of my life – even those who I only know from your words here… thank you.

Sunday Salon… So It Is Like That Is It?

Published on August 23, 2015August 23, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

I am not much of a meme joiner upper but I have always loved this picture (above) hosted by The Caffeinated Reader. It also seems to fit who I am these days, sitting back with maybe not slippers (I prefer flip flops), but definitely in my pajamas a little longer than I usually am these days. Coffee? Check. Newspaper? Well no, but replace that with my lap top and you pretty much have me in the above pic.

So basically, this meme is supposed to reflect on our week, our books, our plans… and well, that is what I kind of do here anyway so here goes.

I have another blissfully low key day here today and I am so glad. While these quiet days are definitely more emotional for me as I have no one to be “on” for… that is ok. He is worth the grief and he will be worth it forever. Every tear. This afternoon I am going to have lunch with one of Justin’s friends who is in town and I am looking forward to that. I know there will be stories, I know there will be tears… but like kindred spirits it is nice to have people in my life who get exactly where I am at and want to hang out with me anyway. ♥

book journey — My support team. Always on stand by.

I am hoping this is me coming back into a good blog routine. I feel that this is a safe place to share not only what I am reading and listening to – but also what I am going through. Thanks to the Morning Meandering being around all these years, my sharing my life is nothing new…. it is different now, but you all knew me then… and thank you for being here now.

Of course there are new books in the house. Now I am not going to post all the books and audio that have come in to my home since I last posted about the books… that would be a bit scary! Instead I grabbed the books that I have not put away yet from my counter and table, the ones that have come in over the last week maybe two.

♠♣♥♦♠♣♥♦♠♣♥♦♠♣♥♦♠♣♥♦

Pokergeist by Michael Phillips Cash (yes you read that right… I read The After House by him and liked it…plus, this one came with a deck of cards. Yeah… I am a sucker for swag. 😉 )

Unfriended by Rachel Vail (eeps! I do love a good YA read! )

Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs (every time this amazing woman writes a book she sends it to me…. good reading for a cool fall evening!)

Unprocessed by Megan Kimble (I love foodie books and this journey of eating unprocessed foods for a year sounds fascinating! I could last maybe a week….)

The Afterlife Academy by Frank L Cole (An MG read not sure how I got this one but my memory is shot these days so I probably signed up for it… MG reads can be fun!)

Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff (Another MG not sure how I received it but it looks good!)

History and Hauntings of the Halloween Capital by Roxy Orcutt (This one I picked up at our local book store. I had no idea that the town of Aitkin Minnesota (about 40 miles from me) has been declared by congress to be the Halloween Capital of the World. You would think I would know something like that!)

TITANIC The Great Lakes Connections by Cris Kohl (I purchased this one in Grand Marias Minnesota last week. I do love Minnesota history!)

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury (It’s Bradbury. ‘Nuf said)

Brown Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas (hmmm… a little different for me but we shall see)

This afternoon after the lunch date I am hoping to just READ. I need to sink into a good book. Hope you all have a nice Sunday.

Sheila

Morning Meanderings… The Sunday “Whaz Up”

Published on January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning! Welcome to Sunday. Because we are in a cold weather warning I took care of all of my running yesterday. I went to church last night, and have left today open in case it was hard to go anywhere. The Governor of Minnesota closed the schools state-wide for this Monday, the first time that has happened since 1997. While yes it is cold, it does not seem (at least at this time) to be as cold as they were anticipating. I think they were expecting wind chills and maybe that is still to come but as of right now… its pretty mellow out there.

So here is my Sunday update:

Time: 8:51 am

Place: That awesome recliner in the living room. I ♥ the recliner.

Food or drink: I am having a mocha espresso right now, not as tasty as I had hoped. Will be having plain old coffee soon. 🙂

Reading: Flowers In The Attic (page 97), not reading as quickly as I had hoped but then again, really haven’t been home much this week to read. 😀 Also had started Reconstructing Amelia which I put down for the first book of the year (FITA) but hope to get back to that one if not today, then tomorrow.

Watching: We found the first half of Season 4 Walking Dead on tv and we (hubby and I) are super stoked as we have watched all the three previous seasons on DVD and have been hoping to find the first half of season 4 before the second half starts on February 9th.

Cooking: Not sure yet. Navy Son is coming over for dinner tonight. I want it to be tasty but not a lot of work. I think I went soup or chili the last two times he was here so I am trying to get “out of the bowl”

Whats Ahead: A pretty full week actually. Today I am invited to an open house at a friend’s home. I am hoping to make an appearance. Tomorrow morning (Monday) the Friends of the Library are meeting to take down the Christmas decorations at the library and then have our monthly meeting. Wednesday we are working with the students again after the holiday break. Thursday I have dinner plans with my cousins. Friday I am going to meet up with a group of friends for dinner. Saturday we (me and three friends) leave for Fargo where we will be seeing PINK in concert that night, staying over night and coming home on Sunday. Yup…. bust week 😀

So that is what is happening here 😀 Whats on your agenda for today and the upcoming week?

Brainerd, MN

Sunday 8:00 AM

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Morning Meandering… Sunday Update with Book Suggestions

Published on December 15, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Happy Sunday! I have about 45 minutes before I get ready for church but enjoy doing this Sunday post so here we go. 😀

Time: 8:15 am

Place: That recliner I love so much in the living room

Eating/Drinking: a mocha coffee in the Tossimo coffee pot. No food yet…

Reading: Starting Platform 21 by T R Patrick

Listening to: Array of awesomeness…. Red Hill by Jamie McGuire (you will see why below) and Parkland by Vincent Bugliosi (listening to this one in the car and it is powerful!)

Blogging: Like a mad woman. I suddenly realized that due to my “hiatus” earlier this year I may not finish my reading goal of 100 books this year. I have many books I have read but nor reviewed yet… I know it is not a big deal… just the competitor in me. 😛

Anticipating: Coming home this afternoon, I am making homemade caramels and want to document it for my :Weekend Cooking” post yes, with recipe 😀

Hating: That the weekend is almost over. I could use another day or two… it has been awesome.

Loving: That both boys will be home for Christmas this year and unlike Thanksgiving, we will not have to run around but instead just hang out here surrounded by good food, movies and board games. 😀

In other news, I found a few interesting reads while I was blog reading this week. Normally I post these earlier in the week but every day I had something to chat about and did not do it… so here it is now:

Carrie over at Books and Movies posted this review of Red Hill and I was instantly engaged… so much so, it is what I am listening to now.

Girl XOXO had a new title to me, Snow White Must Die. It sounds interesting.

Book’d Out posted about The Recipe Box which sounds like my kind of read.

Lakeside Musings post on Tell The Wolves I Am Home and I am for sure going to read this one!

That’s it. Hope your day is wonderful. 😀 Are you doing anything fun today? Decorating? Shopping? Baking? Curled up with a book or audio?

Sunday… Walking Dead, Catching Fire… my it is an active life

Published on December 8, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Good Morning! I have not put together one of these posts in a while but each week I admire the way at Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness writes up her Sunday post so thought I would take a bit of direction from her.

Time: 8:33 am

Place: The comfy recliner in our living room with my favorite blanket

Consuming: So far just coffee but an egg white omelet is calling my name

Watching: I am deeply involved (ADDICTED!) to The Walking Dead. I know.. I know… I never dreamed I would like such a show. My friends have raved about it to the point that I picked up the first three seasons on the Thanksgiving weekend sales. Now, half way through season two.. I have to say it is keeping me up at night watching.

Reading: ugh… I am just starting a book, All That You Could Ask For, that I meant to start yesterday but time did not allow. What I should be reading is our book club book that we will discuss on Tuesday.

Listening to… an array of “OK” audio. The new Ann Rule in my car just did not engage me, and while Killing Jesus is interesting (wow… does that sounds wrong…) I am not finding myself as fully invested as I was in Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln and I think I know why. It will make for an interesting review.

Making: Today I need to create something for Book Club. We decided this year our gift exchange would be homemade gifts. I have an idea… just need to get it done. Also – tonight I will be making dinner for Brad and Al…. Thai chicken is calling my name and a great butternut squash… (LOVE squash).

Blogging: This week seemed to have been the week for me to put up posts to engage others in. I put up two 2014 challenges –

2014 WHERE Are You Reading Challenge

2014 Bucket List Challenge

and I put up a New Years 1st Book Of The Year event

Anticipating: This afternoon I am going to Catching Fire (again!) with my friend Amy. Her first time seeing it, my second. It is her birthday and we were supposed to go opening night and she was unable to go. Cant wait to see it with her!

Also, looking forward to a semi quiet day. This weekend was a whirlwind of activity. I spent most of the day Friday and half the day Saturday helping at the Library. Last night we had a Christmas party to attend and a birthday party. I came home around midnight, great stuff…. but I hate overbooked schedules, they wipe me out.

Which, is probably a good description of me at this time… wiped out. I just need a few hours to re-energize. Today is the perfect day to do it. I little blog visiting, a little reading… I will be back up and moving before you know it. 😀

How is your Sunday shaping up? Is Sunday a “gear” up for Monday day, or is it a soak up the last of the weekend day and take it easy day?

Sunday Check List…

Published on December 16, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Good morning.

It has been another busy week and today and tomorrow are pretty crazy too. This afternoon we have a Christmas party here – about 20 people with kids in the house. Tomorrow I am supposed to head to the cities for a board meeting but I am feeling so overwhelmed I am thinking I may cancel that.

I have to get my son in the Navy’s Christmas box out and I have a big mailing to do for my job. You ever get that feeling when you just feel pushed to do one more thing.. one more thing….

that’s where I am at.

I am going shopping this morning before Church to try to make the most of my time today.

As for books that have come in:

I am reading Round House today and I have to finish it to get a review written for a magazine deadline. I am really hoping to get it finished today.

I am looking forward to Survivor Finale tonight…. love that, but will miss my weekly watching of the show!

I hope your Sunday is a little more relaxing than mine 😀

Sunday Check List

Published on November 25, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Good morning and Happy Sunday! How is everyone doing with their turkey comas? We are good and pretty clean here…. I sent the pumpkin bars (dangerous!) and a lot of turkey home with College son when he left yesterday. I made turkey soup for dinner last night, Al ate the last of the stuffing…

This morning I am helping out with a volunteer fair and should be back home around 12:30. I am hoping to get all my 2012 challenges updated so I can start promoting for 2013. Oddly…. I find that exciting! 😀 I love new beginnings.

Today…

I am still reading The Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur

I am listening to One Second After by William R Forstchen and this is weird – I am listening to nothing in my car or on my kitchen cd player as I am out of audio. 😯 I know…. I need to get to the library or something….

I am planning to work on the Challenges this afternoon and a work out.

I am hoping to catch up on my posts that need to be written this week.

I am working on something fun for the Team Kickin It blog with Amanda from Reading and Running.

I am looking forward to a gun permit class I signed up for that will be next weekend.

Here are the books that graced my doorstep this week:

I am excited to do some reading in my near future too!

What are your plans for this Sunday?

Sunday Check List – I survived!!!

Published on November 18, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good morning! I am home and so happy to be here and have a pretty mellow day ahead of me. A much-needed mellow day. 😀 I just came off a week of Monday – small group study, Tuesday – Book Club, Wednesday – help with students, Thursday – Pampered Chef Party and opening night showing on Breaking Dawn 2, Friday – left for St Paul for the Literacy Institute which went until Saturday at 3 pm then drove home and arrived around 6:00 pm at my door.

This week is way less busy. Yes, it is Thanksgiving week but it will be College Son coming home and our traditions are have a nice dinner then we dish up throughout the day whenever we are hungry and watch movies and play board games. I ♥ LOVE ♥ our traditions and really look forward to them.

As for today…

I am reading Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur

I am listening to Steve Jobs (yes still…) on my IPOD, finishing up Abraham on my CD player and still listening to The Quilters Homecoming in my car.

I am planning a possible lunch date with a friend who is in town for the weekend and possibly helping the library decorate this afternoon for Christmas.

I am hoping I can keep the next 5 weeks a little mellower.

I am working on finishing up my challenge updates and some fun discussion posts, and putting life and posts back into Kickin It (my neglected fitness blog).

I am looking forward to a meeting on Tuesday afternoon that is going to lead to my winter project (more later) and a nice weekend with one of my sons. 😀

Here are the books that graced my home this week:

That is it. On with my day, what id your plan for today?

Sunday Check List… Heading Into CRAZY Week Head First!

Published on November 11, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Good morning and happy Sunday wherever you may be! 😀 Today is another stick close to home day for me. After church I plan to be here the rest of the day doing a little cleaning out of the storage area, reading the book club book, and hopefully catching up on the challenges I set for 2012 as that was the plan this weekend and I have yet to get started.

Starting tomorrow life gets a bit…

nuts.

Monday – work during the day, evening small group study

Tuesday – work during the day, book club at my house at 6:30 potluck

Wednesday – work during the day, work with the students in the evening

Thursday – work during the day, Pampered Chef party at my house at 6 pm, possibly going to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn Part 2

Friday – leave at 8 am for the Cities for the next part of our Bremer Literacy Institute stay overnight in the cities

Saturday – Bremer Literacy Institute until 3 pm and then drive the 3 hours home.

Mmmmmm hmmmmmm. A little busier then I like life.

Today I am reading The Language Of Flowers.

I am listening to Steve Jobs on my IPOD, Abraham o my kitchen CD player and The Quilters Homecoming in my car

I am planning a healthier life style… food wise, work out wise

I am hoping today I will complete cleaning out the storage area and be able to start moving things from the spare bedroom that I am storing into the right area. 😀

I am working on my blog updates

I am looking forward to Tuesdays book club AND the new chairs arriving for the book room on Tuesday. SSSQQQQQUUUEEE!!!!!

20121110_140122 — Don’t freak out on the prices on them – I paid no where near that, they were on clearance. 🙂

I need to get the books I owe people out of my house and to the post office.

I want to relax tonight with hubby after a busy and hopefully productive day while watching Amazing Race and eating the new steak recipe I got from my friend.

I am watching the dogs play.

The books that entered my house this week are:

Holed Up In A Bedroom in Georgia

Published on November 4, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning from Georgia. 😀 On Thursday morning, College son (Justin) and I landed in Florida and had a wonderful two days exploring and experiencing Universal Studios – Harry Potter World (I know that’s not the right name, but that’s what I keep calling it) We had a blast, rode the rides, had the butter beer, enjoyed the sun! 😀

As you can imagine – all you Harry Potter addicts out there… the park was AMAZING and I highly recommend it to all ages! Here is a quick little clip that I took of the area but this did not capture it all… I wish I would have filmed more.

Then Saturday morning we packed up out of our Orlando hotel and drove our rental car two and a half hours to St Marys Georgia to where my Navy Son (Brad) is living. He has weekends off so we came to stay with him our final two days of our vacation. It is a blast seeing where he lives and it was awesome to have both boys in the same place!

20121103_124622 — **Justin (left) and Brad in front of Brad’s house in Georgia.**

We hung out at Brads did a little food shopping at Wal-Mart for our weekend and then later went to a Hibachi restaurant which was fun and oh so delicious!

One of Brad’s friends came over last night and we played cards until about 10:30 last night when I was too wiped out to play any more. They continued on to the wee hours of the morning so that is why I am holed up in the bedroom… I am awake but no one else is. 😀 I woke up at 6 am and caught up on emails and a little writing. Now I am going to jump in the shower and start my day. I have been quiet long enough 😀

My reading is still lacking due to the activity in my life right now. I know the boys are watching the game later and I will do a little reading then and a trip to Wal-Mart to look for some new luggage (part of my long story about my ~~bad~~ horrible experience with Spirit Airlines)

Tomorrow morning we pack up early and head back to the Orlando Airport and fly home. I will be back in Minnesota tomorrow evening landing around 5:30 pm and then driving the three hours back home. The rest of the week I plan to keep as quiet as possible 🙂