October was crazy-busy and November is starting out the same way. I only managed to finish three books last week. The links take you to my reviews.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (30th Anniversary Edition) by Natalie Goldberg
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe
I'm right in the middle of a bunch of nonfiction right now.
The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday by Rob Walker
How Your Story Sets You Free by Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen
Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster by Svetlana Alexievich
Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef's Journey to Discover America's Melting Pot Culture by Edward Lee
Last week, it was my birthday. What a wonderful birthday I had! Text messages. Emails. Visits. Packages in the mail. Phone calls---my 92-year-old dad sang happy birthday on the phone. My son in Chicago and his wife sent some fabulous books, and my son here in Texas and his wife got me a Paris-ish book bag. My amazing sister made me dinner---beef bourguignon (oh my!), homemade bread, with champagne...that has to be the best meal of my life. And I got some cool Facebook happy-birthdays, including the one above from one of my author friends, Jerry Craft.
I was pretty happy with this first attempt at a fancy crust on my peach pie this week. I think I'll do more in preparation for Thanksgiving.
And where am I this weekend? Why, I'm at the 31st Heritage Syrup Festival in Henderson, Texas. We are talking mule-powered, old-time syrup making with folk artists, food, bands, and antique tractors. They are promising cloggers and square dancers, antique car exhibits, and musical entertainment, along with hayride shuttles around the festival.
What was your week like?
Read any good books? Tell us about them.
What other bookish things did you do?
What else is going on in your life?
We'd love to have you to link up here and/or at the Sunday Salon page on Facebook each weekend (Saturday-Sunday-Monday) and let us know what you have been doing. I hope you will visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
Other places where you may like to link up are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.
My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.
Only three books, I'm lucky if I get though one. Reading through some of my wifes romance books at the moment. Happy Birthday for last week hope you hade a wonderful one
ReplyDeleteI'm a fast reader. For good or bad.
DeleteI'm glad you had such a wonderful birthday! That pie looks terrific! I'll be interested to see what you think of Buttermilk Graffiti.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying it so far.
DeleteGlad you had a happy birthday! That peach pie looks amazing. Yes, it's time to think about Thanksgiving food. We're hosting this year and we shall see how many we'll be expecting. Know already that our daughter and son-in-law won't be able to attend. Nurses have to work usually two out of the big three holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's). Think we'll get her for Christmas this time. All those babies - they do insist on coming whatever day of the year it is. Ha!
ReplyDeleteLucky you, hosting. It's so wonderful to get together, no matter when or where.
DeleteHappy belated Birthday! I have always been a bit fascinated by Chernobyl since I was living in Vienna when it happened and it really impacted our lives, especially as we traveled into eastern bloc countries that were even closer.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a very powerful story.
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful birthday, especially that Beef Bourguignon!!Here's many more years of celebrations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Les!
DeleteHappy Birthday!!! It sounds like it was wonderful. And the syrup festival sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteThe Syrup Festival was great fun.
Delete🥳Happy Birthday To you 🎉 I’m glad you had such a wonderful celebration, and it seems to be continuing at the Syrup Festival.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve had a strong start to NonFicNov
Wishing you a great reading week
I love Nonfiction November. I wish it wasn't such a busy time, though.
DeleteThat looks like a good stack of nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteI have too many good books right now!
DeleteHappy Birthday!! That peach pie looks delish!!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of it.
DeleteOh wow! Happy Birthday. I'm so glad you're dad is still around. I bet you cherish him everyday.
ReplyDeleteI'm so lucky to have such a healthy 92-year-old dad.
Deletesounds like a fabulous birthday. and the syrup festival. never heard of it but my sweet tooth is curious. lol
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
It's ribbon cane syrup, the kind my dad had growing up.
DeleteHappy birthday! It sound like you celebrated it in a lovely way!
ReplyDeleteAlso, your pie looks great! I hope you'll enjoy your new books!
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you, Lynn!
DeleteYum, that peach pie looks fabulous! Food sounds good to me, but I'm slowly adding things, now that my surgery is behind me. All went well; a little setback on the second day, and my legs feel wobbly. LOL.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week.
I'm praying for your continued healing.
DeleteI'm glad you had a great birthday! Happy Birthday! Hope this week is a good one. Looks like you have many interesting books to read. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI have so many books that it is a bit overwhelming.
DeleteHappy belated birthday, Deb. It sounds like you had a great one and hope you had a wonderful weekend at the Syrup Festival. I had to look up this syrup festival because when we say "syrup" here in Pennsylvania, we mean maple syrup, but now I'm seeing that yours is ribbon cane syrup? To be honest, I never heard of this...but I am not opposed to it. ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, it's made from sugar cane. My dad grew up in northern Louisiana, and it's what he had as a child.
DeleteHappy belated birthday. The syrup festival sounds fun. In August our town has a zucchini festival.
ReplyDeleteWe have a mosquito festival here in the summer. Now who wants to come to that?!
DeleteI'm loving Buttermilk Graffiti.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Birthday, Deb! How sweet that your dad called and sang to you. :) (And how lucky to still have your dad with you. I miss my dad so much.) The dinner your sister made sounds fabulous. Yum! That pie crust is a work of art! My goodness, you certainly have a talent.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great week! Happy birthday! What a beautiful pie. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that your dad can still sing you Happy Birthday. That has to be so very special.
ReplyDeleteYour books look very promising, I am looking at them and thinking - I'd like to read that. Your birthday sounds wonderful, love the idea of your Dad singing to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting week! Belated BD wishes for a fantabulous year ahead.
ReplyDeleteI am a new blog reader, I see your pie and understand that your books are not your only talent.
ReplyDelete