Saturday, January 16, 2021

My Small Morning Routine, Challenge Updates, and Let Us Dream

 




I'm still thinking about that awful attack on the Capitol, and my wonderful friend and comadre, Diana, passed away after a two month struggle with cancer. Forgive me if I stuck my head in the sand this week, and read and wrote in my journal, and watched birds. 






The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff (YA Fiction)
Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future by Pope Francis (Nonfiction)

The Book of Ichigo Ichie by Hector Garcia Puigcerver (Nonfiction)
Alone by Megan E. Freeman (YA Fiction)
How to Attract Birds to Your Garden by Dan Rouse (Nonfiction)
Remarkable Trees of the World by Thomas Pakenham (Nonfiction)






The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Chapter-a-Day Read-along)
Yes, and...Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr (Daily Meditation Reading)
The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford (Classics Club)
Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson (Naturalist Book Club)



















Good Thing #1: 
meditation;
yoga/stretching/walking;
creation.



Good Thing #2:
My first post for the new rendition of Wondrous Words,
formerly hosted by Kathy of Bermuda Onion,
now hosted by Elza Reads,
coming on Wednesday.



Good Thing #3:
I wrote my first post for the 2021 Discussion Challenge:
I'd love to have you stop by and share your two cents.






I'm happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • 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?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.


My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.

78 comments:

  1. definitely a rough week. glad we all made it through. sometimes a rest from everything is in order, choosing to do things that make us happy.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  2. I totally understand focusing on your morning routine and watching birds and reading. I'm doing much the same, though not perhaps watching the birds as much. So sorry about your friend's passing. Keeping you and her family in my prayers, Deb.

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  3. I'm so impressed with the diversity of your reading subjects. They all look so interesting. I think I might enjoy reading the one by the Pope. I love him.

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    1. I'm proud of the Pope for speaking out for things people need.

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  4. Obsessing about the violence and insurrection is also my problem. I counter it by blogging about more anodyne subjects. Maybe people think I don't care but I do very much.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  5. I'm very sorry to hear about your friend Diana. I had hoped 2021 would be so much better but so far I am wondering if it's actually December 45th, a continuation of a bad year. Let's hope things will get better when our new president comes in replaces the orange child.

    I am impressed with your volume of reading for the challenges! So far I have only acompplished one book for the nonfiction and am about to review the second. Distractions from the news and looking for a dog to adopt has been my focus.

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    1. Oh gosh, let's hope 2021 is not just a continuation of 2020. I'm cheered by the new president and the vaccine.

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about your friend, this is such a tough time in general without added personal sadness. I love your challenges graphic and am going to steal the concept, I hope that's ok!

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    1. Yes, since I borrowed the idea for the challenges graphic from you!

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  7. I liked Ichigo Ichie. wow, you are already doing so well on your challenges, congrats! Actually, I should also be able to finish my 2nd book in translation this afternoon

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    1. You could count French translations of English books, too.

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  8. I am so sorry about your friend. Be gentle with yourself right now. It's already such a tense time and then to have to suffer personal loss too . . . My heart is with you.

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  9. Yeah I'm hoping we can get through the next week. It's been so rough! We need to seek solace wherever we can ... mostly through reading & good books. Sorry to hear about your friend, very sad. take care.

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    1. I never expected so much drama in the White House. I should have expected all this, though.

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  10. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. 2021 sure has gotten off to a bad start. I'm just hoping things get better. Take care of yourself.

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  11. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

    I had some worries and uncertainties over the past couple of weeks and found myself exhausted after they resolved. I really only wanted to cocoon and read this week. The current political situation certainly isn't helping so I'll be glad when we get through the inauguration, hopefully without major incident.

    Take care of yourself this week. I'll be thinking of you and Diana's family.

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  12. Hi Debbie! I'm going to have a look at Alone, quickly read your review and it does sound lovely.

    Yea for Wondrous Words Wednesday!! I'll have it up early on Wednesday morning, SA time. I loved your discussion post on the rereads. I should have registered for that challenge as well, will see if I can get to it now that we will back at home until 15 February.

    I'm so sorry about your friend Debbie... Hope you are okay. Be kind to yourself.

    Have a wonderful week and I'll see you on Wednesday!

    Lots of Love,

    Mareli & Elza

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  13. I’m sorry to hear about your friend, sending love and hugs from across the pond.

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  14. I'm so sorry about your friend. This past week and the one coming up are tense times to be sure. Stay healthy and keep reading :)

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    1. Trying to focus on the positive this week. Thank you, Stacy.

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  15. I am so sorry to hear about your friend. :( Take care of yourself, there is nothing wrong with holing up with books and birds while you process and grieve. Hugs from Michigan.

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  16. Deb, so sorry to read about the loss of your friend. I've been reading more than normal as an escape from the news. Miss Benson's Beetle is on my list as well. Hoping Wednesday goes well - Have a good week.

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    1. I wonder if others will like Miss Benson's Beetle as much as I did. I think I was in the mood for something like this.

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  17. My sympathies on the loss of your friend x
    At this rate you’ll be done with the nonfiction challenge before Winter is over!

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  18. Journaling can help a lot to put words to emotions. I like these new journals that the milennials are putting together--lots of categorizing and so forth. sympathies for your friend. I'll note some of your books

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  19. So hard to lose a good friend.

    I need to get some routines going. I keep busy and am never bored but there are many things I want to start doing! I miss going for walks downtown. John walks around the neighbourhood but I find that boring, no store windows to look into!!!

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    1. We walk to the library and turn in books. It gives us a goal.

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  20. Oh man...so sorry your year is starting off with the loss of a dear friend. Hopefully your morning routine and other ventures will help you heal. Hang in there!!!

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  21. So very sorry about the loss of your friend, Deb - and the rest of the horrible stuff going on out there doesn't help. Small wonder you are focusing on books and birds - sounds like a really intelligent reaction. Take care - it is always wrenching to lose a friend... and I hope there is a bit of light during the coming week.x

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    1. We are going to the funeral tomorrow, and that's horribly stressful (will people wear masks? will people social distance?) as well.

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  22. I'm sorry about your friend. I think retreating into quiet and nature is a very sensible thing to to, and I hope it has eased things a bit for you.

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  23. I bought my beeswax wraps at Amazon but have seen them locally, except the stores are closed.
    Read Can't Happen ages ago, should add Sinclair Lewis to my classic list to read.

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  24. I will look for them for my grocery pickup first, and if they don't have them, I'll try Amazon. Thanks, Jackie.

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  25. You've had quite the week. I'm sorry to hear about your friend Diana. So sad. Looks like reading was your source of comfort this week. Your new morning routine will ground you. I'll have to try to pop in to read your discussion post.

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  26. Looks like your challenges are going well. Watching the birds at my feeders has been my salvation over the past week. There's plenty to watch just now. Their lives proceed without reference to our constant conflicts and upsets. There is comfort in that.

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  27. So sorry for the loss of your friend!

    I am also sorry for all of us suffering through the attack on the Capitol! Here's hoping for a calm and safe week ahead.

    Enjoy your books and the new memes! Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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  28. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Seems like 2021 isn't shaping up to be all that much different from 2020. Glad you're finding some comfort in reading and routines. Take care.

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  29. So sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. Sending you and your friend's family hugs and prayers.

    Wonderful to hear that you are loving your morning routine. For a brief time last year, I had one where I spent time thinking, reading, meditating. But now my 2-year old has started waking up much earlier, so I've lost that time. I'm going to have to wake up even earlier to claim it back but we'll see. It's hard to do that over winter.

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    1. I made it so easy and so short that it is impossible not to succeed.

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  30. So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Diana. I hope you found comfort in reading, writing and watching birds. For me, these strange times make it more difficult to cope with such loss. I hope you're doing well and can rely on others as well.
    Your morning routine sounds lovely, I should do more of that as well, but I'm always a bit chaotic in the morning.

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  31. I'm so sorry to her about your friend. Cancer is awful.

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  32. I am so very sorry about your friend, Deb. It sounds like Diana had a very aggressive form of cancer and my heart goes out to her family and friends. It's such a terrible time to lose anyone, regardless of the cause, and I hope you can find some solace in knowing that others are thinking of you. Thank goodness for the comfort of books and nature.

    You mentioned Wondrous Words, which was formerly hosted by Kathy (Bermuda Onion). I miss seeing her blog posts, but am happy she's posting on IG. She was one of my favorite bloggers.

    Big hugs to you, Deb.

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    1. I'm glad to know that Kathy is posting on IG. I am a novice IG-er, but I will try to look for her there.

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  33. I'm upset about the attack on Capitol Hill too and I'm sorry for your friend.

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  34. I keep reminding myself to start on my 3 good things; and make my Sunday post a little more bookish than it is right now..and always remember I forgot when I link up here..
    And your good thing #2 tempts me as I used to link up at BermudaOnion for Wondrous Words as well a while ago.. (maybe I should?)

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    1. I hope you will join in at Elza Reads for the new Wondrous Words on Wednesday.

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  35. and Deb, so sorry to hear about your friend.... books definitely lend comfort..

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  36. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Cancer is just cruel. I pulled my head in this week too - I just couldn't deal with the madness in the outside world. I'm glad you found some solace with the birds. I missed them so much when we were living in Memphis but now that we are home I have so enjoyed seeing them at the feeders again. Chickadees are my favorite. They're such cheerful little guys. Hope this week is a happy one.

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    1. I've been enjoying watching them closely through Project FeederWatch.

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  37. So sorry to hear about your friend's death.

    I own that mug in the Wondrous Words header. I taught ELD/ESL for years, and that mug was in the teacher's lounge, so I was using it. My mentor teacher mock scolded me for stealing his cup--I didn't know it wasn't common property! Then he got me my own. He said he loved to impress kids when they asked him what each of the phrases in different languages meant, since they all mean "Good Morning."

    A few weeks ago I was picking up my holds at the library and thought I saw you. It was so odd, since I've never actually met you, but my thought process went something like--hey, that woman looks familiar--oh, it's Deb, of course, we're at the library--wait no, she's in Texas--and then I just laughed at myself.

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    1. I love that story! I wish I could beam myself over to librarians whenever I would like!

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  38. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear friend. Sending you some virtual hugs. And on top of that all the craziness at the Capitol. It is unreal what is happening and I just hope better days are ahead. I hope your morning routine of meditation and yoga and all the books bring you comfort.

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  39. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. You are in my prayers!

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  40. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend... 2021 started badly, it can only end better ?... Enjoy birdwatching and relaxing. *hugs*

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  41. I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Diana. 2021 is a bit of a challenge already but I have hope that things will improve. Hang in there and stick your head in the sand as much as you need to. Disconnection for me, is self-preservation sometimes.

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  42. Coming to the party late as I so often do. School is underway, and I can prove it by, I've been on the computer AT LEAST four hours today, and the introduction videos keep coming in. Whew!
    I am so sorry your friend passed away. Things are sad enough without losing a friend too.
    I will post a challenge update soon.Thanks for yours.
    My week from last Wednesday until today was tolerable. I saw a friend who has recovered from Covid and lives in Seabrook. I finally was able to deliver her Christmas and birthday presents. I parked in her driveway, we were both masked, and I never got out of the car. I think we stayed safe.
    I did several things with my LFL, and stocked the one at Stevenson. It seems neglected most of the time, so I fill in.
    The weather today dragged me down a bit, and I only went out long enough to dig up two plants I wanted to move; maybe I should have taken a walk in. the mist. LOL

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