What is the Sunday Salon?
The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It's also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
It was a busy October week for me. It was Banned Book Week, and lots of activities were held to remind people of the perils of banning books. Last weekend was busy with a tea on one day, and a trip to the Alley Theater in Houston to see The Da Vinci Code. Monday was my writing class. On Tuesday I had my last session of my Happiness Habits class. Our naturalist group's Fall Field Day was held at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory on Wednesday. On Thursday, I enjoyed getting together for breakfast with one of my book groups to discuss Ron Rash's book, The Caretaker, and then I went to lunch later the same day to celebrate a friend's birthday. I began to participate in the citizen science project, the Texas Pollinator Bioblitz, on Friday, and I will post pictures of pollinators on iNaturalist until the event concludes on October 26.
And now I'm headed up to East Texas where I often have spotty Internet, so bear with me while I attempt to visit your blogs away from home this next week.
What I Read Last Week:
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Kids' Fantasy)
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
(Picture Book; Banned Books Week)
What I'm Reading Now:
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (YA Fantasy)
Butterflies of Houston & Southeast Texas by John & Gloria Tveten (Nonfiction)
Banned Book Week challenges censorship and celebrates free expression here in the US. This year Banned Book Week is October 5-11.
Here are the thoughts of naturalist/scientist/author Robin Wall Kimmerer about banned books:
What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:
I began to list 3 Good Things every day during the pandemic. Now I've established a regular routine of writing down my 3 Good Things. Here are 3 Good Things from last week:
Good Thing #1:
I went with my friend
early in the week
to a fun tea party at her church
and reconnected with lots of my old friends.
Good Thing #2:
This week I learned that
I won this monocular telescope
in the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Bioblitz
last weekend.
Good Thing #3:
I finished my Happiness Habits class
sponsored by the nonprofit, Action for Happiness.
I am officially happy.
Congratulations on Happiness!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the Sunday Salon.
best… mae
I remember a quote from Stephen King stating that he liked whenever his books were banned because sales went up. Ha!
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia — Your post is interesting but it won’t accept any comments as far as I can tell.
DeleteDeb, you did have a busy, busy week. And I think that's a good thing. Glad you are officially 'happy' and also glad you'll be having fun this next week or two in East Texas. Take care, friend!
ReplyDeleteYou have certainly been busy, as usual! I would love to go birding on the gulf coast in Texas. On my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteWhat a week you had! That is a cool little monocular and I almost bought one a while back. I have these ancient binoculars but i only use one eye to look so, my husband suggested I get a monocular. That said, my binos came from a thrift shop for only $5 and they have imprints from 1942. They were some sailors back in the 40's and I guess no one wanted them. Love em.
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your trip.
Love the story of your binoculars!
DeleteCongrats on the monocular win! I've been considering one of those, so will be interested to hear how you like it. Thanks for reminding me about banned books week.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations 🎊 to you, Deb. You 😊 have been busy. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. 💕
ReplyDeleteMy, what a week you've had! Say hello to East Texas for me. My husband is from Center and we used to go there frequently to visit his parents. I have fond memories...
ReplyDeleteMy dad has a tree farm in Henderson which is not far from Center at all.
DeleteYou’ve had quite the busy week! Have a wonderful weekend Deb. ☺️
ReplyDeleteYay for being officially happy, LOL! Sounds like a great week! Enjoy your time in East Texas.
ReplyDeleteYou live life to the fullest! I was thinking of you and your 3 Good Things yesterday when I made a second trip (20 minutes each way from home) to the grocery store to collect my wallet from the lost and found. I think it fell out of my jacket pocket as I was heaving a huge bag of bird seed into the back of my car. When I discovered that it was not in my purse when I got home, I called the store and the clerk told me someone had just turned it in after spotting it in the parking lot. Nothing was missing! My belief that there are good people in this world was reinforced!
ReplyDeleteHave a good time in East Texas, Deb!
Yay! That's one for the good guys.
DeleteWhat a great win, congrats. Yes, let's stop banning books. It's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteSeraphina is on my radar but I haven't read it yet. Yay for a happy week! The Happiness Habits class sounds so interesting. I'll have to look into if we have something similar here. I hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI would say if you can't be happy after a week like that, then I'm not sure what hope there would be for you! But yes! You are official and that's terrific1 Happy week -- and those to come!
ReplyDeleteYay for happiness and books, tea and travel, friends and prizes and everything in-between! I hope you enjoy a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time in East Texas! Have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time on your trip. Congratulations on your win!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun-filled and busy week. You are always on the go and doing good things (and a good mix of things). Enjoy East Texas!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a busy lady and are always doing fun things. Have a wonderful week!!!
ReplyDeleteI read an article about Banned Books Week. Another busy week for you. I love your energy and positivity!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the telescope win! You are always doing so much fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Kimmerer video -- that was lovely!
ReplyDeleteAhh I love citizen science stuff! Cool that you won something, too!
ReplyDeleteYou have been doing some great things!! And congrats on winning that telescope!
ReplyDeleteSeems like you are having the loveliest time!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great reading selection. Love your Good Things section!
ReplyDeleteYou are keeping very busy! And hooray for standing up against book bans ... It is so bad now. Robin's words are very good. thx for the video.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve had a busy week :) Congratulations on being certified happy!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful reading week
Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see your reading list! The inclusion of "The 1619 Project: Born on the Water" for Banned Book Week is spot on. I hope you enjoy "Seraphina"; Rachel Hartman is a fantastic writer. Safe travels up to East Texas.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed Cressida Cowell's Dragon books. Sounds like you are having fun. Have a great week.
ReplyDeletesherry
And are you unofficially happy, as well? Seriously, it sounds like a great course, and I hope you found it helpful. You certainly did some happy or joyous things this week! The tea party, book club breakfast, lunch with a friend, and field day all sound delightful. And my hat is off to you for participating in the pollinator blitz.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being officially happy. :) I hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a busy week. Enjoy your books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an amazing week, Deb. Congratulations on your win. Enjoy your time away!
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/10/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-and_13.html
I really want to read How to Train Your Dragon one of these days. I'm wondering how different the movies are - I suspect, very.
ReplyDeleteYou know how to make the most of retirement, that's for sure! I wonder how the Happiness Habits compares to The Happiness Project that Gretchen Rubin did (does?). I looked at the map and there were no groups in Massachusetts. Not surprising, because over all, we seem like a grouchy, pessimistic bunch up here!
ReplyDeleteAw, Massachusetts sounds like it could use some Happiness Habits groups. lol
DeleteAfter such a week, I am happy for you!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that you had a week where there was something fun or interesting every single day. Being officially Happy is bringing all the happy things your way! That monocular telescope thingy that you won is very cool as well.
ReplyDeletelol @ "I am officially happy" - don't know why that tickled me - but happiness is contagious. Plus what a busy - no not busy - active - week filled with so many good things.
ReplyDelete