On My Nightstand April 25, 2026

It’s still spring but the skies are starting to look like summer

The weather has been wild, but I have gotten some good porch reading sessions in. It’s been helping in my quest to actually read books and not scroll social media.

Quote of the week

“All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope”

— The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

books + ice cream = summer

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Still going on The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. It’s so good, just long! I really picked some chunksters this year.

Audiobook - I am cracking up at Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon. This series is great for audio walking.

Paper Book - I’m about to start Bamboo and Blood by James Church. It’s from a mystery series set in North Korea.

what is up with this cat

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand April 18, 2026

i love to read under this apple tree when it is in bloom

I was looking at my March stats and it was really heavy on audiobooks. So my goal in April is to read more while sitting on my butt - either in print or on kindle!

Quote of the week

“I had never imagined I would have to explain the significance of chocolate bunnies that laid caramel eggs in nests of shredded green plastic each Easter...”

— A Tender Struggle by Krista Bremer

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I finally started The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. I’m looking forward to long spring evenings on my porch with this one.

Audiobook - I’ve got another long one- Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I started it on paper, but it was taking me too long to get through so I switched to audio so I could multi task.

Paper Book - I’m trying to finish Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Krueger before the library repossess my car or something. Paper books have just been so slow going for me lately.

lunch and a book on a warm day

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

Walking Wednesday April 15, 2026

We’ve been everywhere lately. We’ve done six college tours, countless field hockey and lacrosse games and tournaments, plus family walks in the last two weeks. I have the step count to prove it.

I’m looking forward to getting back to my strolls through my neighborhood with my audiobooks. Right now I’m listening to Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park. It’s a good counterpoint to the Little House on the Prairie books.

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On My Nightstand March 28, 2026

cherry blossom time!

Another busy week here. Looking at the calendar it will stay that way until graduation. I hope my brain can stay calm enough to read.

It’s almost midnight as I write this, and I just got back from dropping a car full of teens off. I’m still a little wired from being out so late so I think I will catch up on my chapter a day classic reads before I go to bed. Maybe a late night snack too?

Quote of the week

“Life is choice. All day, everyday. Who we talk to, where we sit, what we say, how we say it. And our lives become defined by our choices. It’s as simple and as complex as that. And as powerful. so when I’m observing that’s what I’m watching for. The choices people make.”

— Still Life by Louise Penny

catching up on some reading and journaling

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I’m about to start Unshakable by Fr. Mike Schmitz as this year’s Easter Read.

Audiobook - I’ve got another long one- Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I started it on paper, but it was taking me too long to get through so I switched to audio so I could multi task.

Paper Book - I’m trying to finish Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Krueger before the library repossess my car or something. Paper books have just been so slow going for me lately.

lunch and a book on a warm day

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand March 21, 2026

flowers just before the rain (Asheville, nc)

Spring is official now! I still haven’t put my winter clothes away though. We’ve been touring colleges and getting ready for a French student to come stay with us. There’s so much going on! My audiobook consumption is still outpacing my physical book consumption by a lot.

Quote of the week

“All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope”

— The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

PJs and book all laid out on a busy day

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I have the ARC of The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung.

Audiobook - I’m in the middle of the very long Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.

Paper Book - I’m still reading Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I picked so many long books this month!

morning skies

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

Walking Wednesday April 12, 2025

It’s been cool here and it seems to be having a good effect on the longevity of these blooms. I can’t stop walking under these trees and taking pictures. I’m not looking forward to the heat and humidity this summer, so every day I get to avoid taking out my summer clothes is a good day in my mind.

Right now I’m listening to The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie. I joined a challenge to read one Christie book a month in order. They’re usually pretty good for walking and listening.

Note: Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Walking Wednesday April 2, 2025

It’s cherry blossom time! It makes finding the motivation to walk easy. The blooms were late this year due to a cold winter, but that makes the spectacle all the better.

I’ve been listening to Ten Birds That Changed The World by Stephen Moss. It’s timely given the chirping going on around me when I walk.

Note: Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Walking Wednesday March 19, 2025

March 19th already! How did that happen? I love this time of year when the sun comes out and billions of flowers just appear where there was just brown dirt the day before. I’m enjoying it before summer comes and it feels like walking through soup!

This week’s audiobook is Ten Birds That Changed The World by Stephen Moss. This is the book that finally got me to upgrade to Everand Premium so I hope it’s worth it!

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Walking Wednesday March 12, 2025

From ice to flowers. Welcome to March! Time is flying like usual but it’s lighter out at night when I go for my walks. Hooray!

I’m about to start Fire Weather by John Vaillant. A tough topic, but it’s important to know about. This is one of the 52 non-fiction books I want to read this year. I think it’s #4 from my list so I better get going!

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday March 5, 2025

Spring is on the way now! It’s been such a joy getting out on these beautiful days. Most walks are still in the dark, but I’ve been sneaking out here and there to see the flowers starting to pop up.

I’m still loving The History of Sound. It’s so good!

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Walking Wednesday July 3, 2024

The weather has been all over the place, but the long days make it easy to get out and walk. It’s amazing that anything can survive this stinking heat and humidity but I’ve seen all sorts of flowers and insects plus a fox this week.

I’m listening to Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. This is a re-read for me and I’m enjoying it.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday April 24, 2024

I’ve been sick (again) this week, so not much walking, but I did get out a lot last weekend for various Earth Day events. Pretty pictures here only, but I do have a good one on my phone of my daughter and I pulling someone’s rejected dining room chair out of a stream.

After Demon Copperhead I’ve been making my way through some shorter books. Right now it’s Eight Bears by Gloria Dickie.

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Walking Wednesday April 17, 2024

I’ve been tiptoeing through the tulips this week on my walks. I’m trying to soak it all up. Any day now the weather will start trying to kill me again.

I’ve been making my way through Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s great on audio, but dang is anything going to happen in this book?

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Walking Wednesday April 10, 2024

We’re still in our honeymoon period here weather wise. It’s not too hot and flowers are everywhere. Summer’s coming though. Last night when I was walking I swallowed a bug.

After starting a stopping a number of audio books I finally settled on Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling.

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Walking Wednesday March 20, 2024

It’s peak cherry blossom week! It’s really cold and windy too though so I’m kind of being a wimp about walking. I’m still walking, but it’s under duress.

I’ve been listening to Give and Take by Adam Grant. It’s a re-read for me, but some situations have made me want to return to it.

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Walking Wednesday March 13, 2024

So a week and a half ago when I said I felt like I was coming down with something and I hoped it was just allergies…it wasn’t allergies. I am so sick of being sick! I’m better now though and I’m recommitted to my walks. Pollen aside this is just a wonderful time to walk in this area. Each day there’s something new blooming.

I’ve been listening to Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. It’s a bit dated but still interesting.

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Walking Wednesday August 16, 2023

It’s still as hot an humid as ever here, but there have been signs of fall on my walks. Bring on the sweater weather. I’m over this summer that seems to want to kill us all.

When walking I’ve been listening to A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones. I love starting a new series!

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Walking Wednesday July 12 2023

Holidays lead to out of the ordinary walking routes! I’ve been having a great time reminding myself of local attractions including the National Mall and early morning baseball games.

For audiobooks I’ve been alternating between The Outsider by Stephen King and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.

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Walking Wednesday June 20, 2023

I feel like I’m finally getting back in the swing of things after a few weird weeks. Of course it’s supposed to rain all week, but we need it, and there’s always the gym.

I found a new to me path this week which was beautiful until I saw three snakes. I’ll put that place on my winter only list. Lilies are in full bloom everywhere. Mine didn’t bloom last year, but this year they’re amazing.

I’ve been listening to Around The World in 50 Years. Parts are interesting, but the narrator has a new wife or girlfriend in every country and I find that suspect.

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Walking Wednesday June 6, 2023

These weeks have been going by so fast that I’ve been forgetting to post even though I have been meeting my step goals.

I’ve been listening to Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. I still have 13 hours left to go, which is a good thing. I could listen to this book forever.

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