2015 Reading Round UP

These are the books are read in 2015. It is quite the mixed bag. I read 36 books this past year.

Angel Falls by K Hannah The Woman Who Heard Color by K Jones Rival to the Queen by C Erickson Department of Speculation Big Girl by D Steele Just Mercy by B Stevenson The Last Summer by J Kinghorn Saint Anything by S Dessen The Pearl That Broke It's Shell by N Hashimi A Tale for the Time Being by R Ozeki The Royal We One Plus One by J Moyes Me Before You by J Moyes Outlander by D Gabaldon The Queen's Governess by K Harper The Glitter and Gold: The American Duchess by C Balsan Songs Willow Frost by J Ford The Orchard House by T Weaver Amy & Roger's Epic Detour By M Matson A Walk in the Woods by B Bryson The Secret Place by T French Still Alice by L Genova North of Beautiful by J Headley The Queen of the Tearling by E Johansen Miles from Nowhere by B Savage Girl at the End of the World E Esther Breaking Dawn by S Meyer Eclipse by S Meyer New Moon by S Meyer Twilight by S Meyer City of Woman by D Gillman Postcards from Cookie by C Clarke The Rent Collector C Wright The Maze Runner by J Dashner Tracks by R Davidson Boys in the Boat by D Brown Below are some of my gottta reads from 2015

Below Are the Books I most recommend from my 2015 Read List

The Orchard House.  This book is a memoir. This is the one I most recommend.  This is a perfect Pacific Northwest Book.

Boys in the Boat - This was our county's reading book of the year.  I thought it was really good choice.

Postcards from Cookie

Amy and Rogers Epic Detour This book was recommended on The Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer reading list.  I think it a great road trip book.

Miles from Nowhere - I loved this great adventure book.  This was an amazing adventure.

Reading Challenge, Boys on the Boat, Seattle Seahawks

I am taking Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge.  Details are here and in the graphic above.  I am also linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone is reading.

I read the Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olymipics by Daniel James Brown. This book is also part of our county's reading program - Whatcom Reads. In addition, this also falls into the category of a "Book I Kept Meaning to Read".  I kept putting this off even though the book has gotten rave reviews.  I didn't know if I would like a book about Washington State Crew Racing and their 1936 Olympic Bid. 

I loved the book.  It is about the Washington State University Crew that went to the Olympics in Berlin.  Several things resonated with me.  First the book is written from the perspective of Joe Rantz.  Joe had a incredibly hard up bringing and was a self made man.  His family was dysfunctional and there was a lot of turbulence in his younger years.  Everything he earned came through hard work.  Joe's work ethic reminded so much of my grandparent's and Pappy's drive to succeed.

Secondly, I have watched crew competitions in the past but now I want to watch again simply because  the writing in the book draws you in. I want to know more about crew. 

Lastly, this book talks a lot about teamwork, fluidity, and being in the zone without using any of those words.  In order to be a crew and crew member each person needs to care more about the person sitting in front of them and behind them.  This similar sediment was espoused by Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Quarter Back and Pete Carroll, Seahawks Coach. I actually finished book during the Seattle Seahawk playoff game with the Panthers. GO HAWKS!

What is saving me- BIG and small

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy- What is Saving You?  We are at winter's half way point.

What literally saved me this past month was having my Gall Bladder out on Jan 1.   Yes, I know how to ring in the new year.  It was a wake up for me to change up my diet.  Who knew that 3 ounces could cause so much pain and anguish.  I can't believe how much better having my gall bladder out.  It made me realize that I had been in distress for a long time. I haven't walked up to anyone yet and said, "Wanna see my scars." I have been eating a lot of oatmeal in the mornings. 

The small thing that has been cracking my Husband and I up and making our day lighter is simply an observation. This has been literally the year of the random odd sock. 

Don't have any pictures of our random
sock finds so I decided just to share a
bright sock picture

What I mean, as we were in the ER parking lot we spotted a sock on the ground on our path on the first day of the year. You know the day, I had my worst gall bladder attack EVER.  My husband at once began to notice a pattern of the random odd sock and it seems like hardly a day goes by without a sighting - freeway, airport parking lot, casino.   My hubby and I have been noticing them.  It is our inside joke.  There are a lot of bigger things we could be paying attention too but this is cracking us up.

Rooting for the Seahawks has been a lot of fun.  It is amazing how much 12th man spirit is out there. Seahawk fans are the BEST! The whole family has gotten into it.  A lady just gave my hubby a knitted Seahawks hat.

 I am not sporty but I do enjoy watching the Seahawks play.

Marking something off my travel bucket list - Geocaching the ET Highway.  It is something that both my husband and I have wanted to do for a while and we made it happen. We ended up in 4 days getting around 307 geocaches.  (Travel Details)

Lastly, the winter's here are dark.  They haven't been as cold this year.  Thank you El Nino! Books are my light in the dark.  I finished Boys in the Boat but I have been working on Tracks, Maze Runner, and The Rent Collector.

What I learned in March

WHAT I LEARNED IN MARCH

1. KITE FLYING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

We are having exceptional mild weather here in the Pacific Northwest. I can tell you people in the Pacific Northwest really love them some sun. We drop everything and soak up the vitamin D. We take go fly a kite, LITERALLY.  We got in quite a bit of kite flying time.  The kite below is my husbands.

2. BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY

Even teddy bears need to ride safe. Buckle up for safety.

3. A NEW READ FOR 2016

I also learned the next Whatcom Reads Book 2016 will be A Tale for the Time Being.  This year's selection is Boys in the Boat.  (My Review)

4. PROJECT COMPLETE

Finishing a Project feels SO GOOD!  I finally completed my table/bench/entry way remake. YAHOO

5. ADVANCED SHOWINGS ARE COOL

Chuck and I went with some friends to an advanced showing of HOME.  I have never been to an advanced showing. I can cross that off the bucket list. Loved it and of course, I can't stop saying, "Oh no! Hands up in the air, like I do not care."  It is cute.  I love the quest to look for "My Mom. " Even better is we got to see the movie free.

6. PINK BLUEBERRIES - YES, PINK BLUEBERRIES

Who Knew that you can Purchase Pink Blueberries.  Yes, Pink! I can't wait to have pink lemonade blueberries. I found these at my local grocery store - Haggens.

 

 

****I am linking up to Chatting with the Sky - What I learned in March. Check out what everyone else learned this month.

What is on My Reading List for 2014?

Well, I have been scouring the best reads lists to complete a reading list for myself for 2014. These are books that look promising to me.  Depending on library availability and the lure of the hot reads table, will determine what I read.  My time is precious so if a book isn't speaking to me after a couple chapters I don't feel any guilt over abandoning the book.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell ( Young Adult Book)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Going to be in Theaters this Year) NON FICTION
Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Fault in our Stars  by John Green (Going to be in Theaters this Year)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Already in Theaters)
Code Name Verity  by Elizabeth Wein (Young Adult Book)
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
What Alice Forgot by Laine Moriarty
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes
The Boys in the Boat By Daniel James Brown
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls By Anton Disclafani

The Boys Work

The boys brought home some interesting school work.  Thought I would share.  I am like that.
In Charlie's stack was a paragraph on his name and how he felt about it.

Charlie and Niki at Nonna's House

I was named after my pappy. His name is speacal because he was a very lucky WWII vetetan he helped build the Alaskan high way. I like my name I just don't like being called Charlie Brown that's a unhelpful part of being named Charlie. My Pappy was lucky because in WWII he missed a boat that I think 3 or 4 cats (Cats are a bull dozer in WWII) The boat sunk because of the weight of the cats.

Of course, once my youngest started showing me his work, my oldest went and grabbed his. This gem was in there - Character Traits Writing  Exercise.

#1 Son in Nonna's Backyard

4 words to describe something good about you
Happy
Hardworking
Artistic
Intelligent

Because I work hard, I try not to give up. This means I have determination. I try to balance work and play. I like to get my project done quickly, while doing it to a quality of "good".

The underlined part cracked me up because that is him exactly. He was told he couldn't do his homework at school so now he does it on the bus. He cracks me up.

Thanksgiving Linky Love

Surprise!  I thought I would give the people something to click on.  Maybe you are up making the fixings, maybe you aren't celebrating today, or maybe you just love linky love.

Flaco the Owl visits a couple - You totally come here for celebrity owl updates

Snoopdogg narrates animal planet (instagram)

Inappropriate Thoughts

Real talk here, Thanksgiving is better with a book and if I had my druthers it would happen in mountain cabin with a full library of books. You know the type of library that has a ladder. There were be unlimited hot drinks and snacks. 

Our Favorite Adventure Books for Every State - I have read Boys in the Boat for Washington State.  There are some really interesting books on this list. I think I am going to have to revisit. I haven't read the book for New Mexico but I will be especially since it is a banned book.

Here is a post about my favorite Armchair Adventure Reads. I need to update again.

TBR (to be Read) Adventure Book - Trail of The Lost - Kinda true crime too.

Little Known Fact About Me

My mother banned me from reading books during cleaning time. Rude!  Evidently, I was spending more time reading than cleaning. I was unmanageable as a child. I think my mom would be startled to know now I follow cleaning Instagrams too.  

Gocleanco

Weekly Roll

 

Cake, I made for Nonna's Birthday

Yummy and Easy

Recipe from Senior Center Newsletter

Linky Love

Librarians 45 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time- Some that I have read - Everything is Tuberculosis and Boys in the Boat

Cece Moore and Genetic Genealogy and Nancy Guthrie Case (youtube.com)

Roots Tech 2026 - online and in person genealogy conference is coming up 

Project Life Tuesday - Week 13

I am linking up with The Mom Creative Project Life Tuesday.  What a week we had.  This was our week leading up to our Spring Break. We had some abnormally warm weather so that resulted into an impromptu marshmallow roast or charring on Friday. We also celebrate pre Easter with Nonna and Pappy in Everett. We watch them move a boat in the Marina.  I have never seen that before.  It was interesting.

The got coordinates has to do with a geocache we are placing.  It will be our first geocache that we have ever placed. The quote is something I overheard being said while my boys were playing mine craft.  It just cracked me up.