Hello all! @Robin M looking forward to browsing through all the links! @Negin Beautiful photos! I would love to have a plant-filled patio like that. And hooray to have a diagnosis - now you can concentrate on healing! The only Wendell Berry I've read was Peace Like a River and it was sooo good. Maybe try that one? Last week I finished: Don't Look Now a short story by Daphne du Maurier - it was ok. Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King on audio. The narration was terrific although the story didn't appeal to me. Guts by Raina Telgemeier. Middle grade graphic novel - somewhat autobiographical of the author's struggles when she was 9-11. My teens and I have enjoyed her other books and this one is no exception. Poor girl, she really struggled as a child. Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan. Updated edition of an earlier story. I liked how this went down a different trail (or a hall, haha) than what I expected. I've handed it over to my 13yo to see what she thinks. Right now I'm in the middle of The Hunger by Alma Katsu. It's a version of the Donner Party story but along with the bad decisions and starvation, something is stalking and killing off members of their group.

I have to finish two knitted Christmas stockings for my son and dil. I'm currently halfway through the triangle one Triangle and Reindeer Stockings. I also plan on knitting a Gramps Gramps Cardigan for my 14yo nephew. He asked me to knit one for him! I'm super excited about that. 🙂 I'm going to knit it in a solid color - no contrasting collar and button band. I love seeing everyone's crafts on these threads! @mlktwins your needlepoint is lovely!

81% and by the end they ALL started looking familiar.

Hi everyone! Love the poem, Robin - Halloween snuck up on me this year. I still need to buy some candy for the trick-or-treaters. Beautiful pics, Negin! I really enjoy seeing them each week. I am almost done with my scary book for the month - Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. I didn't realize this was a continuation of The Shining until a couple months ago - ha! King sure can keep me turning the pages. I have about 100 left to go. Also reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and am pleasantly surprised at how well she writes. Reading on my kindle so I'm not sure how far I am; she has just met Barack so I guess I'm still near the beginning.

I love your whole post but thank you for saying this specifically (the bolded) - it really is important to remember because I think we are conditioned to think the main problem is not trying hard enough. 🤨

Congratulations! You are amazing!! Losing weight is such a mental battle for me and it has only gotten more difficult as I have gotten older so I very much admire your determination. You must feel so great!!

He's beautiful!! Glad you are both ok - congratulations!

@Negin Beautiful!! and short stories aren't usually my thing, either. I actually finished a book this week! Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottleib. It was ok. I found it to drag on and on when she was talking about her clients but picked up when she spoke of her own life, mostly. I stayed up late last night reading The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. A newly widowed bride goes to live at her dead husband's family estate and bad things happen. I'm intrigued so far and am not sure how the author is going to resolve things. Kinda spooky but no outright scares. Looking forward to going through the links!

Yay! It's my favorite Austen. 🙂

Hello everyone! Looking forward to going through all the links as I haven't found a spooky read yet for this month. @Junie try Persuasion next - I think it is the most enjoyable of Jane Austen's books!

I have the Speed Queen AWN4 + model. I bought it back in 2016 and haven't had any problems with it, it gets our laundry clean, and it's quick! This is the one I have Speed Queen washer.

Isn't it fun to shop for baby stuff? Ivie Baby crinkle toys have been a big hit with the babies I know. 🙂 It's something a little different and not expensive and baby LOVES it!

Hello everyone! Not much reading being done here - usually just a few pages every night before bed. I did just come across this excerpt from an Agatha Christie book that was recently released The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural by Agatha Christie and am intrigued. Has anyone read this particular story from AC before? excerpt from "In a Glass Darkly" by Agatha Christie

Thanks everyone! She is keeping me busy that's for sure! @Robin M So glad to hear everything has gone smoothly with your move!

@Negin I always love hearing about your travels - you are never boring! @Ali in OR Two of my teens and I read One of Us is Lying a year or so ago and we all liked it. I loved Prairie Fires (the Laura Ingalls Wilder book, right?)! I have been super busy lately and can only manage a chapter in bed before I fall asleep each night. Right now I am reading Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb. She's an advice columnist, an author, and a therapist who takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world. Really enjoying this even though I can only stay awake long enough for a little each night. One of the reasons I'm so busy nowadays is because I got a puppy! She's an English Cocker Spaniel and we named her Daphne. The pic is from a couple weeks ago but she is now almost 12 weeks old and weighs about 6 pounds. She's smart and also so so tiny! Our Jack Russell likes her and they've been getting along well. 🙂

Is it type 2 diabetes? or type 1? My dd has type 1 and she has regular treats - she doesn't like the sugar-free ones and we just give her the correct amount of insulin to cover the carbs. I would just make sure whatever you send has a carb count on the packaging. 🙂

I'm with you! The heat is just terrible this year (well, every year) and I wish I could force my family to move somewhere cold!!

I'm so glad it is finally over! but disappointed that you didn't get all you deserve! At least you are free of him and can hopefully forget he exists (have you heard that new Taylor Swift song?) Best wishes Home'scool!

Wearable Outfit Ideas and Women's Fashion for Real Life - JoLynne Shane Grace & Beauty fashion and beauty blog for women over 40 - Cyndi Spivey I like both of these ladies - they have relaxed, everyday clothing and also dressy stuff for special occasions, too. I think JoLynne is around 47? and Cyndi is over 50. Angie at Hot&Flashy mostly does makeup and skincare for over 50s but sometimes does fashion, too.

addi rockets are my absolute favorites. Smooth joins, flexible cable, and a super pointy tip! Signature Needles - these are pricey but the Stilettos have an fabulously sharp and pointy tip and the cable is super nice and floppy BUT the join tends to catch a bit, ime, so between that and the price ($42) these take a backseat to the addi rockets. Also, the ones I have (a size 4 and a size 6 - got them for my birthday one year) are a fixed circular but I am not seeing them on their site - maybe they changed to only interchangeable needles? I also like Knitter's Pride Zing fixed circulars - the cord isn't as flexible as the others above but I like using these for knitting a basic sweater or maybe a blanket. The colors are really pretty and they are inexpensive. HiyaHiya sharps are nice and pointy and cheap but again, the cord isn't my fav. I have several Chiagoos and like them but the cord isn't as flexible as I prefer and I just don't reach for them for some reason. I've tried A LOT of needles over the years and I think we all develop our own preferences. What one knitter loves in a needle might end up being a deal-breaker for another knitter, kwim? Hope you find something you really like, mum! And I just found this neat site - maybe you will find it helpful? The Knitting Needle Guide

Oh that IS a beautiful tree! I've always bought a real tree for Christmas but the expense of it year after year has been bothering me. My daughters have resisted the idea of a fake one but they aren't the ones paying for it! The one you linked might just tip the scales in my favor!

Ok, I know these are pricey and even though I bought them on sale for $53, I would pay full price - they are THAT flattering on me. Curvy Sculpting High Rise Skinny Jeans I bought a size 10 - I'm 5'2" and 153 - and these fit so comfortably! The length is good, not ankle length like the model but not bunched up on me either. The high rise holds in my tummy without squeezing me to death and it feels great. They come in different washes, too.

I have a lot of books on hold at the library and several that I need to finish. Looking forward to going through the links - legal and medical thrillers are usually a win for me. @RobinM I hope you feel better soon!

Happy Birthday Amy! Hope you have a lovely day 🎂🎉🎁

@Kareni - love the links! The haunted house one and the historical whodunits are calling to me. So many good books to look forward to!