Working on my reading challenge and welcoming 2016

Well 2015 is coming to a close. I challenged myself (keeping track on the Goodreads site) to read 75 books this year. I am working on the 71 or 72 book- Furiously Happy. Funny, snappy, sad, clever.

Look at this crazy raccoon. Makes me smile. I don't think I will make my challenge. But oh so close. So next year, I will try again. I also had a challenge from PopSugar. And I managed to complete about half of that but I wasn't very good about keeping track of which books I used to complete the challenge. I think I will tackle the 2016 PopSugar challenge but will compile a group of books I want to read for the challenge. Maybe that way I can keep a better record. We finally had snow and wintry mix Monday night into Tuesday and then it just rained. It has gotten colder. A bit more typical weather for our area this time of year. My husband and I don't have any real plans for New Year's Eve. It is not my favorite holiday. I am pretty happy staying home, having a nice meal, watching a movie and then waiting for my kids to get home. We might go to an early movie just to do something. Wishing everyone a happy New Year. Here's to good health and lots of good books!

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas to everyone. Unseasonably warm in Connecticut for this time of year. Mid 60s the past week and obviously no snow. The tree was finally finished Christmas Eve day.

. We managed to take a photo of the three dogs sitting in front of the tree. Nellie, James and Maddie- all rescue lab mixes but who knows what they really are? Can't believe they sat long enough to get a picture.

. We never made it to Christmas Eve services at church- we were all too tired. After a peaceful morning we took a walk to the tower at the state park- Sleeping Giant. The weather is absolutely beautiful. The dogs loved the walk and it was great being outside.

. It is so wonderful to spend time with my children- love having the family around. This afternoon we will go to my brother's for dinner and spend more family time and maybe tonight we will watch A Christmas Story. On a reading note. I challenged myself (Goodreads reading challenge) to read 75 books this year. Last count- 70!! I lost a couple of weeks when in France but I have read some good books and am so close to achieving my goal. Have started Under the Udala Tree which so far is interesting but as I read at night my pace is a bit slow and I keep falling asleep! Enjoy this warm weather (we are all waiting for the cold)and the weekend.

Almost Christmas

So this is our Christmas tree. Six days until Christmas and it is still not decorated. It has been inside for a few weeks but somehow we just haven't gotten around to putting on the lights and the ornaments. Which actually might not have been a bad thing as the watering contraption (the liter bottle sitting in the green base with tubing) came out of the stand and basically flooded the mat and then the water (4 liters) dripped into the cellar. To clean this we had to get the wet/dry vac and vacuum the water out of the stand, move the tree, dry the floor and then let it dry for a few days. It was good there were no ornaments or lights on it. And the weather had been unseasonably warm for Connecticut and New England. So it is hard to believe that Christmas is six days away! Last Monday book club met for our annual Christmas party potluck dinner and Yankee swap. It was a really nice evening. Our host had decorated her house beautifully.

The food was fabulous. The swap gifts were nicely selected. Here is the group. We were missing a couple of people who regretfully missed out.

. I have been trying to read to meet my challenge on Goodreads. My challenge was to read 75 books in the year and I have read 68. Not bad. Some pretty good, some not, some long, some short. I keep adding books on the to-read list. I believe I am over 1000! Daunting.