For 2018 I chose the word LIGHTEN in an attempt to lighten my life in many ways: my stress, my stuff, my body. I tried to throw off the things holding me down and even though the second half of the year was a bend in the road I hadn’t anticipated, I feel like the word was a success. During the home remodel we definitely lightened a ton of stuff that was tossed or donated. There is still some work to do there, but we are committed to getting rid of stuff and not accumulating more. I only lost a few more pounds during the year, but didn’t gain any, so I am feeling stable and almost pain-free. Unfortunately, I didn’t lighten my stress but because I began the year with many projects going early, I was able to mostly weather the end of year deadlines, so I call that a win. [Read more…] about One Little Word 2019
Scott and Sue Family
2019 Reading Challenge sign-ups
I’m late with sign-ups, so I’m going to bundle them all up together. I’m sticking with my lighter load of challenges as I anticipate this year to have less time to read, just like last year. I barely made my challenges in 2018 and I want them to be fun and not stressful. So I’m doing low levels and not very many overall. My challenges at Riedel Fascination continue until February, so I’ll be finishing up then signing up for the next round with Carolyn.
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2019
My favorite challenge and with this being the eighth year and me hiking every year, I’ve definitely made a dent in my stacks. Because of some changes to my life last year, I barely made my usual goal of 48 books and the top of Mt. Ararat. I literally squeaked in during the last week, so to cut down on my stress level this year, I’m going to hike slower and set my sights on 36 books and the top of Mt. Vancouver.
2019 Color Coded Reading Challenge
This will be my seventh year for this challenge and I continue to enjoy it as hosted by Bev at My Reader’s Block so it made the list for this year.
Rules: Read nine books in the following categories during 2019.
1. A book with “Blue” or any shade of Blue in the title/on the cover.
2. A book with “Red” or any shade of Red in the title/on the cover.
3. A book with “Yellow” or any shade of Yellow in the title/on the cover.
4. A book with “Green” or any shade of Green in the title/on the cover.
5. A book with “Brown” or any shade of Brown in the title/on the cover.
6. A book with “Black” or any shade of Black in the title/on the cover.
7. A book with “White” or any shade of White in the title/on the cover.
8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover.
9. A book with a word that implies color.
2. A book with “Red” or any shade of Red in the title/on the cover.
3. A book with “Yellow” or any shade of Yellow in the title/on the cover.
4. A book with “Green” or any shade of Green in the title/on the cover.
5. A book with “Brown” or any shade of Brown in the title/on the cover.
6. A book with “Black” or any shade of Black in the title/on the cover.
7. A book with “White” or any shade of White in the title/on the cover.
8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover.
9. A book with a word that implies color.
What’s In a Name 2019
I began this challenge in 2009 when it was hosted by someone else, but for several years it’s been ably hosted by Charlie @ The Worm Hole. This year she has passed it off to Andrea at Carolina Book Nook. And I’m in again!
The rules are simple-Read one book from each category during the year.
Here are the categories:
A precious stone/metal
A temperature
A month or day of the week
A meal
Contains the word “girl” or “woman”
Contains both the words “of” AND “and”
2019 Newbery Challenge
I’ve done this challenge before but took a year off to “lighten”. I realized that I ignored my pile of Newbery books last year, so I’d better sign up this year and give them some love. Here are the rules: Each book you read is worth points.
- 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
- 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
- 1 point for a Caldecott Book (Both Medal winners and Honor books are worth a point.)
I’ll be joining at the lowest level: L’Engle: 15 – 29 points
2018 Mount TBR Reading Challenge wrap-up
I pared down my reading challenges this year to stay true to my 2018 One Little Word of LIGHTEN. To help with my word and lighten up my bookshelves, I repeated one of my favorite challenges hosted by Bev at My Reader’s Block.
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018
I’ve done this challenge every year of its existence so this was year #7. Because of some changes to my life this year, my reading was highly curtailed and I barely made my goal of 48 books and the top of Mt. Ararat. I literally squeaked in during the last week, but I made it! Here’s my list for the year: [Read more…] about 2018 Mount TBR Reading Challenge wrap-up
2018 Reading Stats
Another reading year has come to an end and here’s the tally for the year. Lots of things in my life conspired to really slow down my reading and I read 40 fewer books than the year before. I missed time spent with books, but I still read and moved a bunch off my shelves through reading or donating.
Books read: 122
Pages read: 41,700
Of the books read:
Non-fiction: 10
New-to-me authors: 25
Continuing series books: 56
Re-reads: 23
Audio-books: 52
Various book club reads: 9
Challenges completed: 9 of 9
Ongoing tally of Newbery winners: 77 of 97
5 star ratings by me: 10 [Read more…] about 2018 Reading Stats
What’s In a Name 2018 wrap-up
What’s In a Name 2018
The eleventh annual What’s In A Name challenge is once again hosted by The Worm Hole. I began the fun in 2009 so I played again, although in keeping with my One Little Word for this year, LIGHTEN, I pared down my reading challenges. This fun challenge made the cut & helped me cut down my TBR stacks.
The rules are simple-Read one book from each category during the year. [Read more…] about What’s In a Name 2018 wrap-up