Sunday Post 107

Hi everyone!

Through Monday, I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On the above blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in those blog hops, and if you're a blogger, you can join too. 

Our high temps were in the 70s one day this past week, but other than that, it has been crazy hot and humid. We've had actual temps around 100, with it feeling even hotter than that. Of course, I'm talking about outside. Thankfully, in 1902 Willis Carrier invented air conditioning and I could not be more thankful. While I haven't been able to take my walks, I've been using my handcycle indoors for cardio.

My area has been able to avoid the worst of the thunderstorms, so that's a positive. We are expecting more of the same in the coming week. Is it fall yet???

I've been working on a new 1000 piece puzzle. The pieces are driving me crazy. The brand is Bits and Pieces. A lot of their "regular" pieces look like edge pieces. This is making it more challenging to complete the border. So while I started working on the border, I eventually started focusing on patterns in the middle. Except on weekends, I've been working on it for at least an hour each day.

I've also been reading, watching television, and blogging, so let's see what's up in those areas.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Dead, White, and Blue (Northwood Mystery 2), written by Annie McEwen and narrated by Patricia Burgos. Like the first installment, Resort to Murder, I loved it! As you can probably tell from the title and cover, it's set around the 4th of July. So I will publish my review this coming week. In the meantime, you can read some excerpts here.

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I also listened to Fourth of July Forgery (Holiday Cozy Mystery 6), written by Tonya Kappes and narrated by Christina Sagnimeni. I've been enjoying this series from the beginning, as each holiday approaches, and this is another strong installment. I'm planning to also publish this review in the coming week leading up to the 4th of July.

IN PROGRESS

I once again haven't made any progress in The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaw to the Meaning of Life, by A. J. Jacobs, but that's okay. I'm hoping to pick it back up soon.

What the Spell? (Spellbooked Magical Cozy Mystery 1), by Elle Wren Burke, is the book I'm reading now. I have less than an hour left to read, but I'm going to wait until the week after 4th of July to post my review. Stay tuned!

UP NEXT

My next audiobook listen will be A Nutcracker Nightmare (Killer Chocolate Mystery 2), by Christina Romeril. I've been wanting to read or listen to this for a long time. I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas in July with it!

My next read will be A Wicked Yarn (Craft Fair Knitters Mystery 1), by Emmie Caldwell. I'm going to pick up a physical copy from the library on Sunday. This is the July pick for The Cozy Mystery Book Club. I don't knit, but I'm really looking forward to reading this! It looks very...cozy.

ON THE SCREEN

• Andor - I finished watching both seasons. This is as good as it gets for Star Wars series. I'm still in awe of how amazing this series is. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes Star Wars. It's so much better than some of the movies.
• Rogue One - I have seen this movie several times, but since it marks the end of Andor's story, I decided to watch it again. It's okay, but it pales in comparison to the Andor series.
• The Santa Clauses - I'm glad to be done with this television series. Curiosity satisfied and it's time to move on. It just wasn't that interesting to me and I found some of the characters to be a little annoying. It was a fun concept, but I don't think it delivered. It could have been so much better.
• The Food that Built America - Since I finished with all the Disney+ content I wanted to watch (and promptly canceled my subscription to it), I'm back to this show. I watched the episode about Thanksgiving Dinner. Next up is peanut butter.
• Villa Amore - This new Hallmark movie stars Eloise Mumford. She's one of my favorite Hallmark actresses. I enjoyed the movie, although I didn't understand how she could make such an impulsive decision without even trying to understand the fine print.
• Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery - I love this Hallmark series, but this latest one is my least favorite. It focused too much on the fun and seemed to have forgotten how to craft a good mystery. I also missed some of the main characters who are usually there. Hopefully they will be back next time and the mystery will be better.
• Mamma Mia! - I'm so excited this movie is finally streaming on Hulu, which I have for free with my cell phone plan! It is one of my favorite summer movies. I've seen it approximately one million times and I enjoy it every single time. I love all of the singing and dancing in it and I love the heartfelt message at the end (although I'm not crazy about some things that happened near the end).
• Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - I love the sequel even more than the first one! This is also now streaming on Hulu. Such a fun and upbeat way to start the summer! My cats enjoyed it too. :)

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 06/21 - Weekly Recap
• Episode Review - 06/24 The Golden Girls - "The Engagement" (Pilot Episode)
• Series Review - 06/26 - The Way Home - Season 3
• Puzzle - 06/28 - Celebrate with Cookies

Have a great week!

Puzzle 109 - Celebrate with Cookies

As we head into Independence Day on Friday, enjoy these red, white, and blue cookies!

This puzzle took me 3:04 with 35 non-rotating pieces. When I have more time, I might try it with rotating pieces. If I do, I'll update my post.

The Way Home - Season 3 (2025)

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I have been watching The Way Home since it premiered on The Hallmark Channel in 2023, and  Season 1 was as perfect a show as it gets. Season 2 wasn't as strong. The pacing was slow and too many characters were introduced without them being fleshed out enough. 

Similar to how season 2 began, season 3 picks up where the previous season ended, then quickly jumps ahead several months. Perhaps they skip the winter months because how could they time travel if the pond (their "vehicle") is frozen? Although, I would absolutely love to see a Christmas special of this show.

Anyhow, I digress.

Whereas season 1 was primarily set in the 1990s and season 2 was primarily set in the 1800s, season 3 finds us largely in the 1970s. We get to see how young Del (Julia Tomasone) and young Colton (Jordan Doww) met as teens and how their love story unfolded. We also get to know teenage Evelyn (Devin Cecchetto) during this time period.

Some time is spent in the 1800s, but not nearly as much as it was in season 2. This is a good thing. I wasn't a fan of some of the plotlines that occurred in that season. It was too dark for my taste. However, the time we spend there in season 3 feels like it has a purpose. Everything that happened in season 2 leads to what transpires in season 3. I guess sometimes in life you have to take the bad with the good. While season 3 does go down some dark paths, it's overall a lighter season than the previous one. Don't get me wrong, though. It's still an emotionally powerful season.

There are several more storylines that evolve in season 3, but I can't say too much about them without giving away spoilers. All of the main characters from the previous seasons are there and we meet a few new ones. The introduction of the new characters in season 3 never felt overwhelming to me. 

While some mysteries from the previous two seasons are solved, other mysteries develop in season 3. If the show is going to continue (it has in fact been picked up for a fourth season), this needs to happen. All of the speculation and theories are what keep us engaged and interested.

I do think that the pacing was again a bit off in this season, though. In one episode close to the end of the season, we are fed a lot of answers. I wish those answers were gradually revealed throughout the season. Some episodes even before that were a bit too jam-packed. I counted four different time periods in one particular episode. While it did all make sense, that's a lot of time jumps for a 40-ish minute episode. It is possible to have too much of a good thing. While I love the storylines in this show, perhaps they are trying to do too much. There are only ten 40-ish minute episodes in a season and we have to wait until January for the next season. By doing less with the time given, I think the show could be even better than it already is.

All that being said, I absolutely loved this season. While the pacing could have been better, everything else hit the mark. Season 1 still tops my list of favorites, but season 3 is a very close second. First, the casting for this season was perfection. Every younger version of the older characters was spot on and believable. They are also extremely talented, not just with acting, but also with singing and playing instruments. There is a lot of music from the 1970s in season 3, most of which are sung by the actors themselves. I loved the music so much that I found myself looking up the songs and listening to them when I wasn't watching the show. Sadly, at least one song was written specifically for the show and, to my knowledge, isn't available anywhere else. I hope a soundtrack for the series is released at some point.

The music adds depth and emotion. There was one especially moving moment where the music was playing in the background during a partially slow motion scene. It was so well edited that it had me in tears. I watched that scene alone multiple times and cried every time.

Speaking of editing, that was a strength throughout this season. The transitions between scenes were masterfully done. For example, when we leave a scene in the 1800s, we might be in the same setting in the next scene, but in present day or in the 1970s. Transitions between scenes such as these were seamlessly crafted. It's these finer details that take the show to a higher level. Great care was obviously taken in how it was filmed and edited.

Another strength continues to be the writing. There are so many powerful lines that made me stop and reflect. For example, Del says to Jacob, "The scars may be proof that you suffered, buy they're also proof that you made it through." Another line in a note to Del was, "It's time to let go of what was lost and take hold of what's to come." While these lines are directly related to events in the series, I bet a lot of people can relate to them in real life. I know I can.

Like the previous two seasons, season 3 ends on a cliffhanger. I am so happy this show will be back for another season. I can't wait to see which era we explore when the show resumes. I will be there with popcorn in hand ready to watch it.

If you haven't seen this show because you typically don't like Hallmark content, I encourage you to give it a try. Start with season 1 and watch them in order to experience the full impact of the characters and their stories. Before starting each season, it's important to have a complete understanding of the previous ones. Watching them in order will make you feel much more connected to the series. Also know that you won't be able to answer all the questions you have. But that's part of the fun of watching a show like this. There is so much to ponder.

All seasons of The Way Home are streaming on Hallmark+. If you have the Hallmark+ Hoopla Bingepass you can access this for free through your local library. The last time I checked, season 1 was also streaming for free on YouTube.

This show is so different than any show Hallmark has every made and it could easily be on one of the major streaming channels. It's the perfect blend of time travel and mystery - two of my favorite things.

The Golden Girls - The Engagement (Pilot Episode)

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There's a new cozy mystery novel in town! Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery, by Rachel Ekstrom Courage, was released earlier this year. It's based on the characters in the beloved sitcom that started in the 1980s, The Golden Girls. This series ran from 1985-1992 and it continues to be a fan favorite through reruns. While I've seen bits and pieces of this show, I had never watched an entire episode. Since I want to eventually read Murder by Cheesecake, I decided it was finally time to dive into the television series. I started with the pilot, which I recorded from The Hallmark Channel where it airs almost daily. 

In the pilot episode, Blanche announces that her boyfriend, someone she's been dating for just a short period of time, has asked her to marry him. Not all of the ladies are on board with this, especially since her decision could affect their living arrangements. If you aren't familiar with this episode or the series, you'll have to watch it to find out how this turned out.

The pilot of any sitcom has the challenge of introducing us to the characters, while moving the plot along. The Engagement episode accomplished this with much success. We learn a lot about Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Rose (Betty White), and Sophia (Estelle Getty). We get to know their personalities and their backgrounds, and we find out how they end up living together. We are also introduced to their butler, Coco (Charles Levin) in a few scenes. He felt out of place to me and I think the right decision was made to eliminate this character after the pilot. The women, all main characters in their 50s, except for Sophia (Dorothy's mother) who was older, were clearly quite capable of carrying the show on their own.

I loved all of the main characters, but I thought Rose could have been tweaked a bit. She's very kind, and in some ways she's very perceptive. That's why when she shows moments of being extremely naive it felt off to me. I'm hoping as the series continues, her character is more fine-tuned.

What surprised me the most about this episode (and I assume it will be the same moving forward) was how much it made me laugh out loud. In particular, the character of Dorothy made me laugh the most. I love when show writers can find that perfect blend of heart of humor. While not all of the jokes have stood the test of time, this show has that blend. They joke with each other, but it's also obvious how much they all care about each other.

I don't exactly need another television show in my life, but I'm so happy to have discovered how much I loved the pilot episode of The Golden Girls. I will definitely be continuing the series. It felt like a warm and cozy hug, much like the feeling I often get from Hallmark movies. Each episode is just over 20 minutes long, so it's a good filler when I don't have a lot of time. It's light-hearted and fun, and full of heart - my favorite kind of entertainment.

Sunday Post 106

Hi everyone!

Through Monday, I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On the above blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in those blog hops, and if you're a blogger, you can join too. 

It's been a couple of weeks. How is everyone doing?

We had some storms with very heavy rain last week (goodbye, drought!!). Friday and Saturday were beautiful with low humidity and comfortable temps. However, it's about to get HOT, HOT, HOT over the next several days!!! I'm planning on staying indoors as much as possible, cranking up the A/C, and pretending it's winter.☃

Last time we met, I mentioned a few events happening at my library. The first was the one for people with disabilities. They had several stations to explore. This monthly event is not a good fit for me, but I enjoyed talking with the librarians who ran it. They told me about a few events coming up, especially in the fall, that may be of interest to me. One is a speed puzzling competition for jigsaw puzzles. I love puzzles, so I'm trying to put a team together for this. We will have two hours to complete a 500 piece puzzle. I tend to work alone and at my own pace, but I still think this event will be fun. Apparently they had it twice earlier this year, so the fact that they're doing it again in September must mean that the first two were successful.

The second event I mentioned two weeks ago was called, "What's on your shelf?"  This is where we simply talk about the books we're reading. I missed this event due to an unexpected pesky little medical issue (I'm all better now), but it's monthly so I'll try again in July.

The third event was a puzzle swap. I donated a puzzle. I have a difficult time parting with my puzzles, as they all mean something to me. But the one I donated was a duplicate that I had, so I was okay giving that one up. In exchange for donating, I picked up another one. I will tell you more about it when I work on it later this year, but what I can say is I'm really happy that I found this one. In the meantime, I started working on a different one.

Apart from the library events, I've spent a lot of time working on a 1000 piece puzzle that I started last year! I finished the border last July and didn't work on it again until this April. Here's the finished puzzle:

I installed an app called Puzzle Tracker. I'm only using the free tier and I love it. Here's some info. and pictures I recorded on this puzzle:

The app allows users to record a lot more than what is shown here, such as time it took to complete, dates started and completed, the brand, and the artist. I dropped it down one star for satisfaction because the blank pieces drove me crazy. Those were a tedious process of mostly trial and error.

Let's see what else I've been up to over the past two weeks.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I finished reading Banshees, Boomboxes, and Bones (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 4), by Emily Fluke, and I enjoyed it. You can read my full review here and you can read some excerpts from it on Friday's post from two weeks ago.

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I listened to Take the Honey and Run (Bee Keeping Mystery 1), by Jennie Marts and narrated by Cris Dukehart.  I enjoyed the mystery and, for the most part, the characters. I wasn't a fan of the mild language, so I don't think I'll be in a hurry to continue the series unless I find out those kinds of words have been eliminated.

IN PROGRESS

I haven't made any progress in The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaw to the Meaning of Life, by A. J. Jacobs, mostly because I've been working on puzzles instead of reading about them.

What the Spell? (Spellbooked Magical Cozy Mystery 1), by Elle Wren Burke, is the book I'm reading now. No one can say this book doesn't explode right into the action from page one! I'm hoping to finish reading this one in a few days so I can publish my review later in the week.

I'm currently listening to Dead, White, and Blue (Northwood Mystery 2), written by Annie McEwen and narrated by Patricia Burgos. These are the coziest cozy mysteries and this installment is perfect for this time of year. You can read some excerpts here.

UP NEXT

Next, I'm going to listen to Fourth of July Forgery (Holiday Cozy Mystery 6), by Tonya Kappes. I've been enjoying this series from the beginning, as each holiday approaches.

ON THE SCREEN

• Andor - I have one more episode to watch in this series. It is SO SO SO GOOD!!! Between all the Marvel and Star Wars series, this is by far the best one. It's been worth having ad-free Disney+ for one month to binge both seasons (with season 1 being a rewatch).
• The Santa Clauses - This is another reason I wanted to subscribe to Disney+ for one month. I finished season one and I'll watch season 2 next week. These are quick episodes and seasons. Season one was okay, but it definitely lost the magic that I so loved in the movies. Episode 5 was my favorite in the first season. We'll see how season 2 goes. It's only six 30-minute episodes.
• To Barcelona, with Love - This is the first new Hallmark movie in a while and I really enjoyed it. Ashley Williams is my favorite Hallmark actress. I just love her upbeat positive energy. She and Alison Sweeny were great together in this movie.  It was a unique bookish plot.
• Bride and Prejudice - I'm all for a good musical, but this movie just didn't do much for me. I only watched it because I want to see every adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed aspects of it, but it was a little too goofy for my taste.
• Epic - This is a 2013 movie that I just recently found out about. I watched it because it has fairies in it. It's whimsical and fun.
• Invitation to a Murder - I just happened to watch this on Friday the 13th. I've been wanting to see this movie for a while, so I finally borrowed it from the library. It was so good! It's a sort of locked room mystery with an Agatha Christie vibe.
• To Barcelona, Forever - This is the sequel to To Barcelona, with Love. I didn't think it was as strong as the first one, but I still enjoyed it.
• Up - Now this is a movie that has stood the test of time. I loved it and I'm so glad I finally watched it!! Great heart-warming story and highly entertaining.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 06/07 - Weekly Recap
• Book Review - 06/19 Banshees, Boomboxes, and Bones, (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 4), by Emily Fluke
• The Friday Six - 06/20 - Bookish response and excerpts, Feline Friday, Nature pic
• Puzzle - 06/21 - Cool and Refreshing

Have a great week!

Puzzle 108 - Cool and Refreshing

Happy Summertime!

Here's a cool and refreshing puzzle to start the new season. I like the shapes of these pieces. They are different. I only did this with 63 non-rotating pieces and my time was 10:42. When I have more time, I might try it with rotating pieces. If I do, I'll update my post.

The Friday Six 20

Happy Friday!

Today I'm once again participating in six blog hops.  You can click on the host links below to find the blogs of others who are participating in each blog hop. If you're a blogger, feel free to join through the host links.

BOOK BLOGGER HOP, hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Question: Have you ever ventured out of your preferred genres? If so, were you surprised you enjoyed the book?

My response:  Yes, I do occasionally venture out of the cozy mystery genre. It's rare when I do this and I choose books I'm interested in, so I'm not usually surprised if I enjoyed it.

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

FRIDAY 56, hosted by My Head is Full of Books

BOOK BEGINNINGS, hosted by Rose City Reader

Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of Dead, White, and Blue (Northwood Mystery 2), by Annie McEwen. 

Here is the beginning:

I always thought I was the type of person who knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

And here is an excerpt from page 56:

    As soon as we were back on the sidewalk all my emotions started to bubble up at once. The tears stung, but I didn't want to cry out where everyone could see me.

Although I have a signed paperback copy of this book, I'm listening to the audiobook. As you might be able to tell from the title and cover, this is set around the 4th of July, so it's the perfect cozy mystery for this time of year. I'm planning to publish my review before the 4th.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

Miss Fiona Daisy is the twistiest cat I've ever had. I'm not even sure how this position is possible. She seems to like it, though.

NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life

This picture was taken on my morning walk at the beginning of this month. I haven't been taking walks for the past few weeks, but with today's lower humidity I was finally able to get back out there. We are in for some very hot weather beginning on Sunday and lasting at least a week, so it will be a while before I'm able to get back out there and walk again. May was a pleasantly cool month and June has been okay so far, but we're going to pay for that next week. I can't wait until fall!!!