Sunday Post 75

Happy Weekend, friends!

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. 

I am posting so late today because I spent the afternoon trying to fix my computer. You know, the NEW computer! I tried to use Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 on the computer for the first time and let's just say it wasn't happening. I thought it was going well. It told me everything was installed, but that I had to restart my computer to start using it. That's normal protocol. So I tried to restart it...and it wasn't starting. When it came back on, the screen was mostly blank. Somehow, I eventually managed to get past that (I can't even remember how I did it) and it seemed everything was back to normal. However, I discovered that none of my pictures were opening.

Eventually, everything really did get back to normal, but I am not touching Photoshop anymore. It served me well for 12 years, which I think is pretty good. I installed a free editing software that's comparable to what I was using Photoshop for. It's called GIMP and it works well. Whew!

Our week started out mostly sunny, so on Monday we were able to see the eclipse (90% coverage in my area). I didn't have the glasses, so I didn't look up (although, in retrospect I probably could have when a thin layer of clouds covered the sun). But it was nice to just be outside at that time. The sky did get dimmer and it felt cooler around peak time. I enjoyed seeing so many others outside all focused on the same thing. Someone livestreamed it from my area, so I watched some of that on my phone.

Later in the week it got really humid for a couple of days, but that all changed on Friday. When I took my walk Friday morning, it was cloudy, cool, and drizzly, with much lower humidity. I like walking in that kind of weather, so I was happy to get out for a walk on my birthday. Then the sun came out.

I didn't get my wish for snow on my birthday, but I did get cherry blossoms. The puffy Kwanzan cherry trees are still blooming where I live, while the Yoshinos are mostly leaving out now. The Kwanzans will soon form a thick pink carpet on the sidewalk when the petals fall.

IN THE BOOKS

Click on 2024 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar to see how I'm doing with this year's goals.

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I finished Death of a Fairy Tale (Mari Fable Mystery 1), by Emily Fluke and narrated by Suzanne T. Fortin. It got off to a fast start, but then slowed down. Then it really picked up. The main character is a new mom, so it shows how she balances motherhood with sleuthing. The narrator did a great job.  If you were a fan of Once Upon a Time, you'll enjoy this book.

IN PROGRESS

I once again didn't make any progress with Magus of the Library, Vol. 1, by Mitzu Izumi. Other books keep calling my name, but I do want to finish it. Eventually I will because I do like it and it is a library book that I'll have to return soon. I can keep it for a couple more weeks.

I am enjoying A Twinkle of Trouble (Fairy Garden Mystery 5), by Daryl Wood Gerber. To read some excerpts from this magical cozy, click here. I hope to finish it this week and post my review before or on release day, which is Tuesday, April 23rd.

UP NEXT

I'm going to continue listening to Sarah E. Burr's Ducal Detective Mystery series, narrated by Melissa Green, this week. I should be able to listen to the next two novellas, if not, more. I already listened to the first one (twice) and loved it.

ON TELEVISON

• Blind Date Book Club - This 2024 premiere on Hallmark was very cozy. The setting had Cabot Cove written all over it. If it weren't for the fact that I struggled to understand exactly how the book club worked, I probably would have given it five/five stars. Now that I do understand everything (after having it explained to me), I'd love to watch it again.
• One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery - My favorite mystery series and this was a good one!! I will have to post a review for it, but I can say Alison Sweeney's film writing debut was a hit! I hope she writes future installments in the series. I really missed Cameron Mathison, but I thought they did a good job handling his departure.
• Recipe for Love - This is a culinary Hallmark movie from 2015. I enjoyed watching it once, but it's probably not one I'd watch again.
• Hailey Dean Mysteries: Murder, With Love - I finally started watching this older Hallmark mystery series. It has a more serious tone than I what I prefer, but I still enjoyed the pilot. I'll continue watching the series this week.
• A Wish Come True - This is a Hallmark romcom from 2014. It has a birthday theme, so when I saw that it was on recently, I recorded it and watched it on my birthday. I really enjoyed it.
• Friends - I finished season 9 and started season 10. As you may recall, season 10 is shorter than all the rest. 

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post - 04/07 - Weekly Recap
• Book Review - 04/09 - Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), by Linda Reilly
• Five for Friday - 04/12 - A Home in Fiction, A Twinkle of Trouble, and a Cat on a Couch
• Puzzle - 04/13 - It's Raining

Have a great week!