Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.
**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.
And let’s join Kathryn, our new leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.
Another week flew by, with just a bit of rain and enough sunshine to make for a cheerful mood. I read and reviewed FOUR books this week, visited some interesting blog posts, made it to my visit with the accountant without any disastrous results. And celebrated afterwards with a late lunch and a martini:
My two granddaughters had their nineteenth birthdays this month…Aubrey’s was last Saturday, and Fiona, precious baby below, has hers this Sunday. How time has flown!
Moving on…
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Interior Thoughts: A Caffeinated Sunday
Tuesday Potpourri: “The Shadow Year”
Let’s Curl up with “The Perfect Neighbors”
Hump Day Potpourri: The Tax Bite
Bookish Thursday: A Potpourri of Events
Bookish Friday: “Multiple Listings”
Before Reality Hit: An Excerpt from “Web of Tyranny”
Celebratory Moments: Saturday Snapshots
Review: Where I Lost Her (e-book), by T. Greenwood –(NetGalley – 2/23)
Review: I Was Here (e-book), by Gayle Forman
Review: The Passenger (e-book), by Lisa Lutz – (NetGalley – 3/1)
Review: The Frog Prince (e-book), by Jane Porter
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AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE:
Check out Trish, at Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity: BBAW – Combating the Blogging Blues…
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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Nothing in the mailbox! I downloaded one purchased book…and a Kindle Prime Freebie.
The Price of Salt (e-book, or CAROL), by Patricia Highsmith – I saw the movie (Carol) last month.
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North of Here (e-book), by Laurel Saville (Kindle Prime Freebie)
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NOW WHAT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Currently Reading: Multiple Listings (e-book), by Tracy McMillan (NetGalley – 3/8)
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I have some from last week to finish up, like The Shadow Year and Silver Bay…
Then I want to grab some of the shiny new books that are sending “come-hither” looks to me:
Find Her (e-book), by Lisa Gardner
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The Ex (e-book), by Alafair Burke
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That’s it for the week! What did yours look like? Join me here for a chat…and once again, I’m sending out best wishes to my February “birthday girls.” Here they were, back in the day…(1998).
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SERENDIPITY 
What precious pictures of your grandchildren! My daughter is turning 19 in a couple of months and it just seems impossibly old! I’m not sure I’m at all happy about it! I’ve been wanting to read Lisa Gardner and I like the look of Find Her and The Ex looks interesting as well. Hope you enjoy all your new reads and have a great week!
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Thanks, Katherine, and in June, the other astonishing birthdays will occur: my two oldest grandchildren will be turning 21! It is impossible to believe, as just the other day they were babies…lol.
I hope to enjoy both The Ex and Find Her…I think I will love them.
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Great post! Happy birthday to your granddaughters – you in no way look old enough to have grandchildren of that age though! Hope you enjoy reading your new books, I recently bought the Patricia Highsmith one too but haven’t read it yet. I like the look of The Ex and have that on my wishlist, I don’t think it’ll be long before I buy it though. 🙂 Happy reading!
Thanks for stopping by my post earlier:
https://rathertoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/weekly-wrap-up-and-stacking-the-shelves-20-february/
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Thanks, Hayley, so sweet of you to say…I have Scandinavian skin…LOL
I have never read Highsmith, but I loved the movie based on this book, so I am definitely eager to read it. The Ex is another one I am excited about.
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A martini looks like a good way to celebrate LOL. Good for you! Looks like you had a nice week… my reading picked up this week too, which was nice. And even got a little sun here… hallelujah! Can spring be far? Your place always looks so cozy…
Glad taxes went well, that can always be a bit stressful. And The PAssenger looks good- it looks suspenseful and I like the idea of secret identities.
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Thanks, Greg, and I am rather fond of a celebratory martini..or two. LOL.
Taxes are the buzz-kill in life, so whenever I can get through a tax season without having to part with extra money, I am thrilled. Enough to celebrate.
I loved The Passenger…the author kept me guessing until the end. I had guessed a bit of the story, but not everything.
So glad that my fondness for coziness comes through in my decor.
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What a beautiful picture of your two grandchildre as littlest – it must be wonderful to see them all grown up! Well it doesnt look like you’ll be short of reading anytime soon – I do hope you enjoy The Ex as much as I did.
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Thanks, Cleo, and I hope to love The Ex, too…I do enjoy my granddaughters, but it seems like they were little just the other day!
I have a nice stash of books to choose from, and I am always happy about that…
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Find Her and the Ex both look good. 19..oh my! Where does the time go is right. I will turn 50 in October and my oldest turned 25.
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I vaguely remember turning fifty…LOL. By this summer, all of my kids will be in their forties. Yikes!
Thanks for stopping by, Kimberly, and enjoy your week.
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The Passenger is making the rounds. I look forward to hearing what you think. Have a great weekend.
sherry @ fundinmental Sunday Memes
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I loved The Passenger…I truly could not turn the pages fast enough. Thanks for stopping by, Sherry, and enjoy your reading.
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I’m glad your meeting with your tax planner went well, and you sure deserved a martini after that 😉 Your new books look great, Laurel-Rain, I hope you’ll enjoy them all. And wow on reading AND reviewing four books last week 🙂
Have a fantastic week ahead and happy reading.
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Thanks, Lexxie, I was so relieved…and glad that I could celebrate with the martini. Some weeks, the books are so easy to read, with pages flying by. I am sure that the content is responsible for that, and I’m grateful. Enjoy your week!
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Happy Birthday to your daughters. Your photos are terrific. It looks like you had a great week. I’m going to check out some of your links.
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Thanks, Pat, and I can’t believe those granddaughters are already so grown up! Enjoy your week, and thanks for stopping by.
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My little granddaughter (first and only) will be four months next week. I’m trying to enjoy every moment!
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/02/sunday-salon-catching-up_21.html
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I am glad that two of my grandchildren (one boy and one of the granddaughters) grew up close by, so I could see them frequently. Enjoy your granddaughter, Deb, and thanks for stopping by.
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Congratulations on your granddaughters birthdays. Time definitely goes by way to soon.
Bravo on reviewing those four books. You definitely deserved that martini. 😉
I also had a good reading week. I felt much better than the weeks before and I finally felt like I was having the time for reading.
Have a great week 😉
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Thanks, Maureen, and I can feel the mojo on the good weeks. I think the thrillers go faster….the pages fly by. But also a book that is truly engaging in some other way, too. Enjoy your week…
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I’m seeing a lot of people reading the Passager I might need to check that one out! Have a great week and happy reading!
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I loved it, Laura, and I hope you enjoy it if you take it on. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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Your two granddaughters are adorable! It is amazing how quickly they grow up. Your martini look delicious. Taxes….I don’t even want to talk about it. It makes me nervous this year. I am impressed – 4 books in one week is awesome! Have a great week!
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Thanks, Carole, and I start dreading tax time as Christmas approaches, knowing it is just around the bend. I like getting early appointments, to get it behind me. Enjoy your week, and have fun reading.
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The picture of your daughter and her little lamb is precious! Reminds me I need to dig out my camera today! Hope you have a great week. 🙂
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Thanks, Trish, and enjoy your precious children. They grow up so fast, which is a cliche, of course, but so true. Have a great week!
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Celebratory martinis are always in order!! Happy birthday to everyone and I hope you enjoy all your new books! 😀
Here’s my Weekly Recap!
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Thanks, Tracy, and I do love a celebration…and find all kinds of reasons to do some celebrating…LOL.
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week!
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Such sweet photos of your grandbabies:) They do grow up fast. I’m a bit past that fiftieth birthday. Stopped counting now and have to think about how old I am. LOL
That martini looks delicious.
My Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2016/02/21/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-148-and-the-sunday-post/
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Yes, I don’t know how I got so OLD…LOL. I have to acknowledge my years when the grandchildren are now young adults. Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and the martini was delicious!
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Aw! You have such a lovely family. You have some really interesting books this week! Can’t wait to read your reviews. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Thank you for stopping by earlier. 🙂
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Thanks, Kristine, I do enjoy sharing photos of them. My books make me giddy…can’t get over my book love. Glad you could stop by, and have a great week.
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OK, that’s it Laurel! I am ordering The Passenger! Your 5 stars just did it for me! I recently downloaded The Price of Salt, because the movie it’s based on looked fascinating and I thought it might be nice to read the original work.
What cute girls! I bet they turned 19 faster than you thought they could!
Enjoy your week! And maybe we should consider that Literary Bar Roadtrip, that martini looks good!
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Thanks, Suzanne, I think The Passenger is definitely enjoyable…hope you love it. I liked the movie from The Price of Salt…eager to read the book now.
My granddaughters grew up sooo fast, but they are fun young adults, so I’m okay with it. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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They are such cuties… North of Here sounds good, hope you enjoy and have a great upcoming week.
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Thanks, Brandi, I am definitely biased, but I think they are cuties, too. I was pleasantly surprised by North of Here, a free Kindle First book. Enjoy your week!
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That martini looks yummy. Happy Birthday to your granddaughters!
The Price of Salt looks really good and so does the movie.
Have a great week!
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Thanks, Yvonne, and I agree about the martini. I liked the movie, which was called Carol…and I’m excited about the book. Enjoy your week!
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I love the pics of your granddaughters. How fun to watch them become young adults.
I wonder how closely the film Carol followed the book. I’ll watch for your review. Have a great week!
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Thanks, it has been a joy to watch the girls grow up.
I am curious about how much the film was like the book…I’ll soon know, as I don’t think I’ll be able to wait long.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week, Mary.
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An undisastorious meeting with the accoutant is definitely something to celebrate. Happy birthdays to your granddaughters! I am reading North of Here right now. Hopefully we’ll both enjoy it. Have a great week, Laurel-Rain.
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Oh, good to know, Wendy….I wonder if it will be a good one…And yes, a tax meeting that does not end in disaster is always a blessing. Have a great week!
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You sound like a proud grandma and with good reason! What a cute pic of your granddaughters! You had a good week. I’m dreading tax season.
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Thanks, Laura, and I have loved watching the girls grow up. Tax season, on the other hand, is my least favorite time…and when I come out of it still in one piece, I am grateful…LOL. Thanks for stopping by.
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Happy Birthday to your granddaughters.
Love the photos.
Going to check out your review of The Passenger. Loved it.
Enjoy all of your new books and your last week of February reading. Can’t believe it will be over already.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Mailbox Monday
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Thanks, I think they are pretty special, Elizabeth.
I definitely loved The Passenger, and I’m eager to read all of my new books. Enjoy your week! You are right..February really sped by!
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Your granddaughters were so sweet when they were little and I bet they are still cute at 19. Lovely to be celebrating them. You were busy last week with your reading and reviewing – no blogging blues for you!
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Thanks, Kathryn, and it’s so much fun when we have our get-togethers and can see how they are doing. Now that they are adults and in college, those times together are fewer, but are so precious.
No…blogging blues are definitely staying away! Glad you could stop by, and thanks for hosting.
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What great pictures. They were so cute. I bet they’ve grown into lovely young women.
Sounds like you got a lot accomplished this week. Keep up the great work.
http://www.thebusymomsdaily.com/2016/02/mailbox-monday-feb-22.html
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Thanks, Cheryl, and I think they are definitely wonderful. Enjoy your week, and I plan to do the same!
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Find Her sounds interesting. I’ve read a few Lisa Gardner books and enjoyed them so far!
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
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Yes, I love revisiting the familiar characters and meeting new ones; the mysteries always keep me turning the pages. Thanks for stopping by, Majanka. Enjoy your week!
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You always have the nicest drinks! And happy birthday to your grand-daughters! It’s a bit different, but I have two nieces and time definitely seems to have been going faster when I look at them 🙂
Find Her looks good, this cover captivates me and I’ve been tempted by the book though it’s been a while since I’ve read Lisa Gardner. Happy reading!
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Ha- thanks, Kay, I have a few favorite places where I order the same two or three drinks.
I’ll bet your nieces have been a joy for you, too. I have only one daughter and two granddaughters, but I have lots of nieces…and now that they’re older and spread all over the states, we are FB friends.
Enjoy your week…I am really looking forward to Find Her.
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I was just thinking we need to start our taxes. Ugh! I want to read The Price of Salt after seeing Carol. I bet it was quite scandalous when it was written.
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“Ugh” is right, Kathy! Such a dreaded season, and the only people I know who look forward to it are those expecting refunds…LOL. I am eager to read The Price of Salt…I enjoyed Carol, although I went in with no expectations, other than that I enjoy the actors. Thanks for stopping by.
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All your books look great. The covers are really good. I shouldn’t judge by cover, but that is sometimes where I start. It is amazing how fast our grandchildren grow up. My youngest will be 23 in May. I’ll try to find some pictures to share then. Enjoy your week.
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Oh, thanks, Judy, and I love a pretty cover…sometimes I am disappointed with my ARCs from Amazon Vine, as they don’t always have the regular cover on them.
Watching our grandchildren grow is such a joy. It is a different feeling from when our children were growing up…the perspective is more delightful, as we are not the disciplinarians. We can also spoil them…LOL.
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Happy birthday to your granddaughters! Sounds like a very busy week. I have Carol, Find Her, and The Ex on my TBR list…and also want to see the movie Carol.
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Thanks for stopping by, Teresa, and I hope we enjoy our books and movies this week!
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Aww, what cute pictures! I could go for a martini right about now. 😉 I can’t wait to hear what you think of Find Her. Enjoy!
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Thanks for visiting, Brandie, and I am very excited about the book lineup this week…and some books that I am waiting for (pre-ordered download from Joyce Maynard: Under the Influence).
Have a great week, and I love those baby pictures of my granddaughters. I also love finding a reason to celebrate something, so I can order a martini…LOL
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Ahh, happy birthday to the granddaughters. They grow up so fast. I am having a hard time believing my two kids are now five and seven. That martini looks great. I don’t know when the last time I had a good martini was. Have a terrific week, Laurel.
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Oh, you must treat yourself, Heidi…Thanks for stopping by, and I am amazed at my granddaughters, who were born so close together that they are like “twin cousins,” but are very different, too.
Enjoy your week, and cheers!
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Sounds like you had such a busy week.
Theresa (The Truth About Books)
see my answer here
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Thanks, Theresa, I am loving the books lately…and enjoying my family. Glad you could stop by!
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I got North of Here too. Cute photos!
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It looks good, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Vicki, and I love those granddaughters….
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Those girls are adorable!
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Thanks, Harvee, I think so too! LOL
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Adorable pictures of your grandaughters, so lucky to have them.
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Thanks, Mary Ann, I do feel lucky…enjoy your week!
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A great weeks for books. I started reading Lisa Gardner books in order last year and love her books…think it will be a while till I get to this one though!
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Oh, good for you, Emma, you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great pictures! I bet it is hard to believe that they are already 19. Nice looking assortment of books too. I have been seeing Find Her a lot recently on blogs. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, I can’t believe they are nineteen, either! Glad you could stop by, and I’m so looking forward to these books.
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Cute photo of the girls! Happy 19 to them, wow! That’s a great age. That martini looks delicious! The Price of Salt — what an intriguing book cover and title. I too saw Carol not long ago — the story is apparently from Patricia Highsmith’s own life right? she seemed to be quite an author
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Thanks, Susan, I am excited about how grown-up the girls are now, although I must admit that I sometimes miss their babyhood…LOL.
I had no idea the movie Carol was based on this book when I saw it; I literally went to the movie knowing nothing about it except the stars, whom I enjoy.
I have never read this author, but I have a lot to learn about her, apparently. Thanks for stopping by.
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Happy Birthday to your granddaughters! They were adorable and time does fly by fast. That martini looks delicious and good to hear it wasn’t too bad with your accountant. I was worried to about our taxes but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I hope you get some nice weather this week and enjoy your new books!
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Thanks, Kathy, and today was beautiful out…plus, I finished one of my review books and thoroughly enjoyed it!
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The babies definitely stole the show here – the books didn’t have a chance. Thanks for sharing all these gorgeous pictures, Laurel. 🙂
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Ah, how sweet of you to notice, Myra…they do win out in my life, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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Happy birthday to your beautiful granddaughers. We have birthday overload starting today with my granddaughter turning 8 and ending 11 birthdays later in mid-May with my mother-in-law turning 85. Yikes!
Love your reading selections – happy reading!
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Thanks, Susan, and wow, you are on birthday overload for sure. With my two in February, I’m good until June, when there are THREE grandchild birthdays. Enjoy!
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Well, one of those birthdays in there is mine so that makes it all the better! 😉
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Happy birthday!
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