March Plans

Hard to believe it's Autumn already considering how hot, steamy and muggy it has been here lately.  I'm almost looking forward to winter just so I can enjoy the cooler weather.

 

Plans however are very much on the agenda for the next few months as I've just got so much to do before those frosty, snowy months arrive.

 

Gardening

 

The big one on the list.  Mostly because there is so much I need to do before cold arrives in abundance.  There's harvesting, laying down endless sheets of cardboard and brown paper, to be followed by more layering of compost and other odds and ends, trimming a variety of trees and shrubs... and well you get the picture.  All I need now is for the rain to hold itself back so I can get stuck in.

Writing

After having a break for the last few months I feel ready to get stuck back in and maybe finally finish or at least finish part one of the story aka the book that will never be finished by the end of this year.

 

So yes writing and lots of it are most definitely staying on the list. 

Reading

 

I'm managing to manage this one quite well so far so I'm really just hoping that I can keep on top of this and to also carry on mixing up some of my reads.  Currently I'm on a bit of paranormal kick courtesy of a series I'm working my way through.

Watching and Reviewing

 

Also going pretty good.  I reviewed over 400 movies last year so I'm hoping to do at least that many this year... if not more.

Saving Money, Making Money and Being Frugal 

 

The one thing that probably most of us are doing at the moment considering the rising cost of pretty much everything.  For the first time Other Half and I made a yearly budget so we'll just have to see how that works out.  So far we're managing to stick to our adjusted grocery budget, of course getting free eggs is definitely helping along with me picking up a new client.  I just need to work on getting a couple more so that's another task for this month.

 

Maybe I can just rest later...

Book Talk: I've Been Reading... January

Another new year and another year of reading which means of course all the books.  As usual it's a mixed bag...

 

No surprise that warm and fluffy Chick Lit is the first on the list because feel good reads are so my vibe.  Through in some romance and I'm a happy camper.

 

Along with this current collection was also a YA Chick Lit - if there is such a thing, and a lovely children's book about finding family.

Nonfiction also managed to get in with not just one but three reads which were all interesting.  I could definitely relate to the last two especially the one on ADHD which was basically a road map of my brain.  Who knew that was even possible...

 

The Viewing Files 2024

Another year of watching over and once again it was a sluggish year viewing wise with not a lot around that caught our eye.  Still that doesn't mean it was a complete disaster as there were still a handful shows that saved my sanity and some that were just down right swoon worthy.

 

Queen Charlotte 

 

There's just something about historical TV shows that's so addictive so it's always good when a new one comes along.  Queen C fitted the bill perfectly and meant that I watched the entire thing over just a couple of nights.

Bridgerton

 

Totally swoon worthy.  Think Barbara Cartland but a whole lot more racier.  Riveting stuff.

Vikings Valhalla

 

Be still my beating heart.  Hot guy running around with a sword and being all manly.  I am so there.

The Tourist

 

Quirky, funny and exciting, why yes it's a thriller show with a difference and so very Irish.  Watched season 1 and 2 back to back which is the only way to really watch a show.

The Gentlemen

 

The drug business has never looked so sleak especially when headed by Theo James in all his rough voice glory. 

Black Doves

 

Quirky seems to be the thing this year with this thrillerish but different spy series that was so good.

Vera

 

14 seasons and Vera is finally hanging up her mac.  Of course I just had to watch it but now what am I going to watch each year for my TV detective craving?

Shetland

 

It's back and just as good which more murders going on.

The Rig

 

An OMG sci-fi thriller with a environmental message.  Sounds crazy but actually works thanks to some great actors and an interesting and surprisingly believable storyline... well for the most part.

Slow Horses

 

Pretty much my fav show of the year.  Grimy, gritty, snarky behind-the-scenes spies and their goings on.  Seriously under rated and seriously good.  It deserves all the awards.

Book Talk 2024

My lowest reading total yet.  Who would ever believe that was even possible.  I blame the shattered leg and the ton of drugs I was on which meant that any kind of concentration seriously went out the door.  Still despite the many months where reading was impossible I still managed to squeeze 159 books so I can't complain too much.

And the stats for the year were...

66  Chick Lit   

28  Audio books 

21  Non fiction 

10  Crime  

8    General fiction 

6    YA

5    Thrillers

3    Contemporary romance

3    Graphic novels 

2    Fantasy 

2    Apocalyptic fiction

2    Science fiction

1    Historical fiction

1    Paranormal fiction

1    Children's fiction

 

Chick Lit and Audio books stayed about the same while non-fiction went up but crime went down.  On the plus side I managed to add a few genres by reading some fantasy, paranormal, apocalyptic and historical fiction which I'm pleased about and hoping to continue reading at least 1 book in each of these genres during this year.

As for favs...

All The Plans 2025

You know the saying... man plans... and well disaster strikes derailing those plans big time.  And by big time I mean come to a complete stop.  All I can say is never break your leg in 3 places or break it so badly that you have to have surgery to fix it.  On the plus side I am now at least part cyborg courtesy of the metal rod that is now inside my leg.

 

But it's a new year and a new start so plans are once again on the table. We'll just ignore the year that was 2024 and yell out yay for 2025.

And the plans are...

Reading

 

One that never goes away which is just as well considering how many books I keep finding to add to my ever increasing To Be Read pile.

Gardening

 

That year that we won't talk about sadly saw my lovely garden become an utter disaster zone with more weeds than plants.  Luckily I have so far managed to almost catch up with the endless weeding and pruning and it's starting to once again look like an actual garden rather than a serious hazardous site.  As you can imagine the plan is to carrying on with the tidying and hopefully get some fruit and veg from it this year as well as getting it ready for the winter.

101 Things in 1001 Days

 

I seriously need to make a start on this because at this rate nothing is going to get crossed off.

Writing

The one thing that I have actually managed to do.  Would you believe I written almost 10,000 words in the past few months.  I know right?  Even I'm amazed at that one.  Definitely staying on the list and hoping like anything I can actually finish a story. 

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

A new year and a new lot of reading.  Which of course means time for me to do a blog post.  

 

Ta-da...

Well it may not be winter or even Christmas but that doesn't mean I stop reading Christmas Chick Lit.  Especially when they are this good and colourful.

Of course catching up on my Christmas reads isn't the only reading I've been doing.

 

A little bit of something historical, both true and not, was also on the agenda.  And each of these featured an interesting woman trying to go her own way, especially in love.

And speaking of love, romance chick lit reads for the win as always.  Especially when they are by 2 of my favourite authors... and in pink.  

 

Sigh.  

 

Just heavenly.

The Viewing Files: Cowboys and Indians

There's something about the scenery and the laid back attitude of westerns that appeals.   Give me a decent western and I'm pretty happy.  Of course finding a decent one isn't always easy...

The Sons of Katie Elder

Starring: John Wayne, Dean Martin

Original release:1965

Synopsis:  Four brothers return home for their mothers funeral

 

I've lost count on how many John Wayne western's I've watched and I've still haven't found one I've liked. Are they really all this long and boring?

Rio Bravo

Starring: John Wayne, Dean Martin... again

Original release:1959

Synopsis:  A sheriff tries to bring a murderer to justice

 

In keeping with my trend of finding John Wayne's westerns so far being all a bit long and slow, here's another one to add to the pile of "kind of boring and why did I bother".

Gunfight at the OK Corral

Starring: Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas

Original release:1957

Synopsis:  Earp, Holliday and that gunfight

 

The romantic fantasy version of "the gunfight' of the Old West with ton of male testosterone running rampant and women knowing their place.

 

The fact that I find Kirk D rather dashing in this is probably seriously twisted. I blame it all on my love for a bad boy with a gun and snarky attitude.

Paint Your Wagon

Starring: Clint E and Lee Marvin

Original release:1969

Synopsis:  The hunt for gold

 

Clint sings.

 

Yeah I know that's a bit of a shocker. But if you can overlook that and some of the other singing then as a comedy western it kind of works.

 

Really though I only watched it for "They call the wind Maria" musical interlude.

Cat Ballou

Starring: Lee Marvin and Jane Fonda

Original release:1965

Synopsis:  A woman hires a gunfighter

 

Jane Fonda when she was going through her Brigitte Bardot phase; all long blonde hair, dewy eyes and glossy lips. Somehow it just doesn't seem to belong in a western. Then again there is also singing so maybe it does.

Shotgun

Starring: Sterling Hayden

Original release:1955

Synopsis:  A Marshall hunts a deadly gang

 

Sterling Hayden shirtless and shaving... well that's reason enough to watch this.

The Last Wagon

Starring: Richard Widmark

Original release:1956

Synopsis:  Survivors of an Indian attack have to rely on a man wanted for murder to get them to safety.

 

I could watch Richard Widmark throw axes at people all day. The 'kids' on the other hand were kind of annoying.

The Man from Laramie

Starring: James Stewart

Original release:1955

Synopsis:  Apaches

 

James Stewart has become my western hero. Who knew that could even be a thing...

Bend of the River

Starring: Jimmy... again

Original release:1952

Synopsis:  Two men lead a wagon train to Oregon.

 

Why are James Stewart's western always so much better The Duke's... and shorter. Whatever the answer is I'm a fan.

The Far Country

Starring: Jimmy yet again

Original release:1954

Synopsis:  The Alaskan gold rush

 

Jimmy Stewart being an anti-social loner and annoying people left, right and center and I can so relate.

 

The Canadian scenery is an added bonus.