Wrapping Up Christmas and a Few Book Reviews

This is crazy, but true.  I love wrapping up the holiday season as much as I like preparing for it.  As in I take down everything Christmas on Christmas Day.  Wrapping up Christmas is like presenting a fresh slate for me to take into the New Year. Oh, and I owe a few book reviews too.

Our season was delightful with just enough activities, plays, concerts as well as downtime and exercise.  If I could write everyone a prescription for how our holiday ended up, nobody would be burnt out about right now.

And it’s a good thing everything is cleared out because hub is doing a 3000 piece puzzle.  Which is taking up two tables in the dining room.  Isn’t that crazy?  DFs Barb and Stu passed it on when they decided it was too big for their pool table.  Gees!

I’ll share it when it’s done, of course.

What I’m Reading

I am so behind in book reviews.  Phew!  I’ve been reading and listening to books but my posts have been so long I’ve waited to share.  Well, here we go.

On audio, I listened to DF Barb’s recommendation of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.  This book has tons of controversy around it and seems people either love it or hate it.  I did like it and I would recommend it.  But reader beware!

Also on audio, I listened to Caught by Harlan Coben.  Mysteries and thrillers are my favorite genre, but sometimes they just fit a formula and I’m not really invested in them.  This one had pretty good characters, decent writing and was easy to listen to while exercising, but my mind wasn’t blown.  I’d give it three stars.

In print I read The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.  Another three-star.  Not bad, I finished it, but a far-fetched story with bland characters.

For the second time, I read author Kim Michele Richardson – The Sisters of Glass Ferry.  Did I already tell you about this one?  A little too much skipping around in the book, but the characters were good, the setting was great and the writing solid.  Recommend.

What I’m Eating

Many years ago I made a butternut squash mac and cheese dish I really liked.  When I was making the yummy meatball recipe from Joy Bauer, I found her recipe for the mac and cheese and tried it for a healthy take on my favorite comfort food.

And.  I got to use my new oven.  And my new Pampered Chef stone baker.  And I got to make a huge mess in my kitchen.

It seemed like a good idea because the recipe met my requirements of not too many ingredients and use stuff I have on hand.  And pretty healthful.

But it was way too many pots and kitchen utensils.  I thought it turned out to be a bit sweet.  And I might have even topped it with potato chips (which might have deducted from the healthful quotient).

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll finish it and the leftovers might be better, but I’m still on the hunt for the perfect mixture of not so much work and still delish healthy mac and cheese.

This is the last post for 2021.  Another crazy year, but gone in a flash.  Sending you and yours love and blessings and a Happy New Year!