Reflections on 2021

 2021 has been a lot.  For the first 3.5 months of the year, I worked from home.  We returned to the office and started to provide services in person in July.  There have been adjustments, accomodations, and lots of anxieties.  Vaccinations, boosters, and now Omicron is raging.  Our world has changed, and I can't pretend that things are normal.  I worry about getting sick.  I worry about sickening others.  My heart hurts at all of the anguish, grief, and loss this virus has wrought.  Seeing how we as a society have responded to this is heartbreaking, the anger, the divisiveness, the mockery of compassion and concern for others.  I am trying to be understanding, to be loving, and to meet people where they are.  It isn't easy, and it is a work in progress.  

2021 brought good.  I discovered an immense joy in cooking with my husband.  We have explored new cuisines, new recipes, and found a sliver of happiness in sharing the time cooking and the meals.  My llama crew has brought joy, love, and an immense amount of support into my life.  My parents are healthy.  My pets are generally well (grumpy 20 year old cat included).  I have stayed close to many of my friends.  There were precious moments in the tearoom, now shuttered for renovations.  I read a lot and discovered new authors.  Podcasts kept my brain focused.  Self-care and mindfulness were my guideposts.  My husband was my rock, my encourager, and my balance when I went adrift. Long phone calls with a dear friend helped me stay on course and provided a space to vent.  Virtual playdates, virtual book club.  It all helped.  Exploring new cocktails.  Enjoying so much Food Network with the husband.  QQ!!!  Many thanks to Alton & Elizabeth for those moments of shared relief from the world.  Scabigail makes my heart happy. I wrote a few poems (not many) and am pondering sharing them here. Let me know if anyone is interested.

There has been pain with the passing of a dear friend from cancer.  It still doesn't feel real at times.  I am so grateful for the gift of his friendship in my life.  His impact runs deep in my soul.  My heart hurt with the ending of the relationship of two dear friends, and I'm still coping with a rift in a family dear to me.  I miss Saturdays at the game store, but it genuinely doesn't feel safe, especially now. 

 I love the people in my life intensely, and I am thankful for the love, support, and presence.  I wish happiness, love, and peace to you all.  I will close with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman.  A dear friend shares the quote every year, and it resonates with my soul. 

Holiday Ramblings

My Christmas was joyful in most respects.  I received a weighted blanket.  I have wanted one for ages.  It really has helped with my sleep.  We got to spend time with my parents, which was nice.

I struggled with holiday spirit this year, and it left me when we got the call on Tuesday that my husband had a close contact test positive for COVID.  There was a mad scramble to get tested, which happened yesterday.  We're feeling great and awaiting results.  Not the restful week for me that it was supposed to be.

On the up side, Doctor Who marathon, lots of reading, GAMECOCK BOWL WIN!!!!  Tons of puppy snuggles and even the grumpy cat are bright spots this week as I stay at home and await results.

I don't think we're positive, but I am staying home until I know out of a concern for others.  I am grateful for supportive friends over the last couple of days.

As 2021 fades away, remember the good, treasure the special moments, and move forward with love.  

This prayer shared by a friend today has resonated with me.  I hope it does the same for you.

Off the Shelf -- A Dash of Death

 Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book. This is the first in a new cozy mystery series. Samantha, Sam to her friends, is down her luck. Her fiance ended their engagement three weeks before her wedding. Her job prospects are limited, and her future feels uncertain. A friend persuades her to vend the scratchmade bitters that were to be her wedding favors at the Historic Homes Tour. Her bitters are a success, and things are going smashing until one of the guests mysteriously falls ill.

Samantha's past work as an investigative reporter compels her to dig into the situation, which quickly becomes complicated. The plot is well written. The supporting characters are engaging. Sam falls the most flat for me. Beyond her reporter's instincts and relationship troubles, there is not much fleshed out about her.

I did find the book engaging and liked the inclusion of recipes, though I would have preferred more of the recipes mentioned to be included. I will likely read a second outing for this series if there is one to see if Sam becomes more fleshed out.

The opinions expressed here are mine alone and are freely given.

Off the Shelf -- The Poe Predicament

Thanks to Netgalley and Foundations Book Publishing for the chance to read and review this title. I was drawn to it because of the reference to Poe. The main character, Richard, finds himself drawn to a book in a local bookshop, so drawn that he steals the book. When he wakes up the next morning, he is no longer in his familiar world but in the 1800s. He meets and befriends Eddie, a West Point cadet. Strange things occur from there. Parts of this book are very graphic descriptions of torture and may be triggering or uncomfortable for some readers. It was more graphic than my typical read but not overwhelming for me. The characters are interesting. At points the plot meanders. I found the resolution a bit quick and mildly unsatisfactory. I wanted more of an explanation for the strange happenings. Additionally, the formatting of the ebook made parts of it difficult to read. I am uncertain if I would read more from this author. The opinions expressed are given freely and are completely mine.

Off the Shelf-- Public Faces, Secret Lives

 Thanks to Netgalley and NYU Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.  Wendy Rouse writes a detailed, well-researched history of the Suffragist movement in the US and the role of queer people in the movement.  This is not a dry history.  The author brings these women to life, sharing their lives, their loves, and their losses.  

This is an inclusive volume, detailing the experiences of women of color and indigenous women.  The battle within the Suffragist movement over maintaining feminine respectability, pushing out non-white women, and the erasure from history of the loving relationships of many of these women is documented.

I greatly respect the author's effort to shed light on this history and update history with the truth of the movement.  

The opinions expressed are mine alone and are freely given.

Off the Shelf -- The Maid

 Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Maid.  This debut novel by Nita Prose tells the tale of Molly the Maid, a dedicated maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and her discovery of the body of Mr. Black in his suite.  Told from Molly's point of view, the intriguing tale pulls you in.  Molly is not like everyone else.  She struggles with social cues and has her own way of looking at things.  As the mystery unfolds, Molly finds herself in the middle of things.

Off the Shelf -- Beyond Grapes

 Thanks to Netgalley and Library Tales Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.  Lots of interesting ideas for different liqueurs to make using fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.  Some you've thought of and some you haven't.  Good description of the basic process.

This is an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Off the Shelf -- Murder on an Irish Farm

Thanks to Netgalley, Carlene O'Connor, and Kensington Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.  This series has been a favorite of mine from its beginning.

This is the eighth installment in the Irish Village Mysteries series.  Siobhan and Macdara are about to tie the knot when a body is discovered.  Their investigative skills as Garda are needed, and the wedding is postponed.

The remains discovered are from a long time past, and many questions arise as the investigation develops.  The O'Sullivan Six and other noted residents of Kilbane show up throughout the story. We get to know the newest Garda a bit better, and the story of the O'Sullivans continues to unfold.  

I love the feel of this series and this book.  It captures the small town/village feeling.  The characters are familiar.  Lots of intrigue in this outing.  There's a cozy comfort in the rhythms of Kilbane and its residents. I highly recommend this series.  

This is an honest review.  All opinions are mine alone.