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I hope your holiday shopping is finished even though we all know there is always some last minute item you have to try and find. I hope you have begun your baking and candy making letting the sweet scents of sugar and chocolate fill your home with warmth.
Maybe you are just enjoying the twinkling lights of your Christmas tree while watching a Christmas movie with your family—all curled up and cozy.
How’s your gift wrapping going? I always procrastinate and then have a wrapping marathon while blaring my favorite Christmas tunes.
Tis the season for so much joy, peace and happiness, I know I have so much to be thankful for this season. I’ll explain later.
So for now how about a cup a hot cocoa, some warm cozy socks and a good book or two?
REVIEW TIME
Marmee: a Novel of Little Women by Sarah Miller
This story is told through Margaret March "Marmee," as her four girls call her. During these troublesome war torn years we find ourselves reading her diary beginning on Christmas Eve, 1861. It chronicles her life, love, secrets, loss and all those she holds dear. She survives on the letters she receives from her husband Amos who is serving in the war. No matter how few or far between the correspondence she knows they will sustain her and her girls as he tries to send her some form of allowance for them. Marmee narrates this book with all her deepest anguish, love and poise. What happens when Jo, Meg, and Amy grow up to be beautiful independent women? What path will each child choose? How did this close warm family cope with the loss of their beloved sister and daughter Beth? So at Christmas I ask you to read this book. It’s a quick read because it’s in journal form. You may get a blessing this Christmas as you become a member of the March family.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
I just started this one. It is going to be a complicated mystery to try and solve. The characters are already very complex. It takes place in New Hampshire as our main character and her son relocate there after her divorce. She inherits her grandparents’ farm and bees. She spends her days caring for her bees, collecting their honey to jar and sell to the community. The story also involves a mother and daughter who also came to New Hampshire to start over. How are the two teenagers involved? How did one of them end up dead? And who is being questioned and why? Who had a tendency for violence? What would you do as a parent to protect your child? Like I said I just started it but you see why I am recommending it as a read for you this winter.
Go to Dinners by Ina Garten
I enjoy all of Ina’s cookbooks and this one is no different. She has scaled this one down a little so that you can use store bought ingredients and short cuts to making delicious dinners for your family. Of course I have already marked several I am going to try. I have been using Ina’s recipes for several years now. If you enjoy getting in your kitchen and cooking, then this one is a winner.
Reindeer Food by Cayla Gallagher
This one is all about small appetizers and snacks to make during the holidays. It’s a sweet little book with some really great and creative recipes to try this holiday season.
HOLIDAY DVD REVIEW TIME
It's a Wonderful Life (with Jimmy Stewart)
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)
Miracle on 34th Street (with Natalie Wood)
Polar Express (with Tom Hanks)
You can’t go wrong snuggling up watching any of these this holiday season.
I just watched Top Gun Maverick with Tom Cruise. Wow I forgot how much I loved the first Top Gun. If you are a lover of the first one, believe me this one doesn’t disappoint. It is awesome and has so much heart. As Maverick after all these years is still mourning the loss of his best friend and wing man Goose, he ends back up at Top Gun training the best pilots for a mission. Who, but Goose’s son is in the class?? Maverick has to decide how to protect him while also letting go. Tissues please!!
SINCERE THANKS
I would like to try and say thank you to everyone here at the library for the month of November. I went through some unexpected serious health issues with my husband. He was hospitalized for three weeks. He is home now, but still has a long road ahead. Without the support, love and prayers of everyone I could not have stayed strong enough during this time. To all of you who prayed, sent gifts, cards and messages, thank you. And to the staff that substituted for me and took over my workload for November let me say a very big heartfelt thank you. My appreciation holds no bounds! So, to everyone...
