Saturday, July 23, 2016

Sunday Post: Ten Years of Blogging & My Usual Update

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

Well, it's official. Musings of a Bookish Kitty is ten years old. It doesn't seem possible. Where has the time gone?! My blog has been through several different looks since I first began. Those who have been around a while, may remember some of these headers my husband put together:









I feel so lucky to be a part of such a great community of other book bloggers. Those of you who visit and read my blog mean so much to me. I still feel the same excitement when I receive a comment as I did when I received my first comment. Musings of  a Bookish Kitty has turned into not only a journal of the books I read, but also a record of my life's journey in these past ten years. This has blog has seen me through so many ups and downs and life changes. Thank you to all of you for reading my posts, your comments and friendship, whether old or new.

I hope you will take time out to tell me what you are up to this weekend! What are you reading? Are you watching anything you would recommend?

Book Blogger Hop


Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.


Do you always put a book cover in your posts when you are mentioning books or just text? (submitted by Elizabeth
It depends. When I am reviewing a book, I like to include a picture of a book cover. If I'm just mentioning a book in passing, I may not include a cover. If I am making a list of several different books, I may include every cover or I may include just a few to keep the length of the post down. I think including pictures of covers adds color to a post. Too much of nothing but text can be boring after awhile. Besides, sometimes it's the cover that grabs someone's attention because it tends to stand out in a post and spurs his or her interest. I know it can have that affect on me anyway.


New to my Shelves: 
 Love Anthony by Lisa Genova, from my Postal Mail Group

The Whiskey Sea by Ann Howard Creel, 
from the publisher for an upcoming book tour 

 Used Bookstore purchases (and Gracie, my cat):
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour
The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour


What I Am Reading: My reading has been close to non-existent for the past couple of weeks, with my mom in town and other things going on. I did manage to finish Joe Hill's The Fireman this weekend though. Now I can devote all my attention to Amanda Quick's 'Til Death Do Us Part, my July TBR winner.


What I Am Watching: Surprisingly, I have watched very little as of late. Maybe a You-Tube video here and there.


What's Going On Off the Blog:  I have not been able to get around the blogiverse much over the last two weeks. With my wedding anniversary and my mom's visit on top of work and everything else going on, it's been hard to fit in even reading. Hopefully now things will settle into a more normal routine.

This past weekend my husband and I got away, leaving my mother and daughter to their sleep over. The two had a fun time making rice crispy cookies, preparing for and putting on a play, dressing up and playing games. Mouse kept her grandmother busy, and they had a lot of fun. Meanwhile, my husband and I had a nice time just the two of us. We took in a musical (The Man of La Mancha), had a romantic dinner, and stayed in a very nice historic hotel. Evidently there was a big PokemonGo get-together downtown that evening. We felt a little out of place, not walking with our phones out in front of us, among the throngs of people, some in costume. It was actually quite amusing. We stumbled on a used bookstore on our evening walk and came away with three books. It's a cozy little store. I could have probably spent hours browsing the shelves.

 The California Theatre of Performing Arts

Lobby of the Mission Inn







During my mom's visit, she brought along old photo albums of my grandmother as a girl and a scrapbook my grandmother kept of my grandfather's time in the military during World War II. It is quite a treasure of family history. There was even a letter my grandfather had written to my grandmother right at the moment Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese (he was in Tacoma, Washington at the time). My mother also shared with me notes my grandfather had kept of his childhood on Iowa.

 My grandfather in boot camp.

 My Great-Grandmother with the family Cat.

 A father/daughter dance upon our return

This past Friday was Mouse's last day at the daycare and school she has attended since she was three and a half months old. Mouse's bestfriend was able to come back (her last day had been back in June) for the day. The goodbyes were hard. Mouse's teacher and I hugged each other I don't know how many times, tears in our eyes. She and her family are like family to us. We've, in essence, raised Mouse together these past five years. Mouse said goodbye to her friends, giving them hugs, lingering a bit at the door as we headed out. She held back her silent tears until we got in the car. I reassured her we would see them again, maybe even as soon as next Friday for a drop in visit.

We still had time after swim class Friday afternoon to drive by the summer program Mouse will be starting this coming week, and I asked her if she wanted to stop in and see it again (we'd last been in May). I half hoped she would say no--it was 108 outside and the car air conditioner hand finally kicked in--but we were both hot. I am glad we did stop though. There weren't many kids there during their last hour of being open, but it was enough. Mouse and I walked around, the other children introduced themselves to her, and the staff person was very friendly and told us about the fun activities Mouse would be able to do there, including upcoming fieldtrips. I also got the reassurance I needed as the anxious mother, my last minute questions answered, and was comforted as I watched Mouse take in the new surroundings with a smile on her face. As we walked back to the car, Mouse asked me how many days until she started there. "I can't wait, Mommy! I wish it was tomorrow." 


This Past Week In Reading Mews:

Upcoming on the Blog:
Monday - From the Archives: A Blogging Retrospective - July 2006
Tuesday - Where Is Your Bookmark?
Wednesday - Shelf Control
Thursday - Bookish Thoughts: Redshirts by John Scalzi


I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

68 comments:

  1. Wow, happy 10th blogiversary!! That's a big deal. Though the anniversary and Mouse's growing up is probably a bigger deal. ;)

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    1. Jean - Thank you! July seems to be a month for milestones, especially this year. :-)

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  2. Yay congratulations on 10 years of blogging! That's a great milestone. :)

    As for a recomendation of something to watch... Hubby and I just finished watching Stranger Things on Netflix. It's an 8 episode mini-series and was very good!

    Your cat seems to want to read some of your books hehe!

    http://natalieslife.com/2016/07/june-book-haul

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    1. Natalie - Thank you. :-)

      Stranger Things sounds right up my alley. I will definitely add that to my must watch list. I am glad you enjoyed it!

      Gracie insisted on being in the picture. LOL

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  3. Wow, 10 years! That's amazing, good for you. Love seeing all the different headers... that must be fun, looking back. And I agree with you on your cover question.

    That PokemonGo activity sounds fun- it's taking over the world lol- and glad you guys got away. That bookstore looks awesome!

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    1. Greg - Thank you! My husband was very patient with me every time I asked him for something different. :-)

      Yes, PokemonGo seems to be everywhere. I haven't played it, but I have friends who are enjoying it.

      The bookstore was quite a find! I'm not sure how I didn't know about it before.

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  4. Congrats on TEN YEARS!! That is amazing *throws confetti* Awe, sounds like Mouse had both a tough and memorable week. LOL, Pokemon No.

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    1. Kim - Thank you! I should have celebrated with cake, but didn't think of it. :-) Mouse was up at the crack of dawn with me this morning. She's excited and anxious.

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  5. Wow, 10 years! Super congrats on that!!!

    As to the question you answered, I agree that book covers are a great way of spicing up certain posts, adding in something other than text. I never use gifs and really only use images if I took a photo of something specifically to share, so book covers are a really simple way to add some life :-)

    Congrats on your anniversary too! Sounds like you had a really great night. That theatre looks gorgeous, and that bookshop looks so cute.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Kristen - Thanks! I don't really use gifs either, and tend to use either my own photos or photos of covers. There is the occasional exception.

      Thank you too for the anniversary wishes. We had a nice time. It was nice to get away, even if we didn't go very far. I hope you have a great week too!

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  6. Congrats on 10 years! That's awesome. Oooo I hope you liked The Fireman. Those old pictures are so cool!! I love seeing photos like that. Have a great week! Hope you get some more reading in.

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    1. Christy - Thank you! I thought The Fireman was good. :-) I love looking at old photos like that. My mom thought I was weird taking photos of the photos, but it's not like she was letting me keep the albums. I wanted my own record in case I don't see the photos again. I hope you have a great week too!

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  7. Happy 10th blogging anniversary! :D

    And that bookstore looks really inviting! I could probably get lost in there for hours(:

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    1. Eustacia - Thank you! I really like that bookstore. There are books tucked in every nook and cranny just about. :-)

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  8. Gracious! Ten years! I remember finding your blog when I was first joining this community and thinking how happy I was to find a fellow obsessive reader!

    http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/07/mo-willems-goes-to-paris.html

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    1. Deb - It feels like forever and yet not that long at all, as odd as that sounds. I really enjoy being a part of the book blogging community. :-)

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  9. Wow what a busy time. Happy anniversary, and happy bloggiversary and how lovely having your mother visit and having some time alone with hubby.

    And how gorgeous that Mouse's summer program looks and sounds like it will be great fun!

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    1. Deborah - Thank you! She had a nice visit. I am hoping she'll finally decide to move down our way one of these days. She talks about it, but that's about it. My husband and I rarely get to spend time just the two of us, and so it was nice to be able to get away like that.

      I'm anxious to hear how my daughter's first day in the summer program went!

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  10. I don't read when I'm with family either. The books will always be there but we'll never get that precious time again.

    Congratulations on 10 wonderful years!

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    1. Kathy - It just seems rude to break out a book and read when you have company over.

      Thank you, Kathy! I can't believe it's been 10 years.

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  11. Ten years is truly impressive - thank you for sharing your range of different headers over that time:). It was a great family post - I loved seeing the pics of your grandfather and great-grandmother. I was interested to note she was wearing trousers, which I would have thought was fairly rare back in those days. My son was regaling us with tales of Pokemon Go when he came to stay and even loosed a beastie in the kitchen for Himself to try and catch - which he failed at miserably:). Have a great week.
    https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/sunday-post-24th-july/

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    1. Sarah - Thank you! I didn't include all the headers, only some of the ones I still have saved on my computer. I liked seeing the photos I used over the years.

      Evidently that was my great-grandmother's gardening attire. She normally wore dresses. There's just something about that photo though that makes it a favorite. Maybe because it is a bit non-traditional for the time period. :-)

      A couple of my friends are really into PokemonGo. It's entertaining to hear them talk about it. I hope you have a great week too!

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  12. Congratulations on ten years!!! That is a wonderful achievement. Love all the old photos you included here, gives it a nice personal touch. Happy reading this week!! Here's my Sunday Post: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/

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    1. Mareli - Thank you! It was hard to narrow down the photos. So many good ones in the bunch. I hope you have a great week or reading too!

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  13. Happy blogiversary! I'm not sure who had more fun when you and your husband had your getaway - Mouse and grandma's time together sure sounds like fun but that hotel & bookstore also look great!

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    1. Lisa - Thanks! I think we all had the same amount of fun in the end. :-)

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  14. Happy tenth! It's hard to believe it's been so long. My ninth will be in October. I don't blog as well or as often as I once did, but it's still something to have stuck with it this long. All these book lovin' people keep bringing me back! =)

    Mouse is getting so big! Those goodbyes never get any easier, but it's a lucky thing there are always more things to do and people to meet and befriend just around the corner, to keep along with the old friends, of course.

    Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Megan - Thank you! Nine years already! We've been around a long time, haven't we? And we are still at it.

      Yes, Mouse is growing so fast. She's all big girl now--even with some of the attitude. LOL

      I hope you have a great week too!

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  15. Congratulations on 10 years! That's amazing! I love seeing all your different headers. Sounds like you had a lovely week. I'm glad Mouse is so excited about her new school and the night out with your husband sounds wonderful. That bookstore just makes me want to go browse! Have a great week!

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    1. Katherine - Thank you! I know there are more, but they are probably tucked away in another file somewhere. Mouse is very happy so far with the summer program. They're really wearing her out during the day too, which has made bedtime easier in some respects--but not so much in others. We're working on getting her to bed earlier, but it's hard since we get home so late and then still have to eat dinner. :-(

      I hope you have a good week too!

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  16. Wow, 10 years, so wonderful! I remember your blog under the last 3 banner headers, not sure of the years. I've been blogging for about 5-6 years, but not consistently through that time, and with 4 different blog titles(!).

    I enjoy chatting with you about your books (mostly similar taste to mine) and your family, so keep it going for as long as you are able, or interested in doing! :)

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    1. Rita - Thank you! It doesn't seem possible it has been that long. My blogging frequency has definitely ebbed and flowed over the years.

      I enjoy chatting with you about books too, and I've enjoyed getting to know you. Even though we've never met in person, it's cool to think we don't live so far away from each other!

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  17. Happy Ten Years! That's amazing. I've only been blogging for eight years, but I hardly count the first one, as I didn't really "connect" until Year II.

    I am impressed that you have all the headers you've used! But I guess it would be easy enough to do that...I have another story, since I've had LOTS of blogs. LOL.

    Your getaway looks wonderful. Your mention of The Man of La Mancha took me back to seeing it in 1970, in Sacramento, in the "Theater in the Round."

    Love those bookstores!

    Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - Thanks! Eight years of blogging is nothing to sneeze at. :-) That's pretty good too.

      I couldn't find some of my old headers, but I probably posted more than was warranted here as it was. :-) You do have a lot of blogs! I admire your ability to keep up with them all!

      Was it at the Music Circus you saw La Man of La Mancha? I love the music circus. I've had the opportunity to see a number of shows there, although nothing recently and much later than when you were there.

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  18. Happy Blogiversary! I am pretty sure we have known each other for most of them!

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  19. Congratulations on such a special blogiversary .... and a sweet anniversary too :)

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  20. What a week Mouse has had! It's good that she's ready to start at her new program. That can be tough on kids. I love your family photos! I wish I had those kinds of things from both of my grandfathers (Navy and Army). Your date night sounds fabulous - and that bookstore!

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    1. Charlie - She had a very busy week. :-) She seems to be transitioning very well so far. The staff at the summer program said she has been very sociable and wants to join in all the activities. She's certainly coming home exhausted at the end of the day!

      I'm so glad my mom and uncles saved all those photos that their mom collected. I have long been interested in the family's history. All of it is such a treasure.

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  21. Congrats on 10 years! I think I actually remember most of your headers.
    The theatre,lobby and bookstore all look neat. Altho the alley way/sidewalk leading to the bookstore looks alittle narrow.
    What part of Iowa was your grandpa from? I'm from central Iowa.
    This week I read Hattie Big Sky, and Our Souls at Night. I enjoyed both of them. Just started listening to Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and it seems pretty good.
    Glad you were able to get away, and sounds like Mouse and your mom had alot of fun.
    Have a great week!

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    1. Carla - Thank you! My headers have changed a whole lot over the years--variations of the same, really. At least not when lined up like that. When I first posted them they seemed so different. Hah

      Yes, the alley leading to the bookstore entrance is a bit long and narrow. It definitely requires single file walking when with someone else. It's kind of cute though, the bookstore being tucked away like that. :-)

      I've been wanting to read Our Souls at Night. I am glad to hear you enjoyed it! Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library sounds like a good one too.

      I am glad we were able to get away too. We so rarely can. I hope you have a great week too!

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  22. Wow, so many cool things - Happy Bloggiversary and Anniversary! Your special celebration with your husband sounds wonderful and how cool that Mouse got to have a sleep over with her grandma. Talk about making special memories. Also love the photos from your family that you shared.

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    1. Iliana - Thank you! It has been a busy and eventful month. :-)

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  23. Congrats on the 10 years. Funny how fast time seems to go. Sounds like you have been very busy enjoying life.
    sherry @ fundinmental My Sunday Memes

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    1. Sherry - Thanks! I think the older I get, the faster time seems to go. And here my daughter wants time to go faster . . .

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  24. Happy Blogiversary! How wonderful that you were able to have a getaway! Sleep overs with grandma are the best!! I am looking forward to having then with my grandson.

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    1. 'Nise - Thank you! It was nice to have some "us" time for a change. :-) My mom loved being able to spend time with Mouse like that. :-)

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  25. Congrats on 10 years Wendy, that is impressive. I'm 8 years and still reading lots but losing me blogging enthusiasm:(

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    1. Diane - Thank you! Maybe a little break might help? Sometimes that's what works for me when I start feeling that way.

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  26. I totally agree with you on the blog hop question I absolutely love too post covers on my post as well. Thank you for stopping by my Blog Hop.

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    1. Katiria - I like seeing covers on posts about books! I hope you have a good week!

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  27. Happy Blogiversary and Anniversary, Wendy! I sure remember all your blog templates! Ah, how time flies isn't it?

    And thanks for sharing the pics! I'm glad you and your husband had a wonderful time, and that Mouse spent some good time with her grandmother. Those are indeed precious moments! :)

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    1. Melody - Thanks, Melody! Sometimes I wish we could slow time down . . . It's been a month for making happy memories. :-)

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  28. First, happy bloggiversary. 10 years! Congratulations on a great milestone and a great blog.

    This past weekend, I read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and Charcoal Joe, the 14th Easy Rawlins mystery, by Walter Mosley. Both were good, each in its own way. As for watching, we just finished the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix. If you have Netflix, it's worth checking out. If not, it will be worth waiting for when it comes out on DVD.

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    1. Bryan - Thank you! Your too kind. Walter Mosley is one of those authors on my must read list. I am glad you enjoyed Charcoal Joe and Invisible Man. I definitely will be checking out Stranger Things. One of my coworkers is hooked after her son introduced the show to her.

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  29. Hi, Wendy!!

    I meant to comment earlier, but got a little bogged down.... :(

    First of all, HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!!!! WOOT, WOOT!!!! Has it been TEN years already?! OMG!! You're a true veteran, girl!! Lol. CONGRATS TO YOU!!! I wish I had come across your blog a LOT sooner than I did!! :)

    Blogging is a very rewarding experience, especially when there are SUPER NICE bloggers like you in the blogosphere! So here's to MANY MORE YEARS!!!

    We certainly agree on the inclusion of book covers in blog posts. I put images in most of my posts, but there are times I don't include book covers because, as you say, I'm just mentioning books "in passing". But of course book reviews (as well as blog tour posts) are a different story. (Unintended, but 'intended' pun, lol.) And I also agree that including book covers (as well as other types of images) keep blog posts from being boring.

    How WONDERFUL that you and hubby were able to get away for some quality time together! And I LOVE the bookstore pics!! Wish I could visit....

    It's also GREAT that Mouse had such a nice time with Grandma. How sweet and adorable! I'm sure your mom had a lot of fun, and Mouse, too!

    The scrapbook and photos are AWESOME!! Family history is such a precious, precious thing! You are very lucky to have these memories!!

    I'm going to check out all of your new reads, as they are all new to me. They all look very interesting!

    Good-byes are never easy on anyone.....but it's great that you and Mouse will be staying in touch with her daycare teacher, and the teacher's family! And I love that Mouse can't wait for her upcoming summer camp adventure! :)

    Thanks for sharing all of your bookish and family news!! I always look forward to reading this post!!

    Thanks as well for stopping by and commenting on my own BBH post!! Hope you and the family are having a FABULOUS week!! HUGS!!!! <3 :)

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    1. Maria - Thank you! I had to keep checking the year to make sure it really had been 10 years. It's hard to believe, I know.

      I hope I am able to make it to the bookstore again soon-ish. It really is a treasure. I'm not sure how I didn't know about it before.

      My mom loves spending time with Mouse and Mouse adores her. We may be visiting with her other set of grandparents this next month. It's still questionable whether that will happen.

      My dad was a huge Louis L'Amour fan and so was my husband's grandfather. We both decided maybe it was time to try some of his books.

      I hope you are enjoying your week! It's going my fast. Thanks for your kind words!

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  30. Congratulations on the blogiversary! Ten years is a real accomplishment, congrats on sticking with blogging for a decade!!

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    1. Jane - Thank you! There were many close calls when I wondered if I'd make it this long. :-)

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  31. Congratulations on ten years and for your wedding anniversary! Your time away looks lovely, great accommodation and oh wow to that bookshop! Glad Mouse will be able to see her friends again and that she has the camp to look forward to at this time.

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    1. Charlie - Thank you! The hotel was so lovely. It's like a maze inside. Although, our room was pretty easy to find. Our room was overlooking the public library. :-)

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  32. Congratulations on both your anniversaries. That Inn & little bookstore look great.

    Sunday Summary #12

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    1. Jeanene - Thank you! The Inn is gorgeous. It's huge and a bit of a maze, but, oh so worth the stay. And the bookstore was so cozy. I loved it. :-)

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  33. Late to the party, but genuine with my sentiments! Congratulations on the BIG blogiversary! Keep the posts coming. I read them - just don't comment much anymore. And I remember most of those headers! Congrats, again!

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