Hello Peoples! It is cold, really cold. There is a mean wind chill, and I don’t like it! How rude! We do have a few inches of snow outside. ⛄⛸

It’s also the last day of November! Where oh where did the month go???

Your Favorites At the Cottage In November ~

November 6, 2022 ~ O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

November 10, 2022 ~ Cold ~ Windy

November 2, 2022 ~ Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander

Currently Reading ~

Through Smoke And Sand

The Folly of Wishes by Corrie Hathaway

Recently, well almost every day, I make popcorn for the birds. Yes, many birds do eat popcorn. This one particular day, I made popcorn, set it down, and went in the mud room to put on my boots. When I returned the popcorn was gone. I thought, where did I put the popcorn??? I searched everywhere for said popcorn. I finally found it on the sofa, in the living room. I was puzzled. I didn’t remember going into the living room. I went to the mud room. Well, I grabbed the popcorn, took it outside and fed the birds.

Later that day, Rick confessed. He hid the popcorn! 🙄

Enjoy the season!

Much Love ~

Kathy

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Hello Peoples! It was a good day to have a good day! 😉 In the morning I went to the bakery, savored a hot chocolate whilst I read a book for a couple of hours. I like the rhythm of the bakery. It’s my favorite place to read away from home.

Rick brought up the Christmas tree whilst I was away. When I came home, I decorated it. We have so many boxes of decorations. My word! 😲 Most of the decorations, I re-wrapped and return them to storage. Our tree looks great! 🎄

Now I’m going to watch a Christmas movie. I think I’ll watch The Thin Man (1934). Don’t laugh. It does have a Christmas tree! *haha* There are even Christmas gifts!

Have a great evening!

Much love ~

Kathy

Esther Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt

A Dangerous Beauty Novel

Xerxes, king of Persia, is a pagan ruler. I can’t say he was unlikable. However, he was responsible for horribly brutal offences. My word! Well, one day he calls for the beautiful, young women in the land to be brought to the palace. He wants to choose a queen among the ladies. Hadassah, a young Jewish girl, is among the ladies taken against her will, to the palace. There are months of preparation before a woman can be presented to the king. Well, the day does arrive when Hadassah aka Esther is presented to the Xerxes. Esther wins the king’s heart, and she becomes queen of Persia. Throughout the story, she keeps her true ethnic identity a secret, as she is uncertain how the palace feels in regard to Jewish people.

Evil is definitely afoot. A man full of treachery hates the Jews. His hate for Jewish people simmers and he threatens to destroy all the Jewish people in Persia! Through her cousin Mordecai, Queen Esther learns of this evil plan and decides she must take action. Action that could end her life!

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:12-14 ~ NIV

I love the story of Queen Esther. You can find it in the Old Testament, and I highly encourage you to read it.

I liked this book. The author transports the reader to a very different time and place. I was given a good look into the palace of King Xerxes. I was shocked at much that transpired throughout the story. I don’t really have a word that sufficiently describes the manner in which the King treated many of these people. However, he was known for having a great many people from different walks of life living in his kingdom. The Jewish people were one example.

The book is written at a good pace. It moves along quickly, and the chapters are short. I came away from Queen Esther’s story with a clear look at the circumstances she lived in and what she faced as queen. Highly recommend.

Happy Reading!

Wig ~

Hello Peoples! I hope you are warm and cozy. I just crawled out of my warm blankets. I’m enjoying a cup of assam tea.

Our humble home is happy, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings yesterday! 😉 Life is good.

A few days ago, Rick and I were at Target. We exited our vehicle; we were walking to the entrance when Rick noticed a black wig on the ground in the parking lot. He said out loud as he circled the nasty, dirty thing ~

It’s ALIVE. It’s ALIVE.

Frankenstein (1931)

Never a dull moment with Rick. 🙄

Currently Reading ~

Esther Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt

A Dangerous Beauty Novel

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I am so ready. Rick eats turkey. I eat stuffing. We watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and the football game.

I am thankful for 2022 ~

Health! I was sick for so long earlier this year. While I was treated, we learned I have allergies to a couple of things I didn’t know I was allergic too. The good news, I always have a companion on the journey, walking with me, caring, nurturing and loving me. I have wonderful friends who prayed for me and now I am so much better.

A BIG surprise, a wonderful blessing that I am still speechless over ~ Rick and I went out for breakfast one morning. Whilst we were eating, someone in the restaurant paid for our breakfast! What a surprise!

My big brother came for a visit. I love my big brother. He’s two years older than me and I have fond memories of him as children. He could be annoying too. *haha* He taught me how to tie my shoes when we were kids. That is such a fond memory for me. He’s left-handed and I’m right-handed, so I have always tied my shoes in an interesting manner.

My sister lives on the west coast. We text one another frequently and have so much fun! She is a blessing in my life.

Friends! I have a friend who spoils me. She feeds me and waters me *hehe* and sometimes acts goofy with me. What more could a friend ask for???

And! I’m thankful for all of you!

Have a great week! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Much love ~

Kathy

The Wall by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Oh my word! This mystery was very good. It kept me guessing to the very end! I knew from early on who was going to be killed, however, I didn’t know there would be so many suspects, surprises, twists and turns. In spite of all the abundant clues, I didn’t have any idea who the killer was!

Arthur and Marcia are brother and sister. I liked both of them. They both did well when they faced an extremely difficult situation. Arthur was married to the lovely Juliette. She was trouble. They divorced and Arthur remarried. Marcia lives in the family home, Sunset House, in Rhode Island. One day, six years after the divorce, Juliette arrives at Sunset House needing money. Arthur refuses her request and Juliette is discovered missing. And then, a body is found.

There is plenty in this mystery to keep the reader thinking, searching and trying to solve said crime. There are more crimes to come.

There are bells ringing. Someone is skulking around on the property at Sunset House. The hospital wing of the house is being searched. A mysterious artist arrives on the scene. He’s an enigma. And! There is someone amongst the small community who is very dangerous.

Sheriff Russell Shand and Marcia work together to discover the identity of that nefarious person or persons unknown. I could go on and on about this mystery. I really liked it. I liked Sheriff Shand. He was a great guy and an excellent sleuth. I thought he was smart, and he knew how to piece together a difficult puzzle. Marcia was a pretty good sleuth too. She was trying to protect her brother and find a killer. She was new to investigations, but she was bright.

If you like a good mystery. I highly recommend The Wall!

Happy Reading!

Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin

Good morning, Peoples! It’s Monday! It snowed here all-day Saturday; however, it didn’t accumulate. It is cold. The high today will be 33 degrees. I have a few errands to run today, so crank up the heat in the vehicle, here I come!

Finished Reading ~

Flora loves Christmas! We’re talking Deck the Halls, Ho Ho Ho, candy canes and mistletoe! Flora believes she has the ah, well, almost perfect job at a Christmas shop. She has a horrible boss, and she is fired! Her boss wasn’t ho ho ho at all, so it was inevitable that Flora is sacked. Flora has a best friend, enter Livvie. Livvie gives Flora an idea and the two set the works in motion. Soon, Flora is traveling to Lapland to open her own Travelling Christmas Shop. Go Flora! We’re all cheering for you!

This book was delightful! Fun! Crazy! Hilarious! Need I go on??? I loved Flora and Livvie. They were such fun. I want them to live in our neighborhood. Of course, there is a man. 😉 A man who doesn’t like Christmas??? Who knew??? Anyway, if you like romantic comedy and Christmas this might be the book for you.

Happy Reading!

Stay warm!

Much Love ~

Kathy

Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise

Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise (1940)

Sidney Toler Victor Sen Young Marjorie Weaver Lional Atwell Leo G. Carroll

Cora Witherspoon Robert Lowery Harlan Briggs Claire Du Brey Charles Middleton

A nefarious person or persons unknown is strangling people! How rude! A good friend of Charlie Chan’s (Sidney Toler) from Scotland Yard was strangled. When Charlie Chan along with his number two son Jimmy (Victor Sen Young) board a ship sailing from Honolulu to California the killings continue! Jimmy Chan, always wanting to help his famous father, continues to trip over his own feet in an attempt to be useful. Jimmy is my favorite of Charlie Chan’s many kids.

This is a good mystery. I didn’t solve it.

Enjoy!

Cold ~ Windy ~

Hello Peoples! It is really cold here today. I went outside for just a couple of minutes, to feed the birds. When that cold wind hit me, I quickly finished what I was doing, ran in the house and made me a cuppa! ⛸⛄

Movies I’ve Watched ~

To Brave Alaska

Alyssa Milano Cameron Bancroft Winston Rekert

This is a good film. I liked it. I had never heard of it. It does have some adult content in it.

Roger Lewis (Cameron Bancroft) and his girlfriend, Denise Harris (Alyssa Milano) are stranded in Alaska. The trip turns into a survival story.

Have you seen this film? What did you think? Apparently, it’s based on a true story.

And then, Rick and I watched The Ghost Writer. Another good film.

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Ewan McGregor Pierce Brosnan Olivia Williams

The Ghost Writer (Ewan McGregor) is hired to write the memoirs of Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) a British Prime Minister. He soon discovers secrets, secrets that put his life in danger.

I remember when this film was at the theater. I wanted to see it then but was unable to do so. I thought this film was very atmospheric. Dark nights, lonely roads, cloak and dagger, and Adam Lang and his wife (Olivia Williams) live in a secluded location. By the time the film was finished, I thought I wouldn’t have been surprised at anything, however, I was.

There is brief nudity in the film.

Currently Reading ~

Flora’s TRAVELLING CHRISTMAS SHOP by Rebecca Raisin

Stay warm. Drink hot chocolate.

Much love ~

Kathy

The Classics Club ~ Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

I’m sorry, I know there are many people who like this book. I didn’t like it. When I decide to read a book, I go into the story with an optimistic attitude, but this story was confusing nonsense. I think it is definitely over-praised.

It’s supposedly one author’s fictional account of the story of Mr. Rochester’s first wife. She is the crazy lady in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classic stories. Wide Sargasso Sea is set in the Caribbean. There is a lot of racial tension and hatred. Bertha or Antoinette is a Creole girl living in Jamaica. At a young age, her family are victims of violence.

In the midst of the poorly written work, the impression I get is, she went nuts because she wasn’t loved enough, and Mr. Rochester had an affair. Poppycock! I shake my head.

If you do read this book, read Jane Eyre first, although I’m not sure it will do much good.

Happy Reading

Happy Reading!

https://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

Well! As my neighbor was known to say, “never in all my born days.”

O Caledonia is a Gothic, coming of age story of Janet, a misunderstood girl, growing up in the wilds of Scotland. Right away, the author grabbed my attention by informing me, Janet is dead. While reading the book, I thought everyone was a suspect, however, this is not a murder mystery. After the reader learns of Janet’s death at the age of sixteen, the author writes the young girl’s life story, from birth to death. Janet is intelligent and she loves books

With the exception of Janet, the characters in the story are not likable. She does have siblings, but they were unimpressive. The nanny is horrible, the parents don’t seem to know their own daughter and the girls at the school she eventually attends are terrible. Janet did seem to love her grandparents and her Aunt Lila. Her grandparents die early in the story and Lila’s story is tragic. Janet and her family live in a crumbling castle. There is atmosphere, a creepy gardener and animals ~ dead and alive. Gruesome.

I personally didn’t like the story; however, it is well-written, and the author grabbed and held my attention.

Happy Reading!