January - The Longest Month Of The Year

Doesn't it seem like January just goes on and on?  Maybe that is why I managed to read 8 books this month, probably a personal record.  I haven't always kept track but as I get older I hate seeing a book and then wonder if I have read it before.  Most times I can tell from the brief on the back but sometimes I get a couple of chapters in before realizing I have already been there and done that.  Now I keep track of Authors and Titles on my phone in lists (I also keep my ongoing grocery list there, so handy).  In 2017 I read 27 books in total.  I think 2018 might be the year of reading.

8 Books Read this month:

Camilla Lackberg - The Lost Boy
Janet Evanovich - Wicked Charms
Louise Penny - Still Life
Louise Penny - The Long Way Home
Sue Grafton - X
PJ Parrish - A Thousand Bones
PJ Parrish - Paint It Black
Peter May - Entry Island


I have been looking for some new authors recently, and always try and pick up a few books by my favorite tried and true authors.  I mostly read fiction mysteries.  I love a good British mystery but recently discovered Camilla Lackberg, a Swedish author.  She writes very dark mysteries but I love them and am on the hunt for more as have only read 3 of them so far.  This month my new favorite author is Canadian Louise Penny.  She writes fabulous mysteries set in Quebec.  If you have never wanted to go to Quebec before reading her you will want to after, the food, the landscapes and the people!  They are very popular here and almost impossible to find on the second hand market.  I found one early January and this past weekend found three in one spot!

I was in the middle of Sue Grafton's X this month and heard the sad news of her passing due to cancer.  She was a great writer and will be missed.  I have one book left to read of hers, Y,  and she died partway through writing Z.  Her family will not hire ghost writers to complete that book, Sue was against that and they are abiding by her wishes.  Those two books are the first PJ Parrish books I have read, they were good so now will be on the hunt for more.  PJ Parrish is actually a psuedonym for writing sisters Kelly Nichols and Kristy Montee. They've written a lot of books so I can look forward to more good reading from them.

I also ready my first Peter May book, liked it and will look for more of those.  As for Janet Evanovich, I have always loved her books as they are fun and fluffy reading, no seriousness to be had, sometimes just what the Dr ordered.

Buddy's spine stripe (yes, he sleeps with us)

Yesterday we took our bi-monthly trip to Nanaimo to have Buddy groomed.  His dog sitter is also a full time groomer and she does such a great job we continue to go to her.  When we arrived his full sister from his litter 3 years ago was being groomed, so cute.  She is smaller than Buddy, he is much longer and leaner but still very cute and I immediately recognized her.  At age 3 we have discovered Buddy is what they call a blue poodle. One that is born black, often with a couple of white toes and a tuxedo chest of white hair.  At age 3 he suddenly developed a dark black stripe down his spine.  I was a little alarmed thinking it might be a medical condition but no, it is a type of poodle with all of his markings.  He also looks a little brown in sunlight and is slowly lightening up to more of a grey than black.  No matter his colours or stripes we love him to bits, but now we know why he is the colours he is.

We also stopped in at Pier One as I received a gift certificate there from one of the kids for Christmas.  I fell in love with and bought two of these bowls:

borrowed Pinterest photo

They have fish, seahorses, crabs, an octopus, starfish and coral.  Our life here is so connected to the Ocean, I see it almost daily and all the wildlife that go with it above and below the surface.  I might just have to buy a mug the next time we go as still have room on the gift card.

I start every day off at zero steps and do my best to do 10,000 steps a day.  Other than the one fibro flare day mid-month I have hit my target.  Last week I did 75,276 which was difficult since I didn't leave the house for two of those days and the weather was miserable most days.  The treadmill is my friend and our ancient Ipad (2nd generation) with Netflix is my walking companion on crappy days and Buddy and hubby are my walking companion on good weather days.  I can't wait for Spring when the rains leave and I can get all of my steps outside naturally.

I managed to stay on my new grocery budget this month - the budget set at $575 and I spent $574.61.  I stocked up at the last minute on cheap eggs - they normally don't go lower than $2.50 a dozen but one of the expensive stores had them as a loss leader for $2 a dozen so I spent the balance of the budget on those.  The cupboards are full although I will go to the grocery store later in the week to stock up on produce.

I am calling it a wrap for January, the longest month of the year - onwards to February!