O is for Oranges

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Oranges

My choice:

The Orange Blossom Special--Betsy Carter

The letters just keep getting tougher! This one came to me since this was a recent read. The images of the oranges stuck in my mind.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

N is for Nails

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Nails

My choice:

Sunshine Nails--Mai Nguyen

One of the letters that proved tricky! I mainly chose this because I have this book at home (not read yet). I know that the fingernails are not very dominant on the cover, but this was the best I could find. A nail salon is the setting.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

M is for Matches

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Matches

My choice:

Under the Same Stars--Libba Bray

I was having trouble deciding on a word for this one, until I remembered seeing something online about matches on covers. That gives a lot to choose from. I remembered reading this book last summer and how much I had enjoyed it.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

L is for Letters

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item:

Letters

Letters, in the sense of mail that is. A lost art.

 

My choice:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Flashing back to this book is how I chose this one. This was another tricky letter for this challenge. I also have read a great number of epistolary books. I could mostly find letters that were in envelopes on covers. I will accept this.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

K is for Knives

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item:

Knives

My choice:

Strawberry Shortcake Murder--Joanne Fluke

This is a rather tricky letter, but having read a great number of culinary mysteries made me decide on knife for this letter. This is one such series I have read. I am waiting to see if there is a new book coming. These book contains recipes. I've been tempted by some of them, but a lot of them involve baking, and I don't currently have a working one. And some of the challenges I'm doing this year have the prompt "knife on the cover."

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

J is for Jewelry

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Jewelry

My choice:

Blue Bloods--Melissa de la Cruz

One I chose from those I have already read, as noted on my Goodreads page. It's been over 10 years since I read this book, and it's one of those series I haven't tried to finish. I now don't know if I need to re-read this first one if I choose to read the next one. Another item that offers many choices. There was at least one other I had in mind for this one. All forms of jewelry are allowed.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

I is for Ice

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item:

Ice

My choice:

Between Shades of Gray--Ruta Sepetys

Ice in the form of snow, ice cubes, etc. I must admit I was hesitant about choosing this because of a certain organization currently in the news. I remembered how this title was easily confused with a similarly titled erotic romance book (I think you know what that one is). The opening line for Between Shades of Gray reads " They took me in my nightgown," which was enough to add to the confusion of the two titles. Read here.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

H is for Houses

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Houses

My choice:

Dear Santa--Debbie Macomber

Having used this cover in this post is what made me choose this one. Again, a lot to choose from, including at least two I have at home (one already read, one to be read). For this one, it can be all or part of a house (as you can see in this one).

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

G is for Game Pieces

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item:

Game Pieces

My choice:

Breaking Dawn--Stephenie Meyer

It was hard to find an item for this letter. But when I remembered the chess piece on the cover of this one, I chose game pieces. And this is one everyone is familiar with. Any sort of game piece is acceptable.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

F is for Flowers

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Flowers

My choice:

How to Walk Away--Katherine Center

A bit of an obvious choice, I thought, but one that's easy to find. But it has so much to choose from! I had so many in my Goodreads list that I had read and many I want to read! This was one of my more recent reads, so it was fresh in my mind.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

E is for Eyewear

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Eyewear

My choice:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette--Maria Semple

Another thing I have seen a lot of on covers. I once noted how it always seems to be girls wearing glasses on covers, and that some show pictures or the title on the lenses. I still have my copy of this at home, and have read it twice. I also saw the movie twice. This is one thing that made me choose eyewear for the scavenger hunt, as well as many other books I have read (or have even just seen) with eye glasses on the cover, often dominating the cover artwork.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

Holiday Fun

 Here is some fun for today.

April Bookish Bingo

Here is the new card for April.

My Books:

1. Empire Falls--Richard Russo (4 squares): Not Finished Previous Month, Physical Book, Not in a Series, Character Drama
2. Andersen's Fairy Tales--Hans Christian Andersen (4 squares): Audiobook, Dangerous Abilities, Magic, Immortal
3. The Paradise Problem--Christina Lauren (8 squares): E-Book, Book Club, Brooding, Aunt/Uncle, Brooding, Free Space, Healer, Set in a City
4. Sang Spell-Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (2 squares): Shelf Love, Silhouette on the Cover
5. First Job--Jane Sorenson (2 squares): In a Series, Strong Friendship
6. The Black Stallion--Walter Farley (3 squares): Library Book, Pet, Cliffhanger
7. Killer Reunion--G.A. McKevett (2 squares): Police, Crime Boss

D is for Dresses

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. Note: If this link doesn't work, go the March archives to "More on the A to Z Theme this year." 

Today's item is:

Dresses

My choice:

The Selection--Kiera Cass

Dresses, especially fancy gowns, appear a lot on book covers. This is especially true for historical-fiction novels. It's been more than 10 years since I read this series. However, remembering the covers on each of the books is what made me choose this as the theme of the day, as well as having seen so many covers with fancy dresses. I know I have at least one such book at home that has yet to be read. I have discussed dresses on covers before, in this post from 2024.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

C is For Cats

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate.

Today's item is:

Cats

My choice:

How to Paint a Cat--Rebecca M. Hale (from the Cats and Curios Mystery series)

I just had to include this one since I like cats. So many books have had cats on the covers, whether it's a book about cat or a cozy mystery involving cats. I've read quite a lot of those mysteries. I chose this one: I had so many to choose from, it wasn't easy. I don't know why I chose this one. I have several books in the series and son't know why I'm still holding onto to them. Not exactly something I plan to re-read, but that's a matter for another time.  

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

B is for Books

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate.

Today's item is:

Books

My choice:

The Bookshop on the Corner--Jenny Colgan

There have been many books that have shown book(s) on the cover. And the topic is all about books, so this seemed an appropriate choice. This was hard to choose a cover for, as there have been so many books with book on the cover. I looked through my Goodreads history and this was the first that popped up. I liked that it has more than one books on the cover. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

A is for Apples

Here begins Blogging A to Z 2026. A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate.

For day one, the cover item is...

Apples 

My choice is:

Winter--Marissa Meyer  

This seems to be a popular cover item, that  seems to have taken off after the Twilight series. It's been years since I read this and the other fairy-tale retellings this series. I got each of these from the library. This somehow came to my mind first when deciding on a cover with an apple. This is a Snow White retelling, so it's only natural an apple would appear on the cover. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

The Month Ahead

It's almost the end of March. I got all my A to Z posts written and scheduled, and am looking forward to seeing comments and to seeing others' posts as well. A lot of people have signed up. One blogger is doing an 80s theme--one I'll be reading for sure!

As usual, the A to Z will post every day except Sundays. And once again, I'm not sure how often I will be on the blog in April outside of A to Z.  If I choose to do any other posts, I will try to limit them to Sundays. I've not been posting at the Thursday 13 much lately, but will likely skip it next month, returning in May. As fas as the Book Blog Discussion Challenge goes, I may be able to count my A to Z posts, but am not sure about that. A lot of posts to link, and I don't know if they'll count as discussions. 

No Kings 3.0

I didn't get any pictures or videos this time, as I only drove by after stopping at the local Ace Hardware on the way to pick up a friend. I honked as I passed them. Once again the protest was in front of the  local Safeway. And again, the former Kmart lot was packed was cars, the most it's gotten since the last protest, which occurred last October when Spirit Halloween was set up in the building. And as about as many as there were at the first protest last June.

I went looking for pictures on a Facebook group for what's happening in my town but can't seem to find any. Some friends posted pictures on their feeds, mostly coming from protests in nearby counties. Here are some I got:

Click here and here to see pictures and videos of the last two protests. 

And today, I found this protest picture on Facebook.

Been off for a While

Over the last few days I was having computer issues. I won't to go into the details, but will say that technology can be daunting. But I'm glad to be back. Now I can catch up on drafting my A to Z posts. I've started scheduling some of them, even though I still have some to draft. I'm just a little stuck on some letters.

And the hot weather in my area has continued. It's barely the start of spring, but it's already feeling like summer. 

Hot Weather!

It's only March, and barely the start of spring. Yet in my neck of the woods, it's been hot this past week! Quite unusual for this time of year. 

This is a historic heatwave. Feeling more like summer now. The hotter is gets, the more tired I get! It's been hard to do some things these past few days, like cooking. And except for drafting A to Z posts, I haven't done much writing this week. I get sleepy from reading sometimes, but now I can blame the weather more right now!

Our group at work took a field trip on Wednesday to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was not quite as hot over there as it was in my town. We were inside most of the time, but sat by the beach nearby for lunch, in a shade area. We even stopped  at some of the stores nearby on Cannery Row. A lot of walking and I came home exhausted, but it was a great trip! It was good way to get away from the heat in our town.

More on the A to Z Theme This Year

I have begun drafting my posts for the A to Z Blogging Challenge next month. The official sign-ups begin next week. As I said in my theme reveal post, it will be a book-cover scavenger hunt. 

In the past, I have had trouble with linking services (see here), so I have decided to allow links to books in the comments. Other general rules:

1. You cannot post the same cover that is in my post, and cannot use the same cover for more then one letter.
2. Since comments are moderated, you will not know (in most instances) what cover others are going to post, so do not worry about possibly posting the same book as another person.
3. The number of the item on the cover does not matter. If the item of the day is in the plural, the cover may have one or more than one of that item.
4. The link may be from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites. Just mentioning the tile in the comments will also be acceptable.
5. Even if you do not want to the join the scavenger hunt, you are still welcome to comment on the posts in general.
6. Commenting and/or participating is open to all, not just those joining the A to Z Blogging Challenge.

Also read this.

Good luck to all, whatever you decide to do.

13 Phone Cartoons

Colleen at The Thursday 13 holds a weekly blogging prompt where bloggers make a list of 13 things on Thursdays. The topic is for you to choose. The blog host doesn't have any official graphics to display on the Thursday 13 posts, so I decided to whip one up myself. 🙂  

After seeing this post on Mikra's blog today, I got this idea for the topic for today. Also, I just got a new phone, my first iPone. It's not a current one, but it was good deal and will work for the time being. Some of these are old and some are new to me. This first one I took from the link above.