I'm a Slowpoke, But They're Finally Done

The dining room curtains are done and hung.

It's difficult to get good photos with my old, simple camera because the light from the windows is overpowering, but not in real life. We love this room! I call it my conservatory.

What I Don't Do and When I Read

One of my readers left a comment (thank you, Out of My Window) on my previous post that she wished she had as much time as I do for reading. Well, we all have the same 24 hours each day, we just chose to use the time differently. I wish I got as much quilting done as some bloggers I know!

So here's a list of some of the things I don't do that allows me more time to read:

1. I don't go to work--that is to earn an income. I'm a stay at home wife, mother, homemaker. I'm so grateful my husband has a military pension, and is a hard-working man who earns a good income so I can stay home. Many are not so blessed.

2. I don't watch television (or any regular shows on streaming services). I watch movies while I iron, or other mindless tasks such as folding clothes; and occasionally I watch a specific short series, such as Masterpiece Theater; but we don't have cable, dish, or satellite service. I use my daughter's Netflix account, and I pay for a Korean show streaming service. When I feel "lonely" in the house I turn on music, either my Ipod or cds on the stereo.

3. I don't garden, or have fruit trees--Not that I wouldn't like to, but I just don't do it. I have a small flower garden, and a big compost bin, but I've never lived anywhere long enough to establish a garden or put in fruit trees.

4. Having no source of free fruits or vegetables, I don't bottle my own food. It's much cheaper for me to buy canned goods.

5. I don't participate in social media: Facebook (I check my account less than once a week), Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, or whatever other time waster is out there. I use my phone for telephone calls and texting, sometimes I take a photo. That's it. I have a laptop that I use for all my other needs and I have specific times that I check email, news, weather, blogs, etc. 

When I Read

I read at meals when I'm alone, which is most of the time for breakfast and lunch. I read after my daily chores are done, or while I'm waiting for something. I read at night before I go to sleep. Every night!

I'm also a fairly fast reader, especially of fiction so I can get through many books. I read non-fiction slower generally because I'm checking footnotes or looking something up in the dictionary or other reference books.

I love to read! More than I love to do anything else. So it makes sense that I make time for it. You don't have to feel bad that you don't read as many books as I do. You probably do a lot more of something else that I don't do. And isn't that wonderful? I'll share what I read, and you can share what you do and we'll all be enriched.

What I Read in December

December was a busy month, but I got in some reading to relax and continue learning.

1. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport; Interesting, engaging and informative book about scaling back on using social media, the internet, and other electronic means of communication or relaxing. I read it to see if it would be beneficial to my children and I highly recommend it!

2. Nothing to Make a Shadow by Faye Cashett Lewis; Memoir of a homesteading family in South Dakota in the first quarter of the 20th century. I read it to remind myself of my many blessings, and to help me through the dark and cold of winter.

3. Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop, a collection of novellas by Shellay Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good,  Loree Lough. Light and sweet as a cinnamon roll, three little romances to lift the spirit.

4. Joseph Smith, the Prophet by Truman G. Madsen; A great read during the prophet's birthday month. I learned some things I hadn't known before, and felt a greater gratitude and love for the prophet of the restoration. Highly recommend!

5. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer; A Hanukkah romance written by a Jewish woman, as delightful as it was unrealistic, but that's why we love romances.

6. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham; an old favorite. I also watched the film based on the book, "Christmas with the Kranks." Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are fabulous in the comedy with a heart.

7. Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella; what would a month be without reading something of Sophie's. Becky is quite the character and she comes through delightfully in this Christmas story.

8. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote; I remember hearing an audio version of this on the radio years ago and always loved it. Finally bought a copy for my library. I think it will be an annual delight.

9. Precious & Grace by Alexander McCall Smith; another installment in the ongoing series of The No. 1 Detective Agency. Grace can sometimes drive me crazy, but Precious is always able to see the good in her.

10. The Washington Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard; Fascinating look at the role George Washington played in the founding of the United States, and what he understood about a national covenant with God similar to the one ancient Israel had. Highly recommend. 

I read a total of 120 books in 2021. Thirty-eight were non-fiction; twenty-six were new to me fiction; and fifty-six were old friends. 

My goal for 2022 is to read all the books on my "to be read" shelf (25 books) and double the number of non-fiction I read last year.  

What interesting books have you read?