December Book Review {2021}

December was a BUSY month. A LOT happened in December, more than usual. So my book list isn't so "grand" for December. BUT Thanks to audiobooks, I did get to finish a few!! 

Book 1 of the Left Behind Series. 

I read these back in college, and I just felt like I needed to read them again. It's funny how when you read the same books at different times in you life, you get different messages from them, or you connect to them in a different way. 

Not a Happy Family

This one was really good. It was about a rich family, who's parents were murdered. The three kids are prime suspects since they stand to inherit millions. It's told through the eyes of the three kids (who are adults and have their own problems in life). In the end, there's a little twist, which is the kind of ending I like. BUT, I didn't really see the clues leading up to it, either. So not QUITE the psychological thriller I usually get to read. 

  

And last, but not least....

No Time Like the Future

I have always loved Michael J. Fox.  And ever since he has come public with his disease and I see how he doesn't give up on life, it makes me really respect him. This books just showed me even more how much determination he has in life. Such an inspiration.

Ok - so those are my December Books - Hope you find one or two that you might want to read! 

October Book Review {2021}

I've got quite the variety of books for you! Something from every genre almost...except one of my favorites; psychological thrillers. I just love a good page turner that stumps me at the end. But this month, I didn't get to one of those.

I've been in quite a book slump before this, having read a few duds (to me), but I'm happy to report I gave all of these 4 stars and one of them was my 1st 5 star of the year! 

That Summer

It was a story about 2 women who accidently cross paths - but then find out that they are connected in some ways. It took place in 3 different times of the girls' life, all stemming from one event in a summer long ago. You would think this would be a light chick lit, judging a book by it's cover...and author. I've read a few of her books now - but this one is a little deeper than that. I liked it! I gave it 4 stars. 

The Things We Cannot Say

Oh Boy. This one tugged at my heart. It takes place in 1942, during the war in Europe. The characters are Russian Refugees. It talk about life during the war, life in camps in Poland, surviving that life, and the life after. I was so emotionally involved with the characters I had a hard time stopping. SUCH a good book - my first 5 stars of the year!!

The Royal We 

Whew! I went from the intense book to this lighthearted book. I needed an emotional break. ha! This one definitely made me thing of the royal family we know today - Kate, Meghan, Harry, William... it's from the perspective of the American girl who is going through life with her twin (two totally different girls) and gets intertwined with the royal family. It was cute! 

Greenlights

Oh, boy. Matthew McConaughey. How I could listen to you talk all. day. long. He is SUCH a great storyteller. You HAVE to do this one as an audiobook. There is no other way to enjoy this book as it is meant to be. It was such a good book.

Your Perfect Year

I actually no idea what this book was about. It was a free one on KindleUnlimited. Turns out, it was actually translated into English, so there was a lot of German words and European references throughout the book, which I thought made it more interesting. It starts off with two characters, living two different lives, but their lives will cross, while Johnathon is following the planner he finds, to live his perfect life. 

Well, that's it for this this month's books! I'll be back next month with more.

Happy Reading! 
    

Summer Family Trip 2021 - Part 2

Day 5 - We left our first airbnb and headed east into blue ridge today.

We stopped at a moonshine distillery, had lunch by the water at Praters mill, took a hike at Fort Mountain Outlook, and then got to our new place.

Poor diesel didn't want to walk on the metal stairs, so Ron carried the 80 pound dog up and down all the stairs.

It's TOTALLY in the mountain, so a good 30 minute drive to the grocery store. But the girls are already playing the creek behind the house.

All I need now is a bottle of wine to drink down by the creek, dang it! Totally forgot to buy some at my grocery stop before we got here lol

Caroline drew this picture, and it is just melts my heart. I love this family picture!

Day 6

Today we ventured over to Helen.

In all honesty, it was meh.

Most of the shops are touristy shops (and bad ones) and it's not very big.

We did have lunch with a great view though, and Autumn and I rode the Georgia Mountain Coaster. That was fun.

I bet it'd a lot of fun in October though! If you like big crowds...which I don't. Lol. Soo....

Then we left and found a winery down the street...and there HAPPENED to be an antiques store right next door. So Ron went antiquing, while I did a wine tasting

And the Old Mill across the street was pretty cool too

Then we found the Babyland Cabbage Patch Nursery!! Haha... the girls were unimpressed, but I was excited to see it.

Topped off the day with yoga on the back porch of our airbnb which has a running creek next to it. That brought my yoga time to all new level of relaxing!

Day 7 -

We hiked Woody Gap trail to Preachers Rock. This was part of the Appalachian trail and we saw some people that had their packs on that were actually hiking the trail. I kind of want to do that one day! Not with kids though lol

The view at the rock was pretty amazing, and it was pretty easy 2 mile hike in and back.

Be still, my heart.

Then, after lunch, we headed to a tubing place down the road a bit. Since we waited to do it on a week day and we didn't do it in Helen, we pretty much had the river to ourselves. It was lovely.

Then we headed to downtown Blue Ridge. MUCH better than Helen, as far as downtowns go. We got there pretty late, and half the stores were closing, so maybe we'll go back earlier and then have dinner there.

Also, the Temps here are amazing and I may be falling in more love with the Georgia mountains. Lol

The mountains are in my blood, but the ocean is in my heart. I want them both!

Using his sandals as oars.

Ron got stuck on a rock - lol It was SO shallow. We knew someone was going to get stuck.

Day 8 -

Wow, this cabin in the mountain life is good for sleeping. Lol. I've been sleeping in until 730 and the girls didn't wake up until 830! I'm so not used to "late" mornings. Lol

Today we ventured up to Tennessee (were on the border again) to Clemmer Trail. It was a pretty easy 4.5 in and back with a waterfall for the girls to play. We love when hikes reward us with waterfalls or beautiful views!

I feel a little Dirty Dancing motif going on here. Lol

We love finding hear rocks, leaves, shells, wherever we go

Why did the Ross family cross the waterfall?? To get to the swimming area!

On the way home we stopped at the Ocoee Dam/picnic area...and you guessed it. Where there's water and rocks, that's where you'll find the girls. They would play on rocks and in water all day. We had to "force" them to leave lol

Can you spy Ron?? Lol

Day 9

Today we went to Dahlonega. The girls and I came here last year with my parents, and they wanted to go back to the creek to jump in the water. It looked just the same and we were able to refer back to last year's pictures to see where they jumped

Then, after lunch, we went on a 2.5 hour kayak trip. It started off strong, but you can see how it ended...with Ron doing most of the work, and Caroline enjoying the ride lol. We did see TONS of turtles and we even saw some deer crossing the river.

Day 10....

Today was our last day.

We just kind of shopped around...went to the same apple orchard we went to last time we were here a few years ago, then went to downtown Ellijay, had lunch at a park, went to a winery, shopped at downtown Blue Ridge, then had dinner at a marina.

Sad to go home, but I can't wait for a beach day, actually!