A Month in Summary - February 2025

Little Whale Cove

Depoe Bay, Oregon

February 2025

So how is everyone? Spring is just around the corner and while many dislike Daylight Savings Time, I am looking forward to longer days, if only to get outside for a second walk after dinner. We are beginning to have warmer temps, and hopefully the nasty wind and rain that we had last week (we lost power for a few hours) is now behind us.

In an effort to keep my sanity, yet remain informed, I'm cutting back on my social media feeds, only glancing at headlines and trying not to dive too deeply into Substack articles. I do still follow a couple of medical writers since I don't trust the media to keep us informed about any potential health issues, but other than that, Instagram and Facebook are not going to drain my mental health. More reading. More walking. More jigsaw puzzles. Maybe even more baking, which will make my husband and mother very happy. :)

I had a very good month of reading, although I didn't get much read in the way of audiobooks. My concentration was lacking, I listened to NPR too much, and the rainy weather kept me from walking outside. We'll see how it goes in March. But I read an outstanding novel for book club and can't wait to discuss it. It's one that I'd love to listen to on audio for a second reading. 

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

 

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger (4/5)

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz (4/5)

The Stolen Child by Ann Hood (3/5)

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (5/5)

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout (3.5/5)

The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell (4/5)

Movies & TV Series:

Maigret - "This [2016] crime drama is based on Georges Simenon's world-renowned fictional French detective Jules Maigret. Rowan Atkinson plays the legendary detective who features in 75 books written by Simenon." We loved this series!

Moonflower Murders - "... an adaptation of the 2020 mystery novel of the same name by British author Anthony Horowitz and the second novel in the Susan Ryeland series." We enjoyed watching The Magpie Murders series, but this one fell short of our expectations.

Deadwind (Season 3) - Meh. Dark, depressing, and probably one we won't remember in another week or so. 

McDonald & Dodds (Season 3) - We enjoy this lighter mystery series and plan to watch the next season later in the month.

The Bear (Season 3) - Definitely not as good as the previous seasons, but I'll tune in for the fourth season. Gotta see what happens! 

Puzzlemania:

Getting back to the occasional puzzle to ease my anxious mind!

Family:

My beautiful Auntie Sue passed away after a tough fight with cancer on February 17th. She was my dad's younger sister, and after moving to Oregon, Rod and I were fortunate enough to travel down to Santa Rosa on numerous occasions to spend time with both Sue and her husband Rob. Sue was such a smart, funny, kind-hearted woman and we will miss her beyond measure.

A Month in Summary - March 2024

Little Whale Cove

Depoe Bay, Oregon

March 2024

I don't know about all of you, but I am so happy it's finally spring! I love the longer days and while we'll still see some rain for the next few months, it won't be as often as during the winter. I hope! 

It was a busy month, but I managed to get back into a good routine of going to yoga three times a week, as well as playing pickleball at least once a week. Now that the weather has improved, I hope to return to my daily walks.

My reading has been going very well. I reread two novels, continued with a favorite mystery series, started a new series, read a memoir that's been lurking on a shelf for a couple of decades (!!), read a recent release, and was spellbound by a great suspense novel. No complaints about any of these!

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (4/5) - reread

The Benefit of Hindsight by Susan Hill (4/5)

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama (4/5) - reread

Day by Michael Cunningham (3/5)

The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg (4/5)

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (4/5)

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (4.5/5)

Movies & TV Series:

Leave the World Behind - I read this book (on audio) in 2022 and enjoyed it, but I'd forgotten some of the details until I started watching the movie on Netflix. I really like it! Ethan Hawke was great, as were the rest of the cast. The ending was just as ambiguous as the the one in the novel, but a small departure from the book. 

You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment - I enjoyed this documentary series, but came away from it the same as I did after watching What the Health. Basically, cherry-picked stats to support a pro-vegan lifestyle, which should be taken with a grain of salt.

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song - An enjoyable documentary featuring some of the great voices from the 80s. 

American Symphony - I went into this knowing nothing about either Jon Batiste or his wife, Suleika Jaouad. Apparently, I've been living under a rock. Worthwhile documentary about the creative genius of Batiste and his wife's battle with cancer.

MI-5 (Season Six) - Love this series! It gets a little convoluted with each new episode, but I enjoyed it and am eager to watch the next season.

Deadwind (Season One) - Entertaining police drama set in Finland. There are twelve episodes in the first season, so we'll take a break between seasons and get back to the show later this summer. 

Puzzlemania: 

Travel:

We are getting ready to head out in the RV for a trip down the coast to the Bay Area. I'm hopeful that we'll leave the rainy weather behind us in Oregon. I'm ready to break out my shorts and flip flops!

Other News:

We bought a new car! Rod has always wanted to own another sports car (we've owned a Karmann Ghia, Porsche 356C, MG Midget, MGA, Miata, and a Mini Cooper) so we decided to get a 2023 Mazda Miata (which is now called an MX-5). It is SO much fun! My brother was in town for the weekend and the weather couldn't have been nicer. Mark and Rod had a good time cruising around with the top down. Two cool dudes!

A Month In Summary - February 2024

Little Whale Cove

Depoe Bay, Oregon

February 29, 2024

I took the above photo between heavy showers and gusty winds yesterday afternoon. And now, as I sit at my desk, getting ready to post this monthly summary, the temperature has dropped and snow has begun to gently fall. I think it may be a while before it starts to feel like spring!

I had an outstanding month of reading with several winners. Actually, they were all winners, as you can see by the high ratings. I've been on a roll with mysteries and thrillers, re-read a favorite classic, finished two 400+ page chunksters, and thoroughly enjoyed my book club selection for February. Have you read any of these?

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (4.5/5)

The Comforts of Home by Susan Hill (4.5/5)

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf (4.5/5)

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson (4/5)

The Giver by Lois Lowry (4/5)

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane (5/5)

Movies & TV Series:

Anatomy of a Fall - I enjoyed this quite well, although it was a bit long. Great acting. Kept me guessing!

Lessons in Chemistry - I read the book in 2022 and thought it was good, but not great. The miniseries, however, is very good. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough! I could have watched eight more episodes.

Masters of the Air - Based on Donald Miller's book, this was an okay program to watch each week as a new episode dropped, but it doesn't compare to Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers. Time to watch that one again.

Monsieur Spade - I enjoyed watching Clive Owen in this mystery, but the show was confusing, and the translated dialogue kept getting hidden beneath the closed captions (for non-essential descriptions of birds chirping or music playing, for example). Overall, this is one to watch back-to-back and not once a week!

 

Vera (Season 9-12) - Such a reliable show! I do, however, wish that DS Aiden Healy had a bigger role as an true investigator and not just as Vera's sarcastic sidekick. He's become annoying with his three expressions of irritation, surprise or anger.

Living - I love Bill Nighy! Don't be put off by the slow pace. This is a wonderful, albeit quiet film. Beautiful cinematography. Outstanding performance by supporting cast. Bravo!

Puzzlemania:

Other News:

Last year I decided to jump on the bandwagon and try "Dry January." It wasn't too difficult to give up my daily glass (or two) of red wine, but as soon as the calendar page turned to February, I was back to my regular evening drink. This year, after reading about the Oregon Health Authority initiative "Rethink the Drink," I made the decision to stop drinking 99% of the time. I still enjoy a glass of wine with my Mah Jong pals, or when we're out with friends celebrating a birthday or retirement, but my daily wine consumption has ended as of January 1st. And to be completely honest, I don't miss it. I either have a seltzer with a slice of lime or plain old water. I'm sleeping more soundly and have shed a few pounds, as a result. I doubt I'll ever quit completely, but moderation in all things, right? 

No power outages this month, but we sure have had some rainy weather. 8.51 inches in February brings our "yearly" (beginning in September) total a whopping 58.93 inches! The ground is saturated and we are getting some gusty winds (up to 63 mph on Wednesday), but we haven't had any trees fall, which is a good thing!

My blogiversary came and went without any fanfare this month. More and more of my blogging friends have stepped away from their blogs (which makes me sad, but I understand), but I've been at it for 18 years and have no plans to stop. Thank you all who continue to read and comment on my posts. I appreciate each and every one of you!

A Month in Summary - January 2024

Little Whale Cove

Depoe Bay, Oregon

January 2024

With regard to our social calendar, January was a little more quiet than last December, but it was not without excitement. We had three power outages, the most severe lasting 52 hours! With outside temps dropping into the low 20s, the house became very cold (49 degrees), but we have a fireplace that isn't simply decorative, but burns actual wood, so we were able to keep the living room somewhat liveable. Our two power stations provided us with back-up energy for the refrigerator and various devices (we were even able to stream a show before our cable went out), but we now know what improvements need to be made, should we experience a similar storm. It's not a question of if, but when. 

Meanwhile, I read several books, and while I enjoyed a few quite well, there's only one that might land on my best of 2024 list. 

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

The Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill (4.5/5)

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson (4/5)

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (3/5)

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer (3.5/5)

In the Kitchen with A Good Appetite by Melissa Clark (4/5)

Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens (4/5)

Riding the White Horse Home by Teresa Jordan (3/5)

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (4.5/5)

Movies & TV Series (only including those we finished):

 

Slow Horses (Season 3) - Intense! I held my breath during the last two episodes! So happy to know there's at least one more season coming.

The Crown - I loved this final season and thought the last episode was a lovely tribute to the Queen (who passed away during the filming of the final season). I also thought Princess Di's death was handled well, and I enjoyed the glimpses into William and Kate's courtship. 

Shetland (Season 8) - It wasn't until the last few episodes that I finally came to care about this storyline. I wonder if there's going to be another season with the same cast...

Reacher (Season 2) - So good, but so unbelievable!

Nyad - I didn't care for Diana Nyad's attitude (superiority complex, selfish, but driven), but Annette Bening gives an outstanding performance. Jodie Foster is also excellent. I have to admit that I got choked up while watching the final scenes. 

Vera (Season 7 & 8) - Some of the episodes are pretty convoluted, but I still love this program!

Maestro - I enjoyed the second half of this movie much better than the first half. Bradley Cooper delivers a fine performance, but Carey Mulligan is the star of the film!

Puzzlemania:

First puzzle since last March! Only 500 pieces, so it didn't take us too long.

Survival Test:

As mentioned above, we relied heavily on our emergency supplies during our power outage. Our area got hit with an ice storm, which caused downed trees and power lines. We were lucky to lose power for only 52 hours. Some folks were without power for a full week!

We used this power station to watch an episode of Reacher before we needed to hook it up to our refrigerator. We have since purchased a second Vtoman for our furnace. 

Our tea kettle is in the RV, so I boiled water on our gas stove (thankful for that!) in order to make our morning coffee.

The sun came out, but it was still cold outside. Our poor peace lily didn't care for the indoor temps, but bounced back a few days later.

Pretty cozy in front of the fire, but cold everywhere else in the house!

With all that went wrong that day, I was grateful for this perfect avocado. Quesadillas and guacamole for dinner!

This smaller power station (Rocksolar) is handy for charging our various devices and portable charger power banks.

We have a safety committee in our neighborhood, and it was great to get updates about the power situation via our BaoFeng radio.

How was your month? Are you prepared for a natural disaster?