Penny's Passion: May 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

What I Read in May 2023

Hey there!  Thanks for popping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday today.  It's the first Thursday of the month and that means I share the books I read the previous month.  Then I'll give you a chance to link up and tell us what you're thinking about today.


Our library book club book for the month was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.  This tale invoked so many emotions in me.  I haven't read much of Maya Angelou's work and found this book to be wonderful.  It also sparked a good conversation at the book club.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.

Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.

I spent way too long reading The Clover Girls.  It was free on Kindle Unlimited and someone, somewhere, said this was a good book.  For me, it was just a strong okay.  My expectation was high and I kept thinking it was going to get better, but in the 392 pages, it was just stayed okay.  Here's the summary ~
Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood as girls in 1985, where over four summers they were the Clover Girls—inseparable for those magical few weeks of freedom—until the last summer that pulled them apart. Now approaching middle age, the women are facing challenges they never imagined as teens, struggles with their marriages, their children, their careers, and wondering who it is they see when they look in the mirror.

Then Liz, V and Rachel each receive a letter from Emily with devastating news. She implores the girls who were once her best friends to reunite at Camp Birchwood one last time, to spend a week together revisiting the dreams they’d put aside and repair the relationships they’d allowed to sour. But the women are not the same idealistic, confident girls who once ruled Camp Birchwood, and perhaps some friendships aren’t meant to last forever…

I listened to Go as a River by Shelley Read and absolutely loved it!  It reminded me a lot of Where the Crawdads Sing.  It was a lovely story and I was sad when it ended.  Not because the ending was sad, but because the book was over.  I hope they make this one into a movie.  Here's the summary ~
Seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash runs the household on her family’s peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Colorado―the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land and determined to live as he chooses.

Victoria encounters Wil by chance on a street corner, a meeting that profoundly alters both of their young lives, unknowingly igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known. She flees into the surrounding mountains where she struggles to survive in the wilderness with no clear notion of what her future will bring. As the seasons change, she also charts the changes in herself, finding in the beautiful but harsh landscape the meaning and strength to move forward and rebuild all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River threatens to submerge her homeland―its ranches, farms, and the beloved peach orchard that has been in her family for generations.

Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola in the 1960s, Go as a River is a story of deeply held love in the face of hardship and loss, but also of finding courage, resilience, friendship, and, finally, home―where least expected. This stunning debut explores what it means to lead your life as if it were a river―gathering and flowing, finding a way forward even when a river is dammed.


My monthly reading was closed out with Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs.  I've read other books by Annie and loved them all.  I had high expectations for this one and it certainly didn't let me down.  Annie F. Downs has a way of saying things that touch my heart.  Her words make me think about how I'm living my life.  Her words are good for my soul!  Highly recommend getting this book and letting it touch your soul too.
“I want you to take every step of your life with excitement for where you are headed. And I want you to feel beautiful and confident as you do.” But how? When the enemy whispers lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or you are too dumb, too loud, too quiet, too thin, too fat, too much or not enough? What if you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be? In Looking for Lovely, Annie F. Downs shares personal stories, biblical truth, and examples of how others have courageously walked the path God paved for their lives by remembering all God had done, loving what was right in front of them, and seeing God in the everyday—whether that be nature, friends, or the face they see in the mirror. Intensely personal, yet incredibly powerful, Looking for Lovely will spark transformative conversations and life changing patterns. No matter who we are and what path God has us on, we all need to look for lovely, fight to finish, and find beautiful in our every day!

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - May 31, 2023

 

Welcome to another week of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you are here.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS
  1. Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR FB | IG | PINTEREST
  4. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  5. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
  6. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
  7. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
  8. Denise – THIS IS MYEVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

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Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

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Thursday, May 25, 2023

Five on Friday - May 26, 2023

Oh my goodness - Friday kind of snuck up on me this week!  But I'm so glad it's here and we have a three-day weekend ahead of us!  Let's get right to my five for today ~

1.  Memorial Day 
Monday is Memorial Day.  Many of us view the day as the beginning of summer, but the true meaning is a day set aside to remember and honor all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  By remembering and honoring the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives in service to the nation, Memorial Day serves as a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom and the gratitude we owe to those who have fought to protect it.


2.  About My Father
There are a couple popular movies coming out this weekend (Little Mermaid, You Hurt My Feelings), but the one I've got my eye on is About My Father.  I mean, can you ever go wrong seeing a movie with Robert De Niro?  We've seen the previews and they made me laugh out loud.  Here's the synopsis ~
The hottest comic in America, Sebastian Maniscalco joins forces with legendary Italian-American and two-time Oscar winner, Robert De Niro, in the new comedy ABOUT MY FATHER. The film centers around Sebastian (Maniscalco) who is encouraged by his fiancée (Leslie Bibb) to bring his immigrant, hairdresser father, Salvo (De Niro), to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family (Kim Cattrall, Anders Holm, Brett Dier, David Rasche). The weekend develops into what can only be described as a culture clash, leaving Sebastian and Salvo to discover that the great thing about family is everything about family.

3.  Summer Drinks at Starbucks
Starbucks is always keeping us on our toes with their new drinks.  Just about the time I learn how to say my order, they add something to the menu and I have to start the memorization all over again!  On the menu now for summer are the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino and the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.  I really wished they offered little samples of their new drinks so you could see if you liked them before you had to make the investment of a purchase.  Do either of these sound good to you?
Add another book to your summer reading list.  Nora Roberts' new terrifying thriller came out on Tuesday.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~
Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party―attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar―her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who got away.

5.  In honor of summer...


Have a great weekend!  We're headed to Kansas City for the annual washer's tournament with friends.  It's always a great time and a wonderful way to kick off the summer season.  Be safe and I'll see you back here next week!

In case you missed it this week ~

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Summer is Coming!

Summer is coming and coming fast!  Today for Thinking Out Loud Thursday I'm sharing a few items that could make your summer even better.


I am hearing wonderful things about these mosquito patches and I'm giving them a try this year!  The spray is just too icky and I don't like using it.  Then, because I don't use it, I get covered in mosquito bites.  The patches would be great to use on the kids too.  Just stick a patch on their clothes and you're set.  No more trying to make the kiddos stand still while you spray them down.  


We have had a couple of these hand-held air conditioners for years and we love them!  You can wet the sponge inside and the air that blows out is nice and cool.  I use these a lot at the summer weddings I help with.  Keeping the bride cool for pictures when it's a million degrees outside is not easy.  I've been known for holding this fan up her skirt to help with the heat.  They also are miracle items to have while watching those little league baseball games in the heat of the day.  


S'more season is upon us!  Are you ready with the marshmallow sticks?  This pack of 5 is color coded to help cut down the arguing over who's stick it is.  Also, they are 32" long so you'll be able to roast your treat while standing a safe distance from the fire.  These would also make a great hostess gift when you're going to those cookouts at your friends house.


What screams summer more than relaxing in a hammock!  This would also be a fabulous Father's Day gift.  And right now it's on sale at Amazon for 50% off.  Not sure how long that deal is going to be around, so get it while you can.


Some of our friends have these portable rocking chairs and every time we are with them, I'm always waiting for them to get up so I can have a turn in their chairs.  They come with a cup holder and a mesh back.  If you've ever had to sit in a bag chair without a mesh back, you know how hot they are!  You can relax in style when you tote this bad boy to the kiddos sporting events or your neighbor's back yard party.


                                                                BBQ Grill Accessories
Make grilling a lot easier with some new tools.  These come in a nifty case and also have an apron so you'll look like a true pro.  The 21-piece set is made of high-quality stainless steel for years of use.


Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - May 24, 2023

 

Welcome to another week of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more. A friendly reminder to our guests that as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS
  1. Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR FB | IG | PINTEREST
  4. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  5. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
  6. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
  7. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
  8. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
TOP VIEWED

VERY POPULAR
EDITOR'S CHOICE
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party!

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Click here to enter

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Weekending - May 19, 2023

We had a great weekend celebrating our niece's graduation from high school!  Here's the rewind ~


One of my new job's many benefits is passing a Trader Joe's on my way to and from work.  So Friday on my way home, I popped in to grab a couple boxes of the Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Snack Crackers I mentioned in my Five on Friday post.  They are as good as the description sounds!  We were driving to Memphis when I got home and they made great travel snacks.


We loaded the car and headed south to Memphis Friday evening.  On the way, we stopped in Perryville for dinner at a diner called Mary Jane Burgers and Brew.  It was a few miles off the highway, but so worth it!  Stopping for something different than fast food got us out of the car and broke the trip up a bit.  


Eric and I both got burgers and loved them!  This might become a regular stop when we're on our way to visit Eric's sister in Memphis.


Saturday we slept in a bit then got ready to celebrate our niece on her high school graduation.  We are so proud of her accomplishments and look forward to see what amazing things she accomplishes at college.


The day was spent enjoying family and catching up.  They catered Interstate BBQ and it was SOOO good!  


We had our Roll for It game with us and busted it out in the afternoon.  Several players hadn't played it before, but caught on quickly.  If you're looking for a fun game, check this one out.  It's perfect to have in your suitcase when traveling.  



Sunday we drove home and got ready for the week ahead.  Can you believe next weekend is Memorial Day already!  Summer is coming fast friends!

Friday, May 19, 2023

Five on Friday - May 19, 2023

Happy Friday!  Thanks for stopping by Five on Friday to see what I'm sharing today.  Let's get right to it ~

1.  New Door Mat
Last year I saw so many people getting a rug to go under their door mat.  I decided this year I wanted to be like all the cool kids so I jumped on the bandwagon and got a new rug and mat for our front door.  We love it!  We didn't, however, love the fact that the corners of the rug kept blowing up.  So I bought a roll of double stick stuff from Amazon and put it under the edges.  Problem solved!  Now we are back to loving it.  Links to the whole set up below.  


2.  Meet Me at the Lake
I've been hearing really good things about Meet Me at the Lake, which came out earlier this month.  I'm adding it to my summer read list.  Here's the summary ~
A random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects, in this breathtaking new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After.

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

3.  Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers
Have you heard about Trader Joe's new Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers?  I can't wait to get my hands on a box of these!  One review I saw from Kitchn said "The cracker has a crumbly crunchy texture that is very appealing (and snackable),"  Another review said, "There's a nice balance between the onion, garlic, and salt, with a hint of poppy flair, which I would gladly take more of."  Sounds pretty delicious to me!  Definitely on my shopping list.


4.  Collar Extenders for Men
Eric doesn't mind when he needs to wear a tie, and I think the reason might be because of these collar extenders.  They give him just a little bit more room in the neck so his collar isn't so tight.  They are invisible when his tie is on.  Could be a great little Father's Day gift!



5.  Summer is coming...


We're off to our niece's graduation party in Memphis this weekend.  Can't wait to celebrate her!  Hope you have a great weekend and we will see you back here next week.
 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - May 18, 2023

Hi friends - thanks for popping into Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  I'm going to share something (a very short something) that I'm thinking about today and invite you to link up and share something too.

This week I started a new job and it's all I have been thinking about!  It has been decades since I was the new person at work.  The whole experience has been very exhilarating.  Change is always a little scary, but also can be very exciting.  


In honor of starting something new, I'm sharing a couple of my favorite inspirational quotes ~




Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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