tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38619851239343555222024-03-13T15:55:16.331-05:00gokie notesHannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.comBlogger428125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-3160033579729544872021-09-29T11:05:00.001-05:002021-09-29T11:05:26.694-05:00April–August 2021 reads<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CmBhpW1YLg/YVSNgQ-GhDI/AAAAAAAAGg0/O3ricvTapx46M7xKB-1lWrMxmv37dJQ2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-8489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CmBhpW1YLg/YVSNgQ-GhDI/AAAAAAAAGg0/O3ricvTapx46M7xKB-1lWrMxmv37dJQ2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-8489.jpg" /></a></div><br />I am not going to review every single book I read in these months, because that would take me 18 hours and no one would want to read it. However I'll list out everything I read and highlight some of my favorites!<p></p><p>Total books read: 26</p><p>Progress on goal of 72 books in 2021: 48/72</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780593157923" target="_blank">Royal Assassin</a> series (Assassin's Quest / Fool's Errand / Golden Fool / Fool's Fate / Fool's Assassin / Fool's Quest / Assassin's Fate...yes nine books I sped through) by Robin Hobb: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062868084" target="_blank">The Cold Millions</a> by Jess Walter: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780141441146" target="_blank">Jane Eyre</a> by Charlotte Bronte: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I read this with Close Reads, and it'd been probably 10 years since my last read (this was one of those books I probably read in high school, not when it was assigned but because I was VERY COOL and obsessed with anything old, Austen, Bronte, etc., and then read or skimmed in college when it was assigned). Reading it as a full-fledged adult gave me a whole new appreciation for it -- I tell you what, if you haven't read it, or it's been a minute, please give it a try again. It's the perfect moody fall pre-gothic romance but on such a deep, spiritual level that I didn't grasp until this reread. The phrase "it's only a classic if you like it more on each reread" proves true again, and honestly I think I'll keep rereading this every year or every other year from now on. Incredible. FIVE STARS FOREVER.</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062642998" target="_blank">A Conspiracy of Kings</a> / Thick as Thieves / Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p>
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<p><b>A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I've been singing Naomi Novik's praises for years, to anyone who would listen. Her adaptations of classic fairytales are unparalleled, so I was looking forward to this fantasy since I heard about it. AND IT LIVED UP TO THE HYPE. Novik walks the line so finely of being an actually good fantasy story in the "YA" genre, which is not easy. (I'm looking at you, all those dumb hot fairy books which are just garbage, sorry if that offends.) FIVE STARS. Can't wait for the next installment.</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780679735908" target="_blank">Possession</a> by A. S. Byatt <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780061478789" target="_blank">Howl's Moving Castle</a> by Diana Wynne Jones </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I cannot tell you how much this little novella delighted me. I've heard about it for years, but mostly the movie version (which is quickly on my list to watch!); I'm so glad I finally picked up the book. Incredibly good characters, fun fantasy, quirky plot, and I wanted it to go on and on. Five stars!</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780385730631" target="_blank">The Ropemaker</a> by Peter Dickinson <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p>
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<p><b>A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Now, I don't really consider myself a writer. (A writer wouldn't let their silly little blog fester for months without any real rhyme or reason, for example.) However I've always wanted to get into Russian novels and stories, and I like to think maybe someday I'll be a writer, so this book was exactly my cup of tea. I absolutely adored Lincoln in the Bardo and this one got super high praise from people I trust so I finally got it from the library. George Saunders is a master teacher, and it really comes through in this work. I wish I could take his class IRL but hopefully he'll do this again someday so I can learn more from him. Five stars!</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781599904559" target="_blank">Princess of the Midnight Ball</a> by Jessica Day George <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780679744399" target="_blank">All the Pretty Horses</a> by Cormac McCarthy </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Ahhh, Cormac McCarthy. Not an "easy" author to get into, but so worth it when you do. I think the only one I'd read of his was Blood Meridian (?), and now I can't wait to finish the rest of the Border Trilogy. There are few books I read where a sentence is SO beautiful, SO moving, SO striking that I have to stop reading and stare into the distance as it reverberates in my brain, but this book made me do that <i>many times</i>. 4.5 stars!</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780525657606" target="_blank">Hamnet</a> by Maggie O'Farrell <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><b>Jack by Marilynne Robinson <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></b></p>
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<p>Gosh dang it, Marilynne Robinson did it again. Jack is one of the best-drawn, least-relatable-but-also-most-relatable characters ever written. I couldn't put this down and of course wasn't satisfied when it was over because I wanted more, more, and more. I really hope she keeps writing nearly anything. 4 stars.</p><p><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780316556323" target="_blank">Circe</a> by Madeline Miller </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Ancient Greek mythology has been intellectually "stalking" me this year, and Circe was just part of it. I thought this was an incredible retelling and I've thought about it so many times since I finished it. Five stars for the beauty and the drama.</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780142300275" target="_blank">The Little White Horse</a> by Elizabeth Goudge <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781534437678" target="_blank">Black Sun</a> by Rebecca Roanhorse <span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780807083697" target="_blank">Kindred</a> by Octavia Butler </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Not sure how I graduated with an English literature degree without reading any Octavia Butler, but this was my first Butler and it certainly wasn't/won't be my last. Harrowing, imaginative, enthralling -- I couldn't put it down. 4 stars.</p><p>What have you been reading? I know September is basically over so this post is like extremely dated, but it took me 3 weeks to write. Hopefully I'll get September books up on their own in a semi-timely manner!</p><p>HG</p><p><br /></p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-33478903185217321002021-08-24T11:56:00.004-05:002021-08-24T11:56:56.835-05:00Snippets from summer<p>Okay, I haven't blogged since April. Whoops. </p><p>And I don't have a ton to say now, but wanted to post some summer photos for posterity's sake.</p><p>So here's a little glimpse of our summer 2021, and maybe now that school's started again I'll somehow gain hours into the day to blog again more. (okay, probably not.)<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UBVFFNAlnQ/YSUiFPPq5UI/AAAAAAAAGeo/2V_JWmuBa8wykjON_qdohyOuj7gBmMAnACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/IMG-1697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UBVFFNAlnQ/YSUiFPPq5UI/AAAAAAAAGeo/2V_JWmuBa8wykjON_qdohyOuj7gBmMAnACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-1697.jpg" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4pAprSL9T0/YSUhoA-qynI/AAAAAAAAGeE/1-OLkYYevP06YTFDxczuLdoSnOrgJ3khwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4pAprSL9T0/YSUhoA-qynI/AAAAAAAAGeE/1-OLkYYevP06YTFDxczuLdoSnOrgJ3khwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/FullSizeRender.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68DSthVk7YU/YSUj_ziU5CI/AAAAAAAAGfc/DQmT6lBtjwoRtiJ1rK2mPS91bRcGYy_LACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-3792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68DSthVk7YU/YSUj_ziU5CI/AAAAAAAAGfc/DQmT6lBtjwoRtiJ1rK2mPS91bRcGYy_LACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-3792.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXf4C_nZwQo/YSUkA5CRMbI/AAAAAAAAGfk/wEiaS82AzVYgsx3RFds6KzgNZ9-muSJyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-3818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXf4C_nZwQo/YSUkA5CRMbI/AAAAAAAAGfk/wEiaS82AzVYgsx3RFds6KzgNZ9-muSJyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-3818.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQSjDKutzZY/YSUkIV4kU5I/AAAAAAAAGfo/EfSW2ALyS7cnubeaEhTs3mb41qdA0FfdACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/IMG-0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQSjDKutzZY/YSUkIV4kU5I/AAAAAAAAGfo/EfSW2ALyS7cnubeaEhTs3mb41qdA0FfdACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-0902.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hope your summer was as fun and crazy as ours!<div>HG</div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-68542382187800810672021-04-06T09:25:00.001-05:002021-04-06T09:25:12.441-05:00Happy Easter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgmyVj1Bko4/YGxuiXr9H8I/AAAAAAAAGYk/ghffmZ21wDIyYr7J7GhRo-__OnklmVY2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgmyVj1Bko4/YGxuiXr9H8I/AAAAAAAAGYk/ghffmZ21wDIyYr7J7GhRo-__OnklmVY2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/FullSizeRender.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVPursp5Blw/YGs8aE4aDxI/AAAAAAAAGXs/JRUe-4aA-gczTgColp1Y5s970OiAfjtXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVPursp5Blw/YGs8aE4aDxI/AAAAAAAAGXs/JRUe-4aA-gczTgColp1Y5s970OiAfjtXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9930.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Easter 2021; or as I like to call it, Easter 2020.2. Another Easter celebrated at home, but pretty opposite in almost every way from how I felt emotionally last year around Easter.</p><p>Last year we hunkered down at home, fearful and adjusting to the new "normal" of life at home. It was blustery cold, but we celebrated as best we could with three kids and an ever-present level of paranoia -- there was so much unknown at the time. At the same time it was heartening to feel like everyone in the world was experiencing the same thing -- I will never forget <a href="https://holyseemission.org/contents//news/5e7e61f4a6da1.php" target="_blank">Pope Francis's Eucharistic exposition</a> to the rainy, dark, empty courtyard at the end of March. There are few times in my life I've felt more connected to the universal Church than that moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmLSrq8BmFA/YGtAwD-YtlI/AAAAAAAAGX0/JmThmi65vzAgfuR8dzZaWJtLy1RkJYHGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9898.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmLSrq8BmFA/YGtAwD-YtlI/AAAAAAAAGX0/JmThmi65vzAgfuR8dzZaWJtLy1RkJYHGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9898.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This year we watched Mass at home again, but it's one of our last ones -- both David and I have our second doses of vaccines this week (#PfizerGang), so after a week to build our immunity we'll be back at Mass! And gathering with family! And going to restaurants, maybe, even? Getting haircuts? Shopping at estate sales and golfing (guess who wants to do which one...haha)? The hope is <i>palpable</i>. Combined with the unseasonably warm weather we've been having (it was 85 on Easter yesterday) and it feels like a different reality than last year. </p><p>A year of isolation with a medically-vulnerable spouse has not left us unscarred. Tempers have been lost more than normal, screen time has increased, takeout has been eaten more than is probably advised. Not to mention the fact that we lost two family members in the last year (one to covid, one to dementia). But there have been Zoom "parties," walks outside, and a lot of fun throughout it all. I wonder how we'll look back on this time. As a long emptiness? In fondness? Through the lens of trauma? It's all still to be discovered.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqXveVbgMHk/YGtBTruRCQI/AAAAAAAAGX8/o6ML0IGmB0obCU9TLuRR2IUCZsyMw12aACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9984.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqXveVbgMHk/YGtBTruRCQI/AAAAAAAAGX8/o6ML0IGmB0obCU9TLuRR2IUCZsyMw12aACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9984.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>For now, I am grateful we survived, even if it didn't feel like we thrived. And I'm beyond ecstatic to celebrate the HELL OUT of this Easter season (see what I did there?). ;) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUitBtNAVy0/YGtBzX0HCPI/AAAAAAAAGYI/mnyvo3YCiTIWBU0cuLL5v0r83KSKmQqNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUitBtNAVy0/YGtBzX0HCPI/AAAAAAAAGYI/mnyvo3YCiTIWBU0cuLL5v0r83KSKmQqNACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_0007.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ckEvs9-GM1c/YGtByaHs3OI/AAAAAAAAGYE/mC_pGjPGzDA_hKjH4TYZuCw9GmnWAryKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ckEvs9-GM1c/YGtByaHs3OI/AAAAAAAAGYE/mC_pGjPGzDA_hKjH4TYZuCw9GmnWAryKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_0018.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-duPwNjOYxHw/YGtCODAkrHI/AAAAAAAAGYU/8NK79fZkPngmNHOCgjmbwA1-JpeGoVgAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9988.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-duPwNjOYxHw/YGtCODAkrHI/AAAAAAAAGYU/8NK79fZkPngmNHOCgjmbwA1-JpeGoVgAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9988.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Happy Easter to you and yours! Alleluia!</span><div>HG</div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-91534845434803216472021-03-30T11:40:00.001-05:002021-03-30T11:40:08.437-05:00February and March 2021 books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeFzE8IGNm8/YGNOvecPBvI/AAAAAAAAGWo/mV8qrf5_6dw1IGnTxWPAsMG26er89AmSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9214.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeFzE8IGNm8/YGNOvecPBvI/AAAAAAAAGWo/mV8qrf5_6dw1IGnTxWPAsMG26er89AmSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9214.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>I told myself I'd try to blog in between book blog posts . . . oops. Life somewhat got away from me (doesn't it always?). Between homeschooling and work and cleaning and laundry and house projects, the blog doesn't even make it onto a burner anymore these days. Hopefully it will again someday! Someday . . .</p><p><i>All links below are affiliate to Bookshop.org.</i></p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062642974" target="_blank">The Queen of Attolia</a> / <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062642981">The King of Attolia</a> </p><p>by Megan Whalen Turner</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I continue to love these books beyond measure. Truly, if you haven't gotten around to reading them by me incessantly praising them yet...please take this opportunity to. You will NOT be disappointed. Whalen Turner has an incredible gift for plot and character to which I really haven't found a rival. Again, do not listen to the YA label on these, because it's just plain wrong. I think my favorite of the whole series is King of Attolia (my boy Costis!!!!) but it's so hard to pick! 5 stars!</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780679728894" target="_blank">Death Comes for the Archbishop</a></p><p>by Willa Cather</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I'm sure I've mentioned it on the blog before, but I took an entire class in college about Willa Cather, from one of the world's most foremost Cather scholars. Cather herself is from Nebraska, and we took a college field-trip to her hometown! (College field trips! Who even knew they were a thing? I guess they're a thing if you're a devoted nerdy English major.) Anywho, I've read nearly all her work prior to this <b>except</b><i><b> </b>Death Comes for the Archbishop. </i>It wasn't in our curriculum that semester because it's not set in Nebraska, but wow. I can't believe how much I was missing in not having read it! So beautiful, so picturesque, such a good man and good priest in fiction (so rare, honestly). I can't sing its praises highly enough. 5 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781635575637" target="_blank">Piranesi</a></p><p>by Susanna Clarke</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>This is one of those "really insanely popular right now books and I can't tell if it's actually good or not before reading it" kind of books. You know the ones. ;) I was hesitant going in, because of that reputation. I like to temper expectations where I can and also I'm a huge snob and I don't trust it when a new book is suddenly so well-spoken of (heck, I had to wait 6 months to get it off the hold list at the library). But WOW. So good. I've never read any Clarke before, but this book was so imaginative and kept me guessing through the whole thing. If you're a snob like me, you'll still like it, I promise. 4 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781250303790" target="_blank">The Goblin Emperor</a></p><p>by Katherine Addison</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>This is a fantasy book unlike any other I've ever read. I think I found it recommended on TOR.com as one with a kindness-focused main character (which is kinda rare in fantasy). Admittedly, it took me a little bit to get into it. It's very heady and the author does you NO favors in throwing you into an insanely complicated world (but there's a very specific plot reason for it, which it took me half the book to realize). It's about a young goblin who becomes emperor when the entire royal line ahead of him die in a crash, and his role as ruler after that. Very political and intriguing and I really liked it. 4 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780143127741" target="_blank">The Body Keeps the Score</a></p><p>by Bessel A. van der Kolk<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>It had clearly been awhile since I forced myself to put away fun fiction and read a nonfiction. So glad I did for this one! I heard it praised highly by Heidi on the Close Reads podcast and decided to give it a try. The author is one of the foremost researchers in the world on PTSD and trauma therapy, and his insight and research were really fascinating. If you're curious at all about juvenile trauma, the diagnoses of PTSD, and how trauma therapy have changed in the last 50 years, I highly recommend it -- honestly, I'd recommend it to everyone. It's helped me be much more empathetic and understanding to a wide variety of situations in the world that can trace back to trauma, which I'd never considered before. 4.5 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781472247193" target="_blank">James Acaster's Classic Scrapes</a></p><p>by James Acaster</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>If you haven't heard me blab yet about how I think James Acaster is the funniest person in the world yet, HERE I GO AGAIN. He's just so funny and when I found out he had a book? I snatched it up on Kindle for $0.99 without a second thought. Lighthearted, incredibly funny, smart, witty, a perfect comedy book. 100% necessary in covid winter. Additional blog plug to watch his Repertoire series on Netflix and in Taskmaster on Youtube and his other show, Hypothetical, with Josh Widdicombe. 4.5 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781101885956" target="_blank">The Bear and the Nightingale</a> / <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781101885987" target="_blank">The Girl in the Tower</a> / <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781101886014" target="_blank">The Winter of the Witch</a></p><p>by Katherine Arden</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>This three-part series has been the highlight of my reading year so far. It's another fantasy series (who surprised? not me, probably not you either) about 14th century Russia, deep cultural Catholicism vs old world gods, witchery and family, political movement and love, winter and summer and horses and fire, practically everything you could want in a series! I could not put it down once I started (hence why I grouped all 3 into one review). It might be perfect, honestly. Read it and tell me if you agree. 5 stars.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoCcY4W0gF0/YGNRaE15VpI/AAAAAAAAGWw/zRzRhQuDqB07ywWmP5tMpO2lf5XkFQJpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9092.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoCcY4W0gF0/YGNRaE15VpI/AAAAAAAAGWw/zRzRhQuDqB07ywWmP5tMpO2lf5XkFQJpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_9092.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780380730407" target="_blank">Rebecca</a></p><p>by Daphne du Maurier</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Another book in the "I can't believe I hadn't read this before!" list! I read it along with Close Reads and enjoyed it completely, and then made David watch the Lily James movie version as soon as I was done. I don't want to give anything away about the plot but READ THIS ASAP IF YOU HAVEN'T. A 1930s suspense novel with the best and biggest turns you'll never predict. 5 stars!!!!</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780802456571" target="_blank">Orthodoxy</a></p><p>by G. K. Chesterton</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I told myself I'd read some spiritual works during Lent this year, and first on my list to finish was Orthodoxy. I've also, somehow, never read any Chesterton, although having seen him reference anywhere and everywhere for years, I thought I probably had a good grasp on him. I enjoyed this one. I found his perspective on Christianity definitely different than others I've read, but it didn't wow me (don't hate me!!!). I'm going to try some of his other works at some point. 3 stars. </p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781492650959" target="_blank">The Radium Girls</a></p><p>by Kate Moore</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Another insanely long library hold list for this one, a nonfiction story about American women in the 1920s who were poisoned by radium at their workplaces, painting clock-faces with radium paint. This one was hyped up so much that the actual writing of it fell pretty flat for me, but the details of the real-life story made up for it for the most part. 3 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780316509848" target="_blank">The City We Became</a></p><p>by N. K. Jemisin</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I absolutely ADORED Jemisin's first trilogy, The Broken Earth -- it was imaginative in ways I hadn't encountered in a long time, and the characters were so unique. I think this one felt a little stilted in comparison, like she was trying really hard to write something different and relevant and it hurt her natural talent. However I did like it and I understand why it's gotten so much praise since it was released -- you've definitely never read a story like it, in which mature cities have personas and fight to survive. She set herself up at the very least for a sequel, so maybe the future ones will be better, but I still couldn't help but be a tiny bit disappointed. Solid 3 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780553573398" target="_blank">Assassin's Apprentice</a></p><p>by Robin Hobb</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Somehow even though it's somewhat considered a "classic" fantasy series, I'd never read any Hobbs before now. I found myself enjoying this one but not *loving* it 100%. It's about a bastard son of a prince who becomes a trained assassin, and I found myself mentally comparing it to Royce and Hadrian (Riyria series) or Vin (Mistborn series) where I just wanted a little bit more (don't exactly know what of, but more of something!). I did enjoy it and I'm reading the next one as we speak so obviously I wanted to know more <i>enough</i>. 3.5 stars.</p><p><br /></p><p>What are you reading right now? What fantasy series should I try that I haven't yet? hahaha. Thanks for being here!</p><p>HG</p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-17198469975405238382021-02-04T15:03:00.001-06:002021-02-04T15:03:23.912-06:00January 2021 books<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqQCz5a2dno/YBxakDpfcqI/AAAAAAAAGVI/bDpP9f3aZUMJiuE8fG-fCwWkugUuB9TcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7544.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqQCz5a2dno/YBxakDpfcqI/AAAAAAAAGVI/bDpP9f3aZUMJiuE8fG-fCwWkugUuB9TcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7544.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">unrelated photo of our giant Christmas book collection</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I might as well keep documenting my books read like I did last year, right? I love hearing others' reviews so I selfishly assume other people might enjoy my own. ;)</p><p><i><br /></i></p>
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<p><i>Peace Like a River</i></p><p>by Leif Enger</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I've had this book recommended to me many times, even to the point where I had a physical copy on my bookshelf, but the last time I picked it up I was completely put off. This time I was enthralled from page one and WOW. I have thought about it so much since finishing it, and if that's not a sign of an actually properly good book then I don't know what is. The combination of family, heartbreak, trauma, Western tropes, and winter scenes made this book a perfect thing to read in January. 5 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><i>Death Comes for the Archbishop</i></p><p>by Willa Cather</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I started this one early in the month with Close Reads, and although I was piecing it out and didn't finish it until a couple of days ago, I had to include it in January. I consider myself considerably well-read in Cather, as I did take a class in college (in Nebraska, where Willa Cather is from) solely about her, from one of the preeminent Cather scholars in the world, but somehow I hadn't read Death Comes for the Archbishop yet. (Our class was focused more on her books set in the Midwest, understandably.) I'm not sure I'd recommend this if you're new to Cather, but it might be my second-favorite of hers now! Shadows on the Rock is my favorite. ;) Her portrayal of two missionary priests is incredibly sensitive, real, and loving, and I know I'll be rereading this some day. 5 stars.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><i>The Thief</i></p><p>by Megan Whalen Turner</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I read this incredible YA series back in 2017 or 2018 and for a solid 3 years since then haven't been able to stop talking about them or thinking about them or recommending them to people. Since the last in the series was released in 2020 and I preordered it, I knew I owed it to myself to reread the series before completing it, so I started again with The Thief. Simultaneously these books are about a famous thief, court politics, humor, the best love story you'll ever read, and a fictional world that's so engrossing you never want to leave. They're also all short and quite easy to read (they are, after all, YA) and I can't recommend them enough. 5 stars! Again! Perfect escapism with deep themes for corona times.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><i>A Memory Called Empire</i></p><p>by Arkady Martine</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>This book has been floating around the scifi/fantasy recommendations for awhile (I think it won or was nominated for a Nebula?), and I finally grabbed it off the hold list at the library after two long months. It's about a new foreign ambassador to the universe's biggest empire, and comes with plenty of intrigue, mystery, and a murder to investigate. Its intricacies are a little tough to follow at times (wouldn't be my first recommendation if you're not a scifi fan) but I truly loved it. I'm excited there will be more in the series, let's put it that way. 4 stars!</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><i>A Prayer for Owen Meany</i></p><p>by John Irving</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I realized at the end of 2020 that I'd kept seeing John Irving's name pop up in different literary circles but hadn't read anything of his before. A Prayer for Owen Meany was available as an ebook so I jumped on it. I'm kind of glad I jumped into this without knowing anything about it -- what a treasure of a book. It's the story of two friends, John Wheelwright and Owen Meany, from childhood to adulthood, and I'm truly struggling for how else to describe it because I don't want to give anything away but READ THIS BOOK. It's incredible. I was alternately laughing out loud and weeping throughout the whole thing (good thing my Paperwhite is waterproof). 5 stars!!!</p><p>Right now I'm in the middle of G. K. Chesterton's <i>Orthodoxy</i>, and I read a couple more Thief novels at the beginning of February, and I got Piranesi from the hold list which I'm half excited and half nervous about! What else should I be reading this year?</p><p>HG</p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-38748126499372235412021-01-26T10:47:00.001-06:002021-01-26T10:47:16.115-06:00snow days (general updates!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv2qTrnrkZ4/YBA910NML5I/AAAAAAAAGTY/3OtSnHf3OkoMzDfKc4G0xuCcYAnKstJzACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv2qTrnrkZ4/YBA910NML5I/AAAAAAAAGTY/3OtSnHf3OkoMzDfKc4G0xuCcYAnKstJzACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7994.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>It's been awhile since I've had the mental energy or time to blog about random happenings at casa Gokie. Work has been crazy after Christmas, and we're getting back into the swing of homeschooling for semester 2, and wasn't it just Christmas?</div><div><br /></div><div>Life has also felt . . . heavy. During covid times our family has lost two grandparents (David's grandpa died of covid in October, my step-grandma died a couple weeks ago from sudden onset dementia). I'm not much for light entertainment producing when everything feels dark -- I'm not sure many people are, you know? Although 2020 has been difficult, and 2021 started off a similar way, we're getting through it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rounding the corner of 2021 to another quickly-approaching March feels at once impossible and inevitable. We've been stuck in this limbo world for what feels like ages, and yet we're all doing exactly the same things so time doesn't pass normally.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, this started off depressing when I mostly meant it to just be a general check-in and update for what's happening in our family!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub7dau74M0o/YBBACw2HUuI/AAAAAAAAGTk/hFG5zZcs3qk05be0gkd8floeoFq7S5cBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub7dau74M0o/YBBACw2HUuI/AAAAAAAAGTk/hFG5zZcs3qk05be0gkd8floeoFq7S5cBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7979.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Felix is coming up on his second birthday (May 1), and he is the cutest thing ever. Silent, but cute. He still says maybe only 20 words (when his sisters were talking in complete sentence by this point) and I think he knows he could speak more but just doesn't care to. He's got the important things down: "cookie," "snack," "Leroy" (his stuffed chicken, pictured above, which sounds more like Anya when he says it), and "Husker!!!" (which his father is endlessly proud of). </div><div><br /></div><div>He's just getting to the age where he can be naughty and knows it, but still looks so cute that I can hardly get mad at him. His favorite things are jumping on my back, climbing up high using whatever he can to get up, and messing up whatever elaborate pretend play game the girls have set up. It's a hoot. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ah4wZ5wUrs/YBBBVwFb5SI/AAAAAAAAGTw/gdIvvQcrOpMlAXxZSETQ6lzouH48heb3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ah4wZ5wUrs/YBBBVwFb5SI/AAAAAAAAGTw/gdIvvQcrOpMlAXxZSETQ6lzouH48heb3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7950.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Cora Jane is 4 now!!! I never wrote her a birthday blog post and she'll probably detest me for it for the rest of her life. ;) She's growing up soooooo much and also figuring out how to test ALL the boundaries. It's very funny when it's not completely maddening. I truly think our kids don't get terrible 2s or 3s but the age 4 to 5 is a STRUGGLE, for whatever reason. It's okay! Just strange!</div><div><br /></div><div>She's doing "preschool" at home, which mostly involves me finding $1 workbooks in the Target dollar spot and doing one letter a week, in hopes she'll slowly learn her alphabet. She loves being involved and I think she'd sit and do school one-on-one with me for hours, if I had the time. Her brother is endlessly fascinated with her and they have quite a funny relationship.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQiDqmpmkM/YBBCF872sxI/AAAAAAAAGT4/D69-fntayeoW2b-zsJtdVoohBPXV06CGACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQiDqmpmkM/YBBCF872sxI/AAAAAAAAGT4/D69-fntayeoW2b-zsJtdVoohBPXV06CGACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7952.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Kitty is becoming every parents' dream: a smart, engaged, almost 7 year old little voice constantly chirping "what can I do now?" She does things like empty the dishwasher of her own accord, cleans up constantly, entertains her siblings, and shovels snow like a kid much bigger than she is. She's grown approximately 3 inches in the last year, and she's hard on the knees of all of her pants, but c'est la vie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Homeschooling semester 2 is going well, and even though I still worry she's not learning enough because of flaws of mine, she's definitely advanced in a lot of areas so I'm hoping it evens out (we're doing second grade handwriting, phonics, and her reading level is really high). Most of the time if it's quiet, she's curled up on the couch with a blanket and a book -- it's like looking into a tiny mirror!!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjIBFSfi10o/YBBENxvxd0I/AAAAAAAAGUE/_UUKAK0_Py4gx7EF_4ZciY5rK6e8a-8DwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjIBFSfi10o/YBBENxvxd0I/AAAAAAAAGUE/_UUKAK0_Py4gx7EF_4ZciY5rK6e8a-8DwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7939.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILaqHgnAhmM/YBBFE7lE15I/AAAAAAAAGUM/mLRSBw_MAbsDEj78PGdSgLMDSNw_oTi-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILaqHgnAhmM/YBBFE7lE15I/AAAAAAAAGUM/mLRSBw_MAbsDEj78PGdSgLMDSNw_oTi-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7943.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>David and I have been spending our time catching up from the post-Christmas haze, reorganizing everything, and trying to plan out what projects we'll try to tackle in 2021. We spent a couple weekends adding a ceiling to his basement office and then painting it, which I might try to write a post about here soon. And maybe I'll have time to write a post about what we hope to do in 2021, too!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm linking up with Rosie for her <a href="https://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2021/01/just-because-volume-2.html" target="_blank">Just Because link-up volume 2</a>, because I too miss good old-fashioned blogging and I'd love it if more people did it! :) Micro-blogging on insta is all the rage but I like the long-form of blogs -- I have plenty of design blogs I follow on the daily, but most everyone else has moved away from it. Anyway if you need a push to resurrect your long-dead blog, here's your sign. </div><div><br /></div><div>January's almost over, friends -- we can do it. We can. We can. We can. (Repeating for my own benefit.)</div><div>HG</div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-60104079570907425432021-01-11T19:51:00.002-06:002021-01-11T19:51:09.999-06:00November and December 2020 reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv7LLsiINOg/X_yO9e7m2QI/AAAAAAAAGSw/pCAk4dA-578JqcepWDBe6gNBXNDvIHS5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv7LLsiINOg/X_yO9e7m2QI/AAAAAAAAGSw/pCAk4dA-578JqcepWDBe6gNBXNDvIHS5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7349.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh boy. I probably shouldn't have waited over two months to write my reviews of these books...because my memory is shot and I have nearly no recollection of these. Looks like I'll be writing short reviews this time!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>All links are Bookshop affiliate links. Hit up your library!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>
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<div><br /></div><i>The Alice Network</i><div>by Kate Quinn</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /><div>Ah, I'd heard this book was SO GOOD -- and it sort of fell flat for me. The concept was interesting -- female spies in WW2! mutiple time streams in one novel! history! -- but I just thought the execution could have been better. It made me really want to read another John Le Carré, if I'm being frank. </div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>The City of Brass </i></div><div>by S. A. Chakraborty</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I think S. A. Charkaborty wins the "best fantasy author I discovered in 2020" award. Prestigious! ;) These fantasy novels are truly indescribable -- I'm having a hard time coming up with a way to impress on you how inventive and drawing these novels are. Nahri, the main character, is a girl in Ottoman-era Cairo, who gets taken into the magical city of Daevabad, with a giant slew of magical creatures, drama, and court intrigue to boot. If you like fantasy of any sort, these novels -- with their incredibly detailed world and character building -- will enthrall you. Highly recommend!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>Gilead</i> </div><div>by Marilynne Robinson</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>After reading Home, by Marilynne Robinson, with the CloseReads podcast earlier in 2020, I decided to get copies of the rest of the Gilead novels and work my way through them. And wow. Now I truly get why she is so lauded as a quintessential and *essential* modern American author. John Ames isn't my favorite character of their "world," but this book made me cry multiple times and it's not one I'll forget easily. </div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>A Walk in the Woods</i> </div><div>by Bill Bryson</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>After the heaviness of Gilead, I needed something light, and I'd seen Bill Bryson tossed around as a humor writer, and so I requested this one at the library since it was on the shelf. It was exactly what pandemic Hannah needed at the time of year when everything was getting cold and the claustrophobia was setting in. Bill is a travel writer who decides to walk the Appalachian Trail, something I've always wanted to do, and the recount of it is SO funny but also interspersed with interesting facts about the trail, America, and hiking culture. If you need an escape and want to pretend you're traveling, hit up Bill Bryson.</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>A Golden Fury</i> </div><div>by Samantha Cohoe</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been friends with Samantha on Twitter/Instagram for a couple years so I could not WAIT to get my hands on her debut YA novel, A Golden Fury! It was sooooooo fun. Full of incredibly drawn characters, magic, mother-daughter drama, and a deep sense of Catholic theology (somehow, yes, she does these all in one novel!!!), I couldn't recommend it enough. I think if I could time travel and give it to 14 year old Hannah, she'd absolutely lose her mind. </div><div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>The Moviegoer</i> </div><div>by Walker Percy</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Another CloseReads book! I'd always meant to pick up a Walker Percy but had not gotten around to it before motivated by a podcast. ;) It's the story of a malaise-driven Binx Bolling (what a name, honestly) in the South in the 50s, who's on a "search" for God/meaning in his life. I listened to the audiobook of this one, which always colors my interpretation of a book (my brain just doesn't file audiobooks and written books in the same place, no matter how hard I try). But I really liked it and now I'm motivated to read more Walker Percy!</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>Lila</i> </div><div>by Marilynne Robinson</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Ahhh, and now we come to my favorite Marilynne Robinson -- the heartbreaking and harrowing Lila who captured my attention in Home and has an even more fascinating story than I could have predicted. (I just need to get my hands on Jack now, from the library hold list which is currently 80 people long...haha.) I think I'd recommending reading Gilead before Lila, and then Home after it, if you haven't read any Robinson before. Absolutely love.</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>The Kingdom of Copper</i> </div><div>by S. A. Chakraborty</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Book 2 in the Daevabad trilogy (City of Brass from earlier)! I frantically put this on hold at the library when I had 20 pages left in the first one, and I was worried -- would it not live up to the first? But it did!!! Seriously. Read these books ASAP.</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>The Lost Continent</i> </div><div>by Bill Bryson</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I also requested another Bryson to fill some time and psuedo-travel again before 2020 was over. This one is the story of him driving throughout the United States in an attempt to find the "utopic American small town." I found it refreshing and a really fun, light read. </div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>To Sleep in a Sea of Stars </i></div><div>by Christopher Paolini</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're my age and you didn't read or at least hear about Eragon when you were like, 12-15, you're not going to fully appreciate why I read this book. Paolini was 19 when he published it and so he was seen as this child-author-prodigy so when I heard he had a new, SCIFI book???? I put that ish on hold immediately. Now...let's be clear and admit that I didn't love this book. (Honestly, I can't remember how I felt about Eragon back in like 2003 or whatever.) I thought some of it was really good -- the world-building, the expansive universe, all good stuff that I really like in good sci-fi. But I thought it either needed to be split into multiple novels instead of one giant 900+ page book (because some of the background, left intentionally vague, could have been improved if it'd been fleshed out) or it needed a heavier editor's hand to tighten it up. Not my favorite BUT I did finish it. I'd only recommend if you have a similar experience with Paolini or you read a lot of sci-fi. </div>
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<div><br /></div><div><i>The Empire of Gold </i></div><div>by S. A. Chakraborty</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I can't describe to you how hesitant I was to read the ending of the Daevabad trilogy. I haven't wanted a series to end this strongly in a VERY long time. But the story was so compelling, I couldn't help myself. It did NOT disappoint. 5 stars and let me tell you, I will be trolling in anticipation of whatever S. A. Chakraborty writes next because if it's anything like this, I know I'll love it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Whew! 2020 reads all compiled on the blog! I'm hoping to continue this in 2021, but if you're curious, here are the other posts about everything I read this year:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/02/january-2020-books.html" target="_blank">January 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/03/february-2020-books.html" target="_blank">February 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/04/march-2020-reads.html" target="_blank">March 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/05/april-2020-reads.html" target="_blank">April 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/07/may-and-june-2020-reads.html" target="_blank">May and June 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/09/july-and-august-2020-reads.html" target="_blank">July and August 2020</a></div><div><a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/10/september-and-october-2020-reads.html" target="_blank">September and October 2020</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Right now I'm 25% of the way through The Prayer of Owen Meany, and I'm hoping to finish Middlemarch in 2021 somehow. What are you reading?</div><div>HG</div><div><br /></div></div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-70256420224899924262020-12-22T11:24:00.002-06:002020-12-22T11:24:09.693-06:002020: a year in review!<p>How. How is 2020 almost over? And yet how can it also feel like it's the longest decade of my life? I'm truly not entirely sure. </p><p>Blogging has -- clearly -- fallen by the wayside in the year of homeschooling + working full time + childcare from home with no outside support. I hope you'll forgive me. ;) Maybe someday I'll find a little more wiggle room to blog, or in other words, give up some of my precious reading time to blog (but I don't see that as a likely outcome, haha). (Psst: an end-of-year reading post coming too, hopefully soon!)</p><p>Let's take a walk down pictorial memory lane, shall we?</p><p>JANUARY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEJLa63mak8/X-IUurWnhTI/AAAAAAAAGMc/ffAQTyrx71E8vL58YW3mbcvtKGm5qZ03wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4187.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEJLa63mak8/X-IUurWnhTI/AAAAAAAAGMc/ffAQTyrx71E8vL58YW3mbcvtKGm5qZ03wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4187.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr6fv5wDlms/X-IUu3Oac0I/AAAAAAAAGMg/VxLNWdxOdJohUseO_QGXjgpzUbP2f_QuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4311.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr6fv5wDlms/X-IUu3Oac0I/AAAAAAAAGMg/VxLNWdxOdJohUseO_QGXjgpzUbP2f_QuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4311.HEIC" /></a></div><p>I remember being mentally exhausted from traveling for Christmas, and enjoying being at home for an extended period of time that is after a normal December of go-go-go. I went thrifting a lot when my weekly nanny was here (SOBBING FACE, I MISS THRIFTING SO MUCH), we got our Interior Define couch delivered after a 12 week wait, and we went to the Joslyn Art Museum as a family which the kids have talked about a lot since then (can't wait to go back!). </p><p>FEBRUARY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b77duqsD9eI/X-IXGhxIyZI/AAAAAAAAGM0/RWGHIRcni602U4EppBWzpRsf2in1LKL2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4729.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b77duqsD9eI/X-IXGhxIyZI/AAAAAAAAGM0/RWGHIRcni602U4EppBWzpRsf2in1LKL2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4729.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1cfVsfvd68/X-IXGYyN6AI/AAAAAAAAGMw/XR4VrY9Iyr4jcX2N534pR39nEqdMtzC9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4918.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1cfVsfvd68/X-IXGYyN6AI/AAAAAAAAGMw/XR4VrY9Iyr4jcX2N534pR39nEqdMtzC9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4918.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JInDDW5Utk/X-IXnfOHQGI/AAAAAAAAGNA/cJjXpMtopsINIjSh0mrOkOmtbNNI6HB9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5187.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JInDDW5Utk/X-IXnfOHQGI/AAAAAAAAGNA/cJjXpMtopsINIjSh0mrOkOmtbNNI6HB9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_5187.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>David and I had our only date night of the entire year, which involved a margarita I've dreamed about since then about 100 times. David also traveled for work for a week long conference in California, flew back basically immobile and hacking/coughing/dying on the plane, and then got diagnosed with influenza at Urgent Care a day later. SO FUN. He was basically immobile for 12 days afterwards. And I remember his oncologist recommending he wear a mask inside when he was around us which seemed so bizarre at the time -- but did, in fact, combined with having him sleep in the guest room, prevent all the rest of us from getting the flu. HMMMMM.</p><p>MARCH</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4Fnt9SvZtI/X-IZnQDyu6I/AAAAAAAAGNQ/QFWfebszV24wg6Tq3O-sjN-Vw_wG1QVuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0AE220D1-577E-412E-842A-9E66F97812F6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4Fnt9SvZtI/X-IZnQDyu6I/AAAAAAAAGNQ/QFWfebszV24wg6Tq3O-sjN-Vw_wG1QVuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/0AE220D1-577E-412E-842A-9E66F97812F6.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDuaj19Jtr4/X-IZlwiU3XI/AAAAAAAAGNM/JxkwrSdhnzE6xt6ku6hyDgy9GAPUm_ioQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5808.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDuaj19Jtr4/X-IZlwiU3XI/AAAAAAAAGNM/JxkwrSdhnzE6xt6ku6hyDgy9GAPUm_ioQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_5808.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4hNTlpjSMw/X-IaYDSRU_I/AAAAAAAAGNc/wMo4RcEOtyoFHOEslpJ3Yabu6rI3u_L4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9D797BAB-6013-45FC-A2C8-46D537464525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4hNTlpjSMw/X-IaYDSRU_I/AAAAAAAAGNc/wMo4RcEOtyoFHOEslpJ3Yabu6rI3u_L4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/9D797BAB-6013-45FC-A2C8-46D537464525.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>March 2020, a month that will go down in history. As I've said before and will say again, I always thought I'd like to live through a historical time and I TAKE IT BACKKKKKKK. Give me precedented times until I die peacefully of old age. The girls spent the weekend with the grandparents on the 6th and 7th, so we had a last fun night of restaurant food and hanging out with friends inside our house and all that stuff. My uncle had a birthday party at my parents' house on March 8, and that was our last outing. We started remote learning, and adjusted to being at home constantly. I feel like somehow March was yesterday and also a decade ago.</p><p>APRIL</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPhaeiAKdsM/X-IcEbr_3FI/AAAAAAAAGNs/csE-gTomNikAaiDaomfSyeMigtJTMif9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4D9D7E65-7F14-46F2-BE36-1BAF72E9892B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPhaeiAKdsM/X-IcEbr_3FI/AAAAAAAAGNs/csE-gTomNikAaiDaomfSyeMigtJTMif9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/4D9D7E65-7F14-46F2-BE36-1BAF72E9892B.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3UiE66L9y4/X-Ib_WR086I/AAAAAAAAGNo/G6AqqKKNTGUOyVCagcrtpO1wQDnLK4tBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5ACC38F3-11BD-468D-898F-602D7A2F187B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1529" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3UiE66L9y4/X-Ib_WR086I/AAAAAAAAGNo/G6AqqKKNTGUOyVCagcrtpO1wQDnLK4tBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/5ACC38F3-11BD-468D-898F-602D7A2F187B.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--G5SjqM8vfo/X-IcRmXHKhI/AAAAAAAAGN0/5hYnrf7zzG0Wlv0MR55nRpSn2G1AAzhnACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DCF69D8F-D823-45CB-8D23-7DB7B60B58D8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1529" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--G5SjqM8vfo/X-IcRmXHKhI/AAAAAAAAGN0/5hYnrf7zzG0Wlv0MR55nRpSn2G1AAzhnACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/DCF69D8F-D823-45CB-8D23-7DB7B60B58D8.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>Felix was still bald. We spent a ton of time outside, in the lovely spring weather. We survived more remote learning. Watched Easter Mass on the computer. I sewed my first couple rounds of masks. <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/04/quarantine-project-chair-edition.html">We reupholstered a chair. </a></p><p>MAY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FE0hbn8q244/X-IeJKb_E4I/AAAAAAAAGOE/0lfSBQi5uVgWlkPFRn7CsMgwBfYUjhN0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6626.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FE0hbn8q244/X-IeJKb_E4I/AAAAAAAAGOE/0lfSBQi5uVgWlkPFRn7CsMgwBfYUjhN0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6626.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHT2iYgODw4/X-IeJe3jDfI/AAAAAAAAGOI/Z4ESQbtsD907UB1ad1ifZJaxrWHS3a4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7600.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHT2iYgODw4/X-IeJe3jDfI/AAAAAAAAGOI/Z4ESQbtsD907UB1ad1ifZJaxrWHS3a4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_7600.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uOeTv0EpzE/X-IeamJHjLI/AAAAAAAAGOU/eQVmBAuXT2ITmS1AsaNEpuyRw1hTK1CMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6851.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uOeTv0EpzE/X-IeamJHjLI/AAAAAAAAGOU/eQVmBAuXT2ITmS1AsaNEpuyRw1hTK1CMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6851.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4I_R-wdJY40/X-IfB6ozQOI/AAAAAAAAGOc/B0I13qorDEAgJXjuiSMRP2mL3sKotecbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/44E0B568-6C42-4D43-977B-6D7E4D25D98B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4I_R-wdJY40/X-IfB6ozQOI/AAAAAAAAGOc/B0I13qorDEAgJXjuiSMRP2mL3sKotecbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/44E0B568-6C42-4D43-977B-6D7E4D25D98B.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1OrFlL5DT6w/X-IfjKqWwnI/AAAAAAAAGOk/k9mT1z94jZgjDZJOXavq8_XViMyMvd4TACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8FC77AF8-34DD-43C6-80EB-9EDD034DEFDB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1OrFlL5DT6w/X-IfjKqWwnI/AAAAAAAAGOk/k9mT1z94jZgjDZJOXavq8_XViMyMvd4TACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/8FC77AF8-34DD-43C6-80EB-9EDD034DEFDB.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>Felix turned one! Kitty turned 6! I turned 29! Felix got a water table and wow, that might have been the best thing I bought in 2020 with how many hours of play we got out of it. David camped overnight in the backyard with the girls. David and I spent some of our TrumpBux on a king-sized bed & frame (okay, maybe THAT was the best money we spent in 2020).</p><p>JUNE</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZRBp1U3oNo/X-IggqYu1ZI/AAAAAAAAGOw/b6iGQAA6CSgFVM9rvlF_lHO7qSAMRJnJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/714F4C5F-7990-469B-B688-46B6D8A9BB7E-A670F2A5-4996-41B7-BDDA-322075809A01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1541" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZRBp1U3oNo/X-IggqYu1ZI/AAAAAAAAGOw/b6iGQAA6CSgFVM9rvlF_lHO7qSAMRJnJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/714F4C5F-7990-469B-B688-46B6D8A9BB7E-A670F2A5-4996-41B7-BDDA-322075809A01.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTQMUau6ioY/X-Ighsp0jCI/AAAAAAAAGO0/ZNQwGJyj6OUSmn5LtpGCYZrDa-zuNPEMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0214.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTQMUau6ioY/X-Ighsp0jCI/AAAAAAAAGO0/ZNQwGJyj6OUSmn5LtpGCYZrDa-zuNPEMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_0214.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJ36G2Ogsg/X-Igi1TN0oI/AAAAAAAAGO4/D_oBP0E-8Rg9-WbhuXga6RdtoLnrfSstQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0252.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJ36G2Ogsg/X-Igi1TN0oI/AAAAAAAAGO4/D_oBP0E-8Rg9-WbhuXga6RdtoLnrfSstQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_0252.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjM9ffKMY6c/X-IglL1tQvI/AAAAAAAAGO8/bWudLPsIdsIcA9kG1vXDQWbHolMfrXKNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8494.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjM9ffKMY6c/X-IglL1tQvI/AAAAAAAAGO8/bWudLPsIdsIcA9kG1vXDQWbHolMfrXKNACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_8494.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>We had a national racial reckoning, and began to talk in earnest with our kids about some serious stuff (hence the sign). Spent a lot of time at David's aunt & uncle's pool (all to ourselves! the luxury!). David gave all of us girls haircuts at home! </p><p>JULY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oA_JLSVB2Jk/X-Ih7K6I2WI/AAAAAAAAGPY/6Dwxvckexs4ohm7Uv8ZZw0HTRwzOmAAKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C3FBA10B-EFFB-468B-87C1-082FDB41F677-4FFA9515-2220-4636-96A8-E4BC58A23930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oA_JLSVB2Jk/X-Ih7K6I2WI/AAAAAAAAGPY/6Dwxvckexs4ohm7Uv8ZZw0HTRwzOmAAKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/C3FBA10B-EFFB-468B-87C1-082FDB41F677-4FFA9515-2220-4636-96A8-E4BC58A23930.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpPvR3N5Yec/X-Ih7ByH0VI/AAAAAAAAGPU/WPX9Exd62203okjFFbvg9WN-VBZz8dLTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/IMG_0999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpPvR3N5Yec/X-Ih7ByH0VI/AAAAAAAAGPU/WPX9Exd62203okjFFbvg9WN-VBZz8dLTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_0999.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Kitty lost her first tooth! I sewed more masks. We spent more time on walks and in the baby pool / water slide / water table outside in the backyard. We began in earnest to clean up and fix up the garage (posts <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/07/garage-organization-another-quarantine.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/09/garage-organization-after.html" target="_blank">here</a>!). Summer went on!</p><p>AUGUST</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9k-cgEVzxb4/X-IkCleeUJI/AAAAAAAAGPw/qNFUaV5SkygTf7d_kkZi0eCBoFGyRKCmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1960.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9k-cgEVzxb4/X-IkCleeUJI/AAAAAAAAGPw/qNFUaV5SkygTf7d_kkZi0eCBoFGyRKCmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_1960.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIUYVTBw3VQ/X-IkCCvSNkI/AAAAAAAAGPs/t2LRlbprBD8vbOTUhDIEr4R21xRxcId3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2346.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIUYVTBw3VQ/X-IkCCvSNkI/AAAAAAAAGPs/t2LRlbprBD8vbOTUhDIEr4R21xRxcId3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_2346.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>We got ready for homeschooling for real, ate outside a lot as the weather cooled a little bit, kept going to the pool, and I think finally fell into the swing of being at home all the time. ;)</p><p>SEPTEMBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbsWcceNHnI/X-IkrvnqawI/AAAAAAAAGQA/zUUEncpnlnopvchIVar4a6sYMUH2lacDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CF3848D7-052E-49D0-A235-026A1CE20F93.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbsWcceNHnI/X-IkrvnqawI/AAAAAAAAGQA/zUUEncpnlnopvchIVar4a6sYMUH2lacDACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/CF3848D7-052E-49D0-A235-026A1CE20F93.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCi-wn_k-LY/X-Ikomk4tNI/AAAAAAAAGP8/licEXQ6xjNUQV6Q53PVYVpgfiGAJoMlkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2768.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCi-wn_k-LY/X-Ikomk4tNI/AAAAAAAAGP8/licEXQ6xjNUQV6Q53PVYVpgfiGAJoMlkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_2768.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cG1E-luMCFU/X-Ik4MdgSqI/AAAAAAAAGQE/UV-OD-w7FqYW0LUBeOvLMfb5lyK6fdSjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3175.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cG1E-luMCFU/X-Ik4MdgSqI/AAAAAAAAGQE/UV-OD-w7FqYW0LUBeOvLMfb5lyK6fdSjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_3175.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>By the time September came, they'd really decided it was safe enough for us to go to a playground, so go we did! And you would have thought it was the most exciting thing in the world. :) We visited family outside, kept schooling, etc. We also went to the local nursery and bought a maple tree for the backyard!</p><p>OCTOBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sngp0YHQUOk/X-Il9UMve_I/AAAAAAAAGQY/-sxjPPM5Qk06RpektYu2YVOGniFLJ90tgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E4C560C1-C131-445F-ADB9-687FAB833C92-AC2930C2-10F0-4E92-9087-1D101D5562D2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1541" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sngp0YHQUOk/X-Il9UMve_I/AAAAAAAAGQY/-sxjPPM5Qk06RpektYu2YVOGniFLJ90tgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/E4C560C1-C131-445F-ADB9-687FAB833C92-AC2930C2-10F0-4E92-9087-1D101D5562D2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3goaJJRNH2E/X-ImN10j55I/AAAAAAAAGQk/f0cCpwfA290hyFs1VNELs9nhLVpkokIsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4108.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3goaJJRNH2E/X-ImN10j55I/AAAAAAAAGQk/f0cCpwfA290hyFs1VNELs9nhLVpkokIsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4108.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xX7LQc-Ul2Y/X-ImhHWwIWI/AAAAAAAAGQw/FEWCwtVXbNsI0M6dnNsspZU59O3Ecow3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20B04636-4F0A-4F44-9CC0-4CFBBFD4EA2E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xX7LQc-Ul2Y/X-ImhHWwIWI/AAAAAAAAGQw/FEWCwtVXbNsI0M6dnNsspZU59O3Ecow3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20B04636-4F0A-4F44-9CC0-4CFBBFD4EA2E.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7GWk4FcfbY/X-ImhEuUpPI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/opkqglHq7RoxYl4x6M_Cq4375NVPfkSXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4317.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7GWk4FcfbY/X-ImhEuUpPI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/opkqglHq7RoxYl4x6M_Cq4375NVPfkSXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4317.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ok9G2Ldzl-Y/X-Im93l7lrI/AAAAAAAAGRA/BxoAYzfQxt4GADbPiTk9qO2CzWwwozQOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4839.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ok9G2Ldzl-Y/X-Im93l7lrI/AAAAAAAAGRA/BxoAYzfQxt4GADbPiTk9qO2CzWwwozQOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_4839.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">David's grandpa passed away from covid at the beginning of the month, so we traveled to Atkinson for his funeral. We spent David's birthday -- he turned 30! -- celebrating outside with his family on our way home from that. We took a day trip to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (free entry from covid) which has been a year highlight -- we definitely plan to go back. Oh, and a Halloween sleepover! Big month!</span></div><p>NOVEMBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShIM0w4FT_Y/X-InsKdM5NI/AAAAAAAAGRI/43Rk4vvMoWA7OauyeEZAZMaYca9k74FiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/76C8CC1C-7553-437F-8831-6410797308B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShIM0w4FT_Y/X-InsKdM5NI/AAAAAAAAGRI/43Rk4vvMoWA7OauyeEZAZMaYca9k74FiACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/76C8CC1C-7553-437F-8831-6410797308B2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUJTKjqsnJc/X-IoAujAUHI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/5qtQ7CiC0vIdPJaEkzPlT6pe2Be6hYrnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5382.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUJTKjqsnJc/X-IoAujAUHI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/5qtQ7CiC0vIdPJaEkzPlT6pe2Be6hYrnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_5382.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGnToriupS0/X-IoPB0PbXI/AAAAAAAAGRU/dpbtrlCN4WwfjHNc-LRtbXqByUp8W6P8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5763.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGnToriupS0/X-IoPB0PbXI/AAAAAAAAGRU/dpbtrlCN4WwfjHNc-LRtbXqByUp8W6P8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_5763.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M12Igx99A2I/X-IoVuWEPUI/AAAAAAAAGRc/ABEr2C1T_FUg8vMkTHwC0uhvM_d5XuiyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5930.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M12Igx99A2I/X-IoVuWEPUI/AAAAAAAAGRc/ABEr2C1T_FUg8vMkTHwC0uhvM_d5XuiyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_5930.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>Felix's hair finally was too tangly to handle, so he got his first haircut. He grew and cut all his hair in the span of like, 6 months! haha. We had garage Thanksgiving with my family, because it was just slightly warm enough to eat outside. More park play even though it was cold!</p><p>DECEMBER </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-2vmzsZt0/X-IqPtlF-VI/AAAAAAAAGRo/Zl1P29BLHS4HosdcNrDUnjCi1sPew1UIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6284.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-2vmzsZt0/X-IqPtlF-VI/AAAAAAAAGRo/Zl1P29BLHS4HosdcNrDUnjCi1sPew1UIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6284.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVpTPMGINQA/X-IqRA657NI/AAAAAAAAGRs/K7pBGEGfJ1YStqKMbit27Qksnf0P3Dv2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6494.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVpTPMGINQA/X-IqRA657NI/AAAAAAAAGRs/K7pBGEGfJ1YStqKMbit27Qksnf0P3Dv2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6494.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtApb9Rm-ps/X-IqgvjSwZI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Z_-snseQ5bU7oyj-LFpE35furo9Q1NDCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6804.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtApb9Rm-ps/X-IqgvjSwZI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Z_-snseQ5bU7oyj-LFpE35furo9Q1NDCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6804.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bEaFMgRTF5g/X-IqqgT5NkI/AAAAAAAAGR8/89U5d1JopsgaEXtfCdGYh_B3QObICFSJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bEaFMgRTF5g/X-IqqgT5NkI/AAAAAAAAGR8/89U5d1JopsgaEXtfCdGYh_B3QObICFSJACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6847.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>So far it's been the most laid-back December of all time. Cora turned 4 and we borrowed a bounce house from the neighbors to make her pandemic birthday extra-special! We went to take our annual Christmas pics at Mulhalls and to see the reindeer before they left, have been doing Christmas crafts left and right, went to the zoo, baked cookies on Zoom with my family, and have been going outside every day even if it's freezing and snowy (we all need it, me most of all).</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's to hoping 2021 is a lot more like normal than 2020. Prayers for your health & peace this Christmas season from all of us Gokies to you!</p><p><br /></p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-69527856114364622492020-11-30T15:13:00.001-06:002020-11-30T15:13:17.604-06:00things I bought this year that would make good Christmas gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOortPgWESA/X8VZJSVbXfI/AAAAAAAAGLU/vY10EdmG9XMZWgp-lVmlbO9dM-1-yIgpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6131.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOortPgWESA/X8VZJSVbXfI/AAAAAAAAGLU/vY10EdmG9XMZWgp-lVmlbO9dM-1-yIgpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6131.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>I've read approximately 500 gift guides by this point and it's not even December BUT -- I couldn't resist adding my own because yeah, these are things we've actually bought and used and truly, actually, 100% recommend. </p><p>I'm not assuming you will buy anything from this list but it might help you come up with some ideas for all the people on your Christmas lists! If not, enjoy me rambling ahead anyway!</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33bVhTo" target="_blank">popcorn popper -- $16</a> (amazon link)</p><p>If you have a popcorn enthusiast in your family -- like to my level, where popcorn is a snack almost every night -- you need to get them this super easy microwave popcorn popper. When my old turntable popcorn maker crapped out (that we got as a wedding gift, thanks Avilans!), I was looking for something smaller to store and this one collapses in on itself. I figured it was worth the $16 experiment. I've used it approximately 200 times since then and I love it. Sure, I completely ignore the instructions that say not to add any oil because otherwise it comes out too flavorless but it doesn't seem to be hurting the integrity at all. And it's dishwasher safe! </p><p>My popcorn recipe: I put a couple small spoonfuls of coconut oil on the bottom of this container, dump in popcorn kernels, put the lid on, and microwave for like 3-4 minutes -- stopping when it either gets full or goes a couple seconds between pops. Add salt. Incredibly good popcorn for very minimum effort.</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/2UQX1g3" target="_blank">anker charging cord 2 pack</a> & <a href="https://amzn.to/35V0TTC" target="_blank">dual USB port</a> -- $25 (but usually go cheaper) and $11 (amazon links)</p><p>These charging cords and dual USB ports are miles and away better than the extremely low-quality ones that come with your iPhone. First of all, the length is completely necessary so the minimum I'd recommend is a 6 ft. cord. It's an adequate length for almost all instances -- in your car, on your nightstand, etc. Combined with the fast charging Anker USB port and you can charge your phone in almost half the time (or faster!) than regularly. </p><p><a href="https://www.ulta.com/acne-pimple-master-patch-original-care?productId=xlsImpprod16661021">CosRX acne patches</a> -- $4.50 (ulta)</p><p>These things WORK. And they're so cheap. I usually wear one overnight, but you can also put foundation right over them (if I were a person who wears foundation, I'd totally do that, I'm just too incredibly lazy for any makeup besides mascara + undereye cream + brow pencil). </p><p><a href="https://www.birkenstock.com/us/arizona-eva/arizona-eva-eva-0-eva-u_3857.html" target="_blank">waterproof Birkenstock sandals</a> -- $45 (birkenstock)</p><p>I'm a huge Birks fan, and have been for ages. However, these waterproof ones are SO GOOD. So infinitely better than stupid flip flops (will never ever voluntarily wear flip flops again after owning these). 100% waterproof and so comfy. Mine are wearing thin after basically wearing them every day this year when playing outside with the kids, and I hate wearing shoes just in general so you know these are good. ;)</p><p><a href="https://denalihome.com/products/tartan-plaid-sterling-throw" target="_blank">Denali lap blankets</a> -- $60-$90 but 25% off for Cyber Monday today (denali)</p><p>These cozy blankets are absolutely the best lap blankets you can buy. They're the perfect weight, they wash like a dream, and they're super warm without being TOO warm (there are blankets that are too warm, yes!). Plus they're a small American company, what's not to love? </p><p><a href="https://www.moosejaw.com/product/smartwool-kids-hike-medium-crew-sock_10365882" target="_blank">smartwool kids socks</a> -- $9-$10 (moosejaw)</p><p>I was really tired of the kids' feet always staying freezing cold after playing out in the snow. I finally broke down and got some smartwool for them (after loving smartwool for myself for years!) and they're so cute and their little toesies stay super warm. Moosejaw is a great resource but I'm sure you can also find them at Backcountry and other local places!</p><p><a href="https://www.jackboxgames.com/games/" target="_blank">Jackbox party games</a> -- ~$20 depending on where you buy them, but on sale for Cyber Monday (jackbox)</p><p>Okay, this is somewhat out of the box but in 2020, Jackbox games have been really fun for us to play online with friends and family. They're basically online versions of classic games (trivia, pictionary, etc.) that you play with your phone. You can buy them for most game systems AND for computers (Mac and PC alike, you just need a Steam account) and they're super, super fun. Drawful is really great (basically online pictionary) and we also enjoy Trivia Murder Party. </p><p><a href="https://www.jackboxgames.com/games/" target="_blank">any Charles Wysocki puzzle</a> -- around $20 usually (amazon)</p><p>There is something so incredibly hygge and comforting about doing a puzzle in the winter hours. I really find the Charles Wysocki ones so beautiful, so I try to find those first if we need a new one (good quality and beautiful illustrations). It's a little harder to do one this year for us since Felix is at a destructive age so I'm considering getting <a href="https://amzn.to/36lPufS" target="_blank">one of these puzzle tables</a> (or trying to DIY one somehow) to keep his hands out. Anyway! Puzzles! Do them! While away the winter hours!</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780545790352" target="_blank">Harry Potter illustrated editions</a> -- $20-$100 if you buy in a set (bookshop)</p><p>Even Costco has these Harry Potter illustrated editions now so if you haven't seen them yet I don't know what to tell you... but they are truly actually worth the money if you want to read HP with your kids or admire them on your shelf. The illustrations are lovely, the binding and page quality is really good, and you can get them all over! Costco, Amazon, Target, Bookshop like linked above, you name it and they probably sell them. We're in book 2 right now as a family so the kids are getting 3 and 4 from Santa this year. </p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/2HTWSG1" target="_blank">charcoal deodorizing bags</a> -- $12 (amazon)</p><p>This is going to fall under a very practical gift idea, but I honestly don't know what I'd do without my set. If you have small children and a bathroom, or don't take the trash out every night, GET THESE. We have ones in those places plus everyone's closets for shoe smell, the car for random odors, and bedrooms. I don't know how they work but they truly cut down on the smells everywhere. You have to put them in the sun once a month to re-activate the charcoal, I guess? and then they're like new again. Love love love love mine. They truly saved my stomach during Felix's pregnancy and they save me the annoyance of emptying the trash too often now. Can't recommend enough!</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3lsK4E1" target="_blank">agricola</a> -- $53 right now, but the price fluctuates a lot (amazon)</p><p>It wouldn't be an accurate list from the Gokie household without a board game of some sort, would it? This is a board game for someone who loves Catan or Ticket to Ride and wants the next -- stressful -- step up. I got it for David's birthday after having it in the wishlist column for multiple years, as it's always one of the games recommended if you search for "competitive 2 player board games" (feel free to add "nerdy" into that search as well). It sounds easy but it is HARD and actually quite fun if you don't mind being stressed the whole time. ;) Definitely recommend.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LcI5Vja7No/X8VgKQfg6oI/AAAAAAAAGLg/m5RBo3PFS_YE54O53DmeNWOpXf6tM6tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6153.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LcI5Vja7No/X8VgKQfg6oI/AAAAAAAAGLg/m5RBo3PFS_YE54O53DmeNWOpXf6tM6tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6153.heic" /></a></div><br /><p>Okay that's far and enough away blabbing about gift ideas from me today. Sorry that there's been basically radio silence from me on the blog lately, I just haven't had the time with homeschooling and freelance and regular work and life stuff on top of that. I hope to get back into it a little more...someday. :)</p><p>thanks for being here, friends!</p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-57786640505216193842020-10-26T11:22:00.000-05:002020-10-26T11:22:21.445-05:00September and October 2020 reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRNIpaltZrs/X33uVi-hToI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/oMMQwvJ8wq0-EvDDsuB7IufwYzY1D6eQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6631.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRNIpaltZrs/X33uVi-hToI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/oMMQwvJ8wq0-EvDDsuB7IufwYzY1D6eQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG_6631.HEIC" /></a></div><p>Work has slowed down a little bit for me, so I have a little extra time to blog now. Yay! </p><p>I didn't read a ton during September, although looking back at the books I read 2 out of the 4 I read were ~800 pages or more, so I guess I did read a lot in actual words, just not book numbers. It doesn't feel quite as productive to condense it like that, but when all you're really motivated to read is very fun fantasy series, that's what happens. :) And I realize October isn't quite over yet but it's my blog and I'm gonna count October reading as finished.</p><p><br /></p><p><br />
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</p><p><b><i>Rise of Empire</i></b> (Riyria Revelations #3-4)</p><p>by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Ahh, as I've said before and I'll say again -- the Riyria books are such a fun ride if you're a fan of fast-paced fantasy. They're a very specific style which in my head I dub "anti-Brandon Sanderson." I LOVE Sanderson, but he's very convoluted in writing and a lot of things are hidden and obfuscated for a reason in his works. Sullivan's style is pretty open air (although of course there are mysteries to be solved within) and the writing is straightforward and fast-paced. Highly recommend getting into them if you haven't!<script data-affiliate-id="10189" data-sku="9780316187718" data-type="book" src="https://bookshop.org/widgets.js"></script></p><p><b><i>Heir of Novron</i></b> (Riyria Revelations #5-6)</p><p>by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Same here as above review, because I have the same things to say and although I predicted the twist pretty far back into the books, I was still incredibly pleased to read it. <script data-affiliate-id="10189" data-sku="9781250784025" data-type="book" src="https://bookshop.org/widgets.js"></script></p><p><b><i>Home</i></b></p><p>by Marilynne Robinson</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I read <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781250769763" target="_blank">Housekeeping</a> (by Robinson) ages ago and did NOT enjoy it all. I'm honestly not sure if I finished it all the way -- I felt disjointed and uncomfortable and couldn't understand why anyone was touting Robinson as such a preeminent American author. Then CloseReads announced they were doing Home so I figured I'd give her another chance. WOW. Suffice it to say I 100% get the Robinson hype now. With the release of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780374279301" target="_blank">Jack</a> a few weeks ago, every other copy in the rest of the Gilead series is sold out or unavailable everywhere, so I'm patiently waiting to either get it at the library or for Thriftbooks to tell me they've received another copy. So deeply moving, so deeply theological, so deeply interesting -- definitely recommend. <script data-affiliate-id="10189" data-sku="9780062341648" data-type="book" src="https://bookshop.org/widgets.js"></script></p><p><b><i>The Five Red Herrings</i></b> (Lord Peter Wimsey #7)</p><p>by Dorothy Sayers</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span>
</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Ahh, each new Dorothy Sayers novel is such a treat. I found the plot of this one extra-intricate, perhaps complicated by the Scottish accents and Scottish names thrown around so easily in this one, but it certainly didn't detract from the enjoyment.</span></p>
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<p><b><i>The Death of Dulgath</i></b> (The Riyria Chronicles, #3)</p><p>by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">After I finished the second trilogy of Riyria, I thought I had to say goodbye to Royce and Hadrian forever -- not so!!! There were more to be discovered! Thank goodness for Goodreads alerting me to the continuation of the Chronicles trilogy in this one. Loved going back into their world. </span></span></p>
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<p><b><i>Warbreaker</i></b></p><p>by Brandon Sanderson</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I hadn't picked up a Sanderson in a long time, making myself wait until I'd taken a break after my Sanderson-heavy 2019. This one was such a good stand-alone to jump back into! It's incredible how well he can craft an entirely new world seemingly so easily. Highly recommend.</p>
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<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Alloy of Law </i>(Mistborn #4)</p><p>by Brandon Sanderson</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaaaand once I went back into Sanderson I had to do another in a row. ;) This one is the second trilogy of the Mistborn series, set a couple centuries forward in time. It's sort of a Wild West version of the fantasy world, where there are guns and gunslingers and inventions of "technology" and again, an incredibly good cast of characters and a fast pace. It was a tad shorter than Sanderson tends to usually be, and I think on advice from his publisher he probably separated out what would have been really long book into three smaller ones. I'm not complaining! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Currently I'm reading <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062654199" target="_blank">The Alice Network</a>, by Kate Quinn, which I've had on my list forever and finally got from the library -- holding out criticisms yet because it's SO highly rated by everyone but not my favorite, yet. Next up I'll be reading <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780374214524" target="_blank">The Moviegoer</a> by Walker Percy (my first Percy!) and I have <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062678119" target="_blank">The City of Brass</a> by S. A. Chakraborty out from the library, too. What are you reading right now? Got anything I need to desperately add to my ever-growing list? ;)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">HG</span></span></p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-11905950962449790332020-09-22T15:22:00.004-05:002020-09-22T15:22:59.479-05:00Garage organization, the after!<div>I shared the afters of the garage already on Instagram (like two months ago, lol), but I haven't had a chance to write a blog post up with the better photos I took. Today is the day! At least, in "today" meaning more like "as many days as it takes me to write this up, probably more like 7 altogether because my life is a crazy mess and I'm trying to work full time and homeschool." hahaha. IT'S FINE WE'RE FINE.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGiDqgUj9r0/X2JnB0vH0GI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/9yZFdjEE7b4vUKaIziN3cr5ShNXqBHMQACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B1%2B%2528header%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGiDqgUj9r0/X2JnB0vH0GI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/9yZFdjEE7b4vUKaIziN3cr5ShNXqBHMQACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B1%2B%2528header%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Both David and I are super pleased with where we ended up with the garage as a whole. It wasn't exactly an "exciting" project from the start -- more of a necessity than a desire. As I mentioned in <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/07/garage-organization-another-quarantine.html" target="_blank">the last post</a>, we'd been using such a huge area as just a dumping ground without any sort of organization or clear purpose. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's really surprising, especially in a place like a garage, the effect that a fresh coat of paint and a good scrubbing can do to freshen things up. We didn't paint everywhere in here (there were definitely areas worse off than others, so we saved ourselves some time) but I'm so glad we went to the work of the paint and prep that we did. It feels so clean!</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's get down to the after tour, right? That's what you're here for? ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>We'll start from the front area of the garage and work our way around. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUm8slb9XCY/X2Ntx8Y0K3I/AAAAAAAAGFc/H8xkSDS5F8gNZ073uVXNBXSAKBhL6hH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUm8slb9XCY/X2Ntx8Y0K3I/AAAAAAAAGFc/H8xkSDS5F8gNZ073uVXNBXSAKBhL6hH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYSEQkeWOQs/X2Nul09075I/AAAAAAAAGFk/iUfxBnz0Ktcu8-NPGBqz6CO6gZSdQIivACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYSEQkeWOQs/X2Nul09075I/AAAAAAAAGFk/iUfxBnz0Ktcu8-NPGBqz6CO6gZSdQIivACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B3.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>These two walls are usually covered by our cars (as in, you know, the first purpose of a garage...to store cars...haha) so we can't see them in their organized glory but there is a certain slice of my brain that just sighs with happiness seeing this sort of thing. So organized! So professional-looking! So useful! We tried to separate the functions to each half -- so most of the tools are on the side by the house and the toys/sports paraphenalia on the opposite. I think we need another clip or two (because some are doubled up, if you can't tell) but it's already so nice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QopUUcsiz5k/X2NwKXs1ldI/AAAAAAAAGFw/zjOiTQPjFJsqt00iT_eguyBgRcq9Amp3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QopUUcsiz5k/X2NwKXs1ldI/AAAAAAAAGFw/zjOiTQPjFJsqt00iT_eguyBgRcq9Amp3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B4.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1n0adfUwPk/X2NwLMYeNtI/AAAAAAAAGF0/uIoIEz3IM-IOUWRceYj4pL0XnlerPPjRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1n0adfUwPk/X2NwLMYeNtI/AAAAAAAAGF0/uIoIEz3IM-IOUWRceYj4pL0XnlerPPjRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B5.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Here's some side views so you can see how little they stick out from the wall. It's so nice! We can still park relatively close to the sides so there's a path through when the cars are in, and everything is in its place.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nz_BhAxJ5CE/X2NwjyZLtgI/AAAAAAAAGGA/R3IcumF0IMY2YRvwD5dZFlkufW_MTeTAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1541" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nz_BhAxJ5CE/X2NwjyZLtgI/AAAAAAAAGGA/R3IcumF0IMY2YRvwD5dZFlkufW_MTeTAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B6.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Moving around the garage, we come to the door into the house, aka basically the only way we come into and out of our house. We considered at one point replacing the door to possibly add a screened door here, but man, doors are expensive. So we settled for some scrubbing (Kitty and Cora had a blast scrubbing the door and trim with wet rags) and paint all around, and covered the existing steps with a layer of plywood, stain, and about 18 layers of polyurethane. So satisfying!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4c2ShnCMb8/X2NyD7Jj_CI/AAAAAAAAGGM/EJ877awNI00rKJAmFQNEhphIEM-r5xZAACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4c2ShnCMb8/X2NyD7Jj_CI/AAAAAAAAGGM/EJ877awNI00rKJAmFQNEhphIEM-r5xZAACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B7.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Directly next to the stairs into the house is our new faux "mudroom." This door leads directly into the kitchen, so there's no room whatsoever for shoe storage, coat storage, etc. We'd been piling shoes by this door since we moved in but now they actually have a place for them!</div><div><br /></div><div>The system we got was, of course, from IKEA (our favorite!). It's the <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/boaxel-system-47394/" target="_blank">Boaxel shelf storage system</a>. I think I had one of the others more in mind when we started, but they were sold out or discontinuing it, so this was a fine replacement. Of course, doing anything in home improvement during a pandemic isn't easy, so we ordered this at the end of May and it didn't get to our house until mid-July. We spent $215 for this (including the $49 delivery) which was much more affordable than any of the other places I looked (Home Depot, The Container Store, etc.). If this was our forever house, I think we would have considered DIY-ing a wooden system, or spending a little bit more on a nicer system, but this was the perfect mix of easy and affordable for this house.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and if you look closely at the left-hand side of the system up there, I took this picture before one missing piece arrived -- so there should be a matching shelf there (and is now, I just took the photos awhile ago haha).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTl6sn6Hhj4/X2N5D28DkhI/AAAAAAAAGGY/DklwyoEYWx8aCOUjJVRLp59lOMceiaA3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTl6sn6Hhj4/X2N5D28DkhI/AAAAAAAAGGY/DklwyoEYWx8aCOUjJVRLp59lOMceiaA3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B8.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Here's a pulled-back shot of this side of the garage! Including our lovely wood storage, which I talked about in the last post, and the current placement of the mower and leaf blower (aka the most fun thing we own in our entire house, seriously, I'm obsessed with using it for every job). The fridge and full-sized freezer we have out here is how we simultaneously shop at Costco and have a counter-depth fridge in our kitchen. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>The previous owners stored old cars in this half of the garage, hence all the discolored cement. Down the line someday we'd like to epoxy the floor to cover it up, because now that you can see much more of the floor it's wayyyyy more obvious that it's gross. Someday!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kthb3-8gAj8/X2N6vU_OH8I/AAAAAAAAGGk/XrAB1ZdHDHoURtgfE3pEhrragaKZOSrFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kthb3-8gAj8/X2N6vU_OH8I/AAAAAAAAGGk/XrAB1ZdHDHoURtgfE3pEhrragaKZOSrFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B9.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AcjlpiPH1Q/X2N6vzk7P9I/AAAAAAAAGGs/CtRb10zqC5Y1gfFlgMWLJyD2f7ntpH4SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AcjlpiPH1Q/X2N6vzk7P9I/AAAAAAAAGGs/CtRb10zqC5Y1gfFlgMWLJyD2f7ntpH4SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B10.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsawGiPH2IA/X2N6v7WuIzI/AAAAAAAAGGo/9rFUstYrplYfb8LGAzOKwQ2ZWl81QhA9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsawGiPH2IA/X2N6v7WuIzI/AAAAAAAAGGo/9rFUstYrplYfb8LGAzOKwQ2ZWl81QhA9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B11.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>This corner of our garage is where the doors lead to our backyard. They're nothing fancy but it's nice to be able to open them up really widely (since they're double doors) if we need to fit something through and let some light into the garage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually over the work bench we're going to add some more task lighting, since there are just these overhead fluorescents there now, but David can't exactly decide what he wants so we're holding off for now.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7IhxoNYvBo/X2pRXV-TxdI/AAAAAAAAGHY/JcBEm9dqcw4SuZPc_SXSvC84e3bBZe68QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7IhxoNYvBo/X2pRXV-TxdI/AAAAAAAAGHY/JcBEm9dqcw4SuZPc_SXSvC84e3bBZe68QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B13.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l2qgheTvsA/X2pRWItFWbI/AAAAAAAAGHU/cPrMPj7_OnQyL2e7VSTWUjx4jeTdFsiKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l2qgheTvsA/X2pRWItFWbI/AAAAAAAAGHU/cPrMPj7_OnQyL2e7VSTWUjx4jeTdFsiKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B14.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>The housing for the sprinkler system here on this back wall confused us for awhile. It's just an electrical cord running inside that tube and we spent a couple weeks being like, okay we'll lower it, we'll move it to the side, yadda yadda yadda until we realized it would wiggle enough to just keep it as is and mount it on top of the peg board. We breathed a big sigh of relief when that was realized...best to keep things as complication-free as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>The peg board has added a ton of functionality over here. Prior to this we had the cheap plywood or MDF pegboards you can get really cheap from Menards or Home Depot, but the things we were storing on it were causing it to break and crack in certain spots because of the weight. David did a lot of research and bought these <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGCP1T5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Wall Control metal versions</a>, 6 oriented vertically across the bottom and 3 oriented horizontally across the top. The <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-ft-Adjustable-Height-Solid-Wood-Top-Workbench-G9600-US1/207131346" target="_blank">work bench</a> underneath was a birthday present from David's parents (bought on sale) purchased from Home Depot, and the <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/StyleWell-StyleWell-Ruby-Red-Metal-Adjustable-Backless-Counter-Stool-with-Swivel-14-17-in-W-x-24-41-in-H-RW811-RBY/309397231" target="_blank">red metal stool</a> is also from Home Depot!</div><div><br /></div><div>For a garage so big, the other thing missing out here is outlet space. David put up <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SY5LJ7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">these long horizontal mountable surge protectors</a> to make it so we'd always have enough space to plug things in. Looking at it now the amount of available outlets seems a tad excessive (I'm not sure when we'd ever need, like, 55 outlets at the same time) but it made sense to orient them so there'd always be one close to where we wanted. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KAgCq2kxtNY/X2pSb71jesI/AAAAAAAAGHk/xB9vnlfzaiwV1-Wtf6Qdb_yDpC35xTBAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KAgCq2kxtNY/X2pSb71jesI/AAAAAAAAGHk/xB9vnlfzaiwV1-Wtf6Qdb_yDpC35xTBAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B15.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>We never did really find a *great* solution for the bikes, so here they have remained since the beginning of the garage's evolution. Right now we just prop them up, and hook the adult bike (singular) on the wall (although we have two spots, since we got rid of David's old rickety bike a few months ago). It's serviceable and we have the space to just keep them there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6eYEgpEtOE/X2pTQRZ7uWI/AAAAAAAAGHs/g2oE7JtswKkiP5j7wRkV7RCMjmsc6JrbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6eYEgpEtOE/X2pTQRZ7uWI/AAAAAAAAGHs/g2oE7JtswKkiP5j7wRkV7RCMjmsc6JrbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B18.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>I don't have a good picture of it, but we also got <a href="homedepot.com/p/Gladiator-5-Tier-Steel-Garage-Storage-Shelving-Unit-with-EZ-Connect-48-in-W-x-72-in-H-x-24-in-D-GARK485XGG/301657823" target="_blank">this storage shelf</a> for the corner that has been a HUGE organization help. It holds all of our weird things that need to be accessible but can't be in the above-head storage: gas for the mower, various other poisons and motor oils, coolers, the fertilizer spreader, planting equipment, air compressor, shop vac, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>We ran into the issue of our jutting-out cement baseboard that was keeping the shelf from being flush against the wall. Our cheap solution was to just put our extraneous loose cement blocks around near the front, and place the shelf up on them *and* the baseboard. It works great and prevents loose tennis balls or construction debris from rolling under the shelf. Everything on there is extremely heavy, as is the shelf itself, so we're not worried about it ever tipping. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u2WF4cE2Ro/X2pUOnDrslI/AAAAAAAAGH4/kRqZcE3KLd0RFa-JzL546eR6KNXjE8MGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u2WF4cE2Ro/X2pUOnDrslI/AAAAAAAAGH4/kRqZcE3KLd0RFa-JzL546eR6KNXjE8MGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B16.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vrmy8Xs81Xw/X2pUO3Nj8KI/AAAAAAAAGIA/yJteDte7tPwvWSrCjHSj8R37gYzvWaqowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vrmy8Xs81Xw/X2pUO3Nj8KI/AAAAAAAAGIA/yJteDte7tPwvWSrCjHSj8R37gYzvWaqowCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B17.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP2b_RUdcZA/X2pUOqk40PI/AAAAAAAAGH8/XhP4DhzCEmohbTjhSAQ5qx2czK4-Mvo4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B18%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP2b_RUdcZA/X2pUOqk40PI/AAAAAAAAGH8/XhP4DhzCEmohbTjhSAQ5qx2czK4-Mvo4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B18%2B2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>This wall of garage storage was one of the first things we purchased for this house, actually, as a reward for moving to Omaha with David's new job (and his excitement about having a giant garage for projects). We've loved it ever since but our amount of stuff had completely outgrown it. Now that it's pared down a little bit it's so much nicer and I think we'll actually be able to utilize it and keep it organized.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plenty of room for Husker memorabilia to display on it, too, if you didn't notice. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wbGlhbBkYM/X2pYKhedjOI/AAAAAAAAGIU/fAryWsJ0Jv8FT-eqxU2XbYKm6gRnbdsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wbGlhbBkYM/X2pYKhedjOI/AAAAAAAAGIU/fAryWsJ0Jv8FT-eqxU2XbYKm6gRnbdsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B19.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRiPC7jAhV8/X2pYK39rQ8I/AAAAAAAAGIY/lCaVzmwxFEIkO7EdUhP_CMwyhdKB1Tx9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRiPC7jAhV8/X2pYK39rQ8I/AAAAAAAAGIY/lCaVzmwxFEIkO7EdUhP_CMwyhdKB1Tx9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B21.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Swinging further around we come to the door that exits to nearest our fence gate. There's like, 6 ft. of yard between this door and our fence so it's not a highly trafficked area but man, it was in terrible, terrible shape. Years of full sun exposure had done a number on the paint and trim -- luckily we added a splash of really fun orange over here to brighten it up! The orange is Behr's Exotic Blossom (lol, paint names) and it's truly the perfect bright orange. After painting this door I immediately wanted it elsewhere so we also painted the front door and the back door the same to match. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CPFNA0oFFo/X2pZG0lFV3I/AAAAAAAAGIk/LKCxQR2SZ2MWjnxL-bEquXTziZo-WltYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B20%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CPFNA0oFFo/X2pZG0lFV3I/AAAAAAAAGIk/LKCxQR2SZ2MWjnxL-bEquXTziZo-WltYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B20%2B1.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCP2m63L2iU/X2pZG1q8sEI/AAAAAAAAGIo/v0VgtMOKYvoajjGN_lLvs4V5B96fjO6wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCP2m63L2iU/X2pZG1q8sEI/AAAAAAAAGIo/v0VgtMOKYvoajjGN_lLvs4V5B96fjO6wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B20.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Above the garage door is where we added the other Fleximount systems. They were kind of a PITA to install, only because they're very heavy and sturdy, but we now have tons of bins to keep things in (tiling supplies, extraneous lighting stuff, you name it) and there are even still 3 empty bins for room to expand! Second picture is to demonstrate how we get stuff down -- David can barely reach and push out an empty tub, otherwise we have to get a ladder, so it really is suited for more long-term storage. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IewGDg608I/X2pZq5vncjI/AAAAAAAAGI0/UwJZNAJxRvUK_XoKVypjQfeayXhHSdKaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B23%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IewGDg608I/X2pZq5vncjI/AAAAAAAAGI0/UwJZNAJxRvUK_XoKVypjQfeayXhHSdKaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B23%2B1.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pigG6LTIac/X2pZq7Rey_I/AAAAAAAAGI4/O3uRg-O5PBcBEVjD7OVRQrS1BZFZhOlJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pigG6LTIac/X2pZq7Rey_I/AAAAAAAAGI4/O3uRg-O5PBcBEVjD7OVRQrS1BZFZhOlJACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B23.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here are some additional perspective photos of the storage above the doors. You can't reach the stuff when the garage door is open all the way, so that's a little bit of a logistics issue, but a lot of people mount them this way and then you just have to either close the garage door a little or all the way to gain access and it's fine. <div><br /></div><div>Nearing the end, I promise!!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWmyGKVz298/X2paLvJpfEI/AAAAAAAAGJI/cosZDV6s79Yi0oUv2NFcGiKOc_U-QDlewCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWmyGKVz298/X2paLvJpfEI/AAAAAAAAGJI/cosZDV6s79Yi0oUv2NFcGiKOc_U-QDlewCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B22.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1DQhdTGktM/X2paLWwjykI/AAAAAAAAGJE/l20chU-qLf0ZJDtRnOp8T7-vZtL-yBT_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/garage%2B24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1DQhdTGktM/X2paLWwjykI/AAAAAAAAGJE/l20chU-qLf0ZJDtRnOp8T7-vZtL-yBT_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/garage%2B24.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>The last two photos I will bore you with (I'm amazed if you made it this far) are the best perspective photos I could really get of the enormity of this garage in its completed stage. It really is huge, with tons of spare room and workable areas. It's not nearly as perfect as it "could be" because, you know, budget, and time, and all that, but it's really such a transformation. </div><div><br /></div><div>If there's anything I forgot to link or explain, please tell me in the comments and I'd love to clarify -- it literally did take me two weeks to finish this blog post, and I only have 3 minutes before Felix wakes up from his nap, so I'm gonna leave it like it is. Thanks for being here!!!</div><div>HG</div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-33349652505336976392020-09-10T10:07:00.002-05:002020-09-10T10:07:43.566-05:00July and August 2020 reads<p>How is it already <strike>the end of August</strike> the middle of September? I'm behind on everything, surviving on little sleep and lots of coffee to be able to keep up this reading pace. WORTH IT.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CurTza9t-9Y/X1k0A60l9rI/AAAAAAAAGEs/ME1kPocXA2sayw6zewezK0E5Mst1B6H-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8108.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="781" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CurTza9t-9Y/X1k0A60l9rI/AAAAAAAAGEs/ME1kPocXA2sayw6zewezK0E5Mst1B6H-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w586-h781/IMG_8108.HEIC" width="586" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>I've decided from now on to use Bookshop.org's affiliate links for my book recommendations, mostly because Thriftbooks doesn't have affiliate links and I really love their concept. I still anticipate making $0.00 from my affiliate links because that's not what I'm blogging for but I always want specific links when someone references something, so this is a middle ground!</i></div><p><i><br /></i></p>
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<p><i>A Perfect Spy </i>by John le Carré</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Man, I should probably take more notes in my Goodreads account. This feels like I read it so long ago! Ages have passed! Anyway, all I remember is that I was entranced and my memory says 5 stars, so 5 stars it is. I'd never read a true spy novel before, and I'm ashamed it took me so long. I'm happy now to eventually dig into the rest of le Carré's works because this was so good.</span></p>
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<p><i>The Crown Tower </i>(The Riyria Chronicles, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><a href="https://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rosie</a> recommended this series to me, and when Rosie recommends a fantasy series, I listen. :) I read these out of order, because this prequel series is supposed to be read after the main series, but it was the only one available on Kindle when I was looking and, eh, c'est la vie. So good! If you like simply good "high fantasy" novels, these are great. The writing style is purposefully very simple so you're drawn in completely, and the characters are incredibly rounded and fascinating. Fans of Brandon Sanderson or Patrick Rothfuss or the like, you'll love them. </p>
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<p><i>Start With Why</i> by Simon Sinek</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I've been meaning to read this book for years! I finally rented the audiobook for free and although I had to finish it in a hurry, I very much enjoyed it. The author read the audiobook I listened to, which is always a plus, and I find his insights into the business world very adept, even though I'm pretty far removed from being an actual business person.</p>
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<p><i>Notes of a Native Son</i> by James Baldwin</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>I think I'd read some Baldwin essays in an African American Lit class in college, but I'd never read one of his works in totality before picking up Notes of a Native Son -- and you know what, he wrote it in the mid 50's and almost every damn thing he wrote STILL applies to America. Our country's racial reckoning is so important, and seeing it through the historical lens of this book was really...saddening. And fascinating. Highly recommend it.</p>
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<p><i>The Rose and the Thorn</i> (The Riyria Chronicles, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Book two of the wrong-order-Riyria reads! Adventure, suspense, a little bit of humor, swords, cloaks, daggers, etc. etc. Love it. I think I liked this one even better than the first, which propelled me into renting the first series later (keep reading and you'll find out). I have been thinking about it as a whole for months now, and IT WOULD MAKE SUCH A GOOD HBO SERIES. I mean, you'd need like 8 seasons to get through it all, but WHY ARE CRAPPY TV SHOWS STILL BEING MADE WHEN ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND GOOD BOOKS TO MAKE INTO TV??? Will never understand. </p>
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<p><i>Children of Time</i> by Adrian Tchaikovsky</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">I really wish I could remember where I got recommended this book -- I think it was maybe on an NPR end-of-year book list? Anyway, I had NO idea what was coming in this book and I loved each and every bit of it. Semi-spoiler but not really: this is the story of if humans tried to genetically induce evolution, thinking they were doing it on monkeys but instead it happens to SPIDERS. So if you're arachnophobic, you might not wanna read this. I think I was slightly at the beginning of the book, but it pulled me in so well I couldn't care by the end. Twists I didn't expect, completely risky premise, jumps in time without being offputting? Sci-fi at its best. 5 stars.</span></p>
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<p><i>Theft of Swords</i> (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2) by Michael J. Sullivan</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>After starting this one, which is what I should have read first in the Riyria world, I kind of understood why the other two were prequels. I mean, it was clearly planned so I didn't feel too off, but I'd read these first if you were interested! Very good. Gosh. Makes me want to stop writing this blog post so I can go read another right now.</p>
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<p><i>The Last Mrs. Parrish</i> by Liv Constantine</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Another one where I can't remember where I found a recommendation for it. This wasn't my favorite book I've ever read, but for a quick suspense thriller, it was pretty good. Kept me guessing to some degree, but certainly not as good as Gone Girl or Girl on the Train. What I'd qualify as a "scary beach read." 2 stars.</p>
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<p><i>Voyage to Alpha Centauri</i> by Michael D. O'Brien</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></p><p>Wow, where to start with this one. First, it's like 800 pages, and weighs a ton (my wrists kept hurting holding it up reading in bed). The basic premise is a big ship full of scientists go check out the nearest star in hopes of finding a habitable planet. The trip takes forever, things happen, yada yada. I really like this sort of century-ship-premise, but this one was just a letdown. There was a LOT of heavy-handed anti-authoritarianism that was just, quite frankly, unnecessary, and really pulled me out of the story. O'Brien is also writing from a clearly Christian position, and, well, I'm not sure he did it very well. Don't hate me if you love him, it just felt forced and unnatural throughout most of the book. I did finish the whole 800 some pages, though, so I obviously didn't hate it...just can't <i>highly</i> recommend it. 3 stars.</p>
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<p><i>The Sun Also Rises</i> by Ernest Hemingway</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">5</span></p><p>I read this with the Close Reads podcast (after skipping Frankenstein because I just cannot do Frankenstein, okay?). I'm sure I've read it before but that would have been pre-my-Goodreads-account, so I'm not sure when. I'm so glad I read it with them because on the surface, it's such a simple novel, but hosts' commentary really opened up so much about the book for me. Hemingway's such a master, and I'm hoping to read another of his next year at some point.</p>
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<p><i>The Relentless Moon</i> (Lady Astronaut, #3) by Mary Robinette Kowal</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">5</span></p><p>I've been anticipating this release for SO LONG, and I was so thrilled no one else at the Omaha library had managed to hold it before I did so I got it like, 3 days after it was released!!! If you haven't heard me wax poetic about the Lady Astronaut series yet, well, you're missing out. This book series reimagines the space race in the 50s if a giant meteor had irrevocably harmed Earth so that the space race became imperative -- and if the women played a larger role. ;) Definitely recommend starting from the beginning with The Calculating Stars. 5 stars!</p>
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<p><i>Strong Poison </i>(Lord Peter Wimsey, #6) by Dorothy Sayers</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">5</span></p><p>Ahhh, another Sayers novel. They're just so satisfying! I finally got some used copies in from Thriftbooks and happily held off until I was waiting for some library holds. This one is when Harriet Vane is introduced and man, just so good. Nothing like a good mystery novel, am I right?</p><p>------------</p><p>Whew, that was obnoxiously long -- thanks for reading, if you made it this far. ;) Currently I'm in the midst of the next Riyria book (obviously), <i>The Divine Comedy </i>(gulp), and I'm starting Marilynne Robinson's <i>Home</i> with Close Reads next. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of two books this fall -- the next book in the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, and the next Stormlight (Brandon Sanderson). Oh! And the newest Robert Galbraith is out too! 2020 surprisingly not too bad for book releases. :) </p><p>Happy reading, friends!</p><p>HG</p>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-6482606883410937712020-08-11T10:46:00.000-05:002020-08-11T10:46:21.679-05:00Homeschooling (WUT)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc_nHMqVDjM/XzK1flucpPI/AAAAAAAAGDY/LCUWoluDMng-rWCWP0dT46lOSbjFlV0GgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B7347826-3145-4FA9-ACEB-F9EBD532B506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc_nHMqVDjM/XzK1flucpPI/AAAAAAAAGDY/LCUWoluDMng-rWCWP0dT46lOSbjFlV0GgCLcBGAsYHQ/w938-h1250/B7347826-3145-4FA9-ACEB-F9EBD532B506.JPG" width="938" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, Jesus is laughing His head off at me admitting this but guess what, y'all? We're homeschooling for 2020!</div><div><br /></div><div>I always swore that I would never homeschool. "Not for me," along with statements such as, "I think I'd rather burn alive" or "that sounds like my personal version of Gehenna" usually accompanying it. And then along came 2020. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pit-of-despair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="605" height="562" src="https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pit-of-despair.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I mean, I'm not usually that defeatist, but some days it applies.</div><div><br /></div><div>We hemmed and hawed about the decision for a long time -- is it worth it? Can we handle it, mentally and emotionally? The deciding factors for us seemed to be, above all, David's health -- we've been trying so hard to be careful, that sending her to school is a big risk and a LOT of exposure we've been avoiding for months. Even if his risk of death is about the same as everyone else, he has a high chance of getting sicker than other people with covid, and let me tell you from experience -- being in the ICU is HORRIBLE. Being intubated? Or watching someone you love being intubated? THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING. (I have a whole angry spiel about people downplaying it who <i>do not have personal experience with it and therefore have no idea what the actual H they are talking about</i>. I will spare you from that spiel because that's not the point of this post.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The other factor was, frankly, price. If we're going to send her to school and pay the Catholic school tuition, and then probably have schools shut down in 3-4 weeks as our case numbers are not going down (in Nebraska we've been pretty steady at 250-300 new cases every day for like, weeks at this point), that seems like a lot of burden for not a lot of outcome. I'm sure for some people it is 100% worth it! Our school is even offering a completely digital curriculum, which is so nice of them and isn't the case everywhere. I just had a hard enough time keeping up with all the digital kindergarten we did at the end of the year, that a whole year of school like that for a first grader seemed silly. It was just going to be easier all around to do our own thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>So! We decided to homeschool. I filed the paperwork and everything and they make you pick a name, so the Tekakwitha Academy is official for 2020-2021. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9vKh8FP7n8/XzK6zXWmqSI/AAAAAAAAGDk/YUNi0BShXg0in9qqmsDZEIRclov0SoGCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1118.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9vKh8FP7n8/XzK6zXWmqSI/AAAAAAAAGDk/YUNi0BShXg0in9qqmsDZEIRclov0SoGCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w750-h1000/IMG_1118.HEIC" title="current state of the homeschool area, we're going to work on it in the next few days" width="750" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">current state of the homeschool area, we're going to pretty it up in the next few days<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Only because I've been curious what others are doing, I'll list out what we're using for school. I obviously am a TOTAL newbie and sort of just read a bunch of internet posts and reviews until I landed on things. We'll be supplementing with as many library books as possible and see where the year takes us but this is our starting point! <i>Links below are some affiliate to where we bought stuff, mostly Amazon.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Math: <a href="https://amzn.to/3aeVibr" target="_blank">Sadlier Math, grade 1</a> (Kitty's school used Sadlier for Kindergarten instruction, so it seemed to make sense to just pick the next one up to make it easier on ourselves)</div><div>Science: <a href="https://amzn.to/2XPcVJX" target="_blank">The Story Book of Science</a> (I've never been very good at science, so we're going to try this and then supplement with some very low-key science projects on the weekends when the weather gets cold)</div><div>History: <a href="https://amzn.to/3fQTjv0">The Story of Civilization, Vol. 1, the Ancient World</a> (and since I've heard this is a little white-washed after purchasing, we'll do plenty of supplementing here)</div><div>Handwriting: <a href="https://amzn.to/3gZhXec">Handwriting Without Tears, grade 2</a> (she has really good handwriting already when she tries, so we went for grade 2)</div><div>Phonics: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ahGtVn" target="_blank">Scholastic Week-by-Week Phonics</a> (idk how this is gonna go, but looks similar to stuff she did in K so we'll see)</div><div>Religion: <a href="https://www.chcweb.com/catalog/Religion/Catechetics/FaithandLife,Grade1OurHeavenlyFather/product_info.html" target="_blank">Faith and Life, Grade 1: Our Heavenly Father</a> (I think she's gonna speed through this so we're going to do a saint study each week if I can get my ish in gear to plan it out)</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also got plenty of other fun things, like dry erase boards and markers, chapter books to read, little Spanish flashcards, and assorted other things. Kitty is SO beyond excited to start school and that has been an absolute blessing from God -- I was a little worried but she's really thrilled about doing homeschool. Cora is also super excited to be "doing school" so that's fun too! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsfb0lAtEs4/XzK7zToEnGI/AAAAAAAAGDs/uq73TdPXnGMBFI2HVBLaEsKlpUQvQmF4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C752290F-67C8-4EE6-9CC7-38D77B0E5310-207EE54F-D766-4C10-B25C-0D6A86B0AB7F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsfb0lAtEs4/XzK7zToEnGI/AAAAAAAAGDs/uq73TdPXnGMBFI2HVBLaEsKlpUQvQmF4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w750-h1000/C752290F-67C8-4EE6-9CC7-38D77B0E5310-207EE54F-D766-4C10-B25C-0D6A86B0AB7F.JPG" width="750" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I think we'll be able to do most of our schooling when Felix is asleep for naps (knock on wood!!! patron saint of napping babies, intercede for us!!!) but if not we'll figure something out. Luckily it seems like we can maybe be done with schooling in an hour or two per day, which is totally doable. I think. I hope. I pray. (wide eye emoji here)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway figured you, my dear loyal blog readers, were due an update. If you have any tips for us I am open to any and all pointers. If you're homeschooling tell me, I'm so curious who else is joining us this year!</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace and blessings --</div><div>HG</div><div><br /></div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-85450230479476023292020-07-21T20:38:00.000-05:002020-07-21T20:38:05.552-05:00Garage organization, a(nother) quarantine projectLast time I talked about home projects in depth on the blog I told y'all we'd be doing a quick basement bathroom renovation. <div><br /></div><div>(extreme Ross voice) PIVOT! We decided to organize the garage and finally get our ish in gear in there instead, mostly because David was motivated to do it and as he's the muscle on the projects at casa Gokie, we go where his muscles lead us a lot of the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our garage has been the biggest blessing in this new house -- well, not new, since we've lived here for four years already. Time flies! But in our previous house, we had a one-stall, detached garage, with a wonky door that didn't open very easily. Moving to this house with a 4+ stall garage has been AMAZING. David and I joke constantly that we'd be willing to downsize if we can keep the same amount of garage space.</div><div><br /></div><div>That being said, with a four stall garage, we didn't have it organized very well. When you have a giant amount of space there's not a lot of motivation to really make it work the best for you, until now!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some poor before photos, which I took hurriedly one day while David started patching a wall, in all its messy and unorganized glory.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws0HW98AhIg/XxcQvqaj3aI/AAAAAAAAF_k/LnqDLRFDBSMR5lt6H4fadxLuJv1JDd5uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8104.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="733" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws0HW98AhIg/XxcQvqaj3aI/AAAAAAAAF_k/LnqDLRFDBSMR5lt6H4fadxLuJv1JDd5uQCLcBGAsYHQ/w976-h733/IMG_8104.HEIC" width="976" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6wfo7GOGPE/XxcRTkDMKJI/AAAAAAAAF_s/HjDMw95AXz0Xd5LGWxnUdCU94NaErastACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8106%2B2.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="1145" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6wfo7GOGPE/XxcRTkDMKJI/AAAAAAAAF_s/HjDMw95AXz0Xd5LGWxnUdCU94NaErastACLcBGAsYHQ/w1525-h1145/IMG_8106%2B2.HEIC" width="1525" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YKGoh6tWC8/XxcRdN0e3hI/AAAAAAAAF_w/4e2r4-FLuME8Wb2_ee5aeKWP--oh6HaxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8107.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="1145" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YKGoh6tWC8/XxcRdN0e3hI/AAAAAAAAF_w/4e2r4-FLuME8Wb2_ee5aeKWP--oh6HaxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w1525-h1145/IMG_8107.HEIC" width="1525" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDBFHBveGTQ/XxcRn_Gt99I/AAAAAAAAF_4/QTcxVugIuX0PZ07XmOi-ANKflCnpqflkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8109.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="1431" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDBFHBveGTQ/XxcRn_Gt99I/AAAAAAAAF_4/QTcxVugIuX0PZ07XmOi-ANKflCnpqflkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w1906-h1431/IMG_8109.HEIC" width="1906" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUbhtgLmt4Y/XxcRvJwD4LI/AAAAAAAAGAA/vBP0arqSg2cH_-Dn81KsVr9WePfg1OkgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8112.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="1431" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUbhtgLmt4Y/XxcRvJwD4LI/AAAAAAAAGAA/vBP0arqSg2cH_-Dn81KsVr9WePfg1OkgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w1906-h1431/IMG_8112.HEIC" width="1906" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95ieKzwqt5k/XxcR1sbjUWI/AAAAAAAAGAE/KPCATCIzdrUSnMLaQoG3FJGyOI41Xg9bACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8113.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="1431" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95ieKzwqt5k/XxcR1sbjUWI/AAAAAAAAGAE/KPCATCIzdrUSnMLaQoG3FJGyOI41Xg9bACLcBGAsYHQ/w1906-h1431/IMG_8113.HEIC" width="1906" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yhb6Vffk_mc/XxcSAaPWOFI/AAAAAAAAGAM/E7zEeKhOxUwp5hcHvgu7-VMzdTyHW4RugCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8115.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="976" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yhb6Vffk_mc/XxcSAaPWOFI/AAAAAAAAGAM/E7zEeKhOxUwp5hcHvgu7-VMzdTyHW4RugCLcBGAsYHQ/w733-h976/IMG_8115.HEIC" width="733" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">proof that these are really before photos because I didn't even straighten this photo haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xqb98BvJYF8/XxcSGXjt-wI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/8z3W9TarR7UeqmS7VpIj_ceLQ4imF1y5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8150.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xqb98BvJYF8/XxcSGXjt-wI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/8z3W9TarR7UeqmS7VpIj_ceLQ4imF1y5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_8150.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>To quickly sum up the issues we were having:</div><div>1. Everything looked messy. We had some pseudo-storage, but it just still looked disorganized. There was a lot of stuff just randomly placed, and the placements didn't really make sense.</div><div>2. The wood in the corner near the black cabinets was SO hard to access when we needed it, and just took up too much space. </div><div>3. The stacked lawn tools were too high for me to reach when I needed them (shovels etc. above the table saw near the door).</div><div>4. The wall of black cabinets were overloaded with stuff, to the point where it was really impossible to keep them organized. </div><div>5. The brown pegboard on the back far wall was broken through in a couple places -- cheap pegboard has a tendency to break if you put heavy things on it. </div><div>6. The strollers were always out and taking up floor space even in the winter when they're not used.</div><div>7. We have collections of project materials leftover from past work that didn't need to be easily accessible all the time, but no good place to put them (i.e. tiling supplies, leftover duct work, extra can lights, etc.). </div><div>8. Obviously it was all dingy and dirty too and needed some new lighting and better workflow.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing we did was to take off this weird black foam/pegboard that was on one of the walls (halfway behind our extra fridge / freezer). We're not entirely sure why it was there? Before David ripped it off we were worried there'd be a big hole behind it but nope -- just drywall with a bunch of glue. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8stG0_NKCk/XxcUm8sU_xI/AAAAAAAAGAk/dfiuoowutnMTdR3Sccjvg-8xm86kVBhrACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8167.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8stG0_NKCk/XxcUm8sU_xI/AAAAAAAAGAk/dfiuoowutnMTdR3Sccjvg-8xm86kVBhrACLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_8167.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>He skim coated it with joint compound and voila, regular wall back!</div><div><br /></div><div>The next thing we did was gulp a little bit and buy 3 <a href="https://www.fleximounts.com/garage-ceiling-storage-racks/overhead-garage-storage-rack-gr48b-4x8-ft-black/" target="_blank">Fleximount storage systems</a> to mount on the ceiling for additional storage. They are not cheap -- we spent a little over $500 for the three of them altogether. But they're very sturdy and came super well-reviewed. (I think Husky makes similar ones you can find at Home Depot normally, but they were out of stock in the sizes we wanted the last time I checked.) We bought two<a href="https://www.fleximounts.com/garage-ceiling-storage-racks/overhead-garage-storage-rack-gr48b-4x8-ft-black/" target="_blank"> 4x8s for above the garage door </a>and <a href="https://www.fleximounts.com/garage-ceiling-storage-racks/overhead-garage-storage-rack-gr38b-3x8-ft-black/" target="_blank">one 3x8 for wood</a> above the fridge. (Not affiliate links, just wanted to share!) </div><div><br /></div><div>We figured it wasn't a bad idea to spend a little more here if it's for something that will hold heavy materials above our heads. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohJ0fxuQW3w/XxcYZdmRvkI/AAAAAAAAGAw/f83uUl9pd_gEACmls0h8pPEKq3zhVaEDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8530.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohJ0fxuQW3w/XxcYZdmRvkI/AAAAAAAAGAw/f83uUl9pd_gEACmls0h8pPEKq3zhVaEDACLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_8530.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-974FFRxVXS4/XxcYcwT_AaI/AAAAAAAAGA0/P8v4NKDKp8Ygem_cGtbRGCWYGl5sXR9zgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3991.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-974FFRxVXS4/XxcYcwT_AaI/AAAAAAAAGA0/P8v4NKDKp8Ygem_cGtbRGCWYGl5sXR9zgCLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_3991.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They're relatively straightforward to install, especially with so many junior employees helping out. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a picture of the wood one installed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhaajGgNDmA/XxcZXaqIFlI/AAAAAAAAGBA/tOXbOO76uagk845eq6rpOyvtYFRgcbBpACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5587.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhaajGgNDmA/XxcZXaqIFlI/AAAAAAAAGBA/tOXbOO76uagk845eq6rpOyvtYFRgcbBpACLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_5587.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll have some more other photos of the finished product on the reveal post. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Next up was figuring out a solution for the walls by our cars. We had some shelves there for random crap, one of which came with the house, one of which we installed to match. They didn't function well because I couldn't really reach them and stuff just sat there, inaccessible. It took awhile for me to convince David to move our long tool storage there, as well as all of our various sports equipment, since those were the narrowest things we needed a place for. I was ultimately successful. Go me!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>The walls were pretty dinged up and needed a patch coat as well as some paint before putting anything in. More help from our junior employees!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT2FxJVOUzE/XxcapOQo-7I/AAAAAAAAGBU/L9QsnobvhcwR66syDRwqPkkXL3v6pwctACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5678.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT2FxJVOUzE/XxcapOQo-7I/AAAAAAAAGBU/L9QsnobvhcwR66syDRwqPkkXL3v6pwctACLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_5678.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRIG0oG0go4/Xxca00mp93I/AAAAAAAAGBY/2HOGK7sN35M7h5bzDdmiaJdEJz5D-dW5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0099.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRIG0oG0go4/Xxca00mp93I/AAAAAAAAGBY/2HOGK7sN35M7h5bzDdmiaJdEJz5D-dW5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_0099.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTe23pgME_4/Xxca8APJpHI/AAAAAAAAGBo/fiMmSzwayeozXlw46jJ_OuGbw-0prHcCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7302.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTe23pgME_4/Xxca8APJpHI/AAAAAAAAGBo/fiMmSzwayeozXlw46jJ_OuGbw-0prHcCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_7302.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Because we were a) cheap and b) trying to avoid going places to buy supplies, we mixed together a bunch of leftover paint to paint this. Some of it was primer, some of it was just straight white paint (no tint), some was a tinted white we'd used in the kitchen. We barely had enough to cover these walls stretching it pretty much as far as it would go. They're also not exactly the same because we mixed and painted on two different days, so the ratio was different. No one can tell, even David and his eagle (ahem perfectionist) eyes.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a lot of debate, we settled on <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-FastTrack-Garage-84-in-Hang-Rail-Track-Storage-System-1784416/100592307" target="_blank">this Rubbermaid FastTrack system</a> for each wall. They come in different lengths and the Home Depot near us had a lot in stock, although you can also buy them on Amazon! To stretch each wall length, we used three 84" lengths on one wall, then two 84" and one 48" length on the other, all mounted right next to each other. The frames are relatively inexpensive ($17x5 + $10) but the pricey part comes with all the attachments. They function really nicely, though, and we wanted to invest in something sturdy that could stay with the house and really hold all of our stuff securely.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oaMwuvdWBIg/XxeWcKaK3AI/AAAAAAAAGB4/GvoIn__V1iEEHdpVNGf3T6pV2rdWGqp_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4304.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oaMwuvdWBIg/XxeWcKaK3AI/AAAAAAAAGB4/GvoIn__V1iEEHdpVNGf3T6pV2rdWGqp_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w916-h1220/IMG_4304.HEIC" width="916" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dv6_3jkju6A/XxeWj7faskI/AAAAAAAAGB8/qWZ5XPueilgG8KAtJHbB380BRRXFrtfaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1061%2B2.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="1525" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dv6_3jkju6A/XxeWj7faskI/AAAAAAAAGB8/qWZ5XPueilgG8KAtJHbB380BRRXFrtfaACLcBGAsYHQ/w1145-h1525/IMG_1061%2B2.HEIC" width="1145" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'll get some better pictures again later for the "reveal" when we're done but they're already looking so sharp and organized! It's very functional and super nice that you can change the clips whenever you want to arrange things differently.</div><div><br /></div><div>This post is already too long so I will stop riiiiight here. Next post will be hopefully the rest of the work, and then after that a reveal! It's already feeling so nice and motivating us to keep the whole garage clean (which is no easy feat). Until then!</div><div>HG</div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-79307503423191561052020-07-08T10:54:00.000-05:002020-07-08T10:54:45.548-05:00Summer summer summertime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKVHv2YRiDc/XwXmZdEf1AI/AAAAAAAAF8o/TnJaG5_-uj0mwCLMICn2s2DDF-R2Z9MTwCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_2121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="1525" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKVHv2YRiDc/XwXmZdEf1AI/AAAAAAAAF8o/TnJaG5_-uj0mwCLMICn2s2DDF-R2Z9MTwCK4BGAsYHg/w1145-h1525/IMG_2121.jpg" width="1145" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it's high time I updated my future self on what's been going on, month 984 of quarantine (just kidding, it's only JULY so it's been 4.5 months of isolation, *insert maniacal laughter here*).</div><div><br /></div><div>In all reality, we're doing just fine. We've had some ups and downs, just like everyone has in this weird-ass 2020. Let alone the global pandemic, we're having racial awakenings all over the country, which makes a fraught time even more fraught. Please don't misunderstand me -- it was <i>so far past time</i>, it's rather hard to comprehend. But there's no denying it's stressful in every aspect.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember when 2020 started and we thought those Australian wildfires (which started in late 2019 and didn't end until January 2020) would be one of the major things we'd remember about the year? HAHAHAHA. Whew. How wrong we all were!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6V6l18Hg44k/XwXnJjrBjlI/AAAAAAAAF88/BzPjl2c1GjcVKrhxmPEpKH7y9knN82uogCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="1906" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6V6l18Hg44k/XwXnJjrBjlI/AAAAAAAAF88/BzPjl2c1GjcVKrhxmPEpKH7y9knN82uogCK4BGAsYHg/w1431-h1906/IMG_0694.jpg" width="1431" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Home front, we're doing fine. Having lots of conversations with the girls about racism. Trying to entertain ourselves within our four walls and in the yard a lot, even though it's been really hot the last few weeks. Writing snail mail and doing some summer school to tide us over into the unknown conditions we'll be schooling in when August comes. Eating ice cream and watermelon, riding bikes, watching movies when it's too intolerably humid out. Working on a few house projects, mostly focused on organizing the garage. Surviving, but not thriving.</div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily we've been able to see our immediate families -- at a distance, outside -- a few times in the last few weeks. Our new nephew (and godson!!!) was born in May, and his baptism in late June was the first time we'd all been inside a public building since the last Mass we went to on March 8 (wearing masks to go inside for the baptism where we stayed standing 6 feet away the whole ceremony). We went to my family's house on July 3 to watch my brother shoot off fireworks from the front lawn.</div><div><br /></div><div>The number one takeaway from these outdoor hangouts I'm having is that if we ever encounter a global pandemic again in our lifetimes, we need to move to a climate more conducive for outdoor living year-round. It's just too damn hot to be outside for more than a couple hours without being miserable in the summer in Nebraska. Northern Canada sounds really appealing when you're stuck in a lawn chair on a lawn in 95° for more than 20 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV1M1GZGlkw/XwXn_dxs7MI/AAAAAAAAF9c/TbV2RUZLe5QJMEBiS3_-pPegu1Vwf4hsACK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_1001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="1525" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV1M1GZGlkw/XwXn_dxs7MI/AAAAAAAAF9c/TbV2RUZLe5QJMEBiS3_-pPegu1Vwf4hsACK4BGAsYHg/w1145-h1525/IMG_1001.jpg" width="1145" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Quick kid update: </div><div>Kateri Amelia lost her first tooth the other day, which seems impossible! She's reading voraciously -- whenever I can't find her, she's hidden away in her room with a stack of library books reading (actually reading!) them.</div><div>Cora Jane is full of a riotous spirit and is attempting to learn her letters (which is not going great, but she's loving the attention it gives her). She's growing like a weed, too, wearing most of the summer clothes Kitty wore last year.</div><div>Felix Joseph is as cute and wild as ever -- he is SUCH a boy, climbing on things and trying to rip the covers out of the outlets and such. He gives the best open-mouthed kisses, though, so I can't ever stay mad at him.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0hZ-lKoHy0/XwXoI8FFb2I/AAAAAAAAF9o/SBhAK7guOHMB33KlrUJs-FVGguy8vxJswCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_0644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0hZ-lKoHy0/XwXoI8FFb2I/AAAAAAAAF9o/SBhAK7guOHMB33KlrUJs-FVGguy8vxJswCK4BGAsYHg/w916-h1220/IMG_0644.jpg" width="916" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>David and I have been playing Civilization VI, which is a gift I got him for our anniversary (we celebrated 7 years on June 29! Crazy!). I wasn't sure if he'd really like it, but I played as a kid on my home computer (I played a lot as Cleopatra back then) and it was cheap on Amazon. ;) We're both enjoying something a little cerebral. We've been watching The Expanse still, which is very dramatic and I love the show (although admittedly it's different from the books, which I adore). We got around to seeing Hamilton on Disney+, and now we can't stop singing You'll Be Back in Jonathan Groff's incredible posh accent. I've been dying for a vacation (even if it's more of a trip with kids, let's be real) but we can't confirm it'd be safe so instead I'm just scrolling through mountain cabins in Colorado on VRBO to get my fix.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEEyZLwFuo/XwXoWcjrayI/AAAAAAAAF94/e7HdgLMUBtADAFcVUpWMo9NgQj7mNyKoQCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_8401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEEyZLwFuo/XwXoWcjrayI/AAAAAAAAF94/e7HdgLMUBtADAFcVUpWMo9NgQj7mNyKoQCK4BGAsYHg/w916-h1220/IMG_8401.jpg" width="916" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise not much is new around here. I should hopefully get some time in the next few weeks to write a post about what we've done to the garage so far, and plans for the future. It's been so hot that it's hard to motivate ourselves to do more than an hour's work at a time. </div><div><br /></div><div>How are you doing?</div><div><br /></div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-79750309714072985942020-07-01T11:41:00.002-05:002020-07-01T11:41:37.301-05:00May and June 2020 reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgjsJRqoDJM/Xvy7zKN_GKI/AAAAAAAAF7U/6sdoCCVCFEk99um5E905vKPH4VtpQlYxACK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_1588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="781" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgjsJRqoDJM/Xvy7zKN_GKI/AAAAAAAAF7U/6sdoCCVCFEk99um5E905vKPH4VtpQlYxACK4BGAsYHg/w586-h781/IMG_1588.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Well, it's been longer than a month since my last post which was also a book reads post... apologies, friends! The blog is way at the back burner in priorities right now, as you can probably imagine. One day I will magically find some more hours in the day, right???<div><br /></div><div><i>Just a minor housekeeping note: I am trying to move away from supporting Amazon when it comes to books, especially, most of the time utilizing Thriftbooks or 3rd party sellers on Amazon when I can't find something. I've decided from now on to use Bookshop.org's affiliate links for my book recommendations, mostly because Thriftbooks doesn't have affiliate links and I really love their concept. I still anticipate making $0.00 from my affiliate links because that's not what I'm blogging for but I always want specific links when someone references something, so this is a middle ground!</i><br /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway let's jump into the books -- you might be able to sense a theme just glancing over these really quick.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>
<script data-affiliate-id="10189" data-sku="9780525565116" data-type="book" src="https://bookshop.org/widgets.js"></script>
<a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781733561686">Whose Body?</a></div><div>by Dorothy Sayers</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Ahhh, the book that started my obsession with Dorothy Sayers. I'd heard of her novels for a few years, but never gotten around to hunting down a copy until recently. (Our library also only carries a few of them in ebook format, scattered around.) Whose Body is the first intro of Lord Peter Wimsey, an amateur sleuth, set in 1920s England. This first one was a little underwhelming, but they definitely improve (as you can see by how voraciously I kept reading the series). If you're an Agatha Christie fan, like I am, definitely recommend these! 3 stars for this one. </span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780142437988">The End of the Affair</a></div><div>by Graham Greene</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><font face=""><span style="background-color: white;">Shamefacedly I admit here that I'd never read a Graham Greene novel before picking this up with the Close Reads podcast this year. Wow. I was missing out! One of the most well-known Catholic novelists of the 20th century, I now understand why he's so famous and so well-read (but I'm confused why my English literature degree somehow missed out on him?). Incredibly thought-provoking, honest, emotional Catholic novel. Five stars is not enough because somehow this has instantly become one of my all-time favorite books. I wanted to reread it the minute it ended. 5 stars!</span></font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062315540">Clouds of Witness</a></div><div>by Dorothy Sayers</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><font face=""><span style="background-color: white;">This one is where, in my completely unprofessional and unsolicited opinion, Sayers came into Wimsey's voice. Like I mentioned, the first book's voice was a little disjointed and very culturalized, and she got rid of some of that in <i>Clouds of Witness</i> to the book and Wimsey's credit. If you're gonna read them, I definitely recommend reading in order although it's not necessary for each individual story to keep them straight. 4 stars.</span></font></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span></span></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780765385253">Binti</a></div><div>by Nnedi Okorafor</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">I rented this novella on a whim from the library after seeing a recommendation from Twitter for it. As a short sci-fi novella, I thought it was extremely well-done, but I wanted so badly for it to be a full-length novel! The premise is about a girl named Binti, the first of her Himba ace admitted to the most prestigious university in the galaxy. Like I said, my main complaint is that I didn't know it was a novella going in so I expected so much more! But it's very good and I'm going to read the following novellas when I get a chance. 3 stars because it needed to be novel-length. ;)</span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062311924">Unnatural Death</a></div><div>by Dorothy Sayers</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Another Sayers! Another good one! I can't say much about the plot as they're all rather running together in my head at this point but I have to mark it for accurate record-keeping. 4 stars.</span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780307279286">Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland</a></div><div>by Patrick Radden Keefe</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><font face=""><span style="background-color: white;">One of the nonfictions I read in between Sayers novels. ;) I waited for like 6 months to get this off the hold list at the library and finally grabbed it when our library opened up for curbside pickup! Basically it's the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, written from the perspective of the major leaders and faces involved in pseudo-narrative form. As someone whose interest in Northern Ireland got piqued by Derry Girls but didn't really know any of the history of it, this was a great read to give an overview. To be honest, I was expecting more of a true-crime-history from the way this book was touted on all the reviews, so my expectations were a little skewed. Still good! Still worth the read, just a little less dramatic than I expected. 4 stars.</span></font></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781580058827">So You Want to Talk About Race</a></div><div>by Ijeoma Oluo</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Magically I got an ebook rental of this right after George Floyd's murder although it had been on my hold list for the ebook at the library for a few months. If you're wondering where to start learning about and talking about racism in daily life, Oluo's book is a great starting point -- there's a reason it's been on the nonfic bestseller list for the last 6 weeks or so. Great practical advice about talking about race and systemic racism in the United States and what we can do to change it. 5 stars.</span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062311917">The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club</a></div><div>by Dorothy Sayers<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Another Sayers! Told you you'd sense a theme. I think this one has been my favorite so far (did I already say that? haha). Wimsey is really such a funny character, and the supporting characters in Bunter and Detective Inspector Parker just add such a good layer of levity and reality to these novels.</span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9781439217917">A Lily Among Thorns: The Mohawk Repatriation of Kateri Tekakwitha</a></div><div>by Darren Bonaparte</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">If you didn't know this about me, St. Kateri is one of my favorite saints and patronesses -- hence our eldest being named Kateri after her. I realized after running across a recommendation for this book that I really haven't read much about her beyond general stories, so it was past time. I really appreciated this book, which is written by a Mohawk man, about the general history of the Mohawk nation and political time period Kateri was born into, as well as her life and conversion to Catholicism. I'm on the hunt for any others about her, so if you've got a recommendation for a book about her please share! 4 stars. </span></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/10189/9780062225719">Mort</a></div><div>by Terry Pratchett</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure how I can face the music after admitting this is the first Pratchett novel I've ever read! As someone who claims to love fantasy and nerdy series, I definitely should have gotten here earlier. I did some Google research to see what I should reach for of his first (since he has something like 35+ books written in the same universe!!!), and Mort was where I landed. I absolutely loved it -- hence the 5 stars! Quick overview: Mort is a teenager looking to become apprenticed, and lands a job as Death's apprentice. Quirky and funny and full of really great characters, I can already tell I'm going to like Pratchett's entire oeuvre. 5 stars.</div><div><br /></div><div>********</div><div><br /></div><div>Whew!!! That was long. I will do my best to not go two months again in writing these, this took me like a week to complete. What have you been reading, friends? I've started my first John le Carré novel, and I'm 20 pages in and enthralled. If we can't do much else in 2020, might as well read, right??</div><div><3</div><div><div><br /></div><div><i>One more quick housekeeping note -- if you want to see all my 2020 reads in one place, <a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/2020-books-0384b2c1-13b8-4903-86a2-6a13a5d0caa5">I have a page for that on my Bookshop</a>. I'm hoping to find some time to add kids book lists, other categories, and keep them updated somewhat regularly so check back later!</i></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-39784116717572672772020-05-06T11:12:00.001-05:002020-05-06T11:12:46.541-05:00April 2020 reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Month two of quarantine FLEW by. How the heck is it already May? I read a little bit more in April than in March, but still not a ton. My brain was just more suited for scrolling on my phone than reading -- nevertheless, I have some book reviews to send your way!<br />
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Here we go.<br />
<i>As always, links below are affiliate Amazon links -- but feel free to use your local library! Ours is just now starting to do a "curbside pickup" program for holds and I couldn't be happier about it.</i><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3fpAG2e" target="_blank">Doomsday Book</a><br />
by Connie Willis<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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Well, if there were ever a more appropriately-chilling time to be reading this book, I'd be shocked to find out. Doomsday Book is the third Willis I've read, and this one is same premise as the others (time travel in the future centered in Oxford) but the main character gets sent to the Black Plague and the current time is in lockdown from an unidentifiable virus. Yeah. The fast-paced usual hijinks and miscommunications occur and you really want to get to the end to find out how it ends but I wouldn't recommend picking this up if you want to escape reality. But it's super interesting to read right now! I enjoy Willis so 3.5 stars because it's fun but not <i>incredible</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2zeCrPq" target="_blank">Emma: A Modern Retelling</a><br />
by Alexander McCall Smith<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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I rented this ebook from the library on a whim after needing something fluffy and easy-to-access and I thought a modern retelling of Emma would hit the spot -- and it totally did! This is exactly what it says -- a modern version of Emma set in maybe the early 00s (it's not quite clear). Very cute, fun, easy to read, and satisfying. 3 stars.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2W6fSFw" target="_blank">Elantris</a><br />
by Brandon Sanderson<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif;">Apparently 2020 is becoming another high fantasy year, but in a little bit more spread-out way than 2019 was. I'm catching up on the other Sanderson books before his release this November of the fourth Stormlight book. I think ideally I would have read Mistborn first, then Elantris, then the Stormlight Archive, only because I think Sanderson's skill has grown in that order so reading them opposite feels like his skill is devolving. But that's okay! This one was still incredibly inventive and fascinating, but I wanted another book afterwards to keep the story going. 4 stars!</span></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2Wxn4JN" target="_blank">Little Women</a><br />
by Louisa May Alcott<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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It had been SO long since I'd read Little Women and man, am I so glad I did right now! It was the perfect peaceful, refreshing, heart-warming book to read during 2020 quarantine. I told myself I couldn't watch the 2019 movie version until I'd reread the book, so now I can officially rent the movie and watch it. :) So sweet, so heartfelt, so wonderful. A classic for a true reason. 5 stars, no less and 100% deserved!</div>
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I have the beautiful Puffin in Bloom edition that I grabbed at Costco a couple years ago, but I linked to a new edition for the 150th anniversary paperback with original illustrations added that I'm now drooling over. <3<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3cbLwaj" target="_blank">Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth</a><br />
by Sarah Smarsh<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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Nonfiction has been hard for me to read right now -- most of the time I'm drawn toward fiction, but especially in stressful times, so quarantine means I'm not really feeling any nonfiction. But this memoir was really interesting and kept moving enough to not feel like a total slog. (Also super relevant to 2020!) I thought it was a tad long and not super tightly written but the premise and the stories were heart-wrenching. 3 stars.<br />
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Currently I'm reading:<br />
<i>The End of the Affair</i> by Graham Greene (in conjunction with Close Reads Podcast)<br />
<i>The Vanishing American Adult</i> by Ben Sasse (nonfiction, so it'll probably take me awhile)<br />
*started and gave up on* <i>After the Flood</i> by Kassandra Montag (AWESOME, right-up-my-alley premise, horrible execution, couldn't get past 5 chapters so I ditched it)<br />
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Apparently I've turned into a person who reads a million things at once when I used to be a one-at-a-time stringent. Life is full of surprises.<br />
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Coming off the hold list at the library for me are <i>Say Nothing</i> by Patrick Radden Keefe (nonfic about murder in Northern Ireland) and <i>Dune</i> by Frank Herbert (one of those "everyone has read this, I should probably"). Also a bunch of picture books for the girls because I am 100% tired of everything we're reading them right now. There's a reason in regular life that we go to the library every 2-3 weeks. I get sick of what we have and need something new or I lose my motivation to read to them!<br />
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What have you been reading? Please tell me, there's nothing I like discovering more than what my friends are reading!<br />
Happy quaran-reading.<br />
HG<br />
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Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-33861929681071476292020-04-24T10:05:00.002-05:002020-04-24T10:05:28.269-05:00Quarantine project, chair edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPVA-h4jy8Q/XqHy5pvaKCI/AAAAAAAAF2I/Oi6R2a-hiVca_LqeVV14yb4FxnhN1SaCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chairafter1.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPVA-h4jy8Q/XqHy5pvaKCI/AAAAAAAAF2I/Oi6R2a-hiVca_LqeVV14yb4FxnhN1SaCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chairafter1.HEIC" /></a></div>
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What does one do in quarantine, besides finally tackle the insane projects you have stored in your garage "for a rainy day" and then complete them and wonder, okay, when did I think I was going to have motivation for this besides <i>in quarantine</i>?<br />
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Anyway, say hello to our first completed quarantine project: reupholstering this lovely secondhand recliner we got from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/startswithvintage/" target="_blank">Starts with Vintage</a> (on Instagram, but they also sell things on FB Marketplace if you're local to Omaha!). When we were nearing the end of the basement renovation (still no post yet, sorry, sorry!) we realized we were gonna need some more furniture to fill it out. So we grabbed <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5A2oGjF0Mc/" target="_blank">this beautiful Plycraft chair</a>, the set of yellow chairs <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B601LwHl4fy/" target="_blank">in this post</a>, and the one this post is dedicated to (pictured below) all for a lump sum.<br />
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It was insanely comfortable and a hidden recliner exactly like we'd wanted (no visible mechanism to recline for kids to mess with), but David didn't like the color of the original upholstery. It was also loosening in spots and needed either some deep cleaning or to be replaced. Therefore it sat in the garage like this for months. I got one quote to reupholster it for $485 (not including cost of fabric!!!) and decided we should give it a shot ourselves and then if it didn't turn out, we'd consider hiring a professional.<br />
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After digging for hours and hours on <a href="https://www.modern-fabrics.com/" target="_blank">Modern Fabrics</a>, we landed on a brown crossweave fabric (the brand of which is escaping me and it's kind of making me upset that I can't remember, but I think it was either DesignTex or Knoll). 5 yards came in the mail a few days later and we set to work taking the chair apart!<br />
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Turns out it is a Lay-Z-Boy chair, and I am also a lazy boy (girl) because I should go back and rotate that photo but I'm not going to, I trust in your ability to read the brand upside down if you don't believe my claim. It was...dirty. But that's okay!<br />
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It was pretty easy to get apart, just a little time consuming. The three pieces that made up the footrest were just screwed in from the bottom, and everything else was relatively self-explanatory and easy to get apart. We took a TON of photos to make sure we could put everything back together correctly, but I won't bore you with all of them in this post, especially since every chair is different and you kind of have to just go for it. :) Suffice it to say we had plenty of photos! We also kept all the pieces that came off the chair in close proximity to their fabrics, so we could just template off of them while cutting the new pieces.<br />
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After we got it all apart, which took maybe a total of 3 hours slowly spread out while watching The Office/putzing around (aka we definitely could have gotten it finished quicker), we started cutting the pieces of the new fabric and attaching it.<br />
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I promise I did *some* of the work on this chair, I really did! I just only have photos of David doing it because I'm always the one taking the photos. I do think you could probably do this on your own, but having a second set of hands to stretch and brain to think through is helpful in any new DIY endeavor, including upholstery.<br />
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As you can see in the photo above, we started with the seat fabric, added a new layer of batting (which I happened to have on hand from previous quilting projects) to the backrest since we didn't want to spend the effort and time replicating the buttons, and just used an electric staple gun to attach everything. The original chair had some piping on the edges but we also didn't want to bother (although we easily could have!), so we just ripped it out and pretended it wasn't there.<br />
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We also had some enthusiastic "help" in various forms...<br />
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Cute but not all <i>that</i> helpful. Most of the actual work happened after bedtime and on the weekends away from prying hands/parental safety violations.<br />
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This was our first upholstery project, so we were definitely learning on the job, but I do really feel it's an approachable task even with no experience. If you've got the patience to learn, a staple gun, and a sewing machine (for that one swing piece in the footrest on the edges), you can do this!<br />
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Ready for the after photos?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you spy my Vanna White, helping hold the chair open?</td></tr>
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It's funny because in these photos, the right near the top of the cushion looks wonky but in person it's really not, so I'm not sure what's going on there. Perhaps it is a little too loose? Somewhat of an easy fix if it ever starts to bother us in person, since we know exactly how everything goes in and out of this chair and all we'd have to do is staple it tighter. :) And honestly, I think I could just push it in a little bit with my finger under that wooden brace piece but to actually "fix" it we'd have to take it apart. Again though it's weirdly not noticeable in person!<br />
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I really love side-by-side before and afters, so here you go!<br />
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Cost of project:<br />
Fabric: $69.99 from Modern Fabrics<br />
Stapler and staples: borrowed from David's parents, thanks Gokies!<br />
Blood, sweat, and tears: free<br />
Chair itself: approx. $100<br />
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Total: $170<br />
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Tell me what you've been tackling in quarantine between stress-eating and binge-watching on the couch for hours?? (Or is that just us?)<br />
HGHannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-4122050370146368402020-04-16T14:40:00.001-05:002020-04-16T14:40:47.185-05:00Quick & dirty basement bathroom renovation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, let's not get hasty -- this is not an official "we're remodeling the basement bathroom" post, but rather a "oops, I think we HAVE to renovate the basement bathroom, so we should probably start thinking about what we want down there" post.<br />
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But let me back up a little bit.<br />
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Last year after summer hit, David and I became perplexed by the sudden appearance of a bunch of tiny tiny bugs in the pedestal sink in our basement bathroom. Using our standard bug protection spray didn't do anything. Spraying down the sink a bazillion times didn't do anything. Deep cleaning didn't work. Spraying the window well outside didn't do anything. They were primarily in the sink, but also in the shower and along the window ledge that looks into the bathroom.<br />
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We finally called the Orkin guy we'd used in the past, and he basically did the shrug emoji at us, saying he couldn't really identify them or do anything about them. Which is really great news from a PROFESSIONAL BUG PERSON.<br />
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After hours of internet research, David concluded they were some sort of harmless something we can't even recall now, and got some powder bug repellant that worked on them to apply liberally to every window, nook, and cranny that faced our backyard (and some on the front, just to be safe). The bugs abated! It looked like it worked! We at least weren't crawling with them like we had been before (bug pun intentional).<br />
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Over the winter, everything was fine. And yet, as the temps have warmed back up here in Nebraska as we inch ever-closer to spring (although we're supposed to get 4" of snow today), the bugs have reappeared in the shower drain in that bathroom. URGH.<br />
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We've been suspicious of mold down behind the walls of that shower for a myriad of reasons, and since the bugs have reappeared, it seems to be our final sign that we need to rip out the shower and investigate.<br />
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And if you give the mouse (me and David) a cookie (one small project), he wants something more (to redo the entire bathroom on a small budget).<br />
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Here's where it stands right now:<br />
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Yes, this bathroom looks like it belongs in a horror movie. We live with it because it's in the back corner of the basement and doesn't regularly get used or shown to strangers. C'est la vie.<br />
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In the photo, the shower is to the left behind the swing of the door -- an issue on the long list of issues with this bathroom besides its horrifying appearance.<br />
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List of Issues:<br />
1. Door swings in so the shower door is blocked off when the door is open. Not a huge deal but kind of annoying when you're trying to get around in there, especially since it's not tiny-tiny like our master bathroom is. Not sure if changing the swing of the door is feasible, but we're gonna look into it. (And by that I mean I'll ask David later and he'll say yes or no and then we'll be done. lol.)<br />
2. Toilet breaks approximately every 2 months. Definitely needs to be replaced.<br />
3. Ceiling is exposed and it makes it feel ick.<br />
4. Window above the sink is awkward and gross -- probably won't actually replace the window but needs to be cleaned up and caulked, at the least.<br />
5. Vanity mirror is laughably tiny, and the lighting is really bad.<br />
6. Sink is somehow too low even though it's standard, and takes up too much room for also being "small."<br />
7. Flooring probably has to stay for now, since it's the same chipping linoleum that runs through the whole utility/laundry/pantry room down here, but it's yuck.<br />
8. Exposed pipes are annoying, but I'm not sure we're ready to commit to drywalling out. We'll have to wait and see.<br />
9. Shower is yuck, there's also a hole in the ceiling of it we had to cut to do something in the kitchen (which escapes my memory right now), there's a light in there but no fan, possible mold behind the walls. Whole shower has to go.<br />
10. Awkward placement of storage cabinet, plus it doesn't store that much. Thinking we might flip it around to the wall to the right of the door, or get rid of it altogether for an open shelf for guests.<br />
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I'm sure more things will come to mind once we get going, but the general plan is to update all the things and try to stick to a budget! We've not officially decided a budget, but I think (hope?) we can get this done for around $1,000 with a lot of sweat and ingenuity.<br />
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<a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/KOHLER-Wellworth-Classic-Complete-Solution-2-Piece-1-28-GPF-Single-Flush-Round-Toilet-in-White-K-11464-0/203231466" target="_blank">toilet</a> | <a href="https://www.backdrophome.com/products/tanlines-interior-standard" target="_blank">paint color</a> | <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-Tile-Park-Slope-Subway-Warm-Grey-3-in-x-6-in-Ceramic-Wall-Tile-36-cases-690-48-sq-ft-pallet-WXR3PSWG/308330108" target="_blank">subway tile</a> | <a href="https://www.target.com/p/20-x30--pharmacy-mirror-with-metal-shelf--powder-coated--mirror-brass---threshold--8482-/-/A-53489600" target="_blank">mirror</a> | <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Barclay-Products-Eden-520-Wall-Mount-Sink-in-White-with-4-in-Centerset-Faucet-Holes-4-1114WH/312643001" target="_blank">wall-mount sink</a> | <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Modern-Single-Hole-Single-Handle-Low-Arc-Bathroom-Faucet-in-Matte-Gold-HD67732W-604405/304778417?mtc=Shopping-BA-F_STRMKT_IB_IM-G-Multi-Multi-NA-NA-1P-PLA-NA-NA-SM_Q1BAU&cm_mmc=Shopping-BA-F_STRMKT_IB_IM-G-Multi-Multi-NA-NA-1P-PLA-NA-NA-SM_Q1BAU-71700000065912235-58700005808165804-92700053122441870&gclid=CPKg3Y_R7egCFbCVxQIdjQAPgQ" target="_blank">faucet</a> | <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-Annalisa-8-in-Hand-Towel-Bar-in-Matte-Black-ANA46-FB/307492706" target="_blank">hand towel bar</a> | <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Align-24-in-Towel-Bar-in-Matte-Black-YB0424BL/301981146" target="_blank">towel bar</a> | <a href="https://www.wayfair.com/Wrought-Studio--Vallie-2Light-Dimmable-Vanity-Light-X112486451-L6116-K~W001375340.html?refid=GX309088280092-W001375340&device=c&ptid=587742958453&network=g&targetid=aud-352581795326:pla-587742958453&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=67148878&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=1612039288&PiID%5B%5D=1612039293&gclid=CjwKCAjwhOD0BRAQEiwAK7JHmMffb9QGrizv7eHAzhf8SbVvXB257DShOdDliXJ5JEeePKWXP3oPcBoCmOoQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">light</a><br />
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I linked a list of the things I threw into this collage quickly, but of course we haven't purchased anything yet. I've been dying for a place to use that Backsplash TanLines color, and I think it's a good risk in a bathroom, and I'm envisioning stacked subway tile because cheap and somewhat true to the house. I would go white but it might feel too farmhouse that way, so I'm hoping we can snag a gray subway for cheap -- besides, it somewhat has to match our <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-new-house-before-tour.html" target="_blank">brown bomb bathroom</a> upstairs without going insane.<br />
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General cost plans:<br />
$160 for a new toilet<br />
$150 for either a wall-mounted sink or a vanity (I'm leaning wall-mounted)<br />
$400 for shower tile, backer board, grout, shower pan if we can't reuse the one we have<br />
$150 various fixtures (light, faucet, etc.)<br />
$200 drywall, paint, and other supplies<br />
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That totals $1,060! So pretty darn close. Again, budget isn't officially set but I'll keep you updated. I think $1,000 is a reasonable goal for a bathroom we don't super care about but don't want to be nastayyy.<br />
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Of course, this is all dependent on us not coming across anything TOO destructed/gross when we demo out what's there, and that's always a gamble when you're DIYing. We haven't touched any bathroom in this house yet so that adds a layer of unknown, too. The good part is everything functions as-is so that's promising.<br />
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Anywho, there's my brain dump post about our possible, maybe, not-decided-on-yet bathroom renovation that may or may not happen, who knows. Aren't I specific? ;)<br />
HGHannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-62310347631648323202020-04-06T14:37:00.000-05:002020-04-06T14:37:28.306-05:00March 2020 reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Ah, <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/03/february-2020-books.html" target="_blank">when I last wrote one of these</a> the threat of covid-19 was small and I had a lot of mental space to read without stressing or feeling like I should be doing something more productive. How much can change in a month!<br />
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Anyway, a list of my March reads was necessary as we dive into April because March 2020 will go down on record as maybe the longest month of my entire damn life.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3bX1OmN" target="_blank">Silence</a><br />
by Shusako Endo<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
Wow. I mean, seriously -- wow. I don't say that lightly about books but this was an incredible, incredible read. Yes, it's the book that the Martin Scorcese movie was based on. I knew a little bit about the Japanese martyrs but the rest of my knowledge about Christianity in the East is embarrassingly, sorely lacking, so all of this (based on a true story!) was brand-new to me. If you need a spiritual kick in the pants, and a strikingly relevant comparison to today's life without access to Mass, this would be a good one to pick up. It will make having to stay at home seem like a real walk in the park. Highly recommend! 5 stars!<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2x7RPfI" target="_blank">Mariette in Ecstasy</a><br />
by Ron Hansen<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif;">I'm not sure where I picked up this recommendation (maybe from Heidi on the Close Reads podcast?), but this book was <i>also</i> incredible. It's the story of a postulant at a cloistered order, and I don't want to say anything else to spoil the book but wow, it punches a huge gut punch in a very short novel. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes Catholic fiction that's not really Catholic fiction but is actually good (sorry sorry sorry if you like stereotypically Catholic/Christian fiction, I just cannot and it's because I'm an English major snob and I'll never change). Also 5 stars!</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3bU4oKi" target="_blank">Arabella</a><br />
by Georgette Heyer<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ah, this was a breath of fresh air. I've never picked up a Georgette Heyer before, but they're very sweet, uncomplicated, lovely romances set in the Regency era. I kind of wish I would have discovered them as a teenager because they would have been my absolute jam. Anyway. Very light romance with zero racy, cute drama, loved it. Will definitely read another of hers when I get the chance and need a brain break. 3 stars because it's basically fluff, and I fancy myself high-brow.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2XgLER4" target="_blank">The Hero of Ages</a><br />
by Brandon Sanderson<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★★.5</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "lora" , serif; font-size: 14px;">/5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is the third in the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, and I'm so glad I snatched it up at my last trip to the library before quarantine because Sanderson's ability to distract me from reality is unparalleled, tbh. If you like high fantasy, I totally recommend (and I've gushed about his novels plenty in the past, so I'll stop there.) Greatly satisfying end to this half of the series (I think?). 4.5 stars because not his strongest, strongest work but still very good!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm still slogging through Middlemarch (well, to be honest, taking a break right now), and since I wrote the majority of this post before finishing Doomsday by Connie Willis I'll just save that for next month's recap where it properly belongs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">What are you reading, friends? Tell me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Happy quaran-reading! (I can't stop with the puns.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: lora, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">HG</span></span><br />
<br />Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-30673188780906145472020-04-01T14:42:00.002-05:002020-04-01T14:42:58.639-05:00Our quarantine daysI thought it might be interesting, either to future Hannah or current readers, for me to record what our pseudo-homeschool plus two parents working from home schedule looks like. Obviously this is all ideal and not every day pans out this way! But it's helped to have a general guideline for what our days are looking like, and I'm trying to find silver linings wherever we can.<br />
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Somehow I lost an earlier draft of this which was more verbose, UGH INTERNET, so forgive me if this isn't as good as it could have been. I can't recreate it perfectly so this is all I got.<br />
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<b>7:00/8:00</b>: depending on how well Felix sleeps the night before, we've been sleeping in a bit as a grace to ourselves and moseying out of bed somewhere between 7 and 8 a.m. David usually gets the girls up, gives them breakfast, and hops in the shower while I nurse Felix the first time and get them dressed. Then I hop in the shower and he checks his work email on his phone in the living room until I'm done getting ready for the day.<br />
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<b>8:30</b>: David heads downstairs to our non-conforming 4th bedroom which he's turned into an office, I make myself breakfast (eggs and homemade bread machine toast and coffee, every morning like clockwork), give Felix some breakfast, and supervise the girls play and keep Felix out of trouble until he's ready for a nap.<br />
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<b>9:00/9:15</b>: Felix goes down for his first nap, and we start our "school day" at the dining room table, me on my laptop, Kitty across the way with her books, pencils, and crayons, Cora next to me with anything I can distract her with (scissors, magnets, markers, whatever will buy me a little time). Kitty's kindergarten teacher has been sending materials for her students to do each day, which always includes a journal aspect. I start Kitty on that and work on my inbox and work tasks for 30-45 minutes.<br />
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<b>10:00</b>: We get on the iPad together while Kitty reads her daily book and does her phonics/language arts work they've assigned through an app, and then assorted papers or writing work. Then after that we either do one of the "suggested activities" for the rest of school time or we write mail/do art projects/watch the daily Mo Willems art tutorial/find a free coloring page or handwriting page to do, and while they're doing those I get to more work of my own.<br />
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<b>10:45/11:00</b>: Felix usually wakes up from his nap around then, and I either send the girls and Felix downstairs to the basement together to play or if he's cranky, I send the girls down and keep him upstairs with me. It's working surprisingly well to send them down together most days, which is great! Kitty is old enough to keep him out of trouble if I remind her, and 98% of the basement is baby-proofed, so he can't get into much trouble out of sight. Having bigger kids is a HUGE perk.<br />
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<b>12:00</b>: David comes upstairs from his office to have lunch and make the kids' lunch, while I either join them or I finish up some work on my laptop. He teaches Kitty her math at the same time (thank goodness I can hand that responsibility off, whew, math not my strong suit), and I also eat lunch or take a little break.<br />
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<b>1:00/1:15</b>: Cora and Felix usually nap at the same time around 1:00. Kitty either finishes up some school work, begs me for something else to do, has quiet time in our bedroom with some books, or plays downstairs or outside by herself. I usually still park myself at the dining room table so I don't have to shuffle back and forth from the basement so I can supervise and attempt to get Cora to fall asleep (most of the time unsuccessfully, tbh, which is TERRIBLE TIMING for her to drop a nap). If I successfully ignore stuff, I can get a good chunk of work in here.<br />
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<b>3:00</b>: The littles are usually done with nap around 3:00. Prior to social distancing, I was picking up Kitty from school every day around 3:15, so we're used to taking a break from stuff about now. Sometimes I let them loose around me while I work, sometimes we go outside, sometimes I send all three of them to the backyard while I work, it just depends on the day. We've been trying to stick to our no-screen-time rule during the school week, and it's going better than I anticipated (knock on wood). Switching activities and locations for play makes avoiding TV a lot easier.<br />
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<b>4:00</b>: David has been getting done with work most days around 4:00 (huge perk to working from home!). I've been trying to go on a 30 minute walk or do a workout in this stretch of time if I can, and it makes me a lot less crabby for the rest of the evening if I can swing it. Sometimes I have to keep working and that's okay -- David will take the kids outside if that's the case. Thank you Jesus it's been nice enough to do that!<br />
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<b>5:00-7:15</b>: Normal dinner/bedtime routine stuff here. Nothing super exciting or different from before.<br />
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In the evenings after the kids are down we've been doing the same things as we always do: watching TV, playing Breath of the Wild, catching up on work, reading, watching too many TikToks, working on puzzles.<br />
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How has your schedule changed since staying at home? How does your life look different? How does it feel the same? I wanna hear, friends.<br />
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Stay safe and home. <3Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-13150645919719869742020-03-19T10:08:00.002-05:002020-03-19T10:08:43.614-05:00social distancing diary, day 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, we're living in some strange times, comrades.<br />
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David's been working from home for over a week already, and since Kitty was on spring break last week and schools are officially canceled through the end of March here, we're a little bit farther into the "social distancing" concept than most people. I did "the big shop" last Monday morning at Costco (ahem Derry Girls fans, ahem), went out once on Wednesday morning to get coffee because I was feeling claustrophobic, had to take Kitty to get a chest x-ray for a spiked fever on Friday morning, and then really haven't left the house since then.<br />
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To be frank, it's not super different from our normal schedule at home with a napping-twice-a-day baby, except I'm not leaving every day to pick Kitty up from school, and I can't find little errand excuses to run out and get coffee on my way to somewhere. My beloved nanny time each week has been canceled, too, which makes my heart hurt but of course is for the best!<br />
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I'm an enneagram 5, which is number one the reason I love Twitter (getting all the varied news before it's really disseminated to a general public) and it's both a blessing and a curse at a time like this. It means that any time I open my laptop to try and get some work done, I get sucked into reading a billion articles about COVID-19, how to mitigate, what the long-term ramifications are, and I can't get actual work done because my brain keeps going YOU NEED TO KNOW <b>MORE</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>In an effort to channel that, I've put this offer out on social media and will repeat it here for the blog: if you need some good articles, I've got you covered -- email me or DM me on Instagram or comment here and I can send you stuff! There's a lot of the general public who <i>aren't</i> as devoted to knowing what's going on at all times as I am, and I want to help.<br />
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Anyway, we're being forced to "homeschool" which right now involves a lot of coloring pages, Kitty demanding worksheet after worksheet, and me trying valiantly to finish up work at the dining room table. We got an email about school-from-home from Kitty's teacher yesterday and to say I am overwhelmed would be an understatement but we're gonna get through it, and if not everything gets done, I think it will be okay.<br />
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<i>A few Amazon links below, you've been warned.</i><br />
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In an effort to distance ourselves from the constant stream of news and updates, David is playing Zelda <a href="https://amzn.to/2U0Tpsr" target="_blank">Breath of the Wild</a> (on borrow from a friend, in the nick of time before social distancing), we're watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2U3tv7f" target="_blank">The Expanse</a> (available on Amazon Prime) which has some eerily similar parallels in a very-distanced way, I'm reading book 3 of the Mistborn series, <a href="https://amzn.to/2U3hxdW" target="_blank">The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson</a>, and I'm listening to the <a href="https://www.closereadspods.com/" target="_blank">Close Reads podcast</a> about Anne of Green Gables which is delightful at a time such as this (I had to hold myself back from picking it up again to read along because it's just so heart-warming, but I read it last year or the year before and I don't need it again.<br />
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We're also FaceTiming family a lot, playing card games, baking bread in our bread machine, and trying to survive without our weekly drive through dinners. Getting outside every day (when the weather cooperates) has been absolutely life-saving -- I've never been more grateful for our yard and swing set.<br />
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How are you all, friends? Hanging in there, I hope? Tell me what you're doing to survive in social distancing. And if you need some obnoxious children to FaceTime you, hit me up and we can have a virtual playdate.<br />
<br />Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-47336945553788892862020-03-04T11:41:00.000-06:002020-03-04T11:41:40.748-06:00February 2020 books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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February didn't quite live up to my reading "goals" because I got hit with a couple weeks of basically solo parenting, and I can just never seem to read a significant amount when I'm exhausted from solo parenting even though I should have "extra" free time in the evenings. But I read some! And here they are!<br />
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<i>As always, links are Amazon affiliate but you should use your library or local bookstore! :)</i><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2PM1i2o" target="_blank">The New Jim Crow</a><br />
by Michelle Alexander<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">★★★★★/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">Starting off strong with a very heavy nonfiction. It took me a couple months to finish this one, because I could only read a little bit before getting super depressed, but if you haven't read this yet I highly recommend. Alexander goes into the ways that the system of mass incarceration and the justice system in the U.S. are directly functioning as a race-based oppression system, and her evidence is SO clear and SO damning that it's hard to believe I hadn't thought it through like this before. Really, really worthwhile of a read, 5 stars for a reason.</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2VKuNVW" target="_blank">Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way</a><br />
by Tanja Hester<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">★★/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">David and I have been talking long-term goals together recently, and researching FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) processes have been a part of that, so I figured I should read about it. I can only give this book 2 stars because I didn't learn a ton, and I felt like it was written much more as a sales attempt rather than written with passion, so that was kind of disappointing. I learned a little, though, and if you're completely unaware of FIRE it's not a bad introduction. I think it could have been distilled into like 5 blog posts though. So. Not highly recommend.</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2IjSf4C" target="_blank">The Well of Ascension</a> (Mistborn #2)<br />
by Brandon Sanderson<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">★★★★/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">4 stars for the second in this series! <a href="https://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2020/02/january-2020-books.html" target="_blank">Last month</a>, I said I thought this series wasn't as strong as his Stormlight Archive series, but I thought this book was MUCH stronger and I really dove into it completely. There is really nothing like an insanely well-written fantasy that keeps you wrapped within it so incredibly well that you forget it's fantasy. I made myself wait a couple weeks after finishing this one and just picked up book 3 at the library this morning. :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/32NaNni" target="_blank">Catcher in the Rye </a><br />
by J. D. Salinger<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">★★★★/5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif;">Ah man, what can I say about Catcher in the Rye. The Close Reads podcast group was reading this together, and in the name of personal mortification I decided to pick this one up and join again, even though I HATED this book in high school when I read it. Surprisingly -- to no one more than myself! -- I did not hate it this time. (Is there hope for me? Can my opinions actually grow and change, like a real adult person? Who knew.) If you haven't read this, or you hated it like I did, I definitely would give it another shot. I felt so badly for Holden by the end of this book. (Enough props cannot be given to <a href="https://www.closereadspods.com/" target="_blank">Close Reads</a> for making me give it another shot! Their thoughtful discussion in each episode was paramount to me changing my mind.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/39oc5HT" target="_blank">Middlemarch (21%!!!) </a><br />
by George Eliot<br />
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I don't have a full review of this yet, hence the lack of stars, because I'm STILL somehow only 20 some percent through it. This book is <i>so dang long</i>. I really like it so far, though! Gonna keep plugging away.<br />
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Currently reading:<br />
Middlemarch (as mentioned above)<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2VQUa8y" target="_blank">Silence by Shusako Endo</a> (wow, intense!!!, thanks for the Christmas present, Sam ;))<br />
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What are you reading in March? Something spring-y? Hit me with it.<br />
HG<br />
<br />Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-73161173443261805282020-02-26T14:40:00.000-06:002020-02-26T14:40:09.292-06:00Recent shenansPeople <i>totally</i> shorten "shenanigans" to "shenans"...right? right?<br />
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I keep trying to sit down to write some blog posts that have been brewing in my brain and it just cannot seem to happen. Even though this is one of my less-busy weeks with work, I have two freelance projects I'm engrossed with in the background of normal work, and somehow I still feel like I'm catching up from the weeks when David was out of town and then was home sick with influenza A for 11 days. (Yes. 11 days on the couch.)<br />
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Anyway, life around here is pretty normal after that crazy two-week stretch mentioned above. I'm vacuuming like crazy because Murphy is shedding a lot, David and I are obsessing about the insanity in The Bachelor every week, I'm plodding away at Middlemarch and just started <a href="https://www.shannonkevans.com/new-products/within-your-wounds-lenten-devotional-e-book" target="_blank">Shannon's ebook</a> for Lent. I've been feeling pretty stretched thin (obviously) and I think this Lent will be good with her work to guide me. We're attempting a decade of the rosary every night with the kids as part of our Lenten penance so please wish us all the luck in the world that we don't give up on it on day 2.<br />
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What else is new around here?<br />
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Felix is pulling himself up on EVERYTHING and he's going to bust out walking any day now, I can feel it. Luckily our microwave that is inset into our cabinets by the fridge has a lock button on it so he can't start cooking things while I'm in the shower but everything else is really fair game. He's also very into trying to peel apart the layers of our board books and carrying toys around in his mouth while he crawls so he looks like a puppy and it's very funny.<br />
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Last weekend we spent some time finally -- FINALLY -- adding a chandelier to the dining room half of the kitchen. As a reminder, the bulk of our work on the kitchen was July of 2018, so it was almost two years between that and me finally deciding (and getting David to agree on) this light fixture.<br />
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For awhile we were debating if we wanted to add a light over the island (remember that Instastories poll I did forever ago? haha) but nothing felt right that close to the pendant we have over the sink. I couldn't decide if it was the placement or the lack of inspiration that was barring me from pulling the trigger on something until I saw this one on Amazon and clicked purchase SO FAST.<br />
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I'm really happy with it! It looks so pretty at night from outside and pretty during the day, too.<br />
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$5 clearance rattan tray from World Market, sunflowers from David, sunlight. What more could you want?<br />
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(<i>affiliate link</i>) <a href="https://amzn.to/2TgEpVD" target="_blank">Here's the light on Amazon</a> if you're curious. We had to hack it because of where the previous light junction box was by adding a different swag cord because the included one wasn't long enough, but for most uses it should be plenty long enough. I'm debating adding <a href="https://www.schoolhouse.com/products/g40-frosted-bulb" target="_blank">this Schoolhouse oversized bulb</a> to it just to change things up but I'm going to live with it as-is for a little while longer. I really am very happy with it and so grateful that David can just do stuff like this when I ask him, no problem.<br />
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Now the only (hahah ONLY) things left to do in the kitchen are: decide on and install a range hood, sand down and paint or replace entirely the door to the garage, touch up paint, fix the broken-for-we-don't-know-what-reason light switch by the garage door, possibly replace the buffet table with the built ins gathering dust in the garage (and they need a lot of work done on them before we could possibly install them) . . . and that's just off the top of my head, I'm sure I'm forgetting other things. Oh well. It never ends!<br />
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I have used up my precious nap time/free time so I will leave you with these adorable photos of Cora who has been pushing all the buttons recently but continues to be such a frickin' CUTIE PIE that it's hard to stay too mad. Sometimes. ;)<br />
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thanks for being here, friends. <3Hannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3861985123934355522.post-23019974656207060672020-02-03T09:37:00.001-06:002020-02-04T09:27:40.331-06:00January 2020 books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since my word of the year was READ and it's been a cold, wet, blah January, I've been getting some serious reading time in. Instead of writing a twice yearly post with 40 titles in each one, this year I'm going to try and write a post every month detailing what I've read in hopes it will keep me on track a little better.<br />
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My freelance copyediting is picking up a little bit in February and March though, so no promises that I'll keep up with this standard but one can only hope and cut out sleep to a certain extent!<br />
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<i>Book titles below are affiliate links so you know exactly what book I read, but as always I'm a big proponent of your local library. Also, if you didn't know, you can request books to be bought by your library! Most nowadays have a form on their website you can fill out, easy-peasy. Worth a shot if there's a book you're dying to read but don't want to invest in!</i><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2tg94tg" target="_blank">A Better Man</a> (Inspector Gamache #15)<br />
by Louise Penny<br />
★★★/5<br />
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A very appropriate winter-into-spring read! A very good Gamache, but I wouldn't qualify it as one of my favorites of the whole series. I'm never going to quit this series, though, so honestly Penny could release a very trash version and I'd still read it because I just love the location and the aura too much of these novels. (Also realizing that I've read 15 of this series is making me chuckle, because WOW that is a long series.)<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2GEACeY" target="_blank">The Buried Giant</a><br />
by Kazuo Ishiguro<br />
★★★★★/5<br />
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By now, I should know not to expect anything standard or "normal" when I pick up an Ishiguro, but I continue to be surprised and enthralled at the twists and turns he takes in his novels. This one is a fantasy-retelling of post-Arthurian Britain, and it's just incredible. I don't want to say much about the plot because truly, the surprises are worth it, but if you haven't read an Ishiguro I highly recommend it.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/36O37S2" target="_blank">The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)</a><br />
by Brandon Sanderson<br />
★★★/5<br />
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I read a LOT of Sanderson in 2019, and I couldn't help trying one of his other series for 2020 to kick-start my fiction again, and this didn't disappoint. I heard from <a href="https://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rosie</a> that this one was written for a youth audience, which makes sense, but it was still a very good (and long!) read. I waffled between giving this 3 and 4 stars, so let's call it 3.5 because I really liked the characters and the arc of the story but I felt the Stormlight Archive a better story all around.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/38VruyD" target="_blank">The Westing Game</a><br />
by Ellen Raskin<br />
★★★/5<br />
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This is apparently a childhood classic I'd never heard of or read, but with the release of the movie Knives Out a bunch of people were talking about it on Twitter, so I had to check it out. I can imagine becoming thoroughly <i>obsessed</i> with this book at age 10 or so, so if you've got a 10 year old that needs a mystery, hand them this one. (Only $5 on Amazon right now!)<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/31ef7Lw" target="_blank">Lincoln in the Bardo</a><br />
by George Saunders<br />
★★★★★/5<br />
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I listened to this as an audiobook while walking on our treadmill, and wow was it an incredible audiobook (hence why the link above is to the audiobook instead of a print!). I rented it from the library kind of not knowing the plot or what was going on, and it took me a couple chapters to figure it out but there is a really good reason this was so popular a couple years ago when it came out. I'm one of those people who feels smug avoiding super popular books because I'm a vain English major who likes to read <i>real literature</i> and then it always comes back to bite me in the butt when I break down and read the popular ones because <i>they're good and popular for a REASON, Hannah</i>.<br />
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Digression aside, this is a heart-wrenching story of Willy Lincoln's death, told through historical documents and narrative sections mixed amongst one another. The audiobook is narrated by Nick Offerman and David Sedaris, among many other famous people (Bill Hader! Rainn Wilson! Megan Mulally! Keegan Michael Key!) and there's a reason they could get so many famous people because the storytelling is incredible. I can't wait for Saunders to write something else since this was his first novel (the standard is SO high). Worth waiting for the audiobook if you're into those.<br />
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Currently reading:<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/3baiA27" target="_blank">The New Jim Crow</a> by Michelle Alexander (nonfic about the criminal justice system, v good)<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/31kgVTc" target="_blank">Middlemarch</a> by George Eliot (I love this but it's SO long, wow)<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2RU1PRu" target="_blank">Out of the Silent Planet</a> by C. S. Lewis (listening to this while I walk, so I'm not very far in yet)<br />
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Tell me, what else should I read in 2020? I'm all ears.<br />
HGHannah Gokiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700388883523161435noreply@blogger.com7