April 11, 2026 – My mom’s new furniture arrived! It’s so cozy. I’m sitting in the big armchair with an ottoman, and I can’t wait to spend Football Sundays relaxing in this chair in the fall!
April 12, 2026 – Our first reading crawl was a success! I can’t wait for the next one. Read all the details here.
April 13, 2026 – Look at these sweet babies! Eloise loves cuddling into that corner of the couch, and sometimes I spend more time than I’d like to admit looking for her, not realizing she’s wedged into the corner.
April 14, 2026 – Sometimes when I’m coloring, Eloise jumps on the table and sits right on my coloring book. It’s like she’s saying, “Time to take a break, mama.”
April 15, 2026 – This is the only photo I took today because I wanted to show it to Bri. (It’s about a murder that takes place at a local community theatre, so it couldn’t be more up her alley if it tried!) Funny story: I was in bed, CPAP mask on, ready for sleepies, when my eyes flew open and I was like, “OMG, I don’t think I took a picture today.” I opened my phone and scrolled to my Photos app and was relieved to see this picture.
April 16, 2026 – Did I bring way too many books on my reading retreat? I sure did! But I wanted to give myself plenty of options (even though I also brought my Kindle, so worst case, I could always download stuff from the library/Amazon).
April 17, 2026 – Outside lounging while reading on a Friday afternoon! The only thing that would make this reading retreat better is if I had chosen an Airbnb with a pool, but those houses were way more expensive. Wah! (Maybe next year?)
What was the last photo you took?







Stephany, that is quite a pile of books! How nice to have options on your reading retreat, and I hope you’re having a wonderful time! Your mom’s new furniture is gorgeous. The last photo I took was of the snowy field and mountains where I live. But it’s supposed to heat up again this week.
A snow field! And here I am, complaining that I could only stand to sit outside for 20 minutes before the heat got too intense. World’s apart!
I’m so jealous of your reading retreat! What an amazing stack 🙂
I had the BEST time and I’m so glad I took a chance and did this for myself!
Ah new furniture. Nothing like it. I’m waiting trying to wait till I retire from babysitting to replace our couches. By then maybe there will be grandkids to spot up on coaches so whatever.
The last pic I took was of the pool area of the hotel where I was sunning myself yesterday – today it was 30 degrees colder. And rainy. What on earth?
Ugh, to go from sitting-out-in-the-sun weather to cold and rainy?! Not cool, universe!
The last photo I took was of the serum I use on my forehead, for a blog post!
Your mom’s new furniture looks great! I am glad you are having a great getaway! I can see how a pool would add to the experience. Maybe you could get a condo or something like that next time around to make it affordable (I assume that’d be less than a house with a pool!). I would love to do a reading retreat someday!
You know I’m super jealous of your reading retreat! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
I’m laughing at you looking for Eloise, not realizing she’s tucked in the corner of the couch. That happens all the time with Sylvie, and she would fade right into that couch- she and the couch are the same color. I would never find her.