So many of these books have been influenced by you lovely people.

I think one of the hardest things my family has lost in the Eaton fire is our Christmas Decorations. My husband and I have been collecting them from places we’ve traveled since we first met over ten years ago. My son had made a handful. I had some that my Lola had made as well. My Christmas stocking I had had since I was a baby. My mom’s house, which also burned, has the Angel topper. My sister and I would trade years, taking turns on who would place the angel at the top. I can still remember my dad grabbing my hips to pick me up so I could place it at the top. All those things are gone now. Christmas is a time of tradition. When we reflect on our year and our past. Remembering things with each ornament and decoration taken out. Now we start over. And make new ones. This weekend was strange. At once I am filled with a bottomless well of sadness. Sometimes I wonder how I can possibly be standing. I honestly feel just so dead inside. But. There is still so much I am grateful for. So much still worth fighting for.

@ornamentsforaltadena gets a special shout out here. My family and I went to their Winter Bloom market and got some special ones handmade from people across the country. My husband and I have an annual tradition of watching the LOTR extended editions every December. So this hobbit door was a particular standout. @arrangementsbyadelaide of course had so many cute decorations. Because Angela knows how much our community needs them. And most importantly. Thank you to my family that gave me back precious decoration that my Lola had made by hand.

Altadena I miss you every day. I can’t wait to come home.

#eatonfire #nonbookishpost #bookstagram #losangeles ...

38 years on this earth and this last one has been been a doozy. This year we decided to shake things up as a family. We booked it to a tropical location for Thanksgiving instead of staying home. And I gotta say I am liking this new tradition. I have accomplished two out of three things on this tote. Just need a new tattoo. Thinking I’ll go nautical this time. @jawjawinks you in? lol. Cheers everyone. Here’s wishing this next year is uneventful. Boring. A snooze. #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #vacation ...

Tell me a story of a complicated man indeed! Odysseus is probably the original anti hero. I could go on but I’m sure there are already one million essays about this by people much smarter than I. I wanted to read this because I remember this edition became quite the controversy when it came out. For one it’s translated by an actual WOMAN. Can you believe it! The AUDACITY. Jokes aside. If you pick this up definitely read the translators introduction. She gives a wonderful breakdown of her decisions and I think this was just a delightful read. I think the part with Cyclops will always be my favorite. Of course like any fantasy epic it probably could’ve used a better editor. But I’ll let it slide this time….ha. Glad I finally read this one and so happy Wilson sought to make an accessible version for us all. Also shoutout to @sethisreading for his review and reminding me I had to pick it up before the movie! #theodyssey #homer #epics #vacationreads #classics #greekclassics ...

Happy caturday! Ha. Always wanted to post one of these. #catsandbooks ...

The more I learn about trees the more I am in awe of their power and beauty. Our old oak tree is being chopped down tomorrow. And if you have been here for a while you know how much this hurts. We tried really hard to give it a fighting chance but alas I am nothing compared to the awe and might of Mother Nature and large scale disasters caused by corporate greed.

We had our arborist, a wonderful person named Peter, come look at it recently and he let us know that the tree was dehydrated. No matter how much we watered it, it was probably not enough. Altadena, once a gorgeous oasis of plants and trees sprouting from neighbors gardens is gone now. There is no water table. So even if I was watering it every week it’s a drop in the bucket of what was once there. Due to the devastation of the fire the tree is also weak. So even if it did survive there is a large chance it would have a hard time fighting off diseases in the future, such as red fungus, meaning it may only live another five years or so.

This is obviously not the outcome we wanted. Peter told us we should plant an Engelmann not knowing we already had in the front. Seeing how much that little tree has grown already gives me hope.

The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue does not shy away from where we find ourselves, but it did provide me with something like hope. My story is sadly not unique on this earth. I loved how Mike Tidwell took what was happening on his street and expanded it globally. This was a beautiful little book. And it found me at the right time. He ended each conversation with one question for the people in his community, what gives you hope? And for me. It is my community. I don’t know what lies ahead. But I do know I have people I can count on and they can count on me.

And so it goes. Where there is death. There is also life. Goodbye tree. I’ll miss your towering shade and the squirrels bounding across my roof to get to your branches. Thank you for everything.

#eatonfire #oaktree #liveoak #engelmannoak #trees #nonfictionbook #climatechange #bookstagram ...

I don’t know. Maybe there’s something to this midwestern life.

One thing I’m noticing is all the indie bookstores here pass the vibe check. Great selection of conscientious titles. Surprising me in this little town of 4,000. Black Forty Books is an absolute delight. They have a lovely mix of used and new books. The owners were so warm and welcoming. Despite the rain we’re finding moments of joy and solitude. We visited the Iona’s beach which is famous for its pink rocks. Never seen anything like it. Now if only my youngest would sleep consistently. lol. #minnesota #lakesuperior #duluth #twoharborsmn #summerbreak #midwest #indiebookstores #supportlocalindiebookstores ...

#summertime and we have traveled to visit family in Minnesota. Of course I made it to visit Birchbark Books. I’m trying to only buy books I have already read and would like to reread. I’m reading Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel and it’s definitely holding my attention. It has an interesting structure and different subject matter. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about teenage girls who box. Altadena is never far from our thoughts though. And we still find ourselves on the phone every day trying to handle this or that and the other. But at least my kids are having a great time. #teacheronsummerbreak #headshotbook #summerreading #momonsummerbreak #minnesota #stpaul ...