Stacking the Shelves: 15/2/2025

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have managed some lovely reading today and I am very close to finishing my first buddy read of the year.

I had one book arrive this week which was a book that I preordered last year. I love getting preordered books because I forget that I order the books and it is always a nice surprise when they arrive in the post. It is just like a surprise gift to myself!

My new book this week is by an auto buy author for me.

This is definitely going to the top of my TBR pile!

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: James Fenton

Happy Friday Everyone!

My chosen poem this week is by a new poet for me. James Fenton (1949) is an English poet, journalist and literary critic. 

Hinterhof

Stay near to me and I'll stay near to you -
As near as you are dear to me will do, 
Near as the rainbow to the rain,
The west wind to the windowpane,
As fire to the hearth, as dawn to dew.

Stay true to me and I'll stay true to you -
As true as you are new to me will do,
New as the rainbow in the spray,
Utterly new in every way,
New in the way that what you say is true.

Stay near to me, stay true to me. I'll stay
As near, as true to you as heart could pray.
Heart never hoped that one might be
Half of the things you are to me -
The dawn, the fire, the rainbow and the day. 

James Fenton

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Lyra’s Pawsome Books #15

Hello!

I thought it was time for an Etsy update because I have been quite busy recently adding new products. I love my little shop and one of my aims for 2025 is to really build it up and add more products.

I love making new bookmarks for the shop but I must admit I do end up wanting them all for myself and have to resist because I will end up with way too many. I am like a magpie for shiny pretty bookmarks!

Here are the bookmarks I have added recently:

Knitting Bookmarks

My sister who does a lot of knitting instantly bagged herself one of these bookmarks but I still have 9 left.

Cards

I have made a few new cards recently and I have also added the Easter Cards back to the shop which are usually quite popular.

Cat Card

I now have two Cat themed cards on the Etsy because cats are proving very popular.

Cake Card

The Cake Cards have just landed in the shop over the last few days. I have made a few for private orders so I thought I would add them to my Etsy shop.

TBR Prompts

I have also done my first digital download in the shop which is TBR Prompts that you just download, print off and cut out all from your home. They are also currently on offer!

I am always struggling to work out what to read next so I came up with the prompts to help myself and decided to add them to my shop as well. I also still have the very popular book shaped TBR Tickets available in the shop.

I have quite a few ideas for new bookmarks bobbing around in my head so I hope to share those with you soon.

Thank you for stopping by and having a little browse of my shop!

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Mid Week Quote: Megan Wilson

Hello!

My chosen quote this week is by the American visual artist, writer, and activist Megan Wilson (1969).

“The people you are closest to tend to be able to hurt you the most – that is why heartbreak is so hard to deal with, why death is so painful, and why fights can destroy things that matter.”

Megan Wilson

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 12/2/2025

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I haven’t been doing so well this week with my blogging and reading due to still being ill and trying to work but I am hoping for things to improve during half term break.

What I am Currently Reading

I am very close to finishing my buddy read of Unleashed and I will be honest I think I will really miss this book and my buddy read. I’m now a third of the way through with my Alison Weir book and thoroughly enjoying it.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I really enjoyed this book and my review will be posted soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

These are all part of my planned reading for February and I’m really wanting to stay on track with them.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I haven’t managed as much reading or blogging as I would have liked because I am still feeling rather rough but I’m really hoping I start to feel better soon.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I have just over a week left on my buddy read of Unleashed and I am still really enjoying it. I have recently started reading Mary I Queen of Sorrows and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: Robert Graves

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has some good plans for the weekend. I am still recovering so I imagine more reading will be happening.

My chosen poem this week is by Robert Graves (1895-1985). 

Love at First Sight

'Love at first sight,' some say, misnaming
Discovery of twinned helplessness
Against the huge tug of procreation. 

But friendship at first sight? This also
Catches fiercely at the surprised heart
So that the cheek blanches and then blushes. 

Robert Graves

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

February 2025 TBR

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good reading month so far. My TBR that I had planned for January didn’t go quite to plan but I did manage to read two books from my planned six books so it wasn’t a complete loss.

My chosen books to try and read this month are quite chunky so I might be biting off more than I can chew but I did manage more reading than I expected in January so I’m hoping for the same this month.

Some of these were books that I planned and failed to read in January but I am hopeful I will manage to read them this month.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 5/2/2025

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have tried to do more reading since I am not working due to ill health but I am useless at resting so I have been working on my Etsy and coming up with some new products.

What I am Currently Reading

I am thoroughly enjoying Evelina and should be finished with it soon as I can’t put it down. Unleashed is still on track to finish before the end of the month.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

Another fantastic book by Stacey Halls. My review will follow soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

As per usual I have no idea what I will read next but one of these books could be high on the list.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you