The Toronto Library's Top Ten Most Borrowed Books for 2025

 You can read more here.

If you click on the header title it will take you to Goodreads where you can read more about each book.

# 1 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Onyx Storm, not my type of book.

#2 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins 

The Let Then Theory, not for me........

#3 The Women by Kristin Hannah 

The Women, does sound interesting, may borrow this book.

#4 The Wedding People by Alison Espach

The Wedding People, would be on my list to read also.

#5 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

On the fence with The God of the Woods, not sure about it.

#6 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Great Big Beautiful Life, would be my type of book to read.

#7 Funny Story by Emily Henry

Again Funny Story, my type of book.

#8 Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits.........I'll pass........

#9 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Intermezzo, not sure about, so I'll pass.

#10 The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt

I should buy a copy of this books for our kids.  As it's a whole different world out there raising kids nowadays!

I don't recall reading any of these books.  Have you read any? 

Another finished project........

I finally finished the second piece of cross stitch that I am putting together for a project at the end of the year.  I have been putting it off as I find the back stitch fiddly.  I am liking how they are looking though.

I also finished the latest paint by numbers.  I don't like it.  Believe me when I say I followed all the colour numbers.  It looks as though the background with the light mountains is wrong.  I may go over it again with other colours to deepen the colour there.  It may look better then?  I sound as though what I am talking about????  I don't!! 😁

I posted another book review here.  I borrowed this book from the library.  It was as good as the first in the series.

Some things I have done this week.

Was talking to daughter-in-law about how my drawer organizers move around, she suggested putting feet on the bottom of them to stop them moving.

Went to Dollarama and found these.  Ended up not using the instant Tac, just the bumper pads.

They worked perfectly for the job.

Now when I open the drawer the organizers haven't moved.

I love these mini cucumbers.  The local store had two packs of 6 on for $4.  I managed to snag packs with seven in them!

They keep really well in my Fridgesmart Tupperware containers.  I also pre-peeled some baby oranges ready for eating.

I made a really yummy couscous salad.  I added to one cup of cooked couscous, some veggies and feta cheese and the dressing on it was Kraft Greek Dressing..

Picked up a book from the library that I had ordered.  This is the selection for the book club in the UK my mother goes to.  They meet at the end of February.

I have been cleaning out cupboards etc and putting things we don't need into boxes to donate to the charity store.  Made a trip to drop off the boxes, while doing some errands.

I remembered to check the library website and managed to snag a space in the February craft club, so looking forward to that!!

 

Craft Class

 Our local library holds a free monthly craft class.  There was spaces available for the January class so I signed up.  As I am writing this, there are no spaces available for the rest of the months 😞

This month they were making a mobile.

Now what you need to make the mobile are the following:

• 2 paint stirring sticks, you can get these at your local DIY store
• paint
• small hook
• glue stick
• glue gun
• paper
• thread or clear fishing line
• scissors
• pencil
• four small beads or wooden discs for the bottom of each string to weigh it down

We used leftover scrapbook paper and pages from old books that were going to be thrown out.  Cut out your paper shapes.  Make sure you have an equal number of shapes per line, so that it will balance out. 

Paint your paint sticks whatever colour you want and if you are using the wooden discs do the same.  

Put your weighed disc/bead on the end of your thread, then glue your paper on the line.  I then went back and put another circle on the opposite side to cover up the thread.  I also made sure mine were the same space apart on each of the four lines.

Using a glue gun, glue the paint sticks together in a cross, making sure it's in the true middle otherwise it won't hang straight.

With a glue gun, stick on each of the lines of shapes on the paint sticks.  Again making sure each one is in the correct/identical space; so it hangs straight.

You will need to put a small round hook in the centre on top of the paint sticks so you can hang it up.  I also put paper circles where I had glued the lines to the glue sticks.

As I didn't want to put a hook directly in my ceiling, I found these command hooks which work the same and won't damage my ceiling.

If you google how to make a mobile, there are lots on the internet with a lot better instructions than I gave.

It was a fun afternoon which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I was told to check in at the beginning of each month to see if spaces had opened up for the next session.  Hopefully I will be able to join another class.

New thing I am going to do

In 2023 I am going to keep a log of what books I read.  I do have a Book Review blog, that's here.

I do review books for this company Graff Martin, and the site is called Nut's About Books.  If you click on the name there is a link if you want to apply to be one of the reviewers.

I write reviews over on my book review blog about the books I receive from that company.  Though I do read a lot more books but don't review every book I read; maybe I should?  I don't have a problem with doing a log, but am lazy at reviewing 😉

I will probably add the list on my side bar with links to the books and go from there.

I have just read this book:

Here is a link to the book overview on Amazon; it was a very light read, I call it a shopping list book, where you don't have to concentrate too hard to understand the story, I can also be thinking of other things.  

One other thing I am going to do, is I don't like a book after reading 25% of it, I am not going to fight on with it.  There are too many books in the world I haven't read, why read something you don't like?

One of my goals this coming year is to read what I have in the house, donate the books, and then use the library to borrow books.  Since covid I have been very lazy in using the library and have been buying them instead.  Granted I try and buy them from either Book Outlet a site I highly recommend or I buy the 3 books for $10 at Chapters/Indigo here in Canada.

Book Outlet has both a Canadian site and a US site.  The only snag with looking on Book Outlet, I can be on that site for hours...LOL  I have a weakness for books.  I do though read them only once then donate them.  Rarely do I read a book twice.

My genre of books is historical fiction.  However, I find my tastes changing and love a spy/thriller/mystery/murder type book every now and then.  

Do you read books more than once?  Also do you love reading?  What genre of books are your go to?

Model Railways and Liam's haircut

Last weekend our local library hosted the local model railway club and they set up a display.  As I had the girls and we always go to the library this was an extra bonus seeing this display.

Unfortunately none of the photos are very good but it will give you an idea of what there was.  I personally know nothing about trains and model railways but do like to watch them.

This display was not child friendly and making sure two sets of hands didn't touch anything; plus making sure they didn't fall off the chairs they were standing on so they could see was not an ideal situation!!

The guys (they were all men) although pleasant were not used to dealing with women and children I think.  I mentioned something and then got a very detailed explanation lasting at least five minutes or more; most of which flew over my head I'm sorry to say.  However it was very kind of them to set up this display for the general public.

I went and got my hair cut on Christmas Eve morning and when I had finished who should be there in the waiting area but Liam and his dad.  As they were next in line I waited with them and helped keep Liam occupied while he was getting his hair cut.  He has had his haircut numerous times, so doesn't scream the place down!!  He has just turned 19 months old.

He's still a red head..............

Cut backs by the Government..............

(image credit)

I don't delve into politics normally but do have to mention I am ticked off about the cut back to the library services.  If our local library branches do not have a book, then we can order it through inter-library loan.  So they search the library system for the copy closest to us and order it in.  Due to the cut backs that service is no longer available.

This will affect book clubs as there are generally 10 + members in each book club and each month you read a book and discuss it.  Now granted you can read a book on an electronic device, but I am one of those people who like to feel paper between my fingers when reading a book.  Normally when ordering for 10 members they have to find books from different libraries.  You can also buy the book from a book store, but I personally don't want to buy books as I read that many.

There are "book club" packs of books where there are multiple copies of books perfect for a book club; BUT one member has to check out the pack for the whole club and no one was willing to do that in the club I had joined....LOL  I really did chuckle to myself when they were discussing this, as it's as though they don't trust one another to bring the books back.

Already the book club members have sent out email messages wondering how this will work out and how we will share books.  I decided that I didn't want to go through all the hassle of doing that and have sent an email to the organizer saying I won't be attending any more meetings.

One of the good things about our library here where we live is that they send out weekly emails for different genre's of book and I am finding those to be useful.  I will just carry on as before with my reading.

Are you a member of a book club?  Do you like it?  I have a stack of books to get through in May; five to review and a couple of my own choices.

To keep up with what I have read pop by my other blog That British Woman's Book Review Blog.

Books.......

As many of you know I am a big reader.  I have always loved reading and now we have moved close (ten minute drive, if that) to a lovely new library I am borrowing books at an alarming rate 😁  I post most of what I read on my book review blog here.  However some I don't review but I love regardless.

One of my favourite series are Laura Childs, "Tea Shop Mysteries."  I have read all of those books, but have only reviewed the newest release Broken Bone China. Infact during the months of January and February I re-read all of the series, just never posted a review on them.

I have read a number of the "Seaside Knitter's Mysteries," by Sally Goldenbaum, and Maggie Sefton's "Knitting Mysteries."  I enjoy both series and want to re-read them again.

One thing I did when signing up at the library was to sign up for the libraries newsletters that come out weekly via email on different genre's of books.  They have been a blessing and I picked up two books on Friday that were suggestions from these newsletters.

Both look really interesting and I thought I would share them with you despite the fact I haven't read them yet.

Bleaker House, by Nell Stevens

"How far would you travel to become a writer?
8000 miles from home
1085 calories a day
3 months to write the novel that would make her name

At least that was the plan. But when Nell Stevens travelled to Bleaker Island in the Falklands (official population: two) she didn’t count on the isolation getting to her…

Hilarious and heartbreaking, this is a book about loneliness and creativity. It is about discovering who you are when there’s no one else around. And it’s about what to do when a plan doesn’t work: ultimately Nell may have failed to write a novel, but she succeeded in becoming a writer."

"Transcription," by Kate Atkinson

"In 1940, eighteen-year-old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever.

Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence."

I mentioned that I have joined a local book club and we meet once a month at the library.  For May's meeting we had to put forward books we wanted to nominate for the upcoming years titles.  Thought you might be interested in what I put forward.  I have read and reviewed all these:

Educated by Tara Westover, review here.

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg, review here.

and The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson, review here.

Have you read any books recently that you thought were really good?

Missing blogging...........

I have missed blogging.  Life has been busy these past few months, and quite a few times I have started to write a blog post and then thought why bother?  However time and time again I have come back to my blog to find things; whether it be a recipe or a pattern.  

I had thought about completely deleting my blog but its like having a library of me and things we have seen, done and made over the years that it would be such a shame to get rid of it all.  

So I think I will give it another go and try and be a better blogger and post about our life.  I know I don't work outside of the home but I seem to have a lot of things going on.  The grandkids are all growing, and have plenty going on in their lives.  We moved house last November got lots going on with the new house.  I am a busy bee with sewing and have lots to share with you there.

One of the things I have benefited from with my blog is making some very dear friends from all over the world as well.  That in itself is priceless.  So with that in mind I am going to try and get back into the habit of blogging about my life.  Will prepare a post for tomorrow (Sunday) and start from there.

Meanwhile I have joined my local library and joined a book club, so have been reading quite a bit recently and have read a number of good books.  So if you get time check out my other blog "That British Woman's Book Review Blog."

I will leave you with this photo of the pattern and material for a bag class I will start this coming week.

The fabric is "Spring Awakens," by Debi Hron for Henry Glass & Co.  The bag pattern is "The Sling Along," by Studio Kat Designs.

Simple Baby Hat - Yarn Along

Managed to get one small finish this week a simple baby hat.  I have also started "The Mermaid Chair," by Sue Monk Kidd on my Kobo.  I sent a request in electronically back in March to order this book for the Kobo and I got it this week.  I guess if they get numerous requests for certain e-books, when funds allow they order them.

 I used this pattern for this hat,  Super simple and didn't tax my knitting skills too much.  I also love this type of hat for little ones.  I knit it in the newborn size, and from that 50g ball of cotton yarn I have a bit left.  

This is part of a gift for a newborn called Hannah who was born at the beginning of the month.  I would love to fill you in on more information of this little one, but it was like pulling teeth getting the name out of my dh.  You know men, not really fussed about the details!!

Back to the book, I reviewed "The Invention of Wings," and "The Secret Life of Bees," earlier in the year.  Both also by Sue Monk Kidd.

For more Yarn Along Posts with Ginny, please click on this link.

Went down the town on Wednesday........

Had to go to the library:

It turns out you have to renew your library card every year with our library.  All to do with funding and how big the membership is?  When I got in there, it also turns out you can do this over the phone???  The woman I spoke to last week forgot to mention this?

Next to the library is the Circle Theatre:

This is our local movie theatre.  It has quite an interesting history to it; you can read about it here.

It is one of those old fashioned movie theatre's with only the one screening room.  I have been told it has really comfy old fashioned seats and the whole ambiance takes you back to the 1940's, but with modern comforts.  They hold special screening's, along with birthday party's and the odd play.  Not your typical movie theatre.

Why I am even bringing any of this up, is I have NEVER watched a movie in a movie theatre in Canada.  We will have been in this country 26 years at the end of May.  It's just not a place I would ever think of going.  I'll watch movie's on dvd's or on tv, but have no desire to spend a bundle on a movie in a theatre.  

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised to see they only charge $7.50 admission in this movie theatre.  I was expecting it to be a whole lot more?  What is the normal admission price?

Do you go to the movie theatre often and what does it generally cost for a trip there?

(sorry about the quality of the photos, the sun was shining directly into the camera and it was freezing bloody cold, so didn't want to be out any longer than I had to be.)

Also I have booked a knitting lesson for March 12th......more to follow on that tomorrow!!!

Follow up, cooking and questions..........

Do you remember this dish I bought?

Well I got an answer from the lady at the Wedgwood Museum in England.:

"I do not know if you have access to the publication ‘Adams Ceramics. Staffordshire Potters and Pots, 1779-1998’ by David A. Furniss, J. Richard Wagner and Judith Wagner (Schiffer Publications, 1999. ISBN 0-7643-0847-5) – in the above named work a number of early variations on the Adams’ factory backstamps appear – though I must admit I cannot find one identical to that featured on the item in question – however, although the Prince of Wales’ backstamp is not featured in the appendix at the back of the work, there is a reference to a ‘WA & S’ printed backstamp, which was used by the factory from 1819 to 1861 – and I suspect that this is related to the printed backstamp below the Prince of Wales feathers as portrayed on the image you forwarded.

Stylistically the shape of the dish would seem to correspond with this era of production – and the (almost) pheasants’ eye decoration is very similar to copper plate printed work which has appeared on the Adams factory production again around the time indicated.

It maybe that with a thorough perusal of the above named work – which is excellent – that you will be able to come to a more satisfactory conclusion, but on the face of it I would say yes, that this is a William Adams piece."

 

I have called the library to see if I can borrow that book through inter-library loan, to see if I can find out more about it, but they can't find a copy.  It is nearly $80 to purchase a copy online, so that's out as well. The thing that fascinates me is this area was settled in the 1830's, so this piece may have come over with them?

 

I went grocery shopping on Friday and bought some ground beef and cooked that up with some onions and divided it to go into the freezer.  This is such a great way of dealing with ground beef I wouldn't dream of putting it in the freezer without pre-cooking and dividing it up.

 

Also made a casserole of liver, onions, mushroom and bacon...........I know you either love liver or hate it with a passion.

 

Then dd is hosting her first Thanksgiving dinner on Monday and she asked me to make her some bread sauce.

 

We were invited to go, but are not going which is just as well, as there will be 8 young 'uns between the ages of 23 and 28.  We would be the odd couple out!!!

 

Now for the questions.  I was ironing today when I thought of all of these.

 

1. Do new houses in Britain have airing cupboards?  Ever since we have lived in Canada we have never had an airing cupboard, so we don't technically "aire" our clothes like we did in England.

 

2. How many sets of sheets do you have for each bed.  I was talking to a friend and she washes and dries her sheets in one day and puts them straight back on the bed. 

 

3. How often do you wash your sheets on your bed?  I wash ours every Friday.  Same friend was very evasive when asked!!!!

Normal service still hasn't resumed, why........

because I am reading!!! Once I get into a book that's it, nothing else gets done, and I am not reading just one book, but I got three from a series of books, so I have to read one after the other to see what happens next.

So what is keeping me so busy; well these books are The Dakota Treasures series by Lauraine Snelling.  The funny thing is I have now discovered that there is a fourth book in the series that I am going to have to order from the library!!  Plus I have a couple other books to pick up from the library today, so more reading!!  Gosh I lead a busy life...LOL

Watch this video and listen to the music; it's not snowing here yet, but give it a week or two and I reckon we'll be getting snow, as its cooling down a lot now.  We did have wet snow yesterday but it didn't lay.



So I am going to say again, normal service will resume tomorrow!!! Meanwhile back to reading..........

'Tis the season, and they're gone....well as far as I know!

'Tis the season...........for road works. I was in the city yesterday and all the way there and all over the city there were road works everywhere. I have to say one stretch of road reminded me of Britain, where there were mile upon mile of bollards (cones in Britain) and not a workman in site!!! I guess Fall is a great time of year to do roadworks?

Now I am touching wood as I say this, but it's been 10 days since I last caught a mouse? Now does that mean I won't get anymore in the house........somehow or other I don't think so!! Still I live in hope.

Also I saw SNOW on Wednesday........I mean I was quite distressed about the whole situation....I even told the guy in the store, that someone up there hadn't got my memo, about no snow until December 24th!! Now granted it was only snow on a car, but it was snow. Then I went to knitting club and one of the ladies there said they had snow on the ground in the morning. So I am guessing it will be here with us soon, especially if Carol decides not to keep her snow and sends it my way ;0)

Thanks for your opinion on the firefighter donation, we are going to write a cheque. Also made a decision on the Internet and will be changing providers in November. I will sort it out on Thursday, as I have give 30 days notice with Bell, and the new providers are booking appointments for setting up the system for the second week of November. I can then be on the Internet more that I am now, which means I will be able to start and visit everyone's blogs again.

Popped into the library to pick up a book I ordered "The Backyard Homestead" by Carleen Madigan, looks like it will be an interesting read.

I got the door repaired today on the wood stove, and when I was in there I picked up a wood stove steamer and trivet similar to this one I couldn't believe the price of them; granted they are cast iron, but I bought a cheaper one and ended up paying nearly $70 for both the steamer and the trivet to put it on. We are finding it very drying to our skin having the fire on, so we are hoping this will help a bit.