This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Coastal living. Coastal winter.

What is the one book you would recommend reading this Winter? Today I'm sharing with you my thoughts on The Chilbury Ladies' Choir A Novel by Jennifer Ryan, my first 5 star read of 2017, and my recommendation for the SheReads #OneBookWinter book rec across social media day today! Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction Source: NetGalley / Crown Publishing (e-edition ARC) Release Date: Next Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Synopsis from NetGalley: ""Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!" As England enters World War II's dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar's stuffy edict to shutter the church's choir in the absence of men and instead "carry on singing." Resurrecting themselves as "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir," the women of this small vil...

The sunshine yesterday was glorious! I enjoyed every moment of it here at home (top photo) and while we were out for a drive to do errands, taking the back roads. We're back to business as usual today; it's cloudy and dim. But, I'm loving these photos and printing out a few to enjoy too!

My #bookmail haul from this week! A Gentleman In Moscow was a treat to myself. The Marriage Lie is from the #southernlit chat with Deep South Magazine and author Kimberly Belle - thank you to Book Sparks sending the book! What books found homes on your shelves this week? #winterreads #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookish #fiction #historicalfiction #womensfiction #suspense #wonontwitter #readinglife #frommyshelf 

Everything within reach... Bone broth (homemade, turkey). Fresh lemon & ginger for hot water & tea. Gatorade with lotsa ice. More bone broth (homemade, chicken). 3 rounds meds, lots of NyQuil and Mucinex. I've been quite MIA around here as of late, haven't I?!  Since the week of February 8th, I've been sick. First with a wicked stomach virus, then with a head and chest cold that just will not go away no matter what I do or take. Hubbs came down with it too and has also been sick for weeks. I've never been so congested, my ears never so clogged! (To the point Hubbs snoring wasn't bothering me at night - haha!) Every time we think we're on the mend, it comes back.  Needless to say, productivity and creativity levels, have been running super low in some areas. I'm trying to fight my way out of that now that it seems we may both be finally, maybe, fingers crossed on the mend. So, since my last post...

Today I'm sharing with you Flight Of Dreams , the second novel by She Reads.org co-founder Ariel Lawhon , my first 5 star read of 2016 ! Genre: (Historical) Fiction Synopsis from the publisher, Doubleday, 2016 Advance Reading Copy Not For Sale paperback edition, 324 pages:  "With everyone on board the Hindenberg harboring dark secrets, Flight of Dreams is an utterly suspenseful, heart-wrenching examination of one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century. On the evening of May 3, 1937, Emilie Imhoff boards the Hindenberg. As the only female crew member, Emilie has access to the entire airship, from the lavish dining rooms and passenger suites to the gritty engine cars and control room. She hears everything, including rumors circulating about bomb threats, but Emilie is more focused on her feeling for Max, the ship's navigator... and keeping her own plans under wraps. What Emilie can't see is that everyone - from the sweet cabin boy to the high...

Welcome to my first official post as one of the new members of the She Reads Blog Network! (Click here if you missed my announcement about being a part of this incredible group of women). In today's Off The Shelf, I'm sharing with you The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young , one She Reads' Books of Winter . Genre:  Fiction Synopsis from the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House L.L.C., 2015 hardcover edition, 410 pages: "Her Gift Can Save A Child... If It Doesn't Destroy A Family First. When New York Journalist and recently bereaved mother Charlotte "Charlie" Cates begins to experience vivid dreams about children in danger, she's sure that she's lost her mind. Yet these are not the nightmares of a grieving parent. They are warnings that will help her and the children she sees, if only she can make sense of them. After a little boy in a boat appears in Charlie's dreams, asking her for help, she fin...

My nightstand. On this cozy February snow day, I wanted to share some of my favorite spots around our home.  There is a method to what may seem like organized clutter to some in this photo.  For those who don't know, I am disabled with Rheumatoid Disease (RD) aka Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). There are days like the past few, when I'm unable to spend much time out of bed due to my health. On days like these, I need everything that I need within arms reach. I love this nightstand because the surface area lets me do just that plus keep a few trinkets out as well. (Those are more out of view because of this angle. Apologies!) The night stand also has storage underneath, that's where my laptop & tray table are hiding). Emergency meds are mostly in the basket along with hair ties & book lights, post IV session meds are just outside of it (had an IV yesterday, so I'll need those for about 72 hours). Vitamin E oil which I put on my RD irritated skin every...

Settling in on the first day of Hibernate, 2016. Since January 11, I've been participating in a self-paced four week online workshop entitled " Hibernate " given by Heather Bruggeman of the wonderful blog  Beauty That Moves .  Winter is my favorite season (next to Autumn) and I looked forward to exploring this season in ways I hadn't thought of before, not only to refresh things for myself, but to learn to find the joy in this season even when it's not as I would normally enjoy it (for example weather wise, when it is a warm winter without snow). I was also hoping that maybe doing something new would give my creativity a much needed kick in the rear!  In short, for me the workshop has focused on self, creativity, home, nourishment (on several levels), and community (via Instagram and a closed group on facebook). It has taken me out of my comfort zones, but for once, I am glad vs resistant or upset!  Though this is the last week of the workshop...

Book mail! With a few extras. Flight Of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon. 1/25/16  Book mail! The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young. 1/26/16 That exciting news I mentioned at the end of my previous post?  I didn't know how to go about announcing it here. Until the book mail arrived that is! (Silly, I know, but y'all know how I can be from time to time. And for those who don't? You'll get used to it!) On January 12th, She Reads.org announced the newest members of their Blog Network ( here ) and I'm thrilled to announce that I've been included! Around the holidays they announced they were accepting applications for new members and I decided to throw my name into the hat. "Why not?!" Because I'm not a book blogger, and not what I consider a traditional book reviewer, I didn't expect to be among the chosen, so I was very surprised and excited to receive the email saying I was!   What is She Reads? Click here . For The Books of ...

Peeping through the spare room this morning. View from the front porch this morning. Hard to get an official total on this snow fall. Front walk. Looking towards the creek. Creekside this afternoon. Looking across the creek. Creekside this afternoon. Winter is finally here in all of its sparkling glory, and while it is also a lot of work, it is a joy.  And by work, I mean we have 12 porches with steps, 7 sidewalks, 2 full sets of stairs, and the trash & recycling area we're responsible for snow removal for. (Along with our truck and my mom's car). But after a decade of being caretakers here at The Perfectly Imperfect Homestead, we have snow and ice removal down to a science as a team. (TG for snowblowers so not all of it has to be shoveled. Also extremely helpful is that the landscaper is responsible for the parking areas). As the snow fell yesterday, I finally began to feel settled, less scatte...

First sunset of 2016! Front porch view. Best wishes for much good health, peace, prosperity, love, laughter & joy in 2016! (And yarn, plants, photos, great reads & sharing too!)

Cozy scents and candle light on this Christmas Day. Another Christmas is once again quickly coming to a close, and as usual I can't quite wrap my mind around that. Felt very different this year, and I'm not sure if that's all on account of the super warm weather we're still having or not. Thankful for a quiet day at home with Hubbs, and later Mom and a neighbor joined us for dinner. We've just finished watching the Doctor Who Christmas Special, and now we're off to sleep!  Hope your day was Merry & Happy! 

Not a creature was... Presents are wrapped and 24 hours of A Christmas Story is under way. (This angle makes our tv look huge thought it's not quite). Still warm enough for open windows & whirring fans. (It was in the 70s here today with humidity in the upper 90%). I always want to stay up as long as possible so I can experience as much of the peaceful beauty of this night as I can.  Quiet blessings to you & yours, and to all a good night!

Taken this morning. This year instead of snow & chilly temps, the pansy's have begun to rebloom on the front porch. In fact, I gave them a fresh top blanket of soil before taking this photo! (Starting to remind me of the time the snapdragons bloomed from April through February). May you find light no matter where the sun is! (For now I'm sure there will be more than a few of us finding warmth in the early days of this winter, so no need to look too hard there).

Cozy living room tidings. Bizarre spring-like temps this December. The third Sunday of Advent has just now passed, yesterday for those unfamiliar with the tradition, and while things may look like Christmas indoors, it feels like anything but outdoors for those of us in the Northeast this December! Just yesterday the temperature climbed to 67* before noon! On December 13th. While not completely unheard of, it's happened before within recent memory, it's still weird. Glorious for some, unsettling for others. Allergies are off the charts and we're dangerously low on rainfall. Today it's actually so humid I'm finding it a little hard to breathe! Things are growing, budding, and blooming. Out of season. So it's not just we humans who are confused. Spring in December in New Jersey? For Hubbs and I, it doesn't feel like December, or Christmastime. I know, it's not just about the weather, but we enjoy cold temps vs warm, so it's part of ...

Creek-side, here at The Perfectly Imperfect Homestead on December 1st. Thick fog on the morning of December 2nd! Evening bookclub holiday party, December 3rd. Even though with the exception of the bookclub holiday party last night, you have looked and felt more like November than your normally festive December self! (I must admit I'm enjoying this extended Autumn - the warmer than normal temps? Not so much). And while I'm totally not ready for you (despite already having the Christmas tree up and being halfway finished with gift shopping) I welcome you just the same and aim to enjoy as much of these last days of 2015 as I possibly can.

Creekside. Creekside. Front porch view. Livingroom. Livingroom. I am thankful for the breathtaking beauty of wintry sunsets (no filters needed or used!), cozy evenings at home with the Hubbs, and the cheerful glow of twinkle lights.