
- This check-in is for May 11th – 17th.
- The boyfriend and I went to a couple farmers’ markets yesterday and had a good time hanging out in the sun and walking around for the day. We went to a small, local Greek restaurant for lunch, and we’ll probably be returning there in the future.
- I also decided to do another screen-free 24 hours, but I wasn’t entirely successful. I used my phone far more than I normally would, but I stayed off my computer and away from the TV. I also finished two books, and I feel more relaxed, so I’m happy.
- Active Days: 1/5
- Steps: 48,806
- Miles: 19.46/16.31
- Total Miles: 289.07/850
- Zone Minutes: 38/150
Building the Book Fort
“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.
Currently Reading:
- Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple
- Disenchanted by Robert Kroese
- Life’s Short, Talk Fast ed. by Ann Hood
- Where Books Fall Open by Bascove




Finished:
- Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
- Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson


Total pages read this week: 621
Total books read: 54 of 75
TBR (goal is -24): -5
#ShelfLove Challenge: 30 of 51
The Boyfriend and I are going to go to a couple of farmer’s markets that have opened this weekend, and I’m also going to do another screen-free 24 hours so I wanted to get this posted before that while I’m still at home.
I think I’m coming out of whatever burn out/reading slump was going on last week, though I don’t feel like I’m 100% myself again. We’ll see what being away from screens for a day can do to help. I’ve got plenty of physical books to read, and getting out into the sunshine and walking is always a good idea for me.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!
Down the TBR Hole #201
How it works:
- Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
My want-to-read shelf is up a couple of books to 1186. I finished a couple of books, but I also discovered that several books were missing from my TBR.
This week’s books:

Njuta by Niki Brantmark – KEEP. First there was “Hygge,” then “Lagom.” After that, I learned about “Lillordag.” Now, I want to read about “Njuta.”

The Black House by Peter May – KEEP. This is a Scottish crime novel. Since I’m more into Cozy Mysteries, I’m not sure I will like it. However, it’s set in Scotland, so I’m still interested.

The Paris Secret by Karen Swan – GO. I used to be just as obsessed with any book set in France as I am with books set in Scotland, but this really doesn’t seem to be anything I will enjoy reading. I don’t even know why I got it in the first place.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum – KEEP. I feel like everyone has already read this book. I bought it because I loved living in South Korea, and I would like to take an armchair trip back there since it will probably be a very long time before I’m able to go back in real life.

Murder at the Book Club by Betsy Reavley – KEEP. I’m skeptical about this Cozy Mystery because there are only two books in the series, and both were published in 2018. I’ll give it the 50 page test.
My want-to-read shelf is down one to 1185 books. It has been quite a while since I’ve decided to let go of a book. I’m not sure my want-to-read list is going to get any shorter for a while since I haven’t been reading much lately.
#FitReaders Check-In

- This check-in is for May 4th – 10th.
- The weather has gotten much nicer, and I had a couple of vacation days this week, so I’m feeling much better than I have in the past few weeks, both physically and mentally.
- I’ve been mostly relaxing with my cats while my boyfriend has been out of town, but I’ve done a little bit of gardening (mostly weeding). I plan to do some more today once I’ve got some chores done.
- Active Days: 1/5
- Steps: 28,529
- Miles: 11.54/16.31
- Total Miles: 269.61/850
- Zone Minutes: 52/150
Building the Book Fort
“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.
Currently Reading:
- Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple
- Disenchanted by Robert Kroese
- Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
- Life’s Short, Talk Fast ed. by Ann Hood




Finished:
- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
- Feral Self-Care by Mandi Em


Total pages read this week: 350
Total books read: 52 of 75
TBR (goal is -24): -4
#ShelfLove Challenge: 29 of 51
I haven’t really felt much like reading books this week. Instead I’ve been reading articles online and watching TV. I don’t know if it’s the beginning of a book slump or that I’m feeling burnt out from work. It could also be that I have the house to myself and the cats this week and can watch whatever I want. Maybe it’s a little bit of all of the above, but regardless of the reason, I’m not reading as much right now.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!
Down the TBR Hole #200
How it works:
- Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
My want-to-read shelf is down a few books to 1184. I finished several books this past week thanks to the weather keeping me indoors instead of out in my garden.
This week’s books:

The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane – KEEP. I supposedly own a physical copy of this book, but I don’t remember buying it or where it is on my bookshelves. I’m still interested in reading it, though, so it’s staying on my want-to-read list.

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White – KEEP. This is supposed to be a slower approach to decluttering, and while I’ve decluttered my home multiple times over the years with more traditional strategies, whenever I read a decluttering book, I’m inspired to let go of even more stuff.

Midsummer by Deborah Blake – KEEP. I like the “Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials” series of books because they help me reconnect to the seasons in a meaningful way while also providing a bit of history. I hope to get to this one before the end of the month so that I have some time to plan any of the traditions I want to try.

Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP. I got this so that I would have several of the stories covered in an at-your-own-pace class I signed up for several years ago. Now that I’m getting the hang of screen-free days, I’ll probably get back into studying Tolkien’s work.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – KEEP. I somehow made it through my entire childhood without reading this book! This is another one I’m hoping to get to this month.
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1184 books. I was feeling a bit stressed from work last week and checked out a couple more books from the library, but I’m balancing those with books from my own TBR, so I’m hoping that number will continue to go down.
#FitReaders Check-In

- This check-in is for April 27th – May 3rd.
- I’m still having some issues with my back, and it’s definitely the weather.
- There has been more craziness at work this past week, and it feels like the insane changes are to try to push people to quit. I wish I could afford to do that like I had planned before current events gave me reason to stick around, and every day I have to remind myself why I am staying.
- Thanks to all of the above, I was filling a little bit overwhelmed and like I had information overload, so I did another screen-free 24 hours. I’m definitely feeling much better, and if the rain doesn’t start up again this afternoon, I’m going to try to do some gardening today.
- Active Days: 0/5
- Steps: 35,228
- Miles: 14.16/16.31
- Total Miles: 258.07/850
- Zone Minutes: 9/150
Building the Book Fort
“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.
Currently Reading:
- Feral Self-Care by Mandi Em
- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
- Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple



Finished:
- Anais of Brightshire by Jamie Wilson
- Rebel in the Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander
- Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass
- Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
- Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon





Total pages read this week: 1,128
Total books read: 50 of 75
TBR (goal is -24): -4
#ShelfLove Challenge: 28 of 51
I only managed to finish two books for the #Readathon, but I made up for it over the week with lots of reading. I plan to do a lot of reading this weekend as well, since it’s supposed to rain a lot and I’m doing another screen-free 24 hours starting in a couple of hours.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!
Down the TBR Hole #199
How it works:
- Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
My want-to-read shelf is up down several books to 1187. I finished several books this past week while I was stuck at home thanks to my back, and then I read a couple more books over the weekend.
This week’s books:
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1187 books. I only have one library book checked out right now while I get through my current reads, so I’m hoping that number will continue to drop.
#FitReaders Check-In

- This check-in is for April 20th – 26th.
- On Sunday, my back began to bother me, so I took it easy. However, it turned out to be another flare up, and I was stuck home for most of the week unable to do much of anything.
- I did work on my “book blanket.” The problem is that I also listened to several audiobooks while I crocheted, and along with the #Readathon on Saturday, I’m now even more behind, having finished 47 books so far this year.
- Despite me taking it easy and doing my best to not aggravate my back, I’m still having some issues, and even though I didn’t stay up much later than I usually do on the weekends, I’m exhausted. I think a lot of that has to do with the up and down weather. It was 80 degrees on Friday, and dropped down into the 30s Saturday night. Hopefully the daily temperatures will get more consistent soon.
- Active Days: 0/5
- Steps: 24,691
- Miles: 9.96/16.31
- Total Miles: 243.91/850
- Zone Minutes: 14/150