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Homemade gifts are so special! And Deea did a lovely job. I have one of those sweatshirt thingies - inherited from my dad. It's called The Comfy. Baked beans are definitely a comfort food for me - the homemade ones. I had them at my mom's last week and my husband said we should make some just today. It's also a very traditional meal here. And we had tortière (meat pie) is so good in winter, or anytime. We had that today and on Christmas. The other thing is any of the meals we make with salt fish, but i know it's not available everywhere. Which could mean that everyone should come here to try it. I'll cook! 😂

Yeah I think I would take issue with this list - not enough actual classics! But then I would define classics as books that have stood the test of time - and if someone is setting out to make a "Best" classics list that's limited in number like this.... they better mostly be kinda old! Not within my lifetime, for sure. I've read 13 of these, but most of the ones I haven't read I'm not super interested in lol.

All the soup! I've been enjoying Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stew from the Eatingwell website. It's great for winter ❄

I'm with you - there are a number of books on this list that I wouldn't call classics. And so many modern classics. Ellison's Invisible Man has no "The" - profs would say that means something.

I will join you in reading Death Comes for the Archbishop. I am originally from NM and have never read it.

Really enjoyed this. I haven’t done anything different this winter, but I do enjoy my tea and books. I also like ambient rooms when I read and I’m going to check out Rain Rhythms. 😊

How did I know those highlighters would make an appearance?! 🤣 These favorites videos are some of my favorites from you! ❤

Harney and Sons Victorian London Fog tea; Russell Stover Melt-Away Santas Drinking Chocolate (I hoard these packets from Walmart every Christmastime); Journaling of all kinds--my newest are the ESV Illuminated Scripture Journals for Matthew and Philippians; reading lesser known classics (currently The Knight of Maison-Rouge by Alexandre Dumas 👍); and participating in the 365 Challenge--you take one photograph every day of the year and it helps you be more observant and present--so far, so good!

Not a lot of reading going on, but I’ve been enjoying Stardew with my eldest (both of us under a blanket), snuggling with Walter (when he’s not giving that psycho kitten energy), and working on a cross stitch afghan for baby Maren. Demon Copperhead is not at all the cozy read David Copperfield is, in case you were wondering. Lol

I have been loving the cocoa classics from walmart 😂the white chocolate and the carmel have been the best! My favorite winter reads so far are The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and the Winter Cottage by Carol Brink

I've used those markers in my Bible. They are great. I bought clear post its to use in my "fancy" books. Highly recommend. I bought a set of lighted "candles" at Costco back in November. I LOVE THEM! With my fairy lights on my bookshelves they are extra cozy on a gloomy day.

I asked in IG what you thought of Parnassus- now I know!😂 It makes me so happy when I hear that teas I have passed along are being enjoyed like I enjoy them 🥰 🥹seeing you snuggled with the afghan after all the prayer and love and time poured over it sends me soaring 🥹❣️ One of the yarns (main body) is from Blue Thistle Fibers and is called River Orchard Variegated. The border yarn is Caron Simply Soft Abyss Speckle - if anyone wants to pick some up to crochet their own! 🧶 I just made steak and ale stew for James and he is loving it! For me I made a mushroom, broccoli, leek soup that is puréed smooth and I have been adding miso panko crumbs as topping to each bowl. Just finished it yesterday so now I need to come up with another cozy comfort food. Maybe a hot dish or hot pot!❣️

I've been making a lot of squash soup.

I'm DEFINITELY checking out Small Things Like These 🔥🔥🔥

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Death Comes for the Archbishop!!! 😍 The descriptions are really spectacular and I love that we are following vicars lol

One of the things that made Death Comes for the Archbishop a 5 star for me was the gorgeous description of the Southwest. I hope it works for you.

I'm curious to know what you'll think of Death Comes For the Archbishop. It's very different from My Antonia. You are correct that Adam Bede is about a man named Adam Bede. 😅 I think you will love it.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Archbishop! Willa Cather is a favorite of mine, her writing is beautiful. One of hers I like but never hear anyone talk about is Shadows on the Rock-- set in Quebec over the course of one year and perfect for winter!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on The Italian because I liked Udolpho. I loved the beginning as well…her Dad was the best and I liked the almost whimsical feel. Also, Death of an Archbishop because I like New Mexico as a setting. Its beauty is splendid.

Ohh your new opening is so fancy 😍

"Death Comes to the Archbishop" is now my favorite Cather. I read this book in 2024 - and truly and thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.

Beautiful list! I have loved The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. My high hopes are for Daniel Deronda and My Antonia this year 🤞

I'm definitely curious what you'll think about Adam Bede.

I wanted to love Death comes for the Archbishop but sadly😢 I did not 😂😂😂I hope you enjoy it more than I did

Don’t read ANY summaries of Adam Bede!! Go in knowing nothing!!

I'm really not much of a planner, so the five star reads tend to be a surprise.

Really enjoyed these 😂 I agree from what you shared, I think What Moves the Dead were the pettiest (and therefore the funniest)!

I love reading lists like these, but I don't always put a whole lot of stock in them because everyone has different ideas of "must-read" books 😆 I've actually read 11 of them, which was more than I thought it was going to be so I'm happy with that!

Great wrap up 🫶🏻

I did not like 100 Years of Solitude at all. I should have DNFd it- it just kept getting worse as the story progressed.😢

I have100 Years of Solitude on my reading list for this year. I am kind of leery of reading it as well because I have read Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author. I absolutely loved his writing style but otherwise did not like the story. I would NOT recommend starting there. As for Toni Morrison, I would recommend reading Song of Solomon. Her books have very difficult topics but they are definitely worth reading.

I really enjoyed Let it Glow.

I appreciate you reading and reviewing Mr Dickens and His Carol. It was on my TBR in December but after what you said I returned it. Definitely not wasting my time.

I enjoyed The Last Murder at the End of the World and since SciFi is never my genre I was surprised that I liked it so much. I did not see coming, the revelation about the villagers! I need to read Cranford.

I’m very excited to reread David Copperfield later this year (+ more Dickens)! KL 💔(definitely the December favorite) I also enjoyed Humiliated & Insulted.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who doesn't really enjoy romantic books😅

This year's classic that has really stuck with me is One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The perseverance and the small things he was thankful for really stood out to me. There were several on your list that I have on my TBR.

I really liked David Copperfield. My favorite characters were Peggotty and Aunt Betsey. It did not top Great Expectations for me but still great. My reread of Little Women and a nonfiction Raising Amazing by Monica Swanson were my top books of the month. Also read 85% of The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson in December and finished in January. Spoiler it was so good, easy 5 star!

I’ve read Too Busy Not To Pray, I agree with your assessment! It has a lot of practical application that is really helpful! Christmas at Thompson Hall was SO FUNNY and I am excited to try a more hefty Trollope now that I’ve read that one. I think I might enjoy him Aww David Copperfield! One of my favorite Dickens I’ve read so far. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

That was a great reading month! Now I’m questioning whether I picked the right Dickens for this year. 😂

A very old but good book on prayer you might enjoy from the 1930s (something to look for on one your used book treasure hunts)😂😂😂 Prayer by O.Hallesby

My favorite book for December also made it to my top books of 2024 - Illuminae. I love Cranford and am glad you liked it. Every Christmas I reread A Christmas Carol. I think it is definitely my favorite Dickens novel. I am glad you ended the year well too.

Love the new opening!!❤🎉

Mas’r Davy/Trot 💜 I still have a fair amount of unread Dickens, but I adore Copperfield. Thanks for the re-read (even though I fell off the wagon for a bit). So it wasn’t just me on Stu’s book. I’m just not a sci-fi girl and thought maybe it was just me missing stuff. Still a decent read, but Evelyn was better for me.

Thank-you Tiffany - I added several of the books you mentioned to my list of books to read. December was a good reading month for me. I read Bleak House for the first time - and I liked it so much. I also read a non-fiction book "The Serviceberry" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It was so good - the premise she visits is the idea of moving to a "gift economy" in our world. I loved that premise. Have a good week!

I really liked Parnassus on Wheels when I read it eleven years ago. I mostly read Anne books in the summer as a kid, but you are right that they have all the seasons and aren't just for fall. When you get to Anne's House of Dreams, I'd love to buddy read that with you, since it's been over ten years since I last read that one! I've started Skyward by Sanderson, which I'm buddy reading with Vera.

In 2023, I tried to keep a reading journal and did several spreads to track format and ratings, fav book of the month, goals for the year, an unread shelf TBR, and a shelfie colored by rating. I didn't keep up with it very well, and ended up filling most of the info in at the end of the year. Last year I didn't use my reading journal at all. I'm But I want to try some simple spreads again this year. Last year at a certain point I stopped rating books on Goodreads, but it's been a bit of a headache looking back, so I'll probably start rating again. I like your idea of coloring the shelfie by genre!

My favorite classic this year was either Dracula or Mansfield Park. Love hearing about everyone's favorite reads!

For more of an actual "classics" list, maybe try a British list. I think they tend to read more of the older books. I'm surprised you didn't know Roots was a book, wasn't it a Pulitzer Prize winner?

Lovely journal! 💖💖