#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 12-11-20

A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.
~Madeleine L’Engle

    

*~* 

    
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
    

~ 

    
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
    
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
    

~ 

    
OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right? 

    

*~*
    

• Reading:

This week I read five books, all by the same author.  Yes, I said five.  Well, they were good books, and relatively short, so... *shrugs* Anyway, here's what I read, along with my book reviews. 

    

Future Earth Chronicles Shorts
by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: five out of five stars

This is a wonderful collection of short stories, which do an excellent job of illustrating how humans will always find a way, and are a delight to read. 

    

~ 

    

Adventure Song (Future Earth Chronicles Book 6)
by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: five out of five stars

This was an exciting addition to this series, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I just love the characters and worldbuilding of this series, and I’m glad we are getting to explore more of this world. 

    

~ 

    

Sun Kissed (Future Earth Chronicles Book 7)
by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: five out of five stars

Once again this is an excellent addition to the series. It’s fun to read about how different people might have adapted to an apocalypse, and meet all sorts of different types of characters. I really enjoyed the bonus vampires through the centuries story that came at the end of this book too. 

    

~ 

    

Asian Ways (Future Earth Chronicles Book 8)
by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: five out of five stars

I loved exploring so many places with Arjun and company, and liked how this particular story ended a lot, especially the way certain character relationships developed. I've said it before - and likely will again - but this is an excellent addition to the series. 

    

~ 

    

Wind Rider (Future Earth Chronicles Book 9)
by Barbara G. Tarn
 My rating: five out of five stars

I know I often say how a book is a great addition to its series, but... I was so swept up in this one that I read it in one sitting, and it only occurred to me that I was doing so - and several hours had passed without me noticing - when I got to the end of the book, and was reading the interesting author notes at the end. If that's not the sign of an excellent book that makes a great addition to the series it's a part of, I don't know what is. 

        
*~*
    

• Watching:

This week I started watching "The Mandalorian" on Disney+.  I've watched all of season 1, and am really enjoying it, but I'm not loving it as much as most people seem to, despite the fact it's got everything Star Wars should have, plus Baby Yoda.  But I'm not blown away by how amazing it is.  I'm not sure if it's just that I'd built my expectations up too high based on what others were saying - that's certainly possible, though I always try not to go in to anything I'm watching or reading with high expectations (admittedly not always successfully) - or if it's something else.  It could even be the fact it focusses more on the bounty hunters and guns than the jedi and spaceship aspects of Star Wars, and that side of it doesn't appeal to me quite as much.  Either way, though I'm really enjoying watching it, I don't think it's the best Star Wars thing ever... Though it's worth watching just for Baby Yoda, even if for no other reason.  Anyway, having said that, I do recommend it to any Star Wars fan, and I give this show four out of five stars.
    

*~* 

    

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to more country and 80s music.  However, I've decided we all need something cheerful to listen to, so I'm going to start sharing Christmas music now Halloween is over, whether people think it's too early to start thinking about Christmas or not.  Hey, it is six weeks to Christmas Eve today, after all.  With that in mind - and with the excuse the family recently mentioned it on their Facebook page to justify my choice - here's Claire Crosby reminding you to have yourself a merry little Christmas. 

     

 

#WriterWednesday 11-11-20; #WritersLife + Writerly #Quotes And Links

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the best."
~Henry Van Dyke

  

The reason for a lack of a proper writing update lately is that we're not talking about my writing progress - or lack of it- right now, because of everything going on with getting ready to move.  Between stress, using most of my energy for packing (again) and things I need to fit in to my day that are a much higher priority than writing, writing is taking so much of a backseat that it's only just visible in the rearview mirror.  2020 has definitely not been a productive writing year for me, and the chances of that improving during these last couple of months of the year are slim at best, because moving preparations, and various day to day tasks - the fun ones like doing things with the petkids, as well as the not so fun ones like housework - have to remain my priority right now, and I don't have the energy to squeeze writing time in there too, no matter how much I enjoy doing it.  Yes, I could technically trim time off things like my watching and reading time, but with a lack of mental energy for the task of writing right now, there's no point.  Oh, and reducing my blogging schedule won't help, since then I'll just feel guilty about missing days.  Plus, a lot of the posts for the rest of the year are already written and scheduled anyhow.  With that in mind, I'm giving myself a writing break, with plans to take up the keyboard properly in January, and only write between now and then if the urge takes me and I can't - or don't want to - resist it.

      

So... Let's just see what I've got to share with you this week, shall we? 

 

     

"A writer’s duty's to register what it's like for him or her to be in the world."
~Zadie Smith 

    

The writing process, and writing life in general:

Writing tips: do it anyway 

 Adjusting your writing schedule

 5 things to do to combat burnout 

NaNoWriMo, and other writing challenges:

Off and running 

“One word after another. That’s the only way that novels get written.”

~Neil Gaiman

 

Characters:

Creating pets for your characters - the hidden benifits 

 Has  your antagonist stolen your story? 

5 ways to write characters readers can relate to 

Random writing tips:

 The nutshell climactic choice and final step

 Let's break the rules, or at least bend them 

Autobiographies and family history:

Writing your family story - tips and ideas

“You can make anything by writing.”

~C.S. Lewis

 

Editing:

May be Vs. maybe and how to get it right all the time 

Tips for avoiding grammar mistakes 

Fiction grammar: is it okay to start a sentence with 'And' or 'But'? 

Publishing:

How to publish with KDP: part 18, how to check all of your sale pages once the book is on sale 

Why self-publishing works for me 

“A book acts as the getaway car when you need to escape. Even when you're the one writing it.”

~Julie Wright

 

Readers and reviewers:

Engaging with your readers 

The #Fireworks #Book Tag - #BonfireNight #AmReading

It was Bonfire Night here in the UK this past Thursday (November 5^th) and Cat did this fireworks tag over on her blog that day.  Since I hadn’t done it, and I love fireworks, I had to play along.  I mean, it’s books and fireworks.  Not to mention my slight obsession with these tag things. *clears throat* Anyway, since I wanted to do it as soon as possible after Bonfire Night, I even rescheduled the one I was going to post today for another day.  So, let’s enjoy some bookish firework themed fun!

     

~ 

     

1.      Screamers: A book that made you want to scream! (In a good or bad way)

 

Any book that ends on a cliffhanger makes me scream with frustration, especially if it’s one I’m really enjoying (or was really enjoying until it just suddenly ended).

 

2.      Bombers: A book that you read before it “exploded” in the book community

 

The books in David Estes’ Dwellers Saga.  He was just starting to try and get noticed as a self-published author when I started reading his books, and read “Moon Dwellers” as part of a read and review programme.  Now David’s books are much more widely known, and he’s getting some of the attention he deserves.

 

3.      Banger: A banned book you read

 

I’m going to follow in Cat’s footsteps here and go with “1984” – not the most amazing of books, but one that was banned in several places, and that people should get a chance to read.

 

Having said that, I think the Harry Potter books were banned for a while at one point, and those are definitely ones I’ve read – several times.

 

I actually hate that books get banned at all.  If you don’t want to read something, don’t read it.  But allow others the freedom to decide if they want to or not for themselves.

 

4.      Peony: A book/author you think everyone needs to read

 

Michelle Paver.  Whether you go for her ghost stories – I especially recommend “Dark Matter” – or any of her other books, you need to check her out.  She’s got an excellent series called “The Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness” that I highly recommend, especially if you like historical fantasy.

 

5.      Crossette: A book/series with a complicated plot

 

A Song Of Ice And Fire – more commonly known as “A Game Of Thrones” – enough said.

 

6.      Diadem: A book/series with a set of amazing central characters

 

Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” books.  I love Jamie and Claire as characters, and Brianna and Roger too when they start being bigger parts of the story.

 

7.      Matches: Light your own fireworks by tagging 5 people!

 

I don’t tag people in these any more, so I’m not going to tag anyone in particular.  But – to make sure my fireworks are lit – I’m going to take this opportunity to invite anyone who wants to do this tag to play along, either in the comments section or on your own blog.  After all, I’d love to read  your answers.

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 09-11-20

I'd rather be a failure in something that I love than a success in something that I hate.
~George Burns

When opportunity comes, it's too late to prepare.
~John Wooden

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself.
~Orison Marden

Nothing ever happens in the world that does not happen first inside human hearts.
~Fulton J. Sheen

One of the most courageous decisions you'll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.
~Brigitte Nicole

If you want to know how rich you are, find out how many things you have that money can’t buy.
~Unknown

A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.
~Tim Cahill

Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.
~Albert Schweitzer

Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles.
~Thomas Brown

See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.
~Dr. Wayne Dyer

If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
~Dolly Parton

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.
~Jane Goodall

Packing + Buzzers + Lockdown + #Pet #Halloween Themed #Photos + Celebrating #Samhain 2020

I've been busy making sure everything is packed...

    
It was Logan's idea to get in the box he's pictured in above, and it was actually harder to get him out of it than in to it, in case you're wondering... He climbed in to the box eagerly, and was quite content sitting in the box, which I'd actually grabbed to pack some books in to.  It was my idea for Kelly to get a photo though.  Took me ages to persuade Logan to get back out of the box.  LOL! 

    

~

    

Anyway, I've been working hard to get things packed sooner rather than later, because we might be moving this side of Christmas instead of early in the new year.  I don't know for sure yet if it will happen, but we're going to try to make it happen, because we all agree it would be better if we could move sooner rather than later - and that includes the landlord, who has spacifically asked us to try and move sooner. 

     

So if we can arrange it, we're going to be moving before Christmas instead of after it.  With that in mind, I'm hoping to have the rest of the non-essential stuff packed by the end of this week.  With how well I've done with packing over the past couple of weeks, that should be achievable.  As for the actual moving part... Well, just stay tuned for a moving date announcement, since one will be coming in the not-too-distant future one way or another anyhow.  

     

~ 

     

I don't want to go in to it right now, but... Given how things are starting to become in this area, we're starting to be glad we have to move, and have to agree it will definitely be a good thing if we can move sooner. 

 

    Plus, like I said, the landlord has actually asked us to try to do so, and this is one thing we actually agree with him on, so we're more than happy to do just that if we can make it happen.

    

*~* 

     

By the way, the buzzer broke again. 

 

    Yes, really. 

      

It was meant to have been fixed by now, since someone was supposed to come fix it again last Friday.  We're still waiting though. *sigh* 

 

    So not going to miss dealing with this stupid buzzer. 

     

~ 

     

Well, it works enough that people can buzz, we can hear it when they do, and we can use the button to let them in, so that's a good thing (and more than it had been doing).  But it makes this horrid screaching sound whenever we (or the neighbours) pick up the receivers, and we can't hear anything people are saying properly over that. 

    

I wonder if they'll get it to stop doing that before we move out? 

    

 Yeah... I'm not holding my breath. 

   

*~* 

     

 As if this whole moving thing wasn't complicated enough, we're also dealing with lockdowns again. 

     

Wales has been in lockdown for a couple of weeks, and is due to come out of it on November 9th.  Where as England went in to lockdown yesterday (November 5th) and is due to come out of it on December 2nd.  Because, of course, they couldn't just have it happen everywhere at the same time, and apparently England needs a longer one than Wales. 

    

 I think areas with numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19 that remain high will be forced to stay in lockdown after December 2nd, but - though it sounded that way to me from Boris Johnson's conference the other day - I'm not sure on that, and don't want to think how people will take that news if it comes to it.  Let's just hope it doesn't.

     

~ 

     

The plan is to organize things so we can move the moment England's full lockdown is lifted. 

     

I'm hoping we can arrange things so we can be moving right at the start of December, assuming property availability allows for it.  As I mentioned earlier in this post, I'll let you know for sure when we'll be moving after a moving date is confirmed.

 

~ 

     

Although, there is a loophole that would allow us to move during lockdown. 

     

Since we're moving because of issues - harassment among them - and the landlord certainly won't want us to postpone the move (he actually wants the opposite) we can technically move during lockdown, because you're allowed to if it can't be postponed, or if physical or emotional health issues could result from postponing it.  I checked.  But since we couldn't be ready until the end of November anyhow, even if we do find a place immediately now we're getting in touch with people about one, it won't be a big deal holding off for that one extra week. 

     

The landlord will just have to put up with it, and I'll just have to count down the days once we have a date. 

 

    ~ 

     

Having said that, if we can find a suitable place, and it does turn out any areas that affect me – by which I mean the area I currently live in, the one we move to, and any we have to pass through during the move - are put in lockdown later than December 2^nd, I’m going to make use of that loophole and go ahead and move, because I really have to unless there isn’t a place available that’s suitable. 

     

I really don’t want to be here longer than absolutely essential.  Apart from anything else, the stress of dealing with everything we're having to put up with while we're still living here isn’t doing me any good. 

    

~ 

        

Like I said a couple of times earlier in this post though, I’ll let you know when I have an actual moving date.

     

In the meantime, any positive house-finding thoughts would be appreciated.  Think of two or three bedroom houses with gardens when you think of us in our new home, please.

   

*~* 

    

In other news: 

     

As I'm sure you don't need me to point out, Samhain - or Halloween, for those who prefer to call it that - happened this past weekend.  Of course, I naturally had to have a pumpkin so I could make 2020's version of Mr. Pumpkin-Head.  So, here he is:

 

 

I didn't bother with decorations this year (other than Mr. Pumpkin-Head) because of trying to get things packed up.  But I had to do a bit of a petkid photoshoot, didn't I? 😉

     

So, here's Lilie in her purple Halloween themed bandana:

    

Here's Logan in his black Halloween themed bandana:

    

And here's Artemis, who doesn't have a tiny tortoise-sized bandana, but got in on the photo shoot by being relatively willing to pose with the light-up skull I got earlier this year, and this year's Mr. Pumpkin-Head:

    

Mollie isn't included, because she wasn't feeling co-operative, and wouldn't even get out of bed, let alone pose for a photo.  I still gave her a little pumpkin as a treat though, and some pumpkin seeds too.

    

~ 

    

So, how did I celebrate this year? 

     

I ate some vegan friendly Halloween gummy sweets Kelly got me while watching DVDS and reading.  The sweets were shaped like skulls, bones, brains, and a couple of other things I can't remember what they were... They were detailed enough that I could tell what they were meant to be and everything.  We got them from M&S (Marks & Spencer).  I was going to take a photo, but I forgot, and now I've eaten them, so can't. 

    

~

     

The other thing I did was to do some baking, and make some cookies... 

    

They're just basic cookies with a bit of nutmeg in for flavouring, and an attempt at drawing faces on them to make them look sort of like jack-o-lanterns, because I couldn't be bothered to mess about with cookie cutters (even though I hadn't packed them at this point intentionally so I could use them). 

    

~ 

     

I also made pumpkin sage sauce and baked potato (because I didn't have any pasta, and decided to just have a baked potato instead of pasta with my pumpkin sage sauce this year) and pumpkin bread. 

    

 

 I've made pumpkin pasties, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin spice cakes, and various versions of the pumpkin sauce that are adaptations of the pumpkin sage sauce recipe before, but not pumpkin bread, so wanted to do that this year.  Apparently I'm in some kind of a bread products baking mood right now. Anyway, here's a photo of some of my pumpkin bread rolls:

    

I had to adapt the recipe, since the two I had both called for eggs, so I needed to veganize it.  It seems to have worked well.  Oh, and if you can tell there's a lack of pumpkin seeds... I left those out, because Kelly doesn't like seeds in his bread, and he wanted to be able to have some pumpkin bread.  So the pumpkin itself made it in there, but not the seeds.  I had those just sprinkled on my dinner (the baked potato with pumpkin sage sauce mentioned above) which one of these rolls went very well with, by the way.

#Halloween Week's #AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 05-11-20

I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.
~Harold Kushner

    

*~* 

    
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
    

~ 

    
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
    
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
    
~ 

     

OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right? 

     

*~* 
    

• Reading:

This week I read three books. So, here's what I read, along with my book reviews. 

        

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
My rating: five out of five stars

This was an excellent imaginative and creepy read, which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend. I ended up reading it in one sitting, because I just couldn't put it down. Also, I've seen the movie a few times, and was impressed at how close the book and movie are to each other. 

    

~ 

    

The Ballad of Mrs. Molony (The Hat, #3)
by C.S. Boyack
My rating: five out of five stars

Having read the previous books in this series, I was eager to read this one, and let me tell you I was definitely not disappointed! I devoured this book in one sitting. It's an excellent read, filled with action and humour, with some great rodeo action and paranormal activity thrown in. Plus, the characters are fantastic, well-rounded, and believable as real people - yes, even The Hat. Like I said, I read this book after having previously read the first two books in the series, but you could easily read and enjoy this book without having read the others. 

    

~ 

    

Murder They Wrote
by Judi Lynn, C.S. Boyack, Mae Clair, Kathleen Palm, Julia Donner, D.P. Reisig, and Rachel Sherwood Roberts
My rating: four out of five stars

This is an excellent collection of stories, which made for a great read. As with all collections like this, there were stories I enjoyed more than others, though all were well-written and worth the read, and this collection has a fantastic mixture of genres, so the stories would appeal to a variety of tastes. My favourite story was "Within the Plum Attic" by Kathleen Palm, with "From The Files Of Jason Fog" by C.S. Boyack and "A Winter Reckoning" by Mae Clair in tied second place, though all the stories were enjoyable in their own way.
    

*~*
    

• Watching:

This week I finished re-watching "Friends" (watched the rest of season 9, and all of season 10).  I also watched some more things I've seen in the past from my DVD to-watch pile.  This week I watched... 

     

1. Alvin And The Chipmunks 1 & 2
2. The Lost Boys 1 & 2

    

*~* 

    

• Listening:

This week I've still been alternating between listening to 80s and country music.  But I planned on doing another Halloween music share today anyhow - since this is my Halloween week roundup - so it doesn't matter.  With that in mind, here's Jack Skeleton singing his "Pumpkin King" song from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" movie.  It's a sort of sad song, but since I've covered purple people-eaters, witches, vampires, ghosts, and a song mostly focussed on zombies but where werewolves seem to be featured too, skeleton pumpkin kings needed a turn.  Plus, it's from a movie that's a good one to transition from Halloween to Christmas with, which is my plan.  Anyway... Enjoy!
    

 

#Friendship Themed #Quotes About #Books And #Reading

“Be as careful of the books you read, as of the company you keep, for your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter.”

~Paxton Hood

 

*~*~*

 

“Seeing someone reading a book you love is seeing a book recommending a person.”

~Anonymous

  

*~*~*

 

“To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.”

~Chinese saying

  

*~*~*

 

“Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen; the more select, the more enjoyable.”

~Louisa May Alcott

  

*~*~*

 

“Reading brings us unknown friends”

~Honoré de Balzac

  

*~*~*

 

“A true friend is like a good book, the inside is better than the cover.”

~Anonymous

  

*~*~*

 

“A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.”

~Martin Tupper

  

*~*~*

 

“You’re never alone when you’re reading a book.”

~Susan Wiggs

  

*~*~*

 

“Book lovers never go to bed alone.”

~Unknown

  

*~*~*

 

“What is reading but silent conversation?”

~Walter Savage Landor

  

*~*~*

 

“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.”

~Abraham Lincoln

 

 

The Nightmare Before Christmas #Book Tag - #Halloween #AmReading

I got this one from here a while ago, and it looked fun, so I thought I'd do it. As usual, I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to play along if you like.

Here are the questions, along with my own answers:

1. Sally- A book with a character who loves someone so much and actually gets them in the end.

SPOILER ALERT: I'm using a series rather than a single book, but... Vera Nazarian's "Atlantis Grail" series. I'm so jealous of Gwen Lark, because she gets to be with Aeson Kassiope.

2. Jack - A book with a character who longs for more.

"Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone" by J K Rowling. Harry certainly wants more than to be stuck with the Dursleys any longer, that's for sure. Though perhaps gets more than he bargained for.

3. Zero - A book with a loyal sidekick.

"Wolf Brother" - the first book in the "Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness" series, by Michelle Paver. In fact the whole series could count for this one. You can't get a more loyal friend than Wolf is to Torak.

4. Oogie Boogie - A book with one hell of a wicked villain.

I know I already mentioned the "Harry Potter " series in a previous answer, but... The best villain, in my opinion, is Belatrix Lestrange. She's crazy and cruel. What more could you want in a villain? I know she's not the main villain, but she's certainly the best in the series. Far scarier than Voldemort, if you ask me.

5. Halloween Town - A book that's creepy or has a scary theme.

Again, I know I've used a book by this author for an earlier question, but it has to be "Dark Matter" by Michelle Paver. It's the scariest/creepiest book I've ever read, and no doubt about it.

6. Christmas Town - A book that left you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

"The Bear Father Christmas Forgot" by Diana Kimpton. Such a sweet Christmas story!

7. What's This? - A book that took you by surprise.

"Artemis" by Andy Weir. It wasn't an unpleasant surprise mind. I expected something like "The Martian" but it was quite different. Different in a good way, but still different, so a surprise.

#MondayMotivation - #Hygge #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 02-11-20

Tell yourself “my inner peace is more important” when you’re faced with challenging situations that test your patience. Sometimes stepping back & remembering how important your inner stability is saves you from overreacting & overthinking. Be at peace & let it go.
~Unknown

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.
~Dalai Lama

If you can see the positive sides of everything, you'll be able to live a much richer life than others.
~Celestine Chua

Take care of your emotional energy. You have a limited supply each day. Be wise and know you can’t fix everyone.
~Joel Osteen

The Way is not in the sky, the Way is in the heart.
~Buddha

Keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life.
~Khalil Gibran

Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.
~Jack Kerouac

Material goods rarely alter our levels of happiness, unlike emotional experience. Having can never replace being.
~Ilsa Crawford

Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.
~Simone Weil

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
~H. Jackson Brown Jr

We don't hygge to be content, we find contentment in hygge. Hygge is... about pleasure, presence and participation. It's... the understanding that if we are to wholeheartedly participate in life, we are entitled to small islands of calm.
~Louisa Thomsen Brits

So, to all you introverts out there, do not feel embarrassed or boring for being a person who prefers things that are hygge.
~Meik Wiking