A Big Package and More

On the last day of 2024 we received a very big package.

It turned out to be Miki's annual Christmas/Birthday Package!

She always spoils us with lots of fun and yummy stuff.

This one is for my owner's birthday and can't be opened just yet.

Look at all the yummy cookies and caramels!

And many new friends as well!

Thank you Miki!

We celebrated New Year's Eve with lots of yummy food.

It was a fun and cozy evening.

On the 3rd we took our first walk in the new year that wasn't to the grocery store, but just to enjoy being outside.

It was a beautiful late afternoon.

That evening there were early birthday books for Sullivan from Melliane.

I have to say it once again: 

Thank you to everyone who helped us out, spoiled us, sent cards, presents, and just in general thought of us. We are lucky to have friends like you!

I'll do my best to post more to keep you all updated on the stuff we do.

 

I Meet One of My Favorite Authors

Last Sunday it was a special day:
Dana Cameron and her husband - Mr. G. - were visiting the Netherlands and came to Groningen to meet us!

Dana Cameron is one of my favorite authors, so you bet I was excited to meet her.
We went to the station to meet her Mr. G. and then went to the city center for some sightseeing.


We showed them the beautiful Martini Tower of course.
The bells were going crazy while we were looking at the tower and church. I think they were celebrating that I had such cool visitors.


We did some more sightseeing.
This is the Province House.


We took a walk around the canals.


After some sight seeing it was time for lunch.
We went to the Gold Office.


It was a warm, sunny day, so I got a bottle of cooled cider.


And a yummy toasted sandwich.
We talked about Groningen, America, books, and more. It was lots of fun.

After lunch we climbed the Martini tower to enjoy the view.
Then we walked back to the station, but had to take a big detour, because there was a run in the city center.


I got to pose with Dana at the statue of 't Peerd van Ome Loeks (Uncle Loek's Horse).


And also with both Dana and Mr. G.


Then we got something to drink at the cafe of the Groninger Museum, and we talked some more about all kinds of things.

Finally Dana and Mr. G. had to get back to Amsterdam, where they were staying in a hotel. It was really cool to meet them and show them Groningen.


We then went back to the city center and had dinner at Sumo, a restaurant with all kinds of yummy Oriental food.


Back home we sat down to rest our feet, and to look at the book we got as a gift from Dana, which she signed for us as well! (She also signed two books for us that we brought with us.)

It was an amazing day!

Thanks, Dana & Mr. G.

Whimsical Loot

Last week I received the April FairyLoot box.

If you receive FairyLoot as well and are still waiting for your April box: spoilers ahead!

This box was later than expected.
Usually it ships around the 20th, but due to an item that arrived late at the FairyLoot headquarters it was shipped on April 30.


And last Friday it arrived!
Even the kitty was excited about the box.


I dove right in of course.
The theme of this box was Whimsical Journeys.


Once again the box was filled with cool bookish goodies.


There was a beautiful tote bag, a travel coffee cup, a candle that smelled really good, a luggage tag, a notepad, a button and a pin.


There were also bookmarks and art prints.


I especially love these two prints.
I'll have to see how I can best put them on display somewhere.


And last but not least the box contained Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake with exclusive gold foiling on the cover and with a sticker and a signed bookplate. The book sounds very intriguing, so I'll read it soon.

Bookish Mail!

I haven't done much lately, but today I had mail!
I won this book in a giveaway by Kelley Armstrong in December. It took over 7 weeks to get here. I wonder if the book had any cool adventures on its journey here.

Still alive - An Update

I'm still alive!

My owner still isn't doing any interesting stuff, so I'm mainly reading and playing games. Here's an update on some of the things that happened.


I won a giveaway held by Susan Spann and I won a book, koi socks, candy, and a Japanese travel bag.


The book is signed to me!


We got a new trivia game as a present from friends and it's lots of fun.


We got amazing mail from Aimo.
My owner asked her if she could paint our character from the computer game Dragon Age Inquisition together with one of the other characters from the game. The result is absolutely wonderful! She also sent another drawing, and some swag featuring her artwork.

That's it for now.
I hope to have something fun to tell you about soon.

More FairyLoot

I got myself another FairyLoot box!

FairyLoot is a monthly book subscription box that focuses on Young Adult fantasy literature. In every single one of their monthly boxes, you will receive a brand new Young Adult fantasy novel, 5-6 exclusive bookish goodies related to the theme of the box and other items sourced directly from the author.

If you ordered the August box and haven't received it yet, you might want to move on to avoid spoilers!



I was very excited for the arrival of the August box.
The theme was Other Worlds and this time I had no idea what the book might be.


I immediately opened the box and dove in to find what goodies were inside!


And again it was an amazing box, filled with loot and a cool books!


Here's a picture of all the loot.
I especially love the sword shaped Game of Thrones tea strainer and the Lord of the Rings magnetic bookmarks. I got two elves!


And this was the book that was in the box.
I already started on it and it's very mysterious and intriguing so far.

Yet another great box!
I will most certainly order another FairyLoot box in the future if the theme sounds cool enough.

A Bookish Box from D.E. Night

I received a Bookish Surprise this week from D.E. Night.
I must say I immediately fell in love with the box.


It's a Magical box!
How exciting.


This beautiful picture was on the back of the card.


Let's see what else is in the box.


A signed ARC of D.E. Night's upcoming book The Crowns of Croswald and a pretty blue bottle.

There was also a letter from D.E. Night as well.


The packing paper was a newspaper which had some intriguing headlines.
I can't wait to start reading the book!


The bottle is a Glanagerie Bottle.
According to the card that came with it "Glanageries are the ultimate potion of the mind. Where ideas, dreams, fears, and magic simmer together for out-of-this-world experiences."


And it glows!!!


Keep an eye out on my other blog for my review of The Crowns of Croswald!


About the book:
In D.E. Night’s debut novel, The Crowns of Croswald, magic sparks around every corner in a kingdom ruled by a dark queen. Ivy, a young orphan living in the Kingdom of Croswald discovers that she has powers of her own. She enrolls at the Halls of Ivy, a school where young students learn to master their magical blood and the power that Croswald’s mysterious gems can wield. Unfortunately, Ivy’s schooling – and her life – is threatened by the evil queen and her henchmen. As Ivy tries to unearth her past and save Croswald’s future, a fantastical adventure ensues.

Buy from Amazon

FairyLoot!

I discovered FairyLoot a while ago.

FairyLoot is a monthly book subscription box that focuses on Young Adult fantasy literature. In every single one of their monthly boxes, you will receive a brand new Young Adult fantasy novel, 5-6 exclusive bookish goodies related to the theme of the box and other items sourced directly from the author.

The fun is that you only find out what's in the box when you receive it.

I thought that sounded so cool I had to give it a try. First I tried to sign up to their Myth and Monsters themed box, but I was too late.

Then I saw the announcement of the June box with the theme Elementals. I had a pretty good idea what the book in that box would be, so I signed up right away.
(I will confess that I asked the author if I was right about my hunch when I met her in Berlin, and she told me I was!)


Yesterday the box arrived!


Oh, purple packaging.


I dove in to find my goodies!


And look at all the awesomeness!


Finally I can start on Roar!
There was a signed bookplate in the box as well.


A closer look at the smaller goodies.
I totally love the potion sticky notes!


And lastly an artistic candle picture.


I think this FairyLoot box is really cool!
You can bet I'll be ordering the box again when there's a theme I like.