A bit of winter warmth in today's picture, to counteract the freezing wind outside.

Today was a good day for indoor activities, namely preparing pages for my new altered notebook project, and the slightly more involved and yet greatly more aggravating process of...choosing a new read.

Put this in the "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink" category. Christmas anthologies, I'm talking to you. I won't name names; you know who you are. It's not your fault that some of your stories are several installments down the line in series by new to me authors. The average female lifespan is only so long, and I do not have time to stop three pages in, research how many books are in said series, in what order, including other anthology offshoots, hunt them down, read them in order and then proceed with what was supposed to be a quick holiday treat.

I know that for the longtime readers of said authors and series, this is a treat indeed, but, well, I am me, after all, and nobody can read everybody or nothing would ever get done. You guys are excused, but never fear, you're somebody else's best holiday present of the year. Paranormal entries in otherwise straight historical anthologies, you are on a five page probation. It's not you, it's me. Time travel is about as far as I go, but I am not the entire market.

Single title Christmas themed historicals, you are the few, the proud, and you will be read. Hopefully in time for January 6th/Twelfth Night/Three Kings' Day, depending on what one calls it, but I can't make any promises. I will reassess the situation when there is once again snow on the ground.

The rest of you, please be patient. There will be an inspection of the shelves later tonight or in the morning. Historical romances with adventure and deep emotion, front and centre. That is all for tonight.