Sunday Synopsis - The Boelyn Traitor

 

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one in a long line of Philippa Gregory's novels about English Royal History. And I'm here for it! I hope she continues to write from different points of view within a pre 19th century timeline. They are my favorite.

This book focuses on someone who seems unimportant, but in actuality has more influence than one would think. The main character is Jane Boelyn, also known as Lady Rochford. She was Anne Boelyn's sister-in-law having been married to her brother. As a spy, Lady Rochford must manage the secrets of the Tudor Court and the dangers that come with it. She is often seen as a villain, but serves as the protagonist of this story. Jane is a survivor of much of Henry VIII's rule.

The book addresses the themes of power, betrayal, ambition, survival, and loyalty. I don't want to give away any more to the story because it is such a great book, I think you should read it.

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Fun Photo

 Beautiful scenery in Big Bend National Park in Texas

Join my friends at Wordless Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday at Comedy Plus.

It's Tuesday Again

 Here it is again... Tuesday. Funny how that happens every week!  Here's a random thought.  I was watching Call the Midwife today, and one of the characters said, "You're going to have to wait on me hand and foot."  That made me wonder... why do we say "wait on" and "hand and foot."

Obviously waiting on you means catering to your needs, but why "wait on?"  Apparently, it has been linked to the word "waiter" as early as the 14th century which means to serve someone. According to the www, it is mainly an American saying, especially in the South. I still don't understand why the word wait means to serve someone.  

Hand and foot makes a little more sense.  It originated in the 14th century as well and refers to the "hand," doing manual tasks, and "foot," meaning movement, and together meaning to be at someone's beck and call.  Doesn't that one make more sense?

Have a great week, and don't forget to visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Happy Random Tuesday

What do you do when you are unhappy?  Feeling unhappy happens to everyone at times—it’s not something to ignore, but it’s also not something you’re stuck with. The key is to gently shift from “I feel bad” to “What can I do next?”

Here are a few simple, realistic steps according to Chat GPT:

🌱 Start small (don’t try to fix everything)

Pick one tiny action:

• Take a short walk
• Step outside for fresh air
• Drink water, eat something nourishing

Small resets can change your mood more than you expect.

🎯 Do one thing that gives you a sense of control

• Tidy a small space
• Finish a quick task
• Work on a simple craft

Progress—even tiny—can lift your mood.

❤️ Be kind to yourself

Avoid thoughts like:

• “I shouldn’t feel this way”
  Replace with:
• “It’s okay to feel this. It will pass.”

To help you be kind to yourself if you are feeling unhappy, here are some funnies.  (But is anyone else running out of funnies?)

Have a great week, and remember to visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Random Cat News

 I've got a new friend!  Meet Franklin.

He's not mine, but I get to spend the week with him.  My daughter is fostering him, and I am staying with her this week to help her through a surgical procedure.

He's still mostly kitten in his behavior.  What a mess!  He gets into all kinds of things, even the trash can if you're not watching him.  I think he ate one of my earrings.  How he got it out of the baggie I will never know.  He also bit me, thinking I was food, totally an accident. He likes to wear his shirt and bandana.  Appropriately, his shirt says, "Little Menace."  He constantly gets underfoot, but he's so loveable. 

How about some more cat-related content?

Have a happy week!  Visit my friends at Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts.

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