Coffee Blog

Our first virtual coffee in 2026

Writing Sparkle

Welcome to book review one of fifty-three. As you are aware, I offer freelance book reviews to various review companies. It has been a successful experience that has introduced me to new authors and their wonderful books. Each week this year, I’m opening my Weekend Coffee shares with a link to a review I’ve provided. Reviews are three stars or higher. The genres range from picture books to fiction and nonfiction titles.

Graveyard Elementary
Author Ran Ernst
Published in January 2024
The publisher is REE Design
Available in eBook and Paperback (136 pages)
Reading age is marked as 8 to 18

If we were having coffee, I would share that I have three and a half years left to complete my 50 Before 50 bucket list. I started this list when I was 36, and I’m happy with the progress I have made with it. I’m going to work to complete a few more. However, I have a few items that I know I won’t complete because they aren’t realistic for me.

  1. Do a Scotland/Ireland tour
  2. Visit Hawaii and/or the Bahamas
  3. See a shark breach
  4. Visit Alaska, perhaps on a cruise
  5. See the Florida Everglades

If we were having coffee, I would share that during November and December 2025, I created a new list of items. It’s a 60 Before 60 list. I will share that list with you next week.

If we were having coffee, I would share that in combination with the medium classes and the illustration course I am taking, I decided on a new project for 2026. I’m going to create my own Tarot deck! I’ve given myself the full year to get a rough deck created; that’s seventy-eight cards. However, I’m not sure if it will be a personal deck or if I will publish it. That’s a whole separate area of research. Either way, I will share about the experience and product when we have a virtual coffee.

If we were having coffee, it would be the time of the year to share my word for the year. In 2018, I started using a word for the year instead of setting a New Year’s resolution. Since then, my words have been transformation, hope, goals, health & happiness, success, laughter, progress, and fluidity. This year’s word is ENERGY.

Sorry, I don’t have a puzzle to share this week, but hopefully next. Here is the coffee bean grinder. How was your week? Do you have a word of the year, or do you create a resolution for the year?

By Shari Marshall (2026)

13 thoughts on “Our first virtual coffee in 2026”

  1. That pastry at the end look so delicious! Now I’m hungry, I need to start making dinner..

    I think it is good to have a list of things you want to do. I don’t have an updated one. I used to have two things on the list that I no longer have any interest in. They were both really strenuous endurance rides, The Tevis cup and The Mongolian Derby. I was serious about riding them and thought that I would, but as I got closer to 40 I started to think that all the work it required was something I was willing to do. The five items on your list seem very doable, if you give yourself a few more years.

    My word for 2026 is gratitude.

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    1. One of the things I found interesting about my 50-Before-50 list was how some things I thought I wanted to do, no longer met that threshold. Travel was one of those things. I still love travel, but not with the intensity that I used to. So, even if I added time to complete those travels, I don’t think I would.

      Gratitude is wonderful word.

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  2. Energy is an excellent word of the year and it sounds like you have exciting plans for 2026. I look forward to reading your 60 before 60 list. Thank you for your coffee share. Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Happy New Year, Shari! So many good things happening in your neck of the woods! I can’t wait to hear more about your goals and your tarot deck! Cheers to an abundant and joyful year ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Kathleen.

      I didn’t know creating one’s own Tarot was a thing. I was reading “Guided Tarot” by Caponi, and she talks about it. At first, I was thinking that I would just draw my own on a blank deck, but as I kept looking into it, I realized there are more options so . . .

      Thanks for stopping in. Happy Saturday.

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  7. Hi Shari, thank you for the virtual coffee and your last photo is so inviting and looks DELICIOUS! I have never made a list of things to accomplish, never really thought about it. I just go with the flow and have been lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends that have taken me on some fun excursions over the years.

    Anyways, I do like having a word for the year instead of resolutions. My word for this year is “tolerance” as my world is a little bit chaotic heading into this year and tolerance will be my friend for awhile. To back that word up, it will be patience, and I’ll take this year with love and understanding too.
    I hope to blog more this year, I’m working on a blog post right now. Have a wonderful week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Diana. Thank you for visiting.

      Tolerance is a good word of the year. Coupled with patience, it reminds me of my word from last year, which was fluidity.

      I’m heading your way now to see if you posted a Coffee Share. Have a lovely week, Diana.

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