Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day

Turkey, anyone?  Aren't these cute? Wish I'd thought of this!

John and his Mom made Turkey Cake Pops

and they made Turkey Cookies too!

Dessert Table

More Desserts

And Even More!

Pink Perfection Camellias - the first of the season!

Book 50 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

Alexander McCall Smith

2012

Could anything be more delightful than a new Alexander McCall Smith?  Oh, my! And this time, who should appear, but Clovis Andersen himself?!  The author of that great book, "The Principles of Private Detection" is here in person!

"Precious Ramotswe is haunted by a repeated dream of a tall stranger who waits for her beneath an acacia tree.  Odd as this is, she's too busy to worry about it.  The best apprentice at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors is in trouble with the law and stuck with the worst lawyer in Gaborone.  Grace Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti are building the house of their dreams, but their builder is not on the up and up.  Most shockingly, Mma Potokwane, defender of Botswana's downtrodden, has been dismissed from her post as matron at the orphan farm.  Can the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency help restore the beloved matron to her rightful position?"

Book 49 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Half-Stitched Amish 

Quilting Club

Wanda E. Brunstetter

2012

"Join the club of unlikely quilters who show up for Amish widow Emma Yoder's quilting classes.  A troubled young woman, a struggling couple, a widower, a rough and tough biker, and a preacher's wife make up the mismatched lot.  But as their problems begin to bind them together like the scraps of fabric stitched together in a quilt, they learn to open up and lend a helping hand.  Is this what God had in mind to heal hurting hearts and create beauty from fragments?"

I've read another similar book, except it was about a knitting group. It's an interesting plot for bringing in the stories of a disparate group.

Books 51-54, 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Completing the Challenge

I am so happy I ran across this "52 Books in 52 Weeks" challenge! For several years I've been keeping track of titles read and aiming for at least fifty books per year.  In childhood I read much more  but adulthood brings other tasks, as we all know, so reading sometimes gets put on a back burner. Now retired, I have more time to read - if only I didn't while away so much time online!

I haven't decided whether I'll continue posting my books in 2013, but will definitely continue reading and keeping track. I might take up some of the other challenges with specific books, or I might challenge myself to read the books here at home that I've bought over the years, then pass them on to our local Friends of the Library for their book sales.

At any rate, here are the last four (for me - the first one I read was the latest of the series!) of the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson.  I hope he'll continue with this series - really fun reads! I didn't read them in order since a friend had loaned me the latest one. Then hooked, I requested the others through our online library catalog and read them as I obtained them. Each one is complete so they don't need to be read in order as long as you can keep what's going on in the friends' personal lives straight.

One of the club members dies in this story - very sad!

' Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer and her friends ... battle for her life on two fronts: before a judge and jury as her trial (for excessive force, police misconduct, & wrongful death) comes to a climax, and facing unknown adversaries who will do anything to keep her from the truth about the killings -- including killing again."

A new member of the Women's Murder Club and more killings!

More killings, more exciting events, and a new love interest for one of the friends!

Book 48 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Any Approaching Enemy

A Novel of the Napoleonic Wars

Jay Worrall

2006

Another exciting episode featuring Charles Edgemont, who was raised to the rank of captain for gallantry under fire in the first book, Sails on the Horizon.  

"Now married and in command of the twenty-eight gun frigate Louisa, the young captain sails toward a day of destiny - for himself and for England."

This book has it all - exciting naval battle scenes, tension between the captain and his First Lieutenant, some love interest, a visit with Sir William and Lady Hamilton in Naples, and, of course, Admiral Horatio Nelson!  Charles' Quaker wife, Penny, even manages to spend some time aboard the Louisa!

If you enjoy reading about this historical period, during the rise of Napoleon, you'll enjoy these two books.  Sadly, a third in the series has yet to appear.  We can only hope for one!

Book 47, 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Dorchester Terrace

A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel

by Anne Perry

2012

"Thomas Pitt is now the powerful head of Britain's Special Branch. Rumors have reached him of a plot to blow up connections on the rail line on which Austrian duke Alois Habsburg is to travel to visit his royal English kin.  Meanwhile in London, an Italian woman who was a revolutionary spy is terrified that as she sinks into dementia she may divulge secrets that can kill.  And a Croatian woman, married to a British power broker, hoards her own mysteries.  Pitt suspects that these women could tell him things he desperately needs to know.  But as the hours tick by, the only woman he can count on is his wife, Charlotte."

Really interesting to see Thomas promoted to head up the Special Branch, especially in this, his first important "case"!  They keep referring back to the situation leading to his promotion, which must be in the previous book, "Treason at Lisson Grove". Will have to find it so I'll know what happened!  This one was especially interesting in that it is now 1896 - telephones are used, and there are hints of the turmoil that will lead to World War I. 

Books 45-46, 52 Books in 52 Weeks

More of James Patterson's

Women's Murder Club!

Detective Lindsay Boxer chases a jewel thief, a murderous movie star, and a killer with a vendetta against women and children - the most exciting Women's Murder Club novel ever --- so it says on the book flap!  Could be right, but so far I've enjoyed all of them!

Detective Lindsay Boxer finally gets married, but a missing newborn and a series of violent attacks push the Women's Murder Club back to full throttle before the wedding gifts are even unwrapped.

Now I just need to find those I haven't yet read:  3, 4, 5, 7 & 8! I love a good series!

Books 42-44 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Women's Murder Club

James Patterson

After reading the latest, The 11th Hour, and enjoying it so much, I had to try to find the first 10 in this exciting mystery series!

Here's the introduction to the series from Patterson's website:

Women's Murder Club

Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt, the stars of 1st to Die and 2nd Chance, are the founding members of the Women's Murder Club. Later, in 4th of July, Yuki Castellano joins the Club. Together, they solve crimes in their home city of San Francisco, and often meet up to talk about clues and life over Mexican food and drinks at Susie's.

All I've read so far are told from Lindsay Boxer's point-of-view.

A serial killer is stalking and murdering newlyweds on their honeymoon. San Francisco Homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer takes the case and along the way meets three other women–a lawyer, a reporter, and the city medical examiner. Joining forces to solve this gruesome crime, the Women's Murder Club is born.

When family members of San Francisco cops are found dead, Detective Lindsay Boxer, Medical examiner Claire Washburn, reporter Cindy Thomas and Assistant D.A. Jill Bernhardt are faced with a tough case. As the killer looks for his next victim, the women must quickly track him down before he kills again.

The first batch I got from the public library didn't include Bks. 3-5, so I've had to skip to number 6. 

Someone opens fire on unsuspecting pedestrians and one of the Women's Murder Club is caught in the middle. As she struggles for her life, the others must work fast to track down the madman. In another part of the city, somebody is targeting children and their nannies. As the kidnappers await their ransom, Lindsay and company are faced with finding the mastermind before more children are harmed.

In this one, Yuki, not Jill, is the Assistant D.A.. Can hardly wait to get 3-5 so I can find out what happened to Jill!

Book 41 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 41

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Sails on the Horizon

A Novel of the Napoleonic Wars

Jay Worrall

2005

Exciting times at sea with the British Navy!

A bit of background from the Foreword:

"The era often thought as the napoleonic wars covers a period of roughly twenty-two years, from February 1, 1793, when Revolutionary France declared war on Britain, to June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo.  This was a titanic struggle - arguably the first worldwide war - between France, western Europe's most populous country, and Great Britain, the world's richest.  Napoleon Bonaparte, whose personality and abilities came to dominate the period, does not become a prominent figure until about 1799."

This story features twenty-five-year-old Charles Edgemont, a second lieutenant aboard HMS Argonaut, the smallest ship in the British line of battle in 1797.  Sent into an all-but-suicidal maneuver to cut off the escape of Spanish ships, Charles leads his gun crews bravely - until the deaths of the captain and the first lieutenant elevate him to command of the stricken vessel.  

Thanks to the prize purse awarded him by the Admiralty after the fight, Charles becomes wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. While home on medical leave from his injuries during the battle he's able to help his brother save the family estate, heavily in debt after the recent death of his father. He also meets a young woman, Penelope Brown, with whom he falls in love.  Penelope is a Quaker who regards war as sinful and soldiers as little better than murderers, so Charles has a hard time convincing her to marry him! He is also elevated to the rank of Commander and given charge of another ship, which leads to further battles and adventures. 

Looking forward to the second book in this series: Any Approaching Enemy: a Novel of the Napoleonic Wars.  Alas, from what I've found, there is no third - at least not yet!

Book 40 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 40

52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Forgotten Affairs of Youth

Alexander McCall Smith

2011

Another Alexander McCall Smith book - oh, my! Love them!

"In this latest installment of the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series, our inquisitive heroine helps a new friend discover the identity of her father..

Isabel and her fiance know who they are and where they come from.  But not everybody is so fortunate.  Jane Cooper, a visiting Australian philosopher on sabbatical in Edinburgh, has more questions than answers.  Adopted at birth, Jane is trying to find her biological father, but all she knows about him is that he was a student in Edinburgh years ago.  When she asks for Isabel's help in this seemingly impossible search ......... well, of course Isabel obliges.

But Isabel also manages to find time for her own concerns: her young son, Charlie, already walking and talking; her housekeeper, Grace, whose spiritualist has lately been doubling as a financial advisor; her niece Cat's latest relationship; and the pressing question of when and how Isabel and Jamie should finally get married.

Should the forgotten affairs of youth be left in the past, or can the memories help us understand the present?  In her inimitable way, Isabel leads us to a new understanding of the meaning of family." 

There are seven more in this series, this one the latest. The first one is The Sunday Philosophy Club. Who knew that Philosophy and philosophers could be so entertaining?! If you've read any of McCall Smith's books, you'll no doubt enjoy these too.  Of course, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is probably the most well-known, but it's very easy to get attached to the characters in each of his series.  I just hope he keeps on writing!

Book 39 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

52 Books in 52 Weeks

It looks like I won't have any trouble meeting the 52 books goal this year - knock on wood! Of course, my books have all been rather "lightweight", unlike those many of the other participants are reading.  I've been a reader my entire life and have read lots of "great literature", some even in Latin, French and German during high school and college.  That's not to say that I've read it all or that I shouldn't be reading higher level books, but it seems to me that it's okay to read mostly for fun at this time.  Actually, I've been going through all our bookshelves lately, pulling out many that I should read or should want to read or that I meant to read - and boxing those books up for the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Libraries to sell at their well-attended book sale fundraisers. Hope I don't miss any of them! As they say, So Many Books - So Little Time!

Book 39

One Thousand Gifts

Ann Voskamp

2010

"Like most readers, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well.  Forget the bucket lists about once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

'How' Voskamp wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark?  What is God providing here and now?'

A beautifully practical guide to living a life of joy, One Thousand Gifts invites you to wake up to God's everyday blessings.  As Voskamp discovered, in giving thanks for the life she already had, she found the life she'd always wanted.

Following Voskamp's grace-bathed reflections on her farming, parenting, and writing life, you will embark on a transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling gifts.  Along the way, you will discover a way of seeing that opens your eyes to gratitude, a way of living so you are not afraid to die, and a way of becoming present to God's presence that brings a deep and lasting happiness."

Ann Voskamp is a writer with DaySpring (a division of Hallmark), a contributing editor to Laity Lodge's The High Calling, and a global advocate for the poor, traveling for Compassion International.  With an educational background in psychology and education from York University and the University of Waterloo, Ann and her husband are farmers in the Mennonite countryside of southwestern Ontario, raising a half dozen kids, crops of corn, and the roof in praise.  She writes every day about the everyday wonder at www.aholyexperience.com

I found this book somewhat difficult reading - hard to see where she was going until close to the end - but I read mostly at night just before falling asleep.  I want to read it again - and maybe even start my own gifts journal. She definitely has a beautiful writing style. 

52 Books in 52 Weeks: # 38, 11th Hour

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book # 38

11th Hour

by James Patterson

and

Maxine Paetro

2012

Hadn't read any of Patteson's mysteries before but couldn't resist

reading about "The Women's Murder Club" - and now I'm hooked! This is Number 11, so I need to go back and read numbers 1-10.  How could I have missed these all these years?

Here's the catchy little blurb - an irrestible hook for sure:

"Detective Lindsay Boxer is pregnant - and investigating the discovery of severed heads in a movie star's garden"!

52 Books in 52 Weeks, Book 36: The New Year's Quilt

The New Year's Quilt
An Elm Creek Quilts Novel
by Jennifer Chiaverini
2007

Just love these Elm Creek Quilts stories! I always like series that feature different people in each but mention the others and keep us up-to-date on them too. It's kind of like reading about a neighborhood!

"As master quilter Sylvia Compson, a late-in-life newlywed, has discovered, love can enter our lives at any age.  Yet before she can truly delight in her present happiness, she must face her role in the tragic circumstances that left her estranged from her sister.  Vowing not to repeat the mistake with her new daughter-in-law, Amy, Sylvia must convince Amy that family is more precious than pride.  As Sylvia takes up a quilt for the season, begun and abandoned over six years ago, she recalls the New Year's Eve festivities of her youth at Elm Creek Manor as a member of the Bergstrom family."

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Various Craft Books, #s 33-35

More Crafty Books

Book 33

The Pop-Up Book
Paul Jackson
1993

Step-by-Step Instructins for Creating Over 100 Original Paper Projects

This is quite fascinating for those who like paper art! It goes through the Basics, then several Techniques, and then Design - How to Design Your Own Pop-ups.  Also includes a Gallery

"The magical qualities of three-dimensional and moving books have universal appeal.  The Pop-Up Book offers a clear and practical guide to the craft for all levels of artist, from home hobbyists to professional graphic designers and architects."

Book 34

Creative CARD MAKING for Scrapbookers
226 Ideas and Techniques for Handcrafted Cards
Memory Makers Books
2004

Oh, what fun! More than 200 outstanding cards, invitations and announcements, with illustrated step-by-step instructions.

Book 35

Crease + Fold
Innovative Origami Projects Anyone Can Make
Sok Song
2010

I'd love to be able to make this item on the cover!

52 Books in 52 Weeks, Books 30-32, Papercrafts

Crafty Books

Book 30

Fun With Family Photos
Jennifer and Leslie Barry
2004

Crafts - Keepsakes - Gifts

I was especially interested in the items that used family photos. One really cute one put the photos onto round metal-rimmed cardboard key tags in both 1-1/2 inch and 2-1/2 inch sizes. Hope to make some!

Book 31

Greeting Cards in An Afternoon

Cindy Gorder
2001

Always fun to get new ideas for greeting cards! Love the folded diaper card and also the paper-pricking idea for decorating cards.

Book 32

Photo Art and Craft
Carolyn Vosburg Hall
2001

50 Projects Using Photographic Imagery

So many good ideas here! Must get this one from the library again!

Our Toys: Playskool Wooden Puzzles

 Time To Pack Up The Toys

Playskool Wooden Puzzles

Time to give these puzzles away now that our children and grandchildren have outgrown them. I've washed off the tops and marked the back of each piece with the puzzle name and number of pieces, like Boy Blue 1/12 - or however many pieces there are in each puzzle.  Most of ours range from 10 or 11 pieces to 21.  I think we used to have some that just had 3 or 4 separate pieces, each with its own space cut out of the wooden tray.  We still have a few that are missing pieces.  Maybe the pieces will turn up as I continue going through things - wouldn't that be great?

Here's the stack of puzzles.  I wrapped each one in plastic to keep the pieces all together.  That'll make it easier for the teachers I'm giving them to. 

Budding Artist

Chick

Humpty Dumpty

Jack in the Box

Little Boy Blue

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Polar Bear (already wrapped in plastic)

The Three Little Pigs

I'm giving them to the preschool/daycare where two of my grandsons have enjoyed such loving care for several years each. The youngest one graduated from Pre-K  and will start Kindergarten in the public school system in just a few days. 

These are all "vintage" wooden tray puzzles used by our children and then the grandchildren.  We bought some at garage sales and some were new. Just for fun I checked Etsey and EBay to see if anyone sells them, and found most of these with prices ranging from $5. or $6. to about $20.  I'll tell the teachers how valuable they are, with some getting close to 50 years old! They were well-made for sure back then!

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Book 37: Mystery, by Jonathan Kellerman

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 37

Mystery

by Jonathan Kellerman

2011

A mystery entitled, "Mystery"! My first of Jonathan Kellerman's "thrilling novels of psychological drama and criminal detection", but it won't be the last!  Really enjoyed reading how Psychiatrist Alex Delaware and his police detective friend Milo Sturgis solve this very intricate and involved case.

Looking forward to my next Kellerman mystery! It's always such fun to discover another 'favorite' author!

The Cross-Country Quilters - Book 29 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Cross-Country Quilters

An Elm Creek Quilts Novel

by Jennifer Chiaverini

2001

Another in the Elm Creek Quilts series, this one focuses on a group of five quilters who meet and become friends during their first time at Elm Creek Quilt Camp.  Just before they leave, they promise to return the following year and, as a token, they each take a piece of the same fabric with which to make a block for a quilt they'll complete when they meet again. 

"A group of five far-flung friends has come to Elm Creek Quilt Camp, pledged to complete a "challenge quilt" - symbolic of each woman's personal goals - in one year's time.  An aging starlet, a successful engineer, a mother of two, a renowned curator of antique  quilts, and a sunny soul with a tragic past, they hope to find in their quilt lessons an escape from the problems they left at home.  As the year goes by, their bonds are tested by the demands of daily life.  But despite differences in age, race, and background, the friends' love for quilting and affection for one another unite them in a patchwork of caring and acceptance, reminding them that the strength of friendship can transcend any obstacle."

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Book 28: Cat Women

Cat Women

female writers on their feline friends

edited by Megan McMorris

2007

For cat lovers!

"Part diva, part purring furball, cats always keep you wondering.  Are they happy to see you? Mad at the world? Cats are subtle little comics, rubbing against your legs when you'd forgotten they were in the room, purring in your ear in the middle of the night.  What is it about these sly, droll, and unpredictable creatures that captivates us? And what's the deal with the whole crazy cat lady stereotype anyway?

From a tale about how rescuing a stray cat ended up saving a friendship to an unapologetic piece by a confirmed - and proud! - crazy cat lady, the essays in Cat Women range from thought-provoking and heartrending to laugh-out-loud funny, all delving into the many ways these often aloof little divas touch our lives."

The editor, Megan McMorris, is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon.

Happy Birthday, Max!

Happy 16th Birthday

to Max!

Number One Grandson!

Book 27, 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 27

Acceptable Loss

A William Monk Novel

by Anne Perry

2011

While each of Perry's William Monk books includes references to the past, this is the first one I've read that, while a good read as a stand-alone, is actually a sequel! At first I thought I'd already read it, so had to check my reading log.  It was Execution Dock that I'd recently read, which precedes this one. Now, with the way this one ended, I'm expecting a third book to follow up on this story. Will have to wait and watch to see if one appears.

"When the body of small-time crook Mickey Parfitt washes up on the tide, no one grieves. But William Monk, commander of the Thames River Police, is puzzled by the expensive silk cravat used to strangle Parfitt. Informers lead Monk to what may be a partial answer - a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a captive band of half-starved boys are forced to perform vile acts. Further investigation takes Monk and his wife, Hester, to an unresolved crime from the past, to blackmail and more murder, and to a deadly confrontation with some of the empire's most respected men."

James Herriot's Animal Stories - Book 26 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 26

James Herriot's Animal Stories

Introduction by Jim Wight

Illustrated by Lesley Holmes

1997

For those who loved James Herriot's books: All Creatures Great and Small, All things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing, perhaps some of these stories will seem familiar. They did first appear in one of the above-mentioned books, but they're well worth reading again.  The introduction by Herriot's son, Jim Wight, is interesting too.

He says, " James Herriot had the rare ability to turn everyday happenings into a compelling read with the use of uncomplicated words delivered with maximum effect.  His stories are very largely about that fascinating subject, Human Nature, and they were written by one of life's keenest observers.  He watched, he understood, and most importantly, he preserved in print the thoughts of a compassionate and humorous man.  James Herriot's tales are not primarily about animals, they are about people." 

This charming new collection brings together ten of James Herriot's best-loved stories celebrating all the creatures of his wonderful world.  Here are lambs, horses, cows, dogs, even a whimsical pig or two, along with their colorful human counterparts, all brought vividly to life by Herriot's storytelling magic.

The Aloha Quilt - Book 25 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Aloha Quilt

An Elm Creek Quilts novel

by Jenniver Chiaverini

2010

Another good story in the Elm Creek Quilts series! 

If you like quilting or just a good story, these are always interesting, Each can stand alone, but the enjoyment is enhanced if you know more of the  "back story".  Each book features a different member of the Elm Creek Quilters group.

Fathers' Day

Thinking of

Three Special Fathers

on Fathers' Day

 My Father  

with loving memories

My Father-in-Law

with loving memories

 And My Children's Father 

My Husband

Espresso Tales - Book 24 - 52 Books in 52 Weeks

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Book 24

Espresso Tales

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, The Sunday Philosophy Club series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series.  He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and was a law professor at the University of Botswana and at Edinburgh University.  He lives in Scotland.

Espresso Tales brings back several of our "favorite denizens of a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh: Bertie, Bruce, Pat, Domenica," and more.  Each is featured in his or her own 'tale', and we feel like we know them as we follow their stories.

"Full of McCall Smith's gentle humor and sympathy for his characters, Espresso Tales is an affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author's own words, 'make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world'."

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 22 -23, Her Majesty Investigates Series

Just in time for Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee!

http://www.happylovesrosie.com/

Books 22 and 23

Her Majesty Investigates Series

C.C. Benison

Light reading for sure - but fun!

1996

Jane Bee, from Prince Edward Island, decided to take a year off before University to travel in Europe. She "came to Europe for adventure, only to end up with the job of a lifetime - housemaid at Buckingham Palace. Now her greatest challenge is removing gum from State Room carpets - until she comes across a nasty accident right outside the Royal Apartments. The Queen herself has - literally - stumbled across the dead body of Jane's good friend, footman and aspiring actor Robin Tukes, in what appears to be a suicide.

But why would handsome, impetuous Robin, having just toasted his engagement to a gorgeous housemaid, not to mention his impending fatherhood, want to die?  Buck House buzzes, but only Jane - and the Royal Personage known belowstairs as "Mother" - suspects foul play.  At Her Majesty's behest, Jane launches a discreet inquiry that takes her from Servants' Hall to the highest echelons of the Palace.  Yet the more Jane uncovers, the more clear it becomes that this latest royal scandal is a real killer."

1996

"When housemaid Jane Bee accompanies the Royals on their annual Christmas jaunt to Sandringham, she believes she's in for a bit of a snooze.  Aside from her regular duties, there's nothing much to do in the wilds of Norfolk..... until the body of a woman turns up in the village hall - a woman who just happens to be a dead ringer for the Queen, right down to her glittering crown.

While the royal bodyguards tighten their security and the police concentrate their efforts on a notorious animal rights group, Her Majesty bids Jane to do her own discreet digging. But when Jane learns the origin of the dead woman's tiara, she finds herself suddenly unstitching an upstairs/downstairs tapestry of indiscretions going back fifty years.  And then a second brazen murder occurs in the very heart of Sandringham House, and it looks like the coming New Year could be more horribilis than any yet."

This time Jane's father, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, just happens to be visiting.  He's come to try to convince her to go home and into the University so she can get on with her life.  Jane's having too much fun to want to go back home just yet, but her father is very helpful in solving this mystery.

Must see if I can locate the third in this series, "Death at Windsor Castle"!

Memorial Day

Remember 

"A whole lot of tomorrows were sacrificed 

so  we could enjoy today"

Grand Avenue  May 27, 2012

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.