Joe's Book Cafe 23

Book illustrations by Dankerleroux, Serena Curmi, Matt Dixon, desmondwoot

Welcome back to the cafe!

2013 reads

January 2013 Books

1. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
3. Anomaly by Skip Brittenham
4. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
5. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon
8. Low Town by Daniel Polansky
9. Bend Not Break by Ping Fu
10. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb

February 2013 Books

11. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
12. The Miniature Wife and Other Stories by Manuel Gonzales
13. All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Smith
14. Volt: Stories by Alan Heathcock
15. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
16. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
17. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
18. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
19. Howl A Graphic Novel by Allen Ginsberg and Eric Drooker
20 Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb
21. Jerusalem Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle
22. Show Red for Danger by Richard and Frances Lockridge
23. Emma by Jane Austen and Nancy Butler
24. Rebel Heart by Moira Young

March 2013

25. Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer
26. Witness in Death by J.D. Robb
27. Are You There God, It's Me Mary: The Shangri-Las and the Punk Rock Love Song by Tracy Landecker
28. The Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri
29. Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb
30. The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen
31. Building Stories by Chris Ware
32. Old Goriot by Honore de Balzac
33. Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb
34. Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
35. Benediction by Kent Haruf
36. Breaking Point by C.J. Box
37. Heads or Tails by Lilli Carre

April 2013

38. Beloved by Toni Morrison
39. Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
40. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb
41. Germinal by Emile Zola
42. Looking for Alaska by John Green
43. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori
44. Robert B. .Parker's Wonderland by Ace Atkins
45. Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock
47. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

May 2013

48. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
49. The Yard by Alex Grecian
50. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
51. Before the Incal by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Zoran Janjetov
52. Wizard of the Crowg by Ngugi wa'Thiongo

June 2013

53.Imitation of Death by J.D. Robb
54. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
55. Almost a Remembrance by Jack McCarthy
56. Scott Pilgrim Infinite Sadness Volume 3 Color by Bryan Lee O'Malley
57. Lunch with Buddha by Ron Merullo
58. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
59. Among Schoolchildren by Tracy Kidder
60. Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
61. Feynman by Jim Ottaviani
62. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
63. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
64. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

July 2013
65. Saga Vol. 2 by Brian Vaughan
66. Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland
67. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb
68. Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather
69. Five by Endo by Shusaku Endo
70. Sum Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
71. Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel
72. The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen by Dominique Enright
73. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
74. The Softwire: Virus by PJ Haarsma
75. Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman
76, Origin in Death by J. D. Robb
77. Wool by Hugh Howey

August 2013

78. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
79. Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
80. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
81. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb
82. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley
83. Lady Susan by Jane Austen
84. Shakespeare's Sonnets by you-know-who
85. Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
86. The Open Door One Hundred Poems edited by Don Shore and Christopher Wiman
87. Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
88. Never Go Back by Lee Child
89. TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
90. Mind Mgmt Volume 1 by Matt Kindt
91. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

September 2013

92. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
93. The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti
94. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
95. Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson
96. Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman
97. Born in Death by J.D. Robb
98. Death of a King by Andrew H. Vanderwal
99. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
100. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
101. A Bit of a Difference by Sefi Atta
102. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
103. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
104. Constellation Games by Leonard Richardson
105. The Treasure Hunt by Andrea Camilleri

October 2013
106. The Light Years by Elizabeth Howard
107. Innocence in Death by J.D. Robb
108. The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
109. Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson
110. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
111. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
112. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
113. Interlude in Death by J.D. Robb
114. Pale Gray for Guilt by John D. MacDonald
115. Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie
116. Longbourn by Jo Baker
117. Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson
118. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

November 2013

119. Burma Chronicle by Guy Delisle
120. Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
121. The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber
122. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
123. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
124. Trade Secret by Sharon Lee
125. Rough Passage to London by Robin Lloyd
126. The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
127. Double Deuce by Robert Parker
128. Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker
129. Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
130. A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker
131. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
132. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricial MacLachlan
133. Taming a Seahorse by Robert B. Parker
134. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

2014 American Author Challenge (kudos to Mark)

Willa Cather- January The Professor's House
Cormac McCarthy- February The Orchard Keeper
William Faulkner- March The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Toni Morrison- April Sula
Eudora Welty- May The Optimist's Daughter
Kurt Vonnegut- June Cat's Cradle (re-read)
Mark Twain- July Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Philip Roth- August The Ghost Writer
James Baldwin- September Notes of a Native Son
Edith Wharton- October Ethan Frome
John Updike- November The Witches of Eastwick
Larry Watson- December Let Him Go

*BINGO*

>3 laytonwoman3rd:

Happy New thread, Joe! Love those illustrations up top!

>5 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I'm a pushover for beautiful book illustrations. It would be fun to put together a collection of the "best" some day, wouldn't it?

>3 laytonwoman3rd: The next food order is on us, Linda, since you found the new place first. In the meantime, how about some ice cream?

Way to go Joe. Congratulations on your latest thread buddy.

Hi Joe! I love the little robot!

I'm late to the Updike dissing fest. Could barely get through the first Rabbit book but I did enjoy the short story "A & P". I suppose I should look at more of his short stories but frankly, there are too many books out there for me to bother.

BTW Joe, Longbourn is utterly delicious.

>7 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Plenty of comfortable seating when you need to take a break from keeping up with that thread of yours!

>8 leperdbunny: Isn't he cool, Tam? I'm impressed with how much personality he gets into that little guy.

>9 NarratorLady: Hi, Anne. Isn't it surprising that someone this respected, as far as I can tell, as an author, has gotten this kind of tepid reaction from so many of us who love to read?

Oh, I'm so pleased you're enjoying Longbourn! This is one where I feel like jumping up and down, and pulling on sleeves, and generally being annoying about it. It's so good! What a feat to pull it off the way she has.

That ice cream looks delightful, Joe. Thanks so much. I'm in the mood for something robust and old-homey....how about a lovely pot roast with onions, carrots and potatoes? Perhaps some chunky applesauce on the side...

Hi Joe!

This is what's for dinner tonight, Joe! Plenty to go around!

Hi Joe- Congrats on the new thread! Love those illustrations. You have a perfect eye for those.
I am still chuckling over Kerri's idea for Dissing Updike. Norwegian death metal band. Is that perfect or what?
This place never fails to put a smile on my face...or 2...or...

Fabulous thread, as always, Joe!

Not a fan of Updike. Never read his books, but thought him an unpleasant man, the few times I met him. Consequently, never will read any of his books.

Hi Joe, gorgeous pictures on top, I especially love the goldfish.

I tried John Updike many years ago and was not impressed. In fact, I would much rather read Richard's review of a John Updike book than the actual thing.

Ooh, ice cream! I had ice cream for supper tonight!

Hi Joe!

Love the opening pic for your new thread, Joe! Quite enchanting!...... and poor little robot guy..... he just looks so forlorn. ;-(

Ice cream!

> 17 - I am soooo jealous you had ice cream for dinner tonight! *ponders whether I can convince the other half to go on an ice cream run*

Never read Updike but intrigued by the responses generated on the previous thread.

Hi Joe!

(16) @DeltaQueen50 I tried John Updike many years ago and was not impressed. In fact, I would much rather read Richard's review of a John Updike book than the actual thing.

That's a great review! :D

And I especially love the goldfish picture, little robot is a close second...

LOVE those illustrations at the top of your new thread, Joe!
I think you missed my caring concern on your prior thread, but in any case you are safe and that is all that matters. I do hope you reconsider your potential move to NC and get your focus back on Seattle.....

There seems to be much controversy (?) over John Updike as folks sort through Mark's challenge for 2014. I may read one work by the man just to make my own darn decision! P describes his work as "dreary," but that might actually be right up my alley.......

I will try to keep up with your new thread better than I did with the former.

Hi, Joe! Great new thread you have here.

I've not read Updike at all. I'm pondering maybe reading one for Mark's AAC challenge . . . or not.

Hi Joe, beautiful illustrations at the top. Congratulations on your new thread!

Thanks, everyone! I've got a dr. appointment this a.m.(routine), so I'll have to catch up with you later on.

passing through and looking yearningly at the ice cream of all things...
geez, I really like the thread toppers... really do!

Hi Joe, what absolutely gorgeous pictures up top! Congrats on the new thread.

My favorite is the robot. Poor little robot. So sad.

Good luck at the doctors, my friend. I'll just pour me a cup and then I am outta here!

For y'all's delectation, an ice cream coffee float. The ice cream is Bailey's flavored, and the coffee is hazelnut.

All right, time to catch up a bit. Let's start with our first-in-the-door winner, Linda.

>11 laytonwoman3rd: Doesn't that ice cream look good, Linda? All right, some time-jiggered pot roast with the fixin's coming up, gratis:



>12 richardderus: Hi, Richard! Thanks for stopping by.

>13 leperdbunny: Looks good, Tam. I can tell you're an enthusiastic chef. We may need to get you in here for some guest spots if you're game.

>14 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I know, Kerri's "Dissing Updike" for a Norwegian death metal band got me, too. Thank goodness for LT's brightening effects on our days. I finished Packing for Mars, btw, and Mary Roach gave me quite a few guffaws, too.

>15 mckait: Thanks, Kath. How in the world did you meet Death Metal Updike a few times? I'm somehow not surprised he was unpleasant. Based on what I've read of his, I'm sure not wishing I had met him. (Periodically we talk about what authors we'd like to spend time with at a bar; Sandra Newman, the author of the witty The Western Lit Survival Kit, always tops my list. Mary Roach would probably be a lot of fun, too. My MBH, a Roach fan, got to sit with her at an event at our son's college, and said they had a great time chatting. But I digress).

Love the new illustrations, and the ones on your last thread. Not much beats great artwork (visually speaking, that is). Hope you're having a good Thursday, and thank you for your message on my thread. *hugs*

>16 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. Aren't those pics gorgeous? I think we're in a golden era for book illustrators. So many good ones out there. The goldfish get me, too. Beautiful, and the perspective draws us in.

Another less-than-exciting meetup with Death Metal Updike. He doesn't seem to have had a positive effect on folks. I agree - I'd much rather read RD's Updike review than Updike.

>17 tloeffler: Hi, Terri! I'm always impressed with people who can say "I had ice cream for dinner", or whatever meal. Why the heck not? I'm not as much of an ice cream fan as some folks, but I've certainly had cookie meals. Cookies and chips when I've been feeling ambitious.

>18 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. Matt Dixon obviously has some notable talent when he can get to us like this with an essentially faceless robot. I like that one a lot, too.

Did you succeed on your other half ice cream mission?

You may want to read some Updike just to say why so many are saying "meh." Or maybe just have some ice cream instead.

>19 fuzzi: That's a great Updike review by RD, isn't it, fuzzi. That last line with the wilted lettuce is just a killer.

I'm with you on the goldfish picture and the little robot, although of course each of the four gets to me in a different way.

>29 jnwelch: *wipes gravy off chin* OK...that was downright soulful. Now...as to >28 richardderus:, line 'em up, and keep 'em coming.

>20 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! We've got a great thread topper tradition around LT, whether it be quotes or family pics or art or whatever.

Sorry I missed your post back there. I've gotten a lot better, but I'm sure I occasionally miss folks. I have it happen, too; in fact, I just razzed Roni about it. You're much more tactful than I am. Yes, we're safe, and the folks in north central IL are starting to put their lives back together. The mind boggles at the thought of one's home wiped out like that.

Now that I'm further away from the pic of the delicious cheese biscuit, Seattle is coming back to the forefront of the dream move sweepstakes. We do love it there. So many cafes, among other things! (You can see why that might be important).

I love that "dreary" might be right up your alley. We need those willing to read the works less revered. Updike obviously had a fan base somewhere out there, or at least a lot of folks willing to buy his books. A number of us are giving The Witches of Eastwick a try. In my case, I'm hoping there's an element of fun in it that makes it worthwhile. We'll see.

>21 tymfos: Hi, Terri! Thanks re the thread. The most mixed response I've gotten so far was for the art dolls, which creeped out some denizens. Your "might try him or not" for Updike actually fits my view of him. Why was he as successful as he was, given the reactions we've been seeing?

>22 wilkiec: Thanks, Diana. Good to see you out and about on the threads. I know you just finished a book I liked, but I'm drawing a blank on the title. I'll stop over today.

>24 mckait: I'm glad you really like those thread toppers, Kath. What a wonderful talent, to be able to create something that stirs feelings in people like these artists have. Hope today is going better than yesterday for you, and they're not asking too much of you at work.

>25 Thebookdiva: Hi, Abby! Thanks - I'm glad you like the illustrations and the new thread. How are the "B" dogs doing?

>26 Morphidae: Hi, Morphy. Yes, I think that poor little robot is pulling on a lot of heartstrings. Plus those fall colors are really well done.

>27 msf59: The doctor's went fine, Mark. I'm paying the price for being a fair-skinned guy who has been out in the sun a lot my whole life; I have to get my skin checked every six months now. Drat. But the tune-ups are worth it.

>28 richardderus: Loverly, Richard. You've probably seen it, but you've been getting a number of compliments on your Updike review. Your ice cream float looks more satisfying than ours.

>30 LauraBrook: Thanks, Laura. Good to see you! I hope life is getting a little bit back to normal, although I know it will never be the same. I still think about our mom all these years later. *hugs back*

It's a good Thursday so far. It was a successful tune-up at the doc's, and no emergencies upon walking in at work. Hope yours is going well.

>32 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! "Downright soulful" - I like that, Linda. I'll let the chef know. We can keep those RD floats coming . . .

>34 jnwelch: I'm so glad people are enjoying my painful lack of enjoyment of Updike. Makes the misery worth it.

I like the cloud-cone a lot! Very cool photo.

>36 richardderus: Yes, you spun misery into gold, or something like that, with the Dissing Updike review.

That is a cool cloud-cone pic, isn't it?

Mary Roach has been called America's funniest science writer, and there's plenty of evidence of that in Packing for Mars. It's a book about space exploration and the "very human and sometimes absurd struggles behind" it. It includes digressions about "prehensile" dolphin genitalia that can grab you, explanations of how difficult waste elimination is while weightless in outer space, and so on. She has a wry wit that helps makes at times somewhat homework-y material instead a cause for laughter.

She is quite willing to chase after facts that rank high on our "ewwww" scale. Vomiting in space is covered, as is the effect of co-habiting in a small space with no privacy while unable to bathe or change clothes. We find out the dismal food was created mainly by NASA veterinarians (who normally take care of the animals used in space-related experiments), a topic not totally unrelated to the aforementioned vomiting. When she explores the awful body odors in Gemini VII with astronaut Jim Lovell, he reacts, "You're investigating a rather unusual aspect of space flight."

If you see a Roach footnote, be sure to read it, as a lot of humor and some fascinating stories end up there. That's where you find out, for example, about the dolphin genitalia, and also NASA's huge collection of astronaut waste products, kept in freezers in Houston. No one seems interested in them any more. Go figure. A NASA official tells her, "Forty years of freezing, with occasional thaws due to power outages during hurricanes, may have reduced them to mere vestiges of their former glory."

> 32 - Nope on the ice cream mission last night but I know there will be blueberry cheesecake tonight, which is just as good as ice cream, IMO. YUM!

>39 lkernagh: Agreed, Lori - forget the ice cream and dive into that blueberry cheesecake. I'm not the biggest blueberry fan, but blueberry cheesecake is an exception.

>13 leperdbunny:/28/29 (all the food pictures in fact)

*DROOL*

Hi Joe, love those top illustrations! And how much better do they look for being big....a lot. So vibrant and crisp.

When she explores the awful body odors in Gemini VII with astronaut Jim Lovell, he reacts, "You're investigating a rather unusual aspect of space flight."
I bet he wants the big questions! But we are interested in the little answers too :) Sounds like a goodie- like her other one I haven't read...the one with the mouth on the front.

Hi Joe- Glad the doctor's visit was just a tune-up! Great review of Packing For Mars. Big Thumb! I hope that inspired you to try some of her others. She is always a blast.

>29 jnwelch: The Mr. and I have turned into real foodies. Tonight was Merguez meatballs, cucumbers with tzatziki sauce (homemade) and Lebanese onion salad. It was very good. I went easy on the spices for the meatballs, so it wasn't too spicy. (I'm a wimp).

I,m a little late to the game here, but I have liked what Updike I've read, especially some of the short stories.

Mr. Joe, Come to my thread- need your assistance :) with next year's reading list.

>41 LovingLit: Glad you're enjoying the food pics, Megan. Hope that challenging detox diet is going well.

Aren't those illustrations fab? Vibrant and crisp - well put. I love the clarity on computers these days, too. I can still remember our first pc, and the educational computer games I got for the kids. So rudimentary. But it all evolved quickly. Our son wasn't very old when we played our way all the way through the graphically gorgeous game of Myst.

Yes, Roach's approach humanizes a topic like space exploration, and the little answers illuminate the actual experiences of those involved in the space program. A lot of what she writes clearly is not the picture that NASA would like us to see, but it is in fact much more interesting than sanitized hero tales.

The one with the mouth on the front would be Gulp. My MBH particularly liked Stiff.

>42 msf59: Yes, the oil has been changed and the wheels rotated, Mark, and I'm ready to go. Glad you liked the Packing for Mars review, as I know the book's a fave of yours. Thanks for the thumb!

>43 leperdbunny: I'm impressed with your and Mr. leperdbunny's foodiness, Tamara. You have to love it to do a meal like that one. I can tolerate more spice than my MBH, but I'm sure we'd both be wimps to a lot of folks. We were at a party with a guy who put hot sauce on everything, saying food was too bland without it. The problem with that, seems to me, is he makes everything taste like hot sauce.

>44 ffortsa: BA-BING!! Thanks, Judy. I believe that's the strongest endorsement we've gotten for Updike. Sounds like Chelle has had a good experience with him, too. I knew he had to have some fans here. To me, he's just tedious. Not mawky, just drudgy.

BTW, for those who were following the YA discussion a thread or so ago, I just picked up Sarah Plain and Tall and My Side of the Mountain. Others that were mentioned, like Ring of Bright Water, and Hatchet, weren't on the shelves, but I'll track them down.

>45 leperdbunny: I went to your thread and applauded your list of books to read in 2014, Tam. I don't think you need my assistance; those are great choices. The Book Thief bowled me over. I want to re-read it soon.

Looks like a good day for reading.

Joe wrote:

BTW, for those who were following the YA discussion a thread or so ago, I just picked up Sarah Plain and Tall and My Side of the Mountain. Others that were mentioned, like Ring of Bright Water, and Hatchet, weren't on the shelves, but I'll track them down.

Woo! Yes!

I'll be eagerly awaiting your reviews. :)

I just ate some Latin food, for the first time ever. It was pretty good.

The Matambre was quite good, with a touch of a "bite": not enough to put me off, but a nice little zing as I ate.

The Muchacho Relleno was yummy!

And the Pièce de résistance was an Ensalada Azteca, with baby spinach, avocadoes, cilantro and crispy tortilla strips (made me think of corn flakes). :)

I loved Sarah Plain and Tall when I read it!

>46 jnwelch: Thanks Joe!

>47 fuzzi: Yum!

>47 fuzzi: I'll add my yum, fuzzi! We love Latin food - Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Brazilian, etc. A favorite Guatemalan restaurant near us just closed, unfortunately, but this city is filled with good Latin cuisine. Sounds like this may be the start of much more for you.

I'll report back on Sarah Plain and Tall and the others. I'm looking forward to reading them.

>48 seasonsoflove: That's heartening to hear, Becca. We have a lot of overlap in our book tastes. After my mystery, I'll pick up Sarah. I've also got the new Lisa Lutz waiting at the library.

>49 leperdbunny: You're welcome, Tamara. You know, looking at the books you listed for next year, you might want to try Naked in Death some time. It's the first in a mystery series featuring a (very!) strong-willed female police lieutenant named Eve Dallas. Caro, Morphy and Stasia, among others, enjoy the series, and I'm way into it now.

>47 fuzzi: ENSALADA AZTECA oh homesick drool sad-eyed wail piteous bereft moan

I am such an angry old leftist that I was about to issue a ringing excoriation and denunciation of all y'all reading Sarah PALIN and Tall before I read it again and felt abashed.

LOL!! Oh, you might have a bestseller there, Richard. I'll see whether there are any parody possibilities when I read SPAT. (Even the acronym seems to have some).

Ohhhh Sarah Plain and Tall and My Side of the Mountain ate two favorites of mine Joe. I also enjoyed Packing for Mars a couple of years ago (thumb for your excellent review) and have had Stiff on my shelf since that time. Must move it on up:-)

>51 richardderus: LOL. I'd be ROFL but I'm still at work.

Great review of Packing for Mars. I have wanted to try a Mary Roach book for some time.

SPAT and MSOTM are big hits here at our house. We even like the movie of SPAT.

I have never read an Updike and don't think I will try one for the AAC. My plan is to substitute when I need to to fit in American Authors I still need to read for my college bound reading list project.

One of the things I miss about living in Oklahoma was the mexican food at Ted's:



Hands down the best I've had, ever. I almost tear up thinking about it.

>53 brenzi: Good to hear, Bonnie! I don't know how I never got to Sarah Plain and Tall. I certainly thought about it enough times. This has been a good boost for me on some old classics.

Thanks for the thumb! It's a fun science book - how many authors can pull that off? Yes, my MBH would heartily recommend Stiff. A fun science book about cadavers. Hmmm. At some point I'll be reading that one, too.

>54 ffortsa: I was ROFL anyway at work, Judy, at the idea of Sarah Palin and Tall. I just explained that I dropped my pencil and the floor tickled. I can go back once my two week suspension is over.

>55 Cobscook: Thanks, Heidi! I was the same way, wanting to read a Roach, and this seemed like a good one to start with. I've been interested in the space program for a long time, and this certainly gave an inside look I won't forget.

So far there's been a uniformly positive reaction for SPAT and MSOTM. Love it. I remember I finally read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The Children of Green Knowe, Daddy-Long-Legs, and others because of comments on LT, and I've had a good time with all of them.

I don't think you're missing much in taking a pass on Updike. I'm going to give The Witches of Eastwick a try, in part because I'm hoping there's some fun to it, and in part because a good group of LTers will be reading it.

>56 leperdbunny: Yum! Where in Oklahoma is Ted's, Tam? I like that, including the lizard in the back. We've got Rick Bayless here, with high end Mexican, so Frontera Grill would probably be my pick. His Topolobampo is good, too.

Mexican breakfast sounds good now, doesn't it?

Morning Joe- Chilly out here and it looks like it will be with us all weekend. Ugh! I finished Allegiant. It was okay. I think I will make a visit to Three Pines.
Enjoy your day.

Hiya, Mark. Yes, "it was okay" sounds right. The event that has ticked off so many readers (especially the younger ones) didn't bother me, but I wish the book had been tighter and better. Still, she pulled off a good story.

A visit to Three Pines sounds superb. I hope the movie does it justice. Like most readers of that series, I wish there was a real Three Pines to visit.



Yes, stay warm out there! We just went out for coffee, and bundled up.

Joe- I finished Allegiant and agree with you about the ending. Actually that was pretty bold. I think we could turn this book into a drinking game. Take a shot every time you hear the words Hancock building and Millineum Park. We would be so hammered.

Sarah Plain and Tall takes me back a bit. When my daughter was eight she asked if she could include copies of it to give her friends in their "goodie bags" at her birthday party because she loved it so much. I'm not sure how much of a hit it was but my little bibliophile loved sharing her favorite book at the time with her friends.

What a sweet idea, @NarratorLady!

The old stove is gone, picked up by a friend who is going to sell it, and we'll split the profit.

Now we're waiting for the new, NEW (!!!) stove to be delivered...they'd better not postpone delivery until later.

I know its silly, but I'm excited about having an oven that WORKS! I had to skip my Christmas baking last year. :(

>60 msf59: Great idea, Mark! I'm in. We'd be loving that book by the end.

BTW, we were just at a store with a good beer section in Lincoln Square, and I picked up a Sunner Kolsch. Looks really good. I'll report back.

>61 NarratorLady: That does say a lot about SPAT, Anne. I'm glad you raised a bibliophile - what a good feeling that is, isn't it? Our young lady probably would have asked us to put The Westing Game in the goodie bags if she had thought of it. I must say I like that idea of a book in the goodie bag regardless. When did goodie bags start, anyway? We sure didn't have that tradition when I was a kid.

>>62 fuzzi:, 63 Sweet idea, indeed. I wish we'd thought of that back in the goodie bag days.

New stove - that will be a welcome addition to the house, I'm sure, fuzzi. I don't think anyone that stops by here would think that wanting an oven that works is silly! There are few things more important than Christmas baking either, as far as I'm concerned.

You remind me that tomorrow is our day for coring and cutting up the apples for our applesauce. Can't wait - it is so good. Granny Smith and Pink Ladies.

Oooohhhhhh apples mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Joe joe, Oklahoma City and Norman have this restaurant chain. Also, I love homemade applesauce yummmmm!

At this time of year I always enjoy reading the lists LTers make of their favorite books of the year. Does anyone in the cafe know where I can find such a list?

Here's a link to the third quarter best reads:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/159403

The end of the year won't be available just yet.

Tam's Tex-Mex spread has my appetite well and truly whetted.

I think Mark was playing with us all when he slipped John Updike into the mix for next year. I have read his Bech books which I hated uniformly and his Memories of the Ford Administration which I hated a little less. I will read The Witches of Eastwick but only because Mark is such a top fellow despite being a chump in picking out this chump for us to read.

The idea that we should convert it to read reviews of his prose by some of his fans such as RD is an excellent one. If he will not be too piqued I would like to quote from his analysis of Updike's writing style in Rabbit, Run

"Flat flat flat. Untoasted white bread spread with Miracle Whip, topped with limp outer leaves of iceberg lettuce and slices of weak-kneed, pale-pink winter tomatoes, with one piece of undrained, undercooked bacon in the middle."
Richard Derus (2013)

Now surely it can be agreed that that beats reading Updike.

Have a great weekend buddy. Had a chuckle when I saw your gaff on Roni's thread and your gentlemanly apology thereafter. You're a great guy.

Thank you fuzzi!

So the Three Pines series is going to have the same star as the series they did of Inspector Lynley? Hmmmm.....

I'm totally cracking up about how much everyone does not want to read Updike but is determined to do so just because of our beloved Mark. I hope he (Mark) is appreciating how much love we're all sending his way. I guess I will read The Witches of Eastwick along with everyone else, just to be sociable.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with all the turkey you care for, Joe!

I guess Joe got busy making some awesome applesauce. I just made a batch of pickles. Definitely not enough though. I made about 10 homemade pickles. Need a supply of about twice that. :P

Him. I'm not optimistic about that casting. That actor looks much more like Jean-Guy to me.

Morning Joe- We missed you yesterday! Were you mourning both Derrick Rose and that horrible Bears loss? Ugh! Whatever you decided to do, I hope you enjoyed yourself.

In re, to Updike. Originally, I wasn't going to put him on the list, and I saw him mentioned on a couple suggestions to the AAC and since I had a Rabbit collection on shelf and I've wanted to get to it, I chose him. Hey, the spice of life, right? Honestly, I did not know he was so disliked. LOL.

>65 richardderus: We made ours yesterday, and man, it is good. Nothing better than homemade.

>66 leperdbunny: I might get to OKC some day, Tam, so I'll remember that. Yeah, I love homemade applesauce, too. We made a ginormous pot of it. Going to add a smidgeon more of cinnamon today, and then it's ready.

>>67 NarratorLady:, 70 I like reading those, too, Anne. I see fuzzi gave you a link to third quarter faves, which I'll also peruse.

>68 fuzzi: Thanks, fuzzi!

So will we get to see the Three Pines series? Any info?

Joe, Updike was a patient where I once worked. He was not nice. I believe I read on or two of his books decades ago...I know my mom did, but I remember nothing of them.

Thanksgiving. Well Then. Here we are, holidays approaching. Yikes.
Just Yikes.

>69 PaulCranswick: Hiya, Paul. I can't blame Mark for putting Updike on the list. He's certainly one of the better-known American authors. I figured I was in some minority in not liking him, so it has been fascinating to hear how many LTers dislike his work. Like you, I figured I could do another Updike if our friend Mark listed it, and I'm hoping The Witches of Eastwick is more tolerable than the Rabbit books.

Yeah, I screwed up poking fun at Roni, darn it. Her post was tucked under that interesting picture of the watch she got. Now I'm going to have to be nice to her. Jeesh. The pains of being an LTer.

>71 EBT1002: I know, Ellen, it's a bit weird to have Inspector Lynley playing Inspector Gamache. He's a good actor, I'll say that much.

You're right, it really does show how much we like Mark, that all of the Dissing Updike LTers will nonetheless read one in his honor. It actually should be pretty entertaining when Updike month comes around.

Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that four day Thanksgiving break. I'm best at being really lazy, and that will give me a chance to stretch out and really go to my strengths.

>72 leperdbunny: I'd love to try those homemade pickles, Tamara. We did buy some great Polish dill pickles at a kind of international store near us - Krakus and Polandaise. Both most excellent.

>73 ffortsa: I know, Judy, he's not the way I picture Inspector Gamache either. I always think of that actor from Cinema Paradiso, Phillipe Noiret, but he's no longer with us. I'm going to keep an open mind - if they get Three Pines close to right, that will help a lot. I know there have been lots of shots of Louise Penny on the set, so that may help.

>74 msf59: Yeah, in part I was mourning Derrick's situation, Mark. Such a great guy - why should he be the one to get another knee messed up? You probably remember a bit the amazing Gale Sayers having his career cut short with injuries. I hate it when this happens.

The Bears, it's hard to get too mad at them. Their defense has been decimated by injuries, too. Not to mention having Cutler out.

Mainly, it was a computer-free day. We did go out in the Arctic weather and get some errands done. Finished another Spenser and another in Death, and I just read Sarah Plain and Tall. As to that last one, my goodness MacLachlan packed a lot into a slim package. Beautifully done. Like a kids' level mini-Willa Cather. I wonder whether anyone has read the ones coming after it - Skylark and Caleb's Story?

I've got My Side of the Mountain lined up now. If I remember correctly, you weren't that jazzed by the Scott Pilgrim gns? They tickle my funny bone and it's one of my favorite series. I was one of an apparent handful of people who also liked the movie. I saw the movie called "a critical success", which usually is a euphemism for "nobody went to see it."

The Dissing Updike reaction surprised me, too. Pleasantly, I must say, as he bored the crap out of me, and boredom loves company. Your estimable good-guy-ness has me joining others in doing something I never expected - reading another one!

OK, how should we start the day? How about a steampunk breakfast?

>76 mckait: As far as I can tell, Still Life was broadcast in September in Canada, Kath, and no word on when we might get it. Apparently the reaction wasn't all that enthusiastic? Maybe some of our Canadian denizens can comment. I saw one complaint that Ruth was barely in it. That sounds like a mistake.

Many years ago we convinced my late mom to stop trying to cook for everyone on Thanksgiving, and we brought food in from local restaurants. We've carried on that tradition at our house, especially since we don't eat much meat (none for me and our kids, but fish for me). Becca and I will make some mashed potatoes, and we'll probably put together a salad, but otherwise Thanksgiving is much less yikes-inducing at our place than the all-out cooking spots. To me, the idea is to have a fun family get-together, and having people grumpy about the cooking that needs to be done just ain't worth it.

We're going to miss our young man like crazy, but he's going to be well taken care of by a couple he's made friends with in Seattle.

Stuffing. It's all about the stuffing. Celery, onion, bread, seasoning, a wee egg and milk and some broth. Then the mashed potatoes .. can you tell I am a carb addict :(

quick post - Jim and I will be seeing 'MacBeth' the Saturday after Thanksgiving in Bryn Mawr. I've set up a last minute meetup thread, in case anyone in the area wants to join us for brunch and/or the film.

Good Morning Joe Joe! >78 jnwelch: Oooh Seattle is soo exciting! Mr. and I are looking to moving where the job takes him, so Portland and Seattle are on the table. I wouldn't mind living in Chicago though. Although I must say I've never lived anywhere "big", the couple of times I've been to Chicago, my allergies just go nuts.

I've made the 5lb of cornbread for the stuffing today. After it's cool, I'll crumble it to let it get quite dry before being turned into stuffing, so it won't be a gloppy, ploppy mess. Of course I can, and have, toasted the crumbs, but then they taste toasted and I'm not that in love with the flavor.

Now on Wednesday night, I'll bake the stuffing and we can reheat it with a little broth as we need it. Or simply slam a few servings into the nuke. I love how forgiving stuffing is!

I'm never grumpy about cooking for Thanksgiving, since I've stopped participating in the horrors of turkey at least. I like cooking for a crowd! (We're fourteen at table this year, give or take a few.)

>79 mckait: I'm a carb addict, too, Kath. Stuffing is wonderful. Plus the mashed potatoes. Plus rolls. Plus pie.

>80 ffortsa: Hope you get some meetuppers, Judy. Wish we could join you. That's a great addition to a holiday weekend.

>81 leperdbunny: I can vouch for Seattle, Tam, not that we're lacking for Seattle fans on LT. I've heard lots of good things about Portland, too, and I'm determined to get there and visit Powell's bookstore. There was a great line on Grimm the other night, the show on which all sorts of mythological beasties show up. Someone complained about seeing too much weird beastie behavior, and the main character said something like, of course there's lots of weird - it's Portland!

You can tell we love living in Chicago. I know what you mean about allergies - our daughter in particular gets whacked by them. Lots of trees and flowers in the city, among other things. I don't know how it compares to other cities on that score. But if you're looking for sports, arts, theater, restaurants, parks, etc., and a beautiful waterfront, it's a great place to live.

ETA: >82 richardderus: You should think about opening a restaurant, RD. Your chef-ing always sounds so good. A gathering of 14 should be a blast - we'll have a small Thanksgiving group, but at some point we'll have a big Hannukah gathering per tradition. (Hannukah is coming ridiculously early this year, so my MBH is figuring out a different time).

Joe over at Ellen thread I have proposed we have drinking games when we read The Witches of Eastwick next year. Surely that will add a half star to our review.

>83 jnwelch: Ha! I saw that suggestion of a Witches of Eastwick drinking game, Roberta, and heartily endorsed it. Who cares who the author is? We'll have a great time.

An excuse to drink? I'll even read Updike for that! Hell, it's not like it's Chuckles the Dick.

#86 Exactly! I predict a successful group read of The Witches of Eastwick. If you would like to follow along the game but not the book we will figure out a code so you can take a swig or twelve.

A belt per page. That's my reward.

ETA 307 pages!! Ooo this is gonna be *fun*!

>>86 richardderus:, 88 I'm exhilarated and insulted (on CD's behalf) at the same time, Richard. Let's go with exhilarated. This could be the best group read ever.

Here's a related idea:



I just read in the paper where a mother found a letter her now grown-up daughter had written to herself at age 14, as a school assignment, identifying ten things she wanted to accomplish as an adult. The daughter had apparently accomplished 5 of them, which probably is quite a good percentage. I squirm to think of what nonsense I would've written at that age.

>87 luvamystery65: There is probably some kind of LT medal of honor that gets handed out each year, Roberta, and I imagine you're on the inside track for one with this idea.

Someone complained about seeing too much weird beastie behavior, and the main character said something like, of course there's lots of weird - it's Portland!

Bwahahahah! One of the reasons we watch Portlandia, that and Fred Armisen is just weird in his own right.

Yeah, I've only seen bits of Portlandia, Tam, but I sure know Fred Armisen is just weird in his own right. I loved that line in Grimm. He was trying to convince the other person that nothing really all that odd was going on. We need first hand reports from some Portland LTer - I wonder where such a person can be found?

*blushing*

WHOOP! You like me. You really really like me!

Can we call you Sally now?

Berly-boo is a Portlandian! Isn't rainpebble also?

>94 luvamystery65: I'd have gotten excited if I'd won a drinking game award, too, Roberta.

I've probably mentioned that I've told my kids, when they win the Academy Award, they can't just thank mom, they have to thank dad, too. Seems like hardly anyone who wins remembers to thank their dad. Sally was so caught up in how much we like her, I bet she forgot to thank her dad.

>95 richardderus: You may be right, Richard. But are they weird? (Hmm, are we in any position to judge what's weird and what isn't?) (If either is a hexenbiest, I think that qualifies).

I think the rainpebble hails from Washington, not Oregon.

"I'd like to thank the Academy, and also the crappiest, most judgmental, and not infrequently abusive parents and sisters a man could ever have for being living proof that blood does NOT make a good basis for trust."

Hmmm. Wonder if the audience would clap. Fortunately I can't act so we'll never know.

Oof. I suspect you'd get stunned silence, and then a lot of applause, RD. Makes me appreciate my good fortune is having only somewhat absentee parents.

Sorry I am late with a Three Pines update. I recorded the TV movie when it was shown here in September but I haven't watched it yet. I read the first book and wasn't all that taken with it, but I have been assured that the series gets better so I do plan on continuing with it. I am saving the watching of the movie until the day that I can say that I truly love the Three Pines series.

(77) Joe, both Skylark and Caleb's Story were good reads, see my review, copied below (no spoilers):

... The second book, Skylark, continues the story of the family, but in the midst of a severe drought that causes many of the settlers to pack up and leave, never to return. How this affects Jacob and his family is again told simply, but with love.

The third book is told from the perspective of Caleb, after his sister Anna goes to town to work for her prospective father in law, a doctor. A stranger shows up at the farm, and brings questions about Jacob's mysterious past.

These books are well written, the characters are real people, and the entire series is extremely enjoyable. This omnibus is staying on my bookshelves, and I'm adding it to my favorites' list, to be reread.

Did you know that My Side of the Mountain is also a trilogy? :D

I love this house...it even has bookshelves!

http://www.viralnova.com/tiny-house/

Of course, the shelves aren't big enough. If they got rid of the bed...

>102 fuzzi: I was seriously considering a tiny house until I realized that Mr. hated the idea and we love our pets. It is really hard to have a small living space with 3 cats and 2 dogs. As we have gotten older we realize we should downsize on the pets, so as soon as the cats pass, no more cats. Probably at most 3 dogs at any given time. That and no room for books, in a tiny house situation. I did see someone who bought a vintage bus with the storage underneath for luggage that completely overhauled as a nice "kitty" room- complete with beds, scratching posts, litter boxes etc. There was a hidey-hole installed "upstairs" for the kittehs to go down to their area whenever they wanted. We also love to have our dogs in our bed, and a lot of the designs feature a loft. Hard to get a couple of 70+ lb dogs up a wooden step ladder but I saw some work-arounds for that as well. Honestly, I think we are headed towards tiny house and efficiency living in the next 50 or so years as space will become a premium, especially in big cities.
The one positive about tiny living is that it can in a sense grow with you. If you need another work area or study, buy a prefab tool shed and run electrical to sit aside your house.

Well, the cafe is hopping this evening! Hi Joe! Got a nice imperial IPA on tap?

I'm definitely on board with stuffing myself with stuffing, and you know I think Seatlte is the cat's meow (no, Richard, really, it's got some nice things about it). The truth is that, for the longest time, I really wished I lived in Portland, but now that I've been in Seatle for six years, I absolutely love this city. It helps to have visitors now and then; it keeps me from taking things for granted. Hint.

I will make the cornbread after I get to Mississippi tomorrow. I really do wish that I could have made it today, but I didn't have a good way to transport it and keep it away from the cat in the process. At least there will be a couple of days for it to dry out.

Yes! I have Longbourn! It was waiting for me at the library this afternoon!

::purring::

Oh, lucky, lucky fuzzi. I finished Longbourn a few days ago and have been singing its praises ever since. I am so grateful that Jo Baker didn't make the mistake of trying to copy Austen's writing but created her own wonderful story, using Austen's characters as (very deep) background. The wonderful characters and plot will resonate for a long while with me. Best book I've read this year. (Well, tied for first.)

Hi Joe, I'm pretty sure Louise Penny ended up distancing herself from that Three Pines TV production. I'm not sure why but I think there was some disagreement about the content. Anyway, on FB she seemed to indicate something like that.

And now for your dose of Sherlock cuteness ;)

#106 - I'm jealous.

#109 - TOO CUTE!

Hi Joe!

A little late to the applesauce party, but chiming in to say that, yes, homemade is definitely the best! Definitely worth all the peeling. I throw in a handful of Redhots to give it a little spice and turn it pink.

ET fix the embarrassing "through" for "throw" thing. Sigh.

I am in love with that beautiful dog!!!

I don't read all of Penny's posts on FB, and so hadn't realized that she was less than happy with the production. That's really too bad :( This is why MDR refuses to go with a movie for Sparrow. Although I think Doc is in production for TV and last I heard she was pleased. Epitaph will be out before long..

So I was just dumping cinnamon into my yogurt container, and accidentally dumped it into my coffee first. Now, while I have done that in the past, because Dan doesn't like cinnamon coffee, it wasn't in the plan. I will be quite cinnamon-y today.

Stuffing is on my mind, today! Hope your day is a good one, Joe and everyone.

111 My grandmother used to do that with canned applesauce, heating it up, of course, when there was no homemade to be had. I had totally forgotten that until you mentioned it.

>100 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. Fans of the series like me are eager to hear whether the tv movie of Still Life is any good. I've seen nothing on when it might migrate south of the border.

>101 fuzzi: Love it, fuzzi, thanks. I'll continue to follow the Sarah Plain and Tall characters in the follow-ups. That's a beautifully done book. How she gets us to understand and care about Jacob, Anna, Caleb and Sarah in such a short amount of pages is impressive.

I didn't know that My Side of the Mountain is the first in a trilogy. I'm about halfway through, and so far it makes me think of Swiss Family Robinson without the sometimes excessive sentimentality and moralizing - just the good bits. I'm liking it.

>102 fuzzi: That's a cool house, fuzzi. As a somewhat big guy who likes having some space, I couldn't live there, but I applaud them. I'd have to have Mark's backyard library, too, that's for sure, as our books would overrun that small house in short order.

>103 leperdbunny: Yes, I can see how you'd need to downsize your pet group, Tam. You might follow the lead of Mamie's clan in the Pecan Paradisio, with an efficiently packable group of adorables:



I have it on good authority that they're named Bailey, Biscotti, Barnum, and Bella.

Your shed sounds fine, although I like Mark's backyard library.



>104 EBT1002: Ha! Hint taken, Ellen. I don't know about everyone else, but we plan on enjoying some of February in Seattle. We understand that's not exactly balmy weather time, but it should be good enough for bookstores and cafes.

RD no doubt would prefer that Seattle be the dog's bark instead of the cat's meow. Or the dog's bollocks if we want to get Brit about it.

(107) @NarratorLady, what other book is tied for first?

(109) Too cute! :)

(111) @scaifea, try easy applesauce: just core, and cook with the skins on. The skins are easy enough to pick out afterwards, or eat, as I used to do with my mom's homemade sauce.

Addendum: I read My Side of the Mountain after I saw the movie (don't bother, it changes a lot of the book). However, until I saw it mentioned here on LT, I did not realize there were two sequels. I've read book 2, and the third, Frightful's Mountain is waiting in the wings... ;)

>105 thornton37814: I take it you're driving to MS, Lori. We'll do the same at Christmas (to Ann Arbor), but we'll be hauling some of our applesauce, which we don't need to worry about having dry out. We do probably have to keep an eye on wily Sherlock, who will probably have figured out how to open tupperware by then.

How do you make your cornbread? You know we all like to drool a bit on our keyboards (equipped with sponges).

>106 fuzzi: Oh wonderful, fuzzi! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I still think about it. I just saw the last part of the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle P & P on the tube last weekend, and I'd love to see Longbourn given that type of A+ treatment.

>107 NarratorLady: Great, great, great, Anne! Your reaction to Longbourn matches mine. You're right; there's no re-creating Austen's writing style, so please don't try, and she didn't. I was just thinking that Longbourn was probably my #1 for the year, but I need to look back at others I've read. What would be your other #1?

>108 brenzi: I can believe Louise Penny was unhappy with the tv film of Still Life, Bonnie, although I'm sorry to hear it. What little I can glean from the intergoogleweb indicates discontent among viewers. I'm connected with LP on Facebook, but I'm such a pathetic FB participant that it doesn't mean a lot. I do like her constant and sincere appreciation of her fans. She seems to be quite a nice lady (in contrast to tales of Updike from Kath and others).

>109 seasonsoflove: Ha! It feels like a better day already, Becca. Thanks! He's a cute fellow, don't you think? Looking forward to his holiday visit starting quite soon.

Packing up our stuff so Sherlock and I are ready to be picked up tomorrow for our holiday visit :) We are looking forward to it too!

Oh em gee there is just too much cuteness on this thread.

>110 EBT1002: I think (hope) you'll love Longbourn when you get to it, Ellen. So well done.

He is a cute guy, isn't he? And quite an accomplished crimesolver, when he's not plotting to get into places he's not supposed to.

>111 scaifea: I love our annual tradition of the Making of the Applesauce, Amber. We put in a schmish of cinnamon, and that's it. The apples' natural sweetness takes care of the rest.

Can I interest you in some applesauce spice cupcakes topped with apple cider buttercream?



>112 mckait: I'm in love with that beautiful dog, too, Kath, but don't tell Becca, as I don't want to endanger my curmudgeon status. I can see how it would be hard for an author like LP or MDR to have control of the story they labored over taken out of their hands, particularly with the danger it will not be done well. I'm sure the failed adaptations way outnumber the successful ones. What ones have been good? I liked the Little Women one, and of course, A Christmas Carol. But I've steered clear of some where I didn't want to mess up the images in my mind, like the Brad Pitt-starring A River Runs Through It. I want to see The Book Thief, but I worry about that one, too.

Hope you have a great day, too, Kath! Almost to the holiday, we are. (Sometimes, despite my best efforts, some Yoda speak creeps into my life).

BTW, I like cinnamon in my coffee, so I'll take it if Dan doesn't.

>113 laytonwoman3rd: I'd never heard of throwing Redhots into the applesauce, Linda. I'll have to figure out a way to try that sometime. My MBH has an iron will when it comes to the homemade applesauce (and many other things, actually), so I'll tread carefully on this one.

(118) How about this to "de-cute" the thread?

>115 fuzzi: I hope Anne stops by and lets us know her other #1 besides Longbourn, fuzzi.

For our applesauce, we have a routine down, with me cutting them into quarters and my MBH then coring and skinning them. We'd probably start having pieces and parts flying every which way if we deviated.

That Sherlock gets treated like a prince everywhere he goes. I must say, he deserves it. He was a sorry-looking bit of scrawn when Becca found him. And he just loves people. Squirrels, not so much.

I've met Frightful - nice pun, having his book "waiting in the wings". When I spring one of those clever wordplays on my family, the ungrateful wretches just give me flack.

>117 seasonsoflove: Don't forget Sherlock's violin and deerstalker. Your mom probably told you, but we're changing our address to 221B. See you soon!

>118 leperdbunny: I know, Tam, all this cuteness is just too much, isn't it? Let's talk about hats and elephants.



ETA: >120 fuzzi: Your de-cute is much better than mine, fuzzi. *quickly heads for safety*

Joe, I didn't try to pun, it just happened. I realized it was a pun just before I clicked "post message".

Those are the best kind of puns. :)

Morning Joe- Just a very quick pop in! It looks like we are going to have a tough week. I am glad I am off on Thursday, although you never know they might cancel the holiday. Lol!
Have a good day, my friend.

Hey Joe- just passing by. Sherlock is too cute, perfect for snuggling! I hope the holiday goes just your way.

>119 jnwelch: Yum!

>120 fuzzi: whaaaaaat is that?

>121 jnwelch: Sorry, Elephants in top hats are cute. :P

I second that, what IS that thing? It looks like an alien life form.

>122 fuzzi: Those spontaneous flights of fancy can really soar, fuzzi. To me they climb higher into the sky than any other kind, but you never know when they're going to plummet and lay an egg.

>123 msf59: Jeez, I think Ebeneezer Scrooge isn't supposed to show up until Christmas, Mark, so they'd better not have you working on Thanksgiving. This weather can keep food fresh, but it can wear down the eaters. Hope you have an enjoyable audio going, and the day's a good one. I'll stop over in a bit and see how you like that librarian pic I left you.

>>124 Thebookdiva:, 126 Hiya, Abby! Hope you and your clan are setting up for a good holiday. I can't wait.

Sherlock is cute, isn't he, and Becca will confirm to you that he's perfect for snuggling. Who'd have guessed that a mastermind would have such an appealing exterior. On the other hand, that alien life form is creepy. I wouldn't want to wander near it. Maybe fuzzi will illuminate us on what planet he's from.

>125 leperdbunny: Re >>119 jnwelch:-121, Tam, (1) agreed, (2) creepy alien life form brought here by fuzzi, and (3) elephants in top hats are welcome guests any time.

The "un-cute" creature came from the planet "Google", in the "Image Search" region. ;)

>129 fuzzi: For goodness sake, fuzzi, there are plenty of un-un-cute, cute creatures on the same planet. Why not bring one of those?

I think your critter is cute...well...kinda...

aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnd back to food!



Pumpkin coffee cake made with coffee!

>131 fuzzi: It's got to be cuter than >120 fuzzi:, don't you think, fuzzi? Just about anything would be, no offense to the alien.

>132 richardderus: Now we're talkin'! Thanks, RD. What could be cuter, well, more appealing, than pumpkin coffee cake made with coffee? Maybe pumpkin coffee cake made with coffee, with a big mug of coffee to wash it down?

That cake looks a bit underdone to me...but I like the idea. And I LOVE that mug. Oh my.

mmmm, Pumpkin Coffee Coffee Cake with a mug of coffee sounds like the perfect mid-morning snack I am looking for!

Mmmm, pumpkin coffee cake. They had like raisin walnut orange pumpkin cookie thingies at the deli I was at today with cream cheese frosting. Took every ounce of will I had not to get one.

>134 laytonwoman3rd: You can do some serious coffee drinking with that mug, Linda. Wish I had one like it.

>135 DeltaQueen50: Me, too, Judy. Except maybe I'd add a couple of pieces and up it from snack status to repast.

>136 leperdbunny: In an effort to stay au courant, Tamara, we tracked down raisin walnut orange pumpkin cookie thingies, but initially forgot the cream cheese frosting:



Here's the fixed-up version:



You can have them here with zero calories, for only a modest amount of Flavian Pobble Beads.

I WANT THAT MUG.

Tamara, I have no shred of your willpower. The only question for me would have been, "Six or twelve...hmmmm...."

Thanks Joe! LOL Richard :)

>138 richardderus: Me, too, Richard, and me, too. Mug please, and a bunch of them cookies.

>139 leperdbunny: You're welcome, Tam. Thank you for the excellent seasonal suggestion.

Hi Joe- Another long one but I am trying to stay chipper. Finished the Three Pines book, which was another gem. Have you read Troubles? It feels like a Joe-ish book.

I also love the mug!

>141 msf59: Nobody knows the Troubles I've read, Mark - I feel like I should write a song about it. My sympathy on the long day. One more? I hope you get Friday off, too?

Glad Three Pines is treating you right. What a spell she weaves.

That mug's a keeper, isn't it. That and a fistful of pumpkin cookie thingies, and I'm all set.

I think we're going to try to catch the second Hunger Games movie over the holiday. What a perfect pick Jennifer Lawrence is for Katniss.

I love Jennifer Lawrence. I think she's just a classy young actress. We need more of those.

Joe and fuzzi: My other #1 book is Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being. It too is filled with lyrical writing and a wonderful protagonist. I had the same experience with this book and Longbourn: halfway through reading them, I was sad to be so close to the end.

I have seen the cute and the uncute, the sweet Joe ( curmudgeon is laughable.... that's rdears job)
and the yummy looking food. Little Laura brought me muffins today, made with applesauce and chocolate chips and ? but they are gluten free and delicious... amazing!

Oh and I love Jennifer Lawrence, too...

Now I think I will pull out my Three Pines mug and make some hot tea and have one!

>143 leperdbunny: Agreed, Tam. Classy and smart.

>144 NarratorLady: Oh, I'm glad to hear that, Anne. That one, A Tale for the Time Being, seemed like it would work for me, but it has gotten a few adverse reactions on LT. That's a good sign when halfway through you don't want them to end. I just moved ATFTTB way up the tbr. Thanks.

>145 mckait: Darn it. I work hard at being a curmudgeon, Kath, but some people (RD) are just born for the role.

Those muffles do sound good - that Little Laura must be a keeper.

Jennifer Lawrence just kind of restores my faith in humanity.

Three Pines mug! Well, I never. You're a lucky one. I couldn't even find Three Pines, much less a souvenir mug from there.

From food and wonderful reading spots to animals on your thread now, Joe? You never fail to host soul enriching pics. :-)

Have you read Relish a graphic novel about food by Lucy Knisley? It's fun and I think you'll enjoy it.

I've been craving cheesecake all day. My local Culver's even had a cheesecake ice cream as the special today. Le Sigh.

>132 richardderus: hooooly moly, that looks like if I made it it would be the only cake I was ever to ever make. Ever.
YUM

>120 fuzzi: is the stuff of nightmares. Please please tell me that is not a real thing and that it is not crawling out of part of a human being.

Btw, Joe, my detox has ended. I survived! I felt good, but then I ate ice cream today and have upped the coffees to more than one a day again. I shall refrain from over-consumption tomorrow. Honest.

Yep. A bookshop near LP sells them. My sister saw a post I made about them on FB and she got me one for Christmas a year or two or three ago..... it is a squat, medium sized mug with Three pines on it :)
Stuffing is in the fridge, ready to put into the bird tomorrow!

I need to buy a pie.

The Princess Bride is surprisingly faithful to the book. Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies but I can't remember how faithful it is to the book. I much prefer the movie version of Howl's Moving Castle to the book. I've watched the movie over and over yet I gave the book only 5 out of 10 stars.

>147 cameling: Thanks, Caro. Our BYOV (bring your own visuals) policy seems to be paying off.

Relish does look good. Onto the gn tbr it goes. Thanks for the tip. Hope the predicted storms aren't too bad out your way. Are you staying home for Thanksgiving?

>148 leperdbunny: Ah, yummy delicious, Tam, as we say in our house.

How about some key lime pie cheesecake?



>149 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! Our friend RD knows his way around cake, doesn't he?

I thought the >120 fuzzi: was crawling out from some rocks. Fuzzi may be able to shed light on that one. Apparently it's a real thing. Hard to say for sure, as most of us were cowering back in the kitchen when it showed up.

Congrats on completing the detox! Ice cream and extra coffee seem like perfect rewards, although for me it might've been pie instead of ice cream. Tomorrow would be a tough day to refrain from overconsumption here in the States, as we will be busy eating while giving thanks for much of the day. Our neighborhood starts the day with a ceremonial run/walk (lots of kids), so that helps a bit.

>150 mckait: "I need to buy a pie". I wish I had a dime for every time I've said that, Kath. Of course, I'd still be way broke, because pies cost a lot more than a dime.

Sounds like you're otherwise ready for the big day. I remain envious of your Three Pines mug. Our investigators were able to uncover this photo.



I like the "Vive Gamache", too.

ETA: >151 Morphidae: Good morning, Morphy! Oh yeah, The Princess Bride is a good example of a well-made adaptation. I'll bet Goldman was thrilled. I don't know regarding Practical Magic either. I've read other Diana Wynn Jones books, but not that one. Howl's Moving Castle was a beaut of a movie; I'm a Miyazaki fan, as you may have gathered.

I'd love to have a Three Pines mug! (And just about every Doctor Who mug out there, if I'm honest.) Last time I checked, they were sold out, but perhaps in the early months of next year there will be another shipment?

As for me, I couldn't stand the book Practical Magic, but I really liked the film. I think the movie was fairly faithful to the book, but couldn't swear by it as I struggled to finish reading the darn thing.

I've never read Diana Wynn Jones, but she's been on my list for several years now. Maybe next year?

A movie that wasn't faithful to the book is The Neverending Story. In fact, it only told half the story!

>153 LauraBrook: I can believe they're sold out of the Three Pines mugs, Laura. So many fans out there. I'm guessing you might need a storage facility to hold all the Dr. Who mugs, given its long run and popularity.

My kids were Diana Wynne Jones fans, and persuaded me to read the Chrestomanci books, which I enjoyed.

>154 Morphidae: I remember being very let down by that movie of The Neverending Story, Morphy. Makes me think of The Golden Compass movie, which also, IMO, fell flat. Our son was so disappointed by The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie. He'd been quite excited about it coming out, went opening night and . . . meh.

Morning, Joe, hope all is well with you. Talking about books and movies that are different, I just read Mrs. Miniver expecting it to be basically the same story as the 1942 movie starring Greer Garson. Was I in for a surprise, they are totally different!

>156 DeltaQueen50: Morning, Judy. All is well here. I hope it is for you, too, in that beautiful part of the world where you live.

Sometimes movie producers just take the title and completely deviate from the book. I've never understood that. I haven't read or seen Mrs. Miniver - would you recommend one, or both?

Some other good movie adaptations of books: Silence of the Lambs (both still scare me); The 39 Steps (love the silly play, too); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (both heartbreakers); and To Kill a Mockingbird (both knock me on my keister).

I read My Side of the Mountain many times after discovering it in 5th grade the year it won the Newbery, and loved it. The first sequel wasn't written until 21 years later, so I wasn't familiar with it. Wikipedia says George wrote THREE more sequels after that as well.

Pumpkin coffee cake made with coffee!

Mine! Mine! Mine!! It's all mine, I tell you, mine mine mine!!!!!!

::evil laughter::

@ronincats, three more sequels? I'm gonna check it out.

Joe, I have read and seen the movie of both The Silence of the Lambs and To Kill a Mockingbird and agree, even though both adaptions did stray from the book. Sometimes straying is good, sometimes it's ...ewww... (think The Thorn Birds).

Addendum: yes, @ronincats, you are absolutely right, there are TWO more books in that series:

Frightful's Daughter

and

Frightful's Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel

More books TBR...

Joe, I would recommend both the movie and the book versions of Mrs. Miniver. Although very different, one thing they have in common is that they were made as propaganda pieces to boost morale. The book is slightly dated and rather sentimental and charming, but her observations on human nature are right on. I haven't seen the movie for some time but it garnered an Academy Award for Greer Garson and as I recall, is a stiff upper lip, British family-at-war story that was very well done and fun to watch.

>158 ronincats: Three more, eh, Roni? Hmm, that could be very interesting, particularly given what happened at the end of MSOTM to change Sam's circumstances.

>159 fuzzi: If you get into a tug of war with RD over the pumpkin coffee cake, fuzzi, I'm going to be on the spot for any fallen bits.

Those two (The Silence of the Lambs and To Kill a Mockingbird) do the adaptation thoughtfully and well, don't they, even with some straying? I can't remember whether The Princess Bride strays, but I have to believe it does.

Frightful and her daughter seem to take center stage as it goes on, based on the titles. The Baron Weasel was a great character; glad to see he gets some more face time in the last one.

>160 DeltaQueen50: Sounds good, Judy. I've always wanted to see the movie, and I tend to like well-written WWII books set in Britain.

When reading The Princess Bride after having watched the movie numerous times, I was surprised at how very faithful to the book it was. I think it was the most faithful adaptation I've ever come across. Some of the dialogue was almost word for word!

have a good one tomorrow, Joe and everybody. i'm thankful every day for your recommendation of Cider with Rosie. such a wonderful way to end the day!

since it's cold and snowy here, i brought by some hot cider nog, and a fire, for anyone as wants 'em.

The cookies and key lime cheesecake are mine.

Coffee cake is for everyone! Have at! (I must say that the recipe sounded more ooomphy than the results, so I'll have to make it again to see why.)

*scurrys away from fuzzi's inhalation of same*

>164 kidzdoc: LOL! I'll take a hot chocolate or a mocha, please Joe. :P

When I make my homemade applesauce I quarter the apples, removing core and seeds, cook them down with just a tiny bit of water, and when the apples are soft, I run them through my Food mill. I like to leave the skins on for color. Sometimes we add red hots for a cinnamon flavor. This year my mom, my friend and I made 50 pints.

The sequels to Sarah Plain and Tall were also made into movies which my family enjoyed.

Wishing you and your family a lovely Thanksgiving holiday, Joe.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and may we be truly thankful for so many blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving to all the denizens of the cafe, and most especially to our Esteemed Prop. who makes us all feel welcome, well fed and comfortable, no matter the time or time zone.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, Joe!

Good grief, this thread has been busy! No point in trying to catch up so I will just jump in an wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving, Joe!

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe. Will the cafe serve leftovers after today's feast?

Morning Joe! I hope you have a great day with the family. I am sure you are off, for a long weekend, right? If so, I am extremely jealous.

Happy Thanksgiving, USA-ians!

>162 Morphidae: That makes the Princess Bride movie (and Goldman) even more remarkable to me, Morphy. All that snappy dialogue tracks the book closely - I had forgotten. Timeless movie - my kids like it as much as we do.

>163 mirrordrum: Oh, that hot cider nog looks good, Ellie! I didn't know there was such a thing. Hope you and JB are having a great holiday.

Isn't Cider with Rosie wonderful? I'm so glad you're enjoying it. A bit of the old days, don't you know?

>164 kidzdoc: Ah, it reminds me of growing up with my sisters, Darryl, claiming and fighting over the food. They always managed to win, because when they stopped being bigger than me, they were still wilier. We may yet end up with a cafe food fight, which is always worth the cleanup.

>165 richardderus: Running a fever again, Richard? I can't get used to this Bob Cratchit version of you. Feel free to try making that cake as many times as you want. We're happy to be your test subjects.

>166 leperdbunny: OK, we'll start with hot chocolate, Tam, and bring you a mocha when you're ready. Here you go.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe! Thankfully, the cafe is here for us to eat guiltlessly of calorie-free deliciousness while talking the ear off our ever-patient and welcoming proprietor.

Thanks for that. It adds to the store of good memories for so many of us, and in the end, it's those memories that remind us to be thankful.

>167 Cobscook: That sounds mighty good, Heidi. My MBH likes not using the food mixer for this, so we do what you do (quarters, core) but also peel.

Skylark and Caleb's Story were made into movies, too? Isn't that something, from what I assume are also slim volumes. Wish I had known about these as movies, I would have tried them on our kids.

>168 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. We started the day with a visit from furry Sherlock and some reading in bed (I've got The Secret Garden with the Inga Moore illustrations going - perfect), and our kind daughter brought me a cup of Peet's coffee. Way better than working.

Hope you have a relaxing day, even if it's not filled with vittles like ours.

>169 fuzzi: Happy Thanksgiving, fuzzi. You're right - so much to be thankful for. Including LT, where lovers of books can connect up like this. How did we live without it before?

We've got our lovely daughter and mastermind Sherlock staying with us for a couple of days, and talked to our adventurous son last night. He'll be taken care of by a lovely couple today, and will meet other "strays" at the get-together.

>170 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Thanks, Linda. Most welcome, indeed. Happy Thanksgiving!

>171 ronincats: There's our Roni. Happy Thanksgiving! So glad I didn't miss your post - I'd never hear the end of it, right? I'm guessing you have the best-decorated home in LT land, with that skill set of yours.

>172 lkernagh: Totally understand, Lori. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! We've all had to jump in like that. We're such a festive, gabby group, right?

>173 cameling: Happy Thanksgiving, Caro! I'm sure we'll have cafe leftovers, even with the appetites that show up here. But from what I've seen over on your thread, we may be visiting you for leftovers!

>174 msf59: Hey, buddy! Happy Thanksgiving - Debbi wanted me to be sure to convey her holiday best wishes to you and Susan. She really enjoyed meeting Susan at the last outing.

Yes, I've got the whole blessed four day weekend off. Like an oasis in the desert. Sorry you don't get it all off. Quaff some unusual brew today, eat lots of good food, and catch some of the football? I'll lift a beverage in your honor.

Here's a Thanksgiving Day extra for you:

>176 richardderus: Happy Thanksgiving, Richard! Appreciate the kind thoughts. Calorie-free delicious food, and talking each other's ears off, it's a good life, isn't it? Thank you for bringing your wit and savory creations here and elsewhere on LT - you make us all laugh and drool all over the place. Wait, that makes us sound a bit crazy, doesn't it?

Hope you and Stella and the invited horde have a great time today.

OMG! Love all the beer. Some real gems in there. BTW- I did finish The Children of Palomar. I know you are a fan of Hernandez and I think this is his latest. What an interesting and twisted artist. A heady mix of Fellini and David Lynch.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe! Enjoy the family, food, and nap! ;)

This cracks me up -

Hi Joe!
Wishing you and your family a Happy Turkey Day w/pie!

>179 msf59: Ha! I know, Mark, I wouldn't mind digging into those beers in RL sometime.

So do you recommend Children of Palomar? You're right, I'm a fan of the bros. Hernandez, and I've wondered about this one. The Palomar stories have definitely been my faves.

>180 LauraBrook: Happy Thanksgiving, Laura! We just finished the Turkey Trot (neighborhood fun run/walk), and now we're getting ready to make some pizza.

Love the turkey-riding for prosperity and plenty.

Although he's not easy to see, this is me wearing Sherlock last night. (Photo by Becca).



>181 -Cee-: Thanks, Cee! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Yes, there is lots o' pie in our future today. I'll be focusing on the apple, and my MBH and daughter will be focusing on the pumpkin. Sherlock will be focusing on all of us and hoping for droppage.

This is an experiment, with Becca helping copy pics from Photobucket. This is us at a concert (Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20). It works!



Debbi and Sherlock

Experiment with random dogs.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe! I love the photos.

>184 jnwelch: Thanks, Darryl. Becca is teaching me how to use photobucket. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Joe- Love the photos! A man and his dog. Awwwww...Yes, I recommend The Children of Palomar, especially if you are a fan and know what to expect.
Crazy Lions & Packers game. We are heading out in a half hour.

Thanks, Mark. Gotcha on TCOP. Yeah, the Lions should be way up. Bad turnovers. Half a good time - relatives? The local pub?

Becca says Happy Thanksgiving!

Yep. Early in the second half the Lions had as many turnovers as points (3). It looks as though they have righted the ship, though.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe! May it be full of fabulous!

>189 kidzdoc: That Calvin Johnson is a force, isn't he, Darryl? I like Brandon Marshall a lot, but to me Johnson is #1. Yeah, it looks like the Lions are setting up to pull away now.

>190 Crazymamie: Ha! Nice pic. Thanks, Mamie! I hope it's a fabuloso day at the Pecan Paradisio. Happy Thanksgiving!

We're flipping to the Dog Show during football commercial breaks. Sherlock is so fascinated that I'm just waiting for the snoring to start.

Posted this over on Mark's thread, but I should do it here, too. A friend of ours is a cartoonist, and this is one of his.

Love the photos, Joe!

(192) That cartoon is eerily similar to a Twilight Zone story, or maybe it was on Outer Limits?

:)

Twilight Zone Spoiler Alert Yeah, it's a takeoff on an old Twilight Zone, fuzzi. Everyone thought the aliens' warm feelings toward us were reflected in their book entitled "How to Serve Man". But when someone finally figured out how to translate it it turned out to be a . . .

Glad you like the photos! Our online whiz daughter is trying to help me do better with personal photos.

Happy Thanksgiving Joe!

Hope your day has been wonderful Joe.

I hope you're having a great Thanksgiving, Joe!

I hope all those in the U.S are or have had a great Thanksgiving day ........

I love the photos :) I see that you have a cozy blanket on your reading chair, and I see that you really didn't need it with Sherlock keeping you warm :)

Photobucket is my go to for posting photos.. so may options! I hope you had a nice day yesterday :) and another one today :)

>195 leperdbunny: Beautiful. Thanks, Tam!

>196 brenzi: Thanks, Bonnie. It was indeed. Filled with laziness and food and reading and football games. My favorite kind of day! Hope you had wonderful day, too.

>197 tymfos: 'Twas a great day, Terri. And I'm lucky enough to continue the good times today. Yeah!

>198 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. As far as I can tell, a good time has been had by all. Some may already be off to stores for Black Friday sales. Not us! Too crazy.

>199 mckait: Thanks, Kath. The cozy blanket actually was for Sherlock, but he decided I was warm enough.

I'm learning photobucket, and I'm lucky to have a patient daughter for a teacher. To me, we should be able to just copy and paste into LT (or anywhere), but taking the side road is required.

Yes, and yes, for yesterday and today. I lost rock, paper, scissors with my wife for having to go out and bring back coffee/chai (yes, sometimes we have to work to be lazy and not make our own). But after that major effort, it looks pretty smooth today. We're cleaning up and organizing the place a bit, of course - who can resist - and putting away some things for winter, but generally it should be a slow and easy day.

Hope yours is slow and easy, and you spend some quality time goofing off.

Oinky Friday, Joe! I mean, Happy Friday, Joe! Sherlock is a bundle of curly black cuteness, isn't he? I just want to schmoozle his ears and scratch his belly!

Having made all that delicious food, I was hoping for leftovers...and there are...but about 1/3 what I was hoping for. Which means the dinner was a huge success. I will say that it was full of yum-o goodness.

Joe, I want to give my own thanksgiving this weekend to the 75ers Cafe and its erudite and jovial proprietor. To a great guy and his family, Happy Thanksgiving.

>201 richardderus: Hiya, Richard! An Oinky/Happy Friday to you, too!

Young Sherlock is in heaven, as he's getting lots of attention, with ear-schmoozling and belly scratching, the food is good (including lettuce and sweet potato - who knew a dog would like those so much), and there are plenty of comfortable places to nap. He and his ma slept in late this morning, and came out ready to have a good day. It's very sunny here, and warming a bit, so we got him out on a good walk.

I'll bet that dinner was huge success. Too bad about fewer leftovers, but knowing you you'll figure out a way to augment them that the rest of us will envy.

>202 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! Wish we had you and your family here to celebrate with us. You might like the cooler weather for a spell. I'm sure all the cafe denizens join me in thanking you for all the fun over the year in your always friendly and stimulating thread. Happy Friday to you and yours!

I like the pie with stars idea, hmm...

My breakfast consisted of a slice of pumpkin pie and a cuppa strong and black "Chock Full of Nuts" coffee. :)

OK, no one else having claimed it, fuzzi, the pie with stars is yours.

Starting your day with pie and coffee was brilliant. Our late breakfast was kind of a grazing one, with some great homemade bread (from the farmers' market) toasted, two types of cheese, one sharp cheddar and one with an unpronounceable name (at least, I didn't get it when my MBH pronounced it), apple slices, and roasted almonds. My MBH is now planning on living 7000 years (to the next time Hanukkah is right before Thanksgiving), so this repast fits that.

Later it'll be leftovers, and then we're going to catch the new Hunger Games movie, before coming home to recover from such an exhausting day of doing very little. Becca has worked hard to find us some Black Friday online dvd bargains, so she must be sucking wind. Sherlock has been smart, and has gone from lap to lap to catch up on his napping.

Hope your pie- and coffee-started day continues be a good and relaxing one.

Hi Joe! I love the photos of the family and Sherlock! Awe. It sounds like Thanksgiving was a success.

#205 - By the way, I like your breakfast style.

oh, star pie!

>204 fuzzi:/205, I approve this breakfast. ;)

>206 DorsVenabili: Hi, Kerri! Thanks - yes, a successful Thanksgiving, indeed. Plus we just saw Catching Fire, and it was excellent.

My MBH knows how to put together a good breakfast, doesn't she? Becca and I went on the coffee run as our part of the deal. Plus I'm the dishwashing man.

>207 mckait: I love it when you call me star pie, Kath! Oh, wait . . .

>208 leperdbunny: That makes for a much better political ad than what we usually get, Tam. "My name is Tamara, and I approve this breakfast."

OK, off to leftovers.

Leftovers were had, stuffing and Turkey, nom nom!

I had a stuffing omelet for supper. Most yum.

stuffing omelette ???? wonders will never cease

Hi Joe- Just a quick hello, before this old guy falls out. I am so glad you loved the Catching Fire film. I WANT to see it, but our available free-time is so stinking limited. I should blow off the Bears game after last Sunday's fiasco, but I probably won't.

@mckait, the star pie is MINE! I saw it first!

>152 jnwelch: (120) Apparently it's a real thing.
Oh dear God, NO!

>152 jnwelch: Our neighborhood starts the day with a ceremonial run/walk (lots of kids), so that helps a bit.
Really!?
I had this feeling that that kind of stuff only happened in tv programmes. So you and a group of nearby people have a traditional walk/run on this day every year!? I love that.

I was reminded that I was part of a community yesterday when I ran into the Plunket Nurse (the people who you have regular appointments with for them to monitor your newborn-5 year olds) at the post-office, then I ran into my yoga teacher on the way home, the coffee lady knew my order, then I ran into a school mum, and then spent the whole morning at the school (5 houses from my house) with other parents for the junior school athletics day (or, as W called it, atta-leddics day:)). It was really nice to know that so many people know me! A sense of community is not t be underrated.

>177 jnwelch: it says more about me than you, but when I scrolled down all the pictures to see which was going to stick out for me, the beer bottles did it.

Have a great long weekend, Joe!

It's okay fuzzi, you can have the pie. I am still concentrating on stuffing. Although, trying to envision rd;s stuffing omelet is leaving me with some rather frightening pictures in my head. I should make an omelet before work, but I won't. I will probably go with peanut butter on toast.

Have a happy weekend Joe, Glad to hear the film was good! I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD. Not a movie goer, me.

I liked it so much I made another one! Heated the stuffing with some cranberry relish; let it sit while I made the omelet, then slid the stuffing into position. Yum-o!

>210 leperdbunny: Nummers on our end, too, Tam. Sammiches, mashed potatoes, homemade applesauce, and pie. Mmm.

My MBH is having pie for breakfast. Following her and fuzzi's lead, I may do the same, with some Peet's Major Dickason's.

>211 richardderus: Stuffing omelet? You are a creative fellow, RD. Hope you and Stella are enjoying the holiday weekend.

>212 roundballnz: That's what I say, Alex. Stuffing omelet. Hmm.



>213 msf59: My sympathy, my friend. The movie just whips by; as Debbi said, at 2 1/2 hours it still seemed too short. That's a good sign. Jennifer Lawrence is terrific, no surprise there.

At least the weather ain't too bad. Hope you have a decent one today, with some good audio. Right now I'm spread out in my reading among the latest Precious Ramotswe, a Spenser re-read, and The Secret Garden.

Thank goodness for the Blackhawks, with the Bears and Bulls suffering from injuries. They won again last night, and I think they have the best record in the NHL now.

>>214 fuzzi:, 216 Glad you were able to resolve your star pie differences, fuzzi and Kath. Star pie to fuzzi it is.

We love going to the movies, Kath, although I wonder whether at some point movie theaters will start being as rare as drive-ins. Home tvs are getting gigantic. I suppose that's one reason movie producers like 3D, although some home tvs have that, too. Not sure how good it is.

I'm waffling (oops, no pun intended) between pie for breakfast, and toast like you. I think I'll go with pie.

>215 LovingLit: So you and a group of nearby people have a traditional walk/run on this day every year! Yes, isn't that great, Megan? Because we're in the city, we've got a lot of folks in a relatively small area. The Turkey Trot is hilarious. Per tradition, the now 10 year old son in the host family sang the national anthem first, with his younger brother doing an excited little dance at the end, and then off we all went, with parents with orange flags directing everyone along the route, which probably was less than 3/4 of a mile. Lots of kids. Then the host family had bagels and muffins and pumpkin bread and the like laid out in their house for afterwards. Very nice family, as you can tell.

We know everyone on our block, and it's a community, as you say. That's a big reason we moved here about 17 years ago from a more hip area (Bucktown/Wicker Park) that had a lot fewer families. It's city life, so we've all got to be sharp about things that can happen, but we look out for each other.

It sounds like you've got a good community going where you are. I'm unfamiliar with Plunket Nurses and junior school atta-leddics day, but I get the idea. It does help, doesn't it? My MBH manages to bond with folks all over the place, too, so I get the benefit of that.

Ha! I like those beer bottles, too. I mainly take my beer cues from that beer explorer Mark, although occasionally I find a good one that's new to him.

>216 mckait: We're trying to keep up with you, Richard. We threw a bit of apple in, too.

That looks good, too!

Hey Joe, sounds like you had lots of fun on Thanksgiving! For me, the best part is always the pumpkin pecan streusel pie. Heaven on a plate. I had pie this morning too, with a mocha of course. Have a good weekend!

>220 richardderus: Ha! You're an inspiration, Richard.

>221 Thebookdiva: Hiya, Abby! Thanks. We did indeed. I'm sure you guys had lots of Thanksgiving fun, too, yes?

Pie does make for an awfully good breakfast, doesn't it? Pumpkin pecan streusel pie sounds delicious, all right.



You guys probably thought you'd gone to heaven when you moved to pecan country. Hope you have a good weekend, too. We got our chores done for the most part this a.m., so it's mostly free form for the rest of the day. A trip to the library is part of it, as I've got one to return and one to pick up (The Fifth Wave - did you read that one by any chance?)

Doughnuts anyone?

Joe- Just popping in and making sure you are staying out of mischief. Have you read the new Hawkeye GNs? I don't usually do super hero ones but this really sounds good.

>223 leperdbunny: Those look sinfully delicious, Tam. I'm sure you'll have takers. I'll just snag one from the front row.

>224 msf59: You're psychic, Mark! I had heard the same thing about the Hawkeye gns, was a bit skeptical myself, even though I take to superheroes more than you, and it turns out the one I'm reading is really good. That was a long sentence, wasn't it? I'll let you know when I'm done, but so far all signals are positive.

Pie does make for an awfully good breakfast, doesn't it? The best. My dad ate a piece of pie from his lunch pail (packed by Mom the night before) as he waited for me to be born in the wee hours. I've always thought that was why I love pie for breakfast...imprinting, or something.

Pie is wonderful for breakfast because, well, pie!

>226 laytonwoman3rd: Sounds like a darn good reason to have pie for breakfast, Linda. The food item I remember was sunflower seeds from the hospital vending machine. We laugh about it because my MBH was not in the best mood while in labor (shocker, right?) and was quite ticked off at the smell of the sunflower seeds. Pretty innocuous smell, right? Not the day Becca was born. So Becca runs in fear whenever sunflower seeds appear. Well, maybe I made that last part up.

>227 richardderus: Here is the Eating Pie for Breakfast song, Richard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k56qVuJ8zt4

I suspect we could come up with better lyrics. Pie!

Joe, we had doughnuts this morning! Positively sinful I tell you. One filled long John and a cinnamon doughnut, nom nom!

Abby's breakfast sounds like it would be a great dessert... now would work for me...

Nice to have a quiet cafe to come home too. I am feeling a need for peace and quiet. None on the horizon any time soon here. Thanks for keeping it cozy :)

Thanks for relinquishing the stars to me, Kath. :)

We had Thanksgiving again today, as our adult son had to work on Thursday and so missed out on dinner at the Aunt's. I made two more pumpkin pies this morning, and am thrilled how well the new oven bakes! I didn't have enough pastry left to do the stars, however. :(

The dh also made more fresh stuffing, with plenty of sausage. It's so good, I'd make a sandwich with it and a slice of jellied cranberry on top, yum!!

I'm resisting the call from the pumpkin donuts in the kitchen, but if the pie starts a-calling my name, I will not fight it.

And that pumpkin pecan pie looks delectable!

Way back up there at post 222 - It is like heaven! I have not read the Fifth Wave, should I request it from the library? I'm always up for new reads.

I had my now traditional (since last weekend) pan au chocolat for morning tea this morning. It was delicious as usual ;)

Happy Sunday, Joe, and here's a plate of apple fritters:

>229 leperdbunny: Ah, doughnuts. That'll make you start the day with a smile on your face, Tam. I'd have grabbed a cinnamon if I'd been with you.

>230 mckait: There's something about pie for breakfast, Kath - the rarity (at least for me) adds some oomph to an already delicious experience. But I'd take it at elevenses and lunch and tea time and dinner, too.

Glad we could be a bit of calm and cozy for you amidst the hectic-osity.

>231 fuzzi: I like the idea of having more than one Thanksgiving, fuzzi. Good for you for helping your son like that. It does have side benefits, I can tell, like more good food for everyone. Pumpkin donuts! That would be hard to resist, but pie makes for an able substitute.

>232 Thebookdiva: Good morning, Abby! I know you read - alternative reality? - books like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and this (The 5th Wave) has been a bestseller. Resisting an alien invasion appears to be the theme. I'll let you know what I think.

>233 LovingLit: Oh, we enjoy pain au chocolat, Megan. An excellent traditional (whenever the tradition starts) staple, although we really only have it when we're lucky enough to get to France. That's make that the day starter:



ETA: >234 richardderus: Whoa! Those look great, Richard. *quickly snags a fritter* Happy Sunday!

>233 LovingLit: YUM!

Good morning Joe!

It's always delicious around here Joe. Happy Sunday!

Pie or cake as breakfast food is always a good idea! Today, thought, we had a full breakfast (more like brunch) of eggs, multi-grain toast, grilled tomatoes and lamb sausages with rosemary. We are setting up and decorating the holiday tree this afternoon so a hearty meal was needed. ;-)

>>236 leperdbunny:, 237 Well said, Tam. *quickly snags another fritter* And good morning! It's good to have another day off, isn't it?

>238 luvamystery65: Ha! I like hanging out in a place that's always delicious, Roberta. Happy Sunday!

Remember, I also go by "Jim".

>239 lkernagh: Oh my, that sounds good, Lori. We're off in the next couple of minutes to have some pizza at our local pizza place, and then to a gallery to see a friend's show of her paintings. Have fun decorating the holiday tree!

Hi Joe- Watching another abysmal Bears game. Is this the third one in a row? I was hoping we could beat up on the lowly Vikings. That doesn't appear to be happening.
Hope your Sunday is going well.

It has been a good Sunday, Mark. Glad you're finally getting a day off! I watched just enough of the Bears game to appreciate Jeffery's great day catching the ball (including the 46 yarder), and to see the poor Bears find a way to lose. Gould missing a field goal? I never would've guessed that one.

My suggestion is to watch the Blackhawks. It's refreshing to see a really good team that knows how to play.

Now I'm watching Denver-KC. Should be a good one.

mmm apple fritters look so good!

ooops, hit post

Hope it's a good day for you Joe.. Lovely here in the cafe, as always!

Hi Joe, I am also interested in what you will think of The Fifth Wave as it sounds like a book that I would be interested in as well.

It's pretty hard to resist all the deliciousness that is around here! (grabs an apple fritter with one hand and a pain au chocolat with the other)

I'm late to the after Thanksgiving party, Joe, but I see that my daughter has been keeping you company. I had some of that pumpkin pecan streusel pie for breakfast myself. Absolutely delicious. The perfect companion to coffee.

We went to see Catching Fire at he theatre the day before Thanksgiving, and we all loved it. And you are right - 2 1/2 hours seemed too short. Now if they could just give that third book a different ending...

Hi Joe! Oooh, pain au chocolat! I'll just help myself to one of those in passing... (Damn the diet, I need chocolate.)

I gave in and read a Scandicrime novel. It's from Finland, so it's got about a billion umlauts. The review is here because I've started a new thread and I know that means you'll have trouble finding me.

*waving* at Joe

>243 mckait: Yes, RD outdid himself with the apple fritters this time, Kath. It was a good day yesterday for the Chicago Welches, and a most excellent four day break. Much needed! Sleeping in, relaxing, was just the ticket.

Glad you're liking the cafe. The expansion with new rooms and that new area out back seems to have worked just fine, hasn't it?

>244 DeltaQueen50: I'm reading the latest in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series right now, Judy, called The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, and then comes The Fifth Wave. I have my hopes up, and I'll let you know.

Good idea to take one of each. Apple fritter and pain au chocolat - can't beat that to start the day.

>245 Crazymamie: Good to see you, Mamie. Yes, we were glad to have Abby stop by. I'm going to let her know how The 5th Wave is, among other things.

Wasn't Catching Fire great? I know, we've got to get our hearts ready for the conclusion. At least Katniss is starting to recognize what a gem Peeta is. My son says there's a rumor that they're going to break the last book into two movies. I hope not.

>246 wookiebender: Hiya, Tania! Good to see you! I think we need to lay out some more pain au chocolat and coffee.



>247 richardderus: I thought "Scandicrime" wasn't in your vocabulary, Richard. I'll look forward to reading the umlaut-strewn review. Plus a clue to where you've hidden your new thread - this is good.

>248 alcottacre: *waves at busy Stasia, thrilled with a sighting*

OK, the new cafe is open. Come on over!