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The link on this page for my other blog where I put non food items wasn’t working I just noticed.  I fixed the link on the right and there is a new large post there from our recent quick trip to Washington D.C.

Someone from Russia has been checking me out.

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Tweenaged boy’s grandfather dies which results in him discovering his past as a “peculiar child”.  Boy and his father travels to remote island in England where he investigates his grandfather’s past and discovers Miss Peregrine’s home and all of its peculiarities.  Interesting reading this right after The Night Circus which deals with similar themes.  I enjoyed this book much more than The Night Circus.  It is a fun read and I highly recommend.

PJH Rating: 4 1/2 stars

I’m shaving my head to raise money for children’s cancer research.  St. Baldrick’s is an organization that is second only to NIH in funding children’s cancer research.  They have funded over $1,000,000 in research to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital where I work.  Click on below link to donate to this great cause.  Thanks

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/521899/2012

Set in London, a straight laced, nerdy recent college graduate is absorbed into the dysfunctional life of two siblings estranged from their famous father.  A series of crazy occurrences leads to an unexpected, yes satisfying ending.  Although a bit melodramatic in tone at the beginning, I would recommend.

PJH Rating: Three 1/2 stars

I had a goal of reading 36 books in 2011.  I am happy to report that I have met that goal and read 38!  hurray.  My goal for this year is 40 books.

My top 5 in alphabetical order:

• The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman
  
• The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
• The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Walter Mosley
• Room, Emma Donoghue
• The Witch of Hebron, James Howard Kunstler

Here is my list in order of when I finished.  My rating is 1-5 with 5 being outstanding.

• Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins;  *** 1/2
• The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein, ****
• Razing Jake, Charlie Carilo, ****1/2
• How Evan Broke his Head and Other Secrets, Gart Stein, ****
• Mocking Jay, Suzanne Collins, ***
• Room, Emma Donoghue, ****1/2
• Three James, (Author???), ****
• Letter from Point Clear, Dennis McFarlan, ****
• Fugitive Pieces, Anne, Michaels, ***
• The Paris Wife, Paula McLain, ***1/2
• The Other, David Guterson, ***1/2
• The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Walter Mosley, ****1/2
• Sister Mine, Tawni O’Dell, ***
• Making Toast, Roger Rosenblatt, ****
• The Metropolis Case, Matthew Gallaway, ****
• Keeping Time, Stacey McGlynn, ***
• Shadow Tag, Louise Erdrich, ***1/2
• Fall of Giants, Ken Follett, ***
• Faith, Jennifer Haigh, ****
• The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver, *****
• The Confession, John Grisham, ***1/2
• The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff, ****
• Calebs Crossing, Geraldine Brooks, ****
• Year of Wonders, Ann Patchett, ****1/2
• Gone with a Handsome Man, Michael Lee West, **1/2
• Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand, ***1/2
• The Vices, Lawrence Douglas, ***1/2
• The Astral, Kate Christensen, ***
• Lamb, Bonnie Nadzam, **1/2
• The Gap Year, Sarah Bird, **1/2
• The Thing We Didn’t Say, Sarah Bird, ***
• The Way Things Look to Me, Roopa Farooki, ***1/2
• The Witch of Hebron, James Howard Kunstler, ****1/2
• The Things We Cherished, Pam Jenoft, ***
• Father Mucker, Greg Olear, ***1/2
• World Made by Hand, James Howard Kunstler, ***1/2
• The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman, ****1/2
• One Second After, William Forstchen, **1/2

Christmas is over.  We spent all morning today putting everything away and cleaning our house which I hate to confess I enjoy as much as Christmas.  Here’s some photos from this year.

We didn’t put our tree up until a week before Xmas.  We dragged the kids out of bed at 8:00 AM on saturday morning which they weren’t too happy about.

Like I said…not too excited…

Chrimas Eve was a nice night.  See food post here.

Emily Jane sharing the holiday spirit.

Shea spreading some holiday cheer with her recorder.

The Purcell boys chrimas rap.

Not sure who brought the fake teeth?  But very attractive.

present time….  Grandma and Grandpa always gives everbody a book, an ornament and jammies.

obligatory group jammie shot:

excited girlies.

Sophie’s birthday was on 12/13.  Claire made a cake for the occasion.

Christmas Eve menu:

• Assorted Cheese and Crackers
• Hanky Pankies
• Shrimp
• Phyllo triangles – spinach and feta & mushroom and goat cheese
• little dough wrapped hot dogs – for the kids
• Cream of garlic and onion soup
• Crab Cakes
• Steamed Mussels
• Meringues with fresh berries
• Santa brownies and other goodies.

Owen won the prize for eating the most shrimp.

Kirsten trying some cheese and crackers.

Beautiful cream of garlic and onion soup with heart shaped croutons because we love Christmas Eve (and garlic and onions).

Kathryn made these beautiful crab cakes that were just as good as they look.

Dad showing off the mussels.

Kirsten made the meringues with berries and whipped cream.

Emily presenting her masterpieces.  A chip off the old block.

The santa hat brownies definitely won the prize this year.

Hard to believe but Claire is officially a college graduate! She graduated two quarters early earning a B.A. in English – cum laude from Ohio State University.  Below is a pic of Claire just after receiving her diploma and going to shake hands w OSU president.

Yeah.  I’m a college graduate.

We didn’t really know what to expect being an off-quarter graduation.  We weren’t expecting so many people.  But with all things Ohio State it was bigger than life.  There were over 3,000 people receiving diplomas.  We didn’t get there early enough so we were in the nose bleed seats.

Proud family.  Did you know Claire is the 6th or 7th female of her generation on Courtney’s side of the family to earn a college diploma?