V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

I enjoyed being back in Kinsey Millhone's world for a few days. Sue Grafton seems to be back on track for these books after a few that weren't so great. I enjoyed U is for Undertow, and I thought V is for Vengeance held up too.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

I didn't see the first Sherlock Holmes movie. My son saw it and gave a shrug when I asked how it was.

This time around I didn't wait for his rating. Ray and I were bored, so we went to the movies. We had great seats, and I must admit to being riveted from the outset. I saw a few things coming, but was delightfully surprised by most of the things that were foreshadowed. It might be fun to see it again, knowing the end from the beginning.

Robert Downey Jr. makes a great Sherlock, and Jude Law is well cast as Watson. The movie bears just enough resemblance to Conan Doyle's stories to make it very fun for me. I've read every one of the Sherlock Holmes stories. That was when I first felt the shiver from a thrilling story. I almost had a heart attack while reading The Hound of the Baskervilles and my dad startled me. But I digress.

I'm now going to watch the first Sherlock Holmes movie. It may not be as good as this one, but I know I'll enjoy it.

Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol

If my typing is shaky, it's because the adrenaline is still pumping.

• I thought I might wet my pants from the excitement. 
• I think I crushed Ray's hand during the anxious parts. 
• At one point I had to hide my face in his shoulder so I wouldn't explode from the tension. 
• No chance I was checking my watch or wondering when it would ever be over.
• Good thing the movie was so loud (no one heard my screams).
• Great action.
• Good plot.
• Fabulous supporting cast.
• Whew!

Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline

Very fun book.

Lisa Scottoline has written several mysteries that I have not yet read. This book is a collection of her newspaper columns that she writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer. I usually don't care for this kind of reading, but I really enjoyed this.

Lisa's subject matter deals with life as a "woman of a certain age." I happen to be one of those, and she hits the nail on the head. I giggled and related to almost every column.

It's a quick read, and I recommend it.

Now I'm off to explore her mysteries, because we all know how much I love a good mystery!

Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick

A friend of mine on Goodreads recommended this book. She said it was fun and funny urban fantasy. I wasn't sure what she meant by urban fantasy (I guess I haven't really explored that genre), but she usually gives reviews that I agree with, so I decided to give it a try. Plus I was ready for a fun and funny book.

It was kind of fun and parts of it were funny. Mentally I give fantasy novels a wide berth. I don't know why, because many of the ones I've read I really liked. But I always balk at the idea of reading a fantasy novel.

This book had minimal fantasy. Just a little bit of magic and mages. It takes place currently in New York City, so perhaps that's where the urban part comes in.

Here's the label I'd give it: a mystery with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. It was a  diverting and quick read. Not great literature, nothing to set the world on fire, but enjoyable. There are more books in the series. I'm not in a rush to read them, but if the opportunity arose I might give them a try.

Dec 25: We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Design by Audrey Hanks

We Wish You a Merry Christmas    traditional

Dec 24: Santa, Make Her My Bride for Christmas

Fifty-six years ago today my parents were married. Four children, nine grandchildren, and seven-almost-eight great-grandchildren later they are still going strong.

In 1955, the Catholic church didn't do weddings in the chapel during Advent, so my parents were married in the rectory, with just four friends attending. Neither set of their parents were there. Mom and Dad were both in their mid-twenties and saw no reason to wait. They just wanted to be married.

When I was young my parents would eat a very nice meal at home late in the evening to celebrate (we children were banished to our bedrooms). In particular I remember a few years running where they brought home live lobster and cooked it. The sight and smell were horrifying to me. In later years they would go out to lunch together as their celebration. 

Christmas and my parents' anniversary are fused in my memories. Every time I hear the song Christmas Bride by the Ray Conniff Singers, I think of my dad smiling and saying, "That's our song." I used to roll my eyes because I thought it was so corny. Now it makes me cry.

They've had a good run. And like I said, they're still going strong.

Vic and Ann December 24, 1955

Look how happy they are.

Taking off for their honeymoon.

Christmas Bride   lyrics by Ray Conniff

Dec 23: Here We Come A-Caroling

The Linfords have a grand tradition of caroling. For many years they went as a family - Mom and Dad and their eight children. This number grew as the family grew up and got married and added spouses and children to the mix. They would carol, and as a gift leave fresh oranges for the people they were singing to. I was lucky enough to be a part of this tradition a few times over the years. They are some of my favorite experiences.

Now we gather together at Mom and Dad's home to sing one evening during the Christmas season. Anyone who possibly can make it comes. This year we had family members from seven of the original eight children. We had dinner first, then gathered to sing. Mom had arranged the Christmas story and hymns to go along with it. My son-in-law Randy played the piano, and Nancy and Sarah played the violin and Jonathan the cello. Many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren acted out the nativity story.

It was beautiful and heartwarming, my favorite event of the Christmas season. We closed with Dona, Nobis, Pacem - the family song. Someday I'll share how that tradition began.

Mom and Dad - the ones who started it all

These first few pictures were taken by Charles my brother-in-law/photographer. I had to include the pictures of Diane and Madeleine - they are so superior to the ones I took.

Here we are! Not the whole family by any stretch of the imagination, but a wonderful group nevertheless

Diane and Madeleine

 The following pictures are ones that I took while sitting on the couch and singing. Rank amateur, but fun to have the pictures.

Here We Come A-Caroling (the Wassail Song)   traditional

Dec 22: 'Twas the Birthday of a King

On Christmas day in particular, and all of December in general we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. That is the real reason for the season, as they say. I am thankful for His sacrifice and atonement for each of us, and love to remember this wondrous gift throughout the Christmas season.

Four years ago our daughter Debra went into labor and gave birth on Christmas day to our granddaughter Madeleine. What a joy she brings into our lives! Now we have an added dimension to our Christmas Day festivities.

Madeleine - December 25, 2007

Madeleine - December 25, 2008

Madeleine, 2011 (picture taken by Debra Peck)

December birthdays are nothing new in our family, and in fact I can't believe Madeleine was the first to be born on Christmas day. Here is a list of all our family members (I sincerely hope I don't forget anyone!) who have December birthdays:

1. Tweeter   2. Samuel   3. Austin     4. Cheryl     5. Ray     6. Beth     7. Anne     8.Amy     9. Christopher
10. Ainsley     11. Matthew    12. Joseph    13. Madeleine    14. Jim     15. Kevin     16. Eliza
17. Stephen     18. James

Toss in a couple of wedding anniversaries with those, and it makes for a full month of all kinds of celebration. Another reason to love December!

Birthday of A King    by W. H. Neidlinger

Dec 21: Let It Snow!

 I worry about slipping in it. I don't like driving in it. I hate shoveling it.

Ray manning the shovel

I definitely like sitting inside watching it fall gently from the sky, while I have a good book to read. 

But best of all, snow means there is a great reason for my sister and her family to come visit every year. Tweeter and family live in Hawaii and they come for a week or two after Christmas every year to ski. Lucky for us we live very close to some great skiing. That makes it nice for them too - easy access to the mountains and free lodging.

The Phillipses at Brighton: Tweeter, Jenn, Mike, and Chris

I can't wait to see them!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!  words by Sammy Cahn   music by Jule Styne

Dec 20: It's That Time of Year

Most years we take a family photo for our Christmas cards. This post is a walk through the years with many of our family photos. 

1986

1987

1990

1991

1994

1996

1998

1999

2002

2003

 

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

The Christmas Waltz   words by Sammy Cahn  music by Jule Styne

Dec 19: Christmas is Memories, the Kind You Always Keep

Spritz

Pfefferneuse

Russian Teacakes

Lebkuchen

M&M cookies

Springerle

Rum Balls

Kris Kringle

Fudge

Divinity

Imagine a dozen cookie tins, filled with these delicious cookies and candies. I didn't have to imagine it as a child. They were our reality every year at Christmas time. My mom would make all these treats, and the kids would decorate the Kris Kringle sugar cookies. 

Each night my mom would place a few of each kind on a platter and we were allowed to choose a couple treats to have for our dessert. At that rate the cookies were around for quite a while (of course there was some attrition from us sneaking some cookies at other times of the day). 

My mother continued making cookies when she and my dad were the only ones left at home. She would share them with us. Beth used to go over and help my mom on Christmas Cookie Baking Day. Up until last year my mom made Rum Balls for Ray every year. They are his special treat. 

I don't make Christmas cookies. I would eat all of them myself. But maybe I'll make some Rum Balls for Ray. He'd like that.

Christmas Is   words by Spence Maxwell  music by Percy Faith

Dec 18: Whisper What You'll Bring to Me

I'm not one for big surprises. It shows in my gift giving. I really like to give someone something they want. I've had good and bad experiences with surprise gifts given to me, and I would like to err on the side of the receiver being happy.

That said, one of the best surprises I ever pulled off for Christmas was this quilt for Debra: 

Road to Oklahoma, Fabric by Debbie Mumm

I made it in 1995, and it was the first quilt I made from really nice fabric. It was pure joy to work with. So I don't know what happened, but somehow I lost steam and decided I was tired of the quilt and didn't want to finish it. I told Debby I was going to give it away (the top wasn't even finished yet). She was horrified and said she wanted it. I told her that was too bad for her.

After some debate with myself, I decided to finish the quilt and give it to her for Christmas. I really wanted it to be a surprise. I called my friend Michelle who had moved to California and asked her if she had ever finished her quilt top that was just like mine. She had not. So she sent me her quilt top that I could use as a decoy. I hung  Michelle's quilt top in my closet, folded over a hanger. It was right there for anyone to see. Meanwhile I had to hunt to find enough backing to match the quilt and get the quilt finished. I got it done, wrapped it, and put it under the tree. Christmas morning I saved that present for last. When Debby opened it, she was astonished. "You must have stayed up all night to finish it!", she said. I laughed and said, "Go look in my closet." She did and Michelle's quilt was still there, just like it was the day before when Debby checked on it. It was a great surprise!

Over the years I've given my children several Christmas quilts and quilted decorations. This year I made Christmas tree skirts for each of them. I should say this year I finished the tree skirts. I started them a couple of years ago. They weren't a big surprise, but everyone likes them. That's what really matters. If you get some surprise out of it too, so much the better.

Completed: December 2011
Size: about 40 inches X 40 inches.
Pattern: Log Cabin Christmas Star No. 10 A Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern by Anita Peluso
Fabric: All from my stash, scrap reds and whites.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas - anonymous

Dec 17: Their Old Familiar Carols Play

Music evokes memories for me. Christmas music in particular. I like all kinds - religious, classical, pop -  you name it.

Here are some favorites of mine from the past and present. 

Nat King Cole and the Children's Chorus The Magic of Christmas with Children. I did not fall in love with this album until I fell in love with my husband. He was part of the Children's chorus. His sisters Elna, Orva, and Ann, and his brother John all sang on it too. I believe Elna had a short solo part in one of the songs. It has been hard to find the exact date it was made. Ann was the youngest then, and thinks she must have been about four. That means Ray would have been seven. 

In my family growing up we usually spent the closest Sunday after December 11 (my sister's birthday) decorating the tree and house for Christmas. We would pile the Christmas albums on the stereo and crank up the volume while we decorated. The two albums that always bring that to mind are Ray Conniff's Christmas with Conniff, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

When we were first married I bought several Christmas albums with various artists singing all kinds of favorites. Those albums make me think of my own children dancing and singing to songs of the season. 

And what's not to like about Sinatra and Christmas put together?

I have two current favorites. I keep Christmas Eve by Acapriccio in my car, and James Taylor A Christmas Album in my kitchen. These provide an instant holiday-pick-me-up. I can listen to them over and over when no one else is around to be bothered. Meanwhile I can have a great time singing along.

There are currently over 50 Christmas CDs in my CD player. It is no longer hooked up to any speakers. I guess it's about time to come out of the dark ages and learn how to download all those CDs onto my computer. And my Shuffle. And my phone. 

Of course, I'll enjoy every minute.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day  words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  music by John Baptiste Calkin