Week Fifty-Two

This Christmas themed cozy reads like a long short story. While it lacks substance, the recipe book element makes it worthwhile.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Fifty-One - 1 to go

David Baldacci fourth book in the Puller series starts with two stories, both of which started nearly thirty years ago. The Puller brothers and some of their old acquaintances work cooperatively to permanently resolve these  three decade old accounts. The reader should not be discouraged by the zigging and zagging story line because Baldacci provides a satisfactory closure.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Fifty - 2 to go

Likable protagonists, Annie and Max Darling, coupled with curious locals become involved in solving a murder in Broward’s Rock. A good story, a multitude of characters and intrigue fired by passion make for a very readable mystery. Hope Hart features Hyla Harrison more in future books.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Freda's Voice 100+ Book Challenge 2016

 Book Challenge 2016

The Philosopher Stone Reading List

January 2016 Reviews

#1 - No Rest for the Dead - A Novel (Twenty-Six Writers. One Mystery.) Edited by Andrew F. Gulli and Lamia J. Gulli

#2 - The Crossing - A Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly

#3 - All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafa Burke

#4 - Copy Cat Murder - A Hat Shop Mystery - by Jenn McKinlay 

#5 - Scandalous Behavior - A Stone Barrington Novel - by Stuart Woods

#6 - Sam Phillips - The Man Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll by Peter Guralnick 

#7 - Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - A Hannah Swensen Mystery by Joanne Fluke

#8 - Blueberry Muffin Murder - A Hannah Swensen by Joanne Fluke  

#9 - Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 50 Years by Rosamund Cox (Editor)

#10 - NYPD RED 4 by James Patterson & Marshall Karp

February 2016 Reviews 

#11 - iPhone for Dummies (ebook) by Edward C. Baig

#12 - Capturing Better Photos & Video with your IPhone by J. Dennis Thomas 

#13 - The Plague of Thieves Affair - A Carpenter And Quincannon Mystery by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini

#14 - The iPhone Photographer - How To Take Professional Photographs with Your iPhone by Michal Fagans 

#15 - Once A Crooked Man - A Novel by David McCallum

#16 - Double Fudge Brownie Murder - A Hannah Swensen Mystery by Joanne Fluke  

#17 - Carpenter & Quincannon, Professional Detective Services by Bill Pronzini

#18 - The History of Rock ’N’ Roll in Ten Songs by Greil Marcus 

#19 - This Old Man - looking back at a literary life by Roger Angell 

#20 - The Black Dudley Murder - An Albert Campion Mystery - by Margery Allingham 

#21 - Learning to See Creatively Third Edition Design, Color, and Composition in Photography by Bryan Peterson

#22 - Here Comes Valentine CAT by Deborah Underwood pictures by Clauida Rueda 

#23 - Robert B. Parker’s Blackjack - A Novel by Robert Knott

#24 - When That Rough God Goes Riding - Listening to Van Morrison By Greil Marcus 

#25 - Midnight Sun by Joe Nesbø

March 2016 Reviews 

#26 - Violent Crimes - Ann Amanda Jaffe Novel by Phillip Margolin

#27 - The Practice of Contemplative Photography - Seeing the world with Fresh Eyes by Andy Karr & Michael Wood

#28 - The Waters of Eternal Youth - A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon 

#29 - My Granny is a Pirate by Val McDermid

#30 - Off the Grid - A Joe Pickett  Novel by C.J. Box

#31 - Splinter the Silence by Val McDermid 

April 2016 Reviews

#32 - PRIVATE PARIS, by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

#33 - Historic US Route 20 - A Journey across America’s Longest Highway by Bryan Farr

#34 - Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher - the Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan

#35 - No Shred of Evidence - An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd

#36 - Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

#37 - Hour of the Wolf: Inspector Van Veeteren Series, Book 7 by Håkan Nesser

#38 - Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid

#39 - Blood Brothers - The Fatal Friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X by Randy Roberts & Johnny Smith 

#40 - Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau illustrated by David Walker

#41 - Duck's Vacation by Gilad Soffer

#42 - Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson illustrated by Steve Bojørkman 

May 2016 Reviews

#43 - A Morbid Taste for Bones - The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Shrewsbury by Ellis Peters

#44 - Nobody’s Mother is in Second Grade by Robin Pulver pictures by G. Brian Karas 

#45 - 15th Affair (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro 

#46 - The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

#47 - The Steel Kiss by Jeffery Deaver 

#48 - Family Jewels by Stuart Woods

#49 - Geocaching - Hike and Seek With Your GPS by Erik Sherman 

June 2016 Reviews

#50 - Suspicion of Vengeance by Barbara Parker

#51 - The Last Mile by David Baldacci

#52 - Extreme Prey by John Sandford 

#53 - The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty

#54 - Our Great Big Backyard by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager

#55 - When Falcons Fall (Sebastian St. Cyr) by C.S. Harris 

July 2016 Reviews 

#56 - Charcoal JOE by Walter Mosley

#57 - The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

#58 - As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley 

#59 - Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin • Pictures by Harry Bliss

#60 - Dishonorable Intentions (Stone Barrington #38) by Stuart Woods 

#61 - The Games - A Private Novel by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan

#62 - Devious - A Bentz and Montoya Novel (#7) by Lisa Jackson 

#63 - Let’s Have A Tree Party by David Martin

#64 - Murder at the Loch - A Langham & Dupré Mystery by Eric Brown

August 2016 Reviews

#65 - Beaks, Bones & Bird Songs by Roger J. Lederer

#66 - Bobby Kennedy: the making of a liberal icon by Larry Tye

#67 - Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest by Julie Zickefoose 

#68 - Bear and Duck by Katy Hudson

#69 - Phantom Instinct by Meg Gardiner 

#70 - Hummingbirds and Butterflies by Bill Thompson III and Connie Toops 

#71 - Robert B. Parker’s Slow Burn - A Spenser Novel by Ace Atkins

September 2016 Reviews

#72 - Killer Look - A Novel by Linda Fairstein 

#73 - Bullseye - A Detective Michael Bennett Thriller by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

#74 - The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

#75 - Kill Chain (Evan Delaney #5 - 2007) by Meg Gardiner 

#76 - The Trial: A BookShot by James Paterson & Maxine Paetro 

#77 - Explorer's Guide Finger Lakes (5th Edition) by Katharine Delavan Dyson

#78 - The Shattered Tree - A Beth Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd 

#79 - Tribe - On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger

October 2016 Reviews

#80 - A Great Reckoning - A Novel ((Chief Inspector Gamache Novel) by Louise Perry 

#81 - Thirteen Guests - J. (Joseph) Jefferson Farjeon

#82 - Suspect by Michael Robotham 

#83 - Fishbone’s Song by Gary Paulsen

#84 - The Last Detective - by Robert Crais

#85 - Revenge In a Cold River by Anne Perry 

November 2016 Reviews 

#86 - Painting Without Paint by Matthew Palmer

#87 - Sex,Lies, & Serious Money (Stone Barrington #39) by Stuart Woods 

#88 - Big Bad Breakfast - The Most Important Book of the Day by John Currence

#89 - And They Found No Witches - A True Police Story by Tom Alessi 

#90 - The Jealous Kind by James Lee Burke 

#91 - The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly 

#92 - Escape Clause - A Virgil Flowers Novel by John Sanford

#93 - How To Catch Santa by Jean Reagan 

#94 - Don’t Go Home (Death On Demand #25) by Carolyn Hart 

December 2016 Reviews

#95 - Night School - A Jack Reacher Novel (#21) by Lee Child

#96 - Wines of the Finger Lakes by Peter Burford 

#97 - Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen 

#98 - My Special One and Only by Joe Berger 

#99 - A Christmas Message by Anne Perry 

#100 - The Road to Character by David Brooks 

Be careful about reading health books.

You may die of a misprint.

 - Mark Twain

Freda's Voice 100+ Book Challenge 2014

Freda's Voice 100+ Book Challenge 2015

Week Forty-Nine - 3 to go

If you are a newcomer to Finger Lakes wine, this all-encompassing book by Peter Burford is for you. This is not a travel book, but an informative history of Finger Lakes wine makers and an up-to-date current listing, including our favorites, Hazlitt 1852 Vinyards and Glenora Wine Cellars.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Forty-Eight - 4 to go

The murdering of an endangered Asian tiger might make an animal rights activist cringe but the story’s possibilities make for an enjoyable read. The side story involving Frankie's sister, Sparkle, going undercover to expose the use of illegal workers was left somewhat undeveloped. Would have enjoyed Sanford pursing this more. Also, less emphasis on Frankie and more action engaging Carrin might put some punch in this series.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Forty-Seven - 5 to go

Det. Hieronymous Bosch simultaneously employs his investigatory skills between two totally different cases. Being a baseball junkie admired Michael Connelly’s tribute to legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully. While some readers may feel Connelly has gone PC, this novel should please most of Harry’s followers.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

2016 Osage-Orange Road Trip

Joan on the hunt.

Since snow is forecast for the weekend. Joan and I decided to make our annual trek for osage-oranges.

The Mill Pond on Rt. 90 was calm no birds. There was a gentleman who appeared to be erecting a sign near the street.

Entering the village of Aurora we drove slowly up to the Morehouse residence. The area under the Osage Orange tree was densely covered.

Mrs. Claire Morehouse, the owner of the tree, was tending to her bushes by her front porch. I climbed the slight hill and approached her. Asked if Joan and I could gather some Osage Oranges. While Mrs. Morehouse showed surprised that there might be any left, she gave us permission to take as many as we wished.

Bark of the Osage Orange Tree

Nearby tree still holding its leaves.

We gathered several bags. Since we were so successful, we decided to forego going to Scipio Center and headed on home.

Took a diversion to the Factory Street pond. It was full of duck weed with only three Mallards gliding around.

Once home Michael phoned and invited us to Fellows Street to watch the SU-Monmouth game. Joan brought a Wegmans gluten-free pizza and Michael purchased wings and a sausage pizza for us.

Lily entertained Joan. Since Emily and Karla were still on the road returning from Baltimore, we came on home.

Former adventures:         November 19, 2009

                                         November 14, 2010

                                         November 13, 2011

                                        November 21, 2013

                                       November 16, 2014

                                       November 15, 2015

Week Forty-Six - 6 to go

As a reader would expect the quality of James Lee Burke’s prose to be amazing. Some readers however might inquire where are Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell when you need them? But if you grew up in the 1950's or the early 1960’s, you will soon realize that Burke is on a different trek with the Holland family.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Smokey Joe's Cafe

This evening Joan and I attended our seventh and final play of the 2016 season, Smokey Joe's Cafe.

The cast did a marvelous job, especially the bass in the quartet. The play was both fast-paced and entertaining. Recognizing most of the songs made this a most enjoyable evening. Plus a great way to spend Election Eve.

David Wilcox’s review in The Citizen.

James MacKillop's review in the Syracuse NewTimes.

Natasha Ashley's review on BroadwayWorld.com.

Other shows of this season:

Oklahoma!
From Here To Eternity
Crazy For You
Treasure Island
Million Dollar Quartet
Tenderly

Previous shows from other seasons:

2015 Season
http://thephilosophersstone2011.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-calamari-sisters-big-fat-italian.html
 
2014 season
http://thephilosophersstone2011.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-church-basement-ladies-in-last.html

2013 season
http://thephilosophersstone2011.blogspot.com/2013/09/hank-williams-lost-highway.html

2012 season
http://thephilosophersstone2011.blogspot.com/2012/10/nunsense.html

2011 season
http://thephilosophersstone2011.blogspot.com/2011/09/marvelous-wonderettes.html

2010 season
http://philosopherstone1.blogspot.com/2010/10/church-basement-ladies-2-second-helping.html

2009 season
A Chorus Line
http://philosopherstone1.blogspot.com/2009/08/chorus-line.html

No, No Nanette
http://philosopherstone1.blogspot.com/2009/07/no-no-nanette.html

Week Forty-Five - 7 to go

Stuart Woods takes a page from the James Paterson playbook and leaves Scott Barrington followers hanging in this novel without an conclusion. The inclusion of a lottery winner as the newest Barrington client does give this work oomph. But unless Woods puts more effort into his body of work, his sales should dry up.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Forty-Four - 8 to go

This debut novel for Australia's Michael Robotham introduces the protagonist, Joseph O’Loughlin, a psychologist who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. While Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz, an Inspector Javert type, hounding of O’Loughlin provides a interesting plot twist, too many characters, too many twists, and too many details lead to a convoluted conclusion.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Forty-Three - 9 to go

Updated and revised, this edition is a must addition to your carry bag as you travel through the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Plus, many colorful photos will help to enhance this journey.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

Week Forty-Two - 10 to go

Having read the Elvis Cole series backwards, finally learning the backstory of Elvis’ days as Ranger in Vietnam made reading this one worthwhile. Choosing kidnapping as the main plot driver and adding excessive amounts of violence might put some readers off. But the resourcefulness of Ben, Lucy’s son, and the establishment of Carol Starkey as a full-time character might save the day as the series goes forward.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2016

St. Peter’s By The Lake Chapel

All these photos taken from a party barge

on the lake during a leaf-peeping excursion.
 

Tucked into the steep hillside at 4800 State Route 28, St Peter's By The Lake  offers  Episcopal worship services to summer visitors of all faith backgrounds. The Chapel is accessible by paved road or by boat on the north shore of Fourth Lake.

Internet Photos

More interpretations at InSPIREd Sunday.

Leaf-Peeping 2016 Day Three

Night Sky - Fourth Lake

Note - clicking on photos enlarges them

Breakfast at The Pioneer Cafe. Amelia was our waitress. Returned to The Edge and checked out.

Went to Tug Hill Vineyards. Theresa greeted us in the wine cellar. There we purchased several bottles of Lake Effect wine.

Tug Hill Vineyards

Heading home on Rt. 177 turned left at Rodham and while entering Adams NY decided to visit Nana Rose. There we found the owner, Paula Biazzo, busy rearranging her shop. Also, we talked with Bill Smith from Watertown NY. Bill mentioned that he and his wife were in Big Moose NY last weekend. Bill's wife is an organist who was invited to play for the Big Moose church service. By the way, we purchased workman’s black bucket for $5.00.
 
Joan found an article in the Syracuse Newspapers highlighting the Country Store Antiques in Bernhards Bay. So we decided to stop in.

Pleasant woman named Penny was baking in a room off the main entrance. We chatted with her and purchased a freshly-baked banana muffin. We stopped at MickeyD's in Central Square. Joan had some grapes and I had a coffee and my muffin (very good - crunchy top).
 
Not wanting to pass by the Harbor View Wine & Liquor. We drove there and made some purchases.

Thursday so off to Skaneateles to the library and Doug’s for dinner.

Shopping at Wegmans for essentials and at The Farm for the newspaper completed Day Three of our leaf-peeping adventure.

Day One

Day Two (Part One) 

Day Two (Part Two)