Here is to 2012... and an even better 2013

 While the New Year gives us the opportunity to create new goals, new memories, and new photos it is always fun to look back on some of the past highlights of the year before we say goodbye. Here are some of the best memories for us!

We started off 2012 with some great friends and continued our annual tradition of steamed clams and champagne.

2012 was also the year that we joined an amazing book club! The book club has allowed us to read some great books, catch up with friends, eat amazing food...and maybe have a few drinks.

Goldie turned 1! That is just a celebration all by itself!

We had some really fun parties...

50's Party

Oysters & Champagne 

Mardi Gras

Skylar's 25th Birthday

We completed several items on our bucket list

Get ice cream at Clover Leaf

Picnic and wine tasting at Cold Springs Winery

Skylar got to be a Matron of Honor in her first wedding!

We found out that that Abbie & Katie were going to have babies!

Thank you to everyone that has made 2012 such a great year! We love you all. Happy New Year!!

FCM Book Club: Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt is a heart wrenching memoir that tells a story that will haunt you long after you have read the last page. Our gathering was hosted by Jamie McDaniel. She had the difficult task of creating a menu based on a book where the central themes were starvation and suffering. Her choices were to serve watery tea and dry bread or actual food that young Frank only dreamed of.  We were all happy she chose the latter.

Appetizers included garlic stuffed olives, pickled asparagus, and whole grain crackers topped with swiss cheese and apples and a drizzle of honey.

The beverage was Guinness.  The beer appeared throughout the book as many fathers purchased that instead of food for their hungry children.

The main course was an Irish potato soup served alongside a cranberry spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette

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It was a wonderful evening spent discussing a book that everyone should read.  Thank you Jamie!

Next up is The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. An interesting tale of Christmas horror hosted by Abbie.

FCM Bump Tracker..Yep two of us now!

FCM Book Club: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is an enthralling tale accompanied by photographs that have to be seen to believe. The perfect book for our late October gathering! October's FCM Book club was hosted by Cindy Jett.  She has the perfect yard for late autumn entertaining. The leaves were falling and the fire bowl was blazing.

A gardening bench served as an outdoor bar where pumpkin ales and steaming hot Apple Pie cocktails were served.  The cocktail consists of apple cider, vanilla vodka and a generous dash of cinamon.

Appetizers were passed around while we discussed the book.  These included pickled green beans wrapped in ham with Neufchâtel cheese and red pepper and deviled eggs covered in spiders. Creepy!!

We decided to get into the true spirit of the book and  Halloween by dressing up. There were a variety of costumes.  The host was a witch, Skylar dressed as a raven, Abbie was Miss Peregrine from the book, Ella was the mean librarian, Jamie a sailor and Katie a pregnant gal! That one was not too much of a stretch!

Dinner was eaten inside. Homemade french onion soup topped with swiss and parmeasan was accompanied by a variety of grilled cheese sandwhiches.  The sandwiches included mozzerella, pesto and tomato, ham, cheddar and tomato jelly, and brie, apple and olive oil.

The Table

 

Dinner was followed by cupcakes Skylar had covered in sugar glass shards and champagne.

 

Up next will be Jamie McDaniel with Angela's Ashes.

FCM Bump Tracker!

FCM Book Club: The Shadow of the Wind

September’s book club was centered on the novel The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. This book is hard to describe as one genre because it has a little of everything- love, mystery, drama, and friendship. The book is set in Barcelona, so Skylar decided to host a Spanish style tapas party. 

The evening started with Estrella Damm, a beer brewed in Barcelona and a cheese plate filled with a selection of Spanish style cheeses including, Manchego, Idiazabel, Garrotxa, and Murcia al Vino. Skylar was able to find all of these cheese at the Boise Co-Op. 

This was followed by several bottles of red and white Spanish wines and a variety of tapas including, olives, paella, bocadillos, sauteed garlic mushrooms, and garlic shrimp. We couldn't forget a Spanish style dessert of flan!

Oh and of course lots of discussion about the novel...

Yet another successful book club for us! We were so glad that everyone could make it. 

Book Club Baby Tracker

See you later for Cindy's book club - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. 

Olive Tapenade Recipe to Come....

2012 Bucket List: Yard Party 50's Style

During the final warm days of summer Skylar hosted a 1950's style yard party in celebration of Josh turning 26!  Our mother, Cindy's, back yard is perfect for hosting a get together and a rousing game of croquet.

Staying true to the theme of the party everyone dressed in their best interpretation of the 50's.  The winners of the evening were Cindy and Jake.

Of course the cocktail ice was clinking and Skylar's menu had a little something for everyone.



The Bar



The cocktail menu included traditional cocktails like a whiskey sour, gimlet, and gin martini.  One of the favorites was the Hemingway daiquiri. We used a simple syrup instead of superfine sugar and Newman's Own lime aide.  Who has time to juice tons of limes?!



Gin Martini



The menu consisted of chicks in  blankets, spinach dip, deviled eggs, and a variety of grilled kabobs including shrimp, beef, and spicy chicken. Oh, and a jello mold!  Rice crispy treats were served for dessert.

Chicks in Blankets

What is a yard party without yard games?  We may not have played by the rules but it was a lot of fun!

Thanks to Skylar and Cindy for all of their hard work! What a great way to spend a Saturday evening.