FCM Book Club: Year of Books

January 2012 was the first month that the FCM book club met. Book club was just a lucky decision made one night over a bottle of wine. Now almost a whole year later we are all still reading books and loving our little book club family. We don't always like the same books or the same characters,but we have fun discussing them. We can all agree that we have read some books that would have never thought to pick up and loved them. While we do enjoy sitting down and discussing the book, book club has become so much more. It has become a monthly activity we all look forward to. The food is always delicious, the drinks are plentiful, and the conversation is lively. Since it is time to start a new year of book club selections, we thought it would be fun to go back and see what we have read over the past year.

Book club started out at Katie's house with the novel Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. 

February: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain hosted by Skylar. 

March: The Help by Kathryn Stockett hosted by Cindy. 

April: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls hosted by Amanda. 

May: South of Broad by Pat Conroy hosted by Jamie. 

June: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James hosted by Abbie. 

July: Swaplandia! by Karen Russell hosted by Ella.  

August: Little Bee by Chris Cleave  hosted by Katie. 

September: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon hosted by Skylar.

October: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs hosted by Cindy.

November: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt hosted by Jamie. 

December: The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore hosted by Abbie. 

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!