Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

I honestly didn't find the recipes intriguing. Beet Barley does not appeal to me.

I'm glad you all agree with me on that. It seemed perfectly ridiculous.

The lead up to the end was unnecessarily contrived, don't you think? The corn maze and the harvester ? And then the finale?

Sending healing thoughts as well...

I've been away for a bit. First vacation and then computer problems. But I'm back. I'm so glad to hear the good news, J!

Well, things has picked up a bit. I finished the book last night so I don't want to give anything away and am not sure where this section ends. Safe to say, all of the questions get answered!

Looks wonderful, Jill! May I recommend the purchase of a stick blender? They are pretty cheap and work so much easier than a food processor or regular blender. Safer, too, since you blend right in your pot of soup!

I think he is. Lucky is just feeling unattractive and vulnerable. I think.

The Janie and her father business has certainly overshadowed things for now. As this section moves on, though, there is a tie-in to the man in the car. He is not whom his license says he is. Perhaps a "traveller" like Janie's father?

Yes, I'm surprised we haven't heard anything further about the man in the car, from the very beginning.

I've moved into the next section and will be taking the Kindle with me on vacation. I'll try to check in from time to time.

A little further in the book, but pretty much nothing about the man in the car. The Janie and Miriam thing has taken over. I hope this has a bearing on the death.

Heads up to you all. I will be on vacation for most of next week and my participation will be a little less frequent, depending on my ability to get to a computer. (Part of vacation is to limit that!) I'll still be in, though!

Here is something I made recently for the first time and got raves for from the folks at work. Not pumpkin, but seasonal, with all the zucchini being harvested now.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

3 c All-purpose flour
3 c Sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons EACH baking powder and baking soda
1 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
4 eggs
1 1/2 c canola oil
2 T butter, melted
1 1/2 t EACH vanilla and almond extracts
3 c grated zucchini
1 c chopped pecans
1/2 c raisins

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Whisk the eggs, oil, butter and extracts. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, pecans and raisins. Pour into three greased and floured 8X4 in. loaf pans.
Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from the pans to wire racks to cool completely.


It was very good, if I say so myself (and I am quite critical of my own stuff!) I'd add a full cup of raisins to future batches, since I thought 1/2 c was a little skimpy.

Be sure that you use pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix. And you can always save the rest of the pumpkin in a zip-loc bag in the freezer until you have another use for it. But not in the can as Jill points out!

I have also started the book am exactly 20% through it, per my Kindle. A murder right off the bat, a man killed in a car, but not apparently due to a car accident. The lead person, Lucky (who I assume will be the protagonist) is friends with the police chief and therefore in on all the details. The atmosphere of the soup restaurant sounds nice. It would be great to have a small neighborhood place to eat some good food and mingle with your small town neighbors. A lot of characters, as Tina says, and still trying to keep track of them. And what is going on with the young co-worker of Lucky and her mother (can't recollect the name right now...?)

Clearly, my number one is Agatha Christie. I have all the book, movies, TV adaptation and everything I can find. I also am fond of Dorothy Sayers, Nero Wolfe and some of the other golden age writers, Tey, Brand, etc.

For more current authors, I am a bit fussier. I do like the Diva books (one of which we just read together) and also liked the Cleo Coyle we read. I can't say that there is much more I am totally enamored with in the way of "chick" books. (No offense!) I did like The Sherlockian, and Things Half in Shadow, which we also read here.

All in all, more of a classic mystery fan.

I plan to start Roux soon as well. I hope that doesn't carry on too much. Gory is not good for a Cozy!

I've had it on my DVR (the first season) for a long time and only now am getting around to watching it. It is very funny, but I hope the constant bickering doesn't become overwhelming. (I've only watched two so far.)

I think we did the Halloween one some years ago.