November Book - Madonnas of Leningrad

Book group was at Leanna's, with Peggy co-hosting. I was the last to arrive because there was a wreck on the Ross Island Bridge and that backed up the traffic where I merge in and eventually get on to Macadam Ave. I got there by the seat of my pants. My Garmin gps told me to turn before I usually do, so I ignored her, then made an error on my own and Garmin figured out where I should be going. When I got there, I made a bee line for the wine and soon we were to sit at the table and await the fabulous food. At book group, we eat and then have our book discussion, usually in the living room.

Those of us at the dining room table enjoyed the ceramic gourd center pieces.

I had seconds on the rice chicken casserole from Southern Living. Peggy and Leanna made them ahead of time and froze them!



As usual, I started in on the dessert, a pound cake from Southern Living, before remembering to take a picture.




We had a good discussion about the November book, The Madonnas of Leningrad, written by Debra Dean. I was ready to get started on the fundraiser so we could all go see the Hermitage. The Russian Empress, Catherine the Great ,purchased what is the foundation of the modern Hermitage.
Gail Post had actually been there a while back and said they had to have a docent with them and she zoomed them through. I think Gail might like to return if she could spend as much time as she wants looking at art.
Our leader, Linda, suggested we look at the Hermitage website and look at information about the heroic efforts of museum staff to save the art from the Germans during WWII. Leningrad was entirely besieged for 900 days while hundreds of thousands starved to death, including museum staff.

I have always like the wallpaper in her guest bathroom.

Leanna's blackberry designed dishes in her china cupboard.