Saturday, January 24, 2009

Candace's Applesauce Cake Recipe!!!!

Applesauce Cake
Preheat oven to 350

One yellow Cake Mix
1 15 oz. can applesauce
3 eggs

Mix well.

Grease and dust with cinnamon sugar to taste. (best when Bundt pan is used)

Pour 1/2 mix into pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar to taste. Pour remaining batter into pan.

Bake 45-50 min. until toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Next Book Notes

There are four or five copies of the next book at both the county and city library districts. I would imagine that a classic like this would be available in most used book stores as well. Julie and Candace have both read this in the past and enjoyed it.

"As the Yankee's ingenuity and know-how encounter the world of medieval superstition, Twain takes the opportunity to satirize the Old World, chivalry, kings and the church. Many of the Arthurian knights are depicted, as seen through the unimpressed eyes of the Yankee." -Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia (Fourth Edition)

Last Meeting Highlights

We were finally able to meet tonight at Candace's house after the chaos settled from the snow storm and the holidays. Everyone attended and Lee brought her friend, Eileen. The funniest moment was Lori's impersonation of her brother, Mark!

The book "My Stroke of Insight" provoked a good discussion and I think everyone had finished or nearly finished the book. Candace's dessert, as usual, was fabulous!

Monday, January 5, 2009

The Death of the Old Year- Tennyson

Full knee-deep lies the winter snow,
And the winter winds are wearily sighing:
Toll ye the church bell sad and slow,
And tread softly and speak low,
For the old year lies a-dying.
Old year you must not die;

You came to us so readily,
You lived with us so steadily,
Old year you shall not die.
He lieth still: he doth not move:
He will not see the dawn of day.
He hath no other life above.
He gave me a friend and a true truelove
And the New-year will take 'em away.
Old year you must not go;
So long you have been with us,
Such joy as you have seen with us,
Old year, you shall not go.

He froth'd his bumpers to the brim;
A jollier year we shall not see.
But tho' his eyes are waxing dim,
And tho' his foes speak ill of him,
He was a friend to me.
Old year, you shall not die;
We did so laugh and cry with you,
I've half a mind to die with you,
Old year, if you must die.

He was full of joke and jest,
But all his merry quips are o'er.
To see him die across the waste
His son and heir doth ride post-haste,
But he'll be dead before.
Every one for his own.
The night is starry and cold, my friend,
And the New-year blithe and bold, my friend,
Comes up to take his own.

How hard he breathes!
over the snow
I heard just now the crowing cock.
The shadows flicker to and fro:
The cricket chirps: the light burns low:
'Tis nearly twelve o'clock.
Shake hands, before you die.
Old year, we'll dearly rue for you:
What is it we can do for you?
Speak out before you die.

His face is growing sharp and thin.
Alack! our friend is gone,
Close up his eyes: tie up his chin:
Step from the corpse, and let him in
That standeth there alone,
And waiteth at the door.
There's a new foot on the floor, my friend,
And a new face at the door, my friend,
A new face at the door.