Library Thing

Have you heard about Library Thing? I just found out about it and haven't joined yet, but I think I will. It's a place to keep track of all of your books and notes. I just finished Harry Potter 7 (again), so I think it's time for another classic.

Mormon Muffins

Mormon Muffins are a unique Utah thing that originated, I believe, at the Greenery Restaurant at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. They top them with honey butter and serve them for dessert. I've really been craving some lately, but I haven't had the time - or the All Bran - to make them.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
	2 5 1 2 4 1 5 1 4 2 1	cups teaspoons cup cups each quart cups teaspoon cups cups cup	boiling water baking soda shortening sugar eggs buttermilk flour salt All Bran Cereal 40% Bran Flakes walnuts (chopped)
Directions: Add soda to boiling water and set aside. Whip shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs slowly. Mix well. Add the buttermilk, flour, salt and mix again. Add the soda water very slowly. Gently fold the cereals and the walnuts into the mix. Spoon 1/8 cup into greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Muffin mix must sit in the refrigerator over night before baking. Muffin mix will last one week, covered and refrigerated. Yields 3 dozen muffins.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Art Goodies

I've seen the lovely work of Lisa Price before but was reminded of it again the other day (I can't remember where I saw it again!). Her Etsy shop, Art Goodies, offers a wonderful variety of block print animals - on dish towels, aprons, stuffies, etc. I think I like the squirrel and the bunny the best.

Thursday Two Things: Ellis Library/Sycamore Library

I wish that I could say that I would really miss the Columbia Public Library, but the fact of the matter is that I have not used it that much. It is a great facility, though. We have also enjoyed the immense libraries on campus at the University of Missouri. Anyway, here is a modified version of something that I'll miss and something that I'm looking forward to.

1. Missouri - the smell of the Ellis Library. (I didn't read a lot of books, but I liked how it smelled when I was waiting for Tony.)

2. Illinois - the Sycamore Public Library. I'm hoping to use it often. It's not far from where we're moving, and I love the building. Isn't that dome fantastic?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Have you seen it yet? We went to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Monday evening. It was very long and quite good. I re-read 5 and 6 before we went and am re-reading 7 now and really enjoying it. What did you think of the latest movie?

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey butter cake is one of the wonders of St. Louis. Its name describes it pretty well - it is gooey and buttery and chewy and like nothing else. If you want to stay true to the original, you have to make it with a crust that calls for yeast. And using a yellow cake mix totally defeats the purpose. I found a pretty good recipe at BigOven here. I think I need to go make one now...

Bear Clock

Last weekend when I was shopping around Rocheport, I got this cute pop-out bear clock at Richard Saunders. It says, You say you saw a floating bear? However can that be? A dog in a barrel and an elephant too? What a wonderful sight to see! It was just too fun to pass up.

Friday Featured Art: Rain on 24th Street

A new painting by Joe: Rain on 24th Street. I really like this one because it's a typical scene in Ogden, where I grew up. I miss the mountains. Sigh.

Thursday Two Things: MU/NIU

Two more things that I will miss and that I'm looking forward to.

1. Missouri - The University of Missouri. We've lived here and worked here for 5 years now, and the campus is really beautiful.

2. Illinois - Northern Illinois University. Tony did his master's degree there, and we'll be about 5 miles away. So we'll be going to a lot of football games, but that's OK because their mascot is a Huskie - they run through the end zone after touchdowns, and it's so cute.

Google Maps

Today I was looking at Google Maps, and I thought it would be fun to use the Street View option to see another part of the world. I chose Amsterdam and selected a random street along a canal. Here's one of the vignettes that I saw as I scrolled down the street. Isn't it lovely?