FINALLY--a Monthly Luncheon in 2019!!!!!

Hurray! After missing the first three months this year, the Novelty Senior Citizens met Thursday, April 4, 2019 for the monthly luncheon. Judith had decorated the center with Easter motif—rabbits, eggs, and springtime colors. It looked very pretty.

 

Six were in attendance for the luncheon—Jim and Marsha Pinson, Sue Ahern, Helen Pulse, Carolyn Morgret, and Judith Rhoades. Judith had brought the birthday cake although there were no April birthdays. (Two from January however.) Sherry Goodwin, Knox Co. Health Dept, was also there to take blood pressures and answer questions. We were so glad to acknowledge that Knox County felt as strongly as it did for the tax increase to the Health Department.The pledge of allegiance was recited by all, then  Jim gave the blessing for the food. It was good to taste other people's cooking again!

After cleanup, Marsha called the business meeting to order. She then read the minutes: from December's meeting, and posts she had made each month on the blog site. You can see those at http://noveltyseniorcenter.blogspot.com. After asking they be approved as read, Carolyn seconded. Passed. Judith then gave 4 months of financial reports. The center received $1415 for the wreaths' project. Our CD had earned $5.19 over those 4 months. All reports are attached to these minutes. Judith moved to approve the reports, Helen seconded. Motion passed.

Business Items:

1. Marsha gave a wrap-up of the 2018 WAA project. We had received 283 wreaths on time (on Friday before the scheduled ceremony). A nice ceremony, with the program provided in the secretary's book.
   Joyce has already registered with WAA for this coming year's location (MONVCN) and Marsha has registered the Center as the fundraiser for this location. (MO0048P) Incentives were given by WAA if this was done by a certain time. Carolyn made the official motion that we again sponsor the Wreaths Across America project for Novelty cemetery in conjunction with all Knox County Cemeteries. Judith seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

2. We have always had a spring fundraiser of a breakfast of sausage, biscuits and gravy, held the Saturday morning before Easter. We were a bit disappointed last year in the participation. After discussion of alternative dates, and also changing the menu, Carolyn made the motion to NOT have a pre-Easter fundraiser breakfast. Helen seconded. Motion passed. If we decide we need one later for a particular expense, we will do it at that time. This also does not apply to the Opening Day of Gun Deer Season in November, as we will plan to do that soup luncheon.

3. It was decided to have some kind of memorial plaque at the center in memory of Helen Cheatum. Her family will help choose appropriate items to place in a frame (similar to the one for Pat Carlson) to be hung in the center.

    4.  Marsha thanked Judith and Lynn Van Dolah for picking up the wreaths at the Novelty     

         cemetery  and the Mt. Salem cemetery in March.  A reminder to all that you should get yours 

         picked up ASAP prior to mowing season!

Meeting was adjourned and visiting followed,

 

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all those veterans of the Vietnam War Era.
You most likely did not get a warm welcome home at that time,
hopefully, you receive thank you's since then.  Although you may
not have supported the war, you answered the call to duty.
God Bless!

AND AGAIN....................

Didn't post earlier, because, again,  March 7 found the weather not conducive for us senior citizens to be out and about.  We again canceled the monthly luncheon.  I am hoping that we will have the luncheon in April--if not, maybe we'll just need to eliminate it!!!!   No, we won't do that.  But I am certainly ready for spring!!!!

For three months, I have made a cake for the birthday celebrants...and this month, I took it to the following Tuesday coffee for a sweet treat with hot beverages.  And I won't make it again (the St. Louis style gooey butter cake that has the recipe somewhere in a previous post.  Judith will make the cake for April.  January birthday celebrants would have been Jim Pinson, Sue Ahern, and Paul Milliken.  No February ones, but March birthday people were Dorothy Howard and Karen Lumley.   A very Happy Birthday to each of them!!!!  And maybe they can all blow out candles in April!

Discussion will need to be made about our spring fundraiser.  Last year we didn't feel the breakfast went over as well.  So we are considering other ideas.  Please leave a comment if you have an idea!!!!   Also, since Easter is so late this year, April 21, we are considering changing the date from the day before to Easter to some other time---we'd take ideas on that as well. 

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

A huge THANK YOU to
 Lynn Van Dolah and
 Judith Rhoades

for picking up the wreaths at the Novelty cemetery
and Mt. Salem cemetery.  

A chilly morning, but  a job that needed doing.  

Again, THANKS Judith and Lynn for volunteering to do this!!!

(and a reminder to others to pick up your wreaths! before mowing season!)

FEBRUARY, 2019

Well, dear readers, so far 2019 has NOT been good weather-wise.  We had to cancel our February luncheon due to icy roads.  We've had two really bad weeks of weather.  In fact, Knox County Schools have only been in session about 1/2 day since January 18th!!!!   

We did have coffee this past Tuesday, February 5.  Only four showed up for it.  We wish Denis Howard a speedy recovery and hope he soon gets home from the hospital. 

Since we had to cancel, I had already baked the "birthday" cake for today.  Although we had no February birthdays we were celebrating the January ones that we missed!  I had made a new recipe, and am including that recipe below.  I didn't find it as "gooey" as says, but I probably baked it a bit too long--it was more like a bar cookie.  Definitely scrumptious though!  Try it!

                  St. Louis Style Gooey Butter Cake

Prep 20 mins Cook 30 mins Serves 10-12.

¹⁄₂ cup butter (NOT MARGARINE!)

18 ounces yellow cake mix (one box)

3 eggs

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (cut into quarters)

¹⁄₂ teaspoon almond extract or ¹⁄₂ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 cups confectioners' sugar (A.K.A. Powdered sugar)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Lightly grease (or spray with Pam) one deep 9x13 rectangular cake pan. I would suggest a 4 in deep pan, as the cake rises when it is cooking, but a oven-safe disposable coffee cake pan from the grocery store would work fine too.
3. Melt butter. I do this by heating the the microwave on low power for 30 seconds.
4. Empty cake mix into a large bowl.
5. Stir melted butter, along with ONE egg, into the cake mix.
6. PRESS mixture into pan. Mixture will have the consistency of sticky dough. Using a spatula works for me, but pressing with clean fingers will do the trick as well.
7. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, almond or vanilla extract, confectioners sugar and the remaining two eggs.
8. Beat for three minutes with an electric mixer set on medium high speed, or until smooth with NO lumps.
9. Pour evenly over top of the cake mixture in the pan. Use a spatula to spread.
10. Place a large cookie sheet on the rack below the cake. Sometimes when you use a cake pan with less depth, the cake bubbles and spills over. The cookie sheet will spare your oven! Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes until golden brown on top. Cooking time is estimated, you will really have to watch it here! I always take the cake out when it turns a darkish golden brown. Note that there will be a paper thin sugar "crust" that will form while the cake is baking. It the top layer of sugar hardening, and this is what will turn golden brown. It adds great texture!
11. Allow cake to cool COMPLETELY. This is very important, as the cake will not cut easily until it is completely cool. You will notice that the cake has sunken and set. This is normal. Refrigeration is optional. I personally like it at room temperature.
12. Dust the top with confectioners’ sugar.
13. Cut cake into bars and serve with or without utensils, but make sure you have plenty of napkins, because this treat will have you licking your fingers! (Cake should be gooey underneath the sugar "crust", so don't over bake!).
    
    
    Stay in if at all possible.  If you have to be out, be SAFE!  

A REMINDER::

JANUARY LUNCHEON AND MEETING

Due to the visitation and funeral for Helen Cheatum, mother of our president, Diana Cheatum, there was no monthly luncheon on January 3.

Helen had been active in the senior center when in better health, and had served on our executive board at that time.

Our sympathy to Diana and her family.