Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

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It's snowing in Budapest again!

The sky is grey, and the flakes are tiny;

so, if you live anywhere that gets

a reasonable amount of snow, you know:

this could last all day.

I was going to go fencing tonight,

still may,

but the thought of dragging that bag

down snow covered streets,

really doesn't make me want to go.

I also have a meeting for

the Student Union Board tonight;

oh, I haven't mentioned that

not only am I in the SU for my university,

but on the board?

Oops - well, I got elected while I was

home in October. Funny, right?

No matter, it's been a lot of fun.

I'm getting a little headway made

on all of my papers - I've got a few started

and even one that's close to being done.

But still:

Latin Take-Home Exam [so glad we got it take home!]

5 papers, 5 journals (which are just smaller papers, anyways).

Oh, and that thesis thing I need to get started on.

Lots of work, and with deadlines in January,

Christmas break may involve me with my

nose constantly stuck in a book.

Wednesday HodgePodge with Joyce!

1. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the last year?

Summer camp!

Ha! You thought I'd say Budapest,

but really that started over a year ago :)

2. What is your most meaningful family heirloom?

I honestly have no idea.

There are a lot of things in the family

that mean the world to me,

but heirloom? no idea.

3. What food festival would you most like to attend?

all of them?

There's a great [clam] Chowder Festival

near where I grew up that I love.

But, anything in Italy

involving pizza or pasta would be fine by me :)

4. Snow: love or a 4letter word?

I still love snow,

though, at home it tends to become a 4letter word :)

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5. Can/Do you ski? Are you any good?

I can snowboard!

But I am awful at it.

My family isn't much for the slopes.

6. What quality in your best friend are you most thankful for?

humor

patience

a sense of adventure

7. Describe the coziest spot in your home.

in my dorm room: my bed

at home: curled up in front of the woodstove,

with the cat(s) of course!

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8. Random thought:

I go home in 13 days!

Day 9 with Aly & Molly

Favorite Holiday Recipe

This is really impossible to do from overseas

without my cookbooks :(

As my favorite recipes are for candy-cane cookies

(look like candy-canes, not taste).

But, I can give you another recipe I like:

Molasses Sugar Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups shortening
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. Melt the shortening in a large pan on the stove, and cool. (wood-stoves are excellent for this!)
2. Add sugar, eggs, and molasses, beat well.
3. In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients together and add to the pan.
4. Mix well and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
5. Form into smallish balls. Roll in (christmas colored!) granulated sugar.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8-10 minutes.
8. Store in an airtight container to keep from getting overly crisp.
9. If they do lose their softness, an easy way to restore it is to place one slice of fresh bread in the container with the cookies for a couple of hours or overnight and they will be soft again!