Not a whole lot going on this week - went to a couple of meetings - helped bundle cornstalks for the festival next weekend. Our big project today, or rather, Bob's big project, was putting the new door on the schoolhouse. And, here it is. Getting it on there just right was a little tricky, so it took much longer than I'd anticipated. Deedra and Doug just happened to be going by, so they stopped in to lend a hand and we had a nice visit. A nice, long visit.

Our next project is to raise fifteen-hundred dollars so that we can get this back corner of the building repaired. We're going to conduct a grassroots letter writing campaign asking friends and supporters of the schoolhouse to make small contributions toward this effort. (in light of TET - Tough Economic Times) If any of you blog readers want to get in on this action by contributing a small amount - contact me and I'll give you the address of our treasurer.

I was in the bank parking lot on Friday, purchasing a round steak from the Meat Mobile, and took this picture. I tip my hat to the people who bought this house and planted all these flowers last year. They've made waiting at the Riley and Route 6 stoplight a pleasure

On Thursday evening, Erica and I went to see Julie and Julia at The Strand Theatre. There were only seven of us in the audience for the movie. The preferred choice seemed to be one of those Halloween movies - I don't know which number. I hadn't been in the Strand for a long time, but we should patronize it more, to help it stay open. The first time we went there, some twenty years ago, I remember being surprised when the movie didn't start on time. I soon learned that it didn't matter what time the movie was supposed to begin, it didn't start running until everyone in line at the concession stand had been served. I expect it was because the Raisinette vendor and the projectionist were one in the same. I thought it was funny and charming - like something they would do in Hooterville.

Recipe of the Week: It seems that Kelli, of the very popular Kelli's Korner blog, likes to lunch at the Crumpet Tea Room in Bentonville Arkansas. She recently posted a picture of her lunch - chicken salad, fruit with a sweet poppy seed dressing, and one of the restaurant's gooey orange rolls. Well, I'm not familiar with this gooey orange roll, but was dying to meet and eat one, so I did a little research and came up with this recipe to try. Bob ate two tonight while watching the Colts/Cardinals game. He said they were "Very delicious, very tasty," and oh, what was the other one - yes, "very wonderful." Hope you like them too.

Orange Rolls

1/4 cup warm water

1 package dry yeast

1 cup milk, scalded

1/4 cup shortening

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 to 5 1/2 cups sifted flour

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons grated orange peel

1/4 cup orange juice

Dissolve the yeast in warm water and set aside. Scald milk. Add shortening, sugar and salt and cool to lukewarm. Place in mixing bowl. Stir in about 2 cups of the flour and beat well. Add eggs and mix. Stir in yeast, orange peel, juice and remaining flour. cover and let rest for ten minutes.

Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased blow, turning over once to grease the surface. Cover bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours. Punch down, cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Roll each to a 12 by 9 inch rectangle and spread with this filling:

Orange filling

1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

1/4 cup melted butter

Spread the filling on the dough and roll up like a jelly roll. Slice and place rolls on lightly greased cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Cover and let rise till doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove and frost with:

Orange Icing

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

2 tablespoons orange juice

1 cup powdered sugar

Makes 24 rolls

And Happy 2nd Anniversary to this Blog.