St. Nicholas Day 2012

This is the icon I used to see
every St. Nicholas Day
at my church in Ottawa.
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This is my first St. Nicholas day in 7
years that I am not there.
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I am glad to have Mr. Husband
but I miss my Ottawa too.
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I had really hoped to do some baking
for St. Nicholas Day
for my new church,
actually I had dreamed of doing this
as a way to transition and
continue the traditions I had in Ottawa
but I just did not have the energy
yesterday.
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But I did manage some things.
I made Mr. Husband and I a good meal.
A festive one.

 

These are the St. Nicholas Cakes
I made in 2010.
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I really hope to get back to baking.
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The hurricane we lived through
is not in the news anymore
but the results are still with us.
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Mr. Husband and I walked by the
local community centre
the other day
and it is totally gutted and empty
because of the flood damage.
Including a preschool.
*
Mr. Husband and I talked to someone in the NYC
area who had tons of damage
and the person has not heard
from the government agency at all yet
though they applied
for the huge losses on their home.
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We are thankful that we did not have much damage;
for those who did, wow, this is difficult.
Mr. Husband and I are still seeing the
impact in our own lives
in little ways;
we still feel that we are still trying to rebuild
routines and other things that
were jarred out of place
and this is difficult at times.
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We really need St. Nicholas.
We need his prayers
his comfort
his saving help.
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 I know I will be looking to St. Nicholas
today for help;
Mr. Husband's office party is tonight.
I don't know what I will be
feeling like but hope it is better than
wishing to leave!
I am really grateful for the prayers
and support I am given here.
As a mainly introvert and HSP
I get really tired by crowds and noise.
I am better with less people...
I know what to do though:
Pray.
Remember that God has me
where He wants me for a reason.
Try to focus on others
and pray and love them.
Love Mr. Husband.
If I can get past myself
and do this
than it will go well.
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Thank you all for your prayers!
*
May St. Nicholas bless us all this year
and bring comfort!

Pre-St. Nicholas Day Celebrations

Last night I baked my

St. Nicholas Cake

a vegan chocolate cake

for St. Nicholas Day

while Cleo supervised.

After liturgy we had our St. Nicholas fish

dinner and concert;

it was also a parishioner's birthday so we sang

happy birthday

and many more years.

"St. Nicholas" came and all the kids got presents...

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Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day

and I will be God willing

at liturgy for this day.

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I love St. Nicholas...

St. Nicholas Cakes

I may have mentioned this cook book before;

The I hate to cook book

vintage (1960) and totally hilarious and practical all in one.

She is witty, talkative and suddenly throws at you

new recipes...

If you ever see one at a thrift store,

I suggest snapping it right up!

My yummy vegan chocolate cakes come from this book;

she calls them

cockeyed cake

I call them Lenten deliciousness.

Cleo wanted to help bake the cakes.

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Don't worry though, I didn't let her get closer

(really, the close eye I keep on her...)

soon she scampered off...

They are now baked, cooling and will be frosted tomorrow.

(Frosting recipe here).

Cake recipe as follows:

mix dry ingredients (1.5 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 tbs cocoa, 1 tsp soda, 1/2 tsp salt)

make three holes in the dry mixture

in each hole add one of the following:

5 tbs cooking oil, 1 tbs vinegar, 1 tsp vanilla

then pour 1 cup water on top and mix until, as

Peg Braken says,

"You'll feel like you're making mud pies now, but beat it with a spoon

until it's nearly smooth and you can't see the flour." (page 92)

Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

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From past experience, I can assure you that

these cakes will be soon gone

when served at church for

St. Nicholas Day.

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It is so good to make these cakes in honour of the

Feast Day of St. Nicholas!