EXLINE — You can sure tell the autumn season is upon us. You are starting to see pumpkins and fall decorations as you travel around. There is also a crisp coolness in the morning air, as September turns into October.

The recipe for this week is kind of a fun one for the kids. It is for cupcakes, that are a good treat with a Halloween theme.

 

Chocolate “Dirt” Cupcakes

 

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

8 oz. sour cream

1 Tb. vanilla extract

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 1/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. strong brewed coffee

1 c. vegetable oil

3 large eggs

 

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

1 c. sugar

1 c. heavy whipping cream

5 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate

10 Tb. butter

1 c. confectioners' sugar

 

Topping:

30 to 40 chocolate sandwich cookies

1 pkg. Gummi Worms

 

Directions for the cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three cupcake pans with cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.

 

For the frosting:

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cream. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat, and simmer for six minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; add chocolate and butter, stirring until melted and smooth. Let cool for 10 minutes. Whisk in confectioners' sugar. Let mixture cool until it reaches a spread able consistency, then top cooled cupcakes with frosting.  

 

For the topping:

Place cookies into a resealable plastic bag. Crush cookies with hands to make a "dirt" consistency. Sprinkle the frosting with cookie crumbs.  Then, add the Gummi Worms on top and serve.

 

Last Friday, I was invited to join 14 other relatives to celebrate Kendell Oden’s birthday. All of us met at the Manhattan restaurant for a buffet lunch. All of those present enjoyed visiting at the get together and celebrating that special occasion.

I hope everyone had a nice day last Saturday for Pancake Day. The weather was a lot better than last year, when it rained all day.

Morgan Cline was back for the annual event, from his home in New Jersey. Like last year, he brought some friends with him, so they could also experience Pancake Day.

While they were here, the group attended various functions.

On Pancake Day a few residents of Exline were on hand in Centerville participating in various events. Denise and I, along with Vickie Butler and many other members of the Centerville Chapter of Eastern Star, volunteered to be at the Masonic Lodge, to help prepare and serve a noon dinner and supper to the law enforcement and ambulance people who were on duty all day, for the special event. Vickie’s husband Rick Butler, is an Eastern Star member also, but he was one of the law enforcement officers who was on duty from morning until late in the evening that day.

There were some visitors that viewed the Exline Hose Company No. 1 Museum while it was open last Saturday afternoon.

That was the last weekend it was going to be open for this season. If you have visiting friends or relatives that would like to visit the museum at any time, you may contact the Exline Country Store and make arrangements to have the museum open.   

Sunday morning of last weekend, Morgan Cline and his friends came down to the Exline Old Country Store to enjoy breakfast that was served by the store manager, Penny Sharp and her staff.

One of the new additions in the store is a flat screen television that is on the west end of the dining area. They are going to have it set on various news channels throughout the day this winter, so everyone may keep up with the latest events and weather forecasts, while they are visiting and enjoying their coffee, at the store.

Condolences go out to the family of Ira Foglesong, formerly of rural  Exline, who passed away recently.

A nice gathering of people attended the Homecoming that was also held last Sunday, at the Church of Christ in Exline.

A co-op dinner was served to everyone in attendance, following the church services. Afterward, a special program was put on with music and guest speaker, Dan Schantz.   

The music was performed by former Exline residents who grew up here, Kayla McClurg, Sherry Zeigler and Mike Walag. They played the piano and sang.

A highlight to their performances, was that their former music teacher, Marilyn Barber, was there and she even sang a song.

Rodney Randall, was also on hand to play the harmonica for everyone.

On Sunday afternoon, the Mikels family had their annual reunion at the community center.

On Tuesday evening, my cousin  Karen and her husband Rodger Maletta of Centerville, had Denise and I over for dinner, to celebrate Denise’s birthday, which was that day.    We had a delicious pork dinner that Karen had prepared.

As you have heard, the town of Exline is scheduled to lose its town post office in the near future.  

A representative from the U.S. Postal Service will be here in the town of Exline, at the community center this coming Tuesday evening, Oct. 4, to answer your questions and concerns regarding this loss, to our community.

If you would like to attend and voice your opinion regarding this matter, they will be here from 7:15-8:15 p.m. to discuss the matter.

The town of Exline has had a post office here since 1877. The town got its first post office through the work of Dr. N. Landis  Price’s wife, Sarah E. Price.

Because of her effort, she was appointed as the first Post Mistress, as the female Post Masters were called in those days.

So, the town of Exline has had a post office here for 134 years, so far.