Holiday Warnings

Beware the Yule Cat my friends:

From Iceland comes the legend of the sinister and gargantuan Yule Cat, who, it seems, is ready to eat lazy humans. Those who did not help with the work of their village to finish all work on the autumn wool by Yule time got a double whammy -- they missed out on the Yule reward of a new article of clothing, and they were threatened with becoming sacrifices for the dreaded. This tidbit from a lovely Web site on Yule in Iceland, complete with a poem on the Yule Cat (taken from http://www.candlegrove.com/yule.html#cat).

Additional Holiday Warnings:

An elf has informed me that my generations old 'White Christmas Cake' (a.k.a. FRUITCAKE) will soon be arriving to the doors of myself and other extended family members. Some claim to LOVE this holiday treat (I think it has something to do with the ability of a small piece of cake to inebriate one faster than a gallon of egg nog). I too love the fruit encrusted cake of booze-- but not for eating. With that, I'd like to share with all who will be receiving a 'Christmas Cake’ or fruitcake some alternative uses for the cake from www.party411.com:

Centerpiece: Using a giant fruitcake that you made or bought (and no matter whether it's rectangular or round), put it center table on a bed of holly and evergreen branches with pinecones scattered as confetti. Delightful.

Votive Candle Holder: Take the fruitcake out of its container and make holes big enough to hold votive candles. Or just shove them in-who's to know?! Isn't this a great idea?

Guest Towel Holder: Take two fruitcakes, lay them side by side about 4" apart and insert popsicle sticks to make it a holder for your favorite guest towels. Decoupage if you feel up to it.

Knife Rest: Cut the fruitcake into 2x1" rectangles and put one at each place as a knife rest…your guests will marvel at your creativity.

Place Card Holder: Again, cut the fruitcake into rectangles and make a small groove in the top to hold a business card size placecard. Placecards with holly and mistletoe are easily found at your local stationery store. Coat with polyurethane so you can use year after year.

Holiday Door Knocker: You may think this is difficult but it's not. Super glue a hinge to the bottom of the fruitcake near the top, use removable double stick tape to attach the back of the hinge to your door. Let's hope they are not from the school of hard knocks.

Punch Hole Ring: Take your fruitcake, freeze it in a block of ice and throw it in your punch bowl for an unusual yet attractive garnish.

Trivet: No explanation needed.

Or for the family out West here's another option:
The GREAT Fruitcake toss-- Jan 7th 10 am- 2 Manitou Springs CO
http://www.manitousprings.org/ASP/CalendarItem.ASP?NUMBER=94