Frayed Edges

My small quilting group got together yesterday at Kate's house for sharing and for food. Some day's there are a lot of quilts to share, new books to look at (not so many since Hannah left us :) and always food.

Yesterday was food and catching up with each others lives. We started out with sticky buns, Nana's roll recipe dressed up in brown sugar and pecans. I'll do that again. I've never met a sticky bun I haven't loved. I showed off my Tillie quilt which I posted earlier, and one other I had made of pink tulips on my windowsill...sorry, no picture yet. I left it behind by accident. Memory is a fickle thing when you hit...older. But there was the beautiful spring green tablecloth Kate had dyed from an old white linen one. Not to mention the spanakopita and green salad.

And this is the real color of the cloth, not washed out by my camera.


Talking, eating, catching up. All good.

Really???

I mean REALLY?? i don't often stick my neck out to comment on the latest fashions that appear in my inbox, but, come on. WHO would look good running (or doing anything) in these? Am I just too old to appreciate 'designer?' As my friend Betsy would say, "I wouldn't wear these to the barn."

Making Nana's rolls

My grandmother made the best rolls. As she got well into her 80's, some forward thinking daughter of hers asked her how to make them, and by doing so, preserving the recipe (and memories) for future generations. Like me. It takes all day, but they are so worth it. I remember watching them rise and she would always let me taste the warm, yeasty dough. I've had several flops, once when I killed the yeast and they never rose. Once I forgot the salt.

My favorite days to make them are the overcast and cold ones, when I can get the cookstove going and let them rise in it's heat. Those rolls are the best, always soft, with that delicious yeasty taste. And the bowl; I've used the same one since I've been making them...it's part of the ritual. I bought it for $16 at the home of Shard Pottery when they were still in business, not far from here. On the second's porch. I still haven't found anything wrong with it that would make it a second, though.
So, if anyone wants to try these here's the recipe, word for word. Here's to family recipes!

Nana Flanagan's Rolls

In saucepan heat to just below boiling-

1 cup sugar
1 stick oleo
2 cups milk
level soup spoon salt (1 TBSP)

Cool.
Crumble yeast cake in warm water- (I use 2 pkg. dry yeast and about 1/4 cup warm water)
When milk mixture is lukewarm add to it one beaten egg and yeast mixture- then add sifted flour until right consistency- I think it's about 6 to 8 cups- get it so you can knead it without it sticking to your fingers. Cover with plate-wrap it up and put in a warm place to rise- cut down after 2 hours- let rise again. Roll out and put in pan. Let rise again.
Bake about 20-25 minutes at 350 or 375 degrees.

Tillie Lays an Egg

A while back I posted an in-progress picture of Tillie and a link to my granddaughter's favorite book. Well, she has many favorites, but WE (she and I) like this one. By Terry Golson, who generously gave me permission to use the name. Now it's done and I will cross it off my list. Hope you like it.

A Little Project

A 4x5 inch birthday book. Why are circles so appealing?

Spring is coming....right?

On my afternoon walk the other day I was treated to the sound of glassy wind chimes as the wind blew these ice covered branches. And today more snow, but I just know we're headed into something good. First step on Sunday morning: turn the clocks forward!