Sunflowers

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Hot Tea and Baking Powder Biscuits


Hot tea and baking-powder-biscuits spread with red-raspberry jam
are the perfect antidote to a gray rainy day.


This Windsor teacup was a gift from my best friend's Mum, in Canada.
She had it in her own teacup collection for years but decided to share it with me.
It coordinates so perfectly with the other forget-me-not teacups that I have.
Isn't it pretty?  I love it!
Thank you, Mrs. C!


* * *


 I guess I should just add the recipe here to show you how easy these are.
It's right out of Betty Crocker's Cookbook, 1978 edition.

Baking Powder Biscuits
1/3 cup shortening
1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk

Cut shortening into flour, baking powder and salt with pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Stir in just enough milk so dough leaves sides of bowl and rounds into a ball.  Turn dough onto floured surface.  Knead lightly 10 times.  Roll 1/2 inch thick.  Cut with biscuit cutter.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 nich apart for crusty sides, touching for soft sides.  Bake  in 450 oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.  Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
Makes about 1 dozen.

Notes from me:  I start checking to see if they are done at about 8 minutes, depending on the size of cutter I use.  I like to serve mine straight out of the oven with butter and jam.  




Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Dinos, Bears and Dollies Dress Up For Halloween


Can you help these dinos, bears and dollies dress up for Halloween?

Audrey Christie - Recycled Paper  1983  

Gibson

 Ambassador Hallmark

Carlton- American Greetings


(You'll find more Halloween paperdolls from my collection here, here and here.)



Monday, October 28, 2013

Everywhere!

More sunflowers.
They are everywhere!


These were growing in the weeds and tall grass between two parking garages.
Beauty found in the most unexpected of places.





Saturday, October 26, 2013

Sunflowers Flutterin' In The Wind


Sunflowers, flutterin' in the wind.


Our beautiful state flower.


I may need to find a bumper sticker for my car that says,
"I brake for sunflowers." 





Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Change Of Scenery

A short break from "real life".
A change of scenery. 
A beautiful view.



"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
                                                                             - John Muir




Saturday, October 12, 2013

Thread In A Jar


Spools of thread in a big glass jar.
Color inspires me.
And makes me happy.
So these sit on a shelf near my sewing machine.


Where do you keep thread?

(In the background- another sneak peek at the Christmas project I'm working on.)




Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Star Spangled Barn Quilt


Back with another Barn Quilt.
This family picked a Star Spangled block in red white and blue
to honor 4 generations who have served in the military.
And you have a pretty good clue where their ancestors came from.


One of the things I love about this search for barn quilts
is the awareness of how much open space we have here in Kansas.
I love the miles and miles of green fields and big blue sky.




Friday, October 4, 2013

Hansel And Gretel


(Felicitas Kuhn, 1962)

When I was a kid I loved fairytales.
I still do.
One of my favorites was/is "Hansel and Gretel". 
The fairy tale that warned us that things are not always what they seem,  
not all people can be trusted,
and that the buddy system is a very good thing.
(Especially when you find yourself in a sticky situation.)

(Wanda Gag, 1936)

(not sure who the artist is, Golden Press 1964)

Who can forget the line,
"Nibble Nibble like a mouse, Who is nibbling at my house?"?
We all want to jump up and tell the children to run the other way as fast as they can! 

Over the years,  I have collected several versions of the tale.
I love seeing how different artists bring the story to life on the page.

(Erika Weihs, 1946)

(Rose Art Studios,  not sure of date, I'm guessing the 60's.) 

 
(Eloise Wilkin, 1954)


This song from the Hansel and Gretel opera by Humperdinck is really beautiful.
Night is falling and Hansel and Gretel are lost deep in the forest.
They pray that angels will watch over them.   
Have a listen to "Evening Prayer".


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Knee Deep In Ric-Rac


There are less than 3 months til Christmas, my friends!
Holiday projects are underway so I'm knee-deep in ric-rac. 
:-)

Are you working on anything special?