How to Make Half Rectangle Triangles for Quilting

This tutorial at the Modern Quilt Guild web page shows how to make a Half Rectangle Triangle.  (Actually, you’ll be making two at a time.)  These are different shapes from what quilters do a lot of the time, but this tutorial makes it easy and gives very clear instructions.  They can be used for a variety of patterns, and mixed with other pieces for even more combinations.  I really appreciate the simplified methods that modern quilting has developed, both for modern quilts and to make familiar patterns easier.

Go Here for the Tutorial.

Photo property of Latifah Saafir.

Australian Memories - Spotted

Taken at Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt. Coot-tha. 2013

Spiritual Abuse and Those Who Crave It

Some time back my dad and a family friend were discussing the strange and disturbing problem of abusive pastors.  Our friend, a pastor himself, told my dad that he had had a lady in their assembly come to him and suggest that he should be a lot harder on them than he was.  She somehow seemed to think that they "needed" to be beat up spiritually for their own good.  Our friend was puzzled and disturbed and definitely did not comply with her wishes!  This confirmed something he already thought - that the reason that there are so many abusive pastors is because the people want abusive pastors.  If they would get up and leave those churches, if they would fire those pastors, if they would speak up and tell "God's man" that he was out of line, there wouldn't be many of these monsters afoot.  The horrifying reality is that the people like it!

And no wonder.  God said that Israel had reached this point thousands of years ago.

Jeremiah 5:30-31 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

We might still wonder, though, how this state of affairs came to be.  Why do people like to be spiritually abused and mistreated by their pastor?

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Glorious Peace

Feel Good Friday - Akim Camara Playing Violin with Andre Rieu Orchestra When He was Three

This boy is a lot older now, but this particular concert was so cute I wanted to post it for your enjoyment. :-)  [Note: I have no control over the ads that may appear.]

Australian Memories – Lobster Claw Flowers

I believe these to be lobster claw flowers.  Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt. Coot-tha.  2013

Recipe: Mary’s Banana Cake

This recipe evolved as my mom and I made it together.  I had three overripe bananas in my fridge and I wanted to use them up.  She had come over one afternoon in December to say “hello” and offered to help.  Or did I ask her if she wanted to?  Anyway, we got it made.  :-)  I actually started out with a recipe from somewhere else, but I changed it so much that I’ve decided to change the name too.

This makes a heavier cake due to the ingredients, but it makes a very nice snack cake or dessert.  (Truth: My family had it with brunch one morning. [grin]   What's the point in being grown up if you can't decide to have cake for breakfast?)

Mary's Banana Cake

Whisk together in a medium bowl:
1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1 C. white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder

Cream together in a large bowl:
1 C. brown sugar
1 C. butter
1/2 C. sour cream
1/4 C. milk
3 eggs

Add dry ingredients to this and mix well.
Beat in:
3 medium bananas, mashed (should make 1 heaping cup)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Stir in:
1 C. chocolate chips
(You may add 1/2 C. of chopped nuts if you wish.)

Line the bottom of a 9x13 cake pan with parchment paper and grease the sides well.  Pour in batter and bake at 350F (175C) for 30-40 minutes or till a golden brown color around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
Completely cool.

Frosting

Whip together till light and fluffy and spread on cake:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 Tbl. butter, softened
1 2/3 C. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

I did not freeze any of this cake, so I don’t know how it does in the freezer.  I would imagine that it would freeze well as most cakes tend to do, but due to its heavy consistency it would probably be better fully thawed before using.



The color in this picture isn’t very good, but I thought it was interesting to see the swirls of banana in the cake.  It would make a good snack cake without the frosting too, if you prefer.  Yes, I did take out a slice before frosting it because this was an experiment and I wanted to see how it was right away. :-)



We got this enamel plate at an old fashioned “five and dime” store in Fredericksburg, Texas where we went for a little vacation in October.  The enamelware was a bit pricey, so I opted to get one dessert/salad size plate just for this purpose – photographing food for the web page. :-)  Isn’t it pretty?  I love the color!