Kathy's Ramble

Today's my fifty-seventh birthday. I’m 684 months old, or 2975 weeks or 20805 days or 499320 hours. Some of it went by quickly; some not so much. As Einstein explained, “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute.” Fifty-seven is only middle aged if you intend to live to 114; something that sounded better when I was seventeen than it does now. When I was seventeen I didn’t know what arthritic knuckles are like first thing in the morning. Or what it’s like to deal with movie goer’s knee even when you’re not at the cinema. Or that I’d someday find myself stashing reading glasses all over the house, because without them everything looks like decorative filigree. Don't misunderstand: I enjoy my life. I'm just not sure I'd volunteer for another 57 years.

Scrappy Bear Paw

“While living in Africa, I sought advice from Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy about helping Saints who live in poverty. Among the remarkable insights he shared with me was this: The greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement. This principle underlies the Church’s welfare system. When members are not able to meet their own needs, they turn first to their families. Thereafter, if necessary, they can also turn to their local Church leaders for assistance with their temporal needs. Family members and local Church leaders are closest to those in need, frequently have faced similar circumstances, and understand best how to help. Because of their proximity to the givers, recipients who receive help according to this pattern are grateful and less likely to feel entitled.” - Elder Dale G. Renlund

Chevrons

Betha Young was 22 the year her sorority sisters talked her into competing for the title of Miss New Mexico. She still speaks of the excitement; being primped and pampered, parading up and down, changing quickly and parading again. Betha had a wonderful time and to her great surprise, she actually won. In the 68 years since then, she’s had nothing to show for it but her memories. Because of post-World War II cutbacks, there was no money for a sash or crown in 1948. On May 14 this year, the reigning Miss America, Betty Cantrell, presented her with a sash and crown in a small ceremony in Albuquerque. On the Miss America facebook page, Betty later posted, “Betha is 90 years old and still beautiful as ever!”

Heart Quilt

This is the finished quilt top from the seventh Moda Frivol tin: Heart, using prints from the Primitive Songbird Gatherings line. The tiny prints are well suited to itty-bitty piecing; these half-square triangles are scarcely more than an inch across. I started the first Frivol quilt the week of Thanksgiving last year. I’d originally intended to finish two of these little quilt tops each month, so by May I’d be caught up. Now May is nearly over, and I’m just opening tin number eight. I’m not sorry I set that goal six months ago, even though I clearly haven’t met it. I did accomplish more than I would have done otherwise. It’s true what they say, that you should always reach for the moon. If you miss it, you’ll land among the stars.

Wild Rose and Square

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

3 large onions, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons butter, melted

3 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon Worcestershire

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4teaspoon pepper

2 quarts beef broth

8 thick slices French bread

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Combine onions and butter in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat at least half an hour.  Mix flour, Worcestershire, sugar and pepper. Stir flour mixture and broth into onions. Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 9 hours. Onions will be very tender. Arrange bread on baking sheet and sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake at 360 for a few minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Ladle soup into bowls and top each bowl with a slice of cheese toast. Serves eight.

Four Times Nine

If you trot around the corner from Bettys Tea Room in Harrogate  you will eventually find yourself in front of a little shop with a big blue awning that reads, “Farrah’s of Harrogate Palm Court Café Fine Chocolate Shop.” In case that’s not enticing enough, it also says, “Ice Cream” at least four times. We popped inside frequently, though we never actually had tea there. (Why would we, when we’d just been to Bettys?) We loved browsing through the tea towels, salt and pepper shakers, candies and little pots of jam. The last time we wandered into Farrah’s was November, 2011. This month we were in the store just around the corner from home (which also carries tea towels, salt and pepper shakers, candies and little pots of jam) and discovered quite by accident several blue-and-silver tins that read, “Farrah’s Original Harrogate Toffee.” We bought one, of course. If only Bettys sweets were that easy to find!