Checkerboard Glory

Nancy Lois Siddoway was born August 18, 1937; the last of her mom and dad’s six children. She loved pizza, hamburgers and ice cream. She loved music, especially primary songs. People with Down syndrome tend not to live to a ripe old age. Many never see their third birthday, let alone their thirtieth. But by their very nature, they make the most of every moment granted to them. They are some of the most compassionate, generous people you’re ever likely to meet. Nancy was sixty-seven the day she passed away. Until her death she was considered the oldest living person with Down syndrome. Today the title – according to Guiness World Records – belongs to Joyce Greenman of Ash Green, Aldershot. Of course, the Guiness people haven’t checked back with her since 2008. It’s entirely possible the honor belongs to someone else.

Snowballs

A clafouti (pronounced kla-foo-TEE) is versatile dish from France, characterized by a minimal use of flour and a hot oven so that it cooks quickly. This one can be served as a dessert or as part of a brunch.

Apple/Pear Clafouti

2 cups sliced apples and/or pears

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus a teaspoon for dusting pan

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups milk, divided

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate with cooking spray or butter, and dust plate with 1 teaspoon flour. Arrange fruit in the bottom of pie pan; set aside. Combine 3/4 cup flour, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Gradually add 1 cup milk, stirring with a whisk until well-blended. Add remaining milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Pour batter over sliced fruit. Bake at 375F for 35 minutes or until set. Serve warm.

Square and a Half

My niece shared a few thoughts the other day that sparked "aha" moments. The first was, “Brushing your teeth is the only time you clean your skeleton.” My initial reaction was, “That’s silly. Teeth aren’t bones.” But teeth are part of your skull. Have you ever seen a toothless skull? And your skull is definitely part of your skeleton. The second was, “I was hit by a train in a dream, and it woke me up. Did I get knocked conscious?” I don’t always dream about trains, but I’m frequently knocked conscious. The first thing I see is usually the cat, looking far too innocent. The third was, “The reason washing machines only eats one sock is when it eats a pair I don’t notice.” My washer is even more devious. It eats a sock and waits for me to bin its mate before spitting the first sock out again.

Curved Road Block

"Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others. Charity, that pure love of Christ, is manifest when a group of young women from a singles ward travels hundreds of miles to attend the funeral services for the mother of one of their Relief Society sisters. Charity is shown when devoted visiting teachers return month after month, year after year to the same uninterested, somewhat critical sister. It is evident when an elderly widow is remembered and taken to ward functions and to Relief Society activities. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation, 'Come—sit by us.'" - President Thomas S. Monson

Aunt Katie's Choice

We usually go to the cinema Tuesdays, because it’s less crowded and there are often discounts (that’s important when you go as often as we do). We’d expected to see Jack Black in Goosebumps last week, but for some reason the studio bumped the release date back. Instead we got tickets to Walt Before Mickey. The film covered the decade between Walt Disney’s release from service in France at age 17 (!) and the release of his first Mickey Mouse short, Plane Crazy. I’d read about the crushing setbacks Walt faced as he tried to get his company off the ground, but they were hard to watch. It was harder still to see him ALWAYS with a cigarette between his teeth. Walt did smoke, but hated to be seen doing it. I’m guessing if this had been a Disney flick, there’d have been fewer Camels. The movie would have been more entertaining, too.

Four Kaleidoscopes

One of the best things about autumn is produce: crisp apples, juicy tomatoes, and all kinds of squashes. This is the perfect time of year for persimmons. There are basically two kinds of persimmons: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyus persimmons are short and fat – like bright orange donuts. They’re very sweet and can be eaten while still firm. Hachiya persimmons are longer and thinner, like Roma tomatoes. But if you eat a firm Hachiya, you’ll instantly regret it. Unlike other fruits that are sour when unripe, Hachiya persimmons are astringent. They make your mouth feel dry and furry. I’ve read eating too many unripe persimmons can cause digestive issues, but it’s hard to imagine that happening. The moment you take a bite of one, you’re going to want to spit it out. Got it? If your persimmons are long and thin, wait until they're soft before eating. Or you could avoid them altogether. More persimmons for me!

Nine-Patch Star

I love five-patch quilt blocks. I find their symmetry charming. They have a graceful music to them; an elegance. The math involved with five-patch blocks can be a little difficult. Most people solve the problem by making five, ten, fifteen or twenty inch finished blocks. Quilts Etc. is doing 10" five-patch blocks in this year’s block-of-the-month classes. Patchwork Party 2015 is also five-patches, but these blocks are meant to be 12 1/2”. No, that doesn’t include the seam allowance. The blocks should be squared off at 13”, and when they’re part of a quilt, they’ll be 12 1/2. I don’t have a 13” ruler (I don’t think anyone makes such a thing). The idea of the math involved to design a quilt around 12 1/2” blocks makes my head spin. But I DO have the Marti Michell template set M, which makes 12” finished five-patch blocks. So, as usual, I’m making my own path.