"My Quilt"

Started sorting through piles of fabric and WIP's today...determined to finish them between the first day of school and Christmas when I was reminded of this story that someone shared at Quilter's Guild in DeRidder...Remember this, Cynthia(?!)...

"My Quilt"

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment,
I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives,
like the squares of a quilt, in many piles.

An Angel sat before each of us
sewing our quilt squares together
into a tapestry that is our life.

But my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile,
 I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.
They were filled with giant holes.

Each square was labeled
with a part of my life that had been difficult,

the challenges and temptations
I was faced with in everyday life. 

I saw hardships that I endured,
which were the largest holes of all. 

I glanced around me.

Nobody else had such squares.

Other than a tiny hole here and there,

the other tapestries were filled
with rich color
 and the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life
and was disheartened.

My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,
threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed,
held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.

The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.

So filled their lives has been.

My Angel looked upon me,
and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.

I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes…

I had love in my life,
and laughter.

But there had also been
trials of illness,
and death,
and false accusations

that took from me my world,
as I knew it.

I had to start over many times,

I often struggled with the temptation to quit,

only to somehow muster
the strength to pick up and begin again.

I spent many nights on my knees in prayer,

asking for help and guidance in my life.

I had often been held up to ridicule,

which I endured painfully,

each time offering it up to the Father

in hopes that I would not melt
within my skin

beneath the judgmental gaze
of those who unfairly judged me.

Now I had to face the truth.

My life was what it was,

and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted
 the combined squares of my life to the light.

Gasps filled the air.

I gazed around at the others
 who stared at me with wide eyes.

When I looked upon the tapestry before me.

Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image,

the face of Christ.

Then our Lord stood before me,

with warmth and love in His eyes.

He said,

“Every time you gave over your life to me,

it became my life,
my hardships,
and my struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you

stepped aside
and let me shine through,

until there was more of me
 than there was of you.”

      May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Buttermilk Bread

Buttermilk Bread
(Makes 2 loaves)

6-1/2C flour
3Tbsp sugar
2 envelopes yeast
2-1/2 tsp salt
1/4tsp baking soda
1C buttermilk
1C water
1/3C butter

---Combine 3C flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt, baking soda.
---Heat buttermilk, water, butter to 130°F.
---Stir into flour mixture.
---Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough.
---Knead on lightly floured surface 8min.
---Cover. Let rest on floured surface 10min.
---Divide dough in half. Roll each half to 12x7 inch rectangle.
---Roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seams and ends to seal.
---Place, seam sides down, in 2 greased loaf pans.
---Cover. Let rise in warm, draft-free place 45min.
---Bake at 375 for 35min.
---Remove from pans. Let cool on wire racks.

Fats Waller

Sometimes I think that I was born in the wrong decade...I should have been a flapper or lived in any era before World War 2...call me  old-fashioned---because I am...the biggest compliment anyone can tell me when they visit my home is that "my grandmother used to have this..." or "this reminds me of back when..."

One thing that I really like is big band music---especially piano music by such pianists as Fats Waller and Art Tatum...so the first thing that I want to share today is this video...


Ain't Misbehavin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Wwhe9Hx_w

Caio Pagano performs Weber "perpetuum mobile" by Weber

Zimerman plays Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2

Really do not have time to write today, but did want to keep track of the three things that i added yesterday...

1.   "Ran across" this pianist while i was surfing today...all i can say is, "Wow...I want to be like her when I grow up"...

Beethoven "Moonlight" Sonata op 27 # 2 Mov 3 Valentina Lisitsa

www.youtube.com

Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnabon Style

1/2C warm water
2 pkg. active dry yeast
1Tbsp sugar
1 3 1/2 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1+ cup sugar
1/4+ cup good quality cinnamon

Combine water, yeast, and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside. Make pudding mix according to package directions. Add butter, eggs, salt. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture. Add flour gradually. Knead until smooth and elastic. Place in very large greased bowl. Cover. Let rise 1hr. Punch down. Let rise 45min. Roll out to 1/4" thick rectangles. Spread 1/2C melted butter over surface. Mix cinnamon and sugar together. Spread evenly over surface, leaving 1" margin along one of the long edges. Roll up tightly, starting from a long side. Press together along the edge not covered with cinnamon sugar. Slice. Place on greased baking pan 2" apart. Cover, Let rise overnight. Bake at 350 for 20min.

---Combine

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

---Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting.
 

Karl's Homemade Pizza Dough

1 2/3C warm water

4tsp yeast

1tsp salt

2Tbsp olive oil

Flour

Mix yeast salt, olive oil into water. Mix in flour 1/2C at a time until dough shapes into a ball. Knead 10min. Divide into thirds. Shape into balls. Dust with flour. Cover. Let rise 30min.