Easy Ten Minute Quilt Blocks

I tried this technique the other day-- it was so much fun to do! I am looking forward to making a quilt again!

French Toast for a Big Family

Here is an easy way to make a big batch of French Toast without having to stand over the frying pan for an hour. Make sure you prepare enough to fill everyone up, and give seconds to those who always ask for them!

Preheat your oven to 475 F. Grease two large baking sheets well with oil. Prepare your French Toast the way you are used to doing (the kind of bread you like, and eggs and seasoning), but instead of frying them in a frying pan, place them on the oiled sheets.  Into the oven they go, for a few minutes, then when they are browned to your liking on one side, flip them over and bake more until the other side is done.

Turn off the oven, and after you have served everyone, place any remaining pieces back in the oven to stay warm until wanted.

We like to serve ours with home-canned apples.

Doing Good

(Excerpt from How to be happy By Lydia Howard Sigourney)

Try to do good to All with whom you associate.

Have you older brothers and sisters, who are anxious for your welfare? Do every thing in your power to repay their tenderness. Have you younger ones? Take pains to help them to be good. Explain their little books to them. Teach them simple pieces of poetry. If they are out of humor try to sooth them. Learn them to be careful of their toys, and to put every thing in its place when they have done with it,—and to return whatever they have borrowed to its owner. Show them by your own conduct, how to be good-tempered and happy. 

If they are mere babes you can do something towards this. It will be an assistance to your parents, to help in the great work of making their children good. You will also grow better and happier yourselves. Whatever your parents are employed about, be ready to assist them, if they will permit it. If your mother is weary with household cares, or the charge of little children, come cheerfully to her aid. You can never know how much you are indebted to her, until the burdens of life are upon you, and you watch at the cradle of your own babe, as she has watched over you. But though you cannot understand, or fully repay the debt,—you may do much to cheer her by your helping hand, and affectionate deportment. 

Make it a rule to try to do some good to all in whose company you are. Do not always talk about trifles with your companions. It is not improper to love play,—but it would be wrong to wish to spend all your time, and thoughts about it. If you have read an improving book, tell your little friends what you can remember of it. Ask them to do the same. Speak of the lessons that you have learned together. In this way you will share your stock of knowledge, and be quickened to gain more. You will convey good thoughts to the mind of others. To love useful knowledge is one way of being happy. To divide it among your friends is one way of doing good. So that doing good, and being happy, seem to be the same thing.— 

There was once a boy, who adopted it as a rule, never to go any where, or converse with any person, without trying to do them some good. It was a noble rule. He began with the domestics of the family, and with his young associates. The habit of doing good grew up with him,—and was strengthened from above. He was distinguished by his conversations, his writings, and his sermons,—and the blessing of the poor, and the sick, and the sorrowful, were his reward. He became the celebrated Dr. Cotton Mather, of Boston,—author of "Essays to do Good,"—the "Magnalia,"—and other books of piety.

*

Today I would like to share with you this beautiful painting, done by Federico Andreotti  of Italy**

I just love the elegant gown on the lady!***

It looks like a fancy gown for walking in the garden and reading letters! She looks as fine as if she were going out to some event, or to the opera.****

I love the color of the gown, that sky blue,*****

and the satin reflects the light so well.******

She looks very cheerful, with roses in her hair.*******

And isnt' the background lovely?******** 

I hope that you enjoyed this pretty painting as much as I do!*********

(Painting: The Love Letter by Frederico Andreotti, from wikimedia commons)

*Written for the benefit of many blogging friends. Make sure you cover all the bases. 

**Today I am favoring an Italian artist, but not that I have anything against artists from anywhere else, like, for instance, France, though some in this country refused to eat French Fries for a while (and I suppose that French chefs would scorn to eat our French Fries themselves) I have nothing against the French personally, or their painters, or their food, and do not participate in any animosity towards the said country, I just chose this painting today. Though I have no Italian in my blood, I do like Italian things, especially pasta and pizza. Not that American pizza is like the original-- though I am not saying anything bad about American Pizza vs. Italian Pizza (not that I have ever had the real thing-- that is to say not that Americans do not have the real thing either--) because I am sure, well, "to each his own." And of course we always like to try something new here. 

***not that I think that everyone ought to wear elegant evening gowns, on the contrary, I think that everyone should just wear what is appropriate to themselves. 

****I am not condoning wasting time going places in elegant gowns, nor am I condemning going to the opera. I realize that the operas have terribly wicked story lines, but I am sure that some people just enjoy the music. If you go to the opera on a regular basis, please understand that I am not against you, but if you are against the opera, please understand that I am not condoning the plot lines of operas, or the lives of the operatic singers. Not that I am against operatic singers in general, nor those who have a vibrato to their singing voice. And if you enjoy going places in elegant gowns, that is your right to do that with your time.

*****I am not making a statement against any other colors, or trying to put forth this particular blue above all other hues of blues. Nor am I bashing anyone's favorite color choice. 

******not that satin is the best material to reflect light. I also want to make a statement here that I am all for durable fabrics, of which satin is not one, and would not recommend satin for regular use. Not that I go around doing that, or know by experience, but I am afraid that someone out there will think I am promoting satin instead of sturdy cotton. Not that I am for cotton and against linen or wool, you understand.

*******I realize it is impractical to wear roses in your hair all the time, I am sure this lady did this just for the painting, and did not go around trying to wear flowers. Also, in the old days the roses were not sprayed with pesticides, and I would caution anyone today putting roses in their hair that have been sprayed with pesticides. And I apologize for the lady in the painting if she did not cut the roses herself, but had her gardener do it, so as to be wearing roses off the backs of the poor. My hopes are she harvested them herself. Not that I am against people who prefer to hire themselves out as gardeners. Also I do not condone the death of ostriches to harvest the feathers, or poachers who do so. On the other hand, I am not promoting ostrich feather farms, but if you happen to be an ostrich farmer that is your choice and I am not condemning you. 

********not that I am all for people living in the country as opposed to the city-- I think that certain people could be equally happy in either place. If this is a rich lady on her estate, I apologise, because I do not believe in slavery. However, I am not assured that this is a rich lady, though it is highly likely. And I am not sure she has slaves. Not that I have anything against rich people, I'd sure like to be rich myself, but not that I have anything against being poor and I am poor myself (currently) not that I want to complain or anything. 

********* My readers must understand that they do not HAVE to enjoy this painting, I just HOPE they do, I realize that everyone has different tastes, and I respect the right of all my readers to have different tastes in artwork, however I think something is beautiful I do not insist that everyone find it beautiful. In acknowledging that I keep the right to find  things on your blogs beautiful or not, according to my tastes, not that I am against your blogs at all or you blogging about paintings that you think are beautiful. I respect your right to blog beautiful pictures, and I just want you to know that.