Quilter, first, politics, second - this time!

In spite of my recent rants over the state of the world under the current administration, I am maintaining my sanity with my quilting projects. My theory with quilting (and it should be also with governing the United States!) is that if you take the time to do it right, it will work!

I'm back into the scrap quilt mode the last few weeks. My scrap box is overflowing and making me feel guilty if I so much a look at a beautiful, uncut length of new fabric. I'm still working on the quilt I promised my husband - a quilt with a calm pattern that will not cause his eyes to roll uncontrollably. It was going well until my inner being couldn't take it any longer and I added some abstract touches to the pattern. So far, it isn't too wild . . . but the quilt isn't done yet.

I'm down to the final inches of sewing on two large quilts right now. My quilts are rather lethal when they are stuck with straight pins all around prior to final sewing. I don't seem to realize this while I'm working on them but later discover scratches on my legs and arms where the quilt in progress has dragged across my lap and arms. Hey, maybe I should get a quilter's purple heart for blood shed in the line of domestic duty!

Musing over the quality of words . . .

I used to work with a woman who always came to work beautifully dressed and made up. She was rather pretty and was even Miss Something or Other in a nearby city. She was efficient and cursed like a sailor. Sometimes, I thought she could even put a sailor to blush. Her good vocabulary faded in all the rotten words she accumulated and used with unladylike proficiency. This was back in the 1970's when people still felt some shock hearing these words come from a woman's mouth.

Today, you can't walk through the mall without hearing a word or more that you'd rather not hear. It doesn't seem to matter the age or gender. Disgusting words of the four-letter variety have become part of the common conversation. Often makes you wonder what words they will spew forth if they really get angry!

Each of us has only a certain amount of time on this earth. Only God knows and our free will can add or detract to the number. We, also, have only so many things we can say before we meet our Maker. It seems such a waste of so little time to use any words that won't enhance our lives, make another person happy, or further our goal of Heaven. Ugly words take up the room that should be reserved for wonderful words. I remember a mother of a toddler being shocked when he came out with some four letter expletives, saying, "I don't know where he learned this. He is always at home with me and his dad."

A friend just mentioned that he was sharing a meal with a priest and mentioned a topic the priest didn't agree with and the priest used some 'choice' language. What could have been an interchange of ideas was cut short with the profanity. The priest lost a teaching moment and the respect of his young friend. It is said that we might be the only Bible a person reads. Why do people want to sully the pages of their example?

Howl the Cat's busy Afternoon . . .

 My husband noticed Howl sleeping on the front lawn and   decided to take a picture. One picture turned into several as Howl didn't like his nap being disturbed and tried to go about his afternoon.

We are still trying to befriend the cat with thoughts of making him our beloved pet. Howl still prefers viewing us as the owners of the cat food and only shows up for a hand out . . . or a nap on the front lawn.

The truth is always amusing . . .

"Nothing's so apt to undermine your confidence in a product as knowing that the commercial selling it has been approved by the company that make it."
-- Franklin P. Jones

"We hate some persons because we do not know them; and we will not know them because we hate them."
-- Charles Caleb Colton

"The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance."
-- Robert R. Coveyou

"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel."
-- Robert Frost

More Things to do with Leftover Mashed Potatoes . . .

 After having both my daughters home for three weeks, my cooking amounts increased and I keep forgetting to reduce servings now that one of them in back at school.

Yesterday, I ended up with about three cups of leftover mashed potatoes and didn't want to waste them although the dog was trying to send brain messages to me that she would gladly see to their disposal.

Being Easter, we went traditional but the daughter still at home does not like sweet potatoes and that was what was on the menu. I remembered the leftover white potatoes and decided to turn them into potato cakes. They ended up being more enjoyed than the rest of the meal!

My Last-Minute Recipe for Potato CakesAbout 3 cups of cold, mashed potatoes
2 eggs
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Swiss cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Use your hands because I won't tell!

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I used an ice cream scoop to divide the mixture into even mounds directly on parchment paper.

Freshly grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese
Granulated onion
Granulated garlic

Grate about a tablepoon of your chose cheese on top of each mound of potato. Dust with the onion and garlic. With the bottom of a glass, press down to about 1/2-inch thick.

Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until starting to get golden around the edges.

Wisdom has no era . . .

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

- Confucius

Understanding our place in the world . . .

My 18 year old was discussing politics and such with his dad today. His main concern was prejudice and racism and how to make it stop. He felt there should be some kind of laws to make people be kind to everyone. The world is more simple in the teenage years when the thought of if only seems so feasible. Although he did want answers, there was no bitterness or anger in his discourse and he enjoyed venting and pondering aspects of the situation with his father.

The only answer either my husband or myself could come up with is to be a good example to the world, let people know where you stand, and work at changing one mind at a time. I said it reminded me of a Chinese Checkers board with all the marbles. Every player has their marble situated at the point of the triangular space. Consider the marble your place in life. Then look to the two marbles in front and talk and work with them to improve the world. In front of those two marbles in the pyramid are three marbles. If you can change the mind of the two marbles and they go on to impress the three who, in turn, come in contact with the next 'row', there is a difference happening.

The trouble with change is that it happens slowly and when it comes to a point where the bad change needs revising, that change, too, will happen slowly. It all begins in the heart of each person to change within themselves and pass on their thoughts to others.