All For Show Saturday

Nashville, TN The A T & T Building with a mural in the foreground depicting the same building

Broadway,  Nashville, TN

One of the original doors inside the Frist Museum

  Here are some more pictures from our trip to Nashville.  You can see what great weather we had.  The mural on the wall shows a street/ skyline scene - if you click on it you can get a better view.  Not sure who the artist is.  The door  from the Frist Museum is just one of about half a dozen that I could see.  My pictures did not come out as well as I had hoped, but you get the idea.  It is like stepping back in time.

October -- so soon!

   I can't believe that this year is nearing completion - where did the time go?  Just a quick update here.  Sewing has been slow going - but still have managed to get some done.  A little dress for a 6 month old and another UFO nearing the DAL point.  (Done at Last - lol)  Hooray.  
   We went to Tennessee at the end of August, what a beautiful place and a great drive through the mountains.  People are really friendly there.  I can't wait to go there again.  We had great weather and next to no traffic all the way there from New England and that alone helped to make the trip even more enjoyable. We drove through beautiful green mountains as far as the eye could see.  The Shenandoah Valley is stunning.  All along the way are historic battlefields and sites.  There are numerous caverns which had lines and lines of people anxious to enter and see the wonders of nature underground. 
  Once we entered into Nashville itself I quickly spotted a large banner hanging from an old quite beautiful building.  What a great surprise and quite unexpected - it was an advertisement for the exhibit being held inside.  My excitement grew and my husband told me to stay calm and stop bouncing up and down in my seat ( I couldn't help myself).  I never thought that I would have the opportunity to see this group of quilts.  Anyway we continued on down the road though, after all we had to park the car, which we did and then roamed around town.  
  There was live music everywhere all up and down the street.  There are shops to buy boots, country music, food and drink.  City buses come around quite often that you can hope on and take a tour of the city - the fare is $0.00 and the drivers are friendly and helpful. 
  We had a day before meeting our son and his girl there (surprise!) so we headed back to the Frist Museum!  Inside we were both delighted to see the exhibit of Gee's Bend Quilts and Bill Traylor illustrations.  Now you know why I was so excited.  This set of quilts are truly pieces of beauty.  The women who cut and stitched the fabrics of their daily lives into something useful yet primitively beautiful never thought that these quilts would ever be in a museum for the world to admire, they were just being practical, something we in this age sometimes forget.  I was very grateful to have actually stood in front of all of them.  Then we came upon the Bill Traylor exhibit, a man who would just sit and draw what he saw on old discarded advertisement stock that he found here and there.  This man was unable to write and had to be taught to write his name but had the ability to draw the animals and people that passed in and out of his life.  His story is quite interesting.  We purchased the book in the gift shop which tells about his life and features many of his pieces. The book uses his name as the title.
  The Frist museum is a beautiful building itself.  It is an art deco designed building which features original decor of metallic panels and polished marble floors.  The building itself is a work of art and a reminder of times gone by.  In the front of the building is quite a large sculpture of  pink roses made by Will Ryman, hard to miss.

Will Ryman sculpture at the front of the Frist Museum

Hanging banner inviting quilter's to come in and see Gee's Bend exhibit at the Frist Museum

  So if you ever have the chance to go to Tennessee stop into Nashville take a look around, enjoy the sites and sounds.   More later!   

Free Rice website

  This is a pretty good website.  There are different subjects that you are able to choose from with just a click.  Languages, culture, math, even questions that might prepare you for taking the SATs!  Check it out: http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/9427  Watch the bowl fill up with each correct answer.  For every correct answer that you click rice is donated to needy people around the world.  Have fun while doing something good.

Wickford Art Festival

The Wickford Art Festival is happening this weekend.  This is the 50th anniversary of this event.  It is held in the quaint little town of Wickford in Rhode Island.  Many artists show their work and many admirers attend.  Yesterday was a very hot and humid day for the show at least until a few sprinkles happened to fall, which cooled the atmosphere at least temporarily.  There were all sorts of paintings and etchings, some musicians playing and selling their CD's, and a few three dimensional artists.

Robert De Vito

One artist that I particularly liked creates abstract skylines that are somewhat 3-D in clay.  There are large and small pieces that are very colorful.  He has copyrighted his art and did allow me to take a photo of him in front of his work.  You can reach him at   skyline devito@gmail.com Here is the photo I took.

Happy Birthday America!

Proud to be an American.

Where will the road lead you?

Good morning America, how are you?  Today is a great day to get out and see America.  We live in a great country.  There is lots to see and we are free to roam about.  In any direction that you go there is something to see, a place to visit, a scene to enjoy.  It doesn't have to be the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone Park, it can be right in your backyard with family and friends or a day trip to some nearby happening.  The history of our country is all around us and we make history everyday, whether it be our own personal history or a small part of the bigger picture - we are part of the American fabric.  See where the road leads you.

What are you doing today?

   Well if you really want to know - I woke this morning at 5am, took a look at my blog and some of those that I follow (lots to look at and some really great items), then I did a wee bit of sewing (am in process of making many quilts), and before it becomes too hot today I decided that I would make some more Whoopie Pies (they were a big hit last week, see the recipe on the previous post), and while the oven is still hot also made a rhubarb upside down cake (can't wait to taste it, it's sitting on the counter cooling off which might take all day seeing as it's so hot already).  Now I am going to do a little bit of cleaning - the kitchen is done now on to the living room!  I'll probably also sit at the sewing machine off and on (when I get bored with cleaning).  Already I am beyond perspsiring and am sweating.  I hope that my long run on sentence didn't confuse anyone, yikes 

Have a chocolate covered sunflower seed.

   I dream of finishing all the projects that are filed in my head, but there is only one of me and I have to be patient with myself knowing that I will only finish one thing at a time. Gosh. If I were more organized it just might help and maybe one day the dream of being organized will come true.  Where is that darn Organize Fairy.  She must be at your house getting you all squared away.  Let her know that I am waiting for her and tell her to get a move on.  Happy Sunday everyone. 

Whoopie for Whoopie Pies!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies.  Whoopie!

These Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are delicious!  They were very quick and easy to make from scratch.  The creamy middle is light and tasty, not too sweet.  These would be great for a kids party or if guests were to call to say they were popping by.  Once out of the oven the pies cool quite fast and can be put together in a snap.

Mmm Whoopie Pies!  No need to be a Grand Baker to make these.  All you need are the following ingredients...

•  2 cups cake flour
• 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• dash of salt
• 1/2 cup of Smart Balance butter substitute with flax 
• 3 Tablespoons molasses
• 2/3 cup of sugar MINUS 3 tablespoons.
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup milk soured or buttermilk
•  
• 1/2 cup Cool Whip
• 1/3 cup of plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Whisk the Smart Balance and the sugar along with the molasses until light and creamy.  Beat in the egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  

Combine the dry ingredients with the egg mixture alternating with the sour milk.  Mix only until all ingredients are moist.

Drop 1 tablespoon of batter onto parchment lined cookie sheet one inch apart and bake for 5-8 minutes at 375 degrees F.   Cool on pan for about 2 minutes, then place on cake rack to cool completely.  

Mix together the last four ingredients above - this is the filling.

Once the whoopie pies have cooled place a dollop of cream filling on flat side of pie and top with another pie flat side toward the cream filling

You can dust the tops with confectioner's sugar or cocoa powder.  

Have with a glass of milk and enjoy!

*NOTE: If you do not have sour milk or buttermilk you can stir in either a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar.  Let it stand or pop it in the microwave for just a few seconds to bring it to room temperature.  DO NOT LET IT BOIL!

The original recipe is from the winter 2009 edition of Diabetic Living Magazine. Thank you Diabetic Living. It's a great magazine and you don't have to be diabetic to try any of the recipes as they are pretty healthy.  I modified this recipe a little to my liking adding a little more of this and that.  Also I changed the filling a smidgen.   

On the Drive Home

Wag more,

bark less

I read this on the rear bumper of the car that was in front of me at a red light. I though it was good advise, I think I will try it out!