Dandelion Pancakes

To begin with pick a bucket full of dandelion flowers. Taraxacum officinale known to most people as just another weed in their lawns was actually brought over from Europe to the Americas in the early 1600s because of it's dietary and medicinal value to the early colonists. That's right, the common dandelion was introduced to North America on purpose.

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of dandelion greens -- rich though they are in potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C -- I'm just not that keen on the greens. But I do love a good dandelion pancake.

While we could include the green bracts of the flower, I prefer to just pick out the fluffy yellow flower part. I think it makes a nicer pancake. I use about 2 cups of fluff for roughly 8 pancakes. (Some people have been known to make 12-15 pancakes with the same amount of batter I use to make 8. I mention this so you will know in case you are one of those smaller pancake type people.)
Mixed the flower fluff together with your favorite pancake batter:
You can see the yellow dandelion in the batter before it's cooked but once the pancake is to the "smother with maple syrup" stage...
...all you're left with is a subtle spring flavor and the goodness of warm dandelion pancakes. YUM!

A Proper Tea Party

Some of you may recall that I, my nieces, and nephew have been quilting our way through American History. They've been learning a little about sewing and a lot about our country's past by making quilt blocks with their aunt.

Friday when they arrived little Emma (she's 3) wanted to have a tea party. We often have tea parties when I babysit, they help me make chocolate chip scones and then gather round the coffee table for peppermint tea and scones. However, there wasn't time for quilting and a tea party... but there was a compromise: She could make a quilt block about the Boston Tea Party. She was delighted.

In American history the colonists in Boston threw a shipment of tea from England into the Boston harbor in protest over the high taxes they were being forced to pay the crown. In fabric crayon terms that means a whole lot of blue scribbling to represent the water to start with.

Next an orange crayon was selected. "I think this is the colour the tea cups were" she said.


Well obviously, for it to be a tea party you'd need tea cups. That just makes sense.

...and to the Republic for which it stands...

The United States of America is not a Democracy.

It was never supposed to be.

Let's review.

In a Democracy the people are the source of both the power and the authority, creating an emphasis on a system of majority rule. So in a democracy if the majority arbitrarily decided to outlaw Santa Claus, nuke the dolphins, and institute a national dress code requiring everyone to shave their heads and wear only one shoe -- well, that's what would become law. Because that's how a Democracy works.

In a Republic the people hold the power, but the authority rests in the Law. Which makes a surprisingly BIG difference. It means that there is a higher power, some ultimate authority greater than the will and whim of the people.

At the founding of the United States the moral authority of the Christan Bible was widely recognized and understood as the LAW upon which our government was founded. (There's plenty of proof on this point if anyone bothered to actually read it.)

When we have shaken off the last vestige of Christianity, when we have abandoned even the Ten Commandments, when we are no longer responsible to a higher authority -- then we will be a Democracy.

And in that day when the majority rule becomes that ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, the majority may decide to outlaw Santa, may decide that Thou SHALL Kill... might declare it unlawful to wear matching socks, or eat oatmeal cookies, or have a vegetable garden... may decide to reinstate slavery, or institute martial law, or seize corporations as government assets, or abolish the institution of marriage...

... because that can happen in a democracy. But we were never supposed to be a democracy.

I pledge allegiance to the flag and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

IQ: Carpenter's Squares

From my latest IQ (infant quilt) class comes Carpenter's Squares. Based on a traditional quilt block rich in symbolism, the design has been enlarged and modernized. The L shaped tool known as a carpenter’s square has been used for centuries to help square-up and measure in carpentry. Early quilters of the traditional (much smaller) block recorded their beliefs in this block, referencing Jesus as The Carpenter. Harking back to traditions in early Gaelic Christianity, Celtic interlace represented the way in which all life is woven together. The interlace patterns represented in this design symbolize the idea that the afterlife (heaven) and this present world (earth) intersect creating a pattern that, at least for now, only God the Creator sees the whole of.

The use of triple bands to create the interlace in this design also suggests the Trinity, a concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together as One. Another use of religious symbolism is seen in the repetition of the four isolated background squares in each corner. This design feature suggests a relationship to the idea of the “foursquare gospel” (meaning a good foundation for one's faith), terminology borrowed from the Biblical book of Revelations.

To make the quilt shown in this post I used a dark purple reproduction fabric from P&B for the background, with a Michael Miller Asian print and one of Northcott's Quilt for A Cure(TM) fabrics as the bands. Machine quilted in a random free-motion swirliness. The combination of these fabrics, I think, is visually striking but also speaks to diversity -- reminding me that there are many different people with many different backgrounds, talents, and gifts who come together to make up the beauty of the body of believers.

Spice Filled Beaks

Back in grad school we studied the black plague as part of a western civs survey course. I had great fun finding images to illustrate my presentations. This is one of my favorites. Medicine being what it was back then, spices were thought to ward off the plague and doctors wore head-to-toe black rubber costumes complete with spice filled beaks.

Is it any wonder that black birds became a symbol of death?

Breathing the herbs and spices packed into that beak was said to keep the doctors healthy... I don't know that it was really effective in preventing the plague but it probably did help with the smell of tenement sickrooms and the pustuleous unwashed.

I was reminded of this plague doctor image today as I snapped a photo of yet another fledgling bird in my yard -- this one in the thyme bed of my herb garden.

See what I mean...

The Forty Soldiers

Both Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ teaching that we should not fear those who have power over us in this life. Matthew 10:28-32 says, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground without the Father’s knowledge. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not fear. You are of more value than many sparrows. Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."

In 320 AD, in an area known as Sabaste (now part of Turkey) a Roman legion was garrisoned. At that time the Emperor Licicnius was persecuting Christians and ordered that all those who would not worship the Roman gods should be killed. The Commander of the Legion at Sebaste assembled his men. Any who were foolish enough to follow this Christian God, he commanded, step forward to be put to death. Imagine his surprise when FORTY of his bravest and best soldiers stepped forward, saluted, and announced that they were followers of Jesus.

Now, Commander Vespatian, didn’t really want to kill forty of his best men, and he didn’t want to order his men to kill so many of their comrades – so he decided to let them think about it overnight and he would ask again in the morning. But in the morning the forty soldiers were still steadfast. Hoping they would change their minds the commander ordered them to be imprisoned and brutally beaten.

For three days the men endured by praying and singing Psalms, and on the evening of the third day when they were brought before Vespatian again they still stood strong. “We have made our choice.” They said. “You may kill us if you must. These soldier bodies belong to the Roman Emperor, but our souls belong to the One True King.” Commander Vespatian was left with no choice.

It was the middle of winter in Sebaste, Vespatian ordered that the men be stripped down and marched out into the middle of a frozen lake to die of exposure. Still hoping that some of the men might recant he also ordered that large bonfires be built on the shore of the lake and warm baths prepared. Across the ice of the lake could be heard the chant of the men. “Forty soldiers for Christ we stand. In God alone we place our hope and we are not ashamed.”

As Vespatian stood on the shores of that frozen lake, throughout the night the chant of the men could still be heard, but growing weaker as the cold began to take its toll. “Forty soldiers for Christ we stand. In God alone we place our hope and we are not ashamed.”

Towards morning one lone figure could be seen creeping back across the ice. History records his name as Melitis. And as Melitis shivered by the bonfire on the shores of the lake, across the ice the chant of the men began again “Thirty-nine soldiers for Christ we stand. In God alone we place our hope and we are not ashamed.”

Vespatian looked in disgust at the shivering soldier. Then this man, this commander who had beaten the Christians, jailed them, and ordered their deaths, suddenly threw off his own clothes and ran out onto the ice towards the men shouting “Forty! Forty soldiers for Christ we stand. In God alone I place my hope and I am not ashamed.”


Today, let's ask ourselves: Are we standing on that shore?

Green and Orange

Today, they say, everyone is Irish. Happy Saint Patrick's Day. Most Americans will be wearing green today in celebration of the feast day of this Roman Catholic saint from Old Ireland.

I won't be.

In the traditions of Ireland, it is the Catholics who wear green. Protestants wear ORANGE. In fact, in the more turbulent recent past Saint Paddy's Day saw Scotch-Irish Presbyterians marching in demonstrations known as the Orangeman Parades. So to those in green I have to ask: Are we all Catholic today too?

Me? I'll be the one in brown, or gray, or purple....

Stone of Scone Buns

The historical Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, originally rested in the Scone Abbey in Perth Scotland. A block of Old Red Sandstone, it was used in coronation ceremonies for the kings of Scotland until it was removed to Brittan to be used in the coronation ceremonies of the English monarchy.

These are less historical and more for eating. Stone of Scone Buns: a cross between the traditional Scottish Scone recipe my grandmother gave me and the fruit filled English Rock Buns I've read about. I'm pleased at how well they turned out.

Stone of Scone Buns

2 cups unbleached white flour

4 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

fresh grated nutmeg --about a teaspoon

ginger -- about two teaspoons

1 teaspoon cream of tarter

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

combine thoroughly in bowl then add fruits

1/3 cup sultanas (that's golden raisins)

3 Tablespoons candied orange peel

1 Tablespoon diced citron

1/4 cup (or so) pecans

mix to coat fruit then add the rest of the ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter (diced up)

1 cup milk

combine until dough is formed

shape buns -- 8 round balls -- and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Bake at 410 degrees for 15-20 minutes

yum!

FourSquare and Seven

Another NEW Quilt Pattern is out!
The pattern includes:


Everett’s Address

Before Lincoln’s brief speech dedicating the Soldier’s National Cemetery at Gettysburg on November 19th 1863, the famous orator Edward Everett delivered a 13,000 word speech. Everett (1794-1865) was a Whig Senator from Massachusetts, former president of Harvard University, and served as Secretary of State under Millard Fillmore.

Everett’s two hour speech began: “Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the mighty Alleghenies dimly towering before us, the graves of our brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature.”


Lincoln's Address

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” -- Abraham Lincoln

Remembrance Day

In the town of Gettysburg we find the tradition continues. Each November parades of Civil War re-enactors fill the streets, living history demonstrations and tours pack the National Park, while every hotel in town boasts a conference room turned period ballroom hosting a Remembrance Day Ball. At the appointed time Abe Lincoln, or his double at least, proceeds up Baltimore Street from the Wills House to the National Cemetery to deliver his famous address once more.

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Gettysburg Town Square

Today the town of Gettysburg sits, as it always has, on the intersection of several major highways, like a spider at the center of a web. In the summer of 1863, at the height of the Civil War, Confederate and Union soldiers caught in that web would find themselves fighting one of the bloodiest battles of history. In just three days the battle of Gettysburg resulted in over 46, 000 American casualties -- 7,863 dead and 27,224 wounded.

Meant to relieve the battle-weary southern states and resupply Confederate soldiers with bounty from rich northern farms, General Lee’s northern campaign became the most decisive turning point of the Civil War. Nearly a third of Lee’s officers were killed, captured, or wounded. Abandoning the Pennsylvania Campaign, the South retreated and for the remainder of the war Lee planned no more strategic offensives into northern territory.

On July 1st 1863 the battle began. The two armies, led by General Lee (CSA) and General Meade (USA), collided in the low ridges to the northwest of town. Buying time until reinforcements could arrive, Union cavalry and infantry forces laid out defenses on Herr’s Ridge, McPherson’s Ridge, and Seminary Ridge. Stronger Confederate forces attacked from the north and west collapsing Union lines and sending the soldiers retreating to the hills south of Gettysburg, taking the battle along the web of roads through the town itself. This quilt square takes its inspiration from those historic streets. From the intersections of highway and history that make up the town of Gettysburg.

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A Lump of Coal, Part 3

Within a decade of Perkin's discovery of aniline Mauve, chemical dye production was in full swing and histoligists were using artificial dyes to stain samples. Although at the start of the nineteenth century doctors and scientists had no idea that bacteria caused illness, by the end of the 19th century researchers like Robert Koch were combining the work of Louis Pasteur and the work of William Perkin. Koch used synthetic dyes to stain and to see (under a microscope) previously invisible unknown germs and identified the germs for anthrax, tuberculosis, and cholera.

Another scientist, Gerhard Domagk, worked with coal tar dyes to create a pill which when swallowed would kill specific bacteria. Domagk discovered that the red dye Prontosil was effective against blood poisoning (Streptoccus) in mice. When his daughter developed blood poisoning Domagk gave her the treatment, as yet untested on humans. She recovered -- although her skin also turned an odd shade of red for a time. Domagk had based his experiments on the work of German bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich, who pioneered the "magic bullet" ideas of medicine now used in chemotherapy treatments.

Today synthetic (aniline) dyes still play a critical role in the discovery of new treatments and scientific discovery. The mapping of the human genome would have been inconceivable without colorfast synthetic dye. Modern medicine has brought Perkin's research full circle. Mauve, discovered in his search for an artificial quinine, opened the door to artificial dyes now employed in medical research on the malaria vaccine.

A Lump of Coal, Part 2

William Henry Perkin's research into coal tar derivatives, begun over his Easter holidays at the Royal College of Chemistry in London, also produced synthetic scents. Twisting the highly unstable molecules, Perkin developed perfumes for rose, violet, jasmine, musk, even the cancer causing coumarin, which smells like fresh-mown hay (previously used in cigarettes).

The volatility of Mauve also led to applications in explosives. The possibilities seemed endless, Perkin had opened the door to discoveries which changed the shape of our world. Other coal derivatives include:

Benzene:: a flammable solvent used perfume-making, dry cleaning, and gasoline production (de-greaser).

Creosote:: which is used to preserve wood exposed to the elements, and also as an ingredient in cough syrup.

Naphtha:: a flammable liquid spot remover and varnish solvent. Stoddard solvent, a special grade of Naphtha developed by Atlanta dry cleaner W.J. Stoddard in 1924, is used in laundry stain treatments and soaps such as Fels-Naphtha.

Paraffin:: which is not wax but an odorless wax-like substance derived from coal tar, solid at room temperature but easy to melt. It is molded into candles, poured atop jars of jam and jelly to seal them, and added to chocolate in candy making.

Toluene:: another flammable solvent used in seemingly everything: explosives [TNT is trinitrotoluene.], antiseptic, paints and stains, cosmetics, textile dye, even saccharine.

Unlocking the mysteries in a lump of coal brought science and industry to new levels and medical science would benefit too. ...

A Lump of Coal, Part 1

In 1856 William Perkin discovered aniline dyes, inventing the first color-fast (doesn't wash out, doesn't fade) form of that purple shade known famously by the name he gave it: MAUVE. Perkin, age 18, had been trying to create a synthetic quinine (cure for malaria) from coal tar derivatives, and instead invented the first mass market synthetic dye.

Even Queen Victoria wore gowns of mauve -- setting the fashion for purples as the third stage of Victorian mourning colors. Grieving widows wore unrelieved black, then black with gray/silver, and finally moving to mauve purples following the example of the Queen.

Perkin went on to produce green, violet, and a commercially viable synthetic madder red. But Perkin and the scientific community did not stop there. Aniline (coal tar) based colorings form the majority of modern textile dyes, wood stains, household and automotive paints -- even food coloring, both water soluble dyes and fat soluble lake colorings come from aniline colors.

Mauve was one of the first links between science and industry and William Henry Perkin retired at the age of 36 a wealthy man. But the story doesn't end there. The man who's wife was the model for the Statue of Liberty had opened a world of possibilities inside a lump of coal.

Shades of Confederate Gray

"Common sense should play more of a role in historical evaluation than it often does." -- Gary Gallagher

September 22, 1862: the first part of the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in states engaged in active rebellion against the Union. The slaves in the Confederacy -- unless the state returned to the Union by January 1, 1863.

January 1. 1863: the second part of the Emancipation Proclamation named 10 states in which slaves were now to be considered free, specifically exempting the Virginia counties (now West Virginia) which sided with the Union and various portions of Tennessee and Louisiana which were under Federal control. Those areas under the control of or loyal to the Union were allowed to keep their slaves.

December 6, 1865: the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for crimes) in the entire United States.

Shouldn't those dates line up better? And why does the Emancipation Proclamation specifically not applied to Union slave owners?

Randall J. Holcombe has an excellent article (link) pointing out the differences between the North and the South. The majority of constitutional variations had to do with morally neutral measures like making the post office be self-sufficient. Most of the differences between the Union and Confederate Constitutions relate to innovative legislation closing loopholes -- each congressional bill could only be about one thing with no riders sneaking in, government contractors weren't to be given blank checks, tariffs were practically eliminated, and line-item veto was given to the president.

In the middle of his praise for all these anti-pork-barrel measures Holcombe also says: In broad outline, the Confederate Constitution is an amended U.S. Constitution. Even on slavery, there is little difference. Whereas the U.S. Constitution ended the importation of slaves after 1808, the Confederate Constitution simply forbade it. Both constitutions allowed slave ownership, of course.

You know me -- I had to look that up and see if it was true. The idea that the Constitution of the Confederate States imposed harsher restrictions on Slavery than the Northern States seemed a bit far fetched. I found multiple websites offering line by line comparisons of the two documents. (link)

And it's true, I mean the Confederacy clearly upholds the rights of slave owners -- but so does the US constitution. On top of which, the US Constitution never banned the importation of slaves while in Section 9 of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America it says:

(1) The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.
(2) Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy.

Walter Williams (link) in an article (link) in the Washington Times says: Many [blacks] knew Lincoln had little love for enslaved blacks and didn't wage war against the South for their benefit. Lincoln made that plain, saying, "I will say, then, that I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races ... I am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." The very words of his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation revealed his deceit and cunning; it freed those slaves held "within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States." It didn't apply to slaves in West Virginia and areas and states not in rebellion. Like Gen. Ulysses Grant's slaves, they had to wait for the 13th Amendment, Grant explained why he didn't free his slaves earlier, saying, "Good help is so hard to come by these days."

You could have knocked me down with a feather. What does all this mean?

I think it means that we see history through the eyes of those who write history and too often we accept what we are told without looking for all the facts. As much as the Victorious Union would like to claim it's only role in slavery was as a liberator -- the facts do not bear out this conclusion. Not all the states joined the Confederacy over issues of slavery (link) and there were quite a few slaves in the North (link).

We should not be afraid to admit the truth of these facts. Denying history does not change the past, nor does it absolve the North of slavery to claim the Civil War was all about slavery when it wasn't. Our ENTIRE Country, like many other colonial countries was founded in a time of slavery. It was an accepted and legal (and completely reprehensible) practice on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. The fact that we know better now does not change that historic reality.

Fleur De Lis

The white iris are blooming in my garden.

The French fleur de lis (or fleur de lys, either is correct) is said to have been inspired by an iris flower. Looking at my iris in profile, I have no trouble believing that to be true.

There is a story told about King Clovis, who in searching for a way to ford a stream on his way to battle found wild yellow irises (aka English Flags, German Lieschblume) growing in the water where he was able to cross. He snatched one up and wore it on his helmet as a symbol of God's provision for victory. It is said that French kings ever since have used a yellow fleur de lis on a field of blue in their coat of arms.

St. Hildegard of Bingen

A German Abbess who lived from 1098-1179, Hildegard (follow link to learn more) was given to the church by her parents as a tithe because she was their tenth child. In her many volumes of works produced over the course of her life as a nun, Hildegard recorded mystical visions, music, poetry, medicines, and botanical observations.

Several years ago I ran across the information that one of Hildegard's recorded cures, using goats fat and sweet violets to cure cancers was being investigated. I haven't been able to find any follow-up information on the scientific study that was being conducted (last I heard it had run out of funding) but anecdotal evidence abounds, like the 1901 New York Times article. Not to mention the fact that the Greeks as far back as 50 BCE were curing skin cancers with a poultice of violet leaves.

Could the cure for cancer be right under our noses, in this sweet smelling spring flower? I can't know for certain. But even if the violet is just another pretty flower, I believe it is still worth growing in my garden. How could you not love these pretty purple drops of happiness?

Daffodils and Quilting

Marie Webster(1859-1956), a famous quilt designer and quilt historian, designed many beautiful quilts using flowers as her inspiration. I've obviously been enjoying all the daffodils springing up in the garden, so it's not surprising to learn that Marie used daffodils in her designs as well.

I don't typically link to eBay, but Marie Webster's beautiful daffodil and butterfly whole quilt design is excellently documented in the photos from this eBay seller and the quilter who made that quilt did some pretty fine work as well. You'll want to follow the link to check out the close up pics. It's a beautiful quilt.

Note: Another well known daffodil quilt design, the 1929 Mountain Mist pattern known as "Dancing Daffodils" found its genesis or inspiration in Marie Webster's block pattern "Windblown Tulips." The design/flower was altered and the pattern began to be published on the Mountain Mist batting wrappers in 1929.

Pushinka

Pushinka in bloom, also known as Blue Squill.

Interestingly, JFK (as in US President Kennedy) had a dog named Pushinka which was given to him by the Russian ambassador. Evidently in Russian pushinka means "Fluffy."

Flying Geese

Predating the American Civil War, the quilt pattern known as Flying Geese is often said to have been used as a signal in the code quilts of the Underground Railroad. In theory these quilts would either be used directionally when hung out (as arrows) or would be symbolic of following the migrating geese and continuing North to freedom.

In construction the block is simply three triangles. Two smaller right angle triangles perch on top of a larger right angle triangle to make a rectangular bar/block. While there are many variations, the traditional arrangement is to stack those "geese" in columns alternating with solid stripes.

In the above quilt I have reversed the standard color selections putting scrappy brown, rust and gold "geese" against a light "sky." The historical quilts I've seen have had mostly dark skys with light geese... but I could not bring myself to make a quilt that implied the migration of domesticated white geese, so I made my geese wild (dark) Canadian geese. It just seemed more logical.

This quilt block will be included in our For the Birds Quilt Sampler Series. I plan to have a tutorial up and ready on it soon.

Pink Saturday Decorations

Couldn't resist snapping photos of all the old glass ornaments at the Flea Market. A surprising number were Pink. These are the only two shots that turned out any good though -- I was paying more attention to worrying about why some guy kept following me around, than I was to getting focused photos. I think he must have been wondering why I was taking so many pics of pink Christmas ornaments!

For more Pink Saturday posts visit Beverly.