Freda's Hive: Lovely things

For any quilter spring is such an inspiration. At the back of our property is a small run off stream that flows occasionally in the spring. It used to run all the time but the area we live in now is built-up and the water is used for pressurized irrigation. The little stream is still a nice feature to our property since it fed these very tall shade trees for years and now we keep them watered but natural and wild looking. We have this bush in the southwest corner of the property that is wild and blooms for a very short time in the spring. I wish I knew what it is called. It is kind of pretty but mostly the beauty to me is in the fragrance of the bush. It smells like sugary fruit with a hint of grape. Whitney described it best saying it smells like "grape soda". It is such a beautiful scent. There used to be so many of them in this area before homes were built around us that you could take a walk and the whole area would exude this delightful aroma for a few weeks in the spring.
Shelbie went out and made me some cuttings. They just smell so delicious. I wonder if any of you know what this is?

I got this "cafe curtain" from Superbuzzy last week. I used it as a valance in my sewing room. It came pretty much just the way it is. I did turn under the sides but the top and bottom came like this with just a little fabric to trim off.

Sorry these are lousy pictures but my camera doesn't like taking photos into light. But you get the general idea. I know it was made for a cafe curtain but I thought it made a cute valance. I should have gotten a little more yardage to make it slightly fuller but I didn't know if it was going to work out so I only got the bare minimum and now joining it with another piece would spoil the flow. So I'll just let it go. I ordered red but it is much more like pink. I originally wanted full curtains for this window but it is such a pretty shaped window and gives such great light to the room I am glad I just have the shade and valance.

Peanut butter chocolate cupcakes. What could be better? More from my friend Laura. She is so nice to share. They were incredibly delicious.

Its a lovely thing to finish a quilt! Yay. This is the Christmas quilt I was to make to trade talents with my friend Jan, the artist. I will take it to the quilter this week. I'll still need to bind it when it comes back and then I'll have fulfilled my end of our trade with this and the baby quilts!! Its exciting to look forward to getting a painting. I've decided I want the painting to include some quilts on a clothes line, a farm house, and hollyhocks - a summer scene. I am confident she will paint something I will love and treasure.

I had a few requests for the banana cake recipe. This is a recipe from the 50s that my mother collected from Pearl Yeager, a member of our church in Reading. I don't have a frosting recipe to go with it that is the original she made with the cake, though I wish I did. I remember my mom making it and the frosting was thick and rich and she would use a fork to create a pattern on the top of the cake. Of course she would always make a layer cake but I'm too lazy a baker to do that. I am not sure my sisters know this but I have my mom's cookbook that the women in our church put together in the 60s. It has lots of great old fashioned recipes.

Banana Nut Cake:
Sift together: 2 1/2 Cups cake flour; 1 2/3 cups sugar; 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder; 1 1/4 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp salt

Cream together: 2/3 cup shortening; 1/3 cup buttermilk; 1 1/4 cup mashed bananas (I use 3); 2 eggs

Blend together and beat 3-4 minutes. Fold in 2/3 cup chopped black walnuts. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (watch it, you don't want to make this cake dry).

- nanette