by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Friends…they cherish one another’s hopes.
They are kind to one another’s dreams.
-Henry David Thoreau
Dee Dee Parker and I arrived a day early to the writer’s conference—not to play, but to work on a beloved project. We’d planned on trying to find a conference room as soon as we reached the campus. After all, sitting on a cushy mattress isn’t the most conducive way to work. Within minutes of arriving, however, God surprised us with a place to meet in the middle, literally.
On Saturday and Sunday we prayed, brainstormed, took notes, and giggled like girls. I may have even spotted a few bolts of brilliance fly over Dee Dee’s head a time or two. (She’s amazing!)
One night, around 11:30 p.m., we decided to end “lobby time” (where everyone gathers after dark) a little early. We dropped our things just inside the door and patted ourselves on the backs for turning in earlier than normal. It was then the rush of wind took its cue and began to whistle. Trees swayed to and fro, leaning to the side as if to kiss the grass, and dry lightning struck gold. Dee Dee urged me to turn off the lights and take a seat. She on her couch…and me in my chair. There we sat, in the dark, cheering on the storm until close to 1:00 a.m. Oh, what a moment in time!
As
for the rest of the week, I’ll borrow the Las Vegas line: What happens
at Ridgecrest stays at Ridgecrest. Ha! Let’s just say I’m thankful no
one chose to walk past our window while I was dancing to Barry Manilow’s
Copacabana. (I kept forgetting we were on the ground level!)
(The view outside our window)
Perhaps those few snippets from our week give you a glimpse into why I chose the above quote from Henry David Thoreau to describe my friendship with Dee Dee.
When all is said and done, our writing aspirations may differ in some ways, but we are kind to each others dreams because we know the One who placed them within us—and that alone is something to truly cherish.
Whose hopes are we cherishing besides our own? Are we being kind to each others dreams?
For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:28
(One of greatest blessings you’ll discover at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference is how eager others are to to join you on the journey. I encourage you to make your plans to join us next year. Hope to see you in the lobby!)
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
My grandmother, Elsie Knighton, didn’t bake this cake often but when she did, oh my! Of course, I’m a bit partial because I loved everything she cooked and white cake is my favorite. This sweet delight is perfect for spring and summer tea parties, Fourth of July gatherings, and well, for no reason at all.
Special White Cake with Cherry Frosting
3 cups self-rising flour (she used White Lily)
2/3 cup shortening
1-3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1-1/4 cup milk
4 egg whites stiffly beaten
Cake:
Sift flour and then measure into bowl; cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add extracts, then flour mixture and milk alternating to cream mixture. Blend well, fold in egg whites. Pour into greased 9 inch pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Frosting:
1 pound box 4x sugar
4 tablespoons evaporated milk
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
2 tablespoons cherry juice
Sift one cup sugar in mixing bowl. Add well-drained chopped cherries, cherry juice and milk. Blend well. Add remaining sugar until frosting is firm enough to spread.
– Recipe by Elsie Knighton
Enjoy!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Remember this post? My favorite word in the title is “almost.”
This weekend, I, along with hundreds more, will be heading to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Some of the things I’m most looking forward to?
- Seeing friends and making new ones.
- Catching a glimpse of Becky Gansky’s sweet smile. I don’t know her well but when she enters a room, you immediately sense the presence of the Lord.
- Worship time.
- Sitting in Aaron Gansky’s class with Dee Dee Parker. Poor Aaron. (As we say here in the South, bless his heart.)
- Cloud 9 Cafe and the volunteers who work there. Love those little ladies!
- Seeing Edie Melson’s Steam Punk outfit on Tuesday night.
- Grits in the cafeteria. Yes, grits.
- Learning more about Flash Fiction in Ben Wolf’s class (hopefully along with Dee Dee and Susan Stilwell)
- Lobby time at night. It usually ends late and includes lots of giggling. Wheeee!
- Cheering my friends on at the Awards Banquet!
If you’ve never attended The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference, I encourage you to begin saving for next year. It’s a wise investment.
Would you pray for me, as well as all those who’ll be heading to the hills this weekend? I ask for a teachable spirit, abundant energy (afternoons are sometimes a challenge), and for God to be glorified through everything I say and do. And lastly, to remain alert to the ways God may want to use me to encourage someone else.
I’ll be taking a break from blogging next week while at the conference but I look forward to catching up with you the following week.
Thank you for stopping by and especially for your prayers.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive and inheritance
from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
The
trunk of the Chaste tree hugged our white picket fence but its branches
shot out in all directions, covering everything in its path. While
preparing to sell the house last September, Brian cut the tree to ground
level so the yard would appear neater for prospective buyers.
This
weekend, while taking a tour of the yard, I spotted a pink patch of
clematis sittin’ pretty as you please alongside the same picket fence. I
planted them years ago but forgot about them. I’d never seen a bloom,
thanks to the gnarly branches of the tree. However, once the debris was
cleared, I could finally see the beauty that awaited. The timing of this
discovery was no “coincidence.”
You
see, since childhood, the relationship with my mom has often been
covered in debris, scattered from a decision made long ago that neither
of us initiated. Its roots spread into deep, dark, hidden places
resulting in hurt, bitterness, and simple misunderstandings.
In
recent years, each of us has grown in our faith, and through this
growth, He has exposed those dark places to the light of His truth,
lovingly reminding me of my own failings as a parent (humble pie is
bittersweet) and how my mom did the best she could do with the
circumstances facing her at the time.
Our
relationship has never been stronger or more vibrant than it is today
for it remains covered—no longer by debris from the past but by grace
and mercy—beauty in its truest form.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus
our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
My Aunt Rose’s Nut Bars were an essential part of family beach trip. Bites of chewy browned sugar left a perfect powdered lining around the lips, my version of sunscreen at the ripe age of 10.
Aunt Rose’s sister, my grandmother, aka Ma-Ma, also served these yummy bars at some of her Garden Club parties. I wish I could share a square with you now but since I can’t, I thought I’d serve up this family recipe, straight from my aunt’s own 1970’s handwritten recipe card. Enjoy!
And just in case you can’t read it…
2 sticks butter
2-1/2 cups plain flour
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 box light brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
3 level teaspoons baking powder
Melt butter in a saucepan; to this add sugar, stir and then add eggs. Stir, then add flour, flavoring and nuts. Add baking powder to flour. Cook at 300 degrees until light brown. Cool. Cut into squares and roll in powdered sugar.
This would be a delightful addition to last week’s Sharing Your Treasure Tea celebration, as well as a perfect go-to drop off goody for someone in need.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8
