Sunday, March 3, 2013

March Redwork Snowman


March is "the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring," says Sarah Ban Breathnach.  It was the first month in the ancient Roman calendar.  March gets its name from Mars, the Roman god of war.  It is one of the seven months that is 31 days long.  March starts on the same day of the week as November every year and February in non-leap years.  It ends on the same day of the week as June every year.  The March full moon is known as the Crow Moon or the Sap Moon.   

March
 
A blue day,
a blue jay

and a good beginning.
One crow, melting snow -
spring's winning.
         
        Elizabeth Coatsworth

Sugaring Time

When winter’s thaw
Has just begun,
Then maple sap
Begins to run.
Up the tree
And out the spout
Into a bucket
The sap drips out.
Two horses haul it
From the grove
To where it’s boiled
On a stove.
Then from a faucet
To a kettle.
The syrup quickly
Heats the metal.
But when it cools,
After a while,
You pour it on
Your pancake pile.
The work is done.
It’s time to eat.
Sugaring time
Is surely sweet.

                            Douglas Florian

Here's a delicious recipe that contains maple syrup:

Honey Ribs and Rice
2 pounds country style ribs
1 can (10-1/2 ounces) beef consommé
½ cup water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
½ teaspoon dry mustard

1.  If ribs are fatty, broil them for 15 to 20 minutes to remove some of the fat.  (I do not usually have to do this.)
2.  Place ribs in slow cooker.
3.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour over ribs.
4.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
5.  Serve over brown rice. 

Creates delicious cooking smells while you are quilting away in another room!

(The piece of crocheting that you see in the upper right corner of the snowman block is part of a crocheted snowflake that I appliqued to different parts of the quilt after it was completed.) To view my completed Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt, click here:


You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

8 comments:

  1. March first brought the "haru no ichiban", the first wind of Spring. Finally a few brave plum blossoms dared to show their hearts ... but while delivering rice balls this morning, I had the distinct feeling the wind was again coming from the North.

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    1. Julie, March brought snow to us, but we are grateful because the more snow we have in March, the less we have to worry about forest firest in the summer.

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  2. Good Morning Susan

    Thanks so very much for posting you March photo. Love the way you added snowflakes to the finished project.

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    1. You're welcome, Eva! I had gotten those snowflakes a long time ago and used them as Christmas ornaments. However, I think they look perfectly at home now on my quilt, and I can enjoy them year-round.

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  3. Those sound yummy! I may get hubby to stop at the store on his way home tonight, so that we can have them tomorrow for supper. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. It is really wonderful to come in from work and have your dinner already cooking and smelling delicious.

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