Banana Bread

Small packages deliver the most heartfelt messages.

When this loaf of homemade banana bread arrived in our studio recently, we just couldn’t resist capturing a photo of the warm, nurturing feeling it seemed to bring to our little world.  Wrapped up in a buttery gold satin ribbon, it seemed to hold the very essence of love beneath its simple transparent wrap.  Someone had cared enough to bake a simple loaf of love and embellish it in the grandest style and we were blessed by this gracious act of giving.

With the approaching season of gift-giving, this humble loaf was a silent reminder of the beauty of simplicity. This little package would overshadow the showiest, most glittery gift or ornament of the season.  It was a recipe made with love, care and time and the absolute splendor of it just took our breath away for a few moments.

You can only imagine how divine it was when we took our first bite! Yum.  It was so good we just had to share the recipe with you.  This is a special recipe and we hope it is a reminder that "YOU are a special recipe made by God."  Like this simple loaf of banana bread, you've been tenderly created with love and wrapped in ribbons of grace. And "oh, what a flavor you are!" (© Ann Embry-1999)

Celebrating the simple things,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Rose’s Banana Bread

3 or 4 very ripe bananas

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

1 ½ cup of flour

¼ cup of melted butter

1 tsp. baking soda

I tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Mash bananas with fork or potato masher. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into a buttered loaf pan.  Bake 1 hour at 325.

P.S. Thank-you to Laura's mother, Rose Skinner, for the recipe and to Laura Belle Skinner, Laura's sister-in-law, who baked this lovely loaf of banana bread.

  

A Tranquil Spot

We discovered a creative company with a kindred spirit. It’s called pure gratitude and carries this tagline, “because everyone has something to be thankful for”. We love expressions of gratitude and we were moved by the way this artist expressed gratitude, love, peace, hope and encouragement through her hand-stamped silver jewelry. Each handcrafted piece, embellished at times with pearl, gemstones, leather or natural elements, seems to tell a story. The website alone is a tranquil spot to visit. Lovely quotes float around the site such as, “i would maintain that thanks is the greatest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” gk chesterton

And with descriptions of selected pieces sounding more like an excerpt from a favorite book, you’ll find yourself reading about each delicate creation.

Here’s a favorite description that accompanies the piece in the photo above:

“He calls you His beloved. He laid down everything, His very life because He loved you first. this Christmas be assured of His unending, deep affection for you. through the ages this has never changed, you are still cherished, treasured and greatly loved by a God that is so much larger than life.”

Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

We think we like the description as much as the necklace.

Thoughtful shoppers have discovered the site and buzzed in like bees finding a patch of unknown clover in a meadow, so a delivery before Christmas may be slim. The site is, however, a resource filled with ideas for year-round gift giving. So, we wanted to share, even if it was just for the pure pleasure of reading the sentiments.

The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S. The artist at pure gratitude is Michelle Harpur, a dear friend of Laura's. www.puregratitude.net