Wednesday, April 13, 2011

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church sponsors what is called Red Door Arts. According to its brochure, “The purpose of the group is to encourage creativity and arts appreciation in parishioners and friends through art workshops, lectures and performances, through an annual creativity weekend and through other special events throughout the year.”



St. Andrew's Episcopal Church These are a few shots of the inside of the church. The cozy, evening glow emitted through the windows was so relaxing.


It was a wonderful program lasting only one hour. The voices were clear and powerful. St. Andrews sanctuary is small but I was so impressed with the ability of these artists to sing without a microphone. They each came in from the back of the building singing a portion of Walk Together Children. The baritone was robust and full-bodied. The tenor engaged the audience with his fine musical qualities and enunciation of each word. The melodious soprano was hypnotizing exhibting her ability to reach upper ranges.


I enjoy exploring different types of music and societal differences. I feel it is important to learn about others so that we may understand each other better and perhaps someday have peace. It was refreshing to sit and drink from the fountain of culture.


The concert was held April 7th, at 6:30 p.m. A series of African- American Spirituals were performed by these talented musicians.


Terrance Brown is a baritone. Dr. Brown is a graduate of Samford University and Louisiana State University. He has performed in numerous operas portraying various characters. He has traveled extensively. Dr. Brown is Director of Vocal Studies at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama.



Kevin Thomas, tenor completed his music degree at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He has performed in countless opera and theatre presentations. He is a professional chorister at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham.

Tiffany Bostic-Brown, soprano has traveled through the USA and Europe. She is known as a concert artist, recitalist and operatic artist. She frequently performs in operas undertaking numerous characters. Dr. Bostic-Brown serves on the faculty at the University of Alabama in Florence, Alabama.






Jason Turner was the pianist. The Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey was the narrator.


To accompany each song a narrative was read . These narratives were a part of the Slave Narrative Collection. These are stories written in the 1930’s by the WPA as they were dictated to the scribe by people who had been slaves. There are over 2,000 interviews from former slaves on record. Each one allows the former slave to tell in their own words what life was like in bondage.


Jason Turner is presently the organist for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. He is an experienced musician who has served as Choirmaster and Organist for several churches. He is presently Director of Independent Presbyterian Church Day School in Birmingham,Alabama a highly respected educational facility in the city. He holds degrees in education and an associate degree in nursing.


Rev. Howell-Pankey is a musical artist, teacher, pastor and songwriter. Her music ministry career spans over 35 years. She has served in several churches as a spiritual leader. She presently pastors St. James CME in Jasper Alabama


THAT'S IT***

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Bad, the Ugly, the Good

THE BAD I’ve never made pie crust from scratch. I always buy them frozen. I’d purchased a bag of fruit from ALDI. In a previous post I raved about the pear cobbler I’d had at Gabriella’s. Using the increasingly ripening fruit, I decided to make my own pear cobbler. I planned to use a plum cobbler recipe for the filling. I found a recipe for a No Roll pie crust.





Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons milk


Directions

1. In a 9 inch pie plate, sift flour, sugar and salt. make a well in the center and pour in oil and milk. Mix with a fork, then press into the bottom and sides of pie plate.

2. To bake: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C.) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Assemble the crew, flour, sugar, milk (I used evaporated) salt, oil (I used olive oil) and a well used pie pan. I mixed all of these ingredients in the pie plate and began pressing it out around the sides and bottom. I poked holes in the sides and bottom before placing it in the oven to bake. When I took it out of the oven the sides were lacy looking and the crust was a golden brown.


THE UGLY Unfortunately, it didn’t hold together. It could easily be scraped into large crumbs. I think there was too much oil but, I’m not a chef so who knows? I scraped everything into the middle of the pan and threw it out for the birds. Low cholesterol bread crumbs so to speak.

That’s when I decided to stick with the tried and true. Gather the crew again .

In a bowl beat one large egg with 1/2 cup of sugar, 3 TBSP of melted butter and 1/3 cup of milk.


In another bowl, combine 1/2 cup of flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir into the first mixture until smooth and well blended. Peeled and sliced pears placed in casserole dish sprayed with Pam. TBSP cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup cold water. Pour over pears.

Add cup sugar (or to taste) 1/2 tsp each, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well into the pears.









Top with batter. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until brown.


The batter will spread to make a sort of crust. Cool and eat. THE GOOD The moral of this story is to stick to what you know. THAT'S IT ***

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Ponderings 2

These peanut butter cups weren’t that great but I wanted something sweet to eat. As I progressed on my sugar high, I decided to read the label not for nutrients but to see where they were manufactured. I'm leery of buying things made in China.


On their website under contact is listed. Fred's Inc.

Attn: Service Center

4300 New Getwell Road

Memphis, TN 38118


There I was eating chocolate candy, loaded with carbs, calories and fat manufactured on Getwell, Road.

For those smokers who are in a hurry or don't want to get out of the car in the rain for a pack of smokes or other tobacco products,

there's Drive Thru window .

** Let Everybody Know It's Your Birthday! click photos to enlarge



In case you can't see it, "Sakes Alive General Is 65"
***

click photo to enlarge

More Landscaping Gone Wild!

***

Gardendale Library has a 3D metal sculpture of a person reading.














There are no pine trees near the sculpture so...



Who provided these lovelies?

Picture 1, "I need a laxative."

Picture 2, "I'll just sit here on the [toilet] and read until something happens."

That's it***