The Whatevers or The Lilydale Quintet Debut

Welcome back to The Whatevers…our monthly collaboration in Creative Storytelling. Here is my story and project for this month. Also a fabulous recipe to share!

Spring really is right around the corner here in Lilydale, NY. The crocuses are peeping throughout the still cold ground and the ice on the lake is starting to melt. It is evident in the bustling around in town as preparations are being made for the return of most of the Lilydale residents.

It's a strange town because as soon as the residents return  visitors from all over the world come to visit. As I got older I learned the real truth about this town that I had grown to love…no longer missing the hustle and bustle of NYC.

I also could tell that seasons were changing when my Papa started rehearsing with four of his friends. Papa was, besides all his other jobs, also a musician. He played almost all the instruments and made sure his children played several instruments also. Our living room looked like an orchestra pit and one of us was always in there practicing. Papa loved to sing and had a beautiful baritone voice, he also was the director of this singing group. They called themselves THE LILYDALE QUINTET and performed often in the town gazebo during the summer months. Papa also directed the band and orchestra that played in the town concerts.

The LILYDALE Quintet were very serious about their performances. Papa would dress as a conductor and the other members in beautiful red and white striped jackets, neatly pressed white pants and a jaunty straw hat. I loved sitting outside the living room while the practiced as they figured out their harmonies and songs. They sang without background music and Papa called it  

'a capella'.

Of course there were always some type of tea bread that Mama would have waiting for them at the end of practice {my absolute favorite was Lemon Tea Bread}. They sat in the dining room eating and reminiscing about times gone by. I often would eavesdrop because I knew there would be some quiet conversations about Lilydale. I kept hearing words like spirits and mediums, readings and headings. My curiosity got the better of me and finally Mama and Papa sat me down and explained everything to me. Of course this will have to wait and I will tell you everything I learned.

 Here is the recipe: 

Lemon Tea Bread {makes 1 loaf}

1//2 c. butter, room temp.

1 c. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

grated peel 1 large lemon

1 ½ c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ c. milk

½ c. chopped walnuts

Glaze:

¼ c. sugar

1/2c. fresh lemon juice

grated peel 1 large lemon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Grease a 9”x5” loaf pan

Cream Butter & sugar until light & fluffy

Stir in eggs & lemon peel

Add flour & milk alternately to sugar/egg micture

Blend in Walnuts

Bake 45 min. or until golden brown

While bread is baking make glaze

Remove bread from oven

Pierce bread & brush juice mixture evenly over top.

Cool 10 min., remove from pan & allow to cool completely

Make sure you read all the different stories that have been concocted by our group. Here are links to the other creative stories about The Whatevers. Please stop by and see what these fabulous artists have created.

Nathalie Kalbach

 http://wp.me/p3Cnxf-4ha

Catherine Matthews Scanlon

http://cmscanlon.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-whatevers-march.html

Vicki Chrisman 
http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com/2014/03/whatevers-two-march-2014.html

Cuchy Mc Sc

 http://la-almohada.blogspot.com/2014/03/whatevers-ii-team-of-month.html

If you would like to play along it's not to late to join in. Here are all the details that you need to know.

Here is how it works ~

• Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Nathalie and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
• Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
• If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!
• There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
• There is no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
• There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
• Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
• These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
• If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
• You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

HERE IS THE PHOTO FOR THIS MONTH'S WHATEVERS:

Thank you for stopping by!

I really appreciate you taking the time. 

I know I need to catch up on my blog & I have every intention but LIFE just keeps happening ;)