Centennial Quilt Block and Happy Birthday, Colorado!

Centennial Quilt Block

Colorado is called the Centennial State because it became a state in 1876, the year of America's centennial.  Today, Colorado is 137 years old!

Colorado Beauty Quilt Block

 

Colorado Pass Quilt Block

 

 

The Colorado Blue Spruce is the state tree of Colorado. 

Can you see how blue the needles are?  

The Rocky Mountain Columbine became the state flower of Colorado in 1889 after a vote by school children of Colorado.  Out of 22,316 votes, 14,472 of the votes went to the columbine.

Palisade in western Colorado is the Peach Capital of Colorado.  John Harlow and his wife Jean planted some of the first peach trees in the area in 1882.  The 45th Annual Palisade Peach Festival will be held August 15-18 this year.  Here's a delicious peach pie recipe for you:  
 

Peach Upside Down Pie

Pastry for double 9-inch pie

2 tablespoons butter

2/3 cup toasted and chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar

5 cups peeled sliced peaches

¾ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons tapioca
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1.  Prepare pastry.

2.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
3.  Line a 9-inch pie pan with a 12-inch square of foil, letting excess foil overhang edge.  Spread with butter and press nuts and 1/3 cup brown sugar into butter.
4.  Fit a bottom crust into pan, over the nut mixture.  Mix remaining ingredients and pour into crust. 
5.  Cover with a top crust.  Trim edges, seal well, and prick pie with a fork.  Brush lightly with milk.
6.  Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes.
7.  Cool pie.  Turn upside down on serving plate and remove foil.  The top will be a crunchy layer of the nutty mixture.  Cut pie into wedges to serve.

And we have our winners for the Quilters' Book Club drawing for July.  Congratulations to Nancy in IN and Michele - the TWO lucky winners of Clare O'Donohue's book, The Devil's Puzzle, part of her Someday Quilts Mystery Series.  A big thank you to Plume Books for donating the books!  Michele and Nancy in IN, please email me at starwoodquilter@gmail.com with your mailing address, so you can receive your free book.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.