The other day a friend told me a little story about Paderewski, the great Polish pianist. It seems a mother took her young son, eight or nine years old, to a concert by Paderewski because she thought the child had some musical talent and might benefit from hearing a genius play. They sat close to the stage, where the curtain was up, revealing the grand piano. Paderewski was in the wings; it wasn't quite time to start. The mother turned to speak to an acquaintance behind her. As she did, the little boy wriggled out of his seat, ran up the steps to the stage, sat down and began to play "Chopsticks" with all his might. The mother was appalled. The audience gasped as Paderewski himself strode onto the stage. But instead of being angry the maestro smiled, sat down on the piano bench with the little boy, whispered to him to continue and then, putting both arms around the little figure began to improvise a soft but brilliant accompaniment to the childish music. He kept it up until the audience, charmed and fascinated, burst into applause. I like to think that perhaps when we finally come into God's presence and try to explain our lives with all the faults and flaws, He will put His loving arms around us and turn our faltering notes into a triumphant song of redemption and fulfillment.

–Ruth Stafford Peale  

Valentine's Day - Chocolate 3 - Candy

Until the 19th century chocolate remained only a beverage. In 1828 C. J. Van Houten of the Netherlands was attempting to produce a finer "chocolate powder." During his attempt he isolated to cocoa bean's creamy butter for the first time. The cocoa butter remained a curiosity for a time. In 1847 the butter was mixed with a chocolate liqueur by the English firm of Fry and Sons. The amazing result was the first solid eating chocolate. The mixture was sweet tasting and very dark in color. Two years later, Daniel Peter of Switzerland, experimented with the chocolate mixture. He added dry milk powder to the chocolate and created the first light milk chocolate.

Today milk chocolate dominates the world confectionery market. Most milk chocolate is formed by using more whole milk solids than chocolate liqueur. Ordinary commercial milk chocolate generally contains 10 % chocolate liqueur and 12% whole milk solids. The finer chocolates may contain as much as 15% chocolate liqueur and 20% whole milk solids.

In 1894 the world was introduced to the first Hershey Bar. Milton Hershey of Lancaster, Pennsylvania concocted the Hershey bar. It was made of the simplest and finest ingredients sugar, cocoa, chocolate and milk. It was an outstanding hit and it sold for only a few pennies. The 19th century confectioners were off to make 'candy bars."

Sources:
The Browser's Book of Beginnings and Origins of Everything under, and Including the Sun - Charles Panat | Encyclopaedia Britannica |

LOVE Quotation

I know that when I am most monstrous, I am most in need of love. When my temper flares out of bounds it is usually set off by something unimportant which is on top of a series of events over which I have no control, which have made me helpless, and thus caused me anguish and frustration. I am not loveable when I am enraged, although it is when I most need love.

One of our children when he was two or three years old used to rush at me when he had been naughty, and beat against me, and what he wanted by this monstrous behavior was an affirmation of love. And I would put my arms around him and hold him very tight until the dragon was gone and the loving small boy returned.

So God does with me. I strike against him in pain and fear and he holds me under the shadow of his wings. Sometimes he appears to me to be so unreasonable that I think I cannot live with him, but I know that I cannot live without h9im. He is my lover, father, mother, sister, brother, friend, paramour, companion, my love, my all.

–  Meet the Austins - Madeleine L’Engle