Pink Flower

 

In 1945, James Baskett – a self-taught actor from Indianapolis – walked into a Disney audition hoping for a minor voice role. The moment Walt heard him speak, everything changed. Disney gave James the starring role in Song of the South, making him the first Black actor cast as the lead in a full-length Disney film. Walt called him "the best actor to be discovered in years." James brought Uncle Remus to life with warmth and intensity. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented James with an Honorary Academy Award, making him the first Black man to receive an Oscar for acting. Four months later, James Baskett passed away at age forty-four. Song of the South turns 80 this year; an excellent time for a commemorative home video or streaming event. But Disney is so afraid we’ll judge an 80-year-old film by today’s standards, they’d rather hide Baskett’s accomplishments than draw attention to a movie they’re not proud of.

Three Kitty Cats

 

Earth Day was created in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Plant a tree or pollinator garden. Trees improve air quality, combat climate change, and provide habitats for wildlife. Gardens support bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Reduce waste. Repair clothes instead of replacing them. Recycle glass and plastic. Avoid single-use plastics. Create a compost pile.

Conserve water. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Shorten your showers. Consider drip irrigation.

Reduce your carbon footprint. Lower your room temperature in winter and raise it in summer. Consider adding more insulation or replacing old windows and doors.

Give your car a rest. Plan errands so you drive less. Walk, bike or use public transportation when you can. See if working from home is an option.

Make your yard wildlife-friendly. Install a bird feeder, bird bath, bat house or insect hotel. Build them from recycled materials where possible.

Quilted Bowl Cozy

 

Herbert Needleman was a pediatrician in the late 50’s. He frequently treated children with lead poisoning. He noticed kids who survived never quite recovered. They were slower, quieter, and struggled more in school. At the time, the medical establishment decreed if you made it through the acute phase, you were cured. Dr. Needleman wasn’t so sure. What if lead never really left the bodies of its victims? Blood tests couldn’t show long-term exposure. Bone biopsies would, but what parent would consent to that kind of research? In the late 60’s, Dr. Needleman recruited Massachusetts school teachers to collect lost baby teeth for study. Dr. Needleman tested thousands of them. He found the kids with the highest exposure had the lowest test scores. Lead was slowly robbing them of their minds. Today, thanks to Dr. Needleman, we no longer have lead paint on our walls, lead pipes carrying our water, or lead in our gasoline. And we’re all better off.

Plus One

 

"I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of our belief in a literal, universal resurrection. The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life" – President Dallin H. Oaks

“Not all matters are of equal value and maintaining an eternal perspective helps us prioritize the things that are of greatest value.” – Elder Dale G. Renlund

“Families with such a precious member know what a privilege it is to be blessed with one with special needs. Associating with Paxton, our whole family gained an increased, deep, and abiding trust in the Lord.” – Elder Ronald A. Rasband

“The scriptures teach us not only who Jesus was but who He is. Because of what happened on that Sunday morning, we can speak of Jesus Christ in the present tense. He lives. Today. At this moment.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Six Chains

 

Webcams have been around for over three decades. The first was installed at Cambridge University Computer Lab, so researchers would know when to refill their shared coffee pot. Today, there are far more interesting webcams out there. All you need is Internet access and a bit of time on your hands. My favorite is in Whitby. I could sit for hours and watch the tide come and go beneath 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. Another fun webcam is mounted on the International Space Station. From there, you can see sunrises and sunsets every 45 minutes. There’s another on Abbey Road, so you can find out who’s using the famous zebra crossing right now. Norway mounts webcams on the front of their trains. I can’t imagine a better way to view Norwegian landscapes. There are several at the San Diego Zoo. You can observe 11 different species there, including tigers, elephants and pandas. Next best thing to being there!

Four Gold Stars

 

Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

 

1 loaf stale bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (When using whole wheat, I omit crusts)

6 large eggs

2 cups milk

1/3 cup maple syrup (Not “pancake syrup”)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped pecans (I’ve also used walnuts)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cut into small piece

 

Coat slow cooker pot with cooking spray. Arrange bread cubes and nuts in pot. Whisk together eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour custard mixture over bread. Gently fold to coat. Let soak an hour or two. (My slow cooker has a removable insert, so I cover it and stick it in the fridge.) In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and remaining cinnamon. Cut in butter. Sprinkle butter mixture over custard. Cover and cook on low 4 hours. Serves 6 to 8.

Hoppy to Meet You

 

This week I read a story about a 24-hour laundromat on Delancy Street in New York City. The owner, Bea Kowalski, said the establishment was oddly warm, even at 3:00 in the morning, when none of the machines were running. She never knew why until a short time ago, when she had repairmen in to fix a few of the dryers. The men pulled off the back panel of dryer #9 and discovered thirty-one cottontail rabbits living in the exhaust ductwork. They’d built tunnels connecting all fourteen industrial-sized dryers, and had been happily living there at least two years. Animal control officials relocated the rabbits to a wildlife sanctuary in Dutchess County, about eighty miles away. Bea reports her laundromat feels chillier without the squatting bunnies. I tried to share this story with my piano students, but none of them had ever seen a laundromat, or a dryer big enough for thirty-one rabbits.