Thirty-Five ABC Blocks

 

Our daffodils bloomed early this year. They were lovely in late February, but they’re long gone now. The tulips we bought three years ago have been fruitful and multiplied, and they’re putting on a really impressive show. That’s surprising, because I know squirrels LOVE to munch on tulip bulbs, and we have so many hungry squirrels. The tulips may have survived because we planted them side by side with flowers the squirrels don’t like. Daffodils have lycorine, a toxin that squirrels tend to avoid. Allium – those tall flowers that look like balls on sticks – aren’t toxic, but they have a bitter taste and pungent aroma that squirrels dislike. Other flowers that drive away squirrels are hyacinth, anemone, Dutch iris, star of Bethlehem, lily of the valley, winter aconite, grape hyacinth, snowdrop, Siberian squill, glory-of-the-snow and fritillaria. I'm told onion and garlic will keep the squirrels away, too. It's worth trying.

A New Turning Point

 

“In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we know that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are aware of our circumstances and that They yearn to bless us.” – President Henry B. Eyring

"From the beginning of time God has taught his children to put him first in their lives. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to put God first in our lives.” – Elder Jorge T. Becerra 

“In a spiritual context, enduring is far more than merely persevering tenaciously to complete demanding duties or challenges.” – Elder David A. Bednar

“When we minister, we are helping to answer each other’s prayers. We are the Savior’s hands.” – Kristin M. Yee

"It isn't really where we serve, but how, that matters to the Lord. He needs you, and He needs me. Life is better, everything is better, when we are about His business.” – Elder Patrick Kearon

Four Chain Blocks

 

Cherry Pie Bars

 

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold butter, cubed

1 egg

1/2 cup cold water

1 tablespoon vinegar

6 cups pitted cherries

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until it resembles small peas. In a smaller bowl, whisk together egg, water and vinegar. Combine with flour mixture until dough forms. Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap and chill 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool. Roll out half the dough to line bottom of 9x13” baking dish. Spread cherry filling over bottom crust. Roll out remaining dough and place over filling. Seal edges and cut some slits to release steam. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes. Cool before cutting into bars.

Forty-Nine Flags

 

I read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island in my early teens. It left me with a burning desire to become a pirate. I knew this career might mean I’d end up with an eye patch, a peg leg or a hook. But those were small concerns compared with the promise of treasure and the lure of the open sea. Alas, my buccaneer dreams never saw fruition. Maybe I was just born too early. Since the fall of 2011, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has offered a pirate certificate for undergraduate students who complete specific physical education courses, including archery, fencing, pistol shooting, and sailing. MIT is quick to point out the certificate is not a stand-alone credential and does not grant license to engage in piracy or related activities. The pirate program has a waitlist, but well over 300 students and alumni are already proud recipients. Matt Damon received an honorary certificate after the movie, The Martian.

Spring Checkerboard

 

If you’ve read Cheaper by the Dozen, or seen the 1950 movie, you know about Frank Gilbreth. But you don’t know Lillian’s story. Lillian and Frank were married in 1904. Together, they raised a dozen children. They also pioneered a field that is now known as industrial and organizational psychology. They studied how people do things in the workplace, and formulated ways to make work more effective. Frank’s focus was on mechanics; Lillian’s was on people: fatigue, error and human behavior. Frank died of a heart attack in 1924, leaving Lillian to support twelve children. Their clientele, assuming Frank was the brains of the operation, disappeared. So, Lillian turned her attention to productivity in the home. Lillian interviewed thousands of housewives to understand their needs. She invented the foot-pedal trash can. She rearranged refrigerator shelving to make it more ergonomically efficient. She designed the “kitchen work triangle” – stove, sink and fridge – still used in homes today.

Sparrow Block

 

Perks of being over fifty:

Kidnappers aren’t generally interested in you.

In a hostage situation, you’re likely to be the first one released.

No one expects you to run anywhere.

You no longer see speed limit signs as challenges.

If people call you after 8:00 p.m., they ask, “Did I wake you?”

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There’s probably nothing left to learn the hard way.

The things you buy now will probably not have time to wear out.

You can eat your supper at 4:30 p.m., and no one questions it.

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends, because they can’t remember them either.

Garden Charm

 

“A testimony is not given for temporary use. This gift from our loving Heavenly Father is meant to be eternal because the giver is eternal. A testimony should not have an expiration date. It should not weaken or diminish because something in my life has changed or something in the world has changed. It should get stronger because, like the servant’s talents in the parable of the talents, my testimony is a gift to be multiplied—not buried. Looking back on the difficult days of testing and persecution I went through as a child has helped me get to the place where I now know for myself. I not only believe, hope, or trust, even though these are significant particles of faith on the pathway to a sure witness. I commend you for making your own way by asking questions, studying, praying, fasting, and pondering. Please don’t stop. It is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony.” – Elder Kevin G. Brown