Halloween Table Runner

“We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have. Think of the early Saints of this dispensation who knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and heard him preach the restored gospel. Imagine how they must have felt to know that the veil between heaven and earth had parted again, shedding light and knowledge upon the world from our celestial home above. But most of all, think of how you felt when for the first time you believed and understood that you are truly a child of God; that Jesus Christ willing suffered for your sins so that you may be clean again; that priesthood power is real and can bind you to your loved ones for time and for all eternity; that there is a living prophet on the earth today. Isn’t that wonderful and amazing?” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Beginner's Choice

There isn’t much to say about today’s little block. I have to assume it carries this name because it’s one of the simplest blocks ever. It’s just a nine-patch with two dark squares in one color, three dark squares in another, two light squares and two half-square triangles. One of the half-square triangles was pressed toward the light and the other toward the dark side. The top and bottom rows have seams pressed toward the center while the middle row has seams pressed outward, so the seams will “click” into each other and can be swirl pressed when the rows are stitched together. The only really interesting thing about this block is what happens when it gets together with fifteen of its closest friends; proof that sometimes the whole can be much more than the sum of its parts.

Three Inch Baby Bunting Block

When Hurricane Matthew swept the coast of Florida it brought high winds, floods and power outages. For those of us with friends or family in the affected areas, there was little to do but wait and watch, hope and pray. Eric Olsen of Nebraska has a grandmother in Palm Coast, Florida. He tried calling her Friday, but the lines were down. Saturday was the same. When Sunday came without a word he got creative. In his words, “We hadn't been able to get ahold of Grandma for two days since Hurricane Matthew. The police and sheriff departments were overwhelmed so I called the only other people I could think of: Papa John's Pizza. They were there in thirty minutes with a cell phone in her hand, and a pepperoni pizza of course. Huge thanks to the Palm Coast Papa Johns!” Note to any family members trying to locate me: please don’t send peperoni pizza. Make it Hawaiian!

Table for Four

Old-fashioned Goulash

2 pounds ground beef

3 teaspoons minced garlic

1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup beef broth

1/3 cup olive oil

2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce

2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 tablespoon Adobo seasoning

3 bay leaves

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Brown ground beef in large Dutch oven; drain and set aside. Gently sauté onions and garlic in olive oil. Return beef to pot, add water, broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, and seasoning. Bring to a boil, stirring. Lower heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add macaroni; stir well. Cover and simmer 30 more minutes or until pasta is al dente. Add cheeses and serve hot!

Bachelor's Puzzle

The most famous shootout in history, the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, took place exactly 135 years ago today. If you’ve ever seen My Darling Clementine (1946), Angel and the Badman (1947), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Doctor Who’s “The Gunfighters” (1966), Star Trek’s "Spectre of the Gun" (1968), Tombstone (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), or any of the other film and television versions of the event, you’re probably pretty familiar with what occurred that day. And most of what you know is probably wrong. For instance, the shootout didn’t take place at the O.K. Corral. It happened in broad daylight in an alley six doors away down the same street. The nine participants were only six feet apart when the shooting started, but when it ended thirty seconds later only three people – Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton – were dead.

Puss in the Corner

The October theme in our Special Needs Activity Program group is “Be Smart.” At our last meeting, the young women’s president took a microphone into the crowd: mostly young adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, muscular dystrophy, autism, etc. She asked them to share the smartest thing they do. They were each paid for answering with a roll of Smarties candy. Several mentioned their jobs. My daughter proudly announced that she’s going to Walt Disney World for her next birthday. No one asked me (I didn’t expect to be asked and I didn’t want Smarties) but I’ve given the question some thought. I think the most intelligent thing I do is carry a planner. I know at a glance when my next dentist appointment is, which of my students still owe this month’s tuition, and what I need the next time I’m at the store. It’s smart so I don’t have to be.

Our Editor

“Essential to the plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness. We are blessed to have the truth. We have a mandate to share the truth. Let us live the truth that we might merit all that the Father has for us. He does nothing save it be for our benefit. He has told us, ‘This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’” – President Thomas S. Monson