Four Rocky Mountain Stars

I like the way the Scottish celebrate New Year’s. They call it “Hogmanay,” a word with several different spellings and pronunciations. It’s a two- or three-day celebration, which gives everyone plenty of time to get it right. The first day, New Year’s Eve, is spent putting your affairs in order: cleaning house and paying back debts. After midnight, you make a very big deal about the first guest who sets foot in your freshly cleaned house. Depending on where in Scotland you’re from, you might engage in singing or dancing, baking and eating cakes, ringing bells or parading through the streets swinging fireballs from sticks. Since New Year’s Eve is Sunday this year, any cleaning I do will probably happen today. Tomorrow I’ll take the dogs to the park, play the organ in church and cook dinner for the family. There may be time January 1 to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle and to begin a Marvel Movie Monday Marathon.

Turnstile

Researchers from the University of California in San Diego conducted a study in 2013 using genetic information from 2,000 individuals and their friends. They came to the conclusion that somehow we choose as our closest companions people with very similar DNA to our own. It goes way beyond gravitating towards people with similar ethnic or cultural backgrounds. The people we call our best friends often share 1% or more of our genome (fourth cousins or closer) though we’re usually not conscious of the connection. Alan Robinson and Walter Macfarlane met in grade school and have been best mates for sixty years. Walter never knew his father, and Alan was adopted. Separately they turned to DNA tests to learn more and discovered they share the same birth mother. “This is the best Christmas present I could ever imagine having,” says Alan. The bosom buddies – who were half brothers all along – have decided to spend retirement traveling together.

Rocky Mountain Star

A year from today my husband and I will celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. My friends at the nursing home tell me forty isn’t really something to crow about. (If you want a new perspective on life, I recommend spending time with people who’ve seen more of it than you have.) It feels like a big deal, though. Fifty-five percent of all married couples have been together at least fifteen years. Thirty-five percent make it to their 25th anniversaries and only six percent live to see fifty years. Most marriages that end in divorce do so during the first decade. When I think about our first ten years, that makes perfect sense. We were raising small children and building a new career at the same time. There was never enough money, and we never got enough sleep. It’s a miracle we made it to our tenth anniversary. We celebrated then, and we’re celebrating now. Next year, we’ll celebrate again. 

Blue Windmill

Not all Christmas songs are cheerful. Some, like Bob Carlisle’s “Christmas Shoes” or Nat King Cole’s “The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot” are maudlin to the point of being laughable. When I was very young, daddy owned the Simon and Garfunkel album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Time. The last track of side B was an odd combination of “Silent Night” accompanied by an acoustic guitar and the 7:00 news. But some sad songs might be just what you need at this time of year. If you’re in a blue mood, I recommend Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” (Frank Sinatra’s version is a bit less weepy.) Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas,” Bing Crosby’s “I'll Be Home For Christmas,” Charles Brown’s “Please Come Home For Christmas” and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas” are all good choices. You might even try Faith Hill’s “Where Are You, Christmas?” Just don’t overdo it.

Violin Window

Our house has an arched window in the front room that faces directly west. Many of our neighbors have identical windows hidden with blinds, curtains or shutters, but when we moved here ours wasn’t covered. A few weeks each year – spring and fall – the setting sun would interfere with music lessons and with dinner in the adjacent dining room. I drew this design on a piece of butcher paper which I took to a stained glass studio near the ballpark in Salt Lake. A few weeks (and a few hundred dollars) later, they installed the finished product. I loved the way the colored light danced across the floor and the wall each afternoon. But one of our tenants didn’t love it. We found the window hidden in our garage with a large crack through its middle. It was sad, but this maple tree (bottom center) has since doubled in size, rendering the window invisible and unnecessary. 

Santa at the Window

“As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.” – The Living Christ; the Testimony of the Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Four Bear Paws

Charles Dickens had originally planned to call his work “An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child.” It was to be a pamphlet criticizing poverty and brutal child labor practices. At the time, many thought helping the poor would make them lazy and lead to overpopulation. (Okay, they may have had a point. There were 18 million people in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in 1840, and nearly 66 million today.) Eventually Dickens scrapped the pamphlet idea in favor of a work of fiction. He worked feverishly on A Christmas Carol for six weeks. As he wrote, Dickens wept, laughed, and wandered the streets of London long into the night. His novella hit the shops December 17, 1843, selling out in three days. 174 years later, it still encourages us to see each other as “fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”

Christmas Tree

When we moved to England almost nine years ago (!) we knew our new home wouldn’t have room for holiday decorations. Our plush Halloween pumpkins, our basket of Easter eggs, our huge artificial Christmas tree and collection of Hallmark ornaments were left behind in storage. I’d supposed we could do without all that for the few short years we’d be there. Heather disagreed, and she was right. We bought this little pre-lit tree at a local DIY store. I dried orange slices overnight in the oven, shaped homemade salt dough in clay shortbread molds, and hung them on our little tree. One year we draped it with popcorn and cranberry garlands, but it looks like that Christmas we didn’t take a photo. When we moved back the ornaments (being technically food) weren’t allowed to come. The tree was wired for British power, so we donated it. Our new tree is stunning, but I still miss this one.

Sixteen Cotton Reels

Meteorological winter begins on the first of December every year and ends on the last day of February. Astronomical winter begins on the shortest day of the year and ends somewhere around March 19. So no matter how you look at it, by today winter has well and truly begun. Today the north pole is tilted as far as it can be away from the sun, which means the sun is as close to the horizon as it can get. This is the shortest day of the year, and tonight will be the longest night. Of course, I’m only talking about the northern hemisphere. If you’re lucky enough to live near the equator, your days and nights are about twelve hours long regardless of the season. And if you live in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or Chile,  today is your summer solstice – the longest day of the year – and you have nothing but warm sunny days ahead.

Bear Paw

Several years ago I was involved in a production of Meet Me in St. Louis. The play is a series of seasonal vignettes that portray a year in the life of a St. Louis family just after the turn of the century. It begins and ends in the summertime, but the play’s climax takes place at Christmas. To usher in this scene, several cast members dressed in Edwardian era winter wear would stroll along the section of the stage called the apron, singing traditional Christmas carols. Every single performance, as I sat in the orchestra pit, I could hear the audience happily singing along. It didn’t matter that we weren’t staging the play at Christmas time. Today is Go Caroling Day. It’s probably too late to organize a caroling party for this evening, but you can always make plans to host one next December 20. If you do, don’t forget to invite me.

Nine Cotton Reels

The first time we took Heather to Disneyland, she rode in an umbrella stroller. She wasn’t speaking much  yet, but we’d taught her a lot of signs – banana, cat, milk, toilet, popcorn – the really important ones. We were on the sidewalk beside Main Street, USA when I noticed a long line of people on the opposite side of the street, queued up for a chance to get Mickey’s autograph. I knelt down beside Heather, pointed across the street, and signed, “Mickey Mouse.” I don’t know how much cast members can see from inside those big costume heads. I do know that somehow he (she?) saw me signing whilst juggling autograph books and posing for photographs. As we watched, Mickey’s head turned to look straight at Heather and signed, “I love you.” For this and for dozens of very similar experiences, we’re always counting the days to our next Disney trip. Nine weeks to go!

Pinwheel Star

“Throughout the year, and perhaps especially at this Christmas season, it would benefit us to once again ask the question “How am I seeking Christ?” During a difficult period of his life, the great King David wrote, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee.” Perhaps this attitude of seeking God was one of the reasons David was described as a man after God’s own heart. During this Christmas season and throughout the entire year, may we seek with our hearts and souls our beloved Savior, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel. For this desire, in large part, defines not only who we are as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but even more who we really are as Christ’s disciples.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Four Japan Blocks

One of my neighbors is a public defender. She’s one of the smartest, most compassionate people I know. I have a lot of friends who are nurses, and a lot more who are school teachers. I don’t believe any of these women chose their careers because they hoped for money, power or fame. In fact, I’m pretty sure they decided to become teachers, nurses and public defenders because they wanted to live in a world where children get a good education, where the hurt and sick are comforted, and where the accused have the right to legal counsel. There are men in all these fields, but it’s been my experience that most women tend to chose positions for reasons that have very little to do with the size of the paycheck. No one’s offered to pay me to be a homemaker. I just wanted my kids to grow up in a home that has one. 

Four Cotton Reels

There was a time when my purse was full of little slips of paper. If I had a question about anything I’d jot it down and save it until I could get to the library and look up the answer. When I had room I kept a set of Encyclopedia Britannica and a Funk & Wagnalls (no, I’m not kidding) for questions that couldn’t wait for a library trip. Then I bought a desktop and installed Encarta. Suddenly there were answers to my questions at my fingertips – as soon as the computer booted up. How far away is the moon? Which animal has the longest gestational period? What’s the recipe for bouillabaisse? Google just announced this year’s most common searches. Apparently in 2017 people wondered about the latest hurricane, the newest iPhone, the men accused of inappropriate behavior, and the girl engaged to Prince Harry. I didn’t Google any of these. I must be out of touch.

Japan

This is the primary block in the Quilt Etc. free block-of-the-month for December, made exactly the way the directions indicate. It wasn’t remarkably difficult to assemble: just eight rectangles – six white and two brown – each with a covered corner triangle at one end. But the finished product seems to me to be weird and awkward; completely lacking in grace and balance. As soon as I got my block kit home, I tried looking up the pattern in my books and on the Internet. I never found it. The nearest match was https://mombowe.blogspot.com/2017/12/windy-city.html which I made and posted a little more than a week ago. I decided to give this block another chance this week, to see if my opinion of it would improve. It hasn’t, but you’re free to like it if you choose. I’ve learned (and keep on learning) that there are as many ways to see a thing as there are eyes looking at it. 

Cotton Reel

I teach fifteen half-hour long piano lessons every week. When a student walks in the first words out of my mouth are usually, “How did your week go?” I guess I’m hoping to hear they found time to practice, that they fixed the fingering problem in their recital piece, or that they did their theory assignment. Instead, I usually hear about how stressed their parents are, especially at this time of year. I get it, I really do. You want everything about Christmas to be perfect: the decorations, the food, the parties, the presents. But there’s only so much time and energy and money to go around. When Christmas is over, the kids won’t remember how many toys they got. They’ll remember time spent with you. Skip the elf on the shelf and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas together, with popcorn. Bake cookies together or build a fort out of sofa cushions. Make memories. They’re cheaper. They’re priceless.

Four Coral Courts

The story of Hanukkah dates back to the year 167 BC, when Israel was being oppressed by Greek-Syrians. Practicing Judaism was forbidden, and the Jewish temple was defiled with pigs’ blood. A priest’s son named Maccabee led a revolt, taking back their city and their temple. When the temple was rededicated there was only enough oil to light the lamp one night, but somehow it burned for eight days and nights. That’s why the Festival of the Lights takes eight days to celebrate. Last year Hanukkah began on Christmas Eve, and next year it will begin December 2. Today is the first day of Hanukkah this year. You might celebrate by playing dreidl or by eating something fried in oil, like jelly donuts or potato latkes. Other traditional Hanukkah foods include brisket, short ribs, challah, and noodle kugel. 

Four Ex

“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us. That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us. That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – President Thomas S. Monson

Coral Court Friendship Star

 It was still dark and cold (21 degrees Fahrenheit/-6 Celsius) Thursday morning when the firetrucks began to gather in the mall parking lot. There were dozens of vehicles, carrying more than a hundred firefighters from all over northern Utah. I caught a glimpse of them as the sun began to creep over the eastern mountains. My first thought was, “Oh, no! Is our mall burning?” But the trucks weren’t there because of a local tragedy. They were headed to the California to help battle the raging wildfires there. It’s sobering to think that these people are going toward danger, putting their lives on the line to save other peoples’ malls, other peoples’ homes, and other peoples’ lives. There’s a very good chance they won’t be back until nearly Christmas. I’m amazed and grateful that there are such selfless people in the world. And I pray they’ll all be safely home soon. 

Bow Ties

Today’s National Brownie Day. What better way to celebrate than with a fresh batch? You can add chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or frosting. Or gobble them up plain.

World’s Best Brownies

1/2 cup butter (plus extra for greasing)

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350F. Spread parchment in an 8-inch square pan. Brush paper liberally with butter or spray with cooking oil. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Don’t overbake! Cool 10 to 20 minutes, then remove brownies from pan (parchment and all) and slice. Serve warm with milk. Makes 16 small brownies or 9 huge ones. 

Four Windy Cities

Weeks ago one of my oldest and dearest friends sent me a folder full of sheet music with a letter listing the songs she wanted to be performed during her funeral. There were more than two dozen pieces – classical numbers, hymns, popular songs and show tunes – enough to fill a two-hour concert. I didn’t tell her she’d chosen too many songs, or that it was possible she’d outlive me. Instead I tucked the folder in my piano bench, out of sight and out of mind. Then the day after Thanksgiving she suddenly passed away, and the funeral she’d planned actually had to happen. I played the songs she chose as prelude and postlude music. Now that letter is one of my most prized possessions. In addition to listing her favorite songs, she’d written about how much our friendship has meant to her over the years. Today is Letter Writing Day. Is there someone who needs a note from you?

Ohio Star Variation

We woke to fresh snow Monday morning, and it put me in the mood to make cinnamon toast. The first step is to pull out a jelly roll pan and fill it with a single layer of whole wheat bread (I can usually fit eight or nine slices without overlapping). In a small bowl, cream together half a cup of butter at room temperature, half a cup of granulated sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of ground nutmeg. Divide this evenly among the bread slices, spreading the mixture to cover each slice edge to edge. Pop the pan into a 350F oven for ten minutes, and then turn on the broiler for a few minutes more for a crispy golden finish. (Whatever you do, don’t multi-task here. You’ll be crying over burnt toast.) Serve warm. I don’t know what I’d do with leftover cinnamon toast; I’ve never had any.

Windy City

I meant to post this Friday, December 1. But last week was especially stressful – the kind of week you’re relieved to be done with – and many of my good intentions ended up being nothing more than intentions. In keeping with the idea that it’s usually better to finish a task late than not at all, I’m posting this today: For the second consecutive year in a row, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is encouraging members and friends to “Light the World” with random acts of kindness. You can find an advent calendar full of enlightening ideas at  https://www.mormon.org/downloads . Yesterday’s hint was, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” We surprised a few neighbors with loaves of freshly baked banana bread. Today’s is, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” I haven’t yet decided what to do today, but I probably won’t post it. I suspect boasting about your own good deeds defeats the whole purpose.

Framed Star

“The Mormon people teach not only of Heaven and its attendant glories, but how to live so that their social and economic relations with each other are placed on a sound basis. If the people follow the teachings of this Church, nothing can stop their progress—it will be limitless. There have been great movements, started in the past, but they have died or been modified, before they reached maturity. If Mormonism is able to endure, unmodified, until it reaches the third and fourth generations, it is destined to become the greatest power the world has ever known.” – Leo Tolstoy

Four Spinning Squares Blocks

Easy Bolognese

1 pound sweet Italian bulk sausage

1/4 cup olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped

1 carrot, coarsely chopped

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, onion, and garlic. Saute until onions are tender, about 8 minutes. Add celery and carrot and saute 5 more minutes. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, parsley and basil. Cover and cook over low heat until the sauce thickens – about half an hour. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked spaghetti or spaghetti squash, topped with grated Parmesan.

Christmas Stockings

“The lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” – Garrison Keillor

“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.” – Victor Borge

“There are 17 more shopping days until Christmas. So, guys, that means 16 more days till we start shopping, right?” – Conan O’Brien

“Adults can take a simple holiday for children and screw it up. What began as a presentation of simple gifts to delight and surprise children around the Christmas tree has culminated in a woman unwrapping six shrimp forks from her dog, who drew her name.” – Erma Bombeck

“The worst gift is fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.” – Johnny Carson

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.” – Shirley Temple

Spinning Squares Block

Slow Cooker Taco Casserole

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/2 large red onion, chopped

2 cups corn

1 can black beans (drained)

2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilis

1 package taco seasoning

2 cups of cooked bown rice

8 ounces shredded cheddar

3 green onions, thinly sliced

Brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add red onion and reduce heat; cook until onion is tender. Transfer to casserole slow cooker. (If you don’t have one, this recipe will probably work in a traditional slow cooker. The casserole shape just makes it easier to serve.) Add corn, beans, tomatoes, seasoning and rice. Gently toss to combine. Top with cheese and cook on low 4 hours or on high 2 hours. Serve hot with tortilla chips, sour cream, and more shredded cheddar.

Peace and Plenty

Kate McClure was on her way from New Jersey to visit a friend when she ran out of gas. She found herself stranded in the dodgy end of Philadelphia. A homeless man saw her pull over to the side of the road. He told her to lock her doors, and then he disappeared. Johnny Bobbit, a former Marine who’d fallen on hard times, returned with a can of gasoline that he’d just bought with his last $20. Kate didn’t have any cash to repay him, and he didn’t ask for anything. In the following weeks Kate and her boyfriend Mark stopped by his corner several times to bring warm clothing, cereal bars and bottled water, but they wanted to do so much more. Kate set up a GoFundMe account for Johnny, hoping it would raise enough for him to get back on his feet. As of Thanksgiving, the donations came to more than $160,000. 

Four This and That Blocks

When my children were young, I thought I had the picky eater thing sorted. No one in my family was thrilled to see broccoli, zucchini, Brussels sprouts or carrots at the dinner table, but they happily devoured spaghetti sauce, soups and casseroles with those same vegetables minced or grated into them. But there’s a four-year-old at my house now who has me stumped. He’ll eat bread, rolls, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, fries and precious little else. For instance, if I butter his roll, I’ve ruined it and he won’t touch it. So I checked the Mayo Clinic website to see if they had any suggestions. They said offering dessert as a bribe will give kids the idea that dessert is somehow better than broccoli. (News flash: he already knows this.) They recommended removing mealtime distractions, like TV, toys or tablets. Great. His siblings are a bigger distraction than either of these. Should I remove them, too?

Rising Star

“The symbolism of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is beautiful to contemplate. The bread and water represent the flesh and blood of Him who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water, poignantly reminding us of the price He paid to redeem us. As the bread is broken, we remember the Savior’s torn flesh. Elder Dallin H. Oaks once observed that ‘because it is broken and torn, each piece of bread is unique, just as the individuals who partake of it are unique. We all have different needs to be strengthened through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ As we drink the water, we think of the blood He shed and on the cross and its sanctifying power. Knowing no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom, we resolve to be among those who have washed their garments in the Savior’s blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.” - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

This and That

Eliahu Pietruszka was 24 when he fled Warsaw at the beginning of World War II. He left behind his parents and his fifteen-year-old twin brothers, Volf and Zelig. Eliahu’s parents and Zelig were deported from the Warsaw Ghetto and killed in a Nazi death camp, but Volf managed to escape. The brothers briefly corresponded before Volf was sent to a Siberian work camp; then Eliahu lost track of him and assumed he had died. Two weeks ago, Eliahu’s grandson received an email from a cousin in Canada who was working on her family tree. She’s found a form filled out in 2005 by Volf for his brother Eliahu, whom he thought had died. Volf had survived the work camp and passed away in Russia in 2012. Volf’s only child, Alexandre, was able to travel to Israel to visit the 102-year-old uncle he never knew he had. 

Sixteen Pineapple Blossoms

Krystal Tukuafu was running errands in her minivan with her 3-year-old son when she noticed an American Fork police officer running after a suspected shoplifter. Thinking her 1,000 Instagram followers might find this interesting, she whipped out her cell phone and began livestreaming the chase. She followed the running men for a short while, and then pulled up next to the officer. “I was like, ‘Hey, you want a ride?’ He yanked my door open and got in. He was like, ‘Follow this guy,’” She got within 5 feet of the suspect before slamming on her brakes so the officer could jump out and arrest him. "I was excited that I was with my son because he was like, in heaven,” she said. “He kept saying, ‘So cool, so cool!’ Like, seriously, you just can't underestimate us moms with minivans, You never know.”

Four Dutch Tile Blocks

A week ago it snowed here for the first time this season. My grandson saw the flakes falling outside the window and came running to me. “Nana! Your arm is almost all better!” He’d remembered me repeating what they’d told me in the emergency room in September; that my broken wrist could be back to normal by Christmas. Snow = Christmas is coming. Christmas = back to normal. Normal is a relative term, especially when improvement comes so gradually. But I am getting better. I can pick up a pencil, a sock or my car keys with my left hand. I can open a medicine bottle and I can scratch my right arm. (Trust me, this is huge.) Maybe next month I can wring out a washcloth, carry two grocery bags or hold the railing as I go down the stairs. I think it’s more important to remember how close I came to missing this holiday season altogether, and to be very, very grateful. 

Curved Log Cabin Table Runner

The easiest thing for most quilt top piecers is to execute straight seams and 90-degree angles. 45-degree angles are slightly more difficult, but not impossible. If our design calls for any other angle, we usually resort to paper piecing to achieve accuracy. The holy grail in piecing is a curved line. If we’re not comfortable with applique (and most of us aren’t) curves can be a real challenge. I’ve only attempted curved piecing a handful of times. Some of them were relatively successful: like https://mombowe.blogspot.com/2016/09/embrace-your-inner-orange.html and https://mombowe.blogspot.com/2012/05/winding-ways.html . Some, like https://mombowe.blogspot.com/2011/01/wild-turkey.html , were completely hopeless and ended up in the bin. I have much better luck with designs that use straight lines and simple angles to simulate curves, like  https://mombowe.blogspot.com/2016/04/emilys-wedding-quilt.html or like today’s sparkly little quilt top. 

Dutch Tile Block

The end of one year and the beginning of another one is a good time for reflection – for taking stock of the past and for making plans for the future. On New Year’s Eve 1968, Master Sgt. William H. Cox and First Sgt. James T. Hollingsworth were huddled inside the bunker in the Marble Mountains of Vietnam. The two comrades made a pact: if both of them survived the war, they’d contact each other every year on New Year’s Eve. It’s a promise they kept the following year, and every year for nearly five decades.  When Cox learned his friend was terminally ill, he went to visit. Hollingsworth asked him to give the eulogy at his funeral and Cox reluctantly agreed. Earlier this year he made good on his last promise. “There’s a bond between Marines that’s different from any other branch of service,” he said. “We’re like brothers.”

Double Delight Star

“The District of Columbia police auctioned off about 100 unclaimed bicycles Friday. ‘One dollar,’ said an 11-year-old boy as the bidding opened on the first bike. The bidding, however, went much higher. “One dollar,” the boy repeated hopefully each time another bike came up. Then there was just one bike left. The bidding went to eight dollars. ‘Sold to that boy over there for nine dollars!’ said the auctioneer. He took eight dollars from his own pocket and asked the boy for his dollar. The youngster turned it over in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters—took his bike, and started to leave. But he went only a few feet. Carefully parking his new possession, he went back, gratefully threw his arms around the auctioneer’s neck, and cried. When was the last time we felt gratitude as deeply? The deeds others perform in our behalf might not be as poignant, but certainly there are kind acts that warrant our gratitude.” – President Thomas S. Monson

Nine Curved Log Cabins

Early in 1928 Walt Disney traveled to New York to negotiate with his distributor only to find he’d lost the rights to his character “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.” Walt said he came up with his cartoon mouse on the train ride back to California. Walt’s small studio quickly whipped up two shorts, “Plane Crazy” and “The Gallopin’ Gaucho.” Walt tried desperately to find a new distributor for a series based on those two silent cartoons, but was unsuccessful. Taking a hint from Al Jolson’s  “The Jazz Singer” (1927), Walt added synchronous sound to his third Mickey Mouse cartoon and was finally able to sell the idea. “Steamboat Willie” premiered November 18, 1928. The title and the little tune Mickey whistles are both from the 1928 Buster Keaton silent film, “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” It may come as a surprise, but “silent” films were almost never experienced in silence. They usually came with music to be played with each scene.

Nine Pineapple Blossoms

I took a bit of flak about what I posted this past Tuesday, primarily from cat lovers. I don’t hate cats; really, I don’t. But I also don’t romanticize or anthropomorphize them. I honestly can’t picture myself comfortably sipping chamomile in a room chock full of them. I think I’d be constantly watching my cup for signs of stray hairs. If that’s your thing, it’s okay. It just isn’t mine. Last weekend we accepted an invitation to the local dog park. Our schnauzer had a blast. He got to romp with a Welsh corgi, a Yorkie, an English bulldog, a chihuahua and an enthusiastic collie pup. The sun was shining, but it was a very brisk morning. I kept thinking how nice it would have been if I’d thought to bring a Thermos of hot chocolate. That’s when it dawned on me: it’s not that I’m a cat hater. I’d just rather spend my time in the company of dogs.

Four Curved Log Cabins

Thanksgiving seems to be all about the carbs. Sure, the turkey is the star of the meal, but it’s always surrounded by gravy, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pie. Here’s something yummy you can bring to the table that won’t make your blood sugar skyrocket.

Roasted Green Beans with Bacon

2 generous tablespoons olive oil

1 pound fresh green beans, the longer and thinner the better

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

4 thick slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 350F. Toss all ingredients in a large bowl, then spread evenly in an oven safe casserole dish. Bake for 20 minutes, stir and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until tender. Serve while still warm.

Patchwork Diversion

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day was cooked up by the home economists at Whirlpool Home Appliances in 1999.  They created the holiday – which always falls on November 15 – to encourage their customers to clean out their refrigerators in advance of the upcoming holidays. Celebrating it is simple and very rewarding. First, take EVERYTHING out of your fridge and discard anything suspicious. Wipe the interior surfaces with a baking soda/water solution. Remove and wash drawers. Vacuum the condenser coils, the floor beneath your fridge and the wall behind it. If your fridge has an ice/water dispenser, now is a good time to replace the filter. Restock your fridge with the food you didn’t toss. Be sure to wipe the bottoms of catsup bottles, milk cartons, etc. so you don’t soil your freshly cleaned shelves. Place an open box of baking soda in the back of your fridge to eliminate unpleasant odors. Enjoy your freshly cleaned, organized refrigerator!

Curved Log Cabin Block

A few weeks ago, when the autumn colors on the valley floor were at a peak, we spent a glorious Saturday afternoon with our grandkids and their parents in Liberty Park. On the way there we passed a new business with an interesting name: Tinker’s Cat Cafe. We couldn’t help wondering – is this a place you take your tabby to be fed? Or a place to be fed tabbies? As it turns out, it’s neither. It’s a place to enjoy coffee, tea or hot cocoa in a room full of kitties. All the felines there are adoptable, so you can even take a furry friend home with you. It’s an interesting idea, but I don’t think it will catch on. Cats may keep themselves clean, but they all trash the places where they live. They shed, cough up hair balls, claw furniture and toss kitty litter. None of that makes for a relaxing spot to enjoy a cuppa.

Shoo Dat

“Brothers and sisters, except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call ‘toxic perfectionism.’ Every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection.” - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Four Window Blocks

145,000 people die in Japan every year of smoking-related diseases and conditions. Twenty percent of the adults in that country are smokers, compared with fewer than fifteen percent in the US. Smoking is declining here primarily because of anti-smoking TV ads, a reduction in retailers willing to sell tobacco products, and laws restricting places where people can legally smoke. In the Land of the Rising Sun, there’s very little to discourage people from smoking or to encourage smokers to quit. One Japanese marketing firm is taking steps to change that. Recognizing that those little breaks throughout the day all add up, Piala Inc. is offering an extra six days of paid vacation time every year to its non-smoking employees. So far four of their 45 workers have quit smoking to take advantage of the new policy. One of them, a 25-year-old who used to smoke half a pack a day, plans to use his extra vacation to play tennis.

Four Robbing Peter Blocks

Sian-Pierre Regis was in Paris when he got his mom’s voicemail: “I just got fired. I wanted you to know that.” His 75-year-old mother, Rebecca, had worked as a housekeeper for as long as he could remember. She’d raised two boys alone in Boston over the hotel where she worked. She’d cashed out her 401K so her sons could go to college; put her dreams on hold so they could live theirs. Then Rebecca lost her job. Regis decided it was time to give back.  He knew his mom had been working on a list of things she’s always wanted to do. “When she got fired,” he said, “all these bucket list items took on so much more weight.” Since then they’ve been checking off items together: take a hip-hop lesson, milk a cow, join Instagram. As of May they still had a few items left, including skydiving. But there’s plenty of time. After all, she’s only 75.

Windows and Windmills

Thanksgiving is two weeks away, and so is the time when it’s politically correct (who makes these rules?) to play Christmas music. Our studio’s recital is nine days later, so we’ve had holiday tunes daily here since early October. According to ASCAP, nearly all our favorite Christmas songs all seem to come from the 40’s and 50’s. It's true, but I have no idea why.

White Christmas (1941)

Happy Holidays (1942)

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1943)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944)

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1945)

The Christmas Song (1946)

Here Comes Santa Claus (1947)

Sleigh Ride (1948)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949)

Blue Christmas (1949)

Silver Bells (1950)

Frosty the Snowman (1950)

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (1951)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1952)

Home for the Holidays (1954)

Jingle Bell Rock (1958)

Little Drummer Boy (1958)

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (1958)

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

John Lee Cronin is a 21-year-old with Down Syndrome and a passion for socks. Together, John and his dad Mark launched John’s Crazy Socks in December 2016. Since then they’ve sold thousands of pairs of ankle socks, crew socks, and knee highs. If you visit their website, https://johnscrazysocks.com/ you can buy taco socks, shark socks, alien socks, and socks with Albert Einstein’s face on them. You can pick up socks for men, women, teens, children and toddlers. Because John is a Special Olympian, 5% of the company’s profits are donated to Special Olympics. John also lends his support for autism awareness and breast cancer research. John and Mark make in-person deliveries to houses in the Long Island area. For anyone living farther, John says, “In every box I put a handwritten note, some candy, and two discount cards for 10% off. One for customers and one to give to a friend.”

Four Pineapple Blossom Blocks

This is a great recipe for using up lots of leftover cheese, milk past its “best if used by” date, or any day you find yourself in serious need of comfort food. I have a HUGE slow cooker. If you don’t, you can always cut this recipe in half.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

17 ounces uncooked macaroni

4 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups whole milk

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) melted butter

2 cans evaporated milk

At least 8 cups shredded cheese (Almost any will do: cheddar, Jack, parmesan, mozzarella, Swiss, even ricotta or cream cheese.)

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Dash of fresh ground nutmeg or paprika 

Butter slow cooker insert or lightly spray with oil; pour in uncooked pasta. Stir together milks, butter, seasonings and half of the cheese. Stir into pasta in slow cooker. Top with remaining cheese and cook on low for three to four hours. 

Four Cornwall Castle Blocks

“A long time ago there lived three sisters. The first sister was sad. When someone criticized her or ‘forgot’ to invite her to something, she would walk away, let out a sad sigh and wonder why life was so bleak and cheerless. The second sister was mad. She considered herself smart, funny, and fascinating. But there always seemed to be someone smarter, funnier, or more fascinating. Sometimes she clenched her teeth and thought, ‘Life is so unfair!’ Then there was the third sister. This sister loved to sing. She didn’t have great pitch, but that didn’t stop her. The very fact that she kept singing made her first sister sad and her second sister mad. Many years passed, and each sister reached the end of her time on earth. The first sister eventually died sad. The second died mad. The third sister, who spent her life singing her song with a confident smile on her face, died glad.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Pineapple Blossom

If you’re living in the US (and not in Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc.) tonight’s the night you should set your clocks back an hour. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of Daylight Saving Time. When we set our clocks forward in the spring, the resulting lack of sleep causes an increase in heart attacks, car accidents, workplace injuries, suicide, and even miscarriages. To be completely fair, I’ve read that the extra hour of sleep we get in the fall has been linked to a decrease in heart attacks. So maybe we should all ditch DST and make a point of sleeping in. Of course, if there are small children living in your house, that’s easier said than done. The wee ones in my house are wide awake and loud at 7:00 every morning. I’m guessing the only thing that will change about that is the wide awake and loud will happen an hour earlier.

Snail's Trail

If you’ve seen Homeward Bound (1963 or 1993) you might be under the impression lost dog stories always have happy endings. Sadly, they quite often don’t. Even when the dog is found, nothing is really the same. When dog rescuer Cheri Glankler took in an elderly Chesapeake Bay Retriever in Idaho last June, she could tell the dog had been living on her own some time. A Facebook posting reunited Mo with the family she’d lost on a hunting trip nine months before. Mo and the Camerons are happy to be back together again, but a winter of living in the wild has left a mark. In many ways, Mo is still in survival mode. Cindy Cameron feeds Mo homemade stew to help her regain weight, but Mo rations it – in case she goes hungry again. She’s taken to hiding under the deck and snacking on sparrows. “We don’t go through as much birdseed now,” Cindy reports.