Punkin Love

 

1. Edvard Munch called his most famous painting Der Schrei der Natur (The Scream of Nature).

2. Pennywise the Clown was portrayed by Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgård.

3. The Electric Chair was part of Andy Warhol's Death and Disaster series , beginning in 1962.

4. Mary Shelley's maiden name was Godwin. Wollstonecraft was her middle name.

5. Shirley Jackson called herself a "practicing amateur witch" and bragged about the hexes she'd placed on disagreeable publishers.

6. Jay Anson claimed The Amityville Horror was based on true events.

7. Anne Rice says Dickens, Hemingway, Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Stephen King influenced her work.

8. Red Dragon was first published in 1981.

9. Gaston Leroux wrote Phantom of the Opera. It was first published in French in serial form, in March of 1910.

10. Mrs. Danvers has been played by Kristin Scott Thomas, Diana Rigg and Dame Judith Anderson.

Plain Block

 

In the mood for a Halloween trivia quiz? I'll post the answers tomorrow morning:

1. Who painted The Scream?

2. What was the name of the clown in Stephen King’s It?

3. Who created the 1968 artistic work  Big Electric Chair?

4. Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley. What was her middle name?

5. Which American horror writer is responsible for The Haunting of Hill House, The Lottery and The Sundial?

6. Which 1977 novel became a series of 11 horror films between 1979 to 2013?

7. Who wrote The Vampire Chronicles including the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire?

8. Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs was a sequel, What was the first book in the series?

9. The Phantom of the Opera has become two very different Broadway musicals. Who wrote the original novel?

10. In Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, what was the name of the sinister housekeeper?

Twenty-five Picket Fences

 

When I use ground turkey, I usually combine it with stronger flavors – like chili and cumin or oregano and garlic – to hide its turkey-ness. This recipe does just the opposite.

 

Turkey Loaf

 

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced celery

1/2 cup diced carrot

1 teaspoon salt, divided

Ground pepper to taste

1 teaspoons sage

1 1/2 cups unseasoned stuffing mix

3/4 cup chicken stock

1 1/2 pound ground turkey

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup cranberry sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

2 teaspoons Dijon

 

Preheat oven to 275F. Sauté vegetables and seasonings in butter; cool. Pour stock and stuffing mix into bowl; stir in cooled vegetables. Fold in egg and turkey. Press into loaf pan, then unmold onto baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Whisk last three ingredients together and spread over top of loaf. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before cutting. 

Four Knaves

 

Usually by this point in the year, we’d have seen several dozen movies on the big screen. But by almost any standard, this has been a most unusual year. In January, we saw Doolittle, because we like Robert Downey Jr. and we love the Hugh Lofting books: a mistake on both counts. In February, we caught Sonic the Hedgehog (Jim Carey’s a delightful bad guy) and Call of the Wild (Harrison Ford should have passed on this one). We saw Onward and Emma in March right before the pandemic shut everything down. Since then, some of the films we’d been looking forward to have been released digitally, but most have just been postponed.  A few have trickled into the very clean, very empty cinemas; the ones the studios knew wouldn’t do well. It’s a catch-22. The good flicks won’t come back until there’s an audience for them, and there won’t be an audience until there’s something worth watching.

Twenty-five Turning Leaves

 

“The other day on a plane I thought, ‘I wonder if there’s keys to the plane? Do they need keys to start the plane?’ Maybe that’s what those delays on the ground are sometimes. When you’re just sitting there at the gate, maybe the pilot’s up there in the cockpit going, ‘Oh, I don’t believe this. I did it again.’ They tell you it’s something mechanical, because they don’t want to come on the P.A. system, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to be delayed here on the ground for a little while. I, uh, this is so embarrassing. I, I left the keys to the plane in my apartment. They’re in this big blue ashtray by the front door. I’m really sorry. I’ll run back and get them.’ You see the technicians all running around underneath the plane. You think they’re servicing it, but they’re actually looking for one of those magnet Hide-A-Keys under the wing.” – Jerry Seinfeld, Is This Anything?

Puerto Rico

 

“When I was a child, Frank Talley, a member of the Church, offered to help my family fly from Puerto Rico to Salt Lake City so we could be sealed in the temple, but soon obstacles began to appear. One of my sisters, Marivid, became ill. Unsettled, my parents prayed about what to do and still felt prompted to make the journey. They trusted that as they faithfully followed the Lord’s prompting, our family would be watched over and blessed—and we were. My family’s trip to the temple years ago was difficult, but as we approached the temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, my mother, full of joy and faith, said, ‘We are going to be OK; the Lord will protect us.’ We were sealed as a family, and my sister recovered. This happened only after the trial of my parents’ faith and in following the Lord’s promptings.” – Elder Jorge M. Alvarado

Four Ports

 

Baked Rice Pudding

1 cup leftover (cooked) white rice

1/2 cup sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 quart milk

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1/2 cup raisins

Nutmeg to taste

Preheat oven to 350F. Add sugar, salt, milk, vanilla and eggs to blender. Blend egg mixture until well combined. Coat baking dish with melted butter or cooking spray. Add egg mixture to cooked rice and in baking dish. Place in oven hot water bath and bake 2 to 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and let cool before serving. Store any leftover pudding in refrigerator.

Nine Crowns

 

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes his companion and says, “Kemo Sabe, look towards the sky. What you see?” The Lone Ranger replies “I see millions of stars.” “What does that tell you?” asks Tonto. The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute and says, “Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically speaking, it tells me Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be about a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we'll have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Tonto?” Tonto fixes the Lone Ranger with a steely glare and replies, “It tells that you are dumber than buffalo. It means someone's stolen our tent!”

Sixteen Picket Fences

 

When the world is on your shoulders

And your heart feels full of lead

And your stomach churns like butter

And the voice inside your head

Is reminding you of everything

You’ve ever said or done

All your failures and regrets

All the times your fear has won

Take a minute to remember

That you’ve survived this all before

You’ve battled and you’ve conquered

When you thought you had no more

You are stronger than you realize

You are brave and wise and kind

And you know you’re so much bigger

Than the doubts that fill your mind

So breathe it in then let it out

Allow the ebb and flow

You can win this war, you always do

You’re a warrior you know.

- Laura Ding-Edwards

LeMoyne Star

 

Megan Pace and her daughter Shianna live in Utah County, but they were driving in Draper early Sunday afternoon, October 4. They passed an elderly woman walking along Traverse Ridge Road. After visiting with some friends, they spotted the woman again, some three hours later and 2 1/2 miles away in Bluffdale. “I knew something wasn’t right,” said Megan. “I got this really big prompting to just go ask if she needs a ride.” The woman had wandered away from Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care. She was confused, dehydrated and exhausted. She was happy to be rescued, but couldn’t tell Megan where she lived. So, Megan called Draper police and was told they’d been frantically searching for the woman all afternoon. This story has a happy ending, but it very easily could have turned out differently. I’m so glad there are people in this world who don’t mind going out of their way to help total strangers.  

Port and Starboard

 

Tomorrow is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day. I could dig up my springform pan, or I could schedule a curbside pickup at The Cheesecake Factory. Or I could make a batch of these:

 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

 

Crust:

3 cups graham cracker crumbs

6 tablespoons sugar

10 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:

15 ounces canned pumpkin

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 large eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Topping:

8 ounces cream cheese

1 egg, plus 1 yolk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 9x13 pan with parchment. Combine crust ingredients and press into pan. Whisk together filling ingredients and pour over crust. In separate bowl, beat topping ingredients until well mixed. Spoon topping over pumpkin layer. With a knife, carefully swirl topping into pumpkin mixture to create marbled look without disturbing crust. Bake 40 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes and then refrigerate for 2 hours. Makes 15 squares.

Sixteen Turning Leaves

 

“You render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. He did not bother to compete with others. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He taught, healed, conversed, and listened to others. He knew greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position. He taught and lived by this doctrine: ‘He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.’ In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Four Hovering Hawks

 

The average height for an adult woman in the U.S. is 5’4”, at least half a foot taller than I am. Just like yours, my whole house was designed to accommodate this height, from doorknobs to countertops, even the height of light switches. Until I built myself a 6” kitchen stool, I had no idea that most people can see INTO pots of chili or strawberry jam as they’re stirring. I’ve often wondered what kitchens in Japan (where women reach an average height of 4’ 9”) are like. For generations, we’ve believed people grow taller because they’re healthier, a belief that isn’t supported by actual evidence. As it happens, people grow taller because they’re genetically predisposed to do so. And there’s a theory that suggests being taller only makes your carbon footprint bigger; that smaller people may be healthier for the environment. So here I am, doing all I can to help the planet. You’re welcome.

Four Crowns

 “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mad About Plaid

 

The International Space Station is Earth’s only microgravity lab. There are scientific and technological experiments – either automated or conducted by crew members – that can only take place there. The station orbits our planet roughly every 90 minutes, which means in 24 hours it passes by about 16 times. But it’s almost impossible to see during the day and most of the night. You can only spot it when you’re in the dark and the space station is lit by the sun: shortly after sunset and before sunrise. Coincidentally, these are our favorite times for walking the dogs. So, for the past few months we’ve been entertaining ourselves (and anyone who will listen to us) by pointing out the space station as it moves across the sky. The next time it comes into view (in my neck of the woods) is Tuesday at 7:21 a.m. You can check spotthestation.nasa.gov to see when it’s visible where you live.

Island Living

 

I love the vibrant colors and creative designs of batik fabric, but I don’t use it very often. To make batik, artisans (usually in Java Island, Indonesia) start with 100% cotton fabric, treat it with beeswax, and then dye it by hand. To withstand the dyeing process, the fabric must have a tighter weave or denser thread count. This is why batik is stiffer than most quilt fabric. It feels more like sewing with paper than sewing with cloth. The finished product won’t be “cuddly,” so it’s better used in a wall hanging than a baby blanket. When working with batik, you should always use a fresh, sharp needle. Batik is less likely to fray than other cottons, but it will show wear in spots that have been sewn and unpicked. Items made with batik should be hand-washed and air-dried, so it makes a poor choice for a bed covering. Knowing this, I went and made one anyway. Silly me. 

Hovering Hawks

 

Parrots are harder to live with than most people realize. They’re messy, they bite, and they scream at the top of their lungs. It isn’t exactly unheard of that parrot owners, experiencing buyer’s remorse, occasionally donate their obnoxious pets to local zoos. With many people spending more time at home this year, parrot donations have taken a noticeable uptick. In a single week, five African greys - Eric, Jade, Elsie, Tyson and Billy - were donated by five different owners to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Boston, UK. They were quarantined together before being put on display. Once they were out in public, it became obvious one of the parrots taught the other four some very salty language. They swore at each other and at the park guests. Eventually staff were forced to move the birds to an area of the park where they’re unlikely to offend anyone, at least until their language is more family-friendly.

Nine Turning Leaves

 

“Your temple recommend interview is not about do’s and don’ts. A recommend is not a checklist, a hall pass, or a ticket for special seating. It has a much higher and holier purpose. To qualify for the honor of a temple recommend, you must live in harmony with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In your interview you have the opportunity to search your soul about your personal faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. You have the blessing to express your testimony of the restored gospel; your willingness to sustain those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church; your faith in the doctrine of the gospel; your fulfillment of family responsibilities; and your qualities of honesty, chastity, fidelity, obedience, and observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Those are bedrock principles of a life devoted to Jesus Christ and His work.” – Elder Ronald A Rasband

Four Albums

 

First it was toilet paper and bottled water. Then we all had trouble finding hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, wipes and hand soap. After that it was fresh meat, canned beans, dried pasta, Campbell’s soup, and yeast. Then we all ran out of coins. Furloughed employees turned to gardening and home improvement projects, and before long Home Depot looked like locusts had descended. All summer long there was a run on bikes, trampolines, and personal watercraft as trips were cancelled and bored families searched for other ways to fill the time. Now that summer’s over there’s a shortage of canning jars, lids, and pectin as all those gardeners scramble to preserve their harvest. Children and adults working from home need inexpensive laptops and office furniture, so of course there’s a shortage of those. This has already been such an interesting year. Don’t you wish you knew today what everyone will suddenly need next month?

King David's Crown

 

Gordon’s career began in radio and television stations back east. At one point in the early 60’s, he played a clown in a kiddie show, then had to quickly change to report the weather on the evening news. He moved to Los Angeles where he studied acting and appeared in several television shows. It was here that he met Ruth and Nathan Hale. The Utah couple had come to California to write for Hollywood, but switched their focus to the stage when their Glendale theater began to prosper. The Hales introduced Gordon to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ruth encouraged him to give up smoking and to stop doing beer commercials. Before long, Gordon decided to become a member, too. Gordon Jump appeared in many church films, but he’s best known as the radio station manager on WKRP in Cincinnati. In a way, it’s as if his career came full circle.

Fractured Rainbow

 

Last week we attended the Boo Lights holiday display at Hogle Zoo. Even with limited entry, face masks, hand sanitizer stations and social distancing, it felt like one of the most “normal” things we’ve done in months. The lights were stunning, but the soundtrack – mostly from Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Nightmare Before Christmas – made us miss Disneyland even more than usual. Sadder still, our hopes of Dole Whip desserts were dashed when a zoo employee told us the Dole Whip machine was broken. Apropos of nothing: did you know there was a time you could arrive at the Happiest Place on Earth by helicopter? Between 1955 and 1972 there were regularly scheduled flights between LAX and a helipad near Tomorrowland (in 1963 it moved to the Disneyland Hotel). The flights ended after two accidents with 44 casualties. I do recommend seeing the Halloween lights at zoo. It isn’t Disneyland, but it IS open.

American Beauty

 

We were watching The Incredibles after dinner and suddenly felt the need for chocolate cake. (I blame the choice of movie. We’d just reached the scene where Mr. Incredible sneaks into the kitchen and swipes the last piece of chocolate cake.) I pulled out my old steam canner and pressed it into service. I cut down an old recipe for steamed chocolate cake so it would make four servings instead of eight, and it was ready to eat before the movie was over.

 

Steamed Chocolate Cake

 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

 

Beat sugar and butter together, add eggs and stir until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and cocoa. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just combined. Turn into buttered seven-inch cake pan. Cook in steamer half an hour, until completely set. Serve warm with whipped cream.

The Album Block

 

Ten Good Reasons to Buy Fabric

1. It insulates the cupboard(s) where it is kept.

2. It keeps the economy moving. It’s your duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and fabric shops.

3. It’s less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.

4. It's a contest - the one who dies with the most fabric wins.

5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, and you'll never have to feed it, change it, wipe its nose or walk it.

6. Like dust, it's good for "protecting" previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, laundry basket, the dining room table etc.

7. It's not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes you feel good.

8. Because it's on SALE.

9. Because you’re worth it.

10. Buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions.

Four Turning Leaves

 

“As we come to trust God, sometimes through pleading in our darkest, loneliest, most uncertain moments, we learn He loves us better and knows us more than we know and love ourselves.” – Gerrit W. Gong

“Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice. I plead with you to promote respect for all of God’s children.” – President M. Russell Ballard

“Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity.” – Quentin L. Cook

“I testify that Jesus Christ is our loving Savior, Redeemer, the Master Healer and faithful friend. If we turn to Him, He will heal us and make us whole again.” – Cristina B. Franco

“God will watch over and shepherd you during these times of uncertainty and fear. He knows you. He hears your pleas. He is faithful and dependable. He will fulfill His promises.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Four Rock Gardens

 

I was waiting in line to pay for my groceries while maintaining my six-foot distance from everyone, when this older man suddenly cut in front of me. He didn't appear to notice me at all. I didn't say anything. I just maintained my distance.  When it was time for him to pay, he reached in his back pocket and pulled out a small note pad. He had forgotten his wallet. He looked a bit disappointed and embarrassed. I stepped up and told the cashier I would take care of his groceries, which consisted of a carton of milk and a package of chocolate chip cookies.  He was more than grateful. He thanked me and off he went. The cashier, who’d seen everything, said, “He cut you off and you paid for his groceries! Why?” “I replied, “I hope that if one day my dad forgets his wallet, someone will step up and buy his milk and cookies.” – Danny Pineda

Fixer Upper

 

It’s often difficult to understand what Heather says, even if you’ve been listening to her speak all her life. She has multiple speech disorders operating simultaneously. One of them is that words often jump out of her mouth backwards, even though she has no trouble spelling them frontwards. It’s sort of like a oral version of anagrams. In the winter, she’ll often ask us to help her build a “noseman.” She ALWAYS says the word “snowman” that way, even though the word “snow” on its own is never reversed. When we picnicked in our backyard this past summer, she worried that a “swap” might try to buzz her plate. So, we hung “swap traps” in our big walnut tree. Last Friday, as I was making out our weekly menu and shopping list, she asked if we might have “teamloaf.” I agreed, and so we’re having teamloaf for dinner tonight, with carrots and mashed topatoes.

More Broken Dishes

 

There’s an awful lot of glass in my kitchen. Most of my tableware is glass, as are my casserole dishes, baking pans, measuring pitchers, and mixing bowls. I even own a few glass saucepans. I love how everything can go in the dishwasher, the oven and the microwave. I love how easy it all is to clean, even if I’ve been baking aubergine parmigiana or steaming beets fresh from my garden. But glassware isn’t foolproof. The best way to keep yourself, your counters and your cookware safe is to fully preheat the oven before use. Always place hot glassware on a DRY towel or pot holder – never a stove top, metal trivet, bare counter, damp cloth or sink. Make sure there’s enough liquid to cover the entire bottom of the pan, and check periodically to make sure the liquid hasn’t boiled away. Last (but not least), keep your wits about you when emptying the dishwasher.