Forty-nine Jewel Boxes

 

I've been getting sticker shock in the meat department these past few weeks. So we've been eating a lot of pasta, rice and beans. But if I can find chicken at a decent price, I might make:

 

Citrus Glazed Chicken

 

A 4-pound chicken, cut in half

1/2 cup orange marmalade (We like Bonne Maman)

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoon Worcestershire

1 tablespoon orange juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 shallot, thinly sliced

2 oranges, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

 

Whisk together marmalade, oil, Worcestershire, juices, shallot slices and seasonings. Place chicken halves in bowl and coat completely with marmalade mixture. Cover and chill at least two hours, turning once or twice. Preheat oven to 375F. Line baking sheet with parchment and cover with orange and lemon slices. Place chicken halves over slices and pour marinade over both. Bake about an hour, basting every 15 minutes. 

Christmas Tree

 

I’ve been collecting Hallmark ornaments for more than forty years. Some depict space ships from Star Wars or Star Trek movies. Several were gifts from friends, family members and piano students. Some say, “Baby’s First Christmas” or “Our New Home.” All of these were in deep storage when we lived in North Yorkshire. During those Christmases, we strung popcorn and cranberries into garlands. We baked salt-dough cookies and dried orange slices to hang on the tree. This year, we almost didn’t put a tree up at all. It didn’t make sense to haul out all the decorations if we were barely going to be here to see them. In the end, we decorated our tree only with gifts and cards we’d received THIS YEAR. I made a few quilted ornaments to help fill it out. This may be the best tree yet. It reminds me of a quote from No Reservations: “It's the recipes you create yourself that are the best.”

Thirty-six Economy Blocks

 

Joe Esquibel was a teenager heading to Europe to fight in World War II. He bought himself a silver bracelet, engraved with his signature. Using a nail, Joe etched the name Lydia on the back: his sweetheart back home in New Mexico. Joe guarded a POW camp in what was then Czechoslovakia. In 1945, he discovered one of his duffel bags had been stolen. He reported the loss, but the bag’s contents – including the bracelet – were gone. Later, Joe received a purple heart. He and Lydia moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where they raised four kids. In October this year, Petr Švihovec explored the Czech woods with his metal detector. He found a bracelet with a signature and a woman’s name. Petr shared a photo on a Facebook page for treasure hunters. Alena Busovska, who was born in Czechoslovakia and now lives in Grand Junction, saw the photo and acted as a go-between to reunite Joe with his bracelet after 75 years.

Three-Inch Brown Pinwheel

 

Mushrooms are seriously weird. Genetically, they’re more closely related to humans than they are to plants. They can grow in complete darkness, but when exposed to light, they produce vitamin D just like we do. Mushrooms begin life as fungal spores. After germinating, they grow into a delicate network of filaments called mycelium. Mature mycelium produces the thing we call a mushroom to spread more spores. So, the part we see – the part we eat – is a temporary reproductive growth. The mycelium, hidden under the forest floor, could be miles wide or centuries old. Scientists suspect mushrooms may have a symbiotic relationship with trees, allowing trees to send information and nutrients to each other. Commercial mushrooms are grown in all 50 states, but for some reason, 63% of white mushrooms come from Pennsylvania. Mushrooms are a low-calorie source of fiber, protein and antioxidants. A diet rich in mushrooms may mitigate the risk of Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. 

Thirty-six Jewel Boxes

 

“In the New Testament, the Savior performed a most interesting miracle. With just a few fish and a few loaves of bread, the Savior fed 5,000. I have read this account many times, but there is a part of that experience that now has great meaning to me. After the Savior fed 5,000, He asked His disciples to gather up the leftovers, which filled twelve baskets. I have wondered why the Savior took the time to do that. It has become clear to me that one lesson we can learn from that occasion was this: He could feed 5,000 and there were leftovers. ‘My grace is sufficient for all men.’ The Savior’s redeeming and healing power can cover any sin, wound, or trial—no matter how large or how difficult—and there are leftovers. His grace is sufficient. With that knowledge, we can move forward with faith, knowing the Savior stands, inviting us to come unto Him.” - Elder Brent H. Nielson

Starburst with Borders

 

I was five when Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer showed up on television. I guess that makes me its target audience. I must admit I’ve never loved this movie. The stop-motion animation and songs are wonderful, but the story makes me uncomfortable. The title character is shamed and bullied, even by family. Rudolph gains acceptance in the end, not because bullying is wrong, but because he proves useful. He “saves” Christmas by helping kids get their toys. A decade or so later, How the Grinch Stole Christmas taught us Christmas isn’t really about toys. But it isn’t quite clear on the “little bit more” that Christmas means. Singing while holding hands? Sharing rare Who roast beast? A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) is the clear winner here. It’s light-hearted family fare that addresses holiday depression, commercialism and greed. It states in plain language what Christmas IS about, over a delightful Vince Guaraldi score. I’m wishing you all a happy Charlie Brown Christmas.

Twenty-five Economy Blocks

 

We have Fettucine Alfredo on Christmas Eve, partly because of the 2006 movie The Holiday, and partly because the long, skinny pasta represents straw and hay in the manger. Our favorite Italian restaurant always crowns its pasta meals with spumoni gelato: a swirl of cherry, chocolate and pistachio. Spumoni is a rare find at our grocer. I could always make ice cream in these three flavors, but my grandkids would be unlikely to try them. I wonder if a pie would seem more acceptable to them.

 

Easy Spumoni Pie

 

1 Oreo pie crust

1 pint EACH Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Pistachio Pistachio

1 cup heavy cream

8 ounces chocolate chips

 

Soften cherry ice cream; gently spread about 2/3 of it in pie crust. Freeze at least 20 minutes. Repeat with chocolate and pistachio. Warm chocolate chips in double boiler. Slowly add cream, stirring. Cool slightly. Drizzle over top of pie. Serve very cold.

Three-Inch Red Pinwheel

 

Have you ever walked outside on a bright, sunny day, and suddenly got the uncontrollable urge to sneeze? You’re not alone. Officially known as Photic Sneeze Reflex, this phenomenon affects up to a third of the population. Roughly two-thirds of “sun sneezers” are women, and more than 90% are fair-skinned. It’s thought to be a genetic condition, but no one knows exactly WHY bright lights trigger sneezing. In 350 BCE, Aristotle suspected it happened because the sun’s rays warm the inside of the nose. In the 17^th century, Sir Francis Bacon disproved this, noting sneezes don’t occur when you face the sun with your eyes closed. Sneezes can be triggered by any bright light, including headlights, spotlights or flash photography. It’s probably not something you need to worry about, unless sun sneezing impairs your ability to safely drive a car or fly a plane. A good pair of sunglasses should eliminate any risk.  

Twenty-five Jewel Boxes

 

Earlier this fall, we bought two pump bottles of hand soap that smell like blueberries and maple syrup. Now every time I wash my hands, I’m hungry for:

 

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

 

1 cup flour

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

 Vegetable oil for the pan

 

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt together in a bowl. Using the whisk, make a well in the center. Pour the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter into the well. Whisk everything together until all ingredients are incorporated. Do not overbeat. Fold in berries. Heat a large, greased non-stick pan over medium-low heat about 5 minutes. Ladle about 1/4 cup of batter into pan. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, about 2 to 4 minutes. Serve warm with maple syrup.

Grandma Dexter's Block

 

We’re currently recovering from a two-week family vacation. We had a lovely time, and learned a LOT. Here’s just a sample: Nassau is what Vegas would be, if someone parked it in the middle of an ocean. Several mansions on Paradise Island were built by husbands for wives who decided they didn’t want them. Or their husbands. The fish just a few yards from any Bahamian shore look like the cast of Finding Nemo. They’ll follow your boat for a handful of bread or oatmeal. The average Walt Disney World guest takes about 19,000 steps per day in the parks – nearly nine miles. If your accommodations are half a mile from park transportation, you’ll add one to three extra miles per day. The new Skyliner gondolas to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are the best idea Disney’s had in decades. If we ever decide to add another cruise to a Disney World trip, we’ll do the parks first and cruise AFTER.

Sixteen Economy Blocks

 

“God knows how to help us feel peace in adversity, even while the test continues. He will send friends as angels to stand by you with warm hearts and friendly hands. Our own hearts will be changed for the better. With that change, we will ourselves become the friends the Lord can send as angels to others.” – President Henry B. Eyring

“This Christmas, ask your Heavenly Father for the spiritual gift of knowing of the living reality of the Savior of the world. The Christmas season is a natural and beautiful time to study His life and to strive to emulate His character and attributes.” - Elder Dale G. Renlund

“You and I make a difference in today’s troubled world as we strive to be peacemakers—in our homes, our congregations, our communities, even across the world, by our kindness, by our good works, and by our words.” – Elder W. Mark Bassett

Old Snowflake

 

December 18 is Bake Cookies Day, which makes perfect sense to me. With only a week to go before Christmas, what could be more natural than filling the house with the smell of baking cinnamon, butter and chocolate? I’d already planned to make a few dozen dinner rolls for later tonight (using half white flour and half wheat, because they’re a little lower in gluten but still soft and delicious). While the rolls are raising or baking in the oven, I could easily whip up a batch or two of drop cookies such as ginger snaps or oatmeal chocolate chip. Or I could make shaped cookies like peanut butter blossoms or chocolate snickerdoodles. Rolled cookies like gingerbread men or Christmas sugar cookies take a little more time and effort, but they’re totally worth it. All this talk of cookies is making me hungry for something warm and gooey to enjoy with a tall glass of milk!

Starburst

 

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published on this day in 1843. It had taken only six weeks to complete. Dickens began writing it in the middle of October and finished at the end of November – barely in time to be printed by Christmas week. Dickens’ characters were often copies of people he knew. He named Scrooge’s beloved sister after his own dear sibling, Fanny. Tiny Tim was based on Charles’ nephew, Harry, who died of tuberculosis at age nine. Dickens was the first famous author to give public readings of his work, and A Christmas Carol was his first reading. It was also his last. Dickens earned more from reading A Christmas Carol than from its royalties. I’ve shared several quotes from A Christmas Carol here, but the one that keeps running through my head today is: “Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”

Sixteen Jewel Boxes

 

When planning attractions in his parks, Walt Disney insisted they look amazing from far away, from a middle distance, and in close-ups. All that eye candy is the first thing anyone notices while visiting a Disney theme park. But the real magic in a Disney vacation is that it’s a multi-sensual affair. Every area of every park comes with its own soundtrack. Music envelops you as you queue at the entrance, surrounding you until you head back out. Perhaps the most creative part of the experience is how the park SMELLS. The Magic Kingdom’s entrance is designed to feel like a theater lobby. It makes sense that it smells like popcorn. A stop at Pirates of the Caribbean comes with the aroma of gunpowder and seawater. Cinnamon wafts from the shops on Main Street USA. The Haunted Mansion smells of dust and flowers. Most guests never notice them, but clever diffusers called Smellitizers pump specific odors all through the park.

Two More Double Pinwheels

 

If you look at the original logo for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the first thing you notice is the Tree of Life: the park’s icon. Beneath its spreading branches are a lion, an elephant, a triceratops, and a goat. And in the center of the design there was a dragon with wings outstretched. That’s because the original Animal Kingdom plan included an area focused on fictional animals. The “Beastly Kingdom” would have included a dragon-themed dark roller coaster, a ride based on the movie Fantasia, and a hedge maze called “Quest for the Unicorn.” When those plans were scrapped, the Imagineers slated to work on it were let go – and immediately scooped up by Universal Studios, where they worked on the dragon roller coaster that’s now part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The area that would have been the Beastly Kingdom is now Pandora – the World of Avatar. Instead of dragons and unicorns, you’ll find banshees and direhorses. 

That Fairy Tale Quilt

 

Universal Orlando opened in 1990 under the name “Universal Studios Florida.” It was developed to compete directly with Disney-MGM Studios – now called Disney Hollywood Studios – which is only thirteen miles away. Nine years later, an adjacent park, Islands of Adventure, opened. Both parks are built around small lakes. The “islands” of Islands of Adventure are really just waterfront zones. When we were here last, we were only interested in seeing the Harry Potter-themed attractions, which were only in Islands of Adventure. Everyone else seemed to have the same agenda. Flight of the Hippogriff, Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Motorbike were slammed, as were Ollivander’s and Honeydukes. The rest of the attractions were largely ignored. Today, there’s a Harry Potter section in Universal Orlando as well, with an “Escape from Gringotts” rollercoaster, Fortescue’s ice cream parlor, and Gregorovich’s wand shop. There’s even a Hogwart’s Express to carry you from one park to the other. How could we resist?

Four Birds in the Air Blocks

 

“Youth often ask what I believe and why I believe. I remember visiting virtually with one young woman in her home. Her question for me was good: ‘What are the most important things I should know?’ I answered with the things of my soul, the things that prepare me to hear promptings, that lift my sights beyond the ways of the world, that give purpose to my work in the gospel and to my very life. May I share with you some of the things of my soul? These things apply to all who seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. First, love God the Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior. Second, love thy neighbor. Third, love yourself. This is where many struggle. Isn’t it curious that loving ourselves seems to come less easily than loving others? Fourth, keep the commandments. Fifth, always be worthy to attend the temple. Sixth, be joyful and cheerful. Seventh, follow God’s living prophet.” – Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Twelve Ovens

 

Miami, Florida is the only major US city to have been founded by a woman. Julia Tuttle (1849-1898) was a Cleveland native who grew citrus fruit on the land that eventually became Miami. Julia encouraged the development of a railroad here to ship her fruit, essentially putting Miami on the map. The city’s name comes from one of the tribes that lived here in the 1600’s and 1700’s: the Mayaimi. Miami’s nickname is “The Magic City.” It is surrounded by the Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and the Atlantic Ocean. Miami is called the cruise capitol of the world, serving nearly five million passengers annually. Miami Beach is home to one of the world’s largest snow skiing clubs, despite the fact the only time it’s ever snowed here was January 19, 1977. The beach in Miami Beach is imported. In fact, they have to keep replacing the sand as it is washed away.

Four Anvils

 

The country known as the Bahamas is a chain of over 700 islands in the Atlantic, just northeast of Cuba. Only about 30 of these islands are inhabited. Most of the rest are refuges teeming with wildlife. The combined land area of the Bahamas is smaller than the state of Connecticut. The largest island in the Bahamas is Andros, but the most populated is New Providence, where the capital city Nassau is located. This isn’t the Caribbean, but Dead Man’s Chest and On Stranger Tides were filmed here. So were Splash, After the Sunset, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and four Bond films. There are a lot of blowholes in the Bahamas: large, underwater caverns with openings on the surface. Ocean waves send water spouting inland and upwards like geysers. There’s also a legendary “monster” here called “La Lusca.” It’s said to be 75 feet long; part eel, part squid, part octopus and part shark.

Three-Inch Double Pinwheels

 

Gorda Cay was first settled in 1783. Gorda used to have an airstrip that was used by bootleggers in the 1930’s and later by drug runners. The beach where Tom Hanks met Daryl Hannah in Splash was on Gorda Cay, and much of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl was filmed here, too. In 1997, the Disney Cruise Line purchased a 99-year lease of the island from the Bahamian government. Disney spent the next 18 months and over $25 million to make this the perfect cruise destination. They dredged 50,000 truckloads of sand from the ocean floor to build pristine beaches, and renamed the island “Castaway Cay.” I should mention there are two very similar English words meaning “small island.” Key is used more in the US and Cay is more common in the Caribbean. They’re both pronounced “KEE.” Neither has anything to do with Quay (wharf), or that thing you use to open locks. 

Birds in the Air

 

I make fudge maybe once a year, usually around Christmastime. I generally use the recipe with just three ingredients: a can of sweetened condensed milk, a 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. It cooks a minute in the microwave and chills for an hour or so before cutting. If I decide to up my game, I’ll go with this:

 

“Famous” Fudge

 

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Line 8” baking pan with parchment. Combine sugar, butter, milk, and salt in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Continue cooking and stirring 6 minutes; remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients and stir until marshmallows have melted. Spread in prepared pan and chill until firm enough to cut into cubes.

Nine Economy Blocks

 

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was meant to destroy the entire American Pacific fleet in one fell swoop. While the Arizona and the Oklahoma were damaged beyond repair, three more battleships – the California, West Virginia and Nevada – sank upright in relatively shallow water. These three were eventually salvaged and returned to service. The death toll on the Arizona was 1,177. Those who survived numbered 334 (some sources say 335). Of these, only two are still living. Survivors are offered the option of joining their lost comrades and making the Arizona their final resting place. Crew members who served onboard the ship during the attack can choose to have their ashes deposited by divers beneath one of sunken Arizona’s gun turrets. To date, 44 sailors have chosen this option. Other military survivors can choose to have their ashes scattered wherever their ship was located during the attacks. The last person to be interred in the Arizona was in 2019.

Four-Inch Diamond Stars

 

“Each day, we can approach the throne of God in humility and honesty. We can ponder our actions and review the moments of our day—considering our will and desires in light of His. This time of introspection is an opportunity for recalibration. It is a garden of reflection where we can walk with the Lord and be instructed, edified, and purified by the written and Spirit-revealed word of our Heavenly Father. It is a sacred time when we remember our solemn covenants to follow the gentle Christ, when we assess our progress and align ourselves with the spiritual landmarks God has provided for His children. Think of it as your personal, daily restoration. On our journey as pilgrims on the path of glory, we know how easy it is to fall away. But just as minor deviations can draw us out of the Savior’s Way, so too can small and simple acts of realignment assuredly lead us back.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Nine Jewel Boxes

 

Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool in 1939. He grew up in much the same time and place as the Beatles. In fact, Brian’s high school English teacher also taught Paul and George. Brian credits his father with sharing a love of literature. He had fond memories of his father reading aloud from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Kenneth Grahame. Brian became a milkman. The Royal School for the Blind happened to be along his milk route. One day when Brian was in his late forties, he was invited inside the school for a spot of tea. He decided to read to the blind children in his spare time. As he read, he became more and more dissatisfied with the choice of books available, and vowed to write what he called a “proper story.” Redwall was published in 1986, and became the first installment of a 21-volume fantasy series.

Four Inch Anvil

 

In 1982, Gary Larsen drew a Far Side comic featuring cavemen attending a lecture. The lecturer pointed to a picture of the south end of a north-facing stegosaurus. The caption read, “Now this end is called the thagomizer . . . after the late Thag Simmons.” At the time, there was no specific term for the distinctive arrangement of four spikes at the end of stegosaur tails. In 1993, a paleontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science used the term “thagomizer” when describing a fossil at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Since then, the word has been adopted as an informal anatomical term. Admitting dinosaurs and humans didn’t exist at the same time, Gary Larsen has suggested a confessional where cartoonists could seek absolution for drawing them together. The world of science seems to hold no grudges, though. A species of louse has been named in his honor: the Strigiphilus garylarsoni.

Four Economy Blocks

 

In late February, 2019, Kelly Stewart was searching for lost treasure in the yard of an abandoned house not far from his Richfield home. Over the past 50 years, he’s found dozens of trinkets with his metal detector, but none more impressive than what he dug up on this particular day. It was a large ten-karat gold ring from the Colorado School of Mines, class of 1943, in mint condition. The only clue to the owner was a set of initials – R.W.D. – inside the band. That’s when the real hunt began. Kelly purchased a 1943 yearbook for the school on eBay, and inside found the name Richard William Deneke. Kelly was hoping to return the ring to one of Richard’s descendants. But a social media search turned up the man himself, living in a nursing home in Georgia. Richard will celebrate his hundredth birthday soon. When he does, he’ll be wearing his gold class ring.

Prairie Queen

 

Sally was born in the Bannock tribe in or near 1840. Some historians list her birth name as Kahpeputz. When she was around seven, she was abducted and tortured. A slave trader called Batiste took her and a boy to sell to the pioneers who’d just arrived in the Salt Lake valley. When they refused to buy, Batiste killed the boy and threatened to kill the girl, too. One of the men traded a rifle for the child, and gave her to his sister who was married to Brigham Young. They named her Sally Young, and she grew up in the Lion House. The 1860 census lists her as a household servant. In 1877 a Ute leader named Kanosh met Sally during a meeting with Brother Brigham. He offered several ponies for her. As the story goes, she initially refused, but later changed her mind. She lived with Kanosh as one of his wives until her death about decade later.