Christmas Cottage

 

Goose Tracks

 

Yankee Puzzle

 

Courthouse Steps

 

“May I take a moment now and speak to you individually? No matter what may have happened in your life, I echo and proclaim the words of my beloved friend and fellow Apostle Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: ‘It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s atoning sacrifice shines.’ Though choices may have taken you far away from the Savior and His Church, the Master Healer stands at the road that leads home, welcoming you. And we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ seek to follow His example and embrace you as our brothers and sisters, as our friends. We rejoice and celebrate with you. Your return will not diminish the blessings of others. For the Father’s bounty is infinite, and what is given to one does not in the slightest diminish the birthright of others.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Four Two-Patch Log Cabins

 

Our Christmas tree is up, and decorated with homemade ornaments. It’s pretty, but something is missing. Maybe it needs some of these:

 

Dried Orange Slices

 

1 large navel orange

1 large cara cara orange

2 small blood oranges

 

Preheat oven to 200F and line cookie sheets with parchment or silicone. Use a very sharp knife or mandolin to thinly slice oranges. Blot excess juice with paper towels, then arrange slices on cookie sheets. Don’t overlap. Bake 2 to 4 hours, turning every half hour to prevent burning. Store up to 2 years in an airtight container. Use to decorate wreaths, garlands or Christmas trees.

Twelve-Inch Spools

 

Michael J. Fox celebrated his sixty-second birthday in June. He’s been living with Parkinson’s disease more than half his life. In interviews, he describes what that’s like. His first symptoms were a twitching finger and a sore shoulder. Later, there were tremors and slurred speech and muscle rigidity. More recently, there have been falls and broken bones. “That’s is a big killer with Parkinson's – falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. You don't die from Parkinson's; you die WITH Parkinson's. I'm not gonna be 80.” But he has a deliberately positive attitude. "I recognize how hard this is for people, and I recognize how hard it is for me. But I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff. And I realized, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. And if you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on."

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

"Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer." – Maya Angelou

“The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about? I don’t think so.” – Nora Ephron

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the eons, it’s that you can’t give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it.” – Rick Riordan

"We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives." – John F. Kennedy

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." – Charles Dickens

“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“Thankfulness is measured by the number of words. Gratitude is measured by the nature of our actions.” – David O. McKay

Roman Squares

 

I’m cooking as much as I can today, so it won’t ALL have to happen Thanksgiving Day.

 

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

 

2 pounds starchy potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)

1 cup cream or half and half

1/4 cup butter

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Up to two days ahead, peel and cut potatoes into large chunks. Bring a pot of water to boil, then add potatoes. Cook about 20 minutes. Drain, then return to pot on stove (turned off). Cover and steam-dry a few minutes. Mash with potato masher – NOT a food processor - it will make your potatoes gluey. Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling wrap, pressing onto potatoes to remove air. Refrigerate up to 2 days. Shortly before serving, place cream and butter in a pot and bring to boil. Turn stove off but leave pot on stove. Add potatoes and stir into cream. Serve warm, seasoned with salt and pepper. Serves four.

Six-Inch Spool

 

In case you missed it, the holiday season is HERE. Chances are, over the next few weeks, someone will invite you to dinner in their home. If it’s been a while, you may want to brush up on how to be a good guest:

RSVP early. It’s impossible to plan unless you know how many to plan for. For the same reason, don’t bring last-minute, unexpected guests without clearing it with the host.

If you want to bring a dish, ask first to avoid duplicating something on the menu, and bring serving utensils.

If you haven’t been asked to bring anything and you don’t like to show up empty-handed, bring a beverage or better yet, flowers.

Come on time.

Ignore your phone.

Keep the conversation light. This isn’t time to discuss politics or your most recent surgery.

Remember to thank the host. Even better, offer to help with the dishes.

Trip Around the World

 

“Some may think, ‘We don’t need to attend church every Sunday,’ or ‘We’ll pay tithing when things get better,’ or ‘I won’t support Church leaders in this subject.’ But they say, ‘we know the Church is true. We’ll never leave the gospel of Jesus Christ.’ Those with thoughts like these do not realize the negative impact this lukewarm type of membership will have on their lives and their posterity. The parents may remain active, but the risk of losing their children is high—in this life and in eternity. Regarding those who will not inherit celestial glory with their families, the Lord says, ‘These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.’ Is that what we want for ourselves or our children? Shouldn’t we be more valiant and less lukewarm for our own sake and for the sake of our posterity?” – Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Ten-Inch Spools

 

One of the things I love best about the holiday season is the way it brings food, family and friends together.

 

Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

 

1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded Parmesan

1 cup shredded mozzarella

3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

 

In slow cooker, combine spinach and artichoke hearts. Add remaining ingredients; stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until everything is melted and mixed well. Switch to “warm” setting while serving. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted baguette slices.

Twenty Log Cabins

 

71-year-old Richard Moore of Pagosa Springs, Colorado set off towards Blackhead Peak August 19. He took his dog, Finney, along for the hike. Richard never returned. For days, people searched the peak, the trailhead where Richard’s car was found, and the treacherous, steep terrain in between without success. The day before Halloween, a hunter happened across Richard’s body. Seventy-two days had passed, but Finney was still by his side. There are other stories of dogs who are loyal companions, even after death. Most of them describe larger breeds, capable of holding their own against predators. Finney was a 12-pound Jack Russell terrier. She probably found a stream to drink from and smaller animals to eat. When she was found, Finney had lost half her weight. “Jack Russells are fierce, tough little dogs,” says Delinda VanneBrightyn of Taos Search and Rescue. “If this dog could talk, it would be an amazing story.”

Two-Patch Log Cabin

 

On the first of November, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara spent almost seven hours outside of the international space station, performing maintenance on the solar arrays. At some point during their extra-vehicular activity, a large tool bag they were using floated away from the space station and was lost. I suppose this sort of thing happens in space quite frequently. On Earth, when we momentarily set something down, gravity generally keeps it where we put it. The bag in question isn’t really “lost.” Flight controllers know exactly where it is, and where it’s going to be. They’ve determined the tools it carries aren’t irreplaceable, and the bag itself poses no threat to the station or its occupants. At the moment, the missing tool bag is in orbit a bit ahead of the station. It can be spotted with a decent pair of binoculars for at least the next couple of months, until its orbit decays and it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.

Sixteen Log Cabins

 

One of the first blocks I learned to make was the log cabin. After all these years, it’s still one of my favorites. Log cabins are bare-bones simple, yet, when you change the way you join them, they can create an endless variety of patterns. Most of the log cabins I’ve made have the dark “logs” lined up in one corner, with light ones facing them. Typically, the center square is yellow (symbolizing a burning candle), red (which stands for a hearth), or black (a secret or something hidden). These are the first log cabins I’ve made with red and black “logs” and a white center. It’ll be interesting to see how this effects the finished quilt. My plan – so far – is to alternate these with an equal number of non-log cabins for a sampler quilt. I’m using scraps from an out-of-print line called Blessed Beyond Measure from Buttermilk Basin; an appropriate choice for the season of giving thanks.

Six-Inch Hovering Hawks

 

We learned something new this week. We learned the natural gas that flows through your meter and into your house sometimes contains trace amounts of other gasses. Over time, these other gasses can damage the meter itself. One of the signs this has happened is your meter may make odd noises, like a squeak or whistle as the gas is flowing. If you suspect your meter is having issues, don’t try to fix it yourself. Call your gas company. They’ll send a qualified technician out to investigate and, if necessary, replace the aging meter before it seizes up completely. The noise our meter was making sounded a lot like baby birds. Except this noise was far more rhythmic than birds ever are. And you don’t tend to hear baby birds in mid-November in Utah. We called the gas company, and within a day or two we had a shiny new (and silent) gas meter.

Nine-Inch Hovering Hawks

 

“My testimony this morning is I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I also know our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ appeared and spoke to Joseph and prepared him to become the prophet. I marvel at how blessed we are to know what we know about our purpose in life, why we’re here, what we should be trying to do and accomplish in our daily lives. We’re in the process of trying to prepare ourselves, a day at a time, to be a little better, be a little kinder, be a little more prepared for that day, which will surely come, when we shall pass back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s getting a little closer for me. I’ll soon be 95. My children tell me they think I’m a lot older than that some days, but that’s OK. I’m doing the best I can.” - President M. Russell Ballard

Ten-Inch Hovering Hawks

 

Twelve-Inch Hovering Hawks

 

Halloween night, a woman in Herriman - Adriana Guerra Sepulveda – handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters that came to her door. After the children left, she realized her rings were missing. A gold band her husband had given her when they were married, and a diamond ring he’d gifted years later were gone. Adriana realized they must have dropped into one of the children’s bags. Adriana’s daughter posted the loss on social media, and someone replied. They’d found a diamond ring among their children’s candy. But the found ring wasn’t the one Adriana had lost. A Bountiful woman - Nicole Graveley – had lost her diamond the same way on the very same night. Nicole’s ring was returned, and Adriana’s are still missing. Adriana’s husband has promised to replace them when they renew their vows. It’s a lovely thing to own jewelry with a sentimental value. But it’s even better to have a spouse who’s a keeper.

Six-Inch Striped Star

 

To celebrate our new home, we visited a Brazilian churrascaria Tuesday night. We dined on New York steaks, bacon-wrapped sirloin, sweet and spicy chicken thighs, pork loin, white fish with mango sauce, and grilled salmon. There were soups and salads and Brazilian cheese balls. But our favorite dish – the one thing we always save room for – was the grilled pineapple. I found a similar recipe online today, and hope to try it out this weekend:

 

Honey Glazed Pineapple

 

One whole pineapple with rind sliced off

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup honey

 

Preheat grill to 450F. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on all sides of fruit; drizzle with honey. Place pineapple directly on hot grill. Cover and cook, turning occasionally, until grill marks appear – about half an hour. Slice and serve hot. 

Nine-Inch Striped Star

 

If you’ve ever sung in a choir – in school or in church – you’ll never forget what that was like. You’ll never forget playing your favorite songs on a beat-up guitar in a garage band. You’ll never forget pounding out a duet like “Chopsticks” or “Heart and Soul” on the piano with your little sister. Or playing in the woodwinds or string section in a school orchestra. Or giving your all in a John Phillip Sousa number as your band marches along the parade route. Or even trying your best to stay on key as you serenade your snowy neighborhood with “Good King Wenceslas.” If you’ve ever made music with friends, you’ll never forget that wonderful feeling. It doesn’t matter if you’re a member of a fifty-piece orchestra, or if it’s just the two of you. It doesn’t matter if the music is humble or sublime. You’ll remember that feeling for the rest of your life.

Ten-Inch Striped Star

 

We usually have chili for dinner on Halloween night. Occasionally we’ve done casserole-in-a-pumpkin. But this year, we had hot dogs, bratwurst, baked beans, and this:

 

Creamy Cole Slaw

 

3 cups green cabbage, finely shredded

2 cups red cabbage, finely shredded

1 cup carrot, finely shredded

1/2 cup mayonnaise/dressing

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

Salt & pepper to taste

 

Combine the last six ingredients in a large bowl; whisk until combined. Add shredded vegetables and toss. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour before serving to allow flavors to blend.

Twelve-Inch Striped Star

 

“What if all of our sins had an odor? What if we could smell dishonesty, lust, envy, or pride? With our own weaknesses revealed, we would hopefully be a little more considerate and careful of others and, likewise, they with us as we make the needed changes in our lives. I actually love the smell of tobacco in church because it indicates someone is trying to change. They need our welcoming arms around them. President Russell M. Nelson has wisely said, ‘One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.’ Paul wrote to the Ephesians, ‘And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are asked to trust Heavenly Father and our Savior and not attempt to replace Them. Jesus Christ knows everyone’s imperfections perfectly and will judge them perfectly.” - Elder Gary B. Sabin

Kim Diehl Bear Paw

 

Twelve-Inch Bear Claw

 

January 2012, as we moved back from England, I made only eight quilt blocks. I’d borrowed a sewing machine from my mom while we stayed at the Residence Inn. I squeezed in a bit of stitching in the afternoons, between housekeeping visits and babysitting my grandson. During the next several months, as we turned our rental back into our residence, my productivity gradually picked up. I’ve thought about that year a lot lately, as we moved out of that home and into another. Our “new” house was built in 1977, and we’re the second owners. It feels like the house misses its former occupants. Nearly everything is suddenly breaking down or leaking. I made only seven blocks in October, before I had to pack up my sewing room. You’re looking at the first block I’ve sewn in the new place. It isn’t perfect, but I know things will get better. After all, this isn’t my first rodeo.