Twelve-Inch Garden Patch

 

Key Lime Pie

 

We served this two Sundays ago, topped with vanilla ice cream. (It’s even better with homemade strawberry ice cream!) A few guests opted for crumble without ice cream, and some preferred ice cream without crumble. This recipe fed 16.

 

Mixed Berry Crumble

 

1 1/4 cup rolled oats

1 3/4 cup flour, divided

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold butter, diced

2 cups strawberries, quartered

2 cups blueberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup blackberries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 teaspoons vanilla

 

In large bowl, combine oats, 1 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar, salt and butter. Cut with pastry cutter until butter resembles small peas. In a medium bowl, toss berries, granulated sugar, orange juice and vanilla. Spread berry mixture in 9x13” pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle oat mixture on top. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes, until topping’s a light golden brown. Serve with cream, ice cream, whipped cream or all by itself.

Ten-Inch Flip-Flopped

 

Spain was still a fascist dictatorship in 1975, the year that Microsoft was founded.

There were no classes in calculus in Harvard’s curriculum for the first few years, because calculus hadn’t been discovered yet.

Two Empires – the Roman and the Ottoman – spanned the entire gap between the lives of Jesus Christ and Babe Ruth.

When the Egyptian pyramids were being built, there were still wooly mammoths roaming the earth.

The last use of the guillotine in France occurred in 1977; the same year the first Star Wars movie appeared in theaters.

Anne Frank and Martin Luther King, Jr. were born the same year.

Oxford University was already three hundred years old before the Aztec Empire was founded.

The fax machine was invented in 1843. President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Japanese samurai ceased to exist in 1867. So, in theory, Lincoln could have sent a fax to a samurai.

Sixty-Four Jewel Boxes

 

“As the world fights to figure everything out, I’ll be holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, saying good morning, keeping babies entertained in grocery lines, stopping to talk to someone who is lonely, tipping generously, waving at police, sharing food, giving children a thumbs-up, being patient with sales clerks, smiling at passers-by, and buying a stranger a cup of coffee. Why? Because I will not stand to live in a world where love is invisible. Join me in showing kindness, understanding and judging less. Be kind to a stranger, give grace to friends who are having a bad day, and be forgiving with yourself. If you can’t find kindness, BE kindness.” – Chris Holifield

Twelve-Inch Flip-Flopped

 

“During the coming days, weeks, and months, may I invite you to spend time in a sincere, full-hearted effort to draw near to God, seek diligently for everyday moments of hope, peace, and joy, and bring joy to others around you. My dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, as you search the word of God for a deeper understanding of God’s eternal plan, accept these invitations, and strive to walk in His Way, you will experience ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,’ even in the midst of sorrows. You will feel a greater measure of God’s unsurpassable love swelling within your heart. The dawn of celestial light will penetrate the shadows of your trials, and you will begin to taste the unspeakable glories and wonders of the unseen, perfect, heavenly sphere. You will feel your spirit lifting away from the gravity of this world.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

One Dozen Pin Cushions

 

In the 1946 congressional race, a young John F. Kennedy ran against a man named Joe Russo. Joe was one of the first Italian immigrants to hold office in Boston. He’d been part of Boston’s political landscape since 1938, and he was popular among the locals. Kennedy, on the other hand, had never held public office. He had his daddy’s money, his experience as a World War II Navy vet, and not much else. Kennedy’s chances must have looked pretty shaky. But one of his campaign managers found another Joe Russo – a janitor – and bribed him to enter the race. Voters wouldn’t know which Joe Russo to vote for. As it happened, though, the shady deal wasn’t necessary. Joe the city councilor got 5,661 votes. Joe the janitor got 773. JFK won with 22,183 votes. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1947, in the U.S. Senate in 1953, and as President in 1961.

More Square Pegs

 

You’d probably not be surprised if I told you the singer Johnny Cash didn’t go by his birth name. What might surprise you is that Cash was the name he was born with; Johnny wasn’t. His mom and dad couldn’t agree on a name, so he went by “J.R.” for years. When he joined the Air Force in 1950, the recruiter wouldn’t accept initials. That’s when he settled on the name John. Staff Sargeant Cash was serving at Lackland Air Force Base, transcribing Morse code messages when Joseph Stalin died. So, he was probably the first American to learn the Soviet leader was gone. He was arrested seven times, for public drunkenness, reckless driving, drug possession, and even for picking flowers. In the late 1970’s, "The Man in Black" received a degree in theology and became a minister. He never had his own congregation, but he did preside at his daughter’s wedding. 

Sweet Summer

 

It’s already more than warm enough for grilling. We doubled this recipe for Sunday dinner:

 

Italian Mixed Grill

 

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves (I really should have crushed these first.)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 large cloves garlic, crushed

5 sweet Italian sausages

1 yellow onion, chopped

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (We added half a dozen chicken legs for the kids.)

1 pound boneless sirloin

 

Make a marinade from the first eight ingredients, set aside. Cut each piece of beef and chicken into halves or thirds. Marinate beef and chicken in fridge at least an hour. Simmer sausages and onion in water until completely cooked. Grill beef and chicken over direct heat until juices run clear. Halve sausages and add to grill about 10 minutes before serving.  

Square Pegs

 

“What I see the Church offering me is the opportunity to learn to follow Christ and participate in the redeeming processes of error, repentance, and growth, by engaging with my sisters and brothers in the gospel. It is the opportunity to think globally and act locally, to think locally and act globally. These networks of human bonds and collective action are as close at hand as my own home and neighborhood, and as far flung as the entire world. That is cool. We, the Latter-day Saints, are weird and small enough to really try to be sister and brother to each other, in our diverse and often contradictory circumstances around the world.” – Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye

Six Ice Pops

 

In 1961, three teenage boys in Hertfordshire – Rod Argent, Paul Atkinson and Hugh Grundy – decided to form a band. They were actually choirboys, but they wanted to rock out. They added a couple more members – Paul Arnold and Colin Blunstone – and started rehearsing with borrowed instruments. At first, they called themselves the Mustangs, because they thought the name sounded really cool. But there were already several other groups using that name. Paul suggested they call themselves The Zombies, and the rest agreed, even though they really didn’t know what zombies were. The Zombies had a few big hits, like She’s Not There and Time of the Season, before they broke up in 1968. Shortly after the break-up, their music became insanely popular in the U.S. Several bands tried to capitalize on their success by “borrowing” their name. Two members of one of these “fake Zombie” bands, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, would later become members of ZZ Top.

Fifty-Six Jewel Boxes

 

"In 1833, the Saints in Missouri were targets of intense persecution. Mobs had driven them from their homes in Jackson County, and some members had tried to establish themselves in nearby counties. But the persecution continued. In these challenging circumstances, the Lord revealed the following instruction to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” I believe the Lord’s admonition to “be still” entails much more than simply not talking or moving. Perhaps His intent is for us to remember and rely upon Him and His power “at all times and in all things, and in all places.” Thus, “be still” may be a way of reminding us to focus upon the Savior unfailingly as the ultimate source of the spiritual stillness of the soul that strengthens us to do and overcome hard things." - Elder David A. Bednar.

Three Ice Pops

 

My grandpa has been gone fifty-one years this month. When he died, he was a year older than I am now. One thing I remember about him was his odd way of resting. He’d squat all the way down with his feet flat on the ground. I wanted to be exactly like him. I tried to imitate his squat many times. I could balance a moment or two on the balls of my feet, but I always keeled over. My heels refused to reach the floor. Even when I mastered cartwheels and handstands, I couldn’t manage this. We always assumed Grandpa could do deep squats because his legs were so thin and long. But lots of shorter people can manage it. It’s why it’s sometimes called the “Slavic squat” or the “Asian squat.” These days my knees, hips, and belly prevent me from even trying. But I always wonder if I just didn’t persist hard enough.

Ten-Inch Glisten Block

 

There are a hand full of recipes I use so often I know them by heart. I make this one at least twice a month.

 

Banana Bread

 

6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 to 3 overripe bananas

3 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

 

Line loaf pan with parchment, coat with cooking spray. Cream together sugar and butter. Add buttermilk, bananas, and eggs; stir until thoroughly mixed. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour dry ingredients into wet ones; stir until combined. Mixture will be lumpy. At this point, you may add walnuts. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 one hour. Bread will be done when a knife in the center comes out clean. Cool about 20 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before cutting.

Ice Pop

 

On the eighteenth of April 1930, absolutely nothing of any importance happened. At least, according to the British Broadcasting Service, there was nothing newsworthy to report. It was the start of the regularly scheduled radio news broadcast at 8:45 p.m. Listeners all over the British Isles tuned in and heard, “Good Evening. Today is Good Friday. There is no news.” This unexpected announcement was followed by fifteen solid minutes of pre-recorded piano music. Then at 9:00 p.m. the radio station resumed its broadcast of Wagner’s opera Parsifal. I don’t know if anyone was annoyed there weren’t any news stories to follow, but I do know no one switched stations. I know this because the BBC had a nationwide monopoly on radio news until 1972. I’m guessing the listening audience was surprised, but not genuinely distressed. After all, no news is good news.

Woven Together

 

Sears began as a mail-order catalog company in 1892. In 1925, they began incorporating brick-and-mortar stores into their operations. But the company was always known for its catalog. You could find anything you needed in the Sears catalog, from farm equipment to ladies’ dresses. From 1902 to 1942, you could even purchase a kit to build your own house. There was always a Sears catalog in our home when my siblings and I were growing up – thick enough to use as a booster seat. We’d thumb through the glossy pages, debating what we should ask Santa to bring Christmas morning (though why we thought Santa ordered from Sears is a mystery). In 1973, their headquarters moved to what was the world’s tallest building – the Sears Tower. Maybe the altitude went to their heads. In 1993, Sears decided to ditch the catalog, saying mail ordering was ancient history. In less than a year, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon.

Three Ice Cream Cones

 

Musician Dave Carroll and his band were flying from Halifax to Omaha, to play a show in 2008. The band was getting ready to change planes in Chicago when they noticed United baggage handlers tossing luggage, including their very expensive guitars. When they arrived in Nebraska, sure enough, Dave’s $3,500 Taylor guitar was badly damaged. After nine months of wrangling with United’s customer service, their response was, “Hun, you signed the waiver.”  Dave thought, “If I were a lawyer, I’d sue.” Instead, he created a song and a music video. He reached out to friends in the music business for help, and found virtually every musician who travels had similar experiences. “United Breaks Guitars” very quickly went viral. United stock plummeted. The airline was forced to offer Dave compensation for his guitar. Dave still flies United. He says, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

Star-Crossed

 

“God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection. I recognize that at roughly the same time so many were praying for the restoration of my health, an equal number – including me – were praying for the restoration of my wife’s health. I testify that both of those prayers were heard and answered by a divinely compassionate Heavenly Father, even if the prayers for Pat were not answered the way I asked. It is for reasons known only to God why prayers are answered differently than we hope. But I promise you they are heard and they are answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable.” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Ice Cream Cone

 

I’ve never heard of anyone who didn’t like ice cream. But everyone, it seems, prefers some flavors of ice cream over others. In the U.S., vanilla is the most popular flavor. Chocolate runs a close second. After that, it’s cookies and cream (which is really just Oreo cookies crumbled into vanilla ice cream). Number four is strawberry. Five is chocolate chip (again, just vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips mixed in). Six is butter pecan (I have no idea why butter pecan is not number one.) and seven is chocolate chip cookie dough. (Alright. That’s just chocolate chips and cookie dough in vanilla ice cream!) Mint chocolate chip and caramel are numbers eight and nine. Neapolitan is number ten, even though it’s three flavors, not one. After that come rocky road, peanut butter chocolate, coffee, pistachio and cherry. I plan to keep my ice cream maker busy this summer, churning out these flavors and many more!

Tiny Criss-Cross Block

 

When the Marx bothers were growing up, there was only enough money for one to take music lessons. Chico, the oldest, learned piano. Harpo (his real name was Adolph) taught himself to play harp, and never learned to read music. In 1931, Harpo Marx took an apartment in The Garden of Allah in L.A., where he hoped to practice harp several hours a day. This went well until a pianist moved next door and began practicing very loudly. The new neighbor was Sergei Rachmaninoff, preparing for a concert tour. Complaining to the management accomplished nothing, so Harpo retaliated. He began playing the first few bars of Prelude in C Sharp Minor, over and over, fortissimo. This particular piece is difficult to play on the piano, and practically impossible on the harp. Rachmaninoff had written it nearly forty years earlier, and was sick of it. Harpo’s gambit paid off. The pianist moved, and peace was restored. 

Twenty Rolling Stones

 

Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories.

There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot.

I went to a restaurant that serves breakfast at any time. So, I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.

It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to have to paint it.

Last night I stayed up playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

If you think nobody cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.

If it’s a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, someone somewhere is making a penny.

I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.

For my birthday, I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.  – More Steven Wright

Three Sawtooth Stars

 

Murphy’s Quilting Laws

 

No matter how much of a particular fabric you have, you’ll always be half a yard short.

You may own 200 shades of blue thread, but none will match your project.

If you have a piece of fabric 10" wide and need five 2" strips, you’ll cut one strip 2 1/2" wide and be short a strip.

The cat will only nap on the quilt you’re making for someone with allergies.

The fabric you need to complete your quilt is discontinued. They sold the last piece yesterday.

You’ll always run out of bobbin thread just before finishing the last border.

As you finish binding her Barbie quilt, your granddaughter will say, "Barbie’s for babies. I like Lord of the Rings.”

The scissors and pincushion are on the other side of the room. You won’t discover this until you sit down.

Your last needle will break at midnight the night before your quilt must be submitted for the quilt show.

Twelve-Inch Time Waits

 

It was around lunchtime September 5, 1936. Two fishermen in a bog on the eastern shores of Nova Scotia were surprised to find a young woman, waist-deep in the muddy water. She was bleeding from a gash on her forehead. Behind her was a single-engine aircraft, sinking nose-first in the peat. “I’m Mrs Markham,” she said, “and I’ve just flown here from England.” Beryl Markham had meant to land in NYC, but had fallen short of her target. As anyone who flies can tell you, it’s easier to cross the ocean going west-to-east than east-to-west, against the wind. That’s why Lindburgh and Earhart both made world records going in the opposite direction. At the age of 33, Mrs. Markham became the first person to fly solo, non-stop, from Europe to North America. September 6, she was treated to a motorcade through New York and a suite at the Ritz-Carlton. “America,” she proclaimed, “is jolly grand.”

Sawtooth Star

 

“It is for reasons known only to God why prayers are answered differently than we hope. But I promise they’re heard, and they’re answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable.” – President Jeffrey R. Holland

“Christ is our Redeemer, our Mediator, our Advocate with the Eternal Father and the rock upon which we should build the spiritual foundation of our lives.” – Elder David A. Bednar

“God has something more to give: a higher and more profound joy that transcends anything this world offers. It is the joy that endures heartbreak, penetrates sorrow and diminishes loneliness.” - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“God is in relentless pursuit of you. He wants all His children to choose to return to Him, and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.” – Elder Patrick Kearon

“Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.” – President Russell M. Nelson

Time Waits for No One

 

There was a sale, and John came home with lots of drumsticks – which he typically won’t eat. I could marinate them in Italian dressing along with sausage and steak for a mixed grill. I could grill them in Piri-piri sauce and pretend we’re eating at Nando’s. Or I could try this:

 

Slow Cooker Bang-Bang Chicken

 

2-3 pounds chicken drumsticks

2 teaspoons sriracha

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sweet chili sauce (Love this! It could make shredded cardboard yummy!)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 bunch green onions for serving

 

Add drumsticks to slow cooker. In medium-sized bowl, add mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, salt and pepper. Stir. Reserve half the sauce in fridge for serving. Pour other half over chicken. Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours. Finish by grilling outdoors or broiling in oven about 5 minutes. Watch carefully, so they don’t burn. Serve hot with onions, reserved bang-bang sauce, and rice.

Martha Washington Star

 

Half-way through production on America’s first feature-length cartoon – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Walt Disney ran out of cash. Walt asked his brother, Roy to borrow more. Roy explained they wouldn’t get another dime out of Bank of America unless they showed bank executive Joe Rosenberg where the money was going. Walt resisted, but he really had no choice. The two men met at Disney Studios on a Saturday. In a projection room, Walt showed the banker the few completed scenes. He tried to give Joe a synopsis of the movie, using pencil sketches as props. Joseph Rosenberg, the one man in charge of approving loans to movie studios, sat through the whole demonstration without cracking a smile. Walt was sweating bullets as he watched Joe climb into his car. “Thanks! Goodbye!” Joe said, then he added: “That thing’s gonna make a hat full of money!”

Three Tulip Blocks

 

You can substitute pork or chicken thighs for the chicken breasts in this recipe. But, as pork is usually more expensive than chicken, and as I’m married to a man who avoids dark meat, this is what we’re having.

 

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

 

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1″ pieces

1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks

1 red pepper, coarsely chopped

1 green pepper, coarsely chopped

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup vinegar

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons corn starch

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

 

Place chicken, pineapple and peppers in slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, corn starch, garlic and ginger. Stir well and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low four hours. Serve over hot rice or noodles. We like ours sprinkled with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.

Pinwheel Block

 

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because twelve men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, and then they proclaimed that truth for forty years, never once denying it. Every single one of them was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled twelve of the most powerful men in the world. And they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me twelve apostles could keep a lie for forty years? Absolutely impossible.” – Charles Colson

Tulip Block

 

Always borrow money from pessimists. They don't expect it back.

Half the people you know are below average.

82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

If everything seems to be going well, you’ve obviously overlooked something.

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

 - (mostly) Steven Wright

Friendship Table Runner

 

“To find the most important day in history, we must go back to that evening in Gethsemane when Christ knelt in intense prayer and offered Himself as a ransom for our sins. Out of perfect love, He gave all that we might receive all. His supernal sacrifice, difficult to comprehend, reminds us of the universal debt of gratitude we owe Christ for His divine gift. Later that night, Jesus was brought before religious and political authorities who mocked Him, beat Him, and sentenced Him to a shameful death. He hung in agony upon the cross. His lifeless body was laid in a borrowed tomb. The third day, Jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty God, emerged from the tomb as a glorious, resurrected being of splendor, light, and majesty. There are many events throughout history that have profoundly affected the destiny of nations and peoples. But they cannot begin to compare to what happened on that first Easter morning.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Rosebud Block

 

Easter really snuck up on me this year. I’m used to having more time for boiling and dyeing eggs, shopping for Sunday clothes, and – this is really important – watching Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments. Easter is a “moveable feast,” which means it occurs on a different date each year. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon after spring equinox. The equinox was March 19 and the full moon was March 25, so tomorrow is Easter. The earliest Easter can fall is March 22 (It happened last in 1818 and will happen again in 2285) and the latest it can occur is April 18 (The last time was 1995). We won’t have dyed eggs tomorrow, but I’ve got a ham for Sunday dinner. I won’t wear a new frock, but I do have a musical number ready for tomorrow’s worship service. And there’s still plenty of time for the Charlton Heston movies – in April.

Nine Pin Cushions

 

I love the phrase “you learn something new every day.” To me, it means each new day is an opportunity to add to the sum of my knowledge. I like to imagine all the facts I’ve accumulated are just floating around in my head, waiting for the right moment for them to become useful. Of course, that isn’t how it works. Research shows if we don’t DO something with our new knowledge, about half of it is gone within an hour. 70% is lost by the end of 24 hours, and in a week, the number goes to 90%. It feels as if our brains are sieves, dropping information as fast as we pick it up. In fact, that may actually be a defense against memory overload. It’s helpful to know exactly where you parked your car this morning. It’s somewhat less helpful to remember where you parked it last week, last month or last year. 

Four Friendship Stars

 

Late Saturday night, November 2, 2019, Ethan Crispo stopped by a Waffle House in Birmingham on his way home. There were a few dozen people dining, with more just arriving. But there was only one employee. Because of a scheduling snafu, there were no waiters, busboys, or dishwashers – only a bewildered cook. Ethan was ready to leave with an empty stomach. But as he watched, one of the customers finished his meal and asked the cook for an apron. He then stepped into the kitchen and began washing dishes. Another started pouring coffee. Diners actually stepped up to serve and bus tables while the cook manned the cash register and grill. On the face of it, this sounds like above-and-beyond generosity. But Waffle House was less than thrilled. None of the volunteers were employed there or had food handler’s licenses. If anything had gone wrong, the 24/7 chain could have ended up with egg on its face.

Nine Challenge Blocks

 

Quilt Etc. in Sandy stopped holding their first Saturday block-of-the-month classes in spring of 2020. None of us ever imagined that in the four subsequent years, they wouldn’t start them up again. But here we are. To add insult to injury, the quilt shop called Mormon Handicraft inside the Midvale Deseret Book disappeared when the Deseret Book moved to Cottonwood Heights. I enjoyed block-of-the-month classes at both stores for many years, and their absence has left a hole in my calendar and my heart. I’ve been trying to fill the hole with Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge. I made a lovely queen-sized quilt with their 2021 blocks (and some others) that was displayed at the Thanksgiving Point Garden of Quilts. The 2022 top has been hand-quilted and is almost done being bound. I’m still debating how to set the 2023 blocks, and here are the first nine blocks from 2024.

Friendship Star

 

In the 1830’s, in the aftermath of the destruction of the Napoleonic wars, the Swedish navy planted 300,000 oak saplings to be used in ship building in the far distant future. They chose Visingsö, an island in the southern end of Lake Vättern for their man-made forest. Alongside all those oak trees, they planted various other species such as ash, elm, maple, beech, and silver fir, so the oak saplings would be encouraged to grow up straight and tall. It takes at least a century and a half for oaks to mature enough to be useful in building ships. But by the time these trees were ready, the naval industry had already transitioned to iron and steel construction. The oaks of the Visingsö forest will probably never sail the seven seas, but many of them may become beautiful hardwood flooring, fine veneers, exquisite Scandinavian furniture, and even whiskey barrels.

Half a Dozen Pin Cushions

 

“Don’t misunderstand or devalue how important you are to your Father in Heaven. You’re not an accidental by-product of nature, a cosmic orphan, or the result of matter plus time plus chance. Where there is design, there is a designer. Your life has meaning and purpose. You’re a beloved child of Heavenly Father. You’re the subject matter of all those parables and teachings. God loves you so much He sent His Son to heal, rescue, and redeem YOU. Jesus explained how the two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor are the foundation of all of God’s commandments. One of our divine responsibilities is to care for those in need. Religion isn’t only about our relationship with God; it’s also about our relationship with each other. Elder Holland explained the English word religion comes from the Latin religare, meaning “to tie.” Thus, true religion is the tie that binds us to God and to each other.” – Elder Alan T. Phillips

Sixteen Rolling Stones

 

Henry Brown was born into slavery in Virginia in 1815. At fifteen, Henry was hired out to a tobacco factory in Richmond. Henry married a fellow slave named Nancy. Together, they had three children. Somehow, Henry had funds of his own (I’ve always assumed slaves couldn’t earn money. I stand corrected). He used it to rent a home for himself and his family, and to bribe his wife’s master to not sell his wife and kids (but, of course, he did). In 1849, Henry decided to mail himself to abolitionists in Philadelphia. With the help of friends, Henry was sealed up in a crate labeled, “Dry Goods,” “Handle with Care,” and “This Side Up.” He had a hole for ventilation, a little water, and a few biscuits. The trip via wagon, train and steamboat took 27 hours. It cost him $86 – more than $3,000 in today’s money – but he stepped out of the crate a free man.

Twelve-Inch Woven Together

 

Whole Orange Pound Cake

 

1 whole seedless navel orange, seeds removed

4 large eggs

3/4 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon extract

2 cups flour

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 9x5” loaf pan with parchment and coat with baking spray. Put eggs, oil, lemon extract, and quartered orange into a high-powered blender, then add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend for 30 to 40 seconds or until a thick, pourable batter forms. Pour batter into pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes. To test if it's done, poke a toothpick into pan between the side and middle. Toothpick should come out clean. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before removing cake from pan.

Thirteen Rolling Stones

 

When I’d take my grandma to the supermarket, there was this thing she’d do EVERY SINGLE TIME. We’d  go through the produce section, checking off items on her shopping list, and she’d say, “When I was a little girl, wild asparagus grew in the irrigation ditches along the roadside. I hated asparagus back then. Now that I like it, look how much it costs!” Grandma’s been gone twenty-one years now. We never did buy asparagus, though it was a lot cheaper two decades ago. I could try planting it, though. Asparagus is one of those crops you can plant and keep harvesting year after year. The idea gets more appealing every time I buy groceries. I already have concord grapes and red raspberries in my yard. Other perennial backyard crops include rhubarb, artichokes, horseradish, chives, kale, and Egyptian walking onions. I’d never even heard of Egyptian walking onions before, but suddenly I really need to plant them.

New Spring Frock

 

“And the Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.”– Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.”– Gustav Mahler

“…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”– Vincent van Gogh

“The earth laughs in flowers.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.”– Oscar Wilde

“She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head, and whispered to her neighbor: ‘Winter is dead.’” – A.A. Milne

“Always it’s spring and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.”– E.E. Cummings

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”– Claude Monet

“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.”– John Muir

Stacey's Cabin - With Borders

 

This has all the flavor of your favorite lasagna recipe, with none of the work. You can substitute almost any kind of pasta, but Mafalda just seems made for this soup. If you'd rather cook the pasta separately and add it at the last minute, that works, too.

 

Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

 

1 pound ground beef

1/2 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

14 ounces diced tomatoes

28 ounces crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

4 cups beef broth

12 ounces Mafalda (mini lasagna noodles)

1/2 cup ricotta

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 cup shredded parmesan

 

Brown and drain ground beef; dump into slow cooker. Add onion, pepper, tomatoes, garlic, seasoning and broth. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Stir in Mafalda. Cover and cook another 30 to 45 minutes, until pasta is done. Serve topped with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan.

Twelve-Inch Glisten

“What are the fruits of exercising spiritual gifts? They include promptings from the Spirit that help us face our daily needs and show us what to do and say and blessings of peace and comfort. As we listen and act on spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost magnifies our abilities and capacities to far exceed what we can do on our own. These precious spiritual gifts will help us in every aspect of our lives. The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest spiritual gifts Latter-day Saints enjoy. How important is this gift? President Russell M. Nelson answered this question categorically when he stated that ‘in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.’” – Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Stacy's Cabin

 

Two years ago, I was gifted a kit to make a 65x 85” sampler quilt called Blessed Beyond Measure by Buttermilk Basin for Riley Blake. The pattern had instructions to make about a dozen 12” finished quilt blocks (several were duplicates). I used it to make thirty 12” individual blocks, and then purchased extra fabric for sashing, cornerstones, border, back and binding. The finished quilt came to about 85x95”. But there was still a LOT of fabric left over. Without any end product in mind, I started using the scraps for more 12” blocks. (I like to use scraps when I experiment. If the block is a failure, I don’t mind much.) Then, I discovered a Roly Poly (a collection of 2 1/2" x 42" strips) from the same fabric line. Before I knew it, I had nearly two dozen red-and-black log cabin blocks, and just as many other blocks to stick between them. Another quilt!

Ten-Inch Glisten Block

 

Slow Cooker Eggroll-in-a-Bowl

 

1 pound ground pork

1 medium onion finely chopped

2/3 cup chicken broth

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon ginger

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1 bag coleslaw mix

3/4 cup shredded carrots

4 sliced green onions

 

In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground pork. Drain fat and set aside. Dump onion, garlic, sesame oil, and ground ginger in slow cooker; add browned meat. Pour in the broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low 3 hours. Stir coleslaw and carrots into pork mixture until well combined. Serve over white rice, topped with green onions.

Four Pin Cushions

 

Ida and Louise Cook were spinsters in their 30’s living with Mum and Dad. One wrote romance novels; the other was a secretary. They sewed their own clothes and loved German opera. They loved it so much they’d spend weekends going back and forth between London and Germany. No one paid much attention to them, or to the fact they’d come home wearing jewels and furs. In the 1930’s. The sisters entered and exited through different checkpoints, so no one would notice. If anyone saw their handbags were full of valuables, they’d say, “It’s not safe to leave them home!” Ida and Louise were collecting and transporting precious things for German refugees. They found people to house them, and assembled papers for their passage. They used their own money, so the refugees could sell their furs and jewels later for cash to get settled. They directly rescued 29 people from the Nazi regime. And they were never caught.

May in Bloom

 

Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands, is a colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. He is also a penguin. Nils Olav resides in the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, and he is the third king penguin to hold this name and honor. It all started in 1913, when the family of a Norwegian shipping magnate donated a king penguin to the newly opened Scottish zoo. In 1966, the Norwegian King’s Guard visited the zoo. Following this visit, Lieutenant Nils Egelien arranged for his regiment to adopt one of the penguins. This penguin was named Nils Olav, for the lieutenant, and for Olav Siggerud, contingent commander of the guard. The first penguin was originally a lance corporal, but there were subsequent promotions and even a knighthood. The current Nils Olav holds the rank of major general. According to Guiness World Records, he’s the world’s highest ranking penguin.

Tomato Pin Cushion

 

Ribena is a blackcurrant-based drink that has been manufactured in the UK since 1933. The name comes from the botanical name of the blackcurrant: Ribes nigrum. Blackcurrants are on a very short list of fruits indigenous to the British Isles and high in vitamin C. During World War II, when imported citrus fruits became non-existent, home cultivation of blackcurrants was encouraged by the government so Ribena could take up the slack. For a long time, adverts claimed “the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges.” Two students in New Zealand decided to test this. In a secondary-school lab, they were unable to find ANY vitamin C in ready-to-drink Ribena bottles. GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of Ribena, were forced to admit their recipe has changed; instead of a “nutritional drink,” Ribena is now a soft drink. The GlaxoSmithKline was fined NZ$217,500. Hopefully, cases like these will inspire other companies to stand behind their promises.

Three Spring Blossoms

 

“Here, then is a great truth: in the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd. In our extremities, it is possible to become born again, born anew, renewed in heart and spirit. We no longer ride with the flow of the crowd, but instead we enjoy the promise of Isaiah to be renewed in our strength and mount up with wings as eagles” - Elder James E. Faust

Star Crossed

 

James Doohan, who played chief engineer Montgomery Scott in the television and film series Star Trek, had seven children, including twins Montgomery and Christopher. When the twins were high school seniors, their father told them he’d arranged for them to take a tour of the studio where Star Trek: The Motion Picture was being filmed. The boys arrived, and James said the first place they’d visit was the costume department. The three of them entered the building, and were approached by a costume tech who said the boys’ costumes were ready for them; they should get dressed now. James confessed that he hadn’t really arranged for a studio tour at all. The boys were there to be extras in the new movie. You can catch a glimpse of them in a scene where the Enterprise crew is being briefed: Montgomery with a mustache and white uniform, stands behind Chris, who’s clean-shaven, in tan.

Spring Blossom

 

Daryl Davis is an R&B/Blues musician who played with Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Muddy Waters. But his real claim to fame is in a quite different field. Daryl is an African-American who deliberately befriended Roger Kelly, a KKK Grand wizard. He spent years cultivating a friendship with Roger. Instead of hating Roger, Daryl listened to him. He even attended klan rallies as Roger’s guest. Eventually, Roger began listening to Daryl, too. In the end, Roger denounced the KKK, and gave Daryl his robe and hood as a token of his changed heart. Roger received robes and hoods from more than 200 former klansmen in just this way. “These individuals are, like it or not, our fellow Americans,” says Daryl. “Through understanding and patience, we can find unity. It's about transforming fear into friendship, one conversation at a time. For the sake of our future, let us start talking WITH each other.”

Six-Inch Criss-Cross

 

Pancake Spaghetti

This isn’t really a recipe; it’s more of a technique. You can use your favorite pancake recipe (I love sourdough pancakes) or any commercial pancake mix. Take a large, heavy skillet. Whether it’s non-stick or not, coat it lightly with butter or vegetable oil before putting it on the range at medium heat. (If you’re using an electric skillet, set it to 375F.) Once the pan is hot enough to send a drop of water skittering, you’re good to go. Mix your batter so it’s just thin enough to pour. Put it in a zipper bag and cut a small triangle off one corner. Swirl the batter all over the pan, as if you’re making funnel cakes without the deep fat fryer. When the batter starts to look dry, flip the “pancake.” Serve with your favorite syrup, fruit, or powdered sugar. Note: expect your first pancake to be a disappointment. Toss it and try again.