Birthday Cake

 

I'm older than I've ever been, and now I'm even older. I turned sixty-five today. It’s quite a milestone; one not everyone can expect to achieve. As of today, I’m eligible for Medicare. I’m also eligible for a lot of lovely senior discounts, if only I remember to ask for them. If there’s a downside to being sixty-five, it’s that EVERYTHING hurts, all the time. I could take something for it, but it will undoubtedly cause heartburn, which also hurts. The upside is definitely grandchildren. I absolutely love living close enough to all of them that I see them all, nearly every day. And it’s great to watch the amazing people their parents have become. As a person who’s survived to the age of sixty-five, I’ve a pretty good chance of seeing another two decades. So, with any luck, I’ll also get to see the amazing people my grandkids will be.

Fifteen Teacups and Saucers

 

Lately, I've been rereading old Jules Verne novels: Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, From Earth to the Moon, The Mysterious Island, and In Search of the Castaways. These were all written more than 150 years ago, but they’re just as riveting today. Jules Verne was one of the first writers of what we now call science fiction. He envisioned technologies that wouldn’t exist for well over a century. The very best science fiction can change the way we see our own future, and, in doing so, change the shape of the future itself. Jules Verne’s works fall into this category. I’d like to read more of his books (he wrote nearly 60), but they’re rather thin on the ground. I find myself wanting to re-watch all the movies based on his novels, and aching to revisit the steam-punk Jules Verne-themed Tomorrowland in Disneyland Paris. 

Sixteen Twelve-Inch Blocks

 

In Greek mythology, the labyrinth was a confusing, dangerous place of dark passages and hidden chambers. A minotaur lived at the center, ready to devour anyone who couldn’t find his way out.  If you’ve ever wandered a corn maze at Halloween, this concept will feel very familiar. But to early Christians, labyrinths were winding paths used for walking meditation: places of healing, peace, and enlightenment. Labyrinths are often installed in public gardens, near churches or hospitals. Unlike a corn maze, where you can’t see your way through, a labyrinth is simply a pattern to follow on the ground. It can be made of colored sand or gravel, stones, paving tiles, or low hedges. The one at Intermountain Medical Center, near the Heart & Lung building, is patterned after the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral. If you’d like to find a labyrinth in your neighborhood, or look for one near where you’ll be vacationing, you can try https://labyrinthlocator.com/locate-a-labyrinth . 

One Dozen Teacups

Quick! Name a famous painting. Chances are you’re thinking of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa is the most recognizable painting on the planet. But it hasn’t always been that way. She was painted in 1507, but outside the art world, Mona Lisa was relatively unknown until she was stolen. In 1911, an Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia covered the portrait with a cloth and carried it out of the Louvre. No one even noticed the absence for two days. But when they did, the press had a field day. Crowds lined up to see the spot where “La Gioconda” used to hang. The chief of police stepped down in shame. People all over the world speculated about the painting’s whereabouts. Peruggia returned the painting to his homeland, expecting to be hailed a national hero. But stories of the theft had made Mona Lisa too hot to handle. The culprit was arrested, and his suddenly popular prize was returned. 

 

Ten-Inch Point the Way

 

“What is the testimony of Jesus? It is the witness of the Holy Spirit that He is the divine Son of God, the Messiah and Redeemer. It is John’s testimony that Jesus was in the beginning with God, that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and that ‘in him was the gospel, and the gospel was the life, and the life was the light of men.’ It is the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven. It is the knowledge that ‘there is no other name given whereby salvation cometh.’ It is the testimony, last of all, given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘that He lives! That he is the Only Begotten of the Father—that by Him, and through Him, and of Him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.’” – Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Nine Teacups and Saucers

 

There is another definition of the word “tea” we don’t often think about. Tea can also mean gossip, as in, “Let’s get together and spill some tea.” Gossip isn’t always a bad thing. Sure, if you’re spreading a story (true or not) designed to harm an innocent person’s reputation or to get them ostracized, that’s pretty despicable. But I think anyone who’s read Pride and Prejudice would agree if Jane and Elizabeth Bennet had shared what they knew about Wickham, Lydia might not have been seduced by him. I find myself thinking about Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: “Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people.” It’s a noble concept, but there are times when talking about people is unavoidable and might even be important. A more practical approach may be to screen your speech with these questions: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? 

Twelve-Inch Point the Way

 

The Internet tends to show you more of whatever you seem to like. (Warning: if you’re always clicking on headlines that make you angry, and posting comments while you’re seeing red, the Internet is going to assume it’s what you prefer, and show you more of that.) I spent a lot of time reading about the last three solar eclipses, so today my newsfeed is full of the “planetary parade” coming next week. Across the pre-dawn sky next Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, six planets (and one moon) will line up. Okay, they don’t ACTUALLY line up. It only looks that way from Earth's point of view. And most of the planets – Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus and Neptune – won’t be visible to the naked eye. But I’m the one who loves to spot the International Space Station whenever I can. So, I’ll be up early, looking for Saturn, Mars and the moon. Unless it’s raining.

2023 Riley Blake Design Block Challenge

 

I finished piecing these blocks almost exactly one year ago today. Most came from the Riley Blake Design 2023 Block Challenge. These blocks are all 10” finished, made from Riley Blake Confetti Cotton Solids. While I pieced these, I also made identical blocks that were 12” finished. The fabric for those was donated, from the Marti Michell “Rambling Rose” line for Maywood Studios. The Rambling Rose quilt has already been hand-quilted, bound and donated to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. These blocks took me longer to set, as I wanted to make use of the scraps I had left over, without having to buy much more. Right now, the top is 70”x80” finished. If I add a two-inch white stop border and a three-inch outer border in teal (I think Riley Blake calls it “rainforest”), the finished quilt should be about 80”x90”. Or I could leave it as it is and call it a big sofa throw.

Put Another Spin On It

 

Reverend Rex Humbard started out as a tent revival preacher. He moved to TV ministry in 1952. As his popularity grew, so did his ambition. In 1958 he built a 5,000-seat, $4 million “Cathedral of Tomorrow” in northeast Ohio. By 1970, Humbard’s program appeared on nearly 400 stations in North America and was broadcast overseas in 91 languages. Adjacent to his cathedral, Humbard planned his own television station: WCOT-TV. “Since I have to build a tower for my new channel,” he reasoned, “why not one that’ll do more than just sit there?” He’d seen the 626-foot Calgary Tower while visiting Canada, and decided Ohio needed one even taller. At the top, he planned recording studios, an observation platform, and a rotating restaurant. Construction started in 1971, but ended two months later when the Reverend’s ministry ran into legal and economic trouble. Today, at just a fraction of its intended height, the edifice serves as a cell phone tower.

Half a Dozen Teacups

 

Most lawn mowers direct grass clippings into a bag either on the side or behind the blades. Mulching mowers cut clippings into smaller, less visible bits (like a paper shredder for your lawn) which are meant to decompose faster. They spread the clippings across the lawn as you mow. They eliminate the need to bag your clippings, so mowing takes much less time. You’ll have more space in your dumpster, and you’ll be sending less trash to the landfill. Lawn clippings are 85% water and 5% nitrogen; mulching reduces the need for water and fertilizer. The nutrients in grass clippings feed microorganisms and earthworms, creating a healthier ecosystem in your yard. If your lawn is like mine, right now it’s doing its best to reseed itself. Bagging your clippings means you’re throwing away all that free grass seed. Wouldn’t it be better to spread the new seeds across the grass instead?

Put a Spin On It

 

“We should strive to include others in our circle of oneness. If we are to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s admonition to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil, we need to include others in our circle of oneness. As President Nelson has so beautifully taught: ‘On every continent and across the isles of the sea, faithful people are being gathered into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Differences in culture, language, gender, race, and nationality fade into insignificance as the faithful enter the covenant path and come unto our beloved Redeemer.’ We are united by our love of and faith in Jesus Christ and as children of a loving Heavenly Father. The essence of truly belonging is to be one with Christ.” – Elder Quentin L. Cook

Three Key Lime Pies

 

In the US, the third Saturday in May is Armed Forces Day. (Other countries observe Armed Forces Day on different dates.) The armed forces were reorganized under the Department of Defense in 1947. Until then, each branch of the military had its own day to celebrate. In 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson suggested an Armed Forces Day to reinforce the unification of the branches. President Harry S. Truman made it official, and the first Armed Forces Day was celebrated May 20, 1950. The day is typically observed with parades, air shows, equipment and technology demonstrations, and community outreach programs. There are six branches of the military: the Army (conducting combat missions on the ground), the Air Force (with military missions in the air), the Coast Guard (enforcing laws at sea), the Marines (no idea what these guys do), the Navy (maintaining the freedom of the seas), and the Space Force (securing the country’s interests in space).

Four Teacups

 

Look, I get it. Homophones (words with similar pronunciations but different spellings, meanings and origins) can be confusing. Maybe the spelling app on your cell phone or laptop is just as bewildered as you are. But it’s a simple mistake to correct. It’s driving me absolutely bonkers, and I can’t be the only one. If you’re talking about someone who pays to live and eat somewhere away from home, the word is “boarder.” Just think of: “She can’t afford the room and board” or “Hogwarts is a boarding school.” If you’re talking about the outer edge of a state, a country, or a quilt, the word you want is “border.” For example: “Both candidates promise to secure our borders,” and “I’ll need an extra yard of fabric to complete this border.” I hate to be the grammar police, but honestly, it’s such an easy mistake to avoid. And I’d be so grateful if you did.

Ten -Inch Inside Out Star

 

The name of this dish translates as “old clothes,” because the shredded beef looks ragged. I’m told the cilantro and jalapeño make this recipe more like Mexican food than Cuban. Maybe half a cup of red wine would be more appropriate.

 Ropa Vieja

 2 pounds flank steak, cut into quarters

 Kosher salt

 Fresh ground black pepper

 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes

 1/2 cup water

 2 bell peppers, thinly sliced

 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

 1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced (optional)

 1/2 teaspoon oregano

 1/2 teaspoon cumin

 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (optional)

 1 bay leaf

 1/2 cup pitted green olives

 2 tablespoons capers, drained

 Season beef with salt and pepper. Combine remaining ingredients except olives and capers in slow cooker, add beef. Cover and cook 5 hours. Remove bay leaf. Remove beef and shred with two forks; return to slow cooker. Stir in olives and capers. Serve with white rice or warm tortillas.

Patriot Dreams

 

When you sell your house, some things are expected to stay behind and others are expected to move with you. Typically, things attached to the property are expected to stay. Doors and doorknobs, outdoor trees and shrubbery, cabinetry, light fixtures, toilets and sinks are considered “real property” and should be left behind when you move. “Personal property,” like clothing and furniture, should be packed up and removed. Appliances are a grey area, and should be spelled out in the contract. When we left our old house last autumn, we took our American flag with us. We left behind the wall mount that was attached to the house near the front door. The previous owners of this house did the same, taking their flag and leaving the mount. But their mount is far too small to fit our flag. I haven’t found the proper mount for sale that doesn’t include a flag. And Memorial Day is twelve days away!

Inside Out Star

 

Toussaint Charbonneau was a French-Canadian fur trapper born near Montreal about 1767. He was known to have at least five wives, all Native American women who he’d “married” when they were under sixteen. Charbonneau married his last wife when he was seventy and she was fourteen. He was notoriously short-tempered and violent with his wives, including Sacagawea, who he’d bought from the Hidatsa, who’d stolen her from the Shoshone. Lewis and Clark recruited Charbonneau as translator, but later called him “a man of no peculiar merit.” Sacagawea, on the other hand, helped their expedition by finding edible plants to supplement their rations, teaching the men to make moccasins and other leather clothing, helping to chose the safest routes and negotiating with other Native Americans. She did all this in her teens, while carrying her infant son. Lewis and Clark paid Charbonneau $500 for his part in the expedition. Sacagawea received no payment. She died at age 25. 

Five Ohio Stars

 

“Our words can be supportive or angry, joyful or mean, compassionate or tossed aside. In the heat of the moment, words can sting and sink painfully deep into the soul—and stay there. Our words on the internet, texting, social media, or tweets take on a life of their own. So be careful what you say and how you say it. In our families, especially with husbands, wives, and children, our words can bring us together or drive a wedge between us. Let me suggest three simple phrases that we can use to take the sting out of difficulties and differences, lift, and reassure each other: ‘Thank you,’ ‘I am sorry’ and ‘I love you.’ Do not save these humble phrases for a special event or catastrophe. Use them often and sincerely, for they show regard for others. Talk is growing cheap; do not follow that pattern.” – Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Teacup and Saucer

 

When Brits use the word, “tea,” they may refer to a drink made by infusing dried leaves with hot water. But more often than not, they mean something else entirely. For most of the Brits I’ve met, “tea” can refer to almost any meal (except, oddly, breakfast) whether or not they involve hot, leafy beverages. From what I could gather, the word “tea” is only really specific in two cases. There’s “afternoon tea,” which happens in a garden in fine weather. Seating is casual (in fact, sometimes it’s nonexistent) and guests may find themselves balancing teacups on knees or strolling with a cup in one hand and a saucer in the other. Food is understated at afternoon teas, and may simply be scones with jam. High tea is a much more formal, indoor affair, involving a table with high-backed chairs. There are usually several courses to a high tea, with savory dishes, finger sandwiches, cakes and little sweets. 

Thirteen Ten-Inch Blocks

 

I’ve always been sucker for lost and found stories, especially those involving pets. I currently care for a seven-year-old Scottie and a thirteen-year-old tabby. I spend lots of time and energy trying to prevent them from sneaking out, but stuff still happens. A month ago today, a Siamese/calico named Galena disappeared from her Lehi home. Her owner, Carrie Clark, searched the neighborhood. She put up flyers and posted on lost pet pages. A week later, Galena turned up in an Amazon warehouse in California. Carrie’s husband had ordered several steel-toed boots. He’d kept one and shipped the rest back. Somehow, Galena had tucked herself into one of the boxes he’d returned. Galena’s a very lucky cat: she’d been “mailed” when the weather was neither too hot nor too cold. The box she was in had a tear, so she could breathe. And she was actually microchipped (few cats are) so she could be reunited with her owners.

Four Ohio Stars

 

There are probably as many different mole recipes as there are people who make mole. Maybe more. This one wasn’t as yummy as some that I’ve tried, but it wasn’t as hard to make, either.

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Mole

 

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 cup raisins

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 chopped chipotle chile in adobo sauce

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon coriander

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

1.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts

 

Place onion, raisins, garlic, chipotle, peanut butter and tomatoes in slow cooker. Stir in seasonings. Place chicken in sauce. Cover and cook on low about 5 hours. Remove and shred chicken with two forks; stir back into sauce. Serve with warm tortillas or hot rice. 

Thirteen Twelve-Inch Blocks

 

“It's my wife's job to tell me our exit’s two miles away when we pass a big sign that says our exit’s two miles away.”

“When I was a kid, the people who were the age I am now seemed a lot older.”

“Getting older means your arm must be in a certain position before going to bed so you'll have full use of it the next day.”

“My wife has literally everything in her purse. Today I needed tissues, a hammer, peanut butter and dice. She had two of each.”

“My wife can't remember the password she changed yesterday, but can remember what I said June 8, 2014 at 6:47 p.m.”

“A ninety-minute movie takes two and a half hours to watch because my wife and I pause it to figure out what other movies an actor or actress was in.”

“I'm ready for bed around 9ish, and by 9ish I mean 6:30 p.m.” – Dan Regan

Ohio Star

 

Our Penzey’s store has closed. You can still buy their spices on Amazon, but they’re dear, and you’ll pay for shipping. Instead, I used a bit of garlic powder, onion salt, ground ginger, and liquid hickory smoke. It was good, but I may opt for the Amazon shipment next time.

 

Low-Carb Pork Chops

 

4 thick boneless pork loin chops

2 teaspoons Penzey's Pork Chop Seasoning

 1/2 cup almond flour

 1 T olive oil

 3/4 cup chicken broth

 1/2 cup half and half

 2 tablespoon Dijon

 

If your chops are too thick, beat them with a mallet until they’re about 1/2 an inch. Salt and pepper chops, and sprinkle with seasoning. Dredge chops in almond flour. At this point, you can either pan fry them in oil (3 minutes on each side), or bake at 400F about 25 minutes. If you fried them, you can deglaze the pan with broth, half and half, and Dijon to make a low-carb gravy. 

Ten-Inch Garden Patch

 

“Our loving Father oversaw the Creation of this very earth for the express purpose of providing an opportunity for you and for me to have the stretching and refining experiences of mortality, the chance to use our God-given moral agency to choose Him, to learn and grow, to make mistakes, to repent, to love God and our neighbor, and to one day return home to Him. He sent His precious Beloved Son to this fallen world to live the full range of the human experience, to provide an example for the rest of His children to follow, and to atone and redeem. Christ’s great atoning gift removes every roadblock of physical and spiritual death that would separate us from our eternal home. Everything about the Father’s plan for His beloved children is designed to bring everyone home. The intent of the Father’s great plan of happiness is your happiness, right here, right now, and in the eternities.” – Elder Patrick Kearon

Sixteen Pin Cushions

 

John has decided to try a keto diet, for the next few weeks, at least. Having dinners together is important to us, and making sure we can eat the same dishes should help me avoid feeling like a short-order cook.

 

Low-Carb Taco Casserole

 

2 cans Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chiles, mild

 1 onion, minced

 1 tablespoon olive oil

 1 pound cauliflower rice

 1/2 cup sliced green onion, plus extra for garnish

 1 pound ground beef

 1 envelope taco seasoning

2 cups grated medium cheddar

 

Coat 9” square baking pan with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375F. Cook riced cauliflower according to directions; set aside. Sauté onion in oil; remove from pan. Brown beef in pan. Place all ingredients except cheese in prepared 9” square pan; stir to combine. Top with cheese and bake 30 minutes. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and more sliced green onion.

Twelve-Inch Garden Patch

 

During the 1870’s, when Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance was written, Penzance was a peaceful, popular resort town – a good place for a sunny holiday. The operetta’s audience would have found it amusing to imagine Penzance overrun with pirates, just as you or I would giggle at the thought of Privateers of Palm Springs, Looters of Lake Placid, or Marauders of Magic Kingdom. When Pirates premiered in New York City, members of the orchestra demanded more money. They said the music was “too grand for light opera.” When the Major-General boasts of knowing the croaking chorus of The Frogs of Aristophanes, he’s bragging about having memorized these lyrics: “Brekekekex Ko-ax Ko-ax” – the sound of croaking frogs. In 1967, Prince Charles played the part of the Pirate King in a school production of Pirates. Donald McLachlan of the Sunday Telegraph called him “the best actor in the school,” possibly because he was destined to become King Charles III.

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.