Half a Dozen Song Birds

 

You probably remembered to set your clocks ahead Saturday night. I hope you replaced your smoke/CO detector batteries while you were at it. This is also a good time to switch fans from winter mode (pulling air upward) to summer mode (pushing it down). Now’s a great time to rotate or flip your mattress so it wears more evenly. At least check to see if your mattress needs replacing. You should replace your toothbrush every three months. If you haven’t done that, replace it now. Unless you live in Texas, you probably haven’t used your A/C yet. You’ll want to replace the furnace filter before you do. It’s hard to remember tasks that don’t happen daily, weekly or monthly – like cleaning trash bins and pet dishes, washing pet toys and the hat you wore all winter, or buying new underwear. Take advantage of this biannual reminder to get these jobs done.

Pink Bloom

 

Have you ever whipped cream by hand? It takes more time and energy than you’d expect. Once you’ve made it, you have to use it right away. It can’t be frozen or refrigerated and used later. This was the sort of problem William H. Mitchell found fascinating. To solve it, he invented a concoction of water, hydrogenated vegetable oil and sweeteners that you know as Cool Whip. One of Mitchell’s first inventions was in answer to a tapioca shortage during World War 2: a grain starch/gelatin mixture soldiers called “Mitchell’s Mud.” Early astronauts complained about metallic-tasting stored water. To improve the flavor, they used another Mitchell invention: sugar, orange coloring and vitamin C branded as Tang. In the 50’s, Mitchell looked for a way to combine carbon monoxide with Kool Aid and invented Pop Rocks. The explosive candy didn’t hit the market until 1975, so for several years, only his immediate family enjoyed them.

Four-Leaf Clover

 

Salt Lake has been the capital of Utah since 1856. It’s hard to imagine it anywhere else, but it hasn’t always been this way. The original territorial capital was Fillmore, chosen in 1851 for its central location. Brigham Young favored the idea of St. George for the capital of his proposed state of Deseret, as it was mid-point between Salt Lake and the southernmost city, San Diego. What may surprise you more is the capital of the U.S. hasn’t always been Washington, D.C. During the Revolutionary War, Continental Congress was a moveable feast, meeting in secret to avoid capture. George Washington was inaugurated in New York City, our first capital. Philadelphia served as capital for a decade, while the current capital was under construction. After the Civil War, there was a serious push to move the capital to a more central location: St. Louis, Missouri. I often wonder what our country would be like if they’d succeeded. 

Tulip Toss

 

“To all of you who serve, and especially to the over 4,000 young service missionaries, we love you! If teaching missionaries are the Lord’s mouth, then service missionaries are the Lord’s hands. Each of you is vital to the gathering of Israel. President Nelson taught ‘anytime we do anything that helps anyone to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.’ You service missionaries gather Israel in so many ways, and your service changes lives. Often you don’t know who the beneficiary of your service is, but God knows. Always remember that inasmuch as ye serve one of the least of these, ye serve Him. We hear your voices as you volunteer at Church call centers; we see your smiles as you help in community organizations; and we feel your light as you serve in temples. You feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give drink to the thirsty.” – Elder James E. Evanson

Four Maple Stars

 

When I first came across the story of the eleven nuns of Nowogródek, I was sure it was fiction. I take everything I read on the Internet with a grain of salt. There was a time when stories published works carried the reputation of the publisher. But the Internet allows publication without risk. And AI makes the spread of lies ubiquitous, even expected. But, after some research, I’ve come to the conclusion this actually happened. The Nazis arrived in Nowogródek, Poland in 1941. They executed 9,500 Jews and sent 550 to labor camps. In 1942, they executed 60 more townspeople, including two Catholic priests. The following year, 120 men were arrested and slated for execution. Their wives and mothers pled the nuns for help. The nuns prayed, “If sacrifice of life is needed, accept it from us.” Shortly thereafter, the nuns were rounded up and shot. The 120 men targeted for death survived the war.

Sixteen Flags

 

I think we’ve all heard of Steve Jobs. The entrepreneur co-founded Apple in his parents’ garage in the 70’s and died from pancreatic cancer in 2011. He was known for a demanding, perfectionist approach, and for the custom-made black mock-neck shirts, Levis 501 jeans and New Balance sneakers he wore regardless of the occasion. Most people are familiar with his partner, Steve Wozniak. The “Other Steve” is seventy-five now. He still gets a $50-per-week salary from Apple, but he gave away most of his original Apple stock and his primary income is from speaking engagements. Far fewer of us have heard of the third co-founder, Ronald Wayne. Wayne was working for Atari when he met Jobs and Wozniak. Jobs suggested a partnership with 45% for each of the Steves, and 10% for Wayne, who would act as a tie-breaker. Wayne sold his share for $800 in 1976. Today, his 10% stake would be worth $400 billion.

Four Song Birds

 

It all began August 25, 1835. The New York Sun published a series of six articles – with pictures – reporting the discovery of life on the moon. They were attributed to a well-known astronomer, Sir John Herschel, and his fictitious collaborator, Dr. Andrew Grant. According to the articles, the pair had used a revolutionary new telescope – 24 feet in diameter – to observe the surface of the moon with more clarity and detail than ever before. They reported seeing lush vegetation and vast oceans on the moon, as well as many fantastic inhabitants: unicorns, large beavers that walked upright on their hind legs, and humanoids that flew about on bat-like wings. Many readers believed the articles, including several respected scientists. On September 16, the Sun revealed the whole thing was a hoax. In the meantime, they’d temporarily increased the newspaper’s circulation, and permanently damaged our collective respect for serious journalism.

Forty-Nine Echoes

 

History is weirder than you realize.

Abraham Lincoln was a twelve-year-old growing up in a cabin on the frontier when Napoleon Bonaparte died.

Joseph Stalin, Sigmund Freud, Josip Broz Tito, Leon Trotsky, and Adolf Hitler walked into a bar. Well, not really. But it could have happened, because they all lived in Vienna in 1913.

In 343 BCE, King Philip II of Macedon hired the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle to educate his thirteen-year-old son. That son would grow up to be Alexander the Great.

The first Egyptian pharaoh ruled around 3150 BC. Woolly mammoths lived on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean until about 4,000 years ago. So, there was a time when pharaohs and mammoths both lived on Earth.

Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452; a year after the birth of Christopher Columbus.

Oxford University was founded in 1249; the Aztec Empire crumbled in 1545. So, both existed for 296 years.

Four Woven Hearts

 

We have Sunday dinner together as a family every week – all sixteen of us. We’ve been doing it for years. When one of us celebrates a birthday, for dessert we do the light-a-candle, sing-a-song, blow-it-out thing. For the past several months, I’ve let the one with the birthday select the dinner’s menu. I don’t know if everyone appreciates the opportunity to choose. But maybe it gives everyone a glimpse of the mental effort involved in a weekly family dinner. My own birthday is about a dozen weeks away. I’ve been thinking about what I want for Sunday dinner, and I keep leaning toward Brazilian churrascaria: grilled pineapple, pão de queijo, boiled quail eggs, fried bananas, etc. My grocer doesn’t carry quail eggs. I found several for sale online. But they’re not for eating; they’re for hatching. Hmm. If I buy the hatching kind, I might eventually get more quail eggs, right?

March Door Banner

 

“’Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.’ The key question in this inquiry by the Lord is “Lovest thou me more than these?” We show love to the Lord when we put Him above ‘these.’ ‘These’ can be anyone, any activity, or anything that displaces Him from being the most important influence in our lives. There will never be enough time in a day, a week, a month, or a year to get done all we want or need to accomplish. Part of the test of mortality is to use the precious resource of time for what is most important. President Russell M. Nelson said, ‘The question for all of us is the same: Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life?’” – Elder Steven C. Barlow

Maple Star Variation

 

When I think of Mary Steenburgen, I think of Time After Time (1979), One Magic Christmas (1985), Back to the Future III (1990), and Elf (2003). I’d seen some of her work since then, but none of it left as big an impression as those four movies. Last week I learned at age 54 the Oscar-winning actress had undergone what should have been an unremarkable surgery on her arm. When the general anesthesia wore off, she heard music in her head. They were tunes she’d never heard before, and they never stopped. At first, it was debilitating. She couldn’t focus. Acting was next to impossible. Mary called a musician friend and asked for help transcribing the music she was hearing. That summer she wrote hundreds of songs. In 2019, She won best original song for "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)" in the movie Wild Rose. Mary Steenburgen is living proof we’re never finished becoming who we are.

Nine Flags

 

Shortly after World War II, many places in the U.S. experienced a housing boom. McCall, Idaho was one of these places. The trouble was McCall was also dealing with a beaver boom. Beavers toppled newly planted orchards and built dams which flooded new basements. When beavers set up housekeeping in the wilerness, they improve the ecosystem. When they move into subdivisions, they can be terrible neighbors. So, Idaho Fish and Game decided to move 76 beavers to the back woods. By dropping them from a plane. They built special beaver parachute boxes designed to securely land the semi-aquatic rodents and burst open, so they'd essentially hit the ground running. Their test “pilot,” nicknamed Geronimo, was safely dropped so many times, he actually liked it and would waddle back to his beaver box for another ride. All but one of the 76 urban beavers were relocated without incident to the Chamberlain Basin, where their descendants are probably still redecorating. 

Song Bird

 

More thoughts on motherhood:

“Kids humble us. The other day on the flight home, Olympia insisted on running up and down the aisle. When I finally got her to sit still, she threw up all over me.” – Serena Williams

"Twelve years later the memories of those nights, of sleep deprivation, still make me rock back and forth a bit. You want to torture someone? Hand them an adorable baby they love who doesn't sleep." – Shonda Rhimes

“Motherhood is tough. If you just want a wonderful little creature to love, you can get a puppy.” – Barbara Walters

"Becoming a mom to me means you’ve accepted for the next 16 years of your life, you’ll have a sticky purse." – Nia Vardalos

"Sleep at this point is just a concept, something I'm looking forward to investigating in the future." – Amy Poehler

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – Erma Bombeck.

Forty-Two Echoes

 

More work than most slow cooker meals, but worth it.

 

Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

 

1 1/2 pounds chicken, cubed

3 tablespoons oil, divided

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons hoisin

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon grated ginger

6 dried red chili peppers

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 bell pepper, coarsely chopped

1 zucchini, cubed

1/3 cup peanuts

 

Heat half the oil over medium-high heat; brown chicken. Place in slow cooker with dried chilies. Combine water, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger in bowl. Stir until combined. Pour over chicken and peppers in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Whisk cornstarch into 2 tablespoons water; add to chicken. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté pepper and zucchini in remaining oil. Add peppers, zucchini and peanuts to slow cooker and stir. Serve over hot rice.

Woven Heart

 

The butterfly effect is a way to describe how small events can have far-reaching and unexpected consequences. It was made popular by Edward Norton Lorenz, a meteorologist who discovered rounding a single variable in a weather simulation (like from 0.506127 to 0.506) produces a completely different forecast. In 1990, the Mars Climate Orbiter crashed because one NASA team used imperial calculations while another team used metric. Why is the US not on board with the metric system? Blame it on pirates. In 1779, the newly United States used different weights and measures, complicating interstate trade. Thomas Jefferson arranged for scientist Joseph Dombrey to bring examples of the new metric system from France. A storm blew Dombrey’s ship off course and into the hands of privateers in the Caribbean, where he died. Without this precious cargo, Congress refused to adopt the new system. Was the storm that doomed Dombrey caused by a butterfly’s flapping wings? I guess we’ll never know.

Square Knot

 

“The Savior invites all to serve him with all your heart. When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do—such as keeping the commandments, partaking of the sacrament, worshipping in the temple, and serving others—with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man. The prophet Alma’s question still echoes today: ‘Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?’ Brothers and sisters, I invite you to give your whole heart to the Savior today. Let each act of worship and service be sincere and intentional. Set aside the distractions of the world and strive to have meaningful time for the Lord every day of your lives.” – Elder Ronald M. Barcellos

Five Dancing Stars

Just before he was hanged, French aristocrat and Royalist Marquis de Favras read his death warrant. According to Victor Hugo, his last words were, “Permit me to point out that you have made three mistakes in spelling.” François-Marie Arouet was a French Enlightenment writer who went by the nom de plume Voltaire. He was often critical of religious dogma. As he lay on his death bed, his priest asked if he rejected Satan. “My good man,” Voltaire exclaimed, “now is not the time to make new enemies.” As Spanish Prime Minister Ramón María Narváez lay dying, he was asked if he forgave his enemies. “I don’t need to forgive them,” he replied, “I’ve had them all shot.” In November, 1900, Oscar Wilde was ill and impoverished in a hotel in Paris. Unhappy with his surroundings, he declared, “This wallpaper is killing me. Decidedly one of us will have to go.” 

 

Four Flags

 

The first week in January, I saw an article about the Quilts of Valor 2026 National Block Drive, and the block they chose for this year: the Echo block. I read about the blocks they hope to receive and thought, “I can do that.” Within days, I was tearing into my stash for red, white (or off-white) and blue prints. I love scrappy quilting projects. Rediscovering prints I used years (or even decades) ago brings back lovely memories. They do tend to make my sewing room look like the aftermath of a hurricane, but the results are just dazzling. I was midway through this indoor storm when our quilt guild announced this year’s project: a scrappy top filled with these red, white and blue American flags; one for each state in the union. The QOV project will be donated to a veteran, and the flag quilt will commemorate the semiquincentennial. I can do that.

Four Small Stars

 

Thoughts on motherhood:

“When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so someone in the house is happy to see you.” – Nora Ephron

“It’s not easy being a mom. If it were, fathers would do it.” – Betty White

“It just occurred to me the majority of my diet is food my kid didn’t finish.” – Carrie Underwood

“No one told me I’d be coming home in diapers, too.” – Chrissy Teigen

“If you aren’t yelling at your kids, you’re not spending enough time with them.” – Reese Witherspoon

“My sister said once, ‘Anything I don’t want Mother to know, I don’t even think of, if she’s in the room.’” – Agatha Christie

“I’ve been married fourteen years and I have three kids. Obviously, I breed well in captivity.” – Roseanne Barr

“Like all parents, my husband and I do the best we can, hold our breath, and hope we set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” – Michelle Pfeiffer

Three Dozen Echoes

 

Squash Alfredo

 

1 large spaghetti squash

2 tablespoons butter

Salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoons cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella

1 cup baby spinach

 

Preheat oven to 400F. Fill a baking sheet with about an inch of water. Cut spaghetti squash in half crosswise, scoop out the seeds. Place cut side down in the prepared baking sheet and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Use a fork to pull apart the strands of squash and set half of them aside. Season squash halves with salt and pepper, and then add butter, cream cheese and half the mozzarella. Stir to combine. Add spinach and reserved spaghetti squash; top with remaining mozzarella. Broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. Makes 2 generous servings.

Tiny Green Nine-Patch

 

I’ve been a quilter since 2004. My first quilt was a sampler made with civil war reproduction prints. I keep it near my front door, to remind me of how far I’ve come. As with any endeavor, there are inherent risks. I have several friends who’ve sliced themselves badly with rotary cutters. I haven’t done that, at least not yet. I know more than a few quilters who’ve machine-stitched right through their own fingers – another experience I hope to avoid altogether. On occasion, I’ve mishandled hot irons, but never so badly to need anything more than an ice cube and a little aloe vera. For me the real danger is needles and pins. I don’t seem capable of handling either without repeatedly stabbing myself. It happens frequently while I’m piecing tops, and every single time when I hand stitch binding. I guess you could say blood sweat and tears have gone into every quilt I’ve made.

Ombré Dash

 

“Listening to and acting on the words and invitations of the prophets and apostles can fill us with hope, confidence, and strength, resulting in our faith becoming unshaken. I have learned that a desire to be reconciled to God must be accompanied by a desire to repent. Repenting and experiencing the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ lead to unshaken faith. Unshaken faith leads to a desire to always be reconciled to God. This is a circular, or iterative, pattern. Brothers and sisters, I invite you to be reconciled to God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I testify that making and keeping covenants makes our connection to the Savior strong, thereby avoiding becoming ripe for destruction. I testify that this reconciliation to God, through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, leads to unshakable faith.” - Elder Kelly R. Johnson

Tender Heart

 

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." —David Viscott

"I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you." —Roy Croft

"Where there is love there is life." —Mahatma Gandhi

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." —Dr. Seuss

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." —Audrey Hepburn

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." —Emily Brontë

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." —Lao Tzu

"I have, for the first time, found what I can truly love. I have found you." —Charlotte Bronte

"Love is friendship set to music." —Joseph Campbell

"My soul and your soul are forever tangled." —N.R. Hart

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." —Aristotle

Flag Block

 

The first Friday of the year that falls on the thirteenth day of the month is “National Blame Someone Else Day.” This is a holiday you can really get behind. If anything goes wrong today – and let’s face it; something ALWAYS goes wrong – all you have to do is point the finger of blame at someone else. No matter what brainless thing you did today, you can find someone to take the fall. This holiday was created in 1982 by Anne Moeller from Clio, Michigan. Anne’s alarm clock failed on the morning of the first Friday the 13^th of the year, setting off a domino effect of bad luck. If you’re having trouble finding a suitable target for your blame, typical scapegoats include your children, your siblings, your spouse, your neighbors, your co-workers, the weather, or faulty technology. The only downside of this holiday is while you’re laying the blame elsewhere, someone else might also blame you.  

Four Tilting Valentines

 

The average steam iron lasts about seven years. If you buy a reliable brand, empty the reservoir after use and periodically descale it, your iron might work a bit longer. If you use it daily (as I do) you can expect it to fail sooner. I’ve run through my fair share of irons. They all serve me well, and then one day they just stop heating up. Until this week. My seven-year-and-one-month-old Rowenta iron, which used to make a soft “bink” sound when it turned on and a “pop” when it turned off, suddenly began saying “bink-pop-bink-pop-bink-pop” until I unplugged it. I waited a few minutes, plugged it in again, and the same thing happened. I replaced it with an identical model, but it cost almost exactly twice what I paid for the old one. Rowentas are made in Germany, so it could be tariffs. Or inflation. Probably both.

Thirty-Five Echoes

 

When Edgar McGregor was a teenager, he joined in the Fridays for Future school strikes inspired by Greta Thunberg. He looked for ways to make a difference in his own community. In May 2019, Edgar toted a five-gallon bucket and a pair of gloves into Eaton Canyon, a popular hiking spot near his home. He figured he could single-handedly clean up the canyon in a week or two. He pulled out bottles, cans, old tires, cell phones, and cigarette lighters. After two weeks, he’d only scratched the surface. Edgar kept at it every day for nearly two years, through 117-degree summer days, snowstorms and a pandemic. Edgar, who has autism, found satisfaction in the rhythm of the work and the beauty of his surroundings. He intended to return and continue keeping the park clean on a weekly basis, but the 2025 Eaton Fire and the subsequent closure of the park may have interfered with his plans.

Ribbon Star

 

Greek Orzo Salad

 

1 1/4 cup orzo pasta

15 ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 1/2 cups cucumber, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted

4 ounces feta, crumbled

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice + lemon zest

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Dijon

1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

 

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice with zest, honey, Dijon and seasoning. Stir in drained garbanzo beans. Marinate at least 10 minutes. Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; shake dry. Toss with vegetables, feta and garbanzo mixture; serve.

Tilting Heart

 

“Your proving and strengthening may not look like Moroni’s or Jacob’s or the Prophet Joseph’s. But it will come. It may come quietly, through the trials of family life. It may come through illness or disappointment or grief or loneliness. I bear witness that these moments are not evidence the Lord has abandoned you. Rather, they are evidence He loves you enough to refine and strengthen you. If we remain faithful in our service, the Lord will refine us. He will strengthen us. And one day we will look back and see that those very trials were evidence of His love. We will see that He was shaping us to be able to stand with Him in glory. As the Lord’s Apostle Paul stated at the end of his own life, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.’” - Elder Henry B. Eyring

Thirty Echoes

 

We’re warned by those who work with the homeless not to give cash to panhandlers. They say the money won’t go to food or shelter. It just fuels whatever addiction put them there in the first place. But what if you donated a lot of money – enough to really make a difference? That’s the question the documentary “Reversal of Fortune” tried to answer in 2005. They handed $100,000 to Ted Rodrigue, a man who lived under a bridge and recycled beverage containers to buy food, beer and cigarettes. His first purchases were a new bicycle and an amusement park trip. Then he rented a motel room. Ted’s family learned about his windfall and invited him to come for a visit. They encouraged him to find a job and invest his money, but he was only concerned about the NOW. Within six months, the money was all gone and Ted was back under the bridge, dumpster diving for bottles and cans.  

Four Valentines

 

Two weeks ago, Heather and I watched Lady and the Tramp as we drove to the hospital and back. At the end of the film Jock (a Scottish terrier) and Trusty (a bloodhound) chase the dogcatcher’s wagon through a thunderstorm. The horses are spooked and the wagon overturns, injuring Trusty. Jock finds his wounded friend and howls. I’ve seen the movie dozens, maybe hundreds of times. But this time I thought, “That’s dumb. Scotties don’t howl.” A day or two later, I heard an odd, melodic sound in the back garden. I opened the door and caught Lassie howling. There was an emergency vehicle passing by two blocks away, and she was singing along with the siren. I’ve since been told Lassie sometimes howls when she thinks she’s home alone. I looked it up. According to Google, some Scotties may howl when they’re excited, when they hear a high-pitched sound, or to express separation anxiety. 

Starry Bloom

 

This is not the future Saturday morning cartoons prepared me for. I really expected by this point in my life, I’d be living – or at least vacationing – on the moon. Or maybe Mars. I’d have an ultra-modern home with 360-degree views, like the space needle. I thought I’d be zipping here and there in my own personal rocket ship. And I KNEW I’d own a robot: like Rosie on the Jetsons. She’d keep my house clean and tidy, do the dishes and laundry, and maybe remind me of tomorrow’s haircut appointment. Well, I DO own a robot vacuum. It’s a tossup whether he’s working for me or I’m working for him. And maybe he's sharing my data with China. Ten-year-old me would have thought robots calling me on my phone would be cool. It isn’t. Now we have artificial intelligence eliminating human jobs, making us doubt EVERYTHING, and making the price of electricity skyrocket. Not what I signed up for.

Twenty-Five Echoes

 

A 90-year-old couple are having trouble remembering things, so they visit their doctor. After a check-up, the doctor says they’re physically fine. He suggests they may want to start writing important things down so they won’t forget them. Later that evening, they’re both watching television. The husband gets up, and his wife says, “Where are you going?” “To the kitchen,” he replies. “I thought I’d like some ice cream.” “Could you bring me some, too?” says his wife. “Sure,” he answers. “I’d like strawberries and whipped cream on top,” she says. “Maybe you should write it down so you won’t forget.” “I don’t need to write it down!” he barks back, and he leaves. A few minutes later, he returns with a plate of fried eggs and bacon. His wife looks at the plate and exclaims, “See? I SAID you should have written it down! You’ve forgotten my toast!”

Valentine Heart

 

Mark Twain once said, “If you don’t like our weather, just wait a few minutes.” I actually prefer George Carlin’s quote, “The weather will continue to change on and off for a long, long time.” So far, our winter has been remarkably mild. But that could change on a dime. If you hear the words “winter storm warning,” make sure all your devices are charged and your gas tank is full. Check flashlights and spare batteries. See that you have at least three days of non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking. Fill bottles and tubs with water. Fill your freezer with ice. Bring pets indoors. If the power goes out, use flashlights, not candles. Unplug sensitive electronics. Close curtains to retain heat. Make sure your neighbors are okay. When the power comes back on, check for frozen pipes. Toss any spoiled food, and gradually plug your devices in again.

February Door Banner

 

“Our Savior Jesus Christ is our ultimate role model. We’ll be blessed if we model our lives after His teachings and self-sacrifice. Following Christ and giving ourselves in service to one another is the best remedy for the selfishness and individualism that now seem to be so common. Parents also have a duty to teach children practical knowledge apart from gospel principles. Families unite when they do meaningful things together. Family gardens build family relationships. Happy family experiences strengthen family ties. Camping, sports activities, and other recreation are especially valuable to bond families. Families should organize family reunions to remember ancestors, which lead to the temple. Parents should educate children in the basic skills of living, including working in the yard and home. Learning languages is useful preparation for missionary service and modern life. Families flourish when they learn as a group and counsel together on all matters of concern to the family and its members.” – President Dallin H. Oaks

Two Dozen Echoes

 

An elderly priest died and was welcomed at the pearly gates by Saint Peter. “Father Mulgrew, we’ve been expecting you,” said the saint. “Please go with this angel. We’ve got a lovely retirement shack on the edge of the woods. It’s a humble place, but I promise you’ll be comfortable.” The priest settled in, but not long after, he returned to the pearly gates with a question. “I feel as though there’s been a mistake,” the priest said. “Not far from my shack I noticed a magnificent mansion. The fellow who lives there was a taxi driver I knew from earth. Surely it cannot be intended that a man like me should receive such a modest reward compared to him!” Saint Peter smiles, “Let not your heart be troubled, Father Mulgrew. You were a faithful servant of the Lord, and that’s why you’re here. But when you preached, some people slept. When that man drove, people PRAYED.”

Spin Around

 

A few of my favorite Roald Dahl quotes:

“The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.” – Matilda

“You should never, never doubt something that no one is sure of.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." – Billy and the Minpins

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” – The Twits

Twenty-Eight Flying Geese

 

Two weeks ago my husband and grandsons came home from a robot fight (don’t ask) with some bagels and a tub of cream cheese. They’d grabbed breakfast at Einstein on their way to the event, and their leftovers were in the car ALL DAY LONG. Temperatures were in the thirties most of the day, and the cream cheese seemed okay. But the bagels were hard as rocks. (Memo: the driest environment you’re likely to meet is inside your car. I’ve used mine to make sun-dried tomatoes and fruit leather.) If you have dried-out bagels, you can LIGHTLY toast them to make them edible. If they’re too gone for that, wrap each bagel in a damp paper towel and microwave 10 to 20 seconds. Or, you can preheat the oven to 350F, run a bagel under HOT water, and bake 5 minutes. With each of these methods, you must eat the bagel immediately. Otherwise, just bin it.

Twenty Echoes

 

From 1876 to 1882, the torch of the Statue of Liberty was on display – with the attached hand and forearm – in Madison Square Park in New York City. It was there to help raise funds for the construction of the statue’s pedestal. Yes, Lady Liberty was a gift from France. But the French only donated the statue; the U.S. had to pony up for the island and base on which she stands. The original idea came from Édouard René de Laboulaye, a staunch French abolitionist who wanted to celebrate both our country’s centennial and our commitment to end slavery. But when Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus” to help raise money for the pedestal construction, her focus was slightly different. Instead of the Revolutionary War or abolition, she wrote about immigrants. Emma had helped to bring Jewish refugees fleeing Europe’s pogroms to America. For her, they were the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Four Corners

 

I love simple recipes; the ones that use a single pan instead of leaving a mountain of dirty dishes in the sink. I think it’s safe to say you won’t find a beef Wellington or baked Alaska in my kitchen, unless, of course, someone else made it for me.

 

One-Dish Pasta

 

1/2 pound uncooked spaghetti or fettucine

10 ounces cherry tomatoes

2 cups fresh spinach

1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes

2 tablespoons sun dried tomato oil

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

4 tablespoons butter

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup cream

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Add all ingredients to a large skillet and cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook about 10-12 minutes. Reduce heat and remove lid and stir to combine. Add water or more broth as needed. Continue cooking if needed until pasta is tender. Serve in bowls with grated parmesan.

Eighteen Flying Geese

 

“The Book of Mormon describes the 2,060 stripling warriors as men of truth and soberness, taught to keep the commandments of God and walk uprightly before him. These young men faithfully obeyed Helaman, who was their military leader and also their prophet, and they recognized their mothers had filled their hearts with truth and faith. Parents, in this world where there are many voices and sometimes much darkness, God Himself has commanded us to raise our children in light and truth. He entrusted us with the responsibility to teach our children the saving truths of the gospel. If we fail to do so, the world will not do it. Dear young friends, I have an invitation for you: In the coming days, I invite you to kneel, open your hearts, and pray with faith to Heavenly Father, asking Him to confirm to you His chosen prophet and apostles are His voice on the earth today.” – Andrea Muñoz Spannaus

Sixteen Echo Blocks

 

Last week I learned something new: astronauts in space don’t burp. On earth, gases in our stomachs rise above heavier liquids and solids because of gravity. The gas puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which opens to release a belch. In a zero-G environment, stomach contents don’t separate. So, even though astronauts in space may feel the need to release a burp, the result won’t be a relatively harmless gas. It will be a vurp – the messy cross between a burp and a vomit. At the very least, the esophageal reflux has got to be brutal. I’m guessing to deal with this, astronauts’ diets are low in beans, dairy products, onions, garlic, cruciferous vegetables and other foods that make intestinal gas worse. January 15, a crew of 4 left ISS early; the first medical evacuation from the space station. We weren’t told which astronaut needed medical care, or why. But maybe it was gastro-intestinal distress.

Mister Chill

 

I like winter well enough, when it behaves. There should be snow, especially around Christmas. Snow in the mountains is lovely. It makes the skiers happy, and it’s a reserve for when summers get too dry. I even like snow in the valley, from time to time; enough to clear the air and to protect trees and bushes from bitter cold. Once or twice a year, my grandkids should wake up to enough overnight snow that they can’t get to school. Snow days are some of my happiest childhood memories, as are snowball fights, snow angels, snow forts, and snowmen. It seems a shame global warming should rob my grandchildren of all these pleasures. I’ve never been a huge fan of shoveling snow. But few things can give you a better sense of accomplishment than clearing your driveway (and a few of the neighbors’) and then settling down to a hot mug of cocoa.

Eight Flying Geese

 

Antarctica is 40% larger than Europe, 50% larger than the US, and roughly half the area of Africa. Antarctica contains 90% of Earth’s fresh water, where it’s inaccessibly frozen. In spite of the fact it’s completely covered in ice, Antarctica gets less than 2” of precipitation per year, making it the world’s largest desert. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -128.6 Fahrenheit (-89.2 Celsius) at the Vostok station in 1983. Antarctica has no permanent human residents. The only inhabitants are scientists and support staff living in temporary quarters at research stations. The animals found here are blue whales, Antarctic krill, southern royal albatross, and several varieties of seal. Lots of penguins live here, too. The world’s largest penguin – the emperor penguin – is the only vertebrate that breeds here. Antarctica has no single official time zone. Instead, each research station uses the time zone of its supplier or home country.

Nine Echo Blocks

 

Three brothers, aged 92, 94, and 96, live in the same house together. One night, the 96-year-old fills up the bath, put his foot in, then pauses. Then he yells down the stairs, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?" The 94-year-old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see.” So, he starts up the stairs, but halfway up, he pauses and then yells, "Was I coming up the stairs? Or was I going down?" The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having a coffee, listening to his older brothers. He shakes his head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful." He knocks on the wooden table for good luck. Then he yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door!"

Tiny Barbara Fritchie Star

 

This recipe works better if you whisk the broth, water and mixes together before stirring in beef and onions. I like to coat the pot with cooking spray before adding anything. Better yet, use a slow cooker bag!

 

Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles

 

1 1/2 pounds stew beef

1 packet au jus mix

1 packet brown gravy mix

1 packet onion soup mix

1 onion, diced

1 cup water

1 cup beef broth

12 ounces egg noodles

Sour cream

 

Place beef, gravy and soup mixes in slow cooker. Add onion, water and broth; stir until combined. Cover and cook on low six hours. Cook noodles according to package directions. Stir beef mixture again. Serve over cooked egg noodles and top with sour cream. Pairs well with a side salad, green beans or broccoli.

Two Flying Geese

 

“Are there those among us who suffer in silence, afraid for others to know their hidden struggles because they don’t know what the reaction will be? Only the Lord fully knows the actual level of difficulty with which each of us is running our race of life—the burdens, the challenges, and the obstacles we face that often cannot be seen by others. Only He fully understands the life-changing wounds and trauma some of us may have experienced in the past that are still affecting us in the present. Often we even judge ourselves harshly, thinking we should be much farther ahead on the track. Only the Lord fully knows our individual limitations and capacity, and because of that, He is the only one fully qualified to judge our performance.” – J. Anette Dennis

Four Echo Blocks

 

In 1991, researchers at Cambridge University had a problem. They’d run out of coffee and head to the Trojan Room in the computer science building for a refill. All too often, when they got there, they’d find no coffee in the pot. I don’t know how far their desks were from the Trojan Room, or how long it took to brew a fresh pot, but it was a significant source of frustration. At least two of the researchers – Quentin Stafford-Fraser and Paul Jardetzky – rigged a camera so they could monitor the coffee pot without leaving their desks. So, the first web cam was created to avoid fruitless coffee runs. Today, I can watch the tide ebb and flow at Whitby. I can check the London traffic. I can see the Pope waving at tourists in Rome, and penguins playing at Sea World. Or, I can observe the delivery driver putting a package on my doorstep.

Winter Checkerboard

 

Things Europeans know I wish Americans would learn:

To build better restrooms. We have rows of stalls you peek through to see if they’re occupied. After you’ve done your business, you gather belongings, open the stall door and THEN wash your hands. Creepy and unsanitary.

To have a better work/life balance. Europeans have more vacation days, and they USE them. They understand no one on their deathbed wishes they’d spent more time in the office.

To eat mindfully. In Europe, no one gobbles lunch at their desk while answering emails. They don’t scarf down dinner while literally on the run. They take time to enjoy meals while seated at a table. And their portions are human-sized.

To display the price – tax included – on everything. And not to tip. Tipping's stupid.

That healthcare isn’t only for the rich. Every year 550,000 Americans declare bankruptcy from medical debt alone.

To walk everywhere, every day. When you can't, take the train.

Hourglass Block

 

In the 70’s and 80’s, it seemed like there was a bagel shop on nearly every corner with a frozen yogurt store right next door. One by one, all those bagel shops disappeared (along with most of the frozen yogurt spots), leaving just a handful where there once were dozens. As far as we can tell, bagels have been around since at least the 17th century in Poland. The thing that makes bagels distinct from other baked goods is they’re cooked twice. After they’ve been shaped into little toroids, bagels are boiled (sometimes people steam them instead) before baking. This gives them a unique chewy texture and “skin” that goes so well with cream cheese, lox, avocado, jam, bacon and eggs, hummus, ham and Swiss, Nutella, tuna salad, you name it. January 15 is National Bagel Day. I’m prepared to celebrate with a glass of milk, a cinnamon/raisin bagel and a strawberry schmear. 

Echo Block

 

I’ve made or helped to make several coverlets for Quilts of Valor – an organization that seeks to comfort service members and veterans "touched by war." QOV says their quilt donations don’t have to be red, white and blue, but I’ve never seen one that wasn’t. They aren’t as particular about the pattern as they are about size. They prefer 60x80” quilts, but will accept 55x65” to 70x90”. This block is 10” finished, which means 48 of them together will make the very size QOV likes best. They have asked not to include floral prints in the donated quilts, as most of their quilts will end up in the hands of men. (Does anyone know why flowers are only for women?) I do have a lot of “manly” prints, like stripes, plaids, checks, polka dots, anchors, crabs, gulls, roosters, and mice. Now the only question is, do I have enough red, white and blue scraps to make 48 completely different blocks?