Eight Chains

 

In March, 2019, the city of Portland, Oregon planned to plant 500 red maple trees along Belmont Road. Somehow the city’s orders were misread, and the saplings were mistakenly planted on Belmont Avenue. The new trees were installed on corner lots, in parking strips and medians a few miles west of their intended home. By the time the city realized the error, residents of Belmont Avenue had added park benches in the shade and hung bird feeders from the branches. They’d even named their new trees. Portland sent crews to dig the trees up and move them to Belmont Road, but 1,400 Avenue residents petitioned the city to keep their new urban forest. When the crews arrived for removal, 47 residents were waiting with lawn chairs and thermoses. So, Portland ordered 500 more trees for Belmont Road. Today, more than seven years later, both streets boast lush deciduous canopies.

Five Gold Stars

 

Chick-fil-A took chicken salad off their menu almost four years ago. It may have been because people simply stopped buying it. Just like with their carrot/raisin/pineapple salad in 2013, there was no explanation or announcement. It just disappeared.  Luckily, just like the carrot/raisin/pineapple salad, this is easy to make at home.

 

Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad

 

1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery

3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast

2 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1/3 cup sweet pickle relish

1/2 cup mayo

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Combine all ingredients in bowl and stir until well mixed. If you use a food processor, be careful not to overprocess, or you’ll end up with chicken salad baby food. Salad can be served on its own, or as a sandwich on buttered, toasted whole wheat bread with romaine lettuce.

Coral Flower

 

In 1945, James Baskett – a self-taught actor from Indianapolis – walked into a Disney audition hoping for a minor voice role. The moment Walt heard him speak, everything changed. Disney gave James the starring role in Song of the South, making him the first Black actor cast as the lead in a full-length Disney film. Walt called him "the best actor to be discovered in years." James brought Uncle Remus to life with warmth and intensity. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented James with an Honorary Academy Award, making him the first Black man to receive an Oscar for acting. Four months later, James Baskett passed away at age forty-four. Song of the South turns 80 this year; an excellent time for a commemorative home video or streaming event. But Disney is so afraid we’ll judge an 80-year-old film by today’s standards, they’d rather hide Baskett’s accomplishments than draw attention to a movie they’re not proud of.

Three Kitty Cats

 

Earth Day was created in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Plant a tree or pollinator garden. Trees improve air quality, combat climate change, and provide habitats for wildlife. Gardens support bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Reduce waste. Repair clothes instead of replacing them. Recycle glass and plastic. Avoid single-use plastics. Create a compost pile.

Conserve water. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Shorten your showers. Consider drip irrigation.

Reduce your carbon footprint. Lower your room temperature in winter and raise it in summer. Consider adding more insulation or replacing old windows and doors.

Give your car a rest. Plan errands so you drive less. Walk, bike or use public transportation when you can. See if working from home is an option.

Make your yard wildlife-friendly. Install a bird feeder, bird bath, bat house or insect hotel. Build them from recycled materials where possible.

Quilted Bowl Cozy

 

Herbert Needleman was a pediatrician in the late 50’s. He frequently treated children with lead poisoning. He noticed kids who survived never quite recovered. They were slower, quieter, and struggled more in school. At the time, the medical establishment decreed if you made it through the acute phase, you were cured. Dr. Needleman wasn’t so sure. What if lead never really left the bodies of its victims? Blood tests couldn’t show long-term exposure. Bone biopsies would, but what parent would consent to that kind of research? In the late 60’s, Dr. Needleman recruited Massachusetts school teachers to collect lost baby teeth for study. Dr. Needleman tested thousands of them. He found the kids with the highest exposure had the lowest test scores. Lead was slowly robbing them of their minds. Today, thanks to Dr. Needleman, we no longer have lead paint on our walls, lead pipes carrying our water, or lead in our gasoline. And we’re all better off.

Plus One

 

"I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of our belief in a literal, universal resurrection. The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life" – President Dallin H. Oaks

“Not all matters are of equal value and maintaining an eternal perspective helps us prioritize the things that are of greatest value.” – Elder Dale G. Renlund

“Families with such a precious member know what a privilege it is to be blessed with one with special needs. Associating with Paxton, our whole family gained an increased, deep, and abiding trust in the Lord.” – Elder Ronald A. Rasband

“The scriptures teach us not only who Jesus was but who He is. Because of what happened on that Sunday morning, we can speak of Jesus Christ in the present tense. He lives. Today. At this moment.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Six Chains

 

Webcams have been around for over three decades. The first was installed at Cambridge University Computer Lab, so researchers would know when to refill their shared coffee pot. Today, there are far more interesting webcams out there. All you need is Internet access and a bit of time on your hands. My favorite is in Whitby. I could sit for hours and watch the tide come and go beneath 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. Another fun webcam is mounted on the International Space Station. From there, you can see sunrises and sunsets every 45 minutes. There’s another on Abbey Road, so you can find out who’s using the famous zebra crossing right now. Norway mounts webcams on the front of their trains. I can’t imagine a better way to view Norwegian landscapes. There are several at the San Diego Zoo. You can observe 11 different species there, including tigers, elephants and pandas. Next best thing to being there!

Four Gold Stars

 

Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

 

1 loaf stale bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (When using whole wheat, I omit crusts)

6 large eggs

2 cups milk

1/3 cup maple syrup (Not “pancake syrup”)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped pecans (I’ve also used walnuts)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cut into small piece

 

Coat slow cooker pot with cooking spray. Arrange bread cubes and nuts in pot. Whisk together eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour custard mixture over bread. Gently fold to coat. Let soak an hour or two. (My slow cooker has a removable insert, so I cover it and stick it in the fridge.) In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and remaining cinnamon. Cut in butter. Sprinkle butter mixture over custard. Cover and cook on low 4 hours. Serves 6 to 8.

Hoppy to Meet You

 

This week I read a story about a 24-hour laundromat on Delancy Street in New York City. The owner, Bea Kowalski, said the establishment was oddly warm, even at 3:00 in the morning, when none of the machines were running. She never knew why until a short time ago, when she had repairmen in to fix a few of the dryers. The men pulled off the back panel of dryer #9 and discovered thirty-one cottontail rabbits living in the exhaust ductwork. They’d built tunnels connecting all fourteen industrial-sized dryers, and had been happily living there at least two years. Animal control officials relocated the rabbits to a wildlife sanctuary in Dutchess County, about eighty miles away. Bea reports her laundromat feels chillier without the squatting bunnies. I tried to share this story with my piano students, but none of them had ever seen a laundromat, or a dryer big enough for thirty-one rabbits.

Two Kitty Cats

It’s no secret today is the day your 2025 income taxes are due. Hopefully, you filed some time ago and didn’t wait until the last minute. If you file early and there’s a refund, you’ll get it sooner. If you’ve made a mistake, you get extra time to correct it before the deadline. And filing earlier gives bad guys less of a chance to steal your identity and file in your name. Today’s also Rubber Eraser Day. We all make mistakes. It’s nice they don’t all have to be permanent. April 15 is Take a Wild Guess Day; a day to throw caution to the wind and go with your instincts. It’s also Titanic Remembrance Day. The ill-fated ship hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. April 14, 1912. But it didn’t sink for two hours, so today’s the 114th anniversary – a good day to debate if there was room on the door for Jack.

Nature's Landscape

 

Judy-Lynn del Rey was born in 1943 with achondroplastic dwarfism – meaning she had a normal-sized torso and small limbs. She spent her teens haunting libraries, especially the fantasy and sci-fi sections. In her early 20’s, she became an office assistant at Galaxy Science Fiction. She quickly worked her way up to associate editor, and then was hired by Ballantine Books. One of her first moves was to dump John Norman’s Gor series (She was right. They’re awful.) She published the Star Wars novel before the movie came out. That same year, Judy-Lynn launched Del Rey Books. She published Terry Brooks’ Sword of Shannara, promoted William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, and introduced the world to Anne McCaffrey's White Dragon. Arthur C. Clarke called her the most brilliant editor he’d ever encountered. Next time you read fantasy or watch a Star Wars film, or quote Princess Bride, you’re living in a world she helped to build.

Center Pieces

 

“Abiding in Christ isn’t an occasional, casual act. It’s a constant, conscious and sacred choice. It is allowing His holy teachings to abide in us, elevating our thoughts and governing our words in every setting, purifying and consecrating our actions unto Him.” – Elder Ulisses Soares

"To the Savior, we’re never lost in the crowd. He knows how to reach us — through a hymn, a smile, a kind word, and sometimes through people we least expect. – Elder Clement M. Matswagothata

“Discipleship was never meant to be a comfortable circle of familiar friends focused on their own interests. Rather, our congregations are a beautiful mosaic — enriched by diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences.” – Elder Gérald Caussé

“I wonder what it’s like for a loving Heavenly Father to send His most precious belongings, His children, away from their heavenly home, knowing they must pass through challenges of mortality. I suppose His comfort is knowing they do not travel alone.” – Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Five Chains

 

Last night we watched the crew of the Artemis II return to earth after eleven days in space. It was a lot like watching paint dry, which is exactly how I remember the Apollo moon missions some 50 or 60 years ago. That’s kind of how NASA rolls. If absolutely nothing has happened for two hours or more, things are going well. If things go badly, they go badly pretty fast. Just like with the Apollo missions, I’m obsessing about the onboard menu. Only this time, it isn’t Tang and Space Food Sticks. The crew of the Artemis II enjoyed BBQ beef brisket, mac & cheese, and broccoli au gratin. Because stored water still tastes stale, they had several add-water-and-stir beverage options. They ate lots of tortillas, because other breads leave crumbs floating around. The crew tasted and approved all the dishes before they left, which is probably another big improvement over the Apollo fare.

Gold Star

 

Odd facts to keep you up at night:

In spite of its name, the strawberry isn’t a true berry. Neither is the raspberry or blackberry. On the other hand, the banana is scientifically a berry. So are oranges, eggplants and grapes.

The moon is slowly moving away from the earth, at just under four centimeters per year. Coincidentally, that’s roughly how fast your fingernails grow.

Froot Loops come in different colors, but only one flavor. It’s a combination of orange, lemon, cherry, raspberry, apple, blueberry and lime that’s called tutti frutti (meaning all fruits). If they taste different to you, your eyes are fooling your tongue.

Flamingo legs look like their knees are bending backwards. But what look like knees to us are actually their ankles. Flamingos’ knees are tucked up under their bellies.

Octopuses have three hearts. One heart circulates blood around the body, while the other two pump it past the gills, to pick up oxygen.

Pink Bunny

 

Chances are, somewhere on your car’s dashboard, there’s a little icon that looks like a gas pump with an arrow. The arrow either points to the right or the left, showing which side of your car should be nearest the gas pump when you go to refill your tank. The guy you should thank for this: James Moylan. James was an engineer working for Ford Motor Company in the 80’s. He came up with the idea after a frustrating experience at a gas station. He realized lots of people – especially those in borrowed or rented vehicles – have to guess which side the gas cap is on when they pull up to the station. If they guess wrong, they inconvenience everyone to reposition. The 1989 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer were among the first cars to feature the helpful little icon. Today, gas tank indicators are standard in nearly every new car worldwide.

Snail's Trail

 

In 1846, an explorer collected a desert snail in Egypt and sent it back to London for the museum's collection. Presumed to be just an empty shell, it was mounted on a piece of cardboard for exhibition. It sat there, apparently lifeless, until 1850. One day, a curator named William Baird noticed something odd. There was a bit of moisture on the cardboard near the snail's shell, suggesting it might not be dead after all. Baird carefully removed the snail from the card and placed it in a bowl with a little warm water. To the astonishment of the museum staff, the snail slowly emerged from its shell. It had survived the entire time without food or water in a state of deep torpor. The snail was given a new home in a glass jar and became a minor celebrity. It lived for another two years on a diet of fresh cabbage leaves.

Thirty-Five ABC Blocks

 

Our daffodils bloomed early this year. They were lovely in late February, but they’re long gone now. The tulips we bought three years ago have been fruitful and multiplied, and they’re putting on a really impressive show. That’s surprising, because I know squirrels LOVE to munch on tulip bulbs, and we have so many hungry squirrels. The tulips may have survived because we planted them side by side with flowers the squirrels don’t like. Daffodils have lycorine, a toxin that squirrels tend to avoid. Allium – those tall flowers that look like balls on sticks – aren’t toxic, but they have a bitter taste and pungent aroma that squirrels dislike. Other flowers that drive away squirrels are hyacinth, anemone, Dutch iris, star of Bethlehem, lily of the valley, winter aconite, grape hyacinth, snowdrop, Siberian squill, glory-of-the-snow and fritillaria. I'm told onion and garlic will keep the squirrels away, too. It's worth trying.

A New Turning Point

 

“In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we know that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are aware of our circumstances and that They yearn to bless us.” – President Henry B. Eyring

"From the beginning of time God has taught his children to put him first in their lives. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to put God first in our lives.” – Elder Jorge T. Becerra 

“In a spiritual context, enduring is far more than merely persevering tenaciously to complete demanding duties or challenges.” – Elder David A. Bednar

“When we minister, we are helping to answer each other’s prayers. We are the Savior’s hands.” – Kristin M. Yee

"It isn't really where we serve, but how, that matters to the Lord. He needs you, and He needs me. Life is better, everything is better, when we are about His business.” – Elder Patrick Kearon

Four Chain Blocks

 

Cherry Pie Bars

 

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold butter, cubed

1 egg

1/2 cup cold water

1 tablespoon vinegar

6 cups pitted cherries

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until it resembles small peas. In a smaller bowl, whisk together egg, water and vinegar. Combine with flour mixture until dough forms. Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap and chill 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool. Roll out half the dough to line bottom of 9x13” baking dish. Spread cherry filling over bottom crust. Roll out remaining dough and place over filling. Seal edges and cut some slits to release steam. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes. Cool before cutting into bars.

Forty-Nine Flags

 

I read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island in my early teens. It left me with a burning desire to become a pirate. I knew this career might mean I’d end up with an eye patch, a peg leg or a hook. But those were small concerns compared with the promise of treasure and the lure of the open sea. Alas, my buccaneer dreams never saw fruition. Maybe I was just born too early. Since the fall of 2011, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has offered a pirate certificate for undergraduate students who complete specific physical education courses, including archery, fencing, pistol shooting, and sailing. MIT is quick to point out the certificate is not a stand-alone credential and does not grant license to engage in piracy or related activities. The pirate program has a waitlist, but well over 300 students and alumni are already proud recipients. Matt Damon received an honorary certificate after the movie, The Martian.

Spring Checkerboard

 

If you’ve read Cheaper by the Dozen, or seen the 1950 movie, you know about Frank Gilbreth. But you don’t know Lillian’s story. Lillian and Frank were married in 1904. Together, they raised a dozen children. They also pioneered a field that is now known as industrial and organizational psychology. They studied how people do things in the workplace, and formulated ways to make work more effective. Frank’s focus was on mechanics; Lillian’s was on people: fatigue, error and human behavior. Frank died of a heart attack in 1924, leaving Lillian to support twelve children. Their clientele, assuming Frank was the brains of the operation, disappeared. So, Lillian turned her attention to productivity in the home. Lillian interviewed thousands of housewives to understand their needs. She invented the foot-pedal trash can. She rearranged refrigerator shelving to make it more ergonomically efficient. She designed the “kitchen work triangle” – stove, sink and fridge – still used in homes today.

Sparrow Block

 

Perks of being over fifty:

Kidnappers aren’t generally interested in you.

In a hostage situation, you’re likely to be the first one released.

No one expects you to run anywhere.

You no longer see speed limit signs as challenges.

If people call you after 8:00 p.m., they ask, “Did I wake you?”

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There’s probably nothing left to learn the hard way.

The things you buy now will probably not have time to wear out.

You can eat your supper at 4:30 p.m., and no one questions it.

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends, because they can’t remember them either.

Garden Charm

 

“A testimony is not given for temporary use. This gift from our loving Heavenly Father is meant to be eternal because the giver is eternal. A testimony should not have an expiration date. It should not weaken or diminish because something in my life has changed or something in the world has changed. It should get stronger because, like the servant’s talents in the parable of the talents, my testimony is a gift to be multiplied—not buried. Looking back on the difficult days of testing and persecution I went through as a child has helped me get to the place where I now know for myself. I not only believe, hope, or trust, even though these are significant particles of faith on the pathway to a sure witness. I commend you for making your own way by asking questions, studying, praying, fasting, and pondering. Please don’t stop. It is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony.” – Elder Kevin G. Brown

Chain Block

 

Today’s story is about an interesting woman – Oberon Sinclair. Until I discovered her, I’d only known Oberon as king of the fairies in Midsummer Night’s Dream, the last name of the actress who starred in the REAL Wuthering Heights, and Uranus’ outermost moon. Oberon Sinclair is a publicist. Apparently, one morning in 2011 she woke up and said, “I think I’ll get everyone to eat kale.” Until she did, I don’t think anyone ate kale. Ever. Remember when Pizza Hut was a dine-in restaurant with a salad bar? Kale was the decorative green cardboard stuff they crammed between the ice and the actual food. Ms. Sinclair invented the non-existent “American Kale Association.” Now suddenly it’s posh to nosh kale. It went from an inedible weed to a luxury superfood. People whip it up in smoothies. They bake crispy kale chips. They sneak kale into salads, muffins, and omelets. Amazing what the right PR campaign can do.

Thirty-Six Flags

 

The game of backgammon has been around for nearly 5000 years. It’s one of the world’s oldest games, and is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia. During the 16th century, the Catholic church banned the game, which instantly made it much more popular. People played in secret, and made foldable boards that could hide in plain sight. The name of the game may refer to the fact checkers can be “sent back,” or it may come from some very old words meaning, “game on a table.” The twenty-four points on the backgammon board represent twenty-four hours in a day, while thirty checkers (fifteen for each player) represent the thirty days of the month. Famous people who’ve loved playing backgammon include Lucille Ball, Omar Sharif, Hugh Hefner, Taylor Swift, Leo DiCaprio, Kiera Knightley, Chris Rock, and Toby MacGuire. I learned to play while I was still in my teens, and seldom go twenty-four hours without a game.

Kitty Cat

 

Quilt Etc. in Sandy did a block-of-the-month class the first Saturday every month. They started in 2003, but I didn’t join until the following year. I made every block, even while we lived overseas. I’d still be at it, if COVID hadn’t killed it in 2020. I was happy to find the Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge in 2001. There were free downloadable patterns for 16 blocks per year, all of them ten inches finished. There was a pattern for completing each sixteen-block quilt, but I was usually happier to design my own settings. The sampler quilts I made over the past five years were beautiful. The block challenge didn’t quite replace Quilt Etc.’s monthly classes, but almost. Until this year. I’ve been unhappy with all the blocks in the 2026 challenge. They’re uninspired and uninspiring. They’re unnecessarily busy, and the colors bicker with each other. They lack elegance, and I don’t know how to fix this.

Center Pieces

 

“How do we become and help one another become devoted disciples of Jesus Christ? We minister to the one. Ministering in the Savior’s way involves compassion, kindness, patience, and love without judgment. As we minister to the one, we invite the one to come unto Christ and to worship in the house of the Lord to receive of His redeeming power. In other words, we help one another become devoted disciples as we minister to the one in ways that lead to the house of the Lord. We learn from Jesus Christ the power of ministering to the one with love and without judgment. You remember the Samaritan woman at the well. This woman may have felt unimportant, alone, discouraged, and unseen. She may have felt she did not belong. Yet she was one of the first to whom Jesus Christ declared He was the Messiah. To Him, this woman was a daughter of God.” – Elder Peter M. Johnson

Eight Dancing Stars Plus One

 

The third Saturday of March is National Quilting Day. This year, it’s today: Saturday March 21. National Quilting Day is set aside to appreciate quilters, their skills, and the art of quilting. The holiday was the brainchild in 1992 of the National Quilting Association. Before it became known as National Quilting Day, it was called “Quilter’s Day Out,” founded by the Kentucky Quilting Association. Although it’s called “National,” this is really a global event, involving workshops, trunk shows, and the sharing of stories behind generations of handmade quilts. You can celebrate by visiting a quilting museum, or any museum where quilts are on display. You can share photos and stories of the quilts handed down in your own family with younger family members or on social media. You can sign up for a quilting class, air out the quilts in your cupboard, or rotate the quilts in your home. Or simply spend the day sewing. I won’t judge.

Twenty-Five Rail Fence Blocks

 

Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make Yourself Happier:

Spend money on other people. The happiest people are givers.

Try something new; a new route, a new hobby, a new passion. Shake things up.

Expose yourself to more blue. The color blue boosts confidence and cuts stress.

Stop defending your point of view. Even if you convince the other guy (and you won't) it won’t make you happy.

Go to church. People who attend regularly are more contented and more stable.

Sleep at least six hours at night.

Slash your commute to 20 minutes. Find a job near home or a house nearer work.

Make sure you can count at least 10 friends. Real friends, not just the facebook variety.

Fake it until you make it. Smile. It really will make you feel better.

Find yourself a romantic relationship. If you’re already in a relationship, simply add more romance. – from Meredith Galante of Business Insider

Yellow Bloom

 Brown Butter Banana Bread Cookies

 

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup mashed ripe banana

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chocolate chips

 

Place butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter melts and turns golden brown. Pour into bowl and let cool 10 minutes. Stir in banana and sugars. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Scoop dough onto a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350F 10 to 12 minutes until edges are golden. Cool on pan a few minutes before moving to baking rack.

Four Cake Stands

 

Oddly specific life tips:

Live east of your job. Driving into the sun both ways will mean you start and end your day with a headache.

Befriend security, housekeeping, maintenance and IT techs. Find those who serve and learn to serve them back.

If you can read a recipe, you can cook. Find recipes you like and cook them. Eat out as little as possible.

Develop the habit of reading every day: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, everything.

Remember you’re your oldest, truest friend. Don’t miss out on things because you have no one to do them with. Get comfortable attending movies alone, dining alone, traveling alone.

If it won’t matter in five years, don’t dwell on it more than five minutes.

Show up for parents with a new baby, people dealing with illness, people mourning a loved one. Bonus points if you bring a homemade meal. If there’s a funeral, try to attend.

Green Bow Tie

 

I haven’t had a professional manicure in over a decade. I was never a regular customer; I’d go in from time to time if I needed a morale boost or wanted to look particularly nice. But the last time I had a mani-pedi, the salon’s proprietor used a razor to remove a callous on my heel, and it bled for three days. Maybe someday I’ll have the guts to go back. Meanwhile, I manage well enough on my own. I have all the tools I need: a decent set of nail clippers, a nail file, a buffer, cuticle oil, and an orange cuticle stick. I don’t generally wear nail polish, and I keep my nails very trim. With all the things I use my hands to do, long nails and nail polish would just be a nuisance. I even make my own exfoliant scrub: half a cup of sugar (white or brown), three tablespoons of olive oil, and two tablespoons of honey.

Turning Point

 

“God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to declare repentance. Jonah promptly heads the exact opposite direction. As he sails away from his calling, a ship-wrecking storm develops. Certain his disobedience is the cause, Jonah volunteers to be thrown overboard. This calms the raging sea, saving his shipmates. Miraculously, Jonah escapes death when a great fish swallows him. He languishes in that dark, putrid place three days, until he’s spit out on dry ground. He then accepts his call to Nineveh. Yet, when the city repents and is spared destruction, Jonah resents the mercy shown his enemies. God patiently teaches Jonah He loves and seeks to rescue all His children. Jonah provides a vivid testimony: in mortality, all are fallen. Here on earth, weeds grow, strong bones break, and all come short of the glory of God. But this mortal condition is essential to the very reason we exist: that we might have joy!” – Elder Matthew S. Holland

Six Dancing Stars

 

Ian Fleming described his James Bond as a tall man, and most of the actors who’ve played the fictional agent fit that description. Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, and Pierce Brosnan were all six feet and two inches. Roger Moore was half an inch shorter. David Niven was 5’ 11” and Daniel Craig is five foot ten. When “You Only Live Twice” was filmed, Toyota produced two custom-built 2000GT Roadster convertibles, because without the open top, Sean Connery couldn’t fit in the hard-topped version. At least one of these two cars is in someone’s private collection. If you want a chance to see it, it will be on display later this month at the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A. Incidentally, most famous non-Bond creation was about a racecar with a life of its own: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And the fellow who wrote the screenplay for “You Only Live Twice” was children’s author Roald Dahl.

Twenty-Five Flags

 

The Niantic was one of the first whaling vessels to bring gold-seekers to Yerba Buena (later named San Francisco). The ship was run aground and abandoned during the gold rush, where it was repurposed as a storehouse, saloon, and hotel until it was ultimately destroyed in an 1851 fire. The Niantic was rediscovered in 1978 during excavation for the Mark Twain Plaza Complex near the Transamerica Pyramid – six blocks from the current waterfront. At least forty and as many as sixty ships lie under the buildings, streets and sidewalks of San Francisco. The Euphemia, a ship once used as a jail, was found in 1921 under Battery and Sacramento Streets. The whaling ship Candace was excavated under Spear and Folsom streets in 2005. The General Harrison located under 425 Battery Street at Clay, was discovered in 2001. Archeologist James Delgado calls the area “a site that to the rest of the world is a Pompeii; a gold rush Pompeii.”

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.