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?

Four Dancing Star Blocks

 

I was cleaning the freezer and discovered a package of chicken legs, forgotten under the frozen peas. They were freezer-burned and I almost tossed them. Then I realized they’d make excellent bone broth.

 

Roasted Tomato Soup

 

4 large Romas, halved

3 large heirloom tomatoes, quartered

1 pound red bells, quartered

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1 tablespoon butter

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup flour

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cups chicken bone broth

1 cup water

Salt, pepper to taste

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup cream

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

 

Preheat oven to 500F. Arrange vegetables on baking sheet. Roast 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes. Pulse in blender until smooth. In a large pot, heat butter and oil over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste and continue cooking and stirring another 2 minutes. Whisk in broth, water, and roasted vegetable paste. Bring to a boil; then add cream, sugar and basil. Season to taste; serve hot. 

Small Star

 

“President Nelson taught ‘children can learn the doctrine when they’re learning to sing just as much as they can learn the doctrine in a class.’ Primary songs can provide a reservoir of faith-filled sermons that point children to the Savior and help them develop devotion to His gospel. The scriptures teach the songs of the righteous coming from the heart are a delight to the Savior. I can only wonder at the delight the voices of the Savior’s youngest disciples bring. I know their prayerful songs reach heaven as expressions of faith to invite the Holy Spirit to confirm eternal truths and softly and tenderly invite others to accept the call of our Savior to follow Him and come home. As Elder Henry B. Eyring has reminded us, it is in those moments of feeling the Spirit that we have evidence of the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives.” – Tracy Y. Browning

Three Dozen ABC Blocks

 

Little habits can make a big difference. Here are some you may want to cultivate:

Wipe the sink when you finish using it.

Every night before bedtime, do a quick sweep of the kitchen floor.

Make your bed when you wake up. No matter how the rest of the day goes, you’ll have accomplished one thing!

Empty the waste bins before they overflow.

Clear the kitchen sink at the close of each day.

Keep a microfiber cloth handy in every room, just in case.

Do at least one load of laundry before 10:00 a.m.

Straighten the sofa cushions before leaving the living room.

Tidy up – at least a little – while you cook. Don’t leave it all for later.

Crack open windows for a short time every day, regardless of the temperature.

 If you’re overwhelmed by clutter, pick up and put away twelve things. You’ll be surprised how much it helps.

Dancing Stars Block

 

A few weeks ago, John ran to the grocery store for me. I’d put carrots down on the shopping list, but didn’t specify how many carrots were needed. He bought the largest bag he could find: five pounds of carrots for three people. Chilled, carrots will keep a long time, if you can fit them in the fridge. This recipe helped. Maybe I’ll use the rest for carrot cake, a stir fry, stew and carrot salad.

 

Gingered Carrots

 

1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2” thick chunks

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

 

Preheat oven to 375F. Place carrots and butter in 9x13” baking dish. Roast about 35 minutes, or until carrots are tender. Stir in remaining ingredients and continue to roast another 5 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 4 servings.

Five Large Sawtooth Stars

 

It’s a mistake I’d never have made if I saw this quilt kit in a store instead of online. I assumed it was a lap quilt or sofa throw, and these “large sawtooth star” blocks were about 8” finished. The price I paid wasn’t bad for a kit of that size. (That should have been my first clue. Isn’t absolutely EVERYTHING selling for about twice what you’d expect?) I didn’t realize my error until the package came in the mail and I started thumbing through the directions. These “large” stars are actually 4” finished, not eight. And the quilt, when it’s complete, will be just a bit larger than my state fair challenge quilts – somewhere between a wall hanging and a table topper. The finished quilt size was in the listing, plain as day. I just wasn't paying attention. It’s true what they say: he who will not read has no advantage over he who cannot read.

Twenty-five ABC Blocks

 

In all the years we knew Vanessa, she had two dogs: a Scottie named Lassie, and a westie named Scottie. When one would pass, it would be replaced with a similar dog with a hand-me-down name. All her pups were well-behaved (for terriers) and well-loved. Early in March 2017, Vanessa brought the newest Scottie for me to see. Little Lassie was eight weeks old; a fluffy handful of energy with needle-sharp teeth. She attacked my sofa cushions, my quilt and my fingers. And she won my heart. Lassie is eight today. That’s late-forties to sixties in dog years. She’s blind in one eye and more likely to be napping in the sunshine than when she was a little pup. But she still loves to do “zoomies” the entire length of the house, and she still “trees” the cat on our banister. Maybe, when Lassie passes, we should get another Scottie – and name her Lassie.

One Dozen New Log Cabins

 

I’ve known Carolyn since her children and mine were youngsters. She told me about the Italian mission she served, and about the years she and Val spent raising their young family in Milan. Carolyn’s daughters were my piano students for years. As they were both fluent in Italian, they taught me the real meanings of several of the Italian musical terms I’ve used all my life. They told me when a Italian child loses a tooth, the tooth is left on the mantle for the tooth mouse. And they taught me about the Befana; the witch who delivers gift on the eve of the epiphany. For many years I practiced making panettone so I could bring it to their home every January 6. It’s a complicated, time-consuming recipe, but it distracted me from the emptiness that hits at the end of the holidays. Carolyn’s been gone two epiphanies now. I’ll miss her always, but especially the first week of January.

Four Large Sawtooth Stars

 

“The Savior invites us, ‘Come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.’ I urge you to do this. Come unto our Heavenly Father. Take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. Identify with Him. Always remember Him. Strive to be like Him. Join Him in His work. Receive His power and blessings in your life. Etch His name in your heart, willingly and intentionally. This gives you standing before God and qualifies you for the Savior’s advocacy on your behalf. You will become an exalted inheritor in the kingdom of our Father in Heaven, a joint-heir with His Firstborn, our beloved Savior and Redeemer. He lives. I absolutely know it. He loves you. He gave His life for you. He pleads with you to come unto the Father through Him.” – Elder Dale G. Renlund

Sixteen ABC Blocks

 

Fruitcake gets no respect. Johnny Carson once said, “The worst gift is fruitcake. There’s only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.” Jon Ronson claimed, “Friends are the fruitcake of life—some nutty, some soaked in alcohol, some sweet.” Mike Leach was rather blunt about it: “There's a reason they only serve fruitcake once a year, because it's awful.” Many comics have weighed in on the fruit-studded treat: “The difference between fruitcake and a king cobra is one is poisonous, and the other is venomous.” “There's only one thing you can do with a fruitcake: use it as a doorstop.” Or, “How many fruitcakes does it take to change a lightbulb? None, you can't lift the fruitcake high enough.” January 3 is Fruitcake Toss Day – a time to dispose of the fruitcake someone sent you last month. You could either eat it, bin it, or send it to me.

Nine New Log Cabins

 

In 1958, sixteen-year-old William Leslie Arnold asked to borrow the car to take a date to a drive-in movie. His parents said no. So, he shot them both and buried them in the backyard. For two weeks, he told people his folks were on vacation. But when police questioned him, William confessed and led them to the bodies. He was given a life sentence, but eight years later, he and his cellmate escaped prison. The cellmate was quickly recaptured, but William vanished without a trace. Three months later, a man named John Vincent Damon married a divorced mother of four. In 1978, he divorced her and moved to Australia, where he remarried and had children of his own. “John” died at 69 in 2010. Then, in 2022, his son took a DNA test to learn more about his father’s family. Just like that, a decades-long cold case was solved, bringing a whole new meaning to Genesis 4:10.

January Door Banner

 

I’ve been thinking about whether to make a New Year’s resolution. I might like more structure to my days, but not nearly so much as when my kids all attended different schools. I think about Ursula K. Le Guin, who, over the course of a 60-year career, created an enormous body of literary work. I believe she accomplished this by knowing when she was productive, and when she was not:

 

5:30 a.m. – wake up, lie there and think.

6:15 a.m. – get up, eat breakfast – lots.

7:15 a.m. – get to work writing, writing, writing.

Noon – lunch.

1:00 to 3:00 p.m. – reading, music.

3:00 to 5:00 p.m. – correspondence, maybe house cleaning.

5:00 to 8:00 p.m. – make dinner, eat it.

After 8:00 p.m. – I tend to be very stupid. We won’t talk about this.

 

When she shared this schedule, Ursula had a young son. Who got him up, fed, dressed, to school and back? Was this, like many of her other works, fantasy?