Montana

Montana was the forty-first state admitted to the Union November 8, 1889. Its nicknames are “Big Sky Country” and “The Treasure State.” Montana is a great place to avoid during the winter months. I was there briefly on a concert tour in January in the late 70's. One of the locals told me it only snows once a year in Montana. The rest of the winter they just recycle the snow. It sounded like one of those fables people tell tourists. But watching the bitter cold wind stripping fields bare of their snow drifts and piling it several feet deep in the highway, I began to wonder if he wasn’t telling the truth. Today is also Election Day. No matter which state you call home, a lot of people gave their lives so you’d have the right to vote. Time to stand up and be counted!

Broken Star

Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day. I don’t need an excuse to eat dark chocolate or almonds, but if you’re the sort of person who does, read on. Chocolate is full of antioxidants. Antioxidants can inhibit oxidation and the production of free radicals. That’s a fancy way to say eating more chocolate will keep you young. And since dark chocolate has more antioxidants and less fat and sugar, it’s an even better choice. Almonds are also a healthy snack because they’re high in monounsaturated fats, which are believed to reduce the risk of heart disease. The other day I ran across a book by Janet Jones Worley called “Quilts for Chocolate Lovers.” It was filled with quilt patterns with yummy names like, “Black Forest” and “Bridge Mix.” A creative hobby like quilting can bring down your blood pressure and increase your sense of well-being. What could be healthier than quilting while eating chocolate and almonds?

Knight and Day

If you’re living in the United States you’ll want to turn your clocks back an hour tonight before you head off to bed. In the UK we did this exactly seven days ago. So for the past week we’ve been only six hours ahead of our family and friends in Utah, instead of the usual seven. We won’t be messing with our clocks tonight. We have far more interesting things to do with our evening. Tonight is Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night. After sunset we’ll walk to the Stray where there will be an enormous crowd, even if there is pouring rain (as there usually is). Harrogate is expecting at least 11,000 people to show up, rain or no rain. There will be a huge bonfire and fireworks to celebrate the failure of a plot to blow up the House of Lords in 1605. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Magnolia Court

We learned just last night that we’ll be moving back to the States a bit earlier than we’d originally planned; the first week of January rather than the first week of April. I’m so pleased. It will be wonderful to be back with my kids, my siblings, my mom and especially my grandson. It will be nice to return to the land of ubiquitous public rest rooms, wide straight roads and free parking lots. But there are several things about England I’ll be sorry to leave. I’ll miss the year-round green trees and green grass. I’ll miss being called, “Love” by nearly everyone I meet. I’ll miss seeing a price tag on an item in the store and handing exactly that amount to the cashier. Most of all I’ll miss the friends I’ve made here, especially the ones I quilt with one Thursday a month.

Housewife

Here’s a thought for National Housewife’s Day: When I was a child my friends had stay-at-home moms. I grew up thinking it was normal for mothers to be there when school let out. My kids had a stay-at-home mom, but many of their friends didn’t. Now that I’m a grandmother I know very few young parents who feel they can manage without two incomes. It’s sad, because they’ll never know how much they’re missing until it’s too late. They’re letting strangers raise their children. They’re sending a very vivid message that things (like a nice car, a big TV, dining out, etc.) are more important than people (like their own children). It takes courage, but becoming a stay-at-home mom is possible if you have a supportive husband, if you’re committed to being the most important person in your child’s life (at least for the first dozen or so years), and if you’re willing to sacrifice a few things for this very important goal.

Homespun

November 2nd is National Deviled Egg Day. So today’s post is obvious:

Classic Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Paprika or cayenne for a garnish

Remove yolks from egg whites and press them through a sieve into a bowl. Add mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Spoon yolk mixture into a zipable sandwich bag. Seal and cut a small corner off the bag with a pair of scissors. Squeeze the yolk into the egg white halves and sprinkle lightly with paprika or cayenne. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Eat within 24 hours. Makes one dozen deviled eggs. If you have any leftover yolk mixture after you’ve filled all the egg white halves, it makes a good sandwich filler.

Antique Tile

The first day of November is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. It’s celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico. It’s a day to remember and to pray for your ancestors, both distant and otherwise. In Mexico it’s celebrated with sweets that are shaped like skeletons or skulls. Mexicans typically observe Dia de los Muertos by visiting the graves of their ancestors and leaving gifts of flowers and food. Marigolds are usually the flower of choice, but I’m not exactly sure why. If you’re a parent or a grandparent, today would be a good day to tell the young people in your life what you know about your parents and your grandparents. If you’re not, it would be a terrific day to ask your parents and your grandparents to tell you about the people who came before them.