Framed Star Puzzle

We saw 31 new movies in 2014. The best of these were (in no particular order) The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lego Movie, X-men Days of Future Past, The Monuments Men and Guardians of the Galaxy. We put a lot of thought into our trips to the cinema. We avoid the horrid Friday and Saturday crowds by visiting on weeknights instead. The three movie houses near our home all offer serious discounts on Tuesdays. We sit in the center of the back row, so no one climbs over our knees or kicks the backs of our seats. We follow Rotten Tomatoes and the Internet Movie Database to see what’s coming and whether it’s worth our attention. In fact, we’re already excited about several films that will hit theaters in the coming months: McFarland, Cinderella, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tomorrowland, Jurassic World, Minions, Ant-Man, Inside Out and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Windy Days

“Think about your life and set your priorities. Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. We need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior did. Write down the tasks you would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules. Second, set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.” – Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr.

A Work in Progress

This is my design wall as it looks this very minute. The south wall of my sewing room is covered with a sheet of flannel-backed vinyl, turned with the flannel side towards the room. Just like with the flannel board you remember from Sunday school classes, cloth sticks to this without adhesive. I can arrange bits of fabric on it to design a new quilt block. I can also arrange quilt blocks, sashing and corner posts on it, then step back to see how the finished quilt will look before I start stitching them together. The thirty blocks on the wall today were made in 2014 with a line of 1930’s reproduction prints called Kimberly’s Garden by Fresh Water Designs. I’m working with them right now because these prints are in the clearance section at my local quilt shop. If I must buy two yards for borders, six yards for the back, and 3/4 yard for binding, I’d far rather pay half price.

Star and Cross Block

I don’t aspire to be a gourmand, and gourmet sounds a bit too posh for me. Instead I like to think of myself as a foodie. I also appreciate good cinema. I’m especially fond of flicks in which a particular food or cooking in general plays a major part. My favorite foodie movies (two words that are fun to say together) are: The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014), Julie and Julia (2009), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), No Reservations (2007), Ratatouille (2007), Over the Hedge (2006), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Chocolat (2000), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), and A Grand Day Out (1989). I wish I could say I liked Chef (2014) half as well as any of these. I loved the cast, the plot, and especially the food. It should have been a great film. But the relentless swearing made it hard to enjoy any of it. If I ever watch it again, I’m turning the sound off.

Corner Crossing

When we were planning to build our last house, the pipes froze and burst in the model home in our new subdivision. The model used the same plans as ours, so the event really caught our attention. The developers winterized their sprinkler system before the cold set in. They’d disconnected hoses from outside faucets. But they were in the habit of lowering the thermostat in the model home at night to save money; something I’m sure they ended up regretting. The pipe that burst was under the kitchen sink, near an exterior wall. Opening the cupboard under the sink might have prevented a destructive mess. They might have wrapped the pipe with heat tape or left the kitchen faucet slowly dripping at night. In my current home there are four faucets against exterior walls. I worry about them all when the temperature drops. Our builders had plumbers, drywallers and painters at their beck and call. We don’t.