Cross Within a Cross

Owen Suskind was apparently a normal toddler until he was three. Suddenly his language skills started unraveling. He became a frustrated, moody child, unable to utter anything but gibberish. He was diagnosed with regressive autism. Doctors told his parents Cornelia and Ron Suskind (the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist) that Owen might never speak again; many children never do. Owen’s only comfort was Disney movies like “Dumbo,” “Bambi,” “Peter Pan,” “The Lion King” and “Aladdin.” He watched them over and over until he had every line memorized. His mom and dad discovered they could communicate with their son if they spoke as animated characters, using Disney plush dolls as puppets. Today Owen is an energetic 23-year-old just finishing school. He’s thrilled to be living on his own in an assisted living center on Cape Cod. He’s also excited about a new film based on his dad’s best seller – Life Animated – that documents his amazing journey.

Wyoming Valley

Things to remember when visiting Yellowstone:

It’s not THAT kind of park. Trails and boardwalks are there for a reason. Step off, and you could join dozens of people killed by geysers and hot pots.

It’s not a petting zoo. The animals aren’t tame, and they aren’t animatronic. Stay at least 100 yards from wolves and bears, and at least 25 yards from all the rest.

It’s not a garden. Pick a wildflower and it won’t be there for others to enjoy tomorrow. It won’t spread seeds for everyone to enjoy next year.

It’s not your back yard. Watch children closely. Don’t let them wander off. Don’t let them feed the animals.

It’s not a landfill. Leave no trace that you were here: not empty water bottles, not used diapers, not even apple cores or pistachio shells.

It IS lovely. Take lots of pictures. Then leave Yellowstone exactly the way you found it.

Virginia Reel

Irving’s Cucumber Salad

2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced

1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup water

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced cucumber and onion. In a small saucepan, combine the salt, water, vinegar, and sugar, heating slightly to dissolve the sugar. Add the celery seeds and mustard seeds. Pour over the onion and cucumber. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least twenty-four hours before serving.

Union Square

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines. Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning.” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Olive

This is the ninth Moda Frivol, with prints from the Lella Boutique line called “Little Miss Sunshine.” It used ALL of the 42 seven inch squares included in the tin, plus a yard and a half of white for the background (I managed with scraps from two other projects). The block – The Big O – is the easiest so far. It was lucky I opened this tin the day my five-year-old grandson had a sleepover at Nana’s. He was eager to help with the piecing, and a more complicated block wouldn’t have suited. I was concerned about how well navy would get along with yellow, coral, baby blue and fern green. Now that the top is together, I can see navy was an important component. I may even use it for the binding. The surprise in this tin was a tiny coloring book. I'll stick it in my purse with a few colored pencils - in case of boredom.

Buckwheat

On a warm Friday night in June, 100 underprivileged kids from the Dallas area were invited to a sleepover at the Cowboys football stadium. Lined up on the field were ten rows and ten columns of brand-new beds, all decked out with royal blue sheets, pillowcases and comforters that bore the team’s signature silver star. On each bed was a swag bag containing a teddy bear, pajamas, a football, a ball cap and other goodies. For one night, these kids who had never had a bed to call their own, got to eat pizza, watch a movie on the big screen, hang out with football players and cheerleaders, and sleep in real beds. Thanks to Ashley Furniture and their Hope to Dream program, when the magical night was over, they got to keep the beds, too.