Hopes and Wishes

Friday the 13th will happen twice in 2017: today and in October. In many parts of the world, it’s considered an unlucky day. It’s amazing how many apparently random things are seen as lucky or unlucky. Walking under a ladder is unlucky. Is it because something (or someone) might drop on you? Opening an umbrella is bad luck, maybe because you’re liable to get rainwater on the floor or to poke someone in the eye. Besides, if you NEED an umbrella indoors, you've got bigger problems than luck. When you find a penny and pick it up, on the other hand, it’s supposed to be very lucky thing. I absolutely subscribe to this one. Every single time I see an abandoned penny, I pocket it. At the very least, it’s made me one penny richer. A rabbit’s foot is also considered good luck. I can’t quite wrap my head around that one. It was clearly not lucky for the rabbit, right?

One More Block

I didn’t discover Judy Hopkins’ books until shortly after she passed away in 2011. She shared my passion for using modern methods to produce traditional quilt blocks. (Or maybe I share hers.) Today’s pattern was the penultimate offering in Kathryn Kerr’s 365 Quilt Block Challenge last month, with Judy Hopkins’ name for it. I KNOW I’ve seen it someplace else under a different name. But nearly two weeks of searching my library and the Internet have produced nothing. I still like this block, even with its underwhelming title. I find the positive/negative balance and radial symmetry very appealing. It reminds me a lot of Crow’s Foot, Contrary Wife and Union Square blocks, only with a two-patch block in the center. Today’s block is destined for a sampler top, but it might be fun to make an entire quilt using this one block pattern.

The Range's Pride

Here's another Olive Garden knock-off. I love the way it tastes almost as much as I love the way it makes my kitchen smell.

Slow-Cooker Zupa Toscana

 

1 pound spicy Italian bulk sausage

1 20-ounce bag diced potatoes and onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 quart chicken stock

A few handfuls kale (Remove stems and tear into bite-size pieces.)

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons flour

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch of red pepper flakes 

Brown sausage over medium-high heat. The last minute or two, add garlic. Drain and dump into slow cooker. Add chicken stock and bag of diced potatoes and onion. Cover and cook on low for six to eight hours. About 30 minutes before dinnertime, whisk flour and cream together and add to pot. Toss in kale and stir. Re-cover and continue cooking 30 more minutes. Season and serve hot with crusty bread.

Jacob's Ladder

One of my favorite movies is Music and Lyrics. It’s just so elegantly written: “Why do you have a plant lady? Why do you even have plants?” “Because, from time to time, ladies accompany me back to the apartment and one of them once mentioned that plants make women comfortable.” “Is that true? Plants make women comfortable? Maybe if I had plants I'd still be married?” “Yes, I think that was the problem; not Susan's affair and raging nymphomania but your lack of vegetation.” See what I mean? I wish I could write like that. Today is Houseplant Appreciation Day – a good day to give the vegetable residents of your household a little TLC. Trim off any dead leaves. Let the tap water come to room temperature before you give the houseplants a drink, as cold water can shock their tropical roots. Take good care of them, because a little vegetation can make us all more comfortable.

Pine Tree

 “As you center your home on the Savior, it will naturally become a refuge not only to your own family but also to friends who live in more difficult circumstances. They will be drawn to the serenity they feel there. Welcome such friends into your home. They will blossom in that Christ-centered environment. Become friends with your children’s friends. Be a worthy example to them. One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.” – Elder Richard G. Scott

Bright Star

It’s hard to imagine now, but 31 years ago almost no one knew the sex of their baby before the baby’s birth. Obstetric ultrasound has been around since before I was born, but until very recently it was only used if there was a reason to expect something was wrong with the baby. That’s why, until the moment we met her, we didn’t know our fourth child would be a girl. Or that she’d be born with Down syndrome. Her life – and ours – is very different from what it would have been without that extra chromosome. By now, if she was “normal,” Heather might have a college diploma, a job, a car and a home of her own. She might have become someone’s wife or someone’s mother. Those are wonderful things, but so is the person she is now. And I wouldn’t trade knowing her and being her mom for the whole world. Happy birthday, Heather!