Chicken Scratch Patch (My Way)

“I picture you excitedly finding time and a quiet place to read the Book of Mormon. I see you discovering answers, feeling guidance, and gaining your own testimony of the Book of Mormon and a testimony of Jesus Christ. As you look to the book, you look to the Lord. I bear testimony of the Restoration of the gospel in these latter days and of the Book of Mormon as tangible evidence of that Restoration. The truths you will find there will uplift and inspire you. They will strengthen your faith, fill your soul with light, and prepare you for a future you scarcely have the ability to comprehend. You will discover the infinite love and incomprehensible grace of God. As you strive to follow the teachings you find there, your joy will expand, your understanding will increase, and the answers you seek to the many challenges mortality presents will be opened to you. As you look to the book, you look to the Lord.” – Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Cracker Jax Prize

This is the ninth block in Marti Michell’s block-of-the-month quilt, Pinwheel Roundabout. The prints are lovely and I’ve enjoyed piecing the blocks, but they’ve given me this odd sense of déjà vu. I finally figured out why. I’ve actually made every one of these – twice – in the autumn of 2012 when I participated in that year’s Patchwork Party. The prints were very different then: paisleys and near-solids in green, purple, magenta and rust from the Arabella Rose collection by Marianne Elizabeth for RJR fabrics. This year’s prints are Roses on the Vine by Marti Michell for Maywood Studios: blues, green, pink and red. The blocks six years ago had square-in-a-square centers, while these have fussy-cut floral centers. Their names have been slightly altered, too. But aside from that they’re the same blocks. I don’t know whether to be pleased with myself that I recognized them, or to be embarrassed that it took me nearly nine months.

Nine Eight-Pointed Stars

When I was a little girl it was Kentucky Fried Chicken, but somewhere along the line it changed to KFC. I guess a lot of us are okay with eating fried food just so long as we don’t call it “fried.” Before it had either of these names, it was Sanders Court and Buffet. The first KFC franchise was opened in Salt Lake City in 1952 by “Colonel” Harlan Sanders. But Sanders had been selling his “secret recipe” chicken at a roadside stand in North Corbin, Kentucky since the Great Depression. According to rumors, the 17 herbs and spices include sage, savory, thyme, basil, oregano, black pepper, white pepper, mustard, paprika, ginger, garlic salt, celery salt and table salt. Even if MSG is in there, we’re still missing a few. July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day; a good day to plan a picnic with biscuits, baked beans, slaw, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a bucket of finger-licking goodness.

Poppie

“Anyone who has ever been able to sustain a good work has had at least one person – and often many – who believed in him or her. We just don’t get to be competent human beings without many different investments from others. In fact, from the time you were very little, you’ve had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving. So on this extra special day, let’s take some time to think of those extra special people. Some of them may be right here. Some may be far away. Some may even be in Heaven. No matter where they are, deep down you know they’ve always wanted what was best for you. They’ve always cared about you beyond measure and have encouraged you to be true to the best within you. Let’s just take a minute of silence to think about those people now.” – Fred Rogers

Old Glory

I realized the other day in just eight years our country will celebrate its 250th birthday. As I write this I can hear my high school history teacher, Frank Gallucci, laughing. Mr. Gallucci passed away in April of this year at the age of 86. I was his student when the US celebrated its bicentennial. He thought crowing about 200 years was silly, given that Rome has been around for 28 centuries. But honestly, how many nations have had the same form of government for more than 200 years? Our founding fathers were willing to risk their lives, their fortunes and their honor to create what they felt would be the greatest nation the world had ever known – where individual freedom would be fiercely protected and federal government strictly limited. We should celebrate their vision, not with parades, fireworks and flags, but by being informed and involved in our political process. Our founding fathers – and Mr. Gallucci – would be so proud.

Twenty-five Cotton Reels

“It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed.” - Laura McBride, We Are Called to Rise

Four Eight-Point Stars

“God will strengthen, help, and uphold us; and He will sanctify to us our deepest distress. When we gather our family histories and go to the temple on behalf of our ancestors, God fulfills many of these promised blessings simultaneously on both sides of the veil. Similarly, we are blessed when we help others in our wards and stakes do the same. Members who do not live close to a temple also receive these blessings by participating in family history work, collecting the names of their ancestors for temple ordinances to be performed. President Russell M. Nelson cautioned: ‘We can be inspired all day long about temple and family history experiences others have had. But we must do something to actually experience the joy ourselves.’ I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice—preferably a sacrifice of time—you can make to do more temple and family history work.” – Elder Dale G. Renlund