Blooming Love

I used to own a copy of Margot Zemach’s picture book, “It Could Always Be Worse.” It’s an old Yiddish story about a poor man who lives with his large, noisy family in a tiny house. He complains about his lot and the rabbi tells him to move his chickens into the crowded house. This, of course, doesn’t improve the situation. One by one, the rabbi has the poor man move all his farm animals out of the barn and into the house. At the story’s end, his advice is to move them all back out again. Without the livestock, the house is peaceful and the man is content. Happiness is so often a matter of perspective. This is a difficult time for all of us, physically, emotionally and financially. But we have running water, power, and even Internet access. The garbage is being collected, and goods are delivered to our doors. It could be so much worse.

Square Within a Square

We moved back from England eight years ago, in early January. One of the first things we did after arriving was to look up the local young adult special needs group. Heather had been missing her friends and was eager to reconnect with them. Her birthday was that same week, and one of the leaders – Sandi Martin – gave her a large ceramic mug with a bag of this mix. You can buy similar mixes in the store now, but we still make Cake-in-a-Cup this way: Stir together two boxes of cake mix (one of them must be angel food, and we usually choose devil’s food for the other). Store in an airtight container until you want a quick dessert for one. In a microwave-safe mug, stir together 3 tablespoons of mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Microwave for 1 minute. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Mystery Row Quilt

“I come this evening with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I’m suggesting that we accentuate the positive. I’m asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I’m not suggesting our conversation be all honey. Clever expression that is sincere and honest is a skill to be sought and cultivated. What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism. Let our faith replace our fears. When I was a boy, my father often said to us, ‘Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.’” – President Gordon B. Hinckley

Safe at Home

Troubling or frightening news is always easy to find, and these past few weeks have been especially ominous. But even now, the news isn’t ALL bad. Sure, all your favorite sporting events have all been cancelled or postponed. But you can take a walk (or a run) in the park, or you can teach your kids to play Wiffle ball. You can’t go out to dinner, but you can learn to be a better cook. You can’t see a movie or a play, but you can immerse yourself in a good book (or three). You might be struggling with working from home or worse – you might be out of work for a time. But you’re not fighting traffic or dealing with a long commute. When this is over, we may look back on this spring as a time with far fewer car accidents and much cleaner air. As the saying goes, it’s an ill wind that blows no good.

Four Friendship Stars

Porschia, a senior toy poodle, was resting on her front porch in Whitehall, Pennsylvania on a chilly day in February. She must have looked like a tasty meal to a large hawk, who snatched her off the porch and carried her away. Her owner, Deborah Falcione, frantically searched for her lost pet, but found no trace of her. As night fell and temperatures dropped well below freezing, Deborah feared the worst. The next day she received a call from a local animal clinic with an elderly dog in their care. Deborah was skeptical. “This is a six-and-a-half-pound dog,” she said. “She’s blind, she’s deaf. She’s sixteen years old.” The hawk had dropped Porschia into a neighbor’s yard, and the neighbor had taken the little dog – shaken, but unhurt – to the vet. “I’ve no idea how she got away. How she survived it, I’ll never know. But I know one thing: By the grace of God, this dog is still alive.”

Windmills

“Parents, what we are being asked to do is not humanly possible. There is a reason we are either a working parent, a stay-at-home parent, or a part-time working parent. Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time. It’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much. Do the best you can. When you have to pick, because at some point you will, choose connection. Pick playing a game over arguing about an academic assignment. Pick teaching your child to do laundry rather that feeling frustrated that they aren’t helping. Pick laughing, and snuggling, and reminding them that they are safe. If you are stressed, lower your expectations where you can and virtually reach out for social connection. We are in this together to stay well. That means mentally well, too.” – Emily W. King, PhD

Friendship Star

Spaghetti al Limone

1/4 cup olive oil

Grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tablespoons juice

1 cup cream

1 pound spaghetti

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While water is heating, make the sauce. Combine the olive oil and lemon zest in a large saucepan. Set the pan on low heat and cook, stirring now and again, until zest starts to sizzle gently. Stir in cream and raise heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until cream just begins to simmer, 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in the lemon juice. Sauce will thicken slightly. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm. Cook spaghetti until al dente. Transfer spaghetti to saucepan. Toss gently to combine. Add cheese, pepper and herbs. Serve with more Parmesan sprinkled on top.