Four Crowns

 “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mad About Plaid

 

The International Space Station is Earth’s only microgravity lab. There are scientific and technological experiments – either automated or conducted by crew members – that can only take place there. The station orbits our planet roughly every 90 minutes, which means in 24 hours it passes by about 16 times. But it’s almost impossible to see during the day and most of the night. You can only spot it when you’re in the dark and the space station is lit by the sun: shortly after sunset and before sunrise. Coincidentally, these are our favorite times for walking the dogs. So, for the past few months we’ve been entertaining ourselves (and anyone who will listen to us) by pointing out the space station as it moves across the sky. The next time it comes into view (in my neck of the woods) is Tuesday at 7:21 a.m. You can check spotthestation.nasa.gov to see when it’s visible where you live.

Island Living

 

I love the vibrant colors and creative designs of batik fabric, but I don’t use it very often. To make batik, artisans (usually in Java Island, Indonesia) start with 100% cotton fabric, treat it with beeswax, and then dye it by hand. To withstand the dyeing process, the fabric must have a tighter weave or denser thread count. This is why batik is stiffer than most quilt fabric. It feels more like sewing with paper than sewing with cloth. The finished product won’t be “cuddly,” so it’s better used in a wall hanging than a baby blanket. When working with batik, you should always use a fresh, sharp needle. Batik is less likely to fray than other cottons, but it will show wear in spots that have been sewn and unpicked. Items made with batik should be hand-washed and air-dried, so it makes a poor choice for a bed covering. Knowing this, I went and made one anyway. Silly me. 

Hovering Hawks

 

Parrots are harder to live with than most people realize. They’re messy, they bite, and they scream at the top of their lungs. It isn’t exactly unheard of that parrot owners, experiencing buyer’s remorse, occasionally donate their obnoxious pets to local zoos. With many people spending more time at home this year, parrot donations have taken a noticeable uptick. In a single week, five African greys - Eric, Jade, Elsie, Tyson and Billy - were donated by five different owners to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Boston, UK. They were quarantined together before being put on display. Once they were out in public, it became obvious one of the parrots taught the other four some very salty language. They swore at each other and at the park guests. Eventually staff were forced to move the birds to an area of the park where they’re unlikely to offend anyone, at least until their language is more family-friendly.

Nine Turning Leaves

 

“Your temple recommend interview is not about do’s and don’ts. A recommend is not a checklist, a hall pass, or a ticket for special seating. It has a much higher and holier purpose. To qualify for the honor of a temple recommend, you must live in harmony with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In your interview you have the opportunity to search your soul about your personal faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. You have the blessing to express your testimony of the restored gospel; your willingness to sustain those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church; your faith in the doctrine of the gospel; your fulfillment of family responsibilities; and your qualities of honesty, chastity, fidelity, obedience, and observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Those are bedrock principles of a life devoted to Jesus Christ and His work.” – Elder Ronald A Rasband

Four Albums

 

First it was toilet paper and bottled water. Then we all had trouble finding hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, wipes and hand soap. After that it was fresh meat, canned beans, dried pasta, Campbell’s soup, and yeast. Then we all ran out of coins. Furloughed employees turned to gardening and home improvement projects, and before long Home Depot looked like locusts had descended. All summer long there was a run on bikes, trampolines, and personal watercraft as trips were cancelled and bored families searched for other ways to fill the time. Now that summer’s over there’s a shortage of canning jars, lids, and pectin as all those gardeners scramble to preserve their harvest. Children and adults working from home need inexpensive laptops and office furniture, so of course there’s a shortage of those. This has already been such an interesting year. Don’t you wish you knew today what everyone will suddenly need next month?

King David's Crown

 

Gordon’s career began in radio and television stations back east. At one point in the early 60’s, he played a clown in a kiddie show, then had to quickly change to report the weather on the evening news. He moved to Los Angeles where he studied acting and appeared in several television shows. It was here that he met Ruth and Nathan Hale. The Utah couple had come to California to write for Hollywood, but switched their focus to the stage when their Glendale theater began to prosper. The Hales introduced Gordon to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ruth encouraged him to give up smoking and to stop doing beer commercials. Before long, Gordon decided to become a member, too. Gordon Jump appeared in many church films, but he’s best known as the radio station manager on WKRP in Cincinnati. In a way, it’s as if his career came full circle.