Stella

 

“The Savior of the world understands our mortal limitations, for He teaches us how to feel peace and calm even when winds blow fiercely around us and billowing waves threaten to sink our hopes. Waves of fear distract us, causing us to forget God’s goodness, leaving our perspective short-sighted and out of focus. Yet it is in these rough stretches of our journey our faith can be not only tried but fortified. Regardless of circumstances, we can intentionally make efforts to build our faith in Jesus Christ. It is strengthened when we remember we’re children of God and He loves us. Our faith grows as we experiment on the word of God with hope and diligence, trying our best to follow Christ’s teachings. Our faith increases as we choose to believe rather than doubt, forgive rather than judge, repent rather than rebel. Our faith is refined as we patiently rely on the merits and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah.” – Lisa L. Harkness

Nine Stones

 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the feta pasta that’s taken the Internet by storm. It’s one of the most grateful recipes I’ve ever run across. You start with a block of feta cheese and a 2-pint container of cherry or grape tomatoes. Bake them in an olive oil-coated casserole at 400F for 30-40 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst and the cheese is golden. Meanwhile, cook 10 ounces of dry pasta to al dente according to package directions; drain and set aside. (We love farfalle, but almost any interesting shape will do.) Remove casserole from oven (set it on a dry towel) and add 3 smashed cloves of garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes, a few fresh basil leaves, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cooked pasta and serve hot. My secret: I reserve half a cup of the pasta-cooking water to add at the very end. 

Modified Churn Dash

 

I’m not one to waste money on unnecessary expenses. I don’t use credit cards, so I don’t pay interest. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink alcohol, coffee or even soda. (Honestly, how do people afford that?) We eat out twice weekly, and don’t add delivery service payments to our bill. It’s been nearly seven years since my last mani-pedi. My one splurge is a monthly cleaning service. We declutter before their visit, so the house doesn’t look like an episode of “Hoarders.” When they arrive, we put pets in their kennels and get out of their way. An hour or two later, we return to a spotless house! There have been a few mishaps. Once, a new girl used a razor to remove a dried spill from a dishwasher door. Another scratched a shower enclosure with steel wool, and one of them knocked over a lamp. Yesterday, they accidentally unplugged my hydroponic garden. I don’t care. It’s all still worth it.

Nine-Patch

 

This is another clean-the-closet project, or at least the beginning of one. Some two or three years ago, during the Utah Shop Hop, we walked into Village Dry Goods in Brigham City. Someone came by carrying a basket of little fabric bundles and handed one to each of us. When the shop hop was done, I had two of these little bundles – one in cardinal prints and the other in oyster. Not knowing what to do with them, I tucked them away. Late last winter I pulled them out again and decided the prints would go well with two Japanese block pattern books from 2012. Those patterns are all for 9” blocks, and I estimate there's enough material here to make only nine or ten of them. I have no idea how to set them, or where to look for fabric to set them with. But they should keep me occupied for a week or two.

Forty-two Churn Dash Blocks

 

Yesterday was Read Across America Day; created by the NEA in 1998 to encourage children to read. They chose March 2 because it’s the birthday of Dr. Seuss, who taught us all to read and to love reading. Two decades ago, school kids celebrated by eating green eggs and ham, and by wearing red-and-white striped top hats. These days, Dr. Seuss is quietly disappearing from his own birthday. The reason is some of his books are tainted with racist, insensitive images. I’ve read them, and can testify it’s true. There are depictions of Asians with slanted eyes, and the cat in the hat may be (gasp) Black. I hope this won’t lead to censoring his work. By today’s standards, everyone is racist, especially people born over a century ago. I suspect the adults trying to cancel Seuss now first learned about equality, acceptance and inclusion by reading The Sneeches and Horton Hears a Who.

The Chalet

 

We moved here from Idaho in the late 80’s. Back then, much of the area was cornfields and poultry farms. There were some fairly new residential neighborhoods springing up with vinyl fences, paved roads, and sidewalks. It was fun to explore on foot or on my bike. I remember passing a cul-de-sac with a yellow sign at the mouth saying, “Dead End” and another beneath it, saying “Deaf Child.” Presumably it was put there to warn drivers to watch for a small boy or girl playing in the street who might not hear cars coming. Four years later we outgrew our little house and built a larger one about a mile to the southeast. Fourteen years after that, it was time to downsize. We bought a smaller home less than a mile west, and we’ve owned it ever since. It’s been nearly thirty-five years now, but that “Deaf Child” sign is still there. That must be one seriously old kid.

Pinwheel Star

 

“Angels are needed, right now; angels who are willing to leave their comfort zone to embrace them; people who are so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind to describe them. Brothers and sisters, I believe in angels! We are all here today, a giant army of angels set apart for these latter days, to minister to others as extensions of the hands of a loving Creator. I promise that if we are willing to serve, the Lord will give us opportunities to be ministering angels. He knows who needs angelic help, and He will put them in our path. The Lord puts those who need angelic help in our path daily. I am so grateful for the many angels that the Lord has put in my path throughout my life. They were needed. I am also grateful for His gospel that helps us to change and gives us the chance to be better.” - Elder Carlos A. Godoy