Old Kentucky Home

 

It was the Christmas holidays, and art historian Gergely Barki was trying to entertain his bored daughter. He switched on a ten-year-old movie – Stuart Little – and half-heartedly watched with her. He was suddenly much more interested when he spotted an art deco painting used as a prop in the film. It was Hungarian artist Róbert Berény’s Sleeping Lady with Black Vase, a work that has been lost since 1928. The painting was donated to a San Diego charity auction in the early 1990’s. It sold for $40. After that, it was picked up by an assistant set designer in Pasadena for about $500. When Barki tracked the set designer down, the painting had been hanging in her bedroom for about a decade. It has since been authenticated and sold for $285,700. Hugh Laurie, who appears in Stuart Little, admitted to feeling “a little hurt to discover the foreground performances couldn’t hold the attention, but still, what an honor.”

Crazy Ann

 

Last week, everyone was in an uproar over another athlete who didn’t stand at attention during the national anthem. There’s so much about this I don’t understand. I don’t know why we pay attention to the political views of athletes. If you listen to interviews on sports shows, you’ll quickly realize these people don’t get paid big bucks for what they THINK. I don’t get why we play the national anthem at sporting events in the first place. I don’t understand why The Star-spangled Banner is our national anthem. It’s impossible to sing well. Its author was a slave owner, and it’s hard to see the words of the third verse as anything but racist. It’s not about America; it’s about bravery in one horrific battle. There are so many far better choices. America (My Country Tis of Thee), America the Beautiful, God Bless America, This Land is Your Land, and I’m Proud to Be an American come to mind.

Checkerboard Star

 

Today’s block is the last in the Riley Blake Designs 2021 Block Challenge. After more than four months of wondering and guessing about the finished quilt, I’ve finally seen the setting pattern. It’s meant to be a square quilt, about 62” on each side. Between the sixteen blocks are triple sashing in cream and curry, with irregular chive, curry and cream nine-patches as the cornerstones. When I bought this fabric in February, the shop had run out of the cream-colored solid. I was eager to get started on my blocks, and didn’t want to wait until new bolts came in. As a result, my blocks all have white backgrounds. But I’m still a bit puzzled. Even with all the “extra” blocks I’ve made, I still have lots of leftover fabric that isn’t chive, curry or white. I'm not sure what my finished quilt will look like, but I do know this: it will be absolutely unique.

Lori's Flag

 

“As the early Apostles followed Jesus Christ and heard Him teach the gospel, they witnessed many miracles. They saw that the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Miracles, signs, and wonders abound among followers of Jesus Christ today, in your lives and in mine. Miracles are divine acts, manifestations and expressions of God’s limitless power, and an affirmation that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ, who created the seas, can calm them; He who gave sight to the blind can lift our sights to heaven; He who cleansed the lepers can mend our infirmities; He who healed the impotent man can call for us to rise up with ‘Come, follow me.’” – Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Peaceful Hours

 

July third is “Eat Beans Day.” That might mean French-cut green beans with butter, a beef and black bean stir-fry, refried beans with cotija, barbecue baked beans, or any of a number of interesting bean dishes. But because I’m invited to a day-before-the-fourth picnic, I’ll bring this:

 

Four Bean Salad

 

1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) green beans, drained

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) yellow wax beans, drained

1/4 cup red or green pepper, minced

1 red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

 

At least a day before serving, combine all four beans, pepper and onions in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Pour over bean mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight, stirring several times. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Sparkler Block

 

Eighty-five percent of wildfires are human-caused. The good news is that means most are completely preventable. Here’s how to help:

Make sure your campfire is completely extinguished. Douse it until it’s COLD. Better yet, find a safer way to cook while camping.

If fireworks are allowed where you are, have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher handy. Or enjoy a professional display instead.

Don’t park your car over tall grass or weeds. Never allow gasoline or motor oil to spill on grass or other vegetation.

Wildfires can be sparked by dragging tow chains. Even driving around on underinflated tires can start a fire.

Cigarette butts are the most littered item, and they can easily cause wildfires. Always dispose of cigarette butts and spent matches in a cup of water or a closed, fireproof container.

 This past year we’ve seen so many people refuse to do the right thing to protect themselves or others. Don’t be one of them.

Double Sawtooth Star

 

Word of the Day: Paraprosdokian: a statement with an unexpected ending. Here are some of my favorites:

I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it. – Groucho Marx

He taught me housekeeping. When I divorce, I keep the house. – Zsa Zsa Gabor

When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them. – Rodney Dangerfield

My husband doesn’t like trash lying around the house. He can't stand the competition. – Phyllis Diller

I have the heart of a small boy, in a jar on my desk. – Stephen King

Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time. – George Carlin

The accountant is shy and retiring. He's shy a quarter of a million. That's why he's retiring. – Milton Berle

Half of all marriages end in divorce. And then there are the really unhappy ones. – Joan Rivers

Gravity is a contributing factor in 73% of all accidents involving falling objects. – Dave Barry