Thirty Side Steps

 

“Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially.” – Julie B. Beck

“We need more of the distinctive, influential voices and faith of women. We need them to learn the doctrine and to understand what we believe so that they can bear their testimonies about the truth of all things.” – M. Russell Ballard

“Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young. And hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old. It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley

“Throw away the mirrors and look through the window.” – Cheryl A. Esplin

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” – President Brigham Young

Kissing Geese

 

Wild geese can live up to fifteen years, though they’re more likely to live longer in protected areas. As far as we know, geese mate for life. (I should note we used to believe that about penguins, until someone started DNA testing their chicks.) When flying long distances, geese adopt a V-formation to reduce drag, conserve energy, and increase their flying range. The collective noun for geese is gaggle, but only while they’re on the ground. When they’re flying together, a group of geese is called a wedge or a skein. I don't know the collective noun for swimming geese. Maybe a flotilla? Geese are primarily herbivores, but they’ve been known to eat insects and small fish. If you’d like to feed the wild geese in your neighborhood, skip the bread. It’s not healthy for them, and can attract vermin. Instead, try offering them cracked corn, leafy greens like lettuce, kale, or chard, or chopped vegetables like carrots, peas or green beans.

Twenty-Five Side Steps

I love my gas range. I really do. But it may not be the healthiest choice, especially for people with asthma and other respiratory issues. This lovely and efficient appliance is probably adding to the nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and benzene inside our home. So, we crack open windows from time to time. And whenever we can, we use the microwave, electric kettle, egg steamer, and the outdoor grill. And we use the slow cooker a LOT. Tonight, we're having this:

 

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

 

1 pound cubed beef

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon Worcestershire

4 ounces cream cheese

 

Put all ingredients in slow cooker; cover and cook on low six hours. Stir and serve over hot egg noodles, topped with a dollop of sour cream.

 

Twirl

 

Over the years, treatment for jaundice included blood-letting, laxatives, and enemas. If a patient recovered, it was often in spite of the treatment rather than because of it. During the 1950’s, Sister Jean Ward was head nurse of the premature nursery at Rochford General Hospital in Essex. She believed fresh air and sunshine were better for babies than stuffy hospital rooms. On warm sunny days, she’d wheel the babies in her charge – cribs and all – outside into the hospital courtyard. She began to observe the babies' jaundice improved after being in sunlight; specifically, the exposed skin was less yellow than skin under clothing or blankets. She showed her discovery to doctors, who were less than impressed. They continued to promote the accepted treatment – exchange blood transfusion, despite the obvious risks. It took decades, but the medical world finally came around. In 1982, our baby boy recovered on a blanket in the garden instead of a hospital ward.

Crazy Ann

 

January 8 2015, a wave swept 22-year-old American tourist Frank Jade from the deck of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Somehow, none of the 6,360 passengers and 2,394 crew members saw him fall or noticed his absence. Cruise ships should have detection systems in place for this event, but the Oasis of the Seas did not. (Royal Caribbean was later censured for violating the 2010 Cruise Vessel Safety/Security Act.) Frank could only watch helplessly as his ship sailed away without him. Miraculously, Frank was spotted by passengers aboard the appropriately named Disney Magic. Tom Parsons, a vacationing fire chief from Ithaca, threw him life preservers. The Magic lowered a rescue boat to retrieve him. The cruise ship made an unscheduled stop in Mexico so Frank could receive medical attention. I don’t suppose many people can say they started a voyage on one of the cheapest cruise lines and ended it on one of the most expensive.

Three Dozen Diversions

“President Nelson has repeatedly pled with us to make time for the Lord in our lives every day. He reminds us quiet time is sacred time—time which facilitates personal revelation and instills peace. To hear the still voice of the Lord, you too must be still. Being still requires more than just making time. It requires letting go of doubtful and fearful thoughts and focusing our hearts and minds on Him. Elder David A. Bednar taught, ‘The Lord’s admonition to be still entails much more than simply not talking or not moving.’ To be still, he suggested, ‘may be a way to focus upon the Savior unfailingly.’ Being still is an act of faith and requires effort. President Nelson declared: ‘Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. When we do, our doubts and fears flee.’” – Bishop L. Todd Budge

Two Dozen Side Steps

 

Its scientific name is amorphophallus titanum, which means, “misshapen giant.” In its native Indonesia, it’s called bunga bangkai. Much of the world calls it a corpse flower, primarily because of the way it smells. It has a complex aroma, with notes of garlic, moldy cheese, sweaty gym socks, decaying fish and boiled cabbage. But mostly, it smells like rotting flesh. The 6- to 8-foot flower generates heat, which helps spread the odor. On a good night, you can smell it half a mile away. The purpose of the stink is to attract pollinators like flies and carrion beetles. The corpse flower blooms for a day or two every seven to fifteen years. Their population is declining in the wild, but when one blossoms in a botanical garden, it attracts tens of thousands of curious human visitors. They’re notoriously difficult to propagate, but if you’d like to give it a try, there are seeds for sale on Amazon.