Under Her Wings

Matthew and Luke both recorded that Christ said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” He said it again, at least three times while he visited the sheep “which are not of this fold.” You can read about it in third Nephi. It’s also in at least three separate places in the Doctrine and Covenants. When the weather turns suddenly violent, mother hens do something amazing. They round up their brood and spread their wings to cover and protect them from the storm. I’ve even heard of this happening during a fire. Hens will sacrifice their own safety for the security of their offspring. Clearly, Christ wishes to offer us His protection. All He requires is that we are willing.

Sweet Sixteen Revisited

It’s no secret that Mormons love C.S. Lewis. I’m told he’s quoted more often in general conference than any other non-Mormon. Did Lewis investigate the LDS church? I seriously doubt it. Lewis seemed far more interested in exploring and defending Christianity than in looking into the question of whether one Christian denomination was better or worse than another. I’ve heard it said that his description of Eustace’s parents in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is proof that Lewis was at least aware of certain aspects of Mormonism and sharply disapproved of them. I know he was critical of teetotalers; encouraging moderation rather than shunning alcohol. I also know more than a few of his family members suffered from alcoholism. He even married a woman who had divorced her first husband because of his drinking. I should think a man like that would have every reason to embrace abstinence.

Sunbursts II

This is the last of a dozen 12” blocks from this year’s Patchwork Party. Each block kit came from a different quilt shop.  They all use prints from RJR fabric’s Arabella Rose line by Marianne Elizabeth. All twelve blocks are also constructed using Marti Michell’s B and D template sets. This year they’ve offered quilters a choice; we could either make our green and cream blocks with raspberry accents or with rust. There’s fabric in each kit for either color way. I chose raspberry, but now all twelve are finished I’m considering making another set with rust. I’ve been frugal with the fabric in the kits, plus I’d bought extra in case I messed up. Each of the twelve quilts shops is also offering a finishing kit; six in raspberry and six in rust. I haven’t purchased one yet because I simply haven’t made up my mind. You can view them all at http://www.patchworkparty.com/. Which one should I choose?

Christmas Star Within a Star

It isn’t even Halloween yet, but I’ve already got Christmas on my mind. There are so many questions to deal with. Do we know where all the decorations and ornaments are stored? Where do we want the tree to stand? Shall we string lights along the roof? Should we try to hold a Christmas recital? How involved do we want to be with the Christmas play? How many Christmas cards do we want to send? Do we have correct addresses? What gifts will everyone want this year? Should we invite the whole family for Christmas dinner, or for a late morning brunch instead? Do we want to organize a caroling party? I’m tired just thinking about it. I know there won’t be time for everything I want to do. There never is. But I’m still looking forward to it. This is the one time of year we set aside to celebrate the birth of the Savior, and to share that celebration with everyone we hold dear.

Triple Promenade

I’ve always made chili on Halloween. I started when my kids were little. I figured if I could fill them up with a hearty bowl full of chili before they went trick-or-treating, there’d be less room for sweets. I make chili in my Crock-pot, so for hours the whole house smells just wonderful. Here’s another slow cooker recipe, perfect for this time of year:

Autumn Pork Stew

1 sweet potato

1 yam

3 large carrots

1 large onion

1 Granny Smith (or other tart baking variety) apple

2 pounds pork loin

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon each dried sage and thyme

1 tablespoon sugar

Pepper to taste

2 cups apple cider

Peel and coarsely chop vegetables and apple, place in slow cooker. Cut pork into 1 inch cubes and add to vegetables. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Pour over pork and vegetables. Cover and cook on low heat 8 hours.

Echo

This will probably make me sound like a hopeless simpleton, but I honestly didn’t know that Big Bird was on the dole. Until the first presidential debate last week, I thought PBS was privately funded. I’ve been watching PBS shows since Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Reading Rainbow. My grandson watches Sesame Street almost every day. (That’s a slight exaggeration. He simply likes to play in the same room while the TV is on.)  I’ve always assumed part of their funding came from the television stations that aired these programs. Before and after these shows it’s announced that their funding also comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, certain charitable foundations, “and viewers like you.” I’ve been a donor for decades. I should have thought if they were taking in federal money all that time, PBS’ output should have been a lot less left-wing. Is it too late to get my money back?