Hatfield House

"A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask, why do we stay up here if it's so dangerous? We stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in a word—tradition! Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything—how to eat, how to sleep, how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl. This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you—I don't know! But it's a tradition. Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do." - Joseph Stein, Fiddler on the Roof

All That Jazz

“Remembering that this is all about protecting your family from the destructive influences of Satan makes it easier and more compelling to engage in the battle. Even though we know the ultimate ending and who will win the battle, this is our opportunity to show the Lord that he can count on us, whatever the odds may be, or however sure of the outcome we are. This is our chance to show our devotion to the Lord, enough to fight for His principles to our dying day. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland put it this way: ‘The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear!’” – Gary and Joy Lundberg

Four Loom and Spindle Blocks

I was happier with gymnastics and archery than track and field, but one of my friends talked me into joining the track team in high school. Running was ‘cool,’ she said. And it was – at least until the first time I fell. There’s nothing cool about digging bits of black cinder out of your knees. That was the year his picture started showing up in newspapers and on Wheaties boxes. He made winning the decathlon look easy. It didn’t even mess up his hair. A lot of time has passed, but he’s in the news all over again. He says he’s been living a lie all this time; that he was born in the wrong body. I get that, I really do. In fact, so was I. The body I was meant to have is tall and thin. It doesn’t have arthritis or uncooperative hair or skin that burns even on cloudy days. Or feet that trip when I’m trying to be cool.

Duck and Ducklings

“This may offend some, but only because it’s going to cut close to the bone for many.  I don’t care if I sound old-fashioned, because actually it’s nothing to do with fashion. It’s got everything to do with basic good manners and respect for other people. How did it get to be okay for people to be late for everything? As far as I am concerned, it’s not okay. In recent years it seems a meeting set to start at 9:00 for some people means in the general area. People drift in at 9:20 or later. They smile at the waiting group, apparently unconcerned that others have been there since 8:55, ready to start. 10 people kept waiting 20 minutes is actually 20 minutes times 10, which is 200 minutes wasted – because you didn’t catch the earlier bus. That’s over 3 hours wasted. How much has that cost the business? Shall I send you an invoice?” – Greg Savage

Buckingham Palace

80% of the wealthy focus on a goal vs. 12% of the poor.

79% of the wealthy believe they’re responsible for their financial condition vs. 18% of the poor.

67% of the wealthy watch less than an hour of TV daily vs 23% of the poor.

63% of the wealthy spend less than an hour daily on recreational Internet vs. 26% of the poor.

63% of the wealthy listen to audio books while commuting vs. 5% of the poor.

62% of the wealthy floss daily vs. 16% of the poor.

29% of the wealthy had one or more children who made the honor roll vs. 4% of the poor.

21% of the wealthy are 30+ pounds overweight vs. 66% of the poor.

8% of the wealthy believe wealth comes from random good luck vs. 79% of the poor.

6% of the wealthy play the lottery vs. 77% of the poor.

 – Rich Kids; How to Raise Our Children to Be Happy and Successful in Life

Rocky Road

The Thing from Another World (1951) was my dad’s favorite movie. He paid us a dollar whenever we found it in the TV Guide for him. The plot involves a group of scientists working with the US Air Force at a remote Arctic outpost when a blood-thirsty alien drops in. They discover their visitor is a sentient plant, and Scotty (a news reporter) asks, “Here's the $64 question - what do you do with a vegetable?” Nikki (secretary to one of the scientists) answers, “Boil it, bake it, stew it, fry it.” I take the first approach when enemy weeds invade my space. I actually pour boiling water on them. It kills exactly the plants you target without collateral damage. I have a friend who pickles weeds instead. She mixes a quart of vinegar, 2 tablespoons dish soap, and 1/4 cup salt in a spray bottle and douses weeds with it. Just as effective, and no danger of scalding.

Dust Bowl

“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other; we are still. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!” - Henry Scott Holland