Premium Star

Milton grew up in poverty after his father suffered a series of business failures. He never made it past the 4^th grade. When he was nineteen his mother and his aunt helped him launch a candy company, but he went bankrupt a few years later. His family wrote him off as an irresponsible failure, but he kept making candy. Selling caramels from a cart, Milton began to make progress. Eventually he was able to sell his caramel business and pursue his dream of making chocolate. Milton Hershey built more than a chocolate company; he built a whole town. He built homes and a community for his employees. He built a school for orphans, a hospital, a hotel and a sports arena. Much of his income went to charitable causes. One of his pet projects was a melt-proof chocolate bar that soldiers could carry into war. These high-energy, portable bars have been part of US soldiers’ rations since 1937.

French General Table Runner

April 24 is National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day. Pigs-in-a-Blanket first appeared in Betty Crocker’s Cooking for Kids, 1957. Many such recipes involve cheese, but this one doesn’t. Unless, of course, you add it.

8 ounces crescent roll dough

1/4 cup Dijon

16 cocktail franks

1 egg, lightly beaten

Poppy seeds

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons Dijon

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

Preheat the oven to 350F. Cut each triangle of crescent roll dough in half. Brush triangles lightly with Dijon. Put a frank on the end of each triangle and roll it up. Arrange “pigs” seam side down, on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake about 15 minutes. While pigs are baking, stir remaining ingredients together to make a dipping sauce. As soon as the pigs are done, transfer them to a serving dish and offer them (with the dip) to your guests while they’re still warm.

Union Flag

I first discovered Kaari Meng’s designs years ago when I wandered into Anthropologie. I was instantly drawn to the relaxed, vintage feel of her jewelry. Later, when I found the French General line of Moda cotton, I felt that same attraction. The muted reds, blues and creams and the antique botanical prints feel so warm and comforting. I made this quilt from a French General jellyroll after seeing one like it at the 2010 Birmingham Festival of Quilts. Last week I finished a French General log cabin table runner (which I’ll show you tomorrow), and I have a box full of 12” blocks in these same florals just lying around waiting for a purpose. I don’t know why I was so surprised to learn the designer of these lovely prints is the same person behind the pretty trinkets I admired. I suspect if I ever met Kaari Meng, I’d feel right at home with her, too.

Sixty-four Stars

In 1957 William D. Chase (a journalist and publisher) and his brother Harrison V. Chase (a university social scientist) saw a need for a reliable reference source for calendar dates and current information about various observances throughout the year. They established Chase’s Calendar of Events, a catalogue of holidays, federal and state observances, historic anniversaries, etc. The first issue sold at a dollar a pop, but you can pick up this year’s edition for $79.05. In 1976, as William was giving a radio interview, his ten-year-old granddaughter Monica called in to suggest adding a Goof-off Day to the calendar.  Grandpa agreed it was a great idea, and a new holiday was born. How can you celebrate March 22? Play hooky (if it won’t get you fired). See a funny movie. Take a walk. Take a nap. Spend the day being silly with your kids or your grandkids. You can always be serious tomorrow.

Thirty-six Ladders

In Genesis 28 Jacob dreamed of a stairway between heaven and earth with angels traveling up and down. That scripture is the source for the most common name of this quilt block: Jacob’s Ladder. Like most traditional blocks, it has many other names, including  Underground Railroad, Road to California, Off to San Francisco, Gone to Chicago, Stepping Stones and Trail of the Covered Wagon. The thing they seem to have in common is the idea of travel; no doubt because of the path of two-patches running diagonally through the block. If you look closely at my photo, you’ll see I haven’t used 36 identical blocks. Eighteen have cream-colored “steps” between darker triangles leading southeast. The other eighteen have dark steps between light triangles heading northeast. I love the way this top is turning out, though it hasn’t accomplished its primary goal of using up leftover scraps. Like Hydra’s heads, somehow the more I cut the more there are.

Four Counterchange Cross Blocks

“Mortality is an essential gift in our journey to become like our Heavenly Father. Of necessity it includes trials and challenges that provide opportunities for us to change and grow. King Benjamin taught that the natural man is an enemy to God, and will be forever unless he yields to the Holy Spirit, puts off the natural man and becomes a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. Participation in the sacrament ordinance provides an opportunity to more fully yield our hearts and souls to God. In our preparation, our hearts become broken as we express gratitude for Christ’s Atonement, repent of our mistakes and shortcomings, and ask for the Father’s help in our continuing journey to become more like Him. We can then look forward to the opportunity the sacrament provides to remember His sacrifice and renew our commitments to all the covenants we have made.” - Elder Peter F. Meurs

Counterchange Cross

Earlier this month hairstylist Kate Langman shared a story of a woman who suffered from debilitating depression. She’d been bedridden for months, unable to perform simple tasks like shampooing or combing her own hair. By the time Kate met her, the poor woman’s hair was one matted lump. “I spent 8 hours with this girl: 4 1/2 hours of combing, 3 hours coloring and half an hour for the cut. All this time, I’m telling myself to keep going; this is going to be worth it. By the end I could see the sparkle in her eyes from the excitement of being able to run her fingers through her hair again. She felt herself again. I changed someone’s life today and I’ll never forget it. I want her to know what a great, wonderful, kind, loving, and strong person she is. She deserves nothing but happiness. I’m so grateful I got to help with her first step.”