Arizona Star

“Is every Christian expected to bear witness? A man content to bear no witness to the truth is not in the kingdom of heaven. One who believes must bear witness. One who sees the truth must live witnessing to it. Is our life, then, witnessing to the truth? Do we carry ourselves in bank, on farm, in house or shop, in study or chamber or workshop, as the Lord would, or the Lord would not? Are we careful to be true? Do we endeavour to live to the height of our ideas? When contempt is cast on the truth, do we smile? I do not say we are called upon to dispute, and defend with logic and argument, but we are called upon to show we are on the other side. We are not bound to say all we think, but we are bound not even to look what we do not think.” – George MacDonald

Dealer's Choice

There are times when I suspect my appliances are laughing at me behind my back. Friday February 9 our dryer threw in the towel, moments after the appliance repair shop closed. I’d been doing laundry all afternoon. I tossed the last load into the machine, added a dryer sheet and turned it on. Nothing happened. The repairman came the following Thursday, said it was a failed thermal fuse, and set everything right. For almost two whole months. Friday April 13 the same thing happened. We waited six more days for the repairman, who said this time it was a failed door sensor. This repair lasted two days. Another five-day wait (and another, bigger repair bill) and the dryer is working again. Sort of. Now the thing squeaks - really loud - as it runs. Should I put the repairman on retainer? Or turn the dryer into a planter?

Joining Star

When I was a girl my dad told me about the mining town of Bingham Canyon (about twenty miles south of his home town of Magna) that the copper pit had swallowed up. At the time I’d pictured a cluster of 1800’s frame boarding houses, an assayer’s office and maybe a saloon or two; something out of a John Ford movie. But a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a YouTube video – I think it was originally a 1940’s newsreel – that challenged my preconceptions. It showed a bustling and modern metropolis with a steep, narrow Main Street much like Park City. There were brick buildings: bars (of course), but also restaurants, shops, banks, schools and churches. There were power lines, paved roads lined with sidewalks, and so many cars! I guess I’d imagined a makeshift little village because it’s much harder to picture an open pit mine devouring a city that was once home to 15,000 people.  

Four Promenades

Max is a seventeen-year-old blue heeler, deaf and visually impaired. But the Queensland police are singing his praises today. When three-year-old Aurora wandered away from her family into the bush last Friday afternoon, Max followed the little girl. He stayed by her side all night as rain fell and temperatures dropped to 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit). By Saturday morning there were a hundred police, state emergency service workers and members of the public out searching for Aurora. Max led them right to her. The toddler had walked about two kilometers from home, but was still on family property. She suffered a few minor cuts and scratches, but otherwise she was just fine. Good dog, Max!

Nine Susanna Blocks

I’ve mentioned Erik Estrada before, when I learned he serves as a reserve officer in the St. Anthony Idaho police force. (http://mombowe.blogspot.com/2016/08/cocks-comb.html) In addition to time and talents, the actor contributes money and materials to the agency. Last week his contribution included a German Shepherd/Malinois narcotics dog. It makes me smile to know a guy who used to play a TV cop is now a real one. It reminds me of the Disney movie Planes Fire and Rescue. One of the characters in the film was an actor on a TV show until his costar was accidentally killed and the show was cancelled. He went from saving lives on television to saving lives for real. Estrada’s TV show was cancelled after 139 episodes when the actor was was seriously injured in a filming accident. At first I thought it was art imitating life, until I realized Planes Fire and Rescue came out in 2014. Estrada became an officer in 2016.

Promenade All

April 24 is Pig in a Blanket Day. As far as I can tell, there are as many different ways of enjoying pigs in blankets as there are people who enjoy them. One of my favorites is to fry up some link-style breakfast sausages. While they’re sizzling, make an equal number of small pancakes (just a bit larger than silver dollars). Roll the pancakes around the sausages and serve warm with maple syrup. Another is to wrap a hotdog with a thin slice of swiss or cheddar and a triangle of crescent roll dough, then bake and serve with catsup and mustard. Or you could wind a slice of streaky bacon around your favorite sausage, toast it in the oven and serve it with barbecue sauce. Or you could invent your own way of making pigs in blankets. If you come up with a winner, share your recipe with me.

Four Hartford Blocks

“I join with you in saluting every block teacher and ward teacher and home teacher and visiting teacher who has loved and served so faithfully throughout our history. Our prayer today is that every man and woman—and our older young men and young women—will leave this general conference more deeply committed to heartfelt care for one another, motivated only by the pure love of Christ to do so. In spite of what we all feel are our limitations and inadequacies—and we all have challenges—nevertheless, may we labor side by side with the Lord of the vineyard, giving the God and Father of us all a helping hand with His staggering task of answering prayers, providing comfort, drying tears, and strengthening feeble knees. If we will do that, we will be more like the true disciples of Christ we are meant to be.” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland